Patent Publication Number: US-9414994-B2

Title: Dispensing device

Description:
This application is a national phase of International Application No. PCT/SE2007/050706 filed Oct. 4, 2007 and published in the English language. 
     GENERAL DESCRIPTION 
     Timely medication of patients is pivotal and poses a considerable challenge to the medical society. Patients commonly forget to take their medicines, in particular elderly patients and those required to adhere to a complicated scheme of administration with several doses a day, sequentially, sometimes of different drugs as well. In fact, elderly patients who are most likely to forget medications are the ones most likely to stay on such a regime. In particular, patients medicated with five or more different medicaments are less likely to adhere to their medical regimen. 
     Since the pharmacodynamics of various drugs differs considerably, administration of drugs at specific times may be necessary or advisable, even more so when the risk of interactions is considered. Furthermore, doses may be cumulative if the time period between medications is insufficient, possibly leading to adverse effects. 
     The current invention relates to dispensing devices, and in particular lockable dispensing devices intended to dispense medicaments at pre-determined times, comprising reminder and alarming means. 
     The device in its most simple embodiment comprises a closed compartment consisting of a tray and a cover. A wall is connecting the tray with the cover, which may optionally be possible to lock. In the tray or in the side of the wall there is an aperture for accessing doses of medicaments. 
     The tray is divided into storage compartments or has a space to be filled with cartridges. Alternatively, cartridges may be placed in the storage compartments. The cartridges have a shape which enables them to be easily removed from the device and facilitates easy handling by a person with impaired motor skills. The size of the compartments and/or the cartridges is suitable for holding doses of one or several medicaments. The cartridges can advantageously hold compositions other than tablets, such as powders, liquids, syrups. 
     Displacement of the tray is achieved using a transporting means. The transporting means is comprised of a rack located underneath the tray or alternatively on the wall of the device, e.g. at the lower end of the wall adjacent to the tray. The tray is moved in position by way of an electric motor or mechanical propulsion device, which is via a gear wheel linked to the rack. If the transporting means comprises an electric motor, the motor may be connected to a battery or to a wall socket. 
     The aperture at the bottom of the device is in its simplest embodiment arranged just to drop the dose on e.g. a table or into a cup, and is optionally fitted with a hatch for accessing the medicaments in the storage compartment or cartridge located directly above the hatch. The hatch is optionally connected to a lever for easy handling. 
     The device is fitted with a timing means, which may be programmed (pre-set) and is responsible for displacing the tray at pre-set times, thus enabling dispensing of a pre-determined amount of medicaments. The timing means may be an ordinary watch. The timing means may be located under the cover, and thus impossible to manipulate once the lid has been closed, ensuring patient safety. Alternatively, the timing means may be pre-set through small apertures in the device, using a sharp object. According to yet another embodiment, signals may be transmitted via e.g. IP, GSM or Bluetooth to a computer, for programming of the dispensing device. This IP, GSM or Bluetooth communication may be one-way or two-way, hence either for programming the dispensing device and/or for transmitting the alarm signal. 
     The device may be provided with a reminder means. The reminder means is for example in the form of one or several of an acoustic or visual signal, or alternatively a vibrating motion, set off if medications are not removed from the device. In one embodiment, the reminder means is connected to the hatch, so that it is set off if the hatch is not opened. In another embodiment, a lever protruding against the cartridges is used as part of the reminder means. Thus, if the position of the lever is not manipulated from its position against the cartridge, the reminder means is set off. 
     For giving an indication of patient compliance, i.e. if the subject has removed medications from the device, at a distance, the device may be provided with an alarming means. The alarming means may be connected to either the hatch or the lever, or other connecting means. The alarming means may be a telephone connection, such as a GSM signal. Alternatively, signals may be sent via the internet. The alarming signal may be a signal that is sent after a deferred time interval, after the reminder means has been set off. Thereby, the patient has the possibility of removing the medicaments during a certain time interval, before the supervisor is noticed, ensuring an efficient procedure. 
     The aperture for removal of the doses of medicaments is in one embodiment located in the tray. In another embodiment, the aperture is located in the wall between the tray and the cover. Through the aperture, cartridges may be removed or storage compartments emptied. The doses may optionally be emptied into a cup or the like. 
     In one embodiment, the device is circular in shape with the compartments or cartridges filling out the volume from the center of the device. Alternatively, cartridges may fill out part of the volume, e.g. part of a sector of the circle. In another embodiment, the dispensing device comprises an extended row of compartments and/or cartridges. 
     According to one embodiment, the dispensing device may be fitted on a wall, whereby the medicaments would easily drop out of the dispensing device at the pre-set times by way of gravity. The device may be fitted with an integral cup for easy access to the medicaments. The hatch may then be located on the cup rather than on the cover. 
     In one embodiment, the open side of the compartments and/or cartridges may be encompassed by a movable “caterpillar track” with an aperture in one of the chain links, for accessing the medicaments. Alternatively, two or more rows of storage compartments and/or cartridges may be located side by side. 
     The dispensing device may be manufactured through for example an injection moulding technique. The device may be made out of transparent plastic, for easy identification of medicaments through the cover. Moreover, the device may be produced from a slightly elastic polymer to enable simple assemblage by way of snap fitting. The device may be constructed of a polymer that gives a surface which is easy to handle, with regard to for example elderly people. Alternatively, the device may be encompassed by such an easy-to-handle outer surface. 
     The device may as was mentioned above be closed by way of conventional fastening means, such as snap fitting, screws, bolts, optionally with a lock such as a padlock or a combination lock. The fastening means may be such that the device cannot again be opened once closed, i.e. the whole device would be tamperproof and hence disposable. The device could be loaded at e.g. a pharmacy and handed to the subject, ensuring patient safety. 
     The cartridges may be disposable and are e.g. made out of a polymeric material. The cartridges may be fitted with e.g. an aluminum or plastic foil, glued or heated to the open side of the cartridge. The foil improves handling of compositions other than tablets according to the description above, and may be easily removed by hand. In one embodiment, the device may be fitted with a mechanical device for making a hole in the foil, of a dimension sufficient to allow passage of the pre-filled medicaments. 
     In use, the device is pre-loaded with medicaments for more than one instance of administration, either by the patient himself or probably more commonly by a relative or professional staff such as caretakers or nurses. The device may alternatively be loaded at a pharmacy. After loading, the cover on the device may be locked, facilitating correct medication of the patient. Consequently, the patient has access to the medicaments only at specific, pre-determined times. This is an advantage not the least for dependence-producing medicaments that have an alternative market as substances of abuse and may thus be stolen or given away. The invention thus facilitates correct medication. Moreover, the alarm function has considerable value for dementia patients and other patients that may forget medications. More in particular, the invention is advantageous for patients being medicated several times a day, in which instance non-intentional non-compliance may easily occur. 
     The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments shall merely be seen as an illustration of the spirit and scope of the current invention, and in no way whatsoever as a limitation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the top of one embodiment of the dispensing device according to the present invention showing the tray and the cover, the timing means, and the reminder/alarming means. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing the aperture in the side wall of the dispensing device and the hatch. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention showing cartridges located on the tray. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a wall mounted embodiment of the device according to the invention, showing medicaments easily leaving the device for the inherent cup for easy dispensing of drugs. 
         FIG. 5  is a view from the lower side of one embodiment of the propulsion device in the middle of the device comprising an electric motor, recesses and camming means for engaging the recesses with the rotatably mounted tray. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In one embodiment of the invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the dispensing device  1  includes a tray  2 , a cover  3  and a timing means  4 , which is connected to a reminder ( 5 ) and/or alarming means ( 21 ), via for example GSM, IP, Bluetooth. The timing means indicates via a reminder means when a medicament is to be taken. The timing means is in one embodiment located under the plastic cover, and hence is impossible to manipulate for the patient. 
     The cover is fitted to the tray by means of snap fitting  6 . 
     The dispensing device is in the embodiment according to  FIG. 2  fitted with an aperture  7  in the side wall  8  of the cover and a hatch  9 . The hatch is manipulated by the person using the device, whereby the reminder means is reset until the timing means indicates the next time of administration. If the hatch is not manipulated, an alarm is sent off to for example a person at a distance, such as a nurse or a caretaker, for example via an internet connection. 
     The tray  2  in the device according to  FIG. 3  is divided into compartments with dividing walls  11  in which the medicaments  12  are located. The cartridges  13  fill up the space of the compartments. 
     In  FIG. 4  a cup  14  for example underneath the dispensing device  1  is shown. In use, when the present compartment  10  with dividing walls  11  is located directly above the aperture, and the hatch, the medicaments  12  easily make their way into the cup by way of manipulation of the hatch, for example via a lever (not shown). The cup is an integral part of the dispensing device, and is easily emptied. The embodiment in  FIG. 4  shows the dispensing device being mounted on a board  15  for fixation on a wall in e.g. a home. 
     In one embodiment (not shown), the device is fitted with a transporting means, which includes a motor with a wheel which bears against a side wall of the device. In another embodiment according to  FIG. 5 , the transporting means consists of a propulsion device  16  which is coaxially connected to an electrical motor  17 . The disc  18  in the center of the device is connected to the propulsion device and is fitted with recesses  19 . These recesses engage with cams  20  that form part of the rotatably mounted tray. In another embodiment the propulsion is transmitted via a rack on the inner wall of the device, to which a motor is connected via a gear wheel (not shown). By way of the propulsion device, the tray is forwarded to a position in which the compartment may be emptied or the cartridge taken out. The tray is fitted with a detent means  21 , whereby the tray cannot be manipulated once set in position. The detent means includes a locking device which engages with a gear ring to lock the tray in position until the propulsion device receives an indication from the timing means that the tray should be forwarded to the next position for administration of medicaments.