Methods and apparatus for medicament tracking

• US 8,112,175 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Helene Laliberte, Michael Handfield
• Original Assignee: Helene Laliberte, Michael Handfield
• Inventors: Handfield, Michael, Laliberte, Helene
• Primary Examiner(s): Waggoner, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US11/841,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20080140251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 700/236, 700/240, 700/241, 700/244
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/24 Rotary or oscillatory members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/38 in which the magazines are horizontal
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/62 in which the articles are stored in compartments in fixed receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for medicament tracking are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, medicaments are initially stored within secure medicament containers. One or more containers comprise a radio frequency identification module or another electromagnetic transmitter adapted to generate tracking signals. Optionally, the tracking signals may be transmitted according to one or more anti-collision protocols in order to reduce and/or prevent interference with other transmitted signals. Electromagnetic readers situated at one or more locations verify when the medicament containers are proximate to those readers. In some embodiments, once the medicament containers have successfully been tracked to a target location, inventory and tracking data may be updated within one or more external devices.

Claims

1. A portable medicament tray comprising:

a housing;

a storage compartment contained within the housing for storing a plurality of medicaments;

a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing and adapted to dispense said plurality of medicaments from the storage compartment; and

a radio frequency (RF) communication module contained within the housing and adapted to transmit a signal to one or more remote devices, wherein the RF communication module implements an anti-collision routine and wherein the signal is used to track a location of the medicament dispensing tray during transit between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy, and wherein the portable medicament tray is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of portable medicament trays.

2. The medicament tray of claim 1, wherein the RF communication module comprises a storage unit adapted to store data pertaining to the plurality of medicaments stored within the housing.

3. The medicament tray of claim 2, wherein the RF communication module further comprises an output pin, and wherein at least a portion of the data pertaining to the plurality of medicaments stored within the housing is adapted to be communicated to a remote device via the output pin.

4. A trackable medicament container comprising:

a housing;

a compartment contained within the housing, wherein the compartment is adapted to store a plurality of medicaments;

a memory module contained within the housing and adapted to store data, wherein at least a portion of the data comprises tracking data associated with the plurality of medicaments, wherein the tracking data is used to track a location of the medicament dispensing tray during transit between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy, and wherein the tracking data is utilized in an anti-collision routine; and

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter contained within the housing and adapted to transmit the tracking data to an external device, and wherein the medicament container is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of medicament containers.

5. The medicament container of claim 4, wherein the RF transmitter is adapted to be powered by a battery.

6. The medicament container of claim 4, wherein the RF transmitter is adapted to be powered via an electrical connection to a medicament dispenser.

7. The medicament container of claim 4, wherein the RF transmitter is adapted to be powered by an external electromagnetic field.

8. The medicament container of claim 7, wherein the external electromagnetic field is generated by an external device.

9. A portable medication containing apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a compartment contained within the housing and adapted to receive a plurality of medicaments;

a dispensing mechanism contained within the housing and adapted to dispense the plurality of medicaments from the compartment; and

a radio frequency identification tag contained within the housing and adapted to transmit tracking data associated with the plurality of medicaments to an external reader, wherein the tracking data is used to track the apparatus during transit, between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy, wherein the tracking data is utilized in an anti-collision routine, and wherein the apparatus is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of portable medication containing apparatuses.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises a memory module adapted to store data indicating a type of medicament stored within the compartment.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises a memory module adapted to store data indicating a medical practitioner who prescribed a medicament.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises a memory module adapted to store data indicating a patient designated to receive the plurality of medicaments.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification tag comprises a memory module adapted to store data indicating a pharmacy from which the plurality of medicaments was purchased.

14. A medicament containing device comprising:

a container disposed within a housing, wherein the container is adapted to store a plurality of medicaments;

a dispenser disposed within the housing and adapted to dispense the plurality of medicaments from the container; and

a radio frequency (RF) communication module contained within the housing and adapted to transmit a signal to an external reader, wherein the signal is adapted to facilitate determining a location of the device during transit, between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy, wherein the signal is adapted to be transmitted according to an anti-collision protocol, and wherein the medicament containing device is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of medicament containing devices.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the RF communication module comprises a smart card.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the RF communication module comprises an infrared receiver.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the RF communication module comprises a Bluetooth device.

18. A portable medication containing apparatus comprising:

a casing comprising a first area adapted to contain a plurality of medicaments;

a dispensing module contained within the casing and adapted to dispense the plurality of medicaments from the first area; and

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter contained within the casing and adapted to transmit a signal to an external device, wherein receipt of the signal by an external device is used to facilitate tracking the apparatus during transit between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy, and implement an anti-collision routine, and wherein the apparatus is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of portable medication containing apparatuses.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the external device is located at a hospital.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the external device is located at a pharmacy.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the external device comprises a wireless receiver.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the external device comprises a radio frequency identification module.

23. A portable medicament container, comprising:

a housing containing a storage area adapted to store a plurality of medicaments;

a dispensing member adapted to transport a medicament from the storage area to an outlet formed within the housing; and

a radio frequency (RF) transmitter disposed within the housing, wherein the RF transmitter is adapted to transmit a tracking signal over a first frequency, wherein the tracking signal is adapted to identify the plurality of medicaments stored within the housing when the medicament container is in transit between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy, wherein the tracking signal is adapted to be transmitted according to an anti-collision protocol, and wherein the medicament container is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of portable medicament containers.

24. The medicament container of claim 23, wherein the transmitter is further adapted to temporally modulate the tracking signal in order to reduce signal interference.

25. The medicament container of claim 23, wherein the first frequency comprises 13.68 MHz.

26. The medicament container of claim 23, wherein the transmitter is adapted to determine a time slot to transmit the tracking signal, wherein the time slot is selected so as to minimize interference with tracking signals transmitted from other medicament containers.

27. A portable medication containing device comprising:

a container adapted to house a plurality of medicaments within a first compartment;

a memory module disposed within the container and adapted to store data pertaining to the plurality of medicaments housed within the first compartment;

a dispensing mechanism disposed within the container and adapted to dispense medicaments from the first compartment; and

a radio frequency (RF) communications module disposed within the container and adapted to transmit the data to a remote device, wherein at least a portion of the data is adapted to facilitate tracking the device during transit between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy, wherein the tracking data is utilized in an anti-collision routine, and wherein the device is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of portable medication containing devices.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the data comprises shipping information.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the data comprises patient information.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the data comprises a name of a distributor of the medicaments.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein the data comprises emergency contact information.

32. A trackable medicament container comprising:

a housing comprising an enclosure adapted to store a plurality of medicaments;

an antenna;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver disposed within the housing and adapted to transmit tracking data to a remote module via the antenna, wherein the module utilizes the tracking data in an anti-collision routine and to track the medicament container during transit between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy; and

a memory module adapted to store the tracking data, wherein the medicament container is configured to be placed within a dispensing apparatus capable of receiving a plurality of trackable medicament containers.

33. The medicament container of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is situated outside of the housing.

34. The medicament container of claim 32 further comprising a programmable logic array adapted to process requests for updating data stored within the memory module.

35. The medicament container of claim 32 further comprising a serial interface connected to the RF transceiver and adapted to communicatively couple the medicament container with the dispensing apparatus.

36. The medicament container of claim 35, wherein the serial interface comprises a set of contact terminals.

37. A method of tracking a medicament dispensing tray, the method comprising:

incorporating a RF transmitter within the medicament dispensing tray, wherein the RF transmitter is adapted to generate electromagnetic signals which may be used by an external device to determine that the medicament dispensing tray has arrived at a first location, wherein the first location is between a manufacturer of a plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy;

storing the plurality of medicaments within the medicament dispensing tray; and

transporting the medicament dispensing tray to the first location according to an anti-collision protocol, wherein the medicament dispensing tray is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of medicament dispensing trays.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said RF transmitter comprises a Bluetooth device.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said RF transmitter comprises a smart-card.

40. The method of claim 37, wherein said RF transmitter comprises a full-duplex electromagnetic communication device.

41. A method of tracking a medicament container, the method comprising:

providing a medicament container with a radio frequency (RF) communication device adapted to generate electromagnetic signals upon receipt of an electromagnetic stimulus;

providing the electromagnetic stimulus at a first location, wherein the first location is between a manufacturer of a plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy;

determining whether the medicament container is proximate to the first location based upon receipt of the electromagnetic signals generated by the communication device; and

adapting the electromagnetic signals to implement an anti-collision protocol, wherein the medicament container is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of medicament containers.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising updating a set of tracking data stored within an external device upon determining that the medicament container is proximate to the first location.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the first location comprises a hospital.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the first location comprises a pharmacy.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the first location comprises a medicament dispensing machine.

46. A method of tracking a medicament container to a first location, the method comprising:

providing a radio frequency (RF) communication device within a medicament container;

configuring the RF communication device to generate a tracking signal according to an anti-collision protocol; and

determining whether the tracking signal has been received at the first location, wherein the first location is between a manufacturer of a plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy, wherein the medicament container is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of medicament containers.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the tracking signal is transmitted in an allocated time slot in order to reduce interference with other transmitted signals.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the tracking signal is transmitted at an allocated frequency in order to reduce interference with other transmitted signals.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein said RF communication device comprises a wireless communication device.

50. A method of providing tracking data associated with a medicament container to an external device, the method comprising:

receiving at a radio frequency (RF) communication module disposed within the medicament container an electromagnetic stimulus;

accessing tracking data stored within a memory module disposed within the medicament container in response to receiving the electromagnetic stimulus, wherein the tracking data is accessed during transport of the medicament container between a manufacturer of the plurality of medicaments and a pharmacy; and

transmitting the tracking data to the external device according to an anti-collision protocol, wherein the medicament container is configured to be placed within a medicament dispensing machine capable of receiving a plurality of medicament containers.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the external device comprises a computer.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the external device comprises a server.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the external device comprises a network device.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the external device comprises a radio frequency identification reader.