Abstract:
A method, computer program product and system are disclosed for securing, refrigerating and warehousing controlled substances, such as prescription medications. Beneficially, various embodiments of the present invention include carousels, track shelving, manual and electric combination locks, and other varied internal mechanisms for storing and dispensing medication only to predetermined individuals at predetermined intervals.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to medication storage containers, and more specifically relates to a secured medication storage unit for storing and dispensing controlled substances in emergencies. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Individuals who are compelled by heath problems to rely on prescription medications must often make perpetual use of those medications at certain predetermined intervals for throughout their lives. An individual&#39;s non-receipt of certain medications, or inability to obtain them, can result in death, distress or permanent disfunction. This includes diabetics needing insulin and organ transplant recipients needing immunosuppressants, as well as heroine addicts needing methadone and psychiatric patients clinically addicted to antidepressants. Because these medications are controlled, and available only in small quantities at a time, any world wide natural or economic disaster which interrupted either the manufacture or supply lines of these medications would have devastating results on those reliant upon them. The possibility of a catastrophic event, and the legal inability of patients to stockpile needed medications, can be an ongoing source of anxiety, distress, fear and depression. 
         [0005]    A secured device, which cannot be tampered with and which dispenses stockpiled medication at predetermined intervals, is needed in the art. Beneficially, this device might receive instruction from, or fall under the control of, a managing authority, such as a pharmacy, municipality or the FDA. This vault might be controlled via a computer network, such as a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). In some embodiments, this device might dispense medication to authorized personnel for subsequent dispersion to patients. 
         [0006]    Some medication dispensing devices are known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,912,818 discloses a medication dispensing device without heightened security. U.S. Pat. No. 6,163,736 discloses a tamper resistant programmable medication dispenser with some security features. The disclosed device utilizes an indexing wheel to supply medication at varied intervals for each day of the week the dispenser is in use. U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,416 discloses a medication safety storage system, which restricts access to medicines to authorized persons who have preprogrammed a micro processor to recognize their unique fingerprint. U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,202 discloses a tamper resistant programmable medicine dispenser, which incorporates a programmable timer and a device assembly for selectively indexing a plurality of separate containers relative to a dispenser outlet. U.S. Pat. No. 6,662,081 discloses a medication regime container and system, which includes a holder for multiple storing and dispensing units in an ordered fashion consistent with the daily requirements of a medication regime. 
         [0007]    None of these devices provide security, refrigeration, or an interface with a controlling authority. What are needed are a device, system and method which do. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a tamper-proof emergency medication reserve repository. The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art; and, in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available methods, systems and apparatus, and that overcome many or all of the above-discussed shortcomings in the art. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a secured medication warehousing vault for dispensing prescription medication to patients, the vault comprising: a steel housing securely enclosing operational components of the vault during unattended operation, the housing defining an aperture for dispensing jars of medication; a graphical user interface (GUI or “display”) for interfacing with a patient disposed on a forward side of the housing; an internal carrousel comprising a plurality of slots disposed axially on a baseplate around a driveshaft, the slots for storing cylindrical jars of between 0.1 liters and 1 liter in volume; a card reader affixed to, and in supporting relation with, the housing; an internal clock configured to relay a first output signal to an electromechanical dispenser after a predetermined period of time has passed in response to receipt of an input signal originating with the processor; the electromechanical dispenser for dispensing medication from a shelf of the carrousel out of the aperture, the dispenser configured to dispense medication from a slot in response to receiving a second output signal from the processor and a first output signal from the clock; and a processor housed within the housing, the processor in operative connection with persistent computer readable storage, the card reader, the internal carrousel, the dispenser and the GUI, wherein the processor configured to create and output a plurality of output signals. 
         [0009]    With respect to the vault, the processor is responsive to data read by the card reader to create a first output signal causing the internal carrousel to rotate a distance of one slot, and wherein the processor is responsive to data read by the card reader to create a second output signal causing the dispenser to dispense medication from a slot in the internal carrousel to the patient. 
         [0010]    The apparatus may further comprise a steel door with a locking mechanism for replenishing medication in the internal carrousel. The apparatus may further comprise a communication module configured to communicate logically with a controlling authority over a WAN. 
         [0011]    The apparatus may further comprise one or more motor affixed to gears, the gears engaging teeth on the bottom of the baseplate for rotating the carrousel around the driveshaft. 
         [0012]    The apparatus, in some embodiments, further comprises a camera for recording patient interaction with the apparatus, the camera connected with a signal bearing medium to internal nonvolatile computer readable memory. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises one or more sliding door(s) of a width equivalent to a width of a slot, the sliding door(s) slidably affixed to the carrousel, the sliding door(s) rotating axially around the carrousel. 
         [0014]    The apparatus may also further comprise a plurality of internal carrousels stacked one upon another, each carrousel stocked with medication warehoused within the vault for a specific patient. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises a plurality of vaults stacked side-by-side and one upon another to form a plurality of adjacent walls, the walls forming a walk-in vault, each vault in the walk-in serialized with a printed label, each vault comprising medication for one or more patients. 
         [0016]    A system to securely dispense medication to a patient is also recited, the system comprising: a housing defining a hollow recess; a processor; computer readable data storage means for storing computer readable data; a relational database management system (RDBMS); a GUI; a card reader; an accessor module configured to electronically access patient information in persistent memory, said patient information accessible only through a grant of permission of the patient with a PIN number; a transmitter module configured to transmit an event code to a server under the control of a governmental authority; a receiver module configured to receive a series of TCP/IP packets from the server and verify an authorization code contained in the TCP/IP packets; a dispenser module configured to dispense medication from an internal carrousel to the patient in response to a signal from the receiver module sent in response to the verification of the authorization code. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention. 
         [0018]    These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of one embodiment of a secured medication reserve vault in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a second upper perspective view of a secured medication reserve vault in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is an entity-relationship diagram illustrating relationships between components of a system for securely dispensing medication from a medication repository in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating components of one embodiment of a tamper-proof apparatus for securely dispensing medication in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 5A  is a top perspective view of a carrousel for warehousing medication within a secure vault in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5B  is a lower perspective view of a carrousel for warehousing medication within a secure vault in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method for securely dispensing medication from a vault in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0028]    The described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. The apparatus modules recited in the claims may be configured to impart the recited functionality to the apparatus. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of one embodiment of a secured medication reserve vault  100  in accordance with the present invention. The vault  100  comprises, in the shown embodiment, a steel body  102 , a display  104 , a keypad  106   a , a keypad  106   b , a dispenser  108 , a camera  110 , and a camera stand  112 . 
         [0030]    The steel body  102  comprises a housing fabricated from steel. The body  102  may also be fabricated, in other embodiments, from one or more of elastomeric materials, aluminum, titanium, wood, fiberglass, and/or other materials known to those of skill in the art. The housing  102  defines a hollow interior recess which houses the internal operational components of the vault  100 , including, in some embodiments, a power supply, such as a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). 
         [0031]    The vault  100  may comprise a sub-system or one or more data processing devices (DPDs), such as a server, computer workstation, router, mainframe computer, or the like. In various embodiments, the vault  100  comprises one or more processors. The processor is a computing device well-known to those in the art and may include an application-specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”). 
         [0032]    In the present invention, the vault  100  is interconnected on a wide area network (WAN) with a server managed by a governmental entity, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a pharmacy, or the like, using means known to those of skill in the art. The vault sends a virtual event code to this governmental entity, and receives a confirmation code in return which activates the dispenser  108  and dispenses medication to a patient needed medication reposited in the vault  100 . 
         [0033]    The camera  110  captures video data and routes video, graphic and/or audio data captured by the camera  110  and/or microphones forming the camera  110  to persistent computer readable storage forming the vault  100  and/or to a remote, external server in logical communication with the vault  100  via the Internet. The camera  110  is well-known to those of skill in the art. The camera  110  is mounted on a stand  112 , which is also well-known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0034]    The display  104  may comprise a graphic user interface (GUI), touchscreen, and the like, as known to those of skill in the art. The display  104  may be configured by the vault  100  to display information to a patient relevant to the patient&#39;s medical needs, such as the time that has elapsed since the patient was previously dispensed medication by the vault  100 , the amount of medication still warehoused in the vault  100 , and the like. 
         [0035]    The display may prompt a patient to enter personal information, such as name, address, email, telephone, medical condition, age, gender, payment information, and the like. In some embodiments, the vault  100  may be configured, using APIs, to diagnose medical conditions of the patient. The vault  100  may also be retrofitted with iris scanners x-ray imaging apparati, or other electronic medical devices to assist in verifying a medical condition of the patient. 
         [0036]    The keypads  106   a - b  are well known to those of skill in the art. In the shown embodiment, however, the keypads  106   a - b  are uniquely oriented. The vault  100  comprises two keypads  106   a - b  on opposing sides of the housing  102 , such that each keypad  106  faced away from the other such that users depressing keys on the keypads  106   a - b  simultaneously cannot see the keys being depressed on the opposing keypad  106 . 
         [0037]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the dispenser  108  is activated only upon receiving two output codes in essentially simultaneous fashion, each originating with one of the keypads  106   a - b , such that the dispenser  108  only dispenses medication when a patient and an authority like a doctor both input keys into the keypads  106   a - b  simultaneously. 
         [0038]    The dispenser  108  comprises an external door accessible through an aperture, hole or recess defined by the housing  102 . In various embodiments, the dispenser  108  pulls a bottle of medication with an arm from a jar housed on a shelf or carrousel internal to the housing  102  while also electronically opening the door forming part of the dispenser  108 . In these embodiments, the door and arm may be hydraulically activated. 
         [0039]    In the shown embodiment, prescription medication in doses and quantities individualized for the patient by a doctor and/or the governmental entity, are reposited in the vault  100  to be dispensed at predetermined intervals of time when a code or key is keyed into one of the keypads  106   a - b  while a corresponding code or key is input into by a doctor or other third-party into a second of the keypads  106   a - b.    
         [0040]      FIG. 2  is a second upper perspective view of a secured medication reserve vault  200  in accordance with the present invention. The vault  200  comprises a steel housing  102 , a combination knob/keypad  106 , a card reader  202 , a dispenser  204 , and medication  206 . 
         [0041]    The steel housing  102 , in the shown embodiment, varies in shape but not function from the steel body  102  shown in  FIG. 1 . The vault  200 , however, comprises a card reader  202  in place of one of the keypads  106   a - b . In this embodiment, either the doctor or the patient may insert a card with a magnetic strip or RFID tag into the card reader  202 . The card reader  202  is known to those of skill in the art, and may be electronically connected with a signal bearing medium either to the dispenser  204 , dispenser  108 , or a processor internal to the housing  102 . 
         [0042]    The keypad  106 , in the shown embodiment, may accept input of the key either with the electronic pad or a mechanical combination if electrical power to the vault  200  fails. The vault  200  is designed to function on electricity when it is available, or to be opened and dispense medication  206  mechanically in the absence of electricity when a code exclusive to a doctor is entered into the combination/keypad  106 . 
         [0043]    The keypad  106  may comprise a microcomputer and control memory having recorded therein a PIN number. The keypad  106  may output a signal when a PIN input by a patient matches the PIN in control memory. 
         [0044]    The medication  206  in the shown embodiment comprises a hypodermic needle filled with a prescription medication such as insulin, but may comprise in other embodiments morphine, stimulants, narcotics, antidepressants, methadone, immunosuppressants, or other medications known to those of skill in the art. The medication  206  may also comprise medication in jars, bottles, packets and the like. 
         [0045]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the device  200  dispenses medication  206  to an individual authorized by a governmental organization, such as the FDA, to then disburse the medication  206  to a patient. In those embodiments, the device  200  may comprise printing means, for printing and affixing labels to medication  206  identifying the patient for whom the medication  206  is intended. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is an entity-relationship diagram illustrating relationships between components of a system  300  for securely dispensing medication from a medication repository in accordance with the present invention. The system  300  comprises a vault  200 , an event code  302 , an Internet  304 , a server  306 , encrypted codes  308 , a patient  310 , a controlling authority  312 , a medication code  320 , persistent storage  314 , log files  316 , a passcode  320 , and a pin  324 . 
         [0047]    As disclosed above, the vault  200  may, in typical embodiments, be in logical communication with the controlling authority  312  through a networked environment, such as local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) or the Internet  304 . The vault  200  communicates with the server  306  under control the of the controlling authority using variations of the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), Internet Message Access Protocol (IMAP), Post Office Protocol (POP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), or other protocols well-known to those of skill in the art (e.g. TCP/IP). 
         [0048]    The server  308  may comprise a server, computer workstation, router, mainframe computer, laptop, Palm Pilot®, iPad®, digital cameras, and the like. The vault  200  and the server  308  comprise the software, systems and functionality necessary to facilitate communication of encrypted event codes and keys. 
         [0049]    The server  308  and/or the controlling authority  312 , in the shown embodiment, comprise a database management system (DBMS) or relational database management system (RDBMS), such as Oracle, SQL, FireBird, IBM DB2 ®, or the like. This DBMS may retrieve encrypted passcodes  308  and the like from a database in computer readable memory  314 . The computer readable memory  314  may be internal or external to the server  308 . The vault  200  may also comprise computer readable memory for storing logfiles containing patient access information. 
         [0050]    In the shown embodiment, an event code  302  originates with the vault  200  after the patient  310  correctly inputs a proper key, code, card, pin  324 , or the like, verifying the patient&#39;s  310  identity. 
         [0051]    In various embodiments, a second key is required from another party (such as a doctor) before the medication  206  can be dispenses to the patient  310 . In those embodiments, once both the key from the patient  310  and the second party have been correctly entered within a predetermined time (e.g. a few seconds) of one another, the event code  302  is relayed to the server  306 . In some embodiments, the event code  302  comprises the keys entered by the patient  310  and second party, and the server  306  verifies their accuracy using means known to those of skill in the art before relaying the passcode  322  back to the vault  200 . 
         [0052]    The server  308  is configured to verify that one or more secondary criteria have been satisfied before communicating a passcode  322  to the vault  200  which activates the dispenser  204 . The event code  302  may comprise the pin  324  entered by the patient  310 . 
         [0053]    A computer-readable log  308  of encrypted codes for a plurality of vaults  200  in logical connection with the controlling authority  312  and/or the server  306  is managed by the server  306 . In various embodiments, one or more codes exclusively associated with the type of medication  206  and dosage being dispensed are stored in persistent storage  314  in database files  316 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating components of one embodiment of a tamper-proof apparatus  400  for securely dispensing medication in accordance with the present invention. The apparatus  400  comprises internal shelves  402   a - g , a dispenser  108 , a refrigeration module  404 , a housing  102 , a GUI  104 , a card reader  202 , an internal clock  406 , a processor  408 , a relay module  410 , a confirmation module  412 , a camera  414 , a keypad  106 , and persistent storage  314 . 
         [0055]    The dispenser  108 , housing  102 , GUI  104 , card reader  202 , camera  110  and keypad  106  are substantially described above in relation to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
         [0056]    The memory or persistent storage  314  may comprises any computer readable memory, volatile or non-volatile, internal or external, in logical communication with the processor  408 . 
         [0057]    The processor  408  is well-known to those of skill in the art. The vault  400  may also comprise a webserver, which is well-known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0058]    The apparatus  400  comprises a refrigeration module  404  for keeping medication  206  cool, a module known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0059]    The relay module  410  relays events codes  302  to the server  306 , and the confirmation module  412  confirms that conforming passcode  322  has been received from the controlling authority  312  and/or server  306 . In various embodiments, the confirmation module  412  may also confirm that a predetermined amount of time has lapsed since a patient  310  last was dispensed medication  206 . For this reason, the confirmation module  412  is in logical communication with the persistent storage  314 , which persistent storage  314  contains log files  316  with information about when a patient  310  was last dispensed medication  206 . 
         [0060]    The dispenser  108  may incorporate a carrousel, shelving, or operate in accordance with other means known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0061]    The internal clock  406  tracks time, including the amount of time that has past since a patient  310  last was dispensed medication  206 . 
         [0062]      FIG. 5A  is a top perspective view of a carrousel  500  for warehousing medication within a secure vault in accordance with the present invention. The shown carrousel  500  comprises a drive shaft  506 , twelve medication slots  504 , eleven sidewalls  508  separating the medication slots  504  from one another, and a sliding external door  510 . 
         [0063]    The series of shelves, or slots  504 , separated by sidewalls  508 , are disposed radially around a drive shaft  506 . The slots  504  taper inward toward the drive shaft  506 , and are designed to each hold ajar of prescription medication  206  of predetermined quantity and dosage. In some embodiments, the slots  504  of the carrousel  500  comprise one or more doors  510  sealing off the slots  504  from being accessed by the dispenser  108  until the doors  510  are opened. 
         [0064]    In various embodiments, these doors  510  are opened by the confirmation module  412  once a predetermined amount of time has passed. In those embodiments, the sliding door  510  may slide from one slot  504   a  to another slot  504   b  as the carrousel turns, thus making medication  206   a  in one slot  504  accessible by the dispenser  108  while simultaneously sealing off medication  206   b  in an adjacent slot  504  until a predetermined interval of time has again run its course. The confirmation module  412  may be configured to reset the predetermined periodinterval of time when the sliding external door  510  changes position. 
         [0065]    In various embodiments, the sliding external door  510  stays in a static position relative to the housing  102 , but changes from slot  504  to slot  504  as the carrousel rotates within the housing  102 . 
         [0066]    In some embodiments of the present invention, a door on the housing  102  may be opened at any time by a patient  310  with a combination or card, and a single slot  504  on the carrousel  500  in view of the patient  310  via this door. This door may exist in place of the dispenser  108 . In those embodiments, the patient  310  may be physically prevented from accessing medication  206  within the slot  504  in view of the patient  310  by one or more sliding doors  310  inside the housing  102  which have not yet opened by the confirmation module  412  using means known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0067]      FIG. 5B  is a lower perspective view of a carrousel  550  for warehousing medication within a secure vault in accordance with the present invention. The carrousel  550  comprises slots  504  disposed above a baseplate  552 , the baseplate  552  having teeth  554  on its lower surface for engaging gears of other modules or components forming the apparatus  100 . In some embodiments, the baseplate  552  comprises teeth and the carrousel  550  is rotated around the driveshaft  506  by gears engaging these teeth. 
         [0068]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the vault  100  comprises a plurality of carrousels  550  stacked one upon another. Each carrousel  550  may be stocked by a doctor with medication for specific patient  310 . The arm of the dispenser  108  may configured with telescopic or a longitudinally extending arm suitable for drawing medication  310  from a carrousel exclusively associated with a specific patient  310 . 
         [0069]    In various embodiments of the present invention, the vault  100  may comprise a walk-in vault, in which a plurality of vaults  100  are stacked side-by-side and one upon another to form walls defining a room. Each of these vaults may be stocked by a doctor or agent of the controlling authority from an adjacent room via a door on the back of each machine. 
         [0070]    In these embodiments, the vaults  100  may share a common front plate, housing  102 , server, processor, or other components common to each vault  100  individually. 
         [0071]    In other embodiments of the present invention, the vault  100  comprises internal shelves affixed to the inside of the housing  102  in place of the carrousel  550 , each shelf in the shelving warehousing ajar of medication for a patient. 
         [0072]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a method  600  for securely dispensing medication from a vault in accordance with the present invention. The method  600  begins  602  and proceeds as shown. 
         [0073]    The vault  100  may be activated  604  by touching a GUI or touch screen  104  on the vault  100 . Instructions are displayed  606  to a patient  310  on the display  104  instructing the patient  310  to insert one or more of a key or card into the vault  100 . If, upon the key or card entry is confirmed by the confirmation module  412 , the relay module  410  creates an event code  302  which is relays over a WAN to the server  306 . 
         [0074]    The confirmation module  412 , or a human being, verifies  612  that the passcode  322  sent by the controlling authority  312  is valid and saves a record of the verification in persistent memory  314 . An authorization key may be created 616 which is sent to the dispenser  108 , in response to which dispenser  108  dispenses medication  206 . 
         [0075]    If the time interval is satisfied  618 , the internal carrousel  500  is rotated  620  a distance of one slot  504  clockwise or counterclockwise, and the dispenser  108  is activated  622  in some embodiments. The medication  206  is dispensed  624  and video recording of the patient  310  retrieving the medication  206  is recorded  626  and saved in persistent memory  314 . 
         [0076]    The internal clock  406  beings counting down through another predetermined interval of time (imposing  628  a new time restriction), and the new time restriction is recorded  630  in computer readable memory  314 . 
         [0077]    In various embodiments, the patient  310  is given the opportunity to retry  636  PIN, key, or card entry. Notifications may be displayed  638  to the patient  310  on the display  104 , and the vault  100  may be locked for a predetermined period of time is a predetermined number of false key or card entries have been attempted by a patient  310  over a period of few seconds or minutes. 
         [0078]    The vault  100  may comprise an internal power supply, which may be charged by photovoltaic cells, wind, or by other renewable resources. In various embodiments, only individuals authorized to access the vault may do so, those individuals being person, pharmacists, or technicians licensed or authorized to do by a governmental agency. In various embodiments, these individuals are tasked with dispensing medication after retrieving it from the vault. 
         [0079]    The functions of the systems shown in the present invention correspond generally to other systems, methods, apparati and computer program products outlined in the present invention, and further illustrates the availability of different allocations of functionality amongst modules that implement an embodiment of the invention. To the extent that hardware, software, and firmware implementations are deemed partially or fully interchangeable at the time in question (now or hereafter) by one of skill in the art, they may be utilized in embodying the invention even though the specific implementation examples discussed here are different. 
         [0080]    The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.