Cost-effective resource apportionment technologies suitable for facilitating therapies

• US 20120265591A1
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund II, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hwang, Eun Young, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Rivet, Dennis J., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 10,853,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Configuration technologies for apportioning resources and communicating indications of potential or actual incentives based on one or more measurements or other objective indications that therapeutic components have been administered to an individual, other attributes of the therapeutic components or the individual, or other such determinants. Techniques for apportioning resources cost-effectively (between providers and other parties, e.g.) and for facilitating or handling implementations thereof or output therefrom.

Claims

1. A resource apportionment method comprising:

invoking circuitry for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual; and

transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the circuitry for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual.

18. The resource apportionment method of claim 1, in which the invoking circuitry for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

invoking circuitry for determining the indication of the artificial incentive in response to an indication of a product attribute.

26. The resource apportionment method of claim 1, in which the invoking circuitry for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

invoking circuitry for determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a physical attribute of the individual.

29. The resource apportionment method of claim 26, in which the determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a physical attribute of the individual comprises:

determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a gender of or an age of the individual as the physical attribute of the individual.

2-17. -17. (canceled)

19-25. -25. (canceled)

27-28. -28. (canceled)

30-49. -49. (canceled)

50. A resource apportionment system comprising:

means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual; and

means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual.

52. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

means for conditioning the artificial incentive upon compliance with a regimen that includes an antihypertensive material component.

53. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

means for conditioning the artificial incentive upon compliance with a regimen that includes at least one respiratory or physical therapy session.

55. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for signaling a discount as a component of the artificial incentive.

56. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for authorizing a resource transfer to the individual as a component of the artificial incentive.

58. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for presenting a first message indicative of the artificial incentive to a care provider and a second message indicative of the artificial incentive to a material provider.

59. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for conditioning a benefit upon an acceptance of at least a portion of the artificial incentive.

60. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

means for conditioning the artificial incentive upon compliance with a regimen that includes a nitric oxide donor component, the therapeutic material being nitric oxide.

61. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

means for conditioning the artificial incentive upon compliance with a regimen that includes an anti-infective component of the therapeutic material.

63. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for transferring one or more credits to a care provider as a component of the artificial incentive in response to an indication that the therapeutic material was administered.

65. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for manifesting an improvement in a reputation of a provider as a component of the artificial incentive.

69. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for presenting an availability of an option to the individual as the indication of the artificial incentive.

70. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive to a care provider.

72. The resource apportionment system of claim 70, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive to the individual as a party other than the care provider.

74. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for obtaining a size of the artificial incentive in response to a pattern of enrollment.

75. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

means for determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a physical attribute of the individual.

77. The resource apportionment system of claim 75, in which the means for determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a physical attribute of the individual comprises:

means for determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a health status as the physical attribute of the individual.

81. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for selecting a recipient of a notification of the artificial incentive in response to a received message.

90. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for obtaining an indication of an abnormally late order for the therapeutic material.

194. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for signaling a discount as a first component of the artificial incentive;

means for authorizing a resource transfer to the individual as a second component of the artificial incentive; and

means for presenting a first message indicative of the artificial incentive to a care provider and a second message indicative of the artificial incentive to a material provider.

195. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for obtaining a size of the artificial incentive in response to a pattern of enrollment;

means for obtaining an indication of an abnormally late order for the therapeutic material;

means for conditioning a benefit upon an acceptance of at least a portion of the artificial incentive; and

means for selecting a recipient of a notification of the artificial incentive in response to a received message.

196. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

means for presenting an availability of an option to the individual as the indication of the artificial incentive;

means for transferring one or more credits to a care provider as a first component of the artificial incentive in response to an indication that the therapeutic material was administered;

means for manifesting an improvement in a reputation of the care provider as a second component of the artificial incentive; and

means for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive to the care provider.

197. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

means for determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a physical attribute of the individual;

means for conditioning the artificial incentive upon compliance with a regimen that includes at least one respiratory or physical therapy session; and

means for conditioning the artificial incentive upon compliance with a regimen that includes a nitric oxide donor component, the therapeutic material being nitric oxide.

198. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

means for conditioning the artificial incentive upon compliance with a regimen that includes an antihypertensive material component; and

means for obtaining an indication that a vessel has been ingested as an objective indication that the therapeutic material has been administered to a portion of the individual, the dispensing device including the vessel, the objective indication being the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual.

199. The resource apportionment system of claim 50, in which the means for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

the means for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual, the therapeutic material including an anti-infective component.

51. (canceled)

54. (canceled)

57. (canceled)

62. (canceled)

64. (canceled)

66-68. -68. (canceled)

71. (canceled)

73. (canceled)

76. (canceled)

78-80. -80. (canceled)

82-89. -89. (canceled)

91-92. -92. (canceled)

93. A resource apportionment system comprising:

circuitry for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual; and

circuitry for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the circuitry for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual.

113. The resource apportionment system of claim 93, in which the circuitry for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the circuitry for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual comprises:

circuitry for transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive to a care provider.

118. The resource apportionment system of claim 93, in which the circuitry for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

circuitry for determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a physical attribute of the individual.

122. The resource apportionment system of claim 118, in which the circuitry for determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a physical attribute of the individual comprises:

circuitry for determining the artificial incentive by obtaining a pathology as the physical attribute of the individual.

145. The resource apportionment system of claim 93, in which the circuitry for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual comprises:

circuitry for detecting a health status apparently resulting from the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual.

94-112. -112. (canceled)

114-117. -117. (canceled)

119-121. -121. (canceled)

123-144. -144. (canceled)

146-151. -151. (canceled)

152. An article of manufacture comprising:

one or more physical media configured to bear a device-detectable implementation of a method including at least

invoking circuitry for selecting an indication of an artificial incentive partly based on a category of a therapeutic material and partly based on an indication of a dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to an individual; and

transmitting the indication of the artificial incentive responsive to the circuitry for selecting the indication of the artificial incentive partly based on the category of the therapeutic material and partly based on the indication of the dispensing device administering the therapeutic material to the individual.

153. The article of manufacture of claim 152, in which a portion of the one or more physical media comprises:

one or more signal-bearing media configured to transmit one or more instructions for conditioning the artificial incentive upon compliance with a regimen that includes a plasma lipid-modifying material component as the therapeutic material.

156. The article of manufacture of claim 152, in which a portion of the one or more physical media comprises:

one or more signal-bearing media configured to transmit one or more instructions for determining the artificial incentive to have a value partly based on a value of the therapeutic material and partly based on a physical attribute of a putative recipient of the therapeutic material.

164. The article of manufacture of claim 152, in which a portion of the one or more physical media comprises:

one or more signal-bearing media configured to transmit one or more instructions for determining the artificial incentive as a linear function of a value of the therapeutic material.

191. The article of manufacture of claim 152, in which a portion of the one or more physical media comprises:

one or more signal-bearing media configured to transmit one or more instructions for detecting whether data from one or more sensors indicate an actuation of a portion of the dispensing device.

154-155. -155. (canceled)

157-163. -163. (canceled)

165-190. -190. (canceled)

192-193. -193. (canceled)