Automated Medication Adherence System

Abstract

An automated medication adherence system. The automated medication adherence system may comprise: a housing, an electronic interface, a plurality of reservoirs, one or more sensors, and at least one pill delivery and lock-out module. The electronic interface is programmable to accept data relating to a medication, including at least one of a pill identify, a user identity, a dosage schedule, and a side effect. The electronic interface actuates rotation of a reservoir, which is configured to receive, store, and dispense pills, tablets, and capsules of various sizes accurately and precisely. The sensors monitor medication input and output, and alerts a user when medication has been dispensed and needs to be taken.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated medication adherence system, comprising:
 a housing;   an electronic interface; and   one or more of sensors;   wherein said housing comprises a pill delivery and lock-out module;   wherein said housing is configured to contain a plurality of reservoirs;   wherein said plurality of reservoirs are configured for receiving, storing, and dispensing one or more medications;   wherein said housing comprises an access cover;   wherein said housing comprises a reservoir loading door;   wherein said access cover comprises a pill loading assembly;   wherein said pill loading assembly is configured to allow said one or more medications to be loaded into at least one of said plurality of reservoirs;   wherein said reservoir loading door comprises a reservoir loading assembly;   wherein said reservoir loading door is configured to allow said one or more reservoirs to be loaded and locked into a rotating carrier;   wherein said electronic interface comprises a computing component and at least one display component;   wherein said electronic interface is on an exterior portion of said housing;   wherein said electronic interface is programmable, such that said electronic interface accepts data relating to said one or more medications;   wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs is configured to receive, store and dispense a homogenous type of medication of said one or more medications;   wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs comprises two successive stages, a first stage and a second stage;   wherein said one or more medications are moved from said first stage to said second stage and then from said second stage to said pill delivery and lock-out module;   wherein said one or more medications are a plurality of pills; and   wherein each of one or more sensors are connected with said computing component;   wherein said one or more sensors are configured to determine when a single pill of said plurality of pills passes through each of said two successive stages.   
     
     
         2 . The automated medication adherence system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a rotating carrier;   wherein said rotating carrier is configured to engage with said plurality of reservoirs, such that said plurality of reservoirs are configured to rotate within said housing.   
     
     
         3 . The automated medication adherence system of  claim 2 , wherein said electronic interface rotates said plurality of reservoirs in response to said data relating to said one or more medications. 
     
     
         4 . The automated medication adherence system of  claim 1 , wherein said data relating to said one or more medications is selected from the group of data consisting of: a pill identity; a user identity; a dosage schedule; a medication format; a pill image; a plurality of pharmaceutical indications for use; instructions for use; a physical description; a chemical description; a refill information; and a plurality of side effect information. 
     
     
         5 . The automated medication adherence system of  claim 1 , wherein said two successive stages are configured to be stacked, such that said first stage is substantially above said second stage;
 wherein each of said two successive stages comprises an opening, such that there are two openings, a first opening and a second opening.   
     
     
         6 . The automated medication adherence system of  claim 5 , wherein said first opening and said second opening are selectively openable and closable in response to said electronic interface;
 wherein each of said two successive stages receive and dispense said one or more medications through said two openings.   
     
     
         7 . The automated medication adherence system of  claim 6 , wherein each of said plurality of reservoirs comprises a central agitation stalk, an outer wall; an inner wall;
 and one or more actuators;   wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to be substantially contained within said inner wall, and wherein said inner wall is configured to be substantially contained within said outer wall; and   wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to be rotatable within said inner wall.   
     
     
         8 . A medication reservoir for an automated medication adherence system, comprising:
 two successive stages, a first stage and a second stage;   wherein said reservoir is configured for receiving, storing, and dispensing a plurality of pills;   wherein dispensing of said plurality of pills by said reservoir is controlled by an electronic interface;   wherein said plurality of pills are transferred from said first stage to said second stage one pill at a time;   wherein said plurality of pills are transferred from said second stage to a pill delivery and lock-out module one pill at a time.   
     
     
         9 . The medication reservoir of  claim 8 , wherein each of said two successive stages comprises an opening, such that there are two openings, a first opening and a second opening. 
     
     
         10 . The medication reservoir of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 one or more sensors;   wherein said one or more sensors are configured to determine when a single pill of said plurality of pills passes through each of said two openings.   
     
     
         11 . The medication reservoir of  claim 10 , wherein said first and second openings are selectively openable and closable in response to said electronic interface;
 wherein said two successive stages are configured to be stacked, such that said first stage is substantially above said second stage.   
     
     
         12 . The medication reservoir of  claim 11 , wherein said reservoir further comprises a central agitation stalk, an outer wall, an inner wall, and one or more actuators;
 wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to be substantially contained within said inner wall, and wherein said inner wall is configured to be substantially contained within said outer wall; and   wherein said central agitation stalk is configured to be rotatable within said inner wall.   
     
     
         13 . The medication reservoir of  claim 12 , wherein said central agitation stalk comprises a fin portion, a wave surface, and a ribbed cone surface;
 wherein said fin portion comprises a plurality of fins that are configured to prevent said one or more medications from clumping together;   wherein said wave surface is a base of said first stage; and   wherein said ribbed cone surface is a base of said second stage.   
     
     
         14 . The medication reservoir of  claim 13 , wherein said one or more actuators are configured to rotate and agitate said central agitation stalk and at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall. 
     
     
         15 . The medication reservoir of  claim 14 , wherein said outer wall comprises one or more outer wall portholes and one or more chutes;
 wherein said inner wall comprises one or more inner wall portholes;   wherein at least one of said one or more actuators is configured to rotate at least one of said inner wall and said outer wall, such that said inner wall and said outer wall are rotated with respect to each other;   wherein when said inner wall and said outer wall are rotated with respect to each other, said one or more outer wall portholes and said one or more inner wall portholes align to form said two openings;   wherein said electronic interface comprises one or more logic algorithms;   wherein said one or more sensors, said one or more actuators, and said one or more logic algorithms are configured to control said inner wall, said outer wall, and said central agitation stalk to ensure that said one or more medications are transferred, one pill at a time, from said first stage to said second stage; and   wherein said one or more sensors, said one or more actuators, and said one or more logic algorithms are configured to control said inner wall, said outer wall, and said central agitation stalk to ensure that said one or more medications are transferred, one pill at a time, from said second stage to said pill delivery and lock-out module.