IP Library Granted Patent US 8,262,394
Granted Patent B2
US 8,262,394 · App. 11/424,095 · Granted Sep 11, 2012

Systems and methods for improved health care compliance

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,262,394
App. No.
11/424,095
Granted
Sep 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems, apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture may provide for improved health care compliance. Embodiments may comprise, for example, identifying an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient, determining output information associated with a game, and providing the output information to the patient. Some embodiments may comprise receiving a code associated with a patient, wherein the code includes encoded information that is indicative of an occurrence of an event associated with the taking of a substance by a patient, decoding the code to determine the information, determining whether the occurrence of the event is compliant with a condition associated with the taking of the substance, and providing, in the case that compliance with the condition is determined, one or more rewards to the patient.

Claims (48)

1. A system, comprising:

a sensor configured to detect a representation by a patient, that the patient has taken a substance in accordance with a predefined schedule for taking a substance, wherein the sensor is further configured to detect the representation by detecting a signal transmitted through the patient's body, and wherein the signal transmitted through the patient's body is associated with an application of a patch to the patient's body;

a processing device configured to (i) determine, based on a detection of the representation by the sensor, a degree of patient compliance with a healthcare regimen and (ii) determine, based on the degree of compliance, output information associated with a game;

and an output device configured to provide, to the patient, an indication of the output information associated with the game.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output device is embodied in a medication device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output device is embodied in a health care compliance module.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output device is embodied in a device associated with the patient.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the device associated with the patient comprises one or more of (i) a computer, (ii) a personal digital assistant (PDA), (iii) a watch, (iv) a TV, (v) a telephone, and (vi) a pager.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system is embodied in a central controller.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is embodied in one or more of (i) a bracelet, (ii) a necklace, and (iii) an earring.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a memory device configured to store an indication of the degree of the compliance with the healthcare regimen.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an input device configured to receive an indication associated with a query of the degree of the compliance with the healthcare regimen.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the output device is further configured to provide, in response to a receiving, by the input device, of the indication of the query, an indication of the degree of the compliance with the healthcare regimen.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output information associated with the game comprises one or more of:

(i) a game result;

(ii) a game hint or clue;

(iii) an indication of a prize;

(iv) an indication of a contingent prize;

(v) a bingo number;

(vi) a slot machine reel symbol;

(vii) a card value;

(viii) a lotto number;

(ix) a coordinate associated with a game;

(x) an instruction associated with a game;

(xi) a personal identification number; and

(xii) a number of game entries.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the game is provided as an encoded code.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a medical device configured to output the signal transmitted through the patient's body.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the medical device comprises a pill coupled with an RFID device.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the RFID device is activated by digestive fluid.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the patch comprises a medicated patch.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by a processing device result in:

detecting a representation by a patient, that the patient has taken a substance in accordance with a predefined schedule for taking the substance, wherein the representation comprises an indication of a detection of a signal transmitted through the patient's body, and wherein the signal transmitted through the patient's body is associated with an application of a patch to the patient's body;

determining, based on the detecting of the representation, a degree of patient compliance with a healthcare regimen;

determining, based on the degree of compliance, output information associated with a game; and

providing, to the patient, an indication of the output information associated with the game.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processing device, further result in:

storing an indication of at least one of: (i) the representation by the patient; (ii) the degree of compliance with the healthcare regimen; and (iii) the output information associated with the game.

19. A method, comprising:

detecting, by a processing device, a representation by a patient, that the patient has taken a substance in accordance with a predefined schedule for taking the substance, wherein the representation comprises an indication of a detection of a signal transmitted through the patient's body, and wherein the signal transmitted through the patient's body is associated with an application of a patch to the patient's body;

determining, by the processing device and based on the detecting of the representation, a degree of patient compliance with a healthcare regimen;

determining, by the processing device and based on the degree of compliance, output information associated with a game; and

providing, by the processing device and to the patient, an indication of the output information associated with the game.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

storing, by the processing device, an indication of at least one of: (i) the representation by the patient; (ii) the degree of compliance with the healthcare regimen; and (iii) the output information associated with the game.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 30, 2016
From: HEALTHPRIZE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VII, INC.; VENTURE LENDING & LEASING VIII, INC.
Reel/Frame 040193/0797 →
LICENSE Recorded Aug 8, 2014
From: WALKER DIGITAL GAMING, LLC; WALKER DIGITAL GAMING HOLDING, LLC; WDG EQUITY, LLC; WALKER DIGITAL, LLC
To: IGT
Reel/Frame 033501/0023 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2010
From: WALKER DIGITAL, LLC
To: JORASCH, JAMES A
Reel/Frame 024879/0857 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 26, 2010
From: WALKER, JAY S; JORASCH, JAMES A; NEE, PATRICK W, JR.; FINCHAM, CARSON C.K.; WALKER, EVAN; BEAN, DAVID; MANIAM, RAJIVAN
To: WALKER DIGITAL, LLC
Reel/Frame 024889/0073 →