MEDICATION STORAGE DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20130195326A1
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Published: 08/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medsentry, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medsentry, Inc.
• Inventors: Bear, David, Siarkowski, Bret, Donovan, Lori
• Granted Patent: US 9,014,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/128
• 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 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• 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 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring and enhancing patient adherence to a prescription drug regimen are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a medication storage device includes a plurality of dose containers, each dose container having an interior region configured to contain a medication. The medication storage device also includes an event detection system that includes a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors are configured to detect a change in each dose container of the plurality of dose containers. The medication storage device also includes an imaging system. The imaging system includes a plurality of image capture devices configured to capture an image of the interior region of each dose container of the plurality of dose containers. A communications module is configured to send an indication of the change detected by the event detection system and/or an image captured by the imaging device to a remote device.

Claims

1. A medication storage device, comprising:

a plurality of dose containers, each dose container of the plurality of dose containers having an interior region configured to contain a medication;

an event detection system including a plurality of sensors, the plurality of sensors configured to detect a change in each dose container of the plurality of dose containers;

an imaging system including a plurality of image capturing devices, the plurality of image capturing devices configured to capture images of the interior region of each dose container of the plurality of dose containers; and

a communications module configured to send to a remote device at least one of an indication of the change detected by the event detection system and an image captured by the imaging system.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each dose container of the plurality of dose containers is removable.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each dose container of the plurality of dose containers includes a lid configured to cover the dose container.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein each dose container lid includes a unique identifier.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of image capturing devices are configured to capture images of the unique identifier on each dose container lid.

13. The device of claim 3, wherein the event detection system is configured to detect at least one of dose container removal, dose container replacement, dose container present, dose container lid opening, dose container lid replacement, device connected to power supply, and device using battery backup.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the imaging system includes a first image capturing device configured to capture images of a dose container of the plurality of dose containers from a first perspective and a second image capturing device configured to capture images of the dose container from a second perspective different from the first perspective.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the communication module is configured to only allow examination of an image captured following a detected event.

27. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a vibrating mechanism operable to selectively vibrate at least one of the plurality of dose containers to reposition the medication.

28. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a notification system configured to provide at least one of an audible, visual and tactile alert to the user.

6-12. -12. (canceled)

14-17. -17. (canceled)

19-21. -21. (canceled)

23-26. -26. (canceled)

29-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A method of monitoring a patient'"'"'s adherence to a medication treatment regimen, the method comprising:

notifying the patient that it is time to take a prescribed medication;

determining if the patient has opened the correct dose container from a plurality of dose containers;

capturing a first image of the dose container when the patient opens the dose container;

capturing a second image of the dose container when the patient closes the dose container;

comparing the first image and the second image to determine which medication has been removed from the dose container;

determining whether the patient has removed the correct medication by comparing the prescribed medication to the removed medication; and

alerting the patient if an incorrect medication has been removed from the dose container.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

alerting at least one a care giver, a family member, a call center, a pharmacy, and a doctor if the incorrect medication has been removed from the dose container.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

alerting the patient if an incorrect dose container has been opened.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

alerting at least one of a care giver, a family member, a call center, a pharmacy, and a doctor if an incorrect dose container has been opened by the patient.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein notifying the patient that it is time to take a prescribed medication includes providing a visual indication of the correct dose container to open.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein determining if the patient has opened the correct dose container from a plurality of dose containers includes monitoring each dose container in the plurality of dose containers with an event detection system.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the event detection system includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect a change in each dose container of the plurality of dose containers.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein each of the dose containers of the plurality of dose containers has a lid and the event detection system is configured to detect a dose container lid opening.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first image is captured when the event detection system detects the dose container lid opening.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the event detection system is configured to detect a dose container lid closure.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the second image is captured when the event detection system detects the dose container lid closure.

38. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

46. (canceled)

47. (canceled)

48. A method of preventing deviations from a treatment regimen, the method comprising:

determining if a patient has opened an incorrect dose container from a plurality of dose containers;

capturing a first image of the incorrect dose container when the patient opens the incorrect dose container;

alerting the patient that the incorrect dose container from the plurality of dose containers has been opened;

capturing a second image of the incorrect dose container when the patient closes the incorrect dose container;

comparing the first image and the second image to determine if medication has been removed from the incorrect dose container;

alerting the patient if an incorrect medication has been removed.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising:

alerting at least one a care giver, a family member, a call center, a pharmacy, and a doctor if the incorrect medication has been removed.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein determining if the patient has opened the incorrect dose container from the plurality of dose containers includes monitoring each dose container in the plurality of dose containers with an event detection system.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the event detection system includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect a change in each dose container of the plurality of dose containers.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein each of the dose containers of the plurality of dose containers has a lid and the event detection system is configured to detect a dose container lid opening.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein comparing the first image and the second image to determine which medication has been removed from the dose container is done by an individual at a call center.