Abstract: A medication dispensing system for use in a home, assisted living, nursing home, or other outpatient setting includes a dispensing apparatus and a control system. The dispensing apparatus is compact and portable and broadly comprises a cassette and a dispensing unit for receiving medication vials and selectively and automatically dispensing medications from the medication vials. The control system receives data regarding the medications to be received in the dispensing apparatus, instructs the dispensing apparatus to dispense the medications according to a medication regimen, monitors patient usage of the dispensing system, and alerts the patient and/or caregiver when medications are ready to be taken or that scheduled medications have not been taken. The medication dispensing system is configured for use with standard medication vials fitted with specially designed vial caps for interfacing with the dispensing unit so as to singulate and selectively retrieve the medications from the medication vials.

Abstract: A vial gripping mechanism (10) includes a pivotally mounted swing arm (26). A sensor receiving array (44) is mounted to a sensor end (34) on an inward edge (46) of the arm (26). A channel (38) protecting a cable (64) follows an outside edge (42) from the receiving array (44) to a cam end (36). A torsion spring (28) forces the cam end (36) against a cam (30) which is fixedly mounted to the mechanism (10) adjacent the arm (26). By action of the mechanism (10), the arm (26) is moved relative to the cam (30) such that in a sensing position, the receiving array (44) is directly opposite a sensor transmitting array (74), and in a shielded position, the receiving array (44) is housed within a shield (32). The shield (32) is fixedly mounted to the mechanism (10) and protects the receiving array (44) while in transit.

Abstract: A vial gripping mechanism (10) includes a pivotally mounted swing arm (26). A sensor receiving array (44) is mounted to a sensor end (34) on an inward edge (46) of the arm (26). A channel (38) protecting a cable (64) follows an outside edge (42) from the receiving array (44) to a cam end (36). A torsion spring (28) forces the cam end (36) against a cam (30) which is fixedly mounted to the mechanism (10) adjacent the arm (26). By action of the mechanism (10), the arm (26) is moved relative to the cam (30) such that in a sensing position, the receiving array (44) is directly opposite a sensor transmitting array (74), and in a shielded position, the receiving array (44) is housed within a shield (32). The shield (32) is fixedly mounted to the mechanism (10) and protects the receiving array (44) while in transit.

Abstract: A pill count sensor (10) comprises an electromagnetic energy emitting array (40) and an electromagnetic energy receiving array (42), with a pill detection zone (44) defined therebetween; a sensor amplifier (28); a control board (30) interfaced with a computing device (24); and interconnecting cabling (34, 36, 38). The electromagnetic energy emitting and receiving arrays (40,42) emit and receive, respectively, beams of electromagnetic energy (46) across the zone (44) such that any pill (50) entering the zone (44) is detected by a resulting disruption in received electromagnetic energy at the receiving array (42). The sensor amplifier (28) is operable to automatically self-calibrate in order to compensate for detected electromagnetic energy levels, and to generate a pill sense signal in response to a detected pill (50). The control board (30) is operable to increment a pill count.

Abstract: A vial gripping mechanism (10) includes a pivotally mounted swing arm (26). A sensor receiving array (44) is mounted to a sensor end (34) on an inward edge (46) of the arm (26). A channel (38) protecting a cable (64) follows an outside edge (42) from the receiving array (44) to a cam end (36). A torsion spring (28) forces the cam end (36) against a cam (30) which is fixedly mounted to the mechanism (10) adjacent the arm (26). By action of the mechanism (10), the arm (26) is moved relative to the cam (30) such that in a sensing position, the receiving array (44) is directly opposite a sensor transmitting array (74), and in a shielded position, the receiving array (44) is housed within a shield (32). The shield (32) is fixedly mounted to the mechanism (10) and protects the receiving array (44) while in transit.