Apparatus and method for non-intravenously administering a medication

• US 8,910,825 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Issued: 12/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Austin, Paul R., Goetz, Frank M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANDER, DIVA KAKAR
• Application Number:
  US13/352,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20130184681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 604/514, 700231-244, 221/2
• US Class Current: 221/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0463 for multiple patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 delivered via infusion or injection

Abstract

A computer-based apparatus for dispensing a medication, including: at least one specially programmed computer; and a medication device. The at least one computer is arranged to automatically generate a medication regimen for a patient, the medication regimen including designation of a measure for an orally-administered or injectable medication; or automatically modify a medication regimen for a patient, by modifying a designation of a measure for an orally-administered or injectable medication. The medication device is arranged to: extract the orally-administered or injectable medication from a medication storage element; and non-intravenously dispense an amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication equal to the designated measure or the modified designated measure into a container. The at least one specially programmed computer is part of the medication device, is attached to the medication storage element, or is located remote from the medication device.

Claims

1. A computer-based apparatus for dispensing a medication, comprising:

at least one specially programmed computer; and

,

a medication device, wherein;

the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to automatically generate a first medication regimen for a first patient, the first medication regimen including designation of a first measure for a first orally-administered or injectable medication;

or automatically modify a first medication regimen for a first patient, by modifying a designation of a first measure for a first orally-administered or injectable medication; and

,

the medication device is arranged to;

extract the first orally-administered or injectable medication from a medication storage element; and

,

non-intravenously dispense a first amount of the first orally-administered or injectable medication equal to the first designated measure or the modified first designated measure into a container.

2. The computer-based apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to:

receive a real time input; and

,

automatically generate or modify the first medication regimen using the real time input.

3. The computer-based apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the medication storage element is insertable in and removable from the medication device to enable the medication storage element to be replaced when the first orally-administered or injectable medication in the medication storage element is depleted; and

,

the at least one specially programmed computer is;

part of the medication device not including the medication storage element;

attached to the medication storage element;

or located remote from the medication device.

4. The computer-based apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first medication regimen includes information as to whether a water-based liquid vehicle substance or a fat-based liquid vehicle substance is required for the first orally-administered or injectable medication; and

,

the medication device is arranged to dispense a water-based liquid vehicle substance or a fat-based liquid vehicle substance into the container.

5. The computer-based apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

the at least one specially programmed computer is included in an electronic health record system or in an authorized order entry system;

or,

the at least one specially programmed computer is in communication with an electronic health record system or with an authorized order entry system.

6. The computer-based apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the medication device includes a chamber; and

,

the medication device is arranged to;

receive a metering control signal;

execute, in response to the metering control signal, a cycle by;

transporting first orally-administered or injectable medication from the medication storage element into the chamber;

displacing a known amount of the first orally-administered or injectable medication, transported into the chamber, through the nozzle; and

,

repeat the cycle such that a measure of the first orally-administered or injectable medication displaced through the nozzle is equal to the first amount.

7. The computer-based apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the medication device includes a displacement element arranged to transport the first orally-administered or injectable medication into the chamber using a vacuum, gravity, or capillary action;

or,

the displacement element includes a piezoelectric transducer.

8. The computer-based apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the medication device includes a chamber and a nozzle; and

,

in response to a metering control signal, the displacement element is arranged to;

extract first orally-administered or injectable medication from the medication storage element;

expel first orally-administered or injectable medication through the nozzle at a known flow rate; and

,

terminate operation of the displacement element when the amount of the first orally-administered or injectable medication expelled through the nozzle is substantially equal to the first measure.

9. The computer-based apparatus of claim 1 wherein the medication device is arranged to dispense the first orally-administered or injectable medication with a range of accuracy of approximately one part in a thousand.

10. The computer-based apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the medication storage element includes a cartridge; and

,

the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to;

identify an orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge;

determine if the orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge is included in any medication regimen for the first patient; and

,

transmit a warning signal if the orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge is not included in any medication regimen for the first patient.

11. The computer-based apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to:

identify a point in time at which the medication storage element is installed in the apparatus;

compare the point in time to a time period at which it was desired to install the medication storage element; and

,

transmit a compliance signal to a computer associated with an entity selected from the group consisting of an insurance company, a health care provider, a health care facility, an entity supplying the medication storage element, and a health care records system, indicating whether the point in time fell within the time period.

12. An apparatus for storing and dispensing a medication, comprising:

a medication device; and

,

a cartridge including;

a cavity for storing an orally-administered or injectable medication; and

,

a module, including at least one computer, generating and storing information regarding the orally-administered or injectable medication, wherein;

the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to automatically generate a first medication regimen for a first patient, the first medication regimen including designation of a first measure for a first orally-administered or injectable medication;

or automatically modify a first medication regimen for a first patient, by modifying a designation of a first measure for a first orally-administered or injectable medication;

the medication device is arranged to;

extract the first orally-administered or injectable medication from the cartridge; and

,

non-intravenously dispense a first amount of the first orally-administered or injectable medication equal to the first designated measure or the modified first designated measure into a container separated from the cartridge; and

,

the cartridge is insertable in and removable from the medication device.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:

the information includes an amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication present in the cartridge; and

,

the module is arranged to transmit a signal including the amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication present in the cartridge.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the module is arranged to:

receive a signal including modifications to the information; and

,

modify the information according to the signal.

15. A computer-based apparatus for dispensing a medication, comprising:

at least one specially programmed computer; and

,

a medication device, wherein;

the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to automatically generate a medication regimen for a patient, the medication regimen including designation of a measure for an orally-administered or injectable medication;

or automatically modify a medication regimen for a patient, by modifying a designation of a measure for an orally-administered or injectable medication; and

,

the medication device is arranged to;

extract the orally-administered or injectable medication from a medication storage element;

mix a separate substance with the extracted orally-administered or injectable medication;

non-intravenously dispense an amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication, mixed with the separate substance, equal to the designated measure or the modified designated measure into a container separate from the medication device.

16. A medication device for dispensing a medication, comprising:

at least one computer;

a cartridge; and

,

a dispensing element including;

a chamber; and

,

a nozzle, wherein the dispensing element is arranged to;

receive a metering control signal from the at least one computer; and

,

execute, in response to the metering control signal, a cycle by;

transporting orally-administered or injectable medication from the cartridge into the chamber;

displacing a known amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication, transported into the chamber, through the nozzle into a container separate from the cartridge; and

,

repeat the cycle such that a measure of the orally-administered or injectable medication displaced through the nozzle is equal an amount included in a medication regimen for the orally-administered or injectable medication.

17. A computer-based apparatus for dispensing a medication, comprising:

at least one specially programmed computer; and

,

a medication device including;

a cartridge; and

,

a dispensing element, wherein;

the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to automatically modify a medication regimen for a patient, by modifying a designation of a measure for an orally-administered or injectable medication;

the dispensing element is arranged to;

extract the orally-administered or injectable medication from the cartridge; and

,

non-intravenously dispense an amount of the orally-administered or injectable medication equal to the modified designated measure into a container separate from the cartridge;

the at least one specially programmed computer is arranged to;

identify an orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge;

determine if the orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge is included in any medication regimen for the patient; and

,

transmit a warning signal if the orally-administered or injectable medication stored in the cartridge is not included in any medication regimen for the patient.