Smart pill box and medical compliance monitoring

• US 9,603,776 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2014
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bunker, Brandon, Lin, Rongbin Lanny, Jenkins, Harrison Taylor
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US14/543,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20160136054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1437 Locking means requiring key or combination to open the container
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• 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
• 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

Methods and systems are described for monitoring medication use with a home automation system. An example medication monitoring system includes a medication storage device, a proximity device, and a dispenser module. The medication storage device is configured to hold a plurality of medications. The proximity device is configured to detect an activity of a user relative to the medication storage device. The dispense module is configured to detect a pattern of the activity based on data received from the proximity device, and generate a notice. The notice may be generated if the pattern is broken. The notice may include a summary report on usage of the medication storage device. The notice may include an alarm if the medication storage device is, for example, tampered with or moved.

Claims

1. A medication monitoring system, comprising:

a medication storage device to hold a plurality of medications;

a proximity device to detect a proximity of a user relative to the medication storage device, wherein detecting the proximity of the user comprises detecting proximity when the user is within a predetermined distance of the medication storage device; and

a dispense module to;

detect a pattern of the proximity of the user based on data received from the proximity device; and

generate a notice based at least in part on detecting a deviation from the detected pattern of the proximity of the user.

2. The medication monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the medication storage device includes at least one sensor that communicates with the proximity device.

3. The medication monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the proximity device is carried by the user.

4. The medication monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller to operate the dispense module, the controller being located remotely from the medication storage device and the proximity device.

5. The medication monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the notice is at least one of a text message and an audible message delivered to the user.

6. The medication monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the notice is at least one of:

a summary report on usage of the medication storage device;

or

an alarm if the medication storage device is tampered with or moved.

7. A computer implemented method for monitoring medication use with a home automation system, comprising:

receiving data regarding a proximity of a user to a medication dispenser, wherein the proximity of the user comprises detecting proximity when the user is within a predetermined distance of the medication dispenser;

determining a pattern of the proximity of the user to the medication dispenser based on the received data; and

generating a notice based at least in part on detecting a deviation from the determined pattern.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving data includes receiving data wirelessly from a device carried by the user.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

delivering the notice to at least one of;

the device carried by the user; and

a caregiver of the user.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

authenticating the user prior to permitting the user to operate the medication dispenser.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the pattern includes confirming that the proximity of the user to the medication dispenser occurs repeatedly in at least one of a given sequence and a given interval.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying the notice on a control panel of the home automation system.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein generating the notice includes at least one of:

generating the notice based at least in part on detecting the deviation from the determined pattern;

generating a summary report on usage of the medication storage device; and

generating an alarm if the medication storage device is tampered with or moved.

14. An apparatus for monitoring medication use with a home automation system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

receive authentication data confirming identity of a user;

receive data from a device carried by the user regarding proximity of the user to a medication dispenser, wherein the proximity of the user comprises detecting proximity when the user is within a predetermined distance of the medication dispenser;

determine a pattern of the user being proximate to the medication dispenser based on the data;

generate a notice based at least in part on detecting a deviation from the determined pattern; and

deliver the notice to at least one of the user and a caregiver of the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the device communicates with the medication dispenser.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the device comprises a proximity sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

receive data from the medication dispenser concerning operation of the medication dispenser.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:

continuously monitor operation of the medication dispenser by the user; and

generate the notice if a sustained change in the pattern is detected.

19. A computer implemented method for monitoring medical compliance using a home automation system, comprising:

receiving instructions from a medical personnel concerning at least one medical-related activity;

presenting the instructions to a patient via the home automation system;

receiving feedback via the home automation system from a device used to collect medical-related information associated with the patient regarding compliance with the instructions, wherein compliance with the instructions is determined based at least in part on receiving data from a device associated with the user regarding proximity of the user to a medication dispenser, the proximity of the user comprising detecting proximity when the user is within a predetermined distance of the medication dispenser, and comparing the received data with the instructions from the medical personnel; and

delivering the feedback to the medical personnel.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the instructions relate to consumption of medication, the device is a medication dispensing device, and the feedback includes operation of the medication dispensing device to dispense medication for consumption by the patient.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein presenting the instructions includes at least one of displaying a text message or generating an audio message at a control panel of the home automation system.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving feedback includes receiving an entry from the patient at a control panel of the home automation system.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the entry includes at least one of confirmation of a medication consumption, a measurement from a medical device, and confirmation of the medical-related activity.