WO2003075823A1

WO2003075823A1 - An electronic pill packet holder and reminder that detects pill packet removal

Info

Publication number: WO2003075823A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000290
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Joseph Ayre
Original assignee: Peter Joseph Ayre
Priority date: 2002-03-13
Filing date: 2003-03-13
Publication date: 2003-09-18
Also published as: AUPS111002A0

Abstract

A monitor for use in association with a pill or medicament dose dispenser or packet; said pill or medicament dose dispenser or packet of the type adapted to releasably retain one or more pills or like medicament doses; said monitor comprising: (a) a dispenser or packet presence sensing means; (b) alarm means; (c) timing means; (d) logic means; said logic means adapted to cause said alarm means to issue an alarm signal if said dispenser or packet presence sensing means detects the presence of a dispenser or packet for a continuous period of time determined by said timing means greater than a preset period of time; said present period of time being a function of the content of said one or more pills or like medicament doses. In a further form there is disclosed a pill packet holder adapted for housing a container or packet of pills or like medicament doses; said holder incorporating a sensor which detects a packet movement condition.

Description

AN ELECTRONIC PILL PACKET HOLDER AND REMINDER THAT DETECTS

PILL PACKET REMOVAL

The present invention relates to an electronic device for containing pill packets, allowing the user to preprogram reminder times as to when these pills are to be taken, and more particularly to a device has knowledge as to whether or not the packet has been removed during those times by a sensing means.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to the art of devices for containing and alarming as to the dispensing time of pills, either non prescription or prescription. It is an object of the present invention to detect that a pill packet has been removed from a dispenser through a sensing means and to use this information to provide a reminder.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a monitor for use in association with a pill or medicament dose dispenser or packet; said pill or medicament dose dispenser or packet of the type adapted to releasably retain one or more pills or like medicament doses; said monitor comprising:

(a) a dispenser or packet presence sensing means;

(b) alarm means;

(c) tirtiing means; (d) logic means; said logic means adapted to cause said alarm means to issue an alarm signal if said dispenser or packet presence sensing means detects the presence of a dispenser or packet for a continuous period of time determined by said timing means greater than a preset period of time; said preset period of time being a function of the content of said one or more pills or like medicament doses.

Preferably said logic means and said timing means are implemented by way of a microprocessor.

Preferably said alarm means comprises an audible alarm.

Preferably said dispenser or packet presence sensing means comprises a mechanical switch in electrical communication with said logic means.

Preferably said dispenser or packet presence sensing means comprises an optical sensor.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring timely administration of pills or like medicament doses; said method comprising providing a sensor associated with a medicament dose dispenser or packet; said medicament dose dispenser or packet of the type adapted to releasably retain one or more pills or like medicament doses; said sensor adapted to detect when said dispenser or packet is displaced; said method further comprising issuing an alarm in the event that said dispenser or packet is not displaced for a continuous period of time greater than a preset period of time; said preset period of time being a function of the content of said pills or like medicament doses.

In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a monitor for use in association with a pill or medicament dose dispenser or packet; said monitor operable in accordance with the flowchart of Fig. 3 In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring timely ingestion of pills or medicament doses; said method comprising operating dispenser or packet presence sensing means, alarm means, timing means and logic means generally in accordance with the flowchart of Fig. 3.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a pill packet holder adapted for, housing a container or packet of pills or like medicament doses; said holder incorporating a sensor which detects a packet movement condition.

Preferably a packet movement condition comprises said container or packet being removed from said housing. Preferably said packet movement condition comprises insertion of said container or packet into said housing.

Preferably said holder further incorporates logic which monitors time elapsed between a first event and detection of said packet movement condition. Preferably said holder communicates an alarm condition if said time elapsed is equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time.

Preferably said first event comprises expiry of a predetermined initial time period. Preferably said predetermined initial time period is initiated by a user pressing a button.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is now described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of device functionality of a monitor in accordance with a first preferred embodiment; and

Fig. 2 illustrates a circuit diagram suitable to implement the monitor of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 illustrates a preferred software flow chart for operation of the monitor of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 illustrates a housing suitable for the monitor of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a electronic components forming part of a pill packet holder according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 6 is an electronic circuit diagram of the components of the pill packet holder of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a logic_^ flow diagram executable by the components of Fig. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed pill reminding device which holds pill packets. The device contains electronic hardware and software such that specific reminder times can be programmed into the device by the user. An electronic sensing means such as an electro-optical or electronic switch detects whether or not the pill packet was removed after the alarm is activated at the specified times. The alarm is deactivated when the packet is replaced in preparation for the next scheduled pill dispensing time. The drawings illustrate a monitor system of the invention in various preferred embodiments. Figures 2 illustrates the electronics of a monitor system 30 used in a first preferred embodiment. With reference to figs 1, 2, 3, 4 an electronic sensing means 11 either optical magnetic or contact switch is used to sense the presence of the pill packet 1. A central processing unit 12 stores the time and the day set by the user as well as reminder times for each day of the week which are also set by the user. When the set time and day reaches the set reminder time and day an alarm sequence is begun until the pill packet 1 (refer Fig. 4) is detected as to have been removed. Alarm means 17 indicates to a user (not shown) that the packet 1 has not been removed. Replacement of the pill packet 1 turns off the alarm sequence until the time and day reaches the next reminder day and time and so forth. In the preferred embodiment 21 or 28 day cycles can be set. In the 21 day cycle mode the alarm will not sound for the last 7 days of a 28 day cycle. This embodiment is particularly useful for contraceptive pills. The times and days are set by the user via a display unit 14 and push button switches 15. n both modes the end of the 28 day cycle is indicated by a new packet indicator 16. If in the event that the packet 1 is left removed or not removed at the set reminder times the alarm sequence will always be active. With reference to the first preferred embodiment of fig 4, the embodiment shows that the packet 1 is placed into housing 2.

First embodiment In the first embodiment with particular reference to fig. 4, housing 2 can have a clear base enabling the pill packet 1 to be viewed by the user. This enables the user to see whether pills have been removed. The processor 12 communicates with a display unit 14. Times, days and reminder times and days and cycle setting are programmed by using the push buttons 15. With reference to Fig. 2 the power supply means, in this case batteries 8 are shown. The packet removal sensor 11 is also shown as is the display unit (LCD 14) .

Second embodiment

In a second preferred embodiment with reference to fig. 4, a wall attachment means such as hook 20 allows housing 2 to be secured to a support means such as wall 21 or a bench) .

Third Embodiment

With reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 a third embodiment is illustrated where like components are numbered as for the first embodiment. It is similar to embodiment one with the exception that the display is removed and 2 button of 3 is removed. This embodiment contains no display means and only a single push button 27 to set a 24 hour reminder period together with alarm, packet detection switch, microprocessor and support electronics and battery supply.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A monitor for use in association with a pill or medicament dose dispenser or packet; said pill or medicament dose dispenser or packet of the type adapted to releasably retain one or more pills or like medicament doses; said monitor comprising:

(a) a dispenser or packet presence sensing means,-

(b) alarm means;

(c) timing means; (d) logic means; said logic means adapted to cause said alarm means to issue an alarm signal if said dispenser or packet presence sensing means detects the presence of a dispenser or packet for a continuous period of time determined by said timing means greater than a preset period of time; said preset period of time being a function of the content of said one or more pills or like medicament doses.

2. The monitor of Claim 1 wherein said logic means and said timing means are implemented by way of a microprocesso .

3. The monitor of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said alarm means comprises an audible alarm.

4. The monitor of any previous claim wherein said dispenser or packet presence sensing means comprises a mechanical switch in electrical communication with said logic means .

5. The monitor of any previous claim wherein said dispenser or packet presence means comprises an optical sensor.

6. A method of monitoring timely administration of pills or like medicament doses; said method comprising providing a sensor associated with a medicament dose dispenser or packet; said medicament dose dispenser or packet of the type adapted to releasably retain one or more pills or like medicament doses; said sensor adapted to detect when said dispenser or packet is displaced; said method further comprising issuing an alarm in the event that said dispenser or packet is not displaced for a continuous period of time greater than a preset period of time; said preset period of time being a function of the content of said pills or like medicament doses.

7. A monitor for use in association with a pill or medicament dose dispenser or packet; said monitor operable in accordance with the flowchart of Fig. 3

8. A method of monitoring timely ingestion of pills or medicament doses; said method comprising operating dispenser or packet presence sensing means, alarm means, timing means and logic means generally in accordance with the flowchart of Fig. 3.

9. A pill packet holder adapted for housing a container or packet of pills or like medicament doses; said holder incorporating a sensor which detects a packet movement condition.

10. The holder of Claim 9 wherein a packet movement condition comprises said container or packet being removed from said housing.

11. The holder of Claim 9 or 10 wherein said packet movement condition comprises insertion of said container or packet into said housing .

12. The holder of Claim 9, 10 or 11 wherein said holder further incorporates logic which monitors time elapsed between a first event and detection of said packet movement condition.

13. The holder of Claim 12 wherein said holder communicates an alarm condition if said time elapsed is equal to or greater than a predetermined period of time.

14. The holder of Claim 12 or 13 wherein said first event comprises expiry of a predetermined initial time period.

15. The holder of any one of Claims 12 to 14 wherein said predetermined initial time period is initiated by a user pressing a button.