# US 11,992,465 B2 · Rotary pill dispenser and method of use

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- Number: US 11,992,465 B2
- Document ID: US11992465B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/990,908
- Filed: 2022-11-21
- Published: 2023-03-16
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-05
- Assignees: Zig Therapeutics, Inc.
- Applicants: Zig Therapeutics, Inc.
- Inventors: Don A. Bukstein; Gary C. Steven; Joseph C. Steven
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992465B2

## CPC

- 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 7/0418: {with electronic history memory}
- G01C 19/00: Gyroscopes; Turn-sensitive devices using vibrating masses; Turn-sensitive devices without moving masses; Measuring angular rate using gyroscopic effects
- G01F 15/00: Details of, or accessories for, apparatus of groups G01F1/00 - G01F13/00 insofar as such details or appliances are not adapted to particular types of such apparatus
- G01P 15/00: Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
- G05B 15/02: electric
- G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers
- A61J 1/1412: {Containers with closing means, e.g. caps}
- A61J 2200/30: Compliance analysis for taking medication
- 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
- G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S)
- G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME
- G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G})
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA

## Abstract

An automated medication dispenser system is disclosed. The system includes a dispenser device comprising a medication dispensing and storage module, a dispensing drive and control mechanism, and a communications interface. A third party communications host is in communication with the dispenser device, and has administration software with executable instructions for control of the dispensing drive and control mechanism to dispense medication from the medication dispensing and storage module. The communications interface is in communication with the third party communications host.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mobile patient-operated automated medication dispenser device for dispensing controlled quantities of medication, the dispenser device comprising:
a medication dispensing and storage module that stores a pre-loaded quantity of doses of a medication and that dispenses the medication;
a dispensing drive and control mechanism to drive and control the dispensing of the medication from the medication dispensing and storage module;
a communications interface allowing two-way wireless communication with a communications host; and
a processor and a memory having localized control software with instructions executable by the processor to:
set a first dosing of medication, the first dosing of medication defining a first predetermined number of doses of the pre-loaded quantity of doses;
receive a first patient-initiated activation of the dispenser device to dispense the first dosing of medication;
control the dispensing drive and control mechanism to cause the medication dispensing and storage module to dispense the first dosing of medication based on receiving the first patient-initiated activation;
following dispensing the first dosing of medication,
receive information from the communication host via the communications interface, and
set a second dosing of medication based on the information, the second dosing of medication defining a second predetermined number of doses of the pre-loaded quantity of doses, the second predetermined number of doses being different than the first predetermined number of doses; and
following setting the second dosing of medication,
receive a second patient-initiated activation of the dispenser device to dispense the second dosing of medication, and
control the dispensing drive and control mechanism to cause the medication dispensing and storage module to dispense the second dosing of medication based on receiving the second patient-initiated activation.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The dispenser device of claim 1, further comprising a display, and wherein the localized control software includes instructions further executable by the processor to
prior to receiving a first patient-initiated activation of the dispenser, cause the display to show availability of the first dosing of medication, and
following setting the second dosing of medication, cause the display to show availability of the second dosing of medication.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The dispenser device of claim 1, further comprising an interface button, wherein the receiving the first patient-initiated activation of the dispenser device includes receiving a first signal indicative of a first actuation of the interface button, and wherein the receiving the second patient-initiated activation of the dispenser device includes receiving a second signal indicative of a second actuation of the interface button.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the localized control software includes instructions further executable by the processor to, prior to setting the first dosing of medication, receive first dosing instructions from the communication host via the communications interface,
wherein the information includes new dosing instructions,
wherein the setting the first dosing of medication is based on the first dosing instructions and the setting the second dosing of medication is based on the new dosing instructions.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined number of doses is a loading dose and the second predetermined number of doses is a treatment dose.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the communications host is selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a Bluetooth enabled device, a near field communication enabled device, a portable electronic devices, a personal computer, a notebook computer, a server computer, a mainframe, a networked computer, a handheld computer, a mobile device, a personal digital assistant, a cell phone, a smartphone, a tablet computer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The dispenser device of claim 1, wherein the receiving information from the communication host is based on a change in health status of the patient that warrants a different dosing of medication, the different dosing being the second dosing of medication.

### Claim 8

A method for monitoring and controlling dosing of medication with a mobile patient-operated automated medication dispenser device communicable with a communications host, the dispenser device having a pre-loaded quantity of doses of a medication, the method comprising:
setting a first dosing of medication, the first dosing of medication defining a first predetermined number of doses of the pre-loaded quantity of doses;
receiving a first patient-initiated activation of the dispenser device to dispense the first dosing of medication;
causing a dispensing drive and control mechanism to dispense the first dosing of medication from the medication dispensing and storage module based on receiving the first patient-initiated activation;
following dispensing the first dosing of medication,
receiving information from the communications host, and
setting a second dosing of medication based on the information, the second dosing of medication defining a second predetermined number of doses of the pre-loaded quantity of doses, the second predetermined number of doses being different than the first predetermined number of doses; and
following setting the second dosing of medication,
receiving a second patient-initiated activation of the dispenser device to dispense the second dosing of medication, and
causing the dispensing drive and control mechanism to dispense the second dosing of medication from the medication dispensing and storage module based on receiving the second patient-initiated activation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the first predetermined number of doses is a loading does and the second predetermined number of doses is a treatment dose.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the information includes new dosing instructions and wherein the setting the second dosing of medication is based on the new dosing instructions.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving first dosing instruction from the communication host, wherein the setting the first dosing of medication is based on the first dosing instruction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the information includes content, data, or content and data.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, following dispensing the first dosing of medication, further comprising:
restricting dispensing of any continuing doses without additional dosing instructions;
communicatively connecting with the communications host;
communicating to the communications host the dispensing of the first dosing of medication;
receiving the additional dosing instructions from the communications host as part of receiving the information from the communications host, the additional dosing instruction being with input of a supervising medical provider; and
following receiving the additional dosing instructions, allowing one or second dosings of medication based on the additional dosing instructions received.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the communication host is a third party host device and the third party host device is communicable with the dispensing device and a medical provider device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the information from the communication host is based on a change in health status of the patient that warrants a different dosing of medication, the different dosing being the second dosing of medication.