U.S. patent application number 11/262675 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for pill dispenser with patient compliant indicating means.
Invention is credited to Matthew T. Coe, Richard Costa, Hung Mach, Fred Pether.
Application Number | 20060124658 11/262675 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36582618 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060124658 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Coe; Matthew T. ; et
al. |
June 15, 2006 |
Pill dispenser with patient compliant indicating means
Abstract
A pill dispenser includes a housing having a pill dispensing
opening, and a display area, a holder portion of the housing having
a plurality of pill holding slots arranged in a substantially
circular layout, an actuator for rotatably moving the plurality of
pill holding slots to provide individual access through the pill
dispensing opening in a sequential manner; and a time interval
indicator assembly operatively engaged to the holder portion for
communicating to the user a time interval through the display area
corresponding to one of the plurality of pill holding slots. The
indicator assembly includes a rotatable dial mounted to the cover
and operatively engaged to the actuator, the rotatable dial
including indicia printed thereon for permitting a sequential
display through the display area.
Inventors: |
Coe; Matthew T.; (Annandale,
NJ) ; Costa; Richard; (Bedminster, NJ) ; Mach;
Hung; (Flushing, NY) ; Pether; Fred; (St.
Petersburg, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Allen R. Kipnes, Esq.;WATOV & KIPNES, P.C.
P.O. Box 247
Princeton Junction
NJ
08550
US
|
Family ID: |
36582618 |
Appl. No.: |
11/262675 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60635312 |
Dec 10, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
221/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 7/04 20130101; B65D
83/0454 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/121 |
International
Class: |
B65D 83/04 20060101
B65D083/04 |
Claims
1. A pill dispenser comprising: a housing having a pill dispensing
opening, and a display area; a holder portion of said housing
having a plurality of pill holding slots arranged in a
substantially circular layout; actuating means for rotatably moving
the plurality of pill holding slots to provide individual access
through said pill dispensing opening in a sequential manner; and
indicating means operatively engaged to said holder portion for
communicating to the user a time interval through the display area
corresponding to one of said plurality of pill holding slots.
2. The pill dispenser of claim 1 wherein the housing further
comprises a substantially transparent cover with the pill
dispensing opening and the display area located thereon.
3. The pill dispenser of claim 2 wherein indicating means comprises
a rotatable dial mounted to the cover and operatively engaged to
the actuating means, said rotatable dial including indicia printed
thereon for sequential display through the display area
4. The pill dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a reversibly
locking mechanism to prevent movement of the plurality of pill
holding slots during non-use.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is relates to a pill dispensing case,
and more particularly a pill dispenser having patient compliant
indicating means, which automatically updates itself each time the
user dispenses a pill at periodic intervals.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In writing out prescriptions, physicians typically include
instructions pertaining to the frequency of ingestion of prescribed
medication in specific time intervals (e.g. once a day). Such
intervals may range from a matter of hours to days depending on the
medication and the condition being treated. Examples of pills that
are prescribed in a set periodic time regimen include those that
are administered for birth control, for regulating blood pressure,
for regulating blood lipids, as antibiotics, and for treating a
variety of other ailments such as diabetes. Failure to properly
follow the physician's instructions often results in ineffective
treatment, possible injury or even death. Thus, it is important to
ensure patient compliance with prescription medications and other
medications as well.
[0003] The packaging of pills is well known in the art. Typically,
pill cases contain a plurality of pills which can be accessed by
the user as needed. Such cases are typically in the form of the
standard pill containers or vials often equipped with a child
resistant cap. Such containers generally lack any compliance
features which facilitate the patient taking the proper dosage of
the medication at the proper time interval. In addition, the
standard containers are frequently difficult to open especially by
those with limited dexterity such as the elderly.
[0004] Blister packs have been developed to facilitate a proper
dosage regimen. Blister packs house a preselected number of pills
which are protected so that they cannot be broken by contact with
other pills. The blister packs store pills in spaced apart pill
receiving cavities which are then sealed using a protective cover
such as coated paper, foil, plastic or the like. The pills may be
removed from the cavities one at a time by piercing the cover or by
applying pressure to one side of the covered pill until the pill
bursts through the protective cover. The blister pack form of
packaging permits the patient to see the pills through a clear
portion of the protective cover thus permitting the patient to see
which pills have been taken and how many doses remain. This
packaging also allows a dosage counter or schedule to be printed on
the packaging material. However, such schedule are not easily
adjusted to correspond with an actual dosing date. Moreover,
blister packs are also difficult for patients with limited
dexterity to access the packaged pills for dispensing.
[0005] It is important that the patient be able to determine
whether or not a pill has been taken at the correct time and that
another pill will be available in the proper time. This ensures
that the patient completes the medication regimen in a proper
manner. It is also important for the patient to be able to access
the pills with minimal difficulty, while maintaining adequate
safety features to prevent accidental dispensing. Pill dispensers
are known in the art and typically are desirably compact so that
they can be carried by the user in a purse or in a shirt pocket or
other convenient location.
[0006] Pill dispensers currently available typically utilize
discrete pill holding compartments each printed with indicia. The
indicia generally represents the days of the week or dosing numbers
that allows the patient to view when the last dosage was dispensed.
The system that uses dosing numbers can encounter problems where
the patient fails to recall when the medication was initially
dispensed or what dosing number correlates to which day. The system
that uses the days of the week provides a more intuitive approach
to tracking dosages of medication since there is a day-to-day
correlation. However, this system limits pill dispensers to dosing
regimens that are multiples of seven (e.g., 7, 14, 21, 28 doses) to
maintain the correlation with the days of the week.
[0007] Despite these efforts there remains the need for a pill
storage/dispensing device that is a) compact, b) provides easy
access to the pills, c) capable of accommodating pills for a
variety of extended prescription periods, d) capable of promoting
compliance in patients by reducing confusion, uncertainty or
forgetfulness, and e) equipped to prevent unintentional access of
the pills to children.
[0008] It would therefore be a significant advantage in the art to
provide users an opportunity to house medications in a pill
dispenser which can readily accommodate individual pills in
discrete pill holding slots and which facilitates dispensing of the
desired dose of pills. It would also be an advantage in the art if
the pill dispenser can readily accommodate varying quantity of
pills or doses depending on the particular requirements of the
medication and the dosage regimen required by the patient. It would
be a further advantage in the art to provide a pill dispenser that
can accommodate various time intervals (e.g. up to and more than 30
days), and it would be a still further advantage in the art if the
pill dispenser is compact, easy to carry and store in a purse,
shirt pocket or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is generally directed to a pill
dispenser that includes compliance features which facilitate proper
medication dosing over the period of time that the pills are to be
dispensed (i.e. regimen period). The pill dispenser includes a
housing with a pill dispensing opening and a display area for
displaying indicia corresponding to a particular day of the week.
The housing includes a pill holding portion having a plurality of
pill holding slots arranged in a substantially circular layout, and
actuating means for moving the pill holding portion relative to the
pill dispensing opening whereby individual access to one of the
plurality of pill holding slots can be made therethrough. The pill
dispenser further includes patient compliant indicator means in
operative engagement with the pill holding portion to display in
the display area, the day of the week corresponding to the pill
holding slot in communication with the opening. Optionally, the
actuating means includes a locking mechanism that must be
disengaged to move the pill holding portion, thereby incorporating
child safety features that prevent accidental dispensing.
[0010] The pill holding portion may be adapted to receive and
accommodate any number of pills depending on the maximum capacity
of the dispenser for matching with a particular dosage regimen
particularly suited for the patient. For example, if the patient
requires a 15 day medication regimen or a 30 day regimen, then the
pill holding portion of the pill dispenser may be filled to
accommodate the required number of pills. The pill dispenser of the
present invention can therefore accommodate short- and long-term
prescriptions and is not limited to dosage regimens that are
multiples of seven.
[0011] It will be understood that reference to the term "pill" as
used herein shall include not only pills of a variety of shapes and
sizes but all forms of dispensable products or articles of
manufacture such as medications which can effectively be housed in
the device of the present invention including tablets, capsules,
lozenges, caplets and the like. Likewise, all reference to a "pill
dispenser" shall mean a dispenser which can accommodate the
dispensable product or article of manufacture.
[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
pill dispenser comprising:
[0013] a housing having a pill dispensing opening, and a display
area;
[0014] a holder portion of the housing having a plurality of pill
holding slots arranged in a substantially circular layout;
[0015] actuating means for rotatably moving the plurality of pill
holding slots to provide individual access through the pill
dispensing opening in a sequential manner; and
[0016] indicating means operatively engaged to the holder portion
for communicating to the user a time interval through the display
area corresponding to one of the plurality of pill holding
slots.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The following drawings in which like reference characters
indicate like parts are illustrative of embodiments of the
invention and are not intended to limit the invention as
encompassed by the claims forming part of the application.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a pill dispenser for one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pill dispenser in
accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side elevational of the pill dispenser in the
direction along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2 in accordance with the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the pill dispenser taken
along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3 in accordance with the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a bottom portion of the pill
dispenser of FIG. 1 in accordance with the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 is an exploded assembly view of the pill dispenser in
accordance with the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 7 is an exploded assembly view looking from the bottom
of the pill dispenser in accordance with the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the pill dispenser in
accordance with the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 9A is a top perspective view of a pill dispenser for a
second embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 9B is a bottom perspective view of the pill dispenser
of FIG. 9A in accordance with the present invention; and
[0028] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a pill dispenser having
a dosing tab or flap for securing the opening thereof for another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] The present invention is directed to a pill dispenser that
includes compliance features which facilitate proper medication
dosing over the regimen period. The pill dispenser includes a
housing with a pill dispensing opening and a display area for
displaying a particular day of the week. The housing includes a
pill holding portion having a plurality of pill holding slots
arranged in a substantially circular layout, and actuating means
for moving the pill holding portion relative to the pill dispensing
opening whereby individual access to one of the plurality of pill
holding slots can be made through the pill dispensing opening. The
pill dispenser further includes indicator means in operative
engagement with the pill holding portion to display in the display
area the day of the week corresponding to the pill holding slot in
communication with the opening. Optionally, the actuating means
includes a locking mechanism that must be disengaged to implement
the dispensing operation.
[0030] The pill dispenser of the present invention is ergonomically
designed to assist those with limited dexterity and is sufficiently
compact for easy carry and storage in one's pocket, purse or tight
space. The design of the present invention offers a higher
perceived value to the product contained, improved aesthetics, and
ease of handling and use. The pill dispenser of the present
invention includes features that enable the patient to properly
follow a medication regimen, and is capable of accommodating any
number of doses. This feature reduces the time and expense
associated with packaging and dispensing pills.
[0031] It will be understood that the present invention can be used
to store and dispense a variety of articles such as gum,
confections, and the like. For illustrative purposes, reference
hereinafter will be to a pill dispenser for dispensing pills.
Although rectangular pills are shown, it is to be understood that
the present dispenser may be modified to receive elongated and
elliptical pills, tablets, capsules and the like.
[0032] Referring to the drawings and first to FIGS. 1-4, there is
shown a pill dispenser 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. Typically, a pharmacist or pharmaceutical supply
vendor will load or fill the pill dispenser 10 with medication
prior to sale. However, the pill dispenser 10 may be loaded or
filled by the end user or patient. The pill dispenser 10 may be
pre-packaged in a tamper resistant pouch to allow a pharmacist to
apply an Rx label. The pill dispenser 10 may be constructed of any
durable material including plastic, and molded into any size,
shape, or color for easy identification and association with a
specific medication.
[0033] The pill dispenser 10 includes a housing 12 formed in
combination from a base portion 14 and a substantially transparent
cover 16, and a dose-designating dial 18. The pill dispenser 10 is
designed to accommodate and retain a plurality of pills 20 in a
spaced apart substantially circular arrangement for individual
dispensing through a dispensing opening 22 located in the cover 16.
The opening 22 may include a lid or covering (not shown) in the
form of a removable tab, tape or lamination to prevent pills from
falling out prior to beginning the dosage regimen and to provide
tamper resistant safety measures. Each pill 20 occupies a pill
holding slot 24. The cover includes a hand-gripping portion 26 to
allow a patient to operate the pill dispenser 10, and a display
area 28 as will be described hereinafter.
[0034] The pill dispenser 10 is designed to dispense a pill 20 in a
secure and measured manner. The cover 16 is rotatable in a
clockwise direction within the base portion 14 to advance the
opening 22 to the next pill holding slot 24 for dispensing.
Concurrently, a dose designating dial 18 rotatably advances to the
next indicia 27 within the display area 28. Thus, each pill holding
slot 24 is sequentially associated with an indicia 27 on the dial
18.
[0035] The pill dispenser 10 may further include a locking
mechanism (not shown) that prevents the cover 16 from rotating, and
unintentionally dispensing a pill 20. The locking mechanism is
similar to the types found on standard medication vials or bottles
utilizing child-proof caps as known to one of ordinary skill in the
art. This feature prevents persons other than the patient such as a
child from gaining access to the pills 20 contained therein.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the pill dispenser 10 is shown
having a low and compact profile.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 5, the base portion 14 of the pill
dispenser 10 includes a plurality of gripping tabs 30 spaced apart
along the periphery thereof. The gripping tabs 30 enhance the
patient's grip on the dispenser 10 during use. The base portion
further includes a centrally located bore 32 for receiving a pair
of retaining clips 34 depending downwardly from the cover 16 for
securing the components to one another.
[0038] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the base portion 14 includes the
centrally located bore 32, a gear journal area 36 extending along
the periphery of the centrally located bore 32 and bounded by a
housing gear structure 38, a dial journal area 40 extending along
the periphery of the housing gear structure 38, and a plurality of
pill holding slots 24 arranged radially around the dial journal
area 40. The pills 20 occupy the pill holding slots 24 in a spaced
apart circular arrangement. The dose designating dial 18 includes a
dial gear structure 42 located on the bottom side thereof. The dial
gear structure 42 resides in the gear journal area 36 and is
operatively engaged to the housing gear structure 38. The dial 18
is supported by the dial journal area 40 which acts as a bearing
surface. The housing gear structure 38 and the dial gear structure
42 engage one another to cause the dial 18 to rotate on its y-axis
as it travels along the gear journal area 36.
[0039] The cover 16 is mounted and secured to the top side of the
base portion 14 through operative engagement of the outwardly
biased retaining clips 34 with the bottom exterior end of the bore
32 (as best shown in FIG. 5). The cover 16 further includes a
downwardly depending spindle 44 which occupies a centrally located
aperture 46 in the dial 18. The spindle 44 maintains the relative
position of the dial 18 and the display area 28 of the cover 16,
while allowing the dial 18 to rotate 360 degrees about the y-axis
during the dispensing operation. As the dial 18 moves with the
cover 16 along the bearing surface of the dial journal area 40 in
the clockwise direction, the interaction between the dial gear
portion 42 and the outer gear portion 38 of the base portion 14
causes the dial 18 to rotate incrementally in the counterclockwise
direction.
[0040] In the present embodiment as shown, the pill dispenser 10 is
adapted to accommodate up to thirty daily doses. It will be
understood, however, that a greater or lesser number of daily doses
may be accommodated by the present device. In the illustrated
embodiment, the gearing assembly is configured to cause the cover
16 to be movable in increments of 1/30.sup.th of a rotation to
advance the opening 22 to the next pill holding slot 24, while at
the same time, the dial 18 rotates 1/7.sup.th of a rotation to
reveal the next indicia 27 corresponding to the next day of the
week through the display area 28. When the opening 22 is aligned
with one of the pill holding slots 24, the corresponding indicia 27
is visible through the display area 28. This design allows the pill
dispenser 10 flexibly accommodate any number of doses in addition
to those measured in multiples of seven.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 8, the pill dispenser 10 in connection
with its operation and implementation will now be explained in
greater detail. The patient releases the covering or lid (not
shown) securing the opening 22 for access the pill dispenser 10. If
the pill dispenser 10 is being used for the first time, the patient
sets the indicia 27 to correspond to the actual day of the week.
The patient grasps the base portion 14 with one hand, and the
handing-gripping portion 26 of the cover 16 with the other hand.
The patient applies pressure downwardly (shown by the arrow) 48 on
the top of the cover 16 to disengage the locking mechanism (not
shown), and turns the cover 16 in the clockwise direction until the
proper indicia 27 is visible through the display area 28. At this
point, the patient dispenses the corresponding pill 20 from the
pill holding slot 24. At the next dosing interval, the patient
repeats by pressing down on the cover 16 and rotating it in the
clockwise direction to the next pill holding slot 24 where the next
pill 20 can be dispensed therefrom.
[0042] Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, there is shown a pill
dispenser 50 for a second embodiment of the present invention. The
pill dispenser 50 is similar in nearly all aspects of the previous
embodiment including its operation. The pill dispenser 50 includes
a housing 52 formed from a base portion 54 and a cover 56, a
dispensing opening 58, and a display area 62. The base portion 54
has a rectangular shape, and the cover 56 includes a double sided
gripping portion 60.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 10, the pill dispenser 50 further includes
a removable tab or flap 64 secured to the dispensing opening 58.
The removable tab 64 can be used as a safety feature to prevent
tampering prior to initial use.
* * * * *