CA1251564A - Programmable medical dispenser - Google Patents
Programmable medical dispenserInfo
- Publication number
- CA1251564A CA1251564A CA000542126A CA542126A CA1251564A CA 1251564 A CA1251564 A CA 1251564A CA 000542126 A CA000542126 A CA 000542126A CA 542126 A CA542126 A CA 542126A CA 1251564 A CA1251564 A CA 1251564A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- dispenser
- containers
- closed position
- moved
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0481—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers working on a schedule basis
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0418—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with electronic history memory
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0427—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
- A61J7/0436—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0454—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers for dispensing of multiple drugs
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A programmable dispenser for medication with a number of containers , each container being intended to hold a particular type of medication . The dispenser contains a number of openings with one of the containers being positioned in each opening, the containers being moveable between a closed position and a first position which provides access to medication in the containers . The dispenser also includes a means to insert information into a memory and to display this information for one of the containers when that container is moved away from a closed position . This information includes the amount of medication in the contain-er and a prescribed amount to be taken . Another means is provided to subtract this prescribed amount from the amount in the container as the container is moved to or from the first position and to insert this revised amount into the memory .
A programmable dispenser for medication with a number of containers , each container being intended to hold a particular type of medication . The dispenser contains a number of openings with one of the containers being positioned in each opening, the containers being moveable between a closed position and a first position which provides access to medication in the containers . The dispenser also includes a means to insert information into a memory and to display this information for one of the containers when that container is moved away from a closed position . This information includes the amount of medication in the contain-er and a prescribed amount to be taken . Another means is provided to subtract this prescribed amount from the amount in the container as the container is moved to or from the first position and to insert this revised amount into the memory .
Description
12S~S1~4 The present inve~tion is directed to a programmable caddy or dispenser with a number of containers for diff-erent types o~ items which may be required at different periods of time .
One type of dispenser is shown in U.S. Patent 4,572,376 which describes a dial pill bo~ in the form of a circular container with a plurality of arcuate storage compartments separated hy radial walls , the walls forming sectors with each sector correspondi~g to the day of a week with storage compartments formed by sub-dividing the radial walls by ~nnular walls . A lower rotatable circular lid is positioned aboYe the container and has a single radial sector storage compartme~t access opening correspond-ing in shape to one of the sectors so that this opffning can be positioned over one of the sectors ~ An upper rotatable lid is positioned over the lower lid and has a plurality of radial and circumferentially spaced arcuate access openings corresponding in shape to a storage compar-tment .Each of the openings i~ the upper lid correspond to a particular time of a day so that as the upper lid is rotated , the access openings i~ the upper and lower lid overlap to provide access to one particular storage compar-tment .
Another type of dispenser is shown in U.S. Patent 4,617,557 which describes a multicompartment container for housing an individual dose of a medici~e i~ each compart-ment . A timer means is shown for timing a desired time period between dispensing of doses of the medicine which timing means generates a signal at the end of a time period to sound an alarm , A setting means is provided for setting the desired time period . This dispenser also includes a scanning and memory means to scan the compart-~Z~15t~,4 ments and record whether the individual doses of medicinehave been dispensed .
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispenser which is programmahle and has a numher of containers , each container bein~ intended to hold an amount of a particular item , the dispenser having means to record informatio~ pertai~in~ to said item in a memory and means to display said ir,formatior, when said container is removed rom a closed position .
A urther ohject of the inve~tion i5 to provide a means to record the amount of said item left in said container , mear,s to display said amount a~d means to charLge this amou~t by a prescrihed amour,t each time said container is moved to or from a first position .
A further object of the irLvention is to provide means to insert information pertai~i ng to the items ir, each of the containers into said memory , said information being a prescription for the items and ircludes said prescribed amount and prescrihed times for the items , said memory including mear,s to provide a signPl to activate an alarm when a container is not removed from the closed position withirL a predetermined period of time prior to a prescribed time for that particular container .
A further object of the ir,vention is to provide a further signal from said memory to activate a signal device when the amount of an item left in one of the containers is less than a predetermined amount for that container .
A preerred embodiment o the invention consists of a progra~mable dispenser having a number o~ openings , a container being located in each of the openings wherein each container is movable betwee-n a closed position and a first position which provides access to said container , lZ~15t~4 the dispenser including first means to insert information into a memory and to display this information for one of the containers when said one container is moued away fro~
said closed position , the in~ormation including the amourt o~ an item in said one container and a prescribed amount for that item , a secon~ means heing provided to rev~ise said. amourt by said prescribed amount when said one cont-ainer is moved to or from. said first position and to insert this revised amour,t into said memor~ .
A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the irst means includes at least one activator ~or each container , the activator for said one container operating a ~irst electrical switch when said one container is moved away from said closed position to activate said display , a further electrical switch being operated when said one container is moved to said first position , said further electrical switch activating a subtraction means which subtracts said prescribed amount from the displayed amount A further emhodiment is characterized in that said subtraction means is a subtraction circuit and said further electrical switch sets said subtraction circuit to said prescribed amount when said one container is moved to said first position a~d subtracts this prescribed amount from the amount of an item left in said one container providing a revised amount. which is inserted into said memory .
A further embodiment is characterized in that each container fits onto a movable slide mounted in said dispenser which slide is movable out of and into one of the openings as said one container is moved from said closed position to said first position and back to said closed - position respectively , a further activator being located on said slide and positioned to activate said further 12~S~4 electrical switch when said one container and associated slide is moved to or ~rom said first position .
A further embodiment i5 characterized in that a~ additi-onal means is provided to prevent any other container being removed from a closed position after one of the containers has been removed from a closed position .
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is for a container for a programmable dispenser which container includes an upper contairLer portion. ~itted i~to a base portion in a lC telescoping manrer 9 a ri~ on the upper part o~ the base portio~ co-acting with a rim on the lower part of the upper container portion to prevent said upper container portion being separated from said base , a resilient means. being located between said base and said upper container portio~
to press these portions apart to a limit allowed by the rims , an activator ~or an electrical switch. being located on said upper container portion .
A further embodime~t of said container is characterized in. that said activator is provided on a projection extending from a surface o~ the upper container ar~d said upper container is movable to a limited e~tent in a direction at right angles to the direc.tion of movement when said upper container is pressed against said resilient means towards a lower part of said base .
A further embodiment of said container is characterized in that said projection is shaped to interlock with. a surface of a recess inside the dispenser when said container is in a closed positio~ in the dispenser and said upper container portion is spaced apart from the lower part of the base by the ma~imum amount allowed by the rims , said projection being removable from said recess by pressing the upper container portion against said resilient means towards a lo~rer part of the base .
lZ~5~
~ nother embodiment of the invention is directed to a keyboard for activating a display which display consists of a number of character displays , each character display being formed by an array of a number ~ of display elements located in positiona so that a number of characters can he formed by activating particular ones of the elements , the keyhoard having N activator buttons which are arranged in the same type of array aa the display elements and at least one further activator button to advance the diaplay from one character to the ne~t wherein each of the N
activator buttons activatea a corresponding display element in their array .
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :
Fig. 1 shows a programmable diapenser illustrating , in particular , a front of the dispanaer ;
Fig. 2 shows a side view of a contai~er for a dispenser as shown in Fig. 1 including a slide on which the container is located ;
Fig. 3 showa a front view of the container shown in Fig. 2 ;
Fig. 4 shows a top view of the container shown in Fig. 2 , and Figures 5 to 7 illustrate the positions of a a projection on one of the containers and its interaction with internal parta of the dispenser as a container is removed from its closed position .
12~1S~4 An embodiment of on~ type of dispenser 1 is shown in Fig. 1 which illustrates , in particular , a front panel ha~ing a number of ope~ings 3 or 3' in which containers 2 or 2' ( 1 to ~) are located . The containers are fitted onto slidab-le trays 4 or 4' which are movable from a closed positionoutwards to a position where medication in a container is accessible . The opening 3" is shown without its assocaated container and tray . The container 2' is shown as heing larger than the others a~d i5 ir,tended to hold liquid medication in a bottle whereas the other containers 2 are intended to hold medication i~ the for~ of pills . ~his front panel is provided with an array of push buttons or bars 6 labelled a,b~---k~l for inserting in~or~atio~ i~to a memory and a number of liquid crystal display panels lahel--ed 8 or 9 are provided to displa~ this ;nformation as itis being e~tered and to display this information ohtained from a memory whe~ required . This ~ro~t pa~el also has a~
array of push butto~s 7 for co~trol of the displays as information is heing provided and for inserting this inform-ation ir,to the memory .
Fig. 1 also shows a lock 10 for the dispenser anda speaker 13 located on the right side of the dispenser .
This speaker ( heeper or buzzer ) is intended to sound a~
alarm when one of the medications is not taken within a prescribed period of time .
The array o~ huttons 6 , which are shown in this case as bars , are prcvided so that elderly people with limited mobility of their fingers can mora easily enter information into the memory . The bars 6 are arranged in the same pattern as that used in a liquid crystaL or L~D display for a single letter or number so that when one of the bars is activated ar, equivalent portion ( line ) of one of the display symbols is activated . Therefore , if a person wished to display the number 6 , bars g,e,c,a,k,i 3 i~SlStj~
and d Yould be pushsd and to display the letter 1~ bars c,eSf,h,i and k would he activated . ~nce one of the requ-ired symbol is formed on a display , this display can be advanced to the next symbol hy means o~ one of the push buttons i~ array 7 . In this manner ir~formation with regard to a particular type of medication in one of the contain-ers can be displayed , This in~ormation can the~ be entered into a memory by activating another one o~ the huttors in array 7 . Ohviously a standard keyboard could be utilized when the spacing bet~een the keys is not a li~iting factor ~or the user of t~e dicpe~ser .
Furctio~s which ca~ he controlled by the huttons in array 7 could include a cancel hutton ~or the laat symhol in case an error is made ar,d a button to advance the display from , for instance , the top display panel 9 to the other display panel 9 and similarly ~or the other display panels 8 .
In the case where the displays 8 and 9 are activated in a particular sequence , each of the displays shown on the panel would be advanced in a particular order . Thus , the name of a medication for one of the containers could be entered an~ shown in the top display 9 , then the timea this medication is to be taken could be e~tered a~d shown in the other display 9 , then the amount of ~edication placed in that container in the r.ext display 8 on the let side of the panel a~ the display immediately belo~
could indicate the amount of medicatio~ to be taken at a particular time . A further display 8 on the Ieft side could display the date at which this particular container would be empty and a refiII of the medici~e would be required . The date when a refill is required can be obtained from a calendar in an i~ternal memory ~ the pre-- sent date and the amount of medication in the container 12S~4 along with t~e amount to be taken each day . The lower display 8 on the right side of the panel could indicate the number of days left hefore a re~ill is required for the medication in a particular container and provide a warning signal by a flashiri~ display when the n~m~er o~
days left is below Q predetermined amour,t ~ for instance days . A further signal or signals such as from sEeaker 13 or a signal light could additionly he activated when the number of days le~t is below another predetermi~ed smaller~ amount . In this ~nn Pr , a clear i~dication is provided for a perso~ as to whe~ a r~fill of each medication is required an~ hy pro~idi~g a display o~ the date by which a refill is required it is possible to make certai~ that any of the medications which require a new prescription would not run out hefore a next appoint-ment with a doctor ~
A side view of one embodi~ent of a container 2 and a slidable tray 4 is shown in Eig. 2 with Fig. 3 showing a front view and Fig. 4 showing a top view of co~tainer
One type of dispenser is shown in U.S. Patent 4,572,376 which describes a dial pill bo~ in the form of a circular container with a plurality of arcuate storage compartments separated hy radial walls , the walls forming sectors with each sector correspondi~g to the day of a week with storage compartments formed by sub-dividing the radial walls by ~nnular walls . A lower rotatable circular lid is positioned aboYe the container and has a single radial sector storage compartme~t access opening correspond-ing in shape to one of the sectors so that this opffning can be positioned over one of the sectors ~ An upper rotatable lid is positioned over the lower lid and has a plurality of radial and circumferentially spaced arcuate access openings corresponding in shape to a storage compar-tment .Each of the openings i~ the upper lid correspond to a particular time of a day so that as the upper lid is rotated , the access openings i~ the upper and lower lid overlap to provide access to one particular storage compar-tment .
Another type of dispenser is shown in U.S. Patent 4,617,557 which describes a multicompartment container for housing an individual dose of a medici~e i~ each compart-ment . A timer means is shown for timing a desired time period between dispensing of doses of the medicine which timing means generates a signal at the end of a time period to sound an alarm , A setting means is provided for setting the desired time period . This dispenser also includes a scanning and memory means to scan the compart-~Z~15t~,4 ments and record whether the individual doses of medicinehave been dispensed .
An object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispenser which is programmahle and has a numher of containers , each container bein~ intended to hold an amount of a particular item , the dispenser having means to record informatio~ pertai~in~ to said item in a memory and means to display said ir,formatior, when said container is removed rom a closed position .
A urther ohject of the inve~tion i5 to provide a means to record the amount of said item left in said container , mear,s to display said amount a~d means to charLge this amou~t by a prescrihed amour,t each time said container is moved to or from a first position .
A further object of the irLvention is to provide means to insert information pertai~i ng to the items ir, each of the containers into said memory , said information being a prescription for the items and ircludes said prescribed amount and prescrihed times for the items , said memory including mear,s to provide a signPl to activate an alarm when a container is not removed from the closed position withirL a predetermined period of time prior to a prescribed time for that particular container .
A further object of the ir,vention is to provide a further signal from said memory to activate a signal device when the amount of an item left in one of the containers is less than a predetermined amount for that container .
A preerred embodiment o the invention consists of a progra~mable dispenser having a number o~ openings , a container being located in each of the openings wherein each container is movable betwee-n a closed position and a first position which provides access to said container , lZ~15t~4 the dispenser including first means to insert information into a memory and to display this information for one of the containers when said one container is moued away fro~
said closed position , the in~ormation including the amourt o~ an item in said one container and a prescribed amount for that item , a secon~ means heing provided to rev~ise said. amourt by said prescribed amount when said one cont-ainer is moved to or from. said first position and to insert this revised amour,t into said memor~ .
A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the irst means includes at least one activator ~or each container , the activator for said one container operating a ~irst electrical switch when said one container is moved away from said closed position to activate said display , a further electrical switch being operated when said one container is moved to said first position , said further electrical switch activating a subtraction means which subtracts said prescribed amount from the displayed amount A further emhodiment is characterized in that said subtraction means is a subtraction circuit and said further electrical switch sets said subtraction circuit to said prescribed amount when said one container is moved to said first position a~d subtracts this prescribed amount from the amount of an item left in said one container providing a revised amount. which is inserted into said memory .
A further embodiment is characterized in that each container fits onto a movable slide mounted in said dispenser which slide is movable out of and into one of the openings as said one container is moved from said closed position to said first position and back to said closed - position respectively , a further activator being located on said slide and positioned to activate said further 12~S~4 electrical switch when said one container and associated slide is moved to or ~rom said first position .
A further embodiment i5 characterized in that a~ additi-onal means is provided to prevent any other container being removed from a closed position after one of the containers has been removed from a closed position .
Another preferred embodiment of the invention is for a container for a programmable dispenser which container includes an upper contairLer portion. ~itted i~to a base portion in a lC telescoping manrer 9 a ri~ on the upper part o~ the base portio~ co-acting with a rim on the lower part of the upper container portion to prevent said upper container portion being separated from said base , a resilient means. being located between said base and said upper container portio~
to press these portions apart to a limit allowed by the rims , an activator ~or an electrical switch. being located on said upper container portion .
A further embodime~t of said container is characterized in. that said activator is provided on a projection extending from a surface o~ the upper container ar~d said upper container is movable to a limited e~tent in a direction at right angles to the direc.tion of movement when said upper container is pressed against said resilient means towards a lower part of said base .
A further embodiment of said container is characterized in that said projection is shaped to interlock with. a surface of a recess inside the dispenser when said container is in a closed positio~ in the dispenser and said upper container portion is spaced apart from the lower part of the base by the ma~imum amount allowed by the rims , said projection being removable from said recess by pressing the upper container portion against said resilient means towards a lo~rer part of the base .
lZ~5~
~ nother embodiment of the invention is directed to a keyboard for activating a display which display consists of a number of character displays , each character display being formed by an array of a number ~ of display elements located in positiona so that a number of characters can he formed by activating particular ones of the elements , the keyhoard having N activator buttons which are arranged in the same type of array aa the display elements and at least one further activator button to advance the diaplay from one character to the ne~t wherein each of the N
activator buttons activatea a corresponding display element in their array .
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings , in which :
Fig. 1 shows a programmable diapenser illustrating , in particular , a front of the dispanaer ;
Fig. 2 shows a side view of a contai~er for a dispenser as shown in Fig. 1 including a slide on which the container is located ;
Fig. 3 showa a front view of the container shown in Fig. 2 ;
Fig. 4 shows a top view of the container shown in Fig. 2 , and Figures 5 to 7 illustrate the positions of a a projection on one of the containers and its interaction with internal parta of the dispenser as a container is removed from its closed position .
12~1S~4 An embodiment of on~ type of dispenser 1 is shown in Fig. 1 which illustrates , in particular , a front panel ha~ing a number of ope~ings 3 or 3' in which containers 2 or 2' ( 1 to ~) are located . The containers are fitted onto slidab-le trays 4 or 4' which are movable from a closed positionoutwards to a position where medication in a container is accessible . The opening 3" is shown without its assocaated container and tray . The container 2' is shown as heing larger than the others a~d i5 ir,tended to hold liquid medication in a bottle whereas the other containers 2 are intended to hold medication i~ the for~ of pills . ~his front panel is provided with an array of push buttons or bars 6 labelled a,b~---k~l for inserting in~or~atio~ i~to a memory and a number of liquid crystal display panels lahel--ed 8 or 9 are provided to displa~ this ;nformation as itis being e~tered and to display this information ohtained from a memory whe~ required . This ~ro~t pa~el also has a~
array of push butto~s 7 for co~trol of the displays as information is heing provided and for inserting this inform-ation ir,to the memory .
Fig. 1 also shows a lock 10 for the dispenser anda speaker 13 located on the right side of the dispenser .
This speaker ( heeper or buzzer ) is intended to sound a~
alarm when one of the medications is not taken within a prescribed period of time .
The array o~ huttons 6 , which are shown in this case as bars , are prcvided so that elderly people with limited mobility of their fingers can mora easily enter information into the memory . The bars 6 are arranged in the same pattern as that used in a liquid crystaL or L~D display for a single letter or number so that when one of the bars is activated ar, equivalent portion ( line ) of one of the display symbols is activated . Therefore , if a person wished to display the number 6 , bars g,e,c,a,k,i 3 i~SlStj~
and d Yould be pushsd and to display the letter 1~ bars c,eSf,h,i and k would he activated . ~nce one of the requ-ired symbol is formed on a display , this display can be advanced to the next symbol hy means o~ one of the push buttons i~ array 7 . In this manner ir~formation with regard to a particular type of medication in one of the contain-ers can be displayed , This in~ormation can the~ be entered into a memory by activating another one o~ the huttors in array 7 . Ohviously a standard keyboard could be utilized when the spacing bet~een the keys is not a li~iting factor ~or the user of t~e dicpe~ser .
Furctio~s which ca~ he controlled by the huttons in array 7 could include a cancel hutton ~or the laat symhol in case an error is made ar,d a button to advance the display from , for instance , the top display panel 9 to the other display panel 9 and similarly ~or the other display panels 8 .
In the case where the displays 8 and 9 are activated in a particular sequence , each of the displays shown on the panel would be advanced in a particular order . Thus , the name of a medication for one of the containers could be entered an~ shown in the top display 9 , then the timea this medication is to be taken could be e~tered a~d shown in the other display 9 , then the amount of ~edication placed in that container in the r.ext display 8 on the let side of the panel a~ the display immediately belo~
could indicate the amount of medicatio~ to be taken at a particular time . A further display 8 on the Ieft side could display the date at which this particular container would be empty and a refiII of the medici~e would be required . The date when a refill is required can be obtained from a calendar in an i~ternal memory ~ the pre-- sent date and the amount of medication in the container 12S~4 along with t~e amount to be taken each day . The lower display 8 on the right side of the panel could indicate the number of days left hefore a re~ill is required for the medication in a particular container and provide a warning signal by a flashiri~ display when the n~m~er o~
days left is below Q predetermined amour,t ~ for instance days . A further signal or signals such as from sEeaker 13 or a signal light could additionly he activated when the number of days le~t is below another predetermi~ed smaller~ amount . In this ~nn Pr , a clear i~dication is provided for a perso~ as to whe~ a r~fill of each medication is required an~ hy pro~idi~g a display o~ the date by which a refill is required it is possible to make certai~ that any of the medications which require a new prescription would not run out hefore a next appoint-ment with a doctor ~
A side view of one embodi~ent of a container 2 and a slidable tray 4 is shown in Eig. 2 with Fig. 3 showing a front view and Fig. 4 showing a top view of co~tainer
2 ~ Referring to Fig. 2 , the contai~er 2 consists of a top container portion 20 with a lower portion 21 of smaller dimensions joined to the top portion 20 by a step as shown in Figures 2 and 3 . This smaller lower portion 21 is pro~ided at its bottom with an outwardly extending flange 22 which is located inside a separate bottom part 23 and held in this botto~ 23 by an inwardly exte~ding flange 24 o~ the top of part 23 so that the top cont-ainer portion 20 and bottom part 23 are held together in a telescoping manner and pre~ented from separating by rims 22 and 24 . The top container portion 20 and hottom 23 are resiliently pushed apart to the limits allowed by rims 22 and 24 by a resilient foam plastic pad 25 loca-ted between the botto~ of the top container portion 20 l;~S~S~
and a bottom of a recess in bottom part 23 . Any type of resilient means could be used such as leaf springs .In addition ~ the top portion is provided at its front surface with a handle 27 so that the container 2 can be moved from a closed position ir,side an opening 3 in dispenser outwards to a position where medication in the top container portion 20 is accessible by an user . The top container portion 20 is shown in this case as having a removable cover 28 and 29 for illustration purposes only . Various types of covers could he used . Furthermore ~ the rear sur~ace o~ the top container portion is provid~d with a rearwardly projecting part 26 as show~ in Figures 2 and 4 whose purpose will be further explained with re~erence to Fi~ures 5 to 7 .
The bottom part 23 of container 2 is removable fitted into a top recess 41 of a front upper part 40 of a tray 4 which is slidable fro~ a closed positio~ in an opening 3 in dispenser 1 outward~ to an outer position.
The outward movement of tray 4 is limited by a stop which is not shown . The tray 4 has a central lower guide rail 43 which slides in a lower opening 14 in the bottom o~ opening3 as shown in ~ig. 1 . The opening 14 and guide rail 43 are shown with sloped sides so that their upper dimensions are smaller than their lower to prevent movement of the tray 4 in an upward direction .
The previously mentioned stop could be formed by a proje-cting portion at the rear of guide rail 43 which abuts against the front panel as the tray 4 is mo~ed outward .
Tne slidable tray 4 can be supported by rearwardly extending walls located at the sides of openings 3 which walls contain a groove in which the sides and top arAd bottom edges of the tray 4 fits . In this case the guide rail 43 need only extend a short distance beyond the ~i156~
depth of the container 2 while , at least , the sides o~
the tray 4 extend rearwardly a further distance ir. order to provide the necessary support in the groo~es for the tray as it is slid to an outer position . ~lternati~ely the guide rail 43 could be e~tended rearwardly as shown in Fig. 2 . In the latter case , the extended guide rail 43 is supported hy an opening ( not shown ) in a~ inter-nal wall in the dispenser which wall is parallel to the front panel . Preferahly the e~tensio~ of guide rail 43 is pro~ided with top horizontal projectiors 42 on each side to strengthen t'ne guide rail 43 in. a horizontal direction and t.o provide a more solid hearing sur~ace in the opening i~ the internal wall ~ These horiæontal proiection~ 42 pro~ide a T shaped cross-sectio~ for the extended portion o~ the guide rail 43 and the opening in the internal wall .
The purpose of projection 26 on the rear surface of a lower part of the top portion o~ container 2 w;ll now he explained in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 7 .
This short projection 26 has a similar shape to that of guide rail 43 in that , i~. top view as shown in Fig. 4 , the projection 26 has. sloped sides so that the portion of projection 26 most remote from container 2 has a larger width tha~ the portior. of projection 26 which is attached to and integral with the rear surface of the top contairer portion 20 . An interDal wall 30 ir. the dispenser is parallel to the front panel ard at each opening 3 or 3' contains a forwardly projecting part 31 ( see the empty opening 3" in Fig. 1 ) containing a recess 31' in which the projection 26 fits in the closed positi-ons of the containers 2 as shown in Fig. 5 .The recess31' and projectio~s 26 ha~e similar shaped sloped sides with the left side of recess 31' being located so that it is perpendicular to the front panel .
~S~5~j~
~ mo~ahle panel 32 ( shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 ) is located in front of wall 30 and contains opening,s 33 which surround the projections 31 with the tops of openings 33 heing slidable along the top surface of projections 31 .
The height of openings 33 are only slightly larger than that of proiections 31 whereas the width of openings 33 are larger than that of projections 31 as shown in Fig. 5 .
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the position of one of the openings 33 as an associated container 2 is moYed fro~ a clos~d position to a position at which that container can be re~o~ed ~ro~ the dispenser .Eig. 5 shows the w~l 30 , pa~el 32 and projection 26 in a horizontal cross-sectior, ~iew with the proiection 26 heing located in the recess 31' so the sloped walls of the projection 26 and recess 31' pre~ent the container 2 ~rom being mo~ed outwardly .
The opening 33 has a lower opening 34 as showr~ in Figures 6 and 7 which opening is locate~ directly helou the recess 31' when the container is in a closed position as shown i~ Fig. 6 . By mo~ing the upper portion of the container downwards against the resilient means 25 , the projections 26 can be lowered from the recess 31' and placed ir, the opening 34 . The opening 34 is just wide enough to allow the widest part of projection 26 to pass outwardly .
The projection 26 is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 by a cross-section ~ie~ at a narrower portion of the pro-jection identified as 26' . The le~t side of projection 31 extends downward iust to the top of opening 34 where-as the right side of this projection extends further do~nward , as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 , to a dist ance where the right side wall of the recess 31' and projection 26 can still preYent outward mo~e~ent o~ a container 2 . By twisting the upper portion of container 2 l~SlS~
so that the projection 26 is moved to the left results in the panel 32 also bein~ moved to the le~t at which position the container can be moved outwardly . This places at least part of the right botto~ edge of opening 33 beneath the recess 31' , the downwardly extending right side of proiection 31 being spaced rearwardly a short distance to allow the right edge o~ opening 34 to pass ir, ~ront of it . This places alL of, the openings, 33 in, positions beneath the recesses 31' which blocks and pre~ents ar~y o~' the other containers fr,om being removed _ As the container which is located in the ~eft position ( see Fig. 7 ) is pulled outwardly , the le~t side o~ proiec:tio~ 26 pushes against the le~t sid~ of openin~ ~4 to move the panel 32 further to the left at whic.h position it- is held by a detent ~eans which is only generally ilIustrated in Eig~ 1 by a lea~ spring 15 with, a cam surface 16 which can fit into a notch 17 in the top surface on panel 32 . The - panel 32 is held in. its e~treme right position by another notch 17' . ~his downward and twisting mo~emer.,t o~ the top portion,, of container 2 pro~ides a mov~eme~t which makes it difficult for children to remove a co~tainer ~
A reed switch, 18 located in the projection 31 co-op-erates with a~ activater magnet 18' in the proiection 26 so that as projection 26 is removed from recess 31' , this act-ivates switch 18 to retriev.e and display data from a m.emory(R~M) with re~ard to the medication ir, that particular cont-ainer . Preferably , the switch 18 activates a ROM which acce-sses specific locations in the RAM to ob,tain the data for the display and during insertion of the data directs data to those locations when that container has been removed from its closed position . The data obtained ~rom the R~M also contains the amount of medication to be taken ( 1 or 2 pills ) and resetts a subtraction circuit to that amount .
13 ~;Z515~4 A further reed switch 19 is located in the front panel and co-operatas with an activator magnet 19' in the rail 43 . ~fter th0 downward and twisting movement of. the top portion o~ container 2 , the container 2 and slide 4 are pulled outwardly so that the medication in that cont-ainer is accessihle . This outward movement of the tray 4 activates switch 19 ,. by magnet 19' , which acti~ates the suhtractor circuit to subtract t~e amou~t to which this subtractor circuit is set from the. amount o~ ~edicatio~ i~
that container . This provides a revised amount which is entered into the P~. either by switch 19 or 18 as the co~tai~er 2 is returned to its closed position . The return of container 2 to its closed position is accomplished by the reverse mo~ements previousl.~ described .
The arrangements and locations of switches 18 and 19 ar,d activator mag~ets. ca~ be i~ other locations tha~ those show~ and , furthermore , the use of reed switches is for only a preferred embodiment . Other types of electrical switches could be used .In addition , the front panel , internal wall 30 and proiections 31 can be molded in one piece by forming rectangular shaped recesses e~tending rearwardly from the front panel at the locations of openings 3 (3') with openings provided in the rear and bottom as well as the sides of these recesses for the guide rail 43 and movable panel 32 . The panel 32 can then have an additional opening extending upwardly and outwardly from opening 33 and surroun~
the molded recess with the top of the additional opening sliding in a groove along the top surface of the molded recess .
A simpler embodiment of the embodiment already described could be used such as one where the twisting movement of the top contai~er portion is dispensed with . In this case , 15~
the projection 26 is only moved downwardly and has a wedge shaped bottom cam sur~ace with a vertical right edge which fits into a similar wedge shaped recess in the movable panel 32 as the projectior. 26 is moved downwardly . This would again move the panel 32 to the let ~o bl~ck the removal of any other container . Furthermore , this projection 26 could be extended rearwardly and the extension provided with a cam surface which would hold the parel 32 in its left position as the tray 4 is pulled outwardly . This type of design would eliminate the need for the deter,t means 15 to 17 described for the pre~ious e~bodi~e~t . ~owever , it would necessitate an additionaL opening heing prese~t in the inner wall 30 for the extension of 26 and uould require proiectior~ on the top portion 20 of cor,tainer 2 which would slid ir, grooves ir, side walls of the moulded recess for container 2 in order to hold the top portior, in its lower position in the base 23 as the tray 4 is pulled outwardly . This latter item is a feature which is aLso preferred for the perviously described embodime~t .
In this last embodime~t , a mechanical lock 10 car. be provided in the top sur~ace of the dispenser 1 which consists of a rod projectir,g downwardly with a wedge shaped cam bottom , similar to that for proiection 26 , which fits into a wedge shaped recess in the top of movable panel 32 to hold this panel in its left position . ~hen the lock is unlocked , the wedge shaped cam bottom is removed from the recess and the panel can then be moved to the right ~y a spring means which is not shown . This would then place the panel 32 in a position where one of the containers 2 can be removed from its closed position . ~n electrical type lock could also be used which is operated by using a particular combination of butto~s in arrays 6 a~d 7 .
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A similar electro-mech~ical lock is preferred for a dispenser which is intended for hospital use , one which is activated by a magnetically or optical card which can be carried by nurses . The lock 10 can then consist o~ a reader for this er,coded card . As a result , the dispenser ca~ only be operated by designate~ people and , ~hen the R~ is a magretic tape , the time , medication used and person operating the dispenser ca~ he recorded on a separate trac~ on the magnetic tape for a period of time such as 24 hours . In this manner , any errors in the dosage given to a patient ca~ ~e verified .
Although these dispensers have been designed to discour-age the removal of more than one container at a time , it is still possible to remove 2 of the containers if their top portions are moved downward at the same time . Therefore , it is desirable that the last activated reed switch 18 clears the display and presents the display for the contain-er associated with this last activated switch 18 . The inform-ation for other containers which are not in their closed positions at this time is retained. in a memory for further processin~ . I~ order to prevent one of the containers being re-located on a wrong tray , the base 23 can be provided with a projection 47 which fits into a corresponding opening 48 in the upper portion. 40 o~ tray 4 . Each tray 4 has an opening 48 w~ich is located at a diferent position fro~
that of the other trays . This is illustrated by openings 48' shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 . For ease of manu~acture , the bases 23 can be provided with all the projections and then these can be removed , with the exception of the single required projection for that container , by grinding .
? ~ D S~
The embodiments prcviGu~lc described have shown containers 2 which are removable ~rom trays 4 for ease of cleaning .
~owever , the containers 2 and trays 4 may be assembled as 12S15~4 one item . In this case , the base 23 and the upper part of a tray 4 are formed as a single inseparable unit The embodiments already described have used two reed switches and two activator magnets ~ However , by locatinO a magnet in a projection on a side of top portion 20 which slides in a groove in one of the side walls of the molded recess for contai~er 2 , then a single activator magnet can be used to ac.tivate two reed switches ~hich ara approiately spaced adjacent a surface of this groov~e . In this case , the projections 26 , 31 and recesses 31' can be replaced by an upward extension on the. projection o~ the side o~ top por-tion. 20 and hy a ~er,tical recess located at the rear of the groove in which this upward extension is loc~ted when a container is in. its closed position _ With regard to the dispenser 2' which is intended for liquid medication in a bottle , the amour,t of liquid medica-tion in. that bottle and total number of dosages could originally be calculated . The calculated amount , total number of dosages , left in the bottle can be checked each time this container is removed by a weight scale ( piezoelectric ) in the base of container 2' ~
~ n additional feature which, may he incorporated in these types of dispensers is an automatic: telephone call to a friend's telepho~e or crises center if a particular critical type of ~edication is not taken with;n a predetermined period of time . These dispensers may also have an access code which can be carried by a person. along with their telephone number on a medic-alert bracelet so that information for the type of medication which is taken by that person can he obtained in the cafie of an accidient .
and a bottom of a recess in bottom part 23 . Any type of resilient means could be used such as leaf springs .In addition ~ the top portion is provided at its front surface with a handle 27 so that the container 2 can be moved from a closed position ir,side an opening 3 in dispenser outwards to a position where medication in the top container portion 20 is accessible by an user . The top container portion 20 is shown in this case as having a removable cover 28 and 29 for illustration purposes only . Various types of covers could he used . Furthermore ~ the rear sur~ace o~ the top container portion is provid~d with a rearwardly projecting part 26 as show~ in Figures 2 and 4 whose purpose will be further explained with re~erence to Fi~ures 5 to 7 .
The bottom part 23 of container 2 is removable fitted into a top recess 41 of a front upper part 40 of a tray 4 which is slidable fro~ a closed positio~ in an opening 3 in dispenser 1 outward~ to an outer position.
The outward movement of tray 4 is limited by a stop which is not shown . The tray 4 has a central lower guide rail 43 which slides in a lower opening 14 in the bottom o~ opening3 as shown in ~ig. 1 . The opening 14 and guide rail 43 are shown with sloped sides so that their upper dimensions are smaller than their lower to prevent movement of the tray 4 in an upward direction .
The previously mentioned stop could be formed by a proje-cting portion at the rear of guide rail 43 which abuts against the front panel as the tray 4 is mo~ed outward .
Tne slidable tray 4 can be supported by rearwardly extending walls located at the sides of openings 3 which walls contain a groove in which the sides and top arAd bottom edges of the tray 4 fits . In this case the guide rail 43 need only extend a short distance beyond the ~i156~
depth of the container 2 while , at least , the sides o~
the tray 4 extend rearwardly a further distance ir. order to provide the necessary support in the groo~es for the tray as it is slid to an outer position . ~lternati~ely the guide rail 43 could be e~tended rearwardly as shown in Fig. 2 . In the latter case , the extended guide rail 43 is supported hy an opening ( not shown ) in a~ inter-nal wall in the dispenser which wall is parallel to the front panel . Preferahly the e~tensio~ of guide rail 43 is pro~ided with top horizontal projectiors 42 on each side to strengthen t'ne guide rail 43 in. a horizontal direction and t.o provide a more solid hearing sur~ace in the opening i~ the internal wall ~ These horiæontal proiection~ 42 pro~ide a T shaped cross-sectio~ for the extended portion o~ the guide rail 43 and the opening in the internal wall .
The purpose of projection 26 on the rear surface of a lower part of the top portion o~ container 2 w;ll now he explained in detail with reference to Figures 4 to 7 .
This short projection 26 has a similar shape to that of guide rail 43 in that , i~. top view as shown in Fig. 4 , the projection 26 has. sloped sides so that the portion of projection 26 most remote from container 2 has a larger width tha~ the portior. of projection 26 which is attached to and integral with the rear surface of the top contairer portion 20 . An interDal wall 30 ir. the dispenser is parallel to the front panel ard at each opening 3 or 3' contains a forwardly projecting part 31 ( see the empty opening 3" in Fig. 1 ) containing a recess 31' in which the projection 26 fits in the closed positi-ons of the containers 2 as shown in Fig. 5 .The recess31' and projectio~s 26 ha~e similar shaped sloped sides with the left side of recess 31' being located so that it is perpendicular to the front panel .
~S~5~j~
~ mo~ahle panel 32 ( shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 ) is located in front of wall 30 and contains opening,s 33 which surround the projections 31 with the tops of openings 33 heing slidable along the top surface of projections 31 .
The height of openings 33 are only slightly larger than that of proiections 31 whereas the width of openings 33 are larger than that of projections 31 as shown in Fig. 5 .
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the position of one of the openings 33 as an associated container 2 is moYed fro~ a clos~d position to a position at which that container can be re~o~ed ~ro~ the dispenser .Eig. 5 shows the w~l 30 , pa~el 32 and projection 26 in a horizontal cross-sectior, ~iew with the proiection 26 heing located in the recess 31' so the sloped walls of the projection 26 and recess 31' pre~ent the container 2 ~rom being mo~ed outwardly .
The opening 33 has a lower opening 34 as showr~ in Figures 6 and 7 which opening is locate~ directly helou the recess 31' when the container is in a closed position as shown i~ Fig. 6 . By mo~ing the upper portion of the container downwards against the resilient means 25 , the projections 26 can be lowered from the recess 31' and placed ir, the opening 34 . The opening 34 is just wide enough to allow the widest part of projection 26 to pass outwardly .
The projection 26 is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 by a cross-section ~ie~ at a narrower portion of the pro-jection identified as 26' . The le~t side of projection 31 extends downward iust to the top of opening 34 where-as the right side of this projection extends further do~nward , as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 , to a dist ance where the right side wall of the recess 31' and projection 26 can still preYent outward mo~e~ent o~ a container 2 . By twisting the upper portion of container 2 l~SlS~
so that the projection 26 is moved to the left results in the panel 32 also bein~ moved to the le~t at which position the container can be moved outwardly . This places at least part of the right botto~ edge of opening 33 beneath the recess 31' , the downwardly extending right side of proiection 31 being spaced rearwardly a short distance to allow the right edge o~ opening 34 to pass ir, ~ront of it . This places alL of, the openings, 33 in, positions beneath the recesses 31' which blocks and pre~ents ar~y o~' the other containers fr,om being removed _ As the container which is located in the ~eft position ( see Fig. 7 ) is pulled outwardly , the le~t side o~ proiec:tio~ 26 pushes against the le~t sid~ of openin~ ~4 to move the panel 32 further to the left at whic.h position it- is held by a detent ~eans which is only generally ilIustrated in Eig~ 1 by a lea~ spring 15 with, a cam surface 16 which can fit into a notch 17 in the top surface on panel 32 . The - panel 32 is held in. its e~treme right position by another notch 17' . ~his downward and twisting mo~emer.,t o~ the top portion,, of container 2 pro~ides a mov~eme~t which makes it difficult for children to remove a co~tainer ~
A reed switch, 18 located in the projection 31 co-op-erates with a~ activater magnet 18' in the proiection 26 so that as projection 26 is removed from recess 31' , this act-ivates switch 18 to retriev.e and display data from a m.emory(R~M) with re~ard to the medication ir, that particular cont-ainer . Preferably , the switch 18 activates a ROM which acce-sses specific locations in the RAM to ob,tain the data for the display and during insertion of the data directs data to those locations when that container has been removed from its closed position . The data obtained ~rom the R~M also contains the amount of medication to be taken ( 1 or 2 pills ) and resetts a subtraction circuit to that amount .
13 ~;Z515~4 A further reed switch 19 is located in the front panel and co-operatas with an activator magnet 19' in the rail 43 . ~fter th0 downward and twisting movement of. the top portion o~ container 2 , the container 2 and slide 4 are pulled outwardly so that the medication in that cont-ainer is accessihle . This outward movement of the tray 4 activates switch 19 ,. by magnet 19' , which acti~ates the suhtractor circuit to subtract t~e amou~t to which this subtractor circuit is set from the. amount o~ ~edicatio~ i~
that container . This provides a revised amount which is entered into the P~. either by switch 19 or 18 as the co~tai~er 2 is returned to its closed position . The return of container 2 to its closed position is accomplished by the reverse mo~ements previousl.~ described .
The arrangements and locations of switches 18 and 19 ar,d activator mag~ets. ca~ be i~ other locations tha~ those show~ and , furthermore , the use of reed switches is for only a preferred embodiment . Other types of electrical switches could be used .In addition , the front panel , internal wall 30 and proiections 31 can be molded in one piece by forming rectangular shaped recesses e~tending rearwardly from the front panel at the locations of openings 3 (3') with openings provided in the rear and bottom as well as the sides of these recesses for the guide rail 43 and movable panel 32 . The panel 32 can then have an additional opening extending upwardly and outwardly from opening 33 and surroun~
the molded recess with the top of the additional opening sliding in a groove along the top surface of the molded recess .
A simpler embodiment of the embodiment already described could be used such as one where the twisting movement of the top contai~er portion is dispensed with . In this case , 15~
the projection 26 is only moved downwardly and has a wedge shaped bottom cam sur~ace with a vertical right edge which fits into a similar wedge shaped recess in the movable panel 32 as the projectior. 26 is moved downwardly . This would again move the panel 32 to the let ~o bl~ck the removal of any other container . Furthermore , this projection 26 could be extended rearwardly and the extension provided with a cam surface which would hold the parel 32 in its left position as the tray 4 is pulled outwardly . This type of design would eliminate the need for the deter,t means 15 to 17 described for the pre~ious e~bodi~e~t . ~owever , it would necessitate an additionaL opening heing prese~t in the inner wall 30 for the extension of 26 and uould require proiectior~ on the top portion 20 of cor,tainer 2 which would slid ir, grooves ir, side walls of the moulded recess for container 2 in order to hold the top portior, in its lower position in the base 23 as the tray 4 is pulled outwardly . This latter item is a feature which is aLso preferred for the perviously described embodime~t .
In this last embodime~t , a mechanical lock 10 car. be provided in the top sur~ace of the dispenser 1 which consists of a rod projectir,g downwardly with a wedge shaped cam bottom , similar to that for proiection 26 , which fits into a wedge shaped recess in the top of movable panel 32 to hold this panel in its left position . ~hen the lock is unlocked , the wedge shaped cam bottom is removed from the recess and the panel can then be moved to the right ~y a spring means which is not shown . This would then place the panel 32 in a position where one of the containers 2 can be removed from its closed position . ~n electrical type lock could also be used which is operated by using a particular combination of butto~s in arrays 6 a~d 7 .
~lS~j~
A similar electro-mech~ical lock is preferred for a dispenser which is intended for hospital use , one which is activated by a magnetically or optical card which can be carried by nurses . The lock 10 can then consist o~ a reader for this er,coded card . As a result , the dispenser ca~ only be operated by designate~ people and , ~hen the R~ is a magretic tape , the time , medication used and person operating the dispenser ca~ he recorded on a separate trac~ on the magnetic tape for a period of time such as 24 hours . In this manner , any errors in the dosage given to a patient ca~ ~e verified .
Although these dispensers have been designed to discour-age the removal of more than one container at a time , it is still possible to remove 2 of the containers if their top portions are moved downward at the same time . Therefore , it is desirable that the last activated reed switch 18 clears the display and presents the display for the contain-er associated with this last activated switch 18 . The inform-ation for other containers which are not in their closed positions at this time is retained. in a memory for further processin~ . I~ order to prevent one of the containers being re-located on a wrong tray , the base 23 can be provided with a projection 47 which fits into a corresponding opening 48 in the upper portion. 40 o~ tray 4 . Each tray 4 has an opening 48 w~ich is located at a diferent position fro~
that of the other trays . This is illustrated by openings 48' shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 . For ease of manu~acture , the bases 23 can be provided with all the projections and then these can be removed , with the exception of the single required projection for that container , by grinding .
? ~ D S~
The embodiments prcviGu~lc described have shown containers 2 which are removable ~rom trays 4 for ease of cleaning .
~owever , the containers 2 and trays 4 may be assembled as 12S15~4 one item . In this case , the base 23 and the upper part of a tray 4 are formed as a single inseparable unit The embodiments already described have used two reed switches and two activator magnets ~ However , by locatinO a magnet in a projection on a side of top portion 20 which slides in a groove in one of the side walls of the molded recess for contai~er 2 , then a single activator magnet can be used to ac.tivate two reed switches ~hich ara approiately spaced adjacent a surface of this groov~e . In this case , the projections 26 , 31 and recesses 31' can be replaced by an upward extension on the. projection o~ the side o~ top por-tion. 20 and hy a ~er,tical recess located at the rear of the groove in which this upward extension is loc~ted when a container is in. its closed position _ With regard to the dispenser 2' which is intended for liquid medication in a bottle , the amour,t of liquid medica-tion in. that bottle and total number of dosages could originally be calculated . The calculated amount , total number of dosages , left in the bottle can be checked each time this container is removed by a weight scale ( piezoelectric ) in the base of container 2' ~
~ n additional feature which, may he incorporated in these types of dispensers is an automatic: telephone call to a friend's telepho~e or crises center if a particular critical type of ~edication is not taken with;n a predetermined period of time . These dispensers may also have an access code which can be carried by a person. along with their telephone number on a medic-alert bracelet so that information for the type of medication which is taken by that person can he obtained in the cafie of an accidient .
Claims (19)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS :
1. A programmable dispenser having a number of openings , a container being located in each of the openings wherein each container is movable between a closed position and a first position which provides access to said container , the dispenser including first means to insert information into a memory and to display this information for one of the containers when said one container is moved away from said closed position , the information including the amount of an item in said one container and a prescribed amount for that item , a second means being provided to subtract said prescribed amount from said amount when said one container is moved to or from said first position and to insert this revised amount into said memory .
2. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 1 , characterized in that the first means includes at least one activator for each container , the activator for said one container operating a first electrical switch when said one container is moved away from said closed position to activate said display , a further electrical switch being operated when said one container is moved to said first position , said further electrical switch activating a subtraction means which subtracts said prescribed amount from the displayed amount .
3. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 2 , characterized in that said subtraction means is a subtraction circuit and said further electrical switch sets said subtrac-tion circuit to said prescribed amount when said one container is moved to said first position and subtracts this prescribed amount from the amount of an item left in said one container providing a revised amount which is inserted into said memory .
4. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 3 , characterized in that each container fits onto a moveable slide mounted in said dispenser which slide is moveable out of and into one of the openings as said one container is moved from said closed position to said first position and back to said closed position respectively , a further activa-tor being located on said slide and positioned to activate said further electrical switch when said one container and associated slide is moved to or from said first position .
5. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claims 1,3 or 4 , characterized in that an additional means is provided to prevent any other container being removed from a closed position after one of the containers has been removed from a closed position .
6. A container for a programmable dispenser which container includes an upper container portion fitted into a base portion in a telescoping manner , a rim on the upper part of the base portion co-acting with a rim on the lower part of the upper container portion to prevent said upper container portion being separated from said base , a resilient means being located between said base and said upper container portion to press these portions apart to a limit allowed by the rims , an activator for an electrical switch being located on said upper container portion .
7. A container as defined in Claim 6 , characterized in that said activator is provided on a projection extending from a surface of the upper container portion and said upper container portion is moveable to a limited extent in a direction at right angles to the direction of movement when said upper container portion is pressed against said resilient means towards a lower part of said base portion .
8. A container as defined in Claim 7 , characterized in that said projection is shaped to interlock with a surface of a recess inside the dispenser when said container is in a closed position in the dispenser and said upper container portion is spaced apart from the lower part of the base portion by the resilient means , said projection being removable from said recess by pressing the upper container portion against said resilient means towards a lower part of the base portion .
9. A keyboard for a programmable dispenser as defined in Claims 1, 2 or 3 , the dispenser having a display panel consisting of a number of character displays , each character display being formed by an array of a number N of display elements located in positions so that a number of characters can be formed by activating particular ones of the elements, the keyboard having N activator buttons which are arranged in the same type of array as the display elements and at least one further activator button to advance the display from one character to the next wherein each of the activator buttons activates a corresponding display element in an array of a character display to which the further activator button has advanced the display panel.
10. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claims 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that a lock is provided to prevent the containers being moved to said first position until the lock is inactivated .
11. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 2 , characterized in that an electro- mechanical lock is provided to prevent the containers being moved to said first position until the lock is inactivated .
12. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 2 , characterized in that an additional means is provided to prevent any other container being removed from a closed position after one of the containers has been removed from a closed position and an electro-mechanical lock is provided to prevent any of the containers being moved to a first position until the lock is inactivated .
13. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that the electro-mechanical lock is inactivated by activating a particular arrangement of keys on a keyboard .
14. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that a reader is provided for an encoded card and the electro-mechanical lock is inactivated by the reader reading the encoded card .
15. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that means are provided to record the times at which the containers are moved from a closed position to a first position in a memory for a predeter-mined period of time .
16. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that means are provided to record the times at which the containers are moved from a closed position to a first position in a memory for a predeter-mined period of time .
17. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 11 or 12 , characterized in that a reader is provided for an encoded card and the electro-mechanical lock is inactivated by the reader reading the encoded card with means being provided to record the times at which the containers are moved from a closed position to a first position , along with information from the encoded card , in a memory for a predetermined period of time .
18. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that means are provided to record the times at which the containers were last removed from a closed position in a memory and means are provided to transfer this information and information pertaining to items in the containers to a remote location if particular con-tainers remain in a closed position for a predetermined period of time .
19. A programmable dispenser as defined in Claim 1 , 2 or 3 , characterized in that means are provided to record the times at which the containers were last removed from a closed position in a memory and means are provided to access this information from a remote location along with information pertaining to items in the containers .
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000542126A CA1251564A (en) | 1987-07-15 | 1987-07-15 | Programmable medical dispenser |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000542126A CA1251564A (en) | 1987-07-15 | 1987-07-15 | Programmable medical dispenser |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1251564A true CA1251564A (en) | 1989-03-21 |
Family
ID=4136080
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000542126A Expired CA1251564A (en) | 1987-07-15 | 1987-07-15 | Programmable medical dispenser |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1251564A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5917429A (en) * | 1992-09-14 | 1999-06-29 | Aprex Corporation | Contactless communication system |
| FR2776921A1 (en) * | 1998-04-03 | 1999-10-08 | Paturaud Martine Mar Aumeunier | Medication dispenser for use in the home |
-
1987
- 1987-07-15 CA CA000542126A patent/CA1251564A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5917429A (en) * | 1992-09-14 | 1999-06-29 | Aprex Corporation | Contactless communication system |
| FR2776921A1 (en) * | 1998-04-03 | 1999-10-08 | Paturaud Martine Mar Aumeunier | Medication dispenser for use in the home |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |