Medication dispensing and timing system
First Claim
1. A medication dispensing system comprising:
- central monitoring means for generating a prompt signal for each dosage of medication called for by a predetermined medication schedule associated with a particular patient;
a communicator including a uniquely addressed receiver associated with said patient having means for prompting said patient to take each predetermined dose of medication;
a wireless communication network for conveying said prompt signal to said uniquely-addressed receiver;
said communicator 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 said prompt signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medication dispensing and timing system includes a central monitoring computer which generates and sends an address-specific medication prompting message in accordance with a prescribed medication dispensing schedule over a two-way paging system to a communicator carried by a patient. The communicator includes receiver circuitry which responds to the prompt message to generate a display and audible alarm to alert the patient. Upon the patient acknowledging the message by actuating a switch on the communicator transmitter circuitry within the pager sends a reply message to the monitoring computer. In the event that a reply message is not received within a predetermined time period following the dispensing event, the computer initiates an alternative communication procedure which includes telephone calls to 1) the patient, 2) his doctor, 3) his care provider, or 4) an emergency contact. 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, 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.
256 Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A medication dispensing system comprising:
-
central monitoring means for generating a prompt signal for each dosage of medication called for by a predetermined medication schedule associated with a particular patient; a communicator including a uniquely addressed receiver associated with said patient having means for prompting said patient to take each predetermined dose of medication; a wireless communication network for conveying said prompt signal to said uniquely-addressed receiver; said communicator 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 said prompt signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A medication dispensing system operable over a two-way paging system, said dispensing system comprising:
-
central monitoring means for generating a prompt signal for each dose of medication called for by a predetermined medication schedule associated with a particular patient; a patient communicator including a uniquely addressed receiver associated with said patient having means for prompting said patient to take each predetermined dose of medication; said patient communicator further including transmitter means responsive to an external control effect for generating a reply signal acknowledging receipt of said prompt signal; a modem for telephone line communication between a dispenser and said central monitoring means for confirmation of dispensing to said central monitoring means and control of said dispenser by 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 said prompt signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification