CLIAMS:We claim:
1. A system for dispensing pills, the system comprising:
a plurality of trays, each tray configured to accommodate at least one pill, wherein the trays are capable of being stacked on one another; and
a compartment configured to receive the trays stacked on one another, wherein the compartment has a superior side and an inferior side, wherein an opening is defined at the inferior side, wherein the opening allows a tray, among the plurality of trays, which is at the inferior side to be slid out of the compartment.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cap operable to be locked and unlocked, wherein the cap covers an opening defined by the compartment at the superior side when the cap is locked, and when the cap is unlocked to reveal the opening at the superior side, the trays can be received into the compartment through the opening at the superior side.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein,
the opening defined at the inferior side of the compartment further extends towards the superior side of the compartment to define a “L” shaped opening as seen from a side view of the compartment, wherein the extended portion of the opening enables pushing of trays stacked over the tray at the inferior side towards the superior side when the cap is unlocked; and
a portion of each tray is received by the tray stacked below it, thereby preventing the tray at the inferior side from being slid out when the cap is locked and allowing the tray at the inferior side from being slid out when the cap is unlocked.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the opening at the inferior side has a height that is less than twice the height of the tray.
5. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of the trays comprises a machine readable member, the system further comprising a scanner provided towards the inferior side of the compartment, wherein the scanner reads the machine readable member when the tray is slid out of the compartment.
6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a locking arm, wherein,
the locking arm is operable to assume a first position and a second position;
the locking arm in the first position engages with the tray at the inferior side to prevent the tray at the inferior side from being slid out of the compartment;
the locking arm in the second position disengages from the tray at the inferior side, thereby allowing the tray at the inferior side to be slid out of the compartment; and
each of the trays defines a slot such that, when the tray is at the inferior side, the locking arm in the first position is received by the slot, thereby preventing the tray at the inferior side from being slid out of the compartment.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of the trays comprises a machine readable member, the system further comprising:
a scanner provided towards the inferior side of the compartment, wherein the scanner reads the machine readable member when the tray is slid out of the compartment;
a locking arm module configured to move the locking arm to the first position or the second position; and
a microcontroller configured to provide instruction to the locking arm module and receive communication from the scanner, wherein,
the locking arm module receives instruction from the microcontroller to move the locking arm to the first position or the second position based on the instruction from the microcontroller;
the locking arm module moves the locking arm to the first position or the second position based on the instruction from the microcontroller;
the microcontroller provides instruction to the locking arm to move the locking arm to the second position at least when it is time for a tray to be slid out of the compartment; and
the microcontroller provides instruction to the locking arm to move the locking arm to the first position at least after the microcontroller receives communication from the scanner indicating that a tray has been slid out of the compartment.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the compartment and the trays have complementing cross section, such that the compartment receives the trays as a stack, wherein the trays slide from the superior side towards the inferior side of the compartment to form a stack of trays, wherein the cross section of the compartment and the trays comprises at least one complementing straight edge, thereby ensuring alignment of the trays within the compartment.
9. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more alert modules configured to alert a user to remove a tray from the compartment.
10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more communication module configured to send communication to one or more communication devices. ,TagSPECI:The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

BACKGROUND
Field
[001] The disclosed subject matter relates to systems for dispensing of pills to patients.

Discussion of related field
[002] Treatment of many diseases requires strict administration of drugs as per schedule, and one such disease is tuberculosis. DOTS (directly observed treatment, short-course), is the name given to a tuberculosis control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization. However, the DOTS program disturbs the work schedule of the patients. Especially, the population below the poverty line chooses to go to work, rather than going to the hospital as per schedule. Hence, to comply with strict regime of consumption of medicines, pill dispensers are desired.
[003] Conventional pill dispensers allow a patient to operate the dispenser to dispense the medication. Such dispenser may fail to compel the patient to comply with strict dosage schedule.
[004] In light of the above discussion, there is a need for a pill dispensing mechanism that may enable a patient to comply with dosage schedule.

SUMMARY

[005] An embodiment provides a system for dispensing pills. The system includes a plurality of trays and a compartment. Each tray is configured to accommodate at least one pill. The trays are capable of being stacked on one another. The compartment is configured to receive the trays stacked on one another. The compartment has a superior side and an inferior side. An opening is defined at the inferior side of the compartment. The opening allows a tray, among the plurality of trays, which is at the inferior side to be slid out of the compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[006] Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the Figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[007] FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a system 100 for dispensing pills, in accordance with an embodiment;
[008] FIG. 1B is a top view of the system 100 of FIG. 1A;
[009] FIG. 1C is a sectional view (A-A) of the system 100 of FIG. 1B;
[0010] FIG. 1D is an exploded isometric view of the system 100 of FIG. 1A;
[0011] FIG. 2A is an isometric view of a tray 102 of the system 100 of FIG. 1A;
[0012] FIG. 2B is another isometric view of the tray 102 of FIG. 2A, in which the slot 206 shown in dotted lines;
[0013] FIG. 2C is a top view of the tray 102 of FIG. 2A;
[0014] FIG. 2D is a sectional view (B-B) of the tray 102 of FIG. 2C;
[0015] FIG. 2E is a bottom view of the tray 102 of FIG. 2A, in which the machine readable member 208 is visible;
[0016] FIG. 3A is a side view of a compartment 104 of the system 100 of FIG. 1A;
[0017] FIG. 3B is a front view of the compartment 104 of FIG. 3A;
[0018] FIGs. 3C and 3D are isometric views of the compartment 104 of FIG. 3A;
[0019] FIG. 3E is a top view of the compartment 104 of FIG. 3A;
[0020] FIG. 3F is a sectional view (C-C) of the compartment 104 of FIG. 3E;
[0021] FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a locking arm module 410 of the system 100 of FIG. 1A in which the locking arm 402 is seen assuming fist position 404 and operable to assume second position 406 (dotted lines);
[0022] FIG. 5 is an illustration of the system 100 of FIG. 1A communicating with communication devices and generating alert signals;
[0023] FIGs. 6A is an isometric view of a modified tray 102 of a modified system 100 of FIG. 6J, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 6B is another isometric view of the tray 102 of FIG. 6A;
[0025] FIG. 6C is a top view of the tray 102 of FIG. 6A;
[0026] FIG. 6D is a side view of a modified compartment 104 of the system 100 of FIG. 6J;
[0027] FIG. 6E is a front view of the compartment 104 of FIG. 6D;
[0028] FIGs. 6F and 6G are isometric views of the compartment 104 of FIG. 6D;
[0029] FIG. 6H is a top view of the compartment 104 of FIG. 6D;
[0030] FIG. 6I is a sectional view (D-D) of the compartment 104 of FIG. 6H;
[0031] FIG. 6J is an isometric view of a system 100, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 6K is a top view of the system 100 of FIG. 6J; and
[0033] FIG. 6L is a sectional view (E-E) of the system 100 of FIG. 6J.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] An embodiment provides system for dispensing pills. The system includes a plurality of trays and a compartment. Each tray is configured to accommodate at least one pill. The trays are capable of being stacked on one another. The compartment is configured to receive the trays stacked on one another. The compartment has a superior side and an inferior side. An opening is defined at the inferior side of the compartment. The opening allows a tray, among the plurality of trays, which is at the inferior side to be slid out of the compartment. The system further includes a cap operable to be locked and unlocked. The cap covers an opening defined by the compartment at the superior side when the cap is locked. The cap is unlocked to reveal the opening at the superior side. The trays can be received into the compartment through the opening at the superior side when the cap is unlocked. The system further comprises a locking arm and each of the trays defines a slot to receive the locking arm. The locking arm is operable to engage with the tray by being received by the slot of the tray to prevent the tray at the inferior side from being slid out of the compartment. The locking arm is also operable to disengage from the tray, thereby allowing the tray at the inferior side to be slid out of the compartment.
[0035] The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the detailed description. The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments. These example embodiments are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized or structural and logical changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken as a limiting sense.
[0036] In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or,” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated.
[0037] Referring to the figures and more specifically to FIG. 1A to 1D, an embodiment discloses a system 100 for dispensing pills. The system 100 may include a plurality of trays 102 capable of being stacked on one another and a compartment 104 configured to receive the trays 102 stacked on one another. The system 100 further includes a cap 106 that may be operable to lock and unlock the compartment 104.
[0038] Referring to FIGs. 2A to 2E, the tray 102 may be configured to receive pills. The tray 102 may have a base 202 and a barrier 204 confining the base 202. The barrier 204 may extend from the peripheral edge of the base 202 along the longitudinal axis 203 of the tray 102. Such a configuration may enable the tray 102 to receive one or more pills.
[0039] The base 202 of the tray 102 may be in the shape of a disc. The disc may resemble the shape of an arc, with one straight edge joining the two ends of the arc, when viewed from the superior side. In some embodiments, the base 202 of the tray 102 may resemble the shape of a circular disc. The base 202 of the tray 102 may also resemble a shape of a polygon.
[0040] The tray 102 may include two chambers. One of the chambers may be configured to receive one or more pills. The other chamber of the tray 102 may define a slot 206. The cross section of the chamber of the tray 102 defining the slot 206 may resemble a trapezoid where the two straight edges of the trapezoid may be joined by two arcs. The slot 206 may be configured to receive a complementing or a locking structure.
[0041] The slot 206 may be in the shape of a rectangle, which may be cut throughout the thickness of the base 202 of the tray 102 from an upper surface to a lower surface of the base 202 of the tray 102.
[0042] The plurality of the trays 102 further comprises a machine readable member 208. Each tray 102 may include one machine readable member 208 in/on its base 202. The machine readable member 208 may be for example RFID tag, bar code, QR code or magnetic stripes. The machine readable member 208 may also include alphanumeric characters, images and text, among others.
[0043] In an embodiment, a bottom surface of the base 202 of the tray 102 may be configured to be supported by another tray, which may be stacked below the tray 102. The configuration of the trays 102 and the compartment 104 may be such that when the tray 102 is stacked on top of another tray 102 the lateral movement of each of the trays 102 within the compartment 104 is prevented. Further, the straight edge of the tray 102 and the complementing structure of the compartment 104 ensure that the trays 102 are aligned such that all the slots 206 of the trays are in line with each other and also in line with a locking arm that locks the tray at the inferior side of the compartment 104.
[0044] Referring to FIGs. 3A to 3F, the compartment 104 is configured to receive the trays 102 stacked on one another. The compartment 104 has a superior side 302 and an inferior side 304. The compartment defines an opening 306 on the superior side 302. The compartment 104 also defines an opening 308 towards the inferior side 304.
[0045] The opening 308 is defined such that it allows a tray 102, among the plurality of trays 102, which is at the inferior side 304 to be slid out of the compartment 104. The opening 308 at the inferior side 304 may have a height that is less than twice the height of one tray 102. The opening 308 may resemble a “C” shaped opening as seen from a side view of the compartment 104 (refer FIG. 3A). The “C” shaped opening may enable sliding of the tray 102 located at the bottom from the compartment 104, when the tray 102 is not locked.
[0046] In an embodiment, the cross section of the compartment 104 as viewed from the top may resemble an arc of a circle. Two proximal points on the arc may be joined by a straight edge. In other words, the compartment 104 and the trays 102 have complementing cross sections.
[0047] The complementing cross section of the compartment 104 and the trays 102 enables the trays 102 to be received by the compartment 104 as a stack. The trays 102 may be configured to slide from the superior side 302 towards the inferior side 304 of the compartment 104 to form a stack of trays 102. The complementing cross section of the compartment 104 and the trays 102 stacked on one another may help prevent lateral movement of the trays 102 inside the compartment 104.
[0048] In an embodiment the system 100 further includes a scanner 310 (refer FIG. 1A). The scanner 310 is provided towards the inferior side 304 of the compartment 104. The scanner 310 reads the machine readable member 208 when the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 is slid out of the compartment 104.
[0049] The scanner 310 may be for example barcode or QR code scanner, an optical character recognition device, a magnetic stripe reader, RFID reader or other card readers.
[0050] In an embodiment, the cap 106 may be operable to be locked and unlocked. The cap 106 covers the opening 306 defined by the compartment 104 at the superior side 302 when the cap 106 is locked. The cap 106 is unlocked to reveal the opening 306 at the superior side 302. When the cap 106 is unlocked and the opening 306 is revealed, the trays 102 may be received through the opening 306 into the compartment 104. The cap 106 may be pressed against a tray 102 which is at the superior side 302 of the compartment 104 when the cap 106 is locked.
[0051] In another embodiment, the cap 106 may be a magnetic lock and may be locked and unlocked by means of electromagnetism.
[0052] In an embodiment, the cap 106 may be locked by means of press fit, friction fit or threaded fit.
[0053] In an embodiment, the cap 106 may be unlocked to reveal the opening 306 at the superior side of the compartment 104 and enable receiving of trays 102 at the superior side 302 through the opening 306. The tray 102 at the inferior side 304 may be slid out of the compartment to consume pills loaded onto the tray 102. Subsequently, once the tray 102 is unloaded, it may be received in the stack at the superior side 302 of the compartment 104 through the opening 306.
[0054] Referring to FIGs. 4 and 1C, the system 100 further includes a locking arm 402. The locking arm 402 is configured to be operable to assume a first position 404 and a second position 406. The locking arm 402 in the first position 404 engages with the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 of the compartment 104. The locking arm 402 in the first position 404 is received through the slot 206 that enables locking of the tray 102 at the inferior side 304. The reception of locking arm 402 through the slot 206 provided in the trays 102 when it assumes the first position 404 locks the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 and prevents the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 from being slid out of the compartment 104.
[0055] The locking arm 402 in the second position 406 disengages from the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 of the compartment 104. The locking arm 402 may assume the second position 406 by rotating by an angle of 90 degrees (as an example) from the first position 404. At the second position 406, the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 is disengaged from the locking arm 402, thereby allowing the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 to be slid out of the compartment 104.
[0056] In some embodiments, the system 100 may include a variation of the locking arms 402. As an example, the locking arm may extend in a vertical direction towards the superior side 302 of the compartment 104 to assume the first position. While the locking arm extends to assume the first position, it may be received through the slot 206. The locking arm may retract from the first position to assume the second position, thereby disengaging the tray 102.
[0057] In an embodiment, the locking arm 402 may be a servo arm that operates based on servo mechanism.
[0058] In an embodiment, the system 100 may include a locking arm module 410 configured to move the locking arm 402 to the first position 404 or the second position 406. The locking arm module 410 may be configured to receive instructions from a microcontroller or controller or data processing system, and based on the instruction received the locking arm module 410 may move the locking arm 402 to the first position 404 or the second position 406.
[0059] In an embodiment, the system 100 may include a microcontroller or controller or data processing system (may be referred to as “microcontroller”). The microcontroller may be configured to provide instruction to the locking arm module 410. The microcontroller may provide instruction to the locking arm module 410 to move the locking arm 402 to the first position 404 at least after the microcontroller receives a communication indicating that a tray 102 at the inferior side 304 has been slid out of the compartment 104. Such a communication may be received by the microcontroller from the scanner 310.
[0060] In an embodiment, the microcontroller may provide instructions to the locking arm module 410 to move the locking arm 402 to the second position 406 to unlock the tray 102 at least when it is time for a tray 102 to be slid out of the compartment 104. The time at which the tray 102 has to be slid out of the compartment 104 may be preconfigured into the microcontroller’s memory. The microcontroller may even provide instructions to the locking arm module 410 to move the locking arm 402 to the second position 406 to unlock the tray 102 based on manual input or external input to unlock.
[0061] The microcontroller is further configured to communicate with one or more communication systems. The microcontroller may provide instruction to a communication system to communicate alert signals.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 5, the system 100 further includes one or more alert modules to generate and emit alert signals. The alert signals to patient may be in the form of one or more of auditory, visual, haptic and telecommunication based alert. Further, the system 100 may include one or more communication modules for different form of communications to be sent to one or more communication devices. The communication may be in the form of text messages, audio messages, video messages and voice calls, among others.
[0063] In an embodiment, the alert module may receive instruction from the microcontroller to generate alerts to user/patient to indicate that it is time for pill consumption. The auditory signals may be emitted by the alert module at least when it is time for a tray 102 to be slid out of the compartment 104.
[0064] The microcontroller may send communication to the alert module at pre configured time periods. The pre configured time period may be the time when a tray 102 at the inferior side 304 needs to be slid out of the compartment 104 or, in other words, when it is time for a user/patient to consume pills loaded onto the trays 102.
[0065] The auditory signals may be emitted until the machine readable member 208 is read by the scanner 310. The scanner 310 may read the machine readable member 208 provided on the tray 102 and communicate the read information to the microcontroller. Such information may be stored by the microcontroller in its memory. If a machine readable member 208 is not read by the scanner 310 within a predefined duration, or in other words, if a tray 102 at the inferior side 304 has not been slid out of the compartment 104 and the predefined duration has lapsed, the microcontroller may provide instruction to the communication module to send at least short message services (SMS) to the one or more communication devices. Additionally, the communication module may alert the one or more communication devices through voice calls. The microcontroller, upon reception of the communication from the scanner 310, may instruct the alert module to stop emitting auditory signals.
[0066] In an embodiment, a communication module may receive instruction from the microcontroller to communicate text messages or multimedia messages including audio and video messages to the one or more communication devices. Additionally, the communication module may receive instruction from the microcontroller to communicate the one or more communication devices through voice calls. The one or more communication devices may be a patient’s own communication device or communication devices of the patient’s friends or family members or medical practitioners.
[0067] In an embodiment, the identification information corresponding to the communication devices may be stored in the microcontroller’s memory. The communication may be sent by the communication module to the communication devices at least when it is time for a tray 102 to be slid out of the compartment 104.
[0068] The communication may be sent by the communication module to the one or more communication devices until the machine readable member 208 is read by the scanner 310 and the same is being communicated to the microcontroller. Alternatively, communication may be sent by the communication module to the one or more communication devices when a predefined duration has lapsed since the communication module communicated the user’s/patient’s communication device. Further, communication may be sent by the communication module to the one or more communication devices when a preconfigured duration has lapsed since the alert module had started or stopped emitting alert signals.
[0069] The communication module may be instructed to communicate messages and voice calls to at least one among the one or more communication devices at varying times based on the profile of the users who operates the communication devices. The profiles of the users of the communication devices may be stored in the microcontroller’s memory. The communication module may include a SIM module.
[0070] In an embodiment, the system 100 includes a power source. The power source may be preferably DC power source, such as a battery, thereby making the system 100 portable. The battery may be a secondary battery or a rechargeable battery.
[0071] In an embodiment, the system 100 may be configured to dispense pills as required for consumption. For example, the system 100 may be configured to dispense pills as required by a person undergoing treatment for tuberculosis. The microcontroller may be programmed with preconfigured or configurable time and dosage based on the person undergoing treatment.
[0072] The microcontroller may be configured to keep track of the time that has lapsed in hours and minutes, and may even track seconds.
[0073] Referring to FIGs. 6A to 6L a modified configuration of the system 100 is provided. Now referring to FIGs. 6A to 6C, the tray 102 may include one chamber configured to receive pills. The configuration of the base 202 and the barrier 204 may define the chamber of the tray 102.
[0074] The base 202 of the tray 102 may be in the shape of a disc. The disc may resemble the shape of an arc, with one straight edge joining the two ends of the arc, when viewed from the top. In some embodiments, the base 202 of the tray 102 may resemble the shape of a circular disc. The base 202 of the tray 102 may also resemble a shape of a polygon. In this configuration of the base 202 a slot is not defined at the base 202.
[0075] In an embodiment, a step 606 may be provided at an inferior surface of the tray 102 at the base 202 along and within the periphery of the base 202, at an offset from the periphery.
[0076] In an embodiment, the step 606 provided at the base 202 of the tray 102 may be configured to be received by another tray, which may be stacked below the tray 102. The step 606 may be received within a portion of the inner wall of the tray 102, thereby interlocking the trays which prevent sliding of one of the trays in a lateral direction with respect to the other tray.
[0077] Referring to FIGs. 6D to 6L, the opening 308 at the inferior side 304 of the compartment 104 may further extend towards the superior side 302 of the compartment 104 to define an “L” shaped opening 608 as seen from a side view of the compartment 104. The “L” shaped opening 608 may enable sliding out of the tray 102 from the inferior side.
[0078] The “L” shaped opening 608 enables pushing of trays stacked over the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 towards the superior side 302 of the compartment 104, when the cap 106 in unlocked and the opening 306 is revealed. The lifting of the stack towards the superior side 302 of the compartment 104 allows the tray 102 at the inferior side 304 of the compartment 104 to be slid out of the compartment 104.
[0079] Embodiments provide several advantages, some of which include addressing the problem of over dosage and untimely consumption of medication.
[0080] Embodiments provide a system wherein a machine readable member is being read by a scanner to keep track of pill consumption by a patient and remind patients to consume pills.
[0081] It shall be noted that the processes described above is described as sequence of steps, this was done solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some steps may be added, some steps may be omitted, the order of the steps may be re-arranged, or some steps may be performed simultaneously.
[0082] Although embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the system and method described herein. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
[0083] Many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. It is to be understood that the description above contains many specifications; these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the personally preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.