Patent ID: 8196774

Claim:
A remote pharmaceutical dispensing system for automatically dispensing medication, comprising: (a) a plurality of packets each containing at least one type of medication for a predetermined hour of administration; (b) at least one cartridge having a cartridge housing with an interior and a cover for selectively enclosing contents within the interior of the cartridge housing, the cover securable to the cartridge housing in a locked position, wherein the cover securely encloses the contents within the interior of the cartridge housing to substantially prevent access to the contents, and an unlocked position, wherein the cover is at least partially removable from the cartridge housing to allow access to the contents within the interior of the cartridge housing; (c) a feed mechanism disposed within the interior of the cartridge housing, the feed mechanism suitable for advancing at least one of the plurality of packets containing at least one type of medication through an opening in the cartridge housing; (d) a dispenser having a dispenser housing sized and configured to receive the at least one cartridge, the dispenser housing having an opening in substantial alignment with the opening in the cartridge housing, the dispenser further including a motor that is drivably engageable with the feed mechanism of the cartridge when the cartridge is inserted into the dispenser to advance the at least one of the plurality of packets containing at least one type of medication through the opening in the cartridge housing and through the opening in the dispenser housing, the motor drivably engageable with the feed mechanism when the cover is secured to the cartridge housing in the locked position; and (e) a controller in operable communication with the motor and configured to actuate the motor to advance at least one of the plurality of packets containing at least one type of medication through the opening in the cartridge housing and through the opening in the dispenser housing at the predetermined hour of administration.