Smart cap for medication container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9901515-B2
Application number	US-201615148383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 6, 2016
Priority date	May 7, 2015
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A smart cap for a medication container is disclosed. The smart cap includes a circuit board and a weight sensor electrically coupled to the circuit board and configured to generate electrical input signals representative of the total weight of medication units in the medication container. The smart cap may include a processor for processing the electrical input signals generated by the weight sensor, and a memory for storing medication information associated with medication in the medication container, including the processed electrical input signals generated by the weight sensor. The smart cap may transmit the stored information to a computing device communicatively coupled to the cap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cap for a medication container, comprising:
a circuit board;
a weight sensor electrically coupled to the circuit board and configured to generate electrical input signals representative of a total weight of medication units in the medication container;
a processor electrically coupled to the circuit board and configured to process the electrical input signals generated by the weight sensor;
a memory configured to store medication information associated with medication in the medication container, wherein the medication information comprises the processed electrical input signals generated by the weight sensor;
a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the stored medication information to a computing device communicatively coupled to the cap;
an RFID tag comprising a near field communication (NFC) tag; and
a lock, wherein the cap may be unlocked by bringing a near field communication interface of the computing device in close proximity to the NFC tag of the cap,
wherein in response to the computing device communicatively coupling to the cap, the processor is configured to store in the memory an identification of the computing device, and the time the cap and computing device communicatively coupled.

2. The cap of claim 1 , further comprising an enclosure, wherein the enclosure houses the circuit board, weight sensor, processor and wireless transmitter.

3. The cap of claim 2 , further comprising a cover releasably attached to the enclosure, wherein the enclosure is disposed within the cover.

4. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the wireless transmitter is a Bluetooth low energy (LE) transmitter.

5. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the RFID tag comprises the wireless transmitter and the memory.

6. The cap of claim 1 , wherein the weight sensor comprises a strain gauge configured to measure the change in resistance of a conductor when medication units are inserted into or removed from the medication container.

7. The cap of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer configured to generate electrical input signals representative of the position of the cap.

8. The cap of claim 1 , further comprising an audible or visual indicator device configured to alert a user of a medication dosing time, wherein the medication information comprises the medication dosing time, and wherein the processor is configured to activate the indicator device at the dosing time.

9. The cap of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:
determine a change in the total weight of the medication units in the medication container after the dosing time based on electrical signals generated by the weight sensor; and
turn off the indicator if it is determined that the change in the total weight after the dosing time matches a predetermined amount.

10. The cap of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to generate an alert if it is determined that the change in the total weight does not match the predetermined amount.

11. The cap of claim 8 , wherein the transmitter is a transceiver configured to receive information signals from the computing device, and wherein in response to receiving a beacon signal from the computing device attempting to locate the cap, the processor is configured to activate the indicator device.

12. The cap of claim 6 , wherein the cap comprises a platform and a load cell, wherein the load cell comprises an annular portion and a beam extending inwardly from the annular portion, wherein the strain gauge is mounted on the beam.

13. A cap for a medication container, comprising:
a cover;
an enclosure attached to the cover, wherein the enclosure is disposed within the cover and is configured to seal the opening of the medication container;
a circuit board; and
a weight sensor assembly electrically coupled to the circuit board and configured to generate electrical input signals representative of the total weight of the medication container, wherein the weight sensor assembly comprises:
a platform;
a load cell comprising an annular portion and a beam coupled to the platform, wherein the beam comprises a first end fixed to the annular portion and a second end that deforms as the platform displaces downward in response to an applied force; and
a strain gauge mounted on the beam, wherein the strain gauge is electrically coupled to the circuit board,

wherein the enclosure houses the circuit board and the weight sensor assembly.

14. The cap of claim 13 , further comprising an accelerometer configured to generate electrical input signals representative of the position of the cap.

15. The cap of claim 14 , further comprising a processing module configured to process the electrical input signals generated by the weight sensor and the accelerometer, and determine a total weight of the medicament container, including medicament units, based on the processed signals.

16. The cap of claim 15 , further comprising: a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the total weight of the medicament container to a computing device communicatively coupled to the cap.

17. The cap of claim 16 , further comprising an RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag comprises the wireless transmitter and the memory.

18. The cap of claim 14 , further comprising a processing module configured to process the electrical input signals generated by the weight sensor assembly and the accelerometer, and determine a current number of medicament units in the medicament container based on the processed signals.

19. The cap of claim 18 , wherein the processing module comprises a memory that stores: the weight or mass of the medicament container without any of the medicament units; the weight or mass of one of the medicament units; and the current number of medicament units in the medicament container.

Assignees

• Performance Designed Products Llc
• Perfomance Designed Products LLC

Inventors

• Roberts Tom
• Richards Chris
• Lavache Steve
• Briones Ireck
• Quiros Mario Andres

Classifications

• A61J2200/30

  Compliance analysis for taking medication · CPC title

• G01G19/52

  Weighing apparatus combined with other objects, e.g. furniture (with walking sticks A45B3/08) · CPC title

• A61J7/0463

  for multiple patients · CPC title

• B65D55/02

  Locking devices; Means for discouraging or indicating unauthorised opening or removal of closure · CPC title

• B65D51/248

  the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles (B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02) · CPC title