Contact sensor for monitoring medication adherence

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods described herein monitor when the fluid path of a medication in a parenteral medication delivery device is established or interrupted.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method of monitoring a state of a fluid flow path through a medication delivery device, the method comprising:
 attaching a contact sensor around an outside surface of at least one portion of the medication delivery device, wherein the contact sensor is not within the fluid flow path;   receiving, with one or more controllers, a state of electrical connection from the contact sensor, wherein the state of the electrical connection is a presence or absence of current; and   assigning, with one or more processing units, one or more event times, wherein each of the one or more event times indicates a time of a change in the state of the electrical connection.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising connecting the fluid flow path at a connection point, wherein the medication delivery device is located at the connection point. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein connecting the fluid flow path at the connection point causes a change in the state of the electrical connection. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein connecting the fluid flow path at the connection point causes at least a portion of the contact sensor to be displaced along an axis. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising flowing fluid through the medication delivery device. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein connecting the fluid flow path at the connection point includes connecting a first section and a second section. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first section is a first section of tubing, wherein the second section is a second section of tubing. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first section comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the second section comprises a first end and a second end, wherein connecting the first section and the second section includes connecting the second end of the first section and the second end of the second section. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising connecting the first end of the first section to a medication reservoir such that the first section is in fluid communication with the medication reservoir. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising connecting the first end of the second section to a medication dispense assembly such that the second section is in communication with the medication dispense assembly. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising establishing a connection between the one or more controllers and a secondary device. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising communicating, with the one or more controllers, the one or more event times to one or more secondary devices. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more controllers includes one or more transmitters that communicates the one or more event times to the one or more secondary devices wirelessly using a wireless communication protocol. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising communicating the one or more event times to at least one of: a patient, a physician, a nurse, a coordinator, medical practitioner, a caretaker for the patient, or an individual monitoring administration of medication to the patient; wherein each of the one or more event times indicates a change in a state of connection of the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the state of the electrical connection corresponds to the state of the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the contact sensor is removably attached around the outside surface. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the contact sensor comprises a single-piece enclosure. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the outside surface of the at least one portion of the medication delivery device is part of a connector. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the connector is a luer connector. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one portion of the medication delivery device is located at one end of a connection point within the fluid flow path. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the contact sensor encloses 360-degrees around the outside surface.