Medication compliance monitoring device having conductive traces upon a frangible backing of a medication compartment
First Claim
1. A medication compliance monitoring device, comprising:
- a medication package includingan array of medication compartments each being designed to carry a unit close of medication therein and each being yieldable for medication removal,a frangible backing sheet closing all of of said medication compartments such that medication can be removed from each said compartment by pushing the yieldable compartments to force the medication through the frangible backing sheet by rupturing the backing sheet adjacent the compartment being pushed; and
an electronic monitoring circuit includinga plurality of conductive traces disposed on said backing sheet, a unique trace being disposed adjacent each said compartment such that the rupture of said frangible sheet during removal of a unit dose of medication from a compartment will cause rupture of one of said conductive traces,detection means for addressing each said unique trace periodically at a constant predetermined time interval over a predetermined extended period of time and detecting whether each such trace is ruptured or intact,memory means for storing the time that the rupture of each unique trace is first detected by said detection means, andconnecting means for permitting said memory means to be connected to a microcomputer, whereby said microcomputer can extract data from said memory means for processing and display.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medication compliance monitoring system consisting of a blister pack having an array of plastic blisters defining compartments for medication, with a frangible non-conductive backing sheet having conductive traces behind the compartments which are respectively ruptured when the medication doses are removed. The blister pack is detachably connected to an electronic memory circuit via a multi-terminal male connector tab on the backing sheet, wired to the conductive traces, and a corresponding female connector with terminals wired to the electronic memory circuit. The electronic memory circuit addresses each individual trace periodically at a constant time interval over a predetermined extended period of time to determine if it is intact. The electronic memory circuit detects the ruptures and stores the time data thereof over said extended period of time. During the patient'"'"'s follow-up visit a microcomputer is employed to retrieve the dose-removal-time data from the memory circuit; it processes the data and provides a display of the compliance information. A socket adapter is used to alternately configure the electronic memory circuit for data acquisition and extraction. The socket adapter is in the form of a multiple-pin jumper plug engageable in a multi-contact socket connected to the memory circuit. Insertion of the plug configures the memory circuit for data acquisition. Removal of the plug configures the memory circuit for data retrieval and processing by the microcomputer. In a typical embodiment there are 42 blisters whose associated conductive traces are addressed every 15 minutes over an extended time period which may be as much as 85 days.
206 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A medication compliance monitoring device, comprising:
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a medication package including an array of medication compartments each being designed to carry a unit close of medication therein and each being yieldable for medication removal, a frangible backing sheet closing all of of said medication compartments such that medication can be removed from each said compartment by pushing the yieldable compartments to force the medication through the frangible backing sheet by rupturing the backing sheet adjacent the compartment being pushed; and an electronic monitoring circuit including a plurality of conductive traces disposed on said backing sheet, a unique trace being disposed adjacent each said compartment such that the rupture of said frangible sheet during removal of a unit dose of medication from a compartment will cause rupture of one of said conductive traces, detection means for addressing each said unique trace periodically at a constant predetermined time interval over a predetermined extended period of time and detecting whether each such trace is ruptured or intact, memory means for storing the time that the rupture of each unique trace is first detected by said detection means, and connecting means for permitting said memory means to be connected to a microcomputer, whereby said microcomputer can extract data from said memory means for processing and display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of monitoring medication compliance, comprising the steps of:
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supplying to a patient whose medication compliance is to be monitored a medication package having an array of medication compartments which are yieldable for medication removal, a plurality of said compartments having a medication in unit dosage form therein, the package further including a frangible backing sheet closing all of of said medication compartments such that medication can be removed from each said compartment by pushing the yieldable compartments to force the medication through the frangible backing sheet by rupturing the backing sheet adjacent the compartment being pushed; and
a plurality of conductive traces disposed on said backing sheet, a unique trace being disposed adjacent each said compartment such that the rupture of said frangible sheet during removal of a unit dose of medication from a compartment will cause rupture of one of said conductive traces;addressing each individual trace periodically at a constant predetermined time interval over a predetermined extended period of time to detect whether each such trace is intact or ruptured; storing the time that the rupture of each unique trace is first detected; and subsequently retrieving the stored time data comprising the respective detected times of rupture of the addressed individual traces.
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Specification