A method, system and apparatus for controlling and tracking patient access to medicaments. A patient is provided with medication in locked pill containers that must be unlocked with an access code before the patient can access a limited quantity of medication in each container. Thus the patient is forced to go through an interactive session periodically with a master system, via a communicative intermediary, in order to obtain a valid passcode for each batch of medications and follow a treatment regimen. The patient may be assessed during each interaction with the master system. That assessment can include various questions, including questions about status codes that may optionally be displayed on each medication container. These status codes may optionally encode detail about the patient's pattern of accessing medication. The general rate of medication usage can also be deduced by the rate at which the patient contacts the master system. After patient assessment, the master system may elect to not provide the patient with an access code, typically if the patient meets certain criteria that indicate overuse of the medication. Conversely, the master system can elect to proactively contact the patient if the patient fails to make contact with the master system at an expected time, as this lack of contact suggests that the patient is underusing the medication and requires a reminder.

The present invention relates to a dispenser comprising: a) a reclosable opening on, or for fitment on and/or around an opening of, a container having a cavity for receiving at least one unit of a product to be dispensed; b) a controller adapted for controlling the opening of the reclosable opening; c) a receiver adapted for receiving a user authentication signal; d) a power source for powering the controller and receiver; and wherein the dispenser only permits the opening of the reclosable opening upon the receiver receiving a user authentication signal. The invention also relates to a dispensing system, method of dispensing and a kit of parts including such a dispenser. The inventions are particularly suited for dispensing pharmaceutical products to only the intended recipient and also to ensure compliance with dosage regimes.

A pill dispenser is provided with a floor, a rotor rotatably coupled adjacent the floor, a base coupled to the rotor, and an indexing mechanism coupled to the rotor to index the rotor in a rotational direction relative to the base to a plurality of index positions. The floor is adapted to be coupled to a shell to define an inner cavity for receiving pills. The floor has a funneled opening extending therethrough. The rotor has a plurality of pill receptacles extending from a top surface to a bottom surface and a plurality of corresponding separation ramps. Each separation ramp extends from the top surface downward to connect with one side of the corresponding pill receptacle. In each of the index positions, one of the pill receptacles aligns with an exit of the funneled opening and another of the pill receptacles aligns with a pill-dispense opening of the base.

A medication reminder assembly includes a box that may have medication placed therein. An alarm unit is coupled to the box and the alarm unit may be manipulated. The alarm unit is programmable to emit a selected one of an audible alarm, a vibratory alarm and a visual alarm at selected intervals. Thus, the alarm unit generates a reminder to take the medication within the box.

A medication reminder system, comprising a control device operable to receive data representing a dosage regime for the medication for use with an electronic tag, the tag communicatively coupled to a display device to be placed on or in association with an item containing the medication, the tag including a transceiver operable to send and receive data to and from the control device, wherein the display device is operable to display an indicator representing the dosage regime or a parameter associated with the dosage regime.

A beverage bottle for a portable electronic device, includes a hand-held container comprising a surrounding wall and having a fluid compartment formed within the surrounding wall, and an accessible station integrated with the hand-held container, wherein the accessible station has a window cavity for accommodating the portable electronic device therein so as to allow the portable electronic device through the window cavity. Therefore, the portable electronic device is carried and protected by the container and is accessible through the accessible station.

Patients with substance abuse problems may be prescribed regular medication that dulls the positive effects of the substance. However, one of the largest challenges for substance abuse patients is that many do not regularly take their medication as they want to experience the high of the substance. Accordingly, systems and methods have been developed for medication sessions that distract the patient from taking the medicine by incorporating the reminder and other med actions in close temporal proximity.

Technologies are generally described for providing a pill dispensing device with adherence monitoring and alerting features, as well as communication capabilities. A pill pack may be integrated within a housing of the pill dispensing device, where removal of each pill in the pill pack may be monitored through a conductive trace or comparable mechanism. Timing of the removal, remaining pills, and similar information may also be detected by the pill dispensing device and provided along with additional information such as health status of the consumer monitored by one or more sensors to a health care provider or similar entity over wired and/or wireless networks. The pill dispensing device may include audio and/or visual output device(s) to provide alerts and health/medication related information to the consumer. A display technology may employed enabling continuous display with low power usage such as ink display while providing color and/or video capabilities.

A drug delivery system includes a storage container defining one or more storage compartments and having at least one container sensor coupled thereto, a container condition change mechanism coupled to the storage container for imparting a change on one or more conditions of the one or more storage compartments, at least one drug delivery device adapted to deliver a drug to a user and adapted to be at least partially disposed within one or more of the one or more storage compartments, at least one delivery device sensor, a delivery device condition change mechanism coupled to the drug delivery device, and a controller coupled to the storage container. The storage container may be adapted to hold a number of drug delivery devices within a number of sealable storage compartments. The container sensor is adapted to sense a condition of the storage container, and the delivery device sensor is adapted to sense a condition of the at least one drug delivery device. The controller is adapted to instruct the container condition change mechanism and/or the delivery device change mechanism to impart a change on at least one condition of the storage container and/or the drug delivery device.

Techniques are described for automated medication disposal messaging. One method includes receiving information associated with a prescription order of a user account. In some cases, the information associated with the prescription order includes a medication identifier, medication dosage indication, and medication quantity. The method may include calculating a run out date corresponding to the target medication with the disposal guideline based on the medication dosage indication and the medication quantity. The method may also include communicating a disposal notification for the target medication based on the run out date.