US 7,269,476 B2 · Smart medicine container

Abstract

A medicine dispensing system is provided that comprises of a medicine container with an inbuilt pill dispensing assembly which automatically dispenses a prescribed dose of medicine at prescribed times. It alerts the patient when a dose of medicine has been dispensed. The alert signal is a local audio or visual alarm or a remote reminder by phone, wireless network or internet. A modem and communication ports are provided which enable the said medicine container to communicate with remote parties like health care professionals and medical devices such as glucose meter. This feature allows remote medicine management, disease management and health education. An internal microprocessor and a memory chip control and execute electronic functions of the said medicine container. Sensors are provided to detect whether a dose has been dispensed and whether it is consumed. The said medicine container is able to record, analyze and report patient's compliance with a medicine regimen.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined number of dosages of a medicine from a bulk supply of the medicine, the dispenser having first and second opposite sides portions, comprising:

a dispensing compartment;
a storage container for receiving the bulk supply of the medicine therein, the storage container having a discharge port;
a first conveyor having inlet and outlet ends and traveling at a first rate of speed in a first direction toward the first side portion of the dispenser, the first conveyor receiving at least one dosage of medicine thereon from the discharge port and transporting the at least one dosage to the outlet end;.
a second conveyor having an inlet and outlet ends, the second conveyor traveling at a second rate of speed greater than the first rate of speed in a second direction toward the second side of the dispenser;
wherein:
the inlet end of the second conveyor receives the at least one dosage from the outlet end of the first conveyor and transports that at least one dosage to the dispensing compartment.

3 more elements

A dispenser from dispensing a predetermined number of dosages of a medicine from a bulk supply of the medicine, comprising:

a dispensing compartment;
a storage container for receiving the bulk supply of the medicine therein, the storage container having a discharge port;
a first conveyor at a predetermined acute angle to horizontal and having inlet and outlet ends, the first conveyor configured to receive at least one dosage of medicine thereon from the discharge port and to transport the at least one dosage to the outlet end;
a second conveyor at a predetermined acute angle to horizontal, and having inlet and outlet ends, the second conveyor configured to receive the at least one dosage from the outlet end of the first conveyor and to transport the at least one dosage along an upwardly inclined path to the dispensing compartment;
a first sensor positioned adjacent the outlet end of the first conveyor for counting the at least one dosage received on the second conveyor from the first conveyer;
a second sensor positioned adjacent the outlet end of the second conveyor for counting the at least one dosage deposited in the dispensing compartment;
and
a drive mechanism operatively connected to the first and second conveyors for driving the conveyors at corresponding speeds.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Smart medicine container

Life of this patent

Smart medicine container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26