# US 7,612,662 B2 · Drug delivery management system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,662 B2 - Document ID: US7612662B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/931,863 - Filed: 2007-10-31 - Published: 2008-04-03 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2000-07-07 - Assignees: InfoLogix - DDMS, Inc. - Inventors: Mark A. Niemiec; Louis M. Heidelberger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612662B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)} - A61J 7/0436: {resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container} - G06Q 10/083: Shipping - G06Q 10/087: Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders - G06Q 10/08778: {for managing mis-shipments, lost items or stolen goods} - G08B 13/1427: {with transmitter-receiver for distance detection} - G08B 21/0261: {System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden} - G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms - G16H 10/60: for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records - G16H 20/13: delivered from dispensers - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - H01H 3/141: {Cushion or mat switches} - H02M 7/003: {Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections} - A61J 1/035: {Blister-type containers (blisters in general B65D75/36)} - A61J 7/0454: {for dispensing of multiple drugs} - A61J 7/0481: {working on a schedule basis} - A61J 2200/30: Compliance analysis for taking medication - A61J 2200/72: for temperature - A61J 2205/60: using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags - A61J 2205/70: Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - H05K 1/0293: {Individual printed conductors which are adapted for modification, e.g. fusable or breakable conductors, printed switches} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ## Abstract The present invention relates to assisting patients in the taking of medication, and to assisting third parties in accumulating information regarding patient medication intake. The invention may be embodied a system including a portable medication monitor used in association with an instrumented medication package to provide intake data acquisition and patient support functions. The system may further be connected to a computer or computer network allowing information distribution between the medication monitor and third parties, such as physicians or pharmacists. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for monitoring or tracking a package having a package integrity and an associated at least one condition, the method comprising: detecting the integrity of the package using an integrity sensor being integrated into the package, wherein the package comprises at least one sealed item, and the integrity sensor comprises at least one severable connector; detecting the at least one condition; transmitting data indicative of the detected package integrity and detected at least one condition; comparing at least a portion of the transmitted data to stored data, wherein the comparing verifies at least one of patient identification, prescription dosage, dosage form, intake schedule and drug identification; indicating approval of at least one action responsively to the comparing; detecting severance of the severable connector subsequent to the indicating approval; and transmitting data indicative of the detected severance from the package. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is to at least one of a plurality of transitory receivers, and further comprising re-transmitting at least a portion of the transmitted data to a central monitor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising comparing at least a portion of the re-transmitted data to stored data, and transmitting data to at least one of the transitory receivers dependently upon the comparing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising presenting a representation of at least a portion of the transmitted data using at least one of the transitory receivers and central monitor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the condition detecting uses a condition sensor being integrated into the package; the at least one condition comprises at least one environmental condition; and, the transmitting data indicative of the detected package integrity and detected at least one condition is from the package. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the package contains a plurality of items each having at least one of integrated item integrity sensors and integrated item condition sensors, further comprising transmitting data indicative of detected item integrities and a detected at least one condition from the package upon package access. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively initiating at least one action responsively to the transmitting or lack thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the package comprises at least one sealed item, and the integrity sensor comprises at least one severable connector associated with the at least one sealed item. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one integrity sensor determines whether the at least one severable connector has been severed, and the method further comprises selectively initiating at least one action responsively to the determining. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one condition comprises a location, and the selectively initiating is dependent on the determined location. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one action is to order at least one other package. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the selectively initiated action comprises transmitting at least one alert. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition comprises at least one of a temperature condition, a humidity condition, a light exposure condition, a location condition, a date condition and an access condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: comparing at least a portion of the transmitted data to stored data; transmitting data responsively to the comparing; and updating the package dependently upon the data transmitted responsively to the comparing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the detected condition is indicative of an occurrence of at least one predetermined event. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the occurrence of the at least one predetermined event is the at least one condition exceeding a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one condition comprises location, data indicative of which is transmitted via at least one satellite. ### Claim 18 A method for monitoring or tracking a package having a package integrity and an associated at least one condition, the method comprising: providing a monitor; associating the monitor with at least one patient; associating the package with the monitor; detecting the integrity of the package using an integrity sensor integrated in the package; detecting the at least one condition; transmitting data indicative of the detected package integrity and detected at least one condition to the monitor; comparing at least a portion of the transmitted data to stored data, wherein the comparing verifies at least one of patient identification, prescription dosage, dosage form, intake schedule and drug identification; indicating approval of at least one action responsively to the comparing, whereby, medical care facility activities and the patient are coordinated. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising: detecting a change in package integrity subsequent to the indicating approval; and transmitting data indicative of the detected change. ### Claim 20 A monitoring system, comprising: a package having an integrity, the package including: an integrity sensor being integrated into the package; at least one condition sensor being integrated into the package; a radio frequency transmitter integrated into the package, the radio frequency transmitter configured to transmit data indicative of a detected package integrity from the package in response to receiving signals from integrity sensor; and a package monitor in signal communication with the package, the monitor configured to receive the data indicative of a detected package integrity, the monitor including a processor configured to: compare at least a portion of the transmitted data to stored data to verify at least one of patient identification, prescription dosage, dosage form, intake schedule and drug identification, and indicate approval of at least one action responsively to the comparing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The system of claim 20, wherein the integrity sensor includes a plurality of severable conductors. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of severable conductors function as switches for generating an identification signal. ### Claim 23 A monitoring system, comprising: a plurality of packages, each of the plurality of packages including: a plurality of integrity sensors integrated into each of the packages; and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter integrated into each of the packages, each of the radio frequency transmitters configured to selectively transmit data in responsive to sensed changes in package integrity by one of the integrity sensors being integrated into a same corresponding one of the packages; and a package monitor configured to receive the data transmitted by each of the radio frequency transmitters, the package monitor including a processor and being associated with each of the plurality of packages, each of the plurality of packages being associated with at least one patient, the processor configured to: compare at least a portion of the transmitted data to verify at least one of patient identification, prescription dosage, dosage form, intake schedule and drug identification; and indicate approval of at least one action in response to the comparing. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The monitoring system of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of integrity sensors includes a respective plurality of severable conductors. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The monitoring system of claim 24, wherein each respective plurality of severable conductors function as switches for generating an identification signal.