Pill dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11328803-B2
Application number	US-202017096275-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2020
Priority date	Dec 21, 2011
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A pill dispenser is disclosed that includes a pill-dispensing mechanism, a receptacle, an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the pill dispenser, and a processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism and the identifying camera.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A pill dispenser, comprising:
a shelf;
a pill-dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a pill to the shelf;
a pill viewing area operatively coupled to the pill-dispensing mechanism;
a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture a first image of the pill viewing area including the shelf; and
a second pill-viewing camera positioned to capture a second image of the pill through a transparent bottom of a cup configured to receive the pill from the pill viewing area;
at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism and the first pill-viewing camera, the at least one processor configured to:
instruct the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill to the pill viewing area;
instruct the first pill-viewing camera to capture the first image of the pill;
instruct the second pill-viewing camera to capture the second image of the pill; and
identify the pill using the first and second images.

2. The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor identifies the pill using at least one of a color of the pill, a shape of the pill, characters on the pill, and a plurality of colors of the pill as determined using the first and second images.

3. The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the pill viewing area is internal to the pill dispenser.

4. The pill dispenser according to claim 3 , further including a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for dispensing the pill to a pill holding area outside of a housing.

5. The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a scale, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the scale and receives a weight therefrom, wherein the storage medium further comprises processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for identifying the pill based upon, at least in part, an estimated weight of the pill using the scale.

6. The pill dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor estimates the weight of the pill by subtracting an estimated weight of the.

7. The pill dispenser according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one processor does not dispense the pill unless the identity of the pill is determined to be appropriate based on information from at least one of an electronic medical record, a drug error reduction system, or a monitoring client.

8. A pill dispenser, comprising:
a pill viewing area internal to the pill dispenser;
a pill-dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a pill into the pill viewing area;
a door mechanism associated with the pill viewing area, wherein the door mechanism is configured to hold the pill within the pill viewing area;
a pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the pill viewing area;
a second pill-viewing camera positioned to capture a second image of the pill through a transparent bottom of a cup configured to receive the pill from the pill viewing area; and
at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism, the pill-viewing camera, and the door mechanism, the at least one processor configured to:
instruct the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill to the pill viewing area;
instruct the pill-viewing camera to capture the image of the pill;
verify the pill using the image;
instruct the door mechanism to dispense the pill from the pill viewing area into the cup after the pill is verified using the image; and
instruct the second pill-viewing camera to capture the second image of the pill.

9. The pill dispenser according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor identifies the pill using at least one of a color of the pill, a shape of the pill, characters on the pill, and a plurality of colors of the pill as determined using the image.

10. The pill dispenser according to claim 8 , wherein the pill viewing area is internal to a housing.

11. The pill dispenser according to claim 10 , further including a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for dispensing the pill to a pill holding area outside of the housing.

12. The pill dispenser according to claim 8 , further comprising a scale, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the scale and receives a weight therefrom, wherein the storage medium further comprises processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for identifying the pill based upon, at least in part, an estimated weight of the pill using the scale.

13. The pill dispenser according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor estimates the weight of the pill by subtracting an estimated weight of the cup.

14. The pill dispenser according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor does not dispense the pill unless the identity of the pill is determined to be appropriate based on information from at least one of an electronic medical record, a drug error reduction system, or a monitoring client.

15. A method for dispensing a pill:
dispensing a pill to a shelf;
capturing a first image of a pill viewing area including the shelf;
receiving the pill into a cup from the pill viewing area;
capturing a second image of the pill through a transparent bottom of the cup; and
identifying the pill using the first and second images.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising identifying the pill using at least one of a color of the pill, a shape of the pill, characters on the pill, and a plurality of colors of the pill as determined using the first and second images.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the pill viewing area is internal to the pill dispenser.

18. The method according to claim 17 , further including a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by at least one processor for dispensing the pill to a pill holding area outside of a housing.

19. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising a scale, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the scale and receives a weight therefrom, wherein the storage medium further comprises processor executable instructions configured for execution by at least one processor for identifying the pill based upon, at least in part, an estimated weight of the pill using the scale.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor estimates the weight of the pill by subtracting an estimated weight of the scale.

Assignees

• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Kamen Dean
• Turner James G
• Sabin Erik N
• Rivinius Gregg W
• Collins David E
• Zaslow Benjamin
• Zobro Jonathan
• Therrien Alexander R
• Farlow Jared N

Classifications

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• G16H30/20

  for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS · CPC title

• G16H40/67

  for remote operation · CPC title

• G16H20/13 Primary

  delivered from dispensers · CPC title

• G06F21/32

  using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints · CPC title