BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention is generally related to a medication dispensing unit, and more particularly
to a device that dispenses medication and monitors compliance with a medication regime.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Doctors commonly prescribe a regimen of pills to be taken by ill persons. For example,
a regimen such as "take two of the blue pills every six hours and one of the green
pills every four hours" or the like is not uncommon. For some persons, such a specific
regimen or course of medication may be easily followed. For other persons however,
confusion can arise both concerning the schedule and concerning whether or not the
medication has been taken. This problem occurs frequently with elderly persons who
may have suffered some loss of mental faculties, but can occur with other persons
as well.
[0003] A variety of automated dispensers of pills which are purportedly aimed at some aspects
of this dispensing problem are described in the related art. According to their respective
descriptions these dispensers are intended to provide for dispensing of pills according
to some specified regimen. In addition, in some cases, they have some described means
to permit a determination of deviations from their programmed regimen. These dispensers,
however have shortcomings in their complexity, cost, flexibility, ease of use, error
resistance for use in many conventional medication dispensing needs.
[0004] For example, U.S. Patent 5,582,323 issued to Kurtenbach describes a medication dispenser
and monitor system. According to its description, the Kurtenbach dispenser apparatus
has a plurality of compartments which directly receive and hold pills for dispensing
individual medication dosages. The dispenser provides an alarm alerting the patient
that it is time to dispense his or her medication. If the medication is not dispensed
the unit makes a call to a monitoring facility. The medication dispensing and monitoring
system described in Kurtenbach also allows for recording non compliance by the patient.
[0005] However, Kurtenbach does not provide any protection against overdosing by the patient
and, further, does not provide any emergency communication to a local caregiver who
is more likely to quickly aid the patient than the central monitoring service. Also,
the described medication apparatus directly stores pills in compartments which may
become contaminated by residue.
[0006] U.S. Patent 5,646,912 issued to Cousin also describes a medication dispensing apparatus.
According to its description the apparatus has a plurality of pill dispensing units
controlled by a microprocessor that is programmed with a patients medication schedule.
According to its description, the pill dispensing apparatus can prevent overdosage
or underdosage in the subject patient by altering the medication dosage dispensing
schedule.
[0007] Cousin, however, has shortcomings which could render it inadequate for many anticipated
uses. One shortcoming is that its apparatus uses compartments that directly contain
the medication to be dispensed, and such compartments are readily susceptible to residue
build up. Additionally, Cousin's described scheme and apparatus for preventing overdosage
or underdosage in a subject patient is somewhat complicated and, accordingly, could
be difficult to implement.
[0008] There is therefore a need for an improved dispensing system for home medication.
The present invention is directed to this need, and provides further related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of this invention to provide an on-site medication dispensing unit
that is readily programmable for dispensing pills to a patient over an extended period
of time and which monitors patient compliance with the programmed medication regime.
[0010] Another object of this invention is to prevent overdosage or stacking of dosages
in the unit's output mechanism by having a visual and/or audible alerting feature
which notifies the patient at a prescribed dosage time in accordance with the regimen
that is programmed into the unit and then, and having a limited time window during
which the patient must press a button or similar input device to activate the unit's
output mechanism to effect a physical dispensing of the canister from the unit. The
time window is re-programmable. If the patient has not pressed the button or activated
the input device when the time window ends the canister is dropped into an inaccessible
bin located within the unit. A further feature of the unit alerts the patient in steps
of escalating intensity, either audibly and visually, or both, if the button or similar
input device is not activated.
[0011] It is another object of this invention to provide a medication dispensing unit which
is linked to a 24 hour monitoring facility, whereby the monitoring facility can alert
a caregiver if an occurrence that is defined by the unit's program to be an emergency
situation arises. An example emergency situation is the patient's failure to activate
the dispensing button which, as described above, causes the canister to be dropped
to an inaccessible bin, more than a predetermined number of times over a predetermined
time duration.
[0012] It is still another object of the present invention to provide an automatic prioritized
order of contacting persons in the event of the on-site unit detecting an emergency
situation. Pursuant to this object, according to one example embodiment, the on-site
dispensing unit first responds to the detection of an emergency by placing a telephone
call to a first designated local caregiver such as, for example, a relative of the
patient. An example response from the caregiver contacted consists, for example, of
the caregiver depressing a telephone key, or sequence of keys programmed to be recognized
by the on-site dispensing unit. If the first designated local caregiver is not reachable
or does not respond to the call, the on-site unit then contacts, in sequence, a second,
third and fourth designated local caregiver until one of them responds. If none of
the designated caregivers respond to the calls, the on-site unit contacts the central
monitoring facility. The central monitoring facility then responds in a manner depending
on design choice, one response being to contact the local authorities. One benefit
of the prioritized calling feature is that local caregivers, who can readily proceed
to the patient's location, are notified first. Another benefit is a reduction in the
frequency that the central monitoring facility notifies the authorities.
[0013] As described above, the present invention provides for monitoring of the patient's
compliance with a prescribed medication regimen by alerting one or more caregivers
and the central monitoring facility if a dosage is missed. A further contemplated
feature is a periodic reporting by the dispensing unit to the central monitoring facility
of a history of the unit's activity such as, for example, each dosage alert, each
depressing of the unit's dispensing button, each detection of a canister being fully
dispensed from the unit, and each missed dosage. A still further contemplated feature
is for the on-site unit to receive a request-for-report signal from the central monitoring
facility for either an entire activity history, or a specific subset of the activity,
as well as a report of the current dosage regimen that is programmed into the unit.
[0014] A still further feature is for the central monitoring facility to have a record keeping
service which, in addition to a record stored in the dispensing unit, records the
patients compliance with the prescribed medication dosage regimen. This record would
be available to the caregiver or patient physician from the central monitoring facility.
[0015] One embodiment of the on-site medication dispenser unit includes a rotating tube
rack wherein the tubes may be loaded with at least a weeks worth of a particular type
of medication or types of medication. When a medication dosage is to be dispensed,
the tube rack is rotated so that the proper tube is positioned at a dispensing chute.
At the prescribed dosage time the dispenser's program initiates an alert to the patient.
As described above, when the patient is alerted, he or she is required to push a dispensing
button within a programmable time window, If the button is pushed the aligned tube
of the rotating mechanism releases the bottom-most canister (dispensing cup), which
then drops into a chute accessible to the patient. If the patient does not dispense
the medication when alerted to do so, the dispenser first, for some embodiments, steps
through a progressive alerting of audio (tones and pre-recorded voice messages)and
visual alerts with increasing intensity, and if the medicine is not dispensed, the
rotating tube mechanism drops the canister into an inaccessible bin and the unit attempts
to contact, in order, a pre-programmed list of caregivers and then if not successful,
notifies the 24 hour central monitoring facility.
[0016] A still further embodiment of the invention provides a dispensing unit programmable
to notify a patient to take a medication which is not dispensed by the unit. One example
is the dispenser prompting the patient to take insulin using the above-identified
visual display, audible alarm and/or audio message such as a prerecorded voice.
[0017] According to one example embodiment, the on-site dispensing unit is loaded by first
filling the appropriate plurality of canisters, or dispensing cups with the individual
medication dosages, then transporting the filled canisters to the on-site unit, and
loading them into the dispensing mechanism's tubes in the order in which they are
to be dispensed. The plurality of canisters or dispensing cups can be loaded, and
the dispensing units controller programmed accordingly, to provide either a large
number of doses per day for up to, as an example, a week at a time, or for a smaller
number of doses per day over multiple weeks. The canisters or dispensing cups may
be filled at the location of the on-site unit, or pre-filled at a central distribution
facility, or at a local station, such a place within a nursing home.
[0018] After loading the canisters into the tubes, the unit is programmed using one of the
following three methods; call the central monitoring facility and have the unit programmed
remotely, use a setup panel to select a pre-programmed standard, use a setup control
panel to enter in a customized schedule.
[0019] A control panel for programming the dispensing unit is preferably located under a
cover of the dispensing unit thereby, preventing accidental or other altering of the
stored medication dosage schedule.
[0020] In addition to the medication dispensing and monitoring functions of the dispensing
unit, a further embodiment includes a wireless communicating device worn by the patient
which is communicatively linked with the dispenser to provide additional emergency
protection to some patients. In an emergency, the patient can activate the wireless
communication device which would communicate with the dispensing unit. The dispensing
unit would in turn send an emergency message to the central monitoring station. The
personal communication device may be a pendant worn around the neck or any other suitable
device that can be worn on the patients body. The medication dispensing unit may optionally
incorporate and emergency button that serves the same function as the personal communication
device. Other embodiments of the wireless emergency communications device are a wall
mounted wireless emergency button and a table top wireless emergency button.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood
from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention
with reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a high level system diagram of a medication dispensing and monitoring
system according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is an isometric view of an on-site medication dispenser according to the
present invention;
Figure 3 is an isometric view of the Figure 2 on site medication dispenser with the
cover panel open;
Figure 4 is an exploded isometric view of the Figure 2 on site medication dispenser;
and
Figures 5A and 5B show a detailed operational flow chart for an on-site dispensing
unit and monitoring system according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Figure 1 is a high level system diagram of an example medication dispensing and monitoring
system according to the present invention. The Figure 1 system includes an on-site
medication dispenser 2 which stores a plurality of canisters or dispensing cups, described
in detail further below, each cup filled with one or several pills of one or more
type for dispensing at a prescribed time. The canisters or dispensing cups are loaded
into the on-site dispensing unit 2 by authorized persons from a visiting nurse facility
or from a doctors office, or by a local caregiver. The specific apparatus and details
of operation of the medical dispensing unit 2 are described further below in reference
to Figures 2-4, 5A, and 5B.
[0023] The on-site dispensing unit 2 has a microprocessor-based controller (shown in Figure
4), which is described further below, the controller having a standard data storage
function (not shown). The dispenser unit 2 data storage receives and stores a dispensing
program, or receives data entries into a prestored user-prompt program, representing
the patient's prescribed medication regimen. The program or data is entered into the
unit 2 manually, by either the patient or the caregiver 4, or is received via modem
(not shown) from one of several remote sites including the patient's physician office
6, a nursing facility 8, a central control/monitoring facility 20, or a retirement
home facility 12. The on-site dispensing unit 2 then, by its example apparatus and
operation described below, executes the entered dispensing program by alerting the
patient, by a visual and/or audible means 3, at each of the programmed dosing times
and, concurrent with each alerting operation, places or assigns one of its internally
stored dispensing cups into a ready-to-dispense mode or mechanical state. The controller
concurrently establishes a window of time, relative to the alerting signal, during
which the patient can input a dispensing signal 5 via, for example, a button, shown
as item 68 in Figure 4, or other input device, such as a touchscreen (not shown).
The duration of the time window is set by the entered program or by a default value.
If the user input signal 5 is received before expiration of the time window the assigned
dispensing cup is output from the unit, as shown by label 7. The apparatus and method
of the on-site dispensing unit 2 for carrying out the patient alerting and dispensing
operations are described in further detail below.
[0024] If the patient has not yet responded, e.g., pushed the button 68 of the medication
dispensing unit 2, at the end of the time window, the unit 2 for the Figure 1 embodiment
immediately transmits an alert 14 via, for example, a unit modem (not shown) to a
first designated caregiver 16. In addition to generating the alert 14, the on-site
dispensing unit 2 drops the dispensing cup that had been in the ready-to-dispense
mode into an inaccessible storage of the unit 2, by an apparatus and operation described
in further detail below.
[0025] If no response is received by the unit 2 from that first designated caregiver, the
unit 2 sends another alert 14 to second designated caregiver (no shown) or to the
retirement/nursing home monitoring facility 12 (if patient is in a retirement home
environment). Alerting sequences different from the example above are readily written
into the dispenser unit 2 microprocessor based controller to achieve different priority
sequences. Referring to Figure 1, a preferred example notifies the central monitoring
facility there is no valid response from any of the designated caregivers 16 or from
the retirement home monitoring facility 12.
[0026] Instead of a unit 2 modem (not shown), communication with the remote sites, such
as 16, 12 and 20 can be realized by direct a phone line or cellular phone connection.
Regarding the specific form of receipt verification signal that the remote monitoring
sites 16, 12 and 20 transmit back to the on-site dispensing unit 2, that is a simple
design choice, with examples including a specific phone keypad (not shown) entry,
or sequence of entries, or a designated key (not shown). Further, the dispenser unit
2 may be equipped with a voice-recognition feature, recognizing, for example, "I'll
be right over." Various commercial voice recognition hardware/software modules, readily
incorporated into a standard microprocessor based controller are available as off-the-shelf
items.
[0027] In the description above of the Figure 1 example system, the on-site dispensing unit
immediately transmits an alert signal 14 if there has been no user input of the dispensing
signal when the time window ends. A further embodiment, which is described below in
reference to Figures 5A and 5B, uses a plurality of, for example, two time windows
during which the user may input the dispensing signal, e.g., press the button 68.
In that further embodiment, the audio or visual alarm is generated at a first intensity
during the first time window. If that first time window ends and the user has not
yet entered a dispensing signal the unit increases the alarm level. The increased
alarm level is continuous or, alternatively, is steadily increasing, until the end
of the second time window. If the user, at the end of the second time window, has
still not entered the dispensing signal then the unit 2 generates the alert signal
14 as described above.
[0028] Referring to Figure 1, the central monitoring facility 20 is connected to the on-site
medication dispenser 2 via modem (not shown) and, in addition to receiving alerts
14 from the unit 2, unit 2 is optionally programmed for periodic reporting concerning
the operation and status of the unit 2. The information transmitted by such a periodic
reporting is a design choice, preferably including a history of all dispensing operations
over a set time period. In addition, the central monitoring facility sends a query
to the on-site dispensing unit 2 over the modem line requesting information. Still
further, the patient's physician office 6 may request a record 18 of dosage schedule
compliance from the central monitoring facility 20 to further enhance the treatment
of the patient.
[0029] Figures 2-4 show as item 30 one example embodiment of on-site medication dispenser
2 according to the present invention. An operation of the Figure 2-4 unit is shown
by the functional flow chart of Figures 5A and 5B, which are discussed further below.
For purposes of this description, references to the example on-site dispensing unit
30 of Figures 2-4 refer also to the dispensing unit 2 within the system shown by Figure
1. Referring to Figure 4, the unit 30 has a LCD display 32 which displays information
describing the medication dosage schedule to the patient, as well as other information
that can assist the patient with the administering of a medication. An example of
other such information is that when a specific medication is dispensed, the display
may, if appropriate, indicate that the medication should be taken with food.
[0030] Referring to Figures 2-4, once the medication dispenser unit 30 has been loaded with
dispensing cups 46, and the dispensing program has been loaded into its controller
58, and activated via the keypad 66, a patient alert will be generated by the light
81 indicating to the patient when each dispensing time occurs for a prescribed medication
dosage. As will understood from this description of the detailed structure shown by
Figure 4, the one of the tubes 70 having as its lowermost dispensing cup 46 the cup
having the medication to be taken when the light 81 is activated is rotated into alignment
with the dispensing mechanism 72. If the patient depresses the dispensing button 68,
or the equivalent button 34 of Figure 2, during the programmed time window the dispensing
mechanism 72 is activated and that lowermost dispensing cup 46 is deposited into a
chute 36 and thereby made accessible to the patient.
[0031] The Figure 2 example on-site dispensing unit 30 has an emergency button 38 incorporated
into it. As will be understood from the description below, when the emergency button
38 is depressed an emergency call is automatically placed to one or more remote sites,
such as the caregiver 16 or the central monitoring facility 20.
[0032] Figure 3 shows the medication dispenser 30 with the access panel 42 open. With the
access panel 42 open the manual program keypad 44 can be accessed. Loading individual
medication canisters 46 is also accomplished with the access panel 42 open. Each dispensing
tube 48 is exposed in turn to be loaded with the individual medication canister 46.
Also, access to the missed medicine canisters 45 is provided when access panel 42
unlocked and open. Access panel 42 can be locked to prevent unwanted access to the
missed medication and manual program keypad 44.
[0033] Figure 4 shows an exploded view of the example on-site medication dispenser unit
30 wherein a dispenser tube carousel 50 having, for this example, a plurality of ten
canister tubes 70 is connected to a drive gear 52 which is rotated by a motor 54 located
in the base. The base 56 houses a controller 58 and a battery pack 62. The controller
58 can be one of several standard off-the-shelf microprocessor-based controllers having
standard-type actuator or servo drive interfaces and detector inputs, such as, for
example, IntelĀ® 80C196KB 16 bit microcontroller device or equivalent.
[0034] The base 56 of the depicted example is also designed to accommodate an LCD display
64 and keypad 66 and a dispensing button 68, which is equivalent to the button 34
of Fig. 2.
[0035] The operation that results from pressing the dispensing button 68 depends on the
programmed mode of the unit 30, as will be understood from the functional flow charts
of Figs. 5A and 5B described below. For example, it is optional to program the controller
58 such that upon pressing the button 68 the carousel 50 is directly rotated to position
an individual one of the tubes 70, into an operative relation to the dispensing mechanism
72. As described for the embodiments depicted by Figs. 5A and 5B, however, the computer
58 rotates the carousel 50 such that one of the tubes 70 is placed into a proper dispensing
position based on an upcoming dispensing schedule requirement which the controller
58 reads from its memory (not numbered). In such a case, as will be described, when
the dispensing button 68 is depressed at a proper time the carousel 50 is already
in the correct position and the dispensing mechanism 72 is operated to dispense the
container 46 having the scheduled dosage from the selected tube 70 into a chute 74
formed in the base 56.
[0036] The position of the carousel 50 is determined by a position detector 76 located under
the carousel 50, which relays positional information to the controller 58. The positional
information relayed to the controller 58 is used to determine which of he tubes 51
has the canister 46 having the medication dosage that is scheduled to be released
according to a dispensing program entered by a caregiver through the keypad 66 or
received from a remote source, such as the doctors office 6 shown in Fig. 1.
[0037] The tube carousel 50 is protected against contaminants and tampering by the cover
78 which mates to the base 56 when installed over the tube carousel 50.
[0038] Each of the ten tubes 70 may contain up to six of the canisters 46, and the tubes
may be loaded with the canisters 46 in a variety of different configurations in association
with the dispensing schedule entered into the controller 58. For example, if a patient
is to receive a first medication at noon, and a second medication twice daily, e.g.,
at eight in the morning and ten at night, then each day would require three canisters
46. Each of the tubes 70 could therefore conceivably hold two days of medication.
The unit 30 could, depending on design choice, access two days in succession from
one of the tubes 70 before rotating the carousel 50 to the next tube 70 or, alternatively,
dispense three canisters 46 in a day from one tube 70, and then rotate to the next
tube 70 for the next day, and repeat the cycle until all of the tubes 70 were completely
emptied. Other variations are readily seen by one of ordinary skill in the art.
[0039] As will be understood from the flowchart of Figs. 5A and 5B described below, the
controller 58 generates an audible or visible alert at each dosing time contained
in the entered dispensing schedule. If the dispensing request button 68 is not pressed
prior to a first predetermined time, the audible or visible alert will be increased.
If the audible or visible alert is increased the controller waits again to detect
whether the button 68 is pressed prior to a second time limit. If the button 68 is
not pressed then the canister 46 is placed into the missed dose compartment below
the base 56. After a canister 46 is placed in the missed dose compartment, the controller
58 initiates a sequence of calls to a caregiver's phone 16 and then, if there is no
response, to the central controller 20.
[0040] Alternatively, the controller 58 can be programmed to allow a specific time window
during which the medication may be dispensed such as, for example, a time window that
straddles a nominal dispensing time of one o'clock PM, the window extending, for example,
from 12:45 PM to 1:15 PM. The patient must then press the dispensing button 68 during
that time window. If the patient does not press the button 68 then, in accordance
with one embodiment, the selected canister 46 containing the medication scheduled
for dispensing at the programmed time is placed in the missed dose compartment. In
accordance with this embodiment, if the patient does not press the button 68 within
the time window then the controller 58 becomes unresponsive to the button 68 until
the next time window.
[0041] Figures 5A and 5B together depict an example high level operational flow chart of
a first embodiment of a medication system as depicted by Fig. 1, with an on-site medication
dispensing unit such as shown by Figs. 2-4.
[0042] Referring to Fig. 5A, after power to the dispensing unit 2 is turned on at block
100, block 102 initiates an initializing process.
[0043] Initialization of the unit includes home positioning the tube carousel 50, home positioning
the dispense mechanism 72, configuring the controller 58 hardware and embedded software
performing built-in self tests, and informing the patient/caregiver of the successful
completion of said initialization via pre-recorded voice message and LCD message 64.
[0044] After the initialization process decision, block 104 conducts a self-test operation.
Self test of the unit includes the test of all controller 58 memory, loopback testing
of the embedded controller 58 modem, battery 62 and power supply voltage measurements,
and the carousel 50 and dispense mechanism 72 positioning sensor 76 and 82 calibration.
[0045] If the on-site medication dispensing unit 30 is not functioning properly, the user
is notified in function block 106, the unit 30 is serviced (or replaced) in function
block 108 and the process loops back to the start of the initialization process in
block 102. If the unit is functioning properly the user, i.e., the caregiver operating
the unit, is notified in function block 110. Next, at input block 112, the unit 30
is ready to be loaded with medication dosages by the caregiver and to receive medication
dosage scheduling into its controller 58 on the circuit board assembly of Fig. 4,
from either a remote source, such as the doctor's office 6 of Fig. 1, or by manual
input from the caregiver through a keypad such as the assembly 66 of Fig. 4. Decision
block 114 determines if the unit 2 is filled. If the unit 30 is not filled, the decision
block 114 initiates a process loop back to block 112. Otherwise the medication is
ready to dispense in function block 118, subject to decision block 116 which determines
if the medication dosage schedule has been input into the controller 58 on the printed
circuit board assembly 58 of Fig. 4. If the schedule has not been input, the decision
block 116 initiates a process loop back to function block 112. Otherwise the medication
is ready to dispense in function block 118.
[0046] Decision block 120 is carried out by the controller 58 executing conventional timer-based
commands (not numbered) in accordance with the loaded dispensing schedule, and determines
if it is time to deliver a medication according to that schedule.
[0047] If the answer at block 120 is no, decision block 124 determines whether it is time
to check in with the central monitoring facility 20. The specific times and frequencies
for such check are entered, for example, with the dispensing schedule at step 116.
If it is time to check in with the monitoring facility 20, a call is initiated as
shown in function block 126, otherwise a process loop is initiated back to decision
block 120. The call is made via, for example, the patient's phone 14 shown in Fig.
1.
[0048] If the answer at block 120 is yes, the patient is alerted, as shown by the Fig. 5B
function block 122, by a first level attention getting signal (not shown). The attention
getting signal may be an audible sound through a speaker 80 associated with the unit
30 and/or by a visible light signal emanated by a light emitting device 81 associated
with and/or mounted to the unit 30. Additionally, a pre-recorded voice message is
played by the unit.
[0049] Concurrent with the start of the first level attention getting signal at block 122,
the controller at block 132 begins to measure the time that elapses until the patient
presses the button 34. If the button 34 (68 in Fig. 4) is pressed prior to the first
time limit, the selected canister is delivered through the chute 36 (74 in Fig. 4)
to the patient. If a first attention getting time expires and the patient has not
yet pressed the button 34, a second level alert is initiated in block 134, otherwise
the first level alert remains active in block 122. The second attention-getting signal
generated at block 134 is either a louder or changed frequency audible sound, a brighter
light, louder and/or a more urgent pre-recorded message, or a combination of the three.
[0050] Decision block 135 detects whether or not the patient has pressed the delivery button
34, while block 136 determines if a second level attention getting time has expired
prior to such detection. If the button 34 is pressed prior to the second level attention
getting time expires, the process goes to block 130 and the medication canister is
dispensed through the chute 36.
[0051] If the second level attention-getting time has expired, the medication is placed
in an internal safe container, as shown by block 138, and the second level alert is
deactivated.
[0052] After the medication is placed in the internal safe container 83, as shown by function
block 138, a call is initiated to the primary caregiver, as shown by block 140. Referring
to Fig. 1, the call by function block 138 is placed through, for example, the patient's
phone 14. As to the identity of the primary caregiver, this could be the retirement
home programming/monitoring facility 12 shown in Fig. 1 or, if the on-site unit is
located in a private home, it could be the telephone 16 of designated primary care
person, such as a relative or a private nurse.
[0053] Referring to Fig. 5A, decision block 142 determines how many calls will be attempted
to the primary caregiver. If the preset amount of call attempts is exceeded without
contacting the primary caregiver, function block 144 initiates a call to a second
caregiver. Caregiver contact is complete when the caregiver depresses the appropriate
telephone key after hearing the pre-recorded voice message enunciated over the telephone
by the unit. If, on the other hand, the primary caregiver is contacted decision block
142 is satisfied and prepares for the delivery of the dose, decision block 146. Decision
block 146 in Fig. 5A determines if the unit is empty of medication dosages. If the
unit is empty a caregiver is contacted in function block 148 and the process loop
returns to the start of the medication filling process in block 112; otherwise the
process loop returns to the ready to dispense medication mode in block 118.
[0054] As discussed above, if the primary caregiver is not contacted, a call to a second
caregiver is initiated in block 144. Fig. 1 does not separately depict a second caregiver,
as this would be, for example, simply another caregiver and caregiver's phone such
as item 16. Decision block 150 determines how many calls will be attempted to the
second care giver. If the preset programmable amount of call attempts is exceeded
without contacting the second caregiver, an attempt will be made to call a third caregiver
in function block 152. Decision block 154 then determines how many calls will be attempted
to the third care giver. If the preset amount of call attempts is exceeded without
contacting the third caregiver, an attempt will be made to call a fourth caregiver
in function block 156. Decision block 158 determines how many calls will be attempted
to the fourth care giver. If the preset amount of call attempts is exceeded without
contacting the fourth caregiver, an emergency facility or a central monitoring facility,
such as the monitoring facility 20 shown in Fig. 1, will be contacted in function
block 160. After the emergency or central monitoring facility is contacted the process
loop goes to decision block 146.
[0055] As shown by Fig. 5A, if a caregiver is contacted at anytime during the missed medication
mode the process loop goes to decision block 146.
[0056] While the invention has been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, those
skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. For example, the second level
attention getting signal, shown an block 134 of the process depicted in Fig. 5A, could
be omitted. Further, the number of caregivers which the on-site unit attempts to contact
before contacting the emergency facility or central monitoring facility being four
is for purposes of example only. The process could be easily modified to contact the
emergency facility after attempting only one caregiver or more than 4 caregivers.
Also note, that the four caregivers represent 4 programmable telephone numbers to
call. These numbers may represent one or more actual caregivers and could be used
for alternate telephone numbers for said first care giver (e.g. work telephone number,
home telephone number, mobile telephone number, pager number)
1. A medication dispensing system comprising:
a central monitoring station; and
an on-site medication dispensing unit comprising:
a plurality of canisters for storing pills;
canister support means for supportably holding said canisters;
a main enclosure means for enclosing said canister support means, said main enclosure
means having a movable access cover, and having a canister dispensing port, said access
cover movable to an open position for manually placing said canisters into said canister
support means, and movable to a closed lockable position for preventing manual access
to said canisters;
a missed dose enclosure means for holding at least one of said canisters in a manually
inaccessible manner, said missed dose enclosure means having a canister input port;
means for storing a dispensing schedule information;
means for generating a dispensing notification signal detectable by human senses based
on said pill dispensing schedule;
a human interface means for receiving a manually entered dispense request signal;
means for selecting a first canister from among said containers within said canister
support means and for dispensing said first canister through said canister dispense
port based on receipt of said dispense request signal within a first predetermined
time after generation of said dispensing notification signal;
means for detecting a failure to receive said dispense request signal within said
first predetermined time after generation of said dispensing notification signal;
means for placing said first canister through said canister input port into said missed
dose enclosure means based on said detecting a failure;
means for transmitting a first alarm call to a first caregiver receiver based on said
detecting a failure;
means for receiving a first confirmation signal from said first caregiver;
means for contacting said central monitoring station based on a failure to receive
said first confirmation signal.
2. A medication dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein said on-site medication
dispensing unit further comprises:
means for detecting and storing a compliance history including a history of the patient
entering the dispense request signal with respect to the first predetermined time;
and
means for transmitting said compliance history to said central monitoring facility.
3. A medication dispensing system according to claim 1, wherein said on-site medication
dispensing unit further comprises:
means for detecting whether said selected first canister completely dispenses through
said canister dispensing port, and
wherein said means for transmitting a first alarm call further comprises means for
transmitting said first alarm based on a detected failure to completely dispense said
selected first canister detected by said means for detecting.
4. A medication dispensing system according to claim 1,
wherein said canister support means comprises plurality of tubes radially spaced about
a common axis, and
wherein said means for selecting a first canister comprises means for selectively
rotating said plurality of tubes to place a selected one of said plurality into an
alignment with said canister dispensing port.
5. A medication dispensing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for
manually entering the dispensing schedule information into said means for storing
the dispensing schedule information.
6. A medication dispensing system according to claim 1, further comprising means for
receiving an externally generated signal having the dispensing schedule information
and for storing information into said means for storing the dispensing schedule information.
7. A medication dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing notification
signal is a recorded audio message.
8. A medication dispensing system according to claim 1 where said dispensing notification
signal is a light display.
9. A medication dispensing system comprising:
a central monitoring station; and
an on-site medication dispensing unit comprising:
a plurality of canisters for storing pills;
canister support means for supportably holding said canisters;
a main enclosure means for enclosing said canister support means, said main enclosure
means having a movable access cover, and having a canister dispensing port, said access
cover movable to an open position for manually placing said canisters into said canister
support means, and movable to a closed lockable position for preventing manual access
to said canisters;
means for storing a dispensing schedule information;
means for generating a dispensing activation signal based on said pill dispensing
schedule;
a human interface means for receiving a manually entered dispense request signal;
means for selecting a first canister from among said containers within said canister
support means and for dispensing said first canister through said canister dispense
port based on receipt of said dispense request signal within a first predetermined
time window relative to said dispensing activation signal;
means for detecting a failure to receive said dispense request signal within said
predetermined time window;
means for transmitting a first alarm call to a first caregiver receiver based on said
detecting a failure;
means for receiving a first confirmation signal from said first caregiver;
means for contacting said central monitoring station based on a failure to receive
said first confirmation signal.