System to monitor the ingestion of medicines

• US 7,616,111 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2005
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Rankin-Parobek, Donna K., Covannon, Edward, Squilla, John R., Rinas, Eugene R., Blish, Nelson A.
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/156,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20070008112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.12, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/5.92, 340/572.7, 340/572.8, 604/362, 604/59, 604/60, 424/464, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00

Abstract

A system for monitoring ingestion of medicine (21) comprises forming a digestible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (10). The RFID tag is attached to the medicine. The RFID tag and medicine are ingested. A signal from the RFID tag is monitored.

Claims

1. A medication for administration by mouth, comprising:

a medicinal material in a chewable form; and

a fragile RFID tag carried by said medicinal material, said tag being constructed using a conductive material that tolerates handling of said medication prior to administration but enables said RFID tag to cease to respond when chewed.

2. A medication according to claim 1, wherein said form is a lozenge.

3. A medication according to claim 1, wherein said form is a glycol strip.

4. A medication according to claim 1, wherein said tag comprises an antenna made from said conductive material and said conductive material is selected from the group copper, gold, silver and conductive polymer to enable destruction of said antenna when chewed.