Medication dispensing and timing system utilizing time reference message
First Claim
1. A dispensing system for dispensing medication to a patent in accordance with a predetermined medication schedule, comprising:
- central monitoring means for generating periodic time reference signals, at least a portion of said reference signals corresponding to the designated times of individual dosages of a predetermined patient medication schedule;
memory means for storing the medication schedule;
a receiver associated with said patient for receiving said periodic time reference signals;
a wireless communication network for conveying said time reference signals to said receiver; and
said memory means being responsive to said reference signals for providing a prompt to the patient to take medication in accordance with said medication schedule.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A medication dispensing and timing system includes a central monitoring computer which generates and sends a periodic time reference message over a two-way paging system to a plurality of patient communicators carried by respective patients. Each communicator includes sufficient memory to store the individual medication schedule of the particular patient, and processing circuitry which utilizes the time reference to interrogate the memory and generate a display and audible alarm to alert the patient when medication is to be taken. Upon the patient acknowledging the prompt, the communicator sends a reply message over the paging network to the central monitoring computer. Only in the event that a reply message is not received by the monitoring computer within a predetermined time period following the dispensing event, the computer initiates a procedure which includes an address-specific follow-up prompt message to the particular patient communicator. In the event no reply is received to this prompt message within a second predetermined period of time, appropriate telephone calls are made by the central monitoring center. The communicator may be equipped to electrically communicate with medication dispensing apparatus whereby the apparatus dispenses medication in response to a received prompting message. The dispensing apparatus may include a modem for communicating with the central monitoring computer to confirm actual dispensing when using, for example, a one-way paging system, and to provide a control path whereby the dispensing apparatus can be controlled from the monitoring computer in the event of a radio link failure.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dispensing system for dispensing medication to a patent in accordance with a predetermined medication schedule, comprising:
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central monitoring means for generating periodic time reference signals, at least a portion of said reference signals corresponding to the designated times of individual dosages of a predetermined patient medication schedule; memory means for storing the medication schedule; a receiver associated with said patient for receiving said periodic time reference signals; a wireless communication network for conveying said time reference signals to said receiver; and said memory means being responsive to said reference signals for providing a prompt to the patient to take medication in accordance with said medication schedule. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A medication dispensing system comprising:
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central monitoring means for generating periodic time reference signals, at least a portion of said reference signals corresponding to the designated times of individual dosages of a predetermined patient medication schedule; a receiver associated with said patient for receiving said periodic time reference signals; a wireless communication network for conveying said time reference signals to said receiver; said receiver including memory means responsive to said reference signals for providing a prompt signal to said patient at said designated times of said dosages; said receiver further including transmitter means responsive to an external control effect for generating a reply signal acknowledging receipt of said prompt signal; an additional wireless communication network for conveying said reply signal to said central monitoring means; and said central monitoring means including alarm generating means responsive to said reply signal for initiating a predetermined follow-up procedure in the absence of said reply signal following the lapse of a predetermined time period following each of said dosage times. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification