A portable, reusable dispensing assembly having multiple operating modes is provided. The assembly includes a housing having a compartment which is refillable with an elongated medication strip having a plurality of dosage form packages spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the strip. A bi-directional, electromechanical actuator advances a first end of the strip from the compartment to a dose-ready area in the housing in a dispensing mode of the assembly and loads the strip into the compartment in a loading mode of the assembly. An actuator controller is configured to receive power and direction command signals to controllably supply DC power of a desired polarity to the actuator to control the operating mode of the assembly.

A medication delivery apparatus, including: a housing configured to accommodate a strip of medication packages in its interior and having an outlet for outputting medication packages from the interior of the housing; a lid of the housing configured to enable access to the interior of the housing; and an electronically controllable lock mechanism positioned in the interior of the housing and configured to lock the lid in a closed position. The apparatus is configured such that the lock mechanism is configured to be controlled from the exterior of the housing by a control device.

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.

An apparatus for medication management. The apparatus includes a housing for a packet of medication, a sensor coupled to the housing for sensing whether the packet has been removed or is likely to have been removed from the housing, and a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting data regarding a reading of the sensor to a remote computer. A system for medication management communicates with the apparatus for medication management is provided. The remote computer is configured to send an alert to an external device, and the alert is based on the reading of the sensor. Also, an apparatus for medication management includes a housing for medication, and a sensor for sensing a quantity of medication within the housing. The sensor includes a plurality of conductive electrodes arranged in an interleaved pattern, and provided in a substantially horizontal position. Related systems, methods, techniques and articles are also disclosed.

In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for monitoring a patient's medication adherence. In one example, an apparatus includes a set of contact pins to electrically engage a conductive trace circuit of a unit dose packaging and to generate a signal in response to a break in the conductive trace circuit, a processor comprising a plurality of analog channels to detect and record the signal, a cellular modem to send, via a data network to which the apparatus is connected, information about the signal to a medication adherence monitoring service, a housing containing the set of contact pins, the processor, and the cellular modem, wherein the housing is configured for removable insertion of the unit dose packaging, and a lock to reversibly lock the unit dose packaging in the housing.

Introduced here are containers designed to promote compliance with regimens for administering the medications stored therein. These containers have various features that allow them to be more easily managed by the individuals to whom the medications were prescribed. Some features improve the ease with which containers communicate with individuals. These features may enable information to be more easily input by individuals and/or output for individuals in a comprehensible manner. Other features improve the mechanical or electrical durability of containers. Such features may enable the containers to be used by individuals over the course of several days, weeks, or months without worrying about structural damage or loss of power.

Systems and devices for tracking the opening and closing of a container are provided. According to an aspect of the invention, a device includes a body that is configured to be inserted between a container and a cap that is configured to seal the container, a sensor that is configured to measure a state of the cap as being opened or closed, a microprocessor that is configured to receive a signal from the sensor that represents the state of the cap, and a transmitter that is configured to send a message that indicates the state of the cap.

A gamified pharmaceutical packaging, dispensing system, and methodology is disclosed. The innovative gamified smart packaging system and methodology provides a variety of incentives to patients and relevant teams to take their medications, on time, and at the correct dosage. The system comprises monitored pharmaceutical dispensing devices that communicate with a plurality of compute devices, or smartphones. Each time the patient dispenses the medicine from the dispensing device, a signal is transmitted to the compute device. Upon receiving the signal, the compute device records the dispensing event, calculates a specific “score” for that event, and reports the patient's cumulative “score” of successfully dispensing the medicine. If a dispensing event signal is not received in a timely fashion, the system sends a prompt to the patient to take their medication. Accumulating points by properly taking the prescribed medication allows the patient and/or team to be eligible to receive various benefits.

Dispensing devices and systems for oral transmucosal administration of small volume drug dosage forms to the oral mucosa are provided. The dispensing device may be a single dose applicator (SDA), or an electromechanical device comprising a means for patient identification such as a wrist worn RFID tag and annular bidirectional antenna together with a lock-out feature.

Portable pill dispensers are disclosed herein. The portable pill dispenser may include a container configured to house at least one pill therein, a housing attachable to the container, and a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing. In one configuration, the dispensing mechanism includes an oscillating member configured to dispense the at least one pill from the container.