Prescription compliance device and method of using device

A prescription compliance device comprising:

• control means;
• program memory means for storing data representing a plurality of pre-programmed commonly prescribed medication-taking regimens;
• select means for selecting one of said regimens and programming said device in accordance therewith;
• and
• display means,
• said select means including an event switch which is activated in conjunction with a patient taking a dose of a medication corresponding to a respective medication-taking regimen for recording the taking of said medication, said event switch causing said control means to effect the display of the time at which a next dose of medication is scheduled to be taken, in accordance with the regimen selected by said select means,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of pre-programmed medication-taking regimens causes calculation of acceptable times during which said patient is scheduled to take said medication, and
• wherein the calculated times are based on the following factors:
• 1) a preferred time of day at which the patient is to take a first dose of the medication;
• 2) a regimen specific predetermined interval of time between doses of the medication;
• and
• 3) a regimen specific predetermined time range during which it is medically acceptable for the patient to take the medication.

A method of operating a prescription compliance device, comprising the steps of:

• (a) switching said device to a setup state;
• (b) programming the current time into said device;
• (c) selecting one of a plurality of pre-programmed commonly prescribed medication-taking regimens;
• (d) programming a time of day a first dose of medication is to be taken in accordance with the selected regimen;
• (e) switching said device from a setup state to an operation state;
• and
• (f) indicating to said device that a dose of medication has been taken,
• wherein at least one of the plurality of pre-programmed medication-taking regimens causes calculation of acceptable times during which said patient is scheduled to take said medication, and
• wherein the calculated times are based on the following factors:
• 1) a preferred time of day at which the patient is to take a first dose of the medication;
• 2) a regimen specific predetermined interval of time between doses of the medication;
• and
• 3) a regimen specific predetermined time range during which it is medically acceptable for the patient to take the medication.

A prescription compliance device comprising:

• microcontroller;
• a program memory storing data representing a plurality of pre-programmed medication-taking regimens;
• a selector selecting one of said regimens and programming said device in accordance therewith;
• a display;
• an alarm circuit alerting a patient at times when said patient is scheduled to take a dose of medication,
• wherein said selector includes an event switch which is activated by said patient after taking a dose of said medication to record the taking of said medication, said event switch causing said microcontroller to effect the display of the time at which a next dose of said medication is scheduled to be taken, in accordance with the regimen selected by said selector, and
• wherein said alarm circuit is activated if said patient takes a dose of said medication and presses said event switch more than a predetermined time before or after a time at which a next dose is scheduled to be taken.

A prescription compliance device comprising:

• control means;
• program memory means for storing data representing a plurality of pre-programmed medication-taking regimens;
• select means for selecting one of said regimens and programming said device in accordance therewith;
• display means;
• alarm means for alerting a patient at times when said patient is scheduled to take a dose of said medication,
• wherein said select means includes an event switch which is activated by said patient after taking a dose of said medication for recording the taking of said medication, said event switch causing said control means to effect the display of the time at which a next dose of said medication is scheduled to be taken, in accordance with the regimen selected by said select means, and
• wherein said alarm means is activated if said patient takes a dose of said medication and presses said event switch more than a predetermined time before or after a time at which a next dose is scheduled to be taken.

A prescription compliance system, comprising:

• a prescription compliance device configured to indicate when a prescription is to be administered;
• a patient identifying device configured to identify a patient taking the prescription;
• and
• a recorder configured to record received signals from the prescription compliance device and the patient identifying device,
• wherein the prescription compliance device transmits a signal directly or indirectly to the patient identifying device and the recorder when the prescription is to be taken or has been taken,
• the patient identifying device transmits a patient identification signal to the recorder when the patient has taken the prescription, and
• the recorder records the signals transmitted by the prescription compliance device and the patient identifying device so as to confirm that the prescription was taken by the identified patient.

A prescription compliance system, comprising:

• prescription compliance means for indicating when a prescription is to be administered;
• patient identifying means for identifying a patient taking the prescription;
• and
• recorder means for recording received signals from the prescription compliance means and the patient identifying means,
• wherein the prescription compliance means transmits a signal directly or indirectly to the patient identifying means and the recorder means when the prescription is to be taken or has been taken,
• the patient identifying means transmits a patient identification signal to the recorder means when the patient has taken the prescription, and
• the recorder means records the signals transmitted by the prescription compliance means and the patient identifying means so as to confirm that the prescription was taken by the identified patient.

A prescription compliance method, comprising the steps of:

• transmitting, by a prescription compliance device, a signal directly or indirectly to a patient identifying device and a recorder when a prescription is to be administered or has been administered;
• transmitting a patient identification signal to the recorder when the patient has taken the prescription;
• recording the signals transmitted by the prescription compliance device and the patient identifying device;
• and
• confirming that the prescription was taken by the identified patient by correlating the recorded signals.