Marker detection method and apparatus to monitor drug compliance
First Claim
1. A method for determining patient compliance in taking medication comprising at least one therapeutic drug, comprising administering to the patient the therapeutic drug;
- obtaining a sample of the patient'"'"'s breath; and
analyzing the sample of the patient'"'"'s breath using a sensor to measure the concentration of a therapeutic drug marker in the patient'"'"'s breath, wherein the therapeutic drug marker is a metabolite of the therapeutic drug and is an indicator of patient compliance or non-compliance in taking the medication;
wherein the medication is to be taken by volitional patient action.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention includes systems and methods for monitoring therapeutic drug concentration in blood by detecting markers, such as odors, upon exhalation by a patient after the drug is taken, wherein such markers result either directly from the drug itself or from an additive combined with the drug. In the case of olfactory markers, the invention preferably utilizes electronic sensor technology, such as the commercial devices referred to as “artificial” or “electronic” noses or tongues, to non-invasively monitor drug levels in blood. The invention further includes a reporting system capable of tracking drug concentrations in blood (remote or proximate locations) and providing the necessary alerts with regarding to ineffective or toxic drug dosages in a patient.
172 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for determining patient compliance in taking medication comprising at least one therapeutic drug, comprising
administering to the patient the therapeutic drug; -
obtaining a sample of the patient'"'"'s breath; and
analyzing the sample of the patient'"'"'s breath using a sensor to measure the concentration of a therapeutic drug marker in the patient'"'"'s breath, wherein the therapeutic drug marker is a metabolite of the therapeutic drug and is an indicator of patient compliance or non-compliance in taking the medication;
wherein the medication is to be taken by volitional patient action. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for determining patient compliance in taking medication comprising at least one therapeutic drug, said method comprising
concurrently administering to the patient the medication with an additive, wherein the additive is acted upon in the patient to release a therapeutic drug marker; -
obtaining a sample of the patient'"'"'s breath; and
subsequently analyzing the patient'"'"'s breath to measure the concentration of the therapeutic drug marker in the patient'"'"'s breath, wherein the therapeutic drug marker is detectable in the patient'"'"'s breath and is an indicator of patient compliance or non-compliance in taking the medication;
wherein the medication is to be taken by volitional patient action. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for determining patient compliance in taking medication comprising at least one therapeutic drug, comprising
administering to the patient the therapeutic drug; - and
subsequently analyzing the patient utilizing reverse iontophoresis detection to confirm the presence of a therapeutic drug marker in the patient, wherein the therapeutic drug marker is a metabolite of the therapeutic drug and is an indicator of patient compliance or non-compliance in taking the medication;
wherein the medication is to be taken by volitional patient action.
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45. A method for determining patient compliance in taking medication comprising at least one therapeutic drug, comprising:
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concurrently administering to the patient the therapeutic drug with a therapeutic drug marker;
obtaining a sample of patient bodily fluid;
analyzing the sample of the patient'"'"'s bodily fluid using a sensor, wherein the therapeutic drug marker is a volatile, organic compound that is non-toxic and detectable in bodily fluids; and
identifying the therapeutic drug in the patient that is associated with the marker. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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Specification