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US5963136A
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Interactive prescription compliance and life safety system
Assignee: MEDS ALERT LLC
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Filing: 1998-07-15
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Granted: 1999-10-05
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Expires: 2018-07-15
Abstract
Abstract An interactive prescription compliance, and life safety system provides remote and on site verification of procedures related to the health status of a person, including taking of medicines, responsiveness to queries, and attendance of health care and service providers in the home by providing for signals to and from a person's location, with alarm activation when a deviation from a preprogrammed procedure occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles Terrence O'Brien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61J; A61J7/00; A61J7/04; A61J7/0409; A61J7/0481; A61J7/0427; A61J7/0454; G; G06; G06V; G06V20/00; G06V20/60; G06V20/66; G16; G16H; G16H20/00; G16H20/10; G16H20/13; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67; A61J2200/00; A61J2200/30; A61J2200/70; A61J2200/72; A61J2205/00; A61J2205/10; A61J2205/20; A61J2205/50; A61J2205/60; A61J2205/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
An interactive prescription compliance and personal safety system, requiring both a user of the system to respond to alarm signals generated by a customer service center, and the customer service center to respond to alarm signals generated by the user, the interactive system comprising: A. a pharmacy data terminal being adapted to record personal and prescription information of the user; B. a reader for a coding means on a prescription dispenser identifying at least one prescription taken by the user, the coding means being at least one selected from the group consisting of a bar code and a radio frequency identification tag; C. the customer service center communicating with the pharmacy data terminal, the reader, and the user in order to create a permanent patient data base; D. the customer service center providing electronic data storage and prescription information for the user and communicating with a data processing center, in order to provide prescription information; E. the customer service center being connected to a prescription compliance alarm; F. the prescription compliance alarm being connected to a dispenser for medication; G. the reader including an activation means for the prescription compliance alarm adapted to signal use or non use of the dispenser and to cause a response to non use; H. the activation means including at least one selected from the group consisting of a console receiving and displaying a prescription compliance message and an audio alarm; I. the reader being adapted to read the coding means and being connected to the activation means; and J. the reader serving to deactivate the alarm when a proper medication code is provided.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
An interactive prescription compliance and personal safety system, requiring both a user of the system to respond to alarm signals generated by a customer service center, and the customer service center to respond to alarm signals generated by the user, the interactive system comprising: A. a pharmacy data terminal being adapted to record personal and prescription information of the user; B. a reader for a coding means on a prescription dispenser identifying at least one prescription taken by the user, the coding means being at least one selected from the group consisting of a bar code and a radio frequency identification tag; C. the customer service center communicating with the pharmacy data terminal, the reader, and the user in order to create a permanent patient data base; D. the customer service center providing electronic data storage and prescription information for the user and communicating with a data processing center, in order to provide prescription information; E. the customer service center being connected to a prescription compliance alarm; F. the prescription compliance alarm being connected to a dispenser for medication; G. the reader including an activation means for the prescription compliance alarm adapted to signal use or non use of the dispenser and to cause a response to non use; H. the activation means including at least one selected from the group consisting of a console receiving and displaying a prescription compliance message and an audio alarm; I. the reader being adapted to read the coding means and being connected to the activation means; and J. the reader serving to deactivate the alarm when a proper medication code is provided.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The interactive prescription compliance and personal safety system of claim 1 further comprising: A. the reader providing a display means, the display means being selected from the group consisting of liquid crystal display and a television screen; B. the reader including an activating means for sounding an audio alarm; C. the audio alarm providing an indication of when to take medication; D. the audio alarm cooperating with the reader in order to provide an indication of whether medication is proper; and E. the reader informing the data processing center of compliance or non compliance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The interactive prescription compliance and personal safety system of claim 2 further comprising: A. the reader receiving information of medication by the user from the coding means; B. the reader generating a signal; and C. the reader sending the signal to the data processing center in order to verify medication being taken.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
114 words
The interactive prescription compliance and personal safety system of claim 3 further comprising: A. the reader receiving information of at least one service provider; B. the data processing center using conventional communications links, accepting all required data for the user, and, creating a permanent patient data base; C. the data processing center having prescription information of least one selected from the group consisting of dosage, time interval, and level of service options and accessories is stored; D. the data processing center generating a prescription compliance alarm in order for the user to cause medication to be dispensed; and E. the data processing center generating a third-party alarm after a personal safety alarm is detected.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing interactive prescription compliance and life safety alarms for a user, the method comprising: A. providing a patient prescription record for at least one medication and life safety profile in a database; B. generating prescription compliance alarm from the profile and the database; C. downloading the database through the compliance alarm to require the user to remove medication from a dispenser; D. causing the user to pass the medication in front of reader; E. generating a compliance signal to the data base in order to verify medication removal from the dispenser in order to indicate compliance; and F. recording the compliance in the database.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of providing interactive prescription compliance and life safety alarms for a user, the method comprising: A. providing a patient prescription record for at least one medication and life safety profile in a database; B. generating prescription compliance alarm from the profile and the database; C. downloading the database through the compliance alarm to require the user to remove medication from a dispenser; D. causing the user to pass the medication in front of reader; E. generating a compliance signal to the data base in order to verify medication removal from the dispenser in order to indicate compliance; and F. recording the compliance in the database.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising: A. generating a life safety alarm signal; B. transmitting the life safety alarm signal to the database thereby recording date, time, and nature of the safety alarm signal; and C. relaying the life safety alarm to a correct authority; and D. monitoring a service provider, an equipment provider and medical life support equipment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 6 further comprising: A. providing an interactive audio and video system in a home of the user; B. controlling the interactive audio and video system in a home of the user through a designated third party; and C. utilizing a home telephone number and assigning that number to a pager-like device in order to provide compliance alarms, which is stored and activated at appropriate medication times.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-04 | 2011-04-05 | 2011-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |