MEDICINE STATION AND ALERT DEVICE

• US 20110254656A1
• Filed: 06/24/2011
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darien Okinza Nurse, Lloyd Cleveland Nurse
• Original Assignee: Darien Okinza Nurse, Lloyd Cleveland Nurse
• Inventors: Nurse, Lloyd Cleveland, Nurse, Darien Okinza
• Granted Patent: US 9,007,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/3.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/03 for pills or tablets containers for pills or tablets with special dispensing means therefor B65D83/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0472 of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 23/40 using continuously-running mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 13/026 acting at a number of different times

Abstract

A medicine station or stand-alone alert device has a processor having access to memory, wherein the memory stores a control module, and the processor is configured to execute the modules stored in the memory. The medicine station or stand-alone alert device also includes one or more indicators. The control module is configured to periodically check for an external notification from a primary alert device that it is time to take a medication. Upon receiving the external notification, the control program is configured to cause the medicine station or stand-alone alert device to enter an amplified alert mode with respect to the primary alert device via the one or more indicators.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor having access to memory, wherein the memory stores a control module, a timing module and an announcer module, and the processor is configured to execute the modules stored in the memory;

a medicine tray comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to store a medication; and

one or more indicators, wherein

the control module is configured to periodically check for an external notification from a primary alert device that it is time to take a medication, and

upon receiving the external notification, the control program is configured to cause the apparatus to enter an amplified alert mode with respect to the primary alert device via the one or more indicators.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more indicators comprise one or more of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen, a noise making device and a Light-Emitting Diode (LED).

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a USB port configured to receive updates from, and upload information to, an external computing device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more sensors configured to detect a notification from the primary alert device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to periodically check with the timing module to determine whether one or more timers have elapsed and further comprising:

a medicine tray comprising a plurality of compartments, wherein each compartment is configured to store a medication.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when a time period has elapsed and a patient has not deactivated the one or more indicators, the control module is configured to instruct the announcer module to switch to a different alert mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control module causes the apparatus to transmit compliance information to an external computing device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when a patient has not deactivated the amplified alert for a predetermined period of time, the apparatus is configured to transmit a notification to an external computing device alerting another individual that the patient has not taken the medication.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor having access to memory, wherein the memory stores a control module, a timing module and an announcer module, and the processor is configured to execute the modules stored in the memory; and

one or more indicators, wherein

the control module is configured to determine from the timing module when a medication should be taken, and

the control program is configured to initiate the announcer module to cause the one or more indicators to generate an alert indicating to a patient that it is time to take a medication, wherein

when a predetermined time period has elapsed and a patient has not deactivated the alert, the control module is configured to instruct the apparatus to switch to a different alert mode.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control module is configured to periodically check with the timing module to determine whether one or more timers have elapsed.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

one or more timing elements configured to track one or more respective time periods.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more timing elements comprise quartz crystals.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control program causes the apparatus to transmit compliance information to an external computing device.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein when a patient has not deactivated the amplified alert for a predetermined period of time, the apparatus is configured to transmit a notification to an external computing device alerting another individual that the patient has not taken the medication.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

when a patient does not deactivate the indicators within a predetermined time period, changing, via the controller, the one or more indicators to operate in a low power mode.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more indicators comprise one or more of a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen, a noise making device and a Light-Emitting Diode (LED).

18. The method of claim 14, wherein one or more sensors detect the notification from a primary alert device.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting compliance information to an external computing device.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

transmitting a notification to an external computing device alerting another individual that the patient has not taken the medication when the patient has not deactivated the amplified alert for a predetermined period of time.

15. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

periodically checking, via a controller, for an external notification from a primary alert device that it is time to take a medication; and

causing, via the controller, one or more indicators to generate an amplified alert with respect to the primary alert device.