Smart automatic medication dispenser

The general purpose of the device described herein, the Smart Automatic Medication Dispenser, is to aid medical patients who must consume several types of medications several times a day for long periods of time. Often, due to daily diversions, it can be difficult for a patient to keep a running record of the amount of medications and the times at which they must be administered. The specific purpose of this computer controlled dispenser device is to provide a convenient vehicle and means by which properly proportioned medication doses are housed and automatically delivered to the patient in single complete doses. This user friendly and expandable dispenser will deliver medication in the proper chronological order and at the precisely correct/prescribed daily time intervals for a nominal period of one full week. Included in this device are comprehensive patient alerting capabilities, including familiar voices, all coordinated with medication delivery. Contained within the dispenser device is the ability to dial out and receive telephone messages to inform health care personnel of the dispenser's status, usage and to change internal dispenser programs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to home-based health care, and more 
particularly to a fault tolerant, computer controlled medication 
dispensing system with a detachable medication magazine that is easily 
interchangeable, transportable, and refillable at a remote reloading 
facility. 
It is often desirable to have an apparatus that administers medications 
automatically and monitors a patient's compliance with a medication 
regimen. Frequently home-bound solitary patients may be enrolled in 
rigorous medication programs with no daily supervision, or perhaps, only 
sparse supervision or visits on a weekly basis by a case worker or family 
member. Furthermore, they are often required to consume regular 
pre-scheduled doses of several types of medications, in tablet form or 
liquid form (cough medicine, antibiotics, nose, ear, and eye drops etc.) 
several times a day. The scheduling, record keeping and timing for the 
consumption of prescribed doses of medications of many types can be a 
taxing experience for most people, particularly for the elderly. 
These problems have led to the development of a number of devices which 
attempt to solve the problems inherent in a home based medication 
dispensing system. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,600 to Urquhart is an interactive programmable 
dispenser that actively controls the pattern in which doses of one or more 
pharmaceutical preparations are administered to a patient. This device 
monitors deviations from a prescribed medication regimen and can calculate 
medication correction factors to bring a patient back onto schedule by 
analyzing some bodily fluids. But Urquhart's dispenser does not solve 
several needs: the need for a removable magazine for off-line reloading, 
transportation and storage of patient medications, the need to detect if 
the medication has been picked-up by the patient, and the need for a 
persistent as well as interactive patient alerting system. Also, Urquhart 
cannot handle liquid medications. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,591 to Konopka is a portable dispenser containing a 
plurality of medication canisters which are discharged from the built in 
magazine structure at the appropriate time. The canisters are ejected by 
means of a motor-driven feed slide mechanism containing cams, guide tracks 
and moving pistons. The dispenser also contains various alerting devices. 
But Konopka's delivery mechanism, accomplished mechanically with cams, 
levers, pawls, rods etc., does not solve the need for a simple, reliable 
and cost effective delivery mechanism accomplished with a single rotating 
ejection arm. Also in Konopka the individual medication canisters must be 
loaded directly into the unit and thus it does not solve the need for a 
portable magazine which may be loaded off-line at a pharmacy, at a 
visiting nurses headquarters, or at a family member's home. The ejection 
sequence in the Konopka Dispenser is such that it will always eject a 
medication canister at the dosing time and hence it also does not solve 
the problem of a non-responsive patient and the problem of canister 
accumulation or canister mix-up. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,948 to Turner is a programmable medication dispenser 
which automatically produces the patient's medication by rotating coils, 
each coil having medication packets hanging from the coil sections and 
being delivered into a receiving receptacle when the coil rotates. This 
dispenser can accept the patient's physical data and analyze the patient's 
condition as well as interact with the patient. In Turner an outside phone 
line is used for the patient to speak to health care workers during 
emergencies but it does not solve the need for a system to have frequent 
on-line instrument monitoring in the health care workers' headquarters and 
a phone connection to change the microprocessor's internal operating 
software as well as emergency medication delivery. Also the Turner 
Dispenser has a complicated and busy front panel which may cause patient 
confusion and impair performance and thus Turner's design points out the 
need for a simple front panel such as a single flashing push-button, a 
small visual display window showing the day-time-date and a small red 
Light Emitting Diode (LED) which will light-up in the case of malfunctions 
or danger. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,221,024 to Campbell is a programmable dispenser with manual 
over-ride. This dispenser has a single built-in vertical magazine with top 
loading and bottom dispensing of medication canisters. This dispenser has 
patient alerting features and color coded medication canisters. It 
provides medication in a sequential manner since the canisters are stored 
in a single stack. Campbell's dispenser is a single stack of medication 
canisters and as such it only delivers canisters in the stack sequence; 
therefore, if a dose is missed by the patient the entire sequence is out 
of proper delivery order. Thus a need still exists for a system that can 
deliver medications out of sequence, skipping any number of doses, if the 
patient does not respond to the alerting, and still not fatally violate 
the required delivery sequence. 
In conclusion, there are medication dispensing aides which will alert a 
patient at a specific time to take a specific medication. However, in the 
case where a patient must take several different medications, say more 
than two or three types at various times throughout the day, there are 
currently no existing dispensers which are effective and comprehensive 
enough to fulfill the coordinated multi-tasking requirements of individual 
patient signaling/directing, external medication delivery, and regimen 
compliance/verification with a detachable medication magazine that is 
easily interchangeable, transportable, and refillable at a remote 
reloading facility. 
The references cited supra show devices that are limited by the complexity 
of the delivery mechanisms, that do not have a detachable medication 
magazine that is easily interchangeable, transportable, and refillable at 
a remote reloading facility with a complex regiment of various tablet or 
liquid medications. They cannot track and record a multiplicity of 
medications due to be consumed according to a schedule at a multiplicity 
of daily times, even if the patient skips any dose. Nor can they provide 
computer controlled, comprehensive and persistent alerting capabilities 
including familiar human voice or verbal step-by-step instructions and 
direction to the ejected bottle location for collection. Nor can they 
provide variable volume and adaptable acoustic and optical signals with an 
automatic two-way, out of dwelling, external communications capability to 
alert the health care provider or family of its status and usage. Nor can 
they provide on line medication regiment changes and automatically keep a 
record of all medication deliveries for compliance purposes, even if they 
are delivered out of the scheduled order. Nor can they provide built in 
fault tolerance monitoring and self diagnostic warning indicator lights 
for warning the patient and the health care provider by telephone that 
something has gone wrong and to get outside help. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are: 
(a) to provide a convenient vehicle and user friendly means by which 
various tablet or liquid medications are stored and resourcefully 
dispensed in scheduled complete doses in the patient's own home; 
(b) to provide an expandable modular dispenser having variable number of 
daily dispensing times and a multiple medication dispensing capability 
within any one dose; 
(c) to provide fully automatic computer controlled, patient interactive 
medication dispensing means to track and record a multiplicity of 
medications due to be consumed according to a schedule at a multiplicity 
of daily times, even if the patient skips any dose; 
(d) to provide computer controlled, comprehensive and persistent alerting 
capabilities including familiar human voice, variable volume and adaptable 
acoustic and optical signals for reminding the patient that it is time to 
take his/her medication; 
(e) to provide remote wireless acoustic and optical alerting with alerting 
messages being printed out on a playing television; 
(f) to provide a dispenser with an automatic two-way external, out of the 
patient's dwelling, communications capability which will alert the health 
care provider or family of its status and usage as well as being capable 
of on line medication regiment changes; 
(g) to provide, at the push of a single clearly visible (patient activated) 
release button, automatic delivery of a single container or packet 
containing all medication required for that dose in a fixed, preset, 
clutter free location external to the dispenser and within easy patient 
reach; 
(h) to provide a dispenser which has a detachable internal medication 
storage mechanism that is easily interchangeable, transportable, and 
refillable at a remote reloading facility; 
(i) to provide a dispenser with automatic record keeping of all medication 
deliveries for compliance purposes, even if they are delivered out of the 
scheduled order; 
(j) to provide a dispenser with a self diagnostic warning indicator light 
for warning the patient and the health care provider by telephone that 
something has gone wrong and to get outside help. 
These and other objects are accomplished by this automatic medication 
dispenser, the Smart Automatic Medication Dispenser, as it provides a 
clear path to the medication canister by using indicator lights to direct 
the patient to the canister release button and by using verbal 
step-by-step directions to the canister location for collection. This 
dispensing apparatus comprises a dispenser main body having a transparent 
receiving bin, and a detachable medication magazine, detachable from the 
dispenser main body, the magazine having a plurality of stack structures 
(each dosing time requiring one stack), each stack structure having a 
plurality of stacked medication canisters within. All the stack structures 
taken as a whole comprise the said detachable magazine which is capable of 
holding a multi-day, prescribed sequence of medications, as a single 
transportable unit. An internal computer monitors and coordinates the time 
of the day, dose delivery times and generates alerting signals to a 
patient. This dispenser then directs the patient to itself and waits for 
an interactive signal from a patient activated push-button. On receiving 
this activation signal the internal computer sends an electrical ejection 
signal to a solenoid which in turn activates an ejection arm to push a 
selected medication containing canister from the medication magazine into 
the transparent receiving bin for collection by the patient. The solenoid 
in essence acts as a means to translate the electrical signal into a 
mechanical motion of the medication containing canister. 
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become 
apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when 
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like characters represent like or 
corresponding parts throughout the several views, one sees in FIG. 1 of 
the smart automatic medication dispenser 3. The dispenser delivers 
individual cylindrical canisters (approximately 1.25" high by 1.25" in 
diameter) containing all of the medication needed at the time delivered. 
FIG. 1 shows the dispenser main body or housing having a hinged 5 top 
cover 10 with lock 11, side walls 38, a front panel 30, and a bottom wall 
35. The front panel 30 is a structural cross member (e.g., 0.100" thick 
aluminum plate with plastic facade) screwed to the side walls and contains 
a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) 53 (approximately 3" long by 0.6" wide 
located in the upper left corner as viewed) which will electronically show 
day of the week, time of day, and date. The front panel 30 also contains a 
red (danger get help) indicating Light Emitting Diode (LED) 32 (located in 
the lower right corner as viewed) and a large self illuminated push button 
switch 55 (located in the center of the panel) which flashes 
simultaneously with the top array of LEDs 67 at the correct dosing time 
and when depressed by the patient will cause the appropriate medication 
canister to be ejected. The external back and side walls are attached and 
mounted on the bottom wall 35 as are four, internal vertically oriented, 
(0.25" thick) aluminum stanchions 51 (FIG. 2), which serve as the support 
structures for the rotary solenoids 45. The rotary solenoids 45 are 
attached to the stanchions 51, shown in FIG. 2, with screws and lock 
washers. FIG. 2 also shows the ejection mechanism assembly 114 comprised 
of the stanchion 51, the rotary solenoid 45, the rotating shaft 112 and 
solenoid face plate 107 as well as the attached ejector arm 29. FIG. 1 
shows how the ejection mechanism assembly 114 is situated in the overall 
dispenser. The rotary solenoids have a vertically oriented ejector arm 
like structure 29 screwed onto the rotating face plate 107 of the 
solenoids. The shape of the arm structure 29 is shown in detail in FIG. 3 
which shows the center of rotation 103, the screw mounting holes 105 and 
the arm movement sensor hole 110. A key point in the design of the arm 
structure is the arc like section of the arm which does not have a 
constant radius on the outer arc but rather is shaped like a cam or wedge 
(being flatter near the point) on the front portion of the arm so as to 
permit easier retraction under the weight of the canister stack after the 
ejection stroke. Referring now to FIG. 4, when a solenoid activates, at 
the correct dosing time, the face plate 107 and attached arm 29 rotate 
approximately 45 degrees into the magazine bottom block 17 to push the 
bottom canister 14 out of each canister stack 59. FIG. 4 also shows the 
process of canister 14 ejection into the canister receiving bin 49. On the 
top side of the stanchions 51 a horizontal metal plate 33, approximately 
0.100" in thickness, having the same depth as the stanchions, is attached 
with screws. The horizontal plate serves as the platform support structure 
which bears the weight of the portable medication magazine assembly 12. 
FIG. 1 also shows the medication transport magazine 12 which is fabricated 
from plastic tubing 61, e.g. acrylic tubing, cut into lengths long enough 
to stack the medication canisters 59 one on top of the other so as to 
store enough canisters for a week or more. In production the magazine may 
be molded as a single structure. The magazine nominally consists of 4 
tubes, however, more tubes can be added as needed since the solenoid and 
the tubes are parallel and operate independently. The tubes are capped 65 
at the top end and are held together at the top by a rigid plastic fixture 
63 and at the bottom by the magazine bottom block 17. The magazine bottom 
block forms the insertion end of the magazine assembly as it is joined to 
the dispenser body at the horizontal plate 33. The magazine bottom block 
supports the medication storage tubes and forms canister chambers 57 at 
the bottom of, and within, the magazine assembly where the canisters are 
kept separate and await ejection. The rear of each chamber has a vertical 
slot 21 cut into the rear wall to permit the ejection arm to pass through 
the bottom block and to impact the bottom canister for ejection. The 
magazine also has a floor member 58 (FIG. 4), of 0.100" thick acrylic or 
0.06" thick aluminum plate, attached to the bottom end of the bottom block 
17. Furthermore, mounted on both sides of the horizontal plate next to, 
and attached to, the outer walls are acrylic fixtures 34 (FIG. 1) attached 
to the outer walls which serve as side support to stabilize and hold the 
magazine assembly 12 (FIG. 1) when mounted in the present invention 
dispenser. The entire magazine assembly is portable and may easily be 
inserted into, or removed from, the cavity formed by the horizontal plate 
and the side support structures. Referring to FIG. 4, the ejector arm 29 
moves on a path which is above the horizontal plate and the magazine 
floor, through the slots in the rear of the bottom block to strike the 
bottom canister and push it out into the receiving bin 49. Also shown in 
FIG. 1 are slots 41 cut into the receiving bin 49 which allow the front 
part of the ejection arm to pass through the bin and out of the ejecting 
canister's path. Another important feature built into the magazine 
structure is the automatic electronic patient identification code located 
near the bottom of the bottom block. To avoid possible magazine/patient 
mismatch, each portable magazine will have a electronic identification 
code attached to it so that, upon insertion into the present invention 
dispenser, it will be automatically recognized as the proper medication 
magazine for the patient intended. 
The one piece plastic (acrylic or PVC) of top cover 10 in FIG. 1 contains a 
bend made by heating the cover and forming it to contour along the along 
the top and down the front side. The top cover is attached to the 
dispenser by a piano hinge 5 and is provided with a keyed lock 11 to 
prevent patient or unauthorized entry. By lifting the top cover the 
magazine may easily be inserted between support plates 34 to rest on the 
plate 33. 
Referring again to FIG. 3 the rotating ejector arm 29, when mounted onto 
the solenoid rotator plate via holes 105, has a straight vertical section 
protruding upward in front of the bottom canister of the magazine. In 
addition, the rear section of the arm is an arc like section which, upon 
solenoid activation, impacts the canister from the rear, as shown in FIG. 
4, as it moves through slots in the bottom block 17. When in the rest 
position, the near vertical straight part of the arm 29 is designed to 
protrude about 0.6" above the bottom block floor member, and in front, of 
the horizontal plate 33 to prevent the bottom canister from sliding 
forward before ejection time. The entire ejector arm is cut out of a 
single metal plate, approximately 0.100" in thickness, so that when the 
solenoid is activated the front near vertical straight arm section also 
rotates downward, through the bin slots 41 (FIG. 1), and away from the 
front chamber 57 canister exit opening of the magazine allowing the 
canister to exit the magazine as the arc like arm section impacts the 
canister 14. After impact and ejection the arm returns to its rest 
position as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a small hole 110 drilled along 
the top part of the arm arc section to serve as a marker through which 
light will pass (or be blocked) to activate (or deactivate) the optical 
sensor 130 which then detects the movement of the arm. By timing the light 
pulses which pass through the hole in the arm the microprocessor can track 
the movement of the arm along its stroke and relaxation movement. Thus arm 
movement sensors can detect and monitor the arm stroke and return 
movement. If the movement is not according to design the sensor 
information causes the microprocessor to activate the red panel mounted 
get help LED 32, shown in FIG. 1, and the voice warning to get help. 
As seen in FIG. 4, as the arm rotates a canister 14 is ejected into the 
receiving bin 49 which is located in the lower front section of the 
dispenser. The receiving bin 49 has one side which forms part of the 
outside front section of the dispenser. The interior side of the receiving 
bin is in contact with the front of the stanchions 51 and has 4 slots 41 
cut vertically into the interior side. The slots allow the vertical 
section of the ejector arm to rotate freely past the interior bin wall as 
the arm strokes 29 forward and ejects a medication canister. The canister 
falls into the "V" shaped receiving bin and rolls or slides toward the 
lowest point near the front awaiting pick-up by the patient. FIG. 1 shows 
a resting canister 37 awaiting patient pick-up in the bin. The patient 
simply pulls the receiving bin out by the handle 43 located in the front 
of the bin and reaches in to collect the medication canister. The bin is 
attached to the dispenser body by pins 47, seen in FIG. 1, located at the 
corners of the bin. The lowest point in the receiving bin is equipped with 
a canister detecting sensor. The optical canister detecting sensor is 
comprised of two parts: an optical sensor 27 and an optical transmitter 
39. The sensor 27 is located on one side corner of the bin and the optical 
transmitter 39 is located on the opposite corner. The optical transmitter 
projects a narrow optical infra-red beam across the lowest part of the bin 
which is obstructed by the canister if it is present. If the beam is 
obstructed the micro-processor will instruct the voice chip to verbally 
warn the patient that they must pick-up the canister now. If the patient 
does not pick-up the medication canister after a programmed amount of time 
the red get help LED 32 in the front panel will blink and a help needed 
phone message is automatically sent out to the health care worker or a 
family member by the microprocessor. Moreover, if the receiving bin 49 is 
not closed properly by the patient after the medication canister 37 is 
picked-up an internal microswitch 36 will sense the ill-placed bin and, 
subsequently, verbally alert the patient instructing him/her to "close the 
bin." Furthermore, there is an electrical switch 155 which will sense that 
the top cover is not properly shut and the switch 155 will also insure 
that the top cover is secured by providing a warning. 
Another feature of this dispenser is a small conventional video camera 
approximately 2.5".times.2.5".times.3.5" which can be mounted externally 
on top of the dispenser to observe that the patient is actually consuming 
the medication. It is anticipated that some patients will be troublesome 
and require extra monitoring by the family or health care provider to 
ensure the proper medication compliance. It is in these cases that the 
video camera will be attached to the top of the dispenser above the LED 
array 67 (FIG. 1) for direct patient viewing and monitoring. The video 
camera will have a low data transfer rate or bandwidth so that it may be 
transmitted through the RS-232 interface via a common telephone line. To 
implement the video information and transfer capability, this dispenser 
will use conventional data compression and transmission methods. If 
required the family or health care provider will have ability to directly 
observe the compliance habits of the patient. 
Referring to FIG. 1, immediately behind the magazine is an internal 
dividing wall 40 which together with the back external wall and part of 
the external side walls form the internal electronics compartment 15. The 
electronics compartment is isolated and generally inaccessible. Mounted in 
this compartment is a power supply to provide +5 volts direct current 
(DC), +12 volts DC and +24 volts DC. Also located in this compartment will 
be the microprocessor and surrounding circuitry shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 
8, a speaker to deliver human voice messages 240 (FIG. 6), a wireless 
radio frequency generator to provide remote alerting 225, a battery 
back-up capability as well as the telephone interfacing components 235. An 
important feature of the present invention dispenser is the ability to 
communicate outside the patient's dwelling using the conventional 
telephone lines. The telephone interface modem 235 (FIG. 6) has the 
ability to perform two way phone communications to and from the present 
invention dispenser; thus using the phone line, instructions may be given 
to the present invention dispenser over the phone line at any time. Also 
using the phone, the present invention dispenser can provide patient 
medication compliance information to family or health care providers at 
any time. Most of the electrical power and all of the high voltage is 
contained in this compartment 15 as well as all input and output 
connectors. Referring back to FIG. 1, the present invention dispenser will 
also have optical flashing lights built onto the top 67 of the unit as 
well as a wireless remote optical flashing capability and a single 
flashing push button 55 on the front panel 30. It will be completely 
coordinated in all of its functions by a microprocessor 215 (FIG. 6) to 
alert the patient calling the patient by name in familiar voice, 
step-by-step verbal instructions to urge the correct response in taking 
their medication. It will also have acoustic alarms including a wireless 
remote acoustic alarm (buzzers, beepers, etc.) and voice messages. Another 
alerting feature is the ability of the present invention dispenser to 
interrupt, via radio frequency link, a receiver attached to the operating 
television to screen display and voice the message that it is time to take 
their medication. Side handles for lifting and rubber anti skid pads are 
placed on the outside of the bottom wall to secure the dispenser on a 
table or countertop. 
In operation the present invention dispenser's conventional computer 215 
(FIG. 6) will autonomously keep a continuous time record and coordinate 
all timing and dispensing functions automatically. The time will be 
constantly displayed along with the patient's name, date, and day of the 
week on the front panel display 53 shown in FIG. 1 (electrically see 230 
FIG. 6). The signaling operation of the present invention dispenser begins 
at the correct dosing times, as indicated by the internal clock and shown 
on the clock display on the front panel 53 shown in FIG. 1, with the 
acoustic and optical alerting functions. These alerting signals will 
remind the patient, with alarms and by voice, that it is time to take 
his/her medication. In addition to the indicator lights blinking in clear 
view on the present invention dispenser, there are acoustic signals and 
remotely positioned wireless alarming devices in the patient's dwelling 
that are initiated to alert the patient when the dispenser is not in sight 
225 (FIG. 6). There is a beeping sound and a human voice 240 (FIG. 6) that 
utters the reminder "It is time to take your medication." The volume of 
these acoustic beeping signals will be varied starting softly at first but 
increasing automatically in volume every 5 minutes. 
Contained within the present invention dispenser is a commercially 
available central computer chip 215 and electronics package seen in FIG. 
6, located around the internal electrical compartment 15 of FIG. 1, that 
keeps a continuous record of elapsed time and controls exactly which 
indicator light and acoustic alarm is activated. The computer maintains a 
compliance indicator counter 250 (FIG. 8) which is a record of the total 
number of times a canister is removed when the patient activated bottle 
release button 55 (FIG. 1) is pushed. 
On the front panel of the present invention dispenser is located a patient 
name plate for positive identification. Also there is a power switch 
located remotely to turn the dispenser on and off and a key board to 
select, on location, the dosing times required. All control switches which 
are set only once using the key board 290 (FIG. 6) will be located in 
concealed tamper resistant positions within the housing. Also in the 
electrical compartment is located a back-up battery system. On the front 
panel 30 of FIG. 1 is located a red LED indicator light 32 which will 
serve as a danger indicator signal. Each red warning light or LED will 
turn-on if the present invention dispenser malfunctions or jams, if there 
is a power failure, if the dispenser is turned off, or if any irregularity 
occurs. Additionally the liquid crystal display (LCD) on the front panel 
is programmed to display the basic instructions and a phone number to call 
for help if the red danger light goes on. Also contained in the present 
invention dispenser is an automatic external communications capability 235 
(FIG. 6) either through the domestic telephone or some other 
communications network like the internet etc. The two-way telephone 
interface modem is connected to this dispenser through the RS-232 
interface 220 (FIG. 6) which is located in the electronics compartment. In 
addition to the modem calling out for help or instruction, health care 
workers or a family member may call into the modem of the present 
invention dispenser at any time to check on its status and usage rate or 
to change any scheduling or programs previously placed in the dispenser. 
The row and column configuration of the magazine assembly helps to organize 
the way in which the unit operates. Each column or stack 59 (FIG. 1) of 
canisters represents one daily dose during the day. Each row of canisters 
across the stacks represents the day at which the medication doses must be 
administered. For example, the nominal four column configuration would be 
the medication doses required at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedtime. 
Furthermore, if additional daily doses are required then one may procure 
additional supplemental add-on column modules to attach to the standard 4 
column magazine assembly 12 shown in FIG. 1. 
The present invention dispenser is initially set up by someone familiar 
with the medication requirements of the prospective patient, perhaps a 
case worker, weekly visiting nurse, family member, or drug technician. 
Normally the present invention dispenser is setup for, at least, the 
entire week although longer periods are easily accommodated. For example, 
the case worker would select the prescribed medication mixture for the 
breakfast dose and place those tablets in the breakfast bottles located in 
the first (left most stack behind the liquid crystal display) column. 
Next, the medication mixture is selected for the lunch dose and placed in 
the lunch bottles located in the second column. Next, the dinner 
medication mixture is selected and placed in the dinner bottles located in 
the third column. Finally, the bedtime dose is placed within the fourth 
column. Each canister or bottle used in the stacks is a plastic bottle 
(approximately 1.25" in diameter and 1.25" high) with the cap having the 
same outer diameter as the bottle to facilitate the movement of the bottle 
down the stack. The cap has sides that have the same outside diameter as 
the bottle itself so as to form a smooth outer cylindrical surface over 
the entire height of the bottle. 
The smart automatic medication dispenser must be loaded with medications in 
the correct proportions and dosing times as set by the case worker or a 
family member. For example, a possible timing sequence may be: the time 
interval for the breakfast dose could be between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM, for 
the lunch dose between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM, and for the dinner dose 
between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. All programs will be preset at the factory to 
default values providing roughly equal time intervals throughout the 
daylight hours. The actual number of hours between doses will, of course, 
depend on the number of doses, defined by the number of stacks as seen in 
FIG. 1. The present invention will be electrically powered by both 120 
volts standard house service and by standard back-up battery cells. Under 
normal every day operation the house voltage will be used to conserve the 
batteries, but at any time the present invention dispenser may be 
disconnected to run on battery power for completely autonomous operation. 
Still other versions will be constructed to operate only on battery power 
for complete freedom of location anywhere in the patient's dwelling. On 
the underside of the present invention dispenser will be rubber button 
like feet to provide a stable placement on a table top. 
The object of the present invention dispenser is to deliver the medication 
canister to the collection chamber 49 seen in FIG. 1. The patient 
activated release button 55 of FIG. 1 is not energized until the alerting 
period begins with beepers and lights, thus denying access to all 
medications except for those doses delivered. The bottom most bottle in 
the magazine assembly will be ejected. Only during the alerting period, at 
the push of the release button 55, one rotary solenoid 45 (FIG. 4) is 
activated and causes the ejector arm 29 to move into the magazine assembly 
and push out the bottom most bottle, moving it toward the collection bin 
49. The collection bin is easily opened by the patient using the handle 43 
to reach in and collect the bottle 37. 
Referring now to the computer program flow charts of the smart automatic 
medication dispenser seen in FIG. 7(a)-(g), the programmed delivery 
sequence is shown. Assume that all times and alarms have been initialized 
as in FIG. 7a and times updated as in FIG. 7e. 
1--At the correct dosing time shown on the display 230 (FIG. 6), the main 
program commences making various decisions (as shown in FIG. 7(b)) in the 
micro-processor 215 (FIG. 6). Various dispenser alarms are tested and 
set-off if needed as in FIG. 7c the acoustic signaling (including human 
voice 240 (FIG. 6)) and the blinking of an out-of-room table light or 
voice command are commenced 225 (FIG. 6). The remote blinking is initiated 
by a radio frequency link or an extended wire to the lamp. Also, the 
sensors are checked for discrepancies 280 (FIG. 6). 
2--If the sound is ignored by the patient then the sound will repeat every 
minute up to a programmed interval, say, 30-60 minutes with increases in 
volume every 5 minute time interval as in FIG. 7d. 
3--Simultaneously, the top array of LEDs is flashing as well as the 
illuminated medication release button 55 (FIG. 1); the medication release 
button and solenoid drivers 270 (FIG. 6) are activated and ready for use 
as in FIG. 7g. 
4--When the patient pushes on the release button 55 (FIG. 1) to start the 
delivery ejection mechanism assembly 114 (FIG. 2) operating, the 
medication bottle is pushed out by the solenoids 260 (FIG. 6) into the 
collection bin 49 (FIG. 1) to await patient pick-up 37. 
5--After the medication release button is pushed verbal instruction 
commences 240 (FIG. 6) for bottle pick-up. 
6--Acoustic and visual signaling are terminated. 
7--The compliance memory recorder, the Watch Dog Timer 250 (FIG. 6), 
located in the electrical compartment is incremented as in FIG. 7f. 
8--The patient activated release button 210 (FIG. 6) is de-energized and 
the cycle is restarted for the next delivery time. 
9--The collection bin is checked by a bottle sensor 27, shown in FIG. 1 and 
electrically in the block diagram 280 (FIG. 6), in that area to determine 
if the bottle has been picked up. If there is still a bottle remaining in 
the collection chamber then the acoustic, voice and optical alarms 
continue urging the patient to collect the bottle as in FIG. 7c. If the 
patient does not collect the bottle after one hour the health care worker 
or family member can be alerted, as in FIG. 7d, through the RS-232 
telephone modem 235 (FIG. 6). 
10--Also contained in this dispenser is a small video camera to observe the 
patient consuming the medication; the video camera would be used for 
troublesome patients needing the extra monitoring. 
Once the present invention dispenser is set for service it will typically 
operate autonomously for one week or more. Its function is specifically 
accomplished by visually and acoustically alerting the patient at a 
precise time and precise location of a prescribed medication mix for 
immediate consumption. The acoustic signals will be both a low level 
beeper and a voice announcement. After the medication is ejected another 
voiced message will offer positive reinforcing feedback by saying "thank 
you, take all of your medication now." The internal computer will 
accomplish the timing task by electronically keeping a continuous record 
of the elapsed time. At the correct time interval for consumption the 
present invention dispenser will acoustically signal the patient while 
simultaneously directing the patient to the medication mix, by voice 
command, in the collection bin of the present invention dispenser. The 
patient will collect the indicated bottle and consume the entire contents. 
If the ejected bottle is not collected at the proper time by the patient 
there is a danger that the bottle may be left in the collection chamber 49 
(FIG. 1) and several bottles may even accumulate causing patient confusion 
about which bottle to collect. To prevent this situation two courses of 
action are taken: first the sensor located in the collection chamber will 
sense that the bottle has not been picked up by the patient and the 
alerting signals will not stop urging the patient to pick up the bottle. 
Secondly, as an added safety feature, the present invention dispenser will 
not deliver the next bottle until the previously delivered bottle has been 
picked up. 
In addition, located in clear view on the present invention dispenser body 
is a warning or danger indicator light. This warning indicator light 32, 
shown in FIG. 1, will alert the patient as to certain problems which may 
develop during operation. For example, the warning light may flash on if a 
power failure occurs, or if the internal circuits fail, or if there is a 
bottle jam, or if the patient is not using the present invention dispenser 
properly, etc. If the warning light is activated phone contact will be 
established to alert the health care worker. 
The present invention dispenser has, within the housing, conventional 
computerized timing and control circuits to perform the various timing and 
signaling functions. FIG. 6 shows the overall electronic block diagram and 
the soft-ware flowchart is shown in FIG. 7a-7g. The face will show a 
digital clock indicating the time of day, the date, and the specific day 
by name. This device will have independent, redundant, and fault tolerant 
circuits so that they may check each other's performance for added 
reliability. If the two independent circuits do not agree the ultra stable 
reference chip (i.e. the Real Time Clock with Watch Dog Timer) 250 having 
the internal battery will prevail and update all the information in the 
micro-processor 215 as shown in FIG. 8. 
The micro-processor 215 is the central coordinator of all electronic 
peripheral functions as shown in FIG. 6. The real time clock with WatchDog 
Timer 250 (FIG. 8) is a chip which is the keeper of a very accurate time 
base reference which refreshes or updates the micro-processor 215 (FIG. 8) 
running time clock. Furthermore, the Watch Dog Timer portion automatically 
generates a reset interrupt signal to the microprocessor in the event the 
program goes awry. It also keeps track of all important program 
information and inputs; it has a built in calendar, an internal battery as 
well as nonvolatile memory to protect all stored programs, information and 
program input parameters from loss due to power failure or other harsh 
operating factors. Because the Real Time clock with Watch Dog Timer 250 
(FIG. 8) has a self contained nonvolatile memory with a self contained 
precision time reference it is ultra reliable and an efficient way to 
up-date the micro-processor timebase and to refresh the micro-processor's 
resident program to increase overall reliability and fault tolerance. Even 
if the micro-processor program is inadvertently locked up or loses the 
entire contents of its memory it is automatically restored and refreshed 
(see paths in FIG. 8). Thus the combination of micro-processor, Real Time 
clock with watch-dog timer is a very fault tolerant design which is 
important for medical applications not here-to-fore observed in this type 
of system. The Real Time Clock contains nonvolatile RAM so dispenser alarm 
times, statistics, the patient's medication usage information and 
compliance records are stored there. To guard against failure, the 
micro-processor is refreshed by the Watch-Dog Timer once per second to 
continuously update the time out counters and other needed dispenser 
information. 
The liquid crystal display 210 (FIG. 6) on the front panel will show the 
day, the daily time and the date. The daily time, day-date-year and all 
dosing time alarms are set according to the patient's needs using the 
local keyboard 290 (FIG. 6). To verbally instruct the patient the 
dispenser contains a micro-processor controlled voice chip 240. The voice 
chip contains 90 seconds of addressable messages, which could be 
prerecorded by a family member, for play back in programmed addressable 
sequences offering step by step instructions to the patient. At the 
correct dosing time the micro-processor will trigger a human voice message 
from the internal voice chip that will call the patient by name and 
declare that "it is time to take your medication." Referring to FIG. 1, an 
array of light emitting diodes on the top of the dispenser 67 will be 
triggered by the micro-processor and begin to blink and flash on-and-off 
in coordinated fashion with the luminous medication release button 55 on 
the front panel. Also, a radio frequency signal will be transmitted to the 
remote alarms throughout the patient's dwelling to alert the patient, if 
he/she is not in the vicinity of the dispenser. If the patient does not 
respond to the alarms on the first alerting sequence by pushing the 
luminous blinking medication release button 55 the whole alerting sequence 
will repeat itself in one minute. The alerting sequences will continue for 
a preset number of minutes (typically lasting for 30 to 45 minutes) at 
which time the program will skip the current dose and reset itself for the 
next dosing time. Furthermore, the number of doses skipped before the 
micro-processor initiates telephone contact with the responsible family 
member or health care giver is a programmable input since it is generally 
patient dependent. When the patient responds by following the verbal 
instructions and pushing the luminous medication release button on the 
front panel the micro-processor will send an activation signal to the 
solenoid drivers 270 (FIG. 6) which in turn activate the proper solenoid 
260 (FIG. 6) and thereby eject the proper canister into the receiving bin 
49 (FIG. 1). 
The sensors which are built into the present invention dispenser are 
designed to detect four effects: first, the movement of the ejection arms 
are monitored 130, as seen in FIG. 2, to insure that if a jam occurs the 
patient will be notified as well as the health care provider. Secondly, 
the sensor 27, seen in FIG. 1, in the receiving bin will monitor the 
presence of a canister to ascertain if it has been ejected properly and if 
the patient has actually picked-up the canister, at which time the patient 
is instructed to "pick-up the bottle". The third sensor 155 (FIG. 1) 
mounted under the top cover 10 or lid will ascertain if the lid has been 
properly closed for correct operation and will also insure that the clock 
on the front panel liquid crystal display is in the proper mode to show 
the correct day, time of day and date. Fourth, the sensor 36 detects if 
the receiving bin 49 is properly positioned to receive an ejected 
canister. If the bin is not in its correct position a message will be 
voiced "to reset the receiving bin". 
The conventional telephone line is connected to the dispenser via the modem 
which is connected to the serial RS 232 interface 220 (FIG. 6) which has 
direct input into the micro-processor. The health care provider can 
contact the dispenser at any time to remotely ascertain the medication 
records of the patient or the dispenser can automatically dial out to the 
health care giver if a problem arises in the dispenser. In fact, the 
micro-processor's internal program can be remotely changed in this fashion 
if the medication regimen must be altered quickly. Furthermore, a common 
personal computer (PC) or lap top PC may be interfaced to the dispenser on 
site, or remotely, to automatically down load dispenser information and 
change internal programming. 
Located internally will be the time and dosage selection key board 290 
(FIG. 6) and the start button which will start the preprogrammed timing 
operations for a dosage schedule of daily times, which will be equal to 
the number of concatenated stacks in the magazine assembly 12 seen in FIG. 
1. The unit will be powered by back-up battery or by the standard 120 AC 
volts available in any household. This dispenser must be manually loaded 
by a family member, a case worker, or technician. A significant feature is 
the ability to reload the magazine structure off-line in locations other 
than where they are used and simply plug-in the magazine when visiting the 
dispenser. The medication storage mechanisms which is removable so that it 
may be reloaded at a more convenient place and time. All timing is preset 
and only requires the key board to be set which will fix the number of 
doses per day at the initial set-up procedure. 
Some of the many advantages of the present invention should now be readily 
apparent. The smart automatic medication dispenser is an autonomous and 
fully automated, user friendly, medication dispenser for the home bound 
patient. Furthermore, it is user friendly, having only one button to push 
to release a bottle containing all the medications required for that dose, 
it will deny access to all medication except what is intended for 
consumption, it is modular in construction and is expandable, it is 
computer controlled since all timing functions are coordinated in one 
central computer logic chip, if expanded it can deliver up to 8 doses of 
medication per day for seven consecutive days or more, it will 
automatically alert the patient when it is time take his/her medication, 
it will keep a running record of all medications delivered to the patient; 
this is a patient compliance indicator, it will be easily reloadable by a 
simple change of the magazine in which the bottles and medication are 
housed, and it can automatically communicate two ways with the health care 
provider via automatic phone dialing capability. 
Once it is set up by a health care provider, the entire operation is 
controlled by a commercial computer chip and will operate in a stand alone 
mode for a period of one week or more. It will nominally deliver a 
prescribed mixture of medication up to a 4 times a day and more if needed. 
This invention will automatically alert the patient at the correct dosing 
time by voice, acoustic and optical alarms. Also included in the alarm 
system will be human voice messages, possibly a familiar friendly voice, 
to prompt the patient to take his/her prescribed medication at the correct 
times. To directly address the issue of patient compliance, this dispenser 
will also keep a running electronic record of all delivered medications 
for the health care provider's records. This dispenser will be easily 
reloadable by simply changing the magazine in which the bottles are 
housed. The health care provider or a family member may reload the 
magazine and easily snap in the entire week's worth of medication into the 
dispenser housing. 
Patient home health care will be greatly aided by this invention as it will 
alleviate the need for constant and daily health care supervision. Those 
skilled in the art will appreciate without any further explanation that 
modifications and variations are possible to the above-disclosed smart 
automatic medication dispenser within the scope of this invention. 
Consequently, it should be understood that all such modifications and 
variations fall within the scope of the following claims.