GB2308466A - Medication dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A medication dispenser for wearing around the wrist includes a number of discrete pockets A and B for medication dosages and flaps eg A' on each pocket providing identification of each medication dosage or the order in which each dosage should be consumed. The dispenser includes a timer T adapted for programming so as to display a time when a given dosage should be consumed and to audibly signal when the dosage should be consumed. The dispenser includes complementary contact strips 12 and 13 to enable securing around the arm of a user.

Description

MEDICATION DISPENSER This invention relates to a medication dispenser.

When medication is provided for a user for consumption over a period there it is desirable to ensure that the medication is consumed in the correct amounts and at the right time. The situation can be rendered even more difficult where at least one further medication is in use and is being consumed at times differing from the first medication. Remembering to take the or each medication in the correct amount and at the appropriate time can be stressful particularly for an individual who is bust or readily confused or absent minded.

According to the present invention there is provided a medication dispenser comprising a housing, for wearing around the wrist or otherwise adapted for ready access by the user, incorporating a discrete number of pockets for the or each medication dosage to be consumed and means providing an indication for one or more pockets identifying the or each medication dosage or the order in which the or each dosage should be consumed. The invention is directed to providing a readily understood means for establishing at any given time in a given period what medication has been consumed and what remains to be consumed.

Preferably the housing can also include a timing means so that the time when a given dosage means in the sequence should be consumed. The timing means can include a signalling device, such as a sound generator, to indicate the end of a period following which a medication dosage should be consumed.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of a medication dispenser.

Dispenser 11 is in the form of an armlet of plastics material having incorporated in it two sequences of pockets first sequence A comprising pockets Al to A6 and second sequence B comprising pockets BI to B6. Each pocket in each sequence has a closable flap, typically flap Al' for pocket Al. Each pocket serves to contain a single dosage of medication. By including two sequences of pockets A, B the dispenser can be used for two different medications. In other versions a dispenser according to the present invention can be provided having more than two sequences of pockets for use where a user is consuming more than two sets of medication. As an alternative to individual flaps one or more subsidiary covers can be provided to enable all the pockets in a given sequence of pockets to be covered by a subsidiary cover.The closable flaps can be of distinctive appearance in use to provide for a clear indication of whether a pocket in a given sequence contains a tablet or not and so provide a readily identifiable means for checking whether or not a dosage due for consumption at a specified time was in fact consumed.

The dispenser 11 incorporates complementary contact strips 12, 13 to enable the dispenser to be readily and demountably secured around the arm of a user.

An adjustable timer T is incorporated in the dispenser 11 to enable the user of the dispenser to set an audible alarm to operate to indicate the need for the user to consume a dose of medication. When the user is periodically consuming more than one type of medication each type is retained in one of the available sequences A, B and the timer T is used to generate a distinctive signal for each dosage of medication.

The timer can also serve to indicate which sequence of pockets contains the medication that is to be consumed.

For users having limited sight a version of the dispenser can be provided incorporating distinctive touch regions to enable the appropriate sequence and pocket to be readily identified.

The exemplary embodiment provides a dispenser for wearing round a wrist of a user since this provides for immediate access to the medication dosage either when the appropriate period has passed and a fresh dose is to be consumed or on the onset of a symptom in respect of which a medication retained by the dispenser is to be used.

Typically the dispenser can include waterproofing to provide for the protection of the medication even if the dispenser is subject to splashing or even immersion in water.

In a further version the dispenser can incorporate a region of thermal insulation between the a region of the dispenser liable to receive body heat and the pockets for the medication so as to ensure that the temperature of the medication is kept well below a value at which the medication could be adversely affected by heat.

Claims (4)

1 A medication dispenser comprising a housing, for wearing around the wrist or otherwise adapted for ready access by the user, incorporating a discrete number of pockets for the or each medication dosage to be consumed and means providing an indication for one or more pockets identifying the or each medication dosage or the order in which the or each dosage should be consumed.

2 A medication dispenser as claimed in Claim 1 including a timing means adapted for programming so as to display a time when a given dosage means in the sequence should be consumed.

3 A medication dispenser as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the timing means includes a signalling device, such as a sound generator, to indicate the end of a period following which a medication dosage should be consumed.

4 A medication dispenser as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accoimpanying drawing.