Abstract:
Dispensing machine. The machine includes a number of silos for the storage of smaller objects and a mechanism for dispensing the stored objects into a central receptacle at a designated time or frequency in a combinatorial manner, regardless of the size, shape, or other physical characteristics of the pill to be dispensed. Major components of the device include a number of silos for storing objects of dispersal, a user input interface, a circuit board, an actuator, a central receptacle, a sensor, a storage receptacle, and an alarm. It is preferred that the designated time or frequency for dispersal from each silo is set by a user or a third-party. It is preferred that the machine further includes a capability for wireless connectivity to an intranet or an internet and a mechanism for monitoring access to the central receptacle and for outputting feedback to a user or a third-party.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to dispensers for the automated organization and dispersal of small objects at a designated time or frequency, and more particularly to such a machine that organizes and dispenses pills or medications in accordance to a designated time or frequency. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Medication non-adherence has become one of the nation&#39;s biggest public health burdens, costing over $170 billion annually. 50-75% of patients are estimated to be non-adherent, particularly in common chronic diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes. Non-adherence leads to poor management of chronic disease, significantly higher death rates, and weakening of the physician-patient relationship. Causes of non-adherence include complicated treatment regimens, inconvenience, cognitive ability, manual dexterity, and forgetfulness, problems exacerbated by age. The average number of prescriptions per capita is 12.6, not including supplements. Patients have increasingly more difficulty with adherence to a medication regimen as the number of prescribed medications increases and as the dosing frequency varies. 
         [0003]    Presently available solutions to non-adherence address some patient frictions but prove either ineffective or impractical at scale. Simple, singular interventions such as alarms, monitoring, and follow-up calls are marginally effective. The simple pillbox allows patients to pre-organize medications into time slots; however, it requires high motivation, cognitive function, and manual dexterity to preload the pillbox reliably without error. Furthermore, most models do not alert the patient to take the medication at the necessary time. The demand for a device that automatically dispenses pills at a designated time is evidenced by the prior art literature, which include U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,403 to Benaroya, U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,606 to Lewis, U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,651 to Scidmore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,453 to Luckstead, U.S. Pat. No. 5,044,516 to Hoar, U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,285 to Shaw, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,952 to Bowden, U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,113 to Shaw, U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,593 to East, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,268 to Shaw, U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,158 to Chabout, U.S. Pat. No. 6,510,962 to Lim, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,146 to Varis. However, while prior art pill dispensing machines and systems illustrate the capacity to automatically dispense pills, these machines and systems rely on manual loading of pill storage compartments to include the precise set of pills to be dispensed at each dispersal time point. The process of manually loading pill storage compartments is challenging for users with limited manual dexterity. In the case that pills in loaded pill storage compartments need to be exchanged, each pill storage compartment needs to be manually reloaded and the contents of each pill storage compartment manually resorted. Such limitations of prior art pill dispensing machines and systems create behavioral disincentives to user adoption. 
         [0004]    Abdulhay in U.S. Pat. No. 7,048,141, U.S. Pat. No. 7,213,721, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,711,449 attempts to overcome these deficiencies by dispensing pills in a combinatorial manner from separate silos; however, Abdulhay&#39;s means of dispersal requires separate built-in funnels to accommodate different pill sizes. Given the ever-growing variety of pill sizes and shapes, such a finite, limited approach to combinatorial pill dispersal is still yet inadequate. 
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a pill dispersal system that overcomes the disadvantages of prior art medication organizing and dispensing devices. A specific object is to provide a pill dispensing that offers a centralized system of pill organization and dispersal; a capacity for dynamic, modular alteration of pills; a user-friendly interface; an alert system; and a system for behavioral feedback. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The machine according to the invention includes a number of silos for the storage of smaller objects and a mechanism for dispensing the stored objects into a central receptacle at a designated time or frequency in a combinatorial manner. In such a mechanism, the objects of dispersal are stored in respective compartments until the time of dispersal, at which time a programmed combination of objects are dispensed to the central receptacle. In a preferred embodiment, the stored objects are pills or medications. 
         [0007]    The machine according to the invention includes a user input interface, a circuit board, and an actuator. It is preferred that a user input interface provides an input signal through a circuit board to an actuator. An actuator acts to dispense one or more object at a time from each silo until the designated number of object or objects from the designated silo or silos are dispensed at the designated time or frequency. It is preferred that the designated time or frequency for dispersal from each silo is set by the user through the user input interface or through a third-party remotely. 
         [0008]    It is preferred that the machine disclosed herein includes a mechanism of alerting a user when a dispersal event has taken place. In a preferred embodiment, an alert may be an acoustic or a visual stimulus. In a preferred embodiment, an alert may be a telephone call or an electronic message such as an e-mail, a text message, a multimedia message, or the like. 
         [0009]    It is preferred that the machine disclosed herein includes a mechanism of moving previously dispensed objects in the central receptacle to a separate storage receptacle prior to additional dispersal. 
         [0010]    It is preferred that the machine disclosed herein includes a mechanism of dispensing the next queue of objects when a third-party designates such an action through the user input interface. 
         [0011]    It is preferred that the machine disclosed herein includes a mechanism of alerting a user or a third-party when contents of a silo or silos are empty or low, as it may prompt a user to refill a silo or silos. 
         [0012]    It is preferred that the machine disclosed herein includes a mechanism of emptying a silo if the contents of the silo are no longer deemed necessary, when a third-party designates such an action through the user input interface. 
         [0013]    It is preferred that the machine disclosed herein includes a mechanism for monitoring access to the central receptacle, for storing data in regards to access to the central receptacle, and for outputting stored data to a user or a third party. 
         [0014]    It is preferred that the machine disclosed herein includes a capability for wireless connectivity to an intranet or an internet, and that input or output of the machine may be wirelessly modulated. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment, a user is a patient, family member of a patient, or caregiver. In a preferred embodiment, a third-party is a family member of a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective illustration of the exterior of a preferred embodiment of the machine disclosed herein. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional depiction of the actuation mechanism of the machine of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a right oblique perspective illustration of the rear of the machine of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a left oblique perspective illustration of the rear of the machine of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS FIGS.  1  TO  4   
       [0000]    
       
           10  hopper lid 
           11  hopper 
           12  auger 
           13  cylindrical encasement for auger 
           14  custom slotted screw head of auger 
           15  axial shaft of rotary actuator 
           16  linear track for engagement with auger 
           17  linear actuator for engagement with auger 
           18  rotatory actuator for auger 
           19  infrared pill sensor and counter 
           20  pill sorting receptacle 
           21  rotatory actuator for pill sorting receptacle 
           22  error chute 
           23  connector 
           24  inferior linear guide rail for drive motor 
           25  superior linear guide rail for drive motor 
           26  threaded track for drive motor 
           27  left wall of exterior encasement 
           200  drive motor for actuator mechanism 
           201  right wall of exterior encasement 
           202  error receptacle 
           203  dispersal chute 
           204  dispersal receptacle 
           205  user interface screen 
       
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0044]    A perspective front exterior view of a preferred embodiment of the presently disclosed invention is shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  shows important exterior components of the machine, including a number of hopper lids  10 , a pill dispersal receptacle  204 , an error receptacle  202 , and a user interface screen  205 . The hoppers depicted serve as silos or compartments for pill storage. The number of hoppers included on the machine may include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or more than 15. 
         [0045]    A cross-sectional depiction of the actuation mechanism of the machine of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown, directly underneath each hopper lid  10  is a hopper  11  capable of pill storage. Each hopper  11  is in directly connection with an auger  12  encased by a cylindrical encasement  13 . At the superior tip of the root of the auger is a custom slotted screw head  14  capable of engaging with the axial shaft  15  of a rotary actuator  18 . Engagement of axial shaft  15  with screw head  14  is enabled by a linear actuator  17  by means of a linear track  16 . Pills are able to be propelled from storage in the hopper to dispersal by the actuation mechanism depicted. 
         [0046]    When a pill is propelled to dispersal by the auger system, it falls via gravity through an infrared pill sensor and counter  19  into a pill sorting receptacle  20 . The pill sensor and counter  19  uses infrared light at each dispersal event to count the exact number of pills dispensed. If the number of pills counted is equal to the schedule number to be dispensed from that particular hopper, henceforth known as a successful count event, the pill sorting receptacle  20  is ultimately rotated clockwise by a rotatory actuator for the pill sorting receptacle  21  such that the dispensed pill(s) falls into a dispersal chute  203 . The dispersal chute  203  seen internally is connected to a dispersal receptacle  204  seen externally. If the number of pills counted is not equal to the schedule number to be dispensed from that particular hopper, henceforth known as a failed count event, the pill sorting receptacle  20  is ultimately rotated counterclockwise by a rotatory actuator  21  such that the dispensed pill(s) falls into an error chute  22 .  FIG. 2  clearly depicts that the actuators that drive the auger are in physical connection with the actuator that rotates the pill sorting receptacle through connector  23 . 
         [0047]    A right oblique perspective illustration of the rear of the machine of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 3 . Again is seen a series of hoppers  11 —herein  10  hoppers arranged linearly are depicted—connected to an auger-driven dispersal system. Augers are encased within cylindrical encasements  13 . At the superior tip of each auger is a custom slotted screw head  14 , well-depicted at this angle. Again is seen the linear track  16  and linear actuator  17  for engagement with each auger as well as the rotatory actuator for each auger  18 . Again is seen the infrared pill sensor and counter  19 , one for each hopper-auger combination. The rotatory actuator for the pill sorting receptacle  21  is visualized. In this right oblique perspective view, it is apparent that connector  23  is mobile and able to be driven by a drive motor  200 . The path of connector  23  is confined by a threaded track  26 , and further confined by two linear guide rails, one inferior  24  and one superior  25 . The movement of connector  23  allows the pill sorting receptacle  20  to sit directly underneath any infrared pill sensor and counter  19 , so that pills dispensed from any hopper-auger combination can be collected and sorted by one pill sorting receptacle  20 . Moreover, with each successful count event, the drive motor  200  drives the connector  23 , and therefore the pill sorting receptacle  20  by virtue of their physical connection, towards the right wall  201 , and the pill(s) are dropped via gravity into the dispersal chute  203  by a rotatory actuator for the pill sorting receptacle  21 . With each failed count event, the drive motor  200  drives the connector  23 , and therefore the pill sorting receptacle  20 , towards the left wall  27 , and the pill(s) are dropped via gravity into the error chute  22 . The dispersal chute  203  seen internally is connected to a dispersal receptacle  204  seen externally. The error chute  22  seen internally is connected to an error receptacle  202  seen externally. 
         [0048]    A left oblique perspective illustration of the rear of the machine of  FIG. 1  is shown in  FIG. 4 . Well-depicted in this angle is the intricate mating of the axial shaft  15  and the screw head of the auger tip  14  as well as the apposition of the pill sensor and counter  19  with the pill sorting receptacle  20 . The superior aspect of the pill sorting receptacle  20  is rounded off such that it is able to rotate unhindered. 
         [0049]    Components of the preferred embodiment of the machine disclosed herein have been omitted from the drawings for the sake of clarity. These components include the power source, battery, circuit board, timer, acoustic and visual alarms, wireless and multimedia accessibility devices, a separate storage receptacle for pills not taken from the dispersal receptacle, and the like. Aside from the actuators, circuits, and other hardware, most of the components of the preferred embodiment can be fashion from plastics. 
       Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
       [0050]    To initially use the preferred embodiment of the machine disclosed herein, the user should first connect the power source to an AC power outlet or recharge or replace the battery as needed. The user should lift each hopper lid  10  and fill each hopper  11  with a specific type of medication pill for the desired number of medications or the maximum number of hoppers available, whichever is lower. Upon turning on the dispensing machine, the user should use the user interface screen  205  to program the dispersal schedule for each hopper in use. In a preferred embodiment, user programming is accomplished through a touchscreen interface  205 , but other embodiments may use buttons. 
         [0051]    Now, take for example that the user is schedule to receive 1 pill from hopper  1 , 2 pills from hopper  2 , and 3 pills from hopper  3  at 9 o&#39;clock AM. The machine, shortly prior to 9 o&#39;clock AM, automatically begins the dispersal process, as directed by the internal timer. The drive motor  200  first drives the connector  23  to align with hopper  1 . Pills in the hopper  11  collect via gravity within the auger apparatus  12  enclosed in a cylindrical encasement  13 . The linear actuator  17  drives the axial shaft  15  on the linear track  16  to engage with the custom slotted screw head of the auger  14 . The rotatory actuator  18  then begins to turn the auger, propelling pills in the hopper-auger system up along the turning threads at a rate slow enough such that pills drop out of the auger one by one. As 1 pill is dropped, it is counted by the infrared sensor and counter  19  and falls into the pill sorting receptacle  20 , thereby shutting off the rotatory actuator  18  driving the auger. Since a successful count event was detected by the sensor  19 , the drive motor  200  drives the connector  23  towards the right wall  201 , and the 1 pill is dispensed into the dispersal chute  203  by the rotatory actuator  21  of the pill sorting receptacle. The drive motor  200  then aligns the connector  23  with hopper  2  for the next medication. A similar process ensues for the second medication; however, in this case, the rotatory actuator  18  for the auger is not shut off until 2 pills are counted, at which point the 2 pills will be dropped into the dispersal chute  203 . Now, take for example that the drive motor is aligned with hopper  3  and the auger is being driven; however, by happenstance, 4 pills are dropped from the auger instead of 3. The rotatory actuator  18  is again shut off because 3 pills have been dropped. However, because a failed count event has occurred, the drive motor  200  drives the connector  23  towards the left wall  27 , and the incorrect number of pills are dispensed into the error chute  22  by the rotatory actuator  21  of the pill sorting receptacle. The drive motor  200  then aligns the connector  23  again with hopper  3  to reattempt dispersal of this medication. Upon a successful count event, the correct number of pills will be dispensed into the dispersal chute  203 . At 9 o&#39;clock AM, an acoustic and visual alarm will alert the patient that pills are ready in the dispersal receptacle. The patient should take the dispensed pills and interact with the user interface screen  205  to disable the alarm, indicating pill adherence at that time. A user or a third-party may at any time check the error receptacle to check for pills dropped by error and restock these pills. If a user does not take the pills in the dispersal receptacle prior to the next scheduled dispersal event, the pills are automatically emptied into a separate storage receptacle for missed pills. Users and third-parties have access to the separate storage receptacle to take or restock these pills. 
         [0052]    A feature of the preferred embodiment is the ability to dispense the next scheduled set of pills when the user prompts using the user input interface, thereby allowing the user to receive his schedule medications early if the user will be always from the machine at the next scheduled dispersal event. 
         [0053]    A feature of the preferred embodiment is an automated system for behavioral feedback. With internet capabilities, the machine disclosed herein is able to continuously upload medication adherence data to be viewed by users and caregivers. This feedback system not only encourages users to adherence to their pill regimens, but also provides caregivers a means of monitoring adherence more closely as needed or desired. 
         [0054]    Detailed examples of how a patient might use the present pill dispensing machine are as follows: 
         [0055]    Medication Regimen:
       Drug A—Twice daily medication   Drug B—Once daily medication, adherence is important   Drug C—Twice daily medication       
 
         [0059]    Example of Normal Use:
       7:30 AM—Patient wakes up   7:50 AM—Patient eats breakfast in kitchen   8:00 AM—Dispersal of Drug A, Drug B and Drug C; patient is alerted   8:01 AM—Patient addresses machine and stops alarm   8:02 AM—Patient takes medications from dispersal receptacle and consumes them   8:30 AM—Patient leaves home   5:30 PM—Patient returns home   7:30 PM—Patient watches television in living room   8:00 PM—Dispersal of Drug A and Drug C; patient is alerted   8:01 PM—Patient addresses machine and stops alarm   8:02 PM—Patient takes medications from dispersal receptacle and consumes them       
 
         [0071]    Example of Non-adherence:
       7:30 AM—Patient wakes up   7:50 AM—Patient leaves for work early   8:00 AM—Dispersal of Drug A, Drug B and Drug C; patient is alerted   8:10 AM—Machine automatically stops alarm   8:10 AM—Medications moved to silo for unused pills   8:10 AM—Patient and caregiver notified that morning dose of medication not taken (through email, text messaging, phone call, or the like)   5:30 PM—Patient returns home   7:30 PM—Patient watches television in living room   8:00 PM—Dispersal of Drug A, Drug B, and Drug C (Drug B is dispersed since machine noted it was not taken in AM); patient is alerted   8:01 PM—Patient addresses machine and stops alarm   8:02 PM—Patient takes medications from dispersal receptacle and consumes them       
 
         [0083]    Example of Advance Dispensal:
       7:30 AM—Patient wakes up   7:50 AM—Patient eats breakfast in kitchen   8:00 AM—Dispersal of Drug A, Drug B and Drug C; patient is alerted   8:01 AM—Patient addresses machine and stops alarm   8:02 AM—Patient takes medications from dispersal receptacle and consumes them   8:03 AM—Patient expects to return home late at night and requests next dose from the machine   8:04 AM—Dispersal of Drug A and Drug C; patient is alerted   8:04 AM—Patient addresses machine and stops alarm   8:04 AM—Patient takes medications from receptacle and places them in storage container for later consumption   8:30 AM—Patient leaves home   8:00 PM—Patient notified it is time to take evening medications that were previously dispensed (through email, text messaging, phone call, or the like)   8:01 PM—Patient takes medications from storage container and consumes them   9:00 PM—Patient returns home       
 
         [0097]    The Smart Automated Pill Dispenser offers a centralized system of pill organization and dispersal; a capacity for dynamic, modular alteration of pills; a user-friendly interface; an alert system; and a system for behavioral feedback. 
         [0098]    It is recognized that modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to those of ordinary skill in the art and it is intended that all such modifications and variations be included within the scope of the appended claims.