US5582323A — Medication dispenser and monitor

Claim 1

Independent Claim 82 words

A medication dispensing and monitoring system comprising: a housing; a plurality of pill dispensing compartments coupled to said housing; a servo mechanism operatively coupled to said pill dispensing compartments; a processor, said processor electrically coupled to said servo mechanism for dispensing a predetermined amount of medication from at least one of said pill dispensing compartments at a predetermined time; a radio receiver electrically coupled to said processor; and a communication-line interface operatively coupled to said processor for communication with a remote device.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 82 words

A medication dispensing and monitoring system comprising: a housing; a plurality of pill dispensing compartments coupled to said housing; a servo mechanism operatively coupled to said pill dispensing compartments; a processor, said processor electrically coupled to said servo mechanism for dispensing a predetermined amount of medication from at least one of said pill dispensing compartments at a predetermined time; a radio receiver electrically coupled to said processor; and a communication-line interface operatively coupled to said processor for communication with a remote device.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said communication line interface is a telephone line interface.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said communication line interface is a computer port interface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of pill dispensing compartments is comprised of 31 ill dispensing compartments.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising: a remote radio transmitter capable of transmitting signals to said receiver.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 5 wherein said radio transmitter is a digitally coded miniature pendant transmitter.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 2 further comprising a built in telephone coupled to said communication interface.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 16 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 7 wherein said telephone is a speaker phone.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said pill dispensing compartments are arranged along a generally vertical plane.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 87 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising: a medication tray for receiving medication from said pill dispensing compartments when said servo mechanism is activated; a sensor operatively coupled to said medication tray for sensing when said medication tray is manipulated by the patient; an alarm operatively coupled to said sensor and said processor, said alarm being activated after a predetermined amount of time if said pill dispensing compartments dispense medicine and said sensor does not sense that said medication tray has been manipulated.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 13 words

The medication dispensing monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said alarm is visual.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 14 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said alarm is audible.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 43 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 10 wherein a signal is sent through said communication line interface after a predetermined amount of time if said medication is dispensed and said sensor does not sense that said medication tray has been manipulated.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a display coupled to said housing and said processor for displaying information.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a home/away switch coupled to said housing for interrupting the medication dispensing procedure.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 24 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising a lock coupled to said housing for securing said medication within said system.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 87 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 1 further comprising: a medication tray for receiving medication from said pill dispensing compartments when said servo mechanism is activated; a sensor operatively coupled to said medication tray for sensing when said medication tray is manipulated by the patient; an alarm operatively coupled to said sensor and said processor, said alarm being activated after a predetermined amount of time if said pill dispensing compartments dispense medicine and said sensor does not sense that said medication tray has been manipulated.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 17 wherein a signal is sent through said communication line interface after a predetermined amount of time if said medication is dispensed and said sensor does not sense that said medication tray has been manipulated.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 93 words

A method of dispensing and monitoring medication to a patient comprising the steps of: providing a housing including a plurality of pill dispensing compartments; filing at least one of said pill dispensing compartments with a predetermined amount of medication; dispensing each of said predetermined amount of medication at predetermined times; sensing whether the patient has acknowledged that medication was dispensed; activating an alarm if the patient fails to acknowledge that said medication was dispensed; sending a signal to a remote monitoring center if the patient fails to acknowledge that said medication was dispensed.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 93 words

A method of dispensing and monitoring medication to a patient comprising the steps of: providing a housing including a plurality of pill dispensing compartments; filing at least one of said pill dispensing compartments with a predetermined amount of medication; dispensing each of said predetermined amount of medication at predetermined times; sensing whether the patient has acknowledged that medication was dispensed; activating an alarm if the patient fails to acknowledge that said medication was dispensed; sending a signal to a remote monitoring center if the patient fails to acknowledge that said medication was dispensed.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of providing two-way hands-free communication between the patient and emergency personnel when said signal is sent to the remote monitoring center.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of: providing a processor operatively coupled to said pill dispensing compartments; and programming said processor to dispense said medication at said predetermined times.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 19 further comprising the steps of: providing a radio receiver within said housing; and providing a remote radio transmitter for sending a radio signal to said radio receiver when activated by a patient.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 91 words

A medication dispensing and monitoring system comprising: a housing; a plurality of pill dispensing compartments coupled to said housing; a servo mechanism operatively coupled to said pill dispensing compartments; a processor, said processor electrically coupled to said servo mechanism for dispensing and monitoring a predetermined amount of medication from at least one of said pill dispensing compartments at a predetermined time; and a communication-line interface operatively coupled to said processor for communication with a remote device, said communication being initiated by said processor based on said monitoring of the dispensed medication.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 91 words

A medication dispensing and monitoring system comprising: a housing; a plurality of pill dispensing compartments coupled to said housing; a servo mechanism operatively coupled to said pill dispensing compartments; a processor, said processor electrically coupled to said servo mechanism for dispensing and monitoring a predetermined amount of medication from at least one of said pill dispensing compartments at a predetermined time; and a communication-line interface operatively coupled to said processor for communication with a remote device, said communication being initiated by said processor based on said monitoring of the dispensed medication.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

The medication dispensing and monitoring system of claim 23 further comprising: a radio receiver electrically coupled to said processor; and a remote radio transmitter capable of transmitting signals to said receiver.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

The medication dispensing monitoring system of claim 24 wherein said radio transmitter is a digitally coded miniature pendant transmitter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-12-10	2000-06-10	2000-12-10	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-12-10	2004-06-10	2004-12-10	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-12-10	2008-06-10	2008-12-10	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Medication dispenser and monitor

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag