Device for encouraging adherence to medication schedule and proper administration technique

• US 9,452,108 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2014
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Baxalta GmbH (Shire plc), Baxalta Incorporated (Shire plc)
• Inventors: Ariagno, Scott, Roush, Daniel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent
• Application Number:
  US14/464,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20150053711A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.16, 340/309.7, 340/539.29
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2089 Containers or vials which are to be joined to each other in order to mix their contents combinations of vial and syringe for mixing their contents A61J1/2096
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• 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 7/0409 with timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0436 resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container

Abstract

A method of using a device for encouraging adherence to a medication schedule and proper administration technique includes placing the device on a surface. The device includes a body, a timer associated with the body for measuring and displaying an elapsed time since an immediately prior medication dose was administered; and a button on the body that, when depressed relative to the body, resets the timer. The button is sized and shaped for accommodating a medication container used to store or activate the medication. The button and the body are configured for cooperating with the medication container for facilitating mixing of the medication. The method further includes engaging the medication container with the button and resetting the timer.

Claims

1. A method of using a device for encouraging adherence to a medication schedule and proper administration technique, comprising:

placing the device on a surface, the device including;

a body;

a first timer associated with said body for measuring and displaying an elapsed time since an immediately prior medication dose was administered;

a first button on said body that, when depressed relative to said body, resets said first timer, said first button being sized and shaped for accommodating a medication container used to store or activate the medication;

said first button and said body are configured for cooperating with the medication container for facilitating mixing of the medication;

engaging the medication container with said first button and resetting said first timer; and

the device further comprises a second timer associated with said body, said second timer configured for measuring and displaying an elapsed time since a particular symptom presented in a user; and

at least a second button disposed on said body and configured for at least one of updating and resetting said second timer.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the engaging the medication container includes depressing said first button, and wherein said body and said first button define a recess for accommodating the medicine container and depressing said first button includes at least one step in a reconstitution of a lyophilized medication simultaneously with resetting of said first timer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a microprocessor operatively connected to said first timer, said microprocessor configured for generating a clock signal, wherein said first timer receives the generated clock signal as an input for measuring the elapsed time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one notification device selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode and a speaker, and wherein said at least one notification device provides an audio and/or visual output in response to activation of the button.

5. The method of claim 4, the device further comprising a third button for activating said at least one notification device.

6. The method of claim 1, the device further comprising a cover connected to said body and configured for covering at least a portion of said body.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said cover includes a pocket configured for removably retaining a printed leaflet containing information related to at least one of the device and the medication.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second timers include a liquid crystal display for displaying the elapsed time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said body includes a cavity accommodating a pivoting portion being movable under user control from a concealed portion within said cavity and an exposed position.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the engaging the medication container includes depressing said button, and wherein said body and said first button define a recess for accommodating the medicine container and depressing said first button includes at least one step in a reconstitution of a lyophilized medication simultaneously with resetting of said first timer.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor operatively connected to said timer, said microprocessor configured for generating a clock signal, wherein said timer receives the generated clock signal as an input for measuring the elapsed time.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one notification device selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode and a speaker, and wherein said at least one notification device provides an audio and/or visual output in response to activation of the button.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said body includes a cavity accommodating a pivoting portion being movable under user control from a concealed portion within said cavity and an exposed position.

14. A device for encouraging adherence to a medication schedule and proper administration technique, comprising:

a body;

a microprocessor disposed within said body and configured for generating at least one clock signal;

a first timer associated with said body, said first timer receiving, as an input, one said at least one clock signal generated by said microprocessor, and being configured for measuring and displaying a time elapsed since an immediately prior medication dose was administered on the basis of the input clock signal;

a second timer associated with said body, said second timer receiving, as an input, one said at least one clock signal generated by said microprocessor, and being configured for measuring and displaying an elapsed time since a particular symptom presented in a user on the basis of the input clock signal;

a first button on said body that, when depressed relative to said body, resets said first timer, said first button being sized and shaped for accommodating a medication container used to store or activate the medication; and

a second button for resetting said second timer,

wherein said first button is constructed and arranged for cooperating with the medication container for mixing the medication.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the medication container is used to depress said button, and wherein said body and said button define a recessed space for accommodating the medicine container such that depressing said button using the medication container causes reconstitution of a lyophilized medication simultaneously with resetting of said first timer.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the clock signal received by the first timer and the clock signal received by the second timer are identical.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising at least one notification device selected from the group consisting of a light emitting diode and a speaker, and wherein said at least one notification device provides an audio and/or visual output in response to activation of the button;

and a first communication interface configured for reading data associated with the medication container;

a memory for storing the read data; and

a second communication interface configured for transferring the stored data; and

a multifunction display disposed on said body and operatively connected to said first timer and said second timer; and

a toggle button disposed on said body, said toggle button configured for causing said multifunction display to selectively display one of the elapsed time measured by said first timer and the elapsed time measured by said second timer.

18. A medication administering system, comprising:

a medication container including a plurality of components held separated by said container; and

a device for encouraging adherence to a medication schedule and proper administration technique, the device including;

a body;

a first timer associated with said body for measuring and displaying an elapsed time since an immediately prior medication dose was administered;

a first button on said body that, when depressed relative to said body, resets said first timer, said button being sized and shaped for accommodating said medication container used to store or activate the medication; and

a second timer associated with said body, said second timer configured for measuring and displaying an elapsed time since a particular symptom presented in a user; and

at least a second button disposed on said body and configured for at least one of updating and resetting said second timer

wherein said medication container is used to depress said first button, thereby allowing mechanical breach of partitions separating the components.