WO2018097816A1

WO2018097816A1 - A smart box for dispensing medications

Info

Publication number: WO2018097816A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/063331
Authority: WO
Inventors: Golden Keith LIVELY
Original assignee: Lively Golden Keith
Priority date: 2016-11-22
Filing date: 2016-11-22
Publication date: 2018-05-31

Abstract

Disclosed is a smart box for communicating over a communication network. The smart box 100 includes a housing, plurality of compartments configured in the housing for storing of items, data storage 106 configured in the housing for storing instructions, a controller configured in the housing to process stored instructions, a communication unit to communicate with the controller over the communication network and a drawer configured in the housing. The drawer ejects upon receiving items from at least one of the compartment. The controller commands the plurality of compartments to dispense the items.

Description

A SMART BOX FOR DISPENSING MEDICATIONS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1 . Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to medicine dispensers, and more particularly relates to a smart box for dispensing medications, monitoring of patients, and sending alerts over the communication network informing when a medication is suppose to be taken.

2. Description of Related Art

The advances in medicine are enhancing the quality and longevity of human lives. Ailments, for which there were no effective treatments before, are now effectively treated by one or more drugs. In many cases, patients have to remember to take a dose of medicine at prescribed times. A number of ailments require treatment with one or more combination of medicines.

A patient may have difficulty remembering to take medicine at recommended times. Sometimes, patients have difficulty remembering that they have already taken a dose. Some patients have difficulty remembering the recommended dose of medicine to be taken, especially if a medicine dose requires more than one pill of the same medicine.

In addition, eyesight fade with age and reading labels of medicine containers can present a problem. Even young and alert patients are sometimes overwhelmed by life, work, family and other responsibilities and forget to take their medicines. This is especially apparent with temporary treatments, such as antibiotics, where the medicine is only taken for a short period of time. In this case, patients are unable to generate a routine based around taking the medicine.

The end result of the above situations is that the amount of medicine taken is either too low to affect the course of the ailment, or is too high and causes overdose reactions. Therefore, there is a need of a smart box for dispensing medications, monitoring of patients and sending alerts over the communication network. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of apparatus like in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved apparatus. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved apparatus with all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

In accordance with teachings of the present invention there is a smart box for dispensing medications, monitoring of patients and sending alerts over the communication network. In one embodiment, there is a pre-programmable security smart box that only dispenses medication on the schedule.

In another embodiment the invention is lockable, tamperproof, password protected,

Another embodiment is that a third party gets data and can increase or decrease the dosing from Dr. office as well as watch patient on video if needed.

It will also an embodiment to have a emergency shot of naloxone, panic button and breathalyzer keep from accidental overdosing.

Also, another embodiment includes placing a tracking device thereon for theft protection.

An embodiment may also have the invention send text alerts if someone try's to get into it with the wrong password. An advantage of this invention is that it will prevent kids accidentally overdosing on other people's medicine. And, it will prevent the buy, sell, trade of C2 drugs and most of all prevent addiction, law suit for Dr. and many disease that comes with drug abuse, An object of the present invention is to provide a smart box for communicating over a communication network. The smart box includes a housing, plurality of compartments configured in the housing for storing of items, data storage configured in the housing for storing instructions, a controller configured in the housing to process stored instructions, a communication unit to communicate with the controller over the communication network and a drawer configured in the housing. The drawer ejects upon receiving items from at least one of the compartment. The controller commands the plurality of compartments to dispense the items.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the smart box with a keyboard on the housing to input a password and further instructing the controller to dispense the items into the drawer. Further, to provide a locking unit to lock the housing to disable others to get access to the items stored in the compartments.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the smart box with an output unit operable to message information related to the items. Further, the object is to provide a panic button to generate alert signals on receiving tap from a user. Furthermore, the object is to provide a breathalyzer for detecting overdosing of medications.

These and other features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments thereof, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawing. It is appreciated that the drawing depicts only illustrated embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the smart box for dispensing of items in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following embodiments and the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of this disclosure, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the invention are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention can be employed and the subject invention is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

While this technology is illustrated and described in a preferred embodiment a smart box for dispensing of items may be produced in various shapes, sizes, colors, and configuration. There is depicted in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, as a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and the associated functional specifications for its construction and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. Those skilled in the art will envision many other possible variations within the scope of the technology described herein. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the smart box 100 for dispensing of items in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The smart box 100 includes a housing 102, plurality of compartments 104 configured in the housing 102 for storing of items, data storage 106 configured in the housing 102 for storing instructions, a controller 108 configured in the housing 102 to process stored instructions, a communication unit 1 10 to communicate with the controller 108 over the communication network and a drawer 1 12 configured in the housing 102. The drawer 1 12 ejects upon receiving items from at least one of the compartment 104. The controller 108 commands the plurality of compartments 104 to dispense the items.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the smart box 100 further includes a keyboard 1 14 on the housing 102 to input a password and further instructing the controller 108 to dispense the items into the drawer. The keyboard 1 14 includes plurality of buttons to input alphanumeric data. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the smart box 100 further includes a locking unit 1 16 to lock the housing 102 to disable others to get access to the items stored in the compartments 104. Examples of the locking unit 1 16 include but not limited to mechanical, electro-mechanical, biometric lock etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller 108 may be programmed to dispense daily dosage at exact specified times, as per the prescriptions of the doctor. The smart box 100 is tamperproof, password protected and lockable. Further, in at least one of the plurality of compartments 104 may include an emergency shot of naloxone.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the smart box 100 includes an output unit 1 18 operable to message information related to items stored in the smart box 100. Example of the output unit 1 18 includes but not limited to speaker 1 18a for generating audio messages and a monitor 1 18b to display messages. Wherein, the monitor and speakers may be part of a system to provide for computer, video, or voice communication with a doctor, or emergency workers, like ambulance, or police, for example.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the smart box 100 includes a panic button 120 to generate alert signals on receiving a tap, or activation, from a user. Further, the smart box 100 includes a breathalyzer 122 for detecting overdose of medications. The breathalyzer 122 may be formed of various models including but not limited to semi-conductor sensor models, fuel-cell sensor models, and infra-red (IR) spectroscopy models and gas chromatography mode.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller 108 may be programmed wirelessly by the doctors to vary the dosage of medicines for the patients. Further, the communication unit 1 10 may send the dosage details from the doctor office i.e. either increase or decrease the dosage, which may then provide a modification to the amount of medication being dispensed by the smart box 100, or modify the timing of the dispensing. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller 108 may further be programmed to track the housing 102 from theft protection. Further, the controller 108 may be programmed to send text alerts to appropriate authorities upon receiving a wrong password from the keyboard via the communication network.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the smart box 100 may further include a camera to allow video conferencing over the communication network. For exemplary purposes, the video conferencing may be performed in between the patient and the doctor.

The present invention offers various advantages such as preventing kids from accidently overdosing on other people's medicine. Furthermore, the smart box 100 prevents the buy, sell, trade of controlled C2 drugs and most of all prevent addiction, law suit for Doctors, and many diseases that come with the drug abuse.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptions or variations of the present invention.

Claims

l/we claim as follows:

1 . A smart box for dispensing of items, and communicates over a communication network, comprising: a housing, with a plurality of compartments configured in the housing for storing of items; a data storage, configured in the housing, for storing instructions; a controller, configured in the housing, to process stored instructions, wherein the controller commands the plurality of compartments to dispense the items; a communication unit, configured in the housing, to communicate with the controller over the communication network; and a drawer, configured in the housing, designed to eject items from a compartment;.

2. The smart box according to claim 1 , further comprising a keyboard on the housing to input a password and provide instruction to the controller to dispense the items into the drawer.

3. The smart box according to claim 1 , further comprising a locking unit to lock the housing to disable others to get access to the items stored in the compartments.

4. The smart box according to claim 1 , further comprising an output unit, operable to message a remote monitoring system information related to the dispensing of the items.

5. The smart box according to claim 4, wherein the output unit comprising at least one of a speaker for generating audio messages; a monitor to display messages, and a panic button to generate alert signals on receiving an activation from a user.

6. The smart box according to claim 1 , wherein the items comprising medications, and further including a breathalyzer for detecting overdosing of medications.