GB2205306A

GB2205306A - Automatic medication dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2205306A
Application number: GB8713140A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Susan Ellen Barham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-06-04
Filing date: 1987-06-04
Publication date: 1988-12-07
Also published as: GB8713140D0

Abstract

A portable medication dispenser is programmed to deliver, within its capacity, any specified prescription of tablet medicant. Each medicant is loaded into individual cartridges 5 and inserted into the dispenser by a responsible person who also programmes the dosage of each medicant and delivery times using the keys 13, 14 provided. When the tablets are delivered into a beaker 8 an audible and visual alarm 6 is activated which continues until the beaker 8 containing medicant is removed. An override button 10 is incorporated which can be depressed after the return of the beaker 8, to cause the delivery of only one more dose of medicant as that previously delivered. The dispenser is powered by mains electricity but incorporates mains chargeable batteries which automatically cut in during disconnection or power failure. Six cartridged medicants can be delivered up to 4 times a day in doses of up to 4 tablets simultaneously. <IMAGE>

Description

AUTOMATIC MEDICATION DISPENSER This invention is a self-medication aid retained by the user which automatically delivers prescribed medication in terms of: 1) Type of medication 2) Dosage 3) Periodicity A high proportion of people such as the aged, psychiatric, mentally and physically handicapped and chlld patients can be dependent upon regular medication in order to assist in maintaining their optimum level of health.

The proportion of elderly people in the UK is dramatically increasing, and coupled with the advances in drug therapy many more people are able to remain within the community while receiving treatment, in line with current government policy. There is at present no reliable, safe device which assists self-medication,- but there is irrefutable evidence that self-medication is extremely p1.oblematic (e.g. ref "A Self-Medication Survey of Elderly Pati.ents in .YHospital", the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, Vol 48, No 11). Such problems include:: Coping with childproof lids Managing blister packs Reading labels on pill bottles Handling small pill bottles Comprehending the wording of instructions on labels (possibly leading to confused patients over- and under-dosing) It is considered that any functional medical aid which assists with safe self-medication helps people to live more fully and independently, and which eases the level of dependency on others, will be of significant value.

The present invention is housed in a box having a carrying handle on top of it. Its size and weight make it easily portable and it can be freestanding or wall mounted. It incorporates up to six cartridges being containers designed to hold tablet medicants in sufficient quantity for any period up to two weeks. The dispenser incorporates an electronic timing device which runs continuously. It is connected to a programming mechanism and to a conventional clock face on the front of the dispenser.

The invention is powered by normal domestic mains electricity but incorporates standby batteries with a device which enables them to automatically cut in during power failure or disconneztion. The invention has a battery condition indicator. The dispenser is connected to the mains electricity supply by a long lead which is removable from the dispenser for transportation. The dispenser incorporates an easy-tolocate funnel type socket for reconnecting this lead. The cartridges are removed from the dispenser for loading, and after reinsertion an electronic programming device can be pre-set to command the release of tablets in the correct dosage at up to four pre-set times per day.

The cartridges and programming device are protected behind a childproof opening panel. The prog'ramming device has sufficient capacity to programme the release of up to six different tablet medicants simultaneously.

The release mechanism is electrically and gravity powered and delivers the tablets into a removable beaker which is permanently illuminated.

The beaker housing suspends the beaker by its rim in an easy-to-locate funnel device. The invention incorporates visual and audible alarms which are electrically powered and connected to the release mechanism.

They are activated at the same time as the delivery of the tablet(s).

The beaker housing is permanently illuminated by an electric bulb and incorporates an electronic touch sensitive device connected to the alarms. Only when the beaker containing the medicant is removed will the alarms cease. The dispenser has an override button which when depressed will release, by means of an electronic device, one only more dosage of the same type as previously delivered. The override button is electronically programmed so that it can be used only once in any period of 24 hours.

The function of the invention will now be described with reference to the following diagrams.

Being diagrammatic the illustrations are not intended to dictate the \ eventual appearance of the invention, but only to highlight the various features and devices necessary to the functioning of the dispenser.

Diagram 1 shows the relationship between various electrical and other devices necessary to the functioning of the dispenser.

Diagram 2 illustrates the front of the dispenser and shows such functions as beaker housing, alarms, clock and override button.

Diagram 3 shows the rear of the dispenser with the childproof cover opened to see the programming devices and cartridges.

Diagram 4 illustrates the beaker housing and touch sensitive device.

Diagram 5 shows the easy to locate flex socket in the body of the dispenser.

The dispenser consists of a body it 7) which encloses all the devices and circuitry necessary to its function as an automatic medication dispenser.

It has a large lifting handle (18) on its top and is of a size and weight to make it easily transportable for the elderly or infirm.

The body (17) will be stable enough to be free standing and remain upright when in use. The feet (19) of the body (17) have grip pads to prevent sliding on a horizontal surface. The body (17) can also be wallmounted by means of devices cast into the back of the body (17).

The dispenser incorporates a timing device (1) which runs continuously.

It is connected to a conventional clock face (2) on the front of the dispenser as shown in Diagram 2/5. During normal use the dispenser uses a mains electricity power source. However, when the dispenser is discDnnected during transport br a mains power failure an auxiliary set of batteries (11) of sufficient power to run the dispenser for at least 72 hours automatically cuts in by means of the auxiliary power switch (tO).

During normal use the batteries are charged by the mains electricity and the dispenser incorporates a battery condition indicator (12).

The dispenser has six cartridges (5) which can be removed from the body (17) and are designed to hold sufficient medication in tablet form to last for up to two weeks. Fach cartridge holds only one type of medicant and wil be loaded by a responsible person or carer. As illustrated in Diagram 3/5, when the cartridge (5) has been loaded it is put back into the dispenser. Above the cartridges are two sets of keys marked A,B,C,D (13) and 1,2,3,4 (14). Each of the lettered keys (13) controls the time at which a tablet will be released, e.g. when depressed 'A' will release tablets at breakfast, 'B' at lunch, 'C' at dinner and 'D' at bedtime.

They will continue to be released at these pre-set times for as long as required. The numbered keys (14) refer to the dosage (quantity of tablets) to be released at each set time. If more than one medicant has been prescribed subsequent cartridges are loaded and the times and dosages programmed on the keys above the particular cartridge. To aid identification while loading the dispenser each cartridge (5) is numbered in the same way that each pair of keys (13 and 14) is numbered. Above each set of keys an LED display acts as a permanent reminder of periodicity and dosage - "Frequency" and "Dosage" are printed above the LED and relative keys.

In case of mishaps while the dispenser is being programmed a cancel button (21) is depressed to cancel all settings, and the programming must be entirely repeated. After programming and loading the childproof opening cover is closed.

As an example of the typical functioning of the dispenser, when one of the pre-set times is met the programming device (3) activates the release mechanism (4) and delivers the correct dosage of tablets from the cartridge or cartridges which drop into the beaker (8). The functioning of the release mechanism also activates the audible and visual alarms (6) which signify to the user that tablets have been released. A touch sensitive device (7) is in contact with the beaker in its housing and is connected to the alarm system in such a way that when the beaker (8) containing the tablets is removed from the housing the alarms (6) will cease. The alarms will not be activated again until the delivery of the next dose of medication. The beaker housing is permanently illuminated with a low voltage electric bulb (9).

Should the tablets be dropped or lost before consumption, the beaker (8) can be replaced in its housing and an override button (10) depressed to receive one only more dosage of that particular medicant. The override button can be used only once during any 24 hour period.

A card having printed instructions relating to the programming process is kept inside the childproof cover to act as a reminder to the responsible person or carer. The information will be as follows: "For delivery of tablets at Breakfast depress button A " " " " "Lunch " " B " " " " " " Dinner " " C " " " " " Bedtime " " D (Depending on the prescription any number or all of these keys can be selected) "As the dispenser is programmed a number will appear in the LED above keys A,B,C & D which will show how many (up to 4) doses are being delivered in one day.

For the dosage (quantity) of tablets delivered at the pre-set times selected the keys numbered 1,2,3 or 4 should be depressed as follows: The key numbered 1 for a dosage of one tablet " " " 2 " " " " two tablets " " " - - and so on As the dispenser is programmed a number will appear in the LED above keys numbered 1,2,3 or 4 which will show the number of tablets to be delivered.

If during programming the wrong delivery time or dosage is seen to be indicated on the LED's by some mishap, press the cancel button marked 'C' and begin programming again for all of the cartridges in use." Also on the card are six clear spaces with a consecutive number from 1 to 6 printed at the left hand side. The type, frequency and dosage of medicant must be clearly written in that space relative to the cartridge.

There are further spaces together with indications that they are to have the users name, date of prescription and prescriber's name clearly written in them. The card is renewed with every new prescription.

During transportation the mains electricity lead will be disconnected from body (17) of the dispenser. To facilitate easy removal and replacement for those with physical disability, a funnel type socket (16) is incorporated in the body (17) and the plug is large enough and long enough to be manipulated by the handicapped.

Claims

1. An automatic medication dispenser housed in a box having a carrying handle on top of it. Its size and weight make it easily portable and it can be free-standing or wall mounted. It incorporates up to six cartridges being containers designed to hold tablet medicans in sufficient quantity for any period up to two weeks. The dispenser incorporates an electronic timing device which runs continuously.

It is connected to a programming mechanism and to a conventional clock face on the front of the dispenser. The invention is powered by normal domestic mains electricity but incorporates standby h-.tteries with a device which enables them to automatically cut in during power failure or disconnection. The invention has a battery condition indicator. The dispenser is connected to the mains electricity supply by a long lead which is removable from the dispenser for transportation. The dispenser incorporates an easy to-locate funnel type socket for reconnecting this lead. The cart ridges are removed from the dispenser for loading, and after reinsertion an electronic programming device can be pre-set to command the release of tablets in the correct dosage at up te four pre-set times per day.The cartridges and programming device are protected behind a childproof opening panel. The programming device has sufficient capacity to programme the release of up to six different tablet medicants simultaneously. The release mechanism is electrically and gravity powered and delivers the tablets into a removable beaker which is permanently illuminated. The beaker housing suspends the beaker by its rim in an easy-to-locate funnel device. The invention incorporates visual and audible alarms which are electrically powered and connected to the release mechanism. They are activated at the same time as the delivery of the tablet(s). The beaker housing is permanently illuminated by an electric bulb and incorporates an electronic touch sensitive device connected to the alarms. Only when the beaker containing the medicant is removed will the alarms cease.

The dispenser has an override button which when depressed will release, by means of an electronic device, one only more dosage of the same type as previously delivered. The override button is electronically programmed so that it can be used only once in any period of 24 hours.

2. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 having an electronic timing device connected to an electronic programming device connected to an electrical release mechanism.

3. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein an electrical release mechanism can extract a prescribed dosage of one, two, three or four tablets from a cartridge loaded with tablets.

4. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein an electronic device can be programmed to command the release from the electrical release mechanism of dosages form one to four tablets, at set times from one to four times per day, independently and simultaneously from up to six loaded tablet cartridges.

5. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim whereby a responsible person or carer can load the necessary tablet medicants into cartridges and programme by means of depressing relevant keys any prescription within the capabilities of the dispenser to be automatically released.

6. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in any preceding claims wherein the delivery of tablets is made into a beaker suspended by its rim in an easy-to-locate housing which is continuously illumi nated.

7. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in any claims above wherein the delivery of medicants is accompanied by audible and visible alarms which continue to function until the beaker con taining the medicant is removed from the body of the dispenser.

8. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in any preceding claims which is provided with an override button which after the return of the beaker to the housing can be depressed to deliver tablet medi cants of the same dosage and type as that delivered previously and which can be used only once in any 24 hour period.

9. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim which is normally powered from a mains electricity source, but incor porates mains chargeable batteries with an automatic auxiliary power switch to bring them into action and ensuring the dispenser continues to function during disconnection or power failure for a minimum period of 72 hours.

10. An automatic medication dispenser as claimed in any preceding claims wherein an easy to locate funnel type socket is located in the body, into which fits a plug easy enough and large enough to be manipulated by a handicapped person.

11. An automatic medication dispenser substantially as described herein with reference to diagrams 1/5 to 5/5 in the accompanying drawings.