US 7,359,765 B2Granted

Electronic pill dispenser

OwnerNicholas M. Varvarelis, Joshua Samuelsoninventors

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Abstract

An electronic pill dispenser includes a container and a cap removably attached to the container. Components of the pill dispenser include a power source, pill dispenser circuitry, a real time clock, a counter, a display, a dispensing mechanism, a sensor, a visual indicator, an audible indicator, an input/output interface, an input output port, and a communication bus electrically interconnecting the components. The pill dispenser may also include a physical indicator, a locking mechanism, a transceiver, an antenna, and a modem. The pill dispenser enhances patient compliance for following through a particular drug regimen by offsetting negative effects of memory loss and other cognitive dysfunctions, attenuation of special senses, poor eyesight, lack of patient education, etc. The pill dispenser also helps the mentally unstable. The pill dispenser reminds users and dispenses pills to authorized individuals at appropriate times, and is economical and convenient.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A portable electronic programmable pill dispenser, comprising:

a pill compartment adapted for containing a plurality of pills;
a pill dispensing mechanism located proximate said pill compartment for dispensing a single pill, said pill dispensing mechanism comprising:
a rotating wheel having a pill-shaped recess for dispensing the single pill, said rotating wheel rotating about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a vertical axis of said pill dispenser;
an upper ramp positioned within said pill dispenser, said upper ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis;
a lower ramp positioned below said upper ramp within said pill dispenser, said lower ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis, said rotating wheel being positioned between said upper and lower ramps and being further positioned adjacent an inner wall of said pill dispenser, such that the pill to be dispensed travels along said upper ramp to the pill-shaped recess of said rotating wheel, travels along a vertically downward path as said rotating wheel rotates about the horizontal axis, the pill being deposited onto said lower ramp and traveling along said lower ramp to an opening formed through a container wall of said pill dispenser;
a programming interface connected to said pill dispenser for programming said pill dispenser;
a removable locking cap attached to and covering access to said pill compartment;
an input interface disposed on said cap for inputting user authentication information that provides pill-dispensing authentication;
a real-time clock disposed on said cap for generating time signals used to trigger a user alert about a scheduled time to dispense the pill;
and
an indicator disposed on said cap capable of alerting a user about said scheduled time to dispense a pill and capable of prompting a user to input said user authentication information in order to dispense a pill.

8 more elements

A method of programming a portable electronic programmable pill dispenser, comprising the steps of:

programming the electronic programmable pill dispenser with pill dispenser parameters selected from the group consisting of a pill dosage schedule, a pill dosage amount, a pill expiration date, pill refill information, and a time interval between pill doses;
filling said pill dispenser with pills associated with said pill dispenser parameters;
inputting information to said portable electronic programmable pill dispenser selected from the group consisting of a patient name, a patient address, a pharmacist name, a pharmacy name, and a pharmacy address;
inputting user authentication information selected from the group consisting of a personal identification number (PIN), and user specific biometric information;
providing a pill dispensing mechanism located proximate a pill compartment of the pill dispenser for dispensing a single pill, said pill dispensing mechanism comprising:
a rotating wheel having a pill-shaped recess for dispensing the single pill, said rotating wheel rotating about a horizontal axis orthogonal to a vertical axis of said pill dispenser;
an upper ramp positioned within said pill dispenser, said upper ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis;
a lower ramp positioned below said upper ramp within said pill dispenser, said lower ramp being angled with respect to the vertical axis, said rotating wheel being positioned between said upper and lower ramps and being further positioned adjacent an inner wall of said pill dispenser, such that the pill to be dispensed travels along said upper ramp to the pill-shaped recess of said rotating wheel, travels along a vertically downward path as said rotating wheel rotates about the horizontal axis, the pill being deposited onto said lower ramp and traveling along said lower ramp to an opening formed through a container wall of said pill dispenser;
and,
configuring the pill dispensing mechanism of said electronic programmable pill dispenser for a specific pill shape or pill size.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/225,193Filed 14 Sep 2005 · us provisional application
Priority: 15 Sep 2004
Published: US 2006/0071011 A16 Apr 2006
Granted: 15 Apr 2008
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G07F 17/0092
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles
A61J 7/0481
With timers: working on a schedule basis
A61J 7/02
Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons ; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine:…
A61J 7/0454
With timers: for dispensing of multiple drugs