Device for facilitating compliance with medication regimen

• US 7,957,984 B1
• Filed: 02/28/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anthony Vallone
• Original Assignee: Anthony Vallone
• Inventors: Vallone, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor; Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RANGREJ, SHEETAL
• Application Number:
  US11/712,376
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A device and method for facilitating compliance with a medication regimen are disclosed. The device incorporates an icon set that illustrates concepts relating to the medication regimen in a pictographic form that is easily recognized and comprehended. The device is programmed with medication instructions, and generates medication reminders for the medication instructions by displaying icons from the icon set. The device may additionally display text, play audio, vibrate, send text messages to other devices, etc. The device may accept input from the individual and/or caregiver regarding the medication instructions or the medication events. The device may also contain the medication, control access and dosing of the medication, and administer the medication to the individual. The device may also communicate information regarding the medication regimen to the caregiver, such as prescription renewal requests. This device and method may improve the accuracy and thoroughness of compliance and communication regarding the medication regimen.

Claims

1. A device for facilitating compliance with a medication regimen formulated by a caregiver for an individual, comprising:

an input component configured to receive input representing a medication instruction for the medication regimen;

a medication memory configured to store the medication instruction;

an icon memory containing a medication regimen icon set comprising icons of predominantly pictorial form that are recognizable representations of medication instructions;

a display;

a processor configured to;

receive at least one medication instruction by;

presenting on the display at least one palette comprising a radially arranged set of icons selected from the icon memory that represent options for an aspect of the medication instruction and a label indicating the aspect of the medication instruction, and

upon receiving input from the input component representing a selection in the palette of an icon representing an aspect of a medication instruction, store the medication instruction in the medication memory;

generate a medication reminder message by displaying on the display icons that together depict the medication instruction, where the icons are selected from the medication regimen icon set in the icon memory; and

upon receiving input from the input component representing a medication event annotation that pertains to a medication event associated with the medication instruction, store the medication event annotation in the medication memory;

a communications component for exchanging with the caregiver a medication data set that pertains to the medication regimen;

a medication chamber that contains a medication dose corresponding to the medication instruction, and where the medication reminder message references the medication chamber; and

a detection component that is operably coupled to the medication chamber for detecting compliance of the individual with the medication instruction, and also operably coupled to the communications component for transmitting to the caregiver a medication instruction compliance message that corresponds to the medication instruction.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a chronometer, and where the processor monitors the chronometer to determine when to display the medication reminder message.

3. The device of claim 1, where the input component comprises one or more buttons.

4. The device of claim 3, where the buttons of the input component comprise a hardware keyboard.

5. The device of claim 1, where the input component comprises a pointing device.

6. The device of claim 1, where the input component comprises a touchscreen interface.

7. The device of claim 6, where the touchscreen interface includes a software keyboard.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising:

a handwriting recognition component for translating handwriting input from the touchscreen interface into text input.

9. The device of claim 1, where the input component comprises a microphone, and further comprising an audio recognition component for translating audio input from the microphone into text input.

10. The device of claim 9, where the audio recognition component is a speech recognition component.

11. The device of claim 1, where the input component receives a medication instruction annotation that pertains to the medication instruction.

12. The device of claim 11, where the medication reminder message is supplemented by displaying the medication instruction annotation.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker, and

an audio component for supplementing the medication reminder message by playing audio.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a tactile feedback component for supplementing the medication reminder message by generating a tactile signal.

15. The device of claim 14, where the tactile signal is vibration.

16. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter for supplementing the medication reminder message by transmitting an electronic message to another electronic device.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a medication chamber that contains a medication dose corresponding to the medication instruction, and where the medication reminder message references the medication chamber.

18. The device of claim 17, where the medication dose is loaded into the medication chamber by the individual.

19. The device of claim 17, where the medication dose is loaded into the medication chamber by the caregiver.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

a controllable medication chamber lock, where the processor controls the medication chamber lock to limit access to the medication dose according to the medication instruction.

21. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

a medication dosing component for allocating and dispensing a quantity of the medication according to the medication instruction.

22. The device of claim 17, further comprising:

a medication administration component for administering the medication dose to the individual according to the medication instruction.

23. The device of claim 1, where the medication data set includes a medication instruction.

24. The device of claim 1, where the medication data set includes a medication instruction annotation.

25. The device of claim 1, where the medication data set includes a medication prescription refill message.

26. The device of claim 1, the processor configured to display on the display the icons that together depict the medication instruction in a unit box representing no more than one medication instruction and comprising at least one icon positioned within the unit box according to a template.

27. The device of claim 26:

the medication memory storing a first medication instruction having a first medication event on a date and a second medication instruction having a second medication event on the date; and

the processor configured to display;

a first unit box comprising at least one icon positioned within the unit box according to a template and representing the first medication event of the first medication instruction, and

a second unit box comprising at least one icon positioned within the unit box according to a template and representing the second medication event of the second medication instruction.