WO2001006481A1

WO2001006481A1 - Disposable audio instruction device and method

Info

Publication number: WO2001006481A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/019214
Authority: WO
Inventors: Randy L. Allnatt; Anthony R. Mariano
Original assignee: Eagle Vision Technologies Inc
Priority date: 1999-07-15
Filing date: 2000-07-14
Publication date: 2001-01-25
Also published as: AU6346700A

Abstract

A disposable audio instruction device is provided to assist those who are visually impaired receive product information such as contents, usage and instructions. The device consists of a container such as a medicine bottle with an adaptor housing affixed to the container. The adaptor housing encloses a microsized speech player unit. The microsized speech player unit contains a microchip which has the audio instructions on it in the form of embedded speech. The user can access the embedded speech on the microchip by engaging a push button on/off switch on the device which will result in the embedded speech being transmitted to a speaker and the instructions broadcast to the user. The speech is embedded on the microchip through recording prongs on the adaptor housing. The speech may not be accidently erased by the user and the device is disposable once the product is finished.

Description

DISPOSABLE AUDIO INSTRUCTION DEVICE AND METHOD

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus and method for aiding the visually impaired identify the contents and directions of use of a container by means of embedded speech instruction that is electronically stored in the container at the point of dispensing of the product.

Standard product labels currently present product information on contents, usage and instructions in print form only on the label attached to the container. While printed instructions on a label for a container are a satisfactory method of informing the user what it is and how to use it, such instructions in print form only on a label present significant problems for persons with visual impairments, especially when the product is a prescription medication. Therefore, there is a need to provide these persons with the vital product instructions they need while insuring them the personal dignity they deserve.

Presently, there are many different types of devices in order to assist visually impaired persons in the administration of products, especially for prescription drugs. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,812,064 to Barbour for a medicine container with a voice sound conveyor provides a medicine container with a voice sound conveyor that will play back the audio instructions for the medicine container on a reader which the patient must purchase in order to access the information. The visual impaired person must purchase an expensive playback unit in order to access the audio instructions. Also, this device contains a speech memory unit which is designed to be erasable and the visually impaired person is required to reuse the device.

U.S. Patent No. 5,835,455 to Hanson et al. for an audio prescription instruction device discloses a reprogrammable device for housing a medication container for playing audio instructions on the medication container. Although this device discloses a self-contained unit for audio instructions on the bottle, the device has a recording mechanism on the bottle and may be erased by the visually impaired person. Also, the playback unit must be reprogrammed and reused for each medication that the visually impaired person receives.

U.S. Patent No. 5,846,089 to Weiss et al. for a medicine container indicating patient information discloses a medicine container containing audio instructions. However, this invention is problematic since it is designed to be programmed and reprogrammed by the user or someone familiar with the user. Therefore, it is dependent on the ability of the user to be able to program the device or reprogram it if the instructions are accidentally or intentionally erased. Since the audible dosage instructions are erasable at the whim of the visually impaired person, this device is problematic and does not properly address the needs of a visually impaired person who is unable to remember the instructions after they are erased.

Finally, U.S. Patent No. 5,852,803 to Ashby for an apparatus, system and method for recording and/or retrieving audio information discloses a reusable label for a prescription container having audio instructions. However, this invention requires the visually impaired person to reuse the label. Also, the visually impaired person has the capacity to alter or erase the audio instructions. Finally, the label itself may become detached from the container itself which would render the audio instructions meaningless.

All of the above devices overlook the problem associated with visual impairment which is the fact that the visually impaired person may accidentally erase and reprogram the instructions on the above devices. This could be disastrous for the visually impaired person. Also, the above devices are problematic since each must be reprogrammed for each refill. This may be inconvenient for the visually impaired person to have to send the device out to be reprogrammed with new instructions. Another problem associated with prior art is that the devices have parts that are not water-resistant to normal usage such as microphones which can be contaminated and rendered inoperable through normal living events such as food spillage.

As such, it is desirable to have a product container that has audio instructions permanently affixed to the container, which is for a single use and may not be accidently erased. There is also a need for a device that does not require the purchase of significant equipment and is economical for the visually impaired person. Also, there is a need for the device to have exposed parts that are water resistant so that the parts do not get contaminated from normal, everyday living.

Summary of the Invention

A preferred way to communicate the vital product information to visually impaired persons is for the product container itself to have audio instructions on usage of the product. It is also important to ensure that visually impaired persons can access the audio instruction in a product container itself without having to purchase additional, expensive equipment such as a reader in order to access the vital instructions they need. It is also important to ensure that these vital audio instructions cannot be accidentally altered by a visually impaired person and that the audio instructions cannot be separated from the product. This helps ensure proper usage of the product and to ensure the user of utmost independence and dignity in their lives. Also, it is necessary that the audio instructions be disposable along with the product container in order to minimize the hassle and dependence associated with use of products for the visually impaired.

The problems outlined above are solved by the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, applicants provide a disposable audio instruction device for providing necessary product instructions such as identification, product information and usage instructions. While it is recognized that the present invention can provide audio instructions for all varieties of products, the focus of this disclosure will be on prescription medications.

The present invention provides product instructions in audio form through use of a microsized speech player unit within an adaptor housing permanently affixed to a container for a product. The disposable audio instruction device is a completely self- contained apparatus and does not require any additional equipment to be purchased by the user in order to receive audio instructions.

The disposable audio instruction device comprises a container, such as a medicine bottle, having an adaptor housing permanently affixed to the container. The adaptor housing contains a microsized speech player unit having the audio instructions contained therein as embedded speech. The microsized speech player unit contains a microchip which is a known "voice chip" such as the ISD 1480, which is capable of recording up to 20 seconds of speech or ISD 2532, which gives 32 seconds of speech. The microsized speech player unit also includes a means for playing the embedded speech in the form of a speaker with 70 decibel sound output. There is also a battery cell to power the microsized speech player unit. This is most likely two three-volt battery cells electrically connected to the microchip since the microchip is powered at 6 volts. Also, there is a manual actuation means such as a push button on/off switch connected to the microchip which causes the embedded speech instructions to be transmitted to the means for playing the audio instructions.

There is a set of recording prongs on the adaptor housing which allow for the speech to be embedded on the microchip. The recording prongs are operably connected to the microchip. Audio instructions are embedded on the microchip through the recording prongs. Therefore, there is no speech entry mechanism on the unit device. This avoids the problems of the prior art since the instructions may not be accidentally altered or erased by the user during operation. The present invention contemplates two methods for embedding speech on the microchip. The first method is through use of a pharmacy recorder unit which will permit the audio instructions to be embedded on the microchip unit in the form of human speech via a known recording device connected to the recording prongs. This will permit the pharmacist to record his or her own audio instructions onto the microsized speech player unit.

The second method for embedding audio instructions on the microchip would be through use of speech writer software which converts data inputted into a computer into automated speech. The speech writer software would use the label information entered into the computer and convert it into automated speech and embed that speech on the microchip. The recording prongs will be operably attached to the computer and receive the automated speech from the computer.

Both methods for embedding speech on the microchip will be effective for usage of this device. Both methods will utilize the recording prongs for providing embedded speech on the microchip.

The device contemplated by the present invention eliminates many problems associated with visually impaired persons receiving audio instructions for products. The disposable audio instruction device of the present invention will be a single-use device that will be disposable along with the product container. Also, the speech embedded onto the microsized speech player unit will be virtually tamper-proof and thus cannot be altered or reprogrammed accidentally by the user. This will ensure that the user continues to receive proper instructions. Also, the adaptor housing cannot be separated from the product container and thus, there is no danger of the user losing the audio instructions that are so needed. Additionally, the technology contemplated by the present invention will allow the visually impaired person to receive audio instructions without additional costs. The microsized speech player unit will be available in a normal container without requiring purchase of additional equipment or requiring a reusable device such as the devices of the prior art. Also, since the microsized speech player unit is water-resistant to normal usage, it will not be rendered inoperable from contamination which results from normal living occurrences such as food spillage. Some of the objects and features of the invention have been stated above, while others will be described in the following description and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an overall view of the disposable audio instruction device displaying the container along with the adaptor housing with the microsized speech player unit enclosed within the adaptor housing;

Figure 2 shows a blown up version of the microsized speech player unit enclosed within the adaptor housing of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention utilizing speech writer software to provide embedded speech; and

Figure 4 shows an embodiment of the present invention utilizing a pharmacy recorder unit to provide embedded speech.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Referring now to the drawings, the disposable audio instruction device (10) of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The disposable audio instruction device (10) includes a container (12) having an adaptor housing (14) affixed to it. Container (10) is typically a medicine bottle. There is a microsized speech player unit (16) (not shown) within the adaptor housing (14). There is also a manual actuation means (18) (not shown) in communication with the adaptor housing (14). The manual actuation means (18) is connected to the microsized speech player unit (16) within said adaptor housing (14) so as to cause the audio instructions in the form of embedded speech to be transmitted to the user. The manual actuation means is typically a push button on/off device or switch. There is also at least one set of recording prongs (20) on said adaptor housing (14).

Said recording prongs (20) serve the purpose of embedding speech on a microchip (22) within said microsized speech player unit (16). As such, there is no speech entry mechanism on the device. This eliminates the problem of the user altering or erasing the audio instructions associated with the devices of the prior art. The presence of recording prongs (20) on the present invention represent a significant advantage over the devices of the prior art. Speech is embedded through recording prongs (20) instead of a microphone. This will render the present invention "tamper- proof in the sense the user cannot accidentally alter or erase the instructions. It is understood that there could more than one set of recording prongs on the adaptor housing.

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the microsized speech player unit (16) enclosed within the adaptor housing (14) of Figure 1. The microsized speech player unit (16) comprises a microchip (22) having embedded speech thereon. Said microchip is most suitably a "voice chip" playback device such as Part No. ISD 1420 from Information Storage Devices, Inc. This microchip will yield 20 seconds of embedded speech. Alternatively, the microchip could be Part No. ISD 2532, which will yield 32 seconds of embedded speech. Said recording prongs (20) are operatively connected to said microchip (22) and transmit speech which comes into said disposable audio instruction device (10) through exterior wires (not shown) connected to said recording prongs (20) and embedded onto said microchip (22) through known electrical circuitry. The microsized speech player unit (16) also contains a battery cell (24) electrically connected to said microchip (22) which provides electrical power for transmitting said embedded speech on said microchip (22) to a means for playing (26) said embedded speech on the microchip (22). A suitable battery cell is typically two three-volt battery cells as are known in the art. All parts of the micro-size speech player unit are connected to an electrical circuitry board, or "mother-board", as is known in the art. The means for playing (26) said embedded speech on said microchip (22) is typically a seventy decibel (db) speaker as is known in the art. The means for playing (26) and the microchip (22) are operatively connected through a connector wire in communication with said means for playing (26) and said microchip (22). When said manual actuation means (18) is engaged, the embedded speech on said microchip (22) is transmitted to the means for playing (26) which broadcasts the audio instructions in the form of embedded speech on the microchip (22) to the user of the product. It is understood that said actuation means (18) is typically a push button on/off device or switch as is known in the art. The actuation means may either extend to the exterior of the adaptor housing (14) and be engaged by simply pushing it or it may located inside adaptor housing (14). If actuation means (18) is located inside adaptor housing (14), then actuation means (18) is typically engaged by depressing the bottom of the adaptor housing (14) of audio instruction device (10).

Figures 3 and 4 demonstrate two methods for embedding speech on said microchip. Figure 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention where the embedded speech is automated speech which is embedded onto said microchip through the process of data entry. As the instructions intended to be embedded on the microchip are inputted into a computer (28), speech writer software, as known in the art, converts the entered data into automated speech and transmits it to said recording prongs (20) on said adaptor housing (14) which are operatively connected to said computer (28). A suitable speech writer software would be DECtalk by Digital Corp. and Willowtalk by Willow Pond Corp. Thus the microchip contains the automated speech which is identical to the data entered into the computer and is capable of being played back in audio form in the microsized speech player unit at the whim of the user.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention wherein the embedded speech on the microchip is in the form of human speech transmitted through use of a pharmacy recorder unit (30). This embodiment consists of a microphone located in the pharmacy and a known recorder unit such as a tape recorder. Said tape recorder is connected to the microsized speech player unit through said recording prongs (20) on the adaptor housing (14). As the speech is recorded in the pharmacy recorder unit, it is connected to the microsized speech player unit by said recording prongs. The speech contained in the recording unit is embedded onto said microchip. This embodiment is useful for all pharmacies that do not have high volume prescription processing and would not have the speech writer software of Figure 3.

It is contemplated that there could be a further embodiment of the present invention where speech is embedded onto the microchip through the use of Infrared Technology or short-term radio signals. In this embodiment, infrared or radio receivers would be located in said adaptor housing and an infrared or radio transmitter would transmit said embedded speech.

It is understood that the microsized speech player unit is water-resistant. As such, the parts of the microsized speech player unit are protected against possible contamination from normal, everyday occurrences such as food spillage. This presents a significant advantage over the prior art devices where vital components such as microphones are exposed to such contamination which is inevitable when products are used by human beings, especially those that are visually impaired.

It is contemplated that the disposable audio instruction device of the present invention could be used in conjunction with a known sound amplification device. The suitable device for this purpose will be a battery operated amplifier as is known in the art which does not require any additional wiring connection between the amplifier and the disposable audio instruction device of the present invention. Use of an amplifier will permit sound amplification greater than the 70 db of speech output of the present invention when used without any sound amplification.

The microchip contemplated for the present invention will permit embedded speech on said microchip through use of electrical circuitry as is known in the art. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, the microchip contemplated for the present invention will allow speech to be embedded onto the microchip through the use of solid state recording rather than magnetic tapes. This means that the embedded speech will be more robust to shocks and vibrations. Also, the microchip need not be rewound and it is not sensitive to magnets. This is a significant advantage of the present invention.

It should also be noted that the audio instructions contained in the microsized speech player unit of the present invention cannot be accidently erased by the user once the speech is embedded on the microchip since the only way to embed speech on the microchip is to connect exterior wires to said recording prongs for the purpose of embedding speech. This is a significant advantage over the prior art. When the visually impaired person finishes the product, the disposable audio instruction device is not reused. As such, the disposable audio instruction device is intended to be for a single-use only. The design of the present invention allows the disposable audio instruction device to be disposable because of low cost involved for this product.

The device of the present invention is constructed by attaching the adaptor housing containing the microsized speech payer unit to the container. Instructions are then embedded on the microchip in the form of embedded speech through either the speech writer software or the pharmacy recorder unit. In either case, wires are connected to the recording prongs and the speech is transmitted to the device through the recording prongs through either the pharmacist speaking into the pharmacy recorder unit or speech writer software converting data into automated speech and transmitting it to the device. Once there is embedded speech on the microchip, the device is then used by sending it to the user with the product inside the container who accesses the instructions corresponding to the product inside the container in the form of embedded speech by simply engaging the manual actuation means. The instructions will be repeated each time the manual actuation means is engaged by the user. The typical instructions embedded on the microchip will be prescription information such as the name of the medication, quantity, dosage instructions, name of doctor, and name of the pharmacy. -l i¬

lt is also contemplated, under the present invention, that the disposable audio instruction device could be assembled in a factory on an assembly line for a designated product. It is understood that a conveyor-type assembly line feeds disposable audio instruction devices towards a speech applicator unit such as the computer (28) of Figure 3. The speech applicator unit will operatively connect to the recording prongs on said adaptor housing and embed speech for a specified product. This will allow for high volume processing of products with audio instructions for a designated product.

It should be noted that although the present invention is primarily intended for prescription medications, it could be employed with all other types of products. Also, while the present invention is primarily intended for those persons who are visually impaired, the present invention is useful for persons who are illiterate or speak a different language since the embedded speech could be suited to any language desired.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that while some of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described fully to explain its principles, it is understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims encompass all such modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A disposable audio instruction device comprising:

a container having an adaptor housing affixed to said container wherein said adaptor housing comprises;

a microsized speech player unit inside said adaptor housing comprising:

a microchip having embedded speech thereon;

means for playing said embedded speech on said microchip operably connected to said microchip;

a battery cell electrically connected to said microchip;

a manual actuation means operably connected to said microsized speech player unit so as to cause said embedded speech to be transmitted to said means for playing said embedded speech;

at least one set of recording prongs operatively connected to said microchip wherein said embedded speech may not be accidently altered by a user of the product.

2. The disposable audio instruction device of claim 1 wherein said embedded speech on said microchip is human speech which is embedded on said microchip through a pharmacy recorder unit in a cooperative relationship with said recording prongs.

3. The disposable audio instruction device of claim 1 wherein said embedded speech on said microchip is automated speech which is embedded on said microchip through a computer having speech writer software in a cooperative relationship with said recording prongs.

4. The disposable audio instruction device of claim 1 wherein said embedded speech is a combination of human speech and automated speech wherein said human speech is embedded on said microchip through a pharmacy recorder unit in a cooperative relationship with said recording prongs and wherein said automated speech is embedded on said microchip through a computer having speech writer software in a cooperative relationship with said recording prongs.

5. The disposable audio instruction device of claim 1 wherein said adaptor housing is sized to fit said container.

6. The disposable audio instruction device of claim 1 wherein said container is a medicine bottle and wherein said embedded speech is prescription information.

7. A method for embedding audio instructions on a disposable audio instruction device comprising the steps of:

(A) choosing a container having an adaptor housing affixed to said container wherein said adaptor housing comprises;

a microsized speech player unit inside said adaptor housing comprising:

a microchip having embedded speech thereon; means for playing said embedded speech on said microchip operably connected to said microchip; and

a battery cell electrically connected to said microchip;

(B) providing a manual actuation means operably connected to said microsized speech player unit so as to cause said embedded speech to be transmitted to said means for playing said embedded speech; and

(C) embedding speech on said microchip through at lease one set of recording prongs operatively connected to said microchip wherein said embedded speech may not be accidently altered by a user of the product.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said embedded speech on said microchip is human speech which is embedded on said microchip through a pharmacy recorder unit in a cooperative relationship with said recording prongs.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said embedded speech on said microchip is automated speech which is embedded on said microchip through a computer having speech writer software in a cooperative relationship with said recording prongs.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said embedded speech is a combination of human speech and automated speech wherein said human speech is embedded on said microchip through a pharmacy recorder unit in a cooperative relationship with said recording prongs and wherein said automated speech is embedded on said microchip through a computer having speech writer software in a cooperative relationship with said recording prongs.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of sizing said adaptor housing to fit said container.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said container is a medicine bottle and wherein said embedded speech is prescription information.