Horology: time measuring systems or devices – Combined with disparate device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-17
2002-04-16
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
Combined with disparate device
C368S012000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06373787
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a system for the need-dependent generation of a signal perceptible by a person at one or more predetermined points in time at which one or more medications must be taken or a time-related medical measure is to be implemented.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Persons who must take medications regularly often have the problem of forgetting to take the medication altogether or, of overlooking the administration time prescribed by the physician. This problem particularly occurs in with older persons or patients who must take many medications at different times. Signal devices, for example in the form of small portable devices, are known in the prior art, for example German OS 44 13 646, which include time-measuring means and generate an alarm signal in the fashion of a timer at the respectively required points in time at a body-worn device or a carried device. These devices, however, can only remind the user of the administration of medication when they are located in the immediate environment of the user at the point in time of the signaling. Many persons, however, do not always carry or wear these devices, particularly in the domestic environment; on the contrary, these devices are often placed down at locations that are so far from the location of the patient that the signal does not reach the patient. Such systems are also disclosed by PCT Application WO 97/24702 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,583,831.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a system of the type initially described that makes it possible to provide the patient with the corresponding signal indicating the administration of medication at different locations, essentially within a building, for example a house or an apartment.
This object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a system for generating a humanly perceptible signal as a reminder for administration of a medical treatment, having a control unit, disposed at a first location within a building, and in which administration times for a medical treatment are stored, and having a time measuring unit, and at least one signaling unit, located remote from the control unit at a second location at the building, and which communicates with the control unit via a communication connection of a communication system contained within the building, and which, upon receiving a signal from the control unit via the communication system, emits a humanly perceptible signal to remind a person within the building that it is time for a medical treatment to be administered.
As used herein, a “medical treatment” means undertaking one or more medical or health-related activities, and is not merely limited to ingesting pills or the like. Moreover, as used herein the term “at the building” includes locations outside of a building, in close vicinity to the building.
With this inventive system having the advantageous separation of the control unit that controls the timing of the administration of medications and, correspondingly, the signaling and the external signal device, the possibility is especially advantageously established of providing the patient with the corresponding signal at an arbitrary location, namely anywhere that an external signal device is provided. A number of external signal devices can be provided for this purpose, at various locations at a building. In a dwelling, for example, a signal device can be provided in each room, so that the patient can be reached everywhere. It has proven especially advantageous when, inventively, the communication connection is realized mainly by lines laid and/or to be laid at the building side or radio-supported. An EIB bus (European installation bus) can be employed as communication system of the building side. Such a communication system, which is usually already present in the building and serves the purpose of signal management for controlling various actuators such as, for example, illuminating means and the like, usually runs through all parts of the building and may also partly pass through the outer region, so that the signal devices can be especially advantageously coupled everywhere. In view of the system costs, as well, the use of the communication system that already exists proves advantageous, particularly in the form of the EIB bus, since no additional communication lines need be laid. As an alternative to the employment of hardwired communication possibilities, a wireless communication connection can be additionally provided in accordance with the invention, so that the aforementioned communication system is not limited to the immediate area of the building but also allows the arrangement and inclusion of signal devices located outside.
Optical, acoustic and/or mechanical signal devices can be inventively provided as the aforementioned signaling devices. A bell provided in the building or one or more lighting means provided at the building can thereby be expediently employed as acoustic and optical signal devices. These devices are usually already integrated in the house communication system, for example the EIB bus system, so that they can be particularly advantageously addressed accordingly with the control unit. Elements that are already present in the building are thus employed as signal devices as well, this likewise having a beneficial influence, particularly in terms of the system costs. The bell, for example, can thereby be correspondingly driven at the given point in time, so that it rings once or repeatedly or, on the other hand, in a specific sequence; the lighting means can, for example, flash briefly or the like. Additionally or alternatively, a radio receiver and/or one or more display devices reproducing the signal in the form of a visual display, particularly in the form of a television set, can also be employed. In this case, for example, a corresponding signal or a corresponding message is transmitted from the control unit to the radio receiver—preferably when the television set is operating already. Given employment of a display, particularly in the form of a television set that is usually present in a dwelling, the signal can be correspondingly mixed in the television picture, whereby, of course, the control unit is correspondingly fashioned for this purpose in order to supply the data and corresponding data formats required for this purpose.
A device that generates mechanical, acoustic or optical signals and communicates with the control and/or processing unit via the wireless communication connection and that is to be worn by the affected person can be inventively employed as additional (redundant) mechanical, acoustic and/or optical signal device. Such devices, for example in the form of silent alarm devices that are to be worn at the wrist or the like and generate vibrations are known. Given use of such a device, the patient is informed of the time for taking the medication on the basis of corresponding vibrations that can be felt, so that he can act correspondingly when the signal is given. Of course, this portable signal device can also be fashioned as an acoustic alarm. An optical alarm, for example a small display means, can also be employed, for example a SCALL device (pager). Of course, a device in the form of a portable telephone can also be utilized. Given employment of a plurality of signal devices, the signal can thereby be inventively generated at one or more, potentially all signal devices, whereby the use of the signal devices that have been mentioned is expediently based on their operating readiness, i.e., given employment of a radio receiver or of a television set, this is only addressed when the respective device is also correspondingly operating.
In order to prevent the signal from being given when the respective point in time stored in the control unit is reached despite the medication already having been taken, in an embodiment of the invention that the control unit causes the time or times for the correct administration of the
Abraham-Fuchs Klaus
Birkhoelzer Thomas
Breimesser Fritz
Herold Alexander
Miska Vit
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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