# US 11,298,295 B2 · System and method for medication adherence management > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,295 B2 - Document ID: US11298295B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/339,760 - Filed: 2017-10-09 - Published: 2019-10-10 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-07 - Assignees: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH - Applicants: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH - Inventors: Holger Bartos - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298295B2 ## CPC - A61J 7/0436: {resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container} - A61J 1/16: Holders for containers - A61J 7/0418: {with electronic history memory} - A61J 7/0481: {working on a schedule basis} - G01G 19/4144: {for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems} - G01G 19/42: for counting by weighing (G01G19/387 takes precedence) - G01G 19/52: Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08) - A61J 7/0076: {Medicament distribution means (with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00)} - A61J 2200/30: Compliance analysis for taking medication - A61J 2200/74: for weight - A61J 2205/50: using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image - A61J 2205/60: using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags - 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 - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) ## Abstract A system and a method for medication adherence management with which a medicament container is held by a holding apparatus, a detector device wirelessly recognizes an opening and closing activity of the medicament container, and a data processing device or control device reads and processes data of the detector device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A medication adherence management system comprising: a holding apparatus with a receptacle for holding or connecting to a medicament container, and a detector device and a data processing device or control device for registering at least one of opening or closing of the medicament container, wherein the holding apparatus comprises at least a first element and a second element, which are movable relative to each other for at least one of holding the medicament container and adapting to medicament containers of different size or different shape, wherein the second element comprises the detector device, wherein the medication adherence management system or holding apparatus comprises a locking device for releasably locking the at least two elements against relative movement, and wherein the locking device is able to lock the at least two elements in at least two different positions with respect to each other. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the different positions correspond to medicament containers of different size or shape. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the first element comprises, contains or receives at least one of the data processing device, the control device, a visualization device, a notification device, a user interface, a communication device and a battery. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the first element forms or is fixedly connected with a bottom or base of the medication adherence management system or the holding apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the second element forms at least one of a sleeve for the medicament container and a support, arm or stop for holding or supporting the medicament container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the second element comprises the detector device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the first element and second element are inseparable from each other. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the medication adherence management system or the holding apparatus or a housing thereof comprises multiple modular elements which are at least one of separable from each other and exchangeable, the first element and the second element being modular elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The medication adherence management system according to claim 8, wherein some or all of the modular elements are exchangeable for adapting the holding apparatus or receptacle to medicament containers of different size or different shape. ### Claim 10 A medication adherence management system comprising: a holding apparatus with a receptacle for holding or connecting to a medicament container, and a detector device and a data processing device or control device for registering at least one of opening or closing of the medicament container, wherein the holding apparatus comprises the data processing device or control device for processing data of said detector device to register a medication activity when the medicament container is opened and closed within a predetermined period of time, wherein the holding apparatus is adapted to hold or to be connected to the medicament container at a tapered part, shoulder or neck of the medicament container, and wherein the holding apparatus or a contact element thereof comprises an opening at the top of the receptacle, wherein the opening is able to be enlarged for inserting or removing the medicament container. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the holding apparatus further comprises a data processing device or control device for processing data of said detector device to register a medication activity when the medicament container is opened and closed within a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 12 A medication adherence management system comprising: a holding apparatus with a receptacle for holding or connecting to a medicament container, and a detector device and a data processing device or control device for registering at least one of opening or closing of the medicament container, wherein the holding apparatus comprises the data processing device or control device for processing data of said detector device to register a medication activity when the medicament container is opened and closed within a predetermined period of time, wherein the holding apparatus is adapted to hold or to be connected to the medicament container at a tapered part, shoulder or neck of the medicament container, wherein the holding apparatus or a housing thereof comprises or forms at least one securing element for preventing the medicament container escaping from a fixed position, and wherein the securing element is fork-like, U-shaped or comprises or forms fingers for encompassing or partly encompassing the medicament container or a neck thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The medication adherence management system according to claim 12, wherein the securing element comprises or forms a contact element which is made of at least one of a soft, elastic and adhering material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The medication adherence management system according to claim 12, wherein the securing element at least one of extends at least essentially parallel to a base of the holding apparatus, and rests on the medicament container or a shoulder thereof from above. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The medication adherence management system according to claim 12, wherein the securing element is adapted to prevent the medicament container from escaping in a vertical direction, while the receptacle is adapted to support the medicament container from below and to prevent the medicament container from escaping in a horizontal direction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The medication adherence management system according to claim 10, wherein the holding apparatus or receptacle has means for holding the medicament container in a rotationally fixed manner. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The medication adherence management system according to claim 12, wherein the medication adherence management system comprises the medicament container which is held by the holding apparatus, and wherein the medicament container comprises a detection unit detectable by the detector device. ### Claim 18 A medication adherence management system comprising: a holding apparatus with a receptacle holding or being connected to a medicament container, and a detector device and a data processing device or control device for registering at least one of a medication activity, opening or closing of the medicament container, and loss of weight of the medicament container, wherein the medicament container comprises a removable lid and a reservoir for a medicament, wherein the medication adherence management system further comprises a cap which is adapted to receive and connect with the lid in at least one of a force-fit, form-fit and snap-fit manner. and wherein the cap comprises a detection unit detectable by the detector device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The medication adherence management system according to claim 18, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one of an optical reference element, a magnet and an electronic reference element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The medication adherence management system according to claim 17, wherein the detector device is capable of or adapted for at least one of an optical, an electronic, a magnetic, a remote and an ultrasonic interaction with or detection of the medicament container or a detection unit thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The medication adherence management system according to claim 17, wherein the detector device is capable of recognizing at least one of the type of medicament in the medicament container and the size of the medicament container, by recognizing or reading at least a part of a detection unit of the medicament container. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The medication adherence management system according to claim 17, wherein the medication adherence management system, the holding apparatus or the data processing device or control device comprises or is associated with a communication device for communicating with an external device or a network. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The medication adherence management system according to claim 22, wherein the communication device is adapted to transfer data to a receiver, in at least one of the following events: after an activity, at specific times, and upon request. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The medication adherence management system according to claim 23, wherein the data contains or is related to at least one of an event of activity, a plurality of events of activity, the number of activities, times of activity events and a medication schedule. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The medication adherence management system according to claim 23, wherein means are provided for enabling the data to be evaluated in a remote location. ### Claim 26 (depends on 10) The medication adherence management system according to claim 10, wherein the receptacle, holding apparatus or a base thereof is adapted to support the medicament container from at least one of below and on the vertical sides, preventing the medicament container to escape from a fixed position. ### Claim 27 (depends on 10) The medication adherence management system according to claim 10, wherein the medication adherence management system is adapted to receive the medicament container so that the medicament container can hang in the holding apparatus while being held at an upper part or tapered part or neck. ### Claim 28 (depends on 12) The medication adherence management system according to claim 12, wherein the receptacle, holding apparatus or a base thereof is adapted to support the medicament container from at least one of below and on the vertical sides, preventing the medicament container to escape from a fixed position. ### Claim 29 (depends on 12) The medication adherence management system according to claim 12, wherein the medication adherence management system is adapted to receive the medicament container so that the medicament container can hang in the holding apparatus while being held at an upper part or tapered part or neck. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The medication adherence management system according to claim 1, wherein the holding apparatus further comprises a data processing device or control device for processing data of said detector device to register a medication activity when the medicament container is opened and closed within a predetermined period of time and wherein the first element comprises, contains or receives at least one of the data processing device, the control device, a visualization device, a notification device, a user interface, a communication device and a battery. ### Claim 31 A medication adherence management system comprising: a holding apparatus with a receptacle for holding or connecting to a medicament container, and a detector device and a data processing device or control device for registering at least one of opening or closing of the medicament container, wherein the holding apparatus comprises at least a first element and a second element, which are movable relative to each other for at least one of holding the medicament container and adapting to medicament containers of different size or different shape, wherein the first element comprises, contains or receives at least one of the data processing device, the control device, a visualization device, a notification device, a user interface, a communication device and a battery, wherein the medication adherence management system or holding apparatus comprises a locking device for releasably locking the at least two elements against relative movement, and wherein the locking device is able to lock the at least two elements in at least two different positions with respect to each other. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The medication adherence management system according to claim 31, wherein the different positions correspond to medicament containers of different size or shape. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The medication adherence management system according to claim 31, wherein the first element forms or is fixedly connected with a bottom or base of the medication adherence management system or the holding apparatus. ### Claim 34 (depends on 31) The medication adherence management system according to claim 31, wherein the second element forms at least one of a sleeve for the medicament container and a support, arm or stop for holding or supporting the medicament container. ### Claim 35 (depends on 31) The medication adherence management system according to claim 31, wherein the first element and second element are inseparable from each other. ### Claim 36 (depends on 31) The medication adherence management system according to claim 31, wherein the medication adherence management system or the holding apparatus or a housing thereof comprises multiple modular elements which are at least one of separable from each other and exchangeable, the first element and the second element being modular elements. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The medication adherence management system according to claim 36, wherein some or all of the modular elements are exchangeable for adapting the holding apparatus or receptacle to medicament containers of different size or different shape. ### Claim 38 (depends on 31) The medication adherence management system according to claim 31, wherein the holding apparatus further comprises a data processing device or control device for processing data of said detector device to register a medication activity when the medicament container is opened and closed within a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 39 A medication adherence management system comprising: a holding apparatus with a receptacle for holding or connecting to a medicament container, and a detector device and a data processing device or control device for registering at least one of opening or closing of the medicament container, wherein the holding apparatus comprises at least a first element and a second element, which are movable relative to each other for at least one of holding the medicament container and adapting to medicament containers of different size or different shape, wherein the medication adherence management system or holding apparatus comprises a locking device for releasably locking the at least two elements against relative movement, wherein the locking device is able to lock the at least two elements in at least two different positions with respect to each other, and wherein the medication adherence management system or the holding apparatus or a housing thereof comprises multiple modular elements which are at least one of separable from each other and exchangeable, the first element and the second element being modular elements. ### Claim 40 A medication adherence management system comprising: a holding apparatus with a receptacle for holding or connecting to a medicament container, and a detector device and a data processing device or control device for registering at least one of opening or closing of the medicament container, wherein the holding apparatus comprises the data processing device or control device for processing data of said detector device to register a medication activity when the medicament container is opened and closed within a predetermined period of time, wherein the holding apparatus comprises at least a first element and a second element, which are movable relative to each other for at least one of holding the medicament container and adapting to medicament containers of different size or different shape, wherein the medication adherence management system or holding apparatus comprises a locking device for releasably locking the at least two elements against relative movement, and wherein the locking device is able to lock the at least two elements in at least two different positions with respect to each other.