Patent ID: 7044302

Claim:
A medication dispenser for permitting administration of an as-needed medication dose to a patient at a predetermined minimum dosing interval, said medication dispenser comprising: a medication tray carrying a plurality of medication doses; a housing enclosing said medication tray, wherein said housing includes a passage providing access to a medication dose, wherein said medication dose is accessed through a door in the housing, and wherein the door is controllable to an openable position; and a controller for permitting access to a medication dose through said passage only after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed from an immediately previous patient's open/close door cycle to remove a previously administered medication, and wherein a medication-carrying compartment of the medication tray is rotated into alignment with said passage after the minimum dosing interval has elapsed, and wherein said door is controlled to said openable position upon identification of the patient as the person for whom the medication is intended.