PROXIMITY FEEDBACK FOR MEDICINE IDENTIFICATION

Embodiments include method, systems and computer program products for proximity feedback for medication identification. Aspects include accessing, via a user device, a profile data for the user; reading, via the user device, identification data from an identification tag on an object; obtaining information associated with the identification data, wherein the information is associated with contents of the object; and providing a feedback to the user via the user device, the feedback is based upon the information and an interaction between the user of the user device and the object.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to medication compliance, and more specifically, to methods, systems, and computer program products for proximity feedback for medicine identification.

Senior citizens often have problems related to taking the correct type and correct dosage of their prescribed medications. Additionally, senior citizens may have difficulty remembering if they already took their prescribed medications.

Proper medicine identification is important for medicine compliance for patients that take one or more medications. Additionally, taking medications at the appropriate time and at the appropriate intervals also contributes to medication compliance. For example, a patient would benefit from knowing what medications to take and at what times as well as if they have already taken their medications for the day.

SUMMARY

Embodiments include a computer system for proximity feedback for medicine identification, the computer system for a proximity feedback for medicine identification having a processor configured to perform a method. The method includes accessing, via a user device, a profile data for the user; reading, via the user device, identification data from an identification tag on an object; obtaining information associated with the identification data, wherein the information is associated with contents of the object; and providing a feedback to the user via the user device, the feedback is based upon the information and an interaction between the user of the user device and the object.

Embodiments also include a computer program product for proximity feedback for medicine identification, the computer program product including a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith. The computer readable program code including computer readable program code configured to perform a method. The method includes accessing, via a user device, a profile data for the user; reading, via the user device, identification data from an identification tag on an object; obtaining information associated with the identification data, wherein the information is associated with contents of the object; and providing a feedback to the user via the user device, the feedback is based upon the information and an interaction between the user of the user device and the object.

Embodiments also include a method for proximity feedback for medicine identification. The method includes accessing, via a user device, a profile data for the user; reading, via the user device, identification data from an identification tag on an object; obtaining information associated with the identification data, wherein the information is associated with contents of the object; and providing a feedback to the user via the user device, the feedback is based upon the information and an interaction between the user of the user device and the object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, methods, systems and computer program products for providing proximity feedback for medication identification are provided. In exemplary embodiments, a system for providing proximity feedback for medicine identification includes a user device configured to read a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is affixed to an object, such as a medication container. In exemplary embodiments, the RFID tag will contain identification data regarding the contents of the object, in this case, a medication container. The identification data contained within the RFID tag allows the user device to identify the type of medication found in the object. The user device reads the RFID tag and uses this identification data along with the interaction between the user device and the object to send a feedback signal to the user. The interaction can include the movement of grabbing and turning the medication bottle or it could include being within a certain proximity of the medication bottle. The feedback signal would indicate to a user of the user device that the medication is proper or if it is improper by sending a feedback signal to the user, such as a haptic, visual or audio signal.

Characteristics are as follows:

Deployment Models are as follows:

Thus, as configured inFIG. 3, the system100includes processing capability in the form of processors101, storage capability including the system memory114and mass storage104, input means such as keyboard109and mouse110, and output capability including speaker111and display115. In one embodiment, a portion of system memory114and mass storage104collectively store an operating system coordinate the functions of the various components shown inFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 4there is shown an embodiment of a system200for providing proximity feedback for medicine identification according to aspects of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the system200includes a user device206, a computing device220, and an object202.

In exemplary embodiments, the object202includes an identification (ID) tag204. In an embodiment, the identification tag can be electronic or non-electronic. Exemplary embodiments of an electronic identification tag include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a near-field communication (NFC) tag, or other similar tag. Exemplary embodiments of a non-electronic tag are one dimensional and two dimensional barcodes and optical character recognition on the object202. The object202may be a prescription medicine bottle, a vitamin supplement bottle, a pill box, or any other type of container for storing medicine or supplements either in pill form or liquid form. In an embodiment, the ID tag204is a passive RFID tag that can be affixed to the object202. In an embodiment, the ID tag204is used to store an identification data that is associated with the contents of the object. For example, the ID tag204would be associated with medical information such as a medicine name, dosage information, and dosage schedule for the patient, drug interactions, quantity contained within the object202and a patient's medical history. For example, a dosage schedule for the patient can include the time of day to take a dose of the medicine, the number of times to take a dose of the medicine, and whether to take the dose of medicine with or without food.

The system200also includes a user device206that has a sensor208and a feedback module210. The sensor208can read the ID tag204to retrieve the identification data pertaining to the contents of the object202. This identification data may contain a number associated with the contents of the object and any relevant information regarding the contents of the object202and will determine the course of action for a user of the user device206with respect to the object202. The user device206may be a smart watch, an electronic wristband, or any other electronic device such as a cell phone that possesses a sensor208that is capable of reading the ID tag204. In an embodiment, the user device206is a device that a user is constantly wearing. Also, the feedback module210is capable of delivering a positive or negative feedback to a user of the user device206in response to the interactions between the user device206and the object202. This positive or negative feedback can be in the form of a haptic (vibration), audio, or visual feedback to the user of the user device206. The system200also includes a computing device220which can interact with the user device206to retrieve or store information related to the user devices206interactions with the object202. The computing device220may store data that identifies a medication found within the object202. For example, the user device206reads the ID tag204on an object202and retrieves a number. This number can then be communicated to the computing device to identify the contents of the object202, i.e. the medication. Also, the user device206may download a profile from the computing which can contain information about the user's medication, medication schedule, drug interactions and any medication restrictions. Additionally, the computing device220can be a smart phone, a computer, laptop, server, or any other device that can communicate with the user device206via a wired or wireless connection or may not be in direct electronic communication. For example, the user device206may access data from the computing device220via a cloud connection.

In an embodiment, a user of the user device206would use the system200for medication compliance. The object202can represent multiple objects such as prescription medication bottles that are prescribed to the user of the user device206. In an example, the user device206is a smartwatch (constantly worn by the user) that contains a sensor208capable of reading the ID tag204(which can include technology such as RFID, near field communication, 1 and 2 dimensional barcodes, and optical character recognition of the prescription label) on the user's multiple prescription medication bottles. When the user gets within a threshold proximity of the ID tag204on the prescription bottle, the smartwatch retrieves the identification data contained within the ID tag204regarding prescription schedule. This identification data identifies the medication and can compare this information to a patient profile that is accessed via the user device206. The patient profile contains data regarding patient's medications, such as a schedule for taking the medication. If the medication schedule is in compliance with the correct time of day and date for the user, the feedback module210on the smartwatch will send a positive feedback to the user in the form of a vibration, sound or visual signal to indicate that the user should take the prescribed medication at the time. However, should the prescription schedule conflict with the time and date, a negative feedback signal will be sent to the user to inform the user that they should not take the medication. The smartwatch will update the medication schedule either locally on the smartwatch or update the schedule on the computing device220, or both.

In another embodiment, the user device206records previous interactions with the object202. In the case of the medicine bottle, the user device206records previous interactions with the same medicine bottle. When the user device206reads the ID tag204to retrieve the identification information, the previous interaction as found in the profile data will indicate that the user has already taken their prescribed dose of medicine for the day and will send a negative feedback signal to indicate to the user they should not take the medication again. The previous interactions with the object202as mention above can be determined based on accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or inclinometers contained within the user device206. For example, the motion of opening a medicine bottle and taking the medicine can be identified by the accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or inclinometer to indicate the user is taking the medication. The time of this motion is recorded in the user device and saved to guide later interactions with the medicine bottle or object202. This information can be communicated to the computing device220via the user device206.

In yet another embodiment, the user device206such as a smartwatch can prompt a user at a certain time during the day to take a medication. The user's medication schedule is stored on the smartwatch and when it is time for a user to take his or her medication, the smartwatch may prompt via a positive or negative feedback to take the medication. When the user comes into proximity to the object202(i.e. medication bottle), the smartwatch reads the ID tag204and determines that the correct medication is present and provides a positive feedback to the user. If the incorrect medication is present, the smartwatch would provide a negative feedback to the user to prompt the user to obtain the correct medication according to the medication schedule.

Referring now toFIG. 5there is shown a flow diagram of a method300for providing proximity feedback for medicine identification. At block302, the method300accesses, via a user device, a profile data for a user. Next, at block306, the method300reads, via the user device, identification data contained within an ID on an object. At block308, the method300obtains information associated with identification data. At block310, the method300provides feedback via the user device based upon the information contained within the ID tag and an interaction between a user of the user device and the object.

FIG. 6is a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method400for providing proximity feedback for medicine identification. The method400, at block402, reads an ID attached to an object via a smartwatch. Next, at block404, the method400accesses medication identification data based on the ID tag. At block406, the method400accesses profile data for a patient's medications which includes a medication schedule. Next, at block408, the method400compares the medication information based on the ID to the medication schedule. At decision block410, the method400decides if the closest object is needed according to the medication schedule. If the decision is ‘No’, the object is rejected and a negative feedback signal is sent to the user, as shown in block412. If the decision is ‘Yes’, a positive feedback signal is sent to the user, as shown at block414. Then, at block416, the method400updates the time and dosage taken in the medication schedule to the profile data.

In exemplary embodiments, the decision block410decides if an object is needed based upon the medication schedule that is accessed from the patient profile. Additionally, the medication identification data that is based upon the ID tag will be compared to the patient's profile which includes the medication schedule. For example, if the patient's medication schedule denotes that a patient must take a certain medication and the patient picks up the incorrect medication bottle as identified through the ID tag, a negative feedback signal will be sent to the patient via a smartwatch. An additional example, my send a positive feedback signal should the patient pick up the correct medication bottle according to the patient profile and medication schedule.

In exemplary embodiments, a user of the user device206may be a patient, a family member or friend of the patient, or a healthcare worker. For example, a nurse in a rural community may be treating a patient and will receive a medication order from a doctor for a statin drug to lower the cholesterol for a patient. The nurse may not be familiar with this particular medication or may know it under a different name. The nurse is wearing a smartwatch that is able to read the ID on the different medications for the patient. An accelerometer on the smartwatch is able to detect the nurse picking up the bottle. The ID tag on the medication bottle is checked to identify the medication. If the ID tag identifies the correct medication, i.e. the statin drug, the smartwatch would send positive feedback to the nurse to indicate a positive match for the prescribed medication. If the ID identifies the incorrect medication, the nurse will receive a negative feedback from the smartwatch to indicate that the bottle contains the incorrect medication.

In exemplary embodiments, the user device206receives a patient's profile information which contains the medical history of the patient which includes a list of medications, dosage information, and drug interactions and dependencies. For example, the user of a smartwatch may download their profile data from a computing device220onto the smartwatch. Then, when the user interacts with an object such as a medication bottle, the smartwatch will read the ID tag204via its sensor208and compare the information found within the ID tag204with the patient profile to check for compliance. The compliance can be a medication schedule and/or dosage amount. For example, if a patient, in the morning, picks up a blood pressure medication bottle that is schedule for night time deliver, the smartwatch will send feedback to notify the user that this medication should not be taken at this time. When a patient does take a medication at the correct time, the profile data contained on the smartwatch is updated to reflect the user taking the dosage along with the time and date. Should the user pick up the same medication bottle on the same day, the smartwatch will notify the user, via feedback, that the user has already taken the medication dosage for that date.

In exemplary embodiments, the ID tag204may be a passive or an active RFID tag. The ID tag204may be disposed on the inside of an object202wherein the user device is unable to read the ID tag204when the object202is closed. For example, a prescription medicine bottle can have the ID tag204disposed on the inside of the bottle and the material of the bottle would obscure reading the ID tag204until the medication bottle's cap is removed. In embodiments, the active RFID tag may be activated via a piezoelectric circuit wherein the movement of the bottle could charge the active RFID tag for it to transmit a signal to a reader. In other embodiments, the RFID tag is a passive tag which is read by a smartwatch or other user device. The smartwatch may send out a periodic signal to read the passive RFID tag.

In additional embodiments, a patient's profile data contains a medication schedule in the form of restrictions. For example, if a medication can only be taken every four hours and the user device206comes within a threshold proximity of the user device206within the four hour period. A negative feedback signal can be sent to the user to alert the user that this medication has a time restriction associated with taking a dosage.

In exemplary embodiments, the system200can be implemented using a variety of technologies including an RFID tag. For example, a near field communication (NFC) protocol, a camera capable of reading a 1 dimensional or 2 dimensional bar code, or a camera configured to read the label on an object using optical character recognition (OCR) can be used for the user device206to retrieve information from an object202.

In another embodiment, the system200may be implemented in a training scenario for multiple applications. For example, a nurse may utilize the system to train on retrieving the correct medication bottle based upon an order. The feedback from a smartphone can help guide the nurse in selecting the appropriate medication in the appropriate order for a patient.