Methods and systems to secure control and enhance medication adherence

• US 9,361,431 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2013
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gen9, Inc. (Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gen9, Inc. (Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fauci, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gokhale, Prasad
• Application Number:
  US13/854,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20130261794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods to provide safe, secure and accurate point-to-point delivery of prescription and non-prescription drugs in the long-term home care or ambulatory care environment. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide for a low-cost, easy-to-use system comprised of a secure drug dispensing unit and medication enclosure combined with wireless connectivity and software based on smart mobile phone technology. Such systems and methods, referred to herein as a Secure, Control, and Enhance Medication Adherence (SCEMA) system, can mitigate the aforementioned risks associated with the use of prescription and non-prescription drugs. These risks can be significantly reduced for the elderly in the homecare environment, as well as the general public, without disrupting, or a significantly increasing the cost, to the existing prescription and non-prescription drug distribution infrastructure. In addition, the SCEMA system can provide a powerful platform for drug research.

Claims

1. A medication dispensing unit comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit;

one or more wireless transceivers coupled with the processor, wherein the medication dispensing unit is adapted to accept one or more removable, secure medication cartridges preloaded with medication packets and dispense the medication packets from the one or more medication cartridges under control of the plurality of functions, wherein each medication cartridge comprises a fluid reservoir within the medication cartridge, wherein the fluid reservoir stores a liquid, wherein the medication packets are constructed of a material that dissolves when exposed to the liquid, and wherein the fluid reservoir ruptures when the medication cartridge is subjected to tampering.

2. The medication dispensing unit of claim 1, further comprising a button coupled with the processor, wherein actuation of the button causes to processor to control execution of one or more of the plurality of functions.

3. The medication dispensing unit of claim 2, wherein the button further comprises a biometric scanner, wherein the biometric scanner reads biometric information from a user of the medication dispensing unit upon actuation of the button, and wherein at least one of the plurality of functions includes authenticating the user based on the biometric information.

4. The medication dispensing unit of claim 3, further comprising at least one removable, secure medication cartridge installed therein, the medication cartridge comprising a memory storing information for the medication dispensing unit, the information related to the medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and an intended user of the medication and a barcode reader, wherein the barcode reader reads a barcode from the medication packets and the plurality of functions includes functions for matching the authenticated user to the medication packets based on the barcode.

5. The medication dispensing unit of claim 1, further comprising a display coupled with the processor and wherein one or more of the plurality of functions provide information related to the one or more functions through the display.

6. The medication dispensing unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one removable, secure medication cartridge installed therein, the medication cartridge comprising a memory storing information for the medication dispensing unit, the information related to the medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and an intended user of the medication.

7. The medication dispensing unit of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of functions comprises reading the information related to the medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and the intended user of the medication when the medication cartridge is loaded into the medication dispensing unit.

8. The medication dispensing unit of claim 6, wherein the medication packets preloaded into the medication cartridge comprise a multi-drug regime and wherein one or more of the plurality of functions support dispensing of the multi-drug regime.

9. The medication dispensing unit of claim 6, wherein the installed at least one removable, secure medication cartridge comprises a plurality of installed medication cartridges, wherein the medications preloaded in each of the plurality of medication cartridges are different, and wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for changing prescriptions for dispensing the medication based on the different preloaded medications and instructions received by the medication dispensing unit via the one or more wireless transceivers.

10. The medication dispensing unit of claim 6, wherein the installed at least one removable, secure medication cartridge comprises a plurality of installed medication cartridges, wherein the medications preloaded in each of the plurality of medication cartridges are different, and wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for preventing adverse drug reactions, one or more functions for providing a notification via the one or more wireless transceivers when the medication dispensing unit detects a potential adverse drug reactions, and one or more functions for receiving via the one or more wireless transceivers an override instruction permitting the dispensing of medication detected as the potential adverse drug reaction.

11. The medication dispensing unit of claim 6, wherein the installed at least one removable, secure medication cartridge comprises a plurality of installed medication cartridges, wherein the medications preloaded in each of the plurality of medication cartridges are the same, and wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for affecting a refill by switching from a primary cartridge for dispensing medication to a secondary cartridge for dispensing medication when the primary cartridge becomes empty.

12. The medication dispensing unit of claim 6, wherein the installed at least one removable, secure medication cartridge comprises a plurality of installed medication cartridges, wherein the medications preloaded in each of the plurality of medication cartridges are different, and wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for detecting compatibility or interaction problems between the medications preloaded in the plurality of medication cartridges and one or more functions for preventing dispensing of medication in an order, schedule, or combination that creates a compatibility or interaction problem.

13. The medication dispensing unit of claim 6, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for providing a reminder to a user of a schedule for taking the medication based on the information stored in the memory of the medication cartridge related to the medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge.

14. The medication dispensing unit of claim 13, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for updating the schedule based on instructions received by the medication dispensing unit via the one or more wireless transceivers.

15. The medication dispensing unit of claim 13, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for providing a notification via the one or more wireless transceivers when the medication dispensing unit detects the medication has not been taken as scheduled.

16. The medication dispensing unit of claim 13, wherein the plurality of functions includes one or more functions for providing a refill request via the one or more wireless transceivers when the medication dispensing unit detects the medication preloaded in the medication cartridge is low.

17. A secure medication cartridge comprising:

a container preloaded with medication packets;

a feeder mechanism within the container adapted to feed the preloaded medication packets from the container; and

a fluid reservoir within the container, wherein the fluid reservoir stores a liquid, wherein the medication packets are constructed of a material that dissolves when exposed to the liquid, and wherein the fluid reservoir ruptures when the medication cartridge is subjected to tampering.

18. The secure medication cartridge of claim 17, further comprising a reader device adapted to read information encoded on the medication packets, the information related to and identifying medication stored in the medication packets.

19. The secure medication cartridge of claim 17, further comprising a memory storing information related to the medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and an intended user of the medication.

20. The secure medication cartridge of claim 17, wherein the medication packets are constructed of polyvinyl and the fluid is distilled water.

21. A system for comprising:

a medication dispensing unit comprising a processor, a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit, one or more wireless transceivers coupled with the processor, and a button coupled with the processor, wherein actuation of the button causes to processor to control execution of one or more of the plurality of functions, wherein the button further comprises a biometric scanner, wherein the biometric scanner reads biometric information from a user of the medication dispensing unit upon actuation of the button, and wherein at least one of the plurality of functions includes authenticating the user based on the biometric information; and

one or more secure medication cartridges removeably mounted in the medication dispensing unit, each one or more secure medication cartridges comprising a container preloaded with medication packets, a feeder mechanism within the container adapted to feed the preloaded medication packets from the container, a reader device adapted to read information encoded on the medication packets, the information related to and identifying medication stored in the medication packets, a memory storing information related to the medication packets preloaded in the medication cartridge and an intended user of the medication, and a fluid reservoir within the container, wherein the fluid reservoir stores a liquid, wherein the medication packets are constructed of a material that dissolves when exposed to the liquid, and wherein the fluid reservoir ruptures when the medication cartridge is subjected to tampering.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising one or more patient devices communicatively coupled with the medication dispensing unit via the one or more wireless transceivers, the one or more patient devices executing an application interfacing with the plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising one or more servers communicatively coupled with the medication dispensing unit via the one or more wireless transceivers, the one or more servers executing one or more applications interfacing with the plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising one or more pharmacy systems communicatively coupled with the one or more servers and executing one or more applications interfacing with the plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit.

25. The system of claim 21, further comprising one or more care provider devices communicatively coupled with the medication dispensing unit via the one or more wireless transceivers, the one or more care provider devices executing an application interfacing with the plurality of functions controlling the dispensing of medication from the medication dispensing unit.