# US 11,077,026 B1 · Medication dispenser

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- Number: US 11,077,026 B1
- Document ID: US11077026B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/683,239
- Filed: 2019-11-13
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-13
- Applicants: Amanpreet Sandhu
- Inventors: Amanpreet Sandhu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077026B1

## CPC

- A61J 1/1437: {Locking means requiring key or combination to open the container}
- A61J 7/0076: {Medicament distribution means (with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00)}
- A61J 7/0481: {working on a schedule basis}
- G06Q 20/40145: {Biometric identity checks}
- G07F 9/001: {Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices}
- G07F 9/026: {for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty}
- G07F 11/005: {Special arrangements for insuring that only one single article may be dispensed at a time}
- G07F 11/10: two or more magazines having a common delivery chute
- G07F 13/06: with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof
- A61B 5/1172: using fingerprinting
- A61B 5/1176: {Recognition of faces}
- A61B 5/4833: {Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment}
- A61J 7/0445: {for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period}
- A61J 2200/30: Compliance analysis for taking medication
- A61K 31/485: Morphinan derivatives, e.g. morphine, codeine
- G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)}
- A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)

## Abstract

This invention relates to a lockable, tamper resistant medication dispenser for medications with abuse potential and for monitoring medication compliance. The medication dispenser is programmed to dispense a specified dose of medication at a specified interval. The medication chamber of the dispenser is filled by the pharmacist and locked before being dispensed to the patient. This prevents direct access to the medication by the patient. The medication is dispensed to the patient dissolved in a large volume of liquid to prevent intravenous and intranasal abuse and diversion. The medication dispenser is equipped with biometric access control to prevent diversion. It can be equipped with a self destruct mechanism when tampered with and have the ability to record video of the actual ingestion of the medication infused liquid by the patient for subsequent analysis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A secure medication dispenser, comprising:
a locked chamber having an opening to dispense a medication subject to abuse;
a dispensing chamber with an inlet port to receive a liquid into the dispensing chamber wherein the contents of the dispensing chamber is only accessible to a patient by a small suction port;
a dispensing mechanism coupled to the opening to dispense a dose of the medication into the liquid of the dispensing chamber while keeping the medication inaccessible; and
an electronic control unit coupled to the dispensing mechanism wherein the electronic control unit controls the dispensing mechanism to dispense the dose of the medication into the liquid of the dispensing chamber according to a programmed interval.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The secure medication dispenser in claim 1, further comprising a video recorder to record ingestion of the medication from the small suction port.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The secure medication dispenser in claim 2, further comprising a smart phone with a GPS, a biometric access controller and a video recording device wherein the smart phone controls the electronic control unit by determining the programmed interval and identifying the patient via the biometric access controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The secure medication dispenser in claim 1, further comprising sensors to detect tampering with the dispenser and/or unauthorized access wherein the sensors activates a medication deactivation system to render the medication in the locked chamber unsuitable for misuse.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The secure medication dispenser in claim 4, wherein the medication deactivation system releases deactivating chemicals into the locked chamber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The secure medication dispenser in claim 1, further comprising a medication deactivation system to render the medication in the locked chamber unsuitable for use after a preprogrammed interval.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The secure medication dispenser in claim 4, wherein the sensors includes an electrical trip wire or a pressure sensor to detect perforation of disruption of a wall of the medication dispenser.