Remotely-executed medical therapy device

• US 8,751,039 B1
• Filed: 09/03/2013
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whenmed VC LLC
• Original Assignee: Remedev, Inc.
• Inventors: Macoviak, John A., Macoviak, Richard L., Macoviak, James J., Kahatt, Espir G.
• Primary Examiner(s): WAGGONER, TIMOTHY R
• Application Number:
  US14/017,188
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/22, 705/28, 705/7.25, 705/7.31, 700/236, 700/237, 700/240, 700/241, 700/244
• US Class Current: 700/244
• 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: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

Described are systems for providing remote medical therapy to a subject by dispensing one or more medical items from a short-term inventory of medical items. The inventory of medical items is risk profiled based on probability calculation of health or economic risk to a subject, a population, a venue, or a situation in advance of need for the medical items. In some embodiments, the system comprises a digital processing device, an apparatus for dispensing the one or more medical items, and a connector device, with a memory, that facilitates communication between the digital processing device and the dispensing apparatus.

Claims

1. A device comprising a memory, the device further comprising:

a. a housing;

b. at least one means for communicating with a non-refillable, disposable apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from a short-term inventory of medical items, the inventory of medical items risk profiled based on probability calculation of health or economic risk to a subject in advance of need for the medical items, the short-term inventory of medical items consisting essentially of a less than one week supply of a medication;

c. at least one means for communicating with a technology device; and

d. a software module enabling communications between the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from a short-term inventory of medical items and the technology device, the software module enabling communications configured to receive billing information from the means for communicating with the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items upon development of need for the medical items by the subject and transmit the billing information via the technology device to effectuate billing for the one or more medical items upon development of need for the medical items.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic stripe reader.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the at least one means for communicating with an apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items is a magnetic stripe reader.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one means for communicating with an apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items is a connector selected from:

data port, audio jack, microphone jack, Ethernet, FireWire, mini-USB, micro-USB, USB Type A, and USB Type B.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the connector is reversibly retractable within the housing or swivels about an axis with respect to the housing.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one means for communicating with an apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items is a wireless interface selected from:

Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, near field communication, radio-frequency identification, and infrared.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a confirmation component, the confirmation component indicating if a correct apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items is in communication with the device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the confirmation component provides visual confirmation, audible confirmation, tactile confirmation, or a combination thereof.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the technology device is a computer, a mobile device, a hard wired telephone, a set top box, an internet appliance, or medical diagnostic device.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the technology device is a networked device including a software module for securely accessing one or more electronic health records for the subject.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one means for communicating with a technology device is a connector selected from:

data port, audio jack, microphone jack, Ethernet, FireWire, mini-USB, micro-USB, USB Type A, and USB Type B.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the connector is reversibly retractable within the housing or swivels about an axis with respect to the housing.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one means for communicating with a technology device is a wireless interface selected from:

Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, near field communication, radio-frequency identification, and infrared.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising a software module for remote monitoring of the device by a telemedical care provider in a healthcare encounter.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the telemedical care provider is selected from the group consisting of:

a physician, a pharmacist, a dentist, a physician assistant, a nurse practitioner, a registered nurse, a pharmacist, a chiropractor, an emergency medical technician, a licensed practical nurse, a certified ultrasound technician, a psychologist, a social worker, a military medic, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, a radiology technician, a cardiac catheterization technician, a clinical pathology laboratory technician, a medical aesthetician, a licensed medical technologist, a toxicologist consultant, a credentialed medical legal consultant, a credentialed hospital operations administrator, veterinarian or a veterinary nurse, assistant, or technician.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the telemedical care provider is the subject'"'"'s primary care physician.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the subject'"'"'s primary care physician selects at least one adjunct healthcare provider identified or selected based on one or more of:

type of patient'"'"'s condition, severity of patient'"'"'s condition, patient'"'"'s insurance eligibility, and availability of one or more adjunct healthcare providers.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one adjunct healthcare provider is credentialed by the subject'"'"'s primary care provider to provide:

remote diagnosis and therapy, telemedical services, urgent care services, outpatient services, acute care services, pharmacy services, insurance services to the subject, or a combination thereof.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising a software module for identifying a subject.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising a biosensor.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the inventory of medical items is risk profiled by determining a statistical level of likelihood that the items will be needed within 2 years, within 1 year, within 6 months, within 1 month, within 2 weeks, within 1 week, or within 1 day.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein risk profiling analysis comprises performing statistical analysis, performing probability calculations, making recommendations, and making outcome predictions to predict a health or economic outcome of a patient or therapy, wherein said prediction is real-time, individualized, and probabilistic-based and uses historic, peer-reviewed health or economic data and emerging health or economic data.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein the inventory of medical items comprises items that require a prescription from a licensed healthcare provider.

24. A system comprising:

a. a non-refillable, disposable apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from a short-term inventory of medical items, the inventory of medical items risk profiled based on probability calculation of future health or economic risk to a subject in advance of need for the medical items, the short-term inventory of medical items consisting essentially of a less than one week supply of a medication; and

b. a connector device comprising;

i. at least one means for communicating with the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from a short-term inventory of medical items;

ii. at least one means for communicating with a technology device; and

iii. a software module enabling communications between the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from a short-term inventory of medical items and the technology device, the software module enabling communications configured to receive billing information from the means for communicating with the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items upon development of need for the medical items by the subject and transmit the billing information via the technology device to effectuate billing for the one or more medical items upon development of need for the medical items.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items comprises a magnetic stripe reader.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the connector device or the technology device comprises a software module for providing instantaneous encounter-specific financial insurance coverage, wherein said insurance includes a level of guarantee and an associated premium.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items comprises one or more tamper-proof or child-proof elements.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items comprises one or more of:

a removable, opaque sleeve;

a tamper-proof or child-proof opening mechanism;

a tamper-proof or child-proof protective wrapper; and

remote monitoring by a live, remote telemedical care provider.

29. A device comprising a memory, the device further comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a communications connection for communicating with a non-refillable, disposable apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from a short-term inventory of medical items, the inventory of medical items risk profiled based on probability calculation of future health or economic risk to a subject in advance of need for the medical items, the short-term inventory of medical items consisting essentially of a less than one week supply of a medication;

c. a communications connection for communicating with a technology device, the technology device comprising a software module for remote monitoring of the device by a telemedical care provider;

d. a software module enabling communications between a connected apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items from an inventory of medical items and a connected technology device, the software module enabling communications configured to receive billing information from the communications connection for communicating with the apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items upon development of need for the medical items and transmit the billing information via the technology device to effectuate billing for the one or more medical items upon development of need for the medical items; and

e. a confirmation component, the confirmation component indicating if the correct apparatus for dispensing one or more medical items is in communication with the device.