Patents Assigned to QuantaEd, LLC
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Patent number: 11913893Abstract: The present disclosure enables apparatus and methods for tracking medications and/or product units via smart-packaging concepts. Embodiments include sensors that monitor the state of a blister-card package having an unpatterned lidding film by measuring the impedance of each dispensing region of the lidding film that defines a portion of a blister. In some embodiments, the impedance is measured via a plurality of contact points arranged on opposite sides of each dispensing region, where the contact points are resistively or capacitively coupled with the lidding film. In some embodiments, the impedance map of a measurement region on the blister card is derived via electrical impedance tomography or electrical resistance tomography, where the measurement region includes a plurality of dispensing regions.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2022Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 11635397Abstract: The present disclosure enables apparatus and methods for tracking medications and/or product units via smart-packaging concepts. Embodiments include sensors that monitor the state of a blister-card package having an unpatterned lidding film by measuring the impedance of each dispensing region of the lidding film that defines a portion of a blister. In some embodiments, the impedance is measured via a plurality of contact points arranged on opposite sides of each dispensing region, where the contact points are resistively or capacitively coupled with the lidding film. In some embodiments, the impedance map of a measurement region on the blister card is derived via electrical impedance tomography or electrical resistance tomography, where the measurement region includes a plurality of dispensing regions.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 11622911Abstract: A modular smart packaging case comprising reversibly attachable electronics and detection modules is disclosed. The detection module includes a sensor array for monitoring the state of a blister pack containing a plurality of product units. The electronics module contains the high-value electronics required to read the sensors of the array, process the sensor output, and enable communications to and from the case. The electronics module and detection module are operatively coupled via a universal interface that enables the same electronics module to operate with a plurality of detection modules of different configurations. In some embodiments, the electronics module operatively couples with multiple detection modules.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventors: Donald Murray Learmonth, Shi-Ze Liu, Mehran Mehregany, Oliver Ian Yates, James Albert Walker
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Patent number: 11351087Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring the content of a chamber of a container via electrical capacitive tomography (ECT) or acoustic imaging are presented. The three-dimensional volume of the chamber and its content are imaged by developing a map of permittivity or acoustic impedance by (1) applying a stimulus signal between each of a plurality of electrode pairs of a plurality of electrodes that is arranged about the chamber and (2), for each stimulus signal applied, measuring a response signal at each of the remaining electrodes of the plurality. Once the map of permittivity or acoustic impedance is established, the number and type of tablets (or liquid) within the chamber is determined.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2021Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 11193903Abstract: The present disclosure enables apparatus and methods for tracking medications and/or product units via smart-packaging concepts. Embodiments include sensors that monitor the state of a blister-card package having an unpatterned lidding film by measuring the impedance of each dispensing region of the lidding film that defines a portion of a blister. In some embodiments, the impedance is measured via a plurality of contact points arranged on opposite sides of each dispensing region, where the contact points are resistively or capacitively coupled with the lidding film. In some embodiments, the impedance map of a measurement region on the blister card is derived via electrical impedance tomography or electrical resistance tomography, where the measurement region includes a plurality of dispensing regions.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2020Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 11129770Abstract: A modular smart packaging case comprising reversibly attachable electronics and detection modules is disclosed. The detection module includes a sensor array for monitoring the state of a blister pack containing a plurality of product units. The electronics module contains the high-value electronics required to read the sensors of the array, process the sensor output, and enable communications to and from the case. The electronics module and detection module are operatively coupled via a universal interface that enables the same electronics module to operate with a plurality of detection modules of different configurations. In some embodiments, the electronics module operatively couples with multiple detection modules.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2018Date of Patent: September 28, 2021Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventors: Donald Murray Learmonth, Shi-Ze Liu, Mehran Mehregany, Oliver Ian Yates, James Albert Walker
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Patent number: 10952927Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring the content of a chamber of a container via electrical capacitive tomography (ECT) or acoustic imaging are presented. The three-dimensional volume of the chamber and its content are imaged by developing a map of permittivity or acoustic impedance by (1) applying a stimulus signal between each of a plurality of electrode pairs of a plurality of electrodes that is arranged about the chamber and (2), for each stimulus signal applied, measuring a response signal at each of the remaining electrodes of the plurality. Once the map of permittivity or acoustic impedance is established, the number and type of tablets (or liquid) within the chamber is determined.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2019Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10729028Abstract: Methods and systems for determining when a tablet has been removed from a blister pack are presented. A method includes measuring an electrical characteristic, such as electrical resistance or impedance, between at least two terminals that are in electrical communication with a lidding film included in the blister pack, wherein the removal of a tablet from the blister pack results in an opening in the lidding film, thereby giving rise to a finite change in the electrical characteristic. Another method determines the state of the blister pack using electrical resistance tomography or electrical impedance tomography.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10650661Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring adherence to a dosing-regimen for a medication is presented. Systems in accordance with the present invention automatically monitor the medicine content of a blister card based on the state of its lidding film and compare it to the prescribed dosing regimen for the medicine. In some embodiments, the lidding film is imaged using a tomographic imaging technique, such as electrical resistance tomography or electrical impedance tomography. Alternative sensing approaches are based on optical, acoustic, and tactile sensors that interrogate either the dispensing region at each tablet location or the tablets themselves to determine whether tablets have been dispensed. Automatic monitoring of the blister card enables the user to be: (1) alerted to non-compliance, (2) alerted to a risk of future non-compliance, and/or (3) to be provided remediation instructions when non-compliance is determined.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2019Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10634633Abstract: The present disclosure enables apparatus and methods for tracking medications and/or product units via smart-packaging concepts. Embodiments include sensors that monitor the state of a blister-card package having an unpatterned lidding film by measuring the impedance of each dispensing region of the lidding film that defines a portion of a blister. In some embodiments, the impedance is measured via a plurality of contact points arranged on opposite sides of each dispensing region, where the contact points are resistively or capacitively coupled with the lidding film. In some embodiments, the impedance map of a measurement region on the blister card is derived via electrical impedance tomography or electrical resistance tomography, where the measurement region includes a plurality of dispensing regions.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2018Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10565855Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring drug-regimen compliance is disclosed. Systems in accordance with the present invention enable automatic monitoring of the state of medicine content of a blister card. Each tablet location on the blister card is operatively coupled with a different sensor that detects whether the tablet location is occupied and/or a dispensing event at a tablet location. In some embodiments, capacitive sensing is employed, where the capacitance of each sensor is based on the physical state of a dispensing region of the lidding film of the blister pack, which is located at the tablet location being monitored. Alternative sensing approaches are based on optical, acoustic, and tactile sensors that interrogate either the dispensing region at each tablet location or the tablets themselves to determine whether tablets have been dispensed. The sensors interface with a mobile app that provides the user instructions to help improve drug-regimen compliance.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10431070Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring drug-regimen compliance is disclosed. Systems in accordance with the present invention enable automatic monitoring of the state of medicine content of a blister card. Each tablet location on the blister card is operatively coupled with a different sensor that detects whether the tablet location is occupied and/or a dispensing event at a tablet location. In some embodiments, capacitive sensing is employed, where the capacitance of each sensor is based on the physical state of a dispensing region of the lidding film of the blister pack, which is located at the tablet location being monitored. Alternative sensing approaches are based on optical, acoustic, and tactile sensors that interrogate either the dispensing region at each tablet location or the tablets themselves to determine whether tablets have been dispensed. The sensors interface with a mobile app that provides the user instructions to help improve drug-regimen compliance.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2019Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10375847Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining when a tablet has been removed from a blister pack are presented. A method includes measuring an electrical characteristic, such as electrical resistance or impedance, between at least two terminals that are in electrical communication with a lidding film included in the blister pack, wherein the removal of a tablet from the blister pack results in an opening in the lidding film, thereby giving rise to a finite change in the electrical characteristic. Another method determines the state of the blister pack using electrical resistance tomography or electrical impedance tomography.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2015Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10322064Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring the content of a medicine bottle via electrical capacitive tomography (ECT) are presented in which the three-dimensional volume of the medicine bottle, and its content, are imaged by developing a map of its permittivity. The permittivity map is developed by applying a stimulus between two of a plurality of electrodes that are arranged about a chamber of the medicine bottle in which the content is contained, and measuring an electrical response at each of the remaining electrodes of the plurality. By repeating this process for every pair of electrodes within the plurality, a complete permittivity map of the three-dimensional volume is developed. Once the permittivity map is established, the number and type of tablets (or liquid) within the volume is determined.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10282971Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring drug-regimen compliance is disclosed. Systems in accordance with the present invention enable automatic monitoring of the state of medicine content of a blister card. Each tablet location on the blister card is operatively coupled with a different sensor that detects whether the tablet location is occupied and/or a dispensing event at a tablet location. In some embodiments, capacitive sensing is employed, where the capacitance of each sensor is based on the physical state of a dispensing region of the lidding film of the blister pack, which is located at the tablet location being monitored. Alternative sensing approaches are based on optical, acoustic, and tactile sensors that interrogate either the dispensing region at each tablet location or the tablets themselves to determine whether tablets have been dispensed. The sensors interface with a mobile app that provides the user instructions to help improve drug-regimen compliance.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2018Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventor: Mehran Mehregany
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Patent number: 10083594Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring drug-regimen compliance is disclosed. Systems in accordance with the present invention enable automatic monitoring of the state of medicine content of a blister card. Each tablet location on the blister card is operatively coupled with a different sensor that detects whether the tablet location is occupied and/or a dispensing event at a tablet location. In some embodiments, capacitive sensing is employed, where the capacitance of each sensor is based on the physical state of a dispensing region of the lidding film of the blister pack, which is located at the tablet location being monitored. Alternative sensing approaches are based on optical, acoustic, and tactile sensors that interrogate either the dispensing region at each tablet location or the tablets themselves to determine whether tablets have been dispensed. The sensors interface with a mobile app that provides the user instructions to help improve drug-regimen compliance.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2016Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventors: Mehran Mehregany, Masoud Roham
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Patent number: D845615Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventors: Mehran Mehregany, Donald Murray Learmonth, Oliver Ian Yates
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Patent number: D850097Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventors: Mehran Mehregany, Donald Murray Learmonth, Oliver Ian Yates
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Patent number: D862726Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventors: Mehran Mehregany, Donald Murray Learmonth, Oliver Ian Yates
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Patent number: D977820Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: QuantaEd, LLCInventors: Mehran Mehregany, Derek Angelo Silverio