Cost-effective resource apportionment technologies suitable for facilitating therapies

• US 9,626,650 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund II, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hwang, Eun Young, Hyde, Roderick A., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Kare, Jordin T., Rivet, Dennis J., Sweeney, Elizabeth A., Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Jr., Lowell L., Wood, Victoria Y. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): SEOH, MINNAH L
• Application Number:
  US13/066,442
• Publication Number:
  US 20120265544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,196 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

Configuration technologies for apportioning resources and communicating indications of potential or actual incentives based on one or more measurements or other objective indications that therapeutic components have been administered to an individual, other attributes of the therapeutic components or the individual, or other such determinants. Techniques for apportioning resources cost-effectively (between providers and other parties, e.g.) and for facilitating or handling implementations thereof or output therefrom.

Claims

1. A health status improvement incentive method, comprising:

obtaining, using a first sensor disposed at least one of in a vessel, on the vessel, or in a vicinity of the vessel, a first measurement of a physical attribute of an individual and an indication of a therapeutic component available to the individual;

receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel;

receiving an identifier of an administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual;

obtaining a second measurement of the physical attribute of the individual;

determining an incentive at least partly based on an improved health status of the individual indicated by the second measurement being closer to normal than the first measurement after receiving the auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual and at least partly based on the identifier of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual; and

transmitting an indication of the incentive,

wherein at least one of the obtaining, receiving, determining, or transmitting is at least partly implemented using at least one processing device.

2. A health status improvement incentive system, comprising:

circuitry for obtaining, using a first sensor disposed at least one of in a vessel, on the vessel, or in a vicinity of the vessel, a first measurement of a physical attribute of an individual and an indication of a therapeutic component available to the individual;

circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel;

circuitry for receiving an identifier of an administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual;

circuitry for obtaining a second measurement of the physical attribute of the individual;

circuitry for determining an incentive at least partly based on an improved health status of the individual indicated by the second measurement being closer to normal than the first measurement after receiving the auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual and at least partly based on the identifier of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual; and

circuitry for transmitting an indication of the incentive.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for obtaining, using a first sensor disposed at least one of in a vessel, on the vessel, or in a vicinity of the vessel, a first measurement of a physical attribute of an individual and an indication of a therapeutic component available to the individual comprises:

circuitry for identifying at least one abnormal health status at least partly based on a particular pathology indicated by the first measurement of the physical attribute of the individual, the particular pathology treatable via the indicated therapeutic component.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an identifier of an administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual comprises:

circuitry for receiving at least one verbal communication from the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component at least partly via the microphone of the vessel;

circuitry for determining, at least partly via speech recognition, a unique vocal signature from the at least one verbal communication; and

circuitry for identifying the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component at least partly based on the unique vocal signature.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for determining an incentive at least partly based on an improved health status of the individual indicated by the second measurement being closer to normal than the first measurement after receiving the auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual and at least partly based on the identifier of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual comprises:

circuitry for determining the incentive for the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component as a linear function of at least a value of the therapeutic component.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for determining an incentive at least partly based on an improved health status of the individual indicated by the second measurement being closer to normal than the first measurement after receiving the auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual and at least partly based on the identifier of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual comprises:

circuitry for obtaining a selection of a type of the incentive in response to input from a resource provider who is not the administerer of the therapeutic component.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein circuitry for identifying at least one abnormal health status at least partly based on a particular pathology indicated by the first measurement of the physical attribute of the individual, the particular pathology treatable via the therapeutic component comprises:

circuitry for assigning a provider as the administerer of the therapeutic component, including at least selecting the provider at least partly based on at least one profile of the provider associated with an ability to administer the therapeutic component.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel comprises:

circuitry for obtaining an indication of an inhalation of the therapeutic component as an objective indication that the therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the therapeutic component being a bioactive material, including at least circuitry for recognizing, at least partly based on auditory pattern recognition of digitized auditory data from the microphone, inhaler usage.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel comprises:

circuitry for storing a representation of the auditory indication.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for obtaining a second measurement of the physical attribute of the individual comprises:

circuitry for obtaining a second measurement of the physical attribute of the individual indicative of an apparent effect of the indicated therapeutic component on the individual, the apparent effect of the indicated therapeutic component on the individual associated with compliance with a therapeutic regimen including at least the indicated therapeutic component for treating at least one pathology indicated by the first measurement of the physical attribute of the individual.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for determining an incentive at least partly based on an improved health status of the individual indicated by the second measurement being closer to normal than the first measurement after receiving the auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual and at least partly based on the identifier of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual comprises:

circuitry for determining the incentive in response to an indication of a selection of an administration-detection-featured vessel for dispensing of the indicated therapeutic component instead of a vessel without an administration detection feature.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel comprises:

circuitry for receiving the indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual at least partly based on the microphone and at least partly based on a sensor of the administration-detection-featured vessel indicating change in a weight of a content of the administration-detection-featured vessel.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel comprises:

circuitry for receiving the indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual at least partly based on the microphone of the vessel detecting one or more auditory indications of a movement of the vessel.

16. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel comprises:

circuitry for receiving an indication of time data associated with movement of the vessel; and

circuitry for transmitting an indication to the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component of a time for subsequent administration of the indicated therapeutic component at least partly based on the indication of time data associated with movement of the vessel.

17. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an identifier of an administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual comprises:

circuitry for receiving one or more photographic images from at least one image sensor of the vessel; and

circuitry for recognizing the identity of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component at least partly based on image recognition of at least a portion of the received one or more photographic images.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel comprises:

circuitry for receiving digitized auditory data from the microphone of the vessel; and

circuitry for recognizing, at least partly via auditory pattern recognition of at least a portion of the received digitized auditory data, administration of the indicated therapeutic component to a portion of an individual.

19. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel comprises:

circuitry for receiving digitized auditory data from one or more sensors of a wearable device associated with the administerer and transmitted via the vessel; and

circuitry for recognizing, at least partly via auditory pattern recognition of at least a portion of the received digitized auditory data, administration of the indicated therapeutic component to a portion of an individual.

20. The system of claim 7, wherein circuitry for assigning a provider as the administerer of the therapeutic component, including at least selecting the provider at least partly based on at least one profile of the provider associated with an ability to administer the therapeutic component comprises:

circuitry for assigning a provider as the administerer of the therapeutic component at least partly based on an identification of the individual as at risk for noncompliance with a treatment regimen associated with treatment of the particular pathology at least partly based on at least one severity level of the particular pathology of the individual for which the therapeutic component is to be administered, the at least one severity level determined at least partly via the first measurement.

21. The system of claim 7, wherein circuitry for assigning a provider as the administerer of the therapeutic component, including at least selecting the provider at least partly based on at least one profile of the provider associated with an ability to administer the therapeutic component comprises:

circuitry for assigning a provider as the administerer of the therapeutic component at least partly based on identifying the individual as apparently at risk for noncompliance with a treatment regimen associated with treatment of the particular pathology at least partly based on a diagnosed cognitive deficiency indicated at least partly by the first measurement of the physical attribute of the individual.

22. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel comprises:

circuitry for receiving the indication originating from at least one of one or more bottles, one or more tubes, or one or more syringes suitable for handling the therapeutic component.

23. The system of claim 2, wherein circuitry for determining an incentive at least partly based on an improved health status of the individual indicated by the second measurement being closer to normal than the first measurement after receiving the auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual and at least partly based on the identifier of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual comprises:

circuitry for determining the incentive for the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component at least partly based on at least one of a financial importance of having a treatment indicated by the first measurement of the individual performed promptly or a severity of a condition indicated by the first measurement of the individual.

10. A health status improvement incentive system, comprising:

circuitry for obtaining, using a first sensor disposed at least one of in a bottle, on the bottle, or in a vicinity of the bottle, a first measurement of a physical attribute of an individual and an indication of a therapeutic component available to the individual;

circuitry for receiving an indication of liquid flow from the bottle indicating that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the indication of liquid flow obtained via at least one transducer configured as an administration-detection feature on the bottle;

circuitry for receiving an identifier of an administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual;

circuitry for obtaining a second measurement of the physical attribute of the individual;

circuitry for determining an incentive, including at least one performance rating, at least partly based on an improved health status of the individual indicated by the second measurement being closer to normal than the first measurement after receiving the indication of liquid flow from the bottle indicating that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual and at least partly based on the identifier of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual; and

circuitry for transmitting an indication of the incentive including the at least one performance rating.

24. The system of claim 10, wherein circuitry for receiving an indication of liquid flow from the bottle indicating that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the indication of liquid flow obtained via at least one transducer configured as an administration-detection feature on the bottle comprises:

circuitry for receiving an indication of liquid flow from the bottle indicating that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the indication of liquid flow obtained via at least one transducer configured to detect pressure on at least one of a valve, cap, or cover of the bottle.

25. The system of claim 10, wherein circuitry for receiving an indication of liquid flow from the bottle indicating that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the indication of liquid flow obtained via at least one transducer configured as an administration-detection feature on the bottle comprises:

circuitry for receiving an indication of nutraceutical liquid flow from the bottle indicating that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the indication of liquid flow obtained via at least one transducer configured to detect mouth pressure in association with direct administration of the nutraceutical liquid into a mouth of the individual.

26. The system of claim 10, wherein circuitry for obtaining, using a first sensor disposed at least one of in a bottle, on the bottle, or in a vicinity of the bottle, a first measurement of a physical attribute of an individual and an indication of a therapeutic component available to the individual comprises:

circuitry for obtaining, using a first sensor disposed at least one of in a bottle, on the bottle, or in a vicinity of the bottle, a first measurement of a physical attribute of a child and an indication of a therapeutic component available to the child.

27. The system of claim 10, wherein circuitry for transmitting an indication of the incentive including the at least one performance rating comprises:

circuitry for transmitting an indication of the incentive including at least one of a policy rate reduction, a discount on the therapeutic component, or a rebate in association with the at least one performance rating.

11. A health status improvement incentive computer program product, comprising:

at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing one or more instructions which, when executed by at least one processing device, cause the at least one processing device to perform one or more operations including at least;

obtaining, using a first sensor disposed at least one of in a vessel, on the vessel, or in a vicinity of the vessel, a first measurement of a physical attribute of an individual and an indication of a therapeutic component available to the individual;

receiving an auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual, the auditory indication obtained via at least one microphone configured as an administration-detection feature on the vessel;

receiving an identifier of an administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual;

obtaining a second measurement of the physical attribute of the individual;

determining an incentive at least partly based on an improved health status of the individual indicated by the second measurement being closer to normal than the first measurement after receiving the auditory indication that the indicated therapeutic component has been administered to the individual and at least partly based on the identifier of the administerer of the indicated therapeutic component to the individual; and

transmitting an indication of the incentive.