1496 results about "Patient compliance" patented technology

This relates to methods and devices for treating reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more particularly, relates to a device for exchanging energy with airway tissue such as that found in the airway of human lungs. The exchange of energy with this airway tissue in the airways reduces the ability of the air ways to constrict and / or reduces the resistance within the airway to the flow of air through the airway. This also relates to a method for decreasing responsiveness or decreasing resistance to airflow of airways involves the transfer of energy to or from the airway walls to prevent or reduce airway constriction and other symptoms of lung diseases. The treatment reduces the ability of the airway to contract during an acute narrowing of the airways, reduces mucus plugging of the airways, and / or increases the airway diameter. The methods according to the present invention provide a longer duration and / or more effective treatment for lung diseases than currently used drug treatments, and obviate patient compliance issues. This also includes additional steps that reduce the ability of the lung to produce at least one of the symptoms of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease and to reduce the resistance to the flow of air through a lung.

A comfortable low-leak mask assembly for use with Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) is provided to improve patient compliance and / or treatment. The mask system may include headgear having straps that are substantially inextensible and / or micro-adjustable; and / or a mask and / or cushion that includes various structures to allow enhanced / tailored sealing and / or fit at selected locations on the patient's face.

A system to increase compliance with patient monitoring protocols for patients with chronic disease. The system uses a wireless telecommunication device as the hub of the system. The hub is configured to increase patient compliance with a monitoring protocol by being integrated with a mobile device, such as a cellular phone or PDA, that the patient normally carries or wears. The hub is further configured to increase compliance by displaying games that incorporate monitored conditions and providing rewards to the patient when he complies with the monitoring protocol. The hub receives physiological data about the patient from a medical sensor then collates the sensed data with certain data input by the patient. The reading is transmitted to a server that uses a software application to automatically examine and interpret the data. Alerts are sent to the health care provider only when the reading is outside specified parameters. The health care provider may contact the patient about the outlying event via the network.

A patient apparatus is configured to receive and analyze information regarding patient compliance with anticoagulation medication and self-test coagulation regimens related to anticoagulation therapy. In addition, a patient apparatus is configured to receive data from a patient, including physiological data, pathophysiological data, biological data, psychological data, neuropsychological data, and / or behavioral data. Utilizing the received patient data, a patient apparatus can modify a warfarin regimen using an algorithm contained within the apparatus. The apparatus can communicate the modified warfarin regimen to the patient and to third parties, such as remotely located healthcare providers. In addition, the apparatus can prompt a patient when to perform a self-test and can prompt a patient to seek immediate medical attention, or to directly contact medical help, when so warranted.

A comfortable low-leak mask assembly for use with Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) is provided to improve patient compliance and / or treatment. The mask system may include headgear having straps that are substantially inextensible and / or micro-adjustable; and / or a mask and / or cushion that includes various structures to allow enhanced / tailored sealing and / or fit at selected locations on the patient's face.

The invention is a system and method for detecting the status of a rechargeable battery included within an implantable medical device. The medical device can incorporate a status indicator which signals the user concerning the battery status, e.g., low battery level. The signal may be audible or it may arise from an electrical stimulation that is perceptually distinguished from the operative, therapeutic stimulation. The external programmer may also incorporate a second battery status indicator that is visual, audible, or physically felt. Battery status data may be conveyed on visual displays on the external programmer by uploading this information from the medical device using a bidirectional telemetry link. Such battery status data are helpful to the user to indicate when the battery should be recharged and to the clinician to monitor patient compliance and to determine end-of-useful life of the rechargeable battery.

An electronic pill dispenser includes a container and a cap removably attached to the container. Components of the pill dispenser include a power source, pill dispenser circuitry, a real time clock, a counter, a display, a dispensing mechanism, a sensor, a visual indicator, an audible indicator, an input / output interface, an input output port, and a communication bus electrically interconnecting the components. The pill dispenser may also include a physical indicator, a locking mechanism, a transceiver, an antenna, and a modem. The pill dispenser enhances patient compliance for following through a particular drug regimen by offsetting negative effects of memory loss and other cognitive dysfunctions, attenuation of special senses, poor eyesight, lack of patient education, etc. The pill dispenser also helps the mentally unstable. The pill dispenser reminds users and dispenses pills to authorized individuals at appropriate times, and is economical and convenient.

The Electronic Compliance Promoter is a computer system for increasing a patient's compliance with medical post-care treatment instructions. The system permits the patient to review the treatment instructions that have been entered into a treatment instructions database by medical personnel at the time of the examination. The system includes a patient-client computer interface, a medical person-client interface, a treatment instructions database, and a compliance-server program. The database contains the post-visit care instructions and other types of information that the patient should have to understand and follow those instructions. The database also has treatment guideline information to assist the doctor in formulating the post-care treatment instructions. The patients client-computer interface provides a knowledge-based means for the patient to review interactively the Doctor's after care instructions, and measures compliance by tracking a patients' use of the specific designated diagnosis related resources. The medical personnel client-computer interface provides a knowledge-based means to designate the post-care medical visit instructions the patient is to follow. The compliance-server program tracks patients compliance and can send messages to patients reminding them to review the post-care treatment instructions. The Electronic Compliance Promoter system provides a means to significantly increase a patient's compliance with medical care instructions.

The risk monitor, as a computer-based method, program or system, monitors medical compliance by a plurality of patients having a corresponding plurality of medical compliance plans. The plans for each patient are displayed and the system accepts input from the patient indicative and / or heathcare providers of the patient's compliance with the plan. The system then assesses or analyzes the input and assigns a corresponding risk value based upon a range of risk values for various degrees of compliance. In addition, the patient's lifestyle inputs can be added to determine the risk value. The assessment continues for a plurality of patients thereby providing an indication of the risk value (a total risk value) for a patient, doctor, group of healthcare providers, a clinic or a hospital. By implementing various communication episodes (telephone calls, e-mails, letters), the system seeks to reduce the risk value for a particular patient and for the plurality of patients by altering the communication episodes and monitoring the resulting risk values both individually and as a group.

The present invention relates to prodrugs of a class of sulfonamides which are aspartyl protease inhibitors. In one embodiment, this invention relates to a novel class of prodrugs of HIV aspartyl protease inhibitors characterized by favorable aqueous solubility, high oral bioavailability and facile in vivo generation of the active ingredient. This invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these prodrugs. The prodrugs and pharmaceutical compositions of this invention are particularly well suited for decreasing the pill burden and increasing patient compliance. This invention also relates to methods of treating mammals with these prodrugs and pharmaceutical compositions.

The subject invention provides systems and methods for monitoring prescription medications. In particular, systems and methods are provided for monitoring patient compliance with a given prescribed regimen as well as monitoring the origins of a prescription drug. The subject invention provides a central computer and a portable device, wherein the portable device includes at least one sensor for detecting a target marker. The target marker of the invention represents either the presence of a specific prescribed medication or identify the proper origins of a medication.

This relates to methods and devices for treating reversible chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and more particularly, relates to a device for exchanging energy with airway tissue such as that found in the airway of human lungs. The exchange of energy with this airway tissue in the airways reduces the ability of the air ways to constrict and / or reduces the resistance within the airway to the flow of air through the airway. This also relates to a method for decreasing responsiveness or decreasing resistance to airflow of airways involves the transfer of energy to or from the airway walls to prevent or reduce airway constriction and other symptoms of lung diseases. The treatment reduces the ability of the airway Lo contract during an acute narrowing of the airways, reduces mucus plugging of the airways, and / or increases the airway diameter. The methods according to the present invention provide a longer duration and / or more effective treatment for lung diseases than currently used drug treatments, and obviate patient compliance issues. This also includes additional steps that reduce the ability of the lung to produce at least one of the symptoms of reversible obstructive pulmonary disease and to reduce the resistance to the flow of air through a lung.

A unit dose medication compliance monitoring and reporting apparatus and system that includes a dispenser shell formed with dose compartments. A retainer sheet affixed to the shell seals each compartment and partially bursts upon dispensing. A sensor network and monitoring and reporting circuitry records dispensing times and determines an average time interval, which can be reported with other data on an integral data display. The system can thereby monitor and report patient compliance with prescription regimens. Additional data can be recorded and displayed for augmented patient compliance assistance and analysis, which data can include customized informational messages, telephone and other patient support contact information, unit doses dispensed and remaining, reminder alarms, identification data, prescription regimens, among other data. In myriad variations and alternative preferred configurations, the devices and systems have demonstrated efficacy in minimalist to complex monitoring and reporting applications ranging from routine prescription monitoring to detailed clinical trial assessments.

A treatment Device is provided which enables a Doctor / Pharmacist to provide patient specific instructions in a textual format to a patient. The instructions are converted by a speech synthesizer provided in the Device into an audibly perceptible format. When configured as a hand-held unit, the Device may store a plurality of medications. Upon activation or automatically, instructions saved in the device are communicated to a patient / user via various audible, visual and / or tactile indicators. The instructions are provided to the device via a Platform which enables Doctors and Pharmacists input instructions into the Platform, which, via a Platform interface, are saved into a storage device provided in the Device. In an additional embodiment, a removable medication dispensing cartridge is provided which facilitates the controlled and automatic dispensing of a medication to a patient based upon a treatment schedule. Patient compliance information with a treatment schedule may be provided by the Device.