Multiple compartments dispensing cartridge

The present invention is a medication dispensing system and device comprising a multiple compartment dispensing cartridge made of rigid and flexible materials. The cartridge is preloaded with dispensable contents and inserted into the housing of the dispensing device. A flexible ribbon with an opening run through a plurality of slits in the vertical walls in a closed loop manner resulting in formation of compartments. The ribbon is moved, by a motor, such that the opening reaches a specific compartment at a specific time, thereby releasing the contents of that compartment at that time. Other features, such as a microcontroller is provided to control the dispensing date and time of the contents based on pre-determined conditions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to dispensing devices and in particular to a medication dispensing device adapted to control the dispensing time for a period of days.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many patients have to take multiple medications several times a day. As the number of medications increases, it becomes more and more challenging for patients, especially for elderly patients, to keep track of all medications and the time of the medication they have to take. This can lead to taking medications at wrong times or not at all, resulting in potentially severe health consequences.

Currently, there are various devices for assisting patients with their medication compliance, including pill boxes in various configurations, such as daily and weekly ones. In the daily pill boxes, there are up to four box-shaped compartments, where medication can be slotted therein. Each of the compartments represent the different medication administration time, e.g., morning, noon, evening and bedtime. In the weekly pill boxes, the compartments are extended to include all 7 days in the week; usually having 28 compartments (4×7 configurations) in total. These pill boxes can be filled by the patient, a family member or a pharmacist to ensure putting the right medication into a compartment with the appropriate administration time. However, the onus is on the patient to identify, which time of the day it is, and then locate which compartment to open and take medications from it.

A similar compliance aiding device to the weekly pill boxes is the weekly blister pack. For this device, a pharmacist fills in different blisters (4×7) with medications and then seals them up. The patient identifies the day of the week and the time of that day and pushes out the medications from the specific blister. Similar to the weekly pill boxes, the onus is on the competency of the patient to identify the right blister to take medications from. If the patients are confused, it is possible that they take medications from the wrong time slot or take multiple slots of medications at a time, resulting in compromised health.

A different approach to assisting patients with their medications involves a smart system where each medication is stored in a different compartment of the device. The device is programmed to release a specific number of pills of different medications at a specific time. As a typical patient usually takes more than 5 different medications daily, this system accommodates plurality of compartments. Due to the complexity of these kind of systems and the fact that they need to accommodate multiple compartments of medications, they tend to be bulky, with sizes roughly that of a coffee dispenser. Hence, they cannot be easily carried around with a patient. Also, these systems require that the device to first identify which compartment to select, and then drop the correct number of pills from that compartment. If a patient is taking ten different types of medications, the device would need to accurately repeat the process ten time. Even one error in counting critical medications, such as Coumadin, a blood thinner, can be detrimental for a patient.

Therefore, there is a need for a portable and accurate medication dispensing device that is simple to use and easy to fill.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a dispensing device, which receives a pre-loaded cartridge, containing a set of items to be dispensed. The cartridge comprises of multiple compartments.

In one embodiment the present invention is a medication dispensing device, which receives a pre-loaded medication cartridge, containing a set of medication designed for a medication regimen. The cartridge comprises of multiple compartments each containing medications for a specific day and time as prescribed. The preloaded cartridge is inserted into a housing of the dispensing device. The cartridge is divided into a number of small compartments. The compartments are formed by a set of vertical walls placed inside the cartridge to divide it into a number of vertical columns. The vertical walls have a set of slit openings at predetermined locations.

The cartridge also has a moveable ribbon or belt wrapped around a set of rollers inside the cartridge forming a closed loop. The rollers are set such that the ribbon or the belt forms a number of horizontal compartments inside the cartridge as the ribbon or the belt passes through the slit openings of the vertical walls. The rollers can be substituted by any friction reducing mechanism, such as smooth, curved guides. The cartridge is designed to sit upright and vertical, thereby each compartment of a vertical column is below an upper compartment, except for the first compartment on the upper most row. Although the cartridge is designed in a manner to dispense items by the force of gravity, however it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact dispensing mechanism and accordingly, other dispensing mechanism can be provided falling within the scope of the invention, eg: suction, inertia, magnetic, etc.

The ribbon has at least one aperture or opening. Once the opening of the ribbon goes into a particular compartment, the medications in that compartment is released to the compartment below it. A drive gear controls the movement of the ribbon. The drive gear is attached to a motor that is programmed to move the ribbon a certain distance at a specific time (e.g. morning, noon, evening and bedtime).

The compartments in the cartridge may be arranged to have any number of rows and columns. In one embodiment of the present device, the compartments are arranged in 4 columns by 7 rows, a total of 28 compartments. The four columns correspond to the dosing times of each day comprising: morning, noon, evening and bedtime and the seven rows correspond to seven days of the week. In operation a competent person (pharmacist or relative of the patient) fills the 28 compartments of the cartridge with medications.

The preloaded cartridge is then inserted into the dispensing device, which houses the motor along with computing hardware and software, which are programmed to rotate the motor in a certain number of rotations at specific times. The dispensing procedure is controlled by a microcontroller that is positioned inside the dispensing device. The microcontroller contains “safety critical software” that ensures contents to be dispensed with the correct predetermined conditions. Optionally, in some embodiments, the actuating member may be in communication with a timer and other components to automatically actuate the ribbon.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drug dispensing device that incorporates portability, simplicity and accuracy in the design of a dispensing system similar in arrangement to that of a familiar weekly pill box.

It is another object of the present invention to package a proper amount of the medication or other substances to be dispensed for a particular time in individual compartments instead of allowing the user access to a bulk supply.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a system in which an amount of the substance to be dispensed is precisely metered into the individual compartments by a competent person such a pharmacist or a relative, and is handed to the user.

It is another object of the present invention to dispense medications at a right day and time and preventing the patients from taking medications at a wrong day or time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 to 6show an embodiment of the present dispensing device200that is sized and shaped to house a cartridge100and other components of the dispensing device200. The cartridge100is constructed from any rigid material and comprises an outer right wall11, an outer left wall12, an outer top wall13, an outer bottom wall14, and an outer back wall15. The cartridge100comprises of a plurality of compartments10arranged in a number of rows and columns. The number of rows is selected based on the number of days the medications are used and the number of columns is selected based on the number of doses per day.

The compartment10has 4 columns and 7 rows, a total of 28 compartments. The four columns correspond to the dosing times of each day comprising: morning, noon, evening and bedtime and the seven rows correspond to the seven days of the week. Compartments10are formed from rigid vertical walls16on the sides and enclosed by the back wall15. The compartments10of the top row C25, C26, C27 and C28 are bordered on the upper side by a rigid top wall17. The front of the compartments remains open through which the medications of each compartment10are placed in. A plurality of slits18are provided on the vertical walls16of the compartments10through which a flexible ribbon20moveably run and form the horizontal walls of the compartments10.

According toFIG. 5the ribbon20is an elongated film made of flexible material and has perforations21along both sides much like a camera film. These perforations21catch onto the sprockets32of an actuatable member such as a drive gear30. Along the entire ribbon20, there is at least one dispense opening22, with the same size and shape as the bottom of each of the compartment10. The dispense opening22moves along the bottom of the compartments10as the motor rotates, in the direction as shown inFIG. 6, releasing medications into the compartment below or dispensing it through the bottom opening19. Timing belts can also be used instead of ribbon. Timing belt have ridges on their bottom surface that catch on a gear system to cause motion.

The present device further comprises of a main gear30that engages with a dispensing device gear38when the cartridge100is inserted thereto. The dispensing device gear38is attached to a motor that is programmed to rotate by certain number of rotations at specific time (e.g. morning, noon, evening and bedtime). The main gear30as shown in detail inFIG. 4comprises of a body31having sprockets32on its top and bottom portion in a distance on which the ribbon20can rotate. The drive gear30has a hole33in the centre portion which is placed on an axle. The main gear30further comprises gear teeth34on its end, which will connect with the dispensing device gear38. When the motor rotates, the ribbon20moves inside the cartridge100in the manner thereby releasing the medications by gravity. It is to be understood other dispensing mechanism can also be provided eg: suction, inertia, magnetic, etc.

According toFIG. 2the cartridge100provide a set of rollers fixed in a space between the right wall11and the right-vertical wall16, and a left set of rollers27fixed in a space between the left wall12and the left-vertical wall16; the continuous ribbon20passes through the vertical walls16and rolls around left and right set of rollers to form a plurality of horizontal walls and a plurality of compartments formed by the intersections of the plurality of vertical walls16and plurality of horizontal walls. It is to be understood any friction reducing mechanism, such as a smooth, curved guides can be provided instead of rollers.

The close loop following the below-compartment-ribbon-guide25, cartridge-bottom-ribbon-guide26, end of rows rollers27and cartridge-top rollers28. The ribbon20has a predefined length which is wrapped around the compartments in a loop shape following the below-compartment-ribbon-guide25and the slits18of the vertical wall16of the compartments10. The ribbon20is actuated or moved to align the dispense opening22of the ribbon with the compartment, allowing the contents of the compartment to dispense. The dispense opening22is the same size and shape as the bottom of each of the compartments10. The dispense opening22moves along the bottom of the compartments as the motor rotates, in the direction as shown inFIG. 6, releasing medications into the compartment below or dispensing it through the bottom opening19.

As shown inFIGS. 6 to 8the ribbon20may be actuated and move in the direction as shown by the arrow. When the dispense opening22passes under compartment C1, all the medications in that compartment will fall through the bottom opening by gravity. This will be programmed to happen at a certain time, for example on Monday in the morning time, thus resulting in dispensing of medications for that time slot. The dispense opening22will continue to move until aligned with compartment C2 at later time, for example at the noon time. Again, releasing medications there through the bottom opening, as shown inFIG. 8. Likewise, in the evening time, the dispense opening22will move to compartment C3 and releasing its medications. Finally, at the bedtime, it will move to compartment C4, releasing all the medications.

According toFIGS. 9 and 10, after all of the compartments on the first row (e.g. Monday) are empty, the ribbon will then move along for an entire cycle, until the dispense opening22comes back to the position right before compartment C1. Along the way, the bottom opening will pass under all the remaining compartments, dropping their contents to the compartment one row below them. For example, when the bottom opening passes under compartment C6, all of the medications in that compartment will drop down through to compartment C2. Likewise, when it reaches compartment C5, the contents there will then drop down to compartment C1 and so forth. Once the cycle is complete, the contents of each row have shifted down to the one below it. Hence, the medications originally for second row (e.g. Tuesday) are now in the first row (bottom most row) and ready to be dispensed at the start of a new cycle (day). This continues until all seven rows are emptied, which happens at the end of the week. The cartridge100is then ready to be refilled or exchanged for a new one.

The ribbon20may be actuated in any of a variety of ways. In the preferred embodiment the ribbon20of the dispenser device is actuated by a main drive gear30. The main drive gear30is engaged with another gear on the dispensing device38, which is attached to a motor that is programmed to cause rotation, translation and/or movement of the ribbon20by certain number of rotations at a specific time. The dispensing device200contains a power source to move the motor. The power source can be an electrical power supply or a battery. When the motor rotates, the ribbon20moves inside the cartridge100in the manner thereby releasing the medications by gravity. The ribbon perforations21engage with the gear sprockets32allow to perform a predetermined and controlled movement of the ribbon20in a direction. The cartridge100is closed with the cartridge lid40and then inserted into the dispensing device200. According toFIG. 2the lid40has an opening41for the main drive gear30and may have transparent windows42. The cartridge100is removable from the dispensing device200and can be replaced with a different cartridge.

In operation, a competent person (pharmacist or relative of the patient) fills the 28 compartments of the cartridge100with medications for those specific compartments10. For example, if on Monday in the morning, a patient takes 6 different medications, those medications would be accurately counted and filled into compartment C1. This process is repeated for noon, evening and bedtime and then for the rest of the week, following the 4×7 configurations.

The cartridge100is closed with the cartridge lid40and inserted into the dispensing device200which houses the motor along with other compartments and computing hardware and software that have been programmed to rotate the motor a certain number of rotations at specific time. According toFIG. 11a locking mechanism50is provided to allow or prevent the cartridge from being removed from the dispensing device200based on predetermined conditions. The lock50is set manually or electrically when the cartridge is inserted and can be implemented by any locking mechanism such as latch, push-and-release locking mechanism or other fastening means.

When the cartridge100is inserted, the gear teeth34of the main drive gear30will connect with the dispensing device gear38which is connected to a motor. When the motor rotates, the ribbon20moves inside the cartridge100thereby releasing the medications by gravity. Thus, the dispense opening22is programmed to reach and dispense the contents of each of the 28 compartments sequentially at the correct day and time. The dispensing device provide an opening19on the bottom portion. The dispensed medications are dropped from the bottom opening19into a small tray39of the dispensing device200. The dispensing device200may provide a physical button to allow the user to initiate dispensing.

In another embodiment the dispensing device200of the present invention is constructed of 2 dispensers, comprising two sets of moveable walls, and dispenses items in two different directions depending on which way the cartridge is oriented. The fixed vertical walls of the cartridge may be replaced by movable wall. These movable walls separate additional compartments that are stacked in front or behind each other and contain one or more bottom openings. Items to be dispensed can move from one compartment to an adjacent compartment in a similar manner and exit the cartridge via the outermost vertical wall.

FIG. 12is a block diagram showing additional features to operate a reliable medication dispensing system. The present invention may contain means to connect to network interface (Ethernet, WIFI, Bluetooth, cellular, modem, or similar), which allows communication with an external network or devices. It is to be understood the features described herein can be implemented in whole, or in part using electronic hardware and software including a non-transitory computer-readable medium of program instructions.

A microcontroller300is provided in the device200to control the power source305, which in this embodiment is an electrical power supply or battery that provides power to the motor and drive gear thereby control the movement of the ribbon in a pre-determined distance and stop the movement to allow the items to be dispensed. A safety-critical software in microcontroller controls the power source305of the device for contents to be dispensed with the correct predetermined conditions. The power source305can only be turned on or off by the microcontroller300, therefore allowing or disallowing the items inside the cartridge to be dispensed based on pre-determined conditions.

The microcontroller300may work with an accelerometer301in the dispensing device200. The microcontroller300uses this accelerometer301to determine that the cartridge100is in a vertical position to ensure the medications to be dispensed to move from one compartment10to another, via the force of gravity, whenever the bottom opening is at the bottom of the compartment.

An optical or magnetic sensor302is provided in the dispensing device200to allow the microcontroller300to sense the movement of the ribbon within the cartridge to ensure that dispensed items are in fact dispensed. A sensor may also be provided in the dispensing device200to allow the microcontroller300to detect if dispensed items are retrieved by the user.

A vital-timer303implemented in the hardware of the dispensing device200and the safety-critical software in the microcontroller300to ensure that items are dispensed within a range of a predetermined time. For example, 30 minutes before or after the correct dosing time. The vital-timer also determines timeouts for all dispensing functions.

A speaker and/or light306, controlled by the safety-critical software in the microcontroller300is provided in dispensing device200, to warn the user that an item will be dispensed.

A locking mechanism307is provided to allow or prevent the cartridge from being removed. The lock is controlled by the microcontroller300. Therefore, the cartridge can be removed from the dispensing device based on predetermined conditions.

The dispensing device200may contain an enclosed storage compartment which can only be accessed by an authorized party via a key or similar mechanism. A mechanism is provided to move dispensed items from the tray39to the enclosed storage compartment, when the dispensed items on the tray were not retrieved by the user after a predetermined time308. This mechanism is controlled by the microcontroller300based on conditions of the sensor302and the vital timer303.

The dispensing device200may include a battery to provide backup power304in case the dispensing device is not powered. This ensures that the components in the device can operate without external power.

A touch sensitive screen401is provided on the dispensing device200. The screen401acts as the main interface between the user and the dispensing device. The touch screen401can be mounted on the outer surface of the dispensing device200to play for example recorded reminder messages based on pre-programmed schedule. The screen401can be adjusted in various shapes and complexity according to the abilities of the user.

A second microcontroller containing non-vital software400is provided in the device. This microcontroller receives input and generates output from and to the screen401. This microcontroller performs non-vital functions such as allowing users to modify dispensing times and frequency via the screen401or the network interface402. A data bus403connects the microcontroller containing safety-critical software300with the microcontroller containing non vital software400. The modified dispensing times or frequency are sent to the microcontroller containing safety critical software300via the data bus403. The microcontroller will only allow modifications of the dispensing frequency and time if it falls within pre-determined conditions.

FIG. 13is a flowchart showing the operation of the dispensing mechanism as controlled by the safety critical software300. The system starts at block500and initiate if the cartridge is inserted into the dispensing device501and locked502. If the user initiated dispensing503, the items will be dispensed513and a report for successful dispensing will be sent to the non-vital microcontroller514. If the system initiates that the items dispensed are not removed at the specific time504, the system will send a reminder505and if the time is out506, the item will be dispensed507and moved to the enclosed storage area508. A report will be sent to the non-vital microcontroller for further action509. If the system determines that all compartments have been dispensed, it will determine that the cartridge is empty510and unlock the cartridge511, allowing it to be removed from the dispenser200and replaced with a new cartridge.

FIG. 14is a flowchart showing the additional details of the safety-critical software300for the dispensing function. The process starts at block600. If the accelerometer reports that the cartridge is in upright position601, the last dispensed items, if not retrieved by the user, are moved602. If the accelerometer reports that the cartridge is in upright position603, the system sends power from the power source to the motor to move the flexible walls604. (If the device is not in an upright position and the time is out616a report will be sent to the non-vital microcontroller that the dispensing is failed617and the flexible walls will stop618).

The power is supplied to the motor to move the flexible wall until the dispense opening is at the next compartment605, and then the power will be removed to stop the flexible wall606. Then a report of dispensing success will be sent to non-vital microprocessor619. This will repeat until the bottom opening reaches the last compartment of a row607. When the bottom opening reaches the last compartment of a row607and the accelerometer reports that the cartridge is upright608, power is supplied to move the flexible walls609until the bottom opening reaches the first compartment of the last row610. (If the device is not in an upright position and the time is out612a report will be sent to the non-vital microcontroller that the dispensing is failed613). Then the system removes the power to stop the flexible wall611. At this point, the remaining contents in the cartridges will have moved down one row. If the accelerometer indicates that the device is not in an upright position614a report will be sent to non-vital microcontroller that the dispensing process is failed615. A report will be sent to power source to remove the power618and the process ends.

It is to be understood that the cartridge in this application is designed in a manner to dispense items by the force of gravity, however it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact dispensing mechanism and accordingly, other dispensing mechanism can be provided such as suction, inertia, magnetic, etc. Thereby the bottom opening does not necessarily have to be at the bottom. If we use suction, the dispense opening can be in any direction, we may not even need accelerometer.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.