Connected packaging

• US 10,322,064 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantaed, Llc
• Original Assignee: Quantaed, Llc
• Inventors: Mehregany, Mehran
• Primary Examiner(s): Koval, Melissa J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Monsur, Nasima
• Application Number:
  US15/170,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20160274048A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/00 Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes capsules or the like for oral use A61J3/07; specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments A61B50/30; containers for radioactive substances G21F5/00
• 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 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2211/00 Anti-theft means
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 55/02 Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure B65D41/32 takes precedence; protective covers for bottles B65D23/08; protective cap-like outer covers for bottle or jar closures B65D41/62; pressure-applying means B65D45/00; closures with means for discouraging unauthorised opening or removal of closures B65D50/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for monitoring the content of a medicine bottle via electrical capacitive tomography (ECT) are presented in which the three-dimensional volume of the medicine bottle, and its content, are imaged by developing a map of its permittivity. The permittivity map is developed by applying a stimulus between two of a plurality of electrodes that are arranged about a chamber of the medicine bottle in which the content is contained, and measuring an electrical response at each of the remaining electrodes of the plurality. By repeating this process for every pair of electrodes within the plurality, a complete permittivity map of the three-dimensional volume is developed. Once the permittivity map is established, the number and type of tablets (or liquid) within the volume is determined.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring a content of a chamber of a medicine bottle, the apparatus comprising:

a liner that comprises a first plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the first plurality thereof being independently addressable, and the liner being dimensioned and arranged to locate the first plurality of electrodes such that they are arranged around at least a portion of the chamber and electrically coupled with the content of the chamber; and

electronic circuitry that is operative for (1) providing a stimulus signal between a first electrode and a second electrode of the first plurality thereof and (2) measuring a plurality of response signals at a second plurality of electrodes, each response signal of the plurality thereof being based on the stimulus signal, wherein the first plurality of electrodes includes the first electrode, the second electrode, and the second plurality of electrodes, and wherein the second plurality of electrodes excludes the first electrode and the second electrode;

wherein the liner is dimensioned and arranged to fit within the medicine bottle such that the first plurality of electrodes are located within the chamber; and

wherein the liner includes a pedestal and a base, the pedestal projecting from the base, and the pedestal including at least one electrode of the first plurality thereof.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a processor operative for developing an image of the content of the medicine bottle based on the plurality of response signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stimulus signal is an electric current, and wherein each of the plurality of response signals is a voltage.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stimulus signal is a voltage, and wherein each of the plurality of response signals is an electric current.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the stimulus signal is a first acoustic signal, and wherein each of the plurality of response signals is a second acoustic signal that is based on the first acoustic signal and the content.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the electronic circuitry includes at least one of a wireless transmitter, a wireless receiver, and a wireless transceiver.

7. An apparatus for monitoring a content of a chamber of a medicine bottle, the apparatus comprising:

a liner that comprises a first plurality of electrodes, each electrode of the first plurality thereof being independently addressable, and the liner being dimensioned and arranged to locate the first plurality of electrodes such that they are arranged around at least a portion of the chamber and electrically coupled with the content of the chamber, wherein the liner includes a reservoir that is operative for locating the medicine bottle such that the first plurality of electrodes are located outside the chamber; and

electronic circuitry that is operative for (1) providing a stimulus signal between a first electrode and a second electrode of the first plurality thereof and (2) measuring a plurality of response signals at a second plurality of electrodes, each response signal of the plurality thereof being based on the stimulus signal, wherein the first plurality of electrodes includes the first electrode, the second electrode, and the second plurality of electrodes, and wherein the second plurality of electrodes excludes the first electrode and the second electrode.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the liner is dimensioned and arranged to expose at least a portion of an exterior surface of the medicine bottle.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the liner comprises a first surface that is operative for conforming to the medicine bottle when the medicine bottle is located in the reservoir.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the stimulus signal is an electric current, and wherein each of the plurality of response signals is a voltage.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the stimulus signal is a voltage, and wherein each of the plurality of response signals is an electric current.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the stimulus signal is a first acoustic signal, and wherein each of the plurality of response signals is a second acoustic signal that is based on the first acoustic signal and the content.

13. A method for monitoring a content of a chamber of a medicine bottle, the method comprising:

generating a first signal between a first electrode and a second electrode at a first time such that the first signal interacts with the content;

receiving a plurality of second signals at a first plurality of electrodes that are independently addressable and arranged around at least a portion of the chamber, wherein each of the plurality of second signals is based on the first signal, the content of the chamber at the first time and the location of the electrode of the first plurality thereof at which it is received, and wherein the first plurality of electrodes excludes the first and second electrodes;

generating a first map of a first characteristic of the content based on the plurality of second signals;

determining a first quantity of the content within the chamber at the first time based on the first map;

generating a third signal between a third electrode and a fourth electrode at a second time such that the third signal interacts with the content;

receiving a plurality of fourth signals at a second plurality of electrodes that are arranged around the at least a portion of the chamber, wherein each of the plurality of fourth signals is based on the third signal, the content of the chamber at the second time and the location of the electrode of the second plurality thereof at which it is received;

generating a second map of the first characteristic based on the plurality of fourth signals; and

determining a second quantity of the content within the chamber at the second time based on the second map.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing an output signal that indicates the difference between the first quantity and the second quantity.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first characteristic is permittivity.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the first characteristic is acoustic impedance.

17. The method claim 13 wherein the first signal is an electric current and each of the plurality of second signals is a voltage.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing a liner that comprises a second plurality of electrodes, wherein the second plurality of electrodes includes the first and second electrodes and the first plurality of electrodes.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the liner is provided such that it is located within the chamber.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the liner is provided such that it includes a pedestal, the pedestal including at least one of the second plurality of electrodes.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the liner is provided such that it includes a reservoir that is operative for locating the medicine bottle.