Pill dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9465919-B2
Application number	US-201615077389-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2011
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

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, a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle, 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, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera, and a storage medium.

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;
a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
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, the first pill-viewing camera, 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 for:
instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
determining 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;
instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image; and
instructing the identifying camera to capture a plurality of images including the third image in accordance with a predetermined schedule when the button is pressed.

2. 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 for instructing the identifying camera to capture the third image after a predetermined amount of time after the pill is dispensed by the pill-dispensing mechanism.

3. 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;
a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
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, the first pill-viewing camera, 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 for:
instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
determining 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;
instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image; and

dispensing the pill only when the button is pressed.

4. 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;
a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
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, the first pill-viewing camera, 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 for:
instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
determining 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;
instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image; and

instructing the identifying camera to capture the third image when the button is pressed.

5. 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;
a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
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, the first pill-viewing camera, and the identifying camera;
a button disposed on the housing; and

a storage medium for storing processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for:
instructing the pill-dispensing mechanism to dispense a pill;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a first image of the pill;
determining a presence of the pill within the first image;
instructing the first pill-viewing camera to capture a second image;
determining an absence of the pill within the second image;
determining 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;
instructing the identifying camera to capture a third image; and
instructing the identifying camera to capture a series of images until the at least one processor identifies the presence of at least one face in a captured image of the series of captured images when the button is pressed.

6. 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 for:
storing the third image in the storage medium; and
encrypting the third image within the storage medium.

7. The pill dispenser according to claim 6 , wherein the stored third image is encrypted using a public key of a pair of asymmetrical encryption keys.

8. The pill dispenser according to claim 6 , further comprising a communication component in operative communication with the at least one processor, wherein the storage medium further comprises processor executable instructions configured for execution by the at least one processor for operatively communicating the encrypted third image to a server via the communication component.

9. 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 for:
determining whether a face within the third image is an authorized user; and
communicating the third image to a server with an indication of whether the face within the third image is authorized.

10. 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;
a first pill-viewing camera positioned to capture an image of the receptacle;
an identifying camera positioned to capture an image of an area

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

• G06F21/32

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

• G16H20/13 Primary

  delivered from dispensers · CPC title

• G16H20/10

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

• G16H10/60

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