Alert announcer with remote unit

• US 8,717,851 B1
• Filed: 12/06/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darien Okinza Nurse, Lloyd Cleveland Nurse
• Original Assignee: Darien Okinza Nurse, Lloyd Cleveland Nurse
• Inventors: Nurse, Lloyd Cleveland, Nurse, Darien Okinza
• Primary Examiner(s): Kayes, Sean
• Application Number:
  US12/960,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 368 10- 11, 368/47, 368244-245
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• 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: G04G 13/026 acting at a number of different times
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of an alert announcer system with and without a remote unit which alerts a person at medicine dosing times. The system comprises a primary unit; one or more medication modules, wherein each medication module has a plurality of medicine compartments; one alert device is attached to each medicine container monitored by the system; and optionally a remote unit. Medicine containers each have an alert device attached which executes a dosing schedule appropriate to the medicine in the container and produces an alert at medicine dosing times according to each individual dosing schedule. Medicine containers with attached alert devices are placed in or on the medication modules in predetermined physical locations. Medication modules detect alerts pertaining to each medicine container and transmit those alerts to the primary unit where an amplified sensible alert is generated to alert the user that it is time to take a dose of medicine. The primary unit may relay alerts to remote units or send notification via phone, text, mail or any other electronic means of communication.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a primary unit comprising a first module transmitting channel, the primary unit configured to;

generate a first sensible alert,

receive a module alert signal over the first module transmitting channel, the first sensible alert generated in response to receiving the first module alert signal.

selectively alter an intensity of the first sensible alert, and

record, store, and forward tag data associated with the module alert signal, wherein the tag data is forwarded when the module alert signal is received; and

a medication module comprising a plurality of medicine compartments, each of the plurality of medicine compartments comprising an alert device, each respective alert device located in proximity to or substantially within the respective medicine compartment, the respective medicine compartment configured to detect a second sensible alert emitted by the respective alert device, the medication module configured to transmit the first module alert signal to the primary unit over the first module transmitting channel in response to detecting the second sensible alert, the first module alert signal comprising data indicating that the medication module detected the second sensible alert, wherein

the alert device comprises an electronic timing device configured to execute a dosing schedule appropriate for a medicine and generate the second sensible alert, and

the second sensible alert is generated at medicine dosing times according to the dosing schedule.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

the system additionally comprises a second medication module,

the primary unit additionally comprises a second module transmitting channel and the primary unit is configured to receive a second module alert signal over the second module transmitting channel, and

the second module alert signal comprises data identifying which medication module transmitted the second module alert.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first module alert signal comprises data indicating which medicine compartment detected the second sensible alert.

4. A system, comprising:

a primary unit comprising a first module transmitting channel, the primary unit configured to;

generate a first sensible alert and receive a first module alert signal over the first module transmitting channel, the first sensible alert being generated in response to receiving the first module alert signal,

selectively alter an intensity of the first sensible alert, and

record, store, and forward tag data associated with the module alert signal, wherein the tag data is forwarded when the module alert signal is received; and

a medication module comprising a plurality of medicine compartments, each medicine compartment comprising an alert device, each respective alert device located in proximity to or substantially within the respective medicine compartment, the respective medicine compartment configured to detect a second sensible alert emitted by the respective alert device, the medication module configured to transmit the first module alert signal to the primary unit over the first module transmitting channel in response to receiving the medication alert signal, the first module alert signal comprising data indicating that the medication module detected the medicine alert signal, wherein

the alert device comprises an electronic timing device configured to execute a dosing schedule appropriate for a medicine and generate the medication alert signal, and

the medication alert signal is generated at medicine dosing times according to the dosing schedule.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a second medication module, and the primary unit additionally comprises a second module transmitting channel and is configured to receive a second module alert signal over the second module transmitting channel, the second module alert signal comprising data identifying which medication module transmitted the second module alert.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the first module alert signal comprises data indicating which medicine compartment detected the medication alert signal.

7. A system, comprising:

a remote unit configured to;

receive a remote alert signal,

generate a remote sensible alert, the remote sensible alert generated in response to receiving the remote alert signal, and

selectively alter an intensity of the remote sensible alert;

a primary unit comprising a first module transmitting channel, the primary unit configured to;

transmit the remote alert signal,

receive a first module alert signal over the first module transmitting channel, the remote alert signal transmitted in response to receiving the first module alert signal over the first module transmitting channel,

record, store, and forward tag data associated with the module alert signal, wherein the tag data is included in the remote alert signal,

generate a sensible alert, the sensible alert generated in response to receiving the first module alert signal, and;

selectively alter an intensity of the first sensible alert; and

a medication module comprising a plurality of medicine compartments, each medicine compartment comprising an alert device, each respective alert device located in proximity to or substantially within the respective medicine compartment, the respective medicine compartment configured to detect a second sensible alert emitted by the respective alert device, the medication module configured to transmit the first module alert signal to the primary unit over the first module transmitting channel in response to receiving the medication alert signal the first module alert signal comprising data indicating that the medication module detected the medication alert signal, wherein

the alert device comprises an electronic timing device configured to execute a dosing schedule appropriate for a medicine and to generate the medication alert signal, and

the medicine alert signal is generated at medicine dosing times according to the dosing schedule.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the system additionally comprises a second medication module, and the primary unit additionally comprises a second module transmitting channel and is configured to receive a second module alert signal over the second module transmitting channel, the second module alert signal comprising data identifying which medication module transmitted the second module alert.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first module alert signal comprises data indicating which medication compartment detected the medication alert signal, and the remote alert signal comprises data indicating which medication compartment detected the medication alert signal, the remote alert signal comprising data identifying which medication module transmitted the remote alert signal.

10. A system, comprising:

a primary unit comprising a first module transmitting channel, the primary unit configured to;

generate a first sensible alert,

receive a first module alert signal over the first module transmitting channel, the first sensible alert generated in response to receiving the first module alert signal,

selectively alter an intensity of the first sensible alert, and

record, store, and forward tag data associated with the module alert signal, wherein the tag data is forwarded when the module alert signal is received; and

a medication module comprising a plurality of medicine compartments, each medicine compartment comprising an electronic timing device configured to execute a dosing schedule appropriate for a medicine, each medicine compartment configured to;

generate a sensible medication alert signal, the sensible medication alert signal generated at medicine dosing times according to the dosing schedule,

detect the sensible medication alert signal, and

start and stop the execution of the dosing schedule, wherein

the medication module is configured to transmit the first module alert signal to the primary unit over the first module transmitting channel in response to receiving the sensible medication alert signal, and

the first module alert signal comprises data indicating that the medication module detected the sensible medication alert signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the system additionally comprises a second medication module, and the primary unit additionally comprises a second module transmitting channel, for the primary unit configured to receive a second module alert signal over the second module transmitting channel, the second module alert signal comprising data identifying which medication module transmitted the second module alert.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the first module alert signal comprises data indicating which medication compartment detected the sensible medication alert signal.