WO2021048876A1

WO2021048876A1 - System and apparatus for medication storage and dispense with integrated monitoring system

Info

Publication number: WO2021048876A1
Application number: PCT/IN2020/050788
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ganesh MAHADEVAN V; Piyush Verma; Keerthan SHETTY ALADANGADY
Original assignee: Mahadevan V Ganesh
Priority date: 2019-09-11
Filing date: 2020-09-10
Publication date: 2021-03-18

Abstract

A medication storage and monitoring device is provided for medication storage and dispensing. The medication storage and monitoring system used for monitoring, tracking, delivering, and reminding patients to take their drugs/medicines based on a prescription, in addition the medication storage and monitoring system remind their stakeholders on the same to track the patient's usage/in-take of the respective drug. Uniqueness of the medication storage and monitoring device is to capture the patient's consumption pattern along with reminding and delivering the drug at the prescribed time based on the usage in a simple and holistic manner leveraging the existing package of the drugs.

Description

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR MEDICATION STORAGE AND DISPENSE WITH INTEGRATED MONITORING SYSTEM

BACKGROUND Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the management of medication dispensing, its use and monitoring, and, more particularly, to the management of medication dispensing and use for individuals who have complex medication regimens, also to address the adherence procedure involved. More particularly, the present invention provides systems, methods, and apparatus for managing medication dispensing, monitoring the medication dispensing.

Description of the Related Art

[0002] When medications are prescribed, a patient frequently does not follow the administration instructions included with the medication. A patient often forgets the specific time of day that the medication should be taken or miscalculates the interval between doses, failing to adhere and resulting in the patient getting into serious complications like drug resistant, or over dosage of drugs - taking medication too frequently, too infrequently or not at all. This can lead to a variety of pharmacological and/or toxicological problems to the patient that ultimately may result in ineffective treatment of a disease and/or serious harm to the patient. There are many medical conditions, which critically rely upon the careful administration and adherence of drugs such as in the areas of anti-coagulation, Tuberculosis, seizures, diabetes, narcotics, antibiotics and cardiac medications.

[0003] Frequently, patients who need to take several different medications during the course of a day, become confused both with the frequency and with the particular medication that needs to be taken at a particular time resulting in the above problems. These problems are compounded when the patient has impaired eyesight or is in a confused state of mind.

[0004] There are great number of medication dispensers and alerting arrangements, which advise of the periodic medication taking times, many of which are associated with a programmable computer microprocessor, which controls such apparatus. However, there seems to be a general lack of ability to regulate and document patient’s drug use in a controllable fashion without the need for direct supervision of medication use, which is very costly. Accordingly, there is a need for a system and apparatus for medication storage and dispense with integrated monitoring system, which is easy to use by all age groups powered with modern-age technology such as internet of things and patient’s analytics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a medication storage and monitoring system according to an embodiment herein;

[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the medication storage and monitoring system of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

[0008] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrates a medication storage and dispensing device according to an embodiment herein;

[0009] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a computer implemented method for storing and dispensing the medication using the medication storage and monitoring system of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein;

[0010] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a receiver according to an embodiment herein; and

[0011] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of a computer architecture used according to an embodiment herein.

DETAIFED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The embodiments herein, the various features, and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0013] Various embodiments of the methods and systems disclosed herein provide a medication storage and monitoring system for medication storage and dispensing. Further, the medication storage and monitoring system used for monitoring, tracking, delivering, and reminding patients to take their drugs/medicines based on a prescription, in addition the medication storage and monitoring system remind their stakeholders on the same to track the patient’s usage/ in-take of the respective drug. The uniqueness of this solution/product is to capture the patient’s consumption pattern along with reminding and delivering the drug at the prescribed time based on the usage in a simple and holistic manner leveraging the existing package of the drugs. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 6, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a medication storage and monitoring system 100 according to an embodiment herein. The medication storage and monitoring system 100 includes a user 102, a smart container 104, an alert system 106, a network 108, and a stakeholder device 110. The smart container 104 includes a microcontroller or processor to control. The user 102 may be a patient or an individual who regularly takes medication. The processor associated with the smart container 104 captures the doctor’s prescription through an input device (e.g. a keyboard or a User Interface (UI) through mobile application) from the patient 102. The smart container 104 also captures the patient’s medication consumption level. For example, tablets that have to be taken on prescribed time (e.g. Morning, Noon and Evening). Further, the patient 102 configure the alert system 106 associated with the smart container 104 to provide an alert at the prescribed time. The alert system 106 includes (a) one or more sensors to indicate the medication level inside the smart container 104 or to indicate a status of the medication intake by the patient 102, i.e. whether the medication has been taken by the patient 102 or not at the prescribed time ( For example: at the prescribed time an alarm or an automated voice may be generated to remind the patient to take the medication by various means like an alarm, or a beep sound, or a ring or an IVR automated call to his/her mobile), (b) a speaker to provide an audio alert to the patient 102 and (c) a display to provide a visual alert. The smart container 104 includes a connector where a blister pack (e.g. the medication pack) can be inserted and a cap where the medication bottle can be attached. The smart container 104 also includes a rechargeable battery for the microcontroller or processor, the speaker, LED etc.

[0015] The alert system 106 of the smart container 104 provides the audio-visual alert to the patient 102 at the prescribed medication time of each day. In an embodiment, the audio-visual alert will be provided from the alert system 106 until the patient takes the medication from the smart container 104 or until the preconfigured end time (e.g. 2 min or 5 min). In another embodiment, the patient 104 can stop the audio-visual alert manually. The patient 102 can customize the audio-visual alert language based on their preference. In another embodiment, the alert system 106 provides a haptic alert to notify the patient 102 about the medication at the prescribed time of each day.

[0016] The patient 102 can dispense the medication from the smart container 104 upon reception of the audio-visual alert. The smart container 104 captures the dispensing of the medication (e.g. pills/drugs) which is later used for reporting and monitoring. If the medication is not dispensed from the smart container 104 at the prescribed medication time, an alert message will be communicated to a stakeholder via the network 108. In one embodiment, the smart container 104 communicates the alert message to the stakeholder when the medication gets over in the blister pack or the medication bottle. The stakeholder may be a doctor, the patient or a caretaker. The stakeholder device 110 may be a mobile phone or smart phone.

[0017] The medication storage and monitoring system 100 helps the patient 102 for replenishment of the medication. For example, if the medication stock is empty, the processor associated with the smart container 104 generates a purchase order and the purchase order is communicated to a pharmacist for home delivery. The medication stock is identified based on at least one of the sensor data, the patient 102 information and/or the instructions provided by the doctor.

[0018] Further, the medication storage and monitoring system 100 includes a database to store the prescription, medication times in a day, medication records and purchase orders. [0019] In one embodiment, the medication storage and monitoring systems 100 includes a dashboard.

[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of the medication storage and monitoring system 100 of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment herein. The exploded view includes an input receiving module 204, an alert providing module 206, a drug delivery monitoring module 208 and a stakeholder calling module 210.

[0021] The input receiving module 204 receives the doctor’s prescription through the input device (e.g. a keyboard or a User Interface (UI) through mobile application) and the medication consumption level from the patient 102. Further, the input receiving module 204 receive a predefined time when the alert has to be sent to the patient 102 for taking medication. The predefined time is set for each day in a week. The alert providing module 206 provides the audio-visual alert to the patient 102 at the prescribed medication time of each day. The alert providing module 206 includes (a) one or more sensors to indicate the medication level inside the smart container 104 or to indicate whether the medication has been taken by the patient 102 or not, (b) a speaker to provide an audio alert to the patient 102, (c) a display to provide a visual alert and (d) a haptic alert. Further, the alert providing module 206 alerts the patient 102 when the smart container 104 is removed from the medicine packaging. The drug delivery monitoring module 208 captures the dispensing of the medication (e.g. pills/drugs) which is later used for reporting and monitoring. The drug delivery monitoring module 208 captures the dispensing of the medication along with the time. The stakeholder calling module 210 communicates the message to the stakeholder if the medication is not dispensed from the smart container 104 at the prescribed medication time. The stakeholder calling module 210 communicates the message to the stakeholder when the medication gets over in the blister pack or the medication bottle. Further, the stakeholder calling module 210 generates a purchase order if the medication stock in the smart container 104 is empty. The stakeholder calling module 210 further communicates the purchase order to the pharmacist for replenishment. The database 202 includes stores doctor’s prescription, medication times in a day, medication records and purchase orders.

[0022] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrates a medication storage and dispensing device according to an embodiment herein. The medication storage and dispensing device includes a connector 302 where the blister pack is to be inserted, a cap 304 where the medication bottle can be attached. The medication storage and dispensing device further includes one or more sensors 306A-N, a display unit 308 and a push button 310. The one or more sensors 306A-N indicates the medication level inside the smart container 104 or indicates whether the medication has been taken by the patient 102 or not at the prescribed time (For example, a green light indicates that each medication is taken “on time”, a yellow light indicates “late” and a red light indicates “too late”). The display unit 308 provides the visual alert to the patient 102 at the prescribed medication time of each day. The push button 310 is adapted to stop the alert.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a computer implemented method for storing and dispensing the medication using the medication storage and dispensing device FIGS. 3A-3C according to an embodiment herein. In step 402, the medication storage and dispensing device receives the doctor’s prescription through the input device from the patient 102, the medication consumption level and the predefined time for communicating the alert. In step 404, the alert system 106 provides the audio-visual alert to the patient 102 at the prescribed medication time of each day. In step 406, the medication storage and dispensing device monitors and captures the dispensing of the medication along with the time. In step 408, the medication storage and dispensing device communicates the alert message to the stakeholder if the medication is not dispensed from the smart container 104 at the prescribed medication time and when the medication gets over in the blister pack or the medication bottle. In step 410, the medication storage and dispensing device generates a purchase order if the medication stock in the smart container 104 is empty and communicates the purchase order to the pharmacist for replenishment.

[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of a receiver 500 having a memory 502 having a set of instructions, a bus 504, a display 506, a speaker 508, and a processor 510 capable of processing the set of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies herein, according to an embodiment herein. The processor 510 may also enable digital content to be consumed in the form of video for output via one or more displays 506 or audio for output via speaker and/or earphones 508. The processor 510 may also carry out the methods described herein and in accordance with the embodiments herein.

[0025] Digital content may also be stored in the memory 502 for future processing or consumption. The memory 502 may also store program specific information and/or service information (PSI/SI), including information about digital content (e.g., the detected information bits) available in the future or stored from the past. A user of the receiver 500 may view this stored information on display 506 and select an item of for viewing, listening, or other uses via input, which may take the form of keypad, scroll, or other input device(s) or combinations thereof. When digital content is selected, the processor 510 may pass information. The content and PSI/SI may be passed among functions within the receiver using the bus 504.

[0026] The techniques provided by the embodiments herein may be implemented on an integrated circuit chip (not shown). The chip design is created in a graphical computer programming language, and stored in a computer storage medium (such as a disk, tape, physical hard drive, or virtual hard drive such as in a storage access network).

[0027] The embodiments herein can take the form of, an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment including both hardware and software elements. The embodiments that are implemented in software include but are not limited to, firmware, resident software, microcode, etc. Furthermore, the embodiments herein can take the form of a computer program product accessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing program code for use by or in connection with a computer or any instruction execution system. For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computer readable medium can be any apparatus that can comprise, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

[0028] The medium can be an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system (or apparatus or device) or a propagation medium. Examples of a computer-readable medium include a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of optical disks include compact disk - read only memory (CD-ROM), compact disk - read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

[0029] A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing program code will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectly to memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can include local memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulk storage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times code must be retrieved from bulk storage during execution.

[0030] Input/output (I/O) devices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointing devices, remote controls, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to the system to enable the data processing system to become coupled to other data processing systems or remote printers or storage devices through intervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernet cards are just a few of the currently available types of network adapters.

[0031 ] A representative hardware environment for practicing the embodiments herein is depicted in FIG. 6. This schematic drawing illustrates a hardware configuration of an information handling/computer system in accordance with the embodiments herein. The system comprises at least one processor or central processing unit (CPU) 10. The CPUs 10 are interconnected via system bus 12 to various devices such as a random access memory (RAM) 14, read-only memory (ROM) 16, and an input/output (I/O) adapter 18. The EO adapter 18 can connect to peripheral devices, such as disk units 11 and tape drives 13, or other program storage devices that are readable by the system. The system can read the inventive instructions on the program storage devices and follow these instructions to execute the methodology of the embodiments herein.

[0032] The system further includes a user interface adapter 19 that connects a keyboard 15, mouse 17, speaker 24, microphone 22, and/or other user interface devices such as a touch screen device (not shown) or a remote control to the bus 12 to gather user input. Additionally, a communication adapter 20 connects the bus 12 to a data processing network 25, and a display adapter 21 connects the bus 12 to a display device 23 which may be embodied as an output device such as a monitor, printer, or transmitter, for example.

[0033] The medication storage and dispensing device enables the patients to have real-time reminder to take their respective pills as per the doctor’s prescription. The medication storage and dispensing device can be used by all age group without any complications. The medication storage and dispensing device automatically track the dispensing of the medication and alert the stakeholder. The replenishment of the medication is much easier, and it does not require any effort from the patients to buy the medication. The medication storage and dispensing device is cost effective and easy to replace and service. The consumptions of medication could be tracked easily on Real-time enabling the stakeholders to have firsthand information on patient’s consumption patterns. Tracking and monitoring across Healthcare providers, doctors, government agencies and stakeholders if may require.

[0034] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A medication storage and dispensing device, comprising: a connector (302) that is adapted to hold a blister pack, wherein the blister pack is inserted into the medication storage and dispensing device through the connector (302); a cap (304) that is adapted to hold a medication bottle, wherein the medication bottle is attached to the medication storage and dispensing device through the cap (304); and one or more sensors (306A-N) that is adapted to indicate medication level inside a smart container (104) or indicate a status of the medication intake by a patient (102) at a prescribed time; wherein the medication storage and dispensing device dispense the medication from the blister pack or the medication bottle or alert the patient to take the medication from the blister pack or the medication bottle at a prescribed time of each day, and wherein the one or more sensors (306A-N) captures dispensing of the medication along with dispensing time for reporting and monitoring.

2. The medication storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medication storage and dispensing device comprising: a processor that is configured to receive doctor’s prescription and a scheduled medication consumption level from the patient (102) through an input device.

3. The medication storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, comprising: a display unit 308 that is adapted to provide a visual alert to the patient (102); and an audio device that is adapted to provide an audio alert to the patient (102), wherein the audio-visual alert will be provided to the patient (102) at the prescribed medication time of each day, which is recommended by a doctor in the prescription, wherein the audio-visual alert will be provided to the patient (102) at the prescribed medication time until the patient takes the medication from the smart container (104) or until a preconfigured end time of the alert.

4. The medication storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medication storage and dispensing device provides a haptic alert to the patient (102) to notify the medication intake at the prescribed time of each day.

5. The medication storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors (306A-N) provides the alert to the patient (102) when the medicine package is removed from the smart container (104).

6. The medication storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the medication storage and dispensing device communicates: a message to a stakeholder if the medication is not dispensed from the smart container (104) at the prescribed medication time, and a message to the stakeholder when the medication gets over in the blister pack or the medication bottle.

7. The medication storage and dispensing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processor associated with the medication storage and dispensing device: generates a purchase order if a medication stock in the smart container (104) is empty; and communicates the purchase order to a pharmacist or a medicine vendor for replenishment, wherein the medication stock is identified based on at least one of the sensor data and/or the prescription provided by the doctor.

8. A system for medication storage and monitoring, comprising: a memory unit that stores a database and a set of modules; and a processor that executes said set of modules, wherein said set of modules comprise: an input receiving module 204 that receives doctor’s prescription and a scheduled medication consumption level from a patient (102) through an input device; a drug delivery module (208) that dispenses the medication from a blister pack or a medication bottle at a prescribed time of each day, wherein the drug delivery monitoring module 208 captures dispensing of the medication along with a dispensing time, using one or more sensors (306A-N), for reporting and monitoring; an alert providing module (206) that indicates medication level inside a smart container 104 or a status of the medication intake by the patient (102) at the prescribed time of each day; and a stakeholder calling module (210) that communicates: a message to a stakeholder if the medication is not dispensed from the smart container (104) at the prescribed medication time; and a message to the stakeholder when the medication gets over in the blister pack or the medication bottle;

9. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the stakeholder calling module (210) further: generates a purchase order if a medication stock in the smart container (104) is empty; and communicates the purchase order to a pharmacist or a medicine vendor for replenishment, wherein the medication stock is identified based on at least one of the sensor data and/or the prescription provided by the doctor.

10. The system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the system provides a haptic alert to the patient (102) to notify the medication intake at the prescribed time of each day.

11. A method of storing and dispensing a medication, comprising: receiving doctor’s prescription and a scheduled medication consumption level from a patient (102) through an input device; dispensing the medication from a blister pack or a medication bottle at a prescribed time of each day; capturing dispensing of the medication along with a dispensing time for reporting and monitoring; indicating medication level inside a smart container 104 or a status of the medication intake by the patient (102) at the prescribed time of each day; and communicating a message to: a stakeholder if the medication is not dispensed from the smart container (104) at the prescribed medication time; and the stakeholder when the medication gets over in the blister pack or the medication bottle.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising: generating a purchase order if a medication stock in the smart container (104) is empty; and communicating the purchase order to a pharmacist or a medicine vendor for replenishment, wherein the medication stock is identified based on at least one of the sensor data and/or the prescription provided by the doctor.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising: providing an alert to the patient (102) at the prescribed medication time of each day, which is recommended by a doctor in the prescription; and providing the alert to the patient (102) at the prescribed medication time until the patient takes the medication from the smart container (104) or until a preconfigured end time of the alert.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, comprising: providing an haptic alert to the patient (102) to notify the medication intake at the prescribed time of each day.