Modular pillbox system
View Patent ↗A modular pillbox that includes a base unit and a plurality of modules that can be interchangeably coupled to the base unit. The base unit includes a plurality of interior compartments defined by a top, a bottom and at least one side wall, openable doors that close the tops of the plurality of interior compartments, one-way passages in one of the bottoms or the at least one side wall of each interior compartment through which pills can be pushed into the interior compartments, and an opening in a front portion of the base unit. The plurality of modules includes a cover plate that couples to the base unit and covers the opening, and various electronic packages that removable couple to the base unit and cover the opening. An interactive electronic pillbox that includes the platform or base unit and an electronics package includes data entry, data display, data transmitting and data processing functions which allow for interactive healthcare management by individuals and healthcare personnel directly or remotely. Form a remote location a healthcare provider can monitor, manage, evaluate and maintain a periodic record of the healthcare of a user of the electronic interactive pillbox.
1. A modular pillbox which comprises a base unit and a plurality of modules that can be interchangeably coupled to the base unit,
the base unit comprises:
a plurality of interior compartments defined by a top, a bottom and at least one side wall;
openable doors that close the tops of the plurality of interior compartments;
one-way passages in one of the bottoms or the at least one side wall of each interior compartment through which pills can be pushed into the interior compartments; and
an opening in a front portion of the base unit,
the plurality of modules comprise:
a cover plate that couples to the base unit and covers the opening; and
an electronic package that couples to the base unit and covers the opening.
2. A modular pillbox according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic package comprises a microphone and a speaker for recording and playing messages.
3. A modular pillbox according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics package comprises a timer and an alarm which is activated by the timer.
4. A modular pillbox according to claim 3 , wherein the alarm comprises at least one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm and a mechanical alarm.
5. A modular pillbox according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics package comprises means for sensing when doors of the plurality of compartments have been opened.
6. A modular pillbox according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics package comprises a data transfer device for transferring data between the pillbox and an auxiliary device.
7. A modular pillbox according to claim 1 , wherein the electronics package includes a program for converting spoken information into data that can be displayed as an image or transmitted.
8. A modular pillbox according to claim 1 , in combination with a storage magazine which storage magazine is configured to receive a plurality of said modular pillboxes and transfer data between said plurality of modular pillboxes and a remote terminal.
9. A modular pillbox according to claim 1 , in combination with a loading tray for loading pills in the compartments of a plurality of the modular pillboxes, the loading tray being configured to couple to a plurality of the modular pillboxes so as to present all of the one-way passages in an array so that pills can be pushed through selected ones of the one-way passages.
10. An electronic interactive pillbox which comprises a base unit and a replaceable electronics module that can be removable coupled to the base unit,
the base unit comprises:
a plurality of interior compartments defined by a top, a bottom and at least one side wall;
openable doors that close the tops of the plurality of interior compartments;
one-way passages in one of the bottoms or the at least one side wall of each interior compartment through which pills can be pushed into the interior compartments; and
an opening in a front portion of the base unit,
the electronics module comprises:
an electronic package that removably couples to the base unit within the opening so that close the opening and define a front face of the resulting electronic interactive pillbox,
the electronic package coupling the electronic interactive pillbox to a remote terminal at which a healthcare provider can monitor, manage, evaluate and maintain a periodic record of the healthcare of a user of the electronic interactive pillbox.
11. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 10 , wherein the electronic package comprises a microphone and a speaker for recording and playing messages.
12. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 10 , wherein the electronics package comprises a timer and an alarm which is activated by the timer.
13. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 12 , wherein the alarm comprises at least one of an audible alarm, a visual alarm and a mechanical alarm.
14. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 10 , wherein the electronics package comprises means for sensing when doors of the plurality of compartments have been opened.
15. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 10 , wherein the electronics package comprises a data transfer device for transferring data between the pillbox and the remote terminal.
16. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 10 , wherein the electronics package includes a program for converting spoken information into data that can be displayed as an image and/or transmitted.
17. electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 10 , wherein the electronic package receives symptom input information from a user and transfers the inputted symptom information to the remote terminal to allow the healthcare provider to monitor symptom information.
18. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 10 , in combination with a storage magazine which storage magazine is configured to receive a plurality of said electronic interactive pillboxes and transfer data between said plurality of electronic interactive pillboxes and a remote terminal.
19. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 10 , in combination with a loading tray for loading pills in the compartments of a plurality of the electronic interactive pillboxes, the loading tray being configured to couple to a plurality of the electronic interactive pillboxes so as to present all of the one-way passages in an array so that pills can be pushed through selected ones of the one-way passages.
20. An electronic interactive pillbox according to claim 15 , wherein the electronics package transmits information wirelessly or via a wired connection to either one of a computer terminal or telephone.