Apparatus and method for improved drug regimen compliance
US10282971B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 10, 2018 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 10, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61J2205/70
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring drug-regimen compliance is disclosed. Systems in accordance with the present invention enable automatic monitoring of the state of medicine content of a blister card. Each tablet location on the blister card is operatively coupled with a different sensor that detects whether the tablet location is occupied and/or a dispensing event at a tablet location. In some embodiments, capacitive sensing is employed, where the capacitance of each sensor is based on the physical state of a dispensing region of the lidding film of the blister pack, which is located at the tablet location being monitored. Alternative sensing approaches are based on optical, acoustic, and tactile sensors that interrogate either the dispensing region at each tablet location or the tablets themselves to determine whether tablets have been dispensed. The sensors interface with a mobile app that provides the user instructions to help improve drug-regimen compliance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.