Interactive medication delivery system for medication prepackaged in blister packs

A dispensing system for medication prepacked in sealed containers comprising

• a housing,
• means in the housing for removably receiving at least two medication dispensing devices, each medication dispensing device comprising
• wall means defining a storage compartment for holding at least two of the medication containers in a vertically stacked orientation, one above the other, that includes an upper-most container and a lower-most container, the wall means including
• an upper wall,
• a side wall having a discharge opening adjacent the upper wall,
• a push member movable in a horizontal path that is aligned with the discharge opening, the push member being movable in its horizontal path between a first position spaced from the discharge opening and a second position adjacent the discharge opening,
• spring means for continuously urging the stack of containers toward the upper wall and for holding the upper-most container against the upper wall in alignment with the discharge opening, and
• means for reciprocating the push member between its first and second positions, the push member being operative, when moved from its first position toward its second position, for electing the then upper-most container from the compartment through the discharge opening, and, when moved from its second position toward its first position, for allowing the next upper-most container to be urged against the upper wall into alignment with the discharge opening in response to the spring means, and
• system control means associated with the first and second dispensing devices for actuating the reciprocating means associated with the first dispensing device in response to a first medication criteria and for actuating the reciprocating means associated with the second dispensing device in response to a second medication criteria different from the first medication criteria.

A dispensing device for medication prepacked in sealed containers comprising

• wall means defining a storage compartment for holding at least two of the medication containers in a vertically stacked orientation, one above the other, that includes an upper-most container and a lower-most container, the wall means including
• an upper wall,
• a side wall having a discharge opening adjacent the upper wall,
• a push member movable in a horizontal path that is aligned with the discharge opening, the push member being movable in its horizontal path between a first position spaced from the discharge opening and a second position adjacent the discharge opening,
• spring means for continuously urging the stack of containers toward the upper wall and for holding the upper-most container against the upper wall in alignment with the discharge opening,
• means for reciprocating the push member between its first and second positions, the push member being operative, when moved from its first position toward its second position, for ejecting the then upper-most container from the compartment through the discharge opening, and, when moved from its second position toward its first position, for allowing the next upper-most container to be urged against the upper wall into alignment with the discharge opening in response to the spring means, and
• means for interrupting movement of the push member toward its second position when push member movement is impeded.