Dispenser especially adapted for dispensing medication units

Abstract

A dispenser for medication units such as pills, tablets, caplets, and capsules which allows dispensing of a single medication unit upon the simple push of a button or verbal request includes a control system which allows convenient changes, optionally responsive to instructions from a physician or other medical personnel via a modem over telephone lines, in the frequency and dosage of one medication in a regimen, without altering the schedule for other medications. The dispenser includes at least one elongated plastic band possessing at least one facing surface covered by a compressible material, such as elastomer foam, cloth, or brush bristles, having medication units sandwiched between the layers of the band or bands wound in abutting overlying relation on a storage reel. In order to dispense the medication units, rotating mechanisms unwind the band or bands from the storage reel onto separate take-up reel or reels, causing the dispensed medication units to fall and interrupt a light beam detector. Rotating mechanisms for the take-up reel or reels may comprise manual hand cranks, clock springs, or electric motors. A control system includes a CPU, memory, a timer, a modem, and an activation signal input device for regulating the amount, time, and frequency of administration, and for allowing changes in the medication regimen. A plurality of storage reels with associated take-up reels combined in a single dispenser allows dispensing of various different medications at different dosages and intervals depending upon the requirements of a particular medication regimen.