WO2016141574A1

WO2016141574A1 - A dispenser apparatus and a method for dispensing a substance

Info

Publication number: WO2016141574A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/074024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoon Seok Lee; Kwong Yeung Simon WONG; Chi Ho WAI
Original assignee: Hong Kong R&D Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management Enabling Technologies Limited
Priority date: 2015-03-11
Filing date: 2015-03-11
Publication date: 2016-09-15

Abstract

A dispenser apparatus (102) for dispensing a substance (104), comprising a storage module (106) arranged to store at least one substance (104) dispensed by the dispenser apparatus (102); and an identification module (108) arrange to identify at least one identifier associated with each of the at least one substance (104) stored in the storage module (106); wherein the at least one substance (104) is dispensed according to a predetermined dispensing pattern (112) associated with the at least one identifier.

Description

A DISPENSER APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR DISPENSING A SUBSTANCE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dispenser apparatus and a method for dispensing a substance, although not exclusively, to a system and a method for dispensing a medication substance.

BACKGROUND

Drugs may be in various forms such as pills, pellets or syrup. Usually a patient is instructed to take a number of different drugs according to a medication scheme prepared by a medical specialist after a medical consultation. Seniors and children may be less self-caring and they may be more likely to make mistakes when taking these various drugs, which may cause serious health effect or even death due to incorrect medication.

Pill boxes may be used to lower the chances of incorrect medication. These pill boxes may comprise several compartments which allow the storing of an accurate amount of pills according to the medication scheme in each of the compartments. These compartments may be very narrow which does not allow the user to release the pills from the compartments conveniently. Besides, sorting and placing the accurate amount of each type of various pills will require extreme efforts and caution to avoid pills being mistakenly placed in these individual compartments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispenser apparatus for dispensing a substance, comprising a storage module arranged to store at least one substance dispensed by the dispenser apparatus； and an identification module arrange to identify at least one identifier associated with each of the at least one substance stored in the storage module； wherein the at least one substance is dispensed according to a predetermined dispensing pattern associated with the at least one identifier.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the predetermined dispensing pattern includes a dispensing schedule and/or a dispensing amount of the substance dispensed by the dispenser apparatus.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the at least one identifier includes an identifier of a user of the dispenser apparatus and/or the dispensed substance.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, each of the at least one identifier includes an identifier of the each of the at least one substance stored in the storage module.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, further comprising a reader module arranged to read the at least one identifier.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the at least one identifier is stored in at least one identification tag.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the at least one identification tag in an RFID tag.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the predetermined dispensing pattern is obtained by locating a record associated with the at least one identifier and stored in a database.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the database includes a local database and/or a remote database.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, further comprising a communication module arranged to communicate with the remote database so as to obtain the predetermined dispensing pattern.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the storage module further comprises at least one storage unit, each of the at least one storage unit is arranged to store each of the at least one substance.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, each of the at least one storage unit further comprises a respective identifier of the at least one identifier associated with a respective substance of the at least one substance stored in each of the storage unit.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, further comprising at least one storage compartment arranged to receive the at least one storage unit.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the at least one storage unit is removable from the at least one storage compartment.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, an amount of substance dispensed by the dispenser apparatus is different from an amount of substance originally stored in the respective storage unit of the at least one storage unit.

In an embodiment of the first aspect, the substance includes medicine and/or drug.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of dispensing a substance, comprising the steps of: identifying at least one identifier associated with at least one substance； and dispensing the at least one substance according to a predetermined dispensing pattern associated with the at least one identifier.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the predetermined dispensing pattern includes a dispensing schedule and/or a dispensing amount of the dispensed substance.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, each of the at least one identifier includes an identifier of a user of the dispensed substance.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, each of the at least one identifier includes an identifier of the each of the at least one substance.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, further comprising the step of obtaining the predetermined dispensing pattern by locating a record associated with the at least one identifier and stored in a database.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the step of obtaining the predetermined dispensing pattern by locating a record associated with the at least one identifier and stored in a database further comprising the step of communicating with a remote database arranged to store the record associated with the at least one identifier.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, further comprising the step of filling each of the at least one storage unit arranged to store each of the at least one substance with the at least one substance.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the step of identifying at least one identifier associated with at least one substance further comprising the step of reading each of the at least one identifier positioned on each of the at least one storage unit.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, further comprising the step of generating and/or programming each of the at least one identifier positioned on each of the at least one storage unit.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the step of dispensing the at least one substance according to a predetermined dispensing pattern associated with the at least one identifier further comprising the step of dispensing an amount of substance different from an amount of substance originally filled in a respective storage unit of the at least one storage unit.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, further comprising the step of disposing the at least one storage unit in a dispenser apparatus.

In an embodiment of the second aspect, the at least one substance includes medicine and/or drug.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for medication comprising: a central database arranged to store at least one predetermined dispensing pattern associated with a patient and at least one medication substance； a dispenser apparatus arranged to dispense the at least one medication substance； further comprising: a storage module arranged to store the at least one medication substance； an identification module arrange to identify the patient and the at least one medication substance； a communication module arranged to communicate with the central database over a communication link； wherein the at least one medication substance is dispensed according to the predetermined dispensing pattern obtained from the central database over the communication link.

In an embodiment of the third aspect, the identification module includes an RFID reader arrange to read information associated with the patient and the at least one medication substance stored in an RFID tag.

In an embodiment of the third aspect, the storage module includes a plurality storage unit arranged to store a plurality of medication substance, and wherein each of the plurality storage unit further comprises the RFID tag.

In an embodiment of the third aspect, the storage module further includes a plurality of storage compartment arrange to receive the plurality of storage unit.

In an embodiment of the third aspect, the dispenser apparatus further comprises a notification module arranged to provide extra information associated with the patient and/or the at least one medication substance.

In accordance with a forth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage unit for use in a medical dispenser, comprising an identification tag arranged to store information associated with a patient and a medication substance stored in the storage unit, wherein the identification tag is arranged to be read by a reader module of the medical dispenser.

In an embodiment of the forth aspect, whereupon the identification tag is read by the reader module, the medical dispenser is further arranged to dispense the medication substance stored in the storage unit according to a predetermined dispensing pattern associated with the patient and the medication substance.

In an embodiment of the forth aspect, the identification tag is an RFID tag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an illustration showing a system for medication in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention；

Figure 2 is an illustration showing a storage unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and is used in the system for medication in Figure 1； and

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the system for medication in Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Figures 1, there is provided an embodiment of a dispenser apparatus 102 for dispensing a substance 104, comprising a storage module 106 arranged to store at least one substance 104 dispensed by the dispenser apparatus 102； and an identification module 108 arrange to identify at least one identifier associated with each of the at least one substance 104 stored in the storage module 106； wherein the at least one substance 104 is dispensed according to a predetermined dispensing pattern 112 associated with the at least one identifier.

In this embodiment, the dispenser apparatus 102 is an automatic dispenser, in which the dispensing of substance 104 is controlled by a suitable controller module (not shown) . Preferably, the dispenser apparatus 102 may also a dispensing module arranged to extract a predetermine amount of substance 104 from the storage module 106 and to dispense the substance 104 to an outlet port 108 or a cavity accessible by a user of the dispenser apparatus 102. For example, the dispensing module may comprise suitable mechanical, pneumatic or robotic components controllable by the controller module for facilitating the dispensing of the substance 104.

In addition, the controller module may further arranged to control the dispensing pattern 112 of the dispensed substances 104. Preferably, the predetermined dispensing pattern 112 includes a dispensing schedule and/or a dispensing amount of the substance 104 dispensed by the dispenser apparatus 102. Preferably, the dispenser apparatus 102 may be used in a system for medication 100. For example, when the dispenser apparatus 102 is used for facilitating medication, the dispenser apparatus 102 is arranged to dispense a predetermined amount of pills/medicine/drug 104 stored in the storage module 106 at a regular time interval or at a predetermined time. Alternatively, the dispenser apparatus 102 may be arranged to dispense a predetermined amount of substance 104 in response to an operation (such as pressing a button or the touch screen 110 of the dispenser 102) of a user.

With reference to Figure 1, the storage module 106 comprises a number of storage compartments 106A arranged to receive three storage units 106B. Alternatively, the storage module 106 may comprise one or more storage compartments 106A arranged to receive one or more storage units 106B. In this example embodiment, the substances 104 to be dispensed by the dispenser apparatus 102 is stored in the storage units 106B, such that substances 104 of different kinds may be separated in different storage units 106B, with each of the at least one storage unit 106B arranged to store each of the at least one substance 104. Alternatively, substances 104 of different kinds may also be mixed or grouped within one or more of the storage units 106B according to different usage or dispensing pattern 112.

Preferably, the storage units 106B may be removable from the storage compartments 106A such that a user may replace empty storage units 106B with filled ones. The storage units 106B may be inserted to empty storage compartments 106A via openings at the housing of the dispenser apparatus 102. Alternatively, the removable storage units 106B may be mounted in the dispenser apparatus 102 with any suitable means appreciated by a person skilled in the art. Optionally, these mounted or inserted storage units 106B may be securely fixed and even locked to prevent unintentional removal of the storage units 106B and/or the substances 104 stored in the storage units 106B. This is advantageous in that the drugs or medicine 104 properly dispensed according to a predetermined dispensing pattern 112 may be retrieved to avoid incorrect use of medicine or drugs.

Preferably, the amount of substance 104 dispensed by the dispenser apparatus 102 is different from the amount of substance 104 originally stored in the respective storage unit 106B of the at least one storage unit 106B. For example, in each dispensation of medicine, only two pills are extracted from tens of pills stored in a storage unit 106B and dispensed for the user. Such configuration enable less frequent replacement of storage units 106B as a fully filled storage unit 106B may contain an amount of substances 104 stored therein sufficient for a number of dispensations.

The identification module 108 is arranged to identify the substance 104 stored in the storage module 106, the user of the dispenser apparatus 102 and/or the owner of the substance 104 stored in the storage module 106. Preferably, each storage unit 106B comprises an identifier arranged to provide information associated with the user of the apparatus, the owner of the substance 104 stored in the storage unit 106B, and/or the substance 104 stored in the storage unit 106B. For example, on a storage unit 106B used as a pill box, the identifier may store various information related to a medication to a patient, such as the name of the patient, the name of the doctor in charged, the pharmacist in charged, the drug stored in the pill box, the medication scheme, and/or the distributor or the pharmacy of the drug, etc. Alternatively, the identifier may only store or represent a string of code which may also be located at a database which stores the abovementioned information associated with the code.

Preferably, the dispenser apparatus 102 may also comprise a reader module 114 arranged to read the identifier on the storage unit 106B. The identifier may be stored an identification tag 116, such as an RFID tag or an NFC tag which may relies on the Radio Frequency (RF) technology. Alternatively, the identifier may be stored, displayed or represented by other form of machine readable representation such as a magnetic medium, optical codes such as barcodes or QR codes, or any other types of identifier as known by a person skilled in the art.

The reader module 114 may comprise a single reader or detector arranged to read/scan/detect all the individual identifiers on different storage units 106B in the storage module 106. Alternatively, the reader module 114 may comprise a plurality of individual identifiers arranged to read/scan/detect the individual identifiers on different storage units 106B. For example, each storage compartment 106A of the storage module 106 may include an associated reader arranged to read the RFID tag 116 on a storage unit 106B when the storage unit 106B is inserted in the corresponding storage compartment 106A.

With reference to Figure 1 and 3, preferably, the dispenser apparatus 102 further comprises a communication module 118 arranged to communicate with a remote database 120 (or a central database) so as to obtain the predetermined dispensing pattern 112. As shown in Figure 3, for example, the remote database 120 may store various information such as patient records, medicine database, medication schemes dispenser records and different dispensing patterns 112. The communication module 118 dispenser apparatus 102 may communicate with the remote database 120 via a communication link (such as internet, Ethernet, intranet, telephony network, or any possible wired or wireless network as known by a person skilled in the art) so as to transmit the identifier to the remote database 120, then the predetermined dispensing pattern 112 may be obtained by locating a record associated with the at least one identifier and stored in the database.

Optionally, the dispenser apparatus 102 also comprise a local database 122 for storing the predetermined dispensing pattern 112 and/or any other related information. For example, the predetermined dispensing pattern 112 may be manually entered to the local database 120, or it may be retrieved from a remote database 120. Alternatively, the dispenser apparatus 102 does not comprise a local database 122, and is arranged to retrieve the predetermined dispensing pattern 112 and/or any other information from the remote database 120 whenever necessary.

Optionally, the dispenser apparatus 102 may comprise a notification module arranged to provide extra information associated with the patient and/or the medication substance 104. For example, the dispenser may provide an alarm to remind the patient to take the drugs dispensed at the outlet of the dispenser apparatus 102. This notification or alert may be in any form such as visual alerts on a screen 110 or light indicators, audio alerts, a signal transmitted to another communication unit, a reminder phone call initiated by the communication module 118, or a record transmitted to the central server 120 in a hospital or clinic, etc.

With reference to Figure 2, there is provided an embodiment of a storage unit 106B for use in a medical dispenser 102, comprising an identification tag 116 arranged to store information associated with a patient and a medication substance 104 stored in the storage unit 106B, wherein the identification tag 116 is arranged to be read by a reader module 114 of the medical dispenser 102.

In this example embodiment, the dispenser apparatus 102 as shown in Figure 1 is used as a medical dispenser 102, and the storage unit 106B is a pill box arranged to store an amount of medication substance 104 (such as pills) to be taken by a patient. The information of the patient and the drug may be stored in the identification tag 116 (such as an RFID tag 116) arranged to be read by a reader module 114 of the medical dispenser 102 as discussed earlier. The pill box may also comprise a cap 124 or a cover 124 for enclosing the substances 104 stored in the pill box 106B. For example, the pill box 106B may also be removed from the medical dispenser 102 when the patient has to carry the pills 104 without using the medical dispenser 102, or the patient received the freshly filled pill box 106B after medical consultation in a hospital, the cap 124 may ensure that the medication substance 104 stored in the pill box 106B is securely enclosed during transportation.

In an example embodiment, when the dispenser apparatus 102 is used as a medical dispenser 102 in a system of medication 100, a medical specialist may create a medication scheme associated with a number of drugs or medication substance 104 for a patient after medical consultation. The medication scheme may be transmitted and stored in a central database 120 accessible by a pharmacy. The pharmacy may then prepare the medication by filling a number of storage units 106B or pill boxes 106B with the medication substances 104 or drugs according to the medication scheme stored in the central database 120, in which each type of medication substances 104 may be separately filled in to different pill boxes 106B such that each pill box 106B only contains one type of medication substances 104. Subsequently, the RFID tags 116 on the pill boxes 106B may be encoded or written with the information associated with the patient and the medication substances 104 (or the identifier/tag 116 may be generated at the time when the tag 116 is programmed or encoded) . At the same time, a number of dispensing pattern 112 of each of the medication substance 104 associated with the medication scheme may be generated and stored in the central database 120. The enclosed pill boxes 106B may then be handed to the patient.

When the patient reach home (or any location that the medical dispenser 102 is located) , the patient may dispose or insert the pill boxes 106B into the storage compartment 106A of the medical dispenser 102. The RFID readers 114 may then read the tag 116 on each of the pill boxes 106B, and the communication module 118 is then arranged to transmit the identifier to the central database 120 obtained by the reader module 114 via a communication link. The central database 120 locates a record associated with the identifier and returns the matching medication scheme or the predetermined dispensing patterns 112 to the medical dispenser 102 to the medical dispenser 102. Then the medical dispenser 102 may extract the medical substances 104 from the individual pill boxes 106B and dispense an accurate amount of pills to the outlet 108 of the medical dispenser 102 according to the medical scheme or the predetermined dispensing patterns 112 stored in the local database 122 or retrieved from the central database 120. For the next visit of medical consultant, the patient may remove the empty pill boxes 106B from the storage compartments 106A and bring them to the hospital or clinic for recycling.

These embodiments are advantageous in that, the dispenser apparatus is beneficial to medical specialists and patients for facilitating medication. The pill box is provided with identifier which may be programmed when the medication substances are given to the patients. The pharmacy is not required to fill in the individual pill boxes with the exact amount of pills according to each intake of the medication substances. This will streamline the medicine distribution process as pharmacist will only have to fill in all the pills of one type to one pill box.

The use of medical dispenser in accordance with the embodiments of the invention will also minimize the chance of incorrect medication, and hence hazards and hospital admissions due to incorrect medications, as an accurate amount of various medication substances are dispensed automatically by the medical dispenser, which is particularly beneficial to seniors and children who are likely less self-caring.

Advantageously, the system for medication may record the medication activity carried out by the patient. Medical specialist may then monitor and evaluate the progress of the treatment for patients. In addition, the system may be integrated with other sensor and alert systems which may further facilitate the treatment and medication for the patients. For example, an accurate amount of insulin may be dispensed by the medical dispenser for injection after a measurement of a certain blood sugar level in a patient body.

Without deviating from the spirit of the invention, the dispenser apparatus may be used for dispensing substances in any form. In some embodiments, the substances may be in solid, liquid, semi-liquid, or gas state. These substances may also be of purposes other than medication, for example, these substances may be health supplements, nutrition, skin care or any other substances which prefer a regular intake or application.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated.

Claims

A dispenser apparatus for dispensing a substance, comprising a storage module arranged to store at least one substance dispensed by the dispenser apparatus； and an identification module arrange to identify at least one identifier associated with each of the at least one substance stored in the storage module； wherein the at least one substance is dispensed according to a predetermined dispensing pattern associated with the at least one identifier.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the predetermined dispensing pattern includes a dispensing schedule and/or a dispensing amount of the substance dispensed by the dispenser apparatus.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claims 1 or 2, wherein the at least one identifier includes an identifier of a user of the dispenser apparatus and/or the dispensed substance.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the at least one identifier includes an identifier of the each of the at least one substance stored in the storage module.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a reader module arranged to read the at least one identifier.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the at least one identifier is stored in at least one identification tag.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the at least one identification tag in an RFID tag.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined dispensing pattern is obtained by locating a record associated with the at least one identifier and stored in a database.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the database include a local database and/or a remote database.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a communication module arranged to communicate with the remote database so as to obtain the predetermined dispensing pattern.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage module further comprises at least one storage unit, each of the at least one storage unit is arranged to store each of the at least one substance.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein each of the at least one storage unit further comprises a respective identifier of the at least one identifier associated with a respective substance of the at least one substance stored in each of the storage unit.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claims 11 or 12, further comprising at least one storage compartment arranged to receive the at least one storage unit.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with claim 13, wherein the at least one storage unit is removable from the at least one storage compartment.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein an amount of substance dispensed by the dispenser apparatus is different from an amount of substance originally stored in the respective storage unit of the at least one storage unit.
A dispenser apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the substance includes medicine and/or drug.
A method of dispensing a substance, comprising the steps of:

-identifying at least one identifier associated with at least one substance； and

-dispensing the at least one substance according to a predetermined dispensing pattern associated with the at least one identifier.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with claim 17, wherein the predetermined dispensing pattern includes a dispensing schedule and/or a dispensing amount of the dispensed substance.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with claims 17 or 18, wherein each of the at least one identifier includes an identifier of a user of the dispensed substance.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein each of the at least one identifier includes an identifier of the each of the at least one substance.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with any one of claims 17 to 20, further comprising the step of obtaining the predetermined dispensing pattern by locating a record associated with the at least one identifier and stored in a database.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with claim 21, wherein the step of obtaining the predetermined dispensing pattern by locating a record associated with the at least one identifier and stored in a database further comprising the step of communicating with a remote database arranged to store the record associated with the at least one identifier.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with any one of claims 17 to 22, further comprising the step of filling each of the at least one storage unit arranged to store each of the at least one substance with the at least one substance.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with claim 23, wherein the step of identifying at least one identifier associated with at least one substance further comprising the step of reading each of the at least one identifier positioned on each of the at least one storage unit.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with claims 23 or 24, further comprising the step of generating and/or programming each of the at least one identifier positioned on each of the at least one storage unit.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the step of dispensing the at least one substance according to a predetermined dispensing pattern associated with the at least one identifier further comprising the step of dispensing an amount of substance different from an amount of substance originally filled in a respective storage unit of the at least one storage unit.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with any one of claims 23 to 26, further comprising the step of disposing the at least one storage unit in a dispenser apparatus.
A method of dispensing a substance in accordance with any one of claims 17 to 27, wherein the at least one substance includes medicine and/or drug.
A system for medication comprising:

-a central database arranged to store at least one predetermined dispensing pattern associated with a patient and at least one medication substance；

-a dispenser apparatus arranged to dispense the at least one medication substance； further comprising:

-a storage module arranged to store the at least one medication substance；

-an identification module arrange to identify the patient and the at least one medication substance； and

-a communication module arranged to communicate with the central database over a communication link；

wherein the at least one medication substance is dispensed according to the predetermined dispensing pattern obtained from the central database over the communication link.
A system for medication in accordance with claim 29, wherein the identification module includes an RFID reader arrange to read information associated with the patient and the at least one medication substance stored in an RFID tag.
A system for medication in accordance with claim 30, wherein the storage module includes a plurality storage unit arranged to store a plurality of medication substance, and wherein each of the plurality storage unit further comprises the RFID tag.
A system for medication in accordance with claim 31, wherein the storage module further includes a plurality of storage compartment arrange to receive the plurality of storage unit.
A system for medication in accordance with any one of claims 29 to 32, wherein the dispenser apparatus further comprises a notification module arranged to provide extra information associated with the patient and/or the at least one medication substance.
A storage unit for use in a medical dispenser, comprising an identification tag arranged to store information associated with a patient and a medication substance stored in the storage unit, wherein the identification tag is arranged to be read by a reader module of the medical dispenser.
A storage unit in accordance with claim 34, whereupon the identification tag is read by the reader module, the medical dispenser is further arranged to dispense the medication substance stored in the storage unit according to a predetermined dispensing pattern associated with the patient and the medication substance.
A storage unit in accordance with claims 34 or 35, wherein the identification tag is an RFID tag.