METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR INCREASING AND/OR FOR MONITORING A PARTY'S COMPLIANCE WITH A SCHEDULE FOR TAKING MEDICINES
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus are provided for increasing and/or monitoring a party'"'"'s compliance with a schedule for taking medicines. In a first embodiment, a method is provided for use by a first container that is adapted to store a first medicine. The method includes storing information regarding the first medicine and wirelessly communicating a signal between the first container and a second container adapted to store a second medicine. In a second embodiment, a method is provided that includes determining if a first container for storing a first medicine is positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with a second container for storing a second medicine. The method further includes generating data based at least in part on whether the first container is positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with the second container. In a third embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a signal and, based at least in part on the received signal, determining whether a first container for storing a first medicine was positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with a second container for storing a second medicine. In a fourth embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a signal from a device that monitors whether a first container for storing a first medicine and a second container for storing a second medicine are positioned so as to communicate. The method further includes determining if at least one party has complied with a schedule for taking the first medicine and the second medicine based at least in part on the received signal. Systems, apparatus and computer program products are provided for carrying out the above-described embodiments and numerous other embodiments.
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Citations
156 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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2-125. -125. (canceled)
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126. A compliance monitoring device comprising:
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a housing configured to removably accommodate a plurality of medicine containers;
a transceiver coupled to the housing for wireless communication with the plurality of medicine containers;
a processor in communication with the transceiver; and
a data storage device associated with the processor, the data storage device storing at least one program for directing the processor to;
wirelessly communicate with each of the medicine containers;
monitor removal of each of the plurality of medicine containers from the central monitoring device;
monitor the return of each medicine container to the central monitoring device;
store container data in the data storage device that comprises at least one of communications data, removal data and return data associated with each medicine container; and
determine patient compliance with at least one schedule for taking medicine based on the container data. - View Dependent Claims (127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139)
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140. A compliance monitoring device comprising:
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a housing configured to accommodate a plurality of medicine containers that are each adapted to store medicine;
a communication device coupled to the housing and adapted to wirelessly communicate with the plurality of medicine containers;
a processor associated with the communication device; and
a memory associated with the processor, the memory storing a computer program executable by the processor and including instructions to direct the processor to;
communicate with the medicine containers;
determine, based at least in part on the communications, position data corresponding to whether a first medicine container storing a first medicine was positioned so as to wirelessly communicate with at least one of a second medicine container storing a second medicine and the central monitoring device; and
generate patient compliance data based at least on the position data. - View Dependent Claims (141)
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142. A medicine compliance system, comprising:
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a compliance monitoring device configured to accommodate a plurality of medicine containers that are each adapted to store medicine, the compliance monitoring device also configured for interactions with a patient and a medicine provider;
a plurality of medicine containers each configured for wireless communication with each other and with the compliance monitoring device;
a network configured to facilitate communications between at least a medicine provider and the compliance monitoring device; and
a controller configured for communications with the network and with the compliance monitoring device, and wherein the compliance monitoring device further comprises a processor operable to;
communicate with the medicine containers and to determine, based at least in part on the communications, position data corresponding to the proximity of a first medicine container storing a first medicine to at least one of a second medicine container storing a second medicine and the central monitoring device; and
generate patient compliance data based at least in part on the position data.
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143. A method, comprising:
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communicating proximity data between each of a plurality of medicine containers having medicine stored therein and a compliance monitoring device;
monitoring removal of each medicine container from the central monitoring device;
monitoring the return of each medicine container to the central monitoring device;
storing medicine container content data in a storage device of the central monitoring device; and
determining, with the compliance monitoring device, a level of patient compliance to at least one medicine dispensing schedule based on at least the proximity data, the removal data, the return data and the medicine container content data.
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144. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:
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communicate proximity data between each of a plurality of medicine containers having medicine stored therein and a compliance monitoring device;
monitor removal of each medicine container from the central monitoring device;
monitor the return of each medicine container to the central monitoring device;
store medicine container content data in a storage device of the central monitoring device; and
determine, with the compliance monitoring device, a level of patient compliance to at least one medicine dispensing schedule based on at least the proximity data, the removal data, the return data and the medicine container content data.
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145. A method, comprising:
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determining proximity data concerning the locations of a plurality of medicine containers in relation to a compliance monitoring device, each medicine container adapted for wireless communications between other medicine containers and the compliance medicine device, and wherein each medicine container is adapted for storing medicine therein;
determining a level of compliance with a schedule for taking medicine based at least in part on the proximity data; and
storing the proximity data and compliance data in a medicine container database. - View Dependent Claims (146, 147, 148, 149, 150)
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151. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to:
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determine proximity data concerning the locations of a plurality of medicine containers in relation to a compliance monitoring device, each medicine container adapted for wireless communications between other medicine containers and the compliance medicine device, and wherein each medicine container is adapted for storing medicine therein;
determine a level of compliance with a schedule for taking medicine based at least in part on the proximity data; and
store the proximity data and compliance data in a medicine container database. - View Dependent Claims (152, 153, 154, 155, 156)
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Specification