Smart Drug Dispenser Will Prevent Opioid Abuse and Addiction

Opioid addiction has become an epidemic in the U.S. Many patients who were prescribed opioid drugs to treat pain became addicted. Others illegally acquire opioid drugs. The result is the same – ruined lives and overdose deaths – over 100,000 in 2021!

A new patent portfolio addresses this issue head-on by creating a smart pill dispenser that will hold any number of pills to match a prescription – 30, for example, if the pill is to be taken once a day for one month – that are held in a two-piece clamshell cover. At a time interval determined by the prescription, a motor unlocks the container and it can be advanced to expose the next dose of medication. The patient takes that pill and nothing happens until it is time for the next dose. The patient cannot advance to the next pill until the time interval has passed, so he or she cannot overdose. While the technology applies to any prescription drug, it is especially valuable to patients taking potentially addictive drugs, preventing them from taking more than the prescribed dose.

Patent Portfolio

• U.S. Patent No. 9,283,150: Pill dispensing system
• U.S. Patent No. 10,653,584: Tablet and capsule dispensing assembly
• U.S. Patent No. 10,772,805: Tablet and capsule dispensing assembly
• U.S. Patent No. 11,053,065: Tablet and capsule dispensing assembly
• U.S. Patent No. 11,116,698: Method of installing and removing a rotation mechanism within pill dispensing assemblies

This portfolio will enable a drug packaging or pharmaceuticals manufacturer to offer a practical, affordable, and effective solution to overdosing on opioids and other addictive drugs, as well as packaging that will help older patients keep track of the drugs they took and need to take, and prevent a drug from being taken by children. The portfolio also includes claims that significantly reduce manufacturing costs. Proof-of-concept models are available upon request from the invention team.

This portfolio is represented by offerings, a leading patent broker. In addition to patent brokerage, IPOfferings also offer patent valuation and intellectual property consulting services. Other patents for sale represented by IPOfferings are listed on the company’s Patent MarketPlace on its website. For more information, IPOfferings can be reached at news@IPOfferings.com or 845-337-6911.