Patent ID: 6411567
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: A61J,H05K

Abstract:
A system for managing delivery of pharmaceutical drugs, comprising:(a) a blister package that includes a plurality of cells arranged in a grid, the cells being sealed by a breakable wall and being for holding medication, wherein a user gains access to medication in a given cell by puncturing the breakable wall associated with the given cell; (b) a severable conductor positioned proximate to each breakable wall, wherein the severable conductor associated with a given cell is severed upon puncturing of the breakable wall associated with the given cell; (c) a processor affixed to the blister package and electrically connected to the severable conductors, wherein the processor senses the puncturing of each cell in the grid by monitoring the rupturing of each of the severable conductors; (d) an RF transmitter affixed to the blister package and coupled to the computer chip, wherein the RF transmitter sends information corresponding to usage of medication stored in the blister package to a remote information transceiver; and (e) memory affixed to the blister package and coupled to the processor, wherein the RF receiver receives information corresponding to an expiration date of each of the medications stored in the blister package, such information corresponding to the expiration date of each of the medications being stored in the memory; wherein the RF transmitter sends information corresponding to usage of medication stored in one cell in the blister package to the remote information transceiver upon breakage of the severable conductor associated with the one cell; wherein the remote information transceiver includes a memory that stores time values, each of the time values representing a time when medication stored in a cell in the blister package is due to be taken by a patient; wherein, upon receipt of the information corresponding to usage of medication stored in one cell in the blister package, the remote information transceiver stores a further time value representing a time when medication stored in one cell in the blister package was actually accessed; and wherein the remote information transceiver generates an alarm if the time when medication stored in one cell in the blister package is due to be taken by a patient passes before the remote information transceiver receives a signal indicating that the medication stored in the one cell in the blister package was actually accessed.