Monitoring adherence to a medication regimen using a sensor

• US 10,366,207 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2015
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kali Care, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kali Care, Inc.
• Inventors: Fateh, Sina
• Primary Examiner(s): Reyes, Reginald R
• Application Number:
  US14/621,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20160239635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,629 Days
• Field of Search: 604290
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/13 with means for the detection of operative contact with patient, e.g. lip sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3317 Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3375 Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3393 by weighing the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 : Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 : with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 : with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/06 : Heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 : delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring and/or managing adherence to a medication regimen that involves use of a sensor. Dispensing medicine from a container commonly involves motion of the container, which can be a distinctive motion. In some embodiments, a processor monitors motion sensor data from a motion sensor that is physically coupled to the container, such that the motion sensor and the container move in unison. A processor analyzes the sensor data to determine physical movement of the container. When the determined movement matches the distinctive motion of medicine being dispensed, the processor can determine that medicine has been dispensed. A computer system can compare the dispensed medication to a planned medication regimen to determine a state of compliance to the medication regimen. The computer system can take an action based on the compliance state, such as sending a message indicating the compliance state to a medical professional.

Claims

1. A medication device comprising:

a jacket configured to hold a container of medicine; and

an attachment component configured to enable the medication device to be physically connected to a mobile device,

wherein, when the container is being held by the jacket and the medication device is physically connected to the mobile device, the medicine container, the medication device, and the mobile device move substantially in unison, and

wherein, when moved in said unison, the medication device causes a computer system to analyze sensor data obtained by the mobile device to determine that medication was dispensed from the container, the sensor data being data from a sensor.

2. The medication device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a motion sensor of the mobile device, and the sensor data is indicative of motion of the medication device when moved in said unison.

3. The medication device of claim 1, further comprising:

a medication detection sensor,

wherein the sensor and the medication detection sensor are a same sensor, and the sensor data indicates that the medication was dispensed from the container.

4. The medication device of claim 3, wherein the medication detection sensor is configured to be activated by the mobile device based on motion sensor data that is indicative of motion of the medication device when moved in said unison, the motion sensor data being data from a motion sensor of the mobile device.

5. The medication device of claim 3, wherein the medication detection sensor is any of a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a sound sensor, an electrical current sensor, a fluid sensor, a fluid velocity sensor, a force sensor, a chemical sensor, a magnetic field sensor, an electrical field sensor, a drop sensor, a heat sensor, or a tactile sensor.

6. The medication device of claim 1, wherein, when moved in said unison, the medication device causes the mobile device to take a photo.

7. The medication device of claim 6, wherein the determination that the medication was dispensed from the container is based on the photo.

8. The medication device of claim 1, wherein the container is a pill bottle and the medication is a pill, or the container is an eye drop bottle and the medication is an eye drop, or the container is an ointment tube and the medication is an ointment, or the container is a bottle and the medication is a liquid, or the container is a pressurized container and the medication is a gas, liquid, or powder expelled from the container by pressurized gas.

9. The medication device of claim 1, wherein the medication device causes the computer system to determine a state of compliance to a medication regimen based on the determination that the medication was dispensed from the container.

10. The medication device of claim 9, wherein the medication device causes the computer system to determine the state of compliance based on medication regimen data that is accessed from a storage device and that includes any of time information indicative of a planned time to dispense the medication, or dose information that indicates a quantity of the medication that is associated with a planned dose of the medication.

11. The medication device of claim 1, wherein the sensor indicates a quantity of the medication that was dispensed from the container.

12. The medication device of claim 11, wherein the sensor is a motion sensor of the mobile device.

13. The medication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device and the computer system are a same device.