Method, system and apparatus for guiding and tracking medication usage

• US 10,073,955 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2015
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MedicaSafe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MedicaSafe, Inc.
• Inventors: Ervin, Matthew James
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akridge, Stephen L
• Application Number:
  US14/673,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20150278479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,261 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1437 Locking means requiring key or combination to open the container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/00 General identification or selection means
• 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: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/00 Accessories for container closures not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0409 the dispensing means being adapted for delivering one article, or a single dose, upon each actuation B65D83/0445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for tracking and guiding a patient'"'"'s clinically directed medication usage. Medicaments are placed in secure passive packaging that must be unlocked to enable dispensing of a dose or a set of doses. This packaging is designed to be difficult to open manually, and instead is designed to dispense only when used in combination with a smart key. The smart key is a separate device containing electronics, mechatronics or both, to unlock and dispense from the packaging and to track and guide usage. Together, the secure container and the smart key track medication usage, trigger reminders in accordance with actual patient data, deter an excessive rate of patient usage, and deter unauthorized access to medication.

Claims

1. A system for controlling access to a medication, the system comprising a container for the medication, the container comprising:

a casing comprising a top cover having at least one window, the casing further comprising a dispensing opening;

a rotating lock mechanism comprising at least a top rotor disposed at least partially under the top cover, the top rotor comprising machine-readable indicia used to unlock the rotating lock mechanism and selectively accessible through the window when the top rotor is rotated; and

a dispensing device actuated by the top rotor when the rotating lock mechanism is in an unlocked state, the dispensing device coupled to the dispensing opening, the dispensing device comprising a first carousel, the first carousel comprising a plurality of wells, each well configured to retain a respective amount of the medication, actuation of the dispensing device causing the first carousel to advance a first predetermined amount to cause medication stored in at least one of the wells to be obtainable from a dispensing exit,

the system further comprising an electronic key engagable with the top rotor, the electronic key comprising;

a computing system;

a reader in communication with the computing system to provide to the computing system data based on the machine-readable indicia; and

a motor controllable by the computing system, the motor comprising a shaft configured to mechanically engage with the top rotor to rotate the top rotor;

wherein the reader is positioned with respect to the shaft of the motor so that when the shaft of the motor is engaged with the top rotor, the reader reads the machine-readable indicia on the top rotor through the window in the top cover to provide data to the computing system; and

wherein the computing system comprises a processor and memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising dispensing data and program code, the program code executable by the processor to cause the processor to;

determine if the medication is to be dispensed to a patient according to the dispensing data;

control the motor to unlock the rotating lock mechanism according to the machine-readable indicia and to actuate the dispensing device; and

update the dispensing data.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second carousel disposed under the first carousel, the first carousel comprising a first surface to engage with a second surface on the second carousel to cause the second carousel to advance by the first predetermined amount after the first carousel has advanced by a second predetermined amount.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second predetermined amount is a full rotation of the first carousel within the casing.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the rotating lock is a combination lock comprising a bottom rotor and at least one intermediate rotor between the top rotor and the bottom rotor, each of the top rotor, bottom rotor and intermediate rotor comprising a slot configured to engage with a connecting arm when in the unlocked state, the connecting arm being driven by the top rotor to correspondingly drive the bottom rotor, and the dispensing device being actuated by the top rotor via the bottom rotor.