Secure Dispensing System

Abstract

A secure dispensing system comprising a container ( 10 ) arranged to dispense a quantity of a material through a delivery port ( 40 ). The system has a locking mechanism to prevent the dispensing of the material and a control device ( 70 ) to enable release of the locking mechanism. A key ( 110 ) is also provided to allow access to restricted functions of the system. The system will only enable release of the locking mechanism once a user has been authenticated by one or more biometric means of identification. The key ( 110 ) may also comprises a biometric means of authentication which must be provided in order to functionalize the key ( 110 ).

1 . A secure dispensing system comprising the following:
 a container arranged to securely contain a quantity of a material comprising:
 an internal locking mechanism to prevent unauthorised dispensing of the material from the container; and 
 a delivery port to enable dispensing of a quantity of the material from the container, 
   a control device arranged to enable release of the internal locking mechanism to allow dispensing of the material once authorization of a user has taken place; and   a key to enable a user to access restricted functions of the system,   whereby the operation of the system is controlled by:   authentication of a first user to the key to enable the user to access restricted functions of the system; and   authentication of a second user to the control device to enable dispensing of the material from the container; whereby the authentication means of the user is by measurement of one or more biometric characteristics of the user.   
   
   
       2 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the biometric means of authentication is selected from; hand geometry, retina scan, iris scan, fingerprint, facial characteristics, DNA sequence characteristics or voiceprints. 
   
   
       3 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the biometric means of authentication is one or more of the users fingerprints. 
   
   
       4 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is manufactured from a material that is resistant to tamper. 
   
   
       5 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container is manufactured from a material that is bullet-proof. 
   
   
       6 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the container is manufactured from a composite material. 
   
   
       7 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the composite material comprises aluminium, epoxy resin and silicon carbide. 
   
   
       8 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a valve and pump assembly, which is inaccessible to the system user. 
   
   
       9 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the valve and pump assembly is disposable. 
   
   
       10 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the valve and pump assembly is arranged in the container to produce an indirect pathway to the delivery port. 
   
   
       11 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the delivery port has a valve to prevent material being extracted from the system's delivery port. 
   
   
       12 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the container can be opened to allow the contents of the container to be replaced. 
   
   
       13 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device has means for storing and transmitting data. 
   
   
       14 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device comprises a display screen. 
   
   
       15 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , which further comprises means for allowing data input. 
   
   
       16 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device is equipped with a tamper indicator. 
   
   
       17 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device can communicate information to the user. 
   
   
       18 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device is equipped with a biometric authentication device. 
   
   
       19 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the biometric authentication device is a fingerprint scanner. 
   
   
       20 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control device is detachable from the container. 
   
   
       21 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the key comprises a biometric means of authentication, which must be provided in order to authenticate the user to the key. 
   
   
       22 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the key has means for storing and transmitting data. 
   
   
       23 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the biometric means of authentication is by identification of one or more of a users fingerprint. 
   
   
       24 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein authentication of a user to the key enables the user to access specific functions of the system. 
   
   
       25 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the different parts of the system are able to communicate with each other. 
   
   
       26 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the communication between different parts of the system is achieved by one or more radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. 
   
   
       27 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein a plurality of RFID tags are able to communicate with one another to authenticate the components of the system. 
   
   
       28 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein an RFID tag associated with the material contained within the container communicates with an RFID tag reader associated with the container, which in turn communicates with an RFID tag reader associated with the control device, and wherein the dispensing of the material will only occur if the data that is communicated between the parts of the system is authorized by the system. 
   
   
       29 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material to be dispensed is a pharmaceutical product. 
   
   
       30 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the material to be dispensed is a controlled drug or a drug of abuse. 
   
   
       31 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the controlled drug or drug of abuse is a Class A drug as defined by The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. 
   
   
       32 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the controlled drug or drug of abuse is an opioid. 
   
   
       33 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the opioid is methadone or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or derivative thereof. 
   
   
       34 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the opioid is methadone hydrochloride. 
   
   
       35 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the system is used to dispense a measured dose of material according to a pre-programmed regime. 
   
   
       36 . A secure dispensing system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the measured dose of material can be delivered in increments. 
   
   
       37 . A method of securely dispensing a material from a container, said method comprising the steps of;
 Authentication of a first user to a key by one or more biometric means of identification;   Communication of the data produced by authentication to a means for analysing the data;   Analysis of the communicated data to determine whether the first user is permitted to access restricted functions of the system;   Access to restricted functions of the system if the first user is authorised;   Authentication of a second user to a control device by one or more biometric means of identification;   Communication of the data produced by authentication to a means for analysing the data;   Analysis of the communicated data to determine whether dispensing of the material from the container is permitted; and   Secure dispensing of material from the container if the second user is authorised.   
   
   
       38 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the biometric means of authentication is one or more of the users fingerprints. 
   
   
       39 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the key, once authenticated, allows the first user to open the container to enable the contents of container to be replaced. 
   
   
       40 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the key, once authenticated, allows the first user to programme the control device to enable dispensing of material according to a regime. 
   
   
       41 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the communication of data between the control device and the container is achieved by RFID tags. 
   
   
       42 . A method as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the material to be dispensed is a pharmaceutical product.