Programmable system with visual indication for medicine consumption

• US 9,125,797 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2012
• Issued: 09/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signalchip Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Signalchip Innovations Pvt. Ltd.
• Inventors: Khasnis, Himamshu Gopalakrishna
• Primary Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US13/608,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20130087469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0454 for dispensing of multiple drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A programmable system to visually indicate a predefined tablet to be consumed at a predefined time is provided. The programmable system includes a plurality of sections each corresponding to one of a plurality of tablets in a tablet strip, a wired interface or a wireless interface coupled to the plurality of sections. The wired interface or the wireless interface receives a set of instructions that include a set of sections and their corresponding times from a programming device. A memory stores the set of instructions. A timer tracks time and generates a message based on the set of instructions. A controller generates an electrical stimulus and communicates the electrical stimulus to a first section of the plurality of sections at a first time based on the set of instructions. The first section is modified visually at the first time in response to the electrical stimulus.

Claims

1. A programmable system embedded in a guide card to visually indicate a predefined tablet to be consumed at a predefined time, said programmable system comprising:

a plurality of sections each corresponding to one of a plurality of tablets in a tablet strip, wherein said guide card is separate from said tablet strip;

at least one of a wired interface or a wireless interface coupled to said plurality of sections, wherein said at least one of said wired interface or said wireless interface receives a set of instructions that comprise a set of sections and their corresponding times from a programming device;

a memory that stores said set of instructions;

a timer that tracks time and generates a message based on said set of instructions; and

a controller that controls said at least one of a wired interface or a wireless interface, said memory and said timer, generates an electrical stimulus and communicates said electrical stimulus to a first section of said plurality of sections at a first time based on said set of instructions, wherein said first section is modified visually at said first time in response to said electrical stimulus.

2. The programmable system of claim 1, wherein said guide card does not contain tablets, wherein said guide card comprises a medicine identifier circuit, and wherein said medicine identifier circuit is configured to enable at least one section of said guide card to be modified visually to indicate said predefined tablet to be consumed at said predefined time.

3. The programmable system of claim 1, wherein said first section is partially modified visually in proportion to a dosage information corresponding to said first section.

4. A programming device for programming a paired gadget that sends a set of instructions to a medicine identifier circuit embedded within a medicine strip, wherein said medicine strip comprises a set of sections and their corresponding times, wherein said paired gadget comprises a processor, an input means, a display means, and a memory, wherein said instructions execute a method comprising:

obtaining a medicine prescription for each of a plurality of types of tablets, wherein said medicine prescription comprises a timing information and a dosage information for each of said types of tablets;

pairing a plurality of medicine strips for said types of tablets with said paired gadget, wherein each of said medicine strips comprises a unique ID, wherein each of said medicine strip sends said unique ID to said paired gadget;

displaying, by said display means, each of said unique ID of said medicine strips, on said paired gadget;

validating said displayed unique ID with a unique ID that is printed on said medicine strip;

programming said paired gadget with said medicine prescription comprising said timing and said dosage information for each of said ‘

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type of tablets on said unique ID being validated;

initiating a connection by said paired gadget with at least one of said paired plurality of medicine strips based on said timing and dosage information, said at least one of said paired plurality of medicine strips being in a vicinity of said paired gadget; and

sending said instructions to said medicine identifier of said medicine strip circuit through said connection, wherein said instructions trigger communication of an electronic stimulus to a first section of said sections of said medicine strip at a first time, wherein said first section is modified visually at said first time in response to said electrical stimulus that corresponds to a predefined tablet to be consumed at a predefined time from said medicine strip.

5. The programming device of claim 4, wherein said medicine prescription is at least one of an electronic format, or a word processing format.

6. A programmable system associated with a tablet strip, to visually indicate a predefined tablet to be consumed at a predefined time, said programmable system comprising:

two or more programmable sub-systems, wherein each of said two or more programmable sub-systems correspond to at least one tablet in said tablet strip, and wherein each of said two or more programmable sub-systems comprises;

at least one of a wired interface or a wireless interface that receives a set of instructions that comprise a corresponding time of said programmable sub-system from a programming device;

a memory that stores said set of instructions;

a timer that tracks time and generates a message based on said set of instructions; and

a controller that controls said at least one of said wired interface or said wireless interface, said memory and said timer, generates an electrical stimulus and communicates said electrical stimulus to said programmable sub-system at a first time based on said set of instructions, wherein said programmable sub-system is modified visually at said first time in response to said electrical stimulus,

wherein said programmable sub-system is embedded within a guide card that is separate from said tablet strip, wherein said guide card does not contain tablets.

7. The programmable system of claim 6, wherein said two or more programmable sub-systems are partially modified visually in proportion to a dosage information corresponding to said two or more programmable sub-systems.