MEDICATION MANAGEMENT APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

• US 20130024022A1
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Published: 01/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Betty L. Bowers
• Original Assignee: Betty L. Bowers
• Inventors: Bowers, Betty
• Granted Patent: US 8,773,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus, system and method for managing medication. In an aspect, an adaptable pill organizer comprises of at least one or more rectangular units for containing pills. Individual units and/or rows of seven units—attach and detach from one another in order to create a custom pill organizer. The adaptable pill organizer further employs electronic capabilities which: allow user to input, store and display information on the pill organizer; provide lighting means for the device; provide various automatic and/or commanded physical responses to usage of the device such as the lighting of a unit, or the opening and closing of a unit; provide programmed alarms; communicate data messages and usage information with third party devices; and store and provide access to user medication and medication schedule information.

Claims

1. A pill organizer, comprising:

at least two compartments that house pills, wherein each compartment can couple to another compartment via at least one wall to form a row of compartments, each of the compartments defined by a housing comprising a top, a bottom and at least two sidewalls, wherein each of the compartments further comprise an interior receptacle for containing the pills, the interior receptacle having a semi-ellipsoid shape, and wherein each of the compartments can couple to one another compartment via at least one sidewall to form a row of compartments, and the at least two compartments further comprise electronic circuitry that facilitate at least one of;

wired communications, wireless communications, sensing, lid control, lighting, or generating and sending notifications.

3. The pill organizer of claim 1, wherein a compartment couples to second and third compartments via opposite walls of the first compartments to form the row.

4. The pill organizer of claim 1, further comprising one or more fixed rows of compartments, a fixed row comprising at least three compartments permanently attached via opposite walls of one of the compartments to form the fixed row.

5. The pill organizer of claim 1, wherein a first compartment couples to a second and third compartment via adjacent walls of the first compartment to form an L-shape of compartments.

6. The pill organizer of claim 1 where a first compartment can be stacked on a second compartment.

7. The pill organizer of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more row starter compartments, a row starter compartment comprising an extended structure which serves as a platform for a label; and

a corner compartment comprising respective extended structures on two adjacent sides which serve as platforms for labels.

8. The pill organizer of claim 7, the label corresponds to either a day of the week or time of day.

9. The pill organizer of claim 1, the compartments couple to each other via at least one of:

a ball and socket, a peg and a fitted slot, a rail and track, Velcro, adhesive, or magnets.

10. The pill organizer of claim 1 wherein a compartment further comprises a lid that opens and closes, or is removable.

11. The pill organizer of claim 1 wherein a compartment comprises metal, plastic, ceramic, or a combination thereof.

12. The pill organizer of claim 1 further comprising an electronic base component permanently attached above a fixed primary row;

the electronic base component further comprising;

an interface component comprising at least one of;

an LCD screen, a touch LCD screen, buttons, dials, a keypad or a speaker;

a processor that directs and controls functionality of the pill organizer; and

a communication component which provides wired or wireless communication to at least one of another device or an outside network.

13. The pill organizer of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least two compartments further comprises a sensor, the sensor detects at least one of a physical parameter associated with the at least one of the at least two compartments or user interaction therewith.

14. The pill organizer of claim 13, the physical parameters comprise at least one of:

number of pills in a compartment the;

identity of pills in a compartment;

whether a compartment is open or closed;

whether a compartment is attached or detached;

or number and sequence of attached or detached compartments.

15. The pill organizer of claim 1 wherein each compartment further comprises an LCD screen integrated within a lid on the top of the compartment, or a light on the top of a compartment.

16. The pill organizer of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor that processes information related to a user'"'"'s self-medication regimen.

17. The pill organizer of claim 16 wherein the microprocessor regulates opening, closing and locking of respective lids of the at least two compartments.

2. The pill organizer of claim 2 wherein electronic circuitry of a subset of the compartments can operatively couple to form an extended circuit that allows respective compartments to be communicatively or operationally coupled.

18. A system for managing a medication regimen comprising:

an electronic pill organizer (EPO), the EPO comprising one or more attachable and detachable compartments for containing pills and an electronic interface for interacting with the EPO, the EPO employing the following computer executable components;

a storage component which stores information pertaining to the management of a medication regimen;

a sensor component which detects at least one of;

physical changes in a compartment, the contents of a compartment;

the number of attached compartments;

or user interaction with a compartment;

a message generation component which generates and transmits a message in response to at least one of;

EPO usage;

data input on the EPO;

or information gathered by the sensor component.

19. The system of claim 18, the storage component stores at least:

information pertaining to a user'"'"'s medication regimen, a user'"'"'s medication needs, message generation preferences and parameters, message interpretation and display parameters, message communication parameters, or information input into the EPO through the user interface.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising a communication component, the communication component facilitates wired or wireless communication of messages between the EPO and at least a third party device or the internet.