Remote Medication Management System

• US 20070185615A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EMMA Health Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: INRange Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bossi, Christopher, Stancliff, Timothy, Stokes, Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

An integrated medication management and compliance system for enabling a care provider to remotely manage and deliver individual doses of medications to a patient, in a non-sequential fashion. The system includes delivery apparatus remotely located from the care provider, wherein the apparatus stores a plurality of sealed unit dose packages that are delivered to a patient at a scheduled dosing time. The delivery apparatus is coupled to a control facility and to a computer terminal of the care provider by way of a secure communications network. The system enables the patient'"'"'s medication regimen to be remotely tailored in real-time to accommodate fluid medical conditions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a medication delivery unit, an input medication carrier comprising a plurality of unit dose packages in a two-dimensional arrangement and storing at least one medication, each unit dose package of the plurality of unit dose packages comprising a unit dose of one of the at least one medication, the input medication carrier further comprising at least one identifying indicator capable of being read by the medication delivery unit;

determining information regarding the at least one medication stored in the input medication carrier based on the at least one identifying indicator; and

providing, by the medication delivery unit, the information regarding the at least one medication to a remote controller.

2. A method comprising:

receiving, by a medication delivery unit, an input medication carrier comprising a plurality of unit dose packages in a two-dimensional arrangement and storing at least one medication, each unit dose package of the plurality of unit dose packages comprising a unit dose of one of the at least one medication, the input medication carrier further comprising at least one identifying indicator capable of being read by the medication delivery unit;

determining information regarding the at least one medication stored in the input medication carrier based on the at least one identifying indicator; and

determining information regarding the input medication carrier based on the at least one identifying indicator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the information regarding the input medication carrier further comprises providing at least one of:

a number of unit dose packages in the input medication carrier and a layout identification of the input medication carrier.

4. A method comprising:

receiving, by a medication delivery unit, an input medication carrier comprising a plurality of unit dose packages in a two-dimensional arrangement and identifying indicia uniquely associated with each one of the plurality of unit dose packages;

determining, by the medication delivery unit, information regarding each medication in each of the plurality of unit dose packages based on the identifying indicia; and

providing, by the medication delivery unit, the information regarding each medication to a remote controller.

5. A method in a medication delivery unit comprising:

receiving, by the medication delivery unit from a remote controller, authorized medication carrier information for the medication delivery unit;

receiving an input medication carrier comprising one or more sealed unit dose packages in a two-dimensional arrangement and storing at least one medication, each unit dose package comprising a unit dose of one of the at least one medication, the input medication carrier further comprising at least one identifying indicator capable of being read by the medication delivery unit;

determining whether the input medication carrier is authorized for the medication delivery unit based on whether the at least one identifying indicator compares favorably with the authorized medication carrier information; and

when the input medication carrier is not authorized for the medication delivery unit, refusing to store the input medication carrier in the medication delivery unit.

6. A method comprising:

receiving, by a medication delivery unit, an input medication carrier comprising at least one identifying indicia;

determining that the medication delivery unit is unable to read any one of the at least one identifying indicia; and

refusing to store the input medication carrier in the medication delivery unit.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

informing a remote controller, by the medication delivery unit, of the refusal to store the input medication carrier.

8. A method comprising:

attempting to dispense, by a medication delivery unit, a unit dose package at a unit dose location in a medication carrier,

testing, by the medication delivery unit subsequent to attempting to dispense the unit dose package, the unit dose location within the medication carrier to determine a condition corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier; and

sending, by the medication delivery unit, an indication to the remote controller that the unit dose package has not been successfully dispensed.

9. A method comprising:

attempting to dispense, by a medication delivery unit, a unit dose package at a unit dose location in a medication carrier,

testing, by the medication delivery unit subsequent to attempting to dispense the unit dose package, the unit dose location within the medication carrier to determine a condition corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier; and

providing, by the medication delivery unit, an indication to a user of the medication delivery unit that the unit dose package has not been successfully dispensed.

10. A method comprising:

applying, by a medication delivery unit, a mechanically actuated device to a unit dose location within a medication carrier to determine whether the mechanically actuated device is actuated; and

providing, by the medication delivery unit, a status indication corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier based on whether the mechanically actuated device is actuated.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein providing the status indication further comprises:

providing an indication that either of a unit dose package and a unit dose is present at the unit dose location in the medication carrier if the mechanically actuated device is actuated; and

providing an indication that either of the unit dose package and the unit dose is not present at the unit dose location in the medication carrier if the mechanically actuated device is not actuated.

12. A method comprising:

positioning, by a medication delivery unit, a magnetic sensor proximate to a unit dose location within a medication carrier to determine a magnetic field is detected proximate the unit dose location in the medication carrier; and

providing, by the medication delivery unit, a status indication corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier based on whether the magnetic field is detected.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing the status indication further comprises:

providing an indication that either of a unit dose package and a unit dose is present at the unit dose location in the medication carrier if the magnetic field is detected; and

providing an indication that either of the unit dose package and the unit dose is not present at the unit dose location in the medication carrier if the magnetic field is not detected.

14. A method comprising:

obtaining, by a medication delivery unit, an image of a unit dose location within a medication carrier;

analyzing, by the medication delivery unit, the image to determine whether either of a unit dose package and a unit dose is present at the unit dose location in the medication carrier; and

providing, by the medication delivery unit, a status indication corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier based on whether the magnetic field is detected.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein analyzing the image further comprises analyzing the image to determine whether a unit dose is sensed within the image.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein analyzing the image further comprises analyzing the image to determine whether an intact unit dose package is sensed within the image.

17. A medication delivery unit capable of storing at least one medication carrier, each medication carrier comprising at least one unit dose location, the medication delivery unit comprising:

a mechanically actuated device configured to brought into contact with a unit dose location of the at least one unit dose location and operative to determine a condition corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier; and

a notification component, coupled to the mechanically actuated device, operative to provide a status notification corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier based on the condition.

18. The medication delivery unit of claim 17, wherein the notification component comprises means for providing the status notification to a user of the medication delivery unit.

19. A medication delivery unit capable of storing at least one medication carrier, each medication carrier comprising at least one unit dose location, the medication delivery unit comprising:

a magnetic sensor at least in proximity to a unit dose location of the at least one unit dose location and operative to determine a condition corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier; and

a notification component, coupled to the magnetic sensor, operative to provide a status notification corresponding to the unit dose location in the medication carrier based on the condition.

20. The medication delivery unit of claim 19, wherein the notification component comprises means for providing the status notification to a user of the medication delivery unit.

21. A method for delivery of at least one medication via a medication delivery unit, the method comprising:

determining the need to execute a delivery process to deliver the at least one medication to a user of the medication delivery unit; and

prior to executing the delivery process, determining whether at least one stored medication in the medication delivery unit is consistent with a dosing regimen and that the at least one stored medication comprises sufficient quantity of the at least one medication to execute the delivery process.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the need to execute the delivery process further comprises automatically initiating the delivery process in accordance with the dosing regimen.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the need to execute the delivery process further comprises initiating the delivery process commands input to the medication delivery unit via a user interface of the medication delivery unit.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein determining the need to execute the delivery process further comprises remotely initiating the delivery process by a remote unit.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

dispensing the at least one medication when the at least one stored medication in the medication delivery unit is consistent with the dosing regimen and the at least one stored medication comprises sufficient quantity of the at least one medication to execute the delivery process.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

when the at least one stored medication in the medication delivery unit is not consistent with the dosing regimen or the at least one stored medication comprises insufficient quantity of the at least one medication to execute the delivery process, providing a notification that the medication delivery unit is unable to execute the delivery process.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein providing the notification further comprises providing, by the medication delivery unit, the notification that the medication delivery unit is unable to execute the delivery process to a remote controller.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein providing the notification further comprises providing the notification that the medication delivery unit is unable to execute the delivery process to a user interface of the medication delivery unit.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

prior to determining the need to execute a delivery process, determining an inventory of the at least one stored medication in the medication delivery unit.

30. A method for ensuring an adequate supply of at least one medication stored in a medication delivery unit, the method comprising:

determining an inventory of the at least one medication stored in the medication delivery unit;

determining whether the inventory of the at least one medication is adequate to fulfill a dosing regimen of the medication delivery unit beyond expiration of a time interval; and

when the inventory of the at least one medication is inadequate inventory to fulfill the dosing regimen of the medication delivery unit beyond expiration of the time interval, providing an indication of the inadequate inventory.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the at least one medication is stored in at least one medication carrier, each of the at least one medication carrier comprising at least one identifying indicator capable of being read by the medication delivery unit, the method further comprising determining, by the medication delivery unit, the inventory of the at least one medication stored in the at least one medication carrier based on the at least one identifying indicator.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein a remote controller in communication with the medication delivery unit comprises a log of delivery process outcomes corresponding to the at least one medication in the medication delivery unit, the method further comprising determining, by the remote controller, the inventory of the at least one medication based on the log of delivery process outcomes corresponding to the at least one medication in the medication delivery unit.

33. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining, by the medication delivery unit, whether the inventory of the at least one medication is adequate to fulfill the dosing regimen of the medication delivery unit beyond expiration of the time interval.

34. The method of claim 30, further comprising determining, by a remote controller in communication with the medication delivery unit, whether the inventory of the at least one medication is adequate to fulfill the dosing regimen of the medication delivery unit beyond expiration of the time interval.

35. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing, by the medication delivery unit, the indication of the inadequate inventory to a user interface of the medication delivery unit.

36. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing, by the medication delivery unit, the indication of the inadequate inventory to a remote controller in communication with the medication delivery unit.

37. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing, by a remote controller in communication with the medication delivery unit, the indication of the inadequate inventory to a user interface of the medication delivery unit.

38. The method of claim 30, further comprising providing, by a remote controller in communication with the medication delivery unit, the indication of the inadequate inventory to a remote unit.

39. In a processing device comprising a graphical user interface, a method for providing packaging instructions for a medication, the method comprising:

receiving an identification of the medication; and

displaying, via the graphical user interface, at least one image of a medication carrier to be used for packaging the medication.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

displaying via the graphical user interface, in conjunction with the at least one image of the medication carrier, instructions regarding how the medication should be loaded into the medication carrier.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

displaying, via the graphical user interface, at least one image of the medication selected based on the identification of the medication.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein displaying the at least one image further comprises displaying images of the medication from different viewpoints.

43. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

printing at least one label for use with the medication carrier, the at least one label comprising at least one image of the medication selected based on the identification of the medication.

44. A medium capable of being read by at least one processing device and having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:

receive an identification of the medication; and

display, via a graphical user interface, at least one image of a medication carrier to be used for packaging the medication.

45. The medium of claim 44, further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:

display via the graphical user interface, in conjunction with the at least one image of the medication carrier, instructions regarding how the medication should be loaded into the medication carrier.

46. The medium of claim 44, further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:

display, via the graphical user interface, at least one image of the medication selected based on the identification of the medication.

47. The medium of claim 46, wherein the executable instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processing device to display the at least one image are further operative to display images of the medication from different viewpoints.

48. The medium of claim 44, further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to:

print at least one label for use with the medication carrier, the at least one label comprising at least one image of the medication selected based on the identification of the medication.

49. In a medication delivery unit capable of storing one or more medication carriers, a method for controlling operation of the medication delivery unit, the method comprising:

determining existence of an adverse power condition in the medication delivery unit; and

automatically unloading at least some of the medications carriers in response to the adverse power condition.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

prior to automatically unloading, determining that remaining backup power for the medication delivery unit has fallen below a threshold.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

providing, by the medication delivery unit, an indication of the existence of the adverse power condition.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising providing, to a remote controller, the indication of the existence of the adverse power condition.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

providing, by the medication delivery unit, an indication that the medication delivery unit has automatically unloaded the at least some of the medication carriers in response to the adverse power condition.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising providing, to a remote controller, the indication that the medication delivery unit has automatically unloaded the at least some of the medication carriers.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein automatically unloading the at least some of the medication carrier is performed in accordance with a relative priority of each of the one or more medication carriers.

56. A method for controlling operation of a medication delivery unit capable of storing at least one medication carrier, the method comprising:

determining expiration information for at least one medication stored in the at least one medication carrier;

determining that the at least one medication is no longer usable based on the expiration information; and

inhibiting, by the medication delivery unit, delivery of the at least one medication based on the determination that the at least one medication is no longer usable.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein inhibiting delivery further comprises dispensing the at least one medication within the medication delivery unit such that the at least one medication is not dispensed to a patient.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein inhibiting delivery further comprises dispensing the at least one medication in response to a specific authorization provided to the medication delivery unit.

59. The method of claim 56, wherein inhibiting delivery further comprises refusing to dispense the at least one medication.

60. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

providing an indication that the at least one medication is no longer usable.

61. The method of claim 60, further comprising providing the indication that the at least one medication is no longer usable to a user of the medication delivery unit.

62. The method of claim 60, further comprising providing the indication that the at least one medication is no longer usable to a remote controller.

63. The method of claim 56, wherein determining the expiration information further comprises receiving, by the medication delivery unit from a remote controller, the expiration information.

64. The method of claim 56, wherein determining the expiration information further comprises determining, by the medication delivery unit, the expiration information from at least one identifying indicia on the at least one medication carrier.

65. A method for scheduling delivery of at least one medication via a medication delivery unit, the method comprising:

receiving, by a remote controller from a remote unit, a modification to a dosing regimen for the medication delivery unit;

determining, by the remote controller, that the modification conflicts with a prior dosing event at the medication delivery unit; and

when the modification conflicts with the prior dosing event, refusing, by the remote controller, the modification to the dosing regimen for the medication delivery unit.

66. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

when the modification conflicts with the prior dosing event, informing at least the remote unit, by the remote controller, of the prior dosing event for the medication delivery unit.

67. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

when the modification conflicts with the prior dosing event for the medication delivery unit, informing at least the remote unit, by the remote controller, of the refusal of the modification.

68. The method of claim 65, wherein determining that the modification conflicts with the prior dosing event further comprises:

determining that the modification concerns a delivery time of the dosing regimen for the medication delivery unit; and

determining that the delivery time has already expired.

69. The method of claim 65, wherein determining that the modification conflicts with the prior dosing event further comprises:

determining that the modification concerns a particular dosage delivery of the dosing regimen for the medication delivery unit; and

determining that the particular dosage delivery has already occurred.

70. The method of claim 65, further comprising:

modifying, by the remote controller, the dosing regimen for the medication delivery unit in accordance with the modification for prospective dosing events at the medication delivery unit.

71. The method of claim 70, further comprising:

informing at least the remote unit, by the remote controller, of the modification of the dosing regiment in accordance with the modification for prospective dosing events.

72. A method for controlling operation of a medication delivery unit capable of storing at least one medication carrier, the method comprising:

receiving, by the medication delivery unit, a request to dispense at least one medication from the at least one medication carrier, the request conflicting with a dosing regimen for the medication delivery unit; and

dispensing, by the medication delivery unit, the at least one medication from the at least one medication carrier without regard to the dosing regimen.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

informing, by the medication delivery unit, a remote controller of the request and the dispensing of the at least one medication from the at least one medication carrier.

74. The method of claim 72, further comprising receiving the request from a user of the medication delivery unit via an interface of the medication delivery unit.

75. The method of claim 72, further comprising receiving the request from a remote controller.

76. A medication delivery unit comprising:

a housing, having an opening, configured to receive at least one medication carrier comprising a plurality of unit dose packages in a two-dimensional arrangement and storing at least one medication, each unit dose package of the plurality of unit dose packages comprising a unit dose of one of the at least one medication;

a user interface, supported by the housing, operable to receive a request from a user of the medication delivery unit to dispense at least one medication from the at least one medication carrier; and

a controller, in communication with the user interface, dispensing the at least one medication from the at least one medication carrier in response to the request.