Pill dispensisng device providing overdosage protection

Abstract

A medication dispensing device for providing medication doses within selected periods of time. The device comprises a housing unit defining a first and second opening, a medication containment unit, a request signal generating unit, a dispensing unit, a medication collection unit, and a control unit. The medication containment unit includes a plurality of sealed dosage compartments received within the first opening in the housing. Each of the dosage compartments has an associated time period during which the dosages may be dispensed. The request signal generating unit generates a request signal. The dispensing unit causes medication doses that are requested within their respective time periods to be dispensed from the device through the second opening. The medication collection unit prevents medication doses that are not requested within their respective time periods from being dispensed from the device. The control unit controls the dispensing unit and the medication collection unit, responsive to the request signal and the time periods.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.