GB2266978A

GB2266978A - An electronic dosage reminder

Info

Publication number: GB2266978A
Application number: GB9210159A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Randall; Francis Teze Wing Wong Wong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-12
Filing date: 1992-05-12
Publication date: 1993-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-12
Also published as: GB9210159D0; GB2266978B

Abstract

An electronic dosage reminder incorporated in a medicines container which gives an audible or an audible/visual indication to a patient by way of a reminder as to the proper time and, optionally, amount of medicine to take. The electronic circuit chip (1) can be programmed with dosage and timing information manually by the patient or doctor using buttons (23). In an alternative embodiment, the programming can be effected at the dispensary using the programming fixture based on a standard desk-top computer and using electrical connections between the fixture and the timer. <IMAGE>

Description

Electronic doseage reminder This invention relates to an electronic dosage reminder.

When doctors prescribe medicines to patients, there are several important factors for them to consider; for instance:1) What type of medicine? 2) How should it be administered? 3) How much should be taken? 4) When should the dose be taken? The patient may be informed verbally of these details and the Pharmacist will usually supply the medicine in a container with a label attached confirming the dosage information. The patient himself is then responsible for following the instructions.

In certain cases, is is very important for the patient to take the medicine exactly as prescribed and failure to do so could have serious consequences. Some drugs can cause drowsiness in the patient and result in confusion as to whether the dose has been taken or not.

According to the present invention there is provided a miniature electronic timer with a clockpcalender incorporated in the medicine packaging which produces an audible or audible/visual signal and which is intended to give the patient an audible or audible/visual indication as to the proper time to take the medicine and the correct dose. In a preferred embodiment, the timer circuit is programmed with the dosage information by the pharmacist at the time of dispensing. In another embodiment, the programming can be effected by the patient himself.

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a general view of a screw-cap medicine container incorporating the present invention in the cap. The cap is depicted as transparent for clarity.

Figure 2 shows a general view of the present invention incorporated in a paper or plastic sachet or box.

Figure 3 shows details of the timer circuit with audible or audible/visual signalling device.

Figure 4 illustrates the apparatus for programming using an external programming fixture.

Figure 5 shows a method of programming using internal electrical switches or contacts.

Referring to Figure 1, which shows a general perspective view of the invention as embodied in a screw-cap bottle, the electronic circuit chip (1) is in the form of an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) which is configured to operate as a timer/alarm device and is powered by a small battery (5). The chip (1) contains a memory cell which is loaded with coded information to make the audible sounder (6) give out a 'Beep' to indicate when it is time for the patient to unscrew the cap (2) and take the medicine. The electrical switch (4) detects that the cap (2) has been removed and resets the audible alarm and the timer so that a new timing cycle may begin.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and in case the cap (2) is not unscrewed when the audible sounder (6) 'beeps', the sounder continues to 'beep' for a short period and repeates itself at intervals until the cap (2) is removed .The electronic circuit chip (1), battery (5), audible sounder (6) and electrical switch and associated connections are conveniently encapsulated inside the screw-cap (2) which is then attached to the bottle (3).

Referring to figure 2, the sachet or box (7) has the electronic chip (1), battery (5) and audible sounder (6) attached and is reset by the electrical switch (4). In a preferred embodiment the electronic circuit will be attached to the fabric of the sachet or box (7) with adhesive or adhesive tape and covered or encapsulated in a plasic layer (8) to protect it from damage.

Referring to figure 3, which shows a schematic block diagram of the electronic circuit chip and related components, a crystal oscillator, comprising quartz crystal (9) and amplifier (10) sends pulses to a digital divider chain (11), the output of which, typically, gives a one second pulse rate. The Logic block (12) further divides the one second pulses into minutes, hours, days, weeks, months. The memory/logic module (13) contains the coded programming information which is input through contacts (14). When the data stored in the memory/logic module (13) corresponds to the date information in the logic block (12), the Comparator (15) is triggered and sounds the audible alarm (16).

The visual display (17) shows additional alpha-numerical doseage information, for instance, the number of tablets to be taken and also provides a means of confirming the programming information and calender settings. As an added check, an internal electronic tally counts the number of times the lid has been removed and, by referring to the stored doseage information, calculates the number of discreet doses which should remain in the container.

Referring now to figure 4, which shows a schematic block diagram of the programming equipment, a microprocessor (18) which takes as its input the coded data from the keyboard (19). It is on this keyboard (19) that the operator types the date, dosage and timing information and these are shown on the visual display unit (20) and the resulting coded data is sent to the programming fixture (21). The medicines package, be it screw-on cap, sachet or box is attached to the programming fixture (21) which provides the necessary electrical, optical, magnetic or electro-magnetic connections to allow the timer/alarm to be programmed with the dosage information. Because the patient has no way of changing the information either intentionally or by accident, the programmed information is secure. The programming fixture can easily be integrated into the pharmacists label printer or records computer system by installing additional hardware and software.

Referring to figure 5, and in another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a means of programming the electronic circuit using switches or contacts (22) which are operated by pressing buttons (23) The settings being confirmed by viewing the alpha-numeric display panel (24).

Claims

1) An electronic dosage reminder, incorporated in a medicines container, which gives an audible or audible/visual signal after single or multiple time periods, the periods being programmable as to their duration and number.

2) An electronic dosage reminder as claimed in claim 1 wherin means are provided to connect a separate programming fixture by electrical, optical, magnetic or electro-magnetic means, to enable coded dosage and other information to be transferred and stored.

3) An electronic dosage reminder as claimed in claim 1 wherin means are provided by way of an integral electrical switch or contact or a plurality of electrical switches or contacts to enable it to be programmed.

4) An electronic dosage reminder, as claimed in claim 1 which is incorporated in a screw-cap for a medicines container.

5) An electronic dosage reminder, as claimed in claim 2 which is incorporated in a screw-cap for a medicines container.

6) An electronic dosage reminder, as claimed in claim 1, which is incorporated in a medicines container in the form of any box, bottle, sachet, packet, tube, bag, pocket or phial.

7) An electronic dosage reminder, as claimed in claim 2, which is incorporated in a medicines container in the form of any box, bottle, sachet, packet, tube, bag, pocket or phial.

8) An electronic dosage reminder as claimed in the aforementioned claims 1 to 7 which automatically counts, stores and displays the number of discreet doses taken by virtue of the number of times the cap, top,lid or closure is removed or disturbed.

9) An electronic dosage reminder as claimed in claim 8 which can be reset manually by an electrical contact or switch.