MX2013013916A - Modular electronic pillbox and control method thereof. - Google Patents

Abstract

Described is a modular electronic pillbox and control method thereof for reminding a patient of taking a pharmaceutical product so as to be adhered to a therapeutic regime; guiding the patient during the medication for performing the same in a correct manner and providing the patient information over the medication adherence during a predetermined period of time (for example 24 hours, 12 hours, 8 hours or 6 hours). The modular electronic pillbox comprises a receptor divided into two sections where the first section stores the electronic system of the pillbox and the second section stores the pharmaceutical product taken by the patient; an upper lid safeguarding the pharmaceutical product from the environment; at least a coupling means located at the outer lateral portion of the container for coupling other container; a user interface with a predetermined geometry where the geometric figure includes segments of high luminosity LEDs, the interface being arranged at the outer portion of the lid and being useful for indicating the frequency of use of the pharmaceutical product required by the patient.

Description

Electronic Modular Pillbox and its Method of Control DESCRIPTION OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide an electronic modular pillbox and its control method that allows: a) Remind the patient (for example, an older adult) to take a pharmaceutical product to adhere to their therapeutic regimen; b) Guide the patient during the medication so that he / she performs correctly and; c) Provide the patient with information about his adherence to the medication during a certain period of time (for example 24 hours, 12 hours, 8 hours or 6 hours).

BACKGROUND A critical daily living activity (ADL) for the elderly to be independent at home and in the community, is that their medication can be administered. Statistics indicate that 26% to 59% of older adults do not adhere to the prescribed medication. This results in the appearance of complications, loss of control of the disease, high costs in the health system, and loss of quality of life. The non-adherence to medication can be due to multiple factors: older adults are often intimidated by the doctor, so they do not accept the lack of adherence to treatment; the therapeutic regimen is complex, since they must take more than two medications at different times and frequencies; and the influence of psychosocial aspects related to their beliefs, attitudes and their mental representation of the disease (for example, they lose confidence in the medication or deny the disease, so they refuse to take medication).

In order to improve adherence to medication, health researchers have proposed and evaluated several interventions that have reduced the incidence of medication errors, such as using repositories to supply and periodically organize medications; and provide cognitive support through telephone interventions made to remind older adults to take their medicines.

In the patent document no. 5,990,782A, a portable electronic pillbox is presented that allows a patient to administer multiple medications. Based on the data provided in the schedule, the pillbox is able to reschedule the reminder schedules for each of the medications. To remind the patient that he / she must take the medication (s), the compartment (s) that contain it (s) light up in the pillbox. Simultaneously, an audible and mechanical alarm (vibration) is used to increase the possibility of the patient taking the medication. However, the design of this electronic pillbox does not provide the necessary information to guide the patient during the taking of their medications, since it does not indicate the amount of pharmaceutical product that the patient must use at that moment. Unlike the present invention in which the patient is provided with the visual information that guides him during the taking of the medicines and that allows him to follow up the use of a pharmaceutical product because it provides information to the patient that indicates when he has used or omitted the use of the pharmaceutical product and finally, the electronic pillbox does not have a means that allows the patient to know at any time as it has been his adherence to the use of a pharmaceutical product; information that the patient can obtain in the invention presented in this patent with the simple push of a button found on the lid of the electronic modular pillbox and the illumination of the user interface with defined geometry.

Another device of this type is described in patent US 8, 210,403 B2, this has the objective of assisting the patient in the administration of their medications. The device consists of a tray that can be placed in a docking station. Which can read information embedded in the smart tray and detect when the medication is removed from the tray. The docking station can also interact with the patient using hearing aids, visual and tactile to remind you to take medications, as well as to communicate with remote or network services. However, although the device can monitor the intake of medicines and remember the taking of medications, it lacks: means that provide immediate information to the patient on how his / her adherence to a certain pharmaceutical product has been and lacks means to provide information to the patient about the instructions that must be followed to make the intake of the medicines.

In this patent application, an electronic modular pillbox and its control method is presented, which interacts with the patient by reminding him of the time to take a pharmaceutical product; guides the patient during medication and provides information about his adherence to medication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Figure 1 Front view of the sections of the electronic modular pill container.

Figure 2 Perspective view of two electronic modular pillboxes adapted by machi-shaped ameses.

Figure 3 Top view of the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of the circular type that is used to store a pharmaceutical product, which the patient requires to use every 24 hours.

Figure 4 Top view of the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of the type Semicircular which is used to store a pharmaceutical product, which the patient requires to use every 12 hours.

Figure 5 Top view of the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of the type Triangular which is used to store a pharmaceutical product, which the patient requires to use every 8 hours.

Figure 6 Top view of the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of the Square type that is used to store a pharmaceutical product, which the patient requires to use every 6 hours.

Figure 7 Top view of the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of the square type with one segment with solid lighting and another with intermittent lighting.

Figure 8 Top view of electronic modular pillbox with open lid.

Figure 9 Flow diagram of the control method of the electronic modular pillbox.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present patent application provides an electronic modular pillbox that can be associated with at least one pharmaceutical product with a single or combined dose presentation (eg, a dropper containing a solution for multiple doses).

For purposes of this patent document, a pharmaceutical product is understood to be any substance, natural or synthetic, or a mixture of them, that is intended for the human being for the purpose of healing, attenuation, treatment, prevention of diseases or their symptoms, to modify physiological systems or mental state for the benefit of the person to whom it is administered, said pharmaceutical product has a solid individual presentation as: tablet, capsule, pill, lozenge. Or, a joint presentation such as syrups, drippers, ointments, ointments.

The electronic modular pillbox comprises: a container divided in its interior into two sections by a plastic plate (21), which avoids contact between the objects stored in both sections, a first section (1) corresponds to the base of the container up to one third of the total height of the container, in which the control circuit and the batteries of the pillbox are stored, and a second section (2) with a sufficient capacity to store at least one pharmaceutical product; a lid on the upper part of the container (3) that protects the pharmaceutical product from environmental conditions which is removable see Figure 1; at least one tongue-and-groove harness (4) that is located on the external lateral part of the container and by means of which it is possible to adapt another container (Figure 2); a user interface with defined geometry where the geometric figure (5) is composed of segments of light emitting diodes of high luminosity, for example, in the circular interface is composed of two segments of emitting diodes of light (10) of semicircular shape placed one in front of the other by its open sides (Figure 3); a semicircular interface consisting of a segment of light-emitting diodes of semicircular shape (11) and another segment of light-emitting diodes of straight shape located between the ends of the first segment (12); a triangular interface is composed of three segments of light-emitting diodes of straight shape joined by their ends see Figure 5 and a square interface is composed of four segments of light-emitting diodes of straight shape joined by their ends see Figure 6.

The geometric interface is located on the external part of the lid by means of which the patient is instructed which pharmaceutical product he / she needs to take at that moment, this by means of intermittent illumination of the segments of the user interface of defined geometry that contains it; the frequency of daily use of the pharmaceutical product, this is a user interface of defined geometry of the circular type (Figure 3) must be associated to a pharmaceutical product that the patient requires to use every 24 hours; the defined geometry user interface of the semicircular type (Figure 4) is associated with a pharmaceutical product that the patient requires to use every 12 hours; the user interface of defined geometry of the triangular type (Figure 5) is associated with a pharmaceutical product that the patient requires to use every 8 hours, and finally, the defined geometry user interface of the square type (Figure 6) for a pharmaceutical product that the patient requires to use every 6 hours.

In addition, the number of illuminated segments of the geometric figure indicates to the patient what dose of day to take and provides a visual feedback of their adherence to the medication. For example, an electronic modular pillbox with user interface of defined geometry of the square type with two segments of light-emitting diodes illuminated (Figure 7), one segment of solid-lit diodes (16) and the other segment of diodes illuminated intermittently (17), indicate to the patient that this is the second time in the day that he requires to use the pharmaceutical product of a total of four during the day. In addition, the patient is also informed that the first dose of the day if he took it according to the prescription and the segments of diodes off (18 and 19) show the number of doses remaining for that day.

The illumination of the user interface with defined geometry will remain on for a predefined time (for example: 10 minutes) or until it is detected that the patient used the electronic modular pillbox, this occurs when the patient uncovers the container and a signal is sent to the control means located in the first section of the container, said signal is through a control of two on-off type positions (20) which is located in the internal upper part of the container and is pressed when the patient places the lid over the container.

The user interface with defined geometry connects to a control means located in the first section of the container that is preferably a processing unit, which has in its memory a previously established routine per interface, in which the time elapsed between the taking of medicines, the activation / deactivation of the audible and visual alarms, as well as the means of deployment and the request for information regarding adherence by the patient, the user interface is coupled to: a) A means to request data that is preferably a button located on the outside of the lid (6), which allows the patient to obtain immediate feedback of their daily adherence to the use of a product pharmaceutical, both in the user interface through the states of illumination of the segments of the geometric figure and in the medium of display or screen; b) A two-position control preferably of the On-Off type (20) which is located in the upper internal part of the container and is pressed when the patient places the lid on the container, which is used to detect when the patient has taken the pharmaceutical product; c) Means of state deployment which are: a screen located on the front of the container (7), which presents the information of the pharmaceutical product such as, a text with the name of the product (8); the quantity of the prescribed pharmaceutical product that the patient needs to take at that moment (9), this by means of an image representing the quantity, form and color of the pharmaceutical product; said information is preloaded in the memory of the control means and a representative image of the health problem by which the patient needs to take that pill (condition) (10); means for emitting low frequency sound waves which is preferably a horn and d) a power source, preferably batteries, located in the first section of the container.

To make the patient aware of the times that he has omitted to use a pharmaceutical product, at the moment of remembering the next intake of the pharmaceutical product, in the geometric user interface the segments of the figure corresponding to the omission of the use of the electronic modular pillbox are maintained turned off The control means of the electronic modular pillbox is connected to each of the electronic elements of the pillbox via a data transmission means (22) which preferably it is a cable; which goes from the first section to the lid passing through the second section of the container and is connected at its ends.

The control method of the electronic modular pillbox includes the following steps: a) Energize (100) .- The patient places the direct current power supply which preferably are batteries. This occurs when the use of the electronic modular pillbox is started or when the batteries are replaced by new batteries, b) Start (110) .- Once the patient concludes with the previous stage a) the electronic modular pillbox starts its general operation because the processing unit, the state deployment means, the means to request data, are fed. Two position control and the user interface with defined geometry, c) Count (120) .- Once stage b) the internal clock of the processing unit begins the count of elapsed time, d) Compare (130) .- The reminder time of the following medication stored in the routine previously defined by the manufacturer in the memory of the processing unit with the elapsed time of the counter, if it is greater or equal then go to the stage e) otherwise go to stage c), e) Alert (140) .- Both sound and visual alarms are activated in short periods of time (for example 30 seconds) to avoid excessive consumption of battery power within a period of ten minutes given to the patient so that Proceed with your medication, where the audible alarm is a horn that emits audible sound waves which can be perceived by any patient even patients with presbycusis and the visual alarm corresponds to the segment of light-emitting diodes that is intermittently illuminated from the defined geometric figure and that corresponds to the medication prescribed to the patient, where the ratio of the prescribed daily medication to the defined geometric figure is: Circle: Every 24 hours where the whole circle lights intermittently Semicircle: Every 12 hours where the first segment that lights intermittently is the semicircle and 12 hours later corresponds to the straight segment that is located between the ends of the semicircular segment Triangle: Every 8 hours where the first segment that lights intermittently is the segment on the left, eight hours later corresponds to the segment on the right and finally corresponds to the segment that joins the previous segments Square: Every 6 hours where the first segment that flashes is the segment on the left, six hours later corresponds to the segment on the top, six hours later the segment on the right flashes and finally corresponds to the segment of the lower part Wait (150) .- While the previous stage is running, the patient is expected to uncover the container, which causes the on-off type switch to change state which is perceived by the processing unit who decides whether to go to stage i) otherwise go to stage g) g) Count (180) .- Keep the alerts active for 30 seconds and wait 30 seconds with the alerts off go to stage h) h) Compare (190) .- In the processing unit is compared if the elapsed time is equal to or greater than 10 minutes, if so go to stage j) otherwise go to stage f) i) Deactivate (160) .- The audible and visual alarms are deactivated by the processing unit 1 and continue with stage j) j) Register (170) .- All the occasions that the patient performs his medication or not according to what is prescribed in the temporary memory of the processing unit are recorded, Execution example number one: Adherence to the use of the electronic modular pillbox While the patient reads a novel before going to bed, she hears the sound emitted by her electronic modular pillbox, which reminds her that it is time to take the pharmaceutical product stored in the modular electronic pillbox (s) (is). The patient removes four electronic modular pillboxes that are attached from her bag, each electronic modular pillbox has a user interface of different defined geometry, for example, circular, semicircular, triangular and square. The patient perceives that two of the four electronic modular pillboxes have their defined geometry interface illuminated to indicate which of the electronic modular pillboxes should be used at that moment. The patient takes the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of defined geometry of the illuminated circular type, in the The pill screen is reminded that you have to take the pharmaceutical product that helps you control your cholesterol, and that you need to take two pills of this medication once a day. Then, take the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of defined geometry of the triangular type containing the pharmaceutical product recently prescribed to control your blood pressure and which should take every 8 hours, three times a day. As he does not remember the number of pills he should consume, he observes the screen on the front face of the electronic modular pillbox (7) and identifies that he must take two pills at that moment. In addition, observing the user interface of defined geometry of the triangle type, observes that two segments of light diodes in the figure are illuminated, while the third segment of light diodes illuminates intermittently, which indicates that taken his pills correctly twice and that this is the last time on the day he should consume them (Figure 10).

Execution example number two: The omission of the use of the electronic modular pillbox While the patient watches his favorite television program, he hears the sound emitted by the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of defined geometry, which reminds him that it is time to take the stored pharmaceutical product (s) in the modular electronic pillbox (s). Because the patient is very entertained watching his favorite television program, he omits to take the pills corresponding to the second dose of the day in which he consists in ingesting the pharmaceutical product to control his pressure during the day. Later the modular pillbox Once again, the sound is emitted to remind the patient that he / she must take the pharmaceutical product (s) again. On this occasion, the patient moves to his kitchen where he has two pillboxes that are attached, each one of them they have a user interface of different geometry defined for example, triangular and square. The patient perceives that the two electronic modular pillboxes have their defined geometry interface illuminated. The patient takes the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of defined geometry of the lit square type, which has a segment of light-emitting diodes illuminated, a segment of light-emitting diodes turned off a third segment of light-emitting diodes with intermittent illumination and finally, a third segment of light emitting diodes turned off, which indicates that you have correctly used a dose taking, as well as that he has omitted a dose, that this is the third dose of four that he must take and that he lacks a dose to ingest. Additionally, on the screen of the electronic modular pillbox you are reminded that you should take the pharmaceutical product that helps you increase and maintain your bone density, and that you should take a pill every six hours. Next, take the electronic modular pillbox with user interface of defined geometry of the triangular type containing the pharmaceutical product that was recently prescribed to control your blood pressure and which you should take every 8 hours (3 times a day). The triangular interface of the electronic modular pillbox has a segment of illuminated light-emitting diodes and a segment of light emitting diodes flashing to indicate that it is the second time to take the medication, as the patient does not remember the number of pills to be consumed , look at the screen that is in the container of the pillbox and identify that you should take a pill at that moment.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS Having described my invention enough, I consider it as a novelty and therefore claim as my exclusive property, what is contained in the following clauses:

1. An electronic modular pillbox characterized in that it comprises: A container divided in its interior into two sections where a first section corresponds to the base of the container up to one third of the total height of the container and a second section that stores at least one pharmaceutical product which is one between tablet, capsule, dropper, ointment that the patient requires; a lid on the upper part of the container that protects the pharmaceutical product from environmental conditions which is removable; at least one coupling means which is located on the external lateral part of the container by means of which another container is adapted; a user interface with defined geometry where the geometric figure consists of segments which are illuminated by a light-emitting medium which are preferably high-light-emitting diodes and is located on the outside of the cover by means of which it is indicated the frequency of daily use of the pharmaceutical product required by the patient and connected to a control means located in the first section of the container that is preferably a processing unit, which has previously established routines in its memory, coupled to: a ) A means for requesting data that is preferably a button located on the outside of the lid b) A two-position control preferably of the On-Off type that is located in the upper internal part of the container and is pressed when the patient places the cover over container c) Status display means which are: a screen located on the front of the container, which presents the information of the pharmaceutical product of interest to the patient; the user interface with defined geometry; means for emitting low frequency sound waves that preferably is a horn d) A power source located in the first section of the container.

2. The electronic modular pillbox according to claim 1, characterized in that: the processing unit has a first memory which is temporary and stores information related to adherence to the daily use of the pharmaceutical product by the patient, a second memory where the information regarding the daily use of the pharmaceutical product is stored.

3. The electronic modular pillbox according to claim 1 characterized in that: the first and second section of the container are divided by a plate of any polymer, to avoid contact between the objects stored in both sections.

4. The electronic modular pillbox according to claim 1, characterized in that: the coupling means is preferably a male-stamped polymer harness, which allows the assembly with containers of the same characteristics.

5. The electronic modular pillbox according to claim 1, characterized in that: the user interface with defined geometry is one between circle, semicircle, triangle, square.

6. The electronic modular pillbox according to claim 1, characterized in that: the geometric figures are defined as: a) Circle which is composed of two segments of semicircular shape placed one opposite the other by their open sides b) Semicircle which is composed of a semicircular segment and another straight segment that is located between the ends of the first segment c) Triangle which is composed of three straight segments joined by their ends d) Square which is composed of four straight segments joined by their ends.

7. The electronic modular pillbox according to claim 6, characterized in that: the segments have at least one of the following states, off, continuous illumination and intermittent illumination.

8. The electronic modular pillbox according to claim 1, characterized in that: the power source is preferably direct current.

9. The electronic modular pillbox according to claim 1, characterized in that: the patient requests data on adherence to the pharmaceutical product by pressing the button on the outside of the lid and said data are displayed on the screen and on the geometric interface.

10. A method for the electronic modular pillbox described in claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: it comprises the following steps: to. Energize.- The patient places the direct current power supply which preferably are batteries. This occurs when the use of the electronic modular pillbox is started or when the batteries are replaced, b. Start.- Once the patient concludes with step a) the electronic modular pillbox starts its general operation because the processing unit, the means of displaying the states, the means for requesting data, the control of two positions and the feeding are fed. user interface with defined geometry, c. Count - Once stage b) the internal clock of the processing unit begins the count of elapsed time, d. Compare.- The reminder time of the following medication stored in the previously defined subroutine in the memory of the processing unit with the elapsed time of the counter, if it is greater or equal then go to stage e) otherwise go to the stage c), e. Alert.- Audible and visual alarms are activated in short periods of time to avoid the continuous consumption of energy, preferably 30 seconds, with a period of time given to the patient, preferably ten minutes to proceed with his medication, where the sound alarm preferably is a horn that emits low frequency sound waves and the visual alarm corresponds to the segment of light emitting diodes that intermittently illuminates the defined geometrical figure and that corresponds to the medication prescribed to the patient, where the ratio of the prescribed daily medication to the defined geometric figure is: Circle: Every 24 hours where the whole circle lights intermittently Semicircle: Every 12 hours where the first segment that lights intermittently is the semicircle and 12 hours later corresponds to the straight segment that is located between the ends of the semicircular segment Triangle: Every 8 hours where the first segment that lights intermittently is the segment on the left, eight hours later corresponds to the segment on the right and finally corresponds to the segment that joins the previous segments Square: Every 6 hours where the first segment that flashes is the segment on the left, six hours later corresponds to the segment on the top, six hours later the segment on the right flashes and finally corresponds to the segment of the lower part F. Wait.- While the previous stage is running, the patient is expected to uncover the container, if he does go to stage i) otherwise go to stage g). g. Counting.- Keep the alerts active for a certain time preferably 30 seconds and wait 30 seconds with the alerts off go to stage h) h. Compare.- If the elapsed time is equal to or greater than 10 minutes, if so, go to stage j) otherwise go to stage f), i. Deactivate.- The audible and visual alarms are deactivated and continue with step j), j. Register.- All the occasions that the patient performs his medication or not according to the prescribed are recorded.