Medication compliance apparatus

• US 6,574,165 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2001
• Issued: 06/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rajiv Sharma, Sunanda Sharma
• Original Assignee: Rajiv Sharma, Sunanda Sharma
• Inventors: Sharma, Rajiv, Sharma, Sunanda
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lindinger, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US09/879,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20020118604A1
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• 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 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 3/02 with mechanical driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 15/006 for operating at a number of different times cigar or cigarette receptacles or boxes with means for limiting the frequency of smoking A24F15/005

Abstract

An apparatus for reminding individuals when to take a medication, in a first embodiment 10 is a mechanical timer with different varieties of pegs 18 disposed to ring an alarm when a medication is to be taken and indicative of the medication by their style. A second embodiment 10A actually dispenses the medication that is required at that time. A third embodiment 56 is in the form of a wrist watch and displays 64 the medication and (any caveats) that is to be taken. A fourth embodiment 56A is pre-programmed so that the patient cannot tamper with the settings. The invention is apt for multi-medication multi-dose time situations.

Claims

1. An apparatus for organising the taking of medication, said apparatus comprising:

clock means, for keeping track of the passage of time;

selection means, for selecting a time when a medication is to be taken;

alarm means, for alerting a user when said clock means reaches the selected time; and

indication means, for identifying the medication to be taken said indication means comprising a peg; and

said selection means comprising a plurality of peg holes for selective insertion of the peg to select a selected time;

said clock means being operative to move said plurality of peg holes to bring the inserted peg into a position actuating said alarm means for said alarm means to alert a user at said selected time.

2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein the medication is one of a plurality of medications, wherein said selected time is one of a plurality of selected times, and wherein the peg is one of a plurality of pegs of different styles, each style being to identify which of said plurality of medications is to be taken at each instance of operation of said alarm means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said indication means includes dispensing means, operative to deliver the medication to be taken at the operation of said alarm means.

4. An apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said dispensing means is operative to retain medication that is not taken at the selected time.

5. An apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said clock means is mec/hanical and operative to move said plurality of peg holes in at least one concentric circular path.

6. An apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said clock means is electro-mechanical and operative to move said plurality of peg holes in at least one concentric circular path.

7. An apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said peg holes accept selectively a plurality of different styles of peg to select a respective time.

8. An apparatus, according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said indication means is operative to receive a plurality of different styles of peg to select any one particular time.

9. An apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said clock means is mechanical and operative to move said plurality of peg holes in at least one concentric circular path.

10. An apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said clock means is mechanical and operative to move said plurality of peg holes in at least one concentric circular path.

11. An apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said clock means is electro-mechanical and operative to move said plurality of peg holes in at least one concentric circular path.

12. An apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said clock means is electro-mechanical and operative to move said plurality of peg holes in at least one concentric circular path.

13. An external processor for use with apparatus for organising the taking of medication, where said apparatus comprises:

an electronic clock for keeping track of the passage of time;

a memory for holding information about patient details and a plurality of medications and a time or times for taking each medication;

an alarm for alerting a user when said clock reaches a time for taking a medication; and

a display for displaying the information concerning the medication when the time arrives to take the medication, said external processor being operative to read the information in said memory;

said external processor being operative to analyse the content of said memory; and

said external processor being operative to display any contra-indications found by the analysis.

14. An external processor, according to claim 13, operative to transfer information to said memory.

15. An external processor, according to claim 14, operative to display the content of said memory.