Apparatuses and methods for handling pills within pharmaceutical dispensing devices

A method of dispensing medication from a plurality of medication containers, using a dispensing system comprising a probe for collecting a medication dosage from a medication container comprising:

• receiving a medication selection;
• selecting a medication container, from said plurality of medication containers, based on said medication selection;
• matching a collection protocol to be applied to said medication container including one or more parameter for control of said dispensing system;
• and
• dispensing said medication selection from said medication container according to said collection protocol;
• wherein the method further comprises receiving a measurement signal;
• and
• determining a quality of coupling of a pill to said probe, based on said measurement signal;
• changing at least one parameter of said collection protocol if said determining indicates that quality of coupling is insufficient.