US 7,978,564 B2 · Interactive medication container

Abstract

This invention relates to an interactive medication container or console that hold or otherwise organizes one or more medication vials or containers. Each vial has a memory strip containing medication and prescription information. Each vial can also include a reminder unit that is attached to and portable with the individual vials. The console or reminder unit reads the information strip of the vial and communicates this information to or interacts with a patient to remind them to take the medication. The medication container or reminder unit also gathers or tracks information such as consumption time, quantity remaining, patient feedback, and contraindication information. The medication container or reminder unit interacts with the patient by displaying questions or receiving and recording input from the patient before, during or after a dose of medication is taken. The patient input can be used to modify the dosing regimen for future doses of medication. The medication container reorders medication when the quantity remaining reaches a threshold level. Contraindication information in the memory strip is downloaded to a personal home computer or a hospital or nursing home computer.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A medication system for performing at least one health safety function, the system comprising:

at least one container for holding doses of medication, the container having a container memory device containing specifying information useable to determine a prescribed dosing regimen for the medication;
a reminder device including:
(i) a communication device;
(ii) a timing device;
(iii) a reminder device memory;
and
(iv) a processor and an associated surface, the processor for receiving the specifying information via rf communication;
when the container memory device is proximate the surface, the processor linked to the timing device and the reminder device memory an linkable to the communication device;
wherein, prior to an initial time the specifying information has not been received by the processor and the prescribed dosing regimen information is not stored in the reminder device memory, at the initial time the container memory device is disposed proximate the first surface and the processor receives the specifying information for the first time, the first time the processor receives the specifying information, the processor using the specifying information to obtain prescribed dosing regimen information from a location other than the reminder device memory and performing at least one health safety function as a function of the prescribed dosing regimen information;
wherein, the processor further uses the at least a portion of the prescribed dosing regimen information to determine a predetermined time to take the medication, uses the timing device to identify a predetermined time, and causes the communication device to indicate when the predetermined time occurs.

7 more elements

A medication system for performing at least one health safety function, the system comprising:

at least one container for holding doses of medication, the container having a specifying device containing specifying information useable to determine a prescribed dosing regimen for the medication;
a reminder device including:
(i) a sensor defining a sensing area, the sensing area capable of receiving at least two specifying devices at the same time, the sensor for receiving the specifying information from each specifying devices within the sensing area via rf communication;
and
(ii) a reminder device memory;
and
(iii) a processor linked to the remainder device memory;
wherein, prior to an intitial time the specifying information has been received by the processor and the prescribed dosing regimen information is not stored in the reminder unit memory, at the initial time, the memory device is disposed proximate the sensor and the sensor receives the specifying information and provides the specifying information to the processor for the first time, the first time the processor receives the specifying information, the processor using the specifying information to identify prescribed dosing regimen information from a location other than the reminder device memory and performing at least one health safety function as a function of the prescribed dosing regimen information.

5 more elements

A method for use with a medication system for performing at least one health safety function wherein the medication system comprises at least one container for holding doses of medication, a communication device, a timing device and a processor that includes a reminder device memory and that is associated with a surface, the container having a container memory device containing specifying information useable to determine a prescribed dosing regiment for the medication, wherein the processor is linked to the timing device and the reminder device memory and is linkable to the communication device and wherein the dosing regimen information is not stored in the reminder device memory prior to a first time, the method comprising the steps of:

using the processor to perform the steps of:
at a first time when the container memory device is disposed proximate the surface, receiving the specifying information via rf communication;
when the processor receives the specifying information for the first time, using the specifying information to identify prescribed dosing regimen information without accessing the reminder device memory and performing at least one health safety function as a function of the prescribed dosing regimen information;
and
using the prescribed dosing regimen information to determine a predetermined time to take the medication;
using the timing device to identify the predetermined time;
and
causing the communication device to indicate when the predetermined time occurs.

5 more elements

A medication system for performing at least one health safety function, the system comprising:

at least one container for holding doses of mediation, the container having a memory device containing specifying information useable to determine a prescribed dosing regimen for the medication;
a reminder unit that defines a plurality of distinct locations, the reminder unit including:
(i) a separate sensor associated with each of the locations;
and
(ii) a processor and an associated surface, the processor for receiving the specifying information via rf communication;
when the memory device is proximate the associated surface and receiving a location indication identifying one of the plurality of distinct locations when the at least one container is position at the at least one of the plurality of distinct locations, the processor linked to the separate sensors;
wherein, prior to an initial time, the specifying information has not been received by the processor, proximate the initial time the at least one container is disposed at a first of the plurality of locations and the processor received the location indication indentifying the first of the plurality of distinct locations and, at the initial time the memory device is disposed proximate the surface and the processor receives the specifying information for the fist time, the first time the processor receives the specifying information and the temporally proximate location indication, the processor using the specifying information to identify prescribed dosing regimen information and associating the prescribed dosing regimen information with the first of the plurality of locations.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Interactive medication container

Life of this patent

Interactive medication container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51