APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECOGNITION OF PATIENT ACTIVITIES

• US 20120009555A1
• Filed: 09/18/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AIC Innovations Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AI CURE Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Hanina, Adam, Kessler, Gordon, Guan, Lei
• Granted Patent: US 9,875,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A medication confirmation method and apparatus. The method of an embodiment of the invention includes the steps of capturing one or more video sequences of a user administering medication via a medication administration apparatus, storing the captured one or more video sequences, and analyzing at least one of the stored video sequences to confirm that the user has properly administered the medication, and has properly positioned the medication administration apparatus.

Claims

1. A medication administration confirmation apparatus, comprising:

a video capture device for capturing one or more video sequences of a user administering medication;

a memory for storing the captured one or more video sequences; and

a processor for analyzing at least one of the stored video sequences to confirm that the user has properly administered the medication.

2. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user is prompted to perform a particular sequence of actions to be stored as the one or more video sequences.

3. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the particular sequence of actions is designed to assist in determining proper medication administration.

4. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a data transmission system for transmitting one or more of the at least one stored video sequences to a remote location for analysis.

5. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a data reception system for receiving information from the remote location.

6. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis confirms proper positioning of an inhalable medication administration apparatus.

7. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analysis confirms proper positioning of an injectable medication administration apparatus.

8. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the steps of recording audio during the user medication administration.

9. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 8, wherein a further analysis of the recorded audio is employed to aid in determining proper medication administration.

10. The medication confirmation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is employed during a training sequence.

11. A medication confirmation method, comprising the steps of:

capturing one or more video sequences of a user administering medication;

storing the captured one or more video sequences; and

analyzing at least one of the stored video sequences to confirm that the user has properly administered the medication.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of prompting the user to perform a particular sequence of actions to be stored as the one or more video sequences.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the particular sequence of actions is designed to assist in determining proper medication administration.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the particular sequence of actions further comprises:

displaying a medication administration apparatus;

positioning the medication administration apparatus; and

administering the medication.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of transmitting one or more of the at least one stored video sequences to a remote location for analysis.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of receiving information from the remote location.

17. A medication training method, comprising the steps of:

providing a sequence of medication administration instructions;

capturing one or more video sequences of each step of a user administering medication via a medication administration apparatus in accordance with the medication administration instructions;

storing the captured one or more video sequences; and

analyzing at least one of the stored video sequences of at least one step to confirm that the user has properly performed the medication administration step; and

repeating this process until video sequences have been stored and analyzed corresponding to substantially all of the medication administration instructions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the medication to be administered via the medication administration apparatus is an inhalable medication.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the analysis determines whether the inhalable medication is properly positioned and oriented.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the medication to be administered via the medication administration apparatus is an injectable medication.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the analysis determines whether the injectable medication is properly positioned and oriented.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the user is prompted where and how to position the medication administration apparatus during performance of the one or more video sequences.

23. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of transmitting at least one of the stored video sequences to a remote location for further analysis.

24. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of notifying an administrator and the patient if it is determined that a user has not properly administered the medication.