Methods and systems to secure control and enhance medication adherence

• US 10,032,005 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gen9, Inc. (Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gen9, Inc. (Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fauci, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gokhale, Prasad V
• Application Number:
  US15/151,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20160253479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to provide safe, secure and accurate point-to-point delivery of prescription and non-prescription drugs in the long-term home care or ambulatory care environment. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide for a low-cost, easy-to-use system comprised of a secure drug dispensing unit and medication enclosure combined with wireless connectivity and software based on smart mobile phone technology. Such systems and methods, referred to herein as a Secure, Control, and Enhance Medication Adherence (SCEMA) system, can mitigate the aforementioned risks associated with the use of prescription and non-prescription drugs. These risks can be significantly reduced for the elderly in the homecare environment, as well as the general public, without disrupting, or a significantly increasing the cost, to the existing prescription and non-prescription drug distribution infrastructure. In addition, the SCEMA system can provide a powerful platform for drug research.

Claims

1. A medication dispensing unit, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit;

one or more wireless transceivers coupled with the processor,

wherein the medication dispensing unit is adapted to;

receive a plurality of removable, secure medication cartridges, the plurality of medication cartridges each comprising a medication cartridge memory storing information related to medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and an intended user of the medication;

accept the plurality of removable, secure medication cartridges preloaded with the medication packets; and

dispense the medication packets from the plurality of medication cartridges under control of the plurality of functions, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for changing prescriptions for dispensing the medication based on the different preloaded medications and instructions received by the medication dispensing unit via the one or more wireless transceivers.

2. A medication dispensing unit, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit;

one or more wireless transceivers coupled with the processor,

wherein the medication dispensing unit is adapted to;

receive a plurality of removable, secure medication cartridges, the plurality of medication cartridges each comprising a memory storing information related to medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and an intended user of the medication;

accept the plurality of removable, secure medication cartridges preloaded with the medication packets, wherein the medications preloaded in each of the plurality of medication cartridges are the same; and

dispense the medication packets from the plurality of medication cartridges under control of the plurality of functions, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for affecting a refill by switching from a primary cartridge for dispensing medication to a secondary cartridge for dispensing medication when the primary cartridge becomes empty.

3. A medication dispensing unit, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit;

one or more wireless transceivers coupled with the processor,

wherein the medication dispensing unit is adapted to;

receive a plurality of removable, secure medication cartridges, the plurality of medication cartridges each comprising a medication cartridge memory storing information related to medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and an intended user of the medication;

accept the plurality of removable, secure medication cartridges preloaded with the medication packets, wherein the medications preloaded in each of the plurality of medication cartridges are different; and

dispense the medication packets from the plurality of medication cartridges under control of the plurality of functions, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for;

identifying a compatibility or interaction problem based on data that is encoded into the memory of the plurality of removable, secure medication cartridges, and

preventing dispensing of medication in an order, schedule, or combination that creates the compatibility or interaction problem based on data that is encoded into the memory of the plurality of removable, secure medication cartridges.

4. The medication dispensing unit of claim 3, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for providing a reminder to a user of a schedule for taking the medication based on the information stored in a memory of a medication cartridge of the plurality of medication cartridges related to the medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge.

5. The medication dispensing unit of claim 4, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for updating the schedule based on instructions received by the medication dispensing unit via the one or more wireless transceivers.

6. The medication dispensing unit of claim 4, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for providing a notification via the one or more wireless transceivers when the medication dispensing unit detects the medication has not been taken as scheduled.

7. The medication dispensing unit of claim 4, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for providing a refill request via the one or more wireless transceivers when the medication dispensing unit detects the medication preloaded in the medication cartridge is low.

8. The medication dispensing unit of claim 3, further comprising a barcode reader, wherein the barcode reader reads a barcode from the medication packets and the plurality of functions includes functions for matching the authenticated user to the medication packets based on the barcode.

9. A secure medication cartridge comprising:

a container preloaded with medication packets and fluid; and

a feeder mechanism within the container adapted to feed the preloaded medication packets from the container;

wherein the medication packets are constructed of plastic.

10. The secure medication cartridge of claim 9, further comprising a reader device adapted to read information encoded on the medication packets, the information related to and identifying medication stored in the medication packets.

11. The secure medication cartridge of claim 9, further comprising a memory storing information related to the medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and an intended user of the medication.