Tracking and delivery confirmation of pharmaceutical products

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed that track a deliverable to a user. The system includes an identifier or tag secured to the deliverable, a computer system for interrogating the identifier, and a personal device in communication with the computer system, wherein the personal device is held by the user at the time the user is administered the deliverable to detect the unique identity associated with the identifier device and confirms delivery of the deliverable to the user. The method includes attaching an identifiable tag that produces a unique signature to the deliverable, interrogating the tag at about the time of delivery to the user, and confirming that the user has been administered the deliverable through detecting the identifiable tag.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer system to track medication from manufacturer to a patient, to enable a care provider to determine the origin of a medication and to confirm that at least one of the right type and the right dosage of the medication was delivered to the patient, the computer system comprising:
 a processor operative to:
 receive a unique identity of an identifier device secured to a dosage of a medication, wherein the identifier device comprises the unique identity that is associated with at least one of the manufacturer and the medication; 
 receive information from a patient interface device in communication with the computer and the patient, wherein at the time the patient takes the medication, the patient interface device is operative to detect the unique identity associated with the identifier device and confirm delivery of the medication to the patient; and 
 receive the detected unique identity associated with the identifier device detected via the patient interface device and the confirmation of delivery of the medication to the patient via the patient interface device; 
 wherein the processor is operative to confirm the origin of the medication and the type of the medication based at least on the unique identity of the identifier device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operative to interrogate the identifier device. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the identifier device comprises a tag provided with circuitry, wherein the tag is secured to the dosage of the medication, and wherein the processor is operative to read the unique identity from the tag. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 3 , wherein the tag is secured to a dosage of medication in the form of a pill. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 3 , wherein the tag is secured to a syringe configured for delivery of the dosage of medication, wherein the syringe comprises a safety component which is activated upon exposure to air. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 5 , wherein the syringe comprises a needle and wherein the needle comprises at least one contact point coupled to the tag. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operative to communicate with a datacenter database to at least one of retrieve medical information about the patient and provide information related to the medication to be administered to the patient. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is operative to:
 communicate with at least one of a database or a processing system at the datacenter;   transmit information to the processing system;   receive information from the processing system, wherein the processing system is operative to access the information in the database of the data center and provide the information to the patient through the computer.   
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operative to validate at least one of the type and dosage selected by the care provider prior to dispensing the medication to the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operative to communicate with an interrogation unit coupled to the identifier device, wherein the interrogation unit is operative to interrogate the identifier device secured to the medication and receive the unique identity of the identifier device to confirm the origin of the medication and the type of the medication, wherein the computer is operative to interrogate the interrogation unit and receive the unique identity of the identifier from the interrogation unit. 
     
     
         11 . The computer system of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is operative to:
 communicate with a memory of the interrogation unit; and   receive the unique identity of the identifier stored in the memory of the interrogation unit.   
     
     
         12 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operative to receive biometric parameters from the patient interface device, wherein the biometric parameters can identify the patient. 
     
     
         13 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is operative to receive an image of the patient captured by a camera on the patient interface device. 
     
     
         14 . The computer system of  claim 1 , comprising a display to provide information associated with the patient, wherein the information comprises any of an image of the patient, medical history of the patient, and a next type and dose of medication to deliver to the patient. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-implemented method to track medication from manufacturer to a patient, to enable a care provider to determine the origin of a medication and to confirm that at least one of the right type and the right dosage of the medication was delivered to the patient, the computer comprising a processor, the method comprising:
 receiving by the processor a unique identity of the identifier device secured to a dosage of medication, wherein the identifier device comprises the unique identity that is associated with at least one of the manufacturer and the medication;   receiving by the processor information from a patient interface device in communication with the computer and the patient, wherein at the time the patient takes the medication, the patient interface device is operative to detect the unique identity associated with the identifier device and confirm delivery of the medication to the patient;   receiving by the processor the detected unique identity associated with the identifier device detected via the patient interface device and the confirmation of delivery of the medication to the patient via the patient interface device;   confirming the origin of the medication and the type of the medication based at least on the unique identity of the identifier device.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , comprising interrogating by the processor the identifier device. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , comprising receiving by the processor the unique identity from a tag, wherein the identifier device comprises the tag provided with circuitry, wherein the tag is secured to the dosage of the medication, the method. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , comprising receiving by the processor the unique identity from the tag, wherein the tag is secured to a dosage of medication in the form of a pill. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 17 , comprising receiving by the processor the unique identity from the tag, wherein the tag is secured to a syringe configured for delivery of the dosage of medication, wherein the syringe comprises a safety component which is activated upon exposure to air. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 19 , comprising receiving by the processor the unique identity from the tag, wherein the syringe comprises a needle, and wherein the needle comprises at least one contact point coupled to the tag. 
     
     
         21 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , comprising at least one of:
 retrieving by the processor medical information about the patient from a datacenter database; and   providing by the processor information related to the medication to be administered to the patient.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , comprising:
 transmitting by the processor information to the processing system;   receiving by the processor information from the processing system, wherein the processing system is operative to access the information in the database of the data center and provide the information to the patient through the computer.   
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 validating by the processor at least one of the type and dosage selected by the care provider prior to dispensing the medication to the patient.   
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 interrogating by the processor operative an interrogation unit coupled to the identifier device, wherein the interrogation unit is operative to interrogate the identifier device secured to the medication and receive the unique identity of the identifier device to confirm the origin of the medication and the type of the medication; and   receiving by the computer the unique identity of the identifier from the interrogation unit.   
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 24 , comprising:
 communicating by the processor with a memory of the interrogation unit; and   receiving by the processor the unique identity of the identifier stored in the memory of the interrogation unit.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 receiving by the processor biometric parameters from the patient interface device, wherein the biometric parameters can identify the patient.   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 receiving by the processor an image of the patient captured by a camera on the patient interface device.   
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 displaying on a display coupled to the processor information associated with the patient, wherein the information comprises any of an image of the patient, medical history of the patient, and a next type and dose of medication to deliver to the patient.   
     
     
         29 . An apparatus, comprising:
 at least one contact point configured to electrically engage an identifier device secured to a medication, wherein the identifier device comprises a unique identity that is associated with at least one of the manufacturer and the medication;   an interrogation unit coupled to the at least one contact point, wherein the interrogation unit is operative to interrogate the identifier device to obtain the unique identity; and   a communication module coupled to the interrogation unit, wherein the communication module is operative to transmit the unique identification.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the interrogation unit is operative to read the unique identity associated with the identifier device. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the communication module is operative to transmit the unique identity associated with the identifier device to a computer in communication with the communication module. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , comprising a memory coupled to the interrogation unit to store the unique identity associated with the identifier device. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the interrogation unit is operative to read the unique identity from a tag provided with circuitry, wherein the tag is secured to the dosage of the medication. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the interrogation unit is operative to read the unique identity from the tag, wherein the tag is secured to a dosage of medication in the form of a pill. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the interrogation unit is operative to read the unique identity from the tag, wherein the tag is secured to a syringe configured for delivery of the dosage of medication, wherein the syringe comprises a safety component which is activated upon exposure to air. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the interrogation unit is operative to read the unique identity from the tag, wherein the syringe comprises a needle and wherein the needle comprises at least one contact point coupled to the tag. 
     
     
         37 . A method, comprising:
 electrically engaging by an interrogation unit an identifier device secured to a medication with at least one contact point coupled to the interrogation unit, wherein the identifier device comprises a unique identity that is associated with at least one of the manufacturer and the medication;   interrogating the identifier device for the unique identity; and   transmitting the unique identification by a communication module coupled to the interrogation unit.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising reading by the interrogation unit the unique identity associated with the identifier device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , comprising transmitting by the communication module the unique identity associated with the identifier device to a computer in communication with the communication module. 
     
     
         40 . The method  claim 38 , storing by the interrogation unit the unique identity associated with the identifier device in a memory, wherein the memory is coupled to the interrogation unit. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , the method comprising receiving by the interrogation unit the unique identity from a tag, wherein the identifier device comprises the tag provided with circuitry, wherein the tag is secured to the dosage of the medication. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising receiving by the interrogation unit the unique identity from the tag, wherein the tag is secured to a syringe configured for delivery of the dosage of medication, wherein the syringe comprises a safety component which is activated upon exposure to air. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , comprising receiving by the interrogation unit the unique identity from the tag, wherein the tag is secured to a syringe configured for delivery of the dosage of medication, wherein the syringe comprises a safety component which is activated upon exposure to air. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , comprising receiving by the interrogation unit the unique identity from the tag, wherein the syringe comprises a needle, and wherein the needle comprises at least one contact point coupled to the tag. 
     
     
         45 . A patient interface device, comprising:
 a housing defining an outer surface, wherein the housing is configured to held by a patient;   at least one contact point exposed on the outer surface portion of the housing, wherein the at least one contact point is positioned to be physically contacted by the patient to detect biometric information associated with the patient, wherein the at least one contact point is configured to detect at least one physiological parameter associated with the patient;   a control module coupled to the at least one contact point, wherein the at least one contact point is coupled to the control module to capture the at least one physiological parameter associated with the patient; and   a communication module coupled to the control unit to transmit the at least one physiological parameter to a computer in communication with the communication module.   
     
     
         46 . The patient interface device of  claim 45 , comprising a power source coupled to the control module. 
     
     
         47 . The patient interface device of  claim 45 , comprising an image generation unit to capture an image of the patient, wherein the image generation unit is coupled to the control module and is configured to capture the image of the patient and to transmit the captured image to the control module. 
     
     
         48 . The patient interface device of  claim 47 , wherein the control module is operative to activate the image generation unit to capture the image of the patient when the contact point detects there is a change in the physiological parameter of the patient during the time the patient is in contact with the contact point and when the control module detects a current flow through the patient. 
     
     
         49 . A method, comprising:
 contacting by a patient at least one contact point exposed on an outer surface portion of a housing, wherein the at least one contact point is positioned to be physically contacted by the patient to detect biometric information associated with the patient, wherein the at least one contact point is configured to detect at least one physiological parameter associated with the patient;   capturing by a control module coupled to the at least one contact point at least one physiological parameter associated with the patient; and   transmitting by a communication module coupled to the control unit the at least one physiological parameter to a computer in communication with the communication module.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , comprising:
 scanning by the at least contact point a fingerprint associated with the patient;   confirming by the control module fingerprint information.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , comprising:
 capturing an image of the patient by an image generation unit, wherein the image generation unit is coupled to the control module; and   transmitting by the image generation unit the captured image of the patient to the control module.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , comprising activating by the control module the image generation unit to capture the image of the patient when the contact point detects there is a change in the physiological parameter of the patient during the time the patient is in contact with the contact point and when the control module detects a current flow through the patient.