Abstract:
A label which notes the manipulation of objects which it labels by generating an altered electrical signature is provided.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from Provisional Application U.S. Application No. 60/817,980, filed Jun. 30, 2006, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a label which can provide an electrical signal indicative of the status of the object to which the label is affixed. In preferred embodiments it relates to the use of such labels in connection with dispensers of unit dose medications having a desired dispensing regimen and, in particular, to the use of such labels to sense medication events with such dispensers which gather and process information on patient compliance with the desired dispensing regimen.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     There are numerous settings where it is advantageous to have an indication of the status of an object. For example, there are settings where it is of importance to know if an object is intact or if it has been tampered with or accessed, and the time at which the tampering or access occurred. These settings include security labeling or tamper-proof packages for foods or beverages or pharmaceuticals. It is possible to incorporate devices which will provide this security and this information directly into the packaging for the objects. However, there are many times when it is inconvenient to do this or where a variety of different packaging is presented such that a great variety of devices would be needed to accommodate the range of packages.  
         [0004]     In the field of pharmaceuticals there is a growing appreciation that monitoring the timeliness and consistency of medication administration can lead to better patient compliance with desired dosing plans and to a better understanding of the drug&#39;s effectiveness on a patient-by-patient basis. Today, this sort of information is gathered and stored electronically in virtually all cases. In these settings there is a need to have an easy-to-use type of detector to note the drug dispensing events. It is also helpful if that detector can be relatively universal and readily adapted to detect dispensing from a range of drug containers and drug presentation formats. It should also be simple of construction and robust and not prone to the generation of “false positive” dose detection errors in which a false indication of dosing is generated. The present invention satisfies all of these needs.  
         [0005]     There is a special interest in the application of this invention to the field of pharmaceuticals and the assurance of the purity and proper administration of drug dosage forms. However, this invention can find application far beyond this field.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is a principal object of this invention to provide a conductive label capable of providing a changed electrical signal as a function of whether or not or how many times an object labeled with the label has been physically accessed or otherwise manipulated.  
         [0007]     It is an additional object to provide a system including such a label which system can sense and employ information about whether or not or how many times an object labeled with the label has been accessed or otherwise manipulated.  
         [0008]     It is an additional object to provide such a label and such a system which can be employed in medication compliance monitoring systems.  
         [0009]     A further object of the invention is to provide such a label and system incorporating this label which can be employed in improved medication compliance monitoring systems that can gather data concerning patient dosing of medications and store and optionally communicate the data concerning stored medication dosing events.  
         [0010]     Thus, in one aspect this invention enables an electrical-signal-providing label for attachment to an object such as a container and suitable for detecting one or more manual events, such as physical accessing involving the object and a system including such a label for using the detection of the event that the label provides. The label includes a stack of layers and an adhesive coating. In will also commonly include a disposable protective layer over the adhesive coating that is removed prior to affixing the label to the object. The stack of layers includes at least three layers. The first layer is a flexible, conformable layer made of or coated with an electrically conductive or semiconductive material. The second layer is made of a flexible, deformable, and compressible material. This second layer may be nonconductive or it may be electrically conductive but less conductive than the first layer. The third layer is typically similar to or like the first layer. It is flexible and conformable and is made of or contains a coating of flexible, conformable, electrically conductive or semi conductive material. The second layer physically and electrically separates the first and third layers and creates a characteristic electrical “signature” for the three layer stack which varies if and when the second layer is deformed or compressed. This electrical “signature” can be a conductivity value, a resistance value, a capacitance value or an induction value measured across the first and third layers and the intermediate second layer with and without deformation or compression. The first and third layers each have at least one electrical contact point to which electrical connection can be made for purposes of detecting the electrical signature and/or the variations in it measured across the three layers which occur when the object to which the label is affixed undergoes manipulation or access and the second layer is deformed or compressed.  
         [0011]     If the intermediate second layer is completely resilient such that it returns to tits original configuration after manipulation or deformation, then the signature should essentially return to its original value, as well. In this case, if multiple events are being detected, they may each present a similar signature from the baseline signature value. This will result in a change in signature which is not additive as multiple events are detected. If, however, the second layer is not completely resilient such that it does not essentially completely return to its configuration after manipulation or deformation each successive deformation or compression may produce a change in signature which is, at least in part, additive with the original value and thus distinguishable from the initial change in signature.  
         [0012]     In some embodiments of the invention it will be desired to detect a series of several events occurring over an area and it may be desired to identify which of the several events is being detected. This could occur, for example, if one were detecting the delivery of a series of doses of two or more drugs from a single membrane type array such as found with oral contraceptives. Often the two-connection configuration described above, with one connection being made to the conductive first layer and the second connection being made to the conductive third layer can provide this information with the compression or deformation of certain areas of the second layer yielding distinguishable signatures as compared to compression or deformation of other areas of the second layer. Alternatively, it may be helpful to have one or more, say one to four, additional connections to one or both of the first and third layers with the extra connection or connections being spaced apart from the first and second connections. It will be seen that different signatures are detected across various combinations of these multiple connections and that these different signatures will distinguish among compressions/distortions of different locations in the second layer and thus provide information concerning the particular event being detected, such as, for example in the oral contraceptive setting just mentioned, the particular drug being dispensed.  
         [0013]     The label includes an adhesive coating which is suitable for adhering the label made up of the stack of layers to the object in a location selected to receive a second-layer-deforming or compressing force when the object is accessed or otherwise manipulated.  
         [0014]     This label can be combined with an electrical detection circuit which detects variations in the electrical signature of the label. In one representative embodiment this circuit can feed a first fed electrical signal across the first and third layers. The circuit can then detect a first output signal across the first and third layers with the label in place attached to the object and no access to the object having been achieved. This provides a base electrical value for the signature which the detection circuit can read. Thereafter the circuit feeds a second fed electrical signal across the first and third layers with the label in place and detects a second output signal across the first and third layers. The first and second output signals are the same or at least similar to each other if no access to the object has been achieved. The first and second output signals differ from one another in a characteristic way if the second layer is being or has been compressed or deformed as a result of the object having been manipulated or accessed The circuit can include processors, indicators, memories, data transmitters and the like which can gather, store, and display or transmit information concerning manipulation or accessing of the object based upon the detected similarities or differences between the first and second output signals provided by these labels.  
         [0015]     In a favored aspect, this invention provides an electrical-signal-providing label system for detecting the dispensing of one or more doses of medication from a container to a patient. In this aspect the label as just described is suitably associated with, e.g. adhered to, a medication dose container or as part of packaging for the dose or doses of medication. The label is located such that proper manipulation of the medication container, for example the opening or opening and closing of the container, the working of a child-proof closure, the pushing of a lever to actuate an inhaler or the “bursting” of a pill from a “blister pack” or other flat format packaging will provide the needed second-layer-compressing force which alters the electrical signature and provides the indication of accessing or other manipulation of the medication dispenser. In most applications, the label is affixed to the container or packaging at this desired operative location. It will be appreciated that it is desirable to choose the location for the label to maximize the detection of actual accessing or manipulation events and to minimize the detection of spurious events  
         [0016]     In a further aspect the label of this invention can detect a series of accessing or manipulation events involving an object or a series of objects. In this case the label can remain as just described. The detection circuit can remain essentially the same, as well. In this case, the label is placed on the object in a location selected to receive a second-layer-compressing or distorting force each time the object is accessed and the electrical detection circuit is capable of gathering information in the form of a series of electrical signals. In this case, each time the object is accessed or manipulated, additional second-layer-compressive or distortive forces are applied to the second layer and the output signal (i.e. electrical signature of the label) is altered in a characteristic manner or in characteristic manners which can be detected and used as a record of the one or more accessings or manipulations. In preferred embodiments, this can be used to detect the delivery of a series of doses of a medication. The accessing of different objects can give rise to different signatures. Accordingly, in this aspect, it may be advantageous to employ a detection circuit which can distinguish among the different signatures.  
         [0017]     It will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that this label and label-detector combination has the potential to be quite universal in size and applicability. It will be further recognized that it can be used with a wide range of existing packages for objects and especially for the full range of existing medication dosage formats and dosage forms. The label does not involve complicated wire or printed traces but rather employs a robust stack of substantially uniform simple layered materials which is simply added to (adhered to) existing drug packaging. There is no reason to believe that it will not serve well with additional packaging such as new drug dosage forms or new dosage form containers as they are developed hereafter.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0018]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  are a pair of schematic, partially cross-sectional views of an event-sensing label and its combination with a detector system according to the present invention used with a container. In  FIG. 1A  the label is shown before the sensed event takes place. In  FIG. 1B  the label is shown as the sensed event is taking place.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  is a schematic, partially cross-sectional view of an event-sensing label and its combination with a detector system according to the present invention and a container depicting schematically the placement of the detector circuitry into the lid of the container.  
         [0020]      FIGS. 3A, 3B  and  3 C are three schematic, partially cross-sectional views of an event-sensing label and its combination with a detector system according to the present invention used with a conventional blister pack. In  FIG. 3A  the label is shown before any sensed events take place. In  FIG. 3B  the label is shown as a first sensed event is taking place. In  FIG. 3C  the label is shown as a second sensed event is taking place. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0021]     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a label  100  and overall system  200  are shown. As the term “label” connotes, the device  100  is substantially two-dimensional , having a thickness that is relatively small as compared to its length and width. Label  100  includes a first layer  10 , a second layer  12  and a third layer  14 . First layer  10  and third layer  14  are each a conductive or semiconductive layer. Preferably, they are each layers having a conductivity of at least about 10 −3  S/M. Materials having a conductivity of from about 10 −2  to about 10 6  S/M are preferred.) As this range of conductivities reflects, these layers  10  and  14  can be layers of conductive or semiconductive polymers or they can be conductive or semiconductive metallic layers such as an aluminum, copper, or silver layer. They can also be conductive and semiconductive inorganic compounds such as conductive or semiconductive metal oxides and sulfides. They can also be formed of conductive or semiconductive organic polymers. The conductive first and third layers  10  and  14  can be composed entirely or substantially of such conductive materials and may be applied directly onto opposing sides of the intermediate layer  12  such as by printing, by coating with a solution of the material, by chemical deposition such as by vapor depositing or sputtering. The layers  10  and  14  themselves can be made up a conductive layer and a substrate, most commonly a plastic substrate. Metallized polyamides such as metallized “nylon” and metallized polyesters such as polyethyleneterephthalate (“metallized Mylar”) are examples of commercially-available plastic substrates bearing a conductive metal layer.  
         [0022]     If a substrate material is used, it is generally preferred to arrange the layers such that the substrate is placed away from the middle (“second”) layer  12  and not between the middle layer  12  and the conductive coating of either of the conductive first and third layers  10  and  14 . The thickness of these first and third layers is not critical and can range from a nanometer or so in the case of directly-deposited layers without a substrate to up to 50 microns or so when including a plastic substrate which typically will be in the 5-50 micron range of thickness. If substrated conductive layers  10  and  14  are used, they need to be fastened to the intermediate layer  12 . This can be carried out using adhesives or thermal lamination methods. What is important is that these layers  10 ,  12  and  14  be robust and flexible and conformable to the object to which the label is attached.  
         [0023]     The second layer  12  is formed from a material which may be an insulator or a semiconductor or conductor of lower conductivity than the first and third layers  10  and  14 , for example having a conductivity that is from about 1×10 −2  to about 1×10 −6  times the conductivity of the first and third layers  10  and  14 . This layer  12  should have a substantial thickness, for example from about a few (5) microns to about 1 or 2 millimeters and particularly from about 10 microns to about 1 millimeter. This layer  12  separates the first and third layers  10  and  14 . The material of layer  12  should be deformable and compressible, such as resilient foam or plasticized polymer. It can be an organic polymer foam or a plasticized organic polymer sheet. As noted, at times it is desired to have a degree of electrical conductivity in layer  12 . This conductivity can be imparted to the material of later  12  by incorporating conductive or semiconductive organic polymers or liquids into the material of layer  12  or by incorporating conductive or semiconductive particles such as carbon or metal particles into the material of layer  12 .  
         [0024]     The relationship among these three layers, with a pair of conductive layers  10  and  14  separated by a deformable compressible middle layer  12  creates a characterizable electrical signature for the label  100 . That is, there is a characteristic resistance, a characteristic conductance, a characteristic capacitance and the like in label  100  when it is applied to the object being monitored which can be measured across layers  10  and  14 . When a force or pressure is applied to the three layer stack, this force can deform and compress at least in part the middle layer  12 . This compression or deformation will have the effect of altering the electrical characteristics or signature of the label  100 . This altering will be observed most commonly as decreasing the resistance, increasing the conductivity and changing the capacitance measured across layers  10  and  14 . If the layer  12  is conductive or semiconductive, this will typically reduce layer  12 &#39;s resistance or increase its conductivity. If layer  12  is substantially insulative, the compression or deformation will alter the capacitance measured across layers  10  and  14 .  
         [0025]     The labels of this invention generally can include a number of conventional additional label components as well. They can include printing on their outer surface. They can include a substrate or backing on their inner surface. This is present to provide mechanical strength to the label. They can include a layer of adhesive (shown as  22  on  FIG. 1 ), most commonly a pressure-sensitive adhesive on their inner surface or on the inner surface of the substrate or backing, if present to adhere the label to the object. They can also include a removable secondary backing sheet common to virtually all pressure sensitive-adhesive labels which covers the adhesive layer before use to protect it and which is stripped away to expose the layer of adhesive just before the label is applied to the object.  
         [0026]     In  FIG. 1A , a label  100  is shown attached to container  16  made up of cap  18  and body  20  with adhesive layer  22 . When a current or voltage is fed across layers  10  and  14  using power source  24  and conductors  26  and  28 , a signature signal, which can be based upon resistance, conductivity, current, capacitance, etc, is detected and measured by detector  30 , shown schematically and representationally as meter  30 . Meter  30  reads a value for the electrical signature that is depicted in the drawing as falling within a characteristic base range “B” as shown by the position of meter needle  32 . This characteristic signature range takes into account standard variation that would be caused by the environment in which the system is placed, for example variable conditions such as temperature and humidity, movement of the system itself and casual handling of the container  16  with the label  100  attached.  
         [0027]     In  FIG. 1B , a finger  34  is seem pushing down on label  100 . This could be done to access a freshness or pressure seal integrity button (not shown) under label  100  on the top  18  of container  16 . This freshness or pressure seal integrity button is the type of button which is resilient and flexes in and out when depressed when the container is intact and the container&#39;s internal atmosphere is under pressure. Such a button does not exhibit resiliency and is immovable if the container seal has been broken and the container&#39;s pressure released. As finger  34  pushes down on label  100  it distorts and collapses layer  12  to a characteristic extent. There could be a different characteristic degree of collapse depending upon whether or not the freshness and security seal was resilient or not resilient. This collapse or distortion of layer  12  causes a change in the electrical signal or signature measured by detector  30 . This is shown in  FIG. 1B  by the movement of needle  32  to a value “M” which is distinguishable by detector  30  from value “B”.  
         [0028]     Thus, label  100  provides an electrical indication as to whether of not the freshness or seal integrity button was accessed. In a simple manual operation of the device, an operator could note the signature of the label, in this case the amount of needle deflection, and write down whether the deflection indicated an intact seal or a ruptured seal and the time of the notation. Alternatively, in a more automated embodiment, the signature could be determined automatically and stored in a computer memory along with information concerning the time and date of the accessing.  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in another form of detector, the power source  24  and detector  30  could be incorporated into the cap  18  of the container  16  with the label  100  still on the outside of cap  18  in a position where it would be contacted in a characteristic way which would distort and or compress layer  12  each time the object (freshness button or seal integrity button) was accessed. The cap could contain additional electronics such as clock  36 , memory  38  and signaling unit  40  which could gather and store and transmit information concerning the integrity of the package, based upon the contacting of the freshness button through the layer  100  as well as the time of the contacting, thus producing a record of the integrity of the package over time.  
         [0030]     It will be appreciated that the label can be placed on container  16  in a number of alternate locations or could be used to provide a range of indications of manipulation besides that just described. For example, if container  16  is a drug container and cap  18  is a “child proof” cap which requires a downward force to unlatch, label  100 , placed as shown, could give an indication of each time the cap  18  is depressed to open the container  16 . This could provide a record of when the patient removed doses of drug from the container  16 . Alternatively, the label could be wrapped and affixed circumferentially around the cap  18 . If cap  18  was a security closure which required a pinching or tight grasping to activate, the force of the pinching or grasping could be used to distort or compress layer  12  and generate an electronic signature change measured across layers  10  and  14  as an indication of accessing of the contents of the container  18 . Again, this signal or signature change could be stored or used as desired.  
         [0031]     As shown in FIGS.  3 A-C, the label of this invention  100  can be used in overall system  300  in conjunction with a conventional blister package  39  of the type used to dispense medication unit dosage forms (pills, capsules, etc) and also to dispense other small objects such as bolts, automotive parts, hardware and the like. As previously discussed, label  100  includes conductive layers  10  and  14  separated by compressible/distortable spacer layer  12 . Label  100  is adhered to blister pack  39  by adhesive layer  22 . Blister pack  39  contains a plurality of objects  41 ,  42  and  44 , individually packed between flexible layer  46  and frangible flexible layer  48 . Conductive layers  10  and  14  are electrically coupled via electrical contacts  50  and  52  and conductors  54  and  56  to the detector  58  which is shown enclosed within housing  60 . Detector  58  includes meter  30  with needle  32  which is depicted to represent generically any type of detector which would register the electrical signature of the label  100  when layers  10  and  14  are connected into the detector circuit and would register changes in this signature when layer  12  is compressed or distorted. The detector  58  further includes other components such as the timer, memory and communication components identified as  36 ,  38  and  40  and previously discussed.  
         [0032]     As depicted in  FIG. 3A , when all of the objects are present in blister pack  39  and no distortive or compressive force is being applied to label  100 , meter  30  and needle  32  register a “B” or base value for the electrical signature of label  100 .  
         [0033]     In  FIG. 3B , finger  34  is seen pushing down on label  100  thus applying a layer  12  distorting force to label  100 . This distorting force is being transmitted through to blister pack  39  where it is sufficient to push object (pill)  44  through layer  48  for dispensing to the user. As this happens, the electrical signature detected by meter  30  and needle  32  changes to a value “1”. This value is the signature characteristic of the dispensing of a first object  44  from the blister pack  39 . The detector  58  can create a record of this event including information as to when it occurred.  
         [0034]     In  FIG. 3C , finger  34  can be seen repeating the expressing of an object out of the blister pack  39 . In this case, object (pill)  42  is being dispensed to the user. Again, the force needed to express the object  42  through frangible layer  48  is also sufficient to further compress and/or deform compressible/deformable layer  12  in label  100 . This compression/distortion, taken together with some or all of the compression/distortion that occurred when object  44  was removed, leads to yet a new electrical environment within label  100  which leads to a yet different signature signal being sent and detected by detector  58 . This new signal is shown on meter  30  as needle  32  position “2”.  
         [0035]     Thus, using the label  100  it is possible to detect not only single events but also multiple events, whether simultaneous multiple events or sequential multiple events.  
         [0036]     It can be seen that in system  300 , the label  100 , the blister pack  39  and the detector  58  can all be joined into a single unit. This enables a standard blister pack to be used. Since the label  100  does not rely upon the breaking of breakable fine wires, printed traces or the like other traces to provide the signal of object access, the alignment of the label and the blister is not critical. This is an advantage that has universal application. It makes it possible for the label and the object (blister pack, container, etc) that the label is monitoring to be quickly assembled in the field away from complicated assembly equipment.  
         [0037]     The detector  58  shown in  FIG. 3  will typically continuously or periodically monitor the electrical signals from the label  100 . When a change in one or more of these signals is detected it is transmitted to a central processor including components  36 ,  38  and  40  as previously described. The central processor reads the appropriate time associated with the detected signal as obtained from a time keeping unit  36 , and this time information related to the accessing event is stored in memory  38 . The time resolution of this event record is given by the accuracy of the time-keeping circuit and the frequency with which the central processor inspects the digital signals from the detector. The time resolution should be such as to lead to meaningful data concerning the accessing events. For example to give information as to a patient&#39;s compliance with a drug dosing regimen or lack thereof.  
         [0038]     In one embodiment, the conductive layers  10  and/or  14  or the less conductive compressible/deformable layer  12  are implemented using one or more electrically-conducting organic materials such as the conductive organic polymer marketed as Baytron™.  
         [0039]     An advantage of conductive polymers in this application is that they can be applied as thin-film sheets of conductive/semiconductive polymer or they can be cast in place as such layers.  
         [0040]     In preferred embodiments, some or all of the layers  12 ,  14  and/or  16  make use of organic conductors and/or organic semiconductors. Conductive polymers include conjugated polymers. These are described, for example at,  Chemical Innovation , Vol. 30, No. 1, 14-22 (April 2000), and in the report entitled “P-235 Conductive Polymers” by Mel Schlecter, published October 2003 by Business Communications Company, Inc. Representative conductive polymers include poly(aniline), poly(acetylene), poly(N-vinylcarbazole), poly(pyrrole), poly(thiophene), poly(2-vinylpyridine), poly(p-phenylenevinylene), poly(naphthalene) and related derivatives. Some of the conductors can be formed of carbon fibers and the like, or can incorporate carbon fibers or particles if desired.  
         [0041]     The labels of this invention include a layer of adhesive  22 . This adhesive is commonly a pressure sensitive adhesive such as a polyolefin or polyacrylate and can be present with or without a substrate or backing layer. A substrate, if present, can be formed of common flexible film-forming structural polymers such as polyethyleneterephthalate and other polyesters, olefin polymers such as polyethylene, aromatic polymers such as polystyrene and the like.  
         [0042]     In the systems of this invention the processor, which is usually physically connected to the detector through the flexible substrate and electrically through carious conductive circuitry on the substrate, provides the functional electronic building blocks that are required for at least the reception of the detected dispensing event signals and generally the storage of this event information and the transmission of the information, as detected or after storage, to an outside system.  
         [0043]     In these systems, the processor can include signal comparators for detecting these signal modifications, clocking and absolute time-keeping circuits, a central processor that monitors the detector signaling circuits and stores detected dispensing events together with their time in appropriate memory cells, a wireless radio-frequency or optical communication interface for transmitting all this information to an outside system, optional sensor modules such as temperature, touch sensing or other devices for patient input, an optional display or enunciator module for providing visual or audible feedback to the patient, all powered by the power-supply such as a battery or photovoltaic cell, with this detector and processor.  
         [0044]     This processor can also provide an information retrieval and retransmission system that can read the data provided by the detector and transmit it either to the medication-prescribing physician or to an organization that collects and compiles such data as indications of the times at which medication doses were taken in order to present the data to the medication-prescribing physician in appropriate form.  
         [0045]     This detection can be specific for individual dosage forms or it can be based on the overall collection of dosage forms, depending upon whether or not information concerning specific individual doses is needed as would likely be the case if the system were monitoring the dispensing of doses of more than one drug with a single device. The processor obtains this information, combines it with an absolute or relative time stamp that is received from a clock generator and timing circuit, and the combined information can be stored in a digital memory.  
         [0046]     The system can also contain a wireless communication module, with which the central processor can communicate the medication removal events to the information retrieval and retransmission system. This process is implemented either as a radio-frequency link or an optical link, preferentially using infrared light as known from television remote controls.  
         [0047]     Once the power supply is connected to the system, the clock generation module begins to operate and the central circuit is initialized. The absolute timing circuit either resets itself to zero before running continuously, or it can obtain the correct, absolute time from a radio station emitting standard time signals, such as the long-wave DCF77 time signal (77.5 kHz) provided by the German Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB or the WWVB time signal (60 kHz) provided by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology NIST.  
         [0048]     The medication removal events together with their appropriate time stamps are most commonly stored by the central processor in the digital memory. This information can be read out and transmitted from time to time to an offsite information retrieval and retransmission system. Since the distance between this information retrieval and retransmission system and the medication event detection system of this invention is not known, there might be the need to provide the detection systems&#39; wireless communication module with quite a high level of transmitted RF or optical power.  
         [0049]     An alternative is to store all information in the unitary system processor memory until all of the unit doses of medication have been dispensed or the medication regimen has come to a close. The patient can then place the used detector-processor unit together with its flexible substrate into a container or receptacle which is stored at a location conducive to effective transmission of data, such as for example a location in the patient&#39;s home, which is combined with the information retrieval and retransmission system.