Abstract:
Interactive medicine organizers comprising integrated software and hardware elements and multifunctional interactive wireless devices to provide assistance to individuals who need to organize or monitor the administration of one or more medications are provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/217,608, titled “INTERACTIVE MEDICINE ORGANIZER”, filed Jun. 2, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    NOT APPLICABLE 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX 
       [0003]    NOT APPLICABLE 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to interactive medicine organizers (IMOs) including multifunctional interactive wireless devices that can communicate with one or more dispensers to dispense medications and methods for monitoring and increasing patient compliance with regard to timely dispensing of medications or dietary supplements. 
         [0005]    Many people take one or more medications or dietary supplements, such as minerals or vitamins, several times a day to maintain or improve their health. Often, these medications or supplements must be taken at specific times each day. If medications or supplements are not taken at the proper times, individual health may be jeopardized. For example, failure to take a prescribed medication for treatment of heart disease can result in severe health consequences such as a heart attack or stroke. Similarly, patients that seek to take extra doses before the prescribed time interval can be in danger of an overdose. Non-compliance with a prescribed dose regimen includes patients who fail to take a dose at a prescribed time or patients who take one or more extra doses that are not in compliance with the minimum time between dose of the particular prescription or label instructions for ingestion. 
         [0006]    Further, non-compliance with a prescribed regimen of one or more medications, particularly in the elderly and the aging population of “baby boomers”, can result in billions of dollars of unnecessary health care costs. 
         [0007]    Many people who take one or more medication or supplement a day are able to take medications or supplements without assistance. However, many people who take one or more medication or supplement a day require a reminder or the assistance of a care taker. Care taker&#39;s may be one or more members of the patient&#39;s family or other individuals, such as friends, nurses, nurse&#39;s aids and the like. It can be difficult for a patient or a care taker to organize a patient&#39;s medications or supplements to insure compliance with a predetermined schedule. Further, it can be extremely difficult to monitor compliance with multiple medication schedules. Failure to properly monitor compliance can result in catastrophic health consequences to the patient and high levels of care taker anxiety, which can also lead to increased health problems for care takers. 
         [0008]    Known pill organizers have severe limitations. One such limitation is the need to remind the patient to take their medication when the patient is away from the dispensing unit. Another such limitation is the inability for a user or a care taker to remotely monitor a patient&#39;s compliance with a medication schedule. 
         [0009]    The present invention solves these difficult problems in a novel manner by improving the overall ease of compliance with a programmable schedule for dispensing one or more medications or supplements. Rather than requiring, for example, a dedicated alarm unit that the patient must carry with them, the instant invention is more efficient because many people already carry multifunctional interactive wireless devices (MIWDs) such as cell phones. 
         [0010]    Interactive medicine organizers comprising multifunctional interactive wireless devices such as cell phones having programmable software that can communicate with one or more medicine dispensers and methods for monitoring and improving patient compliance with medication schedules are disclosed herein. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    In one aspect of the invention an apparatus comprises a dispenser body. The body has a housing. A loading door can be connected to the housing. A tray can have one or more chambers, the tray can be connected to the housing. A dispensing door can be connected to the housing. A docking station can be connected to the housing. A multifunctional interactive wireless device can be capable of i) docking with the docking station, ii) commanding the tray to a plurality of positions, iii) commanding the loading door to a plurality of positions and iv) commanding the dispensing door to a plurality of positions. The device can execute a software application for determining a plurality of positions of the tray, the loading door, and the dispensing door based on a data set input by a user. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the tray can be substantially circular. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, the tray can have thirty chambers. 
         [0014]    In yet other embodiments, each of the thirty chambers can be divided into a plurality of compartments. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, each of the thirty chambers can be divided into three compartments. 
         [0016]    In other embodiments, the tray can have seven chambers. 
         [0017]    In yet other embodiments, each of the seven chambers can be divided into a plurality of compartments. 
         [0018]    In certain embodiments, each of said seven chambers can be divided into three compartments. 
         [0019]    In certain embodiments the multifunctional interactive wireless device is an iPhone. 
         [0020]    In other embodiments, the data set comprises a name of a pill; a strength of the pill; and a time schedule for dispensing the pill. 
         [0021]    In, some embodiments, the multifunctional interactive wireless device communicates an alarm to a user. The alarm can be based on a time schedule. 
         [0022]    In still other embodiments, the multifunctional interactive wireless device can communicate a signal to a remote database. The signal indicates whether or not the contents of one or more chambers have been dispensed. 
         [0023]    In another aspect of the present invention a method comprises 1) entering a data set into a software application. The application can be executed on a multifunctional interactive wireless device; 2) loading one or more pills into a tray. The tray can have one or more chambers; 3) docking the multifunctional interactive wireless device with a docking station; and 4) commanding a dispensing door to dispense one or more pills. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment of this aspect, the data set comprises a name of one of more pills; a strength of the one or more pills; and a time that the one or more pills are to be dispensed. 
         [0025]    Another embodiment comprises the step of transmitting a signal from the multifunctional interactive wireless device to a remote database. The signal can indicate either a confirmation of dispensing the one or more pills or a failure to dispense the one or more pills. 
         [0026]    In yet another embodiment the method comprises the step of transmitting an alarm from the multifunctional interactive wireless device. The alarm can be transmitted when the one or more pills are not dispensed within a predetermined time of a scheduled dispense time. 
         [0027]    In certain embodiments, the multifunctional interactive wireless device is an iPhone. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments the method comprises the step of sending a signal to the remote database when a user attempts to dispense one or more pills before a predetermined time. 
         [0029]    In certain other embodiments, the method comprises the step of locking the dispensing door when a user attempts to dispense one or more pills before a predetermined time. 
         [0030]    In yet another aspect of the invention a system for managing patient compliance with a medication schedule comprises a multifunctional interactive wireless device having a microprocessor; a storage means for storing data on a storage medium; an arithmetic circuit configured to prepare said storage means to magnetically store selected data on said storage medium; an arithmetic logic circuit configured to retrieve information from an input file, calculate a tray position and send a signal to a motor to effectuate said tray position; an arithmetic logic circuit configured to retrieve information from an input file, calculate a dispensing door position and send a signal to a motor to effectuate said door position; an arithmetic logic circuit configured to retrieve information from an input file, calculate an alarm condition and send a signal to a effectuate said alarm condition; an arithmetic logic circuit configured to retrieve information from an input file, calculate a dispensed condition or an undispensed condition and send a signal to a server to record said dispensed condition or said undispensed condition; an arithmetic logic circuit configured to retrieve information from an input file, calculate a dispense history and display a signal indicating said dispense history for monitoring compliance with a medication schedule. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is an isometric cut away view of an interactive medicine organizer according to one embodiment of the present invention in a dispensing position. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of some of the elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of some of the elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of some of the elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a dispensing drawer in an open position. 
           [0035]      FIG. 4A  is a plan view of some of the elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a tray and motor configuration. 
           [0036]      FIG. 4B  is a plan view of some of the elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing one loading configuration. 
           [0037]      FIG. 4C  is a plan view of some of the elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a second loading configuration. 
           [0038]      FIG. 4D  is a plan view of some of the elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a third loading configuration. 
           [0039]      FIG. 4E  is a plan view of some of the elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a closed configuration. 
           [0040]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a home screen for accessing the organizer software application. 
           [0041]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a start up screen for accessing the organizer software application. 
           [0042]      FIG. 7  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing user name, password and new user screen for accessing the organizer software application. 
           [0043]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for staring, loading or editing a monthly schedule. 
           [0044]      FIG. 9  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering first medication data. 
           [0045]      FIG. 10  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering first medication name data using a virtual keyboard. 
           [0046]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering first medication strength data. 
           [0047]      FIG. 12  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering first medication times per day data. 
           [0048]      FIG. 13  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering first medication time of day data. 
           [0049]      FIG. 14  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering first medication special instruction data. 
           [0050]      FIG. 15  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering prescribing doctor data. 
           [0051]      FIG. 16  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for selecting security data. 
           [0052]      FIG. 17  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering security data. 
           [0053]      FIG. 18  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for selecting a next medication or loading option. 
           [0054]      FIG. 19  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering time data. 
           [0055]      FIG. 20  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for setting a time. 
           [0056]      FIG. 21  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for entering alarm data. 
           [0057]      FIG. 22  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for setting an alarm. 
           [0058]      FIG. 23  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen indicating an alert for a missed dose. 
           [0059]      FIG. 24  is an isometric view of a MIWD included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1  showing a screen for dispensing medications. 
           [0060]      FIG. 25  is a schematic showing some of the system elements included in the interactive medicine organizer of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0061]    As used herein, the terms pill and pills refer to any size or shape of a capsule, caplet, granule, tablet, lozenge, suppository, ampoule or any other dosage form typically used for oral nasal, dermal or rectal administration of a medication or dietary supplement or for rectal administration in the form of a suppository. The term pill or pills can include medications used for injections. The terms pill and pills may also include delivery forms typically used for topical administration, such as encapsulated and packaged liquid suspensions or emulsions, powders, creams, salves, serums, ointments and the like. The terms pill, medicine or medication may be singular or plural and are used interchangeably herein. 
         [0062]    As used herein, the terms pill, medicine and or medication refer to prescription and over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements such as vitamins, minerals or cosmetic products. Further, the terms pill, medicine and or medication refer to any product in pill form which the user has a need or desire to use on a predetermined, scheduled basis. 
         [0063]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-4E , interactive medicine organizer (IMO)  1  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a dispenser body  2  having a housing  3 . Housing  3  has a top surface  6 , side surface  10  and bottom surface  14  ( FIG. 3 ). Housing  3  can be fabricated from plastics or other structural materials which will be known to one skilled in the art of manufacturing. 
         [0064]    In this embodiment, an LED clock  18  is mounted to housing  3 . The clock  18  can be used as a home clock or as an alarm clock. The clock  18  can also indicate, for example, the time of day, the day of the week, the date or other time related data. Clock  18  can be selected from any type of clock including digital LED devices or any other type of clock well known in the arts. 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIG. 4A , tray  22  can be rotatably mounted within housing  3 . In this embodiment, tray  22  is circularly shaped and comprises thirty (30) “daily” chambers  30 , each having an inner wall  26  an outer wall  32  and side walls  34 . Each daily chamber  30  is subdivided into three compartments  30 A,  30 B and  30 C bounded by walls  26 ,  42 ,  46  and  32 , respectively. Each of compartments  30 A,  30 B and  30 C is capable of storing one or more pills. A plurality of tray geometries, chamber configurations, and compartment configurations are contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, a weekly tray having seven (7) daily chambers and twenty one (21) corresponding compartments is contemplated. 
         [0066]    To facilitate loading, compartments  30 A,  30 B,  30 C can be color coded, for example, to indicate a first color for a morning dose, a second color for an afternoon dose and a third color for an evening dose. Tray  22  can be molded or fabricated from any suitable durable structural material, for example, a polymeric material. Suitable materials and manufacturing methods will be well known to those skilled in the art. 
         [0067]    In this particular embodiment, tray  22  is designed to hold a thirty (30) day supply of all the pills that a patient takes in a thirty day period. In this way, three doses a day are available to the patient for about a month. Each compartment can hold thirty (30) or more pills, depending on the size of the pills, thereby allowing the user to load about nine hundred pills or more into a single tray  22 . 
         [0068]    Tray  22  is indexed and controlled by electric motor  50  ( FIG. 4A ). Motor  50  is mechanically connected to tray  22  and electrically connected to an AC power source (not shown) through leads  54 . Motor  50  is commanded by electrical signals generated by a microprocessor (not shown) in multifunctional interactive wireless device (MIWD)  58 . An MIWD can be, for example, an iPhone™, a BlackBerry™, a Centro™, a PDA, an iPod™, a Droid™, or any similar touch or smart wireless or phone device. Standard motors, such as precision stepper motors, which are known to those of ordinary skill in the art can be utilized to accomplish the movement of any mechanism in the IMO that requires control or movement. 
         [0069]    The IMO  1  can include a battery backup system (not shown) to maintain power in the event of an AC power interruption. If power is lost, all data can be stored in the MIWD ( 58 ). 
         [0070]    The IMO  1  further includes a docking station  60 . Docking station  60  is connected to top surface  6  of housing  3 . Docking station  60  is adapted to accept and connect to MIWD  58 . Docking station  60  provides mechanical means to support the MIWD such that pressing on a touch screen  64  incorporated in the MIWD will not damage the IMO and will facilitate durable mechanical and electrical connectivity between MIWD  58  and dispenser body  2  ( FIGS. 1 ,  4 ). The MIWD  58  mates with the docking station  60  such that the MIWD may be electrically charged or recharged through the AC power source or battery. It will be appreciated that in certain embodiments docking station  60  can comprise a wireless receiver that receives wireless signals from the MIWD and a wireless transmitter that sends wireless signals to the MIWD. In such embodiments, physical docking of the MIWD may not be necessary. 
         [0071]    When MIWD  58  is mated to dispenser body  2  through docking station  60 , MIWD  58  can send commands to cause electric motor  50  to move. Further, MIWD  58  can receive signals from the motor in order to recognize the position of tray  22  within body  2  such that the position of each compartment  30  may be commanded to any position by motor  50 , thus facilitating loading or release of pills from any predetermined compartment. It will be understood that docking station  60  can include any number of adapters such that different types of MIWD can be docked. Such docking adapters and command and control algorithms between electromechanical devices are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0072]    Dispenser body  2  incorporates movable loading doors  68  for loading pills into compartments  30 A,  30 B and  30 C. As shown in  FIGS. 4B-4E , loading doors  68  can be commanded by the MIWD to an open position for loading each of the compartments  30 A,  30 B,  30 C. Each compartment can correspond with a particular dosage time frame. For example, compartment  30 A can be opened for an A.M. dose ( FIG. 4B ), compartment  30 B can be opened for a NOON dose ( FIG. 4C ), and compartment  30 C can be opened for a P.M. dose ( FIG. 4D ). 
         [0073]    Loading doors  68  can be commanded to a closed or dispensing position ( FIG. 4E ) in order to protect the contents of the compartments and to ensure that only the desired compartment is loaded. The loading doors are closed when the IMO is not being loaded. The loading doors can be made of a transparent material such that the contents of the compartments aligned with the loading doors are visible to the user. The loading door configuration can include other commandable mechanisms such as, for example, a rotating member with apertures spaced to facilitate an open position in which at least one compartment can be loaded or a closed position in which all compartments are closed and cannot be loaded. 
         [0074]    In certain embodiments, the IMO includes a single loading door that overlies the housing. The door can be connected to the housing by a hinge. In operation, the loading door can be opened to expose the tray and loading compartments for loading pills. The door can be commanded by the MIWD to an open loading position or a closed or locked position. 
         [0075]    Dispenser body  2  further includes movable dispensing doors (not shown). The dispensing doors underlie tray  22  and can operate essentially the same as the loading doors previously described. 
         [0076]    Movement of the loading doors or the dispensing doors can be accomplished by commands sent from the MIWD. Door movement can be accomplished by any suitable mechanical system such as a motor and actuator configured to move doors to a desired position. The means for opening and closing loading or dispensing doors will be well known to a person of ordinary skill in the electro-mechanical arts. Any suitable mechanism is contemplated herein. 
         [0077]    Drawer  70  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ) underlies tray  22  such that when tray  22  is loaded with pills, and the proper compartment  30  is aligned over drawer  70 , the MIWD  58  commands the dispensing doors to a position which allows a specific compartment to open, thus allowing the contents of any compartment ( 30 A,  30 B,  30 C) to move into drawer  70 . Drawer  70  can be slidably connected to housing  3  such that the user may slide drawer  70  to an open position to remove the pills and slide drawer  70  to a closed position to dispense the pills. Drawer  70  can be removed for ease of cleaning or for dispensing pills. 
         [0078]    In operation, the IMO is controlled by a software application executed by MIWD  58 . In this embodiment, the MIWD is an iPhone™, but any mobile phone or wireless device capable of running third party applications and controlling hardware can also be used. The MIWD  58  can also maintain a wireless internet connection such as, for example, 3G or WiFi technology that allows for connection to the internet. The wireless connection permits, among other things, remote monitoring of a patient&#39;s user defined medicine schedule and monitoring compliance with the schedule as will be described further below. 
         [0079]    The user interface can have a graphical display designed for ease of use. The user can be guided through a series of steps to set up and program the IMO, dispense pills and perform other desirable functions. 
         [0080]    Programming Example. 
         [0081]    In one embodiment, the user can depress an icon  100  on the touch screen homepage  104  of the MIWD  58 . The icon identifies the pill dispenser application ( FIG. 5 ). When the application is loaded on the MIWD, an application identification screen, for example, “Pills”  108  is displayed ( FIG. 6 ). Next, the user can be presented with options to enter a user name and password or set up a new user account as depicted in  FIG. 7 . In the event that the user is a new user  114  or desires to open a new account the user is prompted to enter a user name  110  and password  112 . A secure online account can be created for each user on a remote server and linked to the MIWD by a wireless network. In the event that the user already has an account, a secure link will be created to access the user&#39;s account on a remote server. 
         [0082]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , the user can perform one of several operations such as “start new month”  116 , “load saved month” ( 118 ) or “edit saved month”  120 . If the user is a first time user, the user can select “start new month”  116 . The user can then enter each medication that requires dispensing. A mini-keyboard  122  can be used to type in the name of the first medication  124  ( FIGS. 9 ,  10 ). Next, the user will be prompted to enter the strength  126 , or dose size  128  of the medication, for example, 80 mg ( FIG. 11 ). Once the medication name and strength or dose size is entered, subsequent screens can include a graphic depiction  130  of the actual pills ( FIGS. 12 ,  13 ). 
         [0083]    After the user enters the medicine name and strength, the user can be prompted to enter the number of times the medicine is taken per day  132 , for example 1, 2, or 3, and the times of day that the medicine is to be taken  134 , for example, A.M., NOON, or P.M. ( FIGS. 12 ,  13 ). 
         [0084]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , the next screen allows the user to enter special instructions  136  such as, for example, “take with food”, “do not drink alcohol” or “do not drive or use machinery”. These special instructions can act as important safety warnings at the time the medicine is dispensed. 
         [0085]    As depicted in  FIG. 15 , the MIWD  58  can prompt the user to enter the prescribing doctor&#39;s or pharmacist&#39;s name  138  and phone number  140 , if applicable. In the event the user has a question or experiences a problem, for example, a missed dose, the user can instantly place a call to the prescribing doctor or a pharmacist to obtain appropriate instructions. 
         [0086]    If desired, the user can enter a security code  142  ( FIGS. 16 ,  17 ) such that other users may not access or change the user&#39;s individual account information, for example, the security code can prevent tampering by young children in the home or prevent a patient from modifying the program to dispense pills at will. This lockout feature can be an important safety feature in preventing unauthorized dispensing off pills or potential overdose. 
         [0087]    Next, the user can continue to enter another medication or can begin loading  144  tray  22  ( FIG. 18 ). If “go to next med”  146  is selected, the data entry process is repeated as previously described and depicted in  FIGS. 9-17 . The process is repeated until all desired-medications are entered into the software application database. 
         [0088]    Next, as shown in  FIGS. 19-22 , the application prompts the user to set alarms  148  and times  150  for each time field (AM, NOON, PM) to a specific time. The noon time alarm  152  can be set for any hour and minute  154  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 20 . Similarly, the AM alarm time ( 156 ) can be set to any hour and minute  158  as shown in  FIGS. 21-22 . The time and alarm fields can be set to any time or any number of times per day. 
         [0089]    Loading Example. 
         [0090]    When the user selects “begin loading”  144 , ( FIG. 18 ) the user is guided through the pill loading process. That is, the user can be instructed which pills to place in each compartment for the entire month, if desired. The “Pills” software application can guide the user visually or audibly to load each of compartments  30 A,  30 B and  30 C with the proper pills. The software application causes the MIWD to send an electrical signal to drive the motor  50 . The motor  50  rotates the tray  22  and the loading doors  68  to the proper position for each day and each time to ensure accurate loading of each chamber and compartment. 
         [0091]    For example, when the user is prompted to load pills into a “Sunday AM” chamber of the tray, the MIWD will display the name and a picture of all medications to be loaded into the “Sunday AM” chamber. The loading doors  68  can be commanded into position such that the user can easily load the specified pills into the correct compartment and chamber (i.e.  30 A,  30 B, or  30 C) of the tray  22 . The MIWD has a microprocessor that can electrically commands the movable loading doors  68  to the proper position for each day and time by commanding motor to move the loading door mechanism to the proper position. This feature virtually eliminates the possibility of accidentally placing pills into the wrong compartments or chambers. 
         [0092]    When the loading process is complete for “Sunday AM”, the IMO will advance tray  22  to the next compartment ( 30 A,  30 B,  30 C), for example, “Sunday NOON” and will display the name and images of the pills that are to be loaded into the “Sunday NOON” compartment. Again, the movable loading doors  68  are automatically positioned in place above the “Sunday NOON” compartment by interaction of the MIWD which commands the tray  22 , the loading doors  68  and the dispensing doors to the proper positions. This process is repeated until all medications are loaded into the appropriate compartments in the tray. 
         [0093]    When the tray is loaded a second time, (i.e. the next month, next week), or for all subsequent loading times, the MIWD application can save all loading sequences so that each user or user account, does not need to re-enter the medicine, dose and time information. The user can load the tray without any further programming effort. Further, the user can modify a saved schedule as needed to change any or all parameters. For example, if a user takes the same five medications each day and her doctor adds a new medication, the user can simply add the new medication to the existing schedule which has been saved in the MIWD database and the remote server database. The MIWD database and the server database can be synchronized. The MIWD application is designed to be flexible for ease of use and maximum efficiency. 
         [0094]    Medication Time. 
         [0095]    After the IMO is programmed and loaded with pills, the MIWD can alert  160  the user when it is time to take the appropriate medication. First, the MIWD can signal the user with a visual or audible alarm  170  or both. The audible alarm can be selected from audio files residing on the MIWD. For example, a ring tone can act as an audible alarm. At the same time, the MIWD screen can display a visual alert  162  comprising the dose time  164 , an image of the pill or pills to be taken and their names  166  ( FIG. 23 ). 
         [0096]    To dispense the pills, the MIWD can be mated to docking station  60  of the dispenser body  2 . The user can press the touch screen display area indicating “DISPENSE”  168  as shown in  FIG. 24 . A signal from the MIWD positions the dispensing doors, via an electromechanical positioning means such as motor  50 , thereby causing the pills in the predetermined compartment to move into dispensing drawer  70 . Once the pills are dispensed, the user can slide the drawer out to access the proper pills at the proper time. 
         [0097]    As shown in  FIGS. 23-24 , the MIWD can enter an alert mode  160  when a dose is missed. The MIWD screen can display which medications were missed along with the dose time and images of the missed doses  166 . Further, the MIWD application provides useful instructions  163  to the user regarding what to do in the event of a missed dose and provides instant access to the prescribing doctor&#39;s phone number. With a touch of the MIWD touch screen, the patient can call the prescribing doctor or dispensing pharmacist for additional advice. The MIWD can also provide internet hyperlinks to the pill manufacturer&#39;s website for additional information about each medication, for example, medication side-effects (not shown). 
         [0098]    Monitoring and Compliance. 
         [0099]    As shown in  FIG. 25 , when a dose of pills, that is, the contents of a compartment is dispensed, a signal  250  is sent from the MIWD application data base  200  via a network to the user&#39;s private database  400  on secure server (not shown). The database is maintained on the MIWD  58  (not shown) and on the secure server database  400 . The databases can be synchronized. The network can be a cell phone network, a WiFi network or any other type of wireless or wired network with internet connectivity. In one embodiment, the application can include the ability to communicate through a hard line network such as a cable network or fiber optics network to connect to the internet. 
         [0100]    As discussed above, dispensing data can be communicated to the remote server database  400 ; the data is available for review and analysis by the user or a care taker. The data may be presented in any number of ways including charts, graphs or tables. In this way, the user&#39;s medication dispensing history can be reviewed for compliance with the desired schedule for taking the medications. 
         [0101]    In one embodiment, the application includes a feature which alerts a care taker that a dose has not been dispensed via a signal  550  to the network. For example, application can generate a message  500  such as phone message, text message or e-mail message which can be sent directly to the user, care taker, doctor, family member or any number of interested parties. This feature can be particularly useful when, for example, a care taker or family member desires to monitor the medication dispensing compliance of a senior citizen such as a parent, family member or individual who may be suffering from a memory disorder or who may simply be forgetful. When the user receives a “missed dose” message, appropriate action can be taken in real-time to correct the short term non-compliance and address the longer term issues associated with the inability or unwillingness of a patient to comply with a medication schedule. This process is described in more detail below. Further, a similar alert can be sent when a user attempts to dispense pills too often or in a manner inconsistent with the proper medication schedule. 
         [0102]    As illustrated above, users can input data for numerous medications into the databases  200 ,  400 . Medication specific supplementary information can also be provided directly by a network link  650  from a manufacturer&#39;s database  600  for one or more medications. Supplementary information can include, for example, the name of the medication, its function, how and when the medication should be taken, missed dose information, information about side effects including specific actions required if the patient experiences side effects, possible interactions with other medications, and where the patient can find additional information about the medication, such as hyperlinks to the manufacturer&#39;s website. Further, manufacturers can send coupons and other desirable information such as, for example, safety alerts directly to users through the network to the IMO. 
         [0103]    Referring to  FIG. 25 , the MIWD comprises a software application (app) that is programmed to store medicine and schedule data for one or more medications. The MIWD database  200  stores medicine and schedule information that is input by the user or acquired from the manufacture&#39;s database  600 . The MIWD database  200  can be used to command the IMO dispensing base  300  to one or more loading positions and one or more dispensing positions by a wireless signal  350  or by a hard line electrical signal  350 , for example, by docking the MIWD  58  with the docking station  60 . When a dose is dispensed or missed by the user, the MIWD communicates with the secure server database  400 . Server database  400  can be accessed by users having a password and a username. Authorized users can login to the database  400  to monitor patient compliance. 
         [0104]    It is contemplated that numerous graphs and reports can be displayed or printed such that the person accessing the database  400  can easily recognize compliance problems, determine whether there are any recurring compliance problems, or print medication lists. 
         [0105]    As previously described, database  400  can communicate with monitoring module  500 . In the event of a compliance problem, for example, a missed dose of heart medication, module  500  can issue commands to send an alarm or alarms to concerned individuals by e-mail, text or other means. In this way, a care taker can be timely notified of a missed dose and can implement corrective action. 
         [0106]    As will also be appreciated, a significant benefit of the present invention includes the ability to store the user&#39;s medicine schedule on both an MIWD that the user may carry with them and on a secure online database. A patient&#39;s medication information can be invaluable to a new doctor or in the event a user is taken to the hospital. The present invention allows a nurse, doctor, EMT or other health care professional to access a patient&#39;s medication regimen or dispensing history by accessing the server database. This feature can dramatically reduce the risk of prescribing the wrong medication and also reduce the time before necessary treatment is administered. 
         [0107]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the disclosure herein.