Drug delivery management system

• US 20030063524A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DDMS Holdings, LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: DDMS Holdings, LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heidelberger, Louis M., Niemiec, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,961,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 2200/72 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• 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 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/141 Cushion or mat switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0293 : Individual printed conductors which are adapted for modification, e.g. fusable or breakable conductors, printed switches

Abstract

The present invention relates to assisting patients in the taking of medication, and to assisting third parties in accumulating information regarding patient medication intake. The invention may be embodied a system including a portable medication monitor used in association with an instrumented medication package to provide intake data acquisition and patient support functions. The system may further be connected to a computer or computer network allowing information distribution between the medication monitor and third parties, such as physicians or pharmacists.

Claims

1. ) A medication monitoring system, the medication monitoring system comprising:

an instrumented medication package, said instrumented medication package having a plurality of medication containments, said medication containments each having a closure, each closure having a severable connector, said instrumented medication package further having an instrumented medication package receiver and an instrumented medication package transmitter, said instrumented medication package receiver for receiving trigger signals, and said instrumented medication package transmitter for transmitting information identifying the condition of the severable connectors; and

a medication monitor, said medication monitor having a medication monitor transmitter and a medication monitor receiver, said medication monitor transmitter for transmitting a trigger signal, said medication monitor receiver for receiving information transmitted by an instrumented medication package transmitter.

2. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second instrumented medication package, and further wherein said trigger signal selectively triggers the first or second instrumented medication package.

3. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein said triggering signal comprises an identifier identifying a specific instrumented medication package.

4. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said medication monitor further comprises a network connection to at least one remote computer.

5. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 4 wherein said network connection connects said medication monitor to the Internet.

6. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 4 wherein said network connection is a wireless network connection.

7. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 6 wherein said network connection connects said medication monitor to the Internet.

8. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one remote computer comprises a central monitoring station, said central monitoring station for receiving information from a plurality of medication monitors.

9. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein said central monitoring station comprises a physician interface, wherein said physician interface is for receiving medication instructions associated with an instrumented medication package, and wherein said network connection comprises communications capability for communicating said instructions from said central monitoring station to a medication monitor associated with said instrumented medication package.

10. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein said instructions comprise instructions regarding a quantity and frequency of medication intake from an instrumented medication package associated with a medication monitor.

11. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 9, where said medication monitor further comprises a display for displaying said instructions.

12. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 11, wherein said medication monitor further comprises an alarm to indicate receipt of instructions for said central monitoring station via said network connection.

13. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein said central monitoring station comprises access monitoring software, said access monitoring software determining whether an instrumented medication package associated with a medication monitor has been improperly accessed.

14. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein said instrumented medication package comprises passive radio frequency identification circuitry, said passive radio frequency identification circuitry transmitting a response to a trigger signal utilizing the energy of the trigger signal.

15. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 14, wherein said passive radio frequency identification circuitry comprises circuitry for incorporating a condition of at least one severable connector into said circuitry, said condition affecting a response from said passive radio frequency identification circuitry to a trigger signal.

16. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said medication monitor further comprises a medication intake monitoring program and a display, said medication intake monitoring program monitoring a medication intake schedule, said schedule identifying times at which medication is to be taken, and displaying an alarm when no information indicating the accessing of a medication containment is detected there.

17. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 13, wherein said medication monitor comprises a network connection, said network connection connected to at least one remote computer.

18. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said instrumented medication package comprises active radio frequency identification circuitry and passive radio frequency identification circuitry and a power supply for providing power for said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

19. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 18, wherein said instrumented medication package further comprises a means for enabling said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

20. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 18, wherein said means for enabling said active radio frequency identification circuitry comprises a switch, said switch connecting said power supply to said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

21. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 20, wherein said switch comprises mechanical switch.

22. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 20, wherein said switch comprises a switch label.

23. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 20, wherein said switch further comprises a means for disabling said passive radio frequency identification circuitry when said power supply is connected to said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

24. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 23, wherein said means for disabling comprises a fusible link.

25. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said medication monitor is portable.

26. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 25, wherein said portable medication monitor further comprises a network connection.

27. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 26, wherein said network connection connects said portable medication monitor to at least one remote computer.

28. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 27, wherein said network connection is wireless.

29. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 27, wherein said portable medication monitor further comprises a medication intake monitoring program and a display, said medication intake monitoring program monitoring a medication intake schedule, said schedule identifying times at which medication is to be taken, and displaying an alarm when a time at which medication is indicated to be taken passes without detection of the accessing of a medication containment.

30. ) An instrumented medication package, said instrumented medication having a plurality of medication containments, said medication containments each having a closure, each closure having a severable connector, said instrumented medication package further having an instrumented medication package transponder, said instrumented medication package transponder for receiving trigger signals, and transmitting a response signal in response to said trigger signals, the instrumented medication package transponder further comprising passive radio frequency identification circuitry, said passive radio frequency identification circuitry comprising circuitry which modifies the response signal, said instrumented medication package transponder utilizing the energy of the trigger signal to transmit the response signal.

31. ) An instrumented medication package according to claim 30, wherein said circuitry which generates a response signal modifies said response signal dependant upon a package identifier.

32. ) An instrumented medication package according to claim 31, wherein said package identifier comprises a package identification code identifying an individual responding package.

33. ) An instrumented medication package according to claim 31, wherein said package identifier comprises a package identification code identifying a production information associated with medication contained in said instrumented medication package.

34. ) An instrumented medication package according to claim 31, wherein said package identifier comprises a package identification code identifying an expiration date associated with medication contained in said instrumented medication package.

35. ) An instrumented medication package according to claim 30, wherein said passive radio frequency identification circuitry comprises circuitry which generates a response signal dependant upon the condition of at least one severable connector associated with said instrumented medication package.

36. ) An instrumented medication package according to claim 30, further comprising active radio frequency identification circuitry and a power supply.

37. ) An instrumented medication package according to claim 36, wherein said instrumented medication package further comprises a means for activating said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

38. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 37, wherein said means for activating said active radio frequency identification circuitry comprises a switch, said switch connecting said power supply to said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

39. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 38, wherein said switch comprises a mechanical switch.

40. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 38, wherein said switch comprises a switch label.

41. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 38, wherein said switch further comprises a means for disabling said passive radio frequency identification circuitry when said power supply is connected to said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

42. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 41, wherein said means for disabling comprises a fusible link.

43. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 41, wherein said means for disabling comprises a mechanical switch.

44. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 37, further comprising a means for disabling said passive radio frequency identification circuitry said power supply is connected to said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

45. ) A medication monitoring system according to claim 44, wherein said means for disabling comprises a switch label, said switch label disabling said passive circuitry when said action circuitry is enabled.

46. ) A portable medication monitor, said portable medication monitor comprising:

a portable general purpose computer;

an instrumented medication package transceiver, said instrumented medication package transceiver comprising a transmitter and a receiver for transmitting to and receiving signals from an instrumented medication package;

a network connection, said network connection for communicably connecting said portable medication monitor to at least one remote computer; and

software for monitoring an instrumented medication package associated with said portable medication monitor.

47. ) A portable medication monitor according to claim 46, wherein said network connection is wireless.

48. ) A portable medication monitor according to claim 47, wherein said software comprises instructions which when executed attempt communication with a remote computer via said network connection in accordance with a pre-determined schedule, said communication attempts being repeated until said communication is successful.

49. ) A portable medication monitor according to claim 48, wherein said communication comprises information associated with a patient'"'"'s accessing of medication contained in an instrumented medication package associated with said portable medication monitor.

50. ) A method for monitoring medication intake, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an instrumented medication package, said instrumented medication package having at least one severable connection associated with a medication containment;

providing a portable medication monitor;

emitting from said medication monitor a trigger signal;

receiving at said instrumented medication package said trigger signal;

when said trigger signal is received, transmitting from said instrumented medication package information identifying the condition of said at least one severable connector;

receiving said information at said portable medication monitor;

forwarding said information to a remote computer via a network connection.

51. ) A method for monitoring medication intake according to claim 50, wherein said step of transmitting from said instrumented medication package information identifying the condition of said severable connectors is accomplished using passive radio frequency identification circuitry, said passive radio frequency identification circuitry incorporating said severable connectors into said circuitry to modify the transmitted signal based upon the condition of the severable connectors.

52. ) A method for monitoring medication intake according to claim 51, wherein said step of transmitting from said instrumented medication package information identifying the condition of said severable connectors further comprises transmitting information describing said instrumented medication package.

53. ) A method for monitoring medication intake according to claim 52, wherein said information describing said instrumented medication package comprises a unique package identifier.

54. ) A method for monitoring medication intake according to claim 52, wherein said information describing said instrumented medication package comprises production information associated with said instrumented medication package.

55. ) A method for monitoring medication information according to claim 52, wherein said information describing said instrumented medication package comprises expiration information associated with medication contained in said instrumented medication package.