Apparatus, device and method for prescribing, administering and monitoring a treatment regimen for a patient

A device for providing patient specific prescription medication related treatment information comprising:

• at least one internal chamber for storing a prescription medication;
• a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the device and gathering compliance information on the patient's compliance with the treatment regimen;
• a memory storage device, connected to the microprocessor, for storing at least one message containing patient specific prescription medication related treatment information, wherein the message is associated with a scheduled treatment;
• an internal clock for providing timing signals to the microprocessor;
• a speech synthesizer, connected to the microprocessor, for receiving and converting the message into an audibly perceptible message, wherein the microprocessor is configured to, upon the occurrence of a scheduled treatment time, as determined by a comparison of the treatment schedule and the timing signals provided by the internal clock, recall the message from the memory storage device and provide the message to the speech synthesizer;
• a speaker for presenting the audibly perceptible message to a patient;
• a cap providing access to the prescription medication stored in the at least one internal chamber;
• a Platform interface, connected to the microprocessor, providing an interface between the device and a Platform configured to enable at least one of a Doctor and a Pharmacist to provide the patient specific prescription medication related treatment information to the device and to monitor compliance by the patient with a treatment schedule;
• a communications interface, connected to the microprocessor, for providing feedback to at least one of the Doctor and the Pharmacist, the feedback at least partially based on the compliance information;
• and
• a cap sensor, connected to the microprocessor, and situated to monitor the position of the cap, whereupon opening of the cap by a user, a cap sensor signal is transmitted to the microprocessor, whereupon the receipt of the cap sensor signal the microprocessor records in the memory storage device the occurrence of the opening of the cap and a time of the opening as compliance information, the compliance information being utilized by at least one of the Doctor and Pharmacist, via the Platform connected to the device via the Platform interface, to verify the patient's compliance with the treatment schedule.

A method for providing instructions to a patient for a treatment regimen provided by a patient accessible device, comprising:

• receiving an indication from a patient regarding a treatment regimen;
• wherein the indication is provided by depressing a button on the patient accessible device;
• gathering compliance information on the patient's compliance with the treatment regimen;
• retrieving a message, responsive to the indication and containing at least one instruction related to a treatment regimen for a patient, from a memory storage device provided in a patient accessible device;
• converting the message into an audible format;
• presenting the audibly formatted message to the patient via the patient accessible device;
• providing feedback to at least one of a Doctor and a Pharmacist, the feedback at least partially based on the compliance information;
• wherein the message was previously provided, at least one of the Doctor and the Pharmacist, to the memory storage device via a Platform connected to the memory storage device
• determining whether a pre-determined time for dispensing a medication to the patient via the patient accessible device has arisen;
• presenting the audibly formatted message to the patient when the pre-determined time has arisen;
• and
• activating a visual indicator;
• wherein the audibly formatted message presented and the visual indicator activated varies depending upon whether a current time is the same as the pre-determined time for dispensing a medication, a first warning time, or a second warning time;
• monitoring the utilization of the patient accessible device, wherein the utilization of the patient accessible device is monitored by providing a cap and a cap sensor, wherein the cap sensor determines when the cap has been accessed by a user in order to gain access to at least one medication provided by the patient accessible device;
• and
• recording each utilization of the patient accessible device by a user;
• wherein each recording of each utilization of the patient accessible device provides compliance information utilized by the Doctor and Pharmacist to determine a compliance history for the patient with the treatment regimen.