Digital prescription carrier and monitor system

• US 6,985,869 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nextmed, LLC
• Original Assignee: Nextmed, LLC
• Inventors: Schmidt, Karl P., Stoll, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOSOWSKI, CAROLYN M
• Application Number:
  US09/489,982
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3, 702/177, 340/309.3, 340/4, 340/15, 221/3, 380/30, 600300-301, 368/10
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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 digital prescription carrier and monitor system includes a pager sized carrier apparatus with an internal processor, a real-time clock/calendar, non-volatile memory, a communication port, a character display, and alert devices. Prescription data for one or more medications is stored within the carrier by a physician and downloaded by a pharmacist to fill the prescriptions called for. The carrier apparatus requires the entry of an decryption key to access prescription data within the carrier to prevent unauthorized access or tampering with the prescription data. The carrier apparatus also functions as a prescription reminder to the patient and records compliance with the prescription, since a switch must be operated to quiet an alert device activated when a scheduled medication dose is due.

Claims

1. A method for conveying a prescribed medication to a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a digital prescription carrier including a read/write memory and an infrared communication interface;

encrypting prescription data defining a prescription so that the data would be indecipherable without appropriate computer decryption software;

uploading, by a prescriber, the prescription data into said carrier through said interface, said prescription calling for the use of a selected medication of a selected dosage on a selected schedule;

transferring said carrier by a patient to a pharmacy;

downloading said prescription data from said carrier through said interface at said pharmacy;

decrypting said prescription data from indecipherable form into a form that would be decipherable;

and

filling said prescription at said pharmacy;

wherein,

the uploading and downloading steps are each accomplished by a data transfer that occurs without physical contact.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of entering a first access code into said carrier to enable access to said prescription data prior to said uploading step.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2, further including the step of entering a second access code into said carrier to enable access to said prescription data prior to said downloading step.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2, further including the steps of:

endowing a prescriber with the first access code;

updating, by a prescriber, of prescription information including at least one of

deleting a piece of stored prescription data;

adding a new piece of stored prescription data;

changing a piece of stored prescription data;

endowing the pharmacist with the second access code; and

,

updating, by the pharmacist, of prescription information including at least one of

noting the filling of a prescription;

reducing the number of refills remaining for a piece of stored prescription data;

or,

updating patient information.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of:

(a) operating a digital clock/calendar within said carrier to generate internal values of time and date;

(b) providing said carrier with a prescription compliance switch interfaced to said clock/calendar;

(c) operating said compliance switch by a patient upon taking a medication specified by said prescription; and

(d) storing in a compliance memory within said carrier respective values of time and date occurring upon operation of said compliance switch.

6. A method as set fort in claim 5, further including the steps of:

(a) providing said carrier with an annunciator or element,

(b) entering into said carrier by said pharmacist schedule data defining a prescription schedule comprising a plurality of sets of schedule times and dates at which a patient is to take a medication specified by prescription;

(c) periodically comparing within said carrier said internal values of fine and date with said schedule times and dates; and

(d) activating said annunciator element upon said internal values of time and date matching a set of said schedule time and schedule date.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, further including the steps of:

(a) uploading prescription data defining a plurality of prescriptions for a plurality of medications into said carrier through said interface;

(b) downloading said prescription data through said interface; and

(c) filling each of said prescriptions defined by said prescription data.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of entering a second access code into said carrier to enable access to said prescription data prior to said downloading step.

14. A method as set forth in claim 7, further including the steps of:

(a) uploading, by a physician, prescription data defining a plurality of prescriptions for a plurality of medications to be taken on a plurality of schedules into said carrier through said interface;

(b) downloading, by a pharmacist, said prescription data through said interface; and

(c) filling each of said prescriptions defined by said prescription data.

9. A method for conveying a prescribed medication to a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a digital prescription carrier including a read/write memory and a communication interface;

entering a first access code into said carrier to enable software access thereto;

uploading prescription data defining a prescription, said data being in a wholly intangible digital form, into said carrier through said interface, said prescription calling for the use of a selected medication of a selected dosage on a selected schedule;

encrypting said prescription data so that said data would be indecipherable without appropriate computer decryption software;

transferring said carrier by a patient to a pharmacy;

entering a second access code into said carrier to enable software access thereto;

downloading said prescription data, said data being in a wholly intangible digital form, from said carrier through said interface at said pharmacy;

decrypting the prescription data to convert the data into an intelligible form; and

filling said prescription by said pharmacist.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9, further including the steps of:

(a) operating a digital clock/calendar within said carrier to generate internal values of time and date;

(b) providing said carrier with a prescription compliance switch interfaced to said clock/calendar;

(c) operating said compliance switch by a patient upon taking a medication specified by said prescription; and

(d) storing in a compliance memory within said carrier respective values of time and date occurring upon operation of said compliance switch.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10, further including the steps of:

(a) providing said carrier with an annunciator element;

(b) entering into said carrier by said pharmacist schedule data defining a prescription schedule comprising a plurality of sets of schedule times and dates at which a patient is to take a medication specified by said prescription;

(c) periodically comparing within said carrier said internal values of time and date with said schedule times and dates; and

(d) activating said annunciator element upon said internal values of time and date matching a set of said schedule time and schedule date.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 wherein said annunciator element includes a vibrating element.

13. A method as set forth in claim 9, wherein said communication interface includes an infrared data communication interface.

15. A method as set forth in claim 9, further including the steps of:

(a) providing said carrier with an annunciator element;

(b) enter into said carrier, by said pharmacist for each of said prescriptions, schedule data defining a respective prescription schedule comprising a plural of sets of schedule times and dates at which a patient is to take a medication specified by the respective prescription;

(c) periodically comparing within said carrier said internal values of time and date with said schedule times and dates; and

(d) activating said annunciator element upon said internal values of time and date matching a set of said schedule time and date.

16. A digital prescription carrier apparatus comprising:

a carrier housing;

a central processing unit (CPU) positioned within said housing;

a display device positioned on said housing, interfaced to said CPU, and capable of displaying alphanumeric characters;

input/output (I/O) interface circuitry positioned in said housing and interfaced to said CPU, said I/O circuit being capable of interfacing said CPU to an external computer to exchange data therewith;

data memory circuitry positioned within said housing;

encrypting software for scrambling prescription data that represents a prescription into a form that is unintelligible and unreadable, said encrypting software further capable of converting encrypted prescription data to a readable form; and

,

prescription software stored in said memory to be processed by said CPU,

wherein, the CPU and the I/O circuitry cooperate to enable

uploading, by a prescriber, of the prescription data into said memory circuitry, and

downloading of said prescription data at a pharmacy.

17. A digital prescription carrier apparatus as set forth in claim 16, further including:

(a) a real-time clock/calendar positioned within said housing and interfaced to said CPU;

(b) an alert device positioned within said housing and interfaced to said CPU; and

(c) said prescription software cooperating with said prescription data, said clock/calendar, and said alert device to cause activation of said alert device when a dose of medication prescribed by said prescription data is to be taken.

18. A digital prescription carrier apparatus as set forth in claim 17, further including:

(a) a compliance switch positioned on said housing and interfaced to said CPU; and

(b) said prescription software cooperating with said compliance switch to record in said data memory circuitry an occurrence of the operation of said compliance switch subsequent to activation of said alert device.

19. A digital prescription carrier apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said alert device includes at least one of:

(a) a sonic alert device interfaced to said CPU;

or

(b) a vibrating alert device interfaced to said CPU.

20. A digital prescription carrier apparatus as set forth in claim 16, further including:

(a) a plurality of key switches positioned on said housing and interfaced to said CPU;

(b) said prescription software causing uploaded prescription data to generate a schedule of dose times for a medication represented by said prescription data; and

(c) operation of said key switches enabling review of said schedule of dose times for said medication in cooperation with said display device.

21. A digital prescription carrier apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said I/O interface circuitry includes an infrared data link.