A smart cap is provided. The smart cap includes a base section configured to mate with and engage a top portion of a container. The smart cap includes a top section hingedly coupled to the base section. The top section is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The smart cap includes a locking flange to interlock the base section with the top section during positioning of the top section in the closed position.

A smart cap is provided. The smart cap includes a base section configured to mate with and engage a top portion of a container. The smart cap includes a top section hingedly coupled to the base section. The top section is pivotable between an open position and a closed position. The smart cap includes a locking flange to interlock the base section with the top section during positioning of the top section in the closed position.

A pill feeder accepts a quantity of pills and organizes the pills into a single file where each pill is output in a controlled orientation at a controlled rate. The apparatus includes a moving surface, such as a rotating disk, to receive and move pills past one or more gates that separate and orient groups of pills into a single file. The gates can start at a closed position and open until a pill has passed the gate. In one embodiment, a mixer counter-rotates relative to the rotating disk to prevent jams of the pills. The single file of pills is then guided out to an exit chute via an exit path. An alternative exit path provides an alternative route via which the pills exit the pill feeder. Multiple sensors can control the movement of the gates and the rate at which the pills exit the pill feeder.

A multiple dose spoon device for scooping, retaining, and delivering to a patient a specific number of mini-tablets from a container, e.g., bottle, or bulk pile, of mini-tablets. The device comprises a top housing, a bottom housing, and one or two sliders movably positioned between top housing and bottom housing, said: a) top housing having a plurality of nests, and also having a handle with an open window and slider retention notches, and b) one or two sliders with slider tabs, having a plurality of sequential whole number markings equivalent to the plurality of nests, and a plurality minus 1 of tablet blocking ribs, wherein slider movement is regulated by the slider retention notches, and wherein the plurality of nests and the plurality of whole number markings are a same number. Alternatively, the top housing does not have slider retention notches, and the one or two sliders have slider retention notches.

A multiple dose spoon device for scooping, retaining, and delivering to a patient a specific number of mini-tablets from a container, e.g., bottle, or bulk pile, of mini-tablets. The device comprises a top housing, a bottom housing, and one or two sliders movably positioned between top housing and bottom housing, said: a) top housing having a plurality of nests, and also having a handle with an open window and slider retention notches, and b) one or two sliders with slider tabs, having a plurality of sequential whole number markings equivalent to the plurality of nests, and a plurality minus 1 of tablet blocking ribs, wherein slider movement is regulated by the slider retention notches, and wherein the plurality of nests and the plurality of whole number markings are a same number. Alternatively, the top housing does not have slider retention notches, and the one or two sliders have slider retention notches.

A tray and method for efficient counting of a desired number of pharmaceutical pills or capsules from a bulk supply and distributing said counted pills and any excess pills into a target container and the bulk supply respectively. The preferred embodiment of this invention incorporates a sprung, hinged flap which, when pressed into contact with the flat counting surface, forms a trapping enclosure for excess pills while the desired number of pills are poured with a novel funneling structure. Although useful by itself, the tray and method are designed for optimal time and motion efficiency and for accuracy when used with a machine-vision pill counter.

A tray and method for efficient counting of a desired number of pharmaceutical pills or capsules from a bulk supply and distributing said counted pills and any excess pills into a target container and the bulk supply respectively. The preferred embodiment of this invention incorporates a sprung, hinged flap which, when pressed into contact with the flat counting surface, forms a trapping enclosure for excess pills while the desired number of pills are poured with a novel funneling structure. Although useful by itself, the tray and method are designed for optimal time and motion efficiency and for accuracy when used with a machine-vision pill counter.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a pill detection apparatus may comprise a blister pack receiving container, an elastomeric connector layer; and a printed circuit board (PCB) layer disposed beneath the elastomeric connector layer. The PCB layer may include a plurality of touch points, wherein each touch point of the plurality of touch points is configured to, when the blister pack is disposed on top of the elastomeric connector layer, sense whether a respective region of the blister pack is in contact with the elastomeric connector layer. The PCB layer may include a plurality of IR sensors sense properties of a respective region of the blister pack.

According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a pill detection apparatus may comprise a blister pack receiving container, an elastomeric connector layer; and a printed circuit board (PCB) layer disposed beneath the elastomeric connector layer. The PCB layer may include a plurality of touch points, wherein each touch point of the plurality of touch points is configured to, when the blister pack is disposed on top of the elastomeric connector layer, sense whether a respective region of the blister pack is in contact with the elastomeric connector layer. The PCB layer may include a plurality of IR sensors sense properties of a respective region of the blister pack.

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.