EP0526166A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Patient compliance monitoring method and system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-07-28
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2012-07-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a method of monitoring a patient's medicine compliance. It involves utilizing an automatic compliance monitoring device which tracks patient compliance data, along with a wave energy transmitter and power source, all connected to a medicine container. A receiver is connected to a computer with a display unit. The compliance monitoring device or the computer is programmed to calculate compliance requirements of the container e.g. by number of cap openings, by dispensing count or by weight information obtained by the automatic compliance monitoring device, for each dosage administration for the prescription period. The wave energy transmitter on the medicine container continuously, periodically, or randomly transmits raw or calculated data to the receiver and from there to the computer to compare actual usage with compliance required, to determine compliance results on the display unit to permit compliance monitoring on a monitor at a remote location. Optionally, other patient characteristics are also monitored and feedback is provided. The present invention includes both the method and the system of interconnected devices to practice the method as well as a single component which includes in combination, the medicine container, compliance device, transmitter and power source. Feedback may be to any professional or any remote location, and a single medicine or a plurality of medicines may be monitored.
Inventors
- 👤 Albert L. Dessertine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:31
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0002; A61B5/0015; A61B5/0022; G; G16; G16H; G16H20/00; G16H20/10; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; G16H40/40; G16H80/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of monitoring a patient's medicine compliance which comprises: (a) providing an automatic compliance monitoring device, which device automatically tracks at least one type of patient medicine compliance data, said device being connected to a medicine container; (b) providing a wave energy transmitter and a power source to drive said transmitter for transmission of said patient medicine compliance data to a remote location, said transmitter being electronically connected to said automatic compliance monitoring device for said transmission and said data transmitter and power source being connected to said medicine container; (c) providing a receiver at said remote location and providing a computer to which said receiver inputs patient medicine compliance data; (d) at least from time to time, transmitting patient medicine compliance data from said transmitter to said receiver and computer; (e) having either said device or said computer programmed to store the prescribed medicine dosage and regimen of said container; (f) having either said device or said computer programmed to calculate compliance requirements for each dosage administration for the prescription period of the medicine and for comparing the actual medicine consumption or container usage with the compliance requirements; (g) connecting said computer to a display unit at a remote location away from the automatic compliance monitoring device; and, (h) visually displaying the compliance results on said display unit to permit compliance monitoring.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of monitoring a patient's medicine compliance which comprises: (a) providing an automatic compliance monitoring device, which device automatically tracks at least one type of patient medicine compliance data, said device being connected to a medicine container; (b) providing a wave energy transmitter and a power source to drive said transmitter for transmission of said patient medicine compliance data to a remote location, said transmitter being electronically connected to said automatic compliance monitoring device for said transmission and said data transmitter and power source being connected to said medicine container; (c) providing a receiver at said remote location and providing a computer to which said receiver inputs patient medicine compliance data; (d) at least from time to time, transmitting patient medicine compliance data from said transmitter to said receiver and computer; (e) having either said device or said computer programmed to store the prescribed medicine dosage and regimen of said container; (f) having either said device or said computer programmed to calculate compliance requirements for each dosage administration for the prescription period of the medicine and for comparing the actual medicine consumption or container usage with the compliance requirements; (g) connecting said computer to a display unit at a remote location away from the automatic compliance monitoring device; and, (h) visually displaying the compliance results on said display unit to permit compliance monitoring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein two computers are used, a first computer being located so as to be readily available to receive raw data from said automatic compliance monitoring device and a second being remotely located with said display unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said first computer includes a display unit to provide corrective instructions to a patient when appropriate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said first computer is programmed to provide specific day and/or time of day information to display compliance information to a patient on its display unit.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said transmission is to a professional for compliance monitoring.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
44 words
The method of any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the method is repeated for a plurality of different containers of medicine with different automatic compliance monitoring devices and the computer determines and stores compliance information for each of said plurality of different devices.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
32 words
The method of any of claims 1 to 6 wherein said automatic compliance monitoring device, said radio transmitter and said power source are located in a cap portion of a medicine container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said automatic compliance monitoring device is a cap removal counting device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said said automatic compliance monitoring device is a weighing device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
32 words
The method of and of claims 1 to 6 wherein said automatic compliance monitoring device, said radio transmitter and said power source are located in a base portion of a medicine container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said automatic compliance monitoring device includes an optical scale feature to measure medicine container content.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
51 words
The method of any of claims to 1 to 11 wherein said receiver is located in a first remote area from said device and said computer is located at a second remote area from said device and said receiver and computer are connected to one another by additional wave energy transmission.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for patient medicine compliance and patient status monitoring, which comprises: (a) a medicine container having a cap portion and a base portion; (b) at least one automatic compliance monitoring device which automatically tracks at least one type of data related to actual medicine consumption or container usage, said device being connected to a medicine container; (c) a wave energy transmitter and power source for transmission of patient medicine compliance data, said transmitter being electronically connected to said automatic compliance monitoring device and said transmitter and power source being connected to said medicine container; (d) a receiver at a remote location from said radio transmitter; (e) a computer connected to said receiver to receive input therefrom on patient medicine compliance data; (f) a display unit connected to said computer to permit patient medicine compliance monitoring; Further, wherein either said device or said computer is programmed to store prescribed medicine dosage and regimen of said container and having either said device or said computer programmed to calculate compliance requirements for each dosage administration for the prescription period and for comparing the actual medicine consumption or container usage with the com- plaince requirements to display comparison results on said remote display unit.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
201 words
A system for patient medicine compliance and patient status monitoring, which comprises: (a) a medicine container having a cap portion and a base portion; (b) at least one automatic compliance monitoring device which automatically tracks at least one type of data related to actual medicine consumption or container usage, said device being connected to a medicine container; (c) a wave energy transmitter and power source for transmission of patient medicine compliance data, said transmitter being electronically connected to said automatic compliance monitoring device and said transmitter and power source being connected to said medicine container; (d) a receiver at a remote location from said radio transmitter; (e) a computer connected to said receiver to receive input therefrom on patient medicine compliance data; (f) a display unit connected to said computer to permit patient medicine compliance monitoring; Further, wherein either said device or said computer is programmed to store prescribed medicine dosage and regimen of said container and having either said device or said computer programmed to calculate compliance requirements for each dosage administration for the prescription period and for comparing the actual medicine consumption or container usage with the com- plaince requirements to display comparison results on said remote display unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A patient medicine compliance system component, which comprises: (a) a medicine container having a cap portion and a base portion; (b) an automatic compliance monitoring device which atuoamtically tracks at least one type of patient medicine compliance data and being connected to said medicine container; (c) a wave energy transmitter and power source to drive the transmitter for transmission of said patient medicine compliance data to a remote location, the transmitter being electronically connected to said automatic compliance monitoring device and the transmitter and power source being connected to said medicine container.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
92 words
A patient medicine compliance system component, which comprises: (a) a medicine container having a cap portion and a base portion; (b) an automatic compliance monitoring device which atuoamtically tracks at least one type of patient medicine compliance data and being connected to said medicine container; (c) a wave energy transmitter and power source to drive the transmitter for transmission of said patient medicine compliance data to a remote location, the transmitter being electronically connected to said automatic compliance monitoring device and the transmitter and power source being connected to said medicine container.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.