Wireless tag apparatus and related medication compliance monitoring techniques

• US 10,108,892 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Promed Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Vypin LLC
• Inventors: Sengstaken, Jr., Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Aziz, Adnan
• Application Number:
  US15/813,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20180075330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/049 automatically changing in response to a schedule deviation by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0702 the arrangement including a battery
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves

Abstract

A wireless tag apparatus and related medication compliance monitoring techniques are disclosed. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a motion detector configured to detect at least one of a movement of and an impact to the apparatus. The apparatus also may include a sensing circuit configured to scan, in response to the detection by the motion detector, a sensor array associated with a medication dispenser external to the apparatus to determine whether contents of at least one medication compartment of the medication dispenser have been expelled. The apparatus further may include a transmitter configured to transmit, in response to the detection by the motion detector, a signal including data pertaining to whether the contents of the at least one medication compartment have been expelled, wherein the signal is a radio frequency signal. In some embodiments, the apparatus may be configured for use, for example, in monitoring medication compliance.

Claims

1. A wireless tag apparatus comprising:

a motion detector configured to detect at least one of a movement of the wireless tag apparatus and an impact to the wireless tag apparatus;

a sensing circuit configured to scan, in response to the detection by the motion detector of the at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus, a sensor array associated with a medication dispenser external to the wireless tag apparatus to determine whether contents of at least one medication compartment of the medication dispenser have been expelled, wherein the sensing circuit is configured to scan the sensor array;

at a first scan rate when the motion detector has detected the at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus; and

at a second scan rate that is lower than the first scan rate when the motion detector has not detected at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus; and

a transmitter configured to transmit, in response to the detection by the motion detector of the at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus, a first signal including data pertaining to whether the contents of the at least one medication compartment have been expelled, wherein the first signal is a radio frequency signal.

2. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

to determine whether the contents of the at least one medication compartment have been expelled, the sensing circuit is configured to detect whether a resistor of the sensor array has been broken, the resistor being disposed over an opening associated with the at least one medication compartment; and

the data pertaining to whether the contents of the at least one medication compartment have been expelled includes data pertaining to whether the resistor has been broken.

3. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the sensing circuit is further configured to scan the sensor array to determine whether each individual resistor of a plurality of resistors of the sensor array is operational; and

the first signal further includes data pertaining to whether each individual resistor of the plurality of resistors is operational.

4. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal further includes data pertaining to at least one of:

an identification of the wireless tag apparatus;

whether the wireless tag apparatus is operational;

whether the sensor array is operational;

whether the wireless tag apparatus and the sensor array are operatively coupled with one another;

a size of the sensor array;

a power level of a battery hosted by the wireless tag apparatus; and

a signal strength of the first signal.

5. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal is a Bluetooth signal in an ISM band having a frequency of between 2.4-2.485 GHz.

6. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first signal is a Wi-Fi signal in an ISM band having a frequency of between 2.4-2.485 GHz.

7. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the first signal after each scan of the sensor array by the sensing circuit.

8. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the first signal after multiple consecutive scans of the sensor array by the sensing circuit.

9. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing circuit is further configured to scan the sensor array at a fixed time interval.

10. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a processor, wherein:

the motion detector is configured to output a second signal in response to the detection of the at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus; and

the processor is configured to receive the second signal and, in response thereto;

transition out of a sleep state;

process data included in the second signal; and

instruct the sensing circuit to scan the sensor array.

11. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 10, wherein the processor comprises a microcontroller unit configured to utilize a Bluetooth Low Energy communication protocol.

12. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion detector comprises a microelectromechanical systems accelerometer configured to use 10 μ

Ah or less of electric charge provided by a battery hosted by the wireless tag apparatus.

13. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a timer configured to output a second signal periodically; and

a processor configured to receive the second signal and, in response thereto;

transition out of a sleep state; and

instruct the sensing circuit to scan the sensor array.

14. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 13, wherein the timer is native to the processor.

15. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a button feature configured to output a second signal when activated; and

a processor configured to receive the second signal and, in response thereto;

transition out of a sleep state; and

instruct the sensing circuit to scan the sensor array.

16. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor array input connection configured to be electrically coupled with the sensor array.

17. The wireless tag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the medication dispenser comprises a blister pack.

18. A method of monitoring medication compliance via a wireless tag apparatus, the method comprising:

detecting at least one of a movement of the wireless tag apparatus and an impact to the wireless tag apparatus;

scanning, in response to detecting the at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus, a sensor array associated with a medication dispenser external to the wireless tag apparatus to determine whether contents of at least one medication compartment of the medication dispenser have been expelled, wherein scanning the sensor array occurs;

at a first scan rate when the at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus has been detected; and

at a second scan rate that is lower than the first scan rate when at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus has not been detected; and

transmitting, in response to detecting the at least one of the movement of the wireless tag apparatus and the impact to the wireless tag apparatus, a first signal including data pertaining to whether the contents of the at least one medication compartment have been expelled, wherein the first signal is a radio frequency signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

to determine whether the contents of the at least one medication compartment have been expelled, the method comprises detecting whether a resistor of the sensor array has been broken, the resistor being disposed over an opening associated with the at least one medication compartment; and

the data pertaining to whether the contents of the at least one medication compartment have been expelled includes data pertaining to whether the resistor has been broken.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the method further comprises scanning the sensor array to determine whether each individual resistor of a plurality of resistors of the sensor array is operational; and

the first signal further includes data pertaining to whether each individual resistor of the plurality of resistors is operational.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the first signal further includes data pertaining to at least one of:

an identification of the wireless tag apparatus;

whether the wireless tag apparatus is operational;

whether the sensor array is operational;

whether the wireless tag apparatus and the sensor array are operatively coupled with one another;

a size of the sensor array;

a power level of a battery hosted by the wireless tag apparatus; and

a signal strength of the first signal.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the first signal is a Bluetooth signal in an ISM band having a frequency of between 2.4-2.485 GHz.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the first signal is a Wi-Fi signal in an ISM band having a frequency of between 2.4-2.485 GHz.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the first signal occurs after each scan of the sensor array by the sensing circuit.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the first signal occurs after multiple consecutive scans of the sensor array by the sensing circuit.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein scanning the sensor array occurs at a fixed time interval.