Granted Patent B2

US 12,280,015 · App. 16/948,638 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Inventors: Thomas M. Rouse (Dallas, TX); Susan B. Owen (Dallas, TX); Christy Corey (Fishers, IN)

Assignee: Berkshire Biomedical Corporation

A61J7/0481A61J7/0053A61J7/0418A61J7/0454A61J7/049A61J1/05A61J7/0092A61J2200/30A61J2200/70

Abstract

Claims (20)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a dispensing unit configured to dispense a substance into a reservoir associated with a mouthpiece of an intended user, wherein the dispensing unit includes a housing configured to removably receive the mouthpiece and the reservoir, the housing sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the mouthpiece, wherein the housing includes a compartment sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the reservoir within the compartment; and

an identification unit configured to, based on a communication from the mouthpiece, determine an identity of the intended user when the mouthpiece of the intended user is coupled to a housing,

wherein the housing comprises a charging component, and wherein when the mouthpiece is coupled to the housing, the charging component of the housing is coupled to a charging component of the mouthpiece, wherein the charging component of the housing is configured to charge the mouthpiece via a wireless connection.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing unit includes:

a holding reservoir containing the substance; and

an actuator in communication with the holding reservoir, the actuator configured to move the substance from the holding reservoir to the reservoir associated with the mouthpiece.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the holding reservoir has a volume at least two times greater than a volume of the reservoir associated with the mouthpiece.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing unit further includes:

a second holding reservoir containing a second substance; and

a second actuator in communication with the second holding reservoir, the second actuator configured to move the second substance from the second holding reservoir of the dispensing unit to a second reservoir associated with the mouthpiece.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the dispensing unit further includes:

a third holding reservoir containing a third substance; and

a third actuator in communication with the third holding reservoir, the third actuator configured to move the third substance from the third holding reservoir to a third reservoir associated with the mouthpiece.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the second substance is different than the substance.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the third substance is different than the second substance.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing unit further includes a second holding reservoir containing a second substance, and wherein the actuator is in communication with the second holding reservoir and is further configured to move the second substance from the second holding reservoir to a second reservoir associated with the mouthpiece.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing unit further includes an outlet in communication with the actuator, wherein the outlet is configured to engage with an inlet of the mouthpiece.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the actuator is configured to move the substance from the holding reservoir to the reservoir associated with the mouthpiece via the outlet of the dispensing unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the dispensing unit further includes an inlet in communication with the holding reservoir, and wherein the holding reservoir is configured to receive the substance via the inlet.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (362)