Apparatus and method for non-intravenously administering a medication

An apparatus for storing and dispensing a medication, comprising:

• a medication device;
• and,
• a cartridge including:
• a cavity for storing an orally-administered or injectable medication;
• and,
• a module, including at least one computer, generating and storing information regarding the orally-administered or injectable medication, wherein:
• the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to automatically generate a first medication regimen for a first patient, the first medication regimen including designation of a first measure for a first orally-administered or injectable medication;
• or automatically modify a first medication regimen for a first patient, by modifying a designation of a first measure for a first orally-administered or injectable medication;
• the medication device is arranged to:
• extract the first orally-administered or injectable medication from the cartridge;
• and,
• non-intravenously dispense a first amount of the first orally-administered or injectable medication equal to the first designated measure or the modified first designated measure into a container separated from the cartridge;
• and,
• the cartridge is insertable in and removable from the medication device.

A computer-based apparatus for dispensing a medication, comprising:

• at least one specially programmed computer;
• and,
• a medication device, wherein:
• the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to automatically generate a medication regimen for a patient, the medication regimen including designation of a measure for an orally-administered or injectable medication;
• or automatically modify a medication regimen for a patient, by modifying a designation of a measure for an orally-administered or injectable medication;
• and,
• the medication device is arranged to:
• extract the orally-administered or injectable medication from a medication storage element;
• mix a separate substance with the extracted orally-administered or injectable medication;
• non-intravenously dispense an amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication, mixed with the separate substance, equal to the designated measure or the modified designated measure into a container separate from the medication device.

A medication device for dispensing a medication, comprising:

• at least one computer;
• a cartridge;
• and,
• a dispensing element including:
• a chamber;
• and,
• a nozzle, wherein the dispensing element is arranged to:
• receive a metering control signal from the at least one computer;
• and,
• execute, in response to the metering control signal, a cycle by:
• transporting orally-administered or injectable medication from the cartridge into the chamber;
• displacing a known amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication, transported into the chamber, through the nozzle into a container separate from the cartridge;
• and,
• repeat the cycle such that a measure of the orally-administered or injectable medication displaced through the nozzle is equal an amount included in a medication regimen for the orally-administered or injectable medication.

A computer-based apparatus for dispensing a medication, comprising:

• at least one specially programmed computer;
• and,
• a medication device including:
• a cartridge;
• and,
• a dispensing element, wherein:
• the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to automatically modify a medication regimen for a patient, by modifying a designation of a measure for an orally-administered or injectable medication;
• the dispensing element is arranged to:
• extract the orally-administered or injectable medication from the cartridge;
• and,
• non-intravenously dispense an amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication equal to the modified designated measure into a container separate from the cartridge;
• the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to:
• identify an orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge;
• determine if the orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge is included in any medication regimen for the patient;
• and,
• transmit a warning signal if the orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge is not included in any medication regimen for the patient.