47 results about "Pill count" patented technology

A semi-automated pill counting system (10) using digital imaging technology and image recognition software including a modified Hough Transform. The system (10) comprises a light source (12); a modified pharmacist's tray (14); a digital camera (16); and a personal computer (PC) (18), with the PC (18) storing and executing the image recognition software. A roughly estimated number of pills are placed upon the tray (16) and illuminated by the light source (12), whereafter a digital image of the pills is produced by the camera (16) and sent via an interface to the PC (18). The image recognition software counts the pills present in the image and displays a count result. Based upon the count result, the pharmacist adds or removes pills to the tray (14), as appropriate, to complete the process.

A stand alone imaging system is disclosed that captures undistorted, high resolution, stop-action images of objects (e.g., medicine pills) moving at automation speeds, processes the images in real time, and then performs real-time I / O based control that is a function of the image processing results. The imaging system has a form factor that enables it to be embedded inside a product (e.g., a pill dispenser). The imaging system also has a flexible I / O system so that a variety of different applications can be handled by changing only the programming and the external hardware connected to the device in which the imaging system is embedded. In the case of pill dispensing and quality control, a miniature, low cost imaging system can be embedded in a pill dispenser to obtain a pill image and then process the image in real time as the pill moves through a counting system. The embedded imaging system processes the images fast enough and with sufficient quality and resolution so as to command a pill counting mechanism to dispense or reject the pill based on the image processing results. Images of the pills can also be sent to a remote location or an archive. The embedded imaging system has sufficient processing power and I / O to control the entire pill counting mechanism. Lighting may be provided by a separate solid state lighting source which may be controlled by the embedded imaging system's camera or operated independently. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.

The disposable pill counting device is a tray formed of a disposable material and includes a sidewall to define areas for holding and dispensing pills. The disposable tray may be substantially U-shaped with a folding sidewall and can be used with a disposable spatula.

A pills counting device is provided. It comprises a tray comprising a base member and a trough member. The device also comprises a lid member mounted on the base member and being movable between two extreme positions. The device also comprises at least one port provided in the tray and / or in the lid member and adapted to be connected in fluid communication with the base member and with an air intake of a vacuum device that can be remotely controlled. When a vacuum is applied to the at least one port, an air stream is established to entrain toward the vacuum device particles that may be present on surfaces of the device. A cleaning method using the aforesaid pills counting device is also disclosed.

A pill counting tray for counting pills. The pill counting tray includes a digital counter with a sensor that can digitally count the pills as they are being moved by a wand on the tray. The pill counting tray also includes a number of small evenly spaced terrain domes on one part of the tray to prevent the pills from clumping or clustering. The pill counting tray also includes a hinged return funnel that inclines upward when the pill counting tray is placed on a counter during counting, such that the hinged funnel creates a backstop to prevent pills from rolling off of the tray. The hinged funnel will rotate downward when the pill counting tray is lifted to ease the return of excess pills to the stock bottle. A portion of the surface of the hinged funnel also includes a number of spaced terrain domes.

A pharmacist's spatula, or pill tray spatula, is provided for assisting in sorting and counting of pills and capsules comprising generally flat stainless steel blades extending from opposing ends of a generally bi-conic handle. The first blade has a straight portion less than or equal in length to a width or length of a pill counting tray, a curved portion between the straight portion and the handle and a curved and angled tip at the distal end of the first edge of the first blade. The second edge of the first blade has a notched hook, a fulcrum, and a bottle opener. The second blade is short and has the shape of a flat truncated arrow.

A computerized pill intake reminder device is disclosed. The computerized pill intake reminder device is used for storing pills, detecting the number of pills in each pouch of the blister pack, inventory management, reminding users to take their medication on time, alerting by providing an audible or a visual alarm if the medications are not taken on time and as a secondary mechanism alerting their caregiver if the user has not responded to the alert and taken the medication on time.The device includes a top housing and a bottom housing that can be rotated about each other to form a closed and sealed module. It also includes a processor that is communicatively coupled through an electronic circuit to a plurality of electronic components housed within the pill intake reminder device. These include a speaker, microphone, infrared sensors, cameras, LED lights, microphone, RFID scanner, non-volatile memory, transmitter, and a receiver. The LED lights can be programmed with various colors.The speaker is used to sound an audible alarm play an audible message at a specific time to remind the user to take their medication or provide an alert if the time has passed. The device also includes a pill storage module that has an upper and a lower packing plate. The space in between the plates is where the blister pack is inserted.The device includes a pill detection module. This module includes an infrared sensor (IR) and a camera. In operation, the processor causes the infrared sensor to detect the presence of a pill inside the pouch of the pill / blister pack and the processor causes the camera to quantify the number of pills in the pouch. The pill detection is performed by using a combination of IR Sensors, photodiodes, and a light emitting mechanism. A light beam, or an array of light beams, are passed from one side of the pouch to another and the light that passes through is read by the IR sensors and used for determining whether the pouch includes pills.The device includes a guidance system to guide the user of the pill intake reminder device to a specific pouch of the pill / blister pack for retrieving pills stored in that pouch. It does so by illuminating a light emitting diode (LED) on or around a specific pouch from which medication / pills are to be retrieved by the user. It operates by obtaining the hours of administration (HOA) schedule for the patient and then locating a pouch of the pill / blister pack that correlates with the HOA schedule. Once located, the pouch is illuminated for guidance.The device includes a display that can be used for providing visual alerts, videos, or recorded messages for instructing the user for taking the pills.The device uses a transmitter to send alerts to mobile phone for reminding the user to take the medication as well as sending an alert for missing or noncompliance.The radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is used to verify that a correct pill / blister pack, the one that is associated with the user / patient is being inserted into the device. The verifying process includes scanning an RFID tag located on the blister pack and matching it to patient information.The device also performs periodic inventory of the pills in the blister pack. This includes using an infrared sensor housed within the electronic module to determine the presence of one or more pills in the pouch and using a camera housed underneath the pouch to image and count the number of pills that are in the pouch. The inventory serves as an error check to ensure that the right number of pills from the right pouch were taken by the user at their HOA. The pill inventory system also is used to re-order more medication, if allowed by the prescription, when it detects that it is time to replenish them.