A technique for tracking, for example, the temperature of one or more sample vials containing biological material stored in a low-temperature shipping vessel. Each sample vial has vial electronics that senses temperature and transmits temperature data to the reader head of a reader device, which has a controller that is not at the low temperature. In some implementations, the shipping vessel has a cap with a recess that houses the controller and a hollow plug that houses a cable that connects the controller to the reader head that is located in the vessel's cold interior sufficiently close to the sample vial to enable interaction with the vial electronics. In some implementations, the reader head transmits electrical power to the vial electronics. By tracking the temperature of individual sample vials rather than the temperature of the vessel interior, more-relevant temperature data is available.

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 pill feeder includes a rotating disk, a rotating rim, a lift gate, a separator gate, and an exit path. The rotating disk receives and moves pills in a rotation direction about a surface of the rotating disk at a first angular velocity. The rotating rim that moves pills received from the rotating disk in the same rotation direction as the rotating disk. The lift gate raises a height above the surface of the rotating rim that permits passage of a single layer of the plurality of pills. A transition to an exit chute of the pill feeder provides a plurality of slopes to control the orientation of pills transitioning from the rim to the exit chute.

An apparatus for automated storage and dispensing of medications. Medications are stored in one or more inventory storage foam storage plates attached to a frame of the apparatus. Medications are delivered to the apparatus via a locked delivery container. A carrier mechanism retrieves medications from the inventory storage container and delivery container and moves medications to various subsystems of the apparatus. Information related to medications is communicated to a remote pharmacist prior to dispensing the medication. Multiple installations of the apparatus are centrally coordinated.

Systems and methods for making and delivering personalized, medically prescribed pharmaceuticals to an individual patient are described. Individual unit doses (IUDs) of medicine may be prepared specific to the individual in need of same, by using a system, which includes a networked control system in combination with manufacturing assemblies specific to the IUDs and delivering the medicine to the patient directly from the manufacturer.

An activity monitor is associated with a container, such as a medication bottle, and includes one or more detectors configured to detect activity associated with the bottle, such as movement, opening and/or closing, and changes in volume and/or mass. The activity monitor may include alerting devices and be programmed with scheduling information. The activity monitor may also, or instead, be part of a system and communicate with one or more remote devices such as a user device or monitoring system, such as to receive programming information from those devices or to output activity information to those devices.

Devices, systems, and methods for a medication monitoring system are described. An example medication monitoring system for a user includes a container subassembly comprising one or more compartments, each compartment being configured to store medical equipment or medications prescribed to the user, and a lid of the container subassembly pivotally mounted on a first edge of the container subassembly and comprising a magnet at a second edge opposite to the first edge, and an electronics subassembly comprising a magnetic sensor coupled to the magnet in the lid of the container subassembly, and a communication module configured to communicate with a patient record comprising one or more medication regimens for the user.

A multi-tray medication dispensing apparatus and a method of use provides secure storage and dispensing of controlled substances and supplemental/alternative medication while providing remote assistance and monitoring. The apparatus includes at least two motorized medication trays for automatic dispensing of medication. Medication tray compartments can be filled manually or filled by inserting a prefilled blister pack containing sealed medication. The apparatus further comprises a secure tamper resistant housing, plurality of sensors, an optional reclamation safe, and a wireless communication module to notify remote operators of suspected illegal/unauthorized access. The apparatus can be configured in different form factors including, a portable desktop configuration, a wearable configuration designed for attaching to a person's wrist, arm, foot, etc. The apparatus can dispense a controlled substance or supplemental/alternative medication based upon a dispensing schedule and/or inputs from the user, wherein the supplemental/alternative medication is alternatively dispensed to control addition and/or proper use.

Systems and methods for detecting administration of a dose of a medicament are described. A medicament dispensing system may include a cap sensor to detect removal of a cap from a container holding a medicament, an orientation sensor to detect an orientation of the container, and a force sensor to detect application of forces to the container. The system may determine that a dose has been administered based on detection of, in order, removal of the cap, movement of the container to an administration orientation, and application of a force to the container greater than a threshold force.

The present invention is directed to a dispensing system, device, and method for the dispensing of a fluid supplement such as in the form of a concentrated fluid containing flavoring, nutrients, medication, and/or other supplements. Certain embodiments of the invention as disclosed herein comprise a handheld apparatus which allows the dispensing of predetermined amount of a fluid with single-handed use. Certain embodiments include self-contained pods which is controlled by a removable dispenser to allow for multiple types of fluids, and preventing cross-contamination within the dispenser.

A medical device position notification system including a negative pressure device. The medical device is configured to be inserted into an orifice of the patient. The negative pressure device provides information related to the position of the medical device in the patient's body and communicates the information in real-time. The negative pressure device may also be coupled to a sensor, processor, and display device and indicates the position of the medical device in the patient's body in real-time.