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.

To address the widespread problem of half of all patients failing to take prescribed medications as directed by their physicians, the present inventor devised, among other things, one or more medication reminders. For example, one embodiment, particularly suitable for only two- or three-a-day prescriptions, comprises a repositionable indicator mechanism that attaches via a self-adhesive microsuction backing to the top or other surface of a plastic prescription medication bottle. The indicator, which can take the form of a slider that moves between two or three indicator positions, in some cases using a detent locking mechanism, to simultaneously indicate the prescribed dosage frequency, last dosage taken, and remaining dosages for a day.

A pill bottle cap provides access to authorized users using a biometric authentication feature. The pill bottle cap broadly includes: a shroud; a plurality of clamp members, each movably mounted to the shroud; a drive member interconnected with each of the clamp members to cause the clamp members to move in a first direction when the drive member is actuated in a first direction, and to cause the clamp members to move in a second direction when the drive member is actuated in a second direction; an actuator configured to actuate the drive member to selectively move in each of the first and second directions; and biometric identification module coupled to the actuator, and configured to activate the actuator to cause the selective movement upon identification of an authorized user. Each of the components are configured and positioned to minimize a height and a volume of the pill bottle cap.

A pill dispenser (10) has a core (12) with outward-facing compartments (14) arranged in rows and layers about a central axis. A first sleeve (22) overlying the core has an elongated slot (24) extending parallel to the central axis, and is rotatable relative to the first sleeve to align the slot with one of the rows of compartments. A second sleeve (26), coaxial with the first sleeve, has a pattern of staggered openings 28 positioned in an axial direction to align with a corresponding one of the layers. The second sleeve is rotatable relative to the first sleeve to bring each of the staggered openings into alignment with the elongated slot, thereby providing access to one of the compartments of the core. Preferably, the core includes a number of axially removable cartridges (30), each including a row of compartments, that can be inserted while the compartments contain pills.

There is provided a medicine management system capable of checking a receipt status and a dosage stage of delivered medicines even at a delivery source. The medicine management system includes a management server for managing a receipt status and a dosage status of medicines to be delivered, a first terminal having a function of notifying the management server of information indicating receipt of medicines when the medicines have been received, a second terminal having a function of notifying the management server of information indicating dosage of medicines when the medicines have been taken, and a third terminal having a function of acquiring from the management server and displaying information on a receipt status and a dosage status of medicines.

Chronotherapeutic dosing can include receiving, using a processor, sensor data from a sensor for a user, wherein the sensor data is collected subsequent to the user starting a regimen for a medication, determining, using the processor, a biological marker from the sensor data, wherein the biological marker is correlated with the medication, and comparing, using the processor, the biological marker with an expected state of the biological marker based upon a dose time of the medication. Chronotherapeutic dosing can also include providing, using the processor, a notification indicating a result of the comparing.

Embodiments are directed to apparatuses, methods and systems for tracking usage of an item. In one scenario, a microcontroller is configured to send a periodic signal over electrical traces that are distributed over an item to determine whether a change in electrical throughput has occurred in a trace. Upon determining that such a change has occurred, an indication is generated that describes the type of usage that occurred and the time at which the use occurred. An indication of the type of usage and the time of occurrence is then provided to specified recipients. Apparatuses for tracking such usage include a battery, a microprocessor, a transmitter and capsules for storing the controlled substances. Each capsule has an electrical trace extending through at least some of the capsule. The microprocessor is configured to determine, using the electrical traces, which capsules have been opened by identifying which traces have been broken.

Portable pill dispensers are disclosed herein. The portable pill dispenser may include a container configured to house at least one pill therein, a housing attachable to the container, and a dispensing mechanism disposed within the housing. In one configuration, the dispensing mechanism includes an oscillating member configured to dispense the at least one pill from the container.

A system for medical alerts that includes: a wrist band; a display on the wrist band; a software application adapted for use on a smartphone synced with the display; and a plurality of alerts, where the alerts are associated with medical diagnose. The alerts preferably are visually shown on the display and may also be in the form of audio alerts. In one particular embodiment, the alerts relate to prescribed drug dosage and usage. The smartphone syncs with the display via a Bluetooth connection to provide alerts as needed.

Improved systems and methods for medicine delivery, and in particular, improved insulin pen needles and related devices are provided. Smart injection devices record and transfer data including medicine level, delivered dose, dose confirmation, and dose time and date. Additional data captured may include glucose concentration, insulin level, carbohydrates ingested, stress level, exercise, blood pressure, and glucose high and low excursion events. Various means of data collection and analysis are provided and systems can identify and flag patients who require intervention. Smart sleeves and add sensing capability to standard insulin pens. Pen needles are provided with sensing capability to confirm and measure doses delivered by insulin pen. A two-part pen cap include a primary sleeve that connects to the insulin pen and an end cap that provides for capturing the time of dose delivery, and monitoring the hold time for a dose delivery after plunger movement.