MEDICAMENT COMPILATION AND DISPENSATION SYSTEM
The invention relates to a medicament dispensing device and system. In particular, the invention relates to a system having multiple containers capable of dispensing multiple medicaments. A center dispensing mechanism then actuates the containers release tray based on prescribed computer controlled settings.
The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Patent No. 62/064,611 filed on Oct. 16, 2014.
BACKGROUNDThe invention relates to a medicament dispensing device and system. In particular, the invention relates to a system having multiple containers capable of dispensing multiple medicaments. A center dispensing mechanism then actuates the containers release tray based on prescribed computer controlled settings.
Many patients are required to take different combinations and amounts of medicaments at different times throughout the day. Compliance with such complicated dosage regimens is often challenging, and failure to follow the regimen can have significant adverse effects on the patient.
This is especially the case with elderly patients, or others that may suffer from impaired mental capacity, judgment, or memory—whether that is a short term condition brought on by the condition being treated or a long term chronic situation. The complicated regiment can be difficult for anyone to follow and a particular challenge for those with the limitations set forth above.
As a result, an improved apparatus and system for the delivery of medicaments is needed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention is directed to a system for compiling and dispensing medicament dosages to a user or patient. The intended use of the system is to organize pills for persons such as the elderly or those who take many medications and distribute the pills or other dosage forms at a given time for the user's consumption, while regulating the pills the user is taking.
An object of the present invention is such a system that substantially eliminates the problems of the prior art. These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the following specification, drawings, and claims.
The system generally performs four operations; namely, sorting; releasing; compiling; and dispensing any medicament such as a tablet, pill, capsule, caplet, and the like—which can be a medicine, drug, nutritional or dietary supplement, or vitamin, nutrient, or mineral. The system is designed to deliver a user's prescribed or desired dosage of one or more medicaments, and is particularly adapted to combine a plurality of different medicaments and deliver them to the user at specified amounts and time intervals.
The system may also include a screen that serves as a graphic user interface similar to a cellular phone or tablet computer touchscreen to allow for computerized operation and configuration of the system. The system may be automated or manually operable. The system may include wireless communication elements enabling communication between the dispensation device and the user, family members or other caretakers, a pharmacist, a physician and/or a hospital or medical treatment facility remotely.
The system may be secured from unauthorized access or use, such as by using a lockbox mechanism, passcode, or biometric identifiers, enabling only authorized personnel to add medicaments to the system, and to control the dispensed medicament dosage over time to avoid overusing one or more medicaments.
The system includes a device, having a container, a release assembly, a compiling assembly, and a dispensing assembly, that distributes items in various dosage forms to a receptacle from which the user can obtain the medicament dosage.
The container includes a sorting mechanism to ensure that one unit of the medicament is ready for dispensation at a time, while holding an entire prescription's worth of medicament in the body of the container. The sorting mechanism may be a generally spiral “tornado” structure, a baffle system, or other internal structure that results in one unit of the medicament being positioned to be dispensed at any given time.
The container is coupled to a release assembly to facilitate the controlled release of one unit of the medicament. The release assembly may be any mechanism which can be controlled to release the medicament at a particular time or interval of time. The release mechanism may be a sliding mechanism, a spring-loaded mechanism, a rotating geared mechanism, a magnetically controlled mechanism, and the like.
The medicament unit is released into a compiling and dispensing assembly which includes a receptacle, such as a tray or cup, for collecting medicament units once they are released from the container. The receptacle may be gravity-fed by a sloping path between the container/release assembly and the receptacle. Alternatively, the medicament units may be mechanically fed into the receptacle. The receptacle is secured within the device such that it cannot be removed prior to a pre-determined dispensation time.
Once the medicament units are compiled in the receptacle according to the dosage, the receptacle dispenses the medicament dosage to the user at the appropriate time by automatically sliding the receptacle away from the device so that the dosage units are accessible to the user. Alternatively, the device may alert the user that a dosage is ready to be dispensed (for example by emitting an alarm or sending a signal to a remote wireless device), and the user can manually slide the receptacle away from the device to obtain the medicament dosage. Once the medicaments are removed from the receptacle, it may be slid back into the device, ready to receive the next medicament dosage.
Each element of the device may be coupled to a communication system to indicate proper functioning or to warn of any malfunctions. The communication system may be shared by any number of entities, so that a patient's use of the device to obtain the proper dosage of medicaments at the proper time can be closely monitored. For example, if the patient does not take the prescribed dosage at the correct time, the device may alert a physician or family member that the patient has not complied with the dosage instructions. The patient may also receive a notification on a cellular phone or other device to remind them to take their medication.
The device is programmed to obtain the correct combination of medicament units, in the correct amounts, and dispense the dosage at the correct time.
The device may also be programmed to require the user to take certain steps prior to dispensing the medication. For example, if a particular medicament should be taken with food, the device may first ask the user to confirm that they have eaten before the medicaments are dispensed. If the medicament should be taken on an empty stomach, the device may send the user a pre-dispensation notification to not consume anything for a period of time before the medicaments are dispensed.
The device may also alert the user or others that a particular medicament will need to be refilled soon, and may send the doctor or pharmacy a prescription refill request. The user then may take the device to the doctor or pharmacy to be refilled so that the dosage regimen may continue uninterrupted.
The device may include one container/release assembly, but in a preferred embodiment, the device includes at least two container/release assemblies that are coupled to the compiling/dispensing assembly to provide the user with the appropriate dosage of at least two different medicaments. Other embodiments include 3, 4, 5, 6, or even more container/release assemblies in the device. Of course, each container need not be filled, so for example, a 4-container device could be used to dispense the appropriate dosage of three different medicaments.
ContainerOne embodiment of the container is shown in
In certain embodiments, the release mechanism 18 is positioned under the container 12 and can be moved by a computer-controlled motor to align an opening in the release mechanism 18 with the exit port 14 of the container 10 to release one medicament unit. An example of a sliding release mechanism 18 is shown in
The interior structure of one embodiment of the device includes a frame 20 for receiving four container/release assemblies, as seen in
A different embodiment of a frame 20 for supporting six containers 12 is shown in
Embodiments of the receptacle 22 for receiving and dispensing the medicament dosage are shown in
The containers 12, frame 20 and tray 24 may be housed in a case 26, as shown in the embodiments of
As described above, the system includes a user interface similar to a cellular phone or tablet computer touchscreen. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, such an interface allows for many levels of communication between the device and the user, and can be used to list the medicaments contained in the device, the list of alarms, pharmacy and doctor contact information, a password secured sign-in for the user and others who may need access to the medicament dosage such as a personal attendant, and the like. The interface may include a log of the medicaments dispensed, and the log and other information may be automatically transmitted to a remote location such as a hospital, family member, and the like.
An example of user interfaces is shown in
The device may be wirelessly connected to remote receivers or similar devices to monitor compliance with the dosage regimen. One example of a network configuration is shown in
Through the network configuration, the device may have the ability to notify a pharmacy of the need for a refill of a particular medicament.
Other network configurations and alarm sequences are contemplated by this invention.
Examples of various aspects of the device and system are shown in the following figures, which are intended solely to exemplify certain embodiments of the invention and in no way limit the full scope of the invention.
In particular,
While a linear actuator is described, the actuator can take a variety of other forms, including the use of a belt drive to move the actuator, a stepper motor, gear drives, ball screws, and the like.
The circular container 12 can use a similar dispensing system. In one embodiment, the actuator can rotate rather than mover linearly, but still use the push rod to engage the release trays 24. Alternatively, a series of gears can be used to engage and rotate the release tray 24 shown in
It is to be understood that the foregoing descriptions and specific embodiments shown herein are merely illustrative of various embodiments of the invention and the principles thereof, and that modifications and additions may be easily made by those skilled in the art without departing for the spirit and scope of the invention, which is therefore understood to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A pill storing apparatus, comprising:
- a frame having a plurality of aligned slots;
- at least one removable containment bin in the slots of the frame for storing pills therein;
- a collection area for collecting pills from the bins upon metered release therefrom;
- a computer control device comprising a user interface for allowing a user to enter instructions, and to control the operation of the device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical release device for the controlled movement of the pills from the bins to the collection area.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising covers for the bin or bins that can move between an open and closed position.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 where the collection area is movable between a position for collecting pills and a position to allow the user to remove the pills from the collection area.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 where the slots are circumferentially aligned.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 where the slots are aligned in rows.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 where the slots are aligned in rows and columns.
8. The apparatus of claim 3 where the frame has a cover that moves between an open and closed position.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control includes alarms to notify the user of a schedule for the pills.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control tracks the type of pills in each bin.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control includes a schedule for notification and tracking of dispensing of pills.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control includes storing the name of the user's health care professional.
13. The apparatus of claim where the computer control operates to control a lock on the apparatus.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control includes a log of apparatus activity.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control includes network connectivity for access to remote computer networks.
16. The apparatus of claim 2 where the release device dispenses a single pill sorted from a plurality of pills in the bins.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the instructions include instructions to send notifications of apparatus activity to one or more people selected from the group of the users relatives, care provider, doctor, person at a hospital, person at a medical center, or person at a clinic.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control device further comprises a communication system for managing alerts and notifications.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 where the alerts and notifications can be shared with any number of entities or persons.
20. The apparatus of claim 18 where the communication system may be remotely located from the apparatus.
21. The apparatus of claim 18 where the communication system can communicate with a remote mobile communication device.
22. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a security device to lock the apparatus.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 where the security device comprises a mechanical lock and a lock controlled by the computer control device.
24. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a dispensing cup where the pills travel from the collection area to the dispensing cup.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 where the pills are gravity fed from the collection area to the dispensing cup.
26. The apparatus of claim 24 where the pills are mechanically released from the collection area, and gravity fed to the dispensing cup.
27. The apparatus of claim 24 where the dispensing cup cannot be removed until a pre-determined time controlled by the computer control device.
28. The apparatus of claim 24 where the dispensing cup can be either automatically or manually moved away from the apparatus at a pre-determined dispensing time.
29. The apparatus of claim 24 where the dispensing cup aligns flush with outer walls of the apparatus.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 where the computer control device is in operative communication with the components of the device to monitor proper functioning thereof, and provide warnings of malfunctions.
31. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control device prompts the user on the conditions under which pills are to be taken.
32. The apparatus of claim 31 where the conditions include whether the pills should be taken with food, or before eating, or with fluids, or without fluids.
33. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bins and where the bins are arranged in a circular pattern.
34. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bins and where the bins are arranged in a row.
35. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of bins and where the bins are arranged in a plurality of rows.
36. The apparatus of claim 2 where the release device is located under the bin or bins.
37. The apparatus of claim 2 where the release device rotates.
38. The apparatus of claim 2 where the release device moves in two dimensions.
39. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lockable cover for covering the bin or bins.
40. The apparatus of claim 1 where the user interface allows the user to enter, edit, and delete a list of medications, dosage information, medical professional information, set alarms, track logged events, and provide emergency contacts.
41. The apparatus of claim 1 where the user interface is password protected.
42. The apparatus of claim 1 where the user can remotely access the apparatus.
43. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control device has alarms that can be incrementally adjusted.
44. The apparatus of claim 2 where the release device is operated by a gear.
45. The apparatus of claim 2 where the release device is operated by a linear actuator.
46. The apparatus of claim 2 where the release device is operated by a stepper motor.
47. The apparatus of claim 2 where the release device is operated by a ball screw.
48. The apparatus of claim 1 where the user interface displays to the user the dispensing time.
49. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control device can automatically set the date and time through a remote computer connection.
50. The apparatus of claim 1 where the apparatus can release pills manually.
51. The apparatus of claim 1 where the user interface is a touch screen.
52. The apparatus of claim 1 where the computer control device can be controlled by a remote user interface.
53. The apparatus of claim 52 where the remote user interface is a mobile device.
54. The apparatus of claim 52 where the remote user interface is on a cloud based server.
55. The apparatus of claim 52 where the remote user interface is another computer with Internet access.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 19, 2018
Publication Date: Oct 31, 2019
Inventors: Randy HERMAN (St. Michael, MN), Connor HERMAN (St. Michael, MN), Tyler HERMAN (St. Michael, MN)
Application Number: 16/225,413