Patent ID: 6702146
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: A61J,G07F,G16H

Abstract:
A system for dispensing pill- or capsule-form medications (61) in desired doses (60), said system comprising a dispensing device (35) which includesa housing or frame (10), a cartridge (20, 40) rotatably supported on the housing or frame (10) and provided with individual dosage compartments (27, 47) for desired doses of medication, the cartridge (20, 40) being adapted to be disengageable and removable from the dispensing device (35) for filling the dosage compartments (27, 47) of the cartridge with desired doses of medication, the cartridge being furnished with identification data (ID), on the basis of which the filled cartridge (20, 40) can be certifiably returned to the proper dispensing device (35), a signaling 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 a dispensing program, the program electronics (19) being re-programmable with a programming device (55, 56; 36, 66, 101, 102) and that the dispensing is arranged to be effected by means of the users own action which is exerted onto the dispensing device (35), characterized in that the users own action for dispensing rotates or controls, rotation of the cartridge (20, 40) to bring an individual dosage compartment (27, 47) into a dispensing position, and that the said users own action for dispensing, or lack of such action within a prescribed time, is adapted to automatically transmit information regarding the dispensing event by way of a communication link (62, 63) to a distant control file (64a), which can be accessed and monitored by persons having a correct key code or password.