U.S. patent number 3,638,688 [Application Number 05/013,465] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-01 for coded oral solids magazine and dispenser.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Brunswick Corporation. Invention is credited to Walter L. Bessinger, Robert M. Conklin, Albert P. Rogers.
United States Patent |
3,638,688 |
Conklin , et al. |
February 1, 1972 |
CODED ORAL SOLIDS MAGAZINE AND DISPENSER
Abstract
A pill-containing magazine and dispensing receptacle combination
for use in pill-dispensing systems of the type having a plurality
of receptacles, each for dispensing a different type of pill. Each
magazine is provided with a code representing the type of pill
contained therein and each receptacle from which the pills are to
be dispensed is provided with a code sensing means that precludes
operative association of a magazine bearing the wrong code, and
therefore containing the wrong type of pill, with the receptacle to
insure that only the correct type of pill can be dispensed from a
given receptacle.
Inventors: |
Conklin; Robert M. (Muskegon,
MI), Rogers; Albert P. (Spring Lake, MI), Bessinger;
Walter L. (Muskegon, MI) |
Assignee: |
Brunswick Corporation
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
21760097 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/013,465 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/98; 141/104;
141/320 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
11/32 (20130101); A61J 7/0084 (20130101); A61J
2205/60 (20130101); A61J 2205/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61J
7/04 (20060101); A61J 7/00 (20060101); B65b
001/04 (); B65b 003/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;141/1,100-107,98,94,231,234-248,250-284,285,291-294,311,319-322,351-362,363-366
;340/172.5 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bell, Jr.; Houston S.
Claims
We claim:
1. In a pill-dispensing system, the combination comprising:
a receptacle from which particular pills may be dispensed;
a magazine for containing pills to be dispensed and adapted to be
associated with said receptacle to provide the receptacle with
pills to be dispensed therefrom; and
means associated with said magazine and said receptacle for
precluding association of said magazine with said receptacle when
said magazine does not contain the particular pills to be dispensed
from the receptacle.
2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said precluding means
comprises code means on said magazine and code sensing means on
said receptacle.
3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said code means comprises key
means on said magazine and said code-sensing means comprises
complementary key means on said receptacle.
4. The combination of claim 2 wherein said code means comprises
means on said magazine for varying a characteristic of light and
said code-sensing means comprises photoelectric means.
5. The combination of claim 2 wherein said code means comprises
means on said magazine for varying a magnetic characteristic and
said code-sensing means comprises magnetic sensing means.
6. The combination of claim 2 wherein said code means comprises
surface irregularities on said magazine and said code-sensing means
includes switch means adapted to be engaged by said
irregularities.
7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said magazine comprises a
container having an opening; and a closure mounted on said
container for normally closing said opening, said closure
comprising a plurality of flexible fingers covering said opening
and adapted to be cammed open by said container when said closure
is moved relative to said container in one direction thereon.
8. The combination of claim 2 wherein said precluding means further
includes lockout means for normally precluding association of said
magazine with said receptacle, said lockout means being operative
in response to said code-sensing means for allowing association of
said magazine with said receptacle when a predetermined code on the
magazine is sensed by said code-sensing means.
9. In a pill-dispensing system, the combination comprising:
a receptacle designated to receive and dispense a single type of
drug in pill form for use in filling a prescription and including
means for receiving a pill-containing magazine;
a magazine containing said single type of drug in pill form for
receipt in said receiving means and for loading said receptacle
with said single type of drug;
means on said magazine defining a code unique to the type of drug
contained therein;
means on said receptacle for sensing the code on the magazine
before the magazine is fully received by said receiving means;
and
means for precluding full receipt of said magazine by said
receiving means when the code on the magazine does not represent
said single type of drug for which said receptacle is designated to
dispense.
10. The combination of claim 9 wherein each receptacle is provided
with at least two of said receiving means whereby at least two of
said magazines containing said single type of drug can be
associated with said receptacle at any given time.
11. In a medication-dispensing system, the combination
comprising:
a receptacle for receiving a particular type of medication to be
dispensed, and including a magazine receiving opening;
a magazine for containing the particular type of medication to be
dispensed and receivable within said opening to load the
receptacle;
a plurality of keys on said magazine configured in a code
representing the type of medication contained in the magazine;
and
complementary keys on said receptacle configured in a code
representing the type of medication to be dispensed from the
receptacle and arranged to preclude operative receipt of said
magazine within said opening except when the configuration of said
complementary keys is the exact complement of the configuration of
the keys on said magazine;
whereby only a magazine containing the type of medication to be
dispensed from the receptacle can be received within said opening
to load said receptacle.
12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said magazine includes an
opening through which the medication to be dispensed is loaded into
said receptacle, and a closure for said magazine opening including
a collar slidable on said magazine and a plurality of flexible
fingers extending from said collar to overlie said magazine
opening, whereby sliding said collar on said magazine in one
direction will cause said fingers to move from a position overlying
said magazine opening so that the contents of said magazine may
pass through said magazine opening.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For years, hospitals and pharmacies have been plagued with the
problem of improperly filled prescriptions due to human error. Not
infrequently, a patient has been given wrong medication because the
person filling the prescription has inadvertently filled the
prescription out of the wrong bottle of pills or the like. While
many such errors have gone by unnoticed and without harmful result,
in some cases, patients have been made extremely ill and even died
either from not receiving the correct medication or from receiving
the wrong one.
As a result, some large hospitals have moved to the use of
pill-dispensing systems that are arranged so that if instructed
properly, a prescription will be properly filled. In general, such
systems have worked well and cut down the errors in filling
prescriptions. However, apart from a possible error in operating
the system, the systems are still subject to human error.
Quite typically, such systems will include a plurality of
receptacles, each containing a particular type of pill. When the
system is instructed to deliver a prescription of a particular type
of drug, means associated with the receptacle containing that drug
will be actuated to dispense the same. If the receptacle is filled
with the correct drug and the correct receptacle is addressed by
the operator, the prescription will be correctly filled. However,
if an attendant has improperly filled a receptacle intended to
contain drug A with drug B, no matter whether the operator
addresses the system correctly, the system will still deliver the
improper drug.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the invention to provide, in a
pill-dispensing system, means whereby only the correct drug may be
delivered to a dispensing receptacle in that system. The invention
contemplates a number of structures by which this object can be
achieved. According to a first embodiment of the invention, there
is provided a pill magazine which may be associated with a
dispensing receptacle and remain in association therewith until the
supply of pills contained in the magazine is exhausted. Thereafter,
the magazine may be replaced. In order to eliminate the association
of a pill magazine with the wrong receptacle, the pill magazine is
provided with a code in the form of a splinelike key arrangement
and the receptacle is provided with a complementary key
arrangement. For each type of drug, the key arrangement is varied
so that of the plurality of receptacles and complementary
magazines, only one type of magazine may be mated with a particular
receptacle. Therefore, only a magazine containing the correct pills
for a given receptacle may be mated therewith so that the
receptacle cannot be improperly filled with the wrong type of
pills.
The invention may also be implemented by three other embodiments
disclosed herein. Again, all rely on a coding of the magazine and
sensing means associated with the pill-dispensing receptacle. Each
further includes a lockout device which precludes the magazine from
being inserted into association with the receptacle unless the code
sensed by the sensing means matches predetermined information. The
lockout device according to the three embodiments corresponds to
those surfaces of the complementary keys in the first embodiment
which preclude insertion of the magazine if the key code on the
magazine is not the complement of that on the receptacle.
Of the three embodiments, one employs coding on the magazine in the
form of reflective tape together with light sources and photocell
pickups to sense the arrangement of reflective tape and thus the
code. When the code on the magazine matches the preprogrammed code,
a solenoid latch is actuated to permit insertion of the magazine
into the receptacle.
Another embodiment employs magnetic coding on the magazines
together with magnetic sensors on the receptacle. Again, when a
match is made, a solenoid latch is temporarily energized to allow
insertion of the magazine.
Another embodiment applies surface irregularities on the magazine
which are sensed by the actuators of microswitches or the like.
Again, a solenoid operated latch is employed to permit insertion
when the code on the magazine matches the programmed code on the
receptacle.
Additionally, each of the magazines includes a novel closure
arrangement. Typically, the magazines are inverted when inserted
into the corresponding receptacles and in order to preclude the
pills from falling out when the magazine is inverted and before the
same is accepted by the receptacle, each magazine is provided with
a novel closure arrangement. Surrounding the opening of each
magazine is a closure member slidably mounted on the magazine and
having a plurality of flexible fingers overlying the opening to
retain pills therein. When a match has been obtained and the
magazine is accepted by the receptacle, the magazine may be pushed
downwardly with the inner edge of the same deflecting the flexible
fingers outwardly to cam them open and permit the pills to be
released into the receptacle.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from the following specification taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a vertical section of one form of a magazine and
receptacle arrangement made according to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a vertical section of a magazine;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the top of a magazine;
FIG. 4 is a vertical section of another embodiment of a magazine
and receptacle;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section of another embodiment of
the invention;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure illustrated in
FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section of still another
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure illustrated in
FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of one form of a control circuit which
may be used with the embodiments of the invention illustrated in
FIGS. 4-9, inclusive.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1
and is seen to comprise a cylindrical magazine, generally
designated 12, containing a plurality of pills 14. The magazine 12
is inverted and received in the neck 16 of a receptacle, generally
designated 18, from which the pills 14 may be dispensed. The
receptacle 18 includes a conically shaped bottom 20 with a spiraled
ramp 22 progressing upwardly therefrom. Vibrating means (not shown)
may be associated with the receptacle 18 to cause the pills 14 to
travel up the ramp 22 to be dispensed one at a time. The manner by
which such may be accomplished is well known in the art and forms
no part of the instant invention.
The receptacle 18 includes a cover member 24 having apertures which
may be aligned with the magazines 12 so that a plurality of
magazines may be associated with each receptacle. Mounted on the
cover 24 is a magazine receiving member 28 having conically shaped
openings 30 therein. The upper end of each conically shaped opening
30 terminates in a neck 32 having an upper taper 34 which serves as
a lead-in chamfer for a receptacle 18. The opening 30 further
includes a plurality of key ways 36 arranged circumferentially
arounds its inner periphery. The key ways 36 receive complementary
keys 38 on the magazine 12.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the keys 38 may be seen in greater
detail. As shown in FIG. 3, 20 such keys 38 are provided with the
first key, generally designated 38', having a significantly greater
width than the remaining keys to serve as an index point. In
essence, the 20 keys provide 20 bits of information, and by
eliminating various ones of combinations of ones of the keys 38, a
total of over one million numbers are possible. As a result, over a
million magazines 12 may be formed, each having a unique
configuration of the keys 38.
In a pill-dispensing system, the key ways 36 associated with each
receptacle 18 are varied so that only a given one of the magazines
12 may be associated with a given one of the receptacles 18. That
is, if the arrangement of key ways 36 on the receptacle 18 is not
the precise complement of the arrangement of keys 38 on the
magazine 12, the magazine 12 cannot be associated with the magazine
18 to nest therein as shown in FIG. 1 due to the presence of one or
more keys 38 and absence of complementary key ways 36. Accordingly,
when the keys do not match, the person attempting to place the
magazine 12 in association with the receptacle 18 will be apprised
of that fact. This is taken advantage of by using the receptacle 18
only to dispense the particular type of drug as, for example, drug
A. Accordingly, the magazine 12 having the complementary key
arrangement is filled with drug A and no other type of drug. The
same can therefore be associated only with the receptacle 18
designated to dispense drug A.
Because the magazines 12 are inverted when inserted, unique closure
means are provided. As best seen in FIG. 2, the end of the magazine
12 adjacent an opening 40 therein is provided with a small
peripheral flange 42 having a tapered outer edge 44. Fitting about
the same is a collar 46 having an inturned flange 48 and a
plurality of flexible fingers 50 which extend inwardly and
arcuately to cover the opening 40. An additional closure 52 may be
used to normally cover the fingers 50.
When the magazine 12 is associated with the receptacle 18 in the
manner aforesaid with the closure 52 removed as illustrated at the
left-hand side of FIG. 1, and the operator is satisfied that the
keys complement each other, the magazine may then be forced
downwardly in the direction of an arrow 53. As a result, the
tapered edge 44 will cam the flexible fingers 50 outwardly so that
they will no longer cover the opening 40 and the pills contained
therein will fall downwardly into the receptacle 18. The conical
taper 30 provided in the member 28 accommodates the flexible
fingers 50 at this time.
The foregoing arrangement insures that pills 14 will not
inadvertently be dropped into an improper receptacle 18 before a
match is obtained.
A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and
5 and employs coding means other than the complementary keys 36 and
38 mentioned previously. The receptacle 18 is again illustrated and
is formed similarly to the receptacle 18 illustrated in FIG. 1. The
same is mounted on a base 54 and vibration isolating means 55 are
interposed between the base 54 and a cover member 56 which has an
upturned neck 58 which may receive the inverted top of a magazine,
generally designated 60. The magazine 60 may include a closure
including the fingers 50 described previously in conjunction with
the first embodiment. Additionally, the same includes a flange 62
which is adapted to limit downward movement of the magazine 60 be
engaging the neck 58.
About midway along the length of the magazine 60 is an outwardly
extending flange 64 having a tapered upper surface 66 for purposes
to be seen hereinafter. Above the flange 64 are a plurality of
bands 68 of reflective tape which serve as coding means.
Accordingly, seven bits of information are provided and there may
be a total of 127 different combinations of the tape band 68
ranging from all bands absent to but one band present.
Standards 70 secured to the cover member 56 mount a plate 72 having
a downturned neck 74 through which the magazine 60 may be received.
One portion of the neck 74 includes an aperture 76 through which a
plunger 78 normally extends to engage the underside of the flange
64. A spring 80 is interposed between one side of a solenoid 82 and
a washer 84 mounted on the plunger to normally urge the plunger 78
to the position shown in FIG. 4.
The plate 72 also mounts a plurality of sensing devices, there
being the same number of sensing devices 84 as there are bands 68
on the container. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that each
sensing device comprises a light source 86 and a photocell 88. As a
result, light from a given light source 86 may be reflected by the
associated band 68 to the associated photocell 88 if the band 68 is
present while such reflection will not take place if the band 68 is
absent.
Also as illustrated in FIG. 5, the plate 72 may mount a plurality
of the just-described means so that more than one magazine 60 may
be associated with a given receptacle 18 at any given time.
The overall arrangement is such that when a particular code in the
form of the band 68 is present and is sensed by the photocells 88,
the solenoid 82 will be temporarily energized to pull the plunger
78 out of engagement with the underside of the flange 64 thereby
permitting the magazine 60 to be moved downwardly into association
with the corresponding neck 58. Thereafter, further movement of the
magazine 60 may be employed to move the fingers 50 (not shown) to a
retracted position so that the pills contained in the magazine 60
will empty into the receptacle 18. As will be apparent after such
downward movement, the correct code will no longer be sensed by the
photocells 88 so the solenoid 82 will be deenergized thereby
conserving power.
When all of the pills in the magazine 60 have dropped therefrom
into the receptacle 18, the same may be easily removed by grasping
the same and lifting upwardly. The tapered upper surface 66 on the
flange 64 facilitates such removal by merely camming the plunger 78
against the bias of the spring 80 so that no energization of the
solenoid 82 is required for such removal.
A further embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 and is
generally similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 except that
in lieu of the bands 68, there is provided a single coded band 90
bearing up to seven magnetized portions 92. In the case of the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, sensing means comprising
toroids 94 are mounted in sufficient proximity to sense the
presence or absence of the magnetic material spots 92 on the band
thereby changing the inductance of a conventional circuit
associated with each toroid 94. When coincidence is obtained, a
solenoid 82 is energized to permit the magazine to be brought into
operative association with a corresponding receptacle.
FIG. 8 illustrates still a further embodiment of the invention
wherein a plurality of outward projections 100 are provided on each
magazine as coding means. Located about the periphery of each
magazine receiving neck 74 are a plurality of microswitches 102
each having actuators 104 which may be engaged by the outward
projections 100, if present according to the designated code, to
change the condition of the corresponding switch 102. When the
predetermined code is sensed, a solenoid 82 is again engaged to
permit complete insertion of the magazine.
In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
magazine 60 may be received in any position of rotation about its
longitudinal axis and still properly sensed. However, in the case
of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6-9, the circumferential
position of the magnetic spots 92 or the projections 100 is
significant and accordingly, a single key (not shown) may be
provided to insure that the magazine is in proper position of
orientation with respect to its longitudinal axis to achieve proper
sensing.
As in the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, once the
magazine and the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 6-9 are permitted
to move downwardly into association with its corresponding
receptacle 18, the resultant moving of the magnetic spots 92 away
from the toroids 94 or the moving of the projections 100 out of
engagement with the microswitch actuators 104 will result in
deenergization of the corresponding solenoid. Of course, if the
flange 64 is employed with a tapered upper surface, removal of the
same may be had in the same manner as the removal of the magazine
60 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.
In order to control energization of the solenoid 82, there may be
provided a source of power 106 which feeds a conventional
comparison circuit 108. The comparison circuit 108 is preprogrammed
individually for each receptacle 18. For example, if a particular
receptacle is adapted to have associated therewith only a magazine
60 having all of the bands 68 present, the comparison circuit 108
may be constructed according to conventional techniques so that
each of the photocells 88 must be illuminated before the solenoid
82 will be energized. Similarly, if but one of the bands 68 is
present on a magazine 60 to be associated with a particular
receptacle, the comparison circuit 108 may be constructed so that
the presence of any illuminated one of the photocells 88 other than
the photocell for sensing the particular band will preclude
energization of the solenoid 82.
The comparison circuits 108 employed in conjunction with the
toroids 94 and the microswitches 102 may be similarly constructed
according to the same method using conventional techniques that are
particularly well known in the data processing arts.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a pill-dispensing
system made according to the invention and employing means for
precluding the insertion of a pill magazine into operative
association with a dispensing receptacle and including code means
on the magazine and sensing means associated with the receptacle
will substantially eliminate the possibility of human error during
the refilling of such systems, and by eliminating a substantial
source of human error, make such systems less susceptible to misuse
due to human error.
* * * * *