Smart pill dispenser

A pod for a medication dispensing device, the pod comprising:

• a bottom piece made of an elastomeric material and holding a plurality of medications and including at least one slit that can be opened to present a passage;
• a top piece that is connected with the bottom piece, the top and bottom pieces enclosing an interior of the pod;
• the top piece including a plurality of projections that extend into the interior and contact a sidewall of the bottom piece;
• and
• wherein the top and bottom pieces are configured such that an application of a downward force on the top piece causes the projections to deform the bottom piece to open the slit and present the passage.

A method of dispensing medications from a medication dispensing device, comprising the steps of

• preparing the medication dispensing device, the medication dispensing device including a plurality of pods that are disposed within a tray, at least one of the pods including;
• a bottom piece made of an elastomeric material and holding a plurality of medications and including at least one slit that can be opened to present a passage,
• a top piece that is connected with the bottom piece, the top and bottom pieces enclosing an interior of the pod, and
• the top piece including a plurality of projections that extend into the interior and contact a sidewall of the bottom piece;
• applying a downward force to the top piece such that the projections deform the bottom piece of the at least one pod to open the slit and present the passage;
• and
• automatically dispensing at least one pill out of the at least one pod through the passage.