Networked system for interactive communications and remote monitoring of drug delivery

A system for remotely monitoring a dose of a drug administered to a patient, comprising:

• a) a server;
• b) a remote interface means connected to the server;
• c) a measurement apparatus for providing measurement data related to the patient;
• and
• d) a remotely programmable apparatus for receiving measurement data from the measurement apparatus, the remotely programmable apparatus being networked to the server via a communication network;
• wherein the measurement apparatus includes:
• i) a syringe having a barrel, a plunger, and a response-enhancing element;
• ii) a holding means for receiving and holding said syringe in a measurement position;
• iii) a light source coupled to said holding means and in optical communication with said syringe, for generating light incident on said syringe, wherein an optical response of said syringe to said light is indicative of said dose;
• and
• iv) an optical detector coupled to said holding means and in optical communication with said syringe, for detecting the optical response;
• v) a recording device in electrical communication with said optical detector;
• and
• vi) an alignment means for aligning said barrel of said syringe to said optical detector, said recording device for recording a dose datum indicative of said optical response, wherein said dose datum is indicative of the dose.

A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:

• a) a server;
• b) a remote interface means connected to the server;
• c) a remotely programmable apparatus for receiving measurement data from the measurement apparatus, the remotely programmable apparatus being networked to the server via a communication network;
• and
• d) an optical dose measurement apparatus, in communication with said server, for providing a dose datum of a drug delivered to the patient from a syringe;
• wherein the optical dose measurement apparatus includes:
• i) a holding means for receiving and holding the syringe;
• ii) at least one optical detecting element coupled to said holding means and in optical communication with the syringe, for detecting an optical response pattern of the syringe, wherein said optical- response pattern is indicative of the dose;
• and
• iii) a recording means in electrical communication with said at least one opt i(al detecting element, for recording a dose datum indicative of said optical response pattern, wherein said dose datum is indicative of the dose.

A method for remotely monitoring a patient, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing the patient with a remotely programmable apparatus and a measurement apparatus in communication with the remotely programmable apparatus, the measurement apparatus having:
• i) a dose measurement, element,
• ii) a measuring device in communication with the dose measurement element for measuring a response of the dose measurement element;
• and
• iii) a recording device in communication with the measuring device, wherein the measurement apparatus provides measurement data related to the patient;
• b) collecting the measurement data in the remotely programmable apparatus;
• c) transmitting the measurement data from the remotely programmable apparatus to a server;
• and
• d) receiving and storing the measurement data in the server.

A method for communicating information to a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing the patient with a measurement apparatus and a remotely programmable apparatus in communication with the measurement apparatus, the remotely programmable apparatus having:
• i) a communication means for exchanging data with a server through a communication network, wherein the exchangeable data includes a script program executable by the remotely programmable apparatus to communicate a message to the patient;
• ii) a memory means for storing the script program;
• iii) a user interface for communicating the message;
• and
• i) a processor means connected to the communication means, the memory means, and the user interface for executing the script program;
• and the measurement apparatus having:
• vi) a measuring device comprising a dose measurement element, the measuring element for measuring a response of the dose measurement element;
• vii) and a recording device in communication with the measuring device and the remotely programmable apparatus;
• b) generating measurement data from the measurement apparatus related to the patient;
• c) transmitting the measurement data from the recording device to the remotely programmable apparatus via a standard cable;
• and
• d) transmitting the measurement data from the remotely programmable apparatus to the server through the communication network.