DK201300466A1 - Monitoring System - Google Patents

Abstract

A monitering system (2) for monitering a dispensing device (4, 4', 4", 4"', 4"") is disclosed. The monitering system (2) comprises a communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50"', 50""). The communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50"', 50"") comprises communication means (6) configured to communicate wirelessly with a data management device (8) or a central data management unit (58). The communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50"', 50"") comprises means for acknowledging and registering when a preseribed dase of a medicine or a dietary supplement has been taken. The monitering system (2) is a separate unit (50) configured to be used with a separate dispensing device (4, 4', 4", 4"', 4"").

Description

Monitoring System Field of Invention

The present invention generally relates to a monitoring system for wirelessly monitoring a number of dispensing devices. The present invention more particularly relates to a monitoring system configured to wirelessly monitor if a prescribed dose of a medicine or dietary supplement is not taken as directed by the users of the dispensing device (s).

Prior art

Patient compliance with medication dosing schedules is one serious problem of the healthcare system. According to some studies more than half of the prescribed medication is not taken as directed. This leads to worsening illness, hospitalization and in severe cases death, causing tremendous human and financial costs.

When medication is dispensed inside and outside hospitals and care homes, significant errors in selecting the correct type and appropriate dose of pills increase morbidity and mortality. The errors among elderly patients and patients taking multiple medications at different dosing schedules are further increased due to the fact that they have difficulty remembering to take the medications at the scheduled times.

It is known to apply medical dispensing systems for prompting a patient to take medication. Some of the known systems are medication dispensers incorporating a timer and programmable alarm or dispensing means operable from the timer. US 4223801 discloses an automated medication dispenser equipped with an alert for alerting a patient when medication is to be taken. A remote control automated alarm generates an alarm signal upon reception of a paging signal by the dispenser indicating when it is time to take the medication. The alarm signal is terminated when the medication is removed from the dispenser.

Other medication dispensers are configured to send an alert to a server in case the patient's medications are not taken properly at the scheduled times. The prior art systems include a so-called call center with staff that needs to be accessed in order to be updated with information on the status of all users. Accordingly, the prior art systems are expensive to run and expensive to use for the users.

These prior art devices do not permit simple monitoring of the dispensing schedule of a large number of dispensers.

One of the drawbacks of the prior art monitoring systems is that they are required to be used together with one dispenser.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring system capable of being used together with different types of medication dispensers.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an alternative, simple and reliable system capable of monitoring the dispensing schedule of a large number of medication dispensers.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a monitoring system that is more user-friendly than the prior art monitoring systems.

Summary of the invention

The object of the present invention can be achieved by a medical monitoring system as defined in claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent sub claims and explained in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The monitoring system according to the invention is a monitoring system for monitoring a dispensing device, which monitoring system comprises a communication unit, where the communication unit comprises communication means configured to communicate wirelessly with a data management device or a central data management unit, where the communication unit comprises means for acknowledgment and registration when a prescribed dose of a medicine or a dietary supplement has been taken. The monitoring system is a separate unit configured to be used with a separate dispensing device.

Hereby it is achieved that the monitoring system capable of being used together with different types of medication of dietary supplement dispensers. In this way it is possible to use the communication units independently of the dispensing devices.

The dispensing devices may be any type of dispensing device capable of storing medications or dietary supplements in a manner in which the medication or dietary supplement can be dispensed by using the dispensing devices.

The medication or dietary supplement may take the form of pills, paste, liquid or powder and the dispensing devices may comprise compartments configured to receive the medication or dietary supplement. The dispensing devices may also be configured to receive medication or dietary supplement stored in sachets, e.g. sachets that contain the medication or dietary supplement and are rolled up in chronological date and time order.

The communication units may be any suitable type of communication unit capable of sending Short Message Service notifications or other types of notifications / communication to a data management device or a central data management unit.

The means for acknowledging and registering when a prescribed medication or dietary supplement has been taken may be any suitable means e.g. shaped as a press bottom that has to be pressed by the user of the dispensing device.

The communication means may comprise means for reporting an alert condition by sending a Short Message Service or another notification / communication to the data management device or the central data management unit.

The communication means may be a module configured to use the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) standard, a so-called "GSM module" e.g. integrated in the communication unit.

The communication means may be a module configured to use general packet radio service (GPRS) mobile data service or other suitable means such as Wi-Fi or SMS.

It may be an advantage that the communication units comprise means for reporting an alert condition by sending an SMS or another message / information to the data management device when a prescribed medication or dietary supplement according to a defined schedule has not been acknowledged.

Hereby it is possible to provide an automatic administration of the medication of the plurality of users of the dispensing devices and make sure that the medication is taken according to the schedules.

It may be beneficial that the monitoring system comprises a communication unit and a dispensing device configured to be detachably attached to the communication.

Hereby it is possible to apply the monitoring system with a corresponding dispensing device and to use the monitoring system with another dispensing device if desired.

It may be advantageous that the monitoring system is battery driven and portable.

Hereby the field of application of the monitoring system is significantly enlarged. The user of the monitoring system may travel with the monitoring system and bring it along when going to work or going on a trip by way of example. The monitoring system does not require connection to the mains. However, it is an advantage to apply a battery unit that is chargeable via connection to the mains.

It may be an advantage that the monitoring system includes means for charging the battery by using a standard plug connection such as a universal serial bus (USB) plug or a mini / micro-USB plug.

It may be advantageous that the monitoring system has a volume less than 1 liter, preferably less than 0.5 liter. A small sized monitoring system of this type is user-friendly and may be brought along in a small bag of the user.

It may be beneficial that the communication unit comprises a medicine indicator configured to indicate when primary medicine or dietary supplement has been taken and / or that the communication unit comprises a supplementary medicine indicator configured to indicate when supplementary medicine or dietary supplement has been acknowledged. .

It may be an advantage that the monitoring system comprises a plurality of communication units configured to communicate to a central data management unit in such a way that the central data management unit can be accessed by a single data management device and that the single data management device can be used to monitor a plurality of dispensing devices at the same time.

Hereby it is possible to keep track of a plurality of users by monitoring a plurality of dispensing devices at the same time.

It may be advantageous that the central data management unit is a server.

It may be beneficial that the central data management unit is a server and that the data management device has access to the server and the data received from the dispensing device (s) of the monitoring system.

It may be advantageous that the data management device has a memory device and that the data management device is configured to automatically synchronize the memory device of the data management device so that the data received from the dispensing device (s) of the monitoring system is available on the data management device.

It may be beneficial that the data management device is configured to indicate an alert status when a prescribed dose of a medicine or dietary supplement according to a defined schedule has not been acknowledged by one or more users and that the data management device is configured to change an alert status to a non-alert status.

Hereby it is possible for health care personnel to manually change a status. This may be especially advantageous when a user has "forgotten" to acknowledge and register when a prescribed dose of a medicine or a dietary supplement has been taken.

It may be an advantage that the communication unit (s) comprises means for reporting an alert condition by sending a Short Message Service (SMS) or another type of wireless data to the data management device or central data management unit when a prescribed dose of a medicine or dietary supplement according to a defined schedule has not been acknowledged.

It may be an advantage that the means for reporting an alert condition by sending a Short Message Service or another type of wireless data to the data management device is configured to transmit a Short Message Service another type of wireless data containing information including data identifying the dispensing devices.

This information may be an identification number (ID) of the users. In this way the dispensing devices and the users of them can be easily identified.

It may be beneficial that the communication units are configured to wirelessly receive information from the data management device so that the data management device can be used to change settings in each of the communication units.

It may be an advantage that the communication units are configured to communicate the status of the dietary supplement or medicine and the time to next refill.

It may be an advantage that the communication units comprise a medicine indicator configured to indicate when primarily medicine or dietary supplement has been acknowledged.

It may be an advantage that the communication units are configured to send several SMS notifications or other types of wireless communication to several different receivers when a prescribed medicine according to a defined schedule has not been acknowledged.

It may be an advantage that the communication units are configured to provide audio and / or visual notifications to the users of the dispensing devices when the medication has to be taken.

It may also be beneficial that the communication units are configured to send an SMS to the users of the dispensing devices when the medication has been taken.

It may be an advantage that each communication unit is provided with a GSM module.

It may be an advantage that the communication units or the body members comprising the communication units are configured to receive the Subscriber Identity Module, commonly known as the "SIM card" of the GSM modules.

It may be beneficial that the communication units comprise a medicine indicator configured to indicate when primary medicine has to be taken. The medicine indicator may be audio or visual or both.

It may be advantageous that the communication units comprise a supplementary medicine indicator configured to indicate when supplementary medicine has to be taken.

It may be an advantage that each of the communication units comprise a refill indicator configured to indicate when a refill of medication or dietary supplement (e.g. medication sachets, pills or liquid medicine) is required.

These indicators may assist the users of the dispensing devices to administer the medication.

It may be an advantage that the communication units are configured to send several SMS notifications to several different recipients when a prescribed medication or dietary supplement according to a defined schedule has not been acknowledged.

Hereby it is possible to, at the same time, warn the care taker and notify a relative or another person when a prescribed medication or dietary supplement according to a defined schedule has not been acknowledged.

Description of the Drawings

The invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein. The accompanying drawings are provided by way of illustration only, and thus, they are not limiting of the present invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a medical monitoring system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of another medical monitoring system according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a communication unit and a dispensing device according to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a medical monitoring system according to the invention comprising a plurality of dispensing device and communication units;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of how a data management device according to the invention is used to manage information from a plurality of communication units and FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of communication unit and a dispensing device according to the invention in an assembled state (Fig. 6 a) and disassembled state (Fig. 6 b).

Detailed description of the invention

Referring now in detail to the drawings for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, one embodiment of a medical monitoring system 2 of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. First

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a medical monitoring system 2 according to the invention. The medical monitoring system 2 comprises a basically cylindrical body member 52 comprising a dispensing device 4 and a communication unit 50 arranged on the top of the dispensing device 4. The dispensing device 4 is detachably attached to the communication unit 50.

The dispensing device 4 is configured to receive and contain sachets (not shown) that contain the medication and are rolled up in chronological date and time order. The medication sachets provide easy access to the medication. The dispensing device 4 may be configured to cut the medication sachets.

The communication unit 50 is configured to communicate wirelessly with a data management device (e.g. a smart phone or a tablet, see Fig. 2, Fig. 4 or Fig. 5). The communication may be carried out via the Internet e.g. by using a server (see Fig. 5).

The communication unit 50 comprises a flat portion 24 equipped with a display 26 provided with a digital clock showing that the time is 08:00 (eight o'clock in the morning). The flat portion 24 also comprises a battery indicator 28 showing the status of a battery (not shown) of the communication unit 50.

The flat portion 24 moreover comprises a medicine indicator 34 configured to indicate when the primary medicine has been taken. The flat portion 24 is also provided with a supplementary medicine indicator 30 configured to indicate when (if any) supplementary medicine has been taken. In addition to the flat portion 24, a refill indicator 36 comprises configured to indicate when a refill of medicine (e.g. medication sachets, pills or liquid medication) is required, e.g. when there are three medication sachets left in the dispensing device 4. The status of the medication sachets may be controlled using any suitable visual or mechanical detection methods.

The flat portion 24 moreover comprises a connection indicator 38 configured to indicate the status of the network connection. The flat portion 24 also includes a register bottom 32 which is used when a medication has been taken. The bottom 32 is a press bottom for acknowledging and registering when a prescribed (according to a defined schedule) medicine has been taken.

The medical monitoring system 2 provides assistance to anyone who requires support in managing their medications. The medical monitoring system 2 is configured to alert a relative or a caregiver when the register bottom 32 has not been pushed according to schedule or in case of another adverse event. The alert includes reporting an alert condition by sending a Short Message Service or another type of information to a data management device (see Fig. 4 or Fig. 6) or to a data management unit (see Fig. 4). The alert is sent using wireless communication means 6 integrated within the communication unit 50.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic view of a medical monitoring system 2 according to the invention. The medical monitoring system 2 comprises a dispensing device 4 and a communication unit 50. The communication unit 50 is detachably attached to the dispensing device 4. When attached to each other the dispensing device 4 and the communication unit 50 constitute a body member 52.

The communication unit 50 is configured to communicate with a mobile phone 40 by sending an alert in the form of an SMS (or another type of information) 10 'to the mobile phone in the event the bottom 32 register has not been pushed according to the schedule.

The communication unit 50 is configured to communicate with a data management device 8 by sending an SMS notification (or another type of information) 10 to the data management device 8 if the register bottom 32 has not been pushed according to the schedule. The data management device 8 may be a tablet, a mobile phone or any other device capable of receiving an SMS notification (or another type of information) 10. Instead of sending an SMS notification (or the other type of information) 10 the data management device 8 the SMS notification (or the other type of information) 10 may alternatively be sent to a server 46 configured to forward the information to a data management device 8.

The communication unit 50 is also configured to send information 12 via the Internet 42 so that the information 12 may be reached by using a laptop 44 or a server 46. The information 12 may be an e-mail or any other suitable type of information.

The data management device 8 shows that a user, Ann Philips living in Room 81 and having identification number (ID) 1234 has not pushed the register bottom 32 on Friday the 24th of January 2014 at ten o'clock in the evening (at 22 : 00). This adverse event is indicated by an alert symbol 54.

It can be seen that the register bottom 32 was pushed according to the previous schedules the same day (Friday the 24th of January 2014 at five o'clock in the evening (at 17:00), at twelve o'clock (at 12 : 00) and at eight o'clock in the morning (at 08:00) Similarly, the register bottom 32 has been pushed according to the previous schedules the day before (Thursday the 23rd of January 2014) at ten o'clock in the evening (at 22:00) and at five o'clock in the evening (at 17:00).

The data management device 8 shows that there remains three days until the next required refill of medicine. This information may be very important for care provider or other personnel having responsibility for monitoring the user of the dosing device 4.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic perspective view of another medical monitoring system 2 according to the invention. The medical monitoring system 2 comprises a communication unit 50 and a dispensing device 4 that are separated from each other.

The communication unit 50 comprises the same elements as the communication unit 50 shown in FIG. 1. The communication unit 50 comprises communication means 6 integrated within the communication unit 50 and a register bottom 32 having the same function and technical features as the one explained with reference to FIG. 1. However, the text "OK" has been added to the register bottom 32.

The communication unit 50 is configured to be used together with the dispensing device 4 comprising four boxes 56, 56 ', 56 ", 56'" each having four compartments 48. Each box 56, 56 ', 56 ", 56'" represents a day while each compartment 48 represents each dose times eg 08:00, 12:00, 17:00 and 22:00. For illustration purpose, the compartments 48 are open; however, it may be an advantage to provide the compartments 48 with lids.

It is an advantage that the dispensing device 4 of the medical monitoring system 2 can be replaced with another dispensing device if desired.

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of a medical monitoring system 2 according to the invention. The medical monitoring system 2 comprises five dispensing devices 4, 4 ', 4 ", 4'", 4 "" each integrated with a corresponding communication unit 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'", 50 "" each configured to send SMS notifications 10, 10 ', 10 ", 10'", 10 "" to a central data management unit 58, from which a data management device 8 can receive data so that the data management device 8 can be used to monitor a plurality of dispensing devices 4, 4 ', 4 ", 4'", 4 "" at the same time. This may be a huge advantage to care homes and hospitals by way of example.

The SMS notifications 10, 10 ', 10 ", 10'", 10 "" are received by a mast 14 and the data 12 is further transmitted wirelessly to a central data management unit 58 which may be a server. The data management device 8 is configured to receive information from the central data management unit 58.

The communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'", 50 "" may be used together with separate dispensing devices e.g. of the type illustrated in FIG. Third

The communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'", 50 "" may also be configured to send additional SMS notifications to additional personal or relatives. Such SMS notification could read: "You mother did not take her medicine at 17:00 today. Please give her a call". The SMS notifications may be transmitted with a predefined time delay or in real time so that the care provider or relative is informed about an adverse event in real time.

The data management device 8 may be configured to transmit information wirelessly to the communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'", 50 "" via the central data management unit 58 which may be a server. Hereby, the data management device 8 may be used to change settings (eg dosing times or the number to which an additional SMS notification has to be sent) in the communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'", 50 "" by way of example.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic view of a medical monitoring system 2 according to the invention. The medical monitoring system 2 comprises a data management device 8 which is applied to manage information from a plurality of communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'". Each of the communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'" is provided with a register bottom 32 like the communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'" illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. Third

Each of the communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'" is integrated with a corresponding dispensing device 4, 4 ', 4 ", 4'". The communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'" are configured to send SMS notifications 10, 10 ', 10 ", 10'" to the data management device 8 via the Internet 42. It is preferred that the communication include a server (not shown) that received the information 10, 10 ', 10 ", 10'" sent from the communication units 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50'".

The data management device 8 shows the status of four users of the dispensing devices 4, 4 ', 4 ", 4" ". In the first line 16 a user Peter Jackson living in Room 94 and having identification number (ID) 3245 is shown. Everything is all right with this user. The same is the case for the user Jack Phillips living in Room 28 and having ID 1124 shown in the third line 20 and for the user Laura Lewis living in Room 4 and having ID 3245 shown in the fourth line 20.

The user, Ann Nolan having ID 1842 and living in Room 102, illustrated in the second line 18 marked with a gray box, did not press the register bottom 32. Accordingly, an alert symbol 54 is shown in line two 18.

Even though only four users are indicated in the display of the data management device 8, it is possible to monitor more users e.g. 20, 50, 120 or 200 users with the data management device 8. Accordingly, the medical monitoring system 2 according to the invention makes it possible to monitor all inmates in a care home or a department in a hospital with one data management device 8.

The notifications 10, 10 ', 10 ", 10'" may be updated on a server that can be accessed by the data management device 8. The monitoring system 2 according to the invention is configured to monitor storage and dispensing of medication or a dietary supplement for a plurality of users by using a single data management device 8.

FIG. 6 a) illustrates a perspective exploded view of a communication unit 50 and a dispensing device 4 according to the invention. It can be seen that the communication unit 50 and a dispensing device 4 are configured to be detachably attached to each other.

FIG. 6 b) illustrates another perspective exploded view of a communication unit 50 and a dispensing device 4 according to the invention. The communication unit 50 and the dispensing device 4 are attached to each other.

The monitoring system 2 according to the invention is configured to be used together with a dispenser which is adapted to dispense the pre-packed medication e.g. provided in sachets, e.g. sachets that contain the medication and are rolled up in chronological date and time order.

At the same time the monitoring system 2 according to the invention is also configured to be used to monitor other types of medication medication or dietary supplement provided as pills, paste, liquid or powder.

List of reference numerals 2 - Monitoring system 4, 4 ', 4 ", 4"', 4 "" - Dispensing device 6 - Communication means 8 - Data management device 10, 10 ', 10 ", 10'", 10 "" - Short Message Service (SMS) 12 - Information 14 - Mast 16 - Line 1 18 - Line 2 20 - Line 3 22 - Line 4 24 - Flat portion 26 - Display 28 - Battery indicator 30 - Supplementary medicine indicator 32 - Register bottom 34 - Medicine indicator 36 - Refill indicator 38 - Connection indicator 40 - Mobile phone 42 - Internet 44 - Laptop 46 - Server / computer 48 - Compartment 50, 50 ', 50 ", 50"', 50 "" - Communication unit 52 - Body member 54 - Alert symbol 56, 56 ', 56 ", 56'" - Box 58 - Central data management unit

Claims (10)

1. A monitoring system (2) for monitoring a dispensing device (4, 4', 4", 4"', 4""), which monitoring system (2) comprises a communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50""), where the communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"") comprises communication means (6) configured to communicate wirelessly with a data management device (8) or a central data management unit (58), where the communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"") comprises means for acknowledging and registering when a prescribed dose of a medicine or a dietary supplement has been taken, characterised in that the monitoring system (2) is a separate unit (50) configured to be used with a separate dispensing device (4, 4', 4", 4'", 4"").

2. A monitoring system (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the monitoring system (2) comprises a communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"") and a dispensing device (4, 4', 4", 4'", 4"") configured to be detachably attached to the communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"").

3. A monitoring system (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the monitoring system (2) is battery driven and portable.

4. A monitoring system (2) according to claim 3, characterised in that the monitoring system (2) has a volume less than 1 liter, preferably less than 0.5 liter.

5. A medical monitoring system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"") comprises a medicine indicator (34) configured to indicate when primarily medicine or dietary supplement has to be taken and/or that the communication unit (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"") comprises a supplementary medicine indicator (30) configured to indicate when supplementary medicine or dietary supplement has to be taken.

6. A monitoring system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the monitoring system (2) comprises a plurality of communication units (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"") that are configured to communicate to a central data management unit (58) in such a manner that the central data management unit (58) can be accessed by a single data management device (8) and that the single data management device (8) can be used to monitor a plurality of dispensing devices (4, 4', 4", 4'", 4"") at the same time.

7. A monitoring system (2) according to claim 5, characterised in that the central data management unit (58) is a server (58).

8. A monitoring system (2) according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterised in that the data management device (8) is configured to indicate an alert status when a prescribed dose of a medicine or dietary supplement according to a defined schedule has not been acknowledged by one or more users and that the data management device (8) is configured to change an alert status to a non-alert status.

9. A monitoring system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the communication unit(s) (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"") comprise means (6) for reporting an alert condition by sending a Short Message Service (SMS) (10) or another message to the data management device (8) or central data management unit (58) when a prescribed dose of a e.g. medicine or dietary supplement according to a defined schedule has not been an acknowledged by using the means for acknowledging and registering when a prescribed dose of a medicine or a dietary supplement has been take.

10. A medical monitoring system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the communication units (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"") are configured to wirelessly receive information from the data management device (8) so that the data management device (8) can be used to change settings in each of the communication units (50, 50', 50", 50'", 50"").