GB2155450A - Method and apparatus for dispensing at predetermined times - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for dispensing medicinal tablets comprises a housing to contain a supply of tablets, dispensing means within the housing and a timing device to actuate the dispensing means to dispense tablets at predetermined time intervals. The dispensing means comprises a magazine 10 which is generally annular inform and having compartments 18 to receive the tablets. The magazine is driven and indexed by means of lugs 24 under the control of the timing means whereby tablets are dispensed. A plurality of magazines may be used, and may be independently drivable; an audible or visible warning may indicate when dispensing has taken place. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for dispensing This invention relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing materials. In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for dispensing pills, tablets and like medication. However, the invention is also applicable to the dispensing of other materials such as food for pets and other livestock.

Medical science now offers an ever widening range of tablets, pills, capsules and like medications to combat ill health. It is not unusual for a patient to be prescribed several types of tablets which are to be taken at various times throughout the day. Often the patient, especially in the case of elderly patients, forgets to take the tablets regularly. Such omission of the medication can reduce the effectiveness of it or indeed can be positively dangerous. Nowadays, people are living longer and since memory tends to fade with age, so the problem of forgetting to take medication regularly is likely to increase. Moreover, blind or partially sighted people can easily take incorrect tablets or other medication if they are unable to visually distinguish between the tablets or their containers.A secondary problem arises when it is necessary for potentially dangerous tablets to be left with a patient who is likely to take an accidental or even intentional overdose.

An object of the present invention is to provide means for offsetting or alleviating, at least to some extent, one or more of the problems identified above.

According to the invention there is provided a method and apparatus for dispensing as defined in the accompanying claims.

The invention also provides any novel method or apparatus step or feature or combination of steps or features disclosed herein.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view from one side and slightly above, of a magazine and a housing therefor form ing part of dispensing apparatus, the assembly being shown sectioned; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a magazine of the apparatus of Fig 1; Figure 3 shows, somewhat diagrammatically, a perspective view of a housing for the magazine of Fig 2 and showing an outlet aperture formed therein; Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of the magazine housing; Figure 5 shows a section through the magazine housing of Fig 4 on the lines V-V in Fig 4; and Figure 6 shows an end elevation view of the magazine housing of Fig 4, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow VI in Fig 4.

Apparatus for dispensing tablets and like medication is provided comprising a housing to contain a supply of tablets or other material to be dispensed. Within the housing there is provided actuatable dispensing means to dispense the tablets, together with a timing device for monitoring the passage of successive predetermined time intervals. In operation, the dispensing means is actuated in accordance with the timing means whereby the dispensing means dispenses the tablets at predetermined time intervals. For example, the apparatus may be arranged to dispense two pink tablets every eight hours and to dispense, in addition, one green tablet every four hours.

For this purpose, the apparatus is pre-programmed by a competant person such as a doctor or health visitor or nurse so that it dispenses the desired combination of tablets at the desired frequency within a 24 hour cycle.

The housing of the apparatus is provided with a locking switch to provide security both for the housing and its contents including the tablets and the control mechanism for the dispensing apparatus.

The housing of the apparatus can be of any suitable form to house and protect the dispensing means, the timing means and the material to be dispensed. The housing can be provided with any suitable form of locking device, including an electrically actuatable locking device, whereby access to the housing is available only to authorised persons. Of course, such security devices are not needed in the case where the nature of the patient concerned does not require it, or where the material to be dispensed is not critical as regards dosage, or otherwise.

The actuatable dispensing means is shown in the drawings. Fig 2 shows a magazine 10, Figs 3 and 4 to 6 show a housing 12 for the magazine, and Fig 1 shows the assembiy of the magazine and its housing.

Referring to Fig 2 magazine 10 is generally annular in form and comprises an annular channel-section member 14 having circumferentially spaced dividers 16 which define compartments 18 therein to receive the tablets (not shown). In order to dispense tablets from the compartments, the magazine is rotatable about an axis 22. Lugs 24 are provided for driving and indexing the magazine, as explained below.

Housing 12 is shaped and proportioned to receive magazine 10 and comprises a mounting plate 26 having annular flanges 28, 30 defining a channel 32 in which magazine 10 is received, the magazine being retained by a lip 34 on flange 28.

Magazine 10, in its housing 12, can be inserted into the dispensing apparatus only one way round.

A rectangular opening 36 for dispensing purposes is formed in outer flange 28 at a position just after bottom dead centre with respect to the working attitude of the housing.

Thus, magazine 10 and housing 12 form an assembly which is mounted in the housing of the dispensing apparatus as a whole and connected to a drive for magazine 10, through the lugs 24. The drive may comprise an electrical induction motor, or one or more solenoids or other drive means for indexing the magazine.

Operation of the drive means for the magazine is co-ordinated with the timing means and arranged to be controlled thereby so that tablets contained in the compartments 18 are dispensed at the required intervals.

Where two or more different types of tablets are to be dispensed, then two or more magazines 10 are provided within the housing of the dispensing apparatus.

A container (not shown) may be provided to receive dispensed tablets, the container being positioned and arranged so that the patient or user can easily remove the tablets therefrom. A visual or audible warning device may be associated with the container and arranged to be actuated when a tablet has been or is about to be dispensed. Control means for the warning device may be arranged to cancel the warning after removal of the tablet or tablets from the container.

Means may also be provided for monitoring the quantity of undispensed material in the housing of the dispensing apparatus and to provide a signal when the quantity of undispensed material falls to a predetermined level.

The electrical control system and timing means of the dispensing apparatus may be of any suitable form but preferably comprises electronic timing and control circuits of the kind used in currently avaiiable micro-chip apparatus such as calculators and the like.

The apparatus is powered by electricity from a re-chargeable battery. This is kept charged by a solar energy cell and/or an in-built charger unit connectible to a suitable mains supply.

One, two or more magazines 10 and their housings 12 may be provided side by side in the apparatus to provide dispensing channels which are controlled by the timing means. In use, tablets are loaded into the magazines which are inserted into the channels of the apparatus. Each channel is arranged to be actuated by a control signal from the timing means in accordance with the predetermined programme. The magazines are indexed by their electrical drive so that each discharges a tablet at the predetermined time. The tablet or tablets fall into the container therefor and the warning device signals visually or audibly to the patient that the tablet has been dispensed. These warnings are cancelled when the patient removes the tablets from the container. A counter actuated by the control apparatus provides visual warning of a low stock of tablets in the apparatus.

Among the advantages provided by the embodiment of the invention described above are the following: 1 The apparatus dispenses tablets regularly and correctly as programmed.

2 The apparatus will alert the patient that the tablets have been dispensed and are ready to be taken.

3 Since both audible and visual warnings are provided, the patient will be alerted, if even deaf or blind.

4 Only the key holder can gain access to the housing and to the tablets in bulk in the apparatus, or can make changes to the dosage and frequency of dispensing.

5 A visual warning is provided of low stock in the - apparatus.

6 Potentially dangerous quantities of tablets may safely be left with a patient who is likely to take an accidental or intentional overdose.

7 The apparatus increases the range of patients who may be treated in their own homes and thus nursing and related costs are reduced.

8 In-built solar energy cells and charger units feeding a re-chargeable battery reduce operating costs to a minimum. This also overcomes any problems which would result from mains failure or fluctuations and even permits the machine to be used without local mains electricity if necessary.

Many modifications can be made in the apparatus described above without departing from the scope of the invention including such additions as the provision of a simple topping up means whereby the magazines are filled from a reservoir of tablets at the top of the apparatus.

Claims (19)

1. Dispensing apparatus comprising: a housing to contain a supply of material to be dispensed; actuatable dispensing means associated with the housing to dispense said material; timing means for monitoring the passage of successive predetermined time intervals; said actuatable dispensing means being arranged to be actuated in accordance with said timing means whereby said dispensing means dispenses said material at said predetermined time intervals.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said timing means is adapted to monitor the passage of successive periods of 24 hours and said actuatable dispensing means is actuated to dispense said material at one or more predetermined spaced time intervals in each successive period of 24 hours.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 in the form of apparatus for dispensing tablets or like medication, said dispensing means comprising at least one magazine to contain said tablets or the like.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said magazine comprises a series of compartments for said tablets or the like.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said magazine is arranged to be drivable so that said compartments successively pass a discharge zone in said apparatus.

6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein at least two drivable magazines are provided to contain at least two different types of tablet or like medication.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said magazines are arranged to be independently drivable.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein said magazines are arranged to be readily removable when discharged and to be insertable in a charged condition.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein visual or audible warning means is provided which is arranged to be actuated when said material has been or is about to be dispensed.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 including a container to receive dispensed material and means for cancelling said visual or audible warning after removal of said dispensed material from the container.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims having means for monitoring the quantity of material in said housing which is undispensed, said means for monitoring being adapted to provide a signal when the quantity of said undispensed material falls to a predetermined level.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said dispensing means and said timing means are arranged to be electrically powered.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising means for deriving electrical power for said dispensing means and said timing means from ambient light energy.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 13 including re-chargeable electrical energy storage means.

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said dispensing means includes singulating means for selecting one, two or more tablets or the like at a time.

16. Apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 15 comprising means for filling said magazine from a reservoir of said material in the housing.

17. A method of dispensing comprising providing a housing to contain a supply of material to be dispensed, actuatable dispensing means being provided in association with the housing to dispense said material, timing means being provided for monitoring the passage of successive predetermined time intervals, and actuating said dispensing means to dispense said material at said predetermined time intervals.

18. Dispensing apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of dispensing substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.