EP0945118A2 - Vorrichtung zum Speichern von Medikamenten, die bei vorgegeben Intervallen ein Warnerinnerungssignal zum Einnehmen dieser Medikamente erzeugt - Google Patents

Vorrichtung zum Speichern von Medikamenten, die bei vorgegeben Intervallen ein Warnerinnerungssignal zum Einnehmen dieser Medikamente erzeugt Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0945118A2
EP0945118A2 EP19990200942 EP99200942A EP0945118A2 EP 0945118 A2 EP0945118 A2 EP 0945118A2 EP 19990200942 EP19990200942 EP 19990200942 EP 99200942 A EP99200942 A EP 99200942A EP 0945118 A2 EP0945118 A2 EP 0945118A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
medicine
lower section
fact
warning signal
closed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19990200942
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0945118A3 (de
Inventor
Marinus Hendricus Vellekoop
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0945118A2 publication Critical patent/EP0945118A2/de
Publication of EP0945118A3 publication Critical patent/EP0945118A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
    • A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
    • A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
    • A61J7/0481—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers working on a schedule basis
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
    • A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
    • A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
    • A61J7/0427—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
    • A61J7/0436—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
    • A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
    • A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
    • A61J7/0454—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers for dispensing of multiple drugs

Definitions

  • the invention generally relates to a device for storage of separate doses of medicine in arbitrary form, pills, capsules etc., the device being constructed in such a way, and comprising such means, that the device generates an acoustical and/or optical warning signal at predetermined times or with predetermined interval time periods, until the device is opened by a user.
  • the invention is meant to stimulate the user to open the device at predetermined times or with predetermined interval time periods to take out part of its contents, and as such can be used as a reminder device for taking medication at a regular basis.
  • the device according to the present invention offers among others a solution to the above described problems by generating a warning signal at predetermined times or with predetermined interval time periods, until the device is opened and a dose of medicine, for instance a pill or capsule, is taken out.
  • the Dutch patent application NL-A-7808415 "Pillen-wekker" describes a device that serves as an aid for reminding whether certain actions that are to be repeated regularly, in particular the taking of medication, have been performed or are still to be performed.
  • the device described in said document is however merely a supporting means for existing medicine containers, whereby the device detects removal of a medicine container from the supporting means. Because of the present diversity in medicine packaging, bottles, boxes etc., and the lack of standardisation in this area, the device according to said patent application NL-A-7808415 would need to have many different embodiments. Furthermore this known device does not enable detection of the timely taking of combinations of different medicines with differing packaging, as does the device according to the present invention.
  • the patent application US-A-5.554.967 describes a device that is intended to generate a warning signal at predetermined times or with predetermined interval time periods. The user can simply stop the signal by pressing a button, instead of by performing an action that is directly associated with, for instance, the actual taking of medication, like opening the device to take out a dose of medicine.
  • the known device described in the document US-A-5.554.967 is not intended nor suited for storage of any kind of medicine.
  • the device according to the present invention is characterised by the fact that it comprises:
  • the device according to the invention is at least equipped with electronic means to start the electronic timer and to detect opening of the device during a predetermined interval time period, whereby the timer is reset and started anew following the opening and subsequent closing of the device, whereas in the case that the device has not been opened when said interval time period expires, an optical and/or acoustical warning signal is generated that can be switched off by opening the device, in which case the electronic timer is reset and started again after the subsequent closing of the device, thus repeating the entire process. Consequently the warning signal is generated AFTER expiration of the predetermined interval time period, whereby the signal is switched off by opening the device, for instance to take out a dose of medicine. No signalling takes place in case the device is opened before the set interval time period has expired, in which case the internal timer is reset and started again after the subsequent closing of the device.
  • the upper section of the device is attached to the lower section by means of a movable connection, for instance a hinge, and detection of the open or closed state of the device is performed by means of a known method involving a so called Reed contact situated in the smaller compartment of the device's lower section, in combination with a permanent magnet connected to the device's upper section, whereby said magnet is positioned directly above the Reed contact when the device is closed during operation.
  • the upper and lower sections of the device according to the present invention are preferably made of a plastic, the outer wall of the lower section being preferably transparent to make the contents visible from the outside, and the device is preferably equipped with a "child-safe" locking mechanism (not shown in the drawings) making undesired opening of the device by children and possible ingestion of the medicine stored in it more difficult.
  • the kind of mechanism used to connect the upper and lower section of the device is not limited to a hinge construction.
  • a sliding mechanism for instance can be equally well suited for this purpose.
  • Figures 1A-1C show a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.
  • the lower section (1) of the device and the upper section (2) are connected by a hinge-construction. The exact location of the hinge or hinges is not shown in this figure.
  • the four corners of the lower section (1) of the device are equipped with four small legs (3).
  • the compartment (4) in the lower section (1) of the device reachable only through the bottom side of the device, contains electronic means (7) and has a removable cover plate (not shown) with small holes.
  • a compartment (5) in the upper section (2) of the device contains a permanent magnet that is situated directly above a Reed contact in compartment (4) of the lower section (1) when the device is closed and in operation.
  • the permanent magnet can be moved through the compartment (5) to a position where it can not influence said Reed contact anymore, thus disabling the operation of the device.
  • doses of medicine can be stored in the larger compartment (6) of the lower section of the device.
  • this compartment can be segmented into smaller sections in which for instance several kinds of medicine can be stored separately and/or according to the day of the week on which the user is supposed to take the medicine.
  • Figure 1C also shows a circuit board with electronic means (7) enclosed in compartment (4) of the lower section (1) of the device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a flow chart that schematically illustrates the operation of the device according to the invention.
  • T the maximum time before the device is supposed to be opened to take out for instance a dose of medicine.
  • the internal electronic timer is set to zero (reset) (202) and re-started.
  • a check is performed to see if the device has been opened (203) or the interval time period T has expired (204). If the device has indeed been opened the process moves to step (209) and stays there until the device is closed again, after which the timer is reset to zero and the entire process is repeated.
  • step (204) the process advances to step (204) to check if the set interval time period T has already expired. If this is the case than a warning signal is generated (206) until the device is opened and for instance a dose of medicine is taken out, which causes the signal to stop (208). Now the process keeps looping through step (209) until the device is subsequently closed and the process returns to the initial state.
  • Figure 3 is a timing diagram illustrating the operation of the device according to the invention.
  • the interval time period T is thus set to 30 hours, so that the device will generate a warning signal in case it has not been opened within 30 hours after taking the previous pill. If the device is opened earlier, no signalling takes place.
  • the time-base of the diagram is shown in units of 24 hours.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
EP19990200942 1998-03-25 1999-03-25 Vorrichtung zum Speichern von Medikamenten, die bei vorgegeben Intervallen ein Warnerinnerungssignal zum Einnehmen dieser Medikamente erzeugt Withdrawn EP0945118A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1008707 1998-03-25
NL1008707A NL1008707C2 (nl) 1998-03-25 1998-03-25 Inrichting voor met name opslag van doses medicamenten met voorzieningen voor het op vooraf vastgestelde tijdstippen of met vooraf vastgestelde tijdsintervallen afgeven van een waarschuwingssignaal totdat de inrichting wordt geopend.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0945118A2 true EP0945118A2 (de) 1999-09-29
EP0945118A3 EP0945118A3 (de) 1999-10-13

Family

ID=19766819

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19990200942 Withdrawn EP0945118A3 (de) 1998-03-25 1999-03-25 Vorrichtung zum Speichern von Medikamenten, die bei vorgegeben Intervallen ein Warnerinnerungssignal zum Einnehmen dieser Medikamente erzeugt

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0945118A3 (de)
NL (1) NL1008707C2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006123956A1 (en) * 2005-05-20 2006-11-23 Nexus6 Limited A reminder system for a medicament inhaler

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7808415A (nl) 1978-08-11 1980-02-13 Venture B V Richterslaan 64 Pillenwekker.
US5554967A (en) 1994-07-08 1996-09-10 Smithkline Beecham Corp. Reminder device

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2440706A1 (de) * 1974-08-24 1976-03-04 Hans Wenthaus Pillenerinnerungswecker
DE2603248B1 (de) * 1976-01-29 1977-06-30 Dieter Homeier Überwachungseinrichtung
BE870610A (fr) * 1978-09-20 1979-03-20 Danse Dieudonne Boite a medicaments a systeme avertisseur incorpore
US4717042A (en) * 1986-05-28 1988-01-05 Pyxis Corporation Medicine dispenser for home health care
US4731765A (en) * 1986-08-25 1988-03-15 Cole George W Medi minder
US5710551A (en) * 1995-07-26 1998-01-20 Ridgeway; Donald G. Self-medication monitoring system

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL7808415A (nl) 1978-08-11 1980-02-13 Venture B V Richterslaan 64 Pillenwekker.
US5554967A (en) 1994-07-08 1996-09-10 Smithkline Beecham Corp. Reminder device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006123956A1 (en) * 2005-05-20 2006-11-23 Nexus6 Limited A reminder system for a medicament inhaler

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL1008707C2 (nl) 1999-09-28
EP0945118A3 (de) 1999-10-13

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