Portable management and monitoring system for eye drop medication regiment

• US 10,537,468 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2015
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kali Care, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kali Care, Inc.
• Inventors: Fateh, Sina
• Primary Examiner(s): Mensh, Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US14/639,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,783 Days
• Field of Search: 604290
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0002 for data transfer
• 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: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0026 Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

Systems and methods for medication management are provided. Some embodiments provide for a portable medication management and monitoring system for eye drop instillation in ocular chronic conditions. At least one embodiment includes a device having one or more of the following elements: (a) a jacket that goes around an eye drop bottle; (b) tactile sensors to detect the user'"'"'s fingers and generate data to activate the system; (c) motion sensors to detect the motion of the medication bottle when it is grabbed and moved by the user; (d) a wireless communication module to send and receive data to a computer and portable communication devices; and/or (e) a compartment for holding the electronic components.

Claims

1. A medication management device comprising:

a jacket configured to hold a bottle of eye drops;

means for sensing a pressure of the bottle having been inserted into the jacket;

means for sensing a drop of liquid leaving the bottle;

means for recording allocation data that indicates whether the drop of liquid has left the bottle;

means for sensing motion of the bottle;

means for sensing tactile contact and activating and deactivating the means for sensing motion of the bottle;

a processor coupled to a storage medium;

the storage medium comprising instructions for;

storing medication regimen data;

storing the allocation data; and

comparing the allocation data to the medication regimen data.

2. The medication management device of claim 1, wherein the medication regimen data comprises one or more of a time, a date, a quantity, or a type of medication a user should administer.

3. The medication management device of claim 2, further comprising:

means for generating a reminder the user should place the drop of liquid within an eye of the user.

4. The medication device of claim 3, wherein the means for generating the reminder comprises one or more light-emitting diodes that provide a visual reminder to the user.

5. The medication device of claim 3, wherein the means for generating the reminder comprises one or more speakers that provide an auditory reminder to the user.

6. The medication management device of claim 1, the storage medium further comprising instructions for:

generating an adherence report based on the comparison of the allocation data to the medication regimen data.

7. The medication management device of claim 6, further comprising:

a wireless communication module configured to transmit the medication regimen data, the allocation data, the adherence report, or any combination thereof to a communications device.

8. The medication management device of claim 7, wherein the communications device is associated with an eye care provider, a hospital, or a pharmacy.

9. The medication management device of claim 7, the storage medium further comprising instructions for:

generating a refill notification when a number of remaining doses in the bottle falls below a predetermined threshold.

10. The medication management device of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication module is further configured to transmit the refill notification to the communications device.

11. A medication adherence system comprising:

a medication management device comprising;

a jacket configured to hold a bottle of eye drops;

a pressure sensor arranged such that activation of the pressure sensor indicates the bottle has been inserted into the jacket;

a motion sensor configured to detect movement of the jacket and the bottle;

a tactile sensor configured to activate and deactivate the motion sensor;

a drop sensor configured to record allocation data regarding a drop of liquid leaving the bottle; and

a wireless communication module configured to transmit the allocation data to a communications device configured to receive the allocation data from the medication management device, display the allocation data to a user via a medication management portal, and permit the user to manually enter supplementary data via the medication management portal.

12. The medication adherence system of claim 11, wherein the communications device is further configured to send the allocation data, the supplementary data, or both to a second communications device associated with an eye care provider, a hospital, or a pharmacist.

13. The medication adherence system of claim 11, wherein the communications device is further configured to remind the user a dose of medication should be administered.

14. The medication adherence system of claim 13, wherein the communications device is a mobile device or a computer.

15. The medication adherence system of claim 14, wherein the medication management portal is displayed to the user via a mobile application, a web-based application, or a web browser.

16. The medication adherence system of claim 11, wherein the supplementary data comprises one or more of a time, a date, a quantity, or a type of medication that was administered by the user.

17. The medication adherence system of claim 11, wherein the supplementary data comprises a confirmation receipt that indicates whether medication was administered, the confirmation receipt comprising a textual response, an audible response, a gestural response, or any combination thereof.

18. The medication adherence system of claim 11, wherein the communications device is coupled to a storage medium comprising medication regimen data, the medication regimen data comprising one or more of a time, a date, a quantity, or a type of medication the user should administer.

19. The medication adherence system of claim 18, wherein the medication management portal is configured to generate an adherence report based on a comparison of the allocation data and the supplementary data to the medication regimen data.

20. A medication management device comprising:

a jacket configured to hold a bottle of eye drops, wherein the jacket comprises a motion sensor to detect movement of the jacket and the bottle;

a pressure sensor arranged such that activation of the pressure sensor indicates the bottle has been inserted into the jacket;

a tactile sensor configured to activate and deactivate the motion sensor;

a monitoring module configured to activate a drop sensor upon the motion sensor detecting movement, wherein the drop sensor records data regarding a drop of liquid leaving the bottle;

a storage medium having stored thereon medication regimen data that comprises one or more of a time, a date, a quantity, or a type of medication a user should administer via the medication management device; and

a wireless communication module configured to send a reminder to administer medication to the user, wherein the reminder is based on the medication regimen data.

21. The medication management device of claim 20, further comprising:

a removable electronic compartment comprising the monitoring module, the storage medium, and the wireless communication module.

22. The medication management device of claim 20, wherein the reminder is a text message or a phone call transmitted to a communications device associated with the user.

23. The medication management device of claim 21, wherein the removable electronic compartment can be attached to any of a plurality of jackets, the plurality of jackets having openings of different sizes and lengths to hold different sized bottles.

24. A medication management device comprising:

a jacket configured to hold a bottle of eye drops, wherein the jacket comprises a motion sensor to detect movement of the jacket and the bottle;

a pressure sensor arranged such that activation of the pressure sensor indicates the bottle has been inserted into the jacket;

a monitoring module configured to activate a drop sensor upon the motion sensor detecting movement, wherein the drop sensor records data regarding a drop of liquid leaving the bottle;

a storage medium having stored thereon medication regimen data that comprises one or more of a time, a date, a quantity, or a type of medication a user should administer via the medication management device; and

a wireless communication module configured to send a reminder to administer medication to the user, wherein the reminder is based on the medication regimen data.

25. The medication management device of claim 24, further comprising a removable electronic compartment comprising the monitoring module, the storage medium, and the wireless communication module;

wherein the removable electronic compartment can be attached to any of a plurality of jackets, the plurality of jackets having openings of different sizes and lengths to hold different sized bottles.