A medicine dispensing apparatus comprises a medicine containing/dispensing unit (11) for supplying medicines of various kinds; a medicine wrapping part (45) for wrapping the medicine supplied from the medicine containing/dispensing unit (11) for every one dose package by a dispensing paper (S); a medicine wrapping hopper (73) for falling down the medicine for one dose package into a dispensing paper S in the medicine wrapping part (45) and a medicine check part (5) for determining depending on a photographed image of the medicine wrapping hopper (73) whether or not the medicine is adheres to the introduction part.

A cap for a medication container may include: at least one pressure sensor; an air supplying unit; and a controller. The controller may be configured to: receive a first air pressure measurement form inside the medication container, form the at least one pressure sensor; control the air supply unit to supply air at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined amount of time; receive a second air pressure measurement from inside the medication container, form the at least one pressure sensor; and perform an output operation using the first and second air pressure measurements.

A cap for a medication container may include: at least one pressure sensor; an air supplying unit; and a controller. The controller may be configured to: receive a first air pressure measurement form inside the medication container, form the at least one pressure sensor; control the air supply unit to supply air at a predetermined pressure for a predetermined amount of time; receive a second air pressure measurement from inside the medication container, form the at least one pressure sensor; and perform an output operation using the first and second air pressure measurements.

A method of dispensing a prescription medication is disclosed. The method may begin with obtaining a medication dispensing system. The system may include a prescription vial and a programmable cap for the prescription vial. 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. The method may include the step of determining, by the processor, that a first waiting period has passed. The control system may then dispense a first portion of the medication. The dispensing may involve sensing that a tablet or capsule of the medication is loaded into the chute and moving, by the control system, the chute of the transport portion out of alignment with the entrance aperture and into alignment with the exit aperture.

The present invention concerns a system (1; 101; 201; 301; 401) for monitoring and/or controlling the taking of one or more medications (P) packaged in a blister pack (10; 410) by a patient. The system (1; 101; 201; 301; 401) comprises an identification unit (20) suited to identify how many and/or what medications (P) are extracted from the blister pack (10; 410), a management unit (30) suited to receive and process information transmitted by the identification unit (20), a wireless communication unit (40) suited to transmit and/or receive wireless data and a service provider (50) suited to receive said wireless data from the wireless communication unit (40) and/or send wireless data to the wireless communication unit (40).

This disclosure provides a visual analytical method of verifying dispensed pills. In a preferred embodiment, a camera captures one or more parameters of each pill as it travels along a dispense path. The camera stores the parameters, and a processor displays the parameters or evaluates whether the parameters are within a threshold limit for the dispensed pill. If the parameter is outside the threshold, the pill or the receptacle is separated and/or removed. If all the parameters are within the threshold, the pill is stored in a receptacle, and the images are processed and archived for future verification. The process is repeated for each pill in the dispenser. The system captures at least one verification image for every pill dispensed into the receptacle.

This disclosure provides a visual analytical method of verifying dispensed pills. In a preferred embodiment, a camera captures one or more parameters of each pill as it travels along a dispense path. The camera stores the parameters, and a processor displays the parameters or evaluates whether the parameters are within a threshold limit for the dispensed pill. If the parameter is outside the threshold, the pill or the receptacle is separated and/or removed. If all the parameters are within the threshold, the pill is stored in a receptacle, and the images are processed and archived for future verification. The process is repeated for each pill in the dispenser. The system captures at least one verification image for every pill dispensed into the receptacle.

Pill sorting devices are described herein that include a cavity formed from a bottom, a front, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a channel formed at the intersection of the first side wall and the second side wall, and a delivery channel within the front and first side wall or the within the front and the second side wall, wherein the delivery channel is offset from the channel. The pill sorting, counting, and dispensing device can be useful for people with arthritis or poor sight, or could be used commercially in pharmacies or industrially. Methods of making and using the pill sorting, counting, and dispensing devices are also described.

Pill sorting devices are described herein that include a cavity formed from a bottom, a front, a first side wall, and a second side wall, a channel formed at the intersection of the first side wall and the second side wall, and a delivery channel within the front and first side wall or the within the front and the second side wall, wherein the delivery channel is offset from the channel. The pill sorting, counting, and dispensing device can be useful for people with arthritis or poor sight, or could be used commercially in pharmacies or industrially. Methods of making and using the pill sorting, counting, and dispensing devices are also described.

A monitoring system includes a weight sensor for receiving a vial containing a controlled substance possessed by a patient. A processor receives a weight measured by the weight sensor. A communication circuit transmits the weight measured by the weight sensor to a remote server. The weight sensor may be mounted in a container having a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment has a first lid that is releasable without any lock. A second compartment has a second lid that is secured by a lock. The weight sensor is mounted inside the second compartment.