Interactive patient assistance device

• US 4,933,873 A
• Filed: 06/02/1988
• Issued: 06/12/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Healthtech Service Corporation
• Original Assignee: Healthtech Service Corporation
• Inventors: Lesczynski, Michael A., Hyland, Shelly, Kaufman, Stephen B., Bryant, Calvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Merecki, John A.
• Application Number:
  US07/201,779
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 381/42-47, 364/513.5, 364/413.02-413.04, 364/513, 367/198, 221/2-3, 221/4-5, 221/7-8, 221/9-10, 221/12-13, 221/15, 128/630
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

An interactive patient assistance device houses both preselected doses of medication and a physical testing device. Both medication and the testing device are normally retained within separate compartments within the device away from access by the patient. The device keeps track of medication and diagnostic testing schedules. The device is also capable of receiving and interpreting verbal commands of the patient. The device makes a preselected dose of medication available to the patient in response to either the medication schedule or the receipt of a verbal command by the patient. Likewise, the testing device is made available to the patient in response either to the testing schedule or the receipt of a verbal command from the patient.

Claims

1. An interactive patient assistance device comprising

a housing,

medication delivery means carried within the housing to store and selectively administer preselected doses of medication to the patient including means for storing multiple doses of the medication within the housing away from access by the patient, first compartment means separate from the storage means for delivering a medication dose to the patient, and means for selectively delivering a medication dose from the storage means to the first compartment means,

testing means carried within the housing and usable by the patient for measuring a preselected physical parameter including a testing device for the preselected, parameter, second compartment means for housing the testing device and being operable in a first mode for retaining the testing device within the housing away from access by the patient and in a second mode making the testing device available to the patient,

first memory means for storing a prescribed schedule for administering the medication,

second memory means for storing a prescribed schedule for using the testing device,

speech recognition means for receiving and interpreting prescribed verbal commands made by the patient,

first control means for actuating the medication delivery means to deliver a medication dose from the storage means to the first compartment means in response to either the prescribed schedule stored in the first memory means or the receipt and interpretation of a prescribed verbal command by the speech recognition means, and

second control means for actuating the testing means to shift the operation of the second compartment from its first mode to its second mode in response to either the prescribed schedule stored in the second memory means or the receipt and interpretation of a prescribed verbal command by the speech recognition means.

2. A device according to claim 1

and further including speech synthesizing means for synthesizing audible response to the patient in response to the receipt and interpretation of the verbal commands by the speech recognition means.

3. A device according to claim 2

wherein the speech synthesizing means further synthesizes audible reminder messages to the patient in response to the prescribed schedules stored in the first and second memory means.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2 or 3

and further including communication means for attempting to complete an audio communications link with a remote location in response to the receipt and interpretation of prescribed verbal commands by the speech recognition means.

5. A device according to claim 1

wherein the first compartment means comprises a first drawer movable between a closed position within the housing and an opened position outside the housing, and

wherein the first control means delivers a medication dose from the storage means into the first drawer when the first drawer is in its closed position and for moving the drawer from its closed position into its opened position.

6. A device according to claim 1 or 5

wherein the second compartment means comprises a second drawer movable between a closed position within the housing and an opened position outside the housing, and

wherein the second control means moves the second drawer from its closed position into its opened position.

7. A device according to claim 6

wherein the second compartment means includes means for biasing the second drawer toward its open position and second releasable locking means for retaining the second drawer in its closed position against the force of the biasing means, and

where the second control means releases the second locking means.

8. A device according to claim 5

wherein the first compartment means includes means for biasing the first drawer toward its open position and first releasable locking means for retaining the first drawer in its closed position against the force of the biasing means, and

where the first control means releases the first locking means.