CA2083107A1 - Medication container holding device indicating usage time - Google Patents
Medication container holding device indicating usage timeInfo
- Publication number
- CA2083107A1 CA2083107A1 CA 2083107 CA2083107A CA2083107A1 CA 2083107 A1 CA2083107 A1 CA 2083107A1 CA 2083107 CA2083107 CA 2083107 CA 2083107 A CA2083107 A CA 2083107A CA 2083107 A1 CA2083107 A1 CA 2083107A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- container
- opening
- time
- medicine
- housing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0472—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers of the count-down type, i.e. counting down a predetermined interval after each reset
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
- G04B37/00—Cases
- G04B37/12—Cases for special purposes, e.g. watch combined with ring, watch combined with button
- G04B37/127—Cases for special purposes, e.g. watch combined with ring, watch combined with button used as containers or cartridges
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G04—HOROLOGY
- G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
- G04G15/00—Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals
- G04G15/006—Time-pieces comprising means to be operated at preselected times or after preselected time intervals for operating at a number of different times
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0427—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0481—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers working on a schedule basis
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A holding device for medication containers of essentially any size or shape provides the patient with the last time the medicine was taken and includes a housing with a cylindrical cup shape opening with a micro switch member extending through an access opening into the cavity from one side of the opening. Individual positioning devices in the form of vertical open cylindrical tubes are sized to fit particular containers with the cylinders positioned proximate the switch member with an opening to allow the switch member to extend into the cylindrical bore opening. A bushing and interlocking tab index the position of each cylindrical tube in the correct position each time the positioning device is inserted into the base section of the holding device. The sensor signal that a container is placed in the base is used to provide through a numerical display the time the last medication was taken, the elapsed time since that dose and the number of times the medication was accessed in one day. A settable alarm is provided to alert the patient as to the next time to take the medicine.
A holding device for medication containers of essentially any size or shape provides the patient with the last time the medicine was taken and includes a housing with a cylindrical cup shape opening with a micro switch member extending through an access opening into the cavity from one side of the opening. Individual positioning devices in the form of vertical open cylindrical tubes are sized to fit particular containers with the cylinders positioned proximate the switch member with an opening to allow the switch member to extend into the cylindrical bore opening. A bushing and interlocking tab index the position of each cylindrical tube in the correct position each time the positioning device is inserted into the base section of the holding device. The sensor signal that a container is placed in the base is used to provide through a numerical display the time the last medication was taken, the elapsed time since that dose and the number of times the medication was accessed in one day. A settable alarm is provided to alert the patient as to the next time to take the medicine.
Description
` 2 ~ 7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to control of medication use and in particular to a deYice and method to aid in patient compliance with a preQcribed do-qaqe of medication.
The problem of a patient adhering to a doQage scheme for medicine pre~cribed by a physician is acute. Medicine i~
alwayQ preQcribed with a particular dosage taken at certain intervalQ taken during the day and -~ometimes into the night. ~he doQage requirementQ are complicated by Yarying star~ing timeq during the day. While it iq da-~irable that the patient ~tay on a regular regimen, for example s~arting the medicine taking at a certain time, it iQ common for the patient to be a little early or a little late when starting thu~ changing the regimen from day to day. Further, it i~ known that per~ons are prone to forget not only whether the medi~ine haq been taken, but al~o when the la~t doqe wa~ taken. A4 a con~eguence, the patient ~requently takes medicine on a more frequent interval than pre~cribed or on a longer interval ~uch that the effectiveness of the medicine and the continuou~ level of medication carried through the body ~;
sy~tem 1Q interrupted. The failure to adhere t~ the pre~cribed do~age ~ay re-Qult in complication~ or at the minimum in~erfere and make le~s effective the medicine preqcribed. The problem of taking medicine at the proper times and in the proper do~age~ iQ
even more ~eriou~ with the aged and infirm. Needle~s to ~ay, a per~on who i9 aeriou~ly ill ha~ a more difficult time adhering to the pre~cription and keeping track of the time when the last do~e I wa~ taken and when the next doQe i9 due. In addltlon, there i~ a certain percentage of individual~, regardle-qQ of age or infirmity, that are not careful in ~eeping track of the time when the do~e of a medicine waq laqt taken. Further, ~ince taking the ~ 2 l 'I
2ag~ ~7 dose of medicine i~ extremely repetitive, it is difficult to remember whether the medicine was actually take~, even if it wa~
only a few hours ago. A further complication of failing to be ure that the la-~t do3e wa~ taken or when the next doae is due iQ
the mental strain and worry aasociated with the problem.
Particularly for aged per~on~, ~uch concern can weigh heavily on their confidence and emotional well being.
ThiQ problem is well known and there have been a number of attempts in the prior art to aid t~e patient in complying wlth drug therapy. Such a device i9 described in United State~ Patent No. 4,419,016 to BART J. ZOLTAN de~cribing a ti~e keeping device , incorporated into a typical container for medicinal products.
Specificaliy, the device i3 provided either a~ a separate element or a-~ part of the cap or cover of the medicine container. While lt ia suggeated that the ZOLTAN device naed not be integral or part of the medicine container and can be utilized as a reu~able item with fresh containers, all of the devices are directed to the closure mechani~m and regi~ter the time when the closure wa~
last cloaed. A time keeping device display~ the time and day of the week when the container wa~ last opened by the patient and continue~ to display that same time, even after clo~ing the container to serve a~ a reminder to the patient when the medicine was laat ta~en. The ZOLTAN time keeping device i~ alao provided with ~ettabla alarms to visually or audibly alert the patient as to when the next dose is to be taken. A problem with the ZOLTAN
device is the multiplicity of the size of pharmaceutical containera and the various de~igns and con~truction of such container~. It is therefore difficult to incorporate the ZOLTAN
device with a multiplicity of container closures thuQ limiting ¦¦th~ ~cope ~f use.
208311)~ ~
Other prior art device~ include diQpensing containerq in which each individual doQage unit is provided in a separate compartment with each compartment identified a to a particular time or numerical equence. Such con~ainer~ are de~cribed in United State~ Patent Nos. 4,038,937 4,158,411; and 4,295,567.
Other device~ have relied on calendar indicator-Q and timer~ which can be set and combined with individual compart~enta for the do~age unit of the medication to be taken. United States Patent No. 4,911,856 di-Qclose-Q ~uch a device. At the pre-~cribed time, the user rotate~ the cap to uncover the deQired compartment for acces~ to the medicationO A date ~elector and ticer which can be ~et for the period to provide an indica~ion as to the next ~ -~
time to use the medication is included.
United States Patent No. 4,03~,757 deQcribe~ a ;
container with a compliance monitor. Thi~ container include~ two compartment-~, one ~or the medication and the other ~or the recording circuitry. When the cap i~ re~oved and when the container i9 inverted, the circuitry is activatet with the data being stored in addre~sable memory. Th~ data iQ read by a clinician.
Another device i~ described in United State~ Patent No.
4,223,801 a~ an automatic periodic drug dispensing system. Thi~
~y~tem include3 a multi-compartment container which 19 color coded corre~ponding with dots on the face of a watch to indicate when the medication ~hould be taken. Another device de~cribed in the ~ame patent includes a timer integral with the container which slgnals when the medication ~hould be taken a~ well a~ a ~wltching device activated by the u~er to eliminate th~ ~ignal and open the compartment to acce~s the medication. Al~o included ¦ i9 a device which relie~ on a paging signal fro~ a UHF radio 2~3107 received by crystal~ in the device to regiQter the particular regimen pre~cribed for the patient.
All of theQe device~ have the diaadvantage of incorporating the medication control with the di-Qpen~er. Thu-q, the supplier of the controlling device muQt either supply the dispen-aer or de~ign the controlling device so that it fits a particular di4penaer or group of di-~pensers. None of the-4e deviceq aatiRfy the need to alert the patient to take medicine from virtually any size or shape container or attain the objects described hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It iQ an object o~ the preqent invention to provide a device that aid the patient in adhering to a drug taking regimen utilizing a ba3e into which any one of a multiplicity of common and ~tand~rd pharmaceutical container-q can be placed.
It iq a further object of the present invention to provide such a device that registers the la~t time that the pharmaceutical container wa~ removed from the base and utilizing that time to determine the next time when the ne~t dose of medicine is to be taken and alerting the patient aQ to that time with a suitable alarm.
It i-~ 2 particular object of the present invention to divorce the unction of indicating when the last dosage o medicine was taken from the operation of the medication container and specifically from the cloRure of that container.
It i8 a ~pecific objsct of the present invention to provide a device that aida in the control of medication regimen functioning wlth a wide variety of different size~ and shapeq of standard pharmaceutical vials and bottles.
It is a ~pecific object of the prejent invention to avoid the neceQslty of a child re~istent fea~ure being incorporated into and ~ith the device alerting the patient that medication i~ due.
It is an object of the pre~ent inventio~ to provide a device that aida in drug taking regimen that i-~ Quitable for use in the home or in an in~titutional care-giver environ~ent.
It i~ a further object of the pre~ent invontion to provide a device which may be used together with and in concert with additional identical devices to make a neat and simple array of all the ~edicatlon3 and the time control of the medicine 2 ~
regimen for a plurality o different medicines with different time schedule~.
An aspect of the invention iQ a holding device for medicine containers providing information as to when the medicine was taken to aid a patient to take medicine in a timely manner.
The device include~ a housing that include~ a ba~e section having an opening of a sufficient shape and size to receive a medicine container in the base ~ection and be Gupported therein. The device further includes time keeping mean~ in the hou~ing to keep correct time and display means on the hou~ing to display the time when the la~t do~age was taken. The device al-Qo include-~ ~ensor , means in the houQing to ~ense when a container i-~ placed in ~he opening of the housing and to provide a signal of the condition that a container has been placed in the houqing. The device further includes circuit means to tran~mit the signal to signal proces~ing means electrically connected with the time keeping means to receive the signal from the sensor means, to register the time when the medicine container wa-~ last placed in the base section, and to activate the display means to di~play aid time.
It i~ preferred that the sensor means sen~e the container ~t a location in the opening and the device urther include a positioning means to poJition the container inserted in the opening such that a portion of the container must be in ~aid location regardles~ of the size or 3hape of the container. It i8 further preferred that the ~ensor means include a -~witch member extending into the opening to ~aid location. It i8 al~o preferred that the positioning mean~ include a guide member, preferably a plurality of guide memberq, defining an inside bore with an inside size to receive a specific sized and shaped container, access means through the guide member to allow acce~
~ 20831~7 of the qensing mean~ to -~aid location when the guide member is in~erted in the opening of the base section, and alignment means to align the guida member inserted into the opening to allow the ~ensing means to reach said location through access means. It is further preferred that the guide member include a cylindrical tube having an in~ide bore size to receive a specific sized container. It is alQo preferred that the positloning mean~
include a plurality of cylihdrical tubes each having an inside size to receive a different specific ~iæed or ~haped container and an aperture into the inside of the tube to receive the ~witch member, and alignment means to hold any of the tubes in~erted into the opening to align the aperture to allow the ~itch me~ber to reach ~aid location. It i~ further preferred that the signal processing mean~ further include means to determine the time interval since the medicine container was la3t placed in the housing and to cau~e the display mean to di~play same. It is further preferred that the signal proce~sing meanQ further include means to determine the number of times the medicine container was placed in the housing within a chosen period of time and to cau~e the display means to display same. It i~
further preferred that the time keeping mean~ further include alarm mean~ to allow the setting of the time when the medicine ~hould next be taken and indicating to the patient when that time i~ reached. It is al o preferred that ~ensor mean~ in ~he ba~e ~ection ~enae at a location in the opening when a container is placed in the opening of the ba e section and that the device further include positioning mean~ to po~ition the container inserted in the opening such that a portion of the container must be in ~aid location regardle~s o~ the ~ize or Qhape of the ll containsr. 1 s ~rther preerred that tho al1gnment =eans .~
` 2 ~ 7 include an integral bushing member from which the guide member depend~ and through which a bore opening iq aligned with the inside bore of ~he buide member.
Another aspect of the invention i4 a method to aid a patient to take the medicine in a timely manner providing information as to when the medicine was taken. The method include~ providing the device as above, inserting a medicine container into the opening in the housing after taking the medicine, and reading the time on the display means as being when the medicine wa~ la~t taken. It is preferred ~ha~ the method further include providing the po~itioning mean~ as above, in~erting the positioning mean into the opening of the hou~ing prior to in~erting the container, and inserting a medicine container into the inside bore in the guide memb~r after taking the medicine. It i-~ more preferred that the method further include providing a plurality of guide members each defining an insid* bore with a different inside size or ~hape to receive a different ~pecific sized or ~haped container, and choo~ing a guide member having an inside bore corresponding to the medicine container to be used.
~1 1 ,, 9 l ` 2 ~ 7 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 i~ a perspective view of a device of the pre~ent invention with a pharmaceutical container inserted therein.
Fig. 2 is a partially exploded per~pective view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 also showing a second bu~hlng configuration to receive a smaller pharmaceutical container indicating how each is inserted into the device.
Fig. 3 i3 a right side elevational view thereof partially cut away to show the bushing inserted for the larger siza container.
Fig. 4 is a view identical to that of Fig. 3 with the pharmaceutical container inserted into the housing of the device.
Fig. 5 i a right side elevational view of th~ device illu~trated in Fig. 1 partially cut away to 3how the insertion of a bushing si~ed to received a smaller sized pharmaceutical container with the container inserted therein.
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating top views o~ the device illu~trated in Fig. 1 showing various sized bushing-~ to receive variou~ sized pharmaceutical containers.
Fig. 7 is an exploded perspectlve vlew of the housing of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, partially cut away to show the signal processing and time keeping devices installed in the housing.
Fig. a is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 9 is a ~chematic block diagram of the electronic ¦¦c1rcuitry th oi. ¦
'~:
-:
` ~ :
~ 2~831~7 l DESCRIPTION OF PREFE_ED EMBODIMENTS
¦ Device 10 for holding medicine containers that provideq ¦ information as to when the medicine was taken to ald the patient ¦ to take the medicine in a timely manner i-~ illuQtrated in Fig. 1.
¦ Container 12 is a typical medicine container with a cylindrical ¦ body 14 which fits through the bore opening 16 of bu-qhing 22 ¦ which interfits into a opening into base section 20 of housing ¦ 18. Cover 24 is hingeably attached swinging frontwardly and ¦ downwardly to expose the controls of the timing mechanism ¦ enclosed in hou~ing 18. A numeric display ~hows through ¦ transparent glazing 28 spanning window frame 30 ~f cover 24.
I With the device in this condition, the time when container 12 wa~
¦ la~t placed in base section 20 can be viewed. Additional ¦ information is accessible from the electronic device in ~he ¦ housing.
¦ In Fig. 2 the container and positioning devices 32 and ¦ 32' have been exploded from base section 20 of housing 18.
Positioning device 32 is an integral molding of thermopla~tic ¦ polymer with cylindrical tube 34 depending downwardly from bushing 22 which extend horizontally outwardly from the top of tube 34 to engage and rest on shoulder 36 extending inwardly froM
the periphery of the walls of base section 20 surrounding opening 38 which opens vertically downwardly into hou~ing 18 terminating at floor panel 40. Positioning device 32 haQ inside vertical bore opening 16 which iQ bounded by inside surface 42 of tube 34.
The dimensions of the inside surface 42 are chosen to receive a particular sized pharmaceutical container 14 and provide a close or even a snug fit. Positioning device 32 and in fact each of additional positioning devices for other specific sized containers a aligned by 1nsertiny vertic.l tab members 44, one 11 l 0~31Q7 of which is shown in this view with another ldentical tab member extending outwardly from the upper edge of tube 34 in the opposite direction. They are located one hundred elghty degrees from each other. Alignment tabs 34 engage in slotQ 46 cut through shoulder 36 on oppocite sides of oper,ing 38 so that when device 32 is inserted into opening 38, the po~ition of bore opening 16 is positioned such that one side is proximate the side of opening 38 nearest the alectronic and mechanical mechanisms in housing 18 located in the frontward section. Access aperture 48 opens through the side wall of cylindrical tube 34 proximate bottom 50 of device 32 and when positioned with tabs 44 in~erted in slots 46, it iq positioned to provide acces3 for a sen~ing device extending through the aperture into bore opening 16 to a chosen location. Also illustrated in Fig. 2 is a second positioning device de~ignated 32'. This device is constructed to receive and position smaller pharmaceutical container 52 which includeQ cylindrical body 54 which is ~ub tantially smaller in diameter than that of body 14. Device 32' i~ again an integrally molded part with cylindrical tube 56 depending downwardly from flange 58 which is identical in its outside diameter to that of flange 22 such ~hat it fits into circular opening 37 and restq on shoulder 36 with alignment tabs 44' engaging slots 46 to align device 32' in the correct radial position. In this embodiment, bore opening 60, it being the inside of cylindrical tube 56 is sized to ~nugly receive body 34 of container 52. Opening 60 and depanding tube 56 are off set from the center of buqhing 58 and thus off set from the center of opening 38 so that the edge of bora opening 60 is proximate the edge of bushing 60 closeqt to the front of device 10. This posi~ oning placeQ the nearest side of cylinder 56 and acce~ aperture 48 in exactly the same -~ 20831~7 position wi~h re~pect to base 20 a4 is obtalned with device 32 and aperture 48. The fit of the containar into device 32 i important to the extent that the 4lze and ~hape of bore opening 16 for device 32 or bore 60 or device 32' must be sufficient to S force the position of container to occupy the spaCe sf the cho~en location of the sensing means. Thus the fit need not be snug or even clo~e <~o long as the primary conditiorl is met.
A~ shown in Figs. 3 and 4, device 10 i~ equipped with .:
positioning device 32 sized to receive body 14 of container 12 into bore opening 16 to reqt on bottom 50 as a snug fit on the inside of cylindrical tube 34. Bu-~hing 22 rests on shoulder 36 and is aligned so that access aperture 48 is in a position opening to and facing the front portion of housing 18 that houses the mechanical and electrical components of device 10. Access aparture 48 opens through side wall 62 ~hich is proximate to and abuts interior vertical wall 64 of housing 18. Micro ~witch 66 is po~itioned on the frontward side of interior wall 64 with switCh member 68 extending through opening 70 which i adjacent to and aligned with access aperture 48. As illu~trated in Fig.
This invention relates to control of medication use and in particular to a deYice and method to aid in patient compliance with a preQcribed do-qaqe of medication.
The problem of a patient adhering to a doQage scheme for medicine pre~cribed by a physician is acute. Medicine i~
alwayQ preQcribed with a particular dosage taken at certain intervalQ taken during the day and -~ometimes into the night. ~he doQage requirementQ are complicated by Yarying star~ing timeq during the day. While it iq da-~irable that the patient ~tay on a regular regimen, for example s~arting the medicine taking at a certain time, it iQ common for the patient to be a little early or a little late when starting thu~ changing the regimen from day to day. Further, it i~ known that per~ons are prone to forget not only whether the medi~ine haq been taken, but al~o when the la~t doqe wa~ taken. A4 a con~eguence, the patient ~requently takes medicine on a more frequent interval than pre~cribed or on a longer interval ~uch that the effectiveness of the medicine and the continuou~ level of medication carried through the body ~;
sy~tem 1Q interrupted. The failure to adhere t~ the pre~cribed do~age ~ay re-Qult in complication~ or at the minimum in~erfere and make le~s effective the medicine preqcribed. The problem of taking medicine at the proper times and in the proper do~age~ iQ
even more ~eriou~ with the aged and infirm. Needle~s to ~ay, a per~on who i9 aeriou~ly ill ha~ a more difficult time adhering to the pre~cription and keeping track of the time when the last do~e I wa~ taken and when the next doQe i9 due. In addltlon, there i~ a certain percentage of individual~, regardle-qQ of age or infirmity, that are not careful in ~eeping track of the time when the do~e of a medicine waq laqt taken. Further, ~ince taking the ~ 2 l 'I
2ag~ ~7 dose of medicine i~ extremely repetitive, it is difficult to remember whether the medicine was actually take~, even if it wa~
only a few hours ago. A further complication of failing to be ure that the la-~t do3e wa~ taken or when the next doae is due iQ
the mental strain and worry aasociated with the problem.
Particularly for aged per~on~, ~uch concern can weigh heavily on their confidence and emotional well being.
ThiQ problem is well known and there have been a number of attempts in the prior art to aid t~e patient in complying wlth drug therapy. Such a device i9 described in United State~ Patent No. 4,419,016 to BART J. ZOLTAN de~cribing a ti~e keeping device , incorporated into a typical container for medicinal products.
Specificaliy, the device i3 provided either a~ a separate element or a-~ part of the cap or cover of the medicine container. While lt ia suggeated that the ZOLTAN device naed not be integral or part of the medicine container and can be utilized as a reu~able item with fresh containers, all of the devices are directed to the closure mechani~m and regi~ter the time when the closure wa~
last cloaed. A time keeping device display~ the time and day of the week when the container wa~ last opened by the patient and continue~ to display that same time, even after clo~ing the container to serve a~ a reminder to the patient when the medicine was laat ta~en. The ZOLTAN time keeping device i~ alao provided with ~ettabla alarms to visually or audibly alert the patient as to when the next dose is to be taken. A problem with the ZOLTAN
device is the multiplicity of the size of pharmaceutical containera and the various de~igns and con~truction of such container~. It is therefore difficult to incorporate the ZOLTAN
device with a multiplicity of container closures thuQ limiting ¦¦th~ ~cope ~f use.
208311)~ ~
Other prior art device~ include diQpensing containerq in which each individual doQage unit is provided in a separate compartment with each compartment identified a to a particular time or numerical equence. Such con~ainer~ are de~cribed in United State~ Patent Nos. 4,038,937 4,158,411; and 4,295,567.
Other device~ have relied on calendar indicator-Q and timer~ which can be set and combined with individual compart~enta for the do~age unit of the medication to be taken. United States Patent No. 4,911,856 di-Qclose-Q ~uch a device. At the pre-~cribed time, the user rotate~ the cap to uncover the deQired compartment for acces~ to the medicationO A date ~elector and ticer which can be ~et for the period to provide an indica~ion as to the next ~ -~
time to use the medication is included.
United States Patent No. 4,03~,757 deQcribe~ a ;
container with a compliance monitor. Thi~ container include~ two compartment-~, one ~or the medication and the other ~or the recording circuitry. When the cap i~ re~oved and when the container i9 inverted, the circuitry is activatet with the data being stored in addre~sable memory. Th~ data iQ read by a clinician.
Another device i~ described in United State~ Patent No.
4,223,801 a~ an automatic periodic drug dispensing system. Thi~
~y~tem include3 a multi-compartment container which 19 color coded corre~ponding with dots on the face of a watch to indicate when the medication ~hould be taken. Another device de~cribed in the ~ame patent includes a timer integral with the container which slgnals when the medication ~hould be taken a~ well a~ a ~wltching device activated by the u~er to eliminate th~ ~ignal and open the compartment to acce~s the medication. Al~o included ¦ i9 a device which relie~ on a paging signal fro~ a UHF radio 2~3107 received by crystal~ in the device to regiQter the particular regimen pre~cribed for the patient.
All of theQe device~ have the diaadvantage of incorporating the medication control with the di-Qpen~er. Thu-q, the supplier of the controlling device muQt either supply the dispen-aer or de~ign the controlling device so that it fits a particular di4penaer or group of di-~pensers. None of the-4e deviceq aatiRfy the need to alert the patient to take medicine from virtually any size or shape container or attain the objects described hereinbelow.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It iQ an object o~ the preqent invention to provide a device that aid the patient in adhering to a drug taking regimen utilizing a ba3e into which any one of a multiplicity of common and ~tand~rd pharmaceutical container-q can be placed.
It iq a further object of the present invention to provide such a device that registers the la~t time that the pharmaceutical container wa~ removed from the base and utilizing that time to determine the next time when the ne~t dose of medicine is to be taken and alerting the patient aQ to that time with a suitable alarm.
It i-~ 2 particular object of the present invention to divorce the unction of indicating when the last dosage o medicine was taken from the operation of the medication container and specifically from the cloRure of that container.
It i8 a ~pecific objsct of the present invention to provide a device that aida in the control of medication regimen functioning wlth a wide variety of different size~ and shapeq of standard pharmaceutical vials and bottles.
It is a ~pecific object of the prejent invention to avoid the neceQslty of a child re~istent fea~ure being incorporated into and ~ith the device alerting the patient that medication i~ due.
It is an object of the pre~ent inventio~ to provide a device that aida in drug taking regimen that i-~ Quitable for use in the home or in an in~titutional care-giver environ~ent.
It i~ a further object of the pre~ent invontion to provide a device which may be used together with and in concert with additional identical devices to make a neat and simple array of all the ~edicatlon3 and the time control of the medicine 2 ~
regimen for a plurality o different medicines with different time schedule~.
An aspect of the invention iQ a holding device for medicine containers providing information as to when the medicine was taken to aid a patient to take medicine in a timely manner.
The device include~ a housing that include~ a ba~e section having an opening of a sufficient shape and size to receive a medicine container in the base ~ection and be Gupported therein. The device further includes time keeping mean~ in the hou~ing to keep correct time and display means on the hou~ing to display the time when the la~t do~age was taken. The device al-Qo include-~ ~ensor , means in the houQing to ~ense when a container i-~ placed in ~he opening of the housing and to provide a signal of the condition that a container has been placed in the houqing. The device further includes circuit means to tran~mit the signal to signal proces~ing means electrically connected with the time keeping means to receive the signal from the sensor means, to register the time when the medicine container wa-~ last placed in the base section, and to activate the display means to di~play aid time.
It i~ preferred that the sensor means sen~e the container ~t a location in the opening and the device urther include a positioning means to poJition the container inserted in the opening such that a portion of the container must be in ~aid location regardles~ of the size or 3hape of the container. It i8 further preferred that the ~ensor means include a -~witch member extending into the opening to ~aid location. It i8 al~o preferred that the positioning mean~ include a guide member, preferably a plurality of guide memberq, defining an inside bore with an inside size to receive a specific sized and shaped container, access means through the guide member to allow acce~
~ 20831~7 of the qensing mean~ to -~aid location when the guide member is in~erted in the opening of the base section, and alignment means to align the guida member inserted into the opening to allow the ~ensing means to reach said location through access means. It is further preferred that the guide member include a cylindrical tube having an in~ide bore size to receive a specific sized container. It is alQo preferred that the positloning mean~
include a plurality of cylihdrical tubes each having an inside size to receive a different specific ~iæed or ~haped container and an aperture into the inside of the tube to receive the ~witch member, and alignment means to hold any of the tubes in~erted into the opening to align the aperture to allow the ~itch me~ber to reach ~aid location. It i~ further preferred that the signal processing mean~ further include means to determine the time interval since the medicine container was la3t placed in the housing and to cau~e the display mean to di~play same. It is further preferred that the signal proce~sing meanQ further include means to determine the number of times the medicine container was placed in the housing within a chosen period of time and to cau~e the display means to display same. It i~
further preferred that the time keeping mean~ further include alarm mean~ to allow the setting of the time when the medicine ~hould next be taken and indicating to the patient when that time i~ reached. It is al o preferred that ~ensor mean~ in ~he ba~e ~ection ~enae at a location in the opening when a container is placed in the opening of the ba e section and that the device further include positioning mean~ to po~ition the container inserted in the opening such that a portion of the container must be in ~aid location regardle~s o~ the ~ize or Qhape of the ll containsr. 1 s ~rther preerred that tho al1gnment =eans .~
` 2 ~ 7 include an integral bushing member from which the guide member depend~ and through which a bore opening iq aligned with the inside bore of ~he buide member.
Another aspect of the invention i4 a method to aid a patient to take the medicine in a timely manner providing information as to when the medicine was taken. The method include~ providing the device as above, inserting a medicine container into the opening in the housing after taking the medicine, and reading the time on the display means as being when the medicine wa~ la~t taken. It is preferred ~ha~ the method further include providing the po~itioning mean~ as above, in~erting the positioning mean into the opening of the hou~ing prior to in~erting the container, and inserting a medicine container into the inside bore in the guide memb~r after taking the medicine. It i-~ more preferred that the method further include providing a plurality of guide members each defining an insid* bore with a different inside size or ~hape to receive a different ~pecific sized or ~haped container, and choo~ing a guide member having an inside bore corresponding to the medicine container to be used.
~1 1 ,, 9 l ` 2 ~ 7 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 i~ a perspective view of a device of the pre~ent invention with a pharmaceutical container inserted therein.
Fig. 2 is a partially exploded per~pective view of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 also showing a second bu~hlng configuration to receive a smaller pharmaceutical container indicating how each is inserted into the device.
Fig. 3 i3 a right side elevational view thereof partially cut away to show the bushing inserted for the larger siza container.
Fig. 4 is a view identical to that of Fig. 3 with the pharmaceutical container inserted into the housing of the device.
Fig. 5 i a right side elevational view of th~ device illu~trated in Fig. 1 partially cut away to 3how the insertion of a bushing si~ed to received a smaller sized pharmaceutical container with the container inserted therein.
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating top views o~ the device illu~trated in Fig. 1 showing various sized bushing-~ to receive variou~ sized pharmaceutical containers.
Fig. 7 is an exploded perspectlve vlew of the housing of the device illustrated in Fig. 1, partially cut away to show the signal processing and time keeping devices installed in the housing.
Fig. a is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 9 is a ~chematic block diagram of the electronic ¦¦c1rcuitry th oi. ¦
'~:
-:
` ~ :
~ 2~831~7 l DESCRIPTION OF PREFE_ED EMBODIMENTS
¦ Device 10 for holding medicine containers that provideq ¦ information as to when the medicine was taken to ald the patient ¦ to take the medicine in a timely manner i-~ illuQtrated in Fig. 1.
¦ Container 12 is a typical medicine container with a cylindrical ¦ body 14 which fits through the bore opening 16 of bu-qhing 22 ¦ which interfits into a opening into base section 20 of housing ¦ 18. Cover 24 is hingeably attached swinging frontwardly and ¦ downwardly to expose the controls of the timing mechanism ¦ enclosed in hou~ing 18. A numeric display ~hows through ¦ transparent glazing 28 spanning window frame 30 ~f cover 24.
I With the device in this condition, the time when container 12 wa~
¦ la~t placed in base section 20 can be viewed. Additional ¦ information is accessible from the electronic device in ~he ¦ housing.
¦ In Fig. 2 the container and positioning devices 32 and ¦ 32' have been exploded from base section 20 of housing 18.
Positioning device 32 is an integral molding of thermopla~tic ¦ polymer with cylindrical tube 34 depending downwardly from bushing 22 which extend horizontally outwardly from the top of tube 34 to engage and rest on shoulder 36 extending inwardly froM
the periphery of the walls of base section 20 surrounding opening 38 which opens vertically downwardly into hou~ing 18 terminating at floor panel 40. Positioning device 32 haQ inside vertical bore opening 16 which iQ bounded by inside surface 42 of tube 34.
The dimensions of the inside surface 42 are chosen to receive a particular sized pharmaceutical container 14 and provide a close or even a snug fit. Positioning device 32 and in fact each of additional positioning devices for other specific sized containers a aligned by 1nsertiny vertic.l tab members 44, one 11 l 0~31Q7 of which is shown in this view with another ldentical tab member extending outwardly from the upper edge of tube 34 in the opposite direction. They are located one hundred elghty degrees from each other. Alignment tabs 34 engage in slotQ 46 cut through shoulder 36 on oppocite sides of oper,ing 38 so that when device 32 is inserted into opening 38, the po~ition of bore opening 16 is positioned such that one side is proximate the side of opening 38 nearest the alectronic and mechanical mechanisms in housing 18 located in the frontward section. Access aperture 48 opens through the side wall of cylindrical tube 34 proximate bottom 50 of device 32 and when positioned with tabs 44 in~erted in slots 46, it iq positioned to provide acces3 for a sen~ing device extending through the aperture into bore opening 16 to a chosen location. Also illustrated in Fig. 2 is a second positioning device de~ignated 32'. This device is constructed to receive and position smaller pharmaceutical container 52 which includeQ cylindrical body 54 which is ~ub tantially smaller in diameter than that of body 14. Device 32' i~ again an integrally molded part with cylindrical tube 56 depending downwardly from flange 58 which is identical in its outside diameter to that of flange 22 such ~hat it fits into circular opening 37 and restq on shoulder 36 with alignment tabs 44' engaging slots 46 to align device 32' in the correct radial position. In this embodiment, bore opening 60, it being the inside of cylindrical tube 56 is sized to ~nugly receive body 34 of container 52. Opening 60 and depanding tube 56 are off set from the center of buqhing 58 and thus off set from the center of opening 38 so that the edge of bora opening 60 is proximate the edge of bushing 60 closeqt to the front of device 10. This posi~ oning placeQ the nearest side of cylinder 56 and acce~ aperture 48 in exactly the same -~ 20831~7 position wi~h re~pect to base 20 a4 is obtalned with device 32 and aperture 48. The fit of the containar into device 32 i important to the extent that the 4lze and ~hape of bore opening 16 for device 32 or bore 60 or device 32' must be sufficient to S force the position of container to occupy the spaCe sf the cho~en location of the sensing means. Thus the fit need not be snug or even clo~e <~o long as the primary conditiorl is met.
A~ shown in Figs. 3 and 4, device 10 i~ equipped with .:
positioning device 32 sized to receive body 14 of container 12 into bore opening 16 to reqt on bottom 50 as a snug fit on the inside of cylindrical tube 34. Bu-~hing 22 rests on shoulder 36 and is aligned so that access aperture 48 is in a position opening to and facing the front portion of housing 18 that houses the mechanical and electrical components of device 10. Access aparture 48 opens through side wall 62 ~hich is proximate to and abuts interior vertical wall 64 of housing 18. Micro ~witch 66 is po~itioned on the frontward side of interior wall 64 with switCh member 68 extending through opening 70 which i adjacent to and aligned with access aperture 48. As illu~trated in Fig.
3, when container 12 is not in base section 20, spring ~witCh member 62 extend~ through openings 70 and 68 into bore opening 16 and past the interior surface of side wall section 62 of , cylindrical wall 34 to the chosen location. As shown in Fig. 4, when container 12 iS inserted into opening 16 a section of body 14 must of necessity fill the chosen location previously occupied by switCh member 68 forcing it back through bore opening 16 cau~ing it to bend and make elactrical connection with contact 72 closing the circuit and signalling the pre~ence of container 12 ; in ba~e ~ection 20. Al~o shown in this view is base floor panel : 30 40 attached and overing the bo~ ~ o housing x ` 2~831~7 18. In Fig. S, positioning device 32' is inserted into opening 16 with bushing 58 resting on shoulder 36 and with the engagement of alignment tabs 44', cylindrical tube 56 is positioned to the front side such that wall section 7~ of that tube is positioned frontwardly and ad~acent to interior wall 64 through ~hich opening 70 allows switch member 68 to extend into opening 16 and when container 52 is not present into bore opening 60~ As illu~trated in Fiy. S, with container 52 in base section 20 with body 54 snugly fitted into cylindrical tube 56 the location of cwitch member 68 has been displaced pushing it forwardly to close , electrical contact and indicate that container 52 haJ been placed in base section 20.
The diagrams of Figs. 6 illustrate how the positioning devices vary in qize and shape to receive and compen4ate for the varying 4izes of containers. Although not 4hown, it ~hould be clea~ that varying shapes can also be accommodated. There is no reason why a shape other than circul~r cannot be provided for in the bore opening of the positioning device. For example, although not illustrated, the oblong shape of a pharmaceutical bottle containing a liquid medicine may utilize an oblong 3haped ~-bore in the positioning device wi~h one edge of the shape being positioned proximate the front edge of opening 38 so that the bottle cannot be inserted into base section 20 without engaglng switch member 68 and registering the presence of the bottle in the device. Likewise, a square pharmaceutical container can be accommodated by a square bore opening again with one side of the bore opening being po3itioned to engage the location of the extended ~ensor device. As shown in Fig. 6, ver~ion~ 6a and 6c are the top view~ of the device ac illustrated in Fig~. 2 through ~S. Eng~gement lne 76 is =ho.n o illustrate the oho~eo looation¦
20~3~ t to which ~witch member 68 extends lr~to openlng 1~ and, ~s a res~lt of positioning of the bore opening, into that bore opening. Thus, in Fig. 6a, switch member 68 ~f microswitch 66 extend-~ to location 76 which is within bore opening 16 of positioning device 32. In thi-~ embodiment, bore opening 16 is almost as large as opening 16 and is essentially the maximum size opening illu trated. Likewise, in Fig. 6c, the diagram illustrates positioning device 32' with circulAr bore opaning 60 being about sixty-five percent of the diameter of bore opening 16. The bore opening is positioned to the front side of opening , 16 so that the relative position of location 76 with respect to bore opening 60 i~ identical to that of 6a. The positioning o~
bore opening 60 off center of bushing 58 pooitior.s the bore opening in th~ proper position. Likewise, in the diagram 6b, positioning device 32'' through the off center positioning o circular bore opening 84 on bushing 82 allow~ switch member 68 to engage any container snugly fitting into opening 8~ which is about eighty-five percent of the diameter of container 16. In diagram~ 6d, e, and f, po~litioning devices 32''', 32'''', and 32''''', re~pectively provide for increasingly smaller containers. Bushing4 86, 78, and 90 provide support and poqitioning of bore openings 88, 80 a~d 92, respectively, in each ca~e positioning the bore openings so that a container ized to fit that bore opening, must of necessity trip switch member 68 of microswitch 66 at location 76.
In Fig. 7, the parts of the housing are illu~trated.
These parts as well as all the positioning devices are injection molded a suitable thermoplastic polymer ~uch a-~ polystyrene or an englneering plastic such as a nylon. Housing 18 includes a ba~e jhoLming Or wh h b :se seotion 20 im a major portion. Interlor i ~3 ~ ` 2~8~'7 ¦vertical wall 64 i~ ~hown through which opc-n~ny 70 allows switch member 68 to operate. Front floor ~ection 94 o~ this ba~e part ¦extends forwardly to 4upport the electronic module described l hereinbelow which includes a time keeping davice, a display S ¦ device, and a Qignal processing device with a circuit to tran mit the signal that micro~witch 66 haQ been clo~ed to the balance of the electronic device. Electronic components re~t on and are attached to housing support frame 96 on floor ~ection 94 which i~
¦bounded by vertical frame 9~. Lower hinge holders 100 extend ¦outwardly and forwardly from floor Qection 94. Interior hou~ing ¦section 102 houseQ the electronic components engaging Qnap hook , ¦members 102 extending from the upper edge and rearwardly through ¦-~lot opening~ 104 to snap fi~ housing 101 in3ide frame 98 to hold ¦lt in place. With inner housing lOl snapped in po~ition, upper lS ¦hinge connection cover-~ 26 mate with lower hinge connection cover ¦section~ 100 gripping hinge pins 106 of cover 24 allowing the ¦cover ~o rotate on the pin~ forwa~dly and downwardly to expo~e ¦the control functions extending through the ront panel of inner ¦housing 101. Cover 24 i~ held in place by a raised knob 107 on the rear inslde ~urface of a side wall of the cover engaging detent depre3sion 109 on the outside rear of hou~ing 101. The control ~unction button~ in addition to di~play panel 108 extend through the ~ront panel of inner housing 101. DiQplay panel 108 displayQ all of the information available including the time the la~t medication dose was taken, the la-~t time ~ince that la~t do~e and the number o~ times the medication was acces~ed and pre~umably taken in one day. The controls include backward or down set button 110, forward or up ~et button 112, reset button 114 and mode button 116. A-Q ~hown in ~ig. 8, time piece and ~ignal procesQing device 118 rest~ on and iQ attached to floor 16 l 2~3~
~ection 94. Ba-qe 40 iq adheQively attached to qet away members 120. Fig. 9 illuQtrates the circuitry of device 1~8 in Qchematic block diagram orm. The individual electronic components are well known to those ~killed in the art and are of the type available in commercial electronic time keeping devices such a~
digital clocks and watches. Circuit 122 includes cryQtal controlled o4cillator 124, a divide down circuit ~26 and clock circuitry 128 to convert the divided down pulse3 to time of day, day of week, and a.m. or p.m. Also included i4 an appropriate mean3 130 to set the current time in clock 128. Circuit 122 al4O
includes alarm 132, such as a buzzer or bell and alarm set controls 134, 136, and 138. Comparator circuit 140 compare-q the signal from clock 128 with the set points of 134, 136, and 138 and, if the two are identical, activates alarm 132. Micro switch 66 iQ the ~vial inn ~en-Qor and iQ activated when the vial i~ inserted in the bore opening and a continuous circuit exiQtq between switch member 68 and contact 72. ~Vial in" sen-Qor 66 qends a signal when the vial is in place to a di~play disable advance 142 which processes the signal to keep the di4play module 108 from changing its indication of time. Thus, when the container i~ in the base section of device 10, clock 128 of the time keeping device continue~ to keep time but display 10~ iQ
held at the last time that the container waQ out of the base section and the circuit between the contacts broken to correspond to the in~tant before the container was inserted into ba~e ~ection 20. $hi~ time is displayed on display 108 which, when consulted by the patient, identifies the time when the medication container wa~ laQt removed to take a do~age o~ medicine.
Alternatively, the display may indicate elapsed time ~ince the 1~ j conta1nbr wa~ 1 t out thUD ind~ ting the time ~incb thb ~a~t :.~
,;,. .
;
- 2~31~7 do~age. The circuitry also includes counter 144 and means for di~playing the count in di~play module 108. Module 146 look~ to Qee if the time is ll:S9 p.m. and if yes, counter 144 i~ reset to zero. Elapsed time module 148 maintainQ the time elap~ed since the la~t removal of the medication vial and is reQet to zero each time the medication container i~ removed from the base.
While this invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments discloaed herein, it is not confined to the detail ~et forth and the patent i~ intended to include modification~ and change~ which may come within and extend ~rom , the following claim~.
The diagrams of Figs. 6 illustrate how the positioning devices vary in qize and shape to receive and compen4ate for the varying 4izes of containers. Although not 4hown, it ~hould be clea~ that varying shapes can also be accommodated. There is no reason why a shape other than circul~r cannot be provided for in the bore opening of the positioning device. For example, although not illustrated, the oblong shape of a pharmaceutical bottle containing a liquid medicine may utilize an oblong 3haped ~-bore in the positioning device wi~h one edge of the shape being positioned proximate the front edge of opening 38 so that the bottle cannot be inserted into base section 20 without engaglng switch member 68 and registering the presence of the bottle in the device. Likewise, a square pharmaceutical container can be accommodated by a square bore opening again with one side of the bore opening being po3itioned to engage the location of the extended ~ensor device. As shown in Fig. 6, ver~ion~ 6a and 6c are the top view~ of the device ac illustrated in Fig~. 2 through ~S. Eng~gement lne 76 is =ho.n o illustrate the oho~eo looation¦
20~3~ t to which ~witch member 68 extends lr~to openlng 1~ and, ~s a res~lt of positioning of the bore opening, into that bore opening. Thus, in Fig. 6a, switch member 68 ~f microswitch 66 extend-~ to location 76 which is within bore opening 16 of positioning device 32. In thi-~ embodiment, bore opening 16 is almost as large as opening 16 and is essentially the maximum size opening illu trated. Likewise, in Fig. 6c, the diagram illustrates positioning device 32' with circulAr bore opaning 60 being about sixty-five percent of the diameter of bore opening 16. The bore opening is positioned to the front side of opening , 16 so that the relative position of location 76 with respect to bore opening 60 i~ identical to that of 6a. The positioning o~
bore opening 60 off center of bushing 58 pooitior.s the bore opening in th~ proper position. Likewise, in the diagram 6b, positioning device 32'' through the off center positioning o circular bore opening 84 on bushing 82 allow~ switch member 68 to engage any container snugly fitting into opening 8~ which is about eighty-five percent of the diameter of container 16. In diagram~ 6d, e, and f, po~litioning devices 32''', 32'''', and 32''''', re~pectively provide for increasingly smaller containers. Bushing4 86, 78, and 90 provide support and poqitioning of bore openings 88, 80 a~d 92, respectively, in each ca~e positioning the bore openings so that a container ized to fit that bore opening, must of necessity trip switch member 68 of microswitch 66 at location 76.
In Fig. 7, the parts of the housing are illu~trated.
These parts as well as all the positioning devices are injection molded a suitable thermoplastic polymer ~uch a-~ polystyrene or an englneering plastic such as a nylon. Housing 18 includes a ba~e jhoLming Or wh h b :se seotion 20 im a major portion. Interlor i ~3 ~ ` 2~8~'7 ¦vertical wall 64 i~ ~hown through which opc-n~ny 70 allows switch member 68 to operate. Front floor ~ection 94 o~ this ba~e part ¦extends forwardly to 4upport the electronic module described l hereinbelow which includes a time keeping davice, a display S ¦ device, and a Qignal processing device with a circuit to tran mit the signal that micro~witch 66 haQ been clo~ed to the balance of the electronic device. Electronic components re~t on and are attached to housing support frame 96 on floor ~ection 94 which i~
¦bounded by vertical frame 9~. Lower hinge holders 100 extend ¦outwardly and forwardly from floor Qection 94. Interior hou~ing ¦section 102 houseQ the electronic components engaging Qnap hook , ¦members 102 extending from the upper edge and rearwardly through ¦-~lot opening~ 104 to snap fi~ housing 101 in3ide frame 98 to hold ¦lt in place. With inner housing lOl snapped in po~ition, upper lS ¦hinge connection cover-~ 26 mate with lower hinge connection cover ¦section~ 100 gripping hinge pins 106 of cover 24 allowing the ¦cover ~o rotate on the pin~ forwa~dly and downwardly to expo~e ¦the control functions extending through the ront panel of inner ¦housing 101. Cover 24 i~ held in place by a raised knob 107 on the rear inslde ~urface of a side wall of the cover engaging detent depre3sion 109 on the outside rear of hou~ing 101. The control ~unction button~ in addition to di~play panel 108 extend through the ~ront panel of inner housing 101. DiQplay panel 108 displayQ all of the information available including the time the la~t medication dose was taken, the la-~t time ~ince that la~t do~e and the number o~ times the medication was acces~ed and pre~umably taken in one day. The controls include backward or down set button 110, forward or up ~et button 112, reset button 114 and mode button 116. A-Q ~hown in ~ig. 8, time piece and ~ignal procesQing device 118 rest~ on and iQ attached to floor 16 l 2~3~
~ection 94. Ba-qe 40 iq adheQively attached to qet away members 120. Fig. 9 illuQtrates the circuitry of device 1~8 in Qchematic block diagram orm. The individual electronic components are well known to those ~killed in the art and are of the type available in commercial electronic time keeping devices such a~
digital clocks and watches. Circuit 122 includes cryQtal controlled o4cillator 124, a divide down circuit ~26 and clock circuitry 128 to convert the divided down pulse3 to time of day, day of week, and a.m. or p.m. Also included i4 an appropriate mean3 130 to set the current time in clock 128. Circuit 122 al4O
includes alarm 132, such as a buzzer or bell and alarm set controls 134, 136, and 138. Comparator circuit 140 compare-q the signal from clock 128 with the set points of 134, 136, and 138 and, if the two are identical, activates alarm 132. Micro switch 66 iQ the ~vial inn ~en-Qor and iQ activated when the vial i~ inserted in the bore opening and a continuous circuit exiQtq between switch member 68 and contact 72. ~Vial in" sen-Qor 66 qends a signal when the vial is in place to a di~play disable advance 142 which processes the signal to keep the di4play module 108 from changing its indication of time. Thus, when the container i~ in the base section of device 10, clock 128 of the time keeping device continue~ to keep time but display 10~ iQ
held at the last time that the container waQ out of the base section and the circuit between the contacts broken to correspond to the in~tant before the container was inserted into ba~e ~ection 20. $hi~ time is displayed on display 108 which, when consulted by the patient, identifies the time when the medication container wa~ laQt removed to take a do~age o~ medicine.
Alternatively, the display may indicate elapsed time ~ince the 1~ j conta1nbr wa~ 1 t out thUD ind~ ting the time ~incb thb ~a~t :.~
,;,. .
;
- 2~31~7 do~age. The circuitry also includes counter 144 and means for di~playing the count in di~play module 108. Module 146 look~ to Qee if the time is ll:S9 p.m. and if yes, counter 144 i~ reset to zero. Elapsed time module 148 maintainQ the time elap~ed since the la~t removal of the medication vial and is reQet to zero each time the medication container i~ removed from the base.
While this invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments discloaed herein, it is not confined to the detail ~et forth and the patent i~ intended to include modification~ and change~ which may come within and extend ~rom , the following claim~.
Claims (26)
1. A holding device for medicine containers providing information as to when the medicine was taken to aid a patient to take the medicine in a timely manner, the device comprising:
(a) a housing having an opening of a sufficient shape and size to receive a medicine container and support it therein, (b) time keeping means in the housing to keep correct time, (c) display means on the housing to display the time when the last dosage was taken, (d) sensor means in the housing to sense when a container is placed in the opening of the housing and to provide a signal of the condition that a container has been placed in the housing, and (e) circuit means to transmit the signal to, (f) signal processing means electrically connected with the time keeping means to:
(I) receive the signal from the sensor means, (ii) register the time when the medicine container was last placed in the housing, and (iii) activate the display means to display said time.
(a) a housing having an opening of a sufficient shape and size to receive a medicine container and support it therein, (b) time keeping means in the housing to keep correct time, (c) display means on the housing to display the time when the last dosage was taken, (d) sensor means in the housing to sense when a container is placed in the opening of the housing and to provide a signal of the condition that a container has been placed in the housing, and (e) circuit means to transmit the signal to, (f) signal processing means electrically connected with the time keeping means to:
(I) receive the signal from the sensor means, (ii) register the time when the medicine container was last placed in the housing, and (iii) activate the display means to display said time.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sensor means sensor the container at a location in the opening and the device further comprises positioning means to position the container inserted in the opening such that a portion of the container must be in said location regardless of the size or shape of the container.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein the sensor means comprises a switch member extending into the opening to said location.
4. The device of claim 2 wherein the positioning means comprises:
(a) a guide member defining a inside bore with an inside size and shape to receive a specific sized and shaped container, (b) access means through the guide member to allow access of the sensing means to said location when the guide member is inserted in the opening of the housing, and (c) alignment means to align the guide member inserted into the opening to allow the sensing means to reach said location through the access means.
(a) a guide member defining a inside bore with an inside size and shape to receive a specific sized and shaped container, (b) access means through the guide member to allow access of the sensing means to said location when the guide member is inserted in the opening of the housing, and (c) alignment means to align the guide member inserted into the opening to allow the sensing means to reach said location through the access means.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein the positioning means comprises a plurality of guide members each defining an inside bore with an different inside size or shape to receive a different specific sized or shaped container.
6. The device of claim 4 wherein the guide member comprises a cylindrical tube with an inside bore size and shape to receive a specific sized and shaped container.
7. The device of claim 4 wherein the alignment means comprises an integral bushing member from which the guide member depends And through which a bore opening is aligned with the inside bore of the guide member.
8. The device of claim 4 wherein the opening in the housing is upwardly vertical.
9. The device of claim 3 wherein the positioning means comprises:
(a) a cylindrical tube with the inside bore size and shape sufficient to receive a specific sized a d shaped container and an aperture through the wall into the inside of the tube to receive the switch member, and (b) alignment means to hold the tube inserted into the opening to align the aperture to allow the switch member to reach said location.
(a) a cylindrical tube with the inside bore size and shape sufficient to receive a specific sized a d shaped container and an aperture through the wall into the inside of the tube to receive the switch member, and (b) alignment means to hold the tube inserted into the opening to align the aperture to allow the switch member to reach said location.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the positioning means comprises a plurality of cylindrical tubes each having an inside bore with an different inside size or shape to receive a different specific sized or shaped container.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing means further comprises means to determine the time interval since the medicine container was last placed in the housing and to cause the display means to display same.
12. The device of claim 1 wherein the signal processing means further comprises means to determine the number of times the medicine container was placed in the housing within a chosen period of time and to cause the display means to display same.
13. The device of claim 1 wherein the time keeping means further comprises alarm means to set time when the medicine should next be taken and indicating to the patient when that time is reached.
14. A holding device for medicine containers providing information as to when the medicine was taken to aid a patient to take the medicine in a timely manner, the device comprising:
(a) a housing comprising a base section having an opening of a sufficient shape and size to receive a medicine container in the base section and be supported therein, (b) time keeping means in the enclosure section to keep correct time, (c) display means on the housing to display the time when the last dosage was taken, (d) sensor means a the base section to sense at a location in the opening when a container is placed in the opening of the base section and to provide a signal of the condition that a container has been placed in the base section, (e) positioning means to position the container inserted in the opening such that a portion of the container must be in said location regardless of the size or shape of the container, and (e) circuit means to transmit the signal to, (f) signal processing means connected with the time keeping means to:
(i) receive the signal from the sensor means, (ii) register the time when the medicine container was last placed in the base section, and (iii) activate the display means to display said time.
(a) a housing comprising a base section having an opening of a sufficient shape and size to receive a medicine container in the base section and be supported therein, (b) time keeping means in the enclosure section to keep correct time, (c) display means on the housing to display the time when the last dosage was taken, (d) sensor means a the base section to sense at a location in the opening when a container is placed in the opening of the base section and to provide a signal of the condition that a container has been placed in the base section, (e) positioning means to position the container inserted in the opening such that a portion of the container must be in said location regardless of the size or shape of the container, and (e) circuit means to transmit the signal to, (f) signal processing means connected with the time keeping means to:
(i) receive the signal from the sensor means, (ii) register the time when the medicine container was last placed in the base section, and (iii) activate the display means to display said time.
15. The device of claim 14 wherein the sensor means comprises a switch member extending into the opening to said location.
16. The device of claim 14 wherein the positioning means comprises:
(a) a guide member defining a inside bore with an inside size and shape to receive a specific sized and shaped container, (b) access means through the guide member to allow access of the sensing means to said location when the guide member is inserted in the opening of the base section, and (c) alignment means to align the guide member inserted into the opening to allow the sensing means to reach said location through the access means.
(a) a guide member defining a inside bore with an inside size and shape to receive a specific sized and shaped container, (b) access means through the guide member to allow access of the sensing means to said location when the guide member is inserted in the opening of the base section, and (c) alignment means to align the guide member inserted into the opening to allow the sensing means to reach said location through the access means.
17. The device of claim 16 wherein the positioning means comprises a plurality of guide members each defining an inside bore with an different inside size or shape to receive a different specific sized or shaped container.
18. The device of claim 16 wherein the guide member comprises a cylindrical tube with an inside bore size and shape to receive a specific sized and shaped container.
19. The device of claim 16 wherein the alignment means comprises an integral bushing member from which the guide member depends and through which a bore opening is aligned with the inside bore of the guide member.
20. The device of claim 16 wherein the opening in the base section is upwardly vertical.
21. The device of claim 14 wherein the signal processing means further comprises means to determine the time interval since the medicine container was last placed in the housing ant to cause the display means to display same.
22. The device of claim 14 wherein the signal processing means further comprises means to determine the number of times the medicine container was placed in the housing within a chosen period of time and to cause the display means to display same.
23. The device of claim 14 wherein the time keeping means further comprises alarm means to set time when the medicine should next be taken and indicating to the patient when that time is reached.
24. A method to aid a patient to take the medicine in a timely manner providing information as to when the medicine was taken, the method comprising:
(a) providing a housing having an opening of a sufficient shape ant size to receive a medicine container and support it therein, (b) providing time keeping means in the housing to keep correct time, (c) providing display means on the housing to display the time when the last dosage was taken, (d) providing sensor means in the housing to sense when a container is placed in the opening of the housing and to provide a signal of the condition that a container has been placed in the housing, (e) providing circuit means to transmit the signal to, (f) signal processing means which is provided electrically connected with the time keeping means to:
(i) receive the signal from the sensor means, (ii) register the time when the medicine container was last placed in the housing, ant (iii) activate the display means to display said time, (g) inserting a medicine container into the opening in the housing after taking the medicine, and (h) reading the time on the display means as being when the medicine was last taken.
(a) providing a housing having an opening of a sufficient shape ant size to receive a medicine container and support it therein, (b) providing time keeping means in the housing to keep correct time, (c) providing display means on the housing to display the time when the last dosage was taken, (d) providing sensor means in the housing to sense when a container is placed in the opening of the housing and to provide a signal of the condition that a container has been placed in the housing, (e) providing circuit means to transmit the signal to, (f) signal processing means which is provided electrically connected with the time keeping means to:
(i) receive the signal from the sensor means, (ii) register the time when the medicine container was last placed in the housing, ant (iii) activate the display means to display said time, (g) inserting a medicine container into the opening in the housing after taking the medicine, and (h) reading the time on the display means as being when the medicine was last taken.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:
(a) providing positioning means that comprises:
(i) a guide member defining a inside bore with an inside size and shape to receive a specific sized and shaped container, (ii) access means through the guide member to allow access of the sensing means to said location when the guide member is inserted in the opening of the housing, and (iii) alignment means to align the guide member inserted into the opening to allow the sensing means to reach said location through the access means, (b) inserting the positioning means into the opening of the housing prior to inserting the container, and (c) inserting a medicine container into the inside bore in the guide member after taking the medicine.
(a) providing positioning means that comprises:
(i) a guide member defining a inside bore with an inside size and shape to receive a specific sized and shaped container, (ii) access means through the guide member to allow access of the sensing means to said location when the guide member is inserted in the opening of the housing, and (iii) alignment means to align the guide member inserted into the opening to allow the sensing means to reach said location through the access means, (b) inserting the positioning means into the opening of the housing prior to inserting the container, and (c) inserting a medicine container into the inside bore in the guide member after taking the medicine.
26. The method of claim 25 further comprising:
(a) providing a plurality of guide members each defining an inside bore with an different inside size or shape to receive a different specific sized or shaped container, and (b) choosing a guide member having an inside bore corresponding to the medicine container to be used.
(a) providing a plurality of guide members each defining an inside bore with an different inside size or shape to receive a different specific sized or shaped container, and (b) choosing a guide member having an inside bore corresponding to the medicine container to be used.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/627,328 US5170380A (en) | 1990-12-14 | 1990-12-14 | Medication container holding device indicating usage time |
| CA 2083107 CA2083107A1 (en) | 1990-12-14 | 1992-11-17 | Medication container holding device indicating usage time |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/627,328 US5170380A (en) | 1990-12-14 | 1990-12-14 | Medication container holding device indicating usage time |
| CA 2083107 CA2083107A1 (en) | 1990-12-14 | 1992-11-17 | Medication container holding device indicating usage time |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2083107A1 true CA2083107A1 (en) | 1994-05-18 |
Family
ID=25675672
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2083107 Abandoned CA2083107A1 (en) | 1990-12-14 | 1992-11-17 | Medication container holding device indicating usage time |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5170380A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2083107A1 (en) |
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Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5170380A (en) | 1992-12-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |