US 2019/0103179 A1Published application

Authenticated collection of medication data and use thereof in addressing nonadherence

OwnerSina Fateh, Philippe Cailloux +1inventors

InventorsSina Fateh, Philippe Cailloux, Navid Nick Afsarifard

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Abstract

Sensors may be engaged with a container to provide data on how the container is manipulated. Data traces from those sensors exhibit signatures of events such as opening the container, dispensing medication, etc. Such medication events and contextual events provide authenticated data on the use of medication, as distinct from self-reported or predicted/modeled data. Multiple signatures may be combined to determine a confidence level for whether a medication has been taken, and/or aspects such as when, how, how much, etc. A container may be retrofitted by engaging a shoe containing sensors with the bottom of the container. Authenticated data may support improved selection and oversight of research subjects to reduce cost, time, etc. of clinical trials. Authenticated data also may support improved patient outcome. Pools of subjects and patients may be developed to inform selection of subjects and prescription of medications to patients.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

with a pressure sensor engaged with a medication container, detecting a pressure trace comprising a plurality of pressure values over time corresponding with an application of pressure to said medication container over time;
with a disposition sensor engaged with said medication container, detecting a disposition trace comprising a plurality of disposition values over time corresponding with a disposition of said medication container over time;
communicating said pressure and disposition traces to a processor;
in said processor, identifying a plurality of signatures in said pressure and disposition traces, identifying at least one of said signatures in said pressure and disposition traces in cooperation, each said signature being consistent with a corresponding event associated with a medication instance, said medication instance comprising dispensing a medication from said medication container;
in said processor, determining a medication instance confidence that said plurality of signatures collectively represents said medication instance based on said signatures;
in response to said medication instance confidence satisfying a threshold therefor, registering said medication instance and a medication instance time with said processor;
and
communicating said medication instance and medication instance time to a recipient.

5 more elements

An apparatus, comprising:

a pressure sensor adapted to engage with a medication container;
a disposition sensor adapted to engage with said medication container;
a processor in communication with said pressure sensor and said disposition sensor;
a communicator in communication with said processor;
wherein:
said pressure sensor is adapted to detect a pressure trace comprising a plurality of pressure values over time corresponding with an application of pressure to said medication container over time;
said disposition sensor is adapted to detect a disposition trace comprising a plurality of disposition values over time corresponding with a disposition of said medication container over time;
said processor is adapted to identify a plurality of signatures from said pressure and disposition traces, and to identify at least one of said signatures from said pressure and disposition traces in cooperation, each said signature being consistent with a corresponding event in a medication instance, said medication instance comprising dispensing a medication from said medication container;
said processor is adapted to determine a medication instance confidence that said plurality of signatures collectively represents said medication instance based on said signatures;
said processor is adapted to determine whether said medication instance confidence satisfies a threshold therefor;
said processor is adapted to register said medication instance and a medication instance time if said medication instance confidence satisfies said threshold;
said communicator is adapted to communicate said medication instance and said medication instance time to a recipient.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/137,270Filed 20 Sep 2018
Priority: 4 Oct 2017
Published: 4 Apr 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

G16H 20/10
ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient…:…
G16H 20/13
Relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients: delivered from dispensers
G16H
Healthcare informatics, i.e. information and communication technology [ict] specially adapted for the