Medication adherence system

• US 20080162192A1
• Filed: 03/11/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colleen Ryan, Glenn Vonk, Richard Rumbaugh
• Original Assignee: Colleen Ryan, Glenn Vonk, Richard Rumbaugh
• Inventors: Vonk, Glenn, Rumbaugh, Richard, Ryan, Colleen
• Granted Patent: US 8,417,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• 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: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system comprising a medication tray (10) and a docking station (20) for facilitating effective self-management of medication treatment by patients is provided. The medication tray (10) accepts medication filled containers (30) and mates with the docking station (20). The medication tray (10) receives prescription data at the time the medication tray (10) accepts the medication filled containers (30), which is then downloaded to the docking station (20). The docking station (20) monitors and reports to third parties, via a network (160), a patient'"'"'s compliance with various medication treatment regimens. Medication containers (30) are provided with low bit tags (35) that provide container presence information to the docking station (20). The docking station (20) provides visual and/or audio signals regarding prescription data to a patient. The docking station (20) can query patients and appliances regarding patient'"'"'s medication usage and health status.

Claims

1. A method for using a medication adherence tray, comprising:

filling one or more containers with medications;

loading the one or more filled containers onto the medication adherence tray;

transferring prescription data from an external device to a memory storage device on the medication adherence tray;

downloading the prescription data from the memory storage device on the medication adherence tray to a docking station receiving the medication adherence tray; and

conveying prescription data to a patient using the medications.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more filled containers is adapted to comprise a presence detection means.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transferring prescription data to a memory storage device on the medication adherence tray comprises:

transmitting prescription data information from a container filling apparatus to the medication adherence tray; and

the medication adherence tray is adapted to comprise a communications means.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the prescription data comprises:

medication information;

prescription information; and

tray data.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the communication means comprises:

a smart tag communications system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of downloading the prescription data from the memory storage device on the medication adherence tray to a docking station comprises:

transmitting the prescription data from the medication adherence tray from a smart tag transceiver on the medication adherence tray to a smart tag transceiver on the docking station.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of conveying prescription data to a patient that uses the medication comprises:

conveying the prescription data to the patient by visual display means.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of conveying prescription data to a patient that uses the medication comprises:

conveying the prescription data to the patient by acoustical interface means.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sensing compliance with the patient'"'"'s medication regime;

acquiring patient assessment data;

transferring patient assessment data and compliance data to a remote service provider;

receiving modified medication use data; and

providing modified medication use data to the patient.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of sensing compliance with the patient'"'"'s medication regime comprises:

sensing that if a container has been properly removed from the docking station a compliant action has occurred and storing the compliant action; and

sensing that if a container has been improperly removed from the docking station a non-compliant action has occurred and storing the non-compliant action.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of sensing either a compliant or non-compliant action comprises:

receiving a signal from a sensor located in proximity to the container, when that container is removed from the docking station and medication adherence tray.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of acquiring patient assessment data comprises:

communicating with the patient questions or directions regarding the patient'"'"'s health; and

receiving assessment data that corresponds to the questions or directions.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of communicating with the patient questions or directions comprises:

displaying questions about the patients health or directing the patient to perform a test with one or more remote monitoring devices on the display means, or outputting a synthesized audio signal comprised of questions about the patients health or directing the patient to perform a test with one or more remote monitoring devices.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of transferring patient assessment data and compliance data to a remote service provider comprises:

transmitting patient assessment data to a remote service provider via a network through a network communications port on the docking station.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of receiving modified medication use data comprises:

transmitting the patient assessment data transmitted by the docking station to a service provider; and

receiving the modified medication use data plan at the docking station from the service provider, after the patient assessment data is evaluated by the service provider to verify compliance or non-compliance with established medical guidelines for the patient'"'"'s treatment plan, and which modified medication use data is determined by the service provider based on the compliance or non-compliance of the patient'"'"'s treatment plan, and transmitted to the docking station.

16. A medication adherence system, comprising:

a medication adherence tray adapted to comprise a first communication means for receiving prescription data from a prescription data storage device and transmitting it to a docking station; and

a docking station adapted to receive the medication adherence tray and comprising the first communication means for communicating with the medication adherence tray the prescription data.

17. The medication adherence system according to claim 16, further comprising one or more medication filled containers, the one or more medication filled containers comprising a sensor tag.

18. The medication adherence system according to claim 17, wherein the medication adherence tray further comprises one or more receptacles for receiving the medication filled containers.

19. The medication adherence system according to claim 17, wherein the docking station further comprises:

a patient communication means for communicating prescription data to a patient; and

a second communication means to detect the insertion, removal and replacement of the one or more medication filled containers.

20. The medication adherence system according to claim 16, wherein the first communication means comprises at least one of a smart tag RF transceiver, serial data port and IR communications link.

21. The medication adherence system according to claim 16, wherein the prescription data comprises at least one of medication information, prescription information and tray data,

wherein the medication information comprises an identity of one or more medicines in the container, a position in the medication adherence tray the container occupies, time and date information for the patient taking the medication and/or directions as to how to consume the one or more medications,

wherein the prescription information comprises a name of a person who prescribed the medication, a name of a person who dispensed the medication into the one or more containers, and/or a name of a facility where the container was filled, and

wherein the tray data comprises a patient name, range of dates for use of the medications, expiration dates, an identification number of the medication adherence tray and/or an identification number of the docking station.

22. The medication adherence system according to claim 17, further comprising a third communication means to receive prescription data from the prescription information storage device.

23. The medication adherence system according to claim 22, wherein the third communication means comprises a serial data port.

24. The medication adherence system according to claim 19, wherein the second communication means comprises a container presence sensor means.

25. The medication adherence system according to claim 19, wherein the patient communication means comprises at least one of an acoustical interface means, tactile communication means, network interface communications means associated with patient communication devices and visual display means.

26. The medication adherence system according to claim 17, further comprising a patient monitoring device communications means, wherein the patient monitoring device comprises at least one of a blood glucose level meter, heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, scale, insulin pump, inhaler, blood chemistry analyzer and peak flow meter, and wherein the patient monitoring device communications means comprises at least one of an RF, IR, Bluetooth, data port and smart tag.

27. The medication adherence system according to claim 16, wherein the medication adherence trays are frangible.

28. A medication adherence system, comprising:

a medication adherence tray adapted to comprise a first communication means for receiving prescription data from a prescription data storage device and transmitting it to a docking station; and

one or more medication filled containers, the one or more medication filled containers comprising a sensor tag.

29. The medication adherence system according to claim 28, further comprising:

a docking station adapted to receive the medication adherence tray and comprising the first communication means for communicating with the medication adherence tray the prescription data.