System to monitor the ingestion of medicines

• US 9,058,530 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Inventors: Covannon, Edward, Squilla, John R., Rankin-Parobek, Donna K., Rinas, Eugene R., Blish, Nelson A.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US14/040,769
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 340/573.1, 3405721-5728, 424/464, 600/424, 600/407, 600/431
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/02 characterised by the selection of materials, e.g. to avoid wear during transport through the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10376 the interrogation device being adapted for being moveable
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00

Abstract

A system for monitoring ingestion of medicine (21) comprises forming a digestible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (10). The RFID tag is attached to the medicine. The RFID tag and medicine are ingested. A signal from the RFID tag is monitored.

Claims

1. A device to be imbedded in the body for monitoring wear or motion of a bone within the body, comprising:

at least one RFID tag having an antenna subject at least to mechanical wear upon movement of the bone, whereby failure of the antenna indicates wear or movement of the bone; and

RF signal blocking material for blocking external signals from reaching the tag, the blocking material being subject at least to mechanical wear upon movement of the bone, whereby failure of the blocking material enables the signals to activate the tag, thus indicating wear or movement of the bone.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the blocking material comprises first and second layers on opposite sides of the tag.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the bone is part of a joint, further comprising a third layer of RF blocking material and a second RFID tag located between the first and third or the second and third layers, whereby wear or movement of opposing members of the joint may be monitored.

4. A medication for administration by mouth, comprising:

a medicinal material in an ingestible form;

an antenna;

a first ID circuit associated with the material, the first circuit being connected to the antenna by a first substance that responds to its environment; and

a second ID circuit associated with the material, the second circuit being connected to the antenna by a second substance that responds differently to its environment.

5. The medication according to claim 4, wherein the first and second circuits are RFID circuits connected to the antenna by conductive traces and the first and second substances overlie the traces.

6. The medication according to claim 5, wherein the traces are reactive with the environment.

7. The medication according to claim 5, wherein the first and second substances are the same but have been treated to respond differently to the environment of the medication.

8. The medication according to claim 5, wherein the first and second substances are the same but of different thicknesses.

9. The medication according to claim 5, wherein the first and second substances dissolve differently in the environment of the medication.

10. The medication according to claim 5, wherein the first and second substances are the same but have different textures.