Pill dispenser

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• a button operatively coupled to the housing, wherein the button is in operative communication with the at least one processor;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image;
• and
• dispensing the pill only when the button is pressed.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• a button operatively coupled to the housing, wherein the button is in operative communication with the at least one processor;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image;
• and
• instructing the identifying camera to capture the third image when the button is pressed.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• a button disposed on the housing;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image;
• and
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a series of images until the at least one processor identifies the presence of at least one face in a captured image of the series of captured images when the button is pressed.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• a speaker disposed within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the speaker;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image;
• and
• instructing the speaker to audibly sound a reminder when the second image includes the pill and a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image;
• and
• identifying the pill using the first image.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• a scale integrated into the receptacle, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the scale and receives a weight therefrom;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image;
• and
• identifying the pill based upon an estimated weight of the pill using the scale.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• a second pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the pill through a transparent cup bottom;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• and
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• a touch screen, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the touch screen;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• and
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• a communication component in operative communication with the at least one processor;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image;
• communicating with a server having electronic medical records stored therein using the communication component;
• querying an electronic medical record entry of the server;
• and
• determining if the biometric data from the biometric identification component corresponds to the user as indicated by the electronic medical records.

A pill dispenser, comprising:

• a housing defining an opening;
• a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening;
• a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing;
• a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
• an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing;
• at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
• a microphone in operative communication with the at least one processor;
• a speaker in operative communication with the at least one processor;
• and
• a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
• instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
• determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
• instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
• determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
• determining compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill;
• instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image;
• instructing the speaker to play an audio recording requesting a sequence of words be spoken;
• recording sound using the microphone;
• and
• authenticating a user in accordance with the sound, wherein the at least one processor authorizes the user when a voice in the sound corresponds to an authorized user.