Method, apparatus and operating system for managing the administration of medication and medical treatment regimens

• US 6,085,752 A
• Filed: 09/20/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Informedix, Inc. (Informedix Holdings, Inc.), Madrigal Health, LLC
• Original Assignee: Informedix, Inc. (Informedix Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Starnes, James E., Maurer, David, Kehr, Bruce A., Baumel, Irwin D., Stempler, David S., Sohn, Evan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/398,816
• Time in Patent Office: 295 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 128/897, 128/920
• US Class Current: 128/897
• 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: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/20 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/50 using icons or symbolic figures, e.g. by a graphical representation symbolising the type of pathology or the organ by an image
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A medical monitoring device, operating system, and method is provided for managing administration of medical treatment regimens for treating a patient'"'"'s medical conditions. The device stores medication schedule data, treatment data, patient query data, and patient response data. The device includes a controller for controlling modes of operation of the device, controlling access of the memory, controlling display of the treatment data and the patient query data on a display, receiving and processing patient response data, tracking timing, and providing scheduled medication alarm signals. The device further includes dedicated keys interfaced with the controller. Each dedicated key is associated with one of the medical treatment regimens, and initiates the display of treatment messages relating to the associated medical treatment regimen. Successive actuation of each dedicated key initiates the display of further treatment messages relating to the associated medical treatment regimen. The device further includes soft function keys interfaced with the controller. The soft function keys signal the controller, commanding it to execute different modes of operation of the medical monitoring device. The device provides scheduled medication alarm signals that alert the user concerning prescribed medications due to be taken.

Claims

1. An operating system residing in a storage device, the operating system comprising instructions that initiate a controller of a medical monitoring device to display treatment messages on a display when one of a plurality of dedicated keys is actuated, the operating system associating each of the dedicated keys with a medical treatment regimen, and wherein a single actuation of one of the dedicated keys signals the operating system to initiate the display of a one of the treatment messages relating to the medical treatment regimen associated with the actuated dedicated key, said medical monitoring device for managing administration of the medical treatment regimens for treating a patient'"'"'s medical conditions.

2. The operating system of claim 1, wherein a number of successive actuations of the one dedicated key signals the operating system to initiate the display of a different one of the treatment messages relating to the associated medical treatment regimen for each successive actuation.

3. An operating system for a medical monitoring device for managing administration of medication and medical treatment regimens to treat a patient'"'"'s medical conditions, said operating system residing in a storage medium and comprising instructions that initiate a controller of the medical monitoring device to:

display treatment data on a display when one of a plurality of dedicated keys is actuated, the operating system associating each of the dedicated keys with one of the medical treatment regimens, and the treatment data being related to the medical treatment regimen associated with the actuated dedicated key; and

control modes of operation of the medical monitoring device, the modes of operation being initiated and executed in accordance with actuation of soft function keys.

4. The operating system of claim 3, wherein a number of successive actuations of the one dedicated key signals the operating system to initiate the display of different treatment data relating to the associated medical treatment regimen for each successive actuation.

5. The operating system of claim 3, wherein the instructions further initiate the controller to assign one of the modes of operation to each soft function key, and display an indication of the mode of operation assigned to each soft-function key, and, when one of the soft function keys is actuated, the instructions signal the controller to initiate and execute the mode of operation assigned to the actuated soft function key.

6. The operating system of claim 5, wherein the instructions further initiate the controller to assign a "More" function to one of the soft function keys, and, when the "More" soft function key is actuated, the instructions initiate the controller to assign a different one of the modes of operation to each soft function key except for the "More" soft function key.

7. The operating system of claim 3, wherein, when a soft function key assigned to a medication schedule adherence mode is actuated, the instructions initiate the controller to display information concerning the patient'"'"'s adherence to the medical treatment regimens.

8. The operating system of claim 7, wherein, when one of the dedicated keys is subsequently actuated within a predetermined time period after actuation of the soft function key assigned to the medication schedule adherence mode, the instructions initiate the controller to display information concerning adherence to the medical treatment regimen associated with the actuated dedicated key.

9. The operating system of claim 8, wherein, when the one dedicated key is actuated a number of successive times within the predetermined period, the instructions initiate the controller to display further information concerning adherence to the medical treatment regimen associated with the actuated dedicated key for each successive actuation.

10. The operating system of claim 3, wherein, when a soft function key assigned to a query mode of operation is actuated, the instructions initiate the controller to display patient query data, assign potential patient responses to the soft function keys, and receive and process patient response data according to an at least one soft function key actuated in response to the displayed patient query data.

11. The operating system of claim 3, wherein, when a soft function key assigned to a communication mode of operation is actuated, the instructions initiate the controller to execute a communication mode of operation, wherein the controller controls the transmission and receipt of data through a communication port.

12. The operating system of claim 3, wherein, when a soft function assigned to a programming mode of operation is actuated, the instructions initiate the controller to execute a programming mode for changing device settings.

13. The operating system of claim 3, wherein each associated treatment regimen comprises a prescribed medication.

14. The operating system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further initiate the controller to provide scheduled medication signals according to a prescribed medication schedule stored in the device for each prescribed medication, each scheduled medication signal including the display of treatment messages indicating prescribed medications due to be taken.

15. The operating system of claim 14, wherein, during a scheduled medication signal, when one of the dedicated keys associated with one of the prescribed medications due to be taken is actuated, the instructions initiate the controller to display treatment data relating to the associated prescribed medication.

16. The operating system of claim 15, wherein, during a scheduled medication signal, when the one dedicated key is actuated a number of successive times within a predetermined time period, the instructions cause the controller to display further treatment data relating to the associated prescribed medication for each successive actuation.

17. The operating system of claim 14, wherein, during a scheduled medication signal, the instructions initiate the controller to assign an "I Can'"'"'t" function to one of the soft function keys, wherein, actuation of the "I Can'"'"'t" soft function key signals the instructions to initiate the controller to display patient query data, assign potential patient responses to the soft function keys, and receive and process patient response data according to an at least one soft function key actuated in response to the displayed patient query data.

18. The operating system of claim 17, wherein the instructions further initiate the controller to display further patient query data, the content of which depending upon the processing of the patient response data, assign further potential patient responses to the soft function keys, and receive and process further patient response data according to an at least one soft function key actuated in response to the displayed further patient query data.