Systems and methods for identifying medicines deposited in a compartment of a pill box according to a prescription

Abstract

Medication identification methods comprising depositing at least one medication in a compartment; identifying this one medication deposited in this compartment and analyzing at least one characteristic of said at least one medication; comparing this one characteristic of said at least one medication to medication signature characteristics to obtain an identified content for the compartment; comparing the identified content to a prescription; and allowing the medication to pass, via gravity, from the compartment to a pill box. Medication identification systems are also described.

1 . A medication identification method comprising:
 identifying, from the top, at least one first medication deposited in a compartment of a pill box and analyzing at least one identifying characteristic of said at least one first medication;   identifying, from the bottom, at least one second medication deposited in this compartment of the pill box and analyzing at least one identifying characteristic of said at least one second medication;   comparing said at least one characteristic of said at least one first medication and said at least one characteristic of said at least one second medication, to determine at least one validated medication;   comparing said at least one characteristic of said at least validated medication to medication signature characteristics,   obtaining an identified content for this compartment; and   comparing the identified content to a prescription.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pill box is flexible. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cell is transparent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  comprising:
 identifying, from the top, at least one first medication deposited in a compartment of a pill box and analyzing at least two identifying characteristics of said at least one first medication; 
 identifying, from the bottom, at least one second medication deposited in this compartment of said pill box and analyzing at least two identifying characteristics of said at least one second medication. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said identifying characteristics are chosen from among a shape, a size, a color, a dimension, a texture and a marking. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one first deposited medication is identified by means of a camera. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said at least one second deposited medication is identified by means of a camera. 
     
     
         8 . A medication identification method comprising:
 depositing at least one medication in a compartment;   identifying this one medication deposited in this compartment and analyzing at least one characteristic of said at least one medication;   comparing this one characteristic of said at least one medication to medication signature characteristics to obtain an identified content for the compartment;   comparing the identified content to a prescription; and   allowing the medication to pass, via gravity, from the compartment to a pill box.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising the activation of a retractable drawer allowing the medication to pass, via gravity, from said compartment to said pill box. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , comprising a step to associate this prescription to said compartment of said tray. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising a step for measuring and checking a weight of said compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  comprising:
 identifying said at least one medication deposited in said compartment and analyzing at least two characteristics of said at least one medication. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , in which the characteristics of said medication are chosen from among a shape, a size, a color, a dimension, a texture and a marking. 
     
     
         14 . A medication identification system comprising:
 a compartment dimensioned to receive at least one medication;   an identification device permitting the identification of said at least one medication and analysis of at least one identifying characteristic of said at least one medication; a comparison device making it possible to compare said at least one characteristic of said at least one medication to signature characteristics of medications to obtain an identified content for the compartment; a validation device making it possible to compare the identified content to a prescription; and   a connection device to allow this medication to pass, via gravity, from a compartment to a cell of a pill box.   
     
     
         15 . The identification system of  claim 14 , wherein said connection device includes a retractable drawer. 
     
     
         16 . The identification system of  claim 15 , wherein said connection device includes a trapezoidal prism equipped with various passages making it possible to connect the compartments with the cells. 
     
     
         17 . The identification system of  claim 16 , wherein said connection device includes an upper base and a lower base, said bases being connected by multiple passages allowing transfer from the compartments to the cells. 
     
     
         18 . The identification system of  claim 17 , wherein a lower surface of the compartment is larger than the lower surface of the cell of said pill box. 
     
     
         19 . The identification system of  claim 18 , in which the internal volume defined by this compartment is larger than the internal volume defined by the cell of said pill box. 
     
     
         20 . The identification system of  claim 19 , comprising an identification device making it possible to identify this medication and analyze at least two identifying characteristics of said medication.