Medication dispenser with automatic refill

Abstract

A device for aiding medication compliance includes a cap for a medicine container. The cap has a multi-color light-emitting diode; for determining when said cap is opened; and a button, operatively connected to the circuitry, for triggering a signal to an external dispenser to request a refill of medication when pressed.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is related to and claims priority from co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 480,859, entitled “Medication Compliance Systems, Methods And Devices With Configurable And Adaptable Escalation Engine,” filed Jul. 6, 2006; and from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 698,792, entitled “Medication Compliance platform with intelligent networked pillbox, escalation engine and data signaling feedback loops,” filed Jul. 13, 2005, the entire contents of each of which are hereby fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0002]This invention relates to medication compliance, and, more particularly, to systems, methods and devices supporting medication compliance.INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND[0003]Medication non-compliance is a major problem in healthcare. Physicians prescribe medications for a large class of chronic, asymptomatic diseases. These medications must typically be taken daily for the rest of the pati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent text describes a system and method for improving medication compliance. The invention is designed to address the problem of non-compliance with medication, which is a major issue in healthcare. The invention is a portable and wireless device that includes a medication dispensing system and a network connection to a backend server and caregiver. The device is designed to remind patients when to take their medication and provide escalating feedback to the patient if they do not comply. The invention is not limited to reminder systems, but also includes a platform for managing complex medicine regimes and a clinical trial market solution for capturing dosing data and measuring medication efficacy."

Problems solved by technology

Medication non-compliance is a major problem in healthcare.

This presents a challenge even for those patients who want to comply, let alone those who need a helping hand.

The MD2 is not designed to be portable, to be wirelessly connected to a network, to relay visual queues to another device resident in the home, or trigger escalating feedback to the patient.

The platform does not know if the device is even in the home.

However, none of these systems adapt or modify the alert scheme based on the patient's behavior and / or based on the patient's response (or expected response) to a different alert scheme, they simply follow a set routine based on what the patient does (or does not do).

Such systems impose heavy cost requirements—a dedicated computer—at each patient's home.

In addition, such systems cannot take advantage of information about other patients, in particular, how other patients have responded to various alert schemes.

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