Systems for Monitoring Compliance with a Patch Dosage Regimen and Methods of Using the Same

Abstract

Aspects of the invention include systems for monitoring compliance of a patient with a patch dosage regimen and, where necessary, providing rapid, economical intervention when non-compliance is detected. In some instances, the systems include: a patch comprising an active agent and a patch tag; a reader configured to detect the patch tag; one or more processing devices; and a compliance determination module comprising a computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing devices, determine compliance information from data received from the reader. The compliance information includes data that may be employed to determine whether the patient is complying with the patch dosage regimen. Also provided methods of using the systems, e.g., to monitor patient compliance, as well as components of the systems, e.g., patches, readers, etc.

1 - 54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . A method of monitoring compliance of a patient with a patch dosage regimen and, where necessary, providing rapid, economical intervention when non-compliance is detected, the method comprising:
 receiving compliance information from a compliance determination module, wherein the compliance information includes whether the patient is complying with the patch dosage regimen and has been determined by the compliance determination module from data received from reader configured to detect a patch tag of a patch comprising an active agent.   
     
     
         56 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the compliance module is further configured to identify the patient to be in non-compliance with the patch dosage regimen if a determination of a number of patches applied to a patient deviates from the patch dosage regimen. 
     
     
         57 . The method according to  claim 56 , wherein the method further comprises alerting a predetermined trained caregiver if the patient is in non-compliance with the patch dosage regimen. 
     
     
         58 . The method according to  claim 57 , wherein the predetermined patient caregiver is not a health care professional. 
     
     
         59 . The method according to  claim 57 , the method further comprising alerting a health care provisional if the patient is in non-compliance with the patch dosage regimen. 
     
     
         60 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the patch dosage regimen is a single patch at a time. 
     
     
         61 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the patient suffers from a cognitive disorder. 
     
     
         62 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the cognitive disorder is Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. 
     
     
         63 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the active agent comprises a cholinesterase inhibitor. 
     
     
         64 - 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . A method of assisting a patient not in compliance with a patch dosage regimen, the method comprising:
 a) receiving an alert from an event manager that the patient is not in compliance with the patch dosage regimen, wherein the event manager has received compliance information from a compliance determination module, wherein the compliance information includes a determination that the patient is not in compliance with the patch dosage regimen and has been determined by the compliance determination module from data received from reader configured to detect a patch tag of a patch comprising an active agent   b) intervening to return the patient to compliance with the patch dosage regimen.   
     
     
         67 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the method is performed by a predetermined trained caregiver. 
     
     
         68 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the predetermined trained caregiver is not a health care professional. 
     
     
         69 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the patch dosage regimen is a single patch at a time. 
     
     
         70 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the intervening comprises removing a patch from the patient. 
     
     
         71 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the intervening comprises applying a patch to the patient. 
     
     
         72 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the patient suffers from a cognitive disorder. 
     
     
         73 . The method according to  claim 72 , wherein the cognitive disorder is Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease. 
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 66 , wherein the active agent comprises a cholinesterase inhibitor. 
     
     
         75 - 187 . (canceled) 
     
     
         188 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the active agent comprises a methylphenidate. 
     
     
         189 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the active agent comprises an opiate.