Medication alert pager and paging system

• US 5,872,505 A
• Filed: 03/06/1997
• Issued: 02/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sciammarella, Eduardo, Wicks, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/810,811
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.15, 340/309.4, 340/309.5, 340/311.1, 340/573, 340/825.36, 340/825.44, 340/407.1, 128/732, 128/904, 128/905, 359/811
• US Class Current: 340/7.3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/185 Selective call encoders for paging networks, e.g. paging centre devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

A novel pager and paging system assist a patient with treatment reminders. A database containing information about the treatment regimen or appointment schedule of a patient is maintained by a paging system service provider. At appropriate times, the paging system transmits reminders to the patient'"'"'s pager that a treatment is to be taken or an appointment kept. The reminder may further include instructions or information to assist the patient in taking the treatment or keeping the appointment.

Claims

1. A paging system comprising:

a central processor;

a treatment information database containing treatment information for at least one person; and

at least one transmitter for transmitting data to a pager;

wherein said processor accesses said database and transmits a transmission to a pager based on the information in said database,

wherein said transmission is received by a medical practitioner, comprises information regarding a medical treatment to be received by said person, and is timed so as to serve as a reminder of said treatment;

wherein said treatment is to be administered at an appointed time by said medical practitioner.

2. A paging system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said transmitted information is abbreviated.

3. The paging system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pager comprising an antenna for receiving said transmission and a display for displaying said information.

4. A method of using a paging system to remind a patient about a treatment to be received comprising:

compiling a treatment information database containing treatment information for at least one person;

accessing said treatment information database with a processor;

transmitting a transmission to a pager with said paging system, said transmission comprising information from said database regarding a treatment to be received by said person;

timing said transmission so as to serve as a reminder to a medical practitioner of said treatment, wherein said treatment is to be administered at an appointed time by said medical practitioner.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising abbreviating said information in said transmission.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

receiving said transmission with an antenna of a pager;

displaying said information with a display of said pager.