Method and apparatus for alerting a person at medicine dosing times

A method of alerting a person at medicine dosing times comprising the steps of:

• a) dispensing medicine into a container;
• b) selecting an alert apparatus preprogrammed with a dosing schedule appropriate for said dispensed medicine, wherein said alert apparatus comprises:
• i) an electronic timing mechanism executing a dosing schedule and producing one or more annunciator signals, said electronic timing mechanism comprising:
• a processor operatively coupled to a memory and executing a control program, said control program stored in computer-readable form in said memory, said control program executing said dosing schedule, a clock source for executing said control program in said processor at a uniform rate, said control program maintaining a first timing channel for measuring elapsed time between doses;
• said dosing schedule being stored in computer-readable form in said memory, said dosing schedule comprising information representing times associated with at least one dosing interval, wherein the dosing interval is the time between doses;
• said dosing interval comprising information corresponding to a finite time interval, and wherein the dosing schedule pertains to one medicine;
• said first timing channel measuring elapsed time corresponding to said dosing interval;
• said electronic timing mechanism producing at least one said annunciator signal at the end of at least one said dosing interval;
• ii) one or more annunciators operatively and flexibly coupled to said electronic timing mechanism such that said one or more annunciator signals causes activation of said one or more annunciators for alerting a person;
• iii) one or more switch means operatively and flexibly coupled to said electronic timing mechanism;
• wherein one said switch means is responsive to user input and configured to deactivate a previously activated annunciator, and,
• iv) a flexible substrate on which are directly attached and configured to operate while said flexible substrate is flexed said electronic timing mechanism, said one or more annunciators, and said one or more switch means, wherein a portion of said flexible substrate is configured to provide a flexible operative coupling between at least one switch means and said electronic timing mechanism, and, wherein a portion of said flexible substrate is configured to provide a flexible operative coupling between said electronic timing mechanism and at least one said annunciator;
• and,
• c) attaching said alert apparatus to said container such that said alert apparatus physically conforms to a surface of said container.

A method of alerting a person at medicine dosing times comprising the steps of:

• a) dispensing medicine into a container;
• b) attaching an alert apparatus to said container such that said alert apparatus physically conforms to a surface of said container;
• wherein said alert apparatus comprises:
• i) an electronic timing mechanism executing a dosing schedule and producing one or more annunciator signals, said electronic timing mechanism comprising:
• a processor operatively coupled to a memory and executing a control program, said control program stored in computer-readable form in said memory, said control program executing said dosing schedule, a clock source for executing said control program in said processor at a uniform rate, said control program maintaining a first timing channel for measuring elapsed time;
• said dosing schedule being stored in computer-readable form in said memory, said dosing schedule comprising information representing times associated with at least one dosing interval, wherein the dosing interval is the time between doses;
• said dosing interval comprising information corresponding to a finite time interval, and wherein the dosing schedule pertains to one medicine;
• said first timing channel measuring elapsed time corresponding to said dosing interval;
• said electronic timing mechanism producing at least one said annunciator signal at the end of at least one said dosing interval;
• ii) one or more annunciators operatively and flexibly coupled to said electronic timing mechanism such that said one or more annunciator signals causes activation of said one or more annunciators for alerting a person;
• iii) one or more switch means operatively and flexibly coupled to said electronic timing mechanism interacting with said electronic timing mechanism;
• wherein one said switch means is responsive to user input and configured to deactivate a previously activated annunciator, and,
• iv) a flexible substrate on which are directly attached and configured to operate while said flexible substrate is flexed said electronic timing mechanism, said one or more annunciators, and said one or more switch means, wherein a portion of said flexible substrate is configured to provide a flexible operative coupling between at least one switch means and said electronic timing mechanism, and, wherein a portion of said flexible substrate is configured to provide a flexible operative coupling between at least one said electronic timing mechanism and at least one said annunciator;
• and,
• c) programming said alert apparatus with a dosing schedule appropriate for said dispensed medicine, wherein said dosing schedule comprises at least one dosing interval, wherein each dosing interval corresponds to an amount of time, wherein said alert apparatus activates at least one human perceivable annunciator at the end of at least one dosing interval.

A system for alerting a person at medicine dosing times comprising:

• a) a flexible alert apparatus for producing a first alert for at least one medicine dosing time, said alert apparatus comprising:
• i) an electronic timing mechanism for executing a dosing schedule and producing one or more annunciator signals;
• A) said electronic timing mechanism comprising:
• a processor operatively coupled to a memory for executing a control program, said control program stored in computer-readable form in said memory, said control program executing said dosing schedule, a clock source for executing said control program in said processor at a uniform rate, said control program maintaining a first timing channel for measuring elapsed time;
• B) said dosing schedule being stored in computer-readable form in said memory, said dosing schedule comprising information representing times associated with at least one dosing interval, wherein the dosing schedule pertains to one medicine;
• C) said dosing interval comprising information corresponding to a finite time interval;
• wherein the dosing interval is the time between doses;
• D) said first timing channel measuring elapsed time corresponding to said dosing interval;
• E) said electronic timing mechanism producing at least one said annunciator signal at the end of at least one said dosing interval;
• ii) one or more annunciators operatively and flexibly coupled to said one or more electronic timing mechanism such that said one or more annunciator signals causes activation of said one or more annunciators for alerting a person;
• iii) one or more switch means operatively and flexibly coupled to said electronic timing mechanism for interaction with said electronic timing mechanism;
• wherein one said switch means is responsive to user input and configured to deactivate a previously activated annunciator and,
• iv) a flexible substrate on which are directly attached and configured to operate while said flexible substrate is flexed said electronic timing mechanism, said one or more annunciators, and said one or more switch means, wherein a portion of said flexible substrate is configured to provide a flexible operative coupling between at least one switch means and said electronic timing mechanism, and, wherein a portion of said flexible substrate is configured to provide a flexible operative coupling between at least one said electronic timing mechanism and at least one said annunciator;
• b) an amplification apparatus external to said alert apparatus and powered separately from said alert apparatus wherein the amplification apparatus is configured for detecting said first alert emitted by said alert apparatus and wherein said amplifier apparatus is configured for producing a second alert.