SYSTEMS AND TECHNIQUES FOR MONITORING SUBJECTS

• US 20120039809A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seventh Sense Biosystems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seventh Sense Biosystems, Inc.
• Inventors: Levinson, Douglas A., Bernstein, Howard
• Application Number:
  US13/208,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20120039809A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/0045 Devices for taking samples of body liquids devices for taking blood samples A61B5/15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0009 Testing for drug or alcohol abuse
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/008 Interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14503 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter or needle or using implanted sensors A61B5/1459, A61B5/1464, A61B5/1473, A61B5/1482, A61B5/14865 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14514 using means for aiding extraction of interstitial fluid, e.g. microneedles or suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150099 by negative pressure, other than vacuum extraction into a syringe by pulling on the piston rod or into pre-evacuated tubes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150175 Adjustment of penetration depth
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150389 Hollow piercing elements, e.g. canulas, needles, for piercing the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150412 Pointed piercing elements, e.g. needles, lancets for piercing the skin blade-like piercing elements A61B5/150442
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150503 Single-ended needles hollow piercing element tip design A61B5/150396, needle sets for catheters A61M25/06, needles for bringing media into the body A61M5/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150755 Blood sample preparation for further analysis, e.g. by separating blood components or by mixing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150809 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150824 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150854 long distance, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150862 intermediate range, e.g. within room or building
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150969 Low-profile devices which resemble patches or plasters, e.g. also allowing collection of blood samples for testing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150984 : Microneedles or microblades
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15113 : Manually triggered, i.e. the triggering requires a deliberate action by the user such as pressing a drive button
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15125 : comprising a vacuum or compressed fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15142 : Devices intended for single use, i.e. disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/154 : Devices using pre-evacuated means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 : Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 : Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 : combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 : Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 : Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 : Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 : by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1723 : using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 : specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 : Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• 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
• 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

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for monitoring and/or providing feedback for drugs or other pharmaceuticals taken by a subject. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to devices and methods for determining a species within the skin of a subject; and producing feedback to a subject based on the determination of the species. The feedback may be, for example, visual, audible, tactile, a change in temperature, etc. In some cases, information regarding the determination of the species may be transmitted to another entity, e.g., a health care provider, a computer, a relative, etc., which may then provide feedback to the subject in some fashion. In some cases, the feedback may be directly indicative of the species, e.g., whether the species is present, the concentration of the species, whether a by-product of a reaction involving the species is present, whether a compound affected by the species is present, etc. However, the feedback may also be indirect in some embodiments. For example, the subject may be presented with an external reward, e.g., based on the determination of the species within the skin. For instance, a reward such as cash, coupons, songs, discounts, personal items, etc., may be offered based on the level of compliance of the subject. Still other aspects of the invention are generally directed to kits involving such devices (with or without the drug to be monitored), methods of promoting such systems, or the like.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a substance transfer component able to receive fluid from a subject;

a sensor able to determine an analyte suspected of being present within the fluid;

a processor able to determine a drug treatment based at least in part on the sensor determination; and

a reservoir for containing a drug deliverable to the subject based on the processor determination.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the drug is deliverable to the subject via the substance transfer component.

3-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A device-implemented method, comprising:

receiving positional data from a subject in a device;

receiving medical data of the subject in the device; and

producing composite data comprising the medical data and the positional data using the device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the positional data is GPS data.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the analyte data is produced using a device applied to the skin of the subject.

7. A device-implemented method, comprising:

determining positional data from a subject in a device;

determining medical data of the subject in the device; and

producing composite data comprising the medical data and the positional data using the device.

10-13. -13. (canceled)

14. A device, comprising:

a substance transfer component able to receive fluid from a subject;

a sensor able to determine an analyte suspected of being present within the received fluid and configured to receive the received fluid; and

a transmitter responsive to the sensor and able to effect a financial transaction as a function of the determination of the sensor.

15. A device, comprising:

a sensor able to determine a species received from a subject; and

an indicator able to indicate an external reward based on the determination of the species.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein the external reward comprises a financial reward.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the external reward comprises a change in an insurance premium.

19. The device of claim 15, wherein the external reward comprises an increase in time off.

23. The device of claim 15, wherein the external reward comprises a health club membership.

24. The device of claim 15, wherein the external reward comprises a discount for a prescription cost.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein the external reward comprises increased pay.

16. (canceled)

20-22. -22. (canceled)

26-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A device-implemented method, comprising:

applying a device to a subject, wherein the device is able to obtain an invasive physical measurement from the subject; and

based on obtaining the measurement, delivering a drug to the subject using the device.

34. (canceled)

35. A method, comprising:

injecting a tracer into a subject using a device comprising a plurality of microneedles; and

tracking movement of the subject by monitoring of the tracer.

36-37. -37. (canceled)

38. A device-implemented method, comprising:

applying a device to a subject, wherein the device is able to obtain a physical measurement from the subject; and

based on obtaining the measurement, effecting a financial transaction with the device.

39. The device-implemented method of claim 38, wherein the device is configured to send a signal to a receiver which, in turn, processes the financial transaction.

40-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A device-implemented method, comprising:

applying a device to a subject, wherein the device is able to obtain an invasive physical measurement from the subject; and

based on obtaining the measurement, recommending a medical treatment with the device.

50-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A method, comprising:

determining a species received from a subject using a device fastened to the subject; and

providing an external reward to a person other than the subject based on a concentration of the species.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the person is a medical provider of the subject.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the person is related to the subject.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the person is a caregiver for the subject.

57. (canceled)