Methods and systems for tracking occurrences and non-occurrences of medical-related events

Abstract

Described in some aspects of the present invention are methods and systems that can be used to track occurrences and/or non-occurrences of medical-related events, for example, to record whether one or more medical-related events have occurred at a particular time or during a particular time interval. Any suitable number of events may be tracked using such methods and systems, and the types and varieties of events that can be tracked are diverse. Examples include but are not limited to vaccine or other drug administrations, physical therapies, tests, diagnoses and surgeries. In some preferred embodiments, these and/or other medical-related occurrences or events will be tracked using an article that can be worn about the body of a patient although a variety of non-wearable articles can be utilized as well.

1 . A method for tracking the occurrence of one or more medical-related events, the method comprising:
 providing an article capable of being worn about the body of a patient; and   indicating the occurrence of a first medical-related event having relevance to a first portion of said article which includes modifying the orientation or shape of said first portion.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first portion comprises a generally flat, flexible segment of material and said modifying comprises removing and discarding a piece of said segment. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein weakened portions of said generally flat, flexible segment are adapted to facilitate predictable removal of said piece along a predictable path dictated by the weakened portions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising indicating the occurrence of a second medical-related event having relevance to a second portion of said article which includes modifying the orientation or shape of said second portion. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said first medical-related event is the administration of a first medicament to the patient at a first particular time or during a first particular time interval, and wherein said second medical-related event is the administration of said first medicament to the patient at a second particular time or during a second particular time interval. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said first medical-related event is the administration of a first medicament to the patient at a particular time or during a particular time interval, and wherein said second medical-related event is the administration of a second medicament to the patient at a particular time or during a particular time interval. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said first medical-related event is the performance of a first medical test on the patient at a first particular time or during a first particular time interval, and wherein said second medical-related event is the performance of said first medical test on the patient at a second particular time or during a second particular time interval. 
     
     
         8 . A method for tracking the occurrence of one or more medical-related events, the method comprising:
 providing an article capable of being worn about the body of a patient; and   indicating the occurrence of a first medical-related event having relevance to a first region of said article which includes removing a first portion of said first region.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said first portion is a pre-manufactured removable segment. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising indicating the occurrence of a second medical-related event having relevance to said first region of said article which includes removing a second portion of said first region. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said first medical-related event is the administration of a first medicament, and said second medical-related event is the administration of a second medicament. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising indicating the occurrence of a second medical-related event having relevance to a second region of said article which includes removing a first portion of said second region. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first medical-related event is the administration of a first dose of a first medicament, and said second medical-related event is the administration of a second dose of said first medicament. 
     
     
         14 . A method for tracking the occurrence of one or more medical-related events, the method comprising:
 providing an article capable of being worn about the body of a patient; and   indicating the occurrence of a first medical-related event having relevance to a first portion of said article which includes modifying said first portion in a generally predetermined fashion.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising indicating the occurrence of a second medical-related event having relevance to a second portion of said article which includes modifying said second portion in a generally predetermined fashion. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said modifying said first portion includes removing a less-than-full amount of said first portion, and wherein said first portion incorporates pre-manufactured disruption points to facilitate removal of said less-than-full amount. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said modifying said first portion includes associating a separate, additional component with said first portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said associating includes bonding said separate, additional component to said first portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said associating includes coupling or connecting said separate, additional component to said first portion 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said article is configured to be worn about an ankle or wrist of the patient.