Patent ID: 6513679
Filing Date: 2003-02-04
Classification: A61J,G07F

Abstract:
A device for storing and dispensing solid medicinal units comprising:a) a drug tube having a cavity for storing medicinal units in a vertical column, having at least three wings running a length of the cavity and protruding internally from an interior wall of the cavity such that each medicinal unit stored therein touches the interior wall thereof only at the wings; and b) a dispensing valve disposed at a bottom portion of the drug tube for dispensing one medicinal unit per cycle, comprising: i) a catcher comprising a pair of half-doors, movable between a closed position blocking the cavity and an open position; ii) a shutter comprising a pair of half-doors, movable between a closed position blocking the cavity and an open position, located below the catcher and defining a chamber therebetween, the chamber being of a size to hold one medicinal unit; iii) a catcher solenoid coupled to each half-door of the catcher for movement of the catcher between the closed position and the open position; iv) a shutter solenoid coupled to each half-door of the shutter for movement of the shutter between the closed position and the open position; such that when the catcher is in the closed position and the shutter solenoid moves the shutter to the open position, one medicinal unit is dispensed from the chamber, and when the shutter is in the closed position and the catcher solenoid moves the catcher to the open position, the chamber is loaded with one medicinal unit.