US 6988634 B2
A system for dispensing pill- or capsule-form medications (61) in desired doses (60). The system comprises a dispensing device (35), which includes a cartridge (20, 40) rotatable relative to a housing or frame (10) and provided with discrete dosage compartments (27, 47) for desired doses of medication. The cartridge (20, 40) is manipulated by elements (18, 18 a , 18 b ; 14 a , 14 b , 15, 18, 19), whereby each separate dosage compartment (27, 47) is rotatable relative to the housing or frame (10) to a dispensing point (4, 12) for the dose of medication (60). A signalling device (75, 76) producing a sound and/or light signal activates at pre-programmed limes. An electronics unit (19, 55) containing a dispensing program is reprogrammable by means of an external programming device (36, 66, 101, 102). The cartridge (20, 40) is adapted to be disengaged from the dispensing device (35) and to be transferred to a loading device (80), which fills the dosage compartments (27, 47) of the cartridge with desired doses of medication and furnishes the filled cartridge with identification data (ID), on the basis of which the filled cartridge (20, 40) can be certifiably returned to the proper dispensing device (35), which is arranged to upkeep a dispensing event log at a distant control file (64 a).
1. A cartridge for dispensing pill- or capsule-form medications in desired doses (60), said cartridge comprising
individual dosage compartments (27) for desired doses of medication,
a vacant recess or space (23) between the dosage compartments (27),
a rotatable and removable cover (28) having an opening (28 a) which can be rotated to coincide with any of the dosage compartments (27) for loading and/or dispensing of doses through the opening (28 a), and
means (90, 91) for visual indication of dispensing schedule comprising a first ring (90) with sections for days of a week, and a second ring (91) dividing said sections into subsections indicating the number of medicine of a day,
the cartridge being furnished with identification date (ID), on the basis of which the filled cartridge (20, 40) can be certifiably returned to a correct user.
2. A loading device for loading cartridges as set forth in
3. An intelligent dispensing device (35) for dispensing pill- or capsule-form medications in desired doses, said dispensing device comprising
a housing or frame (10),
a cartridge (20) according to
a signalling device (75, 76) giving a sound and/or light signal, which activates at pre-programmed points of time, and
an electronics unit (19, 55) containing program electronics (19) and a dispensing program,
the program electronics (19) being re-programmable with a programming device (66, 101, 102), the dispensing being arranged to be effected by means of the users own action which is exerted onto the dispensing device (35).
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17. A cartridge as set forth in
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The present application is a Continuation of U. S. aplication Ser. No. 10/369,924 filed on Feb. 19, 2003 now U. S. Pat. No. 6,702,146. Applicants claim the benefits of 35 U. S. C. §119 as to the said United States application, and the entire disclosure of said application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a cartridge for dispensing pill- or capsule-form medications in desired doses, said cartridge comprising
It is an object of the invention to provide a dispensing cartridge for doses of medication, which can be used either as a manually operated dispensing cartridge or with an intelligent dispensing device.
Still another object of the invention is to use a dispensing cartridge which facilitates filling or loading of the dosage compartments by doses of medication either manually or more or less in an automated manner by using a loading robotics, and which dispensing cartridge alone can also be used as a simple manually operated dispensing apparatus which is provided by visual indication of dispensing schedule, said visual indication serving both for manual filling or loading and for manually operated dispensing if the cartridge is used alone as a manually operated dispensing apparatus.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide, as a preferred option, a possibility to fill or load the dosage compartments of the dispensing cartridge under control of a computer program which gives an alarm if there are non-compatible medications to be loaded.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a medication dispensing system wherein the information of identification, medication and dispensing schedule follows the cartridge and can be easily re-programmed and transferred between the cartridge and the memory of the dispensing device containing the dispensing program, as well as between either of these and a programming computer.
This and other objects are achieved according to the invention on the basis of the characterizing features set forth in the annexed claim 1. The non-independent claims disclose preferred embodiments of the invention, which facilitate dosing or loading logistics, offer versatile re-programming possibilities for dispensing, and facilitate the supervision of medication.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The prescription controlling the loading device 80 in terms of its filling action is adapted to be delivered, along with a patient's identification data, by way of a communication network, such as the internet 65 or a chip card 68, to a computer 67 controlling operation of the loading device 80. Alternatively, the prescription can be delivered conventionally on a paper printout, from which the necessary information is transferred by typing to the computer 67 controlling the dosage.
The cartridges 20, 40 are adapted to be disengaged from the dispensing device 35 and to be transferred to the loading device 80 for filling or loading the dosage compartments 27, 47 of a cartridge with desired doses of medication. In addition, the mechanism 73 associated with the loading device 80 furnishes the loaded cartridge 20 with identification data ID, on the basis of which the loaded or filled cartridge 20, 40 can be certifiably returned to the correct dispensing device 35.
The dispensing device 35 has its program electronics 19 re-programmable with an external programming unit. In the depicted case, the external programming unit comprises a mobile telephone 36, whereby a dispensing program or its updatings can be fed to the program electronics 19 by way of an IR link 37, 38 shown in FIG. 8. The external programming unit for a dispensing program may also comprise the facility computer 66, which has a communication via the internet 65 with the control file 64 a or which has the control file stored in its bulk memory. In the latter case, the dispensing device 35 can be brought to the IR link 138 (shown in
The cartridge 20, 40 can be furnished with identification data, e. g. by attaching to the cartridge an identification-data carrying label ID by means of the mechanism 73. Optionally or additionally, the identification can be certified.
The following description deals in more detail with the dispensing device shown in FIG. 1. The dispensing device is provided with a cover or housing 1, comprising a shell portion 2 which includes a dispensing outlet 4 and a flap 4 a for closing the same, if necessary. The components 2 and 4 a can be manufactured in moulded plastics and at least the flap 4 a is transparent (shell portion 2 may be non-transparent). The flap 4 a may have its base hinged in such a way that the flap 4 a can be removed as required, if a patient finds it difficult to operate a locking mechanism attached to its outer end, A push button 3 fits in a central hole in the shell portion 2 and is manufactured from transparent stained plastics. The colour of the push button 3 can also be used for encoding a loading device. The push button 3 is provided with a transparent window (not shown) for monitoring a timer display (the window can be covered as required). In addition, the push button 3 is provided with an opening 3 b for a led light indicator 76.
The cartridge 20 comprises preferably a transparent machine-washable plastic manufactured in food-grade plastics. The cartridge is provided with 28 dosage compartments 27 for tablets. The cartridges 20 are interchangeable between various dispensing devices. The cartridge has its central hole 24 provided with a gear rim 18 b, which supplies the cartridge with its rotary drive from a gearwheel 18 a of the motor 18 placed in the central hollow of the housing 10 (the necessary gear between the motor 18 and the gearwheel 18 a has not been shown).
The housing 10 is manufactured in transparent plastics e. g. as a plastic extrudate. Consequently, a prescription or an identification tag ID, attached to the bottom of the cartridge 20, is visible as required through a transparent floor 21 of the housing 10. Through a rim collar 13 of the housing it is possible to visually observe medications remaining in the dosage compartments 27 of a cartridge (even in the case that the shell portion is non-transparent).
An electronics unit 55 is disposed inside a cylindrical central hollow 11 within the housing 10. The electronics unit is provided with a memory-equipped, programmable processor 19, which can be programmed with four daily times for medication by means of key buttons 56 or an IR link 37, 38 included in the unit 55. In addition, the program takes care of necessary safety times and delay times, as well as a deadline for the ingestion of a dose. The IR link 37, 38, included in the unit 55, along with the GSM module 62, serving as an accessory, enables a telecontrol over medication and eventual alarms regarding malfunctions. Hence, the program takes care of the specification-compliant function of a dispensing device and, merely by modifying the program, it is possible to develop various versions of a dispensing device. Naturally, the IR link can be replaced with an RF link or other finks operating in compliance with standards.
A floor panel 29, having a hole 29 a for the operation of an IR link, encloses the housing hollow 11 which has space also for a sound signal device 75 and a battery.
The motor 18 comprises e. g. a stepped motor, which activates its operation upon pressing down the push button 3 as pins 3 a depress the programming keys 56 of the electronics unit 55. However, this activation only occurs after the signaling device 75, 76 has been activated under the control of program electronics 19, 55. Every time the elements 18, 18 a operating the cartridge 20 are activated, the information about a dispensing occurrence is transmitted to a distant control file, which comprises e. g. a www-page in the internet and which constitutes a monitoring log for taking the medication. Optionally, a memory associated with the program electronics 19, 55 is used to collect information about dispensing occurrences and to transmit the same at prescribed times to said control file.
Thus, the electronics unit 55 included in the dispensing device is programmable either by a patient him- or herself or by medical personnel (keys 56) or by means of the computer 66 or utilizing an IR link 138 in the programming device 101 or 102, or in the GSM telephone. According to its programming, the dosage dispenser electronics 19, 55, 75, outputs a signal to the user whenever it is time for medication and prevents the ingestion of any dose of medication other than the one to be taken at that precise time.
As the dosage cartridges 20 containing doses of medication are carried independently of a dispensing device from the loading device 80 to the dispensing device 35, the dosage cartridge 20 must be provided with a cover 28. This cover 20 may be a rotatable cover of thin transparent plastics, which is provided by a loading opening 28 a (
As shown in
The jacket or shell portion 2 has a bottom edge which can be locked with an appropriate forming to the top edge of an outer housing rim 13. In view of switching the cartridges 20, there must be an engagement between the jacket 2 and the housing 10 which is readily disconnectable and reconnectable (if necessary, also lockable). This can be implemented e. g. by forming the opposing edges with a combination of short threading and bayonet coupling. A lock cylinder may be placed inside the protrusion 69.
As shown in
As can be learned from the above description the invention serves an advanced logistics for delivering medicines from dispensary to the users (patients) and for efficient monitoring of appropriate use or disposition of the medicines.