Medication storage device and method

• US 9,014,427 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medsentry, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Medsentry, Inc.
• Inventors: Bear, David, Siarkowski, Bret, Donovan, Lori
• Primary Examiner(s): BHATNAGAR, ANAND P
• Application Number:
  US13/745,175
• Publication Number:
  US 20130195326A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/103, 382/110, 382/128, 382/181, 382/190, 382/195, 382/203, 382/206, 348/135, 348/143, 348169-172, 705/2, 700/213, 700/231, 700/232, 700/236, 700/241
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for monitoring and enhancing patient adherence to a prescription drug regimen are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a medication storage device includes a plurality of dose containers, each dose container having an interior region configured to contain a medication. The medication storage device also includes an event detection system that includes a plurality of sensors. The plurality of sensors are configured to detect a change in each dose container of the plurality of dose containers. The medication storage device also includes an imaging system. The imaging system includes a plurality of image capture devices configured to capture an image of the interior region of each dose container of the plurality of dose containers. A communications module is configured to send an indication of the change detected by the event detection system and/or an image captured by the imaging device to a remote device.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a patient'"'"'s adherence to a medication treatment regimen, the method comprising:

notifying the patient that it is time to take a prescribed medication;

determining if the patient has opened the correct dose container from a plurality of dose containers;

capturing a first image of the dose container when the patient opens the dose container;

capturing a second image of the dose container when the patient closes the dose container;

comparing the first image and the second image to determine which medication has been removed from the dose container;

determining whether the patient has removed the correct medication by comparing the prescribed medication to the removed medication; and

alerting the patient if an incorrect medication has been removed from the dose container.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

alerting at least one a care giver, a family member, a call center, a pharmacy, and a doctor if the incorrect medication has been removed from the dose container.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

alerting the patient if an incorrect dose container has been opened.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

alerting at least one of a care giver, a family member, a call center, a pharmacy, and a doctor if an incorrect dose container has been opened by the patient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the patient that it is time to take a prescribed medication includes providing a visual indication of the correct dose container to open.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining if the patient has opened the correct dose container from a plurality of dose containers includes monitoring each dose container in the plurality of dose containers with an event detection system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the event detection system includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect a change in each dose container of the plurality of dose containers.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each of the dose containers of the plurality of dose containers has a lid and the event detection system is configured to detect a dose container lid opening.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first image is captured when the event detection system detects the dose container lid opening.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the event detection system is configured to detect a dose container lid closure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second image is captured when the event detection system detects the dose container lid closure.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the patient that it is time to take a prescribed medication includes providing an audible indication of the correct dose container to open.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying the patient that it is time to take a prescribed medication includes providing a tactile indication of the correct dose container to open.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the first image and the second image to determine which medication has been removed from the dose container is done by an individual at a call center.

12. A method of preventing deviations from a treatment regimen, the method comprising:

determining if a patient has opened an incorrect dose container from a plurality of dose containers;

capturing a first image of the incorrect dose container when the patient opens the incorrect dose container;

alerting the patient that the incorrect dose container from the plurality of dose containers has been opened;

capturing a second image of the incorrect dose container when the patient closes the incorrect dose container;

comparing the first image and the second image to determine if medication has been removed from the incorrect dose container;

alerting the patient if an incorrect medication has been removed.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

alerting at least one a care giver, a family member, a call center, a pharmacy, and a doctor if the incorrect medication has been removed.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining if the patient has opened the incorrect dose container from the plurality of dose containers includes monitoring each dose container in the plurality of dose containers with an event detection system.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the event detection system includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect a change in each dose container of the plurality of dose containers.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the dose containers of the plurality of dose containers has a lid and the event detection system is configured to detect a dose container lid opening.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein comparing the first image and the second image to determine which medication has been removed from the dose container is done by an individual at a call center.