Ingestible event marker data framework

Abstract

The ingestible event marker data framework provides a uniform, comprehensive framework to enable various functions and utilities related to ingestible event marker data (IEM data). The functions and utilities include data and / or information having an aspect of data derived from, collected by, aggregated by, or otherwise associated with, an ingestion event.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 (e), this application claims priority to the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 079,082 filed on Jul. 8, 2008; the disclosure of which application is herein incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to the technical fields of ingestible devices and communications. More specifically, and in various example embodiments, the present invention relates to a method, article, and system of generating, collecting, managing, distributing, and otherwise utilizing information associated with ingestible events and responses to the ingestible events.BACKGROUND[0003]Information related to personal events is widely needed in various pursuits. A personal event is an event that is specific to an individual. Examples of personal events include onset of a physiologic parameter of interest, ingestion of a therapeutic agent, etc.[0004]There are many inst...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024]The IEM data framework enables multiple and various types of implementations. The implementations include various configurations of hardware, software, communication components, and / or data. For example, in one aspect, the IEM data framework is implemented with a basic complement of core components; namely, ingestible event marker data; a hub to receive the ingestible event marker data; and at least one ingestible event marker data system to receive, directly or indirectly, the ingestible event marker data from the hub.

Problems solved by technology

As a result, inaccuracies may occur.

The complexities associated with multiple health conditions, multiple medication therapies, and intricate dosing schedules may confuse the patient, resulting in inaccurate data capture.

In one example, the individual may have physical or cognitive deficits which may result in difficulties inputting and capturing data.

The individual may forget to enter the data, or may enter the data incorrectly.

In one example, the individual may not wish to be inconvenienced and thus may intentionally refuse to enter the data.

Conversely, the individual may unintentionally or intentionally enter / record data which is completely inaccurate.

If the individual has already taken the medication, the reminder is both moot and likely to inconvenience the individual.

If the medication has not been taken, an inconvenient or unneeded reminder or alert may prompt the user to enter data or send a message advising that the medication has been taken just to quell the alarm while not actually taking the medication.

In one example, proxies for data and information may also be inaccurate.

The inference may be inaccurate, however, as medication is not necessarily ingested by virtue of opening a medication container.

The above-instances may ripen into further issues if particular parties besides the individual wish to use the individual's personal event data.

In many circumstances, however, accurate personal event data are not available.

It follows, then, that such conclusions may themselves be skewed or inaccurate.

Actions taken in reliance on such conclusions may prove misguided, error-prone, and / or harmful.

Based on the mistaken conclusion, the healthcare provider may adjust the medication dosage in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms, perhaps to the patient's detriment.

Of note, the more widely propagated and aggregated the inaccurate data, the more prolific the spread of and reliance on error-associated data and conclusions drawn therefrom.

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