Medical adherence system and method
A system includes a smartphone, a connected sharps container, the connected sharps container communicatively linked to the smartphone, and a web server, the web server communicatively linked to the smartphone and to the connected sharps container.
1. A system comprising:
a smartphone;
a connected sharps container comprising an external electronic unit, an internal, replaceable and disposable collection chamber, and an opening to the replaceable and disposable collection chamber, the opening including at least a sensor configured to sense and record an item passing through the opening prior to dropping into the replaceable and disposable collection chamber, the connected sharps container communicatively linked to the smartphone and configured to send a message to the smartphone in response to the sensor sensing the item passing through the opening into the replaceable and disposable collection chamber; and
a web server, the web server communicatively linked to the smartphone and to the connected sharps container,
wherein a medical adherence app residing in the smartphone is configured to:
provide a digital interface to a user with information about the connected sharps container, and
enable the user to control and set parameters and functionality of the connected sharps container.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the smartphone comprises:
a processor;
a memory, the memory comprising at least an operating system and the medical adherence app; and
an input/output device.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the connected sharps container comprises:
a communication device configured to communicate with the medical adherence app and the web server;
a memory;
a processor; and
an input/output device.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the input/output device of the connected sharps container is configured to receive instructions and store the instructions in the memory of the connected sharps container.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the instructions are a patient's injectable disposal schedule.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the medical adherence app comprises predictive algorithms and machine learning with data gathered from the connected sharps container that helps improve the user's experience and use by providing appropriate delivered content and notifications to prompt timely disposal events.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the medical adherence app is further configured to prompt the user via the user interface when to take and deposit their used medication.
8. A connected sharps container comprising:
an external electronic unit;
an input/output device;
a memory;
a processor;
a wireless receiver/transmitter;
a sensor;
a door; and
an internal, replaceable and disposable collection chamber,
wherein the sensor is configured to detect an injectable device deposited through the door prior to the injectable device dropping into the replaceable and disposable collection chamber and record the detection as an event.
9. The connected sharps container of claim 8 wherein the memory comprises:
an operating system; and
a medical adherence module.
10. The connected sharps container of claim 9 wherein the input/output device enables a user to program the connected sharps container with an injectable disposal schedule.
11. The connected sharps container of claim 10 wherein the medical adherence module causes an injection reminder to be wirelessly transmitted to a smartphone of the user.
12. The connected sharps container of claim 9 wherein the medical adherence module is configured to wirelessly transmit the event to a web server.
13. A smartphone comprising:
a processor;
a memory, the memory comprising at least an operating system and a medical adherence app; and
an input/output device;
the medical adherence app configured to store a schedule for disposal of patient injectable devices into a connected sharps container and to communicate wirelessly with the connected sharps container.
14. The smartphone of claim 13 , wherein the medical adherence app is further configured to:
receive disposal notifications from the connected sharps container;
receive usage and reminder notifications; and
communicate with a healthcare professional.