Medicine reminder and storage device

• US 5,289,157 A
• Filed: 12/23/1991
• Issued: 02/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vitafit International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vitafit International Incorporated
• Inventors: Mahle, Michael, Rudick, Arthur G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/812,770
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.15, 340/573, 368/10, 368/109
• US Class Current: 340/309.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 37/127 used as containers or cartridges means for incorporating a battery in the case G04G17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A portable electronic alarm device containing a plurality of compartments for storing a limited supply of medications and indicating when a medicine should be taken according to a predetermined schedule. The device also records the times that alarms sound and the times that they were acknowledged. The user can review the recorded times to determine compliance with the schedule. Additionally, a base station is provided to support the device, store larger supplies of medicine, and provide amplified alarms.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating when medicine should be taken, comprising:

clock means for providing a clock time of day;

alarm setting means for setting at least one alarm time of day for at least one medicine;

alarm means for activating an alarm when said clock time of day is the same as at least one alarm time of day;

acknowledgment means for indicating when a medicine has been taken in response to an alarm; and

recording means for storing said clock time of day when said alarm was activated and said clock time of day when said acknowledgment in response to an alarm occurred.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said alarm setting means includes means for setting at least one alarm for a plurality of medicines.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said alarm means includes indicator means for indicating which of said plurality of medicines should be taken.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one compartment means for holding a plurality of doses of medicine.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is portable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

display means for displaying the times stored in said recording means when alarms were activated and when said acknowledgments occurred.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said alarm means includes a visual alarm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said alarm means includes an audio alarm.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

non-acknowledgment means for indicating when an acknowledgment has not occurred; and

wherein said recording means includes means for storing said non-acknowledgment of an alarm.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:

support means for holding said apparatus, wherein said support means also includes storage means for holding medicine bottles.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said support means includes second alarm means for activating a second alarm upon activation of said first alarm means.