# US 2010/0164716 A1 · System and method for monitoring dispensing of medication > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0164716 A1 - Document ID: US20100164716A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/416,227 - Filed: 2009-04-01 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-31 - Inventors: Leonardo William Estevez; William Robert Krenik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100164716A1 ## CPC - G07F 13/025: {wherein the volume is determined during delivery} - A61J 7/0436: {resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container} - A61J 7/0445: {for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period} - A61J 7/049: {automatically changing in response to a schedule deviation by the patient} - G07F 17/0092: {for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles (medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00)} - G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers - A61J 2200/30: Compliance analysis for taking medication - A61J 2205/70: Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - 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 - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract A system is capable of monitoring dispensing of medication from a medication container having a volume. The system comprises a measuring portion and a processor portion. The measuring portion is operable to measure a parameter at a first time and to measure the parameter at a second time. The processor portion is in communication with the measuring portion. The processor portion is operable to determine a change in volume of medication within the medication container based on the measured parameter at the first time and the measured parameter at the second time. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for monitoring dispensing of medication from a medication container having a volume, said system comprising: a measuring portion operable to measure a parameter at a first time and to measure the parameter at a second time; a processor portion in communication with said measuring portion, said processor portion being operable to determine a change in volume of medication within the medication container based on the measured parameter at the first time and the measured parameter at the second time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said measuring portion is operable to measure a volume of medication within the medication container at the first time and to measure the volume of medication within the medication container at the second time. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein said measuring portion comprises a pressure sensor operable to measure a first pressure within the medication container at the first time, to generate a first pressure signal based on the measured first pressure, to measure a second pressure within the medication container at the second time and to generate a second pressure signal based on the measured second pressure, wherein said processor portion is further operable to determine the change in volume of medication based on the first pressure signal and the second pressure signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein said measuring portion comprises a mass sensor operable to measure a first mass within the medication container at the first time, to generate a first mass signal based on the measured first mass, to measure a second mass within the medication container at the second time and to generate a second mass signal based on the measured second mass, wherein said processor portion is further operable to determine the change in volume of medication based on the first mass signal and the second mass signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an indicator operable to provide at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein said processor portion is further operable to instruct the indicator to provide the at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication based on the change in volume of medication. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein said processor portion is further operable to instruct the indicator to provide the at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication based on a period of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter operable to transmit a transmission signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein said processor portion is further operable to instruct the transmitter to transmit the transmission signal based on the change in volume of medication. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein said processor portion is further operable to instruct the transmitter to transmit the transmission signal based on a period of time. ### Claim 11 A method monitoring dispensing of medication from a medication container having a volume, said method comprising: measuring a parameter at a first time; measuring the parameter at a second time; determining a change in volume of medication within the medication container based on the measured parameter at the first time and the measured parameter at the second time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said measuring a parameter at a first time comprises measuring a volume of medication within the medication container at the first time, and wherein said measuring the parameter at a second time comprises measuring the volume of medication within the medication container at the second time. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: generating a first pressure signal; and generating a second pressure signal, wherein said measuring a volume of medication within the medication container at the first time comprises measuring a first pressure within the medication container at the first time, wherein the first pressure signal is based on the measured first pressure, wherein said measuring the volume of medication within the medication container at the second time comprises measuring a second pressure within the medication container at the second time, wherein the second pressure signal is based on the measured second pressure, and wherein said determining a change in volume of medication based on the measured parameter at the first time and the measured parameter at the second time comprises determining the change in volume of medication based on the first pressure signal and the second pressure signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising: generating a first mass signal; and generating a second mass signal, wherein said measuring a volume of medication within the medication container at the first time comprises measuring a first mass within the medication container at the first time, wherein the first mass signal is based on the measured first mass, wherein said measuring the volume of medication within the medication container at the second time comprises measuring a second mass within the medication container at the second time, wherein the second mass signal is based on the measured second mass, and wherein said determining a change in volume of medication based on the measured parameter at the first time and the measured parameter at the second time comprises determining the change in volume of medication based on the first mass signal and the second mass signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising providing at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said providing at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication is based on the change in volume of medication. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein said providing at least one of an audible indication and a visible indication is based on a period of time. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting a transmission signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said transmitting a transmission signal is based on the change in volume of medication. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein said transmitting a transmission signal is based on a period of time.