Pill dispensing apparatus

Abstract

An automated pill dispenser includes a plurality of pill chambers peripherally disposed about a hub. The hub includes a rotatable plate capable of rotating to a selected pill chamber and removing a pill therefrom. A vacuum tip including a bellows extends through an access opening formed within the rotatable plate to withdraw a pill from a bottom portion of the selected pill chamber by grasping the pill from above. A reflective bar code is disposed beneath the rotatable plate and detectable through an opening through the plate to indicate plate position relative to the pill chambers. A computer enables a user to programmably operable the pill dispenser and select the pill chamber, dosage amount and time.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 438,452 filed May 14, 2003, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into this application by reference.FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to medication dispensers, and more particularly, to dispensers having the ability to dispense solid pill medications on a user programmed schedule. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Pill dispensing systems that dispense pills according to a pre-programmed schedule are widely used and very valuable in today's society. It is advantageous for such pill dispensers to dispense different dosages of different pills at different frequencies and therefore at different times. Various pill dispensers are currently commercially available having multiple pill chambers and a means for dispensing pills contained within the chambers. However, each of these chambers contains only a single medication dose for a particular time. A...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The invention provides an improved pill dispensing apparatus comprising a cylindrically shaped base unit having one or more pill dispensing chambers radially aligned along the outer circumference of the base. Each pill-dispensing chamber may include a removable top which protects the pills from air borne contaminants. Each pill dispensing chamber is further composed of a vertically positioned pill storage chamber for storing a large number of one particular pill type which then transitions to a lower dispensing chamber. A portion of the lower dispensing chamber partially protrudes towards the center of the base. The transition region between the pill storage and dispensing chambers is inwardly sloped to guide the pill medication towards the protruding portion of the dispensing chamber. The top portion of the lower dispensing chamber has a hole which allows internal access to the pill medication. Thus the pill chambers are arranged around the circumference of the base providing internal access to each stored pill medication. Additionally, at least one vibrating motor may be mounted on the base to gently vibrate the chambers and assist pill movement from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber.

[0008] A DC powered suction pump having an inlet port in fluid communication with an outlet port may be further mounted on top of the rotating platform. When the vacuum pump is powered on, a vacuum is produced at the inlet port. The inlet port then connects to a flexible conduit which then further connects to the inlet port of a solenoid operable fluid switch. The outlet port of the fluid switch is in fluid communication with the atmosphere. Powering the solenoid establishes fluid communication between the atmosphere and the conduit which drastically reduces any vacuum present in the conduit. Further connected to the flexible conduit is the inlet port of a pressure transducer. The pressure transducer produces an electrical signal indicating the presence or absence of a vacuum in the flexible conduit. The flexible conduit then attaches to the top of a pill dispensing assembly.

Problems solved by technology

However, each of these chambers contains only a single medication dose for a particular time.

This user intensive technique is prone to human error, makes it difficult to maintain the correct dispensing schedule and dose, and further leads to increased health costs as the result of non-compliance.

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