AUTOMATED MEDICATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE

• US 20090167531A1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alexander Ferguson
• Original Assignee: Alexander Ferguson
• Inventors: Ferguson, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,212,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/049 automatically changing in response to a schedule deviation by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for tracking the status and use of packaged goods are provided. The systems of the invention coordinate various stakeholders, hardware devices, computer software systems, standards, methods, procedures, practices and their interconnection in ways that lead to greater efficiency, safety, and efficacy, along with potentially lower cost, and less waste in the delivery of packaged goods and their use. In one aspect a Medication Management System (“MMS”) that tracks the status of packaged medications and patient compliance is also provided.

Claims

1. A method for determining whether a package has been opened, comprising:

providing a package including at least

first and second radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags arranged in said package such that opening said package renders said first RFID tag inoperative and said second RFID tag operative;

monitoring the status of said first and second RFID tags;

detecting that said first RFID tag is in inoperative; and

determining that said package has been opened.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring said first RFID tag to have at least two portions, wherein one portion is a perforated portion; and

arranging said first RFID tag in said package such that opening said package is effective to separate said first RFID tag into said at least two portions thereby rendering said first RFID tag inoperative.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein one of said two portions is the antenna of said first RFID tag.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second RFID tag is arranged in said package such that said second RFID remains in said package after said package in opened.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing an indicator of the relationship between said package and said first and second RFID tags in a database.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising storing said status of said package in a database.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising defining said status of said package to opened upon said detecting that said first RFID tag is in a non-operative state.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a database including status indicators for said first and second RFID tags.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a package status indicator derived said status indicators for said first and second RFID tags.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising setting said status indicator to unopened if said first and said second RFID tags are determined to be operative.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising settings aid status indicator to damaged if said first RFID tag is determined to be operative and said second RFID tags is determined to be inoperative.

12. A package comprising a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag, said first and second RFID tags arranged such that opening said package renders said first RFID tag inoperative.

13. The package of claim 13, wherein said second RFID tag remains with said package after said package is opened.

14. The package of claim 14, wherein said second RFID tag includes information about the contents of said package.

15. The package of claim 15, wherein said contents of said package is a medication, and said information includes patient dosing information for said medication.

16. A system for monitoring the status of a package, comprising:

a. a package including a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag, said first and second RFID tags being arranged such that opening said package renders said first RFID tag inoperative;

b. a database that includes entries for the statuses of said first and said second RFID tags; and

c. an RFID monitor that detects whether each of said first and said second RFID tags are operative.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an entry for the status of said package, wherein said status of said package is dependent at least in part on the statuses of said first and said second RFID tags.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said second RFID tag is configured to store information about the contents of said package.

19. The package of claim 18, wherein said contents of said package is a medication, and said information includes patient dosing information for said medication.

20. A dual RFID tag, comprising a first RFID tag and a second RFID tag, said first RFID tag being configured so that said first RFID tag can be rendered inoperative while the second RFID tag remains operative.