Abstract: A portable, reusable medication dispensing assembly which has communication capability to improve medication adherence is disclosed. An electromechanical apparatus sequentially delivers dosage form packages from a compartment in a housing to a dose-ready area in the housing. A microprocessor-based controller is reprogrammable with contact and prescription data. The controller controls the electromechanical apparatus to sequentially deliver the dosage form packages at prescribed times or time intervals to the dose-ready area based on the prescription data. The controller generates and stores a set of event data based on when the dosage form packages are ready to be released in the dose-ready area and whether and when the dosage form packages have been released in the dose-ready area.

Abstract: A portable, reusable dispensing assembly having multiple operating modes is provided. The assembly includes a housing having a compartment which is refillable with an elongated medication strip having a plurality of dosage form packages spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the strip. A bi-directional, electromechanical actuator advances a first end of the strip from the compartment to a dose-ready area in the housing in a dispensing mode of the assembly and loads the strip into the compartment in a loading mode of the assembly. An actuator controller is configured to receive power and direction command signals to controllably supply DC power of a desired polarity to the actuator to control the operating mode of the assembly.

Abstract: A portable, reusable dispensing assembly having multiple operating modes is provided. The assembly includes a housing having a compartment which is refillable with an elongated medication strip having a plurality of dosage form packages spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the strip. A bi-directional, electromechanical actuator advances a first end of the strip from the compartment to a dose-ready area in the housing in a dispensing mode of the assembly and loads the strip into the compartment in a loading mode of the assembly. An actuator controller is configured to receive power and direction command signals to controllably supply DC power of a desired polarity to the actuator to control the operating mode of the assembly.

Abstract: A portable, reusable medication dispensing assembly which has communication capability to improve medication adherence is disclosed. An electromechanical apparatus sequentially delivers dosage form packages from a compartment in a housing to a dose-ready area in the housing. A microprocessor-based controller is reprogrammable with contact and prescription data. The controller controls the electromechanical apparatus to sequentially deliver the dosage form packages at prescribed times or time intervals to the dose-ready area based on the prescription data. The controller generates and stores a set of event data based on when the dosage form packages are ready to be released in the dose-ready area and whether and when the dosage form packages have been released in the dose-ready area.

Abstract: A portable, time-release, dosage form dispensing assembly is provided. A hopper holds a supply of like, loose and randomly oriented dosage forms. The hopper including a bottom portion having an opening sized and shaped for receiving one of the dosage forms. An electromechanical apparatus dispenses the dosage forms from the hopper through the opening. The apparatus is adapted to dispense the dosage forms to a dispensing area one dosage form at a time. A programmable controller generates a set of control signals to control the apparatus to dispense a preselected number of dosage forms at a preselected time of day or time interval. A communication apparatus wirelessly communicates a first set of data to the controller to program the controller. The first set of data represents the preselected number and the preselected time of day or time interval.

Abstract: A portable, time-release, dosage form dispensing assembly is provided. A hopper holds a supply of like, loose and randomly oriented dosage forms. The hopper including a bottom portion having an opening sized and shaped for receiving one of the dosage forms. An electromechanical apparatus dispenses the dosage forms from the hopper through the opening. The apparatus is adapted to dispense the dosage forms to a dispensing area one dosage form at a time. A programmable controller generates a set of control signals to control the apparatus to dispense a preselected number of dosage forms at a preselected time of day or time interval. A communication apparatus wirelessly communicates a first set of data to the controller to program the controller. The first set of data represents the preselected number and the preselected time of day or time interval.