U.S. patent application number 10/009041 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-30 for system and method for providing temporal patient dosing.
Invention is credited to Rast, Rodger H..
Application Number | 20030200726 10/009041 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26867708 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030200726 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rast, Rodger H. |
October 30, 2003 |
System and method for providing temporal patient dosing
Abstract
A system and method for creating a series of individualized
custom doses for a consumer. The individualized doses being
delivered in a package or packages, such that each individualized
custom dose, comprising a plurality of medications and/or
supplements, is individually separable from the remaining doses
within the series. By way of example, and not of limitation, a
system is described having a web based front-end interface within
which the user may establish a dosing schedule, select supplements
and/or medications (MS) from an MS database, elect which MS are to
be included in each dose, and communicate the order to be processed
by a packetizing system. The packetizing system utilizes a
conveyance device which interconnects a series of pill dispensing
bins. The conveyance device has compartments for collecting a
series of doses which are then packetized and shipped for use by
the consumer.
Inventors: |
Rast, Rodger H.; (Rancho
Cordova, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Rodger H Rast
Rastar Corporation
Suite L
11292 Coloma Rd.
Gold River
CA
95670
US
|
Family ID: |
26867708 |
Appl. No.: |
10/009041 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10009041 |
Nov 8, 2001 |
|
|
|
PCT/US00/35048 |
Dec 22, 2000 |
|
|
|
60176961 |
Jan 18, 2000 |
|
|
|
60172057 |
Dec 23, 1999 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/443 ;
53/131.4; 53/147; 53/411; 53/493 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 2205/30 20130101;
G16H 40/67 20180101; A61J 7/0084 20130101; G06Q 10/08 20130101;
G07F 17/0092 20130101; G07F 5/18 20130101; A61J 7/04 20130101; G05B
19/00 20130101; G16H 70/40 20180101; G07F 9/002 20200501; G16H
20/13 20180101; G06V 20/66 20220101; A61J 1/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/443 ; 53/411;
53/493; 53/131.4; 53/147 |
International
Class: |
B65B 035/30; B65B
057/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for providing individualized doses, each of which
comprises a plurality of supplements and/or medications (MS),
comprising: a packetizing system adapted to package a plurality of
pills, or equivalent, from a pill repository into separate doses; a
computer system operably connected to said packetizing system and
adapted to access said pill repository to control the dispensing of
pills from said repository and the packaging of said pills within
packetizing system; and an interface associated with said computer
wherethrough a dosing schedule may be specified into which
supplements and/or medications (MS) from said pill repository may
be entered to create a description of a series of doses which is
communicated to said packetizing system for packaging said series
of doses.
2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said packetizing system,
comprises: a pill repository adapted to dispense a custom
assortment of individual pills from a plurality of supplements
and/or medications (MS) into a single MS dose; and a packaging
device adapted to receive a series of said single MS doses and to
separately package said MS doses for use by a consumer.
3. A system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a labeling
device which prints a textual and/or graphic indicia for each of
said MS doses.
4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface comprises
a web site being hosted on the Internet which is operably connected
to said computer system.
5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface is
adapted to receive authorizations from a physician, or other
authorized medical practitioner, when said medications being
packaged within said series of doses includes prescription
medications.
6. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising an
interaction/contraindication checking routine being executed on
said computer system which checks said supplements and/or
medications being entered into said schedule for possible
interactions and contraindications with medical conditions and
generates alerts in response thereto.
7. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a purchase
transaction routine executing on said computer which is adapted to
process a financial transaction associated with said series of
doses being communicated to said packetizing system.
8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface is
adapted to receive information from an institution comprising a
plurality of dosing schedules and the associated supplements and/or
medications for a plurality of patients, or equivalent, which are
under the care of said institution.
9. A system for generating orders for individualized temporal doses
in response to user input, or equivalent, comprising: a computer
system adapted for accessing a database of medicine and/or
supplement information associated with a pill repository; and an
interface routine executing on said computer wherethrough an
assortment of medications and/or supplements from said pill
repository may be specified for incorporation within said temporal
dose of said order for communication to a fulfillment system in
association with said pill repository.
10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein said interface is
adapted to allow for specifying said assortment of medications
and/or supplements for insertion within a dosing schedule.
11. An apparatus for packaging an assortment of pills within an MS
dose according to a received order for individualized MS doses
wherein each said MS dose includes a custom assortment of medicines
and/or supplements (MS) for consumption by a specific consumer,
comprising: dispensing bins adapted to retain unpackaged pills and
to dispense a selected number of said pills; a conveyance system
interconnecting a series of said dispensing bins which collectively
define a pill repository adapted for retaining an assortment of
said supplements and/or medicines; individual dose bins or dose
compartments within said conveyance system which are adapted for
collecting said pills for said MS dose; a packaging system adapted
to transfer each of said MS doses from said individual dose bins or
dose compartments into individually accessible packages for
distribution to said consumer; and an electronic control system
operably connected to said conveyance system, said dispensing bins
and said packaging system; and a control program executing on said
electronic control system which directs the dispensing bins to
selectively dispense pills within selected dose bins or dose
compartments of said conveyance system in accord with each MS dose
within said order which is directed to move said MS doses to said
packaging system which retrieves said MS doses from said conveyance
system and packages said doses for said consumer.
12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a
labeling system adapted for the application of text and/or graphic
indicia to said temporal doses.
13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein said indicia
contains a consumer identification for which the doses have been
created; wherein said indicia contains an temporal identifier as to
the time at which said dose is to be taken by said consumer.
14. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said conveyance
system comprises a track interconnecting said dispensing bins and a
vehicle having said individual bins or compartments into which said
dispensing bins are directed to dispense pills.
15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein each of said
vehicles incorporates an identifier wherein their location along
said track in relation to said dispensing bins may be
determined.
16. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said vehicle is
powered by a linear electromagnetic drive.
17. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a dose
checking station which is adapted to inspect the set of separate
individualized custom doses for compliance with said order.
18. A method of dispensing individualized doses of medications
and/or supplements for use by a consumer at a location which is
removed from the dispensing site, comprising: selecting a plurality
of supplements and/or medications to be dispensed within each of a
series of doses; packaging said doses of said selected supplements
and/or medications into dose packets, or equivalent; and delivering
said dose packets to said consumer.
19. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising
establishing a dose schedule for said consumer into which said
selected supplements and/or medications are entered.
20. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said dose schedule
specifies fixed times at which said consumer is to utilize said
supplements and/or medications within said dose packet.
21. A method as recited in claim 19, wherein said selected
supplements and/or medications may be entered into said dosing
schedule according to a dosing profile selected from dosing
profiles consisting of accelerated dosing, decelerated dosing, and
interrupted periodic dosing.
22. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising saving
information about said selections within a set of consumer
information for subsequent use by said consumer.
23. A method as recited in claim 22, further comprising identifying
a particular consumer, or equivalent authorized party on behalf of
said consumer, prior to providing access to said consumer
information.
24. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising labeling
each of said dose packets, or equivalent, with a consumer
identification.
25. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising labeling
each of said dose packets, or equivalent, with a time specifier
designating when said consumer is to utilize the contents of said
dose packet.
26. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising
communicating an authorization for any prescription medications
which are specified for inclusion within said dosing schedule.
27. A method as recited in claim 18, wherein said dosing schedule
and said selection of supplements and/or medications for inclusion
therein are controlled through an web site interface accessible
over the Internet, or equivalent.
28. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising: checking
said selected supplements and/or medications against an interaction
database to ascertain the probability of an interaction; and
generating an alert in response to a sufficient probability of
interaction.
29. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising: entering
medical information for said consumer; checking each selected
medication and/or supplement separately and in the selected
combinations for contraindications with entered medical information
according to a database of medical information; and generating an
alert in response to the possibility of said contraindications.
30. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising submitting
of said dosing schedule and said selected medications and/or
supplements to an outside party prior to the said packaging of said
doses.
31. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein said outside party
comprises a party or organization that operates in a capacity to
advise the consumer on said dosing schedule and said medications
and/or supplements as selected for each of said doses.
32. A method as recited in claim 30, wherein said outside party
comprises a party or organization with a health insurance company,
or equivalent party with a fiduciary relationship with said
consumer.
33. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising executing a
purchase transaction for said selected medicines and/or supplements
which are to be dispensed.
34. A method as recited in claim 33, further comprising an
automatic recurrent ordering process wherein subsequent medications
and/or supplements are delivered to said consumer without the
necessity of order placement.
35. A method as recited in claim 18, further comprising: packaging
said plurality of said doses into a shipping container; and
shipping said package of said doses to a destination for use by a
consumer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of copending PCT
International Application number PCT/US00/35048 filed on Dec. 22,
2000 which claims priority from U.S. provisional application serial
No. 60/176,961 filed on Jan. 18, 2000, and serial number 60/172,057
filed on Dec. 23, 1999.
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] This invention pertains generally to internet-based
distribution of medications and supplements, and more particularly
to a method for packetizing and distributing individualized custom
doses containing a combination of medicines and/or supplements
created according to a user defined dosing schedule.
[0006] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0007] Individuals are taking an ever increasing variety and number
of both supplements and medications. Each of these individuals has
very unique requirements as to the type and concentration of pills
being taken. However, pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution
systems are designed for mass distribution in large quantities and
have not addressed these individualized needs. Currently, a
consumer taking a combination of medications and/or supplements,
herein referred to as MS, is required to purchase containers of the
various supplements and medications. Typically, these are purchased
in plastic and glass bottles. A few generic pill combinations are
available in packets and other containers, however, such packets
comprise merely a generic supplement, that were it not for size
limitations could be placed in a single generic "multivitamin"
pill. A large category of "multi" pills exist on the market and
many are directed at specific segments of the market, such as aging
men, aging women, and those under stress. One manufacturer of
"multi" pills (as in multivitamin, multi-mineral, etc.), has begun
to allow users to have some control of the ingredients within their
multi-pill, should they order sufficient quantities. However, it
will be appreciated that a generic pill, or a generic set of pills
does not provide MS doses to the consumer which are tailored to
his/her specific set of requirements, containing the proportions of
herbs, vitamins, over the counter pharmaceuticals, and
prescriptions which are suited to the given individual.
[0008] According to current practice, consumers gather a collection
of various supplements (vitamins, minerals, herbs), medications
(over the counter, prescription), which have been found to be the
most beneficial. The number of MS being taken within the population
continues to increase and even young healthy individuals may take
groups of between 10-20 pills two or even three times per day. It
will be appreciated that once a collection of pills is obtained,
the consumer becomes the pharmacist in charge of this miniature
"pharmacy". In order to properly operate their miniature pharmacy,
it would be far preferable if the consumer had a full understanding
of the benefits and contraindications of each pill, the amount of
each medication/supplement to be taken, and the possible
interactions between the various medications/supplements that they
have in their stock. In addition, to employ their miniature
pharmacy, the consumer is required to open up each of the
containers from one to four times per day in order to collect an MS
dose for that particular time of day. The burden can be somewhat
alleviated by the use of a pill container having compartments for
storing collections of pills so that one can collect up to a weeks
worth of doses at a time. However, such segmented containers remain
inconvenient, and are difficult to take to work or when traveling,
such as on business trips. Furthermore, the consumer is required to
manage their inventory of medications and supplements (MS) and must
order or purchase locally new containers of each MS as necessary.
It will be recognized that each container of pills becomes depleted
at times which are independent of the other MS, thereby leaving the
consumer in the position of continuously purchasing replacements
for one or more of the supplements or medications.
[0009] Additional problems exist with the current manner of
dispensing these medications and supplements (MS). The consumer
needs to keep track of times at which doses are to be taken, and
remember to take each of the doses. Furthermore, the consumer is
required to plan ahead to assure that their pills will be with them
if they are not at home, for instance if they are partaking of an
evening dinner, or a party, they may easily miss a dose. Often, a
consumer will forget either to take a dose, or forget that they
have taken a dose, wherein they take an additional dose or miss a
dose. Misdosing is very prevalent amongst senior citizens,
especially the millions suffering from memory loss, or Alzheimer's
disease. The prevalence of miss-dosing is well documented and a
recent study has found that within the United States that more
individuals die each year from dosing errors, than die in
automobile accidents. A number of mechanical devices are available
which attempt to meter out pills or record when pills are taken by
a consumer; however, these do not alleviate the underlying
problems, such as the need to maintain a stockpile of MS, or the
inconvenience.
[0010] Requiring individuals to collect and dispense from their own
pharmacies is subject to significant degree of risk. Medications
are forgotten, taken incorrectly, mixed improperly, and so forth.
The overhead of keeping a miniature pharmacy stocked up and
remembering what, how, and when to take it all is burdensome to
anyone, but is especially onerous to our senior citizens which must
deal with the most complex assortment of medications and
supplements. A study of seniors in nursing facilities found that on
average each individual took over seven medications, or supplements
a day, and the number is on the rise. Due to the difficulties with
orchestrating each pill dose, it is not surprising how often people
forget, or make dosing mistakes with even their most important
medications.
[0011] Institutional care organizations, such as hospitals, nursing
homes, and the like, suffer from another set of problems associated
with providing doses of supplements and medications to their
patients. Institutions have a staff which maintains the various
supplements and medications; often distributing them to the
patients. The overhead and liability associated with creating and
supervising these numerous doses each day for every patient becomes
exceedingly costly and prone to error. It will certainly be
appreciated that the inventory of supplements and medications at an
institution must be carefully managed, assuring adequate supplies,
proper storage conditions, proper dispensing conditions, preventing
theft, and assuring that expiration dates are taken into account.
Care staffs need to remain vigilant to be certain that each patient
gets the proper doses, and that doses created for one patient are
not received by another patient. Misdosing of patients within an
institutional setting can have dire consequences, and numerous
patients die each year as a result. Furthermore, additional
problems exist with regard to theft and loss of both medications
and supplements. In addition, staffs do not have the time to study
each of the medications to determine if any possible interactions
or contraindications may exist.
[0012] As can be seen, therefore, the development of an improved
dispensing method for both consumers and institutions that would
eliminate the necessity of managing a miniature pharmacy while
increasing safety and convenience. The system and method for
providing temporal doses in accordance with the present invention
satisfies that need, as well as others, and overcomes deficiencies
in previously known techniques.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention is a system and a method for providing
persons with individualized (custom) doses of their recurrent
supplements and medications. The word "Dose" was derived from the
Greek word "dosis" which means "gift", while the word "temporal"
refers to time. The right dose at the right time is a gift to the
health of each individual. The present system and methods may
hereafter be referred to as "individualized dosing system", or
simply as "system".
[0014] The system comprises an interface, such as a web site on the
World Wide Web (Internet), for allowing a consumer, or institution,
to generate an order for individualized doses of supplements and/or
medications which may be fulfilled by a packetizing system. By way
of example and not of limitation, the consumer establishes a dosing
schedule into which is entered a custom array of medications and/or
supplements (MS) from a database associated with a pill repository.
An order may then be placed for a series of these customized
temporal doses, wherein each temporal dose, which may contain an
assortment of MS, is separately packetized and the series of
temporal doses shipped to the consumer. The consumer enters the
dose information via an interface which is associated with, and
communicates with, a computer system which can direct a packetizing
system for the packaging of the pills, or other forms of
supplements and/or medications, for use by the consumer. The
interface of the computer system is configured to require
authorizations from a physician, or other authorized medical
practitioner, when any prescription medications are selected.
Furthermore the interface is configured to execute a purchase
transaction for the selected MS within the order at the discretion
of the consumer.
[0015] Preferably, the packets are marked, or labeled, with a
textual and/or graphic indicia which preferably contains the
patient's name and the scheduled date and time at which the MS dose
is to be utilized. The consumer, or institution, is thereby no
longer burdened by the maintenance of a miniature pharmacy while
numerous concomitant safety and convenience features are provided.
The term medications and supplements (MS), as used herein,
comprises any variety of medical and/or health related solid, or
semisolid pill, for instance, conventional pills, capsules,
caplets, gel caps, and lozenges. The abbreviation "MS" used herein
is inclusive of new pill packaging forms as well, since solid pill
forms constantly evolve and their use within the system would be
obvious. Although the present system follows the largest segment of
the MS market, which is solid form MS, embodiments are additionally
described for the delivery of liquid forms of MS within the
system.
[0016] By way of example and not of limitation, an individual
consumer can interface to an individualized dosing system which
collects consumer dose information and prepares MS dose packets by
way of a web site interface. The consumer typically would register
by establishing their identity and configuring a number of use
parameters. The consumer then establishes a dosing schedule on the
system and populates it with MS selected from a database; the
database may include MS selected from a master MS library, MS
template, MS library from a recommended source, or a personal
library selected as a subset of the master MS library. The system
generally being defaulting to represent MS that is currently in
stock (or to be in stock by the required time) at a temporal dose
fulfillment center. Furthermore the invention preferably allows the
consumer to elect to view a master MS library containing a superset
of the MS that is currently available. A consumer interested in a
particular MS found in the master MS but not in-stock for
fulfillment may enter a request or post a suggestion from the
system.
[0017] A variety of forms of dosing profiles are supported, so that
dosing may follow according to a pattern which provides optimum
results. It is often desirable to follow a profile, such as
accelerated dosing, decelerating dosing, or interrupted periodic
dosing, it has traditionally been sufficiently difficult to achieve
simple compliance, wherein the confusion of traditional profile
dosing can reduce compliance and negatively impact results. The
system provides seamless profile dosing, in which the consumer
enters the pattern (or is it entered by practitioner or from a
manufacturer site) and the dose changes are automatically
implemented. For example, it is typically recommended that the herb
Echinacea, which is taken to increase an individuals resistance to
viral infection, not be taken on a continuous basis. It is strongly
recommended that Echinacea be taken following interrupted periodic
dosing, wherein the herb is taken for a week or two, halted for a
week or two, taken for a week or two, and so forth. Medications are
often more effective when taken in quantities that either increase
in strength or decrease over a period of time. Furthermore, it is
prudent when adding a new medication or supplement to introduce a
lower initial dose level until it has been determined that new MS
will not adversely affect the consumer/patient.
[0018] The system increases consumer safety by preferably
performing assessments of the selected MS for possible interactions
with one another. In addition, if an optional medical profile is
entered, such as by the consumer, by a medical practitioner, or by
collection or linking with a personal medical database, which
contains information relating to their health and conditions, the
system assesses the selected MS against the consumers medical
profile for possible clinical contraindications for use. The
consumer/patient is alerted to possible side effects, and in some
cases is urged, or even forced, to alter their selections to suit
prudent medical practice. Once the individualized dosing schedule
has been established and populated, the consumer may submit the
order for various forms of pre-order verification; such as to their
doctor, pharmacist (or other party); their insurance company to
determine payments therefrom; or they may submit the order directly
for fulfillment.
[0019] The system contains a large medication database operably
connected with an ERP system, or similar, such as of a
pharmaceutical distributor, that in combination directs a
specialized fulfillment system with a packetizing system that is
capable of creating arrays of individualized custom patient doses
for shipment to an individual, or institution. The packetizing
system fulfills orders for each consumer, or institution, with a
conveyance system which interconnects a series of pill dispensing
bins, or equivalent, which collectively define a pill repository.
The conveyance system includes dose bins, or compartments, for
collecting an assortment of MS into an individual dose. The
conveyance system is moved in concert with the control of
dispensing pills from the pill dispensing bins so that the
requested doses are properly collected within the bins or
compartment of the conveyance system. The conveyance system may be
considered as a "dose collection array" (DCA) associated with the
doses of the order which are to be filled with assorted MS from the
pill repository. The DCA traverses a series of MS dispenser bins
which are configured for controlled selective dispensing of MS.
Preferably, the MS dispensing bins are implemented to verify that
proper MS are correctly being collected. Once all MS is collected
in association with the individualized doses of the order, the DCA
is received within a packetizing station which preferably verifies
the MS of the individualized doses once again prior to packaging
and labeling each of the doses within the order. The orders are
then packaged and shipped to the consumers, or institutions, which
receive an ordered set of individualized custom doses which are
labeled according to the dose schedule which has been established.
By way of example, a vehicle driven by linear electromagnetics is
retained within a tubular track for collecting the pills associated
with each dose as it travels along a track that traverses a series
of pill dispensing bins.
[0020] The temporal dosing system of the present invention saves
ordering and other consumer-related information for subsequent use,
wherein the consumer can elect to place a recurrent order in which
the selected doses are generated in a subsequent order without the
need to place a new order. For example, the consumer may elect to
order their supplements monthly, but want them sent automatically
by a given date. Changes to the dosing schedule are then
incorporated within the subsequent order or sent as separate pills,
or as a "piggyback" set of doses. A consumer, or other party
authorized on behalf of the consumer, is required to be
sufficiently identified prior to logging in as a specific consumer
and thereby gaining access to said consumer information.
[0021] An object of the invention is to create individualized
custom doses of medications and supplements (MS).
[0022] Another object of the invention is to provide convenient
ordering of MS doses in periodic quantities, such as monthly.
[0023] Another object of the invention is to provide MS doses in
synchronized quantities whereby an individual consumer need not
check and maintain stocks of various MS which are being depleted at
different rates and times.
[0024] Another object of the invention is to increase the level of
compliance for the taking of prescription medications.
[0025] Another object of the invention is to provide MS as dose
packets that are labeled for the date and time they are to be
taken.
[0026] Another object of the invention is to provide a convenient
mechanism by which one or more individual doses may be carried
easily when the individual will not be at home at the time the dose
is to be taken.
[0027] Another object of the invention is to provide an MS
dissemination mechanism wherein a patient need not remember what
and how many of each supplement or medication is to be taken at
each varied dose interval.
[0028] Another object of the invention is to provide pre-collected
doses of supplements and medications such that the individual need
not open containers and individually collect MS for each particular
dose.
[0029] Another object of the invention is to provide a dose
dissemination method that supports accelerated and other forms of
scaled dosing while not relying on the patient to administer this
more complex dispensing profile.
[0030] Another object of the invention is to provide an ordering
mechanism in which checks are made for interactions and dose levels
between the various supplements and medications within a patient
dose so as to increase safety and promote health.
[0031] Another object of the invention is to provide a dose
dissemination mechanism wherein doctors can order prescription
medicines as doses integrated with the doses already being taken by
the individual.
[0032] Another object of the invention is to provide a dose
dissemination mechanism wherein doctors can check the supplements
and over the counter medications being taken by the patient to
assess possible interaction risk and contra-indications.
[0033] Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism
for the distribution of supplements and medications that may be
used within hospitals to reduce overhead and dosage errors
associated with collecting individual doses.
[0034] Another object of the invention is to improve cleanliness in
relation to the dispensed medication.
[0035] Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of
dosing errors and thereby increase both safety and health factors
in taking supplements and medications.
[0036] Another object of the invention is to provide an automated
system for fulfilling individualized custom dose orders with
limited human interaction.
[0037] Another object of the invention is to provide a system
capable of being easily scaled to any size repository of MS, so
that a wide variety of custom doses can be created.
[0038] Another object of the invention is to provide a system
wherein supplies of the various supplements and medications are
stored for dose retrieval in a high-density configuration to
maximize space utilization.
[0039] Another object of the invention is to provide a high-speed
system for fulfilling temporal dosing orders.
[0040] Another object of the invention is to provide a system for
packaging individualized doses that is highly reliable and easy to
maintain.
[0041] Another object of the invention is to provide a system in
which particular medications and supplements may be replenished
while the dose temporal dosing system is still operating.
[0042] Another object of the invention is to provide a system in
which multiple levels of dose checking can be provided to assure
that the correct dose has been collected.
[0043] Further objects and advantages of the invention will be
brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein
the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing
preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations
thereon.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] The invention will be more fully understood by reference to
the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes
only:
[0045] FIG. 1 is flow diagram for temporal patient dosing according
to the present invention, wherein individualized custom doses are
scheduled and ordered over the Internet, packaged into a set of
individualized doses and delivered to the consumer.
[0046] FIG. 2 is a plan view of individualized custom doses
packaged according to an aspect of the present invention, and shown
with patient name and dose time.
[0047] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a package for dispensing a
set of individualized custom doses as shown in FIG. 2, according to
an aspect of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 4A is a side view of sealed cup form of packaging
according to an aspect of the present invention, shown exemplifying
use with solid pills.
[0049] FIG. 4B is a side view of sealed cup form of packaging
according to an aspect of the present invention, shown exemplifying
use with a liquid dose.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an individualized dosing method
according to an embodiment of the present invention shown
exemplifying a consumer creating individualized custom doses
according to a dosing schedule.
[0051] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an enhanced individualized dosing
method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of individualized dosing for use with
institutions according to an aspect of the present invention, and
showing the process of ordering the sets of individualized
doses.
[0053] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of individualized dosing as per FIG.
7, showing the order fulfillment process.
[0054] FIG. 9 is a page diagram of the info pages on a web site
according to one embodiment of the present invention showing the
relationship between the web pages.
[0055] FIG. 10 is a page diagram of the individualized dose
selection pages as continued from FIG. 9.
[0056] FIG. 11 is a screen exemplifying a browser shown in the
process of selecting MS for inclusion in a personal library as
selected from a master library, as provided according to an aspect
of the present invention.
[0057] FIG. 12 is a screen exemplifying a browser shown in the
process of defining and populating a dose schedule according to an
aspect of the present invention, showing numerous MS already
established within the schedule.
[0058] FIG. 13 is a plan view of an individualized custom
packetizer according to an aspect of the present invention, shown
with four pill towers and a packetizing station interconnected by a
set of fixed traversal paths.
[0059] FIG. 14 is an elevation view of an MS bin according to an
aspect of the present invention.
[0060] FIG. 15 is a side view of the MS bin of FIG. 14.
[0061] FIG. 16 is a hierarchical diagram of computer resources
utilized according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 17 is a flowchart for a manufacturing process for
creating the individualized custom doses according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
[0063] FIG. 18 is a top view of a compartmentalized dose assembly
vehicle (comdav) according to the present invention.
[0064] FIG. 19 is a side view of the comdav depicted in FIG.
18.
[0065] FIG. 20 is a cross-section view of the comdav of FIG. 19
shown with an MS collection path.
[0066] FIG. 21 is a cross-section of a linear-driven tubular path
exemplified for use by the comdavs according to an aspect of the
present invention.
[0067] FIG. 22 is a side view of a strip of inductors exemplified
for use within the linear electromagnetic drive according to an
aspect of the present invention.
[0068] FIG. 23 is a top view of individualized doses according to
the present invention shown packaged within glassine packets.
[0069] FIG. 24 is a top view of piggyback dose packaging according
to an aspect of the present invention.
[0070] FIG. 25 is an elevation view of an MS tower according to an
aspect of the present invention shown partially loaded with a
single comdav traversing a linear drive tube.
[0071] FIG. 26 is a cross-section view of the MS tower of FIG. 25
showing the twin rows of bins and bin access provided from
above.
[0072] FIG. 27 is a end view of a tubular vehicle path through
which a comdav is to travel according to another embodiment of the
present invention.
[0073] FIG. 28 is an end view of a comdav configured for operation
within the tubular vehicle path of FIG. 27.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)
[0074] Referring more specifically to the drawings, for
illustrative purposes the present invention is embodied in the
apparatus generally shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 28. The detailed
description exemplifies specific embodiments of the invention which
are described in sufficient detail so as to allow a person of
ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention without undue
experimentation. It will be appreciated that the apparatus may vary
as to configuration and as to details of the parts without
departing from the basic concepts as disclosed herein.
[0075] An overview of the general process for providing temporal
patient dosing 10 according to the invention is given by FIG. 1. An
individual 12, also alternately referred to as consumer, patient,
or user, is operating an internet enabled computer or appliance 14,
accessing through the Internet 16 a web site hosted by a web server
18. Within the web site the individual can establish a dosing
schedule by selecting the times during each day and the medications
and/or supplements (MS) to be taken at those times. The web site
served by the web server 18 sends orders and operates with data
provided by an MS data base server 20. It will be appreciated that
alternative forms of data communication, such as electronic data
interchange, XML, and so forth may be utilized to allow the
consumer to establish dosing schedules and select the elements
within the doses. Furthermore, the communication system may be
integrated within, or operate in conjunction with an institutional
computer system, such as a hospital, nursing-home, and similar
systems that may act as a consumer on behalf of a patient. It
should also be appreciated that institutions often prefer their own
interface wherein alternative communication protocols are
established for communicating the dose information to the temporal
dosing system without departing from the present invention.
Preferably, however, the fulfillment portion of the invention
operates with a web site interface. Orders are routed through a
portion of a backend server, here exemplified as a set of ERP
software 22 (Enterprise Resource Planning) for tying in the various
ordering, stocking, and other services for the MS doses order. The
ERP software 22 also qualifies orders and determines if another of
the distribution sites should handle the order. Additional
corporate systems 24 may be tied in for managing associated
corporate activities. A factory automation system 26, which is
associated with the temporal dosing system, receives the processed
orders which have been checked by the ERP system 22. The factory
automation (FA) system 26 interfaces with equipment within an MS
repository and packetizer system 28. A set of packets 30 for the
consumer 12, is shown comprising a series of packets 32a through
32z. It will be appreciated that although it is preferable to
separately retain each of the doses within individual packets which
are joined to one another in a given order such as date sequential
for a single patient, or by patient number (for multiple patients
within an institutional setting); the doses may be alternatively
packages in any convenient form which allows a set of MS which was
selected to be taken at a given time to be easily retrieved for use
by the consumer without departing from the present invention. Each
individual packet is preferably configured with an indicia
containing information about whom the individualized dose has been
created for, and the time that the dose is to be taken. For example
each packet may contain the name of who is to take the packet, for
example "John Q. Doe" and their address, should the packet get
misplaced, "1564 Motherlode Drive, Gold River, Calif. 95670". Each
Dose packet preferably contains the date and time the dose is to be
taken, for example a series may appear as: "8:00 AM on Tuesday,
Feb. 1, 2000", "2:00 PM on Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000", "8:00 PM on
Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000", "8:00 AM on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2000", . . .
"8:00 PM on Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000". The packet may include
additional information such as "Take with food" and any other
precautions. Inserted instructions or content list may also be
included within each packet. In addition, the packet may contain
information listing information about the supplements contained
therein. The string of individualized packets is boxed with any
other portions of the order 34, and shipped, as represented by
truck 36. The order 34 arrives at consumer 12 containing a series
of individualized doses configured by the consumer according to a
dosing schedule and packaged for convenient use.
[0076] Further shown in FIG. 1 are a medical link 38 and a
prescription link 40. The medical link provides numerous functions
which allow a medical practitioner, or other health professional,
to be involved with the individualized dose ordering process. For
example, the doctor may verify an order of an individual prior to
the order being fulfilled. The doctor may also, if so directed by
the patient, directly edit the schedule and MS selection of an
individual pending approval by the patient. The doctor may also
directly enter prescriptions into the system for a particular
patient, subject of course to patient approval. The prescription
link 40 may be utilized similar to the medical link 38, however it
provides an interface for pharmacies. Organizations with a
fiduciary relationship with the consumer, such as an insurance
carrier, may also gain access to the system with the prescription
link 40, or similar, at the consent of the patient to allow for
insurance company authorizations, payments, or advise regarding
coverage of the selected MS doses. To facilitate recommendations
and dosing supervision, the system provides for a time and/or
access sensitive password to be issued by any registered user. The
patient can thereby give a temporary password to a health
practitioner so that the practitioner may review the dosing
schedule which has been established and make suggestions. Notes can
be left with the advise so that the recommendations can be more
readily understood.
[0077] FIG. 2 depicts a set 30 of individualized custom doses 30
exemplified as being contained within sealed glassine packets. At
least a portion of three separate individualized doses 32b, 32c,
32d, are illustrated in FIG. 2 with a container portion of the
packet 42 retaining MS 44 selected according to a schedule
established by the consumer, or health-care institutional proxy
thereof. Information about the packet, such as who is to take the
individualized dose and when is it to be taken are preferably
provided within an indicia 46 that is either directly applied to
the packets, or on labels. An optional bar code, or other
machine-readable mechanism, may be incorporated within the package
to allow for registration within an institutional setting. The
packets 32b-32d are shown in a tear-away configuration having a
perforated seam 48 between each packet.
[0078] FIG. 3 illustrates the string of packets containing
individualized custom doses, such as 32c, loaded within a packet
reel 34 that is capable of functioning as a shipping container as
well. The packets preferably exit the packet reel 34 at a slot 50,
and the packet reel 34 is preferably configured with consumer
information 52 to assure receipt and use by the proper individual,
in addition to machine readable indicia such as a bar code 54. The
indented circular area 56 provides for retaining a cylindrical
packet retention core (not shown) in the proper position within the
packet reel 34.
[0079] FIG. 4A depicts sealed dose cups 60 according to another
aspect of the invention. The dose cups 60 have a cup portion 62, a
lid 64, and preferably a pull-tab 66 to facilitate removal of lid
64. The dose cup 60 is shown retaining solid form 44 MS. FIG. 4B
illustrates a dose cup being used for retaining a quantity of
liquid form 68 MS.
[0080] FIG. 5 shows a general flowchart 70 of a consumer ordering a
set of individualized doses over a web site. The process starts 72
as an individual logs on 74 to the site. New users detected at
block 76 are directed into an account initialization routine 78
within which the identification of the consumer is established and
the parameters of use are determined and/or disclosed. A dose
schedule 80 is set up by the consumer to establish the times during
each day (a 24 hour period) that a dose is to be taken. A day may
be broken down into any number of dose intervals, for instance
individuals commonly take supplements from one to three times
daily, while medications are typically scheduled within doses to be
taken from one to four times daily. The consumer determines the
times at which each collection of MS comprising a dose is to be
taken, unless over-ridden or countermanded by the supervision of an
authorized health-care practitioner. Usually, the consumer elects
the default case wherein all doses for the month follow the same
set of dose intervals, however, the user is alternatively allowed
to set different time periods for each day, and different schedules
for each week within a given month, or other selected time period
over which the doses are being collected. It should be recognized,
however, that the time periods selected are those attached to the
specific dose packets, and that the individual may alternately
elect to name the doses, such as "morning" and "evening", or
"morning", "noon", and "night". The selection of a dosing schedule
allows the consumer to set the name of the time period that they
are comfortable with. Within an institutional setting, the time
periods are selected by medical practitioners in accord with
established facility protocols. Custom dose profile intervals may
be programmed that allow the user to fit a varying dose schedule
into a week or month. Custom dose profiles also allow the user to
add specific supplements to a weekly or monthly regimen based on
activity, for example wherein an overlay of doses is added, or
subtracted, from a base-line set of standard doses. One application
of this would be the case in which anticipated high aerobic
activity during a weekend may require different supplements than
high stress activity during the workweek. Custom dosing can be
entered at any time, and preferably allows for customization within
each given week or over longer periods such as the month, or
extended to multiple months. If a weekly view of the dosing
schedule is selected, then a seven day week is shown and the user
can add or subtract MS from any of the days of the week. Each week
within the month will then be generated with this custom week dose
profile. Upon switching to a month view of the dosing schedule,
then the user can perform the same over that period of a month. A
month span is often useful especially for those that user regular
fasting or other monthly activities. An athlete may perhaps log on
and set a new order each month based upon their training and race
schedule for the following month. Although the weekly and monthly
views should provided sufficient selectivity for the majority of
situations, the dosing schedule may be viewed over any desired
period of time. Typical consumers would generally establish between
two to four dose intervals for each day of the week, although any
number may be supported.
[0081] Specific MS are then selected at block 82, such as by MS
category, indication/desired, or by specific selection, for entry
into the dosing schedule. The selected MS is then checked in
relation to the other selected MS and information about the
individual, at block 84, wherein the possibility of interactions is
assayed and communicated to the individual. In some cases the
system preferably will require that the individual select alter one
or more MS comprising the dose if a significant risk is indicated,
and will make suggestions as to alternatives. As an example of
alternatives, consider a consumer that has selected Glucosamine as
one of the MS within the dosing schedule and they have a medical
condition, or are taking a medication for which the taking of
Glucosamine is contraindicated. The system selects other
alternatives, such as Sam-E, and suggests these to the consumer.
Once checked, the selected MS is entered into the dose schedule at
block 86. The individual continues entering doses, represented as
the loopback at block 88, until all desired MS have been entered
into the dose schedule. It will also be appreciated that for
convenience the consumer may select to automatically add a
particular MS to a particular day's dose spanning a week a month.
The consumer can also elect to remove an MS that been entered into
the schedule on a week, month, or daily dose basis. The check for
drug interactions and contraindications continues as the consumer
populates the dosing schedule.
[0082] The completed schedule of individualized doses is then
submitted at block 90. At block 92 the individualized dose order is
checked to assure that billing, shipping and all related
information is prepared. The order for individualized doses
according to the schedule is then posted to the order fulfillment,
or packaging system, within the present invention and the consumer
is notified of proper order receipt. A block diagram of the major
functions within the packetizing system are shown in block 98, as
an order is triggered at block 100 for fulfillment. It will be
appreciated that the time for fulfilling the order is preferably
determined by the date and time that the first individualized dose
packet within the order are to be taken; modified of course by user
settings as to lead time. The order is then pulled up at block 102
and preferably verified before fulfillment is allowed. The
individualized doses are then collected at block 104 and the
collection is packaged within individualized packets, or
containers, whereupon the order is boxed and shipped to the
consumer at block 108. The method was described by way of example
and not of limitation, as the invention may be practiced in
numerous variations without departing from the inventive
principles. It will be appreciated that the "consumer" may be an
individual consumer purchasing medications and supplements for
their own use, or an institutional buyer, ordering MS for those
patient under their care. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that
the described web site interaction may be alternately implemented
with other communications mechanisms, such as custom web sites,
secure email data interchange, EDI, XML, custom interfaces, and so
forth to allow the dosing system of the present invention to be
integrated with a particular institutional care facility, such as a
hospital, nursing-home, and so forth. Institutional care facilities
will typically order MS for a plurality of patients for a
particular day, or for extended periods in the case of a
nursing-home, however, these facilities generally have their own
ordering protocols which are facilitated by the present system.
[0083] FIG. 6 depicts another embodiment 110 for providing
individualized custom doses to a consumer, which utilizes a few
enhancements in relation to FIG. 5. The individual enters the site
at block 112 and logs onto the system at block 114. If it is a new
user as determined at block 116, then a new account is initialized
and a series of information is collected commencing with sufficient
identification and billing information at block 120. As per block
122, the individual may continue on to specify the desired
interface style to be used, the preferences and links for linking
prescriptions into the system, the preferences and links for
providing dose supervision, the preferences and links for getting
information regarding insurance coverage in certain MS and for
submitting claims for reimbursement, preferences can be entered to
determine how the system will process and represent the order,
including parameters facilitating the automatic fulfillment of
individualized dose orders, wherein an automatic reorder is
performed by a certain critical date if information, or new dosing
information, is not otherwise received within the system. If
selected by the user, the system is capable of placing recurrent
orders without the need of user intervention, and will notify the
user should a question arise as to the availability of one or more
MS selected by the user for an upcoming order. Still further at
block 124, the individual can enter the dosing interval, set the
time span of the order along with start and stop times, select
repetitive dosing parameters, and various user preferences. These
setting may also be accessed via block 126, by any valid user
entering the system.
[0084] The consumer establishes a personal library, a "short-list",
to use for selecting MS at block 128, and may additionally tag
selected MS entries to simplify later searches. It will be
appreciated that the repository of MS associated with the system
may contain many tens of thousands of medications and supplements
from which to choose. Therefore, the consumer (or medical
professional within an institution) is encouraged to select a
short-list within the library to speed the selection of MS for
populating the dosing schedule. The selection of MS from the
library into this "short-list" compiled by the consumer has a
number of advantages. Once the consumer has compiled this
short-list they need not peruse the huge MS database whenever
changes to a dosing schedule are made. For example, from
month-to-month a consumer may change the brand, or dosage, of a
particular supplement, such as Grape Seed Extract. Preferably, they
will have selected a few alternatives when compiling their
short-list that they can select from each month, or other period,
when setting up a new dosing schedule. A personal MS library
short-list simplifies the entry of MS into the dosing schedule
because the user need not vacillate between a selecting types of MS
from a huge list, and the entry of these into a schedule by which
they are to be taken. The short list also essentially provides a
"scratchpad" area, or "personal apothecary", from which they may
wish to choose at a future time. The system allows the consumer to
enter notes into each MS that is pulled into their personal library
short list. The personal MS library, short list, is provided to
allow a consumer, (or institutional buyer) to select MS from the
master library that they may wish to use now or in the future.
Tagging of MS entries, allows the user to prioritize how lists are
generated in relation to the master library. For example, entering
a "selection priority" allows the individual to establish a
relationship amongst a set of alternative choices that overrides
preferences selected by the user. The individual may set their
initial preferences for example to give priority to high-quality
supplements, or alternatively; all natural herbals, or the lowest
price alternative. The individual may over-ride the base level
preference with specific hierarchy within a particular class of MS.
Other forms of tags preferably include "external", "suggested",
"not suggested", and "PersList". External doses are those being
taken external to this system, for example one is eating bulk
Gingko Biloba. External allows the person to track even their uses
which occur outside of the system, which include bottled
medications which for one reason or another are not being supplied
by means of the system. "Suggested" doses are those which would
normally be suggested by a health care practitioner. "Not
Suggested" doses are those which are not recommended by the
practitioner for the particular individual. MS marked with
"PersList" are retained in the short list of items pre-selected by
the individual to simplify recurrent dose changes. The preceding
tags were described by way of example and numerous other tags and
variations can be created without departing from the teachings of
the invention. It will be also be appreciated that the majority of
users make few changes to the list of MS being taken, therefore,
once the initial scheduling of individualized doses are in place,
the individual need not reenter MS or scheduling information unless
and until a change is desired or necessitated. An MS manufacturer
itself may be added to the "Not Suggested" category of the short
list, in various situations, such as if the consumer does not like
the quality or lack of environmental concern being typified by the
manufacturer. In a similar manner, individual manufacturers may be
given a preferential rating wherein the display of the MS library
(entire or personal) can be ranked according to consumer
preference. It should appreciated, however, that the consumer may
bypass the use of personal MS library and alternatively select MS
directly from the entire MS library database for insertion into the
MS dosing schedule.
[0085] In addition to a personal MS library, the system can support
the use of any number of other subdivisions of the MS library. For
example, health related professionals, organizations, magazines,
and so forth may provide a ranking of the efficiency of supplements
for the system wherein the consumer may elect to pull selections
from one or more of these sublibraries. These sublibrary rankings
from may take the form of templates provided by manufacturers, and
recommendations from a variety of sources, from which a baseline
personal MS library is established from which changes may be made.
For example, the user may wish to utilize MS that have been well
tested, and perhaps they download a list of from a consumer
advocacy group of MS that have passed their testing. The user could
then modify this list as desired, to suit specific purposes.
Templates provide a pre-selected set of MS generally based on
health parameters of the individual, such as for an individual that
is hypoglycemic.
[0086] After establishing their own personal library from which to
select MS, the individual may enter the MS at block 132 into the
schedule they have defined. The important elements regarding
prescriptions that are received within the system (preferably
securely) may not be changed by the individual, although they may
shift specified dosing intervals as long as the changes are minor
and not of consequence to treatment. In addition, depending on the
preferences which are established, the prescription may be filled
with an alternative, such as a generic, as would be in keeping with
various health-maintenance organizations. The MS being selected is
evaluated in relation to the MS already loaded into the schedule to
determine if any interactions, or other complications appear
likely. The user is notified of these cases. A series of MS may be
entered into the schedule until all desired MS is contained within
the schedule, as detected by block 134. Once the order of
individualized custom doses has been defined by the user, they are
provided with the option of having their dose schedule verified, at
block 138. This may be performed in a number of ways to allow the
individual to get feedback from their doctor, or other healthcare
practitioner, or to alternatively determine insurance issues. The
order is submitted, without verification if desired, and the
manufacturing portion of the system then packages the
individualized doses according to the schedule set by the user and
ships the set of doses to the consumer at block 140, whereupon the
session is terminated at block 142.
[0087] FIG. 7 illustrates processing of individualized custom doses
150 for individuals within an institutional setting. It will be
appreciated that patient conditions within a institution, such as a
hospital, can change rapidly and may warrant frequent delivery,
such as daily, in contrast to the anticipated monthly or bimonthly
ordering by which individual consumers would tend to order their
MS. The system therefore preferably handles the ordering the
processing in a slightly different manner.
[0088] The system provides significant benefits for use by
institutions such as hospitals, mental patient facilities, and
nursing homes, to alleviate the burdensome overhead of dose
procurement and dispensing. It should also be appreciated that the
present invention is capable of reducing the number of dosing
errors which cause more patient deaths each year than the number of
people dying from automotive accidents. The institutions thereby
can safeguard patient from dosing errors and reduce their liability
from these mistakes by virtue of having the present system assemble
each dose. The system can also collect the separate pills within a
particular dose more safely at a lower cost per dose than is
possible within the hospital. However, since each hospital
generally has its own systems and routines for performing daily
operations, a custom interface and process of handling transactions
with each hospital must be established to the system for providing
temporal patient dosing. It is anticipated that in many cases an
institution will use XML, or similar communication mechanisms, to
integrate their own system with the present system exemplified by
the web site functionality. Preferably the institution will
integrate their system with the present invention, whereby the
medical practitioners in charge of a particular patient can display
a dosing chart for the patient, to which necessary changes may be
made. These authorized changes are then communicated, such as by
XML, over an IP connection to the dosing temporal dosing system of
the present invention wherein the customized dosing may be
provided. Preferably, the dosing orders would be communicated as a
batch according to a schedule set by the institution, which allows
for increased efficiency and additional checks on the MS being
selected.
[0089] A method of processing 150 an institutional order is
exemplified. The authorized medical practitioner, or authorized
institutional buyer, accesses the system at block 152 and logs on
at block 154. The patient whose dosing is to be entered or changed
is entered in block 156. If the patient is new, as detected at
block 158, additional information is entered at block 160 which is
exemplified by identification information, patient location (or
delivery order) information, and the medical condition of the
patient. The user is provided a wide assortment of choices
regarding the scheduling of individualized doses, only a sample of
which are shown in FIG. 7. Should the user elect to delete certain
MS, as found in block 162, the change is performed in block 164. If
the user selects to add an MS, as per block 166, then the specific
MS is selected at block 168 and an interaction check performed at
block 170. If the MS does not fit within the established schedule,
as determined at block 172, then the schedule may be revised so as
to allow accommodation at block 174, and block 164. If an MS is not
being added to the schedule, yet operations for this patient are
not complete, as determined by block 176, then additional functions
are accessed 178, to continue processing functions. Once all MS for
the patient have been entered within the system, then a
notification/verification is posted to the user at block 180, and
if all patient data has been entered, as per block 182, the user
logs out 152. It should be appreciated that preferably the
institutional systems will perform portions of the above functions,
wherein the institutional purchaser is in the position of only
needing to check elements of the order and facilitate any specific
delivery needs.
[0090] FIG. 8 exemplifies a fulfillment process 190 within an
institutional setting wherein individualized doses are delivered
according to the present invention. The fulfillment process is
triggered at block 192, typically by a time, or system status
conditions wherein the fulfillment process is initialized at block
194 to an institution associated with the event condition. The
patient record is incremented (i.e. from a "-1" initial state) at
block 196. If the last patient is detected at block 198, then the
fulfillment list has been created, otherwise block 200 executes to
check the listed MS doses for the patient and compare it with
recently received information regarding, patient status,
contraindications, and availability. If no problems are detected,
then the data for the MS doses associated with this patient
(generally a single day of doses) is added to the fulfillment list
at block 202. After checking all patients associated with the
institution, the fulfillment list is sorted at block 204 into
delivery order according to a delivery routing determined by the
institution. The overall order parameters are checked and the list
is transmitted at block 206 for fulfillment by the packetizing
system. If orders for more institutions need to be processed as
detected by block 208, then the institution is incremented 210 and
the loop restarts; otherwise the session terminates until a new
trigger condition is received. Packaging the individual doses is
shown in a simplified three block process starting at block 214
wherein the individual doses according to the fulfillment list are
collected and packaged, followed by shipment at block 216 and
notification of shipment at block 218.
[0091] A number of common features are anticipated to be
characteristic of institutional dosing. Daily deliveries of patient
doses are expected to be standard practice for institutions such as
hospitals due to the rapidly changing nature of patient dose
schedules. The overhead and risk of daily deliveries is thereby
mitigated by employing regional fulfillment locations for creating
the doses, so that the package of doses will always be timely.
Hospitals and their purchasing agents are expected to have
additional needs for tracking and for speeding the process of
loading dose schedules. In an institutional web site interface the
dose administrator may set up general profiles used by each doctor
for numerous conditions, these profiles can be modified and applied
to a patient. Close monitoring of the dose selections are necessary
with the number and frequency of changes required, and daily review
and updating of patient doses may be necessary. Doctors may for
example log onto a site and check the dose schedules for any of
their patients.
[0092] Prescriptions can be entered by a doctors office, through a
secured link (encoded) to a web site interface to the system. It
will be appreciated that MS being taken short term (1-2 weeks) may
be taken as a separate medication that augments the individualized
custom dose packet. However, the system can accommodate even short
term changes to a dosing schedule. The medication can be sent out
as piggyback doses for the current month of doses, while a
permanent or semi-permanent medication becomes part of the patients
daily doses, as sent out monthly, for the time period as specified
by the doctor. Alternately, if near the end of a month, then the
pills can be added to the next months supply which could be sent a
little bit early (reduces postage cost & increases
convenience). Properly established, the burden of insurance billing
can also be ameliorated. Generally the medicine, so prescribed,
would be sent out later that same day or overnight. Regional
distribution facilities with packetizing order fulfillment provide
flexibility with regard to delivery of the dose packets.
[0093] Insurance companies tied into the system can be billed for
doses prescribed over the network. A standard billing interface
with the doctors offices is provided such that they need not deal
with the vagaries of the individual insurance providers, while the
system provides data in a format most suitable to each of the
various insurance companies. These insurance companies can, at
patients consent, review the established dose schedules. This data
also provides useful statistical information for an insurance
company.
[0094] FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 shows relationships 310 between a series
of example web pages on which an embodiment for a temporal patient
dosing web site is supports. A home page at block 312 is
encountered upon first entry from which the user is provided with a
number of choices, including a collection of informational pages at
block 314-326 which provide useful information on the company such
as general company info, history, policies, consumer relations,
investor relations, employment, and contact information. A site
tour at block 332 is available, and the person browsing the web
site can access reports on various medications at block 328 and
supplements at block 330. A registration entry at block 334 is
provided for signing up individual consumers and placing orders on
the system. After agreeing to the use policies of the system, the
user may enter authorization information at block 336 to establish
the parameters of their account. Additionally, the user is
encouraged to enter insurance information at block 338 and
personal/medical information at block 340. The entry of
personal/medical information at block 340 is optional and
confidential, however, it allows the system to provide enhanced
interaction checking. For example, an individual may enter their
age, weight, sex, specific medical problems, health goals, risk
factors (i.e. smoker, drinker, hypoglycemic) wherein the data base
can factor this information in assessing the doses being provided,
wherein it may recommend certain supplements that appear proper to
the profile given. The individual is still responsible for
selecting the doses but the system can provide feedback. When pills
are purchased by the bottle, it is not possible to easily assess
the combinations of pills being taken. A secure entry point at
block 342 provides a hook to allow prescription entry access or
access to dose schedules for other authorized health care
professionals. Access from the home pages continues via connector
"A" at block 344 to FIG. 10 wherein a set of order processing pages
are shown stemming from connection "A" at block 346. After
registration a consumer may proceed by setting up a dose schedule
at block 348. The dose scheduling page allows establishing the
number of times per day that doses are to be taken. The
establishment of the schedule may be depend on, or are preferably
automatically based upon, the dose interval requirements of one or
more important prescribed medications.
[0095] Each dose selected for entry into the dosing schedule need
not be the same as other doses during the same day, week or month,
as the system allows wide customization (except in the case of
prescribed medications, wherein the flexibility is intentionally
constrained). The ease with which prepackaged doses can be handled
and integrated into an individual's daily life encourage spreading
out the doses to maximize effectiveness and minimize interactions.
Scheduling elections are also made between a piggyback page at
block 350 and a normal (monthly) scheduling page at block 352.
Piggyback scheduling can be established at any time during the
month, even if the month's supply of doses has just been received.
The piggyback schedule is established as a temporary schedule of
additions to the current month. The piggyback doses are preferably
sent as a set of augmentation packets that preferably attach
singularly to each remaining dose packet for the month. The
elections of the piggyback doses are then either cleared or
integrated into the regular monthly dose schedule at user option.
Dose selection at block 354 allows an individual to select from
supplements and over the counter medications spanning a wide array
of health areas. An individual is provided with information about
each supplement and may get in-depth information about supplements
from a number of manufacturers. Lists of supplements and
medications can be accessed by a search at block 356, by effect or
indication 358, or by category 360. It will be appreciated that
consumers select drugs for their desired effects and not for the
chemistry involved, therefore, it is preferable within the present
invention to allow the consumer to select MS based on what they are
trying to achieve. Categorizing by indication/desired effect has
additional benefits, in that the system can properly suggest
alternatives, such as suggesting Sam-E instead of Glucosamine, if
one of the consumer's choices are contraindicated based on medical
information or previously selected MS. For example, mood
enhancement, inflammation pain relief, increase circulation, are
all effect such as may be chosen from a indication/desired effect
menu. The difference between indication and drug category can be
easily appreciated in another example, antioxidants are a drug
category that many MS fall into, including Vitamin C, Vitamin E,
Pignolia extract, Grape Seed extract, etc., however, antioxidants
are taken for a variety of reasons such as general health,
arthritis relief, eliminating bodily toxins, purging, and so forth.
It will be appreciated that the consumer may as a matter of
convenience alternate between these various MS selection
methods.
[0096] After proper dose selection, the user arrives at a selection
list at block 362 relevant to their selected criterion. The
selection list itself comprises item name, description, strength,
and cost, while the user can click to get additional information
about any of the items and may even open a link to the manufacturer
for additional information. Preferably the selection list comprises
a personal MS list providing rapid access for applying relevant
doses to a dose schedule. The selection list shown at block 362
preferably provides a dose selection grid so that the user can
apply the dose to the dose schedule which they have established. As
described previously, a selected MS can be configured with a
variety of tags, and the user may also add comments to go with the
dose item selected. Examples: "Jane recommended this herb",
"article in June Vitamin News", and so forth. Tag categories of
tags may be additionally selected to allow for rapid sorting.
Automatic interaction checks are performed upon each selection, if
a problem or cautionary note is in order then an interaction area
as per block 364, opens up. The user can ignore, or delete the
selected item. The interaction notes are still available at other
portions of the system and important notes are preferably printed
out with the package insert that is shipped with the package of
doses, and even preferably on the individual dose packet if the
precaution is of sufficient severity. When an individual has
entered all the supplements and medications as desired, then they
would access the order processing page at block 366 wherein all the
final details of the order are handled. The individual will receive
a set of individually wrapped doses labeled with their name, date
and time that the dose is to be taken and a summary of
precautions.
[0097] FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 further exemplify the functions and
interface of the temporal dosing system of the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrated a web page 410 according to an aspect of the
present invention for allowing the user to select doses to be
included within their order of individualized doses. The user name
is prominently displayed 412, so as no confusion as to intended
party can exist. MS selection can be modified in a number of ways,
for example the drop down field 414 allows the selection of the
type of database upon which the MS are to be looked up. For
example, the supplement database is illustrated, other databases
can include over-the-counter, or prescription, medications and a
wide variety of additional sources. The list is organized by
category 416, wherein the MS are displayed according to the
ingredient, instead of by indication/desired effect or other
classification metric. A subcategory is shown by drop down 418,
shown displaying antibiotics.
[0098] The selection list itself 420 preferably comprises a number
of information fields. A legend 422 indicates which fields are
represented, which is exemplifies showing a price per milligram
424, price per thirty tablets 426, and preferably includes
miniature photos of the actual MS 428. The selection list 420
contains MS which may be found within the associated MS repository
of the system, or be associated thereto for ordering purposes. The
list of MS may be scrolled to reach any selection within the
repository. The selection list includes names for categories 432
along with specific MS names 434 and basic information about the
MS. Additional information may be looked up by clicking one or more
of the hyperlinks 436 within the list to retrieve the type of
information desired. Placing the cursor over any pill image causes
a small pop-up to appear which indicates the type and dosage level
of the pill. A note section 438 is provided to allow the user to
take, or cut and paste, notes concerning the various medications
and supplements. A pill cup representing a personal MS library 440,
allows the user to click and drop any of the pill shapes 428 into
the cup in order that the item be added to their personal MS
library for use within a dosing schedule. It will be appreciated
that a number of pill cups, or other such logical reservoirs
representative of MS libraries may be provided.
[0099] FIG. 12 represents populating a dosing schedule 450. The
user name "John Q. Doe" 452 is again represented for clarity. The
name of the saved personal MS library is "DAILY" 454, and "ALL"
weeks have been selected to be identical within the dosing interval
which defaulted to one month. Alternatively, single weeks; such as
week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, and week 5 may be selected such
that variations between weeks may be incorporated. The week field
456 may be toggled to allow for adapting an ALL-week schedule with
changes to suit the schedule. A template name, "John at Home" was
entered for saving the template built with the present page. The
category "Antioxidants" is being displayed 460 from the personal MS
library and is associated with the list 462, below it comprising a
photo of the MS (pill in this case) 464, a description 466 and a
scrolling bar 468. The user can scroll through the personal
library, or originating template and click and drag pills from the
list to the proper position of the dosing schedule 470. Each cell
of the dosing schedule represents a single custom individualized
dose which comprises a plurality of MS units, whether solid pills
or other forms. The system may shrink the image of the MS (pills)
464 when they are inserted within the schedule so that adequate
space remains for additional pills. In the example shown the user
has selected three dosing intervals for their dosing schedule, and
three rows were thus generated on the web page 472a, 472b, 472c.
User selected times defined within the dosing preferences are shown
as 8:00 A.M., 2:00 P.M., and 10:00 P.M. associated with each row of
doses intervals. A selected MS from the personal library 462, may
be dragged and dropped into any slot of the dosing schedule, and
multiple clicks will drop multiple MS units. In addition, if the
user wants to place the selected MS unit within each day of the
dosing schedule they may drop it into one of the funnels 474a,
474b, 474c on the right side of the dosing schedule, whereupon an
MS unit will be placed in each corresponding position of the
schedule. MS units may also be removed by dragging them from the
schedule into the removal bin 476. This simplifies both correction,
and population of a row. It will be appreciated that the system
does not allow the patient to select the number of pills or to set
an arbitrary scheduling for the taking of medications. The
prescription is received in a secure transaction, and the
individual is not allowed to change the overall number of pills
being dispensed in accord with the prescription and they are not
allowed to negatively impact the times at which the pills are to be
taken. For example, if the prescription were to indicate taking the
pills every 8 hours, then the patient would not be allowed, for
instance, to schedule the taking of the medications at four or six
hour intervals. This feature provides a large measure of health
safety, since the individuals are substantially constrained to
taking the correct prescription in order to gain the convenience of
the individualized doses. As the MS units are selected, or
alternatively entered into the dosing schedule, the relationship
between the selected MS units is checked to look for interactions,
while the MS units are individually checked against the health
information provided by the individual to look for
contraindications. Any information regarding possible problems,
such as contraindications, negative side effects, and so forth are
displayed within the window 478, which is provided with a scroll
bar 480, and a print button 482. After all the desired doses are
scheduled, the user can elect to have the list verified for
content, or reimbursement purposes. For example, the user may elect
to submit the schedule to their primary-care physician, in this
case Dr. Smith, (as determined by optional setup information
provided by the customer) by clicking the button 486. Dr. Smith is
then sent an email, or other communication, containing the proposed
schedule and information about the selected MS units. The doctor
reviews the schedule, either in a form outside of the present
system (such as a printout), or may view the dosing scheduling
within the temporal dosing system in behalf of the patient. The
physician then respond back to the user, or depending on
preferences, submit the order for processing. Similarly, the user's
insurance company, Health Nut, in this case may be queried
regarding what they are willing to reimburse by clicking the
associated button 490. Additional forms of verification and
notification may be provided, and the user may elect to have the
order processed without intervention, whereby the order is just
submitted by clicking on the submit button 492. The simplicity with
which a user may establish individualized custom dosing is readily
apparent within the preceding screen shots, and it should be
appreciated that a huge amount of functionality is hidden within
the upper row of selection mechanisms 494, for example, the Table
of the dosing schedule may be manipulated with the conventional row
and column selections and manipulations mechanisms.
[0100] The present system and method for providing individualized
temporal dosing has described embodiments for interfacing with a
prospective dose consumer, or practitioner, and the establishment
of a dosing schedule for which individualized doses are prepared.
In addition, the present system provides a system and method that
provides economical and fault tolerant packetizing of the
individualized doses.
[0101] FIG. 13 exemplifies an embodiment of an individualized
custom packetizer system 510 according with an aspect of the
present invention. The system has advantages over conventional
packaging technology which involves the creation of identical
product batches at stations arranged over a conveyor. The
conveyor/station model requires a fixed periodic product flow while
the stations do not lend themselves to a highly customized product.
The present invention provides a system in which a fully customized
product is assembled within a dedicated fulfillment center that is
capable of efficient operation over a wide product throughput
range. The embodied invention as represented in FIG. 13 is shown
with four pill towers 512, 514, 516, 518 each containing a
repository of pills in pill bins that are arranged as two sets of
parallel pill shelves 520, 522. Additional pill towers may be added
to the system to increase pill selection. These pill shelves
contain vertically-stacked rows of bins which are interconnected by
a generally fixed set of traversal paths 524, 526, 528. A set of
paths 530, 532a through 532d connect a packetizing station 534 to
the pill towers 512, 514, 516, 518. The packetizing station 534 is
provided with packaging materials from a receive station 536.
Incoming compartmentalized dose assembly vehicles (comdavs) with
their individualized custom pill doses are unloaded, such as by
inverted rotation and optional vibratory jogging, to displace their
contents into the packetizing station 534 which seals the
individual doses as individual packets of pills. The completed
packages are inspected within check station 538 prior to being
boxed and shipped out.
[0102] FIG. 14 depicts a representative pill bin 550 containing
pills 552 which may be dispensed to the comdavs. A bin housing 554a
is preferably a clear plastic housing for retaining the pills with
a lid 554b. The bin housing 554a is affixed to a dispenser housing
556 which contains a selector/dispensing mechanism 558 and a
dispensing tube 560 with integral optical detector. A bin
controller 562 contains a microcontroller that receives input from
the dispensing mechanism 558, dispensing tube 560, while
controlling optional bin jogger 564 and the front and rear error
LEDs, 566a, 566b, and communicating with the shelf level controller
(not shown). An electrical connector 568 supplies power and signals
to pill bin 550. A front view of pill bin 550 is shown in FIG. 15.
The pill bins 550 are preferably inserted within bin racks such
that their dispensing tube is aligned with a comdav as it traverses
the interconnection paths.
[0103] A primary element of pill bin 550 is the selector/dispensing
mechanism 558 which controls the collection of individual pills
from the bin and the ejection of each pill out of the dispensing
tube 560. Selecting a pill from the bin requires that an individual
pill be oriented and segregated from the remaining contents of the
bin. It is preferable that the rate of dispensing for the pill bins
match the speed of a moving comdav, such requires generally that a
pill can be dispensed at intervals of 50-100 mS. Initially comdavs
are set within this embodiment to travel at a single speed which is
equal to the maximum allowed loading speed of between one to four
feet per second. The constant speed simplifies the processing of
the comdavs while having little effect on throughput, as comdavs in
fast transit would otherwise need to either wait for slower comdavs
being filled, or would need a path to go around them. The addition
of passing lanes for faster traffic may be added at a later time to
provide additional temporal dose processing speed.
[0104] Achieving a given dispensing rate is simplified within the
selector/dispenser of the present invention by pre-loading a series
of separate pills into a cartridge, or compartments within selector
558. The preloaded doses thereby can be dispensed in rapid fire by
selector 558 into a moving comdav. Substantial time can exist
between successive comdavs into which a selected pill is to be
dispensed, therefore the pill bin has ample time to pre-load a set
of doses. The central operating computer dispatches the comdavs in
a sequence so that time exists for pre-loading of a bin which has
just dispensed pills. Duplicate pill bins should be in service for
pills that have a high probability of being used as multiples per
dose, so that multiple trips through the packetizing system are not
required. The pre-load mechanism provides additional advantages as
it senses a shortage of pills in the pill bin prior to a dispensing
attempt into a comdav and assures a consistent buffered supply of
pills. As pills are manufactured in a variety of shapes, sizes,
textures, and materials; the pill selector/dispenser is preferably
configured for the specific pill type to minimize loading time and
minimize jamming. The selector/dispenser should also preferably
contain a load counter which verifies that a pill, and only one
pill, has been selected. The optional bin jogger 564 can be
activated by the controller 562 to alleviate static friction
between the pills and bins to assure proper pill dispensing. The
bin jogger 564 vibrates the bin at a variable, preferably sweeping
across a range of frequencies to maximize dislodgement. The bin
jogger may be implemented from a variety of mechanisms, including:
off-center weighted motors, piezoelectric transducers, solenoids,
and buzzers. The dispensing tube 560 is oriented to dispense
individual pills into compartments of the comdav and contains a set
of optical sensors. A first optical sensor is directed toward the
passing comdav and detects the bin openings of the comdav as well
as bar code information from the moving comdav. In this way the
correct comdav is verified prior to dispensement and the
dispensement timing is correlated to the bin openings of the
comdav. A second optical sensor is directed to verify that a pill,
a single pill, has been dispensed into the comdav. Although the
selector/dispenser has already checked for a single pill, this
detector provides another level of assurance of proper loading.
Problems detected within the pill bin, such as a dispenser error,
or jam, are communicated to the shelf controller and up to the
central controller. Additionally, trouble lights/LEDs are located
fore and aft on the pill bins so that service personnel can quickly
locate the bin experiencing the error. The trouble light is also
set up as a watchdog timer and it will turn on automatically if no
messages have been received from the shelf controller or the bin
controller in the preceding three minutes. This assures that a
communication fault or processor breakdown will be detected
quickly.
[0105] The loading of pill bins occurs "off-line", wherein the bins
are preferably removed from the shelves to be loaded with
additional pills. The central controller maintains a running tally
of the number of pills loaded into each bin and each pill
dispensed; therefore the central controller tracks the level of
pills within every pill bin in the system. Work orders are
dispatched for line-workers as the number of pills in a bin gets
low, and a backup bin is put into service in one of the pill towers
(not necessary the same tower or location as the one that is
getting empty). Once the new pill bin is on-line, the next pill
assembly operation requiring that particular pill will receive
pills dispensed from the new bin to assure proper operation, and
then subsequently pills will be dispensed from the old bin until it
is empty, at which time the new bin will be used. Empty bins are
removed and replaced with the same or other pills. Empty bins are
cleaned and tested before being reloaded. A bin is loaded with new
pills and cards containing information about the type, dosage,
manufacturer, lot number, and a set of corresponding bar codes, are
slid into a jacket on both the back and front of the bin. Each bin
rack position also has an indicia with a unique alphanumeric name
and corresponding bar code. The controller can direct the service
person as to the best location for placing any given pill bin to
enhance the dose flow. The service person inserts the bin into a
rack and tests the bin, then by using a bar code reader,
(preferably a belt hung RF transmitting bar code reader) the bar
codes on both the shelf and the pill bin are read. By reading this
pair of bar codes, the central controller will have stored the
correspondence between pill type and the slot of the rack, and
further will know that the pill is now on-line for being dispensed.
A bin to be filled may also be filled with a fixed number of
dummies (fake pills), wherein the first action of the controller is
to dispatch a bin test vehicle, a small bindav, to collect the
dummies as a check on the functioning of the newly loaded bin.
Unloading of the dummies by a test operation of the packetizing
station checks that the proper number and order of pills was
dispensed which verifies the operation of the new bin.
[0106] FIG. 16 is an embodiment which exemplifies computational
resources 570 of the fulfillment portion of the temporal dosing
system which is shown in a hierarchical block diagram. Orders for
dose packets are received from any number of servers on the
network, here represented as a web server 572. The orders are
processed within a central order computer 573 which provides
shipping, billing, pill requirements, and status information to an
ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) 574 system for the enterprise.
The central controller oversees the inventory of the pill bins
whose status is maintained in a database 575, and the fulfillment
of orders within the system. The central computer actually operates
a number of program shells with the uppermost application being a
device independent database driven application while the lowest
level contains the communication protocols and may be configuration
for the specific hardware within the packetizing facility. One of
the lower level software routines within the central computer
contains a representation of the plant layout, procedures, timing,
and current status. Schedules are calculated for the orders which
are queued up within the database. The schedules are calculated
based upon a set of rules which take into account information about
the order and the state of the packetizing plant. A track control
computer 576 controls the operation of the linear electromagnetics
(or alternative propulsion mechanism), position sensors, and
switches along the fixed path upon which the comdavs operate. The
embodiment described contains four pill towers and each is provided
with its own controller 578, 580, 582, 584. The pill tower
controller is preferably a PC computer such that the monitor
provides tower status information. The pill tower controllers also
communicate with the track controller 576 as it is the master
authority on the position of the comdavs. The pill tower controller
communicates with each shelf of pill bins within the tower, in this
embodiment the tower has two racks, each containing five shelves. A
dedicated controller 586a, 586b, 588a, 588b, 590a, 590b, 592a,
592b, 594a, 594b; on each shelf communicates with the tower
controller and controls a set of bins 596a, 596b. The shelf
controller is preferably implemented with an small embedded PC
controller. Each pill bin also preferably contains a small
microcontroller to monitor and control the dispensing process
within the bin and provide for the communication of status
information with the shelf controller. The bin controller, for
example, may be implemented as an inexpensive microcontroller such
as a PIC16C64 from Microchip.TM. Incorporated. The bin controller
is given dispensement directions by the shelf controller based on
information received from the tower controller driven by the
central controller. The bin controller is very important as it can
read bar codes from passing comdavs and will correctly dispense a
set of pills into the correct compartments of a particular comdav.
The power of the bins for reading passing comdavs is also useful
for updating location data on each comdav. The bin controller
generates communication in response to communications from the
shelf controller (an preferably not independently which is
asynchronously to other bins), but can trigger a common fault line,
or event line, to asynchronously get the attention of the shelf
controller. It is possible to operate the entire individualized
custom packetizing system from a single computer, however doing so
would hamper performance of the system, perhaps even miring it with
I/O, while complicating the scaling of the system to different size
order fulfillment systems. Imagine the difficulties with central
computer controlling and receiving status reports from 50,000
individual pill bin controllers. It is possible to reduce the
amount of interaction with the bins, however, a lowered level of
communication reduces the speed at which problems will be detected
within the system. The preferred hierarchical structure removes
this I/O bottleneck while additionally providing increasing levels
of hardware independence, and safety.
[0107] FIG. 17 depicts the flow of the manufacturing process 600
for creating the individualized custom doses according to the
dosing schedule established by the user or practitioner. The
process is triggered at block 602 based on time in relation to the
desired delivery date and the status of the system. The order of
individualized doses is received within the packetizing system at
block 604. A vehicle containing a sufficient number of separate
collection areas is directed at block 606 to the pill bins. The
pill bins are directed to eject pills at block 608 into the
separate collection areas within a particular comdav vehicles. The
comdav vehicle traverses the circuitous routing of the pill bins
until the desired set of individual doses have been collected in
the separate collecting areas within the comdav vehicles, at which
time the collecting areas are separately unloaded at block 610 into
separate, or segmented packaging wherein each scheduled dose is
distinctly retained so that the pills, or other MS, comprising the
dose may be separately utilized as a single individualized dose.
Markings are preferably applied at block 612 to the individual dose
packets to aid identification, and the process is completed at
block 614 until another dose order arrives.
[0108] FIG. 18 is an embodiment of a comdav (compartmentalized dose
assembly vehicle) 700, with a view of the top shown. This comdav is
implemented with a round cross-section and travels in a preferably
transparent tube as it traverses the racks of pill bins. The front
of the comdav 702 preferably contains a bar code 704 which can be
read by the pill bins as the comdav 700 passes on its traversal of
the system. It should be appreciated, however, that bar codes are a
design choice and alternative registration mechanisms may be
deployed without departing from the present invention. A collection
of dose carriers 706, 708, 710, 712 are attached to one another and
the front of the comdav 702. A row of top-side wheels 714, 716 on
these comdav carriers lower the friction and stabilize the comdav
within the tube. The interior of each carrier 706, 708, 710, 712
within each comdav has dividers 718a through 718L such that
compartments 719a through 719L are formed within the carrier.
Individualized pill doses are loaded into these compartments one by
one through a slotted aperture 720, 722, 724, 726. In the side view
of FIG. 18 the main front and rear wheels 728, 730 of each comdav
carrier can be seen. A linear form of propulsion is depicted
wherein the side of the comdav contains embedded magnets 732a
through 732d1, such as powerful "rare-earth" magnets. The magnets
within this embodiment of the comdav form one half of a linear
electromagnetic drive mechanism, which will be discussed in greater
detail later. A cross section view of the comdav is shown in FIG.
20. The slot 720 can be seen as the entrance to a curved path into
the pill compartment, having an overlapping cover 721. Use of this
curved path provides a cover to prevent pills from being bounced
out of the pill compartment 719a through 719k while it smoothly
transitions the pill into the compartment.
[0109] The comdav preferably rides in a tube 750 in FIG. 21 shown
with electromagnetic strips 752a, 752b. One strip 752a in FIG. 22
is shown comprising a series of simple coils along its length. This
linear electromagnetic drive mechanism for the comdavs is located
along the sides of the tubes which contain electromagnetic strips
which are composed of a series of inductive windings arranged in a
series of phases, and controlled within sections. The alternate
activation of the phases of inductive windings creates an
electromotive force between the inductive windings and the magnets
725 embedded on the sides of the comdav. Conceptually, the windings
operate similar to the windings in a conventional rotating motor,
however the windings in this case are spread out linearly to effect
a linear translation instead of a rotation. The electromotive
forces constitute a driving force which is controlled directly by
the track controller. Using this form of linear electromagnetic
drive has a number of advantages. The speed of the comdav can be
precisely controlled by the track controller. Each comdav need not
contain its own power source and drive mechanisms, wherein the
resultant comdav is a simple sanitary mechanical structure
requiring no drive electronics and controls. Each comdav may is
preferably subject to regular steam cleaning and sterilization.
Although alternative propulsion means may be utilized, such as
motor drive wheels, it should be appreciated that the interaction
of driving wheels on a self-powered comdav with the tubes would be
expected to create a certain amount of debris which would need to
be prevented from contaminating the compartments of the comdav.
Additionally, the use of linear electromagnetic drives allows the
comdav to be conveniently rotated within the tube for banking at
the corners at high speed and for controlled inversion within the
packetizer for unloading the pills from the compartments. A further
advantage lies in the ability to garner a huge speed advantage.
Proper positioning of the magnets and inductive windings can result
in reducing the forces on the wheels to near zero. With low
friction, banks (non-spill) corners and a powerful drive mechanism
the comdavs could be propelled at high speed to more readily
assemble the requested doses.
[0110] The transparent plastic tubes 750 can also be seen in FIG.
13 looping around the pill towers in large ovals and connected with
the packetizing station. The tubes are shown routed helically in an
ascent or descent around each pill tower, and is the reason the
pill towers are shown paired off, with complementary towers
oriented with an up and a down direction tower. A comdav can be
routed off the main tube to a pair of pill towers and will pass
horizontally among each shelf of the two towers before arriving
back again on the main tube. Although only four towers are
represented in FIG. 13, any number can be added to the system. When
a set of doses according to an order (or a portion of an order)
have been loaded into the compartments of a comdavs, the comdav is
routed to the packetizing station for being unloaded, and
packetized.
[0111] FIG. 23 illustrates a representative packet-string 760 with
a series of separate individual packets 762a through 762f which may
be separated from the packet-string. The packets may be fabricated
from inexpensive materials, such as cellophane, although material
choices abound. Each packet 762a through 762d contains a set of
pills 763 according to the custom dose selected by the user. Packet
760 are shown providing a small dose retention area and it will be
appreciated that the packet, or other form of container being
utilized to packetize each dose may configured of a size
appropriate to the number of pills being retained. A packet, such
as 762a, can be separated from the string by the perforations 764.
For clarity, labels are not shown on the packets, although
preferably each packet will be labeled with the persons name, day,
and the date which the dose is to be taken along with an optional
time specifier depending on user selections placed with the order
(i.e. morning, noon, afternoon, evening, night, 8:00 AM, 10:00AM,
etc).
[0112] FIG. 24 is a representation of a "piggyback packet-string"
765. The piggyback string 765 is shown with a attachment area 766
that for instance may have an adhesive strip and a set of small
pouches 767a through 767d which contain pills 768a through 768d.
Piggyback packet-strings can be used to add pills to an existing
set of pill doses. For example, a user receives their monthly
shipment of dose packets and then a week later is issued a new
prescription, or desires a new supplement. Rather than ordering and
having to carry a separate bottle, which may be very inconvenient,
as well as easy to forget, they can order a piggyback set of doses.
The piggyback string in this embodiment is attached "piggyback" to
the original string of packets to increase user convenience.
[0113] FIG. 25 is an elevation view of a pill tower 770. The top of
the pill tower 772 is shown built up to a floor 774 on which
equipment may be positioned and from which a service person 776 is
shown descending into the center of pill tower 772 on ladder 778.
This floor provides a deck over which bulk pill storage and bin
filling can be readily accomplished. The floor 774 has openings
corresponding with the spaces between the two racks within each
pill tower to allow each pill tower to be serviced easily from the
upper level.
[0114] FIG. 26 depicts a cross section of the pill tower and the
access space from the upper level. On the upper level, bins can be
filled and carted to the correct pill tower and lowered down into
the center of the tower where they can replace depleted pill bins.
A collection of pill bins 780 are depicted loaded upon pill shelves
782. A helical comdav tube 784 is shown passing horizontally across
the face of each shelf while sloping upwardly 786 on one end of the
pill tower 770 to climb up to the next level of the tower. The
comdav tube 784 then passes from the highest shelf to a downward
spiraling tower by a horizontal curving section 788. A comdav is
shown 790 in the process of traversing a shelf within tower 770.
Comdavs are preferably dispatched on an as needed basis and
sections of magnetic propulsion for the comdav tubes 784 are only
energized as needed to propel a given comdav. This "as needed"
deployment when coupled with intelligent scheduling by the central
controller provides a system which is fully traffic scalable while
retaining energy and overhead efficiency.
[0115] The central computer within this embodiment of the present
invention makes the scheduling decisions based on the status of the
physical custom packetizing system and the queue of custom dose
orders to be fulfilled. The central computer sends an order to the
track control system which dispatches a comdav and controls the
movement of the comdav amongst the pill towers, routing it as
necessary to fulfill the custom dose order. The pill towers are
similarly directed so that the pill bins will dispense pills into
the comdav according to the consumer order. The comdav therefore
proceeds around the pill towers, as the bins record the passing of
the comdav and even read off its unique bar code; the exact
position of the comdav is therefore known at all times. Bins which
are to dispense a pill into the comdav are provided with an alert
signal when the comdav has almost reached the bin. The pill bin
upon reading the correct bar code from the front of the comdav,
synchronously dispenses pills as it also senses the openings for
each pill compartment along the length of the comdav. Pills are
"launched" (ejected) via the dispensing tube into each comdav
compartment which is to receive a pill to comprise a dose. The
shape of the comdav compartment prevents pills from bouncing out of
the compartment. The comdav typically is of a length to accommodate
the loading of a months supply of doses within the custom order.
Each day's supply may consist of a number of doses of different
supplements and medications. For example, in a single day a person
may take four doses of supplements and/or medications with no two
of these doses being the same. Dispensement into a comdav therefore
is performed with a pill being dispensed into each compartment or
each modulo (2, 3, 4 . . . ) of a compartment according to the dose
order. If a large number of doses during the day are required, then
additional cars may be linked to the comdav prior to it being sent
out to the pill bins, a comdav having more compartment may be sent,
or the order may be split across multiple comdavs. Pills are added
to each dose residing in each compartment of the comdav as the
comdav proceeds among the pill bins.
[0116] When the dose order has been fulfilled, the comdav is routed
to the packetizing station where the pills are unloaded from each
compartment of the comdav. The doses may be loaded onto an
intermediary set of collection compartments or unloaded directly
into individual packages or compartments of a larger package. The
set of doses can be checked prior to packaging to assure that each
dose is correct according to the order. This can be performed with
a camera which scans each dose comparing number size and colors of
each pill against metric in the data-base. In addition the MS
contained within the bins may be configured with machine readable
markings, such as adding text/graphic indicias, color coding,
adding small bar-codes or 2-D optically scanned arrays, and so
forth. It will be appreciated that microparticles may be included
within the MS which aid in its identification, for example in a
similar manner that microfluorescent filaments are added to the
powder of explosives to encode a batch number for the purposes of
tracking. Another alternative is found in a recently introduced
form of RFID has been developed which has a diameter less than that
of a human hair and yet is capable of retaining a unique ID which
may be externally registered. It is preferable that multiple
methods are utilized for registering that the proper MS have been
selected within a particular dose packet. Doses that appear to have
been "mis-filled" may then be checked by a human operator and
corrected if necessary prior to being packaged. The series of doses
can then be packaged for shipment.
[0117] FIG. 27 illustrates an alternative form of comdav path 790
upon which the comdavs may be moved between the pill bins. A tube
792 with interior 794 with a support 796 supports one or more
alignment protrusions 798a, 798b. The alignment section shown are
ridges although alternatively grooves could be used. These
alignment sections guide the comdav and may support it as well.
[0118] FIG. 28 depicts a cross section for an alternative comdav
800 which corresponds to the path 790 shown in FIG. 27. The vehicle
has an exterior shell 802, and grooves 804a, 804b for receiving the
ridges 798a, 798b of FIG. 27. Wheels 806a, 806b protrude through
the underside of the vehicle 800 to provide locomotion as driver
wheels driven by geared motor 808 through drive axles 810a, 810b.
Use of ridges 798a, 798b and corresponding grooves 804a, 804b
within the comdav may largely restrain the vehicle 800 from
experiencing side to side movement while traversing the length of
the tube. The comdav in this embodiment could contain any of
various forms of motors for driving one or more wheels.
Furthermore, such an embodiment may have in internal source of
power located on the comdav itself or received while the comdav
travels along the path. Another embodiment can be created wherein
the alignment sections are attached to a non-tubular support for
moving between the pill bins. The cleanliness of the tubular
embodiments are clearly preferred over open embodiments while the
electromagnetic drive is preferred for the speed and safety which
may be attained.
[0119] It should be noted that although the above embodied design
contains a variety of checks and tests, the system even without
such checks should experience few errors. However, since medical
doses are being dispensed it is only prudent to include a variety
of checks to further reduce any possibility of error.
[0120] It will be appreciated that the invention can be implemented
in a variety of ways without departing from the inventive concepts
described herein. Pill bins provide a controlled manner of
dispensing pills. The shape, method of dispensement, and operation
of the pill bins may vary without departing from the teachings
herein. A multilevel computer arrangement was described for
controlling the assembly of doses within the packetizing system,
however, the process control functions involved may be accomplished
by any of a wide range of system architectures and individual
computers. Bar codes are used for identifying each comdav as well
as for locating pill bins and shelves, while alternative locating
means can be used. Position detection can be used wherein each
comdav is kept track of by the controller, while electronic RFID
tags, OCR and numerous other locating/identifying mechanisms exist
which may be substituted. The arrangement of the pill bins into
towers, as exemplified, is by no means the only manner of arranging
the bins of pills. Various shapes and arrangement can be
substituted which will similarly allow a vehicle to collect pills
from any of a number of pill dispensers. A linear electromagnetic
drive is described for moving the comdavs within tubular paths
between the various pill bins. It must be understood that vehicles
containing conventional motor driven wheels may also traverse these
tubes. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the tubes may be
replaced by other pathways between the pill bins. With a single
layer of pill bins the comdavs can be configured to determine their
own path from one bin to the next. While on a multi-layer
arrangement wide paths can be created allowing comdavs to pass one
another in transit to a pill bin. Various forms of packaging may be
used for holding each set of pills that constitute an individual
dose. These forms may comprise sealed cups, envelopes, boxes,
trays, and the like. The comdav may likewise be loaded with the
unsealed packages into which pills making up a dose are dispensed,
whereafter the packetizer need only seal the package to form an
individual dose. Additionally, the doses being collected may be in
the form of liquids. Many liquids exist such as lotions, oils, and
creams, along with liquid vitamins and minerals. These liquids may
be dispensed into small packages for single uses, or a number of
liquid supplements can be added to a vessel which is subsequently
sealed to create a dose. Unfortunately, as a substantial percentage
of supplemental and medicinal liquids may chemically interact with
one another, the exclusive use of liquid packaging for all dose
forms is far less preferable.
[0121] It will be appreciated that the invention can be implemented
in a variety of ways with the embodied web site and specific
interface characteristics being provided as examples and not
limitations of the described invention. Accordingly, it will be
seen that this temporal dosing system and method provides a
practical and convenient means for resolving many problems, issues,
and risks associated with the current pill dispensing techniques
whereby individuals must open containers, extract pills, collect
doses, and maintain their pill stocks.
[0122] Although the description above contains many specificities,
these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the
presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope
of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and
their legal equivalents. Therefore, it will be appreciated that the
scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments
which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the
scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by
nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an
element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one"
unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." All
structural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of
the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of
ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by
reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims.
Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address
each and every problem sought to be solved by the present
invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims.
Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present
disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of
whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly
recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed
under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the
element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for."
* * * * *