Prescription medication monitoring system

• US 8,838,464 B1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cecile Whitney
• Original Assignee: Cecile Whitney
• Inventors: Whitney, Cecile
• Primary Examiner(s): Pauls, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRANG T
• Application Number:
  US12/248,152
• Time in Patent Office: 2,168 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients

Abstract

A prescription medication monitoring system includes a card having a microprocessor and an RFID chip embedded therein. The chip and microprocessor are electrically connected to a text display and multi-digit display on the front surface of the card. The card operates in conjunction with a base terminal located at a participating pharmacy. The base terminal initially uploads a patient'"'"'s prescription and personal information via a designated server. The terminal also scans the patient'"'"'s finger to create a fingerprint image, and then records the uploaded information, including the scanned fingerprint image, onto the chip. Pertinent information relating to the prescription, such as medication name, dosage amount, dosage frequency and remaining authorized refills can be readily depicted on the displays. Each time the patient refills a prescription, the process is repeated and the pertinent prescription data, including any remaining authorized refills, is automatically updated and can be accessed via the text display.

Claims

1. A prescription medication monitoring system comprising:

a card having a front surface and a rear surface, said card having a data-recordable chip embedded therein;

a multi-digit display and a text message display on the front surface of the card;

means for downloading onto said chip a patient'"'"'s personal information and authorized prescription information, said prescription information including a description, a dosage amount, a dosage frequency and an authorized number of refills corresponding to each of a plurality of authorized prescription medications;

means for depicting the prescription information for a select one of said authorized prescription medications on said text display;

means for selectively displaying a prescription sequence number for a select one of said authorized prescription medications on said multi-digit display, said sequence number corresponding to an order in which said select one of said authorized prescription medications was loaded onto said chip relative to any other authorized prescription medications.

2. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 1 further comprising a solar cell array on the front surface of said card, said array electrically connected to said text display, said multi-digit display and said chip to provide electrical power thereto when said card is exposed to ambient light.

3. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 2 further comprising means for selectively depicting a patient'"'"'s name on said text display for a predetermined duration.

4. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 3 further comprising means for allowing a carrier of said card to sequentially display the prescription information corresponding to all authorized prescription medications on said text display.

5. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 4 wherein said means for allowing a carrier of said card to sequentially display prescription information corresponding to all authorized prescription medications on said text display comprises a pair of scrolling switches that, when depressed, sequentially depict the prescription information for each of said authorized prescription medications.

6. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 5 further comprising a means for alerting a carrier of said card that a select authorized prescription medication has no remaining authorized refills.

7. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 6 further comprising means for alerting a carrier of said card that a select authorized prescription medication is potentially adversely interactive with another substance.

8. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 7 wherein said means for downloading onto said chip a patient'"'"'s personal information and authorized prescription information comprises:

a base terminal in communication with a server having said patient data and said prescription information uploaded thereon, said terminal including a card reader in wireless communication with said chip for transferring said patient data thereto when said card is positioned adjacent to said card reader.

9. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 8 wherein said terminal further includes a fingerprint scanner that scans a patient'"'"'s fingerprint and creates an image thereof for recording onto said chip and for subsequently verifying a patient'"'"'s identity when said card is subsequently presented.

10. The prescription medication monitoring system according to claim 9 further comprising means for initially displaying prescription information and the prescription medication sequence number associated with a most recently downloaded prescription medication when said card is exposed to ambient light.