Medical dispenser, a blister card for use in the dispenser and a method of dispensing medical doses

• US 7,170,823 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Aardex Group
• Original Assignee: Bang & Olufsen Medicom A/S (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Niels Toft, Fabricius, Paul Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska; Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US10/934,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20050087473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 206/534.1, 206/534.2, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 700/236, 700/242
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0045 using multiple prepacked dosages on a same carrier, e.g. blisters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A medical dispenser being adapted to hold a number of medical doses and being adapted to determine when a user or patient gains access to one or more of the medical doses, the dispenser comprising: means for determining each of a first plurality of points in time or time intervals at which the user or patient should take a medical dose, means for detecting each of a second plurality of points in time where the user or patient gained access to the medical doses, means for providing to the user or patient information relating to a relation between the first and second pluralities, and wherein the providing means are adapted to, if the user gains access to the medication multiple times per point in time or time interval in the first plurality of points in time or time intervals, provide information relating to a relation between the pairs of one of the firs plurality of points in time or time intervals and a first of the second plurality of points in time occurring after the pertaining point in time of the first plurality or within time interval of the first plurality.

Claims

1. A medical dispenser being adapted to hold a number of medical doses and being adapted to determine when a user or patient gains access to one or more of the medical doses, the dispenser comprising:

means for determining each of a first plurality of points in time or time intervals at which the user or patient should take a medical dose,

means for detecting each of a second plurality of points in time where the user or patient gained access to the medical doses,

means for providing to the user or patient information relating to a relation between the first and second pluralities, and

wherein the providing means are adapted to, if the user gains access to the medication multiple times per point in time or time interval in the first plurality of points in time or time intervals, provide information relating to a relation between the pairs of

one of the firs plurality of points in time or time intervals and

a first of the second plurality of points in time occurring after the pertaining point in time of the first plurality or within time interval of the first plurality.

2. A medical dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the relation relates to a time difference between the pairs of the point in time or a starting time of the time interval of the first plurality and the point in time of the second interval.

3. A medical dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the providing means are adapted to provide a relation between a number of times wherein a point in time of the second number occurs within a time interval of the first plurality, and a number of times wherein a point in time of the second number does not occur within a time interval of the first plurality.

4. A medical dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the providing means are adapted to provide, as the information, at least one of a group consisting of

a plurality of predetermined colours to the user, the colour being determined on the basis of the relation,

a plurality of predetermined numbers to the user, the number being determined on the basis of the relation,

one or more of a plurality of predetermined areas of a display visible to the user, the area(s) activated being determined on the basis of the relation,

one of a plurality of predetermined sound signals to the user, the sound signal being determined on the basis of the relation, and

one of a plurality of predetermined graphical images to the user, the image being determined on the basis of the relation.

5. A medical dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising means for informing the user, if a point in time of the second plurality occurs outside a time interval of the first plurality.

6. A method of operating a medical dispenser being adapted to hold a number of medical doses and being adapted to determine when a user or patient gains access to one or more of the medical doses, the method comprising:

determining each of a first plurality of times or time intervals at which the user or patient should take a medical dose,

detecting each of a second plurality of points in time where the user or patient gained access to the medial doses,

providing to the user or patient information relating to a relation between the first and second pluralities, and

wherein the providing step comprises, if the user gains access to the medication multiple times per point in time or time interval in the first plurality of points in time or time intervals, providing information relating to a relation between the pairs of

one of the first plurality of points in time or time intervals and

a first of the second plurality of points in time occurring after the pertaining point in time of the first plurality or within the pertaining time interval of the first plurality.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the relation relates to a time difference between the pairs of the point in time or a starting time of the time interval of the first plurality and the point in time of the second interval.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the providing step comprises providing a relation between a number of times wherein a point in time of the second number occurs within a time interval of the first plurality, and a number of times wherein a point in time of the second number does not occur within a time interval of the first plurality.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the providing step comprises providing, as the information, one of the group consisting of

one of a plurality of predetermined colours to the user, the colour being determined on the basis of the relation.

one of a plurality of predetermined numbers to the user, the number being determined on the basis of the relation.

one or more of a plurality of predetermined areas of a display visible to the user, the area(s) activated being determined on the basis of the relation.

one of plurality of predetermined sound signals to the user, the sound signal being determined on the basis of the relation.

one of a plurality of predetermined graphical images to the user, the image being determined on the basis of the relation.

10. A method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of informing the user, if a point in time of the second plurality occurs outside a time interval of the first plurality.