Prescription compliance device and method of using device

• US 7,944,342 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2009
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bareholdtech LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Ronald D. Sekura
• Inventors: Sekura, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US12/610,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.4, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 368/10
• US Class Current: 340/309.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• 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: 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 prescription compliance device which aids patients in complying with instructions given by a physician for taking prescription medication. The device reminds a patient when the next dose of medication is to be taken and indicates whether a specified dose has been taken. The device includes a microcontroller, a display, a program memory for storing pre-programmed medication-taking regimens for single and multiple medications, a real time clock, a selector for selecting one of the regimens and for programming the device as to the time and day on which a first dose of medication is to be taken, a display which alternately displays the current time and a time at which a next dose of medication is to be taken and an alarm which alerts the patient at times when a dose of medication is to be taken. The selector includes an event switch which is activated by the patient after taking a dose of medication so as to record the taking of medication and to cause the microcontroller to effect the display of the next time at which a dose of medication is to be taken. A memory may also be included to record the times at which a patient takes doses of medication. The device also includes a remote programming feature via a wireless link.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating patient compliance to medical therapy, comprising:

measuring therapy compliance of a patient using a device connected to a base station via a wireless connection;

transmitting the therapy compliance measurements to the base station via the wireless connection;

storing the therapy compliance measurements at the base station;

evaluating patient compliance at the base station based on the stored therapy compliance measurements;

identifying instances in the evaluating in which patient compliance meets predetermined compliance requirements; and

sending a notification, about one or more of the instances, to a party based on patient compliance such that action can be taken by the party.

4. The method for facilitating patient compliance to medical therapy according to claim 1, further comprising:

performing appropriate action based on patient compliance in response to the notification.

5. The method for facilitating patient compliance to medical therapy according to claim 4, wherein the appropriate action includes taking action which benefits the patient.

2. A patient compliance facilitating system, comprising:

a monitoring device for facilitating patient compliance to medical therapy, including;

a measuring unit configured to measure therapy compliance of a patient,

a communication unit configured to connect to a base station and to transmit the therapy compliance measurements to the base station; and

the base station, including;

a base station wireless communication unit configured to connect wirelessly to the monitoring device and to receive the therapy compliance measurements,

a storage unit configured to store the received therapy compliance measurements,

an evaluation unit configured to evaluate patient compliance based on the stored therapy compliance measurements and identify instances in which patient compliance meets predetermined compliance requirements, and

a notification unit configured to notify, about one or more of the instances, a party based on patient compliance such that action can be taken by the party.

6. The patient compliance facilitating system according to claim 2, wherein the connection is one of a wireless connection.

3. A monitoring device for facilitating patient compliance to medical therapy, comprising:

a measuring unit configured to measure therapy compliance of a patient; and

a communication unit configured to connect to a base station which stores the therapy compliance measurements at the base station, evaluates patient compliance at the base station based on the stored therapy compliance measurements, identifies instances in the evaluating in which patient compliance meets predetermined compliance requirements and sends a notification, about one or more of the instances, to a party based on patient compliance such that action can be taken by the party, and to transmit the therapy compliance measurements to the base station.

7. The monitoring device according to claim 3, wherein the connection is one of a wireless connection.

8. A method for facilitating patient compliance to medical therapy, comprising:

determining, at a server, a therapy regimen for a patient using a device connected to the server via a wireless connection;

transmitting via the wireless connection, from the server to the device, therapy regimen data generated based on the therapy regimen determined by the determining;

configuring the device based on the therapy regimen data received via the wireless connection; and

alerting the patient of events in the therapy regimen using the device which is connected to the server via the wireless connection and is configured based on the therapy regimen data.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising:

measuring therapy regimen compliance of the patient using the device connected to the server via the wireless connection;

transmitting the therapy regimen compliance measurements to the server via the wireless connection;

storing the therapy regimen compliance measurements at the server;

evaluating patient compliance at the server based on the stored therapy regimen compliance measurements;

identifying instances in the evaluating in which patient compliance meets predetermined compliance requirements; and

sending a notification, about one or more of the instances, to a party based on patient compliance such that action can be taken by the party.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the determining the therapy regimen for the patient further comprises generating the events of therapy regimen via a displayed wizard.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sending step further comprises sending the notification to a party in response to the patient compliance crossing a predetermined threshold.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the device is a NexDose device.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the events in the therapy regimen include an instruction to take a medication.

14. The method according to claim 13, where the instruction to take the medication includes visual or audio representations of the medication.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the events in the therapy regimen include reminders regarding medical appointments.

16. The method according to claim 8, wherein the device is one of a cellular phone, a music device, a portable data assistant or a portable computer.

17. A patient compliance facilitating system, comprising:

a server, including;

a determination unit configured to obtain a therapy regimen for a patient,

a wireless communication unit configured to connect wirelessly to a monitoring device of the patient, to transmit therapy regimen data corresponding to the therapy regimen to the monitoring device, and to receive therapy regimen compliance measurements from the monitoring device,

a storage unit configured to store the received therapy compliance measurements,

an evaluation unit configured to evaluate patient compliance based on the stored therapy compliance measurements and identify instances in which patient compliance meets predetermined compliance requirements, and

a notification unit configured to notify, about one or more of the instances, a party based on patient compliance such that action can be taken by the party; and

the monitoring device for facilitating patient compliance to medical therapy, including;

a configuration unit which configures the monitoring device based on received therapy regimen data,

an alerting unit configured to alert the patient accessing the device of events in the therapy regimen,

a measuring unit configured to measure therapy regimen compliance of the patient, and

a communication unit configured to connect wirelessly to the server, to receive the therapy regimen data from the server, and to transmit the therapy regimen compliance measurements to the server.