Controlled dispensing device

A dispensing device, comprising:

• storage means for storing a plurality of individual containers;
• dispensing means for dispensing one container at a time from said storage means, each container being dispensed by executing an individual dispensing operation regardless of the positional orientation of said dispensing device;
• said containers being supported along a flexible strip such that said strip intersects said containers along a diameter and such that the minimum spacing between said containers along said strip is substantially equal to one-third the circumference of said container;
• means for maintaining a predetermined order among the individual containers along said flexible strip so that the individual containers are dispensed in said predetermined order by said dispensing means, and for providing a predetermined spacing relationship between containers so that they can be engaged by the dispensing means;
• electronic memory means for storing data including instructions for operating the device;
• electronic time keeping means for providing time information;
• electronic logic means for interpreting and executing said instructions;
• means for supplying electrical power to the time keeping means, logic means and memory means;
• and
• a housing containing said storage means, dispensing means, sequencing means, memory means, time keeping means, logic means, and power supplying means.

A dispensing system comprising:

• one or more field units, each field unit including
• storage means storing a plurality of individual containers;
• dispensing means for dispensing one container at a time from said storage means, each container being dispensed by executing an individual dispensing operation, regardless of the positional orientation of said field unit;
• said containers being supported along a flexible strip such that said strip intersects said containers along a diameter and such that the minimum spacing between said containers along said strip is substantially equal to one-third the circumference of a said container;
• means for maintaining a predetermined order among the individual containers along the flexible strip so that the individual containers are dispensed in said predetermined order by said dispensing means, and for providing a predetermined spacing relationship between containers so that they can be engaged by the dispensing means;
• electronic memory means for storing data, including instructions for operating the device;
• electronic time keeping means for providing time information;
• electronic logic means for interpreting and executing said instructions;
• means for communicating data to/from said field unit;
• means for supplying electrical power to the time keeping means, logic means, memory and communincating means;
• and
• a housing containing said storage means, dispensing means, sequencing means, memory means, time keeping means, logic means, communicating means and power supplying means;
• and
• a base unit for transferring said data to/from said field unit and/or preparing a report of said data sent or received.

A medication dispensing device, comprising:

• medication storage means for storing a plurality of individual medication containers arranged in a predetermined sequence;
• said medication containers being supported along a flexible strip such that said strip intersects said medication containers along a diameter and such that the minimum spacing between said medication containers along said strip is substantially equal to one-third the circumference of a said medication container;
• means for storing a drug therapy schedule defining predetermined times and conditions under which medication containers should be dispensed from said medication storage means;
• dispensing means for dispensing from said medication storage means, in response to a patient manipulation thereof at one of said predetermined times of said drug therapy schedule, a medication container regardless of the positional orientation of said device;
• and
• means for storing information as to the times of actual dispensing of containers for reporting patient compliance with the drug therapy schedule.