US 12,274,676 B1
Automated medication dispensing
Amir Zaker, Tustin, CA (US); Shahram Mokhtarzadeh, Los Angeles, CA (US); and Kathy J. Maghbouleh, Santa Ana, CA (US)
Assigned to CareNovate Inc., Aliso Viejo, CA (US)
Filed by CareNovate Inc., Aliso Viejo, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 20, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/920,928.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/678,450, filed on Aug. 1, 2024.
Int. Cl. A61J 7/04 (2006.01); A61J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61J 7/0436 (2015.05) [A61J 7/0069 (2013.01); A61J 7/0418 (2015.05)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for automated medication dispensing, the apparatus comprising:
a body;
a user interface screen on the body;
a processor within the body and in communication with the user interface screen;
a memory within the body and in communication with the processor, the memory comprising a pre-programmed database;
a motor driven rotating carousel plate positioned within the body and configured to hold a plurality of medication bottles;
a plurality of universal caps, each of the plurality of medication bottles having a universal cap of the plurality of universal caps;
a plurality of funnels, each of the plurality of universal caps connected to a funnel of the plurality of funnels;
a vacuum extraction mechanism comprising a vacuum pump and a retractable nozzle, the vacuum extraction mechanism in flow communication with each of the plurality of funnels;
a magnetic resonance agitator comprising a magnetic field generator, the magnetic resonance agitator in flow communication with each of the plurality of funnels;
a verification station comprising a counter and plurality of high resolution cameras, the verification station in flow communication with the magnetic resonance agitator;
a scale-equipped platform; and
a dispensing cup positioned on the scale-equipped platform, the dispensing cup in flow communication with the verification station;
wherein the vacuum extraction mechanism generates a negative pressure to draw selected pills from a medication bottle of the plurality of medication bottles via a universal cap and through a connected funnel of the plurality of funnels to the magnetic resonance agitator;
wherein the magnetic resonance agitator is configured to generate a pre-determined vibration to induce a resonant frequency that matches the natural frequency of the material of the selected pills to ensure separation of the selected pills;
wherein the verification station is configured to verify the accuracy of each pill dispensed by comparing at least one characteristic of the selected pills against a data for the selected pills in the pre-programmed database, and wherein the verification station is configured to count the selected pills;
wherein the scale-equipped platform is configured to verify the weight of the dispensing cup containing the selected pills.