Medication adherence and/or counterfeit detection wearable electronic device
Inventors
Wang, David Jonq • Ross, Mark A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10524726-B2
Publication Date
2020-01-07
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system to determine medication adherence may include a chemical marker sensor, a verification sensor, and a processor. The chemical marker sensor may be configured to detect one or more markers in sweat vapor of a user. The verification sensor may be configured to detect whether the system is in use. The processor may be communicatively coupled to the chemical marker sensor and the verification sensor and may be configured to determine whether the user has taken a therapeutic agent that includes the one or more markers based on signals generated by the chemical marker sensor and the verification sensor.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a wearable electronic system to determine medication adherence by detecting one or more markers of a therapeutic agent in sweat vapor of a user. The system includes a chemical marker sensor configured to detect the one or more therapeutic-agent markers in sweat vapor and a verification sensor configured to detect whether the system is less than a threshold distance from skin.
The system also includes a heart-beat sensor configured to detect a manifestation of an expected effect of the therapeutic agent on the user, or alternatively a heart-beat sensor or a motion sensor configured to detect a manifestation of an expected effect. A processor communicatively coupled to the sensors is configured to calculate a confidence level indicative of whether the user has taken the therapeutic agent based on the chemical marker detection, the proximity verification, and the expected-effect manifestation detection.
The disclosure further refines medication identification by detecting marker schemes and determining specific therapeutic agents using marker identities and/or combinations, including proportions or concentrations associated with multi-level marker schemes. It also describes optionally personalizing dosing based on detection over time, including multi-time and multi-marker detection to support metabolic-rate personalization, and optionally adding biometric user authentication and therapeutic-agent source/identity authentication.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims. Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on chemical marker sensing in sweat vapor, proximity verification via a threshold distance from skin, and detecting an expected therapeutic effect manifestation via heart-beat and/or motion sensing, followed by calculating a confidence level for adherence.
Chemical marker sensor in sweat vapor for therapeutic-agent markers
The system comprises a chemical marker sensor configured to detect one or more markers of a therapeutic agent in sweat vapor of a user.
Verification sensor for threshold distance from skin
The system comprises a verification sensor configured to detect whether the system is less than a threshold distance from skin.
Heart-beat manifestation detection for expected effect
The system comprises a heart-beat sensor configured to detect a manifestation of an expected effect of the therapeutic agent on the user.
Motion or heart-beat manifestation detection for expected effect
At least one of a heart-beat sensor or a motion sensor is configured to detect a manifestation of an expected effect of the therapeutic agent on the user.
Motion-pattern change detection for expected effect
A motion sensor is configured to detect a change in a movement pattern of the user indicative of a manifestation of the expected effect of the therapeutic agent on the user.
Confidence level calculation for whether the user has taken the therapeutic agent
A processor is configured to calculate a confidence level indicative of whether the user has taken the therapeutic agent based on the chemical marker detection, the verification sensor detecting that the system is less than the threshold distance from skin, and the expected-effect manifestation detection.
Metabolic-rate personalization and personalized dosing based on marker detection times
The system detects a first and second chemical marker of the therapeutic agent in sweat vapor at first and second times, determines the user's metabolic rate from the times, and determines personalized dosing based on the metabolic rate.
The claim set covers systems that determine medication adherence by combining sweat-vapor chemical marker detection with verification that the system is within a threshold distance from skin and with detection of an expected therapeutic effect manifestation using heart-beat and/or motion sensing, with a processor calculating a confidence level indicative of whether the user has taken the therapeutic agent.
Stated Advantages
Calculates a confidence level indicative of whether the user has taken the therapeutic agent.
Improves adherence determination by combining chemical marker detection, proximity verification to skin, and detection of an expected effect manifestation.
Documented Applications
Wearable electronic devices for medication adherence determination, using detection of therapeutic-agent markers in sweat vapor and sensor-based confirmation of device-in-use/proximity and expected effect manifestations.
Potential counterfeit drug detection, using detection of therapeutic-agent markers in sweat vapor.
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