Medication dispenser with integrated monitoring system

• US 9,235,690 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RxAdvance Corp.
• Original Assignee: SentiCare, Inc. (RxAdvance Corp.)
• Inventors: Bear, David M., Jain, Yogendra
• Primary Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US14/076,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 700/244, 700/231, 700/232, 700/236, 700/241
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 7/0454 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for remote visualization of the storage compartments in a medication dispenser device, to monitor a patient'"'"'s compliance with a medication dosage schedule and for verifying the proper loading of medication into the patient'"'"'s medication dispenser device. The device may include a plurality of storage compartments, each having an interior space for storing at least one medication or medication reminder marker; an image capturing device (e.g., a camera) positionable to capture an image of the interior space of each storage compartment; and a communications module for electronically transmitting the captured image to a central monitoring station.

Claims

1. A device for the monitored storage and dispensing of medication to a user comprising:

a plurality of user-accessible storage compartments, wherein each storage compartment has an interior space for storing at least one medication or at least one medication reminder marker, and wherein the plurality of user-accessible storage compartments are presented and arranged together in order of a medication dosage schedule in which the at least one medication or the at least one medication reminder marker is to be removed from each of the plurality of user-accessible storage compartment by the user;

an image capturing device configured to capture at least one image of the interior space of the plurality of user-accessible storage compartments; and

a communications module for electronically transmitting the image captured by the image capturing device to a central monitoring station.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each user-accessible storage compartment comprises a wall through which the image can be captured, for direct visualization of any medication or medication reminder marker within the interior space of the user-accessible storage compartment.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user-accessible storage compartments is provided in an array corresponding to the days of the week and periods of time throughout the day.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user-accessible storage compartments are replaceably removable from the device.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of user-accessible storage compartments are removable in two or more subunits of two or more storage compartments.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein each subunit comprises storage compartments corresponding to at least one day of the week.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the image capturing device comprises a stationary camera.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the camera comprises a digital still camera or a digital video camera.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the communications module for electronically transmitting at least a portion of the captured image comprises a network link for a telephone line, power line, wireless gateway, or cellular network.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the network link comprises an embedded or dongle circuitry for WiFi, zigbee, powerline, or bluetooth transmission circuitry.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electronic communications component for communicating information to a user of the dispenser, from a user of the dispenser to the central monitoring station, or both to and from the user.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the information communicated to the user comprises battery power level or other operational status information about the device.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the information communicated to the user comprises information about the user'"'"'s compliance with his or her medication dosage schedule.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the information communicated from a user of the dispenser to the central monitoring station comprises personal identity information of the user of the dispenser.

15. A patient medication compliance monitoring system comprising:

at least one visually monitored medication dispenser assigned to an individual patient having a medication dosage schedule, wherein the medication dispenser comprises (i) a plurality of user-accessible storage compartments, wherein each compartment has an interior space for storing at least one medication or medication reminder marker, and wherein the plurality of user-accessible storage compartments are presented and arranged together in order of a medication dosage schedule in which the at least one medication or the at least one medication reminder marker is to be removed from each of the plurality of user-accessible storage compartment by the user, (ii) an image capturing device configured to capture at least one image of the interior space of the plurality of user-accessible storage compartments, and (iii) a communications module for electronically transmitting the image captured by the image capturing device to a central monitoring station; and

a central monitoring station that is capable of receiving and viewing the image transmitted from the at least one medication dispenser.

16. The compliance monitoring system of claim 15, comprising a plurality of visually monitored medication dispensers, wherein each medication dispenser is assigned to a different individual patient having a medication dosage schedule.

17. The compliance monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the image capturing device comprises a stationary camera, and the communications module for electronically transmitting the captured image comprises a network link for a telephone line, wireless gateway, or cellular network.

18. The compliance monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the medication dispenser further comprises an electronic communications component for communicating information to a user of the dispenser, from a user of the dispenser to the central monitoring station, or both to and from the user.

19. The compliance monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the medication dispenser is adapted to receive image capture instructions from the central monitoring station.

20. The compliance monitoring system of claim 15, which comprises the use of at least one computer.