Abstract:
A medication cassette according to the present invention includes a rotatable medication drum located between front and rear covers. The medication drum has a series of outwardly opening medication receiving cells and the front cover and the rear cover cooperate with the medication drum to close the cells. Each cell in cooperation with the covers defines a normally closed medication receiving pocket. The medication drum further includes an accessible drive arrangement for rotating the medication drum relative to the front and rear covers past a dispensing port. Medication in a cell aligned with the dispensing port passes therethrough in a dispensing step. The cassette further includes an alignment arrangement that releasably holds the medication drum against rotation until rotated by drive arrangement. Preferably this drive arrangement is a drive ring generally coaxial with a rotary axis of the medication drum. The medication cassette is cost effective to manufacture, provides security and is advantageously used with an automated dispensing apparatus.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present application is directed to medication cassettes used to assist in the automated or controlled dispensing of medication. The invention is also directed to apparatus for receiving such medication cassettes and dispensing the medication therein. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    With continued advancement of health care treatment including medications, the number and diversity of medications taken by individuals continues to increase and become more complex. Each individual medication is typically sold prepackaged and/or contained in its own separate container with specific instructions for a user regarding the particular dosage and instructions regarding prescribed times for taking of the medication. This type of arrangement is satisfactory for an individual taking a particular medication for a short period of time, however it is not well suited to applications where the individual is taking several medications for the forseeable future. 
         [0003]    With the aging population, problems associated with the incorrect taking of medication continue to increase and can represent a serious health risk to the individual. 
         [0004]    There remains a need for a cassette for effective dispensing of medication as well as a system that allows medication from different cassettes to be selectively dispensed in accordance with a predetermined regime. 
         [0005]    The present invention seeks to address a number of these issues. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A medication cassette according to the present invention comprises a front facing cover, a rotatable medication drum and a rear cover. The medication drum includes a series of outwardly opening medication receiving cells. The front facing cover and the rear cover cooperate with the medication drum to close the cells such that each cell in cooperation with the covers defines a normally closed medication receiving pocket. The medication drum further includes a drive arrangement exteriorly accessible for rotating the medication drum within the front facing cover past a dispensing port through which medication in a cell aligned with the dispensing port can pass and be dispensed. The cassette further includes an alignment arrangement that holds the medication drum against rotation in an aligned position until rotated by the drive arrangement. 
         [0007]    In an aspect of the invention, the drive arrangement is a drive ring generally coaxial with a rotary axis of the medication drum. 
         [0008]    In a further aspect of the invention, the drive ring is generally interior to the cassette and includes an access point for engagement with a drive of a dispensing device. 
         [0009]    According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the drive ring includes outwardly facing, drive teeth for incrementally rotating the medication drum. 
         [0010]    According to an aspect of the invention, the alignment arrangement includes a series of aligned positions on an inwardly facing surface of the drive ring and the alignment arrangement includes a displaceable limiting member movable from an aligned position in one of the aligned positions limiting rotation of the medication drum to a position allowing rotation of the medication drum and wherein the displaceable member is biased to the aligned positions. 
         [0011]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the displaceable member includes a locking surface biased by a spring arm for engagement with any one of the aligned positions. 
         [0012]    In an aspect of the invention, the locking surface is a roller secured at an end of the spring arm and the aligned positions are a series of alignment pockets where each pocket is shaped to receive the roller and releasably maintain the medication drum in one of the aligned positions. 
         [0013]    In yet a further aspect of the invention, each alignment pocket includes cam surfaces on either side thereof linking the pocket with an adjacent pocket; and wherein the cam surfaces allow rotation of the medication drum in either direction and assist in alignment of the medication drum with a dispensing outlet in the cover. 
         [0014]    In a preferred aspect of the invention, each of the medication receiving cells is open at an outer radial end thereof. 
         [0015]    According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the cassette includes a light reflecting surface associated with each cell disposed to reflect light and direct the reflected light through the respective cell and wherein each cell and the cassette allow reflected light to pass out of the cell and the cassette through a radial end of each cell. Preferably, the light reflecting surface is conical and has an angle of approximately 45° relative to the cells and the light reflecting surface is part of the rear cover. 
         [0016]    In an aspect of the invention, the drive ring projects outwardly from a side of the medication drum and the front cover includes a U shaped recess for covering the drive ring. 
         [0017]    In a further aspect of the invention, the alignment arrangement includes a series of alignment positions on an inwardly facing surface of a drive ring of the medication drum. The alignment arrangement includes a displaceable member movable from an aligned position to a position allowing rotation of the medication drum. The displaceable member is biased to the aligned position and the displaceable member includes a locking surface biased by a spring arm for engagement with any one of the series of alignment positions. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the dispensing apparatus about to receive a medication cassette; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a partial cut away of the dispensing apparatus; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the medication cassette; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3   a  is a sectional view taken along plane a-a of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3   b  is a sectional view taken along plane b-b of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the medication cassette; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4   a  is a partial enlargement of a lower portion of the medication cassette; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the medication drum; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5   a  is a partial view showing a portion of the drive track of the storage drum; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows additional details of the medication cassette; 
           [0029]      FIGS. 7.1  and  7 . 2  show details of the drive of the medication drum within the cassette; 
           [0030]      FIGS. 7.3 ,  7 . 4  and  7 . 5  show additional details of the drive of the medication drum and the dispensing of a pill; 
           [0031]      FIG. 8  is a partial sectional view through the dispensing apparatus showing the loading of a cassette; 
           [0032]      FIG. 9  is a partial perspective view showing the loading of a cassette where a series of cassettes have been loaded on the drive shaft; 
           [0033]      FIG. 10  is a partial cut away view showing six cassettes loaded on the drive shaft; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view showing details of a movable carriage; 
           [0035]      FIG. 12  is a partial top view showing the discharge of a container of dispensed medication exiting the dispensing apparatus; 
           [0036]      FIG. 13  shows additional details of the relationship between the movable carriage and the medication cassettes; 
           [0037]      FIG. 14  shows additional details of the drive mechanism for the medication cassette; 
           [0038]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view showing details of the light sensing arrangement for determining whether a pill is in the cavity of the dispensing drum; 
           [0039]      FIG. 16  shows the relationship between the cassette dispensing a pill and the carriage with the medication collecting vessel and the sensing of medication as it is dispensed; 
           [0040]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view showing the dispensing apparatus with the dispensing vessel ejected to one side allowing removal of the vessel by the user; 
           [0041]      FIG. 18  is a rear perspective view showing the medication vessel returned to an in use position; 
           [0042]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of the dispensing apparatus inverted for loading medication into cassettes; 
           [0043]      FIG. 20  is a partial perspective view illustrating the movable carriage and cassettes cooperating for loading cassettes; 
           [0044]      FIG. 21  is a cutaway perspective view of the movable carriage, loading funnel and medication cassette cooperating for loading of medication; 
           [0045]      FIG. 22  is a sectional view taken along plane A-A of  FIG. 21 ; 
           [0046]      FIG. 23  is a partial sectional view taken along plane B-B of  FIG. 21 ; and 
           [0047]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the movable carriage about to receive the loading funnel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0048]    The dispensing apparatus shown as  100  in  FIG. 1  is designed to allow loading and unloading of a series of medication cassettes generally shown as  400 . These medication cassettes can only be loaded on the drive shaft  200  in one orientation. The dispensing apparatus  100  also includes a display screen  500  to provide user instructions regarding the dispensing of medication and/or operation of the dispensing apparatus. It will also display different report or summary information for use by the user and/or medical personnel. The apparatus  100  preferably includes an analyzing arrangement generally shown as  600  for receiving test results or sensed conditions of the user. For example the apparatus is connectable to a blood pressure monitor for receiving results of blood pressure testing and recording thereof with date and time information. 
         [0049]    The apparatus can also connect to other devices, for example a blood analyzing device that measures a particular condition sought to be monitored and recorded. This information is preferably stored in the unit in combination with other tests and dispensing information for future reference and assistance in assessing a user&#39;s condition over time. These aspects are described in detail in Applicant&#39;s previous U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/998,617 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,333,281 incorporated herein by reference. The dispensing apparatus  100  includes a cover  110  shown in the open position in  FIG. 1 . Once a desired group of cassettes  400  are loaded onto the drive shaft  200 , the cover  110  is moved to a closed position as partially shown in  FIG. 2 . As will be described an automated procedure will confirm the identity and medication contained within the cassettes. 
         [0050]    The dispensing apparatus  100  also includes movable carriage  300  locatable below any of the medication cassettes loaded on the drive shaft. The movable carriage  300  travels below the cassettes and is alignable with a lower dispensing portion  403  of each cassette  400 . 
         [0051]    This arrangement allows a medication drum within a cassette to be moved to an aligned position to allow dispensing of a pill into a receiving medication container provided on the movable carriage. The controlled movement of the carriage  300  beneath and alignable with the cassettes provides a compact device that may be used by two or more users. For example, as shown in the sectional view of  FIG. 10 , six different cassettes  400  have been loaded into the dispensing apparatus  100 . The carriage  300  is movable below the cassettes for alignment therewith for dispensing medication. This ability to store a series of different cassettes where all the cassettes are available for dispensing is highly desirable. 
         [0052]    To fully appreciate the versatility of the dispensing apparatus it is important to consider the structure of the medication cassette  400  shown in  FIGS. 3 through 7 . The medication cassette  400  includes a front cover  402  that receives the rotatable medication drum  404 . The medication drum has a series of open ended medication cells  406  for receiving individual pills. The actual cell size  406  can vary according to the type of medication to be dispensed and different sizes of medication cassettes can be used as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . The medication drum  404  is selectively rotatable within the front cover  402 . A rear cover  408  effectively captures the medication drum within the medication cassette  400 . 
         [0053]    It is desirable that the medication drum is selectively rotatable within the front cover  402 . The front cover includes a downwardly directed spring arm  412  with a stop portion  414  provided at the end of the spring arm. This stop portion engages the inner surface of ring  416  that has a series of alignment pockets  418 . Ring  416  on an outer surface thereof includes a series of ratchet teeth  420  which will engage with a drive member for selectively rotating the medication drum  404  within the front cover  402 . 
         [0054]    Basically the drive arrangement, as will be subsequently explained, indexes the medication drum and the various alignment pockets  418  in combination with the stop portion  414  of the spring arm align the medication drum with the front cover  402  in one of the alignment positions. The front cover  402  and the rear cover  408  of the medication cassette rotate with rotation of the drive shaft  202 . There is no ability for these components to rotate independent of the drive shaft as each component includes key surfaces provided thereon that engage with the drive shaft. In contrast, the medication drum  404  can be rotated within the front cover  402  independent of the drive shaft (used to dispense medication) and can also rotate with rotation of the drive shaft  200  (used to determine cassette contents). 
         [0055]    When a medication cassette is loaded and before a dispensing operation, a cassette audit procedure confirms the particular content and location of the pills within each cassette. For example, in many situations all of the cells of the cassette are not initially filled as the number of pills to be dispensed is less than the number of cells available in the cassette. The dispensing apparatus after loading of any cassette and before dispensing medication rotates the drive shaft and thereby rotates the medication cassettes. This audit procedure starts with the first cassette at the free end of the drive shaft. The carriage is moved to allow scanning of the first cassette adjacent the free end of the shaft to determine the cassette type (number of cells and width of the cassette), the user, the medication, the quantity of the medication and the dosage regime. 
         [0056]    This type of information is preferably provided electronically or in a readable form on the medication cassette itself, for example by means of a RFID tag, bar readable code or other type of information. In the preferred embodiment as described, a RFID tag provides details of the medication, the size or type of the cassette and the amount of medication provided in the particular cells thereof. Furthermore individual dosages of the medication are loaded in particular cells and preferably in a consistent manner. Preferably, the medication cassette includes a zero cell or an index point and this is typically where an initial medication dosage is located followed by dosages being loaded in a series of subsequent cells. 
         [0057]    The cassette type provides the width of the cassette and this information allows the carriage to move to the gap between the first and second cassette for scanning of the contents thereof. Knowledge of the second cassette type allows for carriage positioning between the second and third cassette. 
         [0058]    The cross-section of the cassette shown in  FIG. 3   b  provides details of the particular cooperation between the front cover  402 , the rear cover  408  and the individual cells  406  of the medication drum  404 . The base  406   a  of each cell  406  is preferably translucent or at least allows the passage of a sensing radiation (such as infrared radiation) emitted by the light  700 . The emitted radiation passes through the panel  440  of the front cover and strikes the angled reflecting surface  460  of the rear cover. Due to the angled surface the radiation passes downwardly through the base  406   a  of the cell  406  and if not interrupted, the radiation is received by the receiver  702  after passing through side wall  409  of cover  402 . 
         [0059]    If a pill is present in the individual cell  406  the amount of light (radiation) received by the light receiver  702  is significantly reduced and this reduction in sensed light indicates a pill is present. The light emitter  700  is located on the displaceable arm  380  which is moved into a sensing position as shown in  FIG. 13  each time the contents of a cassette are sensed. The light receiver  702  is in a stationary position on the carriage. Rotation of the medication drum within the front and rear covers allows each of the individual cells  406  of the medication drum to be assessed to determine whether a particular medication is present. These results are tracked and the particular cells of the medication cassette having medication are maintained in memory to allow the appropriate dispensing thereof in accordance with a dispensing regime preferably provided by the RFID tag. Other arrangements for determining the particulars of the medication associated with a cassette and the transfer thereof to the apparatus can be used, however the RFID tag is a preferred embodiment. 
         [0060]    As part of an initial setup procedure whenever a cassette is loaded into the dispensing apparatus, the dispensing regime and the particulars of all loaded cassettes are confirmed, for example, by the RFID tag and the sensed medication. Tracking of the cassettes allows the apparatus to appropriately position the medication drum within the cassette in a predispensing position. 
         [0061]    With the present medication cassette, the medication drum  404  is rotatable within the front and rear covers by a selective drive arrangement. There is also an alignment arrangement (i.e. the spring arm  412 ) which is used to maintain a particular registration of the medication drum until such time that it is appropriately driven to cause rotation within the covers. The medication cassette can be rotated with rotation of the drive shaft and with this rotation the medication drum, in the preferred embodiment merely rotates with the front and rear cover. The selective drive of the medication drum within the covers is carried out typically to dispense or load medication when the medication cassette is stationary and the rotary shaft is in a predetermined angular position. 
         [0062]    The medication cassette includes an opening in the front cover and this opening is identified as  430 . Medication from the medication cassette is dispensed through this opening into the vessel provided on the carrier as will be further described. 
         [0063]    It can be appreciated that the front cover, the rear cover and the medication drum all cooperate to provide a cost effective arrangement. The cassette can be designed as a disposable package which allows automatic dispensing of the contents thereof. The cassettes can also be designed for refilling and this is described with respect to  FIGS. 19 through 24 . 
         [0064]    As indicated in  FIG. 10  the dispensing apparatus can receive different widths of cassettes with the cassettes preferably being a similar diameter. The number of cells within a particular cassette is variable and thus the angle of the rotation of the shaft, to sense medication within a particular cell of a cassette, is adjusted based on the particular structure of the cassette. 
         [0065]      FIGS. 8 ,  9  and  10  show loading of the cassettes  400  on the rotary shaft  202 . The rotary shaft  202  is supported at the right end of the dispensing apparatus and has a free end  204  that passes through the rotary drive port  424  of each cassette. As can be appreciated from a review of the earlier drawings, the medication cassette is inserted on the drive shaft and can only be inserted on the drive shaft in one particular orientation. 
         [0066]    Once the cassette is loaded on the drive shaft the front and rear covers rotate with the rotation of the drive shaft. The drive shaft is controlled by the drive gear  220  provided at one end of the dispensing apparatus. The drive shaft also includes a compressible conical type spring  222  that provides a spring force on the rear of the first inserted cassette to force the cassette towards the free end  202  of the drive shaft. With this arrangement the position of the last loaded cassette is known and this simplifies the scanning of the cassettes. 
         [0067]    When multiple cassettes are inserted on the drive shaft as shown in  FIG. 10  the first inserted medication cassette is forced by the conical spring towards the free end of the drive shaft and each of the subsequently inserted medication cassettes are in contact. The last inserted medication cassette cannot pass over the free end of the drive shaft due to the spring arms  224 ,  226  provided on the free end of the drive shaft. These spring arms engage the rotary port  424  of the front cover of the last inserted cassette and the cassette can only be removed by compression of the spring arms  224 ,  226  to allow the cassette to pass over the free end of the drive shaft. In this way the cassettes, regardless of their particular width, are placed in abutment and forced towards the end of the drive shaft and are maintained on the drive shaft by the spring arms  224 ,  226 . 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 10  the width of the individual cassettes are shown as L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , L 2  with respect to the first four cassettes. The device will effectively locate the carriage below the last loaded cassette (position known) for scanning thereof. After scanning the last loaded cassette, the carriage can move to the gap between this cassette and the abutting cassette for scanning thereof based on the detected width. This process is repeated to scan all loaded cassettes. 
         [0069]    Further details of the spring arms  224 ,  226  are shown in  FIG. 9  where a medication cassette  400   a  is being inserted on the drive shaft. As can be seen, the rotary port  424  has not yet passed the spring arms and the user must continue to push the cassette onto the drive shaft otherwise it will be moved to the free end of the drive shaft indicating to the user that the cassette has not been properly loaded. 
         [0070]      FIG. 2  shows the movable carriage  300  which is movable along the fixed guide rod  302  supported either end of the dispensing apparatus. The movable carriage includes a drive motor  304  to one side of the movable carriage having a drive gear  306  in mesh with the fixed rack  308  provided in the dispensing apparatus. The drive motor  304  also includes an incremental position sensing disk  320  that is used to accurately determine the position of the carriage in the length of the guide rod  302  and the position within the dispensing apparatus. This information coupled with the scanned knowledge of the width of the loaded cassettes allows accurate alignment of the carriage for scanning and dispensing. 
         [0071]    The movable carriage includes a receiving cavity  330  that preferably receives a removable medication container  332  shown in  FIG. 12 . Basically the removable medication container  332  is positioned below an appropriate medication cassette for receiving medication dispensed from the cassette in accordance with the particular dosage regime and time information. 
         [0072]    The movable carriage  300  also includes a light transmitter  350  and a light receiver  352 . Each of these components move with the carriage and allow detection of medication as it passes into a medication containing vessel  332 . This aspect can be appreciated from a review of  FIG. 16  where the light transmitted by transmitter  350  passes over the opening above the containing vessel  332  and is received by the receiver  352 . If a pill such as pill  800  is discharged from the medication cassette it interrupts the light beam. This interruption in the transmitted light is detected and the device confirms that a particular medication has been dispensed and received in the vessel  332 . 
         [0073]    One of the features of the movable carriage is the displaceable arm  380  that performs a number of functions. The displaceable arm  380  is movable to a determined position to one side of a medication cassette when positioned on the drive shaft to allow sensing of the content of the individual cells of the medication cassette. Basically the arm  380  is moved to position the light source  700  such that it overlaps the medication cassette and directs radiation through the cassette to the reflecting surface  460  of the cassette. Due to the angling of this surface, light passes through the cassette and if not interrupted (pill not present) is received by the light receiver  390  provided on the carriage. 
         [0074]    As can be seen from  FIG. 11 , the light receiver  390  is angled and the light passes through a particular cell to determine whether there is any medication located in the cell. The particular orientation shown places the receiver  390  at a 45° angle. The displaceable arm  380  in  FIG. 14  shows the light transmitter  700 .  FIG. 16  shows the angulation of the light receiver  390  on the carriage. 
         [0075]    This arrangement of the displaceable arm with the light transmitter allows a medication cassette, when loaded onto the rotary shaft, to be selectively indexed to determine which cells have medication therein. In this case, the medication cassette is rotated by the rotary shaft and the medication drum and the front and rear covers all rotate. 
         [0076]    The displaceable arm  380  also serves a different function, namely to cause indexing of the medication drum  404  within the cassette and independent of the rotary shaft. In this case the rotary shaft is returned to the home position and the medication drum is indexed as the front cover is held stationary by the rotary shaft. This aspect can be appreciated from a review of  FIGS. 7.1 ,  7 . 2 ,  7 . 3 ,  7 . 4  and  7 . 5 . 
         [0077]    As previously discussed, the spring arm  412  and the stop portion  414  cooperate with the series of alignment pockets  418  provided on the ring  416  of the medication drum  404 . The ring  416  is fixed on the drum and the interior of the ring forms a series of aligned locations that define indexing locations. The displaceable arm  380  includes a drive arm  384  that is spring biased at one end of the displaceable arm  380 . This arm includes an outwardly bent portion  385  used to engage the ratchet teeth  420  provided on the ring  416 . The displaceable arm  380  is movable from a position clear of the medication cassette within the movable carrier to an extended position for driving of the ring  416  by engaging the ratchet teeth  420 . 
         [0078]    The rotation of the displaceable arm is controlled by the drive gear  387  and associated motor  388  mounted on the movable carriage. Rotation of the motor is controlled or measured by the incremental disk  389 . The movement of the displaceable arm  380  from a clear position to a position causing indexing of the drum, is shown in  FIG. 13 . The clear position is shown in solid lines and the indexed position of the drum is shown in dashed lines. The spring bias of the drive arm  384  allows the arm to be retracted and to pass by the back face of a drive tooth. This aspect is shown in  FIG. 7.5 . 
         [0079]    The initial indexing of the medication drum aligns the first cell with the bottom opening provided in the front cover  402  of the medication cassette. Due to gravity the pill  713  shown in  FIG. 7.5  falls through the opening  707  and into the medication vessel supported on the carriage. 
         [0080]    With this arrangement the carriage is movable beneath the medication cassettes and each medication cassette can be separately indexed to dispense medication according to a particular regime. For example, the dispenser can effectively move the carriage and index the particular cassette for dispensing of medication needed at a particular time. This could be “morning” medication and requires three pills from three of the cassettes. The carriage is appropriately indexed to each appropriate cassette, the medication drum is indexed by the displaceable arm arrangement, and medication falls into the medication vessel provided on the carriage. This “morning” medication can then be provided to the user by moving the carriage to the far end and outputting the medication vessel to the user as shown in  FIG. 12 . A new medication vessel can be placed in the dispenser or the medication can be removed from the container and returned to the carriage. 
         [0081]    The present invention provides a medication cassette that is cost effective to manufacture and is suitable as a disposable package. The medication cassette in combination with the dispensing apparatus allows accurate evaluation of the medication contained within multiple cassettes. Various RFID tags or other tags can be associated with the particular medication cassette to identify the medication of a particular user, the dispensing regime and cassette particulars. A series of cassettes can be loaded for different medications of a particular user or for medications of one or more additional users. 
         [0082]      FIG. 17  illustrates how the carriage  300  has moved to one end of the device and shifted the medication receiving vessel through the end port  351 . The user can then receive his medication and the device is ready to dispense medication for a different user or for the same user at a later point. 
         [0083]    The present invention also includes the dispensing apparatus that receives the cassettes and controls the cassettes to dispense the medication in a particular manner. 
         [0084]    The dispensing apparatus preferably tracks user information and test results to provide a detailed history. The tracking of medication that has actually been dispensed as well as the particular conditions of a user over time is of assistance to both the user and his medical advisors regarding the effectiveness of his medical treatment and to also identify any condition changes that may occur. 
         [0085]      FIGS. 19 through 24  show a variation of the invention wherein the medication dispensing apparatus includes a series of user fillable cassettes where medication can be appropriately added to the cassettes for future dispensing. 
         [0086]    In  FIG. 19  the medication dispensing apparatus  100  has been inverted and placed in a support cradle  500 . The medication dispensing apparatus is now stably supported with the top surface of the medication dispensing apparatus facing downwardly. The bottom surface  151  of the medication dispensing apparatus  100  now faces upwardly with the upwardly opening loading slot  502  exposed. In this configuration the retainer  330  provided on the movable carriage  300 , is partially exposed below the dispensing slot  502  and an aperture provided in this retainer is sized to appropriately receive the loading funnel  504 . 
         [0087]    The loading funnel  504  includes an open mouth  506  for receiving medication with the medication passing downwardly through the chute  502  to pass out the open end  510 . The lower portion of the chute  508  is received within an opening in the retainer  330  which normally supports a medication vessel  332  when the apparatus is stored in its normal dispensing orientation. In the inverted loading orientation, the bottom portion of the retainer  330  includes an opening that is appropriately shaped to engage the lower portion of the chute  508 . This can be appreciated from a review of  FIG. 24 . As can be seen the loading funnel  504  includes a guide lug  512  that is received in the guide slot  540  of the retainer  330 . 
         [0088]      FIG. 22  shows the loading funnel  504  fully received in the retainer  330  and the lower portion of the chute  508  is directly exposed above an opening cell of the medication cassette  400 . The port in the outer wall of the cassette  400  through which medication is normally dispensed is shown as  430 . Due to the inversion of the medication dispensing apparatus this cell is now upwardly opening and aligned with the chute  408  of the loading funnel  504 . The loading funnel  504  preferably includes a translucent lower portion such that medication that is loaded into the cassette can be detected as shown in  FIG. 22 . In this case the medication  800  is about to interrupt the light beams  802  and interruption of the light beams confirms that a pill has been loaded into the open cell. Once this has occurred the drum of the cassette is indexed by turning clockwise as shown in  FIG. 22  to bring the next cell in line with the opening  430 . In this way medication can be loaded into each cell of the medication drum with confirmation that the medication has been loaded. 
         [0089]    The detecting arrangement for determining whether a pill has been loaded in the appropriate cell is the same sensing arrangement that when the apparatus is inverted, confirms that medication has been dispensed from a particular cell, with both loading and dispensing pills passing by gravity to or from the cassette. 
         [0090]    As shown in the partial perspective view of  FIG. 20 , the carriage  300  that appropriately positioned a medication vessel beneath the cassettes for receiving medication in a particular manner, due to the inversion of the apparatus, is now above the cassettes and is used for positioning of the funnel over any of the medication cassettes. The inversion of the apparatus in cooperation with the cassette design turns the dispensing operation into a loading operation. 
         [0091]    With the embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 19 through 24 , the medication dispensing apparatus is turned upside down and the carriage  300 , rather than moving beneath the medication cassettes and receiving medication dropping by gravity from an opening in the cassettes into a medication vessel supported on the carriage, is now positioned above the medication cassettes and selectively aligns a loading funnel with any of the cassettes for loading of medication. The same alignment and sensing arrangement that initially sensed that medication was being dispensed from a cassette is now used to confirm that medication has passed through the chute and loaded into the cassette and the sensing arrangement that was used to confirm that there is medication in a particular cell of the cassette is now used to again confirm that medication has been loaded into that particular cell. 
         [0092]    With this arrangement a user or health care provider such as a son or daughter can, from time to time, load the cassettes contained within the dispensing apparatus for future use by the patient. Basically this simplifies the loading of the medication and also allows medication to be loaded for an extended period of time. Once the various medications have been loaded it is quite convenient for the apparatus to dispense the daily medication or the medication required at particular periods of time throughout the day. 
         [0093]    It can also be appreciated that the bottom loading slot can have appropriate covers for the slot when not in use. In some cases it may be desirable to leave the slot open. 
         [0094]    The dispensing apparatus is described with respect to tracking of dispensed medication preferably in combination with test information to provide a better health record. The loading of medication can also be tracked as well as to confirm appropriate loading of specific cassettes. This is helpful with respect to multiple users receiving dispensed medication. 
         [0095]    Although various preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described herein in detail; it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that variations may be made thereto without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.