Preprogrammed medication reminder

A preprogrammed medication reminder, comprising:

• a casing;
• a dosage switch and a dosage signal emitter supported by said casing;
• a refill switch and a refill signal emitter supported by said casing;
• timing circuit means for controlling said dosage signal emitter and said refill signal emitter and for responding to said dosage switch and to said refill switch;
• a medication dosage accumulator register;
• said timing circuit means activates said dosage signal emitter during at least a first one of a plurality of predetermined dosage reminder time periods, said timing circuit means delivering the dosage signal during timed turned-on periods which alternate with timed turned-off periods during which the dosage signal emitter is off, said turned-on periods and said turned-off periods vary in relative respective frequency during said dosage reminder time periods;
• said dosage switch, when activated, terminates the timed turned-on periods and turned-off periods of the dosage signal emitter and registers the dose delivery on said dosage accumulator register;
• data circuit means associated with said medication dosage accumulator register, said data circuit means activates said timing circuit means after a predetermined number of doses are registered on said dosage accumulator register by said actuation of the dosage switch, said timing circuit means activates said refill signal emitter during at least a first refill reminder time period and delivers the signal during timed turned-on periods which alternate with timed turned-off periods during which the refill signal emitter is off;
• said refill switch, when activated during said first refill reminder period, terminates said first refill reminder time period;
• said predetermined number of doses registered on said dosage accumulator register are preprogrammed into the device without being changeable by the patient;
• said timing circuit means activates said refill signal emitter during a second refill reminder time period which begins after said first refill reminder time period has ended;
• the frequency of said first refill reminder time periods is greater than the frequency of the said second refill reminder time periods;
• and
• said dosage signal turned-on periods and said dosage signal turned-off periods vary in relative respective frequency such that the frequency is greatest for said first one of the plurality of predetermined dosage reminder time periods.

A method for compliance with a medication prescription regimen, comprising the steps of:

• providing a device having a casing, a dosage switch, a dosage signal emitter, a refill switch, a refill signal emitter, circuitry for controlling these emitters and for responding to the activation of these switches, and a medication dosage accumulator register;
• said providing step including preprogramming functions of the circuitry so as to provide a predetermined reminder format for dosage compliance and for refill compliance;
• initiating the circuitry at a time at which medication is to be administered in accordance with the prescription regimen;
• administering medication and operating the dosage switch to add a dosage count to the medication dosage accumulator register;
• observing activation of the dosage signal emitter by the circuitry during at least a first one of a plurality of predetermined dosage reminder time periods;
• operating the dosage switch to thereby cease the activating step and add a further medication dosage amount to the medication dosage accumulator register;
• repeating said observing step and said operating step until a preprogrammed number of doses have accumulated within the medication dosage accumulator register, at which time the circuitry delivers a first signal through the refill signal emitter thereby indicating a prescription refill is now required;
• emitting a second refill signal by said refill signal emitter;
• and
• acknowledging either or both of said first refill signal and said second refill signal and refilling the medication prescription.