Dose dispensing system and apparatus
View Patent ↗A dispensing system for medication comprising a dispenser ( 55, 56 ) into which the canister ( 60 ) of medication is placed. The dispenser has a locking mechanism for selectively preventing dispensing of the medication. The system receives input data from a user and has a control device remote from the dispenser to lock the dispenser until the input data is correctly entered. The dispenser may be configured by a cartridge ( 100 ) inserted into the dispenser in place of the canister ( 60 ). The dispenser also has means for determining its location and locking the device if the dispenser is not at or within a fixed location.
1. A dispensing system comprising a dispenser arranged to dispense a quantity of material; a locking mechanism on the dispenser to prevent dispensing of the material; a user interface allowing the user to input data; and a control device remote from the dispenser, the control device arranged to:
receive the input data;
enable release of the locking mechanism to allow dispensing of the material; and
determine whether the received data necessitates any updating of data within the dispenser which will influence the operative of the locking mechanism.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser comprises a plurality of doses of a medicament.
3. A system according to claim 2 , wherein the medicament is a single medicament.
4. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device is arranged to make a qualitative assessment of the input data.
5. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the control device further includes a display to display the input data.
6. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is adapted to receive a sealed or resealable container of material to be dispensed and includes a mechanical actuation mechanism which, when actuated, causes a measured dose of material to be dispensed from the material container, and the actuation mechanism may be inhibited from operation by the locking mechanism.
7. A system according to claim 6 , wherein the container and dispenser are provided with means enabling the authenticity of the container placed in the dispenser to be checked.
8. A system according to claim 1 , wherein the dispenser is a portable hand-held device.
9. A system according to claim 5 , further comprising a separate base or docking station into or near which the hand-held unit may be placed in order to release the locking mechanism.