Automatic medicament dispenser system

Abstract

A mobile medicine storage unit for individuals under a doctor's care. The unit is programmable and preferably fully automatic, but also manual, in dispensing any number of medications up to four times per day at preselected times. Audible and visible indicators alert patients of proper dosages and timings of these doses. An optional integral water reservoir and cup dispenser makes it possible to properly take all medications with minimal effort at the unit. Patients not in close proximity to the unit will be alerted remotely via a pager. The unit will contact programmable emergency phone numbers when no patient response is received. Programmability allows customizing to accommodate individual medication needs. Mobility is aided by an optional wheeled cart.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A medicament dispensing apparatus comprising: 
 a housing having a planar surface arranged in a calendar format into a plurality of daily portions, each daily portion including a least one medicine compartment for containing at least one medicament therein;    a respective release mechanism associated with each said medicine compartment to normally prevent access to said medicament and actuatable to selectively allow access thereto;    processor means for calculating a predetermined time at which access to said medicament therein is to be permitted;    a conspicuous indicator responsive to said processor means for alerting a user of said predetermined time; and    a dispenser actuator for use by the user after said conspicuous indicator has been activated to indicate that the user is ready to retrieve the medicament, said processor means responsively activating said release mechanism.