# US 10,441,214 B2 · Monitoring adherence to a medication regimen using a sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,441,214 B2 - Document ID: US10441214B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/608,704 - Filed: 2015-01-29 - Published: 2016-08-04 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2015-01-29 - Assignees: Kali Care, Inc. - Applicants: Kali Care, Inc. - Inventors: Sina Fateh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441214B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/4833: {Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment} - A61J 7/0427: {with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system} - A61M 15/00: Inhalators {(drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04)} - G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers - A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient} - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/14542: {for measuring blood gases (A61B5/14551 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/4839: {combined with drug delivery} - A61B 5/6898: {Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A method and apparatus for monitoring and/or managing adherence to a medication regimen that involves use of a sensor. Dispensing medicine from a container commonly involves pressure being applied to the container, which results in expansion of the container. In some embodiments, pressure is applied by a user through an aperture of the apparatus. In some embodiments, a processor monitors pressure sensor data from a pressure sensor that is physically coupled to the container and arranged such that activation of the pressure sensor indicates the container has expanded in response to the user applying pressure. A processor analyzes the pressure sensor data to determine whether medicine has been dispensed from the container. A computer system can compare the dispensed medication to a planned medication regimen to determine a state of compliance with the medication regimen. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medication device comprising: a jacket configured to hold a container of medicine, wherein the jacket includes an aperture that allows a user to apply pressure to the container to dispense medicine and a first pressure sensor arranged such that activation of the first pressure sensor indicates the container has been inserted into the jacket; a second pressure sensor coupled to the jacket and arranged such that activation of the second pressure sensor indicates the container has expanded in response to the user applying pressure to the container through the aperture; and a wireless communication module configured to exchange data recorded by the second pressure sensor with a communications device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medication device of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring module configured to: activate the second pressure sensor in response to the first pressure sensor sensing the container has been inserted into the jacket; and deactivate the second pressure sensor in response to the first pressure sensor sensing the container has been removed from the jacket. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medication device of claim 1, further comprising: an audio input device configured to record the user and transmit the recordings via the wireless communication module. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medication device of claim 1, further comprising: an audio output device configured to project a prerecorded audio recording or receive, and then project, an audio recording in real-time via the wireless communication module. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medication device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or a pressure sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medication device of claim 1, further comprising one or more tactile sensors configured to activate and deactivate one or more motion sensors that detect movement of the jacket and the container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The medication device of claim 6, further comprising a monitoring module configured to use the one or more motion sensors to monitor movement of the container and activate the second pressure sensor upon sensing movement. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The medication device of claim 7, wherein the one or more tactile sensors measure pulse, heart rate, oxygen saturation, glucose concentration, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The medication device of claim 8, wherein a dose of medicine to be dispensed by the medication device is modified based on the user's pulse, heart rate, oxygen saturation, glucose concentration, or combination thereof measured by the one or more tactile sensors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The medication device of claim 7, further comprising a medication detection sensor configured to sense medicine leaving the container and record data regarding medicine dispensed from the container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The medication device of claim 10, wherein the medication detection sensor includes an optical component to detect the medicine dispensed from the container. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The medication device of claim 11, wherein the monitoring module is configured to activate the medication detection sensor upon sensing movement. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The medication device of claim 7, wherein the jacket further includes one or more light sources that convey visual information to the user, wherein the visual information conveyed to the user includes the user's progress towards completion of a medication regimen, quantity of medicine remaining in the container, a reminder to take medication, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The medication device of claim 13, wherein the one or more light sources are light-emitting diodes. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The medication device of claim 7, wherein the jacket includes one or more speakers that convey auditory information to the user. ### Claim 16 (depends on 7) The medication device of claim 7, wherein the first pressure sensor includes a wing pressure mechanism. ### Claim 17 (depends on 7) The medication device of claim 7, wherein the jacket is one of a plurality of jackets having openings of different sizes to hold containers of various sizes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The medication device of claim 17, wherein the medication device includes a removable electronic compartment that can be attached with any of the plurality of jackets. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) The medication device of claim 7, wherein the communications device is configured to convey visual and auditory information to the user, wherein the visual and auditory information includes the user's progress towards completion of a medication regimen, quantity of medicine remaining in the container, a reminder to take medication, or a combination thereof.