Method and apparatus for verifying therapeutic compliance

Abstract

An identity standard (a name, cell number, face image, etc.), a therapeutic event standard associated with the identity standard (such as a stored image of a person taking a medication), and a parameter standard associated with the identity standard (e.g. a time range for taking medication) are established. If a transmission (such as a selfie from a cell phone) is observed, that transmission is received and determinations are made as to whether the transmission satisfies the identity standard, the therapeutic event standard, and the parameter standard. If the identity standard, therapeutic event standard, and parameter standard are satisfied, a satisfaction reaction is executed (logging data, sending a confirmation message, etc.).

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A machine-implemented method comprising:
 establishing, in a processor, a subject identity standard for determining an identity of a subject for a regimen utilizing a medical device;   establishing, in said processor, a medical device utilization standard for determining utilization of said medical device associated with said subject identity standard, comprising:
 a subject appearance of a subject; 
 a medical device appearance of said medical device; and 
 an image proximity of said subject and said medical device; 
   establishing, in said processor, a medical device regimen standard for determining compliance with said regimen of utilizing a medical device associated with said subject identity standard;   observing for a transmission from a mobile electronic device in said processor;   responsive to said transmission being observed:
 receiving said transmission in said processor; 
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said subject identity standard in said processor; 
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said medical device utilization standard in said processor, comprising:
 identifying an image in said transmission; 
 executing subject recognition of said image in said processor to determine whether said subject is present therein; 
 executing object recognition of said image in said processor to determine whether said medical device is present therein; and 
 determining from said image in said processor that said medical device appears proximate said subject therein; 
 
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said medical device utilization standard in said processor; and 
   responsive to said transmission satisfying said subject identity standard, said medical device utilization standard, and said medical device regimen standard, executing a satisfaction reaction comprising recording in a data store in communication with said processor that said medical device has been utilized according to said regimen, and at least a portion of said transmission as evidence that said medical device medication has been utilized.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said subject identity standard comprises at least one of:
 a received alphanumeric identifier matching a standard alphanumeric identifier; and 
 a received biometric substantially matching a biometric standard. 
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said medical device utilization standard comprises at least one of:
 receiving said transmission; 
 said transmission comprising content; and 
 said transmission comprising at least one of text content, image content, sound content, and video content. 
   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said medical device utilization standard comprises said transmission comprising content, and said content evidencing utilizing said medical device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said medical device regimen standard comprises at least one of a received time substantially matching a time standard, a received location substantially matching a location standard, a received medical condition substantially matching a medical condition standard, a received subject action substantially matching a subject action standard, and a received environmental information substantially matching a received environmental information standard.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said transmission comprises at least one of a text message, an image message, an audio message, and a video message.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 receiving said transmission wirelessly.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said subject identity standard comprises evaluating at least one of:
 metadata of said transmission; and 
 a content of said transmission. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said subject identity standard comprises at least one of:
 obtaining a received alphanumeric identifier from said transmission and comparing said received alphanumeric identifier with said alphanumeric identifier standard; and 
 obtaining a received biometric from said transmission and comparing said received biometric with said biometric standard. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said medical device utilization standard comprises at least one of evaluating metadata of said transmission, evaluating a content of said transmission, determining receipt of said transmission, and determining whether said transmission comprises content.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said medical device utilization standard comprises determining whether said content evidences utilization of said medical device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said medical device regimen standard comprises at least one of evaluating metadata of said transmission, evaluating a content of said transmission, determining whether a time in said transmission substantially matches a time standard, determining whether a transmission time of said transmission substantially matches a time standard, determining whether a content creation time of content of said transmission substantially matches a time standard, determining whether a location in said transmission substantially matches a location standard, determining whether a transmission source location of said transmission substantially matches a location standard, determining whether a content creation location of content of said transmission substantially matches a location standard, determining whether a medical condition in said transmission substantially matches a medical condition standard, determining whether an environmental condition in said transmission substantially matches an environmental condition standard, and determining whether an environmental condition in said transmission substantially matches an environmental condition standard.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 determining whether said transmission satisfies said medical device regimen standard comprises at least one of image recognition, object recognition, and action recognition.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said satisfaction reaction comprises at least one of recording in a data store a satisfaction of said subject identity standard, said medical device utilization standard, and said medical device regimen standard, recording in a data store at least a portion of a content of said transmission, and recording in a data store at least a portion of metadata of said transmission.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said satisfaction reaction comprises outputting a satisfaction response comprising at least one of at least a portion of a content of said transmission, at least a portion of a content of said transmission, at least a portion of metadata of said transmission, outputting said satisfaction response to said subject, and outputting said satisfaction response to at least one of a caregiver of said subject, a medical entity, a research entity, an insurance entity, a regulatory entity, and a data storage entity.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , comprising:
 outputting said satisfaction response through a cellular network.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 responsive to at least one of:
 said transmission not being observed, executing a non-satisfaction reaction; and 
 said transmission not satisfying at least one of said subject identity standard, said medical device utilization standard, and said medical device regimen standard; 
   executing a non-satisfaction reaction.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 said non-satisfaction reaction comprises outputting a non-satisfaction response comprising at least one of a reminder to utilize said medical device and a reminder to send said transmission.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising:
 said non-satisfaction reaction comprises outputting a non-satisfaction response to at least one of said subject, a caregiver of said subject, a medical entity, a research entity, an insurance entity, a regulatory entity, and a data storage entity.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 responsive to said transmission not satisfying at least one of said subject identity standard, said medical device utilization standard, and said medical device regimen standard, executing a non-satisfaction reaction.   
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor;   a receiver in communication with said processor;   an outputter in communication with said processor;   an establisher comprising executable instructions instantiated on said processor, said establisher being adapted to:
 establish a subject identity standard for determining an identity of a subject for a regimen of utilizing a medical device, 
 establish a medical device utilization standard for determining utilization of said medical device associated with said subject identity standard, comprising:
 a subject appearance of a subject; 
 a medical device appearance of said medical device; and 
 an image proximity of said subject and said medical device; and 
 
 establish a medical device regimen standard for determining compliance with said regimen of utilizing said medical device associated with said subject identity standard; 
   a determiner comprising executable instructions instantiated on said processor, said determiner being adapted to
 determine whether a transmission satisfies said subject identity standard, 
 determine whether said transmission satisfies said medical device utilization standard, comprising:
 identifying an image in said transmission, 
 executing subject recognition of said image to determine whether said subject is present therein, 
 executing object recognition of said image to determine whether said medical device is present therein, and 
 determining from said image that said medical device appears proximate said subject therein, and 
 
 determine whether said transmission satisfies said medical device regimen standard; 
   a reactor comprising executable instructions instantiated on said processor, said reactor being adapted to execute a satisfaction reaction responsive to said transmission satisfying said subject identity standard, said medical device utilization standard, and said medical device regimen standard.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said processor, said receiver, and said outputter comprise a portable electronic device.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said processor, said receiver, and said outputter comprise a portable communication device.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said processor, said receiver, and said outputter comprise at least one of a computer server, desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a cell phone, and a head mounted display.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 an observer comprising executable instructions instantiated on said processor, said observer being adapted to observe a presence of said transmission.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said responder is further adapted to execute a non-satisfaction reaction responsive to at least one of:
 said observer not observing said presence of said transmission; and 
 said transmission not satisfying at least one of said subject identity standard, said medical device utilization standard, and said medical device regimen standard. 
   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said outputter comprises at least one of a data store, a wireless transmitter, and a display.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said receiver comprises at least one of a sensor, a wireless receiver, and a keypad.