MOBILE WIRELESS MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20090048871A1
• Filed: 08/16/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Skomra, Stewart Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/40 relating to drugs, e.g. their side effects or intended usage

Abstract

The specification and drawing figures describe and show a system for medication management is disclosed, illustrated, and claimed that includes a mobile wireless communication instrument. A data processing system (100) housed in the portable wireless communications instrument is included to receive, store, and transmit images and data. A programmable medication management protocol is stored in memory (104) of the data processing system (100) to image-identify and image-authenticate components of the medication management protocol. A notification subsystem is included to either confirm or reject use of the medication.

Claims

1. A system for medication management, comprising:

a mobile wireless communication instrument;

a data processor housed in the mobile wireless communications instrument adapted to receive, store, and transmit images and data;

a programmable medication management protocol stored in the data processor adapted to image-identify and image-authenticate elements of the medication management protocol; and

a notification subsystem adapted to either confirm or reject use of the medication.

2. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the mobile wireless communications instrument is selected from the group of mobile wireless communications instruments consisting of cellular telephones, communication apparatus providing personal communications services (PCS) including time division multiple access (TDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA) and global system for mobile (GSM), a universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), a wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA), an evolution-data optimized (EV-DO), wireless local area network (WLAN) devices, wireless personal area network (WPAN) devices, non-voice communication apparatus, text transmission apparatus, satellite telephones, two-way pagers, personal digital assistants, portable wireless data processors, and wireless instruments specifically designed to implement medical management transactions, among others.

3. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the data processor includes memory.

4. A system for medication management as recited in claim 3, wherein the memory is operatively connected to the data processor by a bus adapted to store at least the medication management protocol executable by the data processor.

5. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the data processor further comprises at least one algorithm responsive to a the medication management protocol.

6. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the components of the medication management protocol include capturing, storing, and cataloging an image of a patient'"'"'s face and/or selected bionic and/or biometric features.

7. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the components of the medication management protocol include capturing, storing, cataloging, and authenticating an image of a medication container.

8. A system for medication management as recited in claim 7, wherein the medication container includes a storage and/or decanting appliance.

9. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the components of the medication management protocol include capturing, storing, and cataloging an image of at least one sample of a solid medication.

10. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the components of the medication management protocol include capturing, storing, and cataloging an image of at least one sample of a liquid medication vial.

11. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the images are in color and/or black-and-white.

12. A system for medication management as recited in claim 1, wherein the notification subsystem includes an audible, visual, and/or text notification to the patient.

13. An apparatus for managing medication use, comprising:

a mobile wireless communication instrument,

wherein the mobile wireless communication instrument includes at least one data processor for receiving, storing, and transmitting images and data;

a medication management procedure stored in the data processor for confirming correct medication use by a patient proposing to use the medication; and

means for notification that the medication use is correct or incorrect.

14. An apparatus for managing medication use as recited in claim 13, wherein the mobile wireless communication instrument is selected from the group of wireless communication instruments consisting of cellular telephones, communication apparatus providing personal communications services, non-voice communication apparatus, text transmission apparatus, satellite telephones, two-way pagers, personal digital assistants, and portable wireless data processors, among others.

15. An apparatus for managing medication use as recited in claim 13, wherein the data processor is adapted to store at least the medication management protocol executable by the data processor.

16. An apparatus for managing medication use as recited in claim 15, wherein the medication management procedure includes capturing, storing, and cataloging an image of a patient'"'"'s face, an image of a medication provider, an image of a medication container, and a sample of the medication, among other parameters.

17. A method of confirming correct selection and use of a medication by a patient, comprising:

selecting a mobile wireless communication instrument;

connecting operatively to the mobile wireless communication instrument a data processor adapted to receive, store, and transmit images and data;

defining a medication management protocol adapted to match a prescribed medication with a patient for whom the medication is prescribed; and

including in the mobile wireless communication instrument means for confirming or rejecting use of the medication by the patient.

18. A method of confirming correct use of a medication as recited in claim 17, wherein said selecting a mobile wireless communication instrument includes selecting:

a. a cellular telephone;

b. a communication apparatus providing personal communications services;

c. a non-voice communication apparatus;

d. a text transmission apparatus;

e. a satellite telephone;

f. a two-way pager;

g. a personal digital assistant;

h. and/or a portable wireless data processor, among others.

19. A method of confirming correct use of a medication as recited in claim 17, further comprising storing in memory of the mobile wireless communications instrument the medication management protocol as instructions to be executed by the data processor.

20. A method of confirming correct use of a medication as recited in claim 17, wherein said selecting a mobile wireless communication instrument includes installing in the mobile wireless communication instrument imaging apparatus capable of receiving and transmitting image identifications to confirm the requirements of the medication management protocol.

21. A method of confirming correct use of a medication as recited in claim 17, wherein the means for confirming or rejecting use of the medication by the patient includes:

a. obtaining an image identification of the patient;

b. storing the image identification of the patient in the mobile wireless communication instrument for transmission to a medication provider;

c. obtaining an image identification of the medication prescribed for the patient;

d. storing the image identification of the medication in the mobile wireless communication instrument for transmission between at least the patient and the medication provider;

e. obtaining an image identification of a container for the medication;

f. storing the image identification of the container in the mobile wireless communication instrument for transmission to a patient, and/or to a medication provider, and/or another container;

g. obtaining an image identification of a medication provider,

h. storing the image identification of a medication provider in the mobile wireless communication instrument for transmission to the patient and/or another medication provider;

i. providing as required by the medication management protocol the image identification of the patient, of the medication provider, of the container, and of the medication to and among the patient, medication provider, the container, and others authorized to receive the images;

j. comparing the image identification of the patient, the medication, the container, and the medication provider with the medication management protocol; and

k. notifying the patient whether or not to use or ingest the medication.