Patent ID: 9483621
Filing Date: 2016-11-01
CPC Classification: A61J,G16H

Claim Text:
1. A medication dispenser for dispensing medications on a prn as-needed basis, the medication dispenser comprising: a sensor for receiving biometric information from a user; a memory device for storing a prescribed minimum dosing interval between successive medication doses; a belt and a plurality of medication-carrying slots on an exterior-facing surface of the belt; a dose opening defined in an exterior surface of the medication dispenser; a signaling device; when the prescribed minimum dosing interval has elapsed, a controller for activating the signaling device and the sensor to an active state, the signaling device in the active state for advising the user the minimum dosing interval has elapsed, the sensor in the active state for receiving biometric information from the user, the signaling device and the sensor remaining in the active state until at least the user has been determined to be an authorized user; the controller further responsive to the biometric information for determining whether the user is an authorized user; upon determining the user to be an authorized user, the controller further for controlling the belt to allow manual or automatic movement of the belt to align a medication-carrying slot with the dose opening, the medication-carrying slot remaining aligned with the dose opening until withdrawn by the user; and to determine whether the prescribed minimum dosing interval has elapsed, the controller further for comparing the prescribed minimum dosing interval with a time interval beginning at an immediately prior withdrawal of a dose from the dose opening and ending at a later time when an authorized user needs a dose and therefore withdraws a dose from the dose opening, the interval between successive doses thus comprising an interval of variable length as dependent on an authorized user's need for a dose, the interval between successive doses thus not having a fixed or a predetermined length.