Pill Dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017011202-A1
Application number	US-201615270321-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 20, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2011
Publication date	Jan 12, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

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

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A pill dispenser, comprising:
a housing defining an opening; a pill-dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing and operatively coupled to the opening; a receptacle operatively coupled to the housing; an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area adjacent to the housing; at least one processor in operative communication with the pill-dispensing mechanism and the identifying camera; a button operatively coupled to the housing, wherein the button is in operative communication with the at least one processor; and a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor to:
instruct the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill, and
instruct the identifying camera to capture an image in accordance with a predetermined schedule when the button is pressed.

2 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the pill dispenser is configured to capture the image after a predetermined amount of time after the pill is dispensed by the pill-dispensing mechanism.

3 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the pill dispenser is configured to dispense the pill only when the button is pressed.

4 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the pill dispenser is configured to capture the image when the button is pressed.

5 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the pill dispenser is configured to instruct the identifying camera to capture a series of images including the image until the at least one processor identifies the presence of at least one face in a captured image of the series of captured images.

6 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the pill dispenser is configured to:
alert a user of a scheduled pill dispense in accordance with the predetermined schedule; authenticate the user; dispense a pill in accordance with the scheduled pill dispense when the button is pressed and the user is authorized; and determine compliance of the scheduled pill dispense.

7 . The pill dispenser according to claim 6 , wherein the alert includes an audibly sounded reminder that the scheduled pill dispense has occurred in accordance with the predetermined schedule.

8 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the pill dispenser is configured to:
store the image in the storage medium; and encrypt the image within the storage medium.

9 . The pill dispenser according to claim 8 , wherein the stored image is encrypted using a public key of a pair of asymmetrical encryption keys.

10 . The pill dispenser according to claim 8 , further comprising a communication component in operative communication with the at least one processor, wherein the pill dispenser is configured to communicate the encrypted image to a server via the communication component.

11 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the pill dispenser is configured to:
determine whether a face within the image is an authorized user; and communicate the image to a server with an indication of whether the face within the image is authorized.

12 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a speaker disposed within the housing, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the speaker, wherein the pill dispenser is configured to audibly sound a reminder when a predetermined amount of time has elapsed.

13 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a scale integrated into the receptacle, wherein the at least one processor is in operative communication with the scale and receives a weight therefrom and identifies the pill based upon an estimated weight of the pill using the scale.

14 . The pill dispenser according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor estimates the weight of the pill by subtracting an estimated weight of a cup disposed within the receptacle from the communicated weight from the scale.

15 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the pill through a transparent cup bottom, wherein the pill dispenser is configured to:
instruct the pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill; determine a presence of the pill within the first image; instruct the pill-viewing camera to capture a second image; determine an absence of the pill within the second image; and determine compliance has occurred if the first image includes an image of the pill and the second image does not include another image of the pill.

16 . The pill dispenser according to claim 15 , 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.

17 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , wherein the storage medium further comprises processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor to instruct the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a plurality of pills in accordance with the predetermined schedule.

18 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a touch screen in operative communication with the at least one processor.

19 . The pill dispenser according to claim 18 , wherein pill dispenser is further configured to display a pre-stored image of a prescribed pill on the touch screen about when the at least one processor instructs the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense the pill.

20 . The pill dispenser according to claim 19 , where the pill dispenser is configured to display a user-selectable prompt requesting user confirmation that the pre-stored image of the prescribed pill on the touchscreen matches the dispensed pill.

21 . The pill dispenser according to claim 20 , wherein the pill dispenser is configured to audibly sound a reminder when a predetermined amount of time has passed and no user confirmation of the user-selectable prompt has occurred.

22 . The pill dispenser according to claim 19 , wherein the pill dispenser to configured to display the pre-stored image of the prescribed pill on the touch screen about when the pill-dispensing mechanism dispenses the pill.

23 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication component in operative communication with the at least one processor and a biometric identification component, wherein the pill dispenser is configured to:
communicate with a server having electronic medical records stored therein using the communication component; query an electronic medical record entry of the server; and determine if the biometric data from the biometric identification component corresponds to the user as indicated by the electronic medical records.

24 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a microphone in operative communication with the at least one processor; and a speaker in operative communication with the at least one processor, wherein the pill dispenser is configured to:
play an audio recording requesting a sequence of words be spoken using the speaker,
record sound using the microphone, and
authenticate a user in accordance with the sound when a voice in the sound corresponds to an authorized user.

25 . The pill dispenser according to claim 1 , further comprising a communi

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

• G16H10/60

  for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records · CPC title

• G16H20/13 Primary

  delivered from dispensers · CPC title

• G16H20/17

  delivered via infusion or injection · CPC title

• G16H20/10

  relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients · CPC title