OA20509A - System and method for the verification of medication - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods for verifying proper possession of a medication are disclosed. A reader device scans a code printed on the medication to extract an embedded serial number. The reader device captures biometric information of a person in possession of the medication. A first server queries a prescription database, which retrieves biometric characteristic data associated with the embedded serial number. A determination is made if the retrieved biometric characteristic data matches biometric characteristic data. The match information is displayed on the reader device

Description

O.A.P.I. - B.P. 887, YAOUNDE (Cameroun) - Tel. (237) 222 20 57 00-Site web: http:/www.oapi.int- Email: oapi@oapi.int

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE VERIFICATION OF MEDICATION

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Serial No. 16/233,173 filed December 27, 2018, which is a continuation in part of US Application Serial No. 15/420,768 filed January 31, 2017, which claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/294,044 filed February 11,2016, the disclosures of each of which are hereby încorporated by reference as if fully restated herein.

TECHNICAL FÎELD

Exemplary embodiments of the présent invention relate generaliy to Systems and methods for verifying legitimate possession of a prescription médication.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The présent invention heîps aileviate the abuse of prescription drugs by providing a System and method for verifying individual pills by scanning a code printed on said pills, retrieving associated information about the person legally prescribed the pills in question (e.g., their name), and comparing that information to information about the person actuafly possessing the pill (e.g., against their government issued ID). Drugs, particularly medicines, hâve the power to treat ÎHnesses and prevent disease when used properiy. Drugs also hâve the power to be abused, cause addiction, and damage the human body when used improperly. In iight of this, governments hâve implemented methods to control the distribution and use of drugs most likely îo be abused. Generaliy speaking, contrais appear in the form of prescription requirements wherein a person must be prescribed a set amount of the drug by a iicensed medical professionsI in orderto legally possess and use said drug, Unfortunateiy, control over prescribed pills is lost once they pass over the dispensais counter. Within the realm of prescription médication contrais, drugs most likely to be abused are often further classîfted and regulated. Typically, a certain number of these drugs are outright banned from being possessed or used (e.g., heroin, cocaïne) due to their dangerous nature and reiatively low utility in a medical application. Another select group of drugs are permitted to be possessed and used by prescription, but face additional régulations and contrais. These often include,

I without limitation, narcotics, benzodiazépines, sédatives, hypnotics, and central nervous system stimulants.

For example, in the United States, this régulation is achieved m part by the Controîled Substance Act.¹ Under the Controîled Substance Act, these drugs are categohzed into scheduies. Each schedule contains a number of types of drugs and has varying degrees of control and régulation. Additionally, most States in the United States hâve a Prescription Dru g Monitorîng Program (P DM P), which serves to both protect legitimate usera of controîled prescription substances and prevent illégal diversion and use of controîled prescription drugs. Many States hâve slightly different PDMPs but one feature that is typical of a PDMP or simiîar program is a State prescription data base (e.g., Ohio has OARRS — Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System², Indiana has INSPECT³, etc,). These databases store information regarding the persons to whom controîled substances hâve been prescribed and information on the controîled substances itself including what was prescribed, when it was prescribed, for how long the treatment is to last, what dosage was prescribed, and the like. This information is used for many purposes incîuding supporting access to legitimate medical use of controîled substances, identifying and deterring or preventing drug abuse and diversion, facilitating and encouraging the identification, intervention with and treatment of persons addicted to prescription drugs, infonming public health initiatives through outlining of use and abuse trends, and educating individuals about PDMPs and the use, abuse and diversion of addiction to prescription drugs,⁴

Despite these programs and other efforts, control prescription drugs are abused with great frequency. For example, in the United States, 52 million peopie over the âge of 12 hâve used prescription drugs non-medicalîy in their lifetime. in 2010, there were 8.76 million prescription medicine abuses. Further, only 20% of prescription drugs are obtained from a doctor - 54.2% of prescription drugs are obtained free from a friend or relative, 16.6% are bought or ta ken from a friend or relative, 3.9% are obtained from a drug dealer or a stranger, 0,3% are purchased through the internet, and the rest are unaccounted for.⁵ Among the reasons cited ¹ See http://www.fda. gov/reguiatoryinformation/legÎslation/ucml48726.htm: http://www.dead! version, usdoj.gov/schedui es/ ² https://www. ohi opmp.gov/Portal/Default. asp\ ³ http://www.in.gov/pla/inspectf ⁴ http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/rx_monitor.htm ⁵ htip://www.drugabuse.goitfrelated-topscs/trends-statistics/mfographics/popping-piilsprescription-drug-abuse-in-america by teens to improperiy use prescription drugs includes that they are easy to get from parent’s medicine cabinets (cited by 62% of those surveyed), they are avaîtable everywhere (52%), they are not illégal drugs (51%), they are easy to get through other people's prescriptions (50%), and they can claim to hâve a prescription if caught (49%).⁶

As the data shows, the current attempts to control prescription drugs are insufficient. One shortfall of the system is that individual pills cannot be verified. For example, if one were to legitimately possessa prescription container for a drug (forthepurposes ofthis example called Drug X), the pills in the Drug X container could be substituted with piils containing a controlied substance (forthe purposes ofthis example called “Drug Y”). Upon a cursory review, one may conciude that the person legitimately possesses Drug X, when in reality the person possesses Drug Y in a container intended to carry Drug X. In another example, a person may possess a prescription container for the same controlied substance Drug Y, but be filled with illegally obtained Drug Y pills. Again, upon a cursory review one may conciude that the person legitimately possesses the Drug Y. Stated another way, the user may become addicted to Drug Y during the course of taking a iegiiimate prescription for Drug Y. The person may keep the Drug Y prescription container and continue to re-fiîl it with additional, illegally obtained, Drug Y pills. Further still, if a person is found with a legal or illegally possessed drug outside of the prescription container, the pills cannot be individually identified and thus, vérification of légitimât® possession is not possible, Some of these shortfalls are likely contrîbutors to the continuée! prescription drug abuse épidémie.

Therefore, what is needed is a System and method for the vérification of médication that is capable of individually and secureiy verifying individual pills. Such a system and method may be used by law enforcement officiais to quickiy, accurately, and secureiy identify if a person legally possesses a controlied substance or other prescription médication. The présent invention provides such a system and method for the vérification of médication that is capable of individually verifying prescription drugs.

The présent invention comprises a coding system whereby a médication has been marked with a code, such as a bar code or a quick response (QR) code. The code comprises an embedded serial number that is dispiayed when the code is read or interpreted by a reader device, The serial number includes a lot or batch number and may include further information suen as the identity ofthe manufacturer. In this way, ail médications of a lot or batch may be marked with the same code, which simplifies the marking process such that a unique code need not be printed on each médication. The serial number may be linked to a patient at the time a prescription is filed and be stored in a prescription database.

The présent invention further comprises a patient identification System whereby a software application (an “app”) or website on a mobile device is désignée! to read and interpret the code. For example, without limitation, the code may be a QR code that is read by the camera on a smart phone and the information is transmitted to the app for processing. A comparison may then be made to a code printed on the prescription bottie to détermine whether a match is made and thus that the pills in the bottie are legitimately possessed by the person.

Alternatively, if a prescription bottie is not présent (i.e., the person possesses loose pills), or if the code on the pill does not match the prescription bottie, the code on the pills may be scanned using the app and the person’s name may be entered. The app may then relay this information to a first server, which may query the appropriate prescription database. The prescription database may return the name of the person Iegaîly prescribed the pills in question. This name may be returned to the device, via the first server, and the device may détermine if there is a match between the entered name (the person actually possessing the pills in question) and the returned name (the person Iegaîly prescribed the pills in question). In other exempiary embodiments, it may be unnecessary to enter the name of the person actually possessing the pills, In such embodiments, the name ofthe person Iegaîly prescribed the pills may be returned and the user may détermine whether the returned name matches the name of the person actually possessing the pills.

In exempiary embodiments, facial récognition technoiogy may be used to identity the person in possession of the pills in question. In such embodiments, the prescription database may comprise facial data for the person Iegaîly prescribed the médication. The reader device may be used to scan the code on the médication as well as the face of the person in possession of the médication. This information may be relayed to the appropriate prescription database where a check may be performed and a notification of whether the scanned face is a match or not a match for the person who was Iegaîly prescribed the pills may be returned for display on the reader device. The message may be color coded such as green for match and red for no match. In other exempiary embodiments, other types of biométrie information may be utilized, such as but not limited to, fingerprints, finger, hand, or other body part geometry, odor, vein, blood samples, hair, or tissue samples, partial or whole DNA sequences, ear shape, gait, signature, retina, iris, or other eye information, voice patterns or other voice information, some combination thereof, or the iike.

ft rs contempiated that this system and method may be used in the context of law enforcement to verify the legslity of the person’s possession of the prescription médication. However, this application is merely exemplary and other applications are eontemplated including quality control, preventing drug interactions, and any other application where vérification of prescription médication is désirable. Likewise, exemplary users of the present invention inciude, but are not limited io, iaw enforcement officiais, medical professionals, manufacturera, and anyone else involved in the care, handling, and régulation of prescription drugs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS in addition to the features mentioned above, other aspects of the present invention wiii be readily apparent from the following descriptions ofthe drawings and exemplary embodiments, wherein like reference numerals across the several views refer to identical or équivalent features, and wherein:

Figure 1 illustrâtes an exemplary embodiment of a System in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of an exemplary pill for use with the system of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a top view of another exemplary pill for use with the system of figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary pill container for use with the System of figure i;

Figure 5 illustrâtes a detailed view ofthe system of figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is an exemplary method in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 7 is another exemplary method;

Figure 8 is anotherexemplary method;

Figure 9 is another exemplary method;

Figure 10 is another exemplary method in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 11 is another exemplary method in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODiMENT(S)

Various embodiments ofthe present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. in the following description, spécifie details such as detailed configuration and components are mereiy provided to assistthe overaN understanding of these embodiments of the présent invention. Therefore, it should be apparent to those skilied in the art that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the présent invention. In addition, descriptions of weil-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

Figure 1 through Figure 5 illustrâtes an exemplary system in accordance with the présent invention. A médication 12 such as a piîl, tabiet, capsule, or the like is marked with a code 24. The code 24 may be a one-dimensional code such as a UPC, EAN, Code 39, Code 128, ITF, Code 93, Codabar, GS1 Databar, MSS Plessey or the like. Aiternatively, the code 24 may be a two-dimensional code such as a quick response (hereinafter “QR”) code, datamatrix code, PDS417, Aztec, or the like. Figure 2 and figure 3 illustrât© detailed views of exemplary médications 12 marked with exemplary codes 24.

Two-dimensional codes are weil known in the art. A brief description is provided herein for completeness but is not intended to be limiting. Two dimensions! codes are optically machine readabie iabeis containing encoded information about the item to which it is attached. The QR code, for example without limitation, consists of three alignment targets and a sériés of black modules (typically square markings) arrangée! in a square grid on a white background, and are capable of being read by an imaging device such as a caméra. Some of the black modules are directed to formatting information and the rest are generally directed to the underlying data, which can be any kind of information. The image is often processed using Reed-Sotomon error correction until the image can be appropriateiy interpreted. The required data is then extracted from patterns that are présent in both horizontal and vertical components of the image and is generally interpreted in numeric, alphanumeric, byte/binary, and Kanji forms, though other forms are possible.

In exemplary embodiments of the présent invention, the code 24 comprises encoded data for translating at least a portion of the code 24 into a serial number. The serial may be 10-12 digits, though any number of digits is contemplated, and may comprise Setters, numbers, other symbols, or some combination thereof. In other exemplary embodiments of the présent invention, the code 24 may be a sériés of non-encoded Setters and/or numbers (i.e., a list of printed letters and/or numbers) of any number of digits. Essentially, in such an embodiment, the code 24 (S the serial number. The code 24 orthe translated, embedded serial number may comprise a lot or batch number. For example, without limitation, the code 24 may be translated into the serial number, the lot, and batch number. in other exempiary embodiments, at least a portion of the embedded sériai number may be the lot and batch number. The code 24 may addiiionally comprise other embedded information such as, but not limited to, the manufacture date, the manufacture’s name or identification information, the content of the médication 12, or any other information about the médication 12 and rts manufacture. The serial number may 5 be determined by any known or future standardized system, The serial number may comprise any numbered ofcoded or uncoded portions that are intended to convey information about the médication 12.

The code 24 may be piaced on the médication 12 during manufacture by any known method.

Alternative^, the code 24 may be piaced on the médication 12 at a later stage. A number of 10 methods and Systems for imprinting médication 12 with information are known in the arts. !n exemplary embodiments of the présent invention, a system and method is used that prints the code 24 with a sufficient résolution that it may be read by a relatively low-résolution caméra, such as but not limited to, one on a Smart phone or other mobile device. The ink used to print the code 24 may be any ink that is safe for human consumption, such as but not limited to, 15 those approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The surface of the médication 12 may comprise a coating or surface texture amenable to the adhérence of the ink.

The médication 12 having the code 24 printed thereon may then be piaced in a storage container 14. The storage container 14 may be any container for storing médication 12. in exemplary embodiments of the présent invention, the storage container 14 may be a 20 prescription bottle. In exemplary embodiments of the présent invention, only médication 12 from the same lot or batch, such that it contains the same code 24, may be piaced in a single storage container 14. Stated another way, médication 12 of a split lot” or a “split batch’ would require separate storage containers 14. This simplifies the printing process, such that a unique code need not be marked on each médication 12.

Figure 4 illustrâtes a detailed view of the storage container 14. The storage container 14 may further comprise a label having patient and prescription information 28, In exemplary embodiments of the présent invention the storage container 14 further comprises a corresponding code 26. The corresponding code 26, like the code 24, may be a onedimensional code, a two-dimensional code, or the like. In exemplary embodiments of the 30 présent invention the code 24 matches, is identical to, or is atherwise associated with the corresponding code 26. It is notable that the corresponding code 26 is optional and may not be required for exemplary embodiments of the présent invention.

The code 24 and the corresponding code 26 may be configured to be read and interpreted by a reader device 16. The reader device 16 may be a mobile device such as a smart phone, caméra, tabler, laptop or the like. The reader device 16 may additions lly be a dedicated scanning device or attachment for a mobile device, such as a code reading device, a scanner, terminal or any other fixed or mobile device or attachment configured to read and interpret one and two dimensional codes 24. The reader device 16 may be configured to read and interpret the code 24 and the corresponding code 26, input and receive other information, display the encoded information, and input, receive, and dispiay match information. In exemplary embodiments, the encoded information is the serial number comprising at least a lot or batch number and the match information is a message dispîaying MATCH or “NO MATCH” or similar.

As wîH be expiained in greater detail, the System and method described herein may be used by law enforcement officiais to détermine whether a person carrying médication 12 is legaily permitted to possess or use said médication 12. This information may be used to make decisions regarding whetherto pursue a further investigation, continue détention ofthe person, perform a search ofthe person, their dwelling, vehicle, Personal belongings, and the like, orto make an arrest. Altematively, other applications are contemplated including quality control, preventing drug interactions, and any other application where vérification of prescription médication is désirable. Any purpose or application is contemplated.

As best illustrated in figure 1, the reader device 16 may be in communication with a first server 18 via a communications network 20, such as the internet. The first server 18 may likewise be in communication with a prescription database 22 via the communications network 20. The prescription database 22 may be part of a state or federally controlled prescription database prcgrsm, such as but not limited to the P DMP. The prescription database 22 may be a single database or comprise multiple databases that are linked and may be queried together. This may include, but is not limitée! to, a national network of state prescription databases or a national prescription database.

The first server 18 may receive the serial number and other information from the reader device 16 and send a query to the prescription database 22 to compare the serial number and other information against patient registration information. The query may be an automated request for information from the prescription database 22. As wi!l be described with greater detail herein, the first server 18 may also détermine which prescription database 22 to query.

Ιπ other exempîary embodiments of the présent invention, only the prescription database 22 forthe State in which the user is îocated oremployed in may be queried. in stil! other exempîary embodiments, the prescription database 22 for the State in which the user is iccated or employed to work in and the adjoining States may be queried. The query of any number of prescription databases 22 for any number of States in any combination is contemplated, The prescription database 22 to be queried may be pre-determined and thus the first server 18 may serve as a relay in communications between the reader device 16 and the prescription database 22.

The prescription database 22 may perform an automated query and détermine patient information associated with the serial number. The patient information may include, but is not limited to, the patient’s name, address, physical description, prescription information, phoiograph, and the like. The patient information may then be transmitted back to the first server 18 and back to the reader device 16,

In exempîary embodiments of the présent invention, the reader device 16 may also be configured to receive and transmit other input including, but not limited to, the person’s name, State where prescription was filled, particular database to be queried, date of birth, and other identifyîng information. This information may likewise be transmitted via the communications network 20 to the first server 18. The first server 18 may only check to see if the patient information matches the name informationtransmitted bythe readerdevice 16, The first server 18 may then transmit the match information back to the reader device 16 to be displayed.

In other exempîary embodiments, the name and the serial number information may be transmitted to the prescription database 22 where the prescription database 22 détermines whether the information is a match and relays back the match information. In still other exempîary embodiments, the prescription database 22 may transmît corresponding patient information to the first server 18 and the information may be relayed to the reader device 16 and the reader device 16 may détermine if there is a match and display the match information. Regardless, the reader device 16 may be configured to display match information to the user including whether or not a match was determined.

In other exempîary embodiments of the présent invention, only the serial number may be transmitted to the prescription database 22 and the prescription database 22 may return the patient information associated with the serial number to the reader device 16 such that the user may make a match détermination.

in stili other exemplary embodiments ofthe présent invention, the reader device 16 may read the code 24 and the corresponding code 26 and display match information. Alternativeiy, the reader device 16 may read the code 24 and the corresponding code 26 and display the serial numbers for comparison.

Figure 6 illustrâtes an exemplary method in accordance with the présent invention. In step 110 the code 24 may be placed on the médication 12. The code 24 may be placed by printing or any other known method for marking the médication 12. The printing may be accomplished at the manufacturing facility, at the packaging facility, at the dispensing pharmacy, at a separate printing facility, or any other place priorto dispensing the médication 12 to the person. in step 112 the corresponding code 26 is placed on the storage container 14. Likewise, the corresponding code 26 may be placed by printing or any other known method for marking the storage container 14, Finaiiy, in step 114 the code 24 and the corresponding code 26 may be associated with patient information and linked thereto and stored in the prescription database 22

In exemplary embodiments of the présent invention this information may be gathered and linked to or otherwise associated with the patient when the prescription is ordered or filied and may be associated and caused to be placed in the prescription database 22 by the doctor, pharmacist, or other medical professional. The patient information may be manually entered into a computer system. For example, wrthout limitation, this may be done for new patients or when updating patient information, in other exemplary embodiments, the patient information may be automaticaily entered from information aiready known by the doctors, pharmacist, or other medical professional. For example, wiihout limitation, this may be done for existing patients by automatically populating a form or uploading information from the medical prcfessional’s files. The steps listed are merely exemplary and may be performed in any order. Additionally, various steps may be repeated oromitted.

Figure 7 illustrâtes an exemplary method for verifying proper possession of médication. In step 210 the code 24 on the médication 12 may be scanned using the reader device 16. In step 212 the information from the code 24 may be transmitted by the reader device 16 to the first server 18 via the communications network 20. In step 214, the first server 18 may détermine which prescription database 22toquery and in step 216 the approprîate prescription database 22 is queried. In exemplary embodiments ofthe présent invention, the prescription database 22 is the state-controlled PDMP, and thus the first server 18 may détermine which state’s prescription database 22 to query. This may be done by the input from the user and the transmission of additionai information from the reader device 16 to the first server 18, This information may include a state selected by the user according to the persons’ license information, stated information about the persons’ résidence, location of prescnbing physician, or location of dîspensing pharmacy.

In exemplary embodiments of the présent invention, the first server 18 may make an assumptîon on which state databases 22 are to be queried including by first querying the database of the state where the user is located and if no matching information is found, by subsequentiy querying databases 22 at an increasing géographie distance untii matching information is found or ail databases 22 hâve been queried.

Next, in step 218 the corrsspondîng information may be refnsved from the prescription database 22 and transmitted to the first server 18. The first server 18 may then transmit the information to the reader device 16, in step 220, the transmission of information may be accomplished by the communications network 20,

Figure 8 illustrâtes another exempiary method. In step 310 the reader device 16 is used to 15 scan the code 24 on the médication 12. Next, in step 312 the persons’ name may be entered into the reader device 16. In step 314 the name and serial number from the code 24 may be transmitted to the first server 18. in step 316 the first server 18 may détermine which prescription database 22 to query. Step 316 may be accomplished by any of the several methods previously discussed and in step 318, the appropriate prescription database 22 may 20 be queried. In step 320 the prescription database 22 may détermine if there is a match between the name and the code information. The match information may then be transmitted to the first server 18 in step 322. Finally, in step 324, the first server 18 may transmit the match information to the reader device 16, Alternatively, the information may be transmitted from the database and the match détermination may be made by the first server 18 or by the user of 25 the reader device 16.

Figure 9 illustrâtes another method whereby in step 410 the code 24 on the médication 12 may be scanned using the reader device 16. In step 412 the corresponding code 26 on the storage container 14 may likewîse be scanned by the reader device 16. At step 414 it may be determined if there is a match by any of the several methods previousiy discussed. If there is 30 a match, as noted in step 416 the investigation may be ended. !f there is no match, the same procedure may be followed for steps 418, 420, 422, 424, 426, 428, and 430, which generaliy corresponds to steps 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, and 324 of figure 8, respectively. It is contemplated that step 418 is optional and may be skipped and a procedure simiiar to steps 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, and 220 of figure 7, respectiveiy, may instead be folîowed.

Figure 10 illustrâtes another exemplary method whereby facial récognition technology is utilized. The code 24 on the médication 12 may be scanned using the reader device 16 ai step 510. Alternative^, or in addition, the code 26 on the storage container 14 may be scanned. Regardless, the scan of the code 24 or code 26 may permit the reader device 16 to extract an embedded serial number. At step 512 an image of the face of the person in possession of the médication 12 may be taken. The image may be captured using the reader device 16. In such embodiments, the reader device 16 may comprise one or more caméras capable of photographing an individual sface.

In exemplary embodiments, initiai facial récognition processing, such as but not limiting to, extracting facial characteristîc data from the image of the captured face {e.g., eye spacing distance, distance from forehead to chin, etc.) may be performed at the reader device 16 such that the extracted facial characteristîc data is transmitted. In other exemplary embodiments, such initiai facial récognition processing may be performed at the prescription database 22 and simply the image data may be transmitted. in still other exemplary embodiments, the initial facial récognition processing may be performed at the first server 18. Regardless, at step 514 the extracted sériai number as weii as the facial characteristîc data or the image data may be transmitted to the first server 18. The first server 18 may détermine which prescription database 22 to query at step 516.

One or more entries on one or more of the prescription databases 22 may comprise facial characteristîc data for persons prescribed médications 12. The facial characteristîc data may be extracted from an image of the person prescribed the médication. Such images may be captured at the dispensmg, prescribiny, or the like of such médications 12. The image processing requîred to extract the facial characteristîc data may be performed where the image was captured, at the first server 18, or at the prescription database 22.

Regardless, at step 518 the appropriate prescription database 22 may be queried. The query may return the facia! characteristîc data associated with the queried serial number. At step 52û a match between the facial characteristîc data of the person possessing the médication and the retrieved facial characteristîc data associated with the queried serial number may be determined. At step 522 the match information may be transmitted to the first server 18. The match information may indicate a match or no match between the facial characteristîc data of the person possessing the médication and the retrieved faciai characteristic data assocîated with the quened serial number.

At step 524 the match information may be transmitted to the reader device 16 for dispiay. The reader device 16 may be configured to simply dispiay whether or not a match was received. For example, without limitation, the words “match or “no match may be displayed. The results may be color coded for ease of review, such as green for match and red for no match.

In still other exemplary embodiments, the faciai characteristic data for the person prescribed the médication may be transmitted to the reader device 16 which performs the match analysis, if no faciai characteristic data is avaiiable for the individual, other methods and Systems may be utilized such as but not limited to, those shown and described herein.

The components described herein, such as but not limited to, the reader device 16, the first server 18, and the prescription database 22 may each comprise one or more électronic storage devices which comprise exécutable software instructions and one or more processors for executing said exécutable software instructions. The execution of said exécutable software instructions may configure the respective device (i.e., the reader device 16, the first server 18, or the prescription database 22) to perform one or more functions described herein.

Figure 11 illustrâtes another exemplary embodiment where other types of biométrie information may be utilized, individualîy or in combination with those other types of biométrie or other information and embodiments shown and/or described herein. Such biométrie information may be utilized with the Systems and method shown and/or described with respect to figure 10, with sim Mar items being numbered similarly but increased by 100 (i.e., 510 to 610), though such methods may be utilized with any of the additional figures and/or embodiments provided herein. The additional types of biométrie information utilized may include, forexample without limitation, fingerprints, finger, hand, or other body part geometry, odor, vein, blood samples, haïr, ortissue samples, partial orwhole DNA sequences, ear shape, gait, signature, retina, iris, or other eye information, voice patterns or other voice information, some combination thereof, or the like.

The steps of various methods discussed herein are merely exemplary and may be performed in any order. Additionaliy, various steps may be repeated or omiited.

Any embodiment of the present invention may include any of the optionai or preferred features of the other embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments herein dîsclosed are not intended to be exhaustive orto unnecessarily limit the scope ofthe invention. The exemplary embodiments were chosen and described in order to e.xplain the principles of ine présent invention sa that others skilled in the art may practice the invention. Having shown and described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art wül realize that many variations and modifications may be made to the described invention. Many of those variations and modifications will provîde the same resuit and fall within the spirit of the claimed invention. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the invention only as indicated by the scope of the claims.

Claims (16)

1. A System for verifying iegitimate possession of a médication comprising:

5 a code printed on the médication comprising an embedded sériai number, wherein the médication is a pili, tablet, or capsule, and wherein the code is computer readabie; a reader device comprising a display and an imaging device adapted to read the code and extract the embedded serial number, wherein the reader device is configured to capture biométrie information of a person in possession of the médication, and wherein ] 0 said reader device is further configured to receive location information corresponding to a géographie location;

a prescription database system comprising a number of prescription databases, wherein each prescription database is associated with a géographie area and comprises a number of serial numbers, wherein each serial number is associated with 15 a prescribed médication, patient identity information for the récipient of the prescribed médication, and biométrie data for the récipient of the prescribed médication; and a first server in eiectroniç communication with the reader device and the prescription database System comprising a processor, an electronic storage device, and exécutable software instructions stored on the electronic storage device, which when executed by 20 the processor configure the first server to:

receive said embedded serial number, biométrie data corresponding to the captured biométrie information, and location information from said reader device; détermine which prescription database in the prescription database system to query by determining which prescription database is associated with a géographie area 25 comprising the géographie location;

query said prescription database based on the embedded serial number; retrieve the biométrie data from the prescription database system associated with one of the number of serial numbers matching the queried embedded serial number;

détermine if the retrieved biométrie data matches the biométrie data extracted from the

30 captured biométrie information; and transmit match information to said reader device indicating whether said retrieved biométrie characteristic data matches the extracted biométrie characteristic data, but not transmitting the patient identity information;

wherein said reader device is configured to display said match information, wherein said first server is remote from said reader device; and wherein said match information comprises an indication of the presence or non presence of a match such that patient identity information for the récipient of the prescribed médication is not received ordisprayed.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said biométrie information comprises one or more images of a face of the person in possession ofthe médication; and said biométrie data comprises extracted facial characteristics data,

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising:

a reader device processor;

a reader device eiectronic storage device; and reader device exécutable software instructions stored on said reader device eiectronic storage device, which when executed by the reader device processor configure the reader device to extract the facial characteristic data from the one or more images captured by the imaging device,

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless communication device located in said reader device and configured to place said reader device in eiectronic communication with the first server.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein:

ail médications dispensed with a given prescription are msrked with the same cede.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein;

the code is a QR code or a bar code.

7. The System of claim 1 wherein:

said biométrie information comprises one or more images of an eye of the person in possession ofthe médication; and said biométrie data comprises extracted iris or retina characteristics data.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

a reader device processor;

a reader device eiectronic storage device; and reader device exécutabie software instructions stored on said reader device electronic storage device, which when executed by the reader device processor configure the reader device to extract the iris or retina characteristic data from said one or more images captured by the imaging device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein;

said biométrie information comprises one or more fingerprints of one or more fingers of the person in possession ofthe médication; and said biométrie data comprises extracted fingerprint characteristics data.

10. A system for verifying tegitimate possession of a médication comprising:

a code printed on the médication comprising an embedded serial number, wherein the médication is a pill, tablet, or capsule, and wherein said code is computer readabîe and is selected from the group consisting of: a bar code and a QR code;

a smartphone comprising: an imaging device adapted to capture biométrie information of a person found to be in possession of the médication, wherein said biométrie information comprises one or more images of a face, an iris, a retina, or a fingerprint of said person found to be in possession ofthe médication;

a location device adapted to receive location information corresponding to a géographie location;

one or more proeessors;

one or more electronic storage devices;

exécutable software instructions stored on the one or more electronic storage devices, which when executed by the one or more processors configure the smartphone to translate said scanned code into said embedded serial number and extract biométrie charactenstic data from said captured image, wherein said extracted biométrie characteristic data comprises facial characteristics data, retina characteristics data, iris characteristics data, or fingerprint characteristics data; and a wireless transmitter and receiver configured to transmit said embedded serial number, said extracted biométrie characteristic data, and said géographie location;

a prescription database System comprising a number of serial numbers, each associated with a prescribed médication and biométrie characteristic data associated with the récipient of said prescribed médication, wherein said prescription database system comprises a number of databases, each database being associated with a géographie area; and a first server remote from and in electronic communication with the smartphone and the prescription database system, wherein said first server comprises exécutable software instructions stored on one or more first server électronic storage devices, which when executed by one or more first server processors configure the first server to:

receive said embedded serial number from said smartphone; receive said extracted biométrie characteristic data from said smartphone; receive said géographie location from said smartphone;

query a database in the prescription database system which is associated with a géographie area comprising the géographie location to retrieve the biométrie characteristic data associated with the serial number matching the querïed embedded serial number; and transmit said associated biométrie characteristic data to said smartphone; wherein said smartphone comprises additional exécutable software instructions stored on the électronic storage device, which when executed by the processor configure the smartphone to détermine if said extracted biométrie characteristic data matches said received biométrie characteristic data and display a message indicating whether the information is a match without displaying identitying information for said récipient of said médication.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein;

the embedded serial number comprises a lot number or a batch number.

12. The System of claim 10 wherein:

each database in the prescription database system further comprises associated patient information for each of said serial numbers, wherein said associated patient information comprises the médication type, the amount of médication prescribed, the dispensing date, and the expected duration ofthe prescription; and said first server comprises additional exécutable software instructions stored on the first server electronic storage device, which when executed bythe first server processor configures the first server to retrieve the associated patient information if no biométrie characteristic data is stored for said queried serial number.

13. A method for verifying legitimate possession of a médication comprising the steps of: printing a code on the médication, wherein said code is computer readable and comprises an embedded serial number, wherein the médication is a pill, tabiet, or capsule;

provrding a reader device comprising a camera, a first server remote from the reader device and adapted to relay information to and from said reader device, and a prescription database System compnsïng a number of databases, wherein each database is associated with a géographie area and comprises a number of séria! 5 numbers, and wherein each serial number is associated with a prescribed médication and biométrie characteristic data for the récipient of said prescribed médication; scanning the code on the médication using the reader device to extract the embedded sériai number;

receiving location information corresponding to a géographie location from the reader ±0 device;

capturing, by way of the reader device, an image of a body part of a person in possession of the médication;

extracting biométrie characteristic data from the captured image;

transmltting the embedded serial number to the first server;

15 querying the database in the prescription database system associated with a géographie area comprising the géographie location to retrieve the biométrie characteristic data associated with the embedded serial number;

determining, atthe first server, that the retrieved biométrie characteristic data matches the extracted biométrie characteristic data; and

20 displaying an indication that a match was found at the reader device without displaying identifying information for the récipient of said médication.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein:

the extraction of biométrie characteristic data is performed at any one of; the reader device, the first server or the prescription database System.

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15. The method of claim 13 wherein:

the image ofthe body part ofthe person in possession ofthe médication comprises an image selected from the group consisting of: the person’s face, finger, and eye; and the biométrie characteristic data is selected from the group consisting of: facial characteristics data, fingerprint characteristics data, and refîna or iris characteristics 30 data.

16 . The method of claim 13 wherein:

the détermination of a match is performed at the prescription database System.