Medication management apparatus

• US 6,314,384 B1
• Filed: 03/02/1999
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Goetech LLC (Becton, Dickinson & Co), Brian Hepp
• Original Assignee: Gerald E. Goetz
• Inventors: Goetz, Gerald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US09/261,044
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 702/176, 702/177, 702/178, 368/10, 368/107-111, 705/2, 705/3, 706/902, 706/923-924
• US Class Current: 702/177
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A portable system for reminding a patient and keeping track of the prescription and use of medications. The system comprises a portable unit and a software application program loaded in a PC-type computer. The portable unit consists mainly of a compact portable housing which contains an LCD display; audible alerts; pushbutton controls; battery power; and electronic circuitry to receive, store and display data. The portable unit can be programmed with dosage information regarding the particular medication, track when a particular medication has been taken, and sound an alarm when time to take another dose. The portable unit also checks for contraindications and warns of adverse reactions the patient would have with a particular drug or if a particular drug cannot be mixed with another drug presently being taken by the patient. The portable unit can receive, store, and display a patient'"'"'s medical history, which can be downloaded from a PC-type computer loaded with the software application program that allows the computer to receive, store and download information regarding a patient'"'"'s medical history and contraindication table. An enhancement is possible for the blind such that an audible voice informs the patient to take a particular pill number.

Claims

1. A portable medication reminder and contraindication warning apparatus, comprising;

(a) a housing; and

(b) control processor means contained within said housing for storing a medication administration schedule, for storing a medication contraindication table, for activating a medication administration reminder signal responsible to said medication administration schedule, and for activating a medication contraindication warning signal responsible to said medication contraindication table and a change in said medication administration schedule caused by a user'"'"'s delay in or omission of administering a dose of medication.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for providing an audible medication administration reminder signal and an audible medication contraindication warning signal.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for providing a visual medication administration reminder signal and a visual medication contraindication warning signal.

4. A portable medication reminder and warning apparatus, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) control processor means contained within said housing for storing a medication administration schedule, for editing said medication administration schedule, for storing a medication contraindication table, for activating a medication administration reminder signal, and for activating a medication contraindication warning signal caused by a user'"'"'s delay in or omission of administering a dose of medication; and

(c) data interface means for downloading said medication administration schedule and said contraindication table from an external download processor.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising means for providing an audible medication administration reminder signal and an audible medication contraindication warning signal.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 4, further comprising means for providing a visual medication administration reminder signal and a visual medication contraindication warning signal.

7. An apparatus is recited in claim 4, further comprising:

(a) an external download processor; and

(b) an application software program associated with said download processor, said application software program including means for;

(i) inputting, editing and storing said medication contraindication table;

(ii) inputting, editing and storing said medication administration schedule; and

(iii) transferring said contraindication table and said medication administration table to said control processor means.

8. A portable medication reminder and contraindication warning apparatus, comprising:

a housing; and

control processor means contained within said housing for storing a medication administration schedule, for storing a medication contraindication table, for activating a medication administration reminder signal responsible to said medication administration schedule, and for activating a medication contraindication warning signal responsible to said medication contraindication table and a change in said medication administration schedule, wherein said control processor means includes software program means for;

(a) determining from said medication administration schedule whether it is time for a dose of medication to be administered;

(b) activating said medication administration reminder signal when it is time for said dose of medication to be administered;

(c) when said medication administration reminder signal is activated, displaying an option of changing said medication administration schedule and taking said dose of medication at a later time;

(d) testing for a contraindication if a user changes said medication administration schedule; and

(e) activating said contraindication warning signal if a contraindication is found.

9. A portable medication reminder and warning apparatus, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) control processor means contained within said housing for storing a medication administration schedule, for editing said medication administration schedule and for storing a medication contraindication table;

(c) data interface means for downloading said medication administration schedule and said medication contraindication table from an external download processor;

(d) means for providing a medication administration reminder signal and activating a medication contraindication warning signal caused by a user'"'"'s delay or omission of administering a dose of medication; and

(e) data input means for acknowledging said medication administration signal and said medication contraindication warning signal.

10. A portable medication reminder and warning apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

control processor means contained within said housing for storing a medication administration schedule, for editing said medication administration schedule and for storing a medication contraindication table;

data interface means for downloading said medication administration schedule and said medication contraindication table from an external download processor;

means for providing a medication administration reminder signal and a medication contraindication warning signal; and

data input means for acknowledging said medication administration signal and said medication contraindication warning signal;

wherein said control processor means includes software program means for;

(a) determining from said medication administration schedule whether it is time for a dose of medication to be administered;

(b) activating said medication administration reminder signal when it is time for said dose of medication to be administered;

(c) when said medication administration reminder signal is activated, displaying an option of changing said medication administration schedule and taking said dose of medication at a later time;

(d) testing for a contraindication if a user changes said medication administration schedule; and

(e) activating said contraindication warning signal if a contraindication is found.

11. An apparatus is recited in claim 10, further comprising:

(a) an external download processor; and

(b) an application software program associated with said download processor, said application software program including means for;

(i) inputting, editing and storing said contraindication table;

(ii) inputting, editing and storing said medication administration schedule; and

(iii) transferring said contraindication table and said medication administration table to said control processor means.

12. A portable medication reminder and warning apparatus, comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) control processor means contained within said housing for storing a medication administration schedule, for editing such medication administration schedule and for storing a medication contraindication table;

(c) data interface means for downloading said medication administration schedule and said contraindication table from an external download processor;

(d) means for providing an audible medication administration reminder signal and activating an audible medication contraindication warning signal caused by a user'"'"'s delay or omission of administering a dose of medication;

(e) data input means for acknowledging said medication administration signal and said medication contraindication warning signal; and

(f) means for visually displaying data associated with said medication administration schedule.

13. A portable medication reminder and warning apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

control processor means contained within said housing for storing a medication administration schedule, for editing such medication administration schedule and for storing a medication contraindication table;

data interface means for downloading said medication administration schedule and said contraindication table from an external download processor;

means for providing an audible medication administration reminder signal and an audible medication contraindication warning signal;

data input means for acknowledging said medication administration signal and said medication contraindication warning signal; and

means for visually displaying data associated with said medication administration schedule, wherein said control processor means includes software program means for;

(a) determining from said medication administration schedule whether it is time for a dose of medication to be administered;

(b) activating said medication administration reminder signal when it is time for said dose of medication to be administered;

(c) when said medication administration reminder signal is activated, displaying an option of changing said medication administration schedule and taking said dose of medication at a later time;

(d) testing for a contraindication if a user changes said medication administration schedule; and

(e) activating said contraindication warning signal if a contraindication is found.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, further comprising:

(a) an external download processor; and

(b) an application software program associated with said download processor, said application software program including means for;

(i) inputting, editing and storing said contraindication table;

(ii) inputting, editing and storing said medication administration schedule; and

(iii) transferring said contraindication table and said medication administration table to said control processor means.