Patent ID: 6415202
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A61J

Abstract:
A medication dispenser for dispensing doses of medication to a patient on a predetermined schedule, the dispenser including a carrying case having a dispenser outlet opening therein, a first wheel element mounted within said carrying case, a plurality of openings formed in said first wheel element in spaced relationship with respect to one another, indexing means mounted within said carrying case to rotate said first wheel element so as to incrementally align said plurality of openings relative to said dispenser outlet opening, a programmable controller mounted within said carrying case and electrically connected to said indexing means whereby said programmable controller controls an incremental movement of said first wheel element based upon a predetermined time schedule, means for connecting said programmable controller to a source of electrical power, a plurality of medication containers adapted to be selectively positioned within said plurality of openings of said first wheel element for receiving doses of medication to be supplied to a patient on a predetermined schedule, means for determining when one of said containers is aligned with said dispenser outlet opening, a closure member for normally closing said dispenser outlet opening when said closure member is in a first position, and means electrically connected to said programmable controller to move said closure member to a second position to open said dispenser outlet opening for a predetermined time when said one of said containers is aligned with said dispenser outlet opening and thereafter initiate movement of said closure member toward said first position.