Method and apparatus for closed-loop pharmaceutical delivery

Abstract

A method of dispensing a pharmaceutical senses electrical signal representative of a physical condition of a patient and dispenses a therapeutic drug to the patient from a drug delivery appliance in response to either the electrical signal or a second signal from a health care provider.

1 . A method of dispensing a pharmaceutical comprising the steps of: 
 sensing by an intelligent drug delivery appliance, an electrical signal representative of a physical condition of a patient, which is at least partially responsive to drug therapy;    measuring said first electrical signal by said intelligent drug delivery appliance (“appliance”);    dispensing a therapeutic drug to said patient from said intelligent drug delivery appliance in response to at least one of:    the appliance's measurement of said first electrical signal;    a second input signal from a health care provider.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of sensing a physical condition of a patient includes at least one of: 
 sensing blood pressure of a patient;    sensing heart rate of a patient;    sensing the temperature of a patient;    sensing blood sugar of a patient;    sensing brain wave activity of a patient;    sensing allergens;    sensing patient weight.    
   
   
       3 . A method of dispensing a pharmaceutical comprising the steps of: 
 sensing an electrical signal representative of a physical condition of a patient, which is at least partially responsive to drug therapy;    measuring said first electrical signal by an intelligent drug delivery appliance (the “appliance”);    dispensing a therapeutic drug to said patient from said intelligent drug delivery appliance in response to at least one of:    the appliance's measurement of said first electrical signal, a second input signal from a health care provider; and adjusting the dosage of the therapeutic drug in response to said sensed physical condition.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said step of dispensing an appropriate therapeutic drug to said patient in response to the computer's measurement of said first electrical signal, said computer is further comprised of the step of: 
 adjusting the dosage of the therapeutic drug in response to the value of said first electrical signal.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  further including the step of: limiting the dispensing of at least some of said therapeutic drug according to the amount of therapeutic drug previously dispensed in a predetermined time interval.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said second input signal is a data signal from a health care service provider received at said appliance via a data network.  
   
   
       7 . A method of dispensing therapeutic drugs to a patient comprising the steps of: 
 sensing, at least one physical condition of a patient, which condition is at least partially responsive to drug therapy;    converting, said at least one sensed physical condition to an electrical signal representative of said sensed physical condition, which is readable by the intelligent drug dispensing appliance;    measuring said electrical signal by the intelligent drug delivery device;    adjusting the dosage of the therapeutic drug by the intelligent drug delivery appliance in response to the value of said first electrical signal;    dispensing said therapeutic drug to said patient from an intelligent drug delivery appliance according to said step of adjusting the dosages.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said step of sensing a physical condition of a patient includes at least one of the steps of: 
 sensing blood pressure of a patient;    sensing heart rate of a patient;    sensing body temperature of a patient;    sensing blood sugar of a patient;    sensing brain wave activity of a patient;    sensing allergens to a patient;    sensing patient weight.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  further including the step of: adjusting the dispensing of at least some of said therapeutic drug according to the amount of therapeutic drug previously dispensed in a predetermined time interval.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  further including the step of receiving at said intelligent drug delivery appliance, a data signal from a data network, said signal adjusting the dosage of said therapeutic drug.  
   
   
       11 . A method of dispensing therapeutic drugs to a patient comprising the steps of: 
 determining a first therapeutic drug to be dispensed;    determining a second therapeutic drug to be dispensed;    determining if at least one of said first and second therapeutic drugs interacts with either of said second and first therapeutic drug respectively; inhibiting the administration of said first and second therapeutic drugs if either of is determined to be interactive with the other.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said step of determining if at least one of said first and second therapeutic drugs interacts with either of said second and first therapeutic drug includes sorting database entries for interacting drug listings for said first and second therapeutic drugs.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further including the step of generating an alarm signal after the step of inhibiting.  
   
   
       14 . An drug dispensing appliance comprising: 
 a controller capable of executing a stored computer program by which drugs are controllably dispensed;    at least one therapeutic drug reservoir, operatively coupled to said controller and having at least one pharmaceutical to be dispensed to a patient;    a data network interface coupled to said appliance;    a plurality of patient parameter sensors operatively coupled to said controller;    whereby therapeutic drugs can be controllably dispensed from siaid therapeutic drug reservoir under the control of the stored computer program and patient treatment information sent and received via the data network interface.    
   
   
       15 . The drug dispensing appliance of  claim 14  wherein said data network interface includes wireless communications interface.  
   
   
       16 . The drug dispensing appliance of  claim 14  further including an environmental data collections interface operatively coupled to said controller and providing environmental data thereto.  
   
   
       17 - 22 . (canceled)