| CPC G16H 20/13 (2018.01) [A61M 11/006 (2014.02); A61M 2205/3569 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3584 (2013.01); A61M 2205/6009 (2013.01); A61M 2210/0625 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |

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1. A patient system for interfacing with and controlling a handheld medication dispensing device, the system comprising:
one or more processors and associated memory, the memory being a non-transitory computer-readable medium having executable instructions encoded thereon, such that upon execution of the instructions, the one or more processors perform operations of:
registering a patient;
associating the handheld medication dispensing device with the patient;
storing authentication information regarding the patient; and
storing a dose schedule regarding usage of the handheld medication dispensing device by the patient, the dose schedule having parameters specifying a particular medication and associated volume and timing interval for administration;
linking with the handheld medication dispensing device, the handheld medication dispensing device having a housing with a rotatable cartridge carrier and a medication cartridge positioned within the rotatable cartridge carrier, the medication cartridge containing the particular medication;
authenticating the patient while the patient attempts to use the handheld medication dispensing device;
causing transmission of an access granted signal to the handheld medication dispensing device;
unlocking the handheld medication dispensing device after authentication of the patient and upon receipt of the access granted signal;
activating an activator mechanism in the handheld medication dispensing device to rotate the cartridge carrier and, in doing so, move a medication cartridge within the handheld medication device from a stored position to a dispensing position in which at least a portion of the medication cartridge is raised from the housing and at least partially exposed beyond the housing for actuation by the patient, thereby permitting a patient to dispense a dose from the handheld medication dispensing device within the parameters of the dose schedule;
and
monitoring patient adherence to the dose schedule and providing an alert to a doctor when the patient fails to adhere to the dose schedule.
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