Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TABLET DISPENSER
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates in general to medical dispenser, and in
particular
to a tablet cartridge and to multiple cartridge medical tablet dispensers for
private or
hospital use.
BACKGROUND
Medical tablet dispensers are used in both clinics and home care in an attempt
to improve compliance with and monitoring of medication. The compliance is
improved
by only allowing the patient to dispense a correct amount and type of tablets
based on a
dosing regimen being accessible to the medical tablet dispenser. Since many
patients
require several types of medicines there is an urge to provide medical tablet
dispensers
being capable of dispensing different types of medicines from a single tablet
dispenser.
Although many solutions are known, typically such multiple tablet type
dispensers are mechanically rather complex in order to allow different types
of tablets to
be dispensed from the single unit.
An improved tablet dispenser unit being less complex than conventional units,
and providing for improved robustness would be advantageous.
SUMMARY
An object of the invention is to at least alleviate the above stated problem.
According to an aspect a tablet dispenser is provided. The tablet dispenser
unit
comprises a body having a base for resting on the underlying foundation in
use. The
.. body comprises a tablet drop channel extending in a direction at an angle
relative a base
plane formed by the base. Moreover, the body comprises a support structure for
accommodating at least two tablet cartridge units arranged one above the other
in
relation to the base, each tablet cartridge unit having an opening allowing a
tablet from
the associated tablet cartridge unit to be released into the tablet drop
channel by means
of gravitational force, whereby each tablet cartridge unit is inclined at an
angle relative
the base plane.
According to another aspect a tablet cartridge unit is provided. The tablet
cartridge unit comprises a compartment member having a cylindrical cover sheet
on
which an inner wall is arranged, wherein a number of flexible flanges are
arranged on
the cylindrical cover sheet between the inner wall and an outer boundary of
the cover
Attorney Ref.: 1099P050CA01
2
sheet. Moreover, the tablet cartridge unit comprises an associated socket for
receiving the
compartment member in use, wherein the socket comprises a cylindrical socket
base plate
and an outer wall extending at least partly along an outer boundary of the
socket base plate,
the outer wall having an inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter
of the cover
sheet, thereby allowing the socket to embrace the compartment member in use,
whereby two
adjacent flanges, the inner wall, the cover sheet, the outer wall, and socket
base plate forms a
tablet compartment for holding at least one tablet. The socket base plate
comprises means for
detachably attaching the cylindrical inner wall of the associated compartment
member to the
socket, such that the compartment member when attached is allowed to rotate in
relation to
the socket such as to allow for rotary alignment of each tablet compartment
and the opening.
In another aspect, this document discloses a tablet dispenser comprising: a
body
having a base for resting on an underlying foundation in use; the body
comprising a tablet
drop channel extending in a direction at an angle relative to a base plane
Ruined by the base;
a support structure for accommodating at least two tablet cartridge units
arranged one above
the other in relation to the base, each tablet cartridge unit having an
opening allowing a tablet
from the associated tablet cartridge unit to be released into the tablet drop
channel by means
of gravitational force, whereby each tablet cartridge unit is inclined at an
inclination angle
relative to the base plane; the tablet dispenser further comprising a lift
assembly, said lift
assembly comprising a bracket being arranged to move along a guide rail
between different
levels to thereby align with each tablet cartridge unit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the
present
invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and
non-limiting
detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with
reference to the
appended drawings, in which
Figs la and lb respectively show isometric views taken from different viewing
angles of a tablet dispenser as provided for herein;
Figs 2a to 2d respectively show isometric views taken from different viewing
.. angles of a tablet dispenser provided herein where the outer cover has been
removed;
Figs 3a and 3b respectively show isometric views taken from different viewing
angles of a tablet cartridge unit as provided for herein;
Date recue/Date received 2023-04-24
Attorney Ref.: 1099P050CA01
2a
Figs 4a and 4b respectively show isometric views taken from different viewing
angles of a tablet cartridge unit of Figs 3a and 3b when assembled and mounted
into a
cartridge receiving member of the associated supporting structure;
Figs 5a to 5c respectively shows isometric views of alternative sockets for
the
tablet cartridge unit of Figs 3a to 4b; and
Figs 6a to 6c respectively shows isometric views of a bottom portion of the
tablet dispenser unit at different stages as a cup is introduced into the
tablet dispenser
unit.
DESCRIPTION
With reference to Figs la and lb a tablet dispenser 10 is provided. The tablet
dispenser comprises a body 11 having a base lla for resting on the underlying
Date recue/Date received 2023-04-24
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foundation in use. The body 11 comprises a tablet drop channel 12 extending in
a
direction at an angle f3 relative a base plane formed by the base 1 la. In
normal use the
base plane is aligned with a horizontal top surface of e.g. a table or desk,
whereby the
tablet drop channel extends along a direction having a component in along the
vertical
axis of said plane. The body 11 further comprises a support structure 13 for
accommodating at least two tablet cartridge units 15 arranged one above the
other in
relation to the base lla. Each tablet cartridge unit is provided with an
opening 158
allowing a tablet stored in a tablet compartment of said tablet cartridge unit
15 to be
released into the tablet drop channel 12 by means of gravitational force. To
this end,
each tablet cartridge unit 15 is inclined at an angle a relative the base
plane. Hence,
both the drop channel and the tablet cartridge unit are respectively arranged
at an angle
relative the base plane.
Preferably the inclination angle a, as perhaps best seen in relation to the
cross
sectional view of Fig. 2a, of the respective tablet cartridge unit in relation
to the base
plane is smaller than the angle 13 between the extension of the drop channel
and that of
the base plane. In some conditions the extension of the tablet drop channel is
close to
orthogonally arranged in relation to the base plane. As seen in Figs 2a to 2d
a cover of
the body has been removed to better show the inner structure of the tablet
dispenser.
As seen in the bottom portion of Fig. lb, the tablet dispenser may comprise a
power connector, including optional communication interfaces, such as
Ethernet, USB
connecting the tablet dispenser to an external device, for external
monitoring, remote
updating of dosing regimens, etc. Also a display for providing useful
information to the
user and a dispensing button may be provided on the tablet dispenser unit as
seen in Fig.
la. With reference to Figs 3a to 4b, each tablet cartridge unit 15 comprises a
compartment member 151 having a cylindrical cover sheet 152 on which an inner
wall
153 is arranged. A number of flexible flanges 154 are arranged on the
cylindrical cover
sheet 152 between the inner wall 153 and an outer boundary of the cover sheet
152.
Hence the flanges 154 extend radially from the inner wall 153 towards the
outer
boundary of the cover sheet 152, as best seen in the top part of Fig. 3a.
Moreover, each
tablet cartridge unit 15 further comprises an associated socket 155 for
detachably
receiving the compartment member 151 before use. The socket 155 comprises a
cylindrical socket base plate 156 and an outer wall 157 extending at least
partly along
an outer boundary of the socket base plate 156. The opening 158 may be
provided in the
outer wall 157 at one part thereof, as best shown in Figs 3a and 3b. The outer
wall 157
having an inner diameter being larger than the outer diameter of the cover
sheet 152,
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thereby allowing the socket 155 to embrace the compartment member 152 upon
assembly. When assembled a tablet compartment for holding at least one tablet
is
formed between two adjacent flanges 154, the inner wall 153, the cover sheet
152, the
outer wall 157, and socket base plate 156. Since the compartment member 151
comprises a number of flanges 154 several tablet compartments are formed upon
assembly in the space between the compartment member 151 and the respective
socket
155.
Each tablet cartridge unit may be prefilled with tablets e.g. prior to
reaching the
end-consumer. Each tablet cartridge unit may be prefilled by placing a tablet
in the
associated spaces between two flanges 154 of the compartment member 151 and
upon
completion gently pressing the associated socket 151 over the compartment
member
whereby the tablet cartridge is assembled. A means of identification, e.g. a
QR code, ID
tag, label, etc. indicating the type of tablets in the tablet cartridge unit
may be provided
on the exterior side of the outer wall 157. Such a means for identification
may be read
before using the tablet dispenser, such that the tablet dispenser knows the
type of
medication stored in each tablet cartridge unit. The means for identification,
e.g. the QR
code, may contain information such as patient ID, drug ID, amount of tablets,
start/end
date for medication, cartridge serial number.
As seen in Figs 3a and 3b the inner wall 153 may have a cylindrical shape. The
socket base plate 156 comprises means 159 for detachably attaching the inner
wall 153
of the associated compartment member 151 to the socket 155. In this way the
compartment member 151 when assembled is allowed to rotate in relation to the
socket
155 such as to allow for rotary alignment of each tablet compartment and the
opening
158 in use.
As seen in Figs 3a and 3b the means 159 for detachably attaching the inner
wall 153 to the socket may e.g. comprise snap locks or clamps 159 provided on
the
socket 155 for engaging with a flange 1531 extending radially from the inner
wall 153
of the compartment member 151.
The cover sheet 152 comprises a cylindrical ridge pattern 41 provided at a
side
opposite that of the inner wall 153 and flexible flanges 154. The cylindrical
ridge
pattern has one engagement surface 411 for each tablet compartment. Hence, the
number of engagement surfaces 411 are equal to the number of flanges 154 of
the
compartment member 151. Each engagement surface 411 in use is arranged to
receive a
force, e.g. from a spring loaded telescoping pushing member (25) as shown in
Figs 4a
and 4b, such to rotate the compartment member 151 in relation to its
associated socket
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155, thereby aligning the opening 158 with the tablet compartment being next
in order
of the tablet cartridge unit.
The socket base plate 156 may be provided with a protrusion 35 protruding in a
direction having a component in the same direction as the outer wall 157, as
perhaps
5 best shown in the bottom part of Fig. 3b The protrusion, which may be
provided as a
rounded protrusion, is in use arranged to engage with one of the flexible
flanges 154
when said flange 154 is moved thereover upon its rotary movement in relation
to the
socket 155 such as to bend the flexible flange such as to increase the size
tablet
compartment, to avoid a tablet from getting stuck in the tablet compartment
when the
tablet compartment is aligned with the opening 158. The inherent flexibility
of plastic
materials, such as e.g. PVC, ABS, PET and PMMA, is sufficient to accommodate
this
bending of the flanges.
Fig. 5a shows an isometric view of an alternative socket 155, wherein a
stabilization element 52 is provided at the rim of the outer wall 157 across
the opening
158 of the socket 155. The stabilization element 52 reduces the risk of
undesired
bending of the socket 155 in use. If such undesired bending is large enough,
tablets of
the tablet cartridge unit could be dispositioned or unintentionally released
from the
tablet cartridge unit.
Fig. 5b shows an isometric view of an alternative socket 155, wherein said
socket 155 adjacent to said opening 158, e.g. radially front of the opening,
comprises a
tilting plate 51. The tilting plate 51 may be spring loaded and have an idle
or tilted state
in which it projects or tilts into the associated tablet compartment thereby
blocking the
rotary movement of the adjacent flanges 154 of the compartment member 151 by
the
engagement of the tilting plate 51. This is particularly beneficial during
transport of the
assembled tablet cartridge unit 15 in use, since unintentional rotary movement
between
the compartment member 151 and the socket 155 may be prevented, thereby
removing
the risk of unintentional release of tablets from said tablet cartridge unit.
The tilting
plate 51 also have an aligned state, in which a top surface of the tilting
plate 51 is
aligned with the socket base plate 156. Hence, in the aligned state the top
surface is flat
with the socket base plate, there by not preventing tablets to slide towards
the opening
158. The tilting plate 51 may change from its idle state to its aligned state
upon
mounting into the support structure 13, whereby a member (not shown) of the
support
member 13 engages with the bottom surface of the tilting plate 51 thereby
forcing the
tilting plate from its idle state to its aligned state.
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It should be appreciated that the tilting plate is not required to be provided
straight in front of the opening 158 as shown in Figs 5b and 5c. The tilting
plate 51
could be provided in the socket base plate at other positions, such as in
adjacent tablet
compartments sections. However, it should be appreciated that during transport
it is
preferred that the tablet compartment in which the tilting plate is provided
is free from
tablets, to prevent such tablets to fall out.
Fig. 5c shows an isometric view of an alternative socket 155 comprising both a
stabilization element 52 and a tilting plate 51.
With reference to Figs la and 6a to 6c, the body 11 in a side wall thereof may
be provided with an opening 16 for accessing a bottom portion of the tablet
drop
channel 12. A cup 30 may be introduced into the opening in use.
The tablet dispenser 10 may further comprise a sensor 17 for detecting the
presence of a cup 30 when inserted through the opening 16. The opening 16 is
in
communication with the tablet drop channel.
A lift assembly 20 is arranged in the tablet dispenser 10 and arranged to move
between different levels to thereby align with each tablet cartridge unit 15.
The lift assembly 20 may comprise a stationary guide rail 21. Moreover a
bracket 22 is moveable along the guide rail 21, by the operation of an
electric motor 23
operatively coupled to the bracket 22 via an associated driving belt 24. The
electric
motor 23 may be an electric step motor stationary arranged in the tablet
dispenser as
shown in Fig. 2c. By the operation of the electric motor the driving belt 24
connected to
the bracket 22 will move the bracket 22 along the guide rail 22 such as to be
aligned
with the associated tablet cartridge units 15 and/or cartridge receiving
members 131
provided one above the other at different levels adjacent to and along the
guide rail 21.
The moveable member may be provided with a detector, e.g. a camera, (not
shown) for detecting identity information (of the means of identification e.g.
QR code,
ID tag or ID label as explained above) of each tablet unit. The identity
information at
least comprises the type of tablets contained in the tablet cartridge unit 15,
but could
also include the number of tablets stored in each tablet compartment, if more
than a
single tablet is stored therein.
In use, the detector scans the QR code or ID label and checks it against the
dosing schedule and patient information that available to a control unit of
the tablet
dispenser unit. The control unit, will prevent a tablet cartridge unit to be
reused after
running out of tablets, since the serial number of each tablet cartridge unit
(optionally in
conjunction with the stored use history of said tablet cartridge unit) may be
stored by
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the control unit and be prevented from being re-used at a later stage after
removal of the
tablet cartridge unit from the tablet dispenser. A tablet cartridge unit with
the wrong
information may be prevented from being used since at least some information
(e.g.
patient ID, type of tablets, dosing regimen) of the tablet cartridge unit
needs to match
that already stored or expected by the control unit of the tablet dispenser
unit. The
detector may be controlled such as to scans all QR codes or ID labels each
time the
cover 11 of the tablet dispenser unit is closed. For this purpose a sensor for
detecting
when the cover 11 is closed may trigger a signal to the control unit to
conduct a scan of
the tablet cartridge units. It may also be arranged to scan the tablet
cartridge units 15
immediately prior to dispensation of the medication.
The lift assembly 20 may be operatively associated with at least one spring
loaded telescoping pushing member 25 for engaging the engagement surface 411
of the
ridge pattern 41 of each tablet cartridge unit 15. In its idle state the
spring loaded
telescoping pushing member 25 is not in contact with the ridge pattern 41 or
any of the
associated engagement surfaces 411, see Figs 4a and 4b. The spring of the
telescoping
pushing member acts to move the telescoping pushing member to its idle state.
Upon engagement with a rotary member 26 of the lift assembly 20 the spring
loaded telescoping pushing member may be pushed from its idle state to engage
with an
engagement surface 411, against the spring force of the spring, thereby
rotating the
compartment member 151 in relation to its socket 155 to align the next tablet
compartment with the opening 158.
The rotary member 26 is thus able to both engage and disengage with the
telescoping pushing member 25 in use. The rotary member 26 may have an arc
shape
for improving the engagement and disengagement of the telescoping pushing
member.
The rotary member 26 may be of an excenter type, thereby translating
rotational
movement of the rotary member 26 to a translational movement
engaging/disengaging
the telescoping pushing member 25 in use.
The rotary member 26 may be attached to the bracket 22 and its associated
rotation be controlled by a servo motor 261. The axis of rotation of the
rotary member
may be parallel to the longitudinal extension of the guide rail 21. When the
rotary
member 26 returns to its idle position by the operation of the servo motor 261
it
disengages from the associated telescoping pushing member 25, whereby the
telescoping pushing member 25 returns to its idle state by means of the spring
force of
its associated spring. The servo motor 261 may also be attached to the bracket
22 thus
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following the movement of the bracket along the guide rail 21 upon the
operation of the
electric motor 23.
Hence, as the bracket 22 moves along the guide rail 21 the rotary member 26
will follow this movement. By providing a telescoping pushing member 25 in
connection with each tablet cartridge unit 15, as shown in Figs 4a-4b, and 6a-
6b, the
rotary member 26 may be moved by the electric motor along the guide rail 21 to
a level
associated with each tablet cartridge unit 15, to allow for
engagement/disengagement
between the rotary member 26 and the associated telescoping pushing member 25
for
each tablet cartridge unit 15 by operation of the servo motor 261.
As shown in Figs 4a to 4b, the telescoping pushing member 25 may be
connected to the cartridge receiving members 131 of the supporting structure
13 as
shown in Figs 4a to 4b. Moreover, the supporting structure 13 may comprise
more than
one cartridge receiving members 131, each arranged above the other in relation
to the
base 11 a of the tablet dispenser. Each cartridge receiving member may
comprise a
hollow channel section 132 constituting a part of the tablet drop channel 12.
In this way,
several cartridge receiving members 131 may be stacked one above the other and
together form the tablet drop channel 12 via their respective hollow channel
sections
132.
It should be appreciated that the operation of the lift assembly, including
the
operation of the electric motor 23, the detector, the rotary member 26 and the
associated
servo motor 261 may be controlled using a control unit having computer
processing
capabilities and associated memory for storage. It should be appreciated that
all
software related functions of the tablet dispenser unit, e.g. operation of the
display
operation, saving/updating/executing dosing regimens, buttons, communication
interfaces (Ethernet, USB) may be controlled by a control unit having computer
processing capabilities.
