MEDICATION REGIMEN COMPLIANCE MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110175735A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
• Inventors: FORSTER, Ian J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,872,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 Adhesive patches

Abstract

A system for monitoring compliance with a medication regimen comprises a patch. The patch includes an RFID apparatus and a sensor. The patch is configured to be removably securable to a body of a biological organism. The sensor is in electrical communication with the RFID apparatus and is configured to inspect a biological material of a biological organism for the presence of a detectable agent. The RFID apparatus is configured to communicate a result of the inspection to an RFID transceiver and/or a communication device. Methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system a system for monitoring compliance with a medication regimen comprising:

a patch and an RFID transceiver;

the patch includes an RFID apparatus and a sensor and the patch is configured to be removably securable to a body of a biological organism;

the sensor is in electrical communication with the RFID apparatus and is configured to inspect for the presence of at least one biological material of a biological organism for the presence of a detectable agent; and

the RFID apparatus is configured to communicate a result of the inspection to the RFID transceiver.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the detectable agent is selected from a group including a chemical marker, food component, food, food-safe additive or combinations thereof.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the food safe additive is selected from a group including a protein, oil, flavoring, or other suitable chemical or combination thereof.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the food is selected from a group including dairy products, sugary foods, fruits or vegetables or combinations thereof.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the vegetable is asparagus.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the biological material is selected from a group including perspiration, exhalations, blood, tears, urine, excretions, saliva and combinations thereof.

7. A system a system for monitoring compliance with a medication regimen comprising:

a patch and a communication device, the patch includes an RFID apparatus and a sensor;

the patch is configured to be removably securable to a body of a biological organism and the sensor is in electrical communication with the RFID apparatus and is configured to inspect for the existence of at least one biological material of a biological organism for the presence of a detectable agent;

the RFID apparatus is configured to communicate a result of the inspection to the communication device; and

the communication device is configured to receive the results of the inspection and is further configured to transmit the results of the inspection to a remote location.

8. The system as provided in claim 7, wherein the RFID apparatus includes memory and a power source.

9. The system as provided in claim 8, wherein the memory is used to determine a compliance profile.

10. The system as provided in claim 8, wherein the power source is selected from a group including a battery, capacitor, power antenna or combinations thereof.

11. The system as provided in 9, wherein the sensor is provided with at least one of a light emitting diode or infra-red radiation source.

12. The system as provided in 7, wherein the sensor may inspect for multiple biological materials.

13. The system as provided in 12, wherein the inspection for multiple biological materials is done simultaneously.

14. The system as provided in 12, wherein the inspection for multiple biological materials is done sequentially.

15. A method for monitoring compliance with a medication regimen comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor and a RFID apparatus;

positioning the sensor proximate to a biological organism, where the sensor is in electrical communication with the RFID apparatus;

using the sensor to inspect for the presence of at least one biological material of a biological organism for the presence of a detectable agent; and

transmitting with the RFID apparatus a result of the inspection to an RFID transceiver.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the detectable agent is selected from a group including a chemical marker, food component, a food, a food-safe additive or combinations thereof.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the food safe additive is selected from a group including a protein, oil, flavoring, or other suitable chemical or combination thereof.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the food is selected from a group including dairy product, sugary foods, fruits or vegetables or combinations thereof.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the vegetable is asparagus.

20. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the biological material is selected from a group including perspiration, exhalations, blood, tears, urine, excretions, saliva and combinations thereof.

21. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the RFID apparatus includes a transceiver.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, including a further step of initiating the inspection when the biological organism is in close proximity to the RFID apparatus after the step of providing the sensor and RFID apparatus.

23. A method for monitoring compliance with a medication regimen comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor and a RFID apparatus;

positioning the sensor proximate to a biological organism, where the sensor is in electrical communication with the RFID apparatus;

using the sensor to inspect for the presence of at least one biological material of the biological organism for the presence of a detectable agent;

transmitting with the RFID apparatus a result of the inspection to a communication device; and

transmitting the result of the inspection to a remote location.

24. The method as provided in claim 23, including a further step of requesting a further inspection after the step of transmitting the result to the remote location.

25. The method as provided in claim 23, including a further step of analyzing the result to determine a positive or negative result after the step of transmitting the result to a location.

26. The method as provided in claim 25, including a further step of requesting a new inspection based on a positive analysis after the step of analyzing the result.

27. The method as provided in 25, including a further step of requesting a repeat of the previous inspection based on a negative analysis after the step of analyzing the result.

28. The method as provided in 23, wherein the step of using the sensor to inspect is done to seek multiple biological materials.

29. The method as provided in 28, wherein the inspection for multiple biological materials is done simultaneously.

30. The method as provided in 28, wherein the inspection for multiple biological materials is done sequentially.