Medicament inventory system and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for dispensing medicament units. In one embodiment, a medication dispensing container includes: a housing; a processor contained within the housing; a memory contained within the housing and coupled to and readable by the processor, the memory storing executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to control dispensing of medicaments from the medication dispensing container or perform a communication function; and one or more wireless transceivers contained within the housing and coupled to the processor, and configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more external devices, wherein the housing is configured to hold a plurality of medicaments for dispensing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medication dispensing container comprising:
 a housing;   a processor contained within the housing;   a memory contained within the housing and coupled to and readable by the processor, the memory storing executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to control dispensing of medicaments from the medication dispensing container or perform a communication function; and   one or more wireless transceivers contained within the housing and coupled to the processor, and configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more external devices, wherein the housing is configured to hold a plurality of medicaments for dispensing.   
     
     
         2 . A medication dispensing container comprising:
 a housing preloaded with a plurality of medicament;   a processing contained within the housing and configured to control dispensing and communication functions of the medication dispensing container; and   a wireless transceiver, contained within the housing and coupled to the processor, and configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more external devices to provide data to the processor to perform one or more predetermined communication or dispensing functions.   
     
     
         3 . The medication dispensing container of  claim 2 , wherein the housing is configured to be coupled to a medicament dispensing apparatus configured to receive and hold a plurality of medication dispensing containers, and the wireless transceiver is configured to communicate wirelessly with a second transceiver contained within the medicament dispensing apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . A medication dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to receive and hold a plurality of medication dispensing containers, each of the plurality of medication dispensing containers containing a plurality of medicaments;   at least one processor contained within the housing and configured to control dispensing and communication functions of the dispensing apparatus;   at least one wireless transceiver contained within the housing and coupled to the at least one processor, and configured to communicate wirelessly with one or more external devices.