A prescription medicine packaging system includes cells. Each cell stores prescription medicine. Each cell has an opening adapted for access by a user. A cap is aligned over and seals each opening. Each cap includes a first part and a second part that are independent of one another and uniquely identifiable by features thereof. Each of the caps is breached via one of removal and destruction of one of its first part and second part.

Medication identification methods comprising depositing at least one medication in a compartment; identifying this one medication deposited in this compartment and analyzing at least one characteristic of said at least one medication; comparing this one characteristic of said at least one medication to medication signature characteristics to obtain an identified content for the compartment; comparing the identified content to a prescription; and allowing the medication to pass, via gravity, from the compartment to a pill box. Medication identification systems are also described.

Medication dispensers and methods of dispensing medication are provided. A medication dispenser includes an exterior body defining an interior, and a distribution disk disposed within the interior, the distribution disk defining a plurality of compartments, the plurality of compartments disposed in at least one annular array, the distribution disk rotatably indexable about a central axis. The medication dispenser further includes a dispenser drawer in selective communication with one of the plurality of compartments disposed in the at least one annular array. The medication dispenser further includes a motor connected to the distribution disk, the motor operable to rotatably index the distribution disk about the central axis. Rotatable indexing of the distribution disk causes an adjustment in the one of the plurality of compartments disposed in the at least one annular array which is in communication with the dispenser drawer.

Methods and systems are described for a medication container that may be locked using a locking mechanism. In one exemplary method, a request from a user may be received by a medication provider for a medication. The medication may be placed in a medication container with a locking mechanism that is operable to lock and unlock the medication container. The medication container may be locked using the locking mechanism. The locked medication container with the medication within may be provided to the user. Subsequent to providing the locked medication container to the user, a request may be received from the user to access the medication in the medication container. A credential may be sent to the user that is usable, via the locking mechanism, to unlock the medication container. The user may then input the credential into the locking mechanism to unlock the medication container and access the medication therein.

A smart pill container and system integrating the same, the smart pill container having a number of pill wells for storing different doses of medication according to a prescribed medical regimen, where an opening in the pill container provides at least one user with access to the medication stored in a particular one of the pill wells at a given dosing time, and where a platform associated with the pill container provides instructions for dosing such medication and monitors use of the pill container for compliance with the prescribed medical regimen.

Disclosed herein is a programmable medication dispenser. Further, the programmable medication dispenser may include a housing, a base wall, at least one actuator, at least one power source, a processing device, and a storage device. Further, the housing may include a body and at least one bottomless tray configured to be movably disposed within the at least one interior space. Further, the at least one bottomless tray may include a plurality of compartments. Further, the base wall disposed on one side of the at least one bottomless tray. Further, the at least one actuator may be coupled to the at least one bottomless tray. Further, the at least one power source configured to provide power to the at least one actuator. Further, the processing device may be communicatively coupled to the at least one actuator. Further, the storage device may be communicatively coupled to the processing device.

An automated method is provided for recording contents of medication packages vended from a plurality of vending machines in electronic records, such as an electronic medication administration record (eMAR), that store records for a plurality of patients who are associated with respective vending machines. A vending event causes the electronic record to be populated. The contents of the medication packages vended from the vending machines are recorded in electronic records without communicating patient names or vended medications in the electronic message sent from the vending machines.

Provided is a method for improving a compliance with medication regimens with the aid of a portable dispenser system. The method consists of assembling a plurality of portable dispensers having reversible caps into a system by stacking them through their stackable interlocking reversible caps. The dispensers contain the same or different pills and are stacked in a sequence corresponding to the pill administration schedule. The method further consists of providing the system with an electronic device that has a monitoring, reminding, and/or alarming functionality and that can be attached to the reversible cap of any portable dispenser or arranged on a magnetic calendar. The device is set for fulfilling its monitoring, reminding, and/or alarming functionality in accordance with a pill administration schedule on an hourly, daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

Described herein are methods and systems for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions. The systems can include a housing that encloses a receiving space having a bottom surface. A separation device may be provided and arranged on the bottom surface with at least one channel to receive at least one medicament portion. At least one channel may have an opening facing the receiving space and an opening facing the bottom surface. The opening facing the bottom surface may be associated with a contact area on the bottom surface, over which contact area the medicament portions may be guided upon a movement of separation device. At least one recess may be arranged in the bottom surface outside of the contact area to receive contamination particles present in the container.

A medication dispensing system that includes a housing for at housing at least one medication in bulk, the at least one medication including a plurality of doses of the at least one medication; and a dispenser for separating a single dose from the at least one medication in bulk, the dispenser moving the single dose of the at least one medication from a position within the housing to a position outside the housing. The medication dispensing system also includes an optical verification sensor for verifying the at least one medication is a correct medication; a weight verification sensor for verifying the at least one medication is a correct medication; and an interface for receiving a plurality of inputs and displaying a plurality of outputs. The medication dispensing system also includes a network connection; and a virtual health advisor module associated with the medication dispensing apparatus which includes an instruction set. The instruction set, when executed by a processor associated with the medication dispensing apparatus causes the medication dispensing apparatus to produce a prompt at the interface, the prompt seeking an input related to human health; receive at least one input related to human health; and implement an action in response to the at least one input.