Remote patient monitoring system with garment and automated medication dispenser

• US 7,122,005 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2002
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry Shusterman
• Original Assignee: Larry Shusterman
• Inventors: Shusterman, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilbert, Samuel G.
• Application Number:
  US10/140,676
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 128920-925, 434/127, 221/2, 221/10, 404/48, 368/10
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/226 comprising means for identifying the connector, e.g. to prevent incorrect connection to socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• 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 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/049 automatically changing in response to a schedule deviation by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

The invention provides an integrated remote patient monitoring system that includes a garment, a monitoring device, and a medication dispensing unit. The garment is adapted for wearing by a patient, and is adapted to house at least one sensor that is in communication with the patient'"'"'s body. The garment includes a connector communicating with the sensor. The monitoring device communicates with the sensor through the connector, and is configured to record signals from the sensor. The monitoring device is also configured to exchange signals representing patient status with a central station. The medication dispensing unit communicates with the monitoring device to receive commands from the monitoring device, and to transfer signals representing the status of medication doses to the monitoring device.

Claims

1. A medication storage device for removably mounting to a medication dispensing unit, comprising:

at least two annular rings, each ring including a plurality of compartments for storing individual doses of medication;

a rotatable disc having a plurality of openings, each of said openings corresponding to at least one of said annular rings; and

at least one memory unit for storing;

a dosing schedule for said individual doses of medication, and

instructions associated with said individual doses of medication.

2. The medication storage device of claim 1, wherein said memory unit is a non-volatile memory.

3. The medication storage device of claim 1, further comprising an identification unit for controlling access to said doses of medication.

4. The medication storage device of claim 1, wherein said device is fillable remote from said medication dispensing unit.

5. The medication device of claim 1, further comprising securing means for preventing unauthorized access to said doses of medication.

6. The medication storage device of claim 1, wherein a first one of said plurality of compartments is visibly marked for indexing said doses of medication in said plurality of compartments.

7. The medication storage device of claim 1 wherein said medication storage device is circular in shape.

8. The medication storage device of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of compartments includes a controlled opening to allow medication to exit each of said plurality of compartments.

9. The medication storage device of claim 8 wherein said controlled opening is controlled by said medication dispensing system.

10. The medication storage device of claim 1 further comprising a cassette containing said plurality of compartments.

11. The medication storage device of claim 10 further comprising a base adapted to contain said cassette.

12. The medication storage device of claim 11 further comprising a removable cover engagable to said base to secure said medication within said cassette.

13. The medication storage device of claim 1 comprising a first annular ring and a second annular ring that surrounds the first annular ring.

14. The medication storage device of claim 13, wherein the rotatable disc has two openings, each of said openings corresponding to at least one of said annular rings.

15. The medication device of claim of claim 1 wherein said memory unit is a computing chip disposed in a protective housing.

16. The medication storage device of claim 1 wherein said individual doses of medication are comprised of one or more different medications and said instructions are associated with at least one of said one or more different medications.

17. The medication storage device of claim 1 wherein said instructions are readable by a medication dispensing system.

18. The medication storage device of claim 1 wherein said instructions are readable by a medication dispensing system capable of communicating said instructions to a user of said medication dispensing system.

19. The medication storage device of claim 1 wherein said instructions are stored in more than one language.

20. The medication storage device of claim 19 wherein said instructions are readable by a medication dispensing system that is capable of selecting which of said more than one language should be communicated to a user of said medication dispensing system.

21. The medication storage device of claim 20 wherein said second memory unit is adapted for storing information associated with a medication dispensing unit.

22. The medication storage device of claim 1 further comprising a second memory unit for storing information associated with the delivery of one or more of said individual doses of medication.

23. The medication storage device of claim 22 wherein said memory unit and said second memory unit are the same.

24. The medication storage device of claim 1 wherein said at least one memory unit is comprised of separate memory units for separately storing said dosing schedule for said individual doses of medication, and said instructions associated with said individual doses of medication.

25. A medication storage device for a medication dispensing unit, comprising:

means for removably mounting said storage device to said medication dispensing unit,

means for storing a plurality of individual doses of medication, said storing means comprising at least two annular rings, each ring including a plurality of compartments for storing individual doses of medication, and a disc that is rotatable relative to the storing means, said disc having a plurality of openings, each of said openings being adapted to align with at least one of said plurality of compartments, and

means for storing a dosage schedule for the stored individual doses of medication.

26. A medication dispensing system comprising:

a medication dispensing unit having a computing means for dispensing individual doses of medication according to a medication dosing schedule; and

a storage unit configured to store a plurality of individual doses of medication and to removably mount to said medication dispensing unit, said storage unit comprising;

a memory unit for storing said medication dosing schedule,

at least two annular rings, each ring including a plurality of compartments for storing said plurality of individual doses of medication, and

a disc that is rotatable relative to said rings, said disc having a plurality of openings, each of said openings being adapted to align with at least one of said plurality of compartments.

27. A medication storage device for removably mounting to a medication dispensing unit, comprising:

a cassette comprising at least two annular rings, each ring having a plurality of compartments for storing individual doses of medication, said cassette further comprising a disc that is rotatable relative to said rings, said disc having a plurality of openings, each of said openings being adapted to align with at least one of said plurality of compartments;

a base for containing said cassette;

a removable cover engagable to said base to secure said medication within said cassette;

a connecting device for removably mounting said medication storage device to said medication dispensing unit; and

a memory unit for storing a dosing schedule for said individual doses of medication.