The medication container includes a receptacle and a cap. The cap includes a gate that can be selectively opened to enable access to medications in the receptacle and closed to restrict access to medications in the receptacle. The gate has a locking mechanism that only unlocks to allow the gate to open from the closed position in response to an application of a downward force on a portion of the gate to resiliently deflect a portion of the gate. The cap further includes electronic components that are configured to monitor movement of medications through the cap and into and out of the receptacle, the electronic components including a memory that is configured to store data pertaining to such passages of medications.

A dispensing system (2) and method for dispensing unit dosage forms (38) from a blister pack (30) is disclosed. The system (2) comprises a housing (4) for receiving a blister pack (30), the blister pack (30) having a plurality of cavities (32) with at least one unit dosage form (38) sealed in each of the cavities (32), the housing (4) comprising at least one housing aperture. The system (2) also comprises a sensing layer comprising a plurality of apertures, each sensing layer aperture configured to substantially align with a corresponding one or more of the plurality of cavities (32) of the blister pack (30) when a blister pack (30) is received in the housing (4) and at least one sensing region. The system (2) further comprises an electronics unit and a power source for providing voltage to the sensing layer. In use, the unit dosage forms (38) are dispensed from the blister pack (30) through the sensing layer apertures and through the at least one housing aperture, for example by application of pressure (P) upon each cavity (32), and the sensing layer senses each unit dosage form (38) being dispensed from the blister pack (30).

A pill bottle top includes a top and a base engaged with the top and having first ratchet teeth. An indicator slide has a finger pad formed with an inwardly protruding indicator nose and leaf spring arms coupled to the finger pad and disposed intermediate the top and base. The leaf spring arms are formed with second ratchet teeth configured to engage first ratchet teeth on the base. The finger pad can be pressed against the leaf spring arms to disengage the second ratchet teeth from the first ratchet teeth and allow the indicator slide to slide relative to the top with the indicator nose higher than and alignable with time indicia on the top. The finger pad can be released to allow the second ratchet teeth to engage first ratchet teeth under material bias of the leaf spring arms and prevent the indicator slide from sliding.

A point of care device for securely dispensing medication includes an enclosure sized to contain medication containers, a holding element accessible from outside the enclosure to receive medication containers from the enclosure, a dispenser to dispense medication from the enclosure to the holding element, and a securable panel configured to provide access to the enclosure for retrieval or replenishment of the medication containers within the enclosure, and a computing device operable to control the dispenser to dispense medication to the holding element based on various conditions. Specifically, the point of care device can be configured to dispense medication based on detecting that an authorized user is accessing the device, based on a timer in conjunction with known medication regimen, or based on patient or physician demand, or based on biometric information concerning the user.

A modular smart packaging case comprising reversibly attachable electronics and detection modules is disclosed. The detection module includes a sensor array for monitoring the state of a blister pack containing a plurality of product units. The electronics module contains the high-value electronics required to read the sensors of the array, process the sensor output, and enable communications to and from the case. The electronics module and detection module are operatively coupled via a universal interface that enables the same electronics module to operate with a plurality of detection modules of different configurations. In some embodiments, the electronics module operatively couples with multiple detection modules.

A medication dispensing apparatus is provided herein along with computer-useable instructions embodied on a microcontroller for control of said medication dispensing apparatus. Instructions may be embodied on the microcontroller to control a dosing of medication via a coupled motor. The microcontroller controls rotation of the motor to line up a cavity with a dispensing port such that medication from a medication container (e.g., pill bottle) is dispensed via the dispensing apparatus.

Provided herein are medication tracking and securement devices, systems, platforms, and methods configured to be used with or in place of commercial standard medicine bottles. The wireless tracking and communications elements of the present disclosure are configured to prevent medication theft, overdosing, medication loss, and prescription noncompliance.

In an example, monitoring circuitry includes a first and a second coupling to electrically connect the monitoring circuitry to a monitored circuit having a resistance. The resistance of the monitored circuit may be indicative of a status, and the monitored circuit may be connected in series between the first and second coupling. The first coupling comprises a plurality of galvanically separated connection elements which are to form an electrical connection with a common connection element of the monitored circuit. The monitoring circuitry further comprises a monitoring apparatus to determine the resistance of the monitored circuit via the first coupling and the second coupling. The monitoring apparatus is to acquire a plurality of electrical values and to use the plurality of electrical values to determine a value of the resistance of the monitored circuit.

A system for dispensing a prescription medication in a controlled manner is disclosed. The system may include a prescription vial and a corresponding programmable cap. The cap may include an outer cover having an exit aperture, an inner cover having an entrance aperture, and a transport portion having a chute. The cap may also include a control system having a processor. In accordance with a schedule prescribed by a medical professional and programmed into the control system, the control system may dispense medication by moving the chute of the transport portion out of alignment with the entrance aperture and into alignment with the exit aperture.

A reminder system and methods may be configured for medicine regimen compliance and monitoring. Embodiments may include a control device, a medicine container, a medicine identifier, a medicine container input device, a monitoring device and a portable electrical device. The control device, the medicine container input device and the monitoring device may include microprocessors, memories, input devices and output devices. The control device may provide operations including input and compare, by the microprocessor, a prescription and medicine information. The monitoring device may provide operations including compare, by the microprocessor, the medicine identifier of the medicine container and the medicine information. The monitoring device may also provide operations including determining, by the microprocessor, the amount of medication removed from the medicine container. The operations may further include generate, by the output device, an alert in response to the distance exceeding a threshold.