Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices – Miscellaneous
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-21
2001-07-10
Mei, Xu (Department: 2644)
Electrical audio signal processing systems and devices
Miscellaneous
C704S272000, C221S003000, C215S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259794
ABSTRACT:
RELATED PATENTS
This patent application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,586, which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to medication containers and, more particularly, to a device for recording and playing back audio messages and that attaches to a medication container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medication containers, particularly those for prescribed medications, require specific written instructions for a patient with regard to dosages and other special instructions to be printed on a label and affixed to the container, or to be packaged with the container. Instructions may be provided from the patient's physician, the drug manufacturer, or the distributor.
Written instructions that are provided with medications are subject to various shortcomings attributable to various factors including limited writing space, poor vision, low literacy level of the patient, primary spoken language of the patient, potential for physical damage to or smudging of written labels, and misplacing of enclosed instructions. For example, written instructions that are required to be fixed to the outside of the medication container on a label must be printed in letters large enough to be seen by the reader, yet small enough to enable the complete instructions to be printed on the label which is relatively limited in writing area. This may result in medication labels that are in print that are too small to be read by people with poor vision, without the need for magnifiers or other vision aids. In some situations it may be necessary for instructions to be written very concisely to fit on a label. This sometimes results in language being omitted for the sake of brevity thereby rendering the instructions deficient or difficult to comprehend. In other situations, where the label or instructions are written in a language that is not the native or first language of the patient, it may be difficult for the patient to understand the instructions. Labels fixed to medication containers are subject to wear, smudging, and moisture, which may result in damage to the label so that it cannot be read. Lastly, certain enclosed instructions and warnings that may have been enclosed in the manufacturer's packaging, but not printed on a label, may be misplaced or otherwise separated from the medication container.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device associated with a medication container for delivering instructions and warnings to patients using a medication. It is a further object to provide such a device in a manner that overcomes the shortcomings discussed above with conventional printed labels and instruction enclosures. These objects and others are achieved by the present invention as will be described herein.
The present invention is directed to a device that attaches to a medication container and has a built-in audio recording and playback feature for recording and listening to instructions. The self-contained device has a power supply, an audio input component (i.e., microphone), an audio output component (speaker), audio recording storage in the form of electronic data memory, control buttons in communication with a microprocessor, and associated electronic circuitry. In one embodiment, the device is adapted to clip onto the cap of a medication container. In another embodiment, the device is adapted to slide over the lower end of a medication container. The aforementioned embodiments of the present invention are physically adapted to enable use of a conventional medication container cap in its ordinary fashion, without interfering with safe and proper operation thereof which is strictly regulated.
In operation, a physician and/or a pharmacist can verbally instruct a patient by recording a voice message into the device of the present invention. The device is attached to a medication container. A playback feature enables the patient, upon receiving the medication container and the device of the present invention, to playback the recording to receive verbal, audio instructions and warnings. This system can be used in lieu of or in association with conventional, written instructions and warnings on a printed label or printed enclosures.
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patent: 5577918 (1996-11-01), Crowell
patent: 5724021 (1998-03-01), Perrone
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patent: 5890121 (1999-03-01), Borcherding
International Search Report Jul. 24, 2000 PCT.
McCormick Paulding & Huber LLP
Mei Xu
Millennium Compliance
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