Lockout device for controlled release of drug from patient-activateddispenser

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a package containing medicine, the package being constructed so that it is difficult to open the package without contacting a sensor on the package to a mating receptacle (such as a serialized semiconductor) possessed by the patient for whom the medicine is intended.
The mating receptacle bears a machine readable code indicating the identity of the patient that is matched to the package containing the medicine.
Contacting the package sensor to the serialized semiconductor provides a keying feature to allow the patient access to the medicine.
A particular and preferred means for permitting the package to be activated by the patient, a Touch Serial Number (TSN, manufactured by Dallas Semiconductor) as termed herein, includes a semiconductor encoded with a device family code, a unique 48 bit serial number (providing 2.
8.
times.
10.
sup.
14 possible combinations), and a cyclic redundancy check (hereinafter CRC) byte, all housed in a metallic container.
The front surface of the container serves as one electrical contact, while the back and side surfaces of the container serve as the other electrical contact providing a 2-wire serial interface that allows the mating receptacle to be reset; a command word to be written into the TSN; and data to be read from the TSN.
A TSN is preferably attached to a means (such as a bracelet or badge) that allows the patient to wear the TSN.
The package containing the medicine will include a microcomputer programmed with the family code, serial number and CRC byte of the matching TSN and will include a TSN-compatible serial port for contact with the TSN.
Programming of the microcomputer is accomplished by setting the microcomputer to "learn" mode with a command sent by computer via the package's serial port.
The TSN is then contacted to the package's serial port, allowing the microcomputer within the package to read the TSN's data and store the data in the microcomputer's internal non-volatile memory.
In a preferred method of using the device, the user will have approximately three seconds after turning on the package to contact his or her TSN to the serial port