IT202100015227A1 - AUTOMATIC PILL DISPENSER FOR THE CONTROLLED DISTRIBUTION OF HOME DRUG THERAPY AND RELATED METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Attached to a patent application for INDUSTRIAL INVENTION having the title

?Automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of home drug therapy and related distribution method?

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to an automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of a home pharmacological therapy and a related distribution method.

In particular, the present invention relates to a pill dispenser of the type suitable for assisting a patient (for example an elderly person) in correctly following a pharmacological therapy at home, by distributing what in an automatic and controlled way the pills that must be taken by the patient in the pre-established intake windows.

The present invention therefore finds particular application in the sector of medical and personal care devices for the home assistance of the patient.

NOTE TECHNIQUE

Some devices for the automatic distribution of pills for home pharmacological therapies are known.

These devices provide timed mechanisms for the release of one or more? pills from one or more? bottles. Therefore, at the time of taking the medicines, the patient can collect the medicines released from the bottles in compliance with the pharmacological therapy and ready to be ingested from a container.

However, the Applicant has observed that these devices have numerous drawbacks.

One of the main disadvantages that the Applicant has noticed in these devices? as such devices, despite the automatic distribution, still require continuous monitoring and assistance from a care giver.

In fact, these devices often do not dispense the pills correctly and precisely (due to possible jamming of the release mechanism from the bottle which is not always correctly adaptable to the morphology of the pill to be administered, or due to situations of multiple uncontrolled release), so there is ? the risk that the patient does not comply with the drug therapy prescribed by the doctor.

A person must therefore assist the patient by cyclically monitoring the operating status of the device and questioning the patient on the effective intake of the drugs.

The Applicant also pointed out how it can often happen that the patient takes the pills distributed outside the permitted hours, risking incurring overdoses which can lead to collateral problems harmful to one's health.

Management of therapy not taken ? a major limitation of the devices on the market today: the pill remains at the delivery point and must be eliminated by hand.

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention ? propose an automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of a home drug therapy and a related distribution method that exceed one or more? of the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above.

In particular, ? object of the present invention is to provide an automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of a home pharmacological therapy which is easy to use, accurate and reliable. The invention makes it possible to improve the patient's life through a smart dispenser, entirely managed by the care giver, which allows for efficient control of drug therapy.

Another purpose of the present invention ? propose a method of controlled distribution of pills for home pharmacological therapy that is efficient and safe and which therefore makes it possible to verify correct adherence to the prescribed pharmacological therapy while minimizing the level of interaction required from the care giver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical task specified and the aims specified are substantially achieved by an automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of a home pharmacological therapy and a related distribution method, comprising the technical characteristics disclosed in one or more of the joint claims.

In particular, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of a home pharmacological therapy comprising a plurality of pills. of pillbox rings rotating around respective parallel axes of rotation.

Each pill ring comprises a plurality of pill holders. of peripheral bays and each peripheral bay ? configured to receive a pill and only release it at a dispensing zone. Therefore advantageously each housing comprises only one pill, to avoid dispensing problems.

Does the distributor then comprise rotation means of the plurality? of pill holder rings configured to rotate each pill holder ring about the respective axis of rotation by a given angle at a predetermined time interval to arrange a respective peripheral housing at the dispensing zone.

Profitably then to each ring ? associated with a type of pill that can be dispensed at pre-established time intervals. The fact that each slot allows only one pill to be dispensed at a time helps to avoid overdosing or system jams, unlike ?bottle? or ?by the glass? which provide a single housing containing a plurality? of pills and a selector on the bottom, which however should be correctly set or replaced each time for the type of pill.

The distributor comprises a conveying chute disposed in a channel defined internally by the plurality of of pill rings and configured to receive the pills released from the peripheral housings of the respective pill rings and convey them by gravity? towards a distribution area downstream of the canal.

The dispenser then advantageously comprises a television camera, a control drawer, a distribution drawer and a waste drawer, so as to be able to effectively manage and control the distribution of the pills to the patient.

In particular the control drawer ? arranged in the distribution area and ? configured to receive the pills from the chute. In other words, the control drawer ? arranged downstream of the chute at the lower end part of the chute.

Thanks to the presence of the camera ? It is possible to capture images of the control drawer at certain control instants.

The distributor also advantageously comprises a unit? connected to the rotation means for selectively controlling the rotation of the plurality? of pill holder rings and connected to the video camera to receive and analyze the images of the control drawer in order to detect identification parameters of the pills contained in the control drawer and compare them with reference parameters.

Thanks to the camera ? Is it therefore possible to verify the fulfillment of a certain criterion of acceptability? of the pills, for which the unit? control ? configured to selectively command the movement of the control drawer so that? the pills are transferred:

- in the distribution drawer, accessible to the patient, if the criterion of acceptability? ? satisfied, or

- in the waste drawer, not accessible to the patient, if the acceptability criterion? not satisfied.

In this way, the effective dispensing of the pills is ascertained in order to avoid incorrect administration to the patient or the assumption of correct drugs but at the wrong times.

Advantageously, therefore, the device allows accurate, automatic and highly controlled distribution of the pills in compliance with the prescribed pharmacological therapy.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of controlled distribution of pills for home drug therapy comprising the steps of:

a) providing a pill dispenser in accordance with the present invention,

b) selectively controlling the operation of the rotation means for the release of at least one pill in a determined dispensing instant, c) acquiring an image of the control drawer in a control instant subsequent to the dispensing instant,

d) check the acceptability criterion? of at least one pill released, e) transfer the at least one pill released from the control drawer to the distribution drawer if the acceptability criterion? ? satisfied, or transfer at least one pill from the control drawer to the waste drawer if the acceptability criterion? Not ? satisfied, and

f) repeat phases b-e if the criterion of acceptability? Not ? been satisfied. Advantageously, the verification of the criterion of acceptability? by means of the camera it allows to obtain a precise, reliable and safe automatic controlled distribution method which allows the patient to adhere to the correct pharmacological therapy prescribed.

The dependent claims, incorporated herein by reference, correspond to different embodiments and embodiments of the invention.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment/actuation of an automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of a home pharmacological therapy, as illustrated in the drawings attachments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 ? a schematic perspective view of an automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of a home pharmacological therapy in accordance with the present invention, in which some components have been hidden to better highlight others.

Figure 2 ? a schematic perspective view of a portion of the vending machine of figure 1 during an opening configuration of the tilting structure.

Figures 3A, 3B, 3C are three schematic perspective views showing the control drawer respectively in the control position, loading position and unloading position.

The 3D figure ? a schematic perspective view showing rotation of the dispenser drawer to discard pills from the dispenser drawer.

Figure 4 ? a partially sectioned schematic perspective view of the vending machine in figure 1.

Figure 5 ? an exploded schematic perspective view of a pillbox ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the attached figures, with 100 ? Overall, an automatic pill dispenser for the controlled distribution of a home pharmacological therapy has been indicated, hereafter simply dispenser 100.

With the term ?home pharmacological therapy? is meant generically to indicate one or more? types of pills to be taken at set times during a set cycle (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) according to a prescribed therapeutic scheme.

The dispenser 100 comprises a plurality of pill holder rings 10 (equal to 12 in the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures), in which each ring 10 comprises a plurality of peripheral housings 11 and in which each peripheral housing 11 ? configured to receive a respective pill P and to release it only in correspondence with a dispensing area E (preferably at the top).

Each peripheral housing 11 has such a shape as to be able to receive multiple types of pills P.

Preferably each ring 10 ? configured to receive only one type of pill P. Therefore in the illustrated example of embodiment the vending machine 100 is? capable of handling up to 12 types of different pills.

Preferably the peripheral housings 11 are arranged along the outer circumference of the ring 10 equidistant from each other and are 28 in number (corresponding to 4 weeks of therapy, in case of daily administration).

The pill holder rings 10 rotate about respective parallel axes of rotation X, preferably coincident and therefore coaxial.

Does the distributor 100 comprise rotation means of the plurality? of pill holder rings 10, not shown, configured to rotate each pill holder ring 10 around the respective axis of rotation X by a given angle (for example 360?/28) at a predetermined time interval to sequentially arrange a respective peripheral housing 11 in correspondence of the dispensing area E.

Preferably, the rotation means comprise a plurality of of intermittent rotary mechanisms, not visible in the attached figures, associated respectively with the plurality? of pillbox rings 10, even more? preferably Geneva mechanisms.

At pre-set time intervals? therefore it is possible to dispense a single pill P from a respective housing 11 without the risk of jamming since? in the slot 11 ? contained only one pill P.

It should be noted that the rings 10 can be reversibly mounted inside the dispenser 100 and are easily interchangeable and refillable for a new use.

With reference to figure 4, the distributor 100 also comprises a conveying chute 20 arranged in a channel 12 defined internally by the plurality of pill holder rings 10 and configured to receive the pills P released from the peripheral housings 11 in the dispensing area E and convey them by gravity towards a distribution area D downstream of channel 12.

In other words, slide 20 ? inclined with respect to a horizontal support plane of the vending machine 100 so as to receive the pills P, in free fall from the dispensing area E, and convey them by gravity? towards the distribution area D downstream of the chute 20.

Preferably slide 20 ? defined by slide segments 21, each belonging to a distinct ring 10, placed side by side in sequence to define a sliding path without interruptions of continuity.

In other words, the rotation axes X of the rings 10 are transverse to the horizontal support surface of the distributor 100.

Moreover, the chute 20 preferably has a profile ?with steps? to facilitate the conveyance of the pills P downwards, the cio? towards the distribution area D, after delivery. The stepped profile in particular? made by juxtaposing segments 21 having an inclined profile preferably of about 2? with respect to the axis of rotation X.

Furthermore, with reference to figure 5, the housings 11 preferably have respective containment walls 11a which delimit a respective opening 11b through which a pill P can be placed. be inserted in the housing 11 and removed (falling due to gravity).

In particular, preferably each pill holder ring 10 ? mounted around a fixed dispensing structure 13 having a dispensing slot 13 arranged in correspondence with the dispensing area E through which the pill P contained in the peripheral housing 11 falls by gravity? on the chute 20 when the peripheral housing 11 and the dispensing slit 14 are aligned (that is, when an opening 11b is aligned with the dispensing slit 14).

In other words, the dispensing structure 13 internally closes the ring 10 (that is, the openings 11b of the housings 11) so that the pills P do not come out of the housing 11, except for the dispensing slit 14 in correspondence with which the? opening 11b which is aligned at that moment is not occluded. So via dispensing slot 14 ? It is possible to dispense a pill P only at a given moment following the rotation of the ring 10.

Preferably the dispensing slot 14 ? arranged in a top position of the dispensing structure 13, even more? preferably in the point of maximum height from which pu? freely drop a pill P around the ring 10 around the X axis.

Preferably the chute 20 has a convex shape and an inclination equal to 20? with respect to the distributor 100 horizontal support plane.

The dispenser 100 includes a control drawer 30 disposed in the distribution area D and configured to receive the pills from the chute 20 (figure 3A).

Preferably at chute 20 ? an associated bulkhead 22 that can be tilted and operated selectively to allow or prevent the transfer of the pills P to the distribution area D. In particular, when is the bulkhead 22? in the lowered position, to allow the pills P to be transferred to the distribution area D, it flows into the control drawer 30.

Advantageously, the vending machine 100 comprises a television camera 31 configured to acquire images of the control drawer 30 at specific control instants. In other words, camera 31 ? positioned in such a way as to frame the contents of the control drawer 30.

Advantageously, the distributor 100 comprises a unit? control, not shown in the attached figures, connected to the rotation means for selectively controlling the rotation of the plurality? of pillbox rings 10. In other words, the unit? control ? configurable according to a personalized operating logic to selectively operate the rotation means so as to dispense one or more? pills from one or more? rings at different times of the day.

The unit control ? also advantageously connected to the television camera 31 to receive and analyze the images of the control drawer 30 so as to detect identification parameters (for example: number, colour, shape and size) of the pills P contained in the control drawer 30 and compare them with reference parameters (preloaded in an internal database) to verify the fulfillment of a given acceptability criterion.

Thanks to the camera ? it is therefore possible to verify that the P pills dispensed are actually the correct ones according to the prescribed pharmacological therapy (that is, do they satisfy the acceptability criterion), before the patient can take them erroneously.

Advantageously the unit? control ? furthermore configured to selectively command the movement of the control drawer 30 so that? P pills

are transferred to a distribution drawer 32, accessible to the patient, if the criterion of acceptability? ? satisfied, or

are transferred to a waste drawer 33, not accessible to the patient, if the acceptability criterion? not satisfied.

Therefore, thanks to the present invention any pills P that may be dispensed incorrectly can be effectively discarded before they are made accessible to the patient. The distributor 100 ? therefore able to control the automatic distribution of P pills without the intervention of a care giver.

The discarded pills P are advantageously not accessible to the patient, being transferred to a suitable dedicated waste drawer 33; to the patient? only access is allowed to the distribution drawer 32, in which only the controlled pills P are contained (that is, which have satisfied the acceptability criterion during the check in the check drawer 30).

Preferably camera 31 ? furthermore configured to acquire respective images of the distribution drawer 32 in respective determined check instants (following the check instants).

In other words, camera 31 ? positioned in such a way as to also be able to frame the contents of the distribution drawer 32.

The unit control ? advantageously configured to receive and analyze the images of the distribution drawer 32 so as to detect the possible presence of pills P and control the transfer of these pills to the waste drawer 33.

Thanks to the present invention ? It is therefore possible to verify, after the delivery of the same and at a pre-established period of time (for example 30 minutes) in which ? the collection of pills P is allowed to the patient, if the patient has collected the pills P from the distribution drawer 32 (and therefore has presumably ingested them).

If the video camera 31, at a check instant, detects the presence of the pills P in the distribution drawer 32, the unit? control can? commanding the transfer of these uncollected pills P to the waste drawer 33 so as to prevent them from being collected and ingested by the patient at inappropriate times. Also, how will it be? more clear in the following, the distributor 100 ? configured to alert the care giver of this ?anomaly? found.

Preferably, the distributor 100 comprises a tilting structure 34 arranged in the distribution area D on which the control drawer 30, the waste drawer 33 and the distribution drawer 32 are mounted.

The tilting structure 34 ? rotatable around a tilting axis B incident and coplanar with the rotation axes X of the pill holder rings 10, preferably perpendicular to the horizontal support surface of the vending machine 100.

The tilting structure 34 ? rotatable according to an angle of tilt ? and switchable between

a closing configuration, in which the? tilting angle ? zero (figure 1) and in which the control drawer 30 ? aligned with the chute 20 (for receiving the pills P) and the distribution tray 32 is not? accessible to the patient, e

an opening configuration (figure 2), in which the tilting angle ? has a value between 45? and 180? (preferably equal to 90?), wherein the distribution drawer 32 ? accessible to the patient. In other words, when the tilting structure 34 ? in the closed position, the patient cannot? access pills P, while when ? in the open position the patient can? enter it to collect pills P.

Note in particular in figure 2 how the bulkhead 22 can be lifted to block the possible fall of pills P from the chute 20 during the tilting of the structure 34.

As clearly visible in figures 3A-3D, preferably the waste drawer 33 is arranged at a lower level than the distribution drawer 32 and the control drawer 30 ? movable (through independent motors controlled selectively by the control unit) between

a loading position (figure 3B) in which the pills P contained in the control drawer 30 fall due to gravity? in the distribution drawer 32 and an unloading position (figure 3C) in which the pills contained in the control drawer 30 fall by gravity? in waste bin 33.

Preferably, the vending machine 100 comprises a lever mechanism 35 which can rotate around an axis of rotation (not shown in the attached figures) parallel to the horizontal support surface of the vending machine 100. Preferably, moreover, the distribution drawer 32? tiltable around a tilting axis (not shown in the attached figures) parallel to a horizontal support plane of the vending machine 100 and the unit? control ? configured to selectively tilt the distribution drawer 32 so as to transfer the pills P contained in the distribution drawer 32 to the waste drawer 33 (FIG. 3D).

In other words, the distributor 100 ? capable of transferring the pills P contained in the distribution drawer 32 to the waste drawer 33; this transfer is useful when the video camera 31 has detected the presence of pills P in the distribution drawer 32 at the instant of verification and ? It is necessary to discard these P-pills to prevent future patient overdose. By tilting the distribution drawer 32 (figure 3D) downwards, the pills P fall first into the control drawer 30 and then into the waste drawer 33.

Preferably, the vending machine 100 comprises acoustic and/or visual signaling means, not shown in the enclosed figures, connected to the unit? control and configured to issue a plurality? of acoustic and/or visual signals, according to a pre-established logic managed by the unit? control, when there are pills P in the dispenser drawer 32.

Thanks to the acoustic and/or visual signaling means? It is therefore possible to signal to the patient (by emitting sounds and/or lights) that the pills P have been dispensed and are ready to be collected. Does the recalled patient simply have to act on the tilting structure 34 (for example by moving it with a finger) to make it rotate up to the tilting angle? such as to allow access to the distribution drawer 32 to collect the pills P.

Preferably, the distributor 100 further comprises a data communication module, not shown, connected to the unit? control unit and configured to communicate data representative of the operating status of the vending machine 100 and of the filling status of the drawers 30, 32, 33 with a unit? remote control device, not shown, such as a computer or smartphone.

Advantageously, therefore, the care giver through the unit? of remote control pu? always be updated on the operating status of the vending machine 100 and check the dispensing status of pills P, any failure by the patient to collect pills P, and receive any alerts relating to malfunctions or need for scheduled maintenance (for example: replacement of pillbox rings 10 running out, waste drawer 33 to be emptied, etc.).

Preferably, the vending machine 100 also comprises a touchscreen, not shown in the accompanying figures, on which a series of information for both the patient and the care giver can be displayed.

The operating logic can? be programmable both via the touchscreen of the vending machine 100 and via an APP for smartphones, tablets and computers to guarantee complete programmability? of the operating system even remotely.

form also? part of the present invention is a method of controlled distribution of pills for home pharmacological therapy, comprising the steps of:

a) setting up a dispenser 100 in accordance with the present invention, b) selectively controlling the operation of the rotation means for the release of at least one pill P at a given dispensing instant, c) acquiring an image of the control drawer 30 in a control instant following the delivery instant,

d) check the acceptability criterion? of the at least one released pill P, e) transferring the at least one released pill P from the control drawer 30 to the distribution drawer 32 if the acceptability criterion? ? satisfied, or transfer at least one pill P from the control drawer 30 to the waste drawer 33 if the acceptability criterion? Not ? satisfied, and f) repeat phases b-e if the acceptability criterion? Not ? been satisfied. Preferably the method also comprises the steps of:

- check (by means of a video camera 31) in a respective verification instant, following the control instant, whether the at least one pill P contained in the dispensing drawer 32? been removed,

- possibly transferring the at least one pill P not removed from the distribution drawer 32 to the waste drawer 33.

Advantageously this way ? It is possible to prevent the patient from taking P pills outside the correct intake times.

Preferably the method comprises a step of emitting at least one acoustic and/or visual signal at a predefined signaling interval following the transfer of at least one pill P to the distribution drawer 32.

Advantageously this way ? It is possible to recall the patient to collect the P pills ready to be taken in compliance with the drug therapy.

Preferably the method further comprises a step of sending a warning signal to a unit? remote control in a signaling instant subsequent to the verification instant, following the detection of the failure to remove at least one pill P from the distribution drawer 32.

Advantageously this way ? It is possible to notify the care giver that the patient has missed taking a specific number of pills at a specific time when they should have been taken.

Preferably the method also comprises a step of selectively commanding access to the distribution drawer 32 according to a predetermined operating logic.

In other words ? It is possible to allow access to the distribution drawer 32 only in certain periods of time and to prevent its access in others.

Thanks to this method then ? It is possible to automatically and controlled distribution of pills to a patient at home.

Once the patient's drug therapy has been established, the care giver will be able to arrange the rings 10 containing the number and type of pills P prescribed inside the vending machine 100.

Through the APP, operating remotely, or via the touchscreen, operating on the vending machine 100, the care giver can set the operating parameters of the vending machine 100 according to the prescribed therapy and therefore set the operating logic for dispensing the pills P. At the set time, one or more? pills are released from the respective housings 11 following the rotation of the respective rings 10 and falling onto the chute 20 they are placed on the control drawer 30 to be checked. The unit by means of the video camera 31 verifies the fulfillment of the acceptability criterion.

If the pills P are validated, the control drawer 30 is automatically raised by the lever mechanism 35 to transfer the controlled pills P to the distribution drawer 32 and a visual and/or acoustic signal is emitted to remind the patient to collect of the pills P to be ingested (in particular, the signal can also be emitted several times within a certain admissible time interval until the vending machine 100 detects the opening and closing of the tilting structure 34); if, on the other hand, the pills P are not validated, the control drawer 30 is automatically lowered by means of the lever mechanism 35 to transfer the pills P into the waste drawer 33, and the dispensing operation is repeated.

By pushing the tilting structure 34, the patient exposes to himself? the distribution drawer 32 (previously hidden) and pu? collect the pills P and then close the tilting structure 34.

At this point the video camera 31 in the instant of verification can? check that the P pills have actually been collected and, if not, the unit? control provides for commanding the overturning of the distribution drawer 32 to transfer the pills not collected by the patient to the waste drawer 33.

In this case, a notification is sent to the unit via the data communication module. remote control of the care giver to warn him that the patient has not collected the pills.

? evident how the method and the distributor just described offer ample possibilities? customization based on the needs of the patient and the caregiver, providing an efficient and reliable system that can effectively and safely assist a patient in adhering to their pharmacological therapy at home, minimizing the need for support.

The present invention achieves the proposed objects, overcoming the drawbacks noted in the prior art and making available an innovative aid system for the daily life of patients, especially the elderly.

The 100 vending machine provides families with an ad hoc solution for the assisted, responding to various needs. ? an intelligent device capable of effectively addressing a need of the elderly who live alone at home: adherence to pharmacological therapy.

The vending machine 100 is able to manage dispensing of different types of drug in pill form for several days, constantly monitoring that the therapy is followed by the patient.

The dispenser 100 advises the elderly to take pills P, hands out the controlled pills P and sends notifications to family members.

To the distributor 100 ? which can be advantageously associated with a mobile application (APP) which allows the family member to monitor the operating status of the vending machine 100 and to manage the times of dispensing of the drugs, monitor the intake of the drugs and program the insertion of the pills P once the desired cycle, effectively simplifying the need for safety and efficiency? assistance at the patient's home.

Claims (13)

1. Automatic pill dispenser (100) for the controlled distribution of a home drug therapy, comprising: - a plurality? of pill holder rings (10) rotating about respective parallel axes of rotation (X), each pill holder ring (10) comprising a plurality of peripheral housings (11), each peripheral housing (11) being configured to receive a pill (P) and to release it only at a dispensing zone (E); - means of rotation of the plurality? of pill holder rings (10) configured to rotate each pill holder ring (10) around the respective axis of rotation (X) by a given angle at a predetermined time interval to arrange a respective peripheral housing (11) in correspondence with the dispensing area ( AND); - a conveyance chute (20) arranged in a channel (12) defined internally by the plurality of pill holder rings (10) and configured to receive the pills (P) released from the peripheral housings (11) and convey them by gravity towards a distribution area (D) downstream of the channel (12); - a control drawer (30) arranged in the distribution area (D) and configured to receive the pills (P) from the chute (20), - a video camera (31) configured to acquire images of the control drawer (30) at certain control instants; - a?unit? connected to the rotation means for selectively controlling the rotation of the plurality? of pill holder rings (10) and connected to the video camera (31) to receive and analyze the images of the control drawer (30) in order to detect identification parameters of the pills (P) contained in the control drawer (30) and compare them with parameters of reference to verify the fulfillment of a given acceptability criterion; said unit? of control being furthermore configured to selectively command the movement of the control drawer (30) so that? the pills (P) are transferred to a distribution drawer (32) accessible to the patient, if the acceptability criterion? ? satisfied, or are transferred to a waste drawer (33) not accessible to the patient, if the acceptability criterion? not satisfied. The dispenser (100) according to claim 1, wherein said camera (31) is furthermore configured to acquire respective images of the distribution drawer (32) in respective determined verification instants, and in which said unit? control ? configured to receive and analyze the images of the distribution drawer (32) in order to detect the possible presence of pills (P) and control the transfer of these pills (P) to the waste drawer (33). 3. Dispenser (100) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a pivoting structure (34) arranged in the dispensing area (D) on which the control drawer (30), the waste drawer (33) and the drawer are mounted of distribution (32); said tilting structure (34) being rotatable around a tilting axis (B) incident and coplanar with the rotation axes (X) of the pill holder rings (10) according to a tilting angle (?) and switchable between a closed configuration in which said angle of tilt (?) ? null, in which the control drawer (30) ? aligned with the chute (20) and the distribution drawer (32) is not? accessible to the patient, and an opening configuration in which said tilting angle (?) has a value between 45? and 180?, wherein the distribution drawer (32) ? accessible to the patient. 4. Distributor (100) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said waste drawer (33) is arranged at a lower level than the distribution drawer (32), and in which said control drawer (30) is movable between a loading position in which the pills (P) contained in the control drawer (30) fall due to gravity? in the distribution drawer (32) and an unloading position in which the pills (P) contained in the control drawer (30) fall by gravity? in the waste drawer (33). The dispenser (100) according to claim 4, wherein said dispenser drawer (32) is tiltable around a tilting axis parallel to a horizontal support surface of the vending machine (100), said unit? control being configured to selectively command the tilting of said distribution drawer (32) so as to transfer the pills (P) contained in the distribution drawer (32) to the waste drawer (33). 6. Distributor (100) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein said rotation means comprise a plurality of intermittent rotary mechanisms associated respectively with the plurality? of pillbox rings (10), preferably Geneva mechanisms. 7. Distributor (100) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, comprising acoustic and/or visual signaling means connected to the unit? control and configured to issue a plurality? of acoustic and/or visual signals, according to a pre-established logic, when there are pills (P) in the dispenser drawer (32). 8. Distributor (100) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, comprising a data communication module connected to the unit? control unit and configured to communicate representative data of the operating status of the vending machine (100) and of the filling status of the drawers (30, 32, 33) with a single unit? remote control, such as a computer or smartphone. 9. Distributor (100) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein each pill holder ring (10) is mounted around a fixed dispensing structure (13) having a dispensing slot (14) arranged in correspondence with the dispensing area (E) through which the pill (P) contained in the peripheral housing (11) falls by gravity? onto the chute (20) when the peripheral housing (11) and dispensing slot (14) are aligned. 10. Method of controlled distribution of pills (P) for home drug therapy, including the steps of: a) set up a distributor (100) according to one or more? of the preceding claims, b) selectively controlling the operation of the rotation means for the release of at least one pill (P) in a determined dispensing instant, c) acquiring an image of the control drawer (30) in a control instant subsequent to the instant dispensing, d) check the acceptability criterion? of the at least one pill (P) released, e) transfer the at least one pill (P) released from the control drawer (30) to the distribution drawer (32) if the acceptability criterion? ? satisfied, or transfer at least one pill (P) from the control drawer (30) to the waste drawer (33) if the acceptability criterion? Not ? satisfied, and f) repeat phases b-e if the criterion of acceptability? Not ? been satisfied. 11. Method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of: - verifying at a respective verification instant, subsequent to the control instant, whether the at least one pill (P) contained in the distribution drawer (32) is? been removed from the dispensing drawer (32), - possibly transferring the at least one pill (P) not removed from the dispensing drawer (32) to the waste drawer (33). The method according to claim 10 or 11, comprising a step of emitting at least one acoustic and/or visual signal at a predefined signaling interval following the transfer of the at least one pill (P) to the dispensing drawer (32). 13. Method according to one or more? of claims 10-12, comprising a step of sending an alert signal to a unit? remote control in a signaling instant following the verification instant, following the detection of failure to remove at least one pill (P) from the distribution drawer (32).