Patent Description:
On the market, there are a number of different mechanized and automatic medication dispensing devices (also called e.g. automated medication dispensers, automatic pill dispensers or dosage devices). Such devices are configured to receive and house medication, and to output predefined doses of medication at certain points in time according to a selected schedule. The pharmaceuticals (i.e. the medication) are stored inside the medication dispensing device and are not accessible by the patient, except for the medication that is output for consumption by the patient at a certain point in time.

Such medication dispensing devices may store the different types of medication in different medication containers within the medication dispensing device, with one container for each type of medication. The medication dispensing device then dispenses a predefined number of predefined types of medication to the patient at a predefined time, directly from the different medication containers. This type of medication dispensing device is easy to load for a caregiver, since what is needed is simply to ensure that there is enough medication of the right type in the each medication container. However, it is not possible to double-check exactly what has been dispensed to the patient if there is a malfunction in such a medication dispensing device.

There are also medication dispensing devices, such as e.g. the automatic pill dispenser described in <CIT>, that comprise a number of compartments, where each compartment stores a predefined dose of medication. Such medication dispensing devices are generally safer that the above described kind, but the process of loading each compartment with the right number of pills may be very cumbersome.

There are therefore also medication dispensing devices that deliver the medication in prepackaged medication packages, that normally come in rolls from a medication storage facility. All the medication to be taken at a certain time has in this case been prepackaged into each medication package. However, this requires the prepackaging and distribution of such medication packages, by the medication storage facility, before the loading of the medication packages into the medication dispensing device. Such medication dispensing devices are known from e.g. <CIT> and <CIT>.

A medication dispensing device is typically used to ascertain that the patient takes any prescribed medication at the prescribed time intervals and in the prescribed dose. However, since the medication is often taken in the home of the patient, there is no way of monitoring how the patient is affected by the medication. Some medication may have side-effects such as e.g. edema or dehydration, and there may also be undesirable effects by over- or undermedication. It would therefore be useful to be able to monitor the effects of the medication, and to adjust the medication based on these effects.

<CIT> describes a method that may be used to adjust the medication dispensed by a medication dispensing device in which the medication is manually loaded into different containers or compartments. However, the method described in <CIT> cannot be used to adjust the medication dispensed from a medication dispensing device that receives the medication in prepackaged medication packages. There is thus a need for improved systems and methods for medication delivery.

The above described problem is addressed by the claimed system for medication delivery. The claimec system may comprise: a medication dispensing device, arranged to deliver a medication package containing a predefined dose of medication to a patient at a preset time; a medication distribution system, arranged to distribute the medication packages containing predefined doses of medication to the medication dispensing device; at least one sensing arrangement, arranged in the same premises as the medication dispensing device, and arranged to measure at least one patient specific parameter for said patient; and at least one processor, arranged to process the at least one patient specific parameter, and notify the medication distribution system if the at least one patient specific parameter is determined to deviate from an expected range. The medication distribution system may be arranged to, based on the result of the processing of the at least one patient specific parameter, adjust the dose of medication in the medication packages that are distributed to the medication dispensing device. Such a system allows the adjustment of the medication based on the effects of the medication, for a medication dispensing device that delivers the medication in medication packages.

In embodiments, the medication distribution system is arranged to receive input from at least one care provider who is responsible for the care of the patient regarding the adjustment of the dose of medication in the medication packages that are distributed to the medication dispensing device by the medication distribution system. This allows the physician who has prescribed the medication to adjust the dose based on the effects of the medication.

In embodiments, the system comprises a display which is arranged to display information about the result of the processing of the at least one patient specific parameter to the patient. Such a display may be arranged on the medication dispensing device, but it may also be integrated into a device that e.g. is wearable by the patient, such as e.g. a watch or a wristband. It is also possible to use the display on e.g. a smartphone. This may be a way to provide feedback to the patient about the effects of the medication.

In embodiments, the at least one sensing arrangement is arranged in a position where the patient is located when receiving medication from the medication dispensing device. This ensures that the at least one patient specific parameter is measured at least at the times that the patient receives medication.

In embodiments, the at least one sensing arrangement comprises a body weight measuring device. In embodiments, the body weight measuring device is arranged in the form of weight sensors provided on or in an object on which the weight of the patient regularly rests, such as e.g. a carpet or rug, a mattress, a chair, a sofa, an armchair, or a toilet seat. This ensures that the current weight of the patient is determined on a regular basis without any action being required from the patient. The body weight measuring device may be arranged to only determine the body weight if the system has determined that the patient is located on the body weight measuring device.

In embodiments, the at least one sensing arrangement is arranged to monitor any changes in body weight of the patient over time, e.g. by calculating a daily mean body weight and monitor the change in said daily mean body weight over time. In order for a determination of a daily mean body weight to be meaningful, the body weight should be measured a number of times each day, e.g. at least three times a day.

In embodiments, the at least one sensing arrangement comprises: a body weight sensor, a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a continence sensor, a breathing frequency sensor, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, and/or a blood glucose sensor. All these sensors may provide information regarding how the patient is affected by the medication.

In embodiments, historical data from the at least one sensing arrangement is used for determining whether the at least one patient specific parameter deviates from the expected range, e.g. using a machine learning system, based on e.g. daily mean values and/or the pattern of parameter fluctuation over time. Machine learning is an efficient way of analyzing large quantities of data.

The above described problem is further addressed by the claimed method for medication delivery. The method may comprise: automatically delivering a medication package containing a predefined dose of medication to a patient at a preset time, using a medication dispensing device; automatically distributing the medication packages containing the predefined doses of medication to the medication dispensing device, using a medication distribution system; automatically measuring at least one patient specific parameter for said patient using at least one sensing arrangement; automatically processing, in at least one processor, the at least one patient specific parameter; automatically notifying the medication distribution system if the at least one patient specific parameter is determined to deviate from an expected range; and adjusting, based on the result of the processing of the at least one patient specific parameter, the dose of medication in the medication packages that are distributed by the medication distribution system to the medication dispensing device. Such a method allows the adjustment of the medication based on the effects of the medication, for a medication dispensing device that delivers the medication in medication packages.

In embodiments, the method further comprises receiving input from at least one care provider who is responsible for the care of the patient regarding the adjustment of the dose of medication in the medication packages that are distributed to the medication dispensing device by the medication distribution system. This allows the physician who has prescribed the medication to adjust the dose based on the effects of the medication.

In embodiments, the method further comprises displaying information about the result of the processing of the at least one patient specific parameter to the patient on a display. Such a display may be arranged on the medication dispensing device, but it may also be integrated into a device that e.g. is wearable by the patient, such as e.g. a watch or a wristband. It is also possible to use the display on e.g. a smartphone. This may be a way to provide feedback to the patient about the effects of the medication.

In embodiments, the method further comprises arranging the at least one sensing arrangement in a position where the patient is located when receiving medication from the medication dispensing device. This ensures that the at least one patient specific parameter is measured at least at the times that the patient receives medication.

In embodiments, the method further comprises arranging the at least one sensing arrangement to comprise a body weight measuring device. In embodiments, the method further comprises arranging the body weight measuring device in the form of weight sensors provided on or in an object on which the weight of the patient regularly rests, such as e.g. a carpet or rug, a mattress, a chair, a sofa, an armchair, or a toilet seat. This ensures that the current weight of the patient is determined on a regular basis without any action being required from the patient. The body weight measuring device may be arranged to only determine the body weight if the system has determined that the patient is located on the body weight measuring device.

In embodiments, the method further comprises automatically monitoring any changes in body weight of the patient over time, e.g. by calculating a daily mean body weight and monitor the change in said daily mean body weight over time. In order for a determination of a daily mean body weight to be meaningful, the body weight should be measured a number of times each day, e.g. at least three times a day.

In embodiments, the method further comprises arranging the at least one sensing arrangement to comprise: a body weight sensor, a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a continence sensor, a breathing frequency sensor, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, and/or a blood glucose sensor. All these sensors may provide information regarding how the patient is affected by the medication.

In embodiments, the processing comprises using historical data from the at least one sensing arrangement for determining whether the at least one patient specific parameter deviates from the expected range, e.g. using a machine learning system, based on e.g. daily mean values and/or the pattern of parameter fluctuation over time. Machine learning is an efficient way of analyzing large quantities of data.

The term "medication" covers any type of pharmaceuticals, including combinations of different types of pills.

The term "dose" covers any number of pills, of one or more different types of pharmaceuticals.

The at least one processing device may be one processing device, or a number of processing devices between which signals are transmitted. Some processing may e.g. take place in one processing device, and signals may then be transmitted to one or more other processing devices for further processing.

The scope of the invention is defined by the claims, which are incorporated into this section by reference. A more complete understanding of embodiments of the invention will be afforded to those skilled in the art, as well as a realization of additional advantages thereof, by a consideration of the following detailed description of one or more embodiments. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings that will first be described briefly.

A medication dispensing device is typically used to ascertain that the patient takes any prescribed medication at the prescribed time intervals and in the prescribed dose. However, since the medication is often taken in the home of the patient, there is no way of monitoring how the patient is affected by the medication. Some medication may have side-effects such as e.g. edema or dehydration, and there may also be undesirable effects by over- or undermedication. Medication may also be soporific, or exhilarant and cause a change of movement patterns, or cause the body temperature or the blood glucose level to change.

It would be useful to be able to monitor the effects of the medication, and to adjust the medication based on these effects, also in a medication dispensing device that delivers the medication in medication packages. The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for medication delivery. Embodiments of the disclosed solution are presented in more detail in connection with the figures.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a system <NUM> for medication delivery, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. The system <NUM> schematically illustrated in <FIG> comprises a medication dispensing device <NUM>, a medication distribution system <NUM>, two processors <NUM>, and two sensing arrangements <NUM>. The medication dispensing device <NUM> may comprise a display <NUM>. The medication dispensing device <NUM> may be arranged to dispense a medication package <NUM> containing a predefined dose of medication to a patient at a preset time. The medication distribution system <NUM> may be arranged to distribute the medication packages <NUM> containing the predefined doses of medication to the medication dispensing device <NUM>. The at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> may be arranged to measure at least one patient specific parameter for said patient. The at least one processor <NUM> may be arranged to process the at least one patient specific parameter, and notify the medication distribution system <NUM> if the at least one patient specific parameter is determined to deviate from an expected range. The medication distribution system <NUM> may be arranged to, based on the result of the processing of the at least one patient specific parameter, adjust the dose of medication in the medication packages <NUM> that are distributed to the medication dispensing device <NUM>. Such a system <NUM> allows the adjustment of the medication based on the effects of the medication, for a medication dispensing device <NUM> that delivers the medication in medication packages <NUM>.

In the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the medication packages <NUM> come in prepackaged rolls <NUM>, each roll <NUM> containing a number of medication packages <NUM> that are attached to each other. Each medication package <NUM> comprises medication <NUM>, and preferably also a label <NUM> that may be read by the medication dispensing device <NUM>. The label <NUM> comprises information about at what time the medication package should be dispensed by the medication dispensing device <NUM>, in a format that may be understood by the medication dispensing device <NUM>, e.g. a barcode or a QR code. The label <NUM> may also comprise information in a format that may be read by a caregiver before loading the roll <NUM> into the medication dispensing device <NUM>, and by the patient before taking the medication. This increases the safety of the system, since the caregiver and/or the patient may double-check that the medication is intended for this particular patient.

<FIG> schematically illustrate a medication dispensing device <NUM> that has been loaded with a roll <NUM> of medication packages <NUM>. The medication dispensing device <NUM> preferably comprises a reader <NUM> that is arranged for reading the information on the label <NUM> of the next medication package <NUM> to be dispensed, so that the medication dispensing device <NUM>, based on this information, can dispense the medication package <NUM> at the correct time to the outlet <NUM> of the medication dispensing device <NUM>. The medication dispensing device <NUM> preferably also comprises a sensor <NUM> that is arranged to sense whether a medication package <NUM> that has been dispensed has also been retrieved from the outlet <NUM>. In <FIG>, no medication package <NUM> has yet been dispensed to the patient, while in <FIG>, there is a medication package <NUM> in the outlet <NUM>, i.e. it has been dispensed but not yet retrieved by the patient.

The advantage of a medication dispensing device <NUM> such as the one illustrated in <FIG>, that is loaded with prepackaged rolls <NUM> of medication packages <NUM> that comprise labels <NUM> comprising information about at what time the medication package should be dispensed by the medication dispensing device <NUM>, is that a caregiver in the premises only needs to load the roll <NUM> into the medication dispensing device <NUM>. Such a medication dispensing device <NUM> requires no sorting of the right amount of pills into compartments, or any programming of a time schedule for the dispensing of the medication. All of this is taken care of by the medication distribution system <NUM>. There is therefore no need for a medically trained caregiver, such as a doctor or a licensed nurse, for the loading of the medication dispensing device <NUM>.

However, the problem with medication dispensing devices <NUM> such as the one illustrated in <FIG> is that since there is no need for a medically trained caregiver for the loading of the medication dispensing device <NUM>, there is a risk that no medically trained caregiver regularly attends to the patient. This increases the risk that side-effects of the medication go unnoticed, and that the dose of medication is therefore not adjusted.

The claimed invention addresses this problem by using at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> for measuring at least one patient specific parameter for the patient. This parameter is then processed, and if it deviates from an expected range, the medication distribution system <NUM> is notified. The range may e.g. be set by the physician who has prescribed the medication, but it may also be based on historical data for the patient. The historical data may e.g. be analyzed using a machine learning system, that may automatically determine if the parameter deviates from what is to be expected based on the historical data.

If a deviation has been determined, it may be desirable to adjust the medication. Since the medication is delivered to the patient in prepackaged medication packages <NUM>, the adjustment cannot be done in the premises where the medication dispensing device <NUM> is located. Instead, an adjustment of the medication requires an adjustment of the content of the medication packages <NUM> when they are prepackaged. The adjustment therefore needs to be done by the medication distribution system <NUM>.

The medication distribution system <NUM> comprises a medication storage facility <NUM> where medication is prepackaged into medication packages <NUM> that are dispensed by the medication dispensing device <NUM>. The medication packages <NUM> may be distributed from the medication storage facility <NUM> to the patient in the same way as medication is normally distributed to the patient, such as e.g. via a pharmacy, where the medication packages <NUM> may be picked up by a caregiver and delivered to the medication dispensing device <NUM>.

The adjustment of the dose of medication that is distributed to the medication dispensing device <NUM> based on the at least one patient specific parameter comprises adjusting the content of the medication packages <NUM>. Such an adjustment may e.g. be done based on input from at least one care provider who is responsible for the care of the patient, such as e.g. the physician who has prescribed the medication. This allows the physician who has prescribed the medication to adjust the dose based on the effects of the medication.

The medication distribution system <NUM> preferably comprises a user interface for the responsible care provider, where the responsible care provider may analyze the at least one patient specific parameter and adjust the prescribed medication accordingly. The responsible care provider may use this user interface to access all the data collected in relation to the one or more patient specific parameters of a patient, regardless of whether the parameters deviate from an expected range. The responsible care provider may in this way closely monitor the status of each individual patient every day, even though the patient stays at home or in a nursing home, in order to determine whether the patient needs extra care. This may be very important for patients with certain illnesses. Since the one or more patient specific parameters are measured automatically, this allows more close care of the patient without the need for a medically trained caregiver to regularly attend to the patient.

In embodiments, the system provides the responsible care provider with a proposal for adjusting the medication, so that the proposal may simply be approved or rejected, or approved after amendments. When an adjustment of the prescribed medication has been approved by the responsible care provider, the medication distribution system <NUM> distributes new medication packages <NUM> from the medication storage facility <NUM> to the medication dispensing device <NUM> according to the adjusted prescribed medication.

The system <NUM> may thus be arranged to receive input from at least one care provider who is responsible for the care of the patient regarding the adjustment of the dose of medication that is distributed to the medication dispensing device <NUM> by the medication distribution system <NUM>. Such a system <NUM> allows the adjustment of the medication based on the effects of the medication, in a medication dispensing device <NUM> that delivers the medication in prepackaged medication packages <NUM>.

The system <NUM> may also comprise a display <NUM> that may be arranged to display information to the patient. As illustrated in <FIG>, medication dispensing devices <NUM> sometimes comprise a display <NUM> that is e.g. used to display information from the label <NUM>. Such a display <NUM> may also be used to also display information from the at least one sensing arrangement <NUM>, preferably after some processing. This may be a way to provide feedback to the patient about the effects of the medication.

The display <NUM> may, as explained, be arranged on the medication dispensing device <NUM>. However, a display <NUM> may also, or additionally, be arranged elsewhere, such as e.g. on a device that is wearable by the patient, such as e.g. a watch or a wristband. The display on a smartphone may also, or additionally, be used as the display <NUM> of the system <NUM>.

The display <NUM> may be used for communication between the patient and the responsible care provider, e.g. in the form of video conferencing. The system <NUM> may also comprise a microphone and a loudspeaker, in order to enable such video conferencing. The display <NUM>, the microphone and the loudspeaker may e.g. be arranged on the medication dispensing device <NUM>. However, it is also possible to use the display <NUM>, the microphone and the loudspeaker of a smartphone.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the system <NUM> may comprise one or more processors <NUM>, and the processors <NUM> may be located in the medication dispensing device <NUM>, in the medication distribution system <NUM>, or elsewhere, such as e.g. in the at least one sensing arrangement <NUM>. The at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> may transfer the at least one patient specific parameter, in raw format or processed, to the at least one processor <NUM>, and thus either to the medication dispensing device <NUM>, to the medication distribution system <NUM>, or both.

The at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> is preferably arranged in the same premises as the medication dispensing device <NUM>. If the medication dispensing device <NUM> is arranged in the patient's home, the at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> should also be arranged in the patient's home. The premises are however not necessarily the home of the patient, they may also be e.g. a part of a nursing home. The at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> may e.g. be arranged in a position where the patient is located when receiving medication from the medication dispensing device <NUM>. This ensures that the at least one patient specific parameter is measured at least at the times that the patient receives medication.

The at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> may comprise: a body weight sensor, a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a continence sensor, a breathing frequency sensor, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an oxygen saturation sensor, and/or a blood glucose sensor. All these sensors may provide information regarding how the patient is affected by the medication.

Such a sensing arrangement may be used to gather patient specific data continuously, in periods, in connection with certain activities of the patient or at certain occasions, possibly prompted by a signal from the medication dispensing device <NUM>. Sensor data may be communicated to the medication dispensing device <NUM> and/or to the medication distribution system <NUM>. The sensor data may be processed to detect a selection of a sensor data pattern that for example deviates from a normal pattern of the patient, a predicted pattern of the patient due to medication, dose of medication, the time of taking the medication, or other factors. The use of historical data for determining deviations from expected values, based on e.g. daily mean values or the pattern of parameter fluctuation over time, e.g. using a machine learning system, may thus apply to all the patient specific parameters that may be collected by such sensors. Thus, historical data from the at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> may be used for determining whether the at least one patient specific parameter deviates from the expected range, e.g. using a machine learning system, based on e.g. daily mean values and/or the pattern of parameter fluctuation over time. Machine learning is an efficient way of analyzing large quantities of data.

The at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> may comprise a fingertip sensor, such as e.g. a pulse oximeter. It is possible to measure a number of patient specific parameters, such as e.g. body temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and blood glucose level, non-invasively, by cutaneous measurements. The medication dispensing device <NUM> may be controlled to only dispense the medication package <NUM> to the patient if the patient puts a fingertip in the fingertip sensor. This ensures that the at least one patient specific parameter is measured at least at the times when the patient receives medication. The fingertip sensor may e.g. be integrated into the medication dispensing device <NUM>.

The at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> may comprise a body weight measuring device, that may e.g. be arranged in the form of weight sensors provided on or in an object on which the weight of the patient regularly rests, such as e.g. a carpet or rug, a mattress, a chair, a sofa, an armchair, or a toilet seat. This ensures that the current weight of the patient is determined on a regular basis without any action being required from the patient. A carpet or rug may e.g. be arranged on the floor where the patient needs to be standing in order to be able to receive medication from the medication dispensing device <NUM>.

A body weight measuring device arranged in the form of a carpet or rug provided with weight sensors may also have other uses. Patients suffering from dementia type illnesses often need to be monitored so that an alarm can be sent if they behave in unexpected ways. A number of different carpets or rugs provided with weight sensors that are arranged in the home of such a patient may be used to track the movement of such a patient. Based on historical data regarding previous movement, it can be determined whether the movement pattern has changed, e.g. using machine learning based on the historical data. The system may be able to determine that there is a high likelihood that it is actually this particular patient that is standing on the body weight measuring device based on the previous movement of the patient.

Such movement tracking can also be used to alert a caregiver if the patient moves beyond a predetermined area, such as e.g. the area within a nursing home that this particular patient is allowed to access, and also e.g. track if the patient is leaving the home. Even if many different ways of tracking patients suffering from dementia type illnesses are already known, they normally rely on tracking devices arranged on the patient, such as in the form of a wristband or a necklace. Patients suffering from dementia type illnesses are however prone to removing any such tracking devices, so a system that is independent of any such equipment would be more secure.

The at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> may e.g. be arranged to monitor any changes in body weight of the patient over time, e.g. by calculating a daily mean body weight and monitor the change in said daily mean body weight over time, and automatically notifying the medication distribution system <NUM> if the at least one patient specific parameter is determined to deviate from an expected range. In the same way as for the movement pattern, historical data regarding the pattern of weight fluctuation during the day may also be fed into a machine learning system, that based on this may be able to automatically detect whether the pattern of weight fluctuation during the day suddenly changes compared to the historical data.

If a patient gains weight, or loses weight, this may be an indication of an impaired health status. Monitoring the body weight of a patient on a regular basis is therefore one method of indicating changes of the health status of the patient early. For some types of medication, a weight gain or loss may be expected. Changes of the dosage of a medication may also result in an expected weight gain or loss. Information regarding patient specific types of medication, and the dosages thereof, may be stored and made available in the system <NUM>. The specification of each medication package <NUM> that has been output from the medication dispensing device <NUM> to a patient may be stored in a local memory of the medication dispensing device <NUM> or elsewhere in the system <NUM>. The results from a weight monitoring process may for such cases be compared to a predicted and pre-stored development of an expected weight gain or loss. Thereby, early indications of changes to the health status of the patient is provided.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a method <NUM> for medication delivery, in accordance with one or more embodiments described herein. The method <NUM> may comprise:
Step <NUM>: automatically delivering a medication package <NUM> containing a predefined dose of medication to a patient at a preset time, using a medication dispensing device <NUM>.

Step <NUM>: automatically distributing the medication packages <NUM> containing the predefined doses of medication to the medication dispensing device <NUM>, using a medication distribution system <NUM>.

Step <NUM>: automatically measuring at least one patient specific parameter for the patient using at least one sensing arrangement <NUM>.

Step <NUM>: automatically processing, in at least one processor <NUM>, the at least one patient specific parameter.

Step <NUM>: automatically notifying the medication distribution system <NUM> if the at least one patient specific parameter is determined to deviate from an expected range.

Step <NUM>: adjusting, based on the result of the processing of the at least one patient specific parameter, the dose of medication in the medication packages <NUM> that are distributed by the medication distribution system <NUM> to the medication dispensing device <NUM>.

Such a method allows the adjustment of the medication based on the effects of the medication, for a medication dispensing device <NUM> that delivers the medication in medication packages <NUM>.

In embodiments, the processing <NUM> comprises using historical data from the at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> for determining whether the at least one patient specific parameter deviates from the expected range, e.g. using a machine learning system, based on e.g. daily mean values and/or the pattern of parameter fluctuation over time. Machine learning is an efficient way of analyzing large quantities of data.

The method <NUM> may further comprise one or more of:
Step <NUM>: arranging the at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> in a position where the patient is located when receiving medication from the medication dispensing device. This ensures that the at least one patient specific parameter is measured at least at the times that the patient receives medication.

Step <NUM>: arranging the at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> to comprise a body weight measuring device.

Step <NUM>: arranging the at least one sensing arrangement <NUM> to comprise: a body weight sensor, a motion sensor, a temperature sensor, proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a continence sensor, a breathing frequency sensor, a heart rate sensor, a blood pressure sensor, and/or a blood glucose sensor. All these sensors may provide information regarding how the patient is affected by the medication.

Step <NUM>: arranging the body weight measuring device in the form of weight sensors provided on or in an object on which the weight of the patient regularly rests, such as e.g. a carpet or rug, a mattress, a chair, a sofa, an armchair, or a toilet seat provided with weight sensors. This ensures that the current weight of the patient is determined on a regular basis without any action being required from the patient.

Step <NUM>: automatically monitoring any changes in body weight of the patient over time, e.g. by calculating a daily mean body weight and monitor any change in said daily mean body weight over time. In order for a determination of a daily mean body weight to be meaningful, the body weight should be measured a number of times each day, e.g. at least three times a day.

Step <NUM>: receiving input from at least one care provider who is responsible for the care of the patient regarding the adjustment of the dose of medication that is distributed to the medication dispensing device <NUM> by the medication distribution system <NUM>. This allows the physician who has prescribed the medication to adjust the dose based on the effects of the medication.

Claim 1:
System for (<NUM>) for medication delivery, the system (<NUM>) comprising:
a medication dispensing device (<NUM>), arranged to deliver a medication package (<NUM>) containing a predefined dose of medication to a patient at a preset time;
a medication distribution system (<NUM>), arranged to distribute said medication packages (<NUM>) containing said predefined dose of medication to the medication dispensing device (<NUM>);
at least one sensing arrangement (<NUM>), arranged in the same premises as the medication dispensing device (<NUM>), and arranged to measure at least one patient specific parameter for said patient; and
at least one processor (<NUM>), arranged to process the at least one patient specific parameter, and notify the medication distribution system (<NUM>) if the at least one patient specific parameter is determined to deviate from an expected range,
wherein the medication distribution system (<NUM>) comprises a medication storage facility (<NUM>) where said predefined dose of medication is prepackaged into said medication packages (<NUM>), and is arranged to, based on the result of the processing of the at least one patient specific parameter, adjust the predefined dose of medication that is prepackaged into said medication packages (<NUM>).