Medicament containers.
Prior art devices and methods have been developed which inform patients that it is time to take a medicament. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,507,275 recites a pill dispensing case including a reminder for assisting a patient to remember to take one or more pills at a preferred time.
An embodiment includes a microprocessor held in a case. The microprocessor includes a 24 hour clock and outputs information to both a warning indicator and a data display window at programmed times. The microprocessor is connected to a data link interface which is capable of receiving programming information. The case may include one or more pill compartments depending on whether there is more than one type of medicament. A warning signal transmission unit may also be provided separately from the case and may transmit a warning signal generated from the case to a mobile or stationary receiver via wireless or wired output.
Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”
It is common for patients to take multiple medicaments for multiple ailments during the same period of time. Also, it is common for patients to forget to take a medicament at times instructed by a healthcare professional. In situations involving different medicaments, when patients do remember, patients often forget how each medicament looks individually. This is particularly true with prescription medicaments since most prescription medicaments rely on the package label to identify the medicament.
These problems are amplified when a patient is scheduled to take a medicament at a time when the patient is away from home and the patient's attention is directed toward something other than taking a medicament. Patients typically do not take an entire package (e.g., a pill bottle), which identifies the medicament, with them when going somewhere. Rather, patients tend to just carry (e.g., in a container) the minimum amount of medicament(s) necessary to be taken during their absence from home. Additionally, while away from home many patients become distracted and forget to take their medicament(s) at the scheduled time.
By “therapeutic compound” it is meant any substance used to treat (including prevent, diagnose, alleviate, or cure) a malady, affliction, nutritional deficiency, disease or injury in a patient. The term “therapeutic compound” is also meant to include substances that are a supplement for improving the nutritional, physical, or emotional well-being of a patient such as vitamins, minerals, or herbal based supplements. By “patient” it is meant a human and/or animal such as a mammal or reptile under the care of an administrator such as a physician or veterinarian.
Case 105 can be made of plastic, metal or any other durable, light-weight material suitable for use in holding medicaments and transportable by a patient. In one embodiment, case 105 is in the shape of a rectangular (including a square) box. In terms of plastic material, case 105 may be formed through molding techniques. Although shown as a rectangular box, it is contemplated that case 105 may have any shape suitable for use in holding medicaments and equipment suitable for alerting a patient it is time to take a medicament. For example, in another embodiment, case 105 may include a nylon or cloth body defining compartment 110 (e.g., of a size similar to a purse or “fanny pack” on a belt or to be worn around a patient's waist).
As shown in
Case 105 includes, in this embodiment, compartment 110 accessible through partially or completely detachable door 112 on the front portion of case 105 (e.g., a partially detachable door may have one or more hinges that are connected to each of door 112 and case 105).
In the embodiment shown in
Referring again to
Processor 125 in the embodiment shown in
Referring to
Power source 145 is connected to and drives processor 125. Power source 145, in one embodiment, is a high energy density cell or plurality of cells. For example, power source 145 may be a battery (e.g. AA or AAA battery), a button cell battery, a coin cell battery, a rechargeable battery or any other power source suitable for use in a portable computing device.
As noted above, in the embodiment described with reference to
Referring to the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Referring to the embodiment illustrated in
In the embodiment illustrated in
Computing device 200 may receive, store and transfer medicament schedule and description data. With regard to description data, medicaments are not generally manufactured with the name of the medicament printed on it. Instead, this information is typically printed on the label of the packaging (e.g. pill bottle) with which the medicament is distributed to a user (e.g., a patient or a patient's caregiver). Therefore, it is difficult to know exactly what a particular medicament is by inspection of the medicament itself. However, medicaments include a variety of characteristics that make them readily identifiable provided a user has the knowledge to distinguish particular medicaments based on these characteristics.
Medicament characteristics include, but are not limited to, size; shape; color; colors; flavor; scent; texture; visual marks, for example, letters, numbers, cross-top, lines, indentations, palpable marks, corrugations, etc.; type of medicament, for example, a description whether the medicament is a tablet, capsule, gel capsule, pill, liquid, powder, spray, lotion, cream, ointment, etc; or other description capable of being detected by at least one of the five senses. Knowing one or more of these characteristics allows a patient to distinguish medicaments from one another.
Referring to
In one embodiment, after the medicament and schedule data is input into computing device 200, the health care professional transfers the data to memory 130 of medicament container 100 via interface 135. Interface 135 includes an external receiving end sufficient to receive data from magnetic or optical disks, cards, wires, wireless signals, etc. external to case 105. This information may also be saved on a hard drive of computing device 200 or to an external storage device, such as a floppy disk or compact disc that may be placed into a patient's file and/or given to a person responsible for medicament container 100 for their records or reference.
Referring to the embodiment of medicament container 100 illustrated in
The machine-readable instructions in processor 125 include instructions to convey schedule data and medicament description data (e.g., dose and description of one or more characteristics of the medicament(s) a person is scheduled to take or administer at a particular time). An internal clock, in one embodiment, is included as part of processor 125 to be checked against to indicate, for example, when a medicament is scheduled to be taken. In one embodiment, processor 125 executes the instructions conveying the name, dose, and description of one or more characteristics of the medicament(s) against the clock and the executed results are shown on display 150. Processor 125 may also signal audible output device 160 to sound an audible alert and/or generate verbal instructions.
The following paragraphs describe methods of using medicament container 100. It is appreciated that the methods are presented as examples of such use rather than limits on the possible uses of medicament container 100.
In one embodiment, medicament information is transmitted from computing device 200 to medicament container 100 via interface 135 and is stored in memory 130. A person (e.g., a patient) or healthcare professional loads (stores) one or more medicaments in compartment 110. Utilizing an internal clock, at an appropriate time to take or administer a medicament (administration alert time), processor 125 triggers indicator 140 to alert the person having control of medicament container 100. Processor 125 may alternatively or additionally signal speaker 160 to audibly alert the person.
At this administration alert time, processor 125 also executes instructions from memory 130 regarding a particular medicament stored in compartment 110. Such instructions are displayed on display 150 and include, for example, the time a medicament is to be taken, the medicament name, dosage, one or more particular characteristics about the medicament, and any cautionary or other information regarding the medicament. In another embodiment, processor 125 may alternatively or additionally signal speaker 160 to audibly instruct the person as to some or all of the above information.
In one embodiment, at the administration alert time, the above information is automatically shown on display 150 or communicated through audible output device 160 without a prompt from the person using medicament container 100. In another embodiment, after an alert by indicator 140 and/or audible output device 160, moving or actuating switch 155 is necessary to access the above instructions from display 150 and/or audible output device 160. Additional moving or actuation of switch 155 may be necessary to obtain additional medicament information, such as “take pill with two glasses of water” or “pill may cause drowsiness, do not drive.”
Following the administration alert, a user (e.g., a patient or a patient's caregiver) opens door 112 of case 105 and accesses one or more medicaments within compartment 110 based on the information shown on display 150 or communicated through audible output device 160. In the embodiment where compartment 110 is one undivided or indivisible compartment, the information (e.g., one or more medicament characteristics) allows a user to differentiate between different types of medicaments that may be in compartment 110.
In between administration alert times, a user may be able to access the next or previously taken medicament information by, for example, moving or actuating switch 155. In another embodiment, a plurality of switches 155 may be utilized to access medicament and/or schedule information.
In another embodiment, processor 125 may be accessed by voice commands through audio receiver 165 to perform all functions previously described for switch 155. Audio receiver 165 may be used additionally or alternatively to switch 155.
In one embodiment, the times, medicament names, doses, characteristics and other information are programmed or downloaded from the independent computing device via a cable link or wireless link into a memory executable by a processor contained within the medicament container (block 630).
When a user is scheduled to take or administer a medicament, the user is alerted (block 640). In one embodiment, when the alert is given, the time, medicament name, dose, at least one characteristic of the scheduled medicament and other information is described to the patient (block 650). The user is subsequently alerted, in one embodiment, of additional medicaments to take or administer at the same time, if any, or future scheduled times to take or administer the medicament, and the appropriate descriptions of the medicament (660).
The above method may continue for some time such as for a length of a prescription period of one or more medicaments. After such time, a health care professional may evaluate, for example, a particular treatment regimen and update the regimen. For example, a health care professional may prescribe a new medicament, a new medicament dosage, and/or a new schedule (block 670). At that point, the health care professional would input the new information into an independent computing device and ultimately to the medicament container (680).
External features of this embodiment of mobile communication and computation apparatus 700 that are visible in
Communication and computation apparatus 700 shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Automated notifications of medicament usage schedules can be implemented according to the method outlined by the flow chart in
Before, during or after the time the prescribed medicaments are dispensed, a dosage schedule is prepared and stored (block 940). The schedule may be prepared based on information about the medicament stored in the pharmacist's computer, special instructions from the physician communicated with the prescription, and other information provided by the patient. The schedule may be transmitted along with other information (e.g., medicament characteristic(s), warnings, etc.) (downloaded) to a mobile communication and computation apparatus, stored in a database at the pharmacy, the physician's office or hospital, or another accessible location.
Subsequently, throughout the course of the patient's treatment with the medicament, an automatic timekeeping process tracks the time of the next scheduled medicament use (block 950). Timekeeping may refer to an absolute (wall clock) time, or may track an elapsed time so that a scheduled dose occurs at a predetermined time after a previous scheduled dose. The automatic timekeeping process may be performed by computation logic within the mobile communication and computation apparatus, or by a computer system located remotely from the mobile communication and computation apparatus (for example, a computer at the pharmacy or healthcare provider). When the scheduled medicament usage time arrives, a user of a mobile communication and computation apparatus (e.g., a patient, or a patient's caregiver) is alerted (block 960) via a light, sound, vibration or other signal to the mobile communication and computation apparatus. Where the mobile communication and computation apparatus contains a drawer or container holding a medicament, the drawer or container holding the medicament scheduled to be used can be opened, or where multiple different medicaments may be in the drawer or container (possibly commingled) or no drawer or container is associated with mobile communication and computation apparatus, an image or description of the correct medicament can be presented to the user via the mobile communication and computation apparatus. For example, a message alert may appear on a liquid crystal display (LCD) associated with the mobile communication and computation apparatus that describes in text or image form medicament characteristic(s), as well as any warnings or other alerts (e.g., “don't drive,” “take with a meal,” etc.). If the automatic timekeeping process is performed by a remote system, the alert can be transmitted to the medicament container via a cellular telephone or other wireless data network as a voice message or text message.
In one embodiment, the user uses or applies the medicament (block 970) and interacts with the mobile communication and computation apparatus to confirm that the scheduled usage has occurred (block 980) by, for example, calling or text messaging a pharmacy or healthcare provider. Alternatively, confirmation can be sent automatically. The mobile communication and computation apparatus may use its communication facilities to contact and report to the healthcare provider or pharmacist at this time (block 990). In an embodiment where a scheduled dose occurs at a predetermined time after a previously scheduled dose, the report to the healthcare provider or pharmacist that a scheduled dosage (usage) has occurred may trigger the timekeeping process. Alternatively, the report to the healthcare provider or pharmacist may be stored as historical information about a patient and a particular medicament in connection with a treatment plan. Alternatively, information may be stored for later manual retrieval.
In addition to allowing reporting of a scheduled dosage, some embodiments of a mobile communication and computation apparatus can collect general patient health information such as one or more of blood pressure, pulse, glucose levels, or the like. This information can be reported to the healthcare provider so that the progress of the patient's treatment plan can be evaluated or be retrieved in case of an emergency. For example, a mobile communication and computation apparatus may be equipped with sensors such as a thermometer, blood pressure or glucose level meter, pulse, heart auscultation device, or respiration sensor.
In addition to notifying a user (e.g., a patient or a patient's caregiver) of a schedule to take or apply a particular medicament, medicament characteristic(s) and any warnings associated with a medicament or a treatment regimen, the user may also be notified of other medical or health information. Such other information includes, but is not limited to, doctor's appointment reminders, ancillary medical reminders (e.g., reminders to attend physical therapy), and other medical or health related reminders, such as a presurgical reminder not to consume food.
The operations described in the method with reference to
Returning to
In some systems, health information provider 810 can use the data communication capabilities of mobile communication and computation apparatus 700 to download commands and information to the mobile communication and computation apparatus at a first time, for later presentation or execution by the apparatus. Thus, the system can arrange for scheduled reminders to a user (e.g., a patient or a patient's caregiver) even when the mobile communication and computation apparatus cannot be reached (e.g., its communication functions are turned off or it is out of range). In such an embodiment, mobile communication and computation apparatus 700 may include a timekeeping subsystem such as a clock, or may obtain the current time from an external source such as a radio broadcast.
In one embodiment, a user such as patient 800 in
In other embodiments, a mobile communication and computation apparatus may be equipped with sensors such as a thermometer, blood pressure or glucose level meter, pulse, heart auscultation device, or respiration sensor. These sensors may collect information about the patient's health to be relayed back to health information provider 810, as shown by arrow 840. Health information provider 810 can use this information to adjust a medicament dosage schedule or to call for emergency medical assistance for patient 800.
Some embodiments can be performed by software executing on a general- or special-purpose processor. Thus, an embodiment can be executable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium, the instructions to cause a programmable processor to perform operations as described above. A computer-readable medium may be a read-only memory (“ROM”) cartridge, a Flash memory cartridge, a compact disk read-only memory (“CD-ROM”), a magnetic medium such as a floppy disk, or a transmission of instructions across a data communication network such as the Internet. Executable instructions may be stored as binary data that are directly executable by a processor, or as human-readable “source code” that can be processed by automatic tools such as compilers and linkers to prepare instructions suitable for machine execution.
In the above embodiments, a user (e.g., a patient or patient's caregiver) interacts with the patient's physician, the physician's office, pharmacist or other medical professional to coordinate, among other things, a schedule for using or applying a medicament; a reminder system for notifying the user to use or apply a particular medicament or medicaments; and an identification of a medicament or medicaments (medicament characteristic(s)) to be taken; doctor's appointment reminders; other ancillary medical reminders (e.g., physical therapy); medical test appointment reminders; and other medical or health related reminders, such as “don't eat 8 hours before surgery”. In another embodiment, a user may establish one or more of these features independently, without the assistance of a medical professional. One situation where independent establishment of medicament information including, but not limited to, dosage and medicament characteristic(s) may be utilized is where long term or chronic administration of a medicament is necessary and a medical professional's continuous reminding or monitoring may be unnecessary.
In another embodiment, the communication facility may query the user about one or more medicaments that the user may be administering. Such query may be, for example, the type of medicament relative to treatment (e.g., heart medicine) or brand name. In response to an answer or answers transmitted by the user, the communication facility may present (through the user's browser) one or more possible medicaments and queries the user a second time to select a prescribed medicament. The user then selects the medicament from the one or more possible medicaments and the selection is provided to the communication facility. The communication facility may then seek out, either from its library or from the medicament manufacturer or other source, medicament characteristic(s) of the medicament and/or any other information without requiring this information from the user.
The information provided by a user and sent to the communication facility's web server is stored (block 1150). The communication facility then notifies the user by the user's preferred reminder system at time intervals consistent with the dosage schedule (block 1160). For example, the communication facility may notify a user through the user's home telephone, email, cell phone, mobile communication and computation apparatus (e.g., communication and computation apparatus 700, see
In another embodiment, a communication facility may provide, possibly for a fee, notification software that may be downloaded onto a user's personal computer or any communication and computation apparatus such as, but not limited to a cell phone or mobile communication and computation apparatus 700. The downloaded software may convert a cell phone into an apparatus that performs one, multiple or all the functions described heretofore such as, but not limited to, allowing the user to establish a schedule for using or applying a medicament or medicaments; a reminder system for notifying the user to use or apply the medicament(s); an identification of the medicament(s) (e.g., medicament characteristic(s)); and/or other medical or health information including but not limited to other reminders. The downloaded software may also configure a cell phone or communication and computation apparatus to measure and/or gather patient health information such as blood pressure, pulse, and glucose level (in one embodiment, in connection with one or more peripheral devices). The software once downloaded on a user's personal computer, cell phone or communication and computation apparatus may gather the above-referenced information in a manner similar to the manner a server maintained by a communication facility would gather the information, by requesting the user to complete a form. In this manner, a memory and a processor may be responsible for the functions described. This may be a memory and a processor associated with a user's cell phone or mobile communication and computation apparatus or a user's personal computer (e.g., home computer) programmed through the notification software to notify the user's home telephone, email, cell phone, mobile communication and computation apparatus or other communication device.
In the preceding paragraphs, specific embodiments are described. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/910,129, filed Aug. 2, 2004.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10910129 | Aug 2004 | US |
Child | 11679322 | Feb 2007 | US |