Smart card for use with electronic pocket pillbox

• US 6,281,798 B1
• Filed: 07/28/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biostat SA
• Original Assignee: Biostat SA
• Inventors: Laurent, Hervé, Oriol, Valérie
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/362,067
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/309.15, 221/2, 221/15, 702/177, 235/375, 235/380, 700/231, 700/241, 700/242, 700/237, 700/244, 361/748, 361/752, 361/753
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• 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 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• 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: G06Q 20/346 Cards serving only as information carrier of service
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3552 Downloading or loading of personalisation data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1008 Active credit-cards provided with means to personalise their use, e.g. with PIN-introduction/comparison system

Abstract

A multi-compartment electronic pocket pillbox includes a microprocessor for loading prescription data into a memory. A circuit controls a display. A flag for each compartment indicates the compartment to be used. Coded prescription data contained in a detachable data medium are loaded into the memory. Each compartment has a pill dispenser adaptable to pharmaceuticals of different forms and various sizes. An automatic controller associated with each compartment controls medication movement from the compartment. Switches determine the compartment from which pills are withdrawn.

Claims

1. A device for use with an electronic pillbox comprising a planar electronically insulating sheet sized to fit into the pillbox, the sheet being removable from the pillbox and including an electric contact arrangement for connecting to contacts in the pillbox, the sheet including a memory and an internal electric bus for enabling data signals stored in the memory to be transferred via the contacts to electronic circuitry in the pillbox, the memory being programmed to cause the electronic circuitry in the pillbox to derive medication dispensing alarm signals.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the memory comprises at least a first file including at least one field which describes a prescription, a second file including at least one field which describes a use of the pillbox, and a third file including at least one field representing patient data.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the files are transferred to memory of the electronic circuitry by a program of the electronic pillbox when the device is introduced in the pillbox.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a microprocessor connected to the bus and the memory, wherein the memory includes a non-volatile read-only memory, a random, access memory, and an electronically erasable programmable non-volatile read only memory.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the contact arrangement of the device is connected to a terminal board for coupling the device to an input-output data signal source, a clock source, a reset-to-zero source and a DC power supply voltage, the data signal source, clock source and reset-to-zero source being included in an interface circuit of the pillbox.

6. A device for use with an electronic pillbox comprising a planar electronic portable object sized to fit into the pillbox, the portable object being removable from the pillbox and including structure for communicating with the pillbox, the portable object including a microprocessor, a memory arrangement and an internal electric bus for enabling data signals stored in the memory arrangement to be transferred via the structure for communicating to electronic circuitry in the pillbox for deriving a medication dispensing alarm signal, the memory arrangement including a non-volatile read-only memory, a random access memory, and an electronically erasable programmable non-volatile read-only memory;

the microprocessor being connected to each of the non-volatile read-only memory, tile random access memory, the electronically erasable programmable non-volatile read-only memory, and to the bus.

7. A device for use with an electronic pillbox comprising a planar electronic portable object sized to fit into the pillbox, the portable object being removable from the pillbox and including structure for communicating with the pillbox, the portable object including a memory and an internal electric bus for enabling data signals stored in the memory to be transferred via the structure for communicating to electronic circuitry in the pillbox for deriving a medication dispensing alarm signal, wherein the structure for communicating includes electric contacts.

8. A device for use with an electronic pillbox comprising a planar electronic portable object sized to fit into the pillbox, the portable object being removable from the pillbox and including structure for communicating with the pillbox, the portable object including a memory and an internal electric bus for enabling data signals stored in the memory to be transferred via the structure for communicating to electronic circuitry in the pillbox for deriving a medication dispensing alarm signal, wherein the memory comprises at least a first file including at least one field which describes a prescription, a second file including at least one field which describes a use of the pillbox, and a third file including at least one field representing patient data.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the files are transferred to memory of the electronic circuitry by a program of the electronic pillbox when the device is introduced in the pillbox.

10. A device for use with an electronic pillbox comprising a planar electronic portable object sized to fit into the pillbox, the portable object being removable from the pillbox and including structure for communicating with the pillbox, the portable object including a memory and all internal electric bus for enabling data signals stored in the memory to be transferred via the structure for communicating to electronic circuitry in the pillbox for deriving a medication dispensing alarm signal, wherein the structure for communicating with the pillbox is connected to a terminal board for coupling the device to an input-output data signal source, a clock source, a reset-to-zero source and a DC power supply voltage, the data signal source, clock source and reset-to-zero source being included in an interface circuit of the pillbox.