PRESCRIPTION COMPLIANCE DEVICE AND METHOD OF USING DEVICE

• US 20110193705A1
• Filed: 04/20/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ronald D. Sekura
• Original Assignee: Ronald D. Sekura
• Inventors: Sekura, Ronald D.
• Application Number:
  US13/090,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20110193705A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• 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 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A prescription compliance device which aids patients in complying with instructions given by a physician for taking prescription medication. The device reminds a patient when the next dose of medication is to be taken and indicates whether a specified dose has been taken. The device includes a microcontroller, a display, a program memory for storing pre-programmed medication-taking regimens for single and multiple medications, a real time clock, a selector for selecting one of the regimens and for programming the device as to the time and day on which a first dose of medication is to be taken, a display which alternately displays the current time and a time at which a next dose of medication is to be taken and an alarm which alerts the patient at times when a dose of medication is to be taken. The selector includes an event switch which is activated by the patient after taking a dose of medication so as to record the taking of medication and to cause the microcontroller to effect the display of the next time at which a dose of medication is to be taken. A memory may also be included to record the times at which a patient takes doses of medication. The device also includes a remote programming feature via a wireless link.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring patient compliance to medical therapy, comprising:

repeatedly measuring therapy compliance of a patient and storing such information on a device;

uploading the therapy compliance measurements stored on the device to a computing unit;

evaluating patient compliance based on the received therapy compliance measurements;

identifying instances where patient compliance fails to meet predetermined compliance requirements; and

sending a notification, about one or more instances, to a party based on patient compliance whereby action can be taken by that party.