Apparatus and Method for Improved Drug Regimen Compliance

• US 20190080588A1
• Filed: 11/02/2018
• Published: 03/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantaed, Llc
• Original Assignee: Quantaed, Llc
• Inventors: Mehregany, Mehran, Roham, Masoud
• Granted Patent: US 10,565,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring drug-regimen compliance is disclosed. Systems in accordance with the present invention enable automatic monitoring of the state of medicine content of a blister card. Each tablet location on the blister card is operatively coupled with a different sensor that detects whether the tablet location is occupied and/or a dispensing event at a tablet location. In some embodiments, capacitive sensing is employed, where the capacitance of each sensor is based on the physical state of a dispensing region of the lidding film of the blister pack, which is located at the tablet location being monitored. Alternative sensing approaches are based on optical, acoustic, and tactile sensors that interrogate either the dispensing region at each tablet location or the tablets themselves to determine whether tablets have been dispensed. The sensors interface with a mobile app that provides the user instructions to help improve drug-regimen compliance.

Claims

1-30. -30. (Canceled)

31. A system for monitoring the state of at least one blister card that includes a forming film, a lidding film, and a first tablet contained in a first reservoir defined by the forming film and the lidding film, wherein the system comprises:

a housing that is operative for locating the blister card in a first position;

a first detection module comprising a first sensor that includes a first capacitor having a first capacitance that is based on the physical state of a first dispensing region of the lidding film, wherein the first reservoir includes the first dispensing region, and wherein the first sensor is operative for providing a first electrical signal that is based on the first capacitance; and

an electronics module that is operative for providing a first output signal based on the first electrical signal.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein a first electrode and the first dispensing region collectively define the first capacitor, and wherein the first capacitance has a first magnitude when the first dispensing region is intact and a second magnitude when the first dispensing region is broken, and wherein the first electrical signal is based on the first capacitance.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the first sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode, the first and second electrodes collectively defining the first capacitor, and wherein the capacitance of the first capacitor is based on a fringing field between the dispensing region and the first electrode.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the electronics module is operative for providing the first output signal as a wireless signal.

36. A system that is operative for monitoring the state of a first blister card that includes a first forming film, a first lidding film, and a first plurality of tablets that is arranged in a first arrangement, wherein each tablet of the first plurality thereof is contained in a different reservoir of a first plurality of reservoirs defined by the first forming film and first lidding film, and wherein the system comprises:

a first detection module comprising a first plurality of sensors arranged in the first arrangement such that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the first plurality of sensors and the first plurality of reservoirs, wherein each sensor of the first plurality thereof includes a capacitor whose capacitance is based on the physical state of a different dispensing region of a first plurality of dispensing regions of the first lidding film, and wherein each sensor is operative for providing an electrical signal of a first plurality thereof such that each electrical signal of the first plurality thereof is based on the capacitance of its capacitor; and

an electronics module operative for providing a first output signal based on the first plurality of electrical signals.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the system is further operative for monitoring the state of a second blister card, the second blister card including a second forming film, a second lidding film, and a second plurality of tablets that are arranged in a second arrangement, and wherein each tablet of the second plurality thereof is contained in a different reservoir of a second plurality of reservoirs defined by the second forming film and second lidding film, and further wherein the system further comprises:

a second detection module comprising a second plurality of sensors arranged in the second arrangement, wherein each sensor of the second plurality thereof is operative for providing an electrical signal of a second plurality thereof such that each electrical signal of the second plurality thereof is based on the physical state of a different dispensing region of a second plurality of dispensing regions of the second lidding film;

wherein the electronics module is further operative for providing a second output signal based on the second plurality of electrical signals.

38. The system of claim 36 further comprising a tactile sensor that is operative for detecting a force applied to the blister card.

39. The system of claim 36 wherein the capacitor of a first sensor of the first plurality thereof includes a first electrode that is capacitively coupled with a first dispensing region of the plurality thereof.

40. The system of claim 36 wherein the capacitor of a first sensor of the first plurality thereof is defined by a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein the capacitor has a first capacitance that is based on a fringing field between the first electrode and a first dispensing region of the plurality thereof.

41. The system of claim 36 wherein the electronic module is operative for providing the first output signal as a wireless signal.

42. A method for monitoring the state of a blister card that includes a forming film, a lidding film, and a plurality of tablets that is arranged in a first arrangement, wherein each tablet of the plurality thereof is contained in a different reservoir of a plurality of reservoirs defined by the forming film and lidding film, wherein the method comprises:

providing a detection module comprising a plurality of sensors that is arranged in the first arrangement such that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the plurality of sensors and the plurality of reservoirs, wherein each sensor of the plurality thereof includes a capacitor whose capacitance is based on the physical state of a different dispensing region of a plurality of dispensing regions of the lidding film, wherein each dispensing region of the plurality thereof is included in a different reservoir of the plurality of reservoirs;

operatively coupling the plurality of sensors and the blister card such that each sensor of the plurality thereof is operative for providing an electrical signal based on the capacitance of its capacitor;

determining a physical state of the blister card based on the plurality of electrical signals;

comparing the physical state of the blister card with an expected state of the blister card, wherein the expected state is based on a predetermined prescription regimen for the plurality of tablets; and

providing an output signal based on the physical state of the blister card relative to the expected state.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the output signal is provided as a wireless signal.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising monitoring the time and date, wherein the expected state is based on the monitored time and date.

45. The method of claim 42 further comprising initiating an error signal if the physical state and expected state are different.

46. The method of claim 42 wherein the detection module is provided such that the capacitance of each capacitor of the plurality thereof has a first magnitude when its respective dispensing region is intact and a second magnitude when its respective dispensing region is broken, and further wherein the output signal is based on the capacitance of at least one of the plurality of capacitors.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein each capacitor of the plurality thereof is defined by a first electrode and its respective dispensing region.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein each capacitor of the plurality thereof is defined by a first electrode and a second electrode, and wherein the capacitance of each capacitor is based on a fringing field between its respective dispensing region and its respective first electrode.