CN110996880B - tablet dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

A tablet dispenser (10) is provided. The tablet dispenser (10) includes a body (11) having a base (11a) for resting on an underlying foundation in use. The main body (11) comprises a tablet drop channel (12) extending in a direction at an angle (#) with respect to the plane of the base formed by the base (11a) and for accommodating a drop channel (12) relative to the base (11a) ) supporting structure (13) of at least two tablet cassette units stacked on top of each other. Each tablet cassette unit has an opening (158) that allows tablets to be released by gravity from the associated tablet cassette unit (15) into said tablet drop channel (12), so that each tablet cassette unit (15) is relative to all tablet cassette units (15). The base plane is inclined at an angle (α).

Description

pill dispenser

technical field

The present invention relates generally to medical dispensers, and in particular to pill boxes and multi-box medical tablet dispensers for personal or hospital use.

Background technique

Medical tablet dispensers are used both in the clinic and in home care in an attempt to improve medication adherence and monitoring. This improves adherence by only allowing patients to dispense the correct number and type of pills according to the dosing regimen accessible by the medical pill dispenser. Since many patients require several types of medication, there is an urgent need to provide a tablet dispenser capable of dispensing different types of medication from a single tablet dispenser.

Although many solutions are known, usually this multi-tablet type dispenser is rather mechanically complex in order to allow dispensing of different types of tablets from a single unit.

It would be advantageous to develop a tablet dispenser unit which is less complex than conventional units and which provides improved robustness.

Contents of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to at least alleviate the above-mentioned problems.

According to one aspect, a tablet dispenser is provided. The tablet dispenser unit comprises a body having a base for resting on an underlying foundation in use. The body includes a tablet drop channel extending in an angled direction with respect to a base plane formed by the base. Furthermore, the body comprises a support structure for accommodating at least two tablet cassette units stacked on top of each other relative to the base, each tablet cassette unit having an opening allowing the release of the tablets from the associated tablet cassette unit by gravity Each tablet cassette unit is inclined at an angle relative to the base plane into the tablet drop channel.

According to another aspect, a pill box unit is provided. The tablet box unit comprises a compartment member having a cylindrical cover plate on which an inner wall is arranged, wherein a Multiple flexible flanges between inner wall and outer boundary. Furthermore, said tablet cassette unit comprises an associated receptacle for receiving said compartment member in use, wherein said receptacle comprises a cylindrical receptacle base and extends at least partially along an outer boundary of said receptacle base. an outer wall having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the cover, thereby allowing the receptacle to enclose the compartment member in use such that two adjacent flanges, the inner wall, the cover, The outer wall and the socket base form a tablet compartment for holding at least one tablet. The socket base plate includes means for detachably attaching the cylindrical inner wall of the associated compartment member to the socket such that the compartment member is permitted relative to the socket when attached. Rotation allows each tablet compartment to be in rotational alignment with the opening.

Description of drawings

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1a and 1b respectively show isometric views taken from different perspectives of the tablet dispenser provided herein;

Figures 2a to 2d each show isometric views taken from different perspectives of the tablet dispenser provided herein with the outer cover removed;

Figures 3a and 3b respectively show perspective views taken from different viewing angles of the tablet box unit provided herein;

Figures 4a and 4b show perspective views taken from different viewing angles of the tablet cassette unit of Figures 3a and 3b, respectively, when assembled and fitted into a cassette receiving member of an associated support structure;

Figures 5a to 5c show isometric views of alternative sockets for the tablet cassette unit of Figures 3a to 4b respectively; and

Figures 6a to 6c respectively show isometric views of the bottom of the tablet dispenser unit at different stages when the cup is introduced into the tablet dispenser unit.

Detailed ways

Referring to Figures 1a and 1b, a tablet dispenser 10 is provided. The tablet dispenser comprises a main body 11 having a base 11a for resting on an underlying foundation in use. The main body 11 comprises a tablet drop channel 12 extending in a direction at an angle β with respect to a base plane formed by the base 11a. In normal use, the plane of the base is aligned with a horizontal top surface (eg a table or desk), whereby the tablet drop channel extends in a direction having a component on the vertical axis of said plane. The main body 11 also comprises a support structure 13 for receiving at least two tablet cassette units 15 stacked on top of each other with respect to the base 11a. Each tablet cassette unit is provided with an opening 158 allowing tablets stored in the tablet compartments of said tablet cassette unit 15 to be released by gravity into the tablet drop channel 12 . To this end, each tablet cassette unit 15 is inclined by an angle α with respect to the plane of the base. Accordingly, the drop channel and the tablet cassette unit are each arranged at an angle relative to the plane of the base.

Preferably, the inclination angle α of each tablet cassette unit with respect to the base plane (best seen with respect to the cross-sectional view of Fig. 2a) is smaller than the angle β between the extension of the drop channel and the extension of the base plane. In some cases, the extension of the tablet drop channel is approximately orthogonal with respect to the plane of the base. As shown in Figures 2a to 2d, the cover of the main body has been removed to better show the internal structure of the tablet dispenser.

As shown at the bottom of Figure 1b, the tablet dispenser may include a power connector that includes optional communication interfaces, such as Ethernet, USB, to connect the tablet dispenser to external devices for external monitoring, dosing Program remote update, etc. A display and dispense buttons for providing useful information to the user may also be provided on the tablet dispenser unit as shown in Figure 1a. Referring to FIGS. 3 a to 4 b , each tablet cassette unit 15 includes a compartment member 151 having a cylindrical cover plate 152 on which an inner wall 153 is arranged. A plurality of flexible flanges 154 are arranged on the cylindrical cover plate 152 between the inner wall 153 and the outer boundary of the cover plate 152 . Accordingly, the flange 154 extends radially from the inner wall 153 to the outer boundary of the cover plate 152, as best shown at the top of FIG. 3a. Furthermore, each tablet cassette unit 15 also includes an associated receptacle 155 for detachably receiving the compartment member 151 prior to use. The socket 155 includes a cylindrical socket base 156 and an outer wall 157 extending at least partially along an outer boundary of the socket base 156 . An opening 158 may be provided in the outer wall 157 at a portion of the outer wall 157, as best shown in Figures 3a and 3b. The inner diameter of the outer wall 157 is greater than the outer diameter of the cover plate 152 to allow the receptacle 155 to surround the compartment member 152 when assembled. When assembled, a tablet compartment for holding at least one tablet is formed between two adjacent flanges 154 , inner wall 153 , cover plate 152 , outer wall 157 and socket base plate 156 . Since the compartment member 151 includes a plurality of flanges 154, a plurality of tablet compartments are formed in the space between the compartment member 151 and the corresponding receptacle 155 when assembled.

Each tablet box unit may eg be pre-filled with tablets before reaching the final consumer. Each tablet cassette unit may be prefilled by placing tablets in the relevant space between the two flanges 154 of the compartment member 151, and pressing the associated receptacle 151 gently against the compartment member when complete, The tablet box is thus assembled. Identification means, such as QR codes, ID tags, labels, etc., indicating the type of tablets in the tablet box unit may be provided on the outside of the outer wall 157 . Such identification means can be read prior to use of the tablet dispenser so that the tablet dispenser knows the type of medication stored in each tablet cassette unit. The identification means (eg QR code) may contain information such as patient ID, drug ID, number of tablets, start/end date of drug treatment, serial number of the box.

As shown in Figures 3a and 3b, the inner wall 153 may have a cylindrical shape. The socket base plate 156 includes means 159 for detachably attaching the inner wall 153 of the associated compartment member 151 to the socket 155 . This allows the compartment member 151 to be rotated relative to the receptacle 155 when assembled, thereby allowing each tablet compartment to be rotationally aligned with the opening 158 when in use.

As shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b , the means 159 for detachably attaching the inner wall 153 to the receptacle may, for example, comprise a snap or clip 159 provided on the receptacle 155 to engage radially from the inner wall 153 of the compartment member 151 . Extended flange 1531 engages.

The cover plate 152 includes a cylindrical ridge pattern 41 disposed on a side opposite to the inner wall 153 and the flexible flange 154 . The cylindrical ridge pattern has one engagement surface 411 for each tablet compartment. Thus, the number of engagement surfaces 411 is equal to the number of flanges 154 of the compartment member 151 . In use, each engagement surface 411 is arranged to receive a force, for example from a spring-loaded telescopic push rod (25) as shown in Figures 4a and 4b, to rotate the compartment member 151 relative to its associated socket 155, thereby The opening 158 is aligned with the next tablet compartment in the sequence of the tablet pack.

The socket base plate 156 may be provided with protrusions 35 protruding in a direction having a component in the same direction as the outer wall 157, as best shown at the bottom of Fig. 3b. The protrusions (which may be provided as circular protrusions) are arranged in use to engage one of the flexible flanges 154 as it moves over the protrusion 35 in rotational movement relative to the receptacle 155, thereby bending the flexible flanges 154 rim to increase the size of the tablet compartment to avoid tablet jamming in the tablet compartment when the tablet compartment is aligned with the opening 158. Plastic materials such as PVC, ABS, PET and PMMA are inherently flexible enough to withstand this bending of the flange.

FIG. 5 a shows a perspective view of an alternative socket 155 in which a stabilizing element 52 is provided across the opening 158 of the socket 155 at the edge of the outer wall 157 . The stabilizing element 52 reduces the risk of undesired bending of the socket 155 in use. If this undesired bending is large enough, tablets in the tablet cassette unit may be misplaced or accidentally released from the tablet cassette unit.

Figure 5b shows an isometric view of an alternative socket 155 comprising a sloped plate 51 adjacent to (eg radially forward of) the opening 158 . The inclined plate 51 may be spring loaded and have a rest or inclined state in which the inclined plate 51 protrudes or inclines into the associated tablet compartment such that the engagement of the inclined plate 51 prevents the relative movement of the compartment members 151. The rotational movement of the adjacent flange 154. This is particularly beneficial during transport of the assembled cassette unit 15 in use, as unintentional rotational movement between the compartment member 151 and the receptacle 155 is prevented, thereby eliminating the risk of accidental release of tablets from the cassette unit. The inclined plate 51 also has an aligned state in which the top surface of the inclined plate 51 is aligned with the socket substrate 156 . Thus, in the aligned state, the top surface is flush with the base of the receptacle, thus not preventing the tablet from sliding towards the opening 158 . When installed into the support structure 13, the inclined plate 51 can be changed from its rest state into an aligned state such that a member (not shown) of the support structure 13 engages the bottom surface of the inclined plate 51 thereby forcing the inclined plate from its rest position. The state changes to its aligned state.

It should be understood that the inclined plate need not be positioned directly in front of the opening 158, as shown in Figures 5b and 5c. The inclined plate 51 may be provided elsewhere on the socket base, for example adjacent to the tablet compartment portion. However, it should be understood that the tablet compartments in which the inclined plates are provided are preferably free of tablets during transport, in order to prevent the tablets from falling out.

FIG. 5c shows a perspective view of an alternative socket 155 comprising both a stabilizing element 52 and an inclined plate 51 .

Referring to FIGS. 1 a and 6 a to 6 c , an opening 16 may be provided in the side wall of the main body 11 for accessing the bottom of the tablet drop channel 12 . In use, the cup 30 may be introduced into the opening.

The tablet dispenser 10 may further comprise a sensor 17 for detecting the presence of the cup 30 when inserted through the opening 16 . The opening 16 communicates with the tablet drop channel.

A lift assembly 20 is arranged in the tablet dispenser 10 and is arranged to move between different heights to align with each tablet cassette unit 15 .

The lift assembly 20 may include a fixed rail 21 . Furthermore, the carriage 22 is movable along the guide rail 21 by the operation of an electric motor 23 operatively connected to the carriage 22 via an associated drive belt 24 . The electric motor 23 may be an electric stepper motor fixedly arranged in the tablet dispenser, as shown in Fig. 2c. By operation of the electric motor, a drive belt 24 connected to the carriage 22 will cause the carriage 22 to move along the guide rail 22 so as to be stacked with the associated tablet cassette units 15 adjacent to and along the guide rail 21 at different heights. and/or cartridge receiving member 131.

The movable member may be provided with a detector, such as a camera (not shown), for detecting identification information (identification means as described above, such as a QR code, ID tag or ID tag) of each tablet unit. The identification information includes at least the type of tablet contained in the tablet cassette unit 15, but if more than one tablet is stored therein, the identification information may also include the number of tablets stored in each tablet compartment.

In use, the detector scans a QR code or ID tag and checks it against dosage plan and patient information available to the control unit of the pill dispenser unit. Since the serial number of each tablet cassette unit can be stored by the control unit (optionally together with a stored usage history of said tablet cassette unit), the control unit will prevent the tablet cassette unit from being reused after the tablets have run out, and After removing the tablet cassette units from the tablet dispenser they are prevented from being reused at a later stage. Because at least some of the information of the tablet cassette unit (e.g. patient ID, tablet type, dosage regimen) needs to match what is already stored or expected by the control unit of the tablet dispenser unit, this prevents the use of a tablet cassette unit with incorrect information . The detectors can be controlled so that all QR codes or ID tags are scanned each time the lid 11 of the tablet dispenser unit is closed. To this end, a sensor for detecting when the lid 11 is closed may trigger a signal to the control unit to scan the tablet cassette unit. It may also be arranged to scan the tablet cassette unit 15 immediately before dispensing the medication.

The lift assembly 20 may be operably associated with at least one spring loaded telescoping push member 25 to engage the engagement surface 411 of the ridge pattern 41 of each pill cassette unit 15 . In its rest state, the spring loaded telescoping pusher member 25 is not in contact with the ridge pattern 41 or any associated engagement surface 411, see Figures 4a and 4b. The spring of the telescopic push member is used to move the telescopic push member to its rest state.

When engaged with the rotating member 26 of the lift assembly 20, the spring-loaded telescoping push member can be urged from its rest state into engagement with the engagement surface 411 against the force of the spring, thereby rotating the compartment member 151 relative to its receptacle 155, so that the next tablet compartment is aligned with the opening 158 .

Thus, the rotating member 26 can be engaged and disengaged from the telescoping push member 25 in use. The rotating member 26 may have an arcuate shape for improved engagement and disengagement of the telescoping push member. The rotary member 26 may be of the eccentric type so that in use a rotary motion of the rotary member 26 is converted into a translational motion to engage/disengage the telescoping push member 25 .

Rotating member 26 may be attached to bracket 22 and its associated rotation controlled by servo motor 261 . The rotation axis of the rotation member may extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide rail 21 . When the rotating member 26 is returned to its rest position by the operation of the servo motor 261, it disengages from the associated telescoping push member 25, whereby the telescoping push member 25 returns to its rest state by means of the spring force of its associated spring. A servo motor 261 may also be attached to the frame 22 so as to follow the frame as it moves along the guide rail 21 when the electric motor 23 is in operation.

Thus, when the carriage 22 moves along the guide rail 21, the rotating member 26 will follow this movement. As shown in Figures 4a-4b and 6a-6b, by providing a telescoping push member 25 connected to each tablet cassette unit 15, the rotating member 26 can be moved along the guide rail 21 by an electric motor to be associated with each tablet cassette unit 15. to allow engagement/disengagement between the rotating member 26 and the telescoping push member 25 associated with each tablet cassette unit 15 by operation of the servo electric motor 261 .

As shown in Figures 4a-4b, the telescoping push member 25 may be connected to the cartridge receiving member 131 of the support structure 13 as shown in Figures 4a-4b. Furthermore, the support structure 13 may comprise more than one cartridge receiving member 131, each cartridge receiving member 131 being stacked on top of each other with respect to the base 11a of the tablet dispenser. Each cassette receiving member may include a hollow channel portion 132 forming part of the tablet drop channel 12 . In this way, several cassette receiving members 131 can be stacked on top of each other and together form the tablet drop channel 12 through their respective hollow channel portions 132 .

It will be appreciated that operation of the lift assembly, including operation of the electric motor 23, detector, rotating member 26 and associated servomotor 261, may be controlled using a control unit having computer processing capabilities and associated memory for storage. It should be understood that all software-related functions of the tablet dispenser unit, such as: display operation, saving/updating/executing dosage regimens, buttons, communication interfaces (Ethernet, USB) can be controlled by a control unit with computer processing capabilities .

Claims (14)

1. A tablet dispenser (10) comprising: a body (11) having a base (11a) which in use rests on an underlying foundation; The main body (11) includes: a tablet drop channel (12) extending in a direction at an angle (β) with respect to a base plane formed by said base (11a); A support structure (13) for accommodating at least two tablet cassette units (15) stacked on top of each other relative to said base (11a), each tablet cassette unit having a first opening (158 ), the first opening (158) allows the tablet to be released from the associated tablet box unit (15) into the tablet drop channel (12) by gravity, making each tablet box unit (15) relative to the base the seating plane is inclined at an angle (α); and The tablet dispenser (10) further comprises a lifting assembly (20), the lifting assembly (20) comprising a support (22), the support (22) being arranged to move between different heights along the guide rail (21), Thereby aligning with each tablet box unit (15). 2. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 1, wherein each tablet box unit (15) comprises a compartment member (151 ), wherein the compartment member (151 ) has a cylindrical cover plate ( 152), the cylindrical cover plate (152) is provided with an inner wall (153), wherein the cylindrical cover plate (152) is provided with the inner wall located at the cover plate (152) and a plurality of flexible flanges (154) between the outer boundary. 3. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 2, wherein each tablet cassette unit (15) further comprises an associated socket (155) for detachably receiving a tablet prior to use The compartment member (151), wherein the receptacle (155) includes a cylindrical receptacle base plate (156) and an outer wall (157) extending at least partially along an outer boundary of the receptacle base plate (156), the The inner diameter of the outer wall (157) is larger than the outer diameter of the cover plate (152), thereby allowing the socket (155) to surround the compartment member (151) in use, so that two adjacent flexible flanges ( 154), said inner wall (153), said cover plate (152), said outer wall (157) and said socket base plate (156) together form a tablet compartment for holding at least one tablet. 4. A tablet dispenser according to claim 3, wherein said inner wall (153) has a cylindrical shape, and wherein said socket base plate (156) comprises a cylindrical A shaped inner wall (153) is detachably attached to said socket (155) means (159), so that said compartment member (151) is allowed to rotate relative to said socket (155) when attached, This allows rotational alignment of each tablet compartment and said first opening (158) in use. 5. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 2, wherein said cover plate (152) comprises a cylindrical shape disposed on the side opposite to said inner wall (153) and flexible flange (154). a ridge pattern (41), wherein said cylindrical ridge pattern has one engagement surface for each tablet compartment, wherein said engagement surface (411) is arranged, in use, to receive a force relative to the associated The associated socket (155) rotates the compartment member (151) so that the opening (158) is aligned with the next tablet compartment of the tablet cassette unit. 6. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 4, wherein the socket base plate (156) is provided with protrusions protruding in a direction having the same component as the direction of the outer wall (157), wherein said protrusion is arranged in use to engage one of said flexible flanges (154) so that said flexible flange bends to increase the size of the tablet compartment such that when said tablet compartment is in contact with said first The alignment of the opening (158) prevents tablets from becoming lodged in the tablet compartment. 7. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 1, wherein said body (11) further comprises a second opening (16) in its side wall for accessing said The bottom of tablet drop channel (12). 8. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 7, wherein said body (11) further comprises a sensor (17) for receiving cup (30) Said second opening (16) at the bottom of the tablet drop channel (12) detects the presence of said receiving cup (30) when inserted. 9. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 1, wherein said lifting assembly (20) includes a detector for detecting identification information of each tablet unit, wherein said identification information includes at least The type of tablets in the tablet box unit (15). 10. The tablet dispenser (10) of claim 1, wherein the lift assembly (20) is operatively connected to at least one spring-loaded telescoping push member (25) with The engagement surface (411) of the ridge pattern (41) of the compartment member (151) of each tablet cassette unit (15) is engaged. 11. A tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 10, wherein the lift assembly (20) further comprises a rotating member (26) for engaging/disengaging with the telescoping push member (25) in use. 12. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 1, wherein said support structure (13) comprises at least two cartridge receiving members (131 ), each said cartridge receiving member being stacked on top of each other relative to said base wherein each cassette receiving member includes a hollow channel portion (132) forming part of said tablet drop channel (12). 13. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 3, wherein said socket base plate (156) adjacent to said first opening (158) comprises an inclined plate (51 ), said inclined plate (51 ) having a rest state in which said inclined plate (51) protrudes into the associated tablet compartment so that in use by engaging said inclined plate during transport of the assembled tablet box unit (15) (51) Prevents rotational movement of a flexible flange (154) adjacent to said compartment member (151). 14. The tablet dispenser (10) according to claim 3, provided with a stabilizing element (52) across the first opening (158) of the socket (155) at the edge of the outer wall (157) .

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