A dispensing device and a method of operating a dispensing device for use in studying a consumable unit used by a clinical study participant are provided. The device comprises a housing that includes a delivery aperture and a compartment configured to store an unconsumed consumable unit therein. The device further includes a dispensing mechanism located within the housing and configured to release the stored unconsumed consumable unit to the clinical study participant via the delivery aperture upon verifying the identity of the clinical study participant and a controller configured to interface with the dispensing mechanism and the user input device. A user input device is also included and is configured to receive input from the clinical study participant corresponding to identification information relating to the clinical study participant and is further configured to receive input from the clinical study participant in response to one or more questionnaires relating to consumption of the consumable unit.

A dispenser or dispensing system. The dispenser can be a screw conveyor pill dispenser, tumbler pill dispenser, push-to-operate pill cap dispenser, twist-to-operate pill cap dispenser, or push-to-operate pill cap dispenser. The pill dispenser may include a pill dispenser control system that can interact with a personal device, such as a smart phone. The pill dispenser control system can implement communication with a personal device, pill identification, user identification and security, scheduling functions, and notifications. The pill dispenser can dispense pills manually, semi-automatically, or automatically.

The present invention provides a secure pharmaceutical container. The secure container includes a plurality of compartments for storing pills, tablets, solutions, pastes, creams, ointments, gels, emulsions, or any other pharmaceutical product. The compartments each include a locking mechanism that is operably connected to a biometric system, such as a fingerprint scanner. The compartments become unlocked upon the fingerprint scanner reading an approved fingerprint, ensuring that only individuals approved to have access to the container are granted access.

A medication and medical supply dispenser system (100) comprising a substantially planar base (1), a plurality of separators (2) for being removably fixed on the base and thus for defining separated compartments (3) thereon, said system being connectable to a further device having computing and data storage abilities wherein the system further comprises or is cooperable with a set (50) of aligned transducers, each separator is provided with a counterpart, proximity of said counterpart being detectable by any of said transducers; such that in use, when the system is connected to said further device, and the base is scanned by the set, a matrix of relative positions of any separators fixed on the base is generated, and thus a map of separated compartments is generated for preparation of rules for authorization-based selective access to a certain compartment.

A medication and medical supply dispenser system (100) comprising a substantially planar base (1), a plurality of separators (2) for being removably fixed on the base and thus for defining separated compartments (3) thereon, said system being connectable to a further device having computing and data storage abilities wherein the system further comprises or is cooperable with a set (50) of aligned transducers, each separator is provided with a counterpart, proximity of said counterpart being detectable by any of said transducers; such that in use, when the system is connected to said further device, and the base is scanned by the set, a matrix of relative positions of any separators fixed on the base is generated, and thus a map of separated compartments is generated for preparation of rules for authorization-based selective access to a certain compartment.

A process of safe, secure storage and transfer of prescription medications for patient care in a hospital, clinic, nursing home, or similar health care facility, permits the authorized user to obtain medications for multiple patients along a patient care route, place the medications in respective locking compartments for each patient, and bring the cart to each patient in turn to administer the medications. Scanning in the user ID opens the cart, and the ward or floor medications cabinet displays a 2-D bar code containing patient identification data, the user identification, and one or more delimiter characters indicating that the medication was transferred by the authorized user directly to the cart. For each patient, a patient specific drawer or compartment is unlocked and opened, and the medications are placed into it. This is repeated for each patient on the care route. At each patient bedside, the user scans in the patient ID, which opens only the patient specific drawer. If a medication is obtained when the cart is not at the cabinet, the cabinet labels the medication with a bar code containing a different delimiter. The system maintains an audit of each person handling the medication, and when each event occurred.

A smart cap for a medication container is disclosed. The smart cap includes a circuit board and a weight sensor electrically coupled to the circuit board and configured to generate electrical input signals representative of the total weight of medication units in the medication container. The smart cap may include a processor for processing the electrical input signals generated by the weight sensor, and a memory for storing medication information associated with medication in the medication container, including the processed electrical input signals generated by the weight sensor. The smart cap may transmit the stored information to a computing device communicatively coupled to the cap.

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.

A pharmacy workflow platform and prescription checking and medicament dispensing station and method comprising (a) script display means; (b) scanning means for providing script data and stock bottle label data in electronic format from the prescription and a stock bottle label; (c) CPU means comprising i) means for receiving and storing the script data and stock bottle data in electronic format; ii) means for transferring the script data to the script display means to effect display of the script; iii) means cooperable with medicament dispensing weighing and counting means; (d) medicament-dispensing weighing means in communication with the CPU means; and (e) control means for controlling the CPU means. Medication is dispensed in a more safe, efficient and cost-effective manner.

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.