Abstract:
A method and system for interaction with a community of individuals, relating to compliance with and effectiveness of treatment regimens, including supply and use of pharmaceuticals, using a protocol or other intelligent message which acts in place of a service provider and which is capable of collecting or imparting information to patients in place thereof. Individuals interact with the protocol or intelligent message to provide assistance in all aspects of treatment regimen compliance, data collection, supply or delivery, review and modification.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/233,296, filed Aug. 30, 2002, which is a continuation in-part of application Ser. No. 09/304,477, filed May 3, 1999, now abandoned. All of the above-identified applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. This application is also a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. Ser. No. 09/237,194 filed on Jan. 26, 1999, which is a Continuation of Ser. No. 08/481,925, filed Jun. 7, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,855 issued on May 4, 1999, which is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 08/233,397 filed on Apr. 26, 1994 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to interaction with a community of individuals, relating to treatment regimen compliance and efficacy, including supply and use of pharmaceuticals. 
     2. Related Art 
     When medical personnel prescribe treatment regimens for patients or “patients” undertake non-prescription treatment regimens (whether such regimens are prescribed or undertaken for medication, physical therapy, psychological therapy, self-improvement, or other purposes), a problem can arise in assuring that the patients comply with the requirements of the treatment regimen. For example, some patients are disorganized, forgetful, or simply unwilling to comply. When the treatment regimen has potential side effects, or when the treatment regimen is to be followed under stated conditions (for example: taking medicine with meals, not with alcohol, or in the evening), patient compliance can be relatively reduced even further. When the treatment regimen is relatively complex, some patients are even unable or unwilling to manage that treatment regimen. 
     Known methods for monitoring and controlling treatment regimens are relatively costly and limited in capability. Some known methods are described in the following patents: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,443, “Programmable Medication Dispensing System,” issued Apr. 18, 1995 in the name of Edward D. Weinberger. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,731, “Method of and Apparatus for Monitoring the Management of Disease,” issued Jul. 1, 1997 in the name of Bruce A. Kehr. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,235, “Electronic Medication Monitoring and Dispensing Method,” issued May 12, 1998 in the name of Bruce A. Kehr, et al. 
     While these known methods generally achieve the goal of monitoring and controlling a treatment regimen, particularly a medication regimen, they suffer from several drawbacks and limitations. 
     First, there is a need to provide a portable system to monitor and encourage compliance, and facilitate data collection, so that patients are restricted as little as possible regarding their activities and movements. 
     Second, there is a need to determine if patients are actually complying with treatment regimens at times when the patients are relatively remote to client devices for the system. Known methods do not provide adequate feedback to determine whether patients are complying with the treatment regimen unless they remain relatively local to client devices. 
     Third, there is a need to determine whether treatment regimens have the desired and intended effects. Known methods do not provide adequate feedback to determine whether treatment regimens are effective, or whether patients are suffering any untoward side effects. Using known methods, medical personnel must generally wait for patients to complain, or for medical tests to show, that prescribed treatment regimens are inadequate or are producing side effects. Similarly, using known methods, patients undertaking non-prescribed treatment regimens generally do not have effective or convenient systems to monitor and record whether non-prescribed treatment regimens are producing intended results. 
     Fourth, there is a need to inform patients to follow treatment regimens, particularly when patients are forgetful or treatment regimens are complex. Although known methods do include reminders to patients, it would be advantageous to tailor those reminders to patients&#39; actual compliance history (thus, providing fewer reminders when they are relatively less necessary and more reminders when they are relatively more necessary). 
     Fifth, there is a need to leverage expert knowledge to improve response to feedback from patients, and to reduce the time and expense required for medical personnel to individually monitor, evaluate and modify treatment regimens. 
     Sixth, there is a need to broaden application of reminder and expert knowledge leveraging systems beyond medication regimens, to include physical, psychological, self-improvement and other treatment regimens. 
     Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a portable device that can be coupled and uncoupled to a communication system with feedback to monitor patient compliance with, and effectiveness of, treatment regimens, so that input from patients regarding treatment regimens can be recorded, reviewed, analyzed and otherwise generally acted upon. Medical personnel and/or patients can thus (1) monitor compliance with treatment regimens, (2) monitor effectiveness or side effects of treatment regimens, (3) remind patients no more than necessary, and (4) possibly alter treatment regimens in response to feedback from patients. These advantages are achieved in embodiments of the invention in which a portable device is intermittently coupled to a client device in a client-server system, the patient enters information to the portable device about following the treatment regimen while the portable device is uncoupled, and medical personnel or the patient can receive that information and possibly alter the behavior of the portable device when the portable device is re-coupled to the system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a method and system for interaction with a community of individuals, relating to compliance with and effectiveness of treatment regimens, including supply and use of pharmaceuticals, using a protocol or other intelligent message which acts in place of a service provider and which is capable of collecting or imparting information to patients in place thereof. Individuals interact with the protocol or intelligent message to provide assistance in all aspects of treatment regimen compliance, data collection, supply or delivery, review and modification. These aspects can include (1) reminders regarding compliance with a selected treatment regimen for medication, physical therapy, psychological therapy, self-improvement, or some combination thereof, (2) data collection of facts regarding patient compliance, symptomology, possible drug interactions or side effects of medication if required by the treatment regimen, and other facts relevant to evaluation and possible modification of the treatment regimen; (3) networked integration with workstations for medical professionals to automate approvals and modifications, and refills and delivery of medication if required by the treatment regimen. 
     A system includes a set of client devices and a server device. A service provider determines a treatment regimen for selected patients, determines a protocol to be followed by the client devices to assist the patient in complying with that treatment regimen [in assisting with that medication regimen] and to maximize effectiveness of treatment, and sends that protocol to the server device. The server device can update (responsive to the protocol) selected instructions at the client devices, and can receive (responsive to selected instructions) information from the client devices regarding their associated patients. 
     In a first preferred embodiment, a client device, located locally to a patient, couples to a portable device (such as a cellular telephone, pager, “Palm Pilot” or other handheld computer, or watch), capable of being carried away by the patient to locations relatively remote from the client device. The client device can interact with the portable device: (1) to provide the portable device with the capability of reminding the patient regarding the treatment regimen, or (2) to provide the portable device with the capability of further data collection regarding the patient. The client device can interact with the portable device using a docking connection, an infrared connection, a radio-frequency connection, a plug-in connection, or another suitable connection. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system for interaction with a community of individuals to encourage and monitor compliance with a treatment regimen, using a protocol or other intelligent message which acts in place of a service provider to collect and impart information relevant to the treatment regimen; 
         FIG. 2  shows a process flow diagram of a method for operating a system for interaction with a community of individuals to encourage and monitor compliance with a treatment regimen, using a protocol or other intelligent message which acts in place of a service provider to collect and impart information relevant to the treatment regimen; and 
         FIG. 3  shows a first preferred embodiment of a portable device used by the system to encourage and monitor compliance with a treatment regimen, and to collect and impart information relevant to the treatment regimen. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the following description, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described with regard to preferred process steps and data structures. Embodiments of the invention can be implemented using general purpose processors or special purpose processors operating under program control, or other circuits, adapted to particular process steps and data structures described herein. Implementation of the process steps and data structures described herein would not require undue experimentation or further invention. 
     System Elements 
       FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system  100  to encourage and monitor compliance with a treatment regimen using a protocol or other intelligent message which acts in place of a service provider to collect and impart information relevant to the treatment regimen, including a patient device  110 , a pharmacist device  140 , a medical professional device  150 , and a server device  160 , said devices being coupled using a communication network  130 , and a portable device  112  which can be coupled to the patient device  110  to receive information regarding the treatment regimen and send feedback from the patient  111  responsive thereto. 
     For further information regarding a data structure and simplified patient interaction interface, and preferred embodiments of the patient device  110 , pharmacist device  140 , medical professional device  150 , and the server device  160  including database  161  of treatment regimen information, see related application Ser. No. 09/201,323, filed Nov. 30, 1998, in the name of Stephen J. Brown, titled “Leveraging Interaction with A Community of Individuals,” assigned to the same assignee, and other related applications incorporated by reference therein. 
     For further information regarding the protocol or other intelligent message used by the system, see related application Ser. No. 09/203,882, filed Dec. 1, 1998, in the name of Stephen J. Brown, titled “Remote User Data Collection Protocols Including Data Structures and User Interface,” assigned to the same assignee, and other related applications incorporated by reference therein. 
     For further information regarding a medicine dispenser which can be used by the system, see related application Ser. No. 09/203,880, filed Dec. 1, 1998, in the name of Stephen J. Brown, et al., titled “Using A Computer Communication System With Feedback to Dispense Medicine,” assigned to the same assignee, and other related applications incorporated by reference therein. 
     Portable Device 
       FIG. 3  shows a first preferred embodiment of a portable device  112  used by the system  100 . 
     In a first preferred embodiment, the portable device  112  includes a coupling element  113  for coupling the portable device  112  to the patient device  110 , a memory element  114 , a processor chip  115  including a clock circuit  116 , a presentation element  117 , and a patient feedback input element  118 . 
     A service provider determines a treatment regimen for selected patients  111  and a protocol to be followed by their portable devices  112  to assist the patients  111  in following the treatment regimen. The service provider sends the treatment regimen and protocol to the server device  160  where it is recorded in the database  161 . The server device  160  sends the treatment regimen and protocol information to the patient device  110 , and optionally to the pharmacist device  140  and the medical professional device  150 . 
     The portable device  112  is coupled to the patient device  110  using the coupling element  113 . The coupling element  113  may couple using a docking station, an infrared connection, a radio-frequency connection, a plug-in connection, other suitable means or any variant thereof 
     While coupled, the treatment regimen and protocol information received by the patient device  110  is sent to the portable device  112  and recorded in the memory  114 . In a first preferred embodiment, the power source  119  is rechargeable and the charge can be replenished by the patient device  110  while the portable device  112  is coupled to it. In alternative embodiments, the power source  119  is rechargeable and the charge can be replenished by some other device, or includes one or more disposable batteries. 
     After the treatment regimen and protocol information is recorded in the memory  114 , the portable device  112  can be uncoupled from the patient device  110  and taken with the patient  110  to locations relatively or logically remote from the patient device  110 . Whether the portable device  112  coupled or uncoupled to the patient device  110 , when the patient  111  is due to perform an act according to the treatment regimen, the portable device  112  uses the presentation element  117  to provide a reminder message instructing the patient  111  to perform that act. In a first preferred embodiment, the act to be performed is related to compliance with a medication regimen including, without limitation, obtaining medicine, taking medicine, taking medicine with another substance such as food or water, not taking medicine with another substance such as alcohol or incompatible medications, or obtaining a prescription refill. In alternative embodiments, the act to be performed may be pursuant to a physical therapy regimen including, without limitation, exercising, stretching, changing position, or changing work routine; pursuant to a psychological therapy regimen including, without limitation, repeating an affirmation, meditation, self-hypnosis or other mental activity; or pursuant to a self-help regimen or other type of treatment regimen such as weight loss including, without limitation, drinking water or eating a snack. 
     The patient  111  performs the indicated act and enters a message into the portable device  112  confirming performance of the act using the patient feedback input element  118 . Operation of the patient feedback input element  118  causes the processor chip  115  to cancel the reminder message, check the clock  116 , and record the time and fact of performance in the memory  114 . In a first preferred embodiment, the patient  111  also enters additional information relevant to monitoring and evaluating the treatment regimen in response to queries by the presentation element  117  in accordance with the treatment regimen and protocol. 
     The number of reminder messages provided to the patient  111 , and the number of messages from the patient  111  confirming performance of the indicated acts and/or providing other information relevant to compliance with and effectiveness of the treatment regimen, is limited only by the memory capacity of the portable device  112 . 
     In a first preferred embodiment, the presentation element  117  is a human-readable visual display using LCD&#39;s, LED&#39;s, or other suitable devices. In alternative preferred embodiments, the presentation element  117  can be a device which produces human-intelligible sound, or a combination of devices which produce human-intelligible visual and audible signals. 
     At some later time, the portable device  112  is re-coupled to the patient device  110  using the coupling element  113 , causing the contents of the memory  114  to be downloaded into the patient device  110  and sent to the server device  160  for recording in the database  161 . Such a time may be as is convenient to the patient  111 , or according to a selected maximum time interval dictated by the treatment regimen and protocol, or as is required to replenish the power source  119  of the portable device  112 , or in accordance with other requirements of the system  100 . 
     At the server device  160 , the protocol or other intelligent message reviews and compares the information provided by the patient  111  to the requirements of the treatment regimen in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment regimen towards achieving treatment objectives and as to compliance of the patient  111  with the treatment regimen. The protocol may then leave the treatment regimen unchanged or modify it as needed to increase effectiveness and/or compliance; in either case, the server device  160  sends a message to the patient device  110  as to the regimen to be followed from that time forward. In a preferred embodiment, the server device  160  also sends that message to the pharmacist device  140  and the medical professional device  150 . For additional information regarding the protocol used by the system  100  and interaction of the protocol with other elements of the system  100 , see discussion above at System Elements regarding related applications. 
     In a first preferred embodiment, information regarding the entire course of the treatment regimen, such as each updated regimen and its effectiveness and relative compliance by the patient can be stored by each of those devices and displayed on demand. In alternative embodiments, only the server records the entire course, or only selected devices, or some combination thereof. 
     In a preferred embodiment, when a treatment regimen requires a patient  111  to take one or more medications, the portable device  112  can be coupled to a medication dispenser containing medication specified by the treatment regimen. In an alternative embodiment, the portable device  112  also controls the medication dispenser so as to release only the correct dosage of the correct medication at the correct time responsive to the treatment regimen. In a further alternative preferred embodiment, the dispenser automatically provides feedback to the portable device  112  when the correct medication is removed, canceling the reminder message and storing the feedback for subsequent downloading to the patient device  110  on the next occasion that the portable device  112  is coupled to the patient device  110 . 
     The patient device  110  can be any device for electronic communication including, but not limited to, an application specific device, a hard-wired telephone, a cellular telephone, a pager, a personal desktop computer, a personal notebook computer, a hand-held computing device, an internet appliance, an internet-enabled television such as WebTV, personal digital assistant such as the Palm III, or any variant thereof. 
     The portable device  112  can be any portable device for electronic communication which is capable of being coupled to the patient device  110  including, without limitation, an application specific device, a cellular telephone, a pager, a personal notebook computer, a hand-held computing device, an internet appliance, a personal digital assistant such as the Palm III, a watch, or any variant thereof. 
     The feedback input element  118  can be any means of providing input to an electronic communication device including, but not limited to, a button, a telephone key, a computer keyboard key, a voice-response activator, or any variant or combination thereof. 
     Method of Operation 
       FIG. 2  shows a process flow diagram of a method for operating a system for leveraging expert interaction with a community of individuals to encourage compliance with a treatment regimen and for collecting and imparting information relevant to that treatment regimen. 
     A method  200  is performed by the system  100 , as follows: 
     At a flow point  201 , the system  100  is ready to proceed. 
     At a step  202 , a service provider enters information concerning a treatment regimen and protocol to be followed by the patient  111 . 
     At a step  203 , the treatment regimen and protocol information is sent to the server device  160  using the communications network  130 . 
     At a step  204 , the server device  160  records the treatment regimen and protocol information received from the service provider in the database  161 . 
     At a step  205  in a preferred embodiment, the server device  160  sends the treatment regimen and protocol information to the patient device  110 , the pharmacist device  140  and the medical professional device  150  using the communication network  130 . In alternative embodiments, the server device  160  may send the treatment regimen and protocol information only to the patient device  110 . 
     At a step  206 , the portable device  112  is coupled to the patient device  110  and the treatment regimen and protocol information is copied into the memory  114  of the portable device  112 . 
     At a step  207 , the portable device  112  is uncoupled from the patient device  110  and is taken with the patient  111  to a location relatively remote from the patient device  110 . 
     At a step  208 , responsive to the treatment regimen and protocol information stored in the memory  114  in conjunction with input from the clock  116 , the patient device  110  uses the presentation element  117  to provide a reminder message to the patient  111  that an act is required to be performed by the patient  111  and instructs the patient  111  regarding the act to be performed. 
     At a step  209 , the patient  111  performs the indicated act as directed. 
     At a step  210 , the patient  111  operates the feedback input element  118  on the portable device  112 , canceling the reminder message. 
     At a step  211 , the portable device  112  uses the presentation element  117  to query the patient  111  to provide information responsive to the protocol for evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment regimen. 
     At a step  212 , the patient  111  operates the feedback input element  117  to provide information responsive to the queries, and that information is recorded in the memory  114 . 
     At a step  213 , the portable device  112  is re-coupled to the patient device  110 . 
     At a step  214 , the information stored in the memory  114  is sent to the patient device  110 , which in turn sends that information to the server device  160  using the communication network  130 . 
     At a step  215 , the information received by the server device  160  is recorded in the database  161 . 
     At a step  216 , in a preferred embodiment the server device  160  sends the information received from the patient device  110  to the pharmacist device  140  and to the medical professional device  150  using the communication network  130 . In an alternative embodiment, the server device  160  does not send the information received from the patient device  110  to the pharmacist device  140  or to the medical professional device  150 , whether using the communication network  130  or otherwise. 
     At a step  217 , the information received by the server device  160  from the patient device  110  is evaluated by the protocol. 
     At a step  218 , the protocol updates the treatment regimen and either leaves it unchanged or modifies it in accordance with the protocol logic. 
     At a step  219  in a preferred embodiment, the server device  160  sends the updated treatment regimen information to the patient device  110 , to the pharmacist device  140  and to the medical professional device  150 , using the communication network  130 . In an alternative embodiment, the server device  160  does not sent the updated treatment regimen information to the pharmacist device  140  or the medical professional device  150 . 
     At a step  220  in a preferred embodiment, the pharmacist  141  and/or the medical professional  151  review and compare the original treatment regimen, the compliance and other information input by the patient  111 , and the updated treatment regimen, and either leave the updated treatment regimen and protocol information unchanged or modify it as necessary. In an alternative embodiment, step  220  does not take place. 
     At a step  221  in a preferred embodiment, the treatment regimen and protocol information as unchanged or as modified by the pharmacist  141  and/or the medical professional  151  is sent to the server device  160  using the communication network  130 . In an alternative embodiment, step  221  does not take place. 
     At a step  222 , the server device  160  records the treatment regimen and protocol information as unchanged or as modified by the pharmacist  141  and/or the medical professional  151  in the database  161 . In an alternative embodiment, step  222  does not take place. 
     At a step  223  in a preferred embodiment, the server device  160  sends the treatment regimen and protocol information as unchanged or as modified by the pharmacist  141  and/or the medical professional  151  to the patient device  110  using the communication network  130 . In an alternative embodiment, step  223  does not take place. 
     At a step  224 , the patient device  110  sends the updated treatment regimen information to the portable device  112  and it is recorded in the memory  114 . 
     At a step  225 , the patient device  110  replenishes the charge of the power source  119 . 
     At a step  226 , the patient  111  uncouples the portable device  112  from the patient device  110 . 
     At a step  227 , the pharmacist  141  provides a refill or new medicine to the patient  111  responsive to the treatment regimen and protocol information. In an alternative embodiment, step  227  does not take place. 
     Alternative Embodiments 
     Although preferred embodiments are disclosed herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept, scope, and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.