Medication usage monitoring and reminding device and method

Abstract

The medication usage monitoring and reminding device and method enables a user to easily monitor usage of medications by weighing the medications using a weighing component, a processing component and an I/O component. Additionally, the device is able to remind a user regarding the medications if the medication has not been timely taken. The device is also able to obtain information regarding medications such as possible conflicts, updates and other information. The device is able to be used for food/drink information or dietary information.

We claim: 
     
         1 ) A device for monitoring medication usage, comprising:
 a) a medication removal recognition component configured for recognizing removal of a medication and generating medication removal recognition data;   b) an input/output (I/O) component coupled to the medication removal recognition component, the I/O component configured for communicating I/O data, wherein the I/O data includes known weight information of the medication;   c) a data processing component configured for processing the medication removal recognition data and the I/O data including determining a weight change data; and   d) a medication reminding component coupled to the data processing component, the reminding component configured for reminding a user to take the medication.   
     
     
         2 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the data processing component is configured for computing the weight change data by subtracting a non-initial weight from an initial weight to obtain a result and dividing the result by an individual medication weight. 
     
     
         3 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the data processing component is configured for computing the weight change data by subtracting a current weight from an immediately preceding weight. 
     
     
         4 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the data processing component is configured for recording at least one of a weight date, the weight change data and a time of weight change data. 
     
     
         5 ) The device of  claim 4  wherein the data processing component is configured for converting at least one of the weight date, the weight change data and the time of weight change data into medication usage information. 
     
     
         6 ) The device of  claim 5  wherein the medication usage information comprises at least one of a time of a medication taken, a dosage of a medication taken and a type of a medication taken. 
     
     
         7 ) The device of  claim 5  wherein the I/O component is coupled to a second device for communicating at least one of a weight information, a stock information, a medication information and the medication usage information. 
     
     
         8 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the I/O component is synchronized with a personal information system, wherein the personal information system provides an alert if a medication is not taken within a pre-designated time. 
     
     
         9 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the I/O component is coupled to an information system including a medical database, wherein the medical database is configured for comparing a medication information and generating an alert if there is an incompatible medication. 
     
     
         10 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the I/O component is coupled to a physical condition monitoring device configured for monitoring a physical condition before, after, or while the medication is taken. 
     
     
         11 ) The device of  claim 10  wherein the physical condition monitoring device is configured for monitoring at least one of a heart rate, a medication concentration in blood stream, a chemical fluid concentration and a physical fluid concentration in a body. 
     
     
         12 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the medication reminding component reminds a user at a computed reminder time based on a time of previous medication consumption, a medication dosage and a weight of the user. 
     
     
         13 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the I/O component is configured to identify the user by communicating with a mobile device of the user. 
     
     
         14 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the data processing component is further configured for determining dietary information. 
     
     
         15 ) The device of  claim 14  wherein the data processing component is further configured for providing recommendations based on the medication and the dietary information. 
     
     
         16 ) The device of  claim 14  wherein the data processing component utilizes one or more thresholds in conjunction with the dietary information for alerting the user. 
     
     
         17 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the I/O component synchronizes the device with a plurality of devices, and the device contacts the plurality of devices in a prioritized order if the medication is not taken within a pre-designated time. 
     
     
         18 ) The device of  claim 1  wherein the I/O component sends information about the medication to an advertising device. 
     
     
         19 ) A system for monitoring medication usage implemented on a device, comprising:
 a) a medication removal recognition module configured for recognizing removal of a medication and generating medication removal recognition data;   b) a data processing module configured for processing medication removal recognition data including determining a weight difference between a stored weight and a current weight for a first amount of pills to calculate an average weight of each pill of the first amount of pills and storing the weight difference, the data processing module further configured for utilizing GPS tracking information and medication information and alerting a user to avoid driving based on the GPS tracking information and the medication information;   c) a network module configured for communicating network information between the data processing component and an external device, wherein the external device comprises an information system of a medical service provider;   d) a reminding module coupled to the data processing module, the reminding module configured for reminding a user to take the medication based on a schedule; and   e) a display coupled to the data processing module, the display configured for displaying medication information.   
     
     
         20 ) A method of monitoring medication usage for a plurality of users comprising:
 a) receiving medication information at an Input/Output (I/O) component;   b) weighing a plurality of medications with a device and computing weight differences between first weighings and a second weighings;   c) scheduling a plurality of schedules on the device;   d) reminding the plurality of users to take a medication based on the plurality of schedules, wherein reminding includes a distinct alarm for each user of the plurality of users; and   e) automatically communicating a medication refill request with an external device over a network when a specified quantity of pills is determined to have been removed from at least one of the plurality of medications, wherein the external device comprises a pharmacy device.