Drug Delivery Management System

• US 20080099366A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DDMS Holdings, LLC (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Louis Mark Heidelberger, Mark Niemiec
• Inventors: Heidelberger, Louis, Niemiec, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,014,232 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/528
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/72 for temperature
• 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 7/0436 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: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/141 Cushion or mat switches
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/003 Constructional details, e.g. physical layout, assembly, wiring or busbar connections
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0293 : Individual printed conductors which are adapted for modification, e.g. fusable or breakable conductors, printed switches

Abstract

The present invention relates to assisting patients in the taking of medication, and to assisting third parties in accumulating information regarding patient medication intake. The invention may be embodied a system including a portable medication monitor used in association with an instrumented medication package to provide intake data acquisition and patient support functions. The system may further be connected to a computer or computer network allowing information distribution between the medication monitor and third parties, such as physicians or pharmacists.

Claims

1. An instrumented medication package, comprising:

a plurality of medication containments, each of said plurality of medication containments having a closure, each closure having a severable connector;

an instrumented medication package transponder for transmitting a response signal in response to a trigger signal; and

the instrumented medication package transponder further comprising passive radio frequency identification circuitry utilizes the energy of the trigger signal to transmit the response signal.

2. The instrumented medication package according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry modifies said response signal dependant upon a package identifier.

3. The instrumented medication package according to claim 2, wherein said package identifier comprises a package identification code identifying an individual responding package.

4. The instrumented medication package according to claim 2, wherein said package identifier comprises a package identification code identifying a production information associated with medication contained in said instrumented medication package.

5. The instrumented medication package according to claim 2, wherein said package identifier comprises a package identification code identifying an expiration date associated with medication contained in said instrumented medication package.

6. The instrumented medication package according to claim 1, wherein said passive radio frequency identification circuitry generates a response signal dependant upon a condition of at least one severable connector associated with said instrumented medication package.

7. The instrumented medication package according to claim 1, further comprising active radio frequency identification circuitry and a power supply.

8. The instrumented medication package according to claim 7, wherein said instrumented medication package further comprises a means for activating said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

9. The instrumented medication package according to claim 8, wherein said switch further comprises a means for disabling said passive radio frequency identification circuitry when said power supply is connected to said active radio frequency identification circuitry.

10. A portable medication monitor, comprising:

a portable general purpose computer;

a transceiver for transmitting to and receiving signals from an instrumented medication package;

a network connection for communicably connecting said portable medication monitor to at least one remote computer; and

software for monitoring an instrumented medication package associated with said portable medication monitor.

11. The portable medication monitor according to claim 10, wherein said network connection is wireless.

12. The portable medication monitor according to claim 10, wherein said software comprises instructions which when executed attempt communication with the remote computer via said network connection in accordance with a predetermined schedule, said communication attempts being repeated until said communication is successful.

13. The portable medication monitor according to claim 10, wherein communication comprises information associated with a patient'"'"'s accessing of medication contained in the instrumented medication package associated with said portable medication monitor.

16. The portable medication monitor according to claim 13, wherein the communication comprises time information associated with a patient'"'"'s accessing of medication contained in the instrumented medication package associated with said portable medication monitor.

17. The portable medication monitor according to claim 16, wherein the communication comprises dosage information associated with a patient'"'"'s accessing of medication contained in the instrumented medication package associated with said portable medication monitor.

18. The portable medication monitor according to claim 17, wherein the communication comprises patient information associated with a patient'"'"'s accessing of medication contained in the instrumented medication package associated with said portable medication monitor.

19. The portable medication monitor according to claim 18, wherein the communication comprises medication information associated with a patients accessing of medication contained in the instrumented medication package associated with said portable medication monitor.

20. The portable medication monitor according to claim 19, wherein the at least one remote computer verifies the time, the dosage, the patient and the medication information and transmits a response to the portable medication monitor.