MONITORING ADHERENCE TO A MEDICATION REGIMEN USING A SENSOR
First Claim
1. A medication device comprising:
- a jacket configured to hold a container of medicine, wherein the jacket includes an aperture that allows a user to apply pressure to the container to dispense medicine and a first pressure sensor arranged such that activation of the first pressure sensor indicates the container has been inserted into the jacket;
a second pressure sensor coupled to the jacket and arranged such that activation of the second pressure sensor indicates the container has expanded in response to the user applying pressure to the container through the aperture; and
a wireless communication module configured to exchange data recorded by the second pressure sensor with a communications device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring and/or managing adherence to a medication regimen that involves use of a sensor. Dispensing medicine from a container commonly involves pressure being applied to the container, which results in expansion of the container. In some embodiments, pressure is applied by a user through an aperture of the apparatus. In some embodiments, a processor monitors pressure sensor data from a pressure sensor that is physically coupled to the container and arranged such that activation of the pressure sensor indicates the container has expanded in response to the user applying pressure. A processor analyzes the pressure sensor data to determine whether medicine has been dispensed from the container. A computer system can compare the dispensed medication to a planned medication regimen to determine a state of compliance with the medication regimen.
25 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A medication device comprising:
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a jacket configured to hold a container of medicine, wherein the jacket includes an aperture that allows a user to apply pressure to the container to dispense medicine and a first pressure sensor arranged such that activation of the first pressure sensor indicates the container has been inserted into the jacket; a second pressure sensor coupled to the jacket and arranged such that activation of the second pressure sensor indicates the container has expanded in response to the user applying pressure to the container through the aperture; and a wireless communication module configured to exchange data recorded by the second pressure sensor with a communications device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A medication device comprising:
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a jacket configured to hold a container of medicine, wherein the jacket includes an aperture that allows a user to apply pressure to the container to dispense medicine and a first pressure sensor arranged such that activation of the first pressure sensor indicates the container has expanded in response to the user applying pressure to the container through the aperture; and an attachment component configured to enable the medication device to be physically connected to a mobile device, wherein the medication device causes a computer system to analyze a first data output generated by the first pressure sensor and received by the mobile device, and wherein the computer system determines whether medication was dispensed from the container based on the first data output. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method comprising:
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providing a medication device that includes a pressure sensor, wherein the medication device comprises a jacket that includes an interior cavity to secure a container of medicine and an aperture that allows a user to apply pressure to the container secured within the cavity, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to sense lateral expansion of the container in response to the user applying pressure to the container through the aperture, and wherein the pressure sensor generates data that indicates whether medicine has been dispensed from the container; recording the data in a storage; and communicating the data to a medical adherence system that is configured to track adherence to a medication regimen. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification