US2013166066A1PendingUtilityA1

Methods for point of use medication control

60
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 5, 2006Filed: Nov 30, 2012Published: Jun 27, 2013
Est. expiryJan 5, 2026(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Lawrence A. Dunn
G16H 20/13G16H 40/67G07F 9/026G07F 9/02
60
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

Methods for controlling the dispensing of medication are provided. The method can include holding at least one medication within a dispenser and alerting a patient that a dose of medication is to be taken or an optional dose of medication is available to be taken. Once the patient is present for receiving a does of medication, the identification of the patient can be confirmed. Upon confirmation of the identification, a dose of medication for the patient can then be dispensed and removal of medication from dispenser can be confirmed. The method can also include providing a location determination device with the dispenser to permit locating the dispenser.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling dispensing of medication, the method comprising:
 (a) holding at least one medication within a dispenser device;   (b) alerting a patient that a dose of medication is to be taken or an optional dose of medication is available to be taken;   (c) confirming identification of the patient through a biometric identification device;   (d) dispensing a dose of medication for the patient from the dispenser device;   (e) confirming removal of medication from the dispenser device; and   (f) providing a location determination device with the dispenser device to permit locating the dispenser device.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising locating the dispenser device via the location determination device upon notification of misplacement of the dispenser device. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising communicating information between the dispenser device and a remote location about dispensing of the medication. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the remote location comprises a central data store and communicating information between the dispenser device and the remote location comprises reporting status of the dispenser device to the central data store. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein communicating information between the dispenser device and the remote location comprises the dispenser device accepting new dispensing instructions from the central data store. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein communicating information between the dispenser device and the remote location comprises providing secure access to the stored information and instructions on the central data store to appropriate doctors and pharmacies via an internet service provider. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein alerting a patient that a dose of medication is to be taken or an optional dose of medication is available to be taken comprises emitting at least one of an audio or visual signal indicating that the dose of medication is ready to be taken. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising instructing the dispenser device that the signal has been received through a response mechanism actuatable by the patient. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the biometric identification device comprises at least one of a biometric identification device fingerprint system or a retina scan system. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising instructing the dispenser device to transmit an emergency message to an appropriate emergency response facility upon actuation of emergency assistance mechanism. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising a disabling functionality of the dispenser device based upon a predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising tracking data on a controller of the dispenser device, wherein the tracked data comprises the dosage, compliance notification data, dose history, patient data, patient compliance schedule and biometric information. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising communicating the tracked data from the dispenser device to a central data store that also comprises tracked data from other dispenser devices and patients about dispensing of medication. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising providing secure access to the tracked data on the central data store to at least one of appropriate doctors, pharmacies, or administrators via an internet service provider. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein an administrator can access the tracked data from multiple dispenser devices for analysis. 
     
     
         16 . A method for controlling dispensing of medication, the method comprising:
 (a) holding at least one medication within a dispenser device;   (b) alerting a patient that a dose of medication is to be taken or an optional dose of medication is available to be taken;   (c) confirming identification of the patient;   (d) dispensing a dose of medication for the patient from the dispenser device;   (e) confirming removal of medication from dispenser device; and   (f) providing a location determination device with the dispenser device to permit locating the dispenser device.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein alerting a patient that a dose of medication is to be taken or an optional dose of medication is available to be taken comprises emitting at least one of an audio or visual signal indicating that the dose of medication is ready to be taken. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising locating the dispenser device via the location determination device upon notification of misplacement of the dispenser device. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising communicating information between the dispenser device and a remote location about dispensing of the medication. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the remote location comprises a central data store and communicating information between the dispenser device and the remote location comprises reporting status of the dispenser device to the central data store. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein communicating information between the dispenser device and the remote location comprises the dispenser device accepting new dispensing instructions from the central data store. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein communicating information between the dispenser device and the remote location comprises providing secure access to the stored information and instructions on the central data store to appropriate doctors and pharmacies via an internet service provider. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein confirming identification of the patient comprises verifying the identity of the patient through a biometric identification device. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the biometric identification device comprises at least one of a biometric identification device fingerprint system or a retina scan system. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 23 , further comprising tracking data on a controller of the dispenser device, wherein the data tracked comprises the dosage, compliance notification data, dose history, patient data, patient compliance schedule and biometric information. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , further comprising communicating the tracked data from the dispenser device to a central data store that also comprises tracked data from other dispenser devices and patients about dispensing of medication. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 26 , further comprising providing secure access to the tracked data on the central data store to at least one of appropriate doctors, pharmacies, or administrators via an internet service provider. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein an administrator can access the tracked data from multiple dispenser devices for analysis. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising instructing the dispenser device to transmit an emergency message to an appropriate emergency response facility upon actuation of emergency assistance mechanism. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the disabling functionality of the dispenser device based upon a predetermined criteria.

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