4879 results about "Medical prescription" patented technology

A medical kiosk designed to provide tele-medicine services, check-in services, and / or prescription services for a user. The medical kiosk can include a user video conferencing system that is designed to enable the user to have a real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a medical provider located remotely from the medical kiosk.

Methods and devices are provided for gathering impedance data related to implantable restriction devices. In general, the methods and devices can enable patients, health care providers, and others to use gathered data as a feedback mechanism to non-invasively monitor efficacy of an implantable restriction device in a patient and to identify, modify, and / or prescribe a treatment plan for the patient considering the gathered data. Impedance data can be gathered and analyzed for tissue proximate to the restriction device, e.g., a fat pad between a gastric band and the patient's stomach. Electrodes in contact with the tissue can measure an impedance of the tissue, with the impedance between the electrodes changing as the tissue reduces in size (e.g., as fat cells shrink) and / or changes configuration.

A medication delivery system (20) having features of the present invention comprises a medical container (26) holding a prescribed medication (27) to be delivered to a patient, a tag 24 adapted to be worn by the patient, a handheld computing device (22), and an electronic medication delivery device (30). Data on the medication (27) is contained in a first label (28) on the medication container (27). The first label (28) also contains the instruction on how the medication is delivered to the patient, including the appropriate settings for an electronic medication delivery device for delivering the medication to the patient. Patient data is contained in a second label (29) on the tag (24) worn by the patient. The medication data, medication delivery instruction, and patient data are provided in machine readable formats. The handheld computing device (22) reads the medication data and the medication delivery instruction on the medication container (26) and the patient data on the patient tag (24). The handheld computing device (22) stores the information obtained and performs a matching check to confirm that the medication data matches with the patient data. Upon a confirmed match, it transmits the medication delivery instruction to the electronic medication delivery device (30), which downloads the instruction, programs the delivery device 30, and prompts an operator to begin delivering the medication (27) to the patient according to the downloaded instruction.

Portable computing apparatus for aiding a user in the monitoring of the consumption of consumable items, such as food items or prescribed medicaments, and reordering such items includes a common database for use in monitoring the items as consumed, and for preparing the reorder list at the proper time. The apparatus preferably includes an imaging device for recording the image of the item to be consumed, and recognition circuitry for utilizing the recorded image to identify the item and also to provide information concerning its nutritional content in a weight management program. The consumable item may also be identified in other manners, such as by a barcode reader, or a voice-recognition circuit.

A plurality of co-operative and complementary software programs are implemented in a web-enabled high speed computer system to remotely monitor, manage and modify the operational and functional parameters of a plurality of implanted medical devices (IMDs). The system utilizes virtual electrophysiologist module (VEM), chronic monitoring module (CMM) and prescription program module (PPM) programs to effect specific therapeutic and diagnostic methods for managing the IMDs, remotely on a conditions and real-time basis. The modules enable remote and continuous monitoring, management and maintenance of the IMDs by identifying critical medical events, determining optimal clinical settings and upgrading performance parameters based on prescriptive data. The modules are implemented in a data center having high-speed computers operating in a web-enabled environment. The modules and the IMDs communicate through wireless communications system via a programmer or an interface medical unit (IMD).

A veterinary kiosk designed to provide tele-med services, check-in services, and / or prescription services for a user and an animal. The veterinary kiosk can include a user video conferencing system that is designed to enable the user to have a real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a veterinary provider located remotely from the veterinary kiosk. A method of providing veterinary services via a modular veterinary kiosk with one or more integrated veterinary medical devices.

The present invention is directed to a non-intrusive data transmission network for use in a healthcare facility and method for implementing such network. Each individual patient's room is equipped with a set-top control device, a separate camera, microphone, control module camera control device. The SCD allows for a non-intrusive installation within a minimum amount of time. By utilizing the existing cable television infrastructure, the device creates a high-speed data network throughout the facility. The interface between the SCD and the CCD is accomplished through a standard interface for universally connecting auxiliary devices, such as USB, for enabling expandable, hot-pluggable Plug and Play serial device interfaces. These ports allow external devices such as the camera, microphone, infrared keyboard and privacy control unit to communicate with the SCD. Additional USB ports on the SCD allow for other devices to be connected to the network at a future time. Such devices include those for instrument monitoring, doctor information access or pharmaceutical prescription ordering. Visual information such as e-mail, web browsing, video and audio communications via web camera applications from family members, friends or other parties may be viewed by the patient from the in-room TV set by way of the internal RF modulator (and connecting to the Internet via the patient Internet server). The SCD switches from the standard cable TV channels to the SCD by way of an internal switch controlled by the patient from an infrared control. This control also enables or disables the camera to allow for privacy at times when such privacy is required from external Internet access. The system is configurable to offer this privacy to be layered from specific Internet or external users to the nurses, doctors or security department as the hospital desires.

A pharmaceutical system and method of operation in which a single remote professional provides pharmaceutical care and oversight of multiple local pharmacies. A control location is connected through an electronic network to one or more individual pharmacies, each of which may be located at a different physical site. Each individual pharmacy includes one or more drug preparation areas, and one or more self-service or staffed customer terminals. A drug preparation area includes a robot, which is adapted to prepare prescriptions or other items, and which is connected by a pneumatic delivery system to one or more customer terminals within the pharmacy.

A medical kiosk designed to provide tele-med services, check-in services, and / or prescription services for a user. The medical kiosk can include a user video conferencing system that is designed to enable the user to have a real-time or near real-time tele-conference with a medical provider located remotely from the medical kiosk.

<heading lvl="0">Abstract of Disclosure< / heading> An integrated suite of services for consumers, service providers and manufacturers in the pharmaceutical industry is disclosed. The present invention utilizes one or more of the NCPDP standard formats and adopts the switch for an integrated system of, for example, instant adjudication of prescriptions, consumer data warehousing and / or incentive rewards for the consumer. A participating consumer with one card, can instantly purchase pharmaceuticals and charge the transaction to a credit card and earn and apply savings dollars redeemable for pharmaceutical purchases. For a participating service provider, instant adjudication and instant validation of consumer eligibility can be performed. Moreover, a service provider may receive messages related to the patient's medications. Significantly, data is recorded for consumers even when consumers make the pharmaceutical purchase with cash. The system includes a unique card issued to participating consumers. The card is adapted to encode conventional credit or debit card information specific to the participating consumer so that the consumer can consummate a transaction for the purchase of pharmaceuticals without possession of an additional credit card. The system further includes a host processor coupled to the point of sale at the service provider through a leased line or public switch network or the like. When a customer performs a pharmaceutical transaction at the point of sale of the service provider, the host processor coordinates any benefits and data with other prescription benefit management systems through messages transmitted and received from any primary or secondary carrier systems. The host processor further is adapted to facilitate real-time adjudication of claims and checks for any dangerous drug-to-drug interactions. The host processor additionally facilitates any financial processing including the accumulation and redemption of any bonus dollars earned by the consumer. Furthermore, since the card used by the consumer can be encoded with credit or debit card information, the host processor determines the desired payment method and performs the actual financial transaction. Even if the transaction at the point of sale is a cash purchase, the consumer may desire to use his unique card for the accrual of bonus dollars. Therefore, data concerning the transaction (i.e., pharmacy number, prescription number, etc.) can be recorded even for transactions conducted with cash.

A centralized management system for medical devices includes a network, a central server coupled to the network, and a medical device programmer coupled to the network. The central server includes at least one prescription system for prescribing at least one programmable parameter of a medical device based on at least one characteristic of a patient. The medical device programmer communicates at least one characteristic of a patient to the central server via the network, receives at least one parameter from the central server via the network, and programs the medical device using the at least one parameter. In one embodiment, the central server hosts expert prescription systems defined by multiple experts, and a user selects one of the expert prescription systems. In another embodiment, the central server hosts a custom prescription system defined by the user.

A method and apparatus for a home monitoring system is provided. The home monitoring system may include a command console for monitoring and processing the output of sensors. The processing of the sensors includes (1) providing a history of the sensor as an indicator to the operator of the sensor output over time; (2) analyzing the trends of the sensor to increase the effectiveness of the sensor beyond simply the current sensor output; and (3) analyzing the output of one sensor which may impact interpretation of a second sensor's output. The monitoring system may also be a prescription reminder system. The prescription reminder system may be used in homes or institutional medical facilities (assisted living or nursing homes) to provide patients with a manner to remind them to take pharmaceutical drugs at prescribed times.

An automated drug dispensing system includes a cabinet adapted to store a variety of prepackaged pharmaceuticals in a plurality of bins for filling patient prescriptions. Each bin stores a particular variety of packaged multiple-dose pharmaceutical. Each variety of pharmaceutical is associated with a particular code. A controller receives request signals and in response generates dispense signals. Each bin includes a dispenser coupled to the controller for dispensing the packaged pharmaceuticals therefrom in response to a dispense signal sent from the controller. After a package is dispensed, a code reader determines the code of the dispensed package and verifies whether the code on the dispensed package matches the code of the requested package.

A method and apparatus have been devised for analyzing abnormal conditions of gait and posture and for translating such analysis into biomechanical correction through the utilization of orthotics alone and in combination with other measures and which includes a walking platform upon which a patient can stride, video cameras directed at the patient including a frontal camera, lateral camera, overhead camera and lower rear camera, mirrors to produce reflected images of the patient from selected of the cameras, and a closed circuit television for simultaneously displaying images of the patient when striding on the walking platform; and such information is coordinated with more traditional diagnostic measures for determining or sensing ground reactive and weight-bearing forces on the feet both when static and during ambulation to produce an accurate prescription through the use of orthotics alone and in combination with other measures.

An integrated pharmacy system receives prescription information, creates a substitution reference list identifying the requested medical item and a plurality of equivalent medical items, automatically selects one of the items identified on the substitution reference list, fills the prescription, checks the accuracy of the filled prescription, facilitates the sales exchange, and creates an archive of the transaction, although not all steps need to be performed for every application. The integrated pharmacy system can also prevent unauthorized users from performing improper functions such as, for example, attempting to dispense an item which is not a proper substitute for the requested item. The present invention, by automatically substituting equivalent medical items for a requested medical item and by automatically archiving each prescription transaction, simplifies the prescription filling and record keeping requirements for the pharmacy technician and pharmacist.

A method and apparatus for dispensing drugs, wherein a patient's order of one or more prescriptions is automatically filled. Various drugs are stored in three or more filler lines. A vial size is assigned to each line. When a prescription is filled, it is automatically assigned to a line in view of the vial size requirements and processed accordingly. Provisions are made for the inability to fill a prescription or order. Subsequently, all of the patient's prescriptions are collected and made available as a single order.

A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.

A will call system for automating the management of storage and retrieval of items, preferably medical prescriptions. The automated system provides information control of all items in the system. The automated will call monitors the length of time an item remains in the system, and into which location an item is placed. An article sensor provides absolute confirmation that an item has been placed or removed from a designated location in the storage units. The automated will call system uses a controller to permit users to monitor and optimize the storage and retrieval procedures.

A medication dispensing system includes a medicine cabinet having a plurality of compartments for containing supplies of different kinds of medications to be accessed by a healthcare attendant for preparing individual medication dosages for named patients; and a tray having a plurality of sections for receiving a plurality of receptacles each adapted to contain one or more medication dosages prescribed for a named patient. The medicine cabinet includes a processor having a memory for storing the names of patients and their prescribed medication dosages, and a display screen for displaying the patient names and their respective prescribed medication dosages. The tray includes a display screen for displaying the patient names and their respective medication dosages, and a communication link with the medicine cabinet through which the cabinet processor communicates to the tray the patient names and their respective medication dosages.

A software-based, integrated member decision support system provides a method for corporations, insurance carriers, health maintenance organizations, physicians, physician groups, or other clients to efficiently provide medical, pharmaceutical, and health benefit advice and information for an enrolled population. The system contains one or more databases which include member profiles, clinical information and guidelines, pharmaceutical information and guidelines, health benefit information, and optional additional information. A caller establishes communication with the system, which directs the caller to an operator who provides the caller with medical, pharmaceutical, and / or health benefit advice based on an inquiry from the caller and the information stored on the system. The system may automatically alert the caller or the operator of important medical or pharmaceutical information. At the conclusion of the call, the system or the system with the operator's input, may update the caller's member profile, request written materials, generate referrals, order prescriptions, or generate reports.

This invention relates to an interactive medication container or console that hold or otherwise organizes one or more medication vials or containers. Each vial has a memory strip containing medication and prescription information. Each vial can also include a reminder unit that is attached to and portable with the individual vials. The console or reminder unit reads the information strip of the vial and communicates this information to or interacts with a patient to remind them to take the medication. The medication container or reminder unit also gathers or tracks information such as consumption time, quantity remaining, patient feedback, and contraindication information. The medication container or reminder unit interacts with the patient by displaying questions or receiving and recording input from the patient before, during or after a dose of medication is taken. The patient input can be used to modify the dosing regimen for future doses of medication. The medication container reorders medication when the quantity remaining reaches a threshold level. Contraindication information in the memory strip is downloaded to a personal home computer or a hospital or nursing home computer.

An apparatus for filling vials comprises a shelving unit defining an array of storage locations. The shelving unit may be an array in an XY plane or one or more carousels. A plurality of storage containers are provided, each removably carried by one of the storage locations. A counting and dispensing unit, a source of vials, a label printer and application unit or units, and an output device are also provided. The output device may take a variety of forms such as an output chute, which is preferably used when a capping unit is provided, an output conveyor, a plurality of output lanes, and an output carousel, which may be a dedicated carousel or a portion of the carousel providing the plurality of storage locations. A computer controlled engagement device provides motion in a Z direction. The engagement device may be comprised of a first stage for engaging the storage containers and a second stage for engaging the vials. A computer controlled system carries the engagement device and moves the engagement device in XY directions among the plurality of storage locations, counting and dispensing unit, source of vials, label printer and application unit, and output device. Methods of operating and refilling the vial filling apparatus are also disclosed.

A system for treating chronic inflammation may include an implantable microstimulator, a wearable charger, and optionally an external controller. The implantable microstimulator may be implemented as a leadless neurostimulator implantable in communication with a cervical region of a vagus nerve. The microstimulator can address several types of stimulation including regular dose delivery. The wearable charger may be worn around the subject's neck to rapidly (<10 minutes per week) charge an implanted microstimulator. The external controller may be configured as a prescription pad that controls the dosing and activity of the microstimulator.

The invention provides an automatic pharmacy, including a slope type medicine storing cabinet, a medicine distributing device, a sorting device, a medication applying device and a control management system. A U-shaped groove of a slope medicine storing holder is fixed to a supporting beam and forms a dip of 20 degrees with the horizontal plane. The medicine distributing device includes an elevator and a medicine output mechanism. A low end medicine outlet port of the U-shaped groove of the slope medicine storing holder is butted with a medicine inlet port of a U-shaped medicine storing groove of the medicine output mechanism. The medicine outlet is connected with a conveyer belt in a way of transiting through a retaining door to form a medicine distributing channel. The medicine outlet end of the medicine distributing device is equipped with the sorting device. A sorting channel is connected with the medicine distributing channel. The medicine outlet port of a medication applying transporting mechanism is butted with a medicine inlet port of a U-shaped groove of a medication applying manipulator which is installed on a Cartesian-coordinate robot. The medicine outlet port of the U-shaped groove of the medication applying manipulator is butted with a high end medicine inlet port of the U-shaped groove of the slope medicine storing holder to form the medication applying channel. Therefore, the functions of semi-automatic batch recharging of boxed medicine, medicine box dense storage and management, automatic medicine distribution according to a prescription and medicine sorting to the determined windows, etc. can be realized.

A method and apparatus for a home monitoring system is provided. The home monitoring system may include a command console for monitoring and processing the output of sensors. The processing of the sensors includes (1) providing a history of the sensor as an indicator to the operator of the sensor output over time; (2) analyzing the trends of the sensor to increase the effectiveness of the sensor beyond simply the current sensor output; and (3) analyzing the output of one sensor which may impact interpretation of a second sensor's output. The monitoring system may also be a prescription reminder system. The prescription reminder system may be used in homes or institutional medical facilities (assisted living or nursing homes) to provide patients with a manner to remind them to take pharmaceutical drugs at prescribed times.

An apparatus and method are used to perform the verification of a pharmaceutical prescription after it is filled but prior to shipment. Due to the high volume of mail / internet orders, the analysis is to be performed on the whole prescription, not on each individual pill of the prescription. The apparatus automatically gathers information about the pills contained in a pill bottle, including image and weight information, and incorporates a decision-making engine to decide whether the content of the pill bottle matches the prescription order.

A treatment Device is provided which enables a Doctor / Pharmacist to provide patient specific instructions in a textual format to a patient. The instructions are converted by a speech synthesizer provided in the Device into an audibly perceptible format. When configured as a hand-held unit, the Device may store a plurality of medications. Upon activation or automatically, instructions saved in the device are communicated to a patient / user via various audible, visual and / or tactile indicators. The instructions are provided to the device via a Platform which enables Doctors and Pharmacists input instructions into the Platform, which, via a Platform interface, are saved into a storage device provided in the Device. In an additional embodiment, a removable medication dispensing cartridge is provided which facilitates the controlled and automatic dispensing of a medication to a patient based upon a treatment schedule. Patient compliance information with a treatment schedule may be provided by the Device.

A medication delivery system (20) having features of the present invention comprises a medical container (26) holding a prescribed medication (27) to be delivered to a patient, a tag 24 adapted to be worn by the patient, a handheld computing device (22), and an electronic medication delivery device (30). Data on the medication (27) is contained in a first label (28) on the medication container (27). The first label (28) also contains the instruction on how the medication is delivered to the patient, including the appropriate settings for an electronic medication delivery device for delivering the medication to the patient. Patient data is contained in a second label (29) on the tag (24) worn by the patient. The medication data, medication delivery instruction, and patient data are provided in machine readable formats. The handheld computing device (22) reads the medication data and the medication delivery instruction on the medication container (26) and the patient data on the patient tag (24). The handheld computing device (22) stores the information obtained and performs a matching check to confirm that the medication data matches with the patient data. Upon a confirmed match, it transmits the medication delivery instruction to the electronic medication delivery device (30), which downloads the instruction, programs the delivery device 30, and prompts an operator to begin delivering the medication (27) to the patient according to the downloaded instruction.

A system and method for verifying information and controlling a response function when two or more pieces of information correspond to each other. The system includes an information device and an identification device. The information device has identification information stored therein. The identification device has identification information stored therein or thereon. The information device obtains the identification information from the identification device and compares it to the identification information in the information device. If the identification information corresponds, the information device provides a response signal. The response signal may control a locking mechanism for a container to which the information device is attached or provide an audible or visual indication. The system and method may be used for controlling the administration of prescribed medication to a patient or in other medical or non-medical applications.

An inventory control and prescription management and dispensing system including a dispensing vault for storing and dispensing prescriptions, the dispensing vault in communication with a central computer system that, in turn, communicates with prescription providers, insurance companies, and other third parties; the dispensing vault including robotic means for randomly accessing pre-filled prescriptions within the vault, with the vault further including RFID, bar code, and other means for verifying the content and internal location of pre-filled prescriptions; a customer interface that uses customer biometrics to ID a customer to ensure that prescriptions are only dispensed to the correct person; a patient registration system in communication with the central computer system for collecting insurance, doctor, biometric, and other information to facilitate transactions; a labeling system for labeling pre-filled prescriptions with customer specific information upon dispensing; transport container that integrate into the dispensing vault and provide secure transportation from a pharmaceutical manufacturer or repackager to the dispensing vault, security provided through RFID tags which communicate with the central computer to verify that the transport container contains the correct formulary and that the integrity of the container (temperature range, time in transit, tampering) has not been compromised; a payment system integral to the dispensing vault that is in communication with third party banks and pharmacy billing management systems, credit agencies and the central computer; a verification system for ensuring that pre-filled bottles received from the manufacturer (before they are placed into the storage locations inside the vault) have not had their integrity compromised, with this system evaluating each container's weight, size, moisture content, shape, velocity change, color, pattern, and physical integrity (all comparisons made against standards stored in the central computer).