Devices, systems, and methods for adherence monitoring and patient interaction

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are provided for adherence monitoring and patient interaction. In general, the devices, systems, and methods can facilitate a patient's adherence to a medication schedule and can facilitate monitoring and tracking of the patient's adherence to the medication schedule. In one embodiment, a medical accessory such as a cap is provided that can be configured to attach to existing medication dispensers, such as asthma inhalers, or to be integrated into a custom-made medication dispenser. The accessory can be configured to provide a notification to the patient when medication is due. The accessory can be configured to detect usage of the dispenser. The accessory can be configured to provide data regarding dispensing of the medication to an external device. The data can be analyzed and provided for visualization on a user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inhaler comprising
 a housing;   medication disposed within a medication container;   a power source;   a wireless communication mechanism;   an activation member;   a sensor configured to sense a condition indicative of the medication being dispensed from the inhaler; and   a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a processor configured to:
 change from a first power state to a second power state in response to receiving an activation signal from the activation member; 
 power on the sensor in response to receiving the activation signal from the activation member; 
 received sensed data from the sensor; and 
 cause the wireless communication mechanism to wirelessly transmit a time of the activation signal and the sensed data to an external device that is external to the inhaler. 
   
     
     
         2 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the activation member is configured to move within the inhaler relative to the PCB in response to a user moving the inhaler housing. 
     
     
         3 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the actuation member further causes the medication to be dispensed from the medication container. 
     
     
         4 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the activation member comprises a switch. 
     
     
         5 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine that medication was dispensed from the inhaler based on a primary confirmation based on the activation signal from the activation member and a secondary confirmation based on the sensed data from the sensor being above a threshold amount. 
     
     
         6 . The inhaler of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to be in a first power state, a second power state, and a third power state, wherein the first and second power states are non-zero power states. 
     
     
         7 . The inhaler of  claim 6 , wherein, when in the first power state, the processor is configured to operate a timer of the processor, but not store data in memory of the inhaler or provide power to the sensor of the inhaler; and
 wherein, when in the second power state, the processor is configured to store data in the memory of the inhaler and provide power to the sensor of the inhaler.   
     
     
         8 . The inhaler of  claim 6 , wherein the third power state is a non-zero power state, and wherein the processor is configured to transition to the third state in response to a request for data from the external device. 
     
     
         9 . An inhaler comprising
 a housing;   medication disposed within a medication container;   a power source;   a wireless communication mechanism;   an activation member;   a sensor configured to sense a condition indicative of the medication being dispensed from the inhaler; and   a processor configured to be in a first power state, a second power state, or a third power state, wherein the processor is configured to:
 change from the first power state to the second power state in response to receiving an activation signal from the activation member; 
 power on the sensor in response to transitioning to the second power state; 
 received sensed data from the sensor; and 
 cause the wireless communication mechanism to wirelessly transmit the activation signal and the sensed data to an external device that is external to the inhaler. 
   
     
     
         10 . The inhaler of  claim 9 , wherein, when in the first power state, the processor is configured to operate a timer of the processor, but not store data in memory of the inhaler or provide power to the sensor of the inhaler; and
 wherein, when in the second power state, the processor is configured to store data in the memory of the inhaler and provide power to the sensor of the inhaler.   
     
     
         11 . The inhaler of  claim 9 , wherein the third power state is a non-zero power state, and wherein the processor is configured to transition to the third state in response to a request for data from the external device. 
     
     
         12 . The inhaler of  claim 10 , wherein actuation of the actuation member further causes the medication to be dispensed from the medication container. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 an inhaler comprising
 a power source; 
 a wireless communication mechanism; 
 an activation member; 
 a sensor configured to sense a condition indicative of the medication being dispensed from the inhaler; and 
 a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a processor configured to: 
 change from a first power state to a second power state in response to receiving an activation signal from the activation member; 
 power on the sensor in response to receiving the activation signal from the activation member; 
 received sensed data from the sensor; and 
 cause the wireless communication mechanism to wirelessly transmit the activation signal and the sensed data to an external device that is external to the inhaler; and 
   a computer-readable storage medium residing on an external device, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of the external device cause the processor of the external device to:   receive the activation signal and the sensed data from the inhaler; and   generate a report based on the activation signal and the sensed data, the report indicating a day and time that the medication was dispensed.   
     
     
         15 . The system of claim  14 , wherein the processor of the external device is further configured to determine that medication was dispensed from the inhaler based on a primary confirmation based on the activation signal from the activation member and a secondary confirmation based on the sensed data from the sensor being above a threshold amount. 
     
     
         16 . The system of claim  14 , wherein the report comprises a summary of the patient's adherence to the predetermined medication schedule 
     
     
         17 . The system of claim  14 , wherein the report comprises a recommended change to a patient's medication. 
     
     
         18 . The system of claim  14 , wherein the report comprises a prediction of changes in the patient's health. 
     
     
         19 . The system of claim  14 , wherein the report comprises a prediction of the patient's future adherence to the predetermined medication schedule, 
     
     
         20 . The system of claim  14 , wherein the report comprises a comparison of the patient's adherence to the predetermined medication schedule with a plurality of other patients' adherence with their respective predetermined medication schedules.