Abstract:
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and apparatus for converting a container into a smart bottle. According to a first aspect of the present invention, a smart-bottle apparatus may comprise a container portion comprising a plurality of individually addressable sensor pairs covering the wall of the container portion. According to a second aspect of the present invention, a smart-bottle apparatus may comprise a container portion comprising a plurality of individually addressable sensor pairs covering a neck portion of the container portion.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/785,213, entitled “Systems and Apparatus for Container Conversion,” filed on Mar. 05, 2013, invented by Jiandong Huang and Jason Jianzhong Chang, said application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/785,213, is hereby incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to systems and apparatus for container conversion and, in particular, to systems and apparatus for converting a bottle into a smart bottle with monitoring, verification and communication capabilities. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Monitoring and verification of patient compliance with a drug regime may be required for a variety of reasons, for example, management of patient care, verification of patient compliance in a clinical trial, correlation of medication consumption with patient symptoms and other reasons requiring detailed medical records of medicine intake by a patient. However, it may be prohibitively expensive to provide trained personnel to personally monitor and verify patient compliance. Therefore, systems and apparatus for providing monitoring and compliance with the drug regime may be desirable. Additionally, systems and apparatus for converting a drug bottle into a smart bottle with monitoring, verification and communication capabilities may further be desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and apparatus for container conversion and, in particular, systems and apparatus for converting a bottle into a smart bottle with monitoring, verification and communication capabilities. 
         [0005]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, a bottle may be converted into a smart bottle. A tapered plug comprising a channel portion, wherein a first sensor is located proximate to a first end of the channel portion and a second sensor is located proximate to a second end of the channel portion, and a non-channel portion, wherein the non-channel portion houses a processor, a memory, a battery, a power-management system, a clock and a communication interface, may replace a standard container cap, thereby providing monitoring, verification and communication capabilities. 
         [0006]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and apparatus for static mass/volume measurement. 
         [0007]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and apparatus for dynamic mass/volume measurement. 
         [0008]    The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a picture illustrating an exemplary drug-protocol compliance scenario; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a distribution center, a consumption environment and a monitoring and verification center; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a picture illustrating initialization of monitoring and consumption parameters and information in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a picture illustrating activation of a monitoring and verification process in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a picture illustrating activation of a communication link between a consumption environment and a monitoring and verification center in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a smart-bottle system comprising a lid-motion detector, a clock, a mass/volume measurement system, a processor, a battery, a power-management system, a memory and a communication interface; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a chart showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a static mass/volume measurement; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a static mass/volume measurement based on capacitance measurements of individually addressable half metal ring pairs; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a static mass/volume measurement based on capacitance measurements of individually addressable half metal ring pairs; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a chart showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a dynamic mass/volume measurement; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a sensor array for dynamic mass measurement; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a sensor array for dynamic mass measurement; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a mechanical shuffle to prevent simultaneous multiple pill passage through a sensor array; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a size disk; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a tapered plug for converting a bottle into a smart bottle; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a picture illustrating exemplary embodiments of the present invention comprising a tapered plug for converting a bottle into a smart bottle. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Embodiments of the present invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The figures listed above are expressly incorporated as part of this detailed description. 
         [0026]    It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the methods, systems and apparatus of the present invention is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but it is merely representative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention. 
         [0027]    Elements of embodiments of the present invention may be embodied in hardware, firmware and/or a non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon/in which may be used to program a computing system. While exemplary embodiments revealed herein may only describe one of these forms, it is to be understood that one skilled in the art would be able to effectuate these elements in any of these forms while resting within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0028]    Although the charts and diagrams in the figures may show a specific order of execution, it is understood that the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of the blocks may be changed relative to the shown order. Also, as a further example, two or more blocks shown in succession in a figure may be executed concurrently, or with partial concurrence. It is understood by those with ordinary skill in the art that a non-transitory computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon/in which may be used to program a computing system, hardware and/or firmware may be created by one of ordinary skill in the art to carry out the various logical functions described herein. 
         [0029]    Some embodiments of the present invention may comprise a computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon/in which may be used to program a computing system to perform any of the features and methods described herein. Exemplary computer-readable storage media may include, but are not limited to, flash memory devices, disk storage media, for example, floppy disks, optical disks, magneto-optical disks, Digital Versatile Discs (DVDs), Compact Discs (CDs), micro-drives and other disk storage media, Read-Only Memory (ROMs), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROMs), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROMS), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROMs), Random-Access Memory (RAMS), Video Random-Access Memory (VRAMs), Dynamic Random-Access Memory (DRAMs) and any type of media or device suitable for storing instructions and/or data. 
         [0030]    Monitoring and verification of patient compliance with a drug regime may be required for a variety of reasons, for example, management of patient care, verification of patient compliance in a clinical trial, correlation of medication consumption with patient symptoms and other reasons requiring detailed medical records of medicine intake by a patient. However, it may be prohibitively expensive to provide trained personnel to personally monitor and verify patient compliance. Therefore, systems and apparatus for providing monitoring and compliance with the drug regime may be desirable. Additionally, systems and apparatus for converting a drug bottle into a smart bottle with monitoring, verification and communication capabilities may further be desirable. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary drug-protocol compliance scenario  100 . The graph in  FIG. 1  depicts pill count  102  along the vertical axis and time  104  along the horizontal axis. Ideal pill consumption  106  may be indicated by a line segment starting at an initial commencement time  108  and ending at a termination time  110 . The initial commencement time  108  may correspond to the time at which a patient may be instructed to commence consumption of a medication, for example, to administer an initial dose. While the termination time  110  may correspond to the time at which the last dose distributed may be administered. Clinical tolerances for under-consumption  112  and over-consumption  114  may be depicted by dashed lines and may correspond to a range  116  of consumption values, over time, that may be in compliance with the drug regime. The heavy, dark line  118  may indicate actual consumption. Time intervals, for example, the time interval between indicator  120  and  122 , in which actual consumption  118  falls outside the range  116  of clinical tolerance may indicate violations of the drug regime. 
         [0032]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and apparatus for monitoring and verifying compliance with a drug regime. 
         [0033]    Some embodiments of the present invention may be understood in relation to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  depicts a system  200  comprising a distribution center  202  for distribution of medication, for example, a medical center, a medical clinic, a pharmacy, a hospital, a clinical research facility and other facilities from which medication may be distributed directly to patients or patient representatives. The system  200  further comprises a consumption environment  204 , whereat a patient may consume the distributed medication. The system  200  further comprises a monitoring and verification center  206 , whereat consumption information may be evaluated and monitored by the requisite professionals. In some embodiments of the present invention, the consumption environment  204  may be communicatively coupled with the monitoring and verification center  206  via a communication link  208 . In some of these embodiments, the communication coupling may be between a smart bottle, wherein the medication may be housed and from which it may be obtained by the patient for consumption, and the monitoring and verification center  206 . Exemplary communication links  208  may include a wireless link, a cell-phone-based communication link and other communication links intended for data transmission and communication. 
         [0034]    In alternative embodiments, a smart bottle may be transported to a monitoring and verification center in order to download, directly from the smart bottle, consumption information. 
         [0035]    Some embodiments of the present invention may be further understood in relation to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . At a distribution center  202 , a smart bottle  300 , comprising a container portion  302  and a cap portion  304 , also considered a lid portion, may be filled with an appropriate amount of medication  306  to sustain a pre-determined interval of time in a drug regime. Monitoring and consumption parameters and information may be reset, input and/or initialized at this time. The monitoring and consumption parameters and information may be stored in a memory within the smart bottle  300 . In some embodiments, a clock, within the smart bottle  300 , may be initialized. In some embodiments, physical parameters related to the geometry, for example, the radius, the height, the shape and other descriptive parameters, of the container portion  302  of the smart bottle  300  may be initialized. In some embodiments, an initial pill count corresponding to the number of pills initially placed within the smart bottle  300  may be initialized. In some embodiments, a number of doses corresponding to the number of patient doses of medication initially placed within the smart bottle  300  may be initialized. In some embodiments, a description of ideal consumption rate and clinical tolerances may be initialized within the smart bottle  300 . In some embodiments, a per pill weight may be initialized within the smart bottle  300 . In some embodiments, a per dose weight may be initialized within the smart bottle  300 . In some embodiments, an initial volume corresponding to the volume of a liquid medication initially dispensed may be initialized. The above-described monitoring and consumption parameters and information are by way of example and not limitation. The filled smart bottle  300  may be sealed  308 . The filled smart bottle  300  may be distributed, to a patient, from the distribution center  202 . 
         [0036]    Some embodiments of the present invention may be further understood in relation to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 . A patient may activate a monitoring and verification process of the smart bottle  300  by removing  402  the cap portion  304  of the smart bottle  300  from the container portion  302 . 
         [0037]    Some embodiments of the present invention may be further understood in relation to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 . A patient may activate a communication process of the smart bottle  300  by subsequent replacement  502  of the cap portion  304  of the smart bottle  300  on the container portion  302 . Activation of the communication process may comprise activation of the communication link  208  between the consumption environment  204  and the monitoring and verification center  206 . Consumption information may be communicated between the smart bottle  300  and the monitoring and verification center  206 . The difference between the amount of medication  306  in the smart bottle  300  prior to the removal of the cap portion  304  and the amount of medication  504  in the smart bottle  300  subsequent to the replacement  502  of the cap portion  304  may be considered the amount of medication consumed at a time commensurate with the removal and/or replacement of the cap portion  304  of the smart bottle  300 . 
         [0038]    Some embodiments of the present invention may be described in relation to  FIG. 6 . A smart-bottle monitoring, verification and communication system  600 , also considered a smart-bottle system, integral to a smart bottle may comprise a lid-motion detector  602  for detecting motion of a cap portion of the smart bottle. The lid-motion detector  602  may detect motion of the cap portion of the smart bottle and may determine a motion event, for example, “removal” or “replacement,” associated with the lid motion. The smart-bottle system  600  may comprise a clock  604  for providing a time stamp in response to a detected motion event. The clock  604  may be reset, or initialized, at which time the smart bottle is initially filled or refilled. The smart-bottle system  600  may comprise a mass/volume-measurement system  606  for measuring the mass and/or volume of medication within the smart bottle. The smart-bottle system  600  may comprise a battery  608  for providing power to power-consuming portions of the smart-bottle system  600 . The smart-bottle system  600  may further comprise a power-management system  610  to efficiently manage the power consumption of the smart-bottle system  600 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the power-management system  610  may comprise a wireless charger. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the power-management system  610  may comprise a wired charger. In some embodiments of the present invention, the power-management system  610  may enter a low-power state based on triggers related to detected lid-motion events. The smart-bottle system  600  may comprise a processor  612  for effectuating computing processes related to lid-motion detection, mass/volume measurement, power management, and other processes related to the smart-bottle system  600 . The smart-bottle system  600  may comprise memory  614  for storing measurements, input data, initialization data, system parameters, computer instructions and other data required for the operation of the smart-bottle system  600 . The smart-bottle system  600  may comprise a communication interface  616  for receiving input data for initialization and for transmitting consumption information and alerts. 
         [0039]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprising static mass/volume measurement may be understood in relation to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  depicts exemplary operational method(s)  700  for a smart-bottle system. Lid motion, also considered a motion event, may be detected  702 , and a time stamp associated with the lid motion may be obtained  704 . The motion event may be classified  706 , for example, as a “removal” event in which a cap portion may be removed from a container portion, and a “replacement” event in which the cap portion may be replaced on the container portion. The classified motion event may be examined  708 . If the motion event is classified as a “removal” event  710 , then the time stamp associated with the lid motion may be stored  712  as an “open” time stamp, or other label indicative of the “removal” event. The system may wait  714  to detect another lid-motion event. If no lid motion is detected  716 , then a comparison between the time spent in the wait cycle and a timeout limit may be made  718 . If the timeout limit is not exceeded  720 , then the wait for lid motion  714  may continue. If the time out limit is exceeded  722 , then an alert may be triggered  724 . If lid motion is detected  726 , the operation may continue by associating a time stamp  704  with the motion event. When a motion event is classified as a “replacement” event  728 , a static measurement of the mass and/or volume remaining in the container may be made  730 , and the time stamp associated with the lid motion may be stored  732  as a “close” time stamp, or other label indicative of the “replacement” event. The measured mass and/or volume may be stored  734 . Data may be readout  736  and transmitted  738 . The system may enter  740  a low-power state while waiting  742  for another lid-motion event. 
         [0040]    In some embodiments of the present invention described in relation to  FIG. 8 , a static mass, or volume, measurement may be made based on capacitance measurements.  FIG. 8  depicts a first view  800  of a container portion  802  of a smart bottle. The walls  804 ,  806  of the container portion  802  of the smart bottle may be covered by a plurality of half metal rings that may be individually addressed by one, or more, sampling circuits. Two exemplary cross-sections  808 ,  810  are depicted in  FIG. 8  at two heights  812 ,  814 , respectively, on the container portion  802  of the smart bottle. Each exemplary cross-section  808 ,  810  may be associated with a corresponding half metal ring pair  816 ,  818 . A capacitance distribution measured by addressing each of the half metal rings may be related to the number of pills (five shown  820 - 825 ) in the container. For example, a low capacitance may be measured at cross-section  808 , where there are no pills within the cross-section, while a higher capacitance may be measured at cross-section  810 , where the cross-section cuts across multiple pills  821 ,  824 ,  825 . For each ring, a capacitance may be determined according to: 
         [0000]        C   k =ε k   f ( R ),
 
         [0000]    where C k  may denote the capacitance of the kth ring, f(R) may be a configuration constant associated with the container geometry and ε k  may be directly correlated to the number of pills in the cross-section of the kth ring. Therefore, the number of pills may be determined at a given time by measuring the individual capacitances at each of the half metal ring pairs. 
         [0041]      FIG. 9  illustrates the state of a container at a first time  900  and the state of the container at a second time  902 .  FIG. 9  also illustrates a plot  908 ,  910  of capacitance  904  versus height  906  for each container state  900 ,  902 , respectively. With the removal of pills between the first time and the second time, the measured capacitance is correspondingly lower at rings located toward the top of the container. For example, at cross-section  912  at the first time, the capacitance is greater than at the corresponding cross-section  914  at the later time after which number of pills within the container has decreased. 
         [0042]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprising dynamic mass measurement may be understood in relation to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 10  depicts exemplary operational method(s)  1000  for a smart-bottle system. Lid motion, also considered a motion event, may be detected  1002 , and a time stamp associated with the lid motion may be obtained  1004 . The motion event may be classified  1006 , for example, as a “removal” event in which a cap portion may be removed from a container portion, and a “replacement” event in which the cap portion may be replaced on the container portion. The classified motion event may be examined  1008 . If the motion event is classified as a “removal” event  1010 , then the time stamp associated with the lid motion may be stored  1012  as an “open” time stamp, or other label indicative of the “removal” event. The system may wait  1014  for dynamic-mass-measurement sensor activation. If no dynamic-mass-measurement sensor activation is detected  1016 , then a comparison between the time spent in the wait cycle and a timeout limit may be made  1018 . If the timeout limit is not exceeded  1020 , then the wait for dynamic-mass-measurement sensor activation  1014  may continue. If the time out limit is exceeded  1022 , then an alert may be triggered  1024 . If dynamic-mass-measurement sensor activation is detected  1026 , a dynamic mass measurement may be made  1028  and the operation may wait to detect another lid-motion event. When a motion event is classified as a “replacement” event  1030 , the time stamp associated with the lid motion may be stored  1032  as a “close” time stamp indicative of the “replacement” event. The measured mass may be stored  1034 . Data may be readout  1036  and transmitted  1038 . The system may enter  1040  a low-power state while waiting  1042  for another lid-motion event. 
         [0043]    Dynamic mass measurement according to some embodiments of the present invention may be understood in relation to  FIGS. 11-13 . 
         [0044]    Some embodiments of the present invention may comprise a sensor array housed in the neck of a smart bottle. Detection of pill position along the sensor array in time may determine a direction of movement associated with a pill.  FIG. 11  illustrates a smart bottle  1100  comprising a container neck  1102  through which a pill  1104  must traverse  1106 . An exploded view  1108  of a sensor array  1110  is also illustrated in  FIG. 11 . A pill  1112  may be sensed at a first location  1114  on the sensor array  1110 . A subsequently sensed pill  1116  may be sensed at a later time at a second location  1118 . The relative temporal/spatial relationship between the sensed pill locations may be resolved to determine a direction of motion associated with a pill, and a dynamic measurement of change in pill count within the container  1100  may be made. In some embodiments of the present invention, the sensor array may comprise half metal rings and a capacitance measurement may be used for sensing pill location. In alternative embodiments, a light-emitting diode/photo detector pair may be used to monitor pill motion. 
         [0045]    In some embodiments of the present invention described in relation to  FIG. 12 , the aperture at the neck  1200  of the container  1202  may be large enough to allow multiple pills  1204 ,  1206  to traverse  1208  the sensor array  1210 , shown in an exploded view  1212 . Both pills  1204 ,  1206  may be detected at an initial location  1214  on the sensor array  1210  at an initial time. However, the pills  1204 ,  1206  may traverse the sensor array at different speeds. For example, a first of the pills  1204  may detected at a second location  1216  at a second time. While a second of the pills  1206  may be detected at a third location  1218  at the second time. In some embodiments of the present invention, tracking methods may be used to resolve pill motion. 
         [0046]    In alternative embodiments described in relation to  FIG. 13 , a mechanical shuffle  1300  may be placed near the neck  1302  of the container  1304  thereby restricting the flow of pills through the sensor array and alleviating the necessity of the tracking processing to resolve ambiguities. 
         [0047]    In alternative embodiments described in relation to  FIG. 14 , a size disk  1400  comprising a plurality of holes (three shown)  1402 ,  1404 ,  1406  of varying sizes may be placed near the neck  1408  of the container  1410 . The size disk  1400  may be turned to align the desired hole size with the neck aperture, thereby restricting pill flow through the neck  1408 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the size disk  1400  may turn to a closed position upon cap replacement, thereby effectuating a barrier between the neck  1408  of the container  1410  and the main storage compartment  1412  alleviating pill leakage into the main storage compartment  1412 , thus ensuring that all pills may be counted. 
         [0048]    Some embodiments of the present invention comprise systems and apparatus for converting a standard pill container, or bottle, into a smart bottle. Exemplary embodiments may be understood in relation to  FIG. 15 . 
         [0049]    Medication may be dispensed in a standard bottle comprising a container Portion  1502  and lid portion (not shown). The container portion  1502  may be retained, while the lid portion may be discarded and replaced with a smart plug  1504  and plug cap  1506 . The smart plug  1504  may be embodied in a tapered cylindrical shape allowing the plug to fit within a plurality of different sized container portions. The smart plug  1504  may comprise a channel portion  1508  through the middle, or other portion, of the smart plug  1504 . The channel  1508  may comprise a tapered entrance at the top  1510  and bottom  1512  of the smart plug  1504 . The channel  1508  may comprise a main channel  1514  that may extend between the tapered entrance at the top  1510  and bottom  1512  of the smart plug  1504 . The smart plug may comprise a first sensor  1516  located proximate to one  1518  of the entrances to the main channel  1514  and a second sensor  1520  located proximate to the other  1522  of the entrances to the main channel  1514 . The size of the main channel  1514  may be based on the size of medication to be dispensed. In some embodiments, the channel size may be selected to be greater than one times the size of a relevant dimension of the medication  1524 , but less than twice the size of the relevant dimension. In some embodiments, the relevant dimension may be the largest dimension of the medication. In alternative embodiments, the relevant dimension may be the smallest dimension of the medication. The relative triggering of the first sensor  1516  and the second sensor  1520  may determine the direction of medication movement. For example, if the first sensor  1516  is triggered prior to the second sensor  1520 , then the medication  1524  may be traversing the smart plug  1504  in a direction  1526 , whereby the medication  1524  may be “removed” from the container  1502 . And, if the second sensor  1520  is triggered prior to the first sensor  1516 , then the medication  1524  may be traversing the smart plug  1504  in a direction  1528 , whereby the medication  1524  may be “removed” from the container  1502 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the non-channel, tapered housing  1530  of the smart plug  1504  may house processing, memory and other components of the smart plug  1504 . In some embodiments of the present invention, the components described in relation to  FIG. 6  may be embedded in the non-channel portion of tapered housing  1530  of the smart plug  1504 . 
         [0050]    In some embodiments of the present invention, the first sensor may comprise a first capacitance sensor comprising a first half metal ring pair, and the second sensor may comprise a second capacitance sensor comprising a second half metal ring pair. In alternative embodiments, the first sensor may comprise a first light-emitting-diode/photo-sensor pair, and the second sensor may comprise a second light-emitting-diode/photo-sensor pair. 
         [0051]    In alternative embodiments of the present invention, a smart plug  1600  may comprise an edge-through channel  1602  through which a pill  1604  may enter  1606  or exit  1608  a container  1610 . 
         [0052]    A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a wide variety of uses may be employed for embodiments of the present inventions described herein. The exemplary embodiments described in relation to medical containers and medication are intended for illustration and not limitation. 
         [0053]    The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding equivalence of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.