The present invention is directed to an instrumented medication dispenser with real-time vital sign monitoring in order to assist patients in managing their medicine intake. It provides various benefits such as assisting patients in maintaining the correct dosing of their medicines, but most important is the ability to monitor the patient's vital signs and provide real time updates to a doctor. It therefore assists patients in the event that a health issue arises, especially in instances where the health issue is related to medicine intake, and providing information and support to health care providers.

A programmable, refillable medication dispenser with scheduled metered medication unit dispensing, includes a main housing, a powered CPU with countdown timer, a multi-unit medication removable refillable cartridge with a (first) lock, a medication release control gate positioned at a medication outlet and connected to a (second) lock being a gate control mechanism, and an in-chamber medication unit sensor. A pharmacist will insert a medicine cartridge into the main housing, locking it in, and will program the CPU to permit a patient to activate dispensing according to a predetermined schedule, and then only when a medication unit is sensed in the chamber. A patient may receive the dispenser and activate medication dispensing according to the programmed schedule and dispense by the timer schedule, only when a medication unit is sensed in the chamber.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for remotely monitoring the health of a patient in a real-time, continuous manner, remotely deliver therapeutic medications to the patient, and facilitating communication between the patient and a remotely located patient care provider.

Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the restock drawer in any workable proportion and arrangement. The dispensing mechanisms include multiple sensing technologies for tracking and inventory of items and for accurate sensing of items as they are dispensed.

A drug overdose prevention software application and method of use that includes receiving a drug-using and a check-in time period and at least one emergency contact of a second user, generating on a user interface on the first user electronic computing device a drug using digital icon for indicating when the first user is about to use a drug, initiating an electronic timer for the drug-using time period upon modulation of the drug using digital icon, and generating a call-to-action digital icon on the user interface on the first user device and initiating an electronic timer for the check-in time period on the first user electronic computing device after the expiration of the drug-using time period. Thereafter, the method will either couple the first and second user electronic computing devices together over a network to notify the second user of the first user's failure to check-in or take no action.

A pill packet dosage tracking and gating device is provided. The device includes a container, a gate, and a controller. The container includes a reservoir configured to hold a stream of pill packets and an extraction channel configured to guide the passage of the stream of pill packets from the reservoir out of the container. The gate is disposed in the extraction channel and is configured to vertically transition from a closed position blocking extraction of a pill packet of the stream of pill packets and an open position allowing extraction of a pill packet. The controller is configured to monitor the extraction of pill packets and control the transition of the gate from the closed position to the open position.

A medication control device includes a housing defining an interior of the housing and a door movable between an open position and a closed position. A carousel can be rotatably mounted within the interior of housing and is configured to receive a medication blister pack, and an actuator is configured to advance the carousel to move a blister of the blister pack to a dispensing area of the housing when operated by a user. A lock can be configured to selectively inhibit movement of the carousel is permitted. A controller is configured to, upon detecting advancement of the carousel, start a timer for a predetermined length of time and operate the lock to inhibit movement of the carousel until the predetermined length of time has elapsed. A tamper-evident seal is configured to retain the door in the closed position until broken, thereby only allowing destructive access to the medication.

A mobile smart container system comprises a housing, an access component configured to secure access to a compartment within the housing when in a closed position, a communication interface configured to wirelessly receive a request to access the compartment, a perceivable output device, an electromechanical latch configured to engage with the access component to releasably lock the access component in the closed position, and a processor. The processor receives and authenticates the request to access the compartment and, in response to receiving and authenticating the request, activates the electromechanical latch to unlock the access component to make the compartment accessible, and outputs, upon actuation of the electromechanical latch, an alert via the perceivable output device to identify the smart container system.

Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the restock drawer in any workable proportion and arrangement. The dispensing mechanisms include multiple sensing technologies for tracking and inventory of items and for accurate sensing of items as they are dispensed.

A modular medication dispensing system for managing and automatically dispensing pills from a plurality of portable medication dispensers comprises: a base equipped with rotation means and being removably installed on a plane surface, a circular magazine comprising a plurality of adaptors for receiving a plurality of portable medication dispensers, the circular magazine being rotatably mounted on the base, an actuator for actuating a portable dispenser from the plurality of portable dispensers when the portable dispenser is in the dispensing position, a plurality of autonomous portable dispensers being removably received in the plurality of adaptors and operating autonomously or in synchronization with the modular system, a filling assembly comprising movable means for automatically filling a portable dispenser, and an electronic system comprised in each portable dispenser and in the base for permanently communicating between the plurality of portable dispensers and the base or between the base and a user.