Abstract:
A system comprising a medication tray ( 10 ) and a docking station ( 20 ) for facilitating effective self-management of medication treatment by patients is provided. The medication tray ( 10 ) accepts medication filled containers ( 30 ) and mates with the docking station ( 20 ). The medication tray ( 10 ) receives prescription data at the time the medication tray ( 10 ) accepts the medication filled containers ( 30 ), which is then downloaded to the docking station ( 20 ). The docking station ( 20 ) monitors and reports to third parties, via a network ( 160 ), a patient&#39;s compliance with various medication treatment regimens. Medication containers ( 30 ) are provided with low bit tags ( 35 ) that provide container presence information to the docking station ( 20 ). The docking station ( 20 ) provides visual and/or audio signals regarding prescription data to a patient. The docking station ( 20 ) can query patients and appliances regarding patient&#39;s medication usage and health status.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a medication adherence system comprising a smart medication tray and a cooperating docking station for assisting patients in adhering to medication schedules.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Many patients with chronic conditions have difficulty adhering to prescribed therapies. In general, the more medications taken and the more times each day that patients must use various therapies, the more likely there will be a medication error. Often patients have co-morbid conditions that interfere with their adherence to medication regimens. These conditions may include diabetes and associated complications such as blindness or lack of mobility, various neurological conditions and dementias, arthritis and associated difficulties in manipulating devices, and other debilitating conditions. The interactions of various co-morbidities can bring additional complexity and dynamism to medication regimens. Cognition also generally declines with age. Consequently, elderly patients may experience difficulty organizing their medications and remembering to take them as prescribed. Frequently, patients do not know what medications they are taking or why these medications are useful. These patients may lose motivation to adhere to their prescribed regimens. Often patients stop medications because they experience adverse side effects. Adjusting the medication dose, or switching to an alternative medication, can often minimize these side effects while maintaining significant health benefits. These problems are widely recognized, but there have been no cost-effective solutions to date.  
         [0003]     Several solutions to the above problems have been proposed. One category of devices monitors when the cap of a prescription pill bottle has been removed. This information is stored electronically and may be uploaded to a data network using a remote docking station. This method is convenient for a few medications, but difficult with many medications. In addition, the individual devices are relatively expensive. Aprex&#39;s (www.aardex.com) smart pill bottle cap is an example of such a device.  
         [0004]     Another category of devices includes vending machine concepts. These devices contain a plurality of medications and dispense them at an appropriate time specified by internal software and hardware systems. Few of these devices have been commercialized since they are relatively expensive to manufacture and have limited capacity for various medications. The reliability of these devices in a remote setting is also questionable. The e-pill MD.2 Monitored Automatic Medication Dispenser (www.epill.com) is an example of such a device, although it only dispenses a single medication container.  
         [0005]     A third category of devices uses a tray which is inserted into a portable device. These trays may be filled with medications as needed. The MEDGlider (www.informedix.com) is an example of such a device. This device has limited capacity for patients with chronic conditions. Also, since the medication tray is not identified to the main device, there may be confusion over which tray should be placed in the device. Finally, this devices does not include a medication package that contains all the medications to be taken at a single time. That is, patients using this device must remove each medication sequentially as they are reminded to by systems contained in the main device. This long sequence of taking multiple medications will limit the number of patients willing to use this device to those with relatively simple conditions, good cognition and strong motivation.  
         [0006]     A fourth category of medication management devices is an organizer/reminder device. Typically, these devices use small trays or compartments and are self-programmed by patients to remind them to take medications at a specific time. Typically, the patient also fills the device as needed. When patients either self-program or self-fill the device, errors can occur. These errors become more common as the complexity of the medication regimen increases. Conventional organizer/reminder devices do not prevent these kinds of errors. Since these devices do not record medication usage, and are not connected to a support service, they have limited positive effect on medication adherence.  
         [0007]     A fifth category of devices includes pill containers which contain radio frequency (RF) tags that are sensed on a platform. An example of such a device is disclosed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,999, incorporated by reference herein. These devices may contain a large number of pill containers on the device, but each pill container is placed individually on the device. This creates some difficulty for the patients using these devices since they have to place a large number of containers randomly on the device; there is also some potential that some containers will be lost. An additional limitation of this approach is the need to fill a large number of medication containers with a number of different medications all taken at a specific time by the patient. These containers must be filled with a high degree of accuracy and precision. In addition, labeling of containers that contain many medications is difficult since the containers may not be large enough to hold a legible label listing required information for each medication in the pill container.  
         [0008]     Other commonly-assigned U.S. patents and published international (PCT) applications disclosing related subject matter are listed below. Each of the listed patents and published applications is incorporated by reference herein.  
                                   4,731,726       4,768,177       5,200,891       5,642,731       5,897,493       5,954,641       5,997,476       6,024,699       6,101,478       6,102,855       6,161,095       6,168,563       W0 99/18532       W0 99/46718       W0 00/32098                  
 
         [0009]     The prior art does not satisfy the unmet needs for medication adherence as described above. Solutions to these needs form the objects of the present invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention provides a device and method to assist people who manage therapies at remote locations, especially medications. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, these medications are placed into a smart medication tray. information about the medications, their location on the tray, and when they are to be taken is transmitted to, and stored within, the smart medication tray. This medication tray can, in turn, be placed into a docking station. The docking station contains additional sensing elements so that it can both read the information embedded in the smart tray, and detect which medications have been removed from the tray. The docking station can interact with patients using audio, visual and tactile means, and communicate with remote information services over a network. The docking station can utilize the information embedded in the smart medication tray and additional sensory elements to remind patients when to take their medications, can provide information about the medications, can monitor adherence to the prescribed therapies, and can transmit this information to a remote support service that can further assist patients in managing their conditions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The various objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will be more readily appreciated from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the attached drawing, in which:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a medication adherence system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate perspective views of a receptacle in a medication adherence tray in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a first embodiment of a smart tag transceiver in accordance with an embodiment of the invention,  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a second embodiment of a smart tag transceiver in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a docking station and illustrates data flow within the medication adherence system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  illustrates a front perspective view of a medication tray and docking station in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  illustrates the mating of a container in a receptacle of the medication adherence tray and docking station in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  illustrates a flow diagram of a method for utilizing the medication adherence system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]     The various features of the preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like parts are identified with the same reference characters. The following description of the presently contemplated best mode of practicing the invention is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is provided merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a medication adherence system comprising a smart medication adherence tray  10  (medication tray  10 ) and a cooperating docking station  20 . The smart medication adherence tray  10  contains individual receptacles  25  for receiving removable medication containers  30 . The medication tray  10  also contains a means to store information about the medications on the medication tray  10 , and a means to communicate this information to the docking station  20 . The means to both store this information and communicate it to the docking station  20  will be henceforth referred to as a smart tag. The smart tag is shown schematically at  40  in  FIG. 1 . The smart tag  40  can use physical data connections, IR, and most preferably, radio frequency (RF) communication methods, all of which are well known to those skilled in the art of the invention.  
         [0022]     Medication tray  10  can be used for the automated (or manual) filling of medication orders for patients. Since the medication tray  10  contains medications in an ordered array with defined positions, automated filling and handling of orders is significantly enhanced over concepts intended for filling individual pill containers. At the same time the medication tray  10  is filled, information about the medications and prescription information can be encoded in the smart tag  40  contained in the medication tray  10 .  
         [0023]     Medication tray  10  is preferably filled by a pharmacist, generic drug provider, or prescription wholesale provider. Specific device configurations and equipment can be used to facilitate automated placement of medications into the medication containers (containers)  30 , and of the containers  30  into medication trays  10 .  FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate perspective views of a receptacle in a medication adherence tray, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  illustrates that there at least one, and preferably more than one receptacles  25  in tray  10 . These are shown as receptacles  25   a - 25   f.    FIG. 2B  illustrates a side perspective view of receptacle  25 a. There is a first hole  26 , which preferably extends through most of the depth of tray  10 . This provides a secure hold of container  30 , when it rests in first hole  26 . The mating of receptacle  25  and container  30  is shown and described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 7 . Referring back to  FIG. 2B , first hole  26  is greater in diameter than second hole  28 , which provides for the insertion of the low-bit tags on container  30  to appropriate sensors on docking station  20 . The low-bit tags and sensors are described in greater detail below. Because second hole  28  is smaller in diameter than first hole  26 , and for design purposes as well, there is a lip  27 , upon which the bottom of container  30  will rest when it is inserted into receptacle  25   a.    
         [0025]     Although an example has been illustrated of a hole-lip design for mating the container  30  with receptacle  25 , other designs are possible as well for example, receptacle  25  can be conical in shape such that the wide opening is at the tope of medication tray  10 , and the container  30  fits snugly within the cone shaped hole. Or, a press-fit mechanism can be used which allows container  30  to snap into receptacle  25 . There are other embodiments of retaining the container  30  which are well known to those skilled in the art of the invention and are considered to be part of the invention.  
         [0026]     Software tools can be used to manage medications, and special processes can be used to ensure high quality in the filling and dispensing process. In this preferred embodiment, multiple prescription patients would be the most advantageous users of the medication adherence system. As the medication tray  10  is loaded with prescription drugs, data about each prescription drug is loaded into the medication tray  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , medication information (1), prescription information (2) and tray data (3) can be loaded into the medication tray  10  by one of several different means. The particular mechanism will depend on the configuration of the smart tag  40  transceiver. Medication information (1), prescription information (2) and tray data (3) is collectively referred to as prescription data, and is described in greater detail below.  
         [0027]      FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a first and second alternative embodiment of a smart tag transceiver system  40  used on a tray  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 3 , smart tag system  40  is shown in its component form. There is a transceiver  350 , connected to a processor  302 , with memory and an I/O port. A power source  380  (which can be a rechargeable cell, standard alkaline cell, or similar type one-time-use-only cell) is connected to the circuit board  360  and then to processor  302  and transceiver  350 . Also shown is optional data port  370 . Data port  370  is an optional means for receiving data from the device that contains prescription data, when the medicines are loaded into containers, and the containers into tray  10 . Optionally, smart tag system  40  can be implemented as an integrated unit (or ASIC) as shown in  FIG. 4 . There, smart tag system  40  contains a processor, with memory and I/O, but still needs a power source  380 , and an optional data port  370 . These two embodiments function identically, and are transparent to the user of the medication adherence system.  
         [0028]     When prescriptions are loaded into the medication tray  10  (manually or automatically), the operator or loading-system will cause prescription data to be transferred into the medication tray  10 , via the smart tag  40  or data port  370 . One skilled in the art of the invention can appreciate that the means for transferring data are well known, and the details of such need not be repeated. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, medication information (1), prescription information (2) and tray data (3) can be transferred and stored in the medication tray  10 , for later use.  
         [0029]     Medication information (1) comprises data about which medications are contained in which container  30 , which specific position on the medication tray  10  each container  30  occupies, the time and date the medication is to be taken, information about how to take the medication, and other information commonly found on conventional medication labels, including the date dispensed. Prescription information (2) comprises data which identifies who dispensed and/or prescribed the medications and the name of the facility and/or operator that filled the medication tray  10  and/or containers  30 . Additional information can be included for the medication tray  10  as a whole, known as tray data (3), which can include the identity of the individual patient, the range of dates for the medications included on the medication tray  10 , expiration or “use by” dates, an identification number unique to that medication tray  10  (e.g., serial number), and the identity of the docking station  20  on which the medication tray  10  is to be placed. Each medication container  30  on the medication tray  10  can contain a single medication or a plurality of different medications to be taken together at the same time, as prescribed by the healthcare service provider (service provider).  
         [0030]     Multiple medication trays  10  containing medications can be provided to patients at a single time. For example, a single medication tray  10  can contain medications needed for a single week; however, multiple medication trays  10  containing medications can also be provided so that patients can be supplied for longer periods of time, such as a month. Since these medication trays  10  are uniquely identified through medication information (1), prescription information (2) and tray data (3) encoded in the smart tag  40  on the medication trays  10  when they are filled, patients can be advised of which medication tray  10  to place on the docking station  20  and whether the correct medication tray  10  was placed for the upcoming time period. Medication trays  10  can be scored with frangible connections in order to separate portions of a medication tray  10  in order to travel away from the docking station  20  for limited time periods. These frangible connections can also permit customization of medication trays  10  to individual patient needs.  
         [0031]     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , the docking station  20  contains a receptacle  50  for the medication tray  10 , means  140  to communicate with the smart medication tray  10 , access to a data network via network communication means  120 , a means  60  to communicate with nearby monitoring devices  70 , and acoustical, visual or tactile means  80 ,  90 , and  100  to communicate with patients. The docking station  20  also leads the patient to orient the medication tray  10  correctly into the docking station  20 . In addition, the medication tray  10  can be organized in a pattern which suggests the correct sequence of medications for the patient.  
         [0032]     Once the medication tray  10  is placed on the docking station  20 , the docking station  20  communicates with the medication tray  10  to download information contained in the smart tag  40  (i.e., medication (1) and prescription information (2), as well as tray data (3)) via communication means  140 . This information is then used to remind patients when to take their medications, inform them about medications, and monitor other assessment information in response to questions asked using the acoustical, tactile or visual means  80 ,  90 , and  100  to communicate with the patient.  
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of docking station  20 . In docking station  20 , microprocessor (processor)  502  communicates with, and handles communications between, acoustical interface means  80 , tactile means (push buttons)  90 , visual display  100 , smart tag communication means  140 , network communication means  120  and monitoring device communications means  60 . These communications occur over bus  504  (shown as dotted lines).  
         [0034]     Data obtained from visual display  100  and touch screens, push buttons and voice recognition software is known as assessment data type  1  ( 4 A). Assessment data type I ( 4 A) are the patient&#39;s responses to questions about the patient&#39;s health. Acoustical interface means  80  is preferably a speaker/microphone device, with speech synthesis and voice recognition software that resides in processor  502 . The speech synthesis software can include pre-recorded audio files of “generic” messages, for example “Please remember to take your medications today.” Alternatively, the speech synthesis software can generate detailed messages, with very patient specific information. An example might be “Good Morning Mr. Jones, please take medications A and B before breakfast. How do you feel? Please push the appropriate button visual display  100 , or speak your answer into the microphone now.” Alternatively, assessment data type I ( 4 A) can be received from the push buttons  90 . Questions can also be displayed simultaneously on display  100 , or only there, if desired.  
         [0035]     A real-time communications link  120  to a service provider  180  center can also be incorporated into the docking station  20 . Information about the medications contained in any particular medication container  30  on the medication tray  10  can be displayed on the docking station  20  via visual display  100 , thus constituting an electronic label for each medication on the medication tray  10  and docking station  20 .  
         [0036]     When the prescribed time to take a medication arrives, the docking station  20  can alert the patient to take a medication using the acoustical, tactile and visual means  80 ,  90 , and  100  or through wireless communications network  160  connectivity via pagers or other wireless devices  190  carried by the patient. This type of data is known as medication use data (and is a subset of medication information ( 1 ), described above). Visual means can include lighted indicators  12 a- 12 k (see  FIG. 6 , described in detail below) which identify specific pill bottles  30  to be taken, as disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 6,294,999. As shown in  FIG. 6 , patients can see important information on how to take the medications on the visual display  100  of docking station  20 , and/or on a personal device (such as a pager)  190 . In addition, the docking station  20  contains means  110  to detect when a specific pill container  30  has been removed. These means can include optical sensors, switches, RF tags, or low bit RF tags. This data is known as medication-taken data ( 6 ). Medication-taken data ( 6 ) is generated by sensors  110 , and is used by service center  180  to ascertain the patient&#39;s compliance with the patient&#39;s medication regime.  FIG. 7  illustrates and discusses the sensor  110  and containers  30  in greater detail below.  
         [0037]     Referring back to  FIG. 5 , patients can then remove the indicated container  30  of medications from the medication tray  10 , and receive important information about these medications. If a patient removes the wrong container  30 , the docking station  20  can alert and guide the patient regarding replacement of the incorrect medication container and selection of the correct medication container. Personal devices can use tactile means (i.e., vibration alerts) to unobtrusively alert patients to take medications; these means are now common on pagers and cellular telephones  190 .  
         [0038]     The docking station  20  can also communicate with various monitoring devices  70  including, but not limited to, blood pressure meters, weight scales, glucometers, insulin pumps or pens, inhalers, blood chemistries, and peak flow meters. The docking station  20  can prompt use of a monitoring device  70  and use the resulting monitoring information, known as assessment data type  2  ( 4 B), to adjust medication dosage dynamically. Information received by the docking station  20  from the service center  180  regarding dynamic medication dosage adjustment is known as modified medication use data ( 5 ). Various medication tray  10  designs can be used to simplify this process. For example, a medication that is adjusted frequently can be placed in a unique position to be taken with each of the other medication containers  30 . The docking station  20  can indicate proper dosage of this medication at the prescribed time, and monitor the amount of medications removed from the medication tray  10 .  
         [0039]     At regular (or irregular) intervals, the docking station  20  can communicate information about patient status through a data network  160  to the service center  180 . This information can include the time and identities of medications taken from the medication tray  10  and docking station  20  (part of tray data ( 3 )), whether the correct medication tray  10  was placed on the correct docking station  20 , monitoring information from nearby devices  70  that connect to the docking station  20  (assessment data type  2  ( 4 B)), and assessment information from patients&#39; responses to questions presented to them using means resident in the docking station  20  (assessment data type  1  ( 4 A)). The docking station  20  stores this information and then communicates it over a wide area data network  160  to a centralized data store, at service center  180 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 5  also illustrates data flow within the medication adherence system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. Medication information ( 1 ), prescription information ( 2 ) and tray data ( 3 ) is initially transferred to medication tray  10 , preferably via smart tag  40 . Medication tray  10  then transfers data types ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) to the docking station  20 . The docking station  20  can “transfer” data types ( 1 ), ( 2 ) and ( 3 ) to display  100  and acoustical interface means  80 . Also, display  100  and acoustical interface means  80  can transfer data type ( 5 ), which is modified medication use data (described in detail below), to patients as necessary. Display  100 , tactile means  90  and acoustical interface means  80  can also transfer assessment data type  1  ( 4 A) to docking station  20 . Assessment data type  2  ( 4 B) is received by communication means  60 , and transferred to docking station  20 .  
         [0041]     Docking station  20  also contains network communication means  120 , which provides communications via the network (Internet, LAN, WAN, and similar enterprises of that nature)  160 , to a service center  180 . Medication taken data ( 6 ), and assessment data types I and  2  ( 4 A,  4 B) can be communicated to the service center  180 . Also, medication information ( 1 ) can be transferred from the docking station  20 , through network communication means  120 , to the network  160  and then to pagers, cell phones, telephones or computers  190 , to alert patients to take their medicine.  
         [0042]     The service center  180  can receive medication taken data ( 6 ), medication and prescription information ( 1 ,  2 ), and assessment data types  1 ,  2  ( 4 A,  4 B), from the network  160  connected to the docking station  20 . The service center  180  can also receive assessment data type  2  ( 4 B) and medication taken data ( 6 ) directly from cell phones, and telephones. The service center  180  can send modified medication use data ( 5 ) directly to pagers, cell phones and telephones  190 . The service center  180  can also transfer modified medication use data ( 5 ) to docking station  20  via the network  160  and network communication means  120 .  
         [0043]     Once the patient data (assessment data types  1 ,  2  ( 4 A,  4 B) and medication taken data ( 6 )) has been stored, it can be processed so that healthcare providers are more efficient and effective. Healthcare providers can then communicate therapy, monitoring, and behavioral changes (modified medication use data ( 5 )) using the wide area data network  160  back to the patient via the docking station  20 , or other devices near the patient, via the network communication means  120 . Other devices can include pagers, cell phones, interactive video devices and conventional telephones  190 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 7  illustrates the mating of a container  30  in a receptacle  25  of the medication adherence tray  10  and docking station  20  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The preferred embodiment of the invention utilizes a RF smart tag  40  on the medication tray  10  and inexpensive “low bit” tags  35  on each medication container  30 . “Low bit” tags  35  refer to very inexpensive tags and readers that indicate only whether the container  30  is present and contain little information about the container contents. There are significant cost savings associated with this approach, since the combination of many low bit tags  35  and a single smart tag  40  is much less than the cost of placing a smart tag  40  on each medication container  30 . Since the medication tray  10  has “learned” the location of each container  30  and its contents when they were placed in the medication tray  10 , and corresponding data downloaded, medication taken data ( 6 ) is easily determined by the docking station  20  when the patient retrieves the container  30  from the medication tray  10 .  
         [0045]     The detector  110 , in one embodiment, is comprised of probes  702   a  and  702   b , to which are connected wires  704   a  and  704   b  respectively. These wires  704   a  and  704   b  are then connected to processor  502 . As one skilled in the art of the invention can appreciate, these wires can also be circuit board runs, or micro-strips. The diameter of container  30  is just smaller than the diameter of first hole  26 . This allows for a snug, but not too tight fit of container  30  into receptacle  25   a  The low-bit tag  35  fits through second hole  28 , which is smaller than first hole  26 , which provides for lip  27 , upon which the bottom of container  30  will rest when it is inserted into receptacle  25   a  When container  30  is placed into receptacle  25   a , low-bit tag  35  comes into contact with probes  702   a  and  702   b.  In a preferred embodiment, low-bit tag  35  is made of metal, and can allow a low voltage, low current signal to be conducted through it, which processor  502  can sense. Similarly, when container  30  is removed from receptacle  25 , processor  502  senses the breaking of the connection by the absence of the signal, and recognizes the particular container&#39;s  30  removal. This records, for example, that the container  30  located at row A, column  4 , has been removed (see  FIG. 6 ). If the patient removes the wrong container  30 , the docking station  20  can alert the patient of his or her mistake, by flashing a lamp  12   a  in a red color, along with an audio alert. In addition to the low bit tags  35  already described, mechanical switches and optical sensing devices such as silicon photodiodes or CCDs can be used as sensors  110  to determine the presence or absence of a medication container  30 . Also, the low-bit tags  35  can be RF tags, and the sensors  110  can be an RF transceiver, similar to the smart tag system  40 .  
         [0046]     While  FIG. 1  shows many medication container receptacles  25 , the number of receptacles  25  will be dictated by the complexity of the patient&#39;s disease state. Devices of various sizes can be used to match the needs of patients with different diseases and disabilities. These devices can have different user interfaces for communication as described above. Visual displays  100  can include touch screens, LCDs, electroluminescent displays, conventional CRT displays, and E-ink technologies. Numerous technologies exist for the smart tag  40  and smart tag reader  140 . These include various RF methods, optical communications (e.g., optocouplers), and physical serial connections.  
         [0047]     Visual cues to identify individual medication containers  30  can include the use of light emitting diodes or lasers of various colors, and light pipe configurations on the medication tray  10 . Organic diodes and electroluminescent methods, or E-ink, as developed by the MIT Media Lab, can also be convenient and low-cost methods of identifying individual pill containers  30 . In addition to light emission, the use of shape and color will also assist patients as they take medications. Connection to an external data network can include well-known methods such as RF, including 802.11 and Bluetooth standards, IRDA, various wireless data systems including pager networks, cellular packet data, and 2G and 3G systems, and physical serial connections such as the USB or Firewire standards.  
         [0048]      FIG. 8  illustrates a flow diagram of a method for utilizing the medication adherence system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The method of  FIG. 8  begins with step  802 , in which the containers  30  are filled with medicine. After being filled with medicine, the containers  30  are then loaded into a medication tray  10 , preferably in an order which is conducive to adherence to a medication regimen. Prescription data is then transferred, in step  806  to the medication tray  10 , via smart tag system  40 , or data port  370 , where it is stored in a memory, as described in detail above. The medication tray  10  is then shipped to a patient, or distributed to a pharmacy (whether at a hospital, urgent medical care facility or similar institution), and obtained by the patent. The patient will then dock the medication tray  10  into docking station  20  (step  808 ). The action of docking causes prescription data to be automatically transferred from the medication tray  10  to docking station  20 , via smart tag system  40  and means  140  (preferably a smart tag reader) for communicating with the smart tag system  40 . The prescription data is stored in suitable memory means.  
         [0049]     Once the prescription data is stored in memory means in docking station  20 , processor  502  ascertains the medication regime, either from the prescription data, or from communications received from a service center  180 , and begins, at the appropriate times and manner, to alert the patient to take the medications as directed (step  812 ). Docking station  20  verifies that the proper medications are being taken, at the proper times, and as much as possible, in the proper manner. At some point, docking station  20  can query the patent to ascertain his or her health and obtain assessment data (step  814 ). As discussed above, there are different types of assessment data, and these are collected and processed by the docking station  20 . The collected and processed assessment data can then be transferred to the service center  180  in the manner described more fully above (step  816 ). If necessary, in step  818 , the service center  180  can send modifying medication use data to the docking station  20 , and change (or not) the medication regime for the patent. The information received from the service center  180  can also be instructions to obtain further or a different type of assessment data, or a combination of these. Finally, in step  820 , new medication use information can be conveyed to the patient, in the various different methods already described. The method described in  FIG. 8  is but a brief summary of the steps more fully described in the preceding paragraphs.  
         [0050]     The use of defined medication and disease management protocols will assist healthcare providers in interacting with the medication adherence system of the present invention. The medication adherence system of the present invention can significantly reduce the time required to optimize and customize therapies for patients. The invention fulfills many of the unmet needs described above, and represents a significant improvement in patient care.  
         [0051]     The present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments described above. This can be done without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the preceding description.