Apparatus and Method for Improved Drug Regimen Compliance

A system for monitoring the state of at least one blister card that includes a forming film, a lidding film, and a first tablet contained in a first reservoir defined by the forming film and the lidding film, wherein the system comprises:

• a housing that is operative for locating the blister card in a first position, the housing including a lid having an open position and a closed position;
• a first detection module comprising a first sensor that includes a first sensor that is operative for providing a first electrical signal based on at least one of (1) the presence of the first tablet in the first reservoir and (2) a first force applied to the forming film of the first reservoir;
• and
• an electronics module that is operative for providing a first output signal based on the first electrical signal.

A system that is operative for monitoring the state of a first blister card that includes a forming film, a lidding film, and a plurality of tablets that is arranged in a first arrangement, wherein each tablet of the plurality thereof is contained in a different reservoir of a plurality of reservoirs defined by the forming film and lidding film, wherein the system comprises:

• a housing for locating the blister card, the housing comprising a lid having a closed position and an open position;
• a first detection module comprising a first plurality of sensors arranged in the first arrangement such that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the first plurality of sensors and the first plurality of reservoirs, wherein a first sensor of the first plurality thereof is operative for providing a first electrical signal of a first plurality thereof such that the first electrical signal is based on at least one of (1) the presence of a first tablet of the plurality thereof in a first reservoir of the plurality thereof when the lid is in its closed position and (2) a first force applied to the forming film of the first reservoir;
• and
• an electronics module operative for providing a first output signal based on the first plurality of electrical signals.

A method for monitoring the state of a blister card that includes a forming film, a lidding film, and a plurality of tablets that is arranged in a first arrangement, wherein each tablet of the plurality thereof is contained in a different reservoir of a plurality of reservoirs defined by the forming film and lidding film, wherein the method comprises:

• providing a housing for locating the blister card and a detection module, the housing including a lid having an open position and a closed position;
• providing the detection module such that it comprises a plurality of sensors configured to provide a plurality of first electrical signals, each first electrical signal based on the content of a different reservoir of the plurality thereof, wherein the plurality of sensors is arranged in the first arrangement such that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the plurality of sensors and the plurality of reservoirs, and wherein each sensor is selected from the group consisting of (1) a capacitive sensor disposed on the lid, the capacitive sensor configured to provide its respective first electrical signal based on a capacitance that is based on the presence of a tablet in its respective reservoir when the lid is in its closed position and (2) a tactile sensor that is configured to provide its first electrical signal based on a force applied to the forming film of its respective reservoir;
• determining a physical state of the blister card based on the plurality of first electrical signals;
• comparing the physical state of the blister card with an expected state of the blister card, wherein the expected state is based on a predetermined prescription regimen for the plurality of tablets;
• and
• providing an output signal based on the physical state of the blister card relative to the expected state.