Medical reminder system and messaging watch

• US 6,075,755 A
• Filed: 01/26/1998
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Recall Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Recall Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Zarchan, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit
• Application Number:
  US09/013,082
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/107-109, 221/2, 221/3, 221/15, 340/309.15, 340/309.4, 364/413.02, 364/569
• US Class Current: 368/10
• 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: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A Medical Reminder System has an electronic messaging watch which is programmed with a medication regimen for the patient via an infrared or other electronic data transfer link to a health care provider'"'"'s computer system having custom software. The programmable watch sounds an alarm when a medication is to be taken, or a health care procedure is to be performed. Each watch is programmed with the patient'"'"'s name, individual medicine names, dosage amounts and specified medication times, as well as with alerts for appointments, prescription refills and medical events. Nonmedical messages may also be programmed into the watch. The alarm consists of distinctive monotone beeps and is sounded by the watch at the preset times programmed by the health care provider. The medication information scrolls across the screen when the patient records the event by pressing a button on the watch. The watch is programmed by placing it into a custom cradle that facilitates information transfer between the computer and the watch by means of infrared or other electronic signals. The watch monitors and graphically shows which medications have been taken on a daily basis, as well as allowing the patient to record "medical events" into the watch'"'"'s memory, allowing the level of compliance and patient history to be reviewed.

Claims

1. A reminder system comprising, in combination, an electronic wristwatch including:

timing means for indicating the current date and time,

a memory for storing a plurality of programmed messages each consisting of displayable message text and an associated date and time value indicating when said message text should be communicated to the wearer of said wristwatch,

a display for visually presenting said message text the wearer of said wristwatch,

an audible alarm device,

means for comparing said current date and time indicated by said timing device with the date and time value in said messages to actuating said audible alarm device when a given one of said messages should be communicated to the wearer,

input means operable by the wearer of said wristwatch for deactivating said alarm device to acknowledge said given one of said messages,

an event memory for storing event data including the date and time when said input means is activated by the wearer, and

a bidirectional communications port for receiving downloaded data including said messages from an external source and for transmitting uploaded data including said event data to an external device, and

a external host computer coupled by a bidirectional communications pathway to said communications port in said wristwatch, said host computer comprising;

means for accepting from a user the message text and a date and time for each message of a set of messages,

means coupled to said bidirectional pathway for transmitting said set of messages as downloaded data to the communications port of said electronic wristwatch for storage therein,

means coupled to said bidirectional pathway for receiving uploaded data including said event data via said pathway from said electronic wristwatch, and

output means for producing an event report derived from said event data.

2. A reminder system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the message text of at least a first one of said messages specifies a procedure to be performed at the date and time specified by said first message.

4. A reminder system as set forth in claim 1 further includes means responsive to the deactivation of said alarm for initiating the display of the message text of said given one of said messages, means responsive to a further actuation of said input means for terminating the display of said message text of said given message, and means for storing the date and time of said further actuation in said event memory.

5. A reminder system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said display in said wristwatch displays variable length text messages in a scrolling motion such that message text having more characters than the capacity of said display can be viewed in a timed sequence by the wearer.

6. A reminder system as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least one of said messages includes a request for information from the user and wherein said input means operable by said wearer accepts a response to said request which is recorded as event data which is thereafter transmitted via said pathway to said host computer.

7. A reminder system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said bidirectional port in said wristwatch comprises an infrared emitter and detector and wherein said pathway includes an adapter which houses a corresponding infrared detector and emitter to form a bidirectional infrared communications link.

8. A reminder system as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least some of said messages specify a plurality of event times and wherein said display includes means for displaying an plurality of zones corresponding to said plurality of event times with a symbol being displayed in each such zone which indicates the nature of the wearer'"'"'s response at each of corresponding event time.

3. A reminder system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said procedure to be performed is the administration of an medication identified in the message text of said firs of said messages.