US 4,504,153 A · Pharmacist-programmable medication prompting system and method

Abstract

A pharmacist-programmable medication prompting system includes a programmable prompting device that is attached to a medication container and is automatically programmed in response to inputting of a physician's prescription instructions to cause the prompting device to automatically prompt a patient to take medication at prescribed times. The programming station inputs the information in serial format to the prompting device, which stores it in an internal memory. Internal clock circuitry of the prompting device periodically accesses the memory to determine if the patient is to be prompted at the present time and, if this is the case, generates a prompting signal. In response to the prompting signal an audible prompting sound is produced. Also, a prompting light blinks until the prompting device is reset. In one embodiment of the invention, the prompting device is incorporated into a locking cap of the medication container. A locking mechanism unlocks the cap in response to the prompting signal. After removal of the cap, resetting is automatically accomplished by replacement of the cap on the container. In another embodiment of the invention, the prompting device is adhesively attached to the medication container.

Claims35

Dependent claims

An automatic medication prompting method comprising the steps of:

(a) coupling a data conductor of a portable prompting apparatus to a data conductor of a data inputting apparatus;
(b) entering information representative of medication instructions into said data inputting apparatus;
(c) converting said entered information into first digital data representative of times at or during which medication should be administered;
(d) converting said first digital data into second digital data having a format suitable for transmission to said portable prompting apparatus in order to effectuate programming of said portable prompting apparatus by said inputting apparatus;
(e) transmitting said second digital data to a first memory in said prompting apparatus and storing said second digital data in said first memory;
(f) decoupling said prompting apparatus from said inputting apparatus;
(g) continually periodically advancing a timekeeping circuit in said prompting apparatus;
(h) accessing said first memory in response to said timekeeping circuit each time a predetermined interval elapses to obtain stored prompting data indicative of whether a prescription should be administered at that time;
(i) generating an electrical prompting signal each time said obtained stored prompting data has a first value;
and
(j) producing an audible and/or a visual prompting signal in response to said electrical prompting signal.

8 more elements

An automatic medication prompting system comprising in combination:

(a) a data inputting device for receiving a medication instruction information, said data inputting device having a first data conductor;
(b) a portable prompting device, said prompting device having a second data conductor;
(c) coupling means for coupling said data conductor of said portable prompting device to said data conductor of a data inputting apparatus;
(d) means for entering said information into said data inputting device;
(e) first means for converting said entered information into first digital data representative of the times at which a medication should be administered;
(f) second means for converting said first digital data into second digital data having a format suitable for transmission to said prompting device in order to effectuate programming of said portable prompting device by said data inputting device;
(g) means for transmitting said second digital data to a first memory in said prompting device and storing said second digital data in said first memory;
(h) a timekeeping circuit in said prompting device and means for periodically advancing said timekeeping circuit after decoupling said prompting device from said inputting device;
(i) means for accessing said first memory in response to said timekeeping circuit each time a predetermined interval elapses to obtain stored prompting data indicative of whether medication should be administered at that time;
(j) means for generating an electrical prompting signal each time said obtained stored prompting data has a first value;
and
(k) means for producing an audible and/or a visual prompting signal in response to said electrical prompting signal.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pharmacist-programmable medication prompting system and method

Life of this patent

Pharmacist-programmable medication prompting system and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims35