Medication reminder system

The embodiments invention which exclusive property or privilege claimed are defined follows:




1. A closure for container comprising base; upstanding peripheral wall formed single unitary component with said base having external surface for gripping permit removal said closure container internal surface oppositely directed said external surface, said wall extending said base rim define recess one side said base; cover rotatably supported said recess intermediate said base said rim, said cover having marker thereon for selective alignment with indicia carried by said closure indicative dosage interval, said cover being spaced said rim sufficiently avoid contact accidental rotation thereof relative said base upon removal said closure container; mechanism acting between said cover said base inhibit relative rotation one direction.


2. A closure according claim 1 wherein said cover extends over indicia carried by said base said marker includes window permit viewing said indicia.


3. A closure according claim 2 wherein lens mounted said window magnify said indicia.


4. A closure according claim 2 wherein said marker includes bar upstanding said cover aligned with said window, said bar facilitating rotation said cover relative said base.


5. A closure according claim 1 wherein said one direction corresponds direction rotation permit removal said closure container.


6. A closure according claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes cam lobe having ramp abutment face one said base cover wall engagable with said cam lobe other said base cover, said wall engaging said abutment face inhibit relative rotation said one direction.


7. A closure according claim 6 wherein said base carries indicia adjacent said peripheral wall.


8. A closure according claim 7 wherein said indicia are integrally formed said base.


9. A closure according claim 8 wherein said indicia are formed peripheral band extending about said base.


10. A closure according claim 7 wherein said indicia are carried disc secured said base.


11. A closure according claim 1 wherein said cover rotatably supported pivot located said base.


12. A closure according claim 11 wherein said pivot formed by pin that projects said cover received aperture said base.


13. A closure according claim 12 wherein plurality slots are disposed about said pin provide plurality walls engagable with cam lobes formed said base.


14. A closure according claim 1 wherein said cover rotatably mounted said peripheral wall.


15. A closure according claim 14 wherein groove provided said peripheral wall said cover received said groove.


16. A closure for container comprising base; upstanding peripheral wall integrally formed with said base having external surface for gripping permit removal said closure container, said wall extending said base rim define recess one side said base; cover rotatably supported said recess intermediate said base said rim, said cover having marker thereon for selective alignment with indicia carried by said closure indicative dosage interval, said cover extending over indicia carried by said base being spaced said rim sufficiently avoid contact accidental rotation thereof relative said base upon removal said closure container, said cover including window permit viewing said indicia; mechanism acting between said cover said base inhibit relative rotation one direction.


17. A closure according claim 16 wherein lens mounted said window magnify said indicia.


18. A closure according claim 16 wherein said marker includes bar upstanding said cover aligned with said window, said bar facilitating rotation said cover relative said base.


19. A closure according claim 16 wherein said base carries indicia adjacent said peripheral wall.


20. A closure according claim 19 wherein said indicia are integrally formed said base.


21. A closure according claim 20 wherein said indicia are formed peripheral band extending about said base.


22. A closure according claim 19 wherein said indicia are carried disc secured said base.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates field indicators more specifically indicators used with containers for pills, capsules, caplets etc. which are provided by pharmacists with prescription medications or by manufacturers vitamins, dietary supplements, homeopathic medicines etc. More particularly invention relates devices that aid compliance with dosage regimen.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Failure take medication when prescribed, or double dosing because patient forgotten that he or she already took their medication common problem. When taking new medication, compliance with physician's instructions usually fairly good but length treatment course extends beyond first few days, patients often become forgetful regardless their age or mental faculties though these factors may exacerbate problem.

When taking antibiotic or other drug treatment, it often difficult remember if one actually taken pill or merely “intended” take pill. As lives become busier more stressful it becomes harder remember take medication with prescribed frequency. The problem compounded when multiple medications with different prescribed dose frequencies are being used one time.

Research into issues prescription medication non-compliance, indicate significant consequences that result.

The National Pharmaceutical Council estimates that non-compliance costs more than $100 billion year USA alone increased hospital nursing home admissions, lost productivity, premature deaths.

Up 60% all medication prescribed taken incorrectly, or not all (National Council Patient Information & Education, 1995).

90% elderly patients made some medication errors, 35% make potentially serious errors. Older adults average 2.3 serious medication errors per patient per month (Green et al., 1985).

Even patients who understand agree with treatment are only 75% compliant (Cramer, 1995).

Physicians themselves take only 75% prescribed pills correctly (Roth, 1987).

Patients quite possibly are less compliant more serious their condition. In one study, only 42% glaucoma patients met minimal criteria for compliance after having been told they would go blind if they did not comply. Among patients who already had gone blind one eye, compliance rates rose only 58%! (Meichenbaum & Turk, 1987).

The cost non-compliance 1992 was $100 billion, $45 billion healthcare industry alone (E-pill, 1999).

Non-compliance directly responsible for admission 380,000 patients nursing homes each year (23% all nursing home admissions). In 60% all nursing home admissions, non-compliance greater factor than person's actual medical condition (Col, Fanale, & Kronholm, 1990; Meichenbaum & Turk, 1987).

Non-compliance leads 3.5 million hospital admissions annually, or 11% all admissions. In elderly, 40% all admissions are due medication-related problems. The mean cost per admission these cases been estimated $2,150 (Balkrishnan, 1998).

Non-compliance greatest single cause for readmission hospitals (Meichenbaum & Turk, 1987).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Attempts provide patients with reminder devices been made for almost long patent records been kept. For example, Noel was granted U.S. Pat. No. 332,208 December 1885 for simple paper device that could attached medicine bottle other designs followed over years.

Existing designs fall into four main categories. The first these consists devices where one or more medications are transferred original container(s) which they were supplied by pharmacist or manufacturer placed into different container with multiple compartments, each one corresponding day week or time day. These systems simple box-like designs with multiple compartments lids, or more complex systems including timers, motors alarms which deny access medication except desired time deliver correct pills or caplets with or without alert. These systems are reusable must purchased separately by end user.

The second type design relates devices that are intended add-on products original container itself that stuck to, or affixed to, bottle or vial, or alternatively which container inserted or placed into holder or other device order produce desired effect.

An example add-on reminder device shown U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,324 issued Leonard. The Leonard device separable medicine bottle thus would typically sold consumers separate medicine used over over by user for different medicines.

Because Leonard device reused once course medication completed cost unit not primary concern purchase discretion patient. Predictably, Leonard device not very amenable being manufactured cheaply enough included with each prescription. This limits its usefulness device provided additional service pharmacy or pharmaceutical bottle distributor. Another disadvantage Leonard device that it not secured medicine container making it impractical for those who carry their medication purse or pocket.

Items first two categories always result additional costs consumer because they require optional purchase that may or may not reused future occasions.

The third type compliance aid involves custom packaging wherein package itself acts reminder device. Most people are familiar with birth control pill dispensers which each dose medication located blister pack or mechanical device indicating appropriate day week. These forms packaging are extremely effective but need modified for each dosage regimen they are not interchangeable. They are typically part manufacturing process medications that use them are supplied pharmacist pre-packaged ready for final sale.

The final group compliance devices attempts design reminder mechanism into pre-manufactured container that supplied by pharmacist. In these cases pharmacist count prescribed number pills or capsules bulk container transfer them smaller container that given user take home. This container bears instructions how medication should taken. Prior art descriptions involve cap designs, container designs, or both often involve rotating dials, wheels or other mechanisms indicate when next dose due or when prior dose was taken.

There are several problems with existing prior art, which explains why they are rarely or never seen by consumers not been widely adopted by pharmacists or manufacturers vitamins or homeopathic medications.

Cost always critical factor this industry. The containers supplied by pharmacists are given away no additional cost consumer with medication itself As such cost container critical pharmacy any device costing more than few cents unlikely ever achieve significant sales. The device must therefore extremely simple manufacture very inexpensive produce.

In addition, almost every country around world it legal requirement that all prescription medications all non-prescription medications or products, consumption large quantity which would seriously harm small child, must provided child resistant containers. Since most these child-resistant mechanisms require twisting, turning, squeezing or pushing, they are not compatible with most prior art devices. The act opening bottle or vial with child-resistant device would typically result movement indicator device, pointer or ring rendering reminder highly undependable.

Prior art designs that use dials rings frequently require that different printed versions used depending dosage frequency. This requires pharmacist carry different components stock or assemble each unit based frequency required by each prescription. Some designs require pharmacist or user write dosage schedule cap or transfer pre-printed labels onto it depending dosage frequency. Since both time physical space are premium average pharmacy multiple vial sizes must already carried stock, requirement multiple caps or dials for each size vial becomes impractical anything that requires customisation by user not used. These systems do not lend themselves changes dosage for example where medication taken once daily for first week then more frequently subsequent weeks.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,045 issued Villa-Real shows example reminder cap container that demonstrates most these shortcomings. The Villa-Real cap expensive manufacture therefore would tend cost prohibitive addition bottle. The design incompatible with child-resistant devices, any attempt open container would result rotation dial designed part rim. Finally Villa-Real cap requires one multiple rings assembled by pharmacist point dispensing depending dosage frequency. This could not altered if frequency changed during prescribing period.

Some recent prior art examples attempt automate advancement reminder mechanism, moving it next occasion each time cap either replaced or removed. (See U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,970). Such designs suffer several defects despite their apparent ease use that may limit their application. Firstly, they are by their nature more expensive produce and, relying mechanical device advance reminder, they are potentially subject failure. Because pharmacist typically supplies container with medication, this type device leaves pharmacist potentially liable for consequences overdose or underdose by patient if mechanism fails.

Additionally, because advancement reminder cannot undertaken manually, designs do not lend themselves different dosage regimens using single cap design or dosage patterns that change over time. Finally event that user opens closes container without taking dose, or medication skipped for short or extended time, resetting reminder current date indication requires repetitive opening closing container which very time-consuming. Situations which user would open bottle without taking medication might include counting pills determine how been taken or remain, or replacing pill that was removed error.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According one aspect invention, closure base upstanding peripheral wall that defines recess. A cover located recess rotatable relative base. The cover located below rim wall. Preferably, cover carries window rotated align window with required indicium carried by base indicate dosage. The closure incorporated into existing container designs without interfering with child-resistant mechanisms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments invention now described by way example only with reference accompanying drawings which:

FIG. 1 exploded perspective view closure.

FIG. 2 perspective view base closure shown FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 perspective view underside base shown FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 plan view base shown FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 perspective view cover closure shown FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 perspective view underside cover shown FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 detailed view component used cover shown FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 plan view assembled closure FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 view line IX—IX FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 view enlarged scale portion cover shown FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 view line XI—XI FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 enlarged view portion closure shown FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 plan view alternative embodiment closure shown FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 view line XIV—XIV FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 view line XV—XV FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 detailed view portion closure shown FIG. 15.

Referring therefore FIG. 1, closure 10 includes base 12 cover 14 . The base 12 includes peripheral wall 16 that projects either side radial wall 18 . As best seen FIG. 11, radial wall 18 peripheral wall 16 define pair oppositely directed counter bores 20 , 22 . It appreciated that counter bore 20 configured match neck N bottle or container shown ghosted outline. The counter bore 20 may include threads that correspond threads neck container may also include mechanism that inhibits removal closure by child. Such mechanism may known construction that requires combination rotation axial movement such interengaging teeth, biased apart normally but which not been shown detail drawings.

The upper surface 24 radial wall 18 includes outer band indicia 26 . The indicia 26 indicate day segment day which next dose medication due or been taken. Thus example shown FIGS. 1 3, it contemplated that medication taken up four times per day indicated as, for example SUN 1 , SUN 2 , SUN 3 , SUN 4 .

A set Cam lobes 30 are formed upper surface 24 are uniformly spaced around inner circumference band 26 . As shown FIG. 10, each lobe 30 ramp 32 abutment face 34 integrally formed with ramp 32 . In embodiment shown FIG. 1, four cam lobes 30 are disposed around radially inner circumference band 26 .

A central retaining hole 36 provided radial face 18 secure cover 14 base 12 . As seen FIGS. 5 6, cover 14 includes body 40 formed circular disk with upstanding bar 42 integrally moulded diameter disk 40 facilitate rotation cover. A radial slot 44 having radial extent corresponding that band 26 formed disc 40 alignment with bar 42 . The upper surface bar 42 indicium indicating “next dose” formed surface with arrow pointing toward slot 44 . A lens 46 engages with flanks slot 44 provide window cover 14 .

The underside cover 40 shown FIG. 6 ratchet wheel 50 integrally moulded into disk 14 . The ratchet wheel 50 extends edge slot 44 set radial slots 52 defining teeth formed periphery wheel 50 ,

A retainer 54 projects underside centre cover 40 set resilient tangs 56 shown greater detail FIG. 7 for engagement with hole 36 radial wall 18 . Each tangs 56 enlarged head 58 pass through hole 36 engage counter bore 59 provided underside wall 18 inhibit removal body 40 , seen FIG. 12.

Referring FIGS. 9 11, body 40 cover 14 dimensioned fit within bore 22 retained by retainer 54 radial wall 18 . The slots 52 ratchet wheel 50 accommodate cam lobes 30 with abutment face 34 engaging radial wall slot 52 inhibit rotation one direction. The cover 40 thus able rotate direction which undersurface ratchet wheel 52 rises over cam 32 but counter rotation inhibited by abutment face 34 .

When assembled, window 44 located over band indicia 26 so that single dosage interval may viewed through lens 46 . After dose medication been taken, bar 42 may used rotate disk 40 relative base 16 over cams 32 until next slot 52 engages with cam. The next dosage interval then indicated window 44 . At each dosage, disk 40 may incremented one or more times providing accurate indication when next dose due. In event that there change dose frequency or interruption medication, disk 40 may easily incremented times required align window 44 with appropriate indicium. The recalibration often effected single sweeping action if appropriate torque exerted bar 42 .

It noted that upper surfaces bar 42 disk 40 are maintained below upper edge peripheral wall 16 defining counter bore 22 . The typical spacing between upper surface bar 42 , disk 40 top wall 16 order 2 mm although this may varied depending particular circumstances. The recessing upper surface bar 42 disk 40 below rim inhibits unintentional movement disk 40 during removal from, or replacement of, closure 10 container due any twisting, turning, squeezing, pushing or other motions or fingers or palms required defeat childproof mechanisms or facilitate use by elderly or arthritic user. Moreover, seen FIG. 12, interaction ratchet wheel cam 30 prevents rotation disk 40 counter clockwise direction normally associated with removal closure container. Thus tendency disk 40 rotate due pressure exerted closure 10 overcome childproof mechanism resisted not only by recessing disk but also orientation cams.

The indicia 26 are shown integrally moulded into radial wall 18 but indicia may also applied through printing radial wall 18 or printing adhesive disk that may inserted into counter bore 22 . In this way range possible dosage intervals may incorporated into closure 16 disk incremented past slots 52 until next appropriate dosage visible window 44 . As further refinement, ratchet wheel 50 may customised for each dosage interval so that position slots 52 corresponds dosages indicated indicia 26 . It appreciated that lens 46 may removed leave open window 44 view indicia.

It also noted FIG. 11, that provision ratchet disk 50 maintains underside disk 40 spaced relationship indicia band 26 thereby inhibits erosion due rotation between disk 40 surface 18 .

An alternative embodiment closure 16 shown FIGS. 13 through 16 which like reference numerals are used indicate like components with suffix “a” added for clarity. In embodiment FIGS. 13 through 16, retainer 56 replaced by semi-circular rabbet 60 formed radial inner surface wall 16 cavity 22 . The disk 40 diameter greater than that bore 22 with rounded edge complementary semi-circular recess 60 . The disk 40 snap fit within recess 60 which permits rotation whilst inhibiting separation axial direction.

From foregoing description, it recognised by those skilled art that medicine reminder device offering advantages over prior art been provided. It more economical manufacture, compatible with wide variety existing future child-resistant mechanisms provides reminder mechanism that works wide variety dosing schedules.

In foregoing specification, invention been described with reference specific preferred embodiments methods. It will, however, evident those skill art that various modifications changes may made without departing broader spirit scope invention set forth attendant claims. The specification drawings are, accordingly, regarded illustrative, rather than restrictive, sense.

Although invention been described with reference certain specific embodiments, various modifications thereof apparent those skilled art without departing spirit scope invention outlined claims appended hereto.