Electronic organizer and storage device

• US 6,801,123 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tony George Brakus
• Original Assignee: Tony George Brakus
• Inventors: Brakus, Tony George
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/197,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.16, 340/309.3, 340/309.4, 340/309.7, 340/309.8, 340/309.9, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 368/10, 368/69, 368/109
• US Class Current: 340/309.16
• 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 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• 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 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

An electronic organizer and storage device has a plurality of compartments for storing tablets or capsules, a plurality of preprogrammed prescription cycles, a compliance verification function unit, a prescription cycle verification unit, a multi-color-multi-function indicator for confirming operation functions, a light for each compartment, and an alarm unit, the light unit and the alarm unit being formed so that a light flashes by the light unit adjacent to a corresponding tablet chamber when tablets or capsules are to be taken and at the same time an audible alarm is activated by the alarm unit so as to provide an audible alarm and at the same time visually identify which tablets or capsules to take next; a unit for storing information on missed alarms; a unit for displaying information on missed alarms using a light means and an audible means; and a unit to queue and transfer information on missed alarms to an external computing device.

Claims

1. An electronic organizer and storage device, comprising means forming a plurality of compartments for storing tablets or capsules;

means for providing a plurality of preprogrammed prescription cycles;

means for providing a compliance verification function;

means for providing a prescription cycle verification function;

a multi-color-multi-function indicator for confirming operation functions;

light means provided for each compartment; and

alarm means, said light means and said alarm means being formed so that a light flashes by said light means adjacent to a corresponding compartment when tablets or capsules are to be taken and at the same time an audible alarm is activated by said alarm means so as to provide an audible alarm and at the same time visually identify which tablets or capsules to take next; and

means for storing information on missed alarms; and

means for displaying information on missed alarms.

2. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising means for queuing and transferring information on missed alarms to an external computing device.

3. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 2;

wherein said light means include an inside light element and an outside light element associated with a corresponding one of said compartments so that simultaneously said inside and said outside of light elements flash when tablets or capsules are to be taken.

4. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 3;

and further comprising low tablet compartment indicating means.

5. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 2, wherein said queuing and transferring information means is formed as cable means.

6. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 2, wherein said queuing and transferring information means is formed as wireless means.

7. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising compartment means including a plurality of said compartments, a top housing, two translucent door panel assemblies, a front housing, a back housing, a bottom compartment, formed so that said front housing and said back housing form a first element which snaps together over a circuit board, said top housing forms a second element which snaps onto said front housing and back housing, said door assemblies form a third element which is translucent, said bottom compartment lid forms a fourth element, and said compartment units form a fifth element.

8. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising a housing; and

a plurality of compartment units each having a plurality of said compartments, formed so that said compartments in each of said units are spaced from one another in one direction, while said units are spaced from one another in another direction which is substantially transverse to said one direction, said compartment units being removable from said housing and mountable again on said housing.

9. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising means for adjusting an intensity of an audible alarm produced by said alarm means.

10. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising means for performing a start-up sequence when said compartments are filled so as to eliminate one compartment at a time; and

means for correspondingly flashing a light and producing a sound, so that after the start-up sequence is completed, a sleep mode is entered until a prescription cycle is activated.

11. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 1;

wherein said means for providing preprogrammed prescription cycles is formed so as to provide four different prescription cycles.

12. An electronic organizer and storage device as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising battery operated power means; and

means for verifying whether said battery means are good or not, said battery verifying means including means for providing a light and means for producing a sound.

13. An electronic organizer and storage device, comprising means forming a plurality of compartments for storing tablets or capsules;

means for providing a plurality of preprogrammed prescription cycles;

means for providing a compliance verification function;

means for providing a prescription cycle verification function;

a multi-color-multi-function indicator for confirming operation functions;

light means provided for each compartment; and

alarm means, said light means and said alarm means being formed so that a light flashes by said light means adjacent to a corresponding compartment when tablets or capsules are to be taken and at the same time an audible alarm is activated by said alarm means so as to provide an audible alarm and at the same time visually identify which tablets or capsules to take next; and

means for storing information on missed alarms; and

means for displaying information on missed alarms; and

means for queuing and transferring information on missed alarms to an external computing device, wherein said light means include an inside light element and an outside light element associated with a corresponding one of said compartments so that simultaneously said inside and said outside of light elements flash when tablets or capsules are to be taken;

low tablet compartment indicating means;

means for adjusting an intensity of an audible alarm produced by said alarm means;

means for performing a start-up sequence when said compartments are filled so as to eliminate one compartment at a time; and

means for correspondingly flashing a light and producing a sound, so that after the start-up sequence is completed, a sleep mode is entered until a prescription cycle is activated;

said means for providing preprogrammed prescription cycle being formed so as to provide four different prescription cycles;

battery operated power means; and

means for verifying whether said battery means are good or not, said battery verifying means including means for providing a light and means for producing a sound.