Drug dispensing event detector.

摘要

A device for detecting the dispensing of drugs from a container (10) in a way which eliminates false detection events due to mishandling of the container (10) is disclosed. The device includes a container (10) which may be opened and closed. It also contains a means (21) for detecting the opening and separately detecting the closing of the container as well as means for measuring the time between these events and comparing this elapsed time to a predetermined standard indicative of drug dispensing event. The times of proper drug dispensing events are stored in the device for use by the health care professional following the patient's drug dosing compliance. Other opening and closing intervals which fall outside this time range give rise to an alternative response. They may be recorded with a notation of their probable error or they may be disregarded. In other aspects, the invention provides a preferred physical configuration for the electronic components of the device and a preferred means for accessing the data stored in the device.