Computational systems and methods for monitoring medication events

• US 8,797,167 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Bangera, Mahalaxmi Gita, Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US13/593,840
• Publication Number:
  US 20140055268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.12, 340/309.16, 600/300, 368/10, 705/2
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Computer-based systems and computer-implemented methods are described for monitoring medication events for an individual. Computer-based systems include systems for monitoring medication events relating to an individual, including: circuitry for analyzing data for an identifier of a first medication event for an individual; circuitry for analyzing the data for at least one attribute of an individual; circuitry for analyzing the data for at least one attribute relating to a medication during the first medication event; circuitry for analyzing the data for at least one feature of visual information and at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event; circuitry for analyzing the received data for a time associated with the first medication event; circuitry for determining a compliance likelihood for the first medication event based on the analyses of the received data; and circuitry for indicating the determined compliance likelihood.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring medication events relating to an individual, comprising:

circuitry for analyzing received data for an identifier of a first medication event for an individual;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one attribute of an individual;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one attribute relating to a medication during the first medication event;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for a time associated with the first medication event;

circuitry for determining a compliance likelihood for the first medication event based on the analyses of the received data; and

circuitry for indicating the determined compliance likelihood for the first medication event.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for analyzing the received data for an identifier of a first medication event for an individual comprises:

circuitry for analyzing the received data for an identifier that includes at least one non-visual information feature.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one attribute of the individual comprises:

circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one attribute of the individual;

circuitry for comparing the at least one attribute of the individual with a set of attribute parameters for an expected individual; and

circuitry for determining, based on the comparison, an attribute score for the at least one attribute of the individual.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one attribute relating to a medication during the first medication event comprises:

circuitry for associating the identifier of the first medication event with an expected medication;

circuitry for retrieving one or more specific identifiers associated with the expected medication;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for the presence or absence of at least one of the one or more specific identifiers; and

circuitry for indicating the presence or absence of the expected medication based on the analysis.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event comprises:

circuitry for identifying a visual information component of the received data;

circuitry for comparing the identified visual information component of the received data with at least one visual information parameter; and

circuitry for determining a likelihood of sufficiency for the visual information component of the received data based on the comparison.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event comprises:

circuitry for analyzing the received data for the at least one feature of the non-visual information including auditory information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event comprises:

circuitry for identifying a non-visual information component of the received data;

circuitry for comparing the identified non-visual information component of the received data with at least one non-visual information parameter; and

circuitry for determining a likelihood of sufficiency for the non-visual information component of the received data based on the comparison.

8. The system of claim 1, comprising:

circuitry for comparing the determined compliance likelihood for the first medication event to a determined compliance likelihood for a second medication event for the individual;

circuitry for comparing the determined compliance likelihood for the first medication event and the determined compliance likelihood for the second medication event to a compliance goal for the individual; and

circuitry for indicating the comparison.

9. The system of claim 1, comprising:

circuitry for comparing the analyses with a set of standard analysis parameters for a standard medication event;

circuitry for determining, based on the comparison, if the analyses are within the standard analysis parameters for the standard medication event; and

circuitry for indicating the determination.

10. The system of claim 1, comprising:

circuitry for analyzing received data for an identifier of a second medication event for the individual;

circuitry for analyzing received data for the at least one attribute of the individual;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for the at least one attribute relating to a medication during the second medication event;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of visual information relating to the individual during the second medication event;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the second medication event;

circuitry for analyzing the received data for a time associated with the second medication event;

circuitry for determining the compliance likelihood for the second medication event based on the analyses of the received data; and

circuitry for indicating the determined compliance likelihood for the second medication event.

11. A computer-readable storage medium including executable instructions for monitoring medication events relating to an individual, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for analyzing received data for an identifier of a first medication event for an individual;

instructions for analyzing the received data for at least one attribute of an individual;

instructions for analyzing the received data for at least one attribute relating to a medication during the first medication event;

instructions for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event;

instructions for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event;

instructions for analyzing the received data for a time associated with the first medication event;

instructions for determining a compliance likelihood for the first medication event based on the analyses of the received data; and

instructions for indicating the determined compliance likelihood for the first medication event.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for analyzing the received data for the at least one attribute of the individual comprises:

instructions for analyzing the received data for at least one attribute of the individual;

instructions for comparing the at least one attribute of the individual with a set of attribute parameters for an expected individual; and

instructions for determining, based on the comparison, an attribute score for the at least one attribute of the individual.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for analyzing the received data for the at least one attribute relating to the medication during the first medication event comprises:

instructions for associating the identifier of the first medication event with an expected medication;

instructions for retrieving one or more specific identifiers associated with the expected medication;

instructions for analyzing the received data for the presence or absence of at least one of the one or more specific identifiers; and

instructions for indicating the presence or absence of the expected medication based on the analysis.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for analyzing the received data for the at least one feature of visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event comprises:

instructions for identifying a visual information component of the received data;

instructions for comparing the identified visual information component of the received data with at least one visual information parameter; and

instructions for determining a likelihood of sufficiency for the visual information component of the received data based on the comparison.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event comprises:

instructions for analyzing the received data for the at least one feature of non-visual information including auditory information.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions for analyzing the received data for the at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the first medication event comprises:

instructions for identifying a non-visual information component of the received data;

instructions for comparing the identified non-visual information component of the received data with at least one non-visual information parameter; and

instructions for determining a likelihood of sufficiency for the non-visual information component of the received data based on the comparison.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, comprising:

instructions for comparing the determined compliance likelihood for the first medication event to a determined compliance likelihood for a second medication event for the individual;

instructions for comparing the determined compliance likelihood for the first medication event and the determined compliance likelihood for the second medication event to a compliance goal for the individual; and

instructions for indicating the comparison.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, comprising:

instructions for comparing the analyses with a set of standard analysis parameters for a standard medication event;

instructions for determining, based on the comparison, if the analyses are within the standard analysis parameters for the standard medication event; and

instructions for indicating the determination.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, comprising:

instructions for analyzing the received data for an identifier of a second medication event for the individual;

instructions for analyzing the received data for the at least one attribute of the individual;

instructions for analyzing the received data for the at least one attribute relating to a medication during the second medication event;

instructions for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of visual information relating to the individual during the second medication event;

instructions for analyzing the received data for at least one feature of non-visual information relating to the individual during the second medication event;

instructions for analyzing the received data for a time associated with the second medication event;

instructions for determining a compliance likelihood for the second medication event based on the analyses of the received data; and

instructions for indicating the determined compliance likelihood for the second medication event.

20. A system for monitoring medication events, comprising:

circuitry for accepting data regarding a medication event for an individual;

circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, one or more identifiers of the medication;

circuitry for comparing the one or more identifiers of the medication with a set of standard medication identifier parameters;

circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, one or more visual features of the medication event;

circuitry for comparing the one or more visual features of the medication event with a set of medication event parameters;

circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, one or more non-visual features of the medication event;

circuitry for comparing the one or more non-visual features of the medication event with the set of medication event parameters;

circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, a time associated with the medication event;

circuitry for comparing the time associated with the medication event with an expected medication event time for the individual; and

circuitry for saving the comparisons into a memory.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for accepting data regarding the medication event for the individual comprises:

circuitry for accepting data originating from a plurality of devices.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more visual features of the medication event comprises:

circuitry for extracting the one or more visual features over time.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for comparing the one or more visual features of the medication event with the set of medication event parameters comprises:

circuitry for determining, from a set of standard medication event visual features, at least one expected visual feature; and

circuitry for comparing the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual with the determined at least one expected visual feature.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more non-visual features of the medication event comprises:

circuitry for extracting the one or more non-visual features over time.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more non-visual features of the medication event comprises:

circuitry for extracting one or more audio features.

26. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more non-visual features of the medication event comprises:

circuitry for extracting one or more near-infrared (IR) features.

27. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more non-visual features of the medication event comprises:

circuitry for extracting one or more thermal features.

28. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for comparing the one or more non-visual features of the medication event with the set of medication event parameters comprises:

circuitry for determining, from the set of standard medication event non-visual parameters, expected parameters for at least one expected non-visual feature; and

circuitry for comparing the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual with the expected parameters for at least one expected non-visual feature.

29. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the time associated with the medication event comprises:

circuitry for extracting a time interval associated with the medication event.

30. The system of claim 20, wherein the circuitry for comparing the time associated with the medication event with the expected medication event time for the individual comprises:

circuitry for determining, from a set of standard medication event times, at least one expected medication event time; and

circuitry for comparing the extracted time associated with the medication event with the determined at least one expected medication event time.

31. The system of claim 20, comprising:

circuitry for accepting data regarding a second medication event for the individual;

circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the second medication event for the individual, one or more identifiers of the medication;

circuitry for comparing the one or more identifiers of the medication with a set of standard medication identifier parameters;

circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the second medication event for the individual, one or more visual features of the medication event;

circuitry for comparing the one or more visual features of the second medication event with a set of medication event parameters;

circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the second medication event for the individual, one or more non-visual features of the second medication event;

circuitry for comparing the one or more non-visual features of the second medication event with the set of medication event parameters;

circuitry for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the second medication event for the individual, a time associated with the second medication event;

circuitry for comparing the time associated with the second medication event with an expected second medication event time for the individual; and

circuitry for saving the comparisons associated with the second medication event into a memory.

32. A computer-readable storage medium including executable instructions for monitoring medication events relating to an individual, the computer-readable storage medium comprising:

instructions for accepting data regarding a medication event for an individual;

instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, one or more identifiers of the medication;

instructions for comparing the one or more identifiers of the medication with a set of standard medication identifier parameters;

instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, one or more visual features of the medication event;

instructions for comparing the one or more visual features of the medication event with a set of medication event parameters;

instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, one or more non-visual features of the medication event;

instructions for comparing the one or more non-visual features of the medication event with the set of medication event parameters;

instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, a time associated with the medication event;

instructions for comparing the time associated with the medication event with an expected medication event time for the individual; and

instructions for saving the comparisons into a memory.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for accepting data regarding the medication event for the individual comprises:

instructions for accepting data originating from a plurality of devices.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more visual features of the medication event comprises:

instructions for extracting one or more visual features over time.

35. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for comparing the one or more visual features of the medication event with the set of medication event parameters comprises:

instructions for determining, from a set of standard medication event visual features, at least one expected visual feature; and

instructions for comparing the accepted data regarding a medication event for the individual with the determined at least one expected visual feature.

36. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more non-visual features of the medication event comprises:

instructions for extracting one or more non-visual features over time.

37. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more non-visual features of the medication event comprises:

instructions for extracting one or more audio features.

38. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more non-visual features of the medication event comprises:

instructions for extracting one or more near-infrared (IR) features.

39. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the one or more non-visual features of the medication event comprises:

instructions for extracting one or more thermal features.

40. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for comparing the one or more non-visual features of the medication event with the set of medication event parameters comprises:

instructions for determining, from a set of standard medication event non-visual parameters, expected parameters for at least one expected non-visual feature; and

instructions for comparing the accepted data regarding a medication event for the individual with the expected parameters for at least one expected non-visual feature.

41. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the medication event for the individual, the time associated with the medication event comprises:

instructions for extracting a time interval associated with the medication event.

42. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, wherein the instructions for comparing the time associated with the medication event with the expected medication event time for the individual comprises:

instructions for determining, from a set of standard medication event times, at least one expected medication event time; and

instructions for comparing the extracted time associated with the medication event with the determined at least one expected medication event time.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 32, comprising:

instructions for accepting data regarding a second medication event for the individual;

instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the second medication event for the individual, one or more identifiers of the medication;

instructions for comparing the one or more identifiers of the medication with the set of standard medication identifier parameters;

instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the second medication event for the individual, one or more visual features of the medication event;

instructions for comparing the one or more visual features of the second medication event with the set of medication event parameters;

instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the second medication event for the individual, one or more non-visual features of the second medication event;

instructions for comparing the one or more non-visual features of the second medication event with the set of medication event parameters;

instructions for extracting, from the accepted data regarding the second medication event for the individual, a time associated with the second medication event;

instructions for comparing the time associated with the second medication event with an expected second medication event time for the individual; and

instructions for saving the comparisons associated with the second medication event into a memory.