Medication dispensing and timing system
US5850344A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG16H20/13
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A medication dispensing and timing system includes a central monitoring computer which generates and sends an address-specific medication prompting message in accordance with a prescribed medication dispensing schedule over a two-way paging system to a communicator carried by a patient. The communicator includes receiver circuitry which responds to the prompt message to generate a display and audible alarm to alert the patient. Upon the patient acknowledging the message by actuating a switch on the communicator transmitter circuitry within the pager sends a reply message to the monitoring computer. In the event that a reply message is not received within a predetermined time period following the dispensing event, the computer initiates an alternative communication procedure which includes telephone calls to 1) the patient, 2) his doctor, 3) his care provider, or 4) an emergency contact. The communicator may be equipped to electrically communicate with medication dispensing apparatus whereby the apparatus dispenses medication in response to a received prompting message. The dispensing apparatus may include a modem for communicating with the central monitoring computer to confirm act…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.