IMPLANTABLE DEVICE FOR LOCATING DRUG USERS

Abstract

A medical implant including a drug sensor and a global positioning system (GPS) module connected to a wireless network. The GPS module sends a location of the patient and optionally information of when patient uses an illegal drug when the sensor detects the drug within the patient's bloodstream.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising: a global positioning system module connected to a wireless network; and a sensor operable to sense change in an animal's blood composition when the animal consumes a drug, wherein when the sensor senses the change in the animal's blood composition, a location message comprising a location of the medical device is sent over the wireless network to a remote computer.

2. The medical device of claim 1, further comprising a diaphragm and a catheter extending from the diaphragm, wherein the sensor is attached to the catheter.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a telecommunications network.

4. A method of determining a location of a patient that consumes a drug comprising the steps of: providing a medical device comprising a drug sensor and a global positioning system module connected to a wireless network; implanting the medical device into the patient so that the drug sensor is disposed within a blood layer of the patient; detecting a consumption of a drug by the patient via the drug sensor; and sending a location message comprising a location of the medical device over the wireless network to a remote computer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the medical device further comprises a diaphragm and a catheter extending from the diaphragm, wherein the catheter is threaded into an artery of the patient.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the wireless network is a telecommunications network, the remote computer is a phone and the location message is displayed on the phone as a text message.

7. A system of determining a location of a patient that consumes a drug comprising: a medical device implanted in a patient's body, wherein the medical device comprises a global positioning system module connected to a wireless network and a sensor operable to sense change in an animal's blood composition when the animal consumes a drug; and a remote computer connected to the wireless network, wherein the remote computer comprises a processor and a memory, wherein when the sensor senses the change in the animal's blood composition, a location message comprising a location of the medical device is sent over the wireless network to the remote computer.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless network is a telecommunications network, the remote computer is a phone and the location message is displayed on the phone as a text message.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the medical device further comprises a diaphragm and a catheter extending from the diaphragm, wherein the catheter is threaded into an artery of the patient.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor detects an opiate within the blood stream.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

[0013] Broadly, the present invention includes an implantable medical device equipped with global positioning system (GPS) technology for monitoring the location of drug patients and the capability to monitor the patient's blood composition. The system and method of the present invention, by providing the means for monitoring the location of drug patients and their blood composition, enable law enforcement and/or other interested third parties such as, for example, health care providers and family members, to curtail the patient's attraction to illicit drugs and those who provide them. The present invention also provides cheaper outpatient rehabilitation while permitting the patient to continue with the activities of their normal daily lives.

[0014] Preferably, the system of the present invention is implanted into a patient's body in such a manner that it is not easily removed therefrom, except by medical practitioners and such that it can sample and test the patient's blood for the presence of illicit drugs.

[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the medical implant of the present invention includes a drug sensor 14 and a GPS module 10 connected to a wireless network. The GPS module 10 sends a location of the patient and optionally information of when the patient uses an illegal drug when the sensor 14 detects the drug within the patient's bloodstream.

[0016] In certain embodiments, the medical device may include a diaphragm 12 and a catheter 20 extending from the diaphragm 12. The catheters 20 are threaded into a vein of the patient. The sensors 14 may be disposed at the tip of the catheters 20 for sensing changes in the blood layer 16 composition. The diaphragm 12 and the GPS module 14 may be secured to a base substrate 18.

[0017] The diaphragm 12 of the present invention may be a rubber diaphragm 12 embedded under the patient's skin. The rubber diaphragm 12 includes a port that fluidly connects with the catheter 20. Therefore, if the patient takes drugs, such as opiates, the message is sent to the remote computer and thereby a remote user. The remote user may track the patient and potentially administer a counteractive drug. The counteractive drug may be disposed within a syringe. The remote user may pierce the skin and insert the needle of the syringe into the diaphragm 12 and therefore administer the counteractive drug to the patient, potentially saving the patient's life. For example, if the sensor 14 senses opiates, naloxone may be administered through the rubber diaphragm 12 and into the patient.

[0018] In certain embodiments, the wireless network is a telecommunications network. In such embodiments, the remote computer is a phone and the location message is displayed on the phone as a text message.

[0019] In a preferred practice of the method of the invention, when the sensors 14 sense the presence of an illicit drug in the blood layer 16, the GPS module 10 is activated to send, via the communication network (not shown), the location of the patient and his/her blood analysis data.

[0020] One embodiment of the present invention relates to an apparatus comprising: a computer, the computer comprising a memory and a processor, where the processor executes computer-executable instructions in the memory to perform a method of sampling and testing the blood of a drug patient and, upon noting the presence therein of a proscribed drug, communicating via GPS the location of the patient.

[0021] A further embodiment of the present invention comprises a system comprising: a computer, the computer comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the processor executes computer-executable instructions in the memory for sampling and testing the blood of a drug patient and, upon noting the presence therein of a proscribed drug, communicating via GPS the location of the patient.

[0022] A still further embodiment of the present invention concerns a method of determining the location of a drug patient, the method comprising: receiving the location via GPS communication form a GPS communication element contained in a medical device implanted in the patient's body which continuously monitors the blood composition thereof.

[0023] An additional embodiment of the present invention comprises a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to cause a processor storing and to perform a method for sampling and testing the blood of a drug patient and, upon noting the presence therein of a proscribed drug, communicating via GPS the location of the patient.

[0024] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.