CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent Application No. 61/588,337, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention pertains to the fields of patient non-adherence and video games, particularly to systems and methods for discouraging and/or reducing patient non- adherence by use of a virtual character in an interactive virtual environment.

Description of Related Art

[0003] Medical professionals often face difficulties in educating patients about chronic diseases and medical treatments associated with such diseases.

[0004] Especially in the case of young chronic patients, patient adherence to a prescribed treatment is often difficult to achieve. Patient non-adherence for prescribed medical treatments may result in increased treatment costs at a later stage, costing payers of the treatment substantial sums of money. Prescribers often have little control over patient adherence to many forms of medical treatments. Young patients often fail to perceive the importance of adherence to a medical treatment and therefore may not commit to a prescribed medical treatment.

[0005] Currently, and especially with young patients, there is a general mistrust of medical treatments that must be eliminated in order to ensure that patients take the appropriate steps to protect and/or maintain their health. Further, many patients are unaware of the various effects that asymptomatic chronic diseases have on them and their lives. Patients may not perceive the long-term effects of a chronic condition, and may have low motivation to adhere to a treatment program when manifestations of the disease may not occur until a later date. Patient forgetfulness, various lifestyle constraints, and lack of patient education compound this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a system and method for reducing patient non-adherence through the use of a viitual character in a virtual environment by providing consequences for non-adherence and incentives for adherence to prescribed medical treatments.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer- implemented method for reducing patient non-adherence for at least one medical treatment associated with at least one condition, the method comprising: rendering a character in a virtual environment, wherein the character is associated with at least one characteristic relating to at least a portion of the at least one condition; receiving detection data from at least one detection device associated with a patient; determining, based at least partially on the detection data, adherence information for the at least one medical treatment; and providing consequences for the character based at least partially on the adherence information.

[0008] The method may also include receiving, from at least one prescriber, prescription information, such that the prescription information influences at least one of the following: information relating to the at least one condition, adherence information, consequences for the virtual character, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the detection device is configured to generate the detection data based at least partially on visual input. Further, the visual input may include physical actions performed by the patient.

[0009] In another embodiment, the consequences for the character may comprise at least one of the following: a visual symptom of the at least one condition, an audible symptom of the at least one condition, a long-term effect of the at least one condition, or any combination thereof. Additionally, the method may further include providing a medical treatment device configured to communicate with at least one of the following: the at least one detection device, a local computing device, a remote computing device, or any combination thereof. In one example, the medical treatment device may include an inhaler.

[0010] In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of transmitting at least one reminder if the adherence information indicates that the patient has not adhered to the at least one medical treatment, wherein the at least one reminder is transmitted to at least one of the following: a patent or guardian of the patient, a physician of the patient, a medical entity, or any combination thereof. Moreover, in some examples, the virtual environment is part of an interactive video game.

[0011] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for reducing patient non-adherence of at least one prescribed medical treatment for a patient, the at least one prescribed medical treatment associated with at least one medical condition of the patient, the system comprising: at least one computing device including at least one processor, the at least one computing device configured to: generate data configured to display, with at least one display device, a visual representation of a character having at least one attribute, the at least one attribute based at least partially on the at least one medical condition of the patient; and receive detection data from at least one detection device; determine, based at least partially on the detection data, patient adherence information for the at least one prescribed medical treatment and the patient; and modify the at least one attribute of the character based at least partially on the patient adherence information.

[0012] In some embodiments of the system, the visual representation of the character is displayed in a virtual environment. Further, the visual representation of the character may include an avatar of the patient in a video game environment. The at least one computing device may also be configured to receive, from a medical entity, the at least one prescribed medical treatment, wherein the at least one prescribed medical treatment comprises at least one of the following: a desired frequency of treatment, the at least one attribute, a medication, a dosage, or any combination thereof.

[0013] In embodiments, the at least one detection device may include at least one of the following: a camera, a medical device, a motion-sensing input device, or any combination thereof. Additionally, the at least one detection device may include a motion-sensing input device, and wherein the patient adherence information may be determined at least partially on physical actions performed by the patient. Further, the at least one attribute, after being modified, may comprise at least one of the following: a visual representation of a symptom of the at least one condition, an audible indication of a symptom of the at least one condition, a visual representation of a long-term effect of the at least one condition, a health level of the character, a performance of the character, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the at least one computing device may be further configured to receive, from a second detection device, additional detection data, wherein the patient adherence information is determined based at least partially on the additional detection data, and wherein the second detection device comprises a medical device configured to communicate with the at least one computing device.

[0014] According to another aspect of the invention, provided is a system for reducing patient non-adherence of at least one medical treatment associated with at least one medication condition of a patient, the system comprising: a display device; at least one detection device; a computing device including at least one processor, the computing device in communication with the display device and the at least one detection device, wherein the computing device is configured to: render, on the display device, a virtual environment comprising at least one interactive character, the at least one interactive character having at least one physical attribute; receive, from the at least one detection device, input data representing physical actions performed by the patient; determine, from the input data, adherence information for the at least one medical treatment and the patient; and modify the at least one physical attribute of the interactive character based at least partially on the adherence information.

[0015] In some embodiments, the computing device may be further configured to: receive prescription data from a medical entity, the prescription data comprising at least one of the following: a desired frequency of the at least one medical treatment, a dosage of the at least one medical treatment, a medication associated with the at least one medical treatment, or any combination thereof. Further, the at least one detection device may comprise at least one of the following: a camera, a medical device, a motion-sensing input device, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the at least one detection device may include a motion-sensing input device.

[0016] In further embodiments, the at least one physical attribute, after being modified, may include at least one of the following: a visual representation of a symptom of the at least one condition, an audible indication of a symptom of the at least one condition, a visual representation of a long-term effect of the at least one condition, a health level of the interactive character, a performance of the interactive character, or any combination thereof. Moreover, the computing device may be further configured to receive, from a second detection device, additional detection data, wherein the patient adherence information is determined based at least partially on the additional detection data, and wherein the second detection device comprises a medical device configured to communicate with the computing device.

[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, provided is a computer program product for reducing patient non-adherence of at least one prescribed medical treatment for a patient, wherein the at least one prescribed medical treatment is associated with at least one medical condition of the patient, the computer program product comprising at least one non- transitory computer-readable medium containing program instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: generate data configured to display an interactive virtual environment comprising at least one virtual character; receive detection data from at least one detection device; determine, based at least partially on the detection data, patient adherence information for the patient, the patient adherence information indicating adherence or non-adherence of the at least one prescribed medical treatment; and modify a performance or attribute of the virtual character based at least partially on the patient adherence information.

[0018] In some embodiments, the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium may further include program instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: receive, from at least one medical entity, prescription information for the at least one prescribed medical treatment. Moreover, the at least one medical condition of the patient may comprise asthma, and wherein the at least one prescribed medical treatment may comprise an inhaler. The performance or attribute of the virtual character, in some embodiments, may include: a visual representation of a symptom of the at least one medical condition, an audible indication of a symptom of the at least one medical condition, a visual representation of a long-term effect of the at least one medical condition, a health level of the virtual character, or any combination thereof. Further, the at least one detection device may include at least one of the following: a camera, a medical device, a motion-sensing input device, or any combination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The following description of the example embodiments is merely exemplary and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a patient non-adherence system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a patient non-adherence system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 3 is a partial schematic representation of a patient non-adherence system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a partial schematic representation of the patient non-adherence system of FIG. 3.

[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a computer and network infrastructure suitable for use with a patient non-adherence system of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] For purposes of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the methods and devices of the invention are described below. It will be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that other alternative and equivalent embodiments of the invention can be conceived and reduced to practice without departing from the true spirit of the invention, the scope of the invention being limited only by the appended claims.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, a system for carrying out the present invention according to one non-limiting embodiment is shown. A processing device 107 (e.g., a computer, an entertainment console, a game unit, a mobile device, etc.) is in communication with a display device 102 and a detection device 103. The processing device 107 may include a processor 109 and a data storage unit 110. The processing device 107 may further include features such as, but not limited to, video devices (e.g., graphics cards and/or processors), input and output devices, and network devices, not shown, but as commonly appreciated in the field. A patient 100 may be sensed and/or monitored by, in communication with, or otherwise connected to the detection device 103.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the processing device 107 may be a gaming unit (e.g., a Microsoft ^® X-Box ^® , a Sony ^® Playstation ^® , etc.) or a personal computer. However, it will be appreciated that the processing device 107 may be in many forms, such as specially programmed hardware, remote processing devices (e.g., web servers), mobile devices (e.g., laptops, tablet computers, smart phones), or any other device or devices capable of inputting and outputting data in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0028] As used herein, a detection device 103 may be, but is not limited to, any device capable of detecting patient adherence or non-adherence information. In one aspect of the invention, the detection device 103 may be a device capable of visually sensing the movement and/or behavior of the patient 100. The detection device 103 may also detect the movement, motion, or use of a medical device or medical apparatus by a patient 100. The embodiments involving a visual sensing detection device may be implemented with one or more cameras connected to a computer configured to process visual input data. Other embodiments may include visual motion detectors and/or sensors, other forms of optical sensors, or detectors to visually detect a physiological condition of the patient 100. In certain cases, the detection device 103 may also include a capability to register an embedded computer chip or other RFID-type tracking device embedded within a medication.

[0029] However, it will be appreciated that the detection device 103 may also non-visually sense and/or detect patient adherence or non-adherence to a prescribed medical treatment. For example, the detection device may detect patient activity by any number of environmental sensors, biological sensors connected to the patient 100, or other detection means known in the art. [0030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the detection device 103 may be incorporated with, connected to, or otherwise in communication with a medical apparatus or device. Such medical apparatuses and devices may include, but are not limited to, medication administration devices (e.g., inhalers, syringes, and other like devices), medication containers, auto-injectors, other types of medication delivery devices, and other devices relating to a medical condition or a medical treatment for a medical condition. Further, it will be appreciated that the detection device 103 may be a combination of more than one device. For example, a medical apparatus may be specially designed or adapted to be more easily recognizable by a visual detection device.

[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the detection device 103 is capable of receiving visual input data from the patient 100. For example, the detection device 103 may be a Microsoft ^® Kinect ^® device or other like device that detects a person's physical movements. In one embodiment, the detection device 103 may be configured to process input data to determine patient adherence or non-adherence. In other embodiments, the detection device 103 may pass unprocessed, substantially unprocessed, or partially unprocessed data to the processing device 107, or even to a remote computer or other processing device via some form of network or remote connection, in order to process the input data to determine patient adherence or non-adherence information.

[0032] It will be appreciated that more than one detection devices 103 may be combined to provide further reassurance that a patient 100 has adhered to a particular medical treatment. For example, a medical device or apparatus (e.g., an inhaler) may be equipped with packaging or a device adapted to communicate administration/adherence information to the processing device 107, or other device(s). In addition, a visual detection device 103 may be used to detect when the medical device or apparatus is used by a patient 100. By combining visual and non-visual detection methods, further assurance of patient adherence or non- adherence may be acquired.

[0033] With continued reference to FIG. 1, the display device 102 provides a visual display to a patient/user 100 of a virtual environment, including at least one virtual character 106. The virtual character 106 may be associated with one or more attributes or characteristics. As further described herein, the virtual character may be associated with attributes and/or characteristics relating to a patient's medical condition. In one preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the virtual character 106 is provided with a similar disease or affliction as the patient. [0034] Still referring to FIG. 1, a patient 100 is provided within a scope of detection of the detection device 103. Movements, motions, and/or activities engaged in by the patient 100 may be detected by the detection device 103 and transmitted to the processing device 107 as either processed or unprocessed data. It will be appreciated that the scope of detection of the detection device 103 is not limited to a specific scope and, depending on the detection device 103 utilized, may broadly cover an entire area or, in other instances, may narrowly detect specific, discrete movements and/or actions. In certain configurations, as will be discussed herein, the detection device 103 is capable of recognizing whether a patient 100 has performed a necessary treatment procedure.

[0035] Referring now to FIG. 2, a system for carrying out the present invention according to one embodiment is shown. A processing device 107 is connected to a display device 102, a detection device 103, and an input device 108. The processing device 107 is in further communication with a network environment 113, including but not limited to a local area network, a wide area network, the Internet, or other like environments. A patient 100, or a medical apparatus or device associated with the patient, is sensed/detected by the detection device 103, either visually/optically or by other detection means. A server 114 is in communication with the network or network environment 113. A medical entity 112 may also be in communication with the network or network environment 113.

[0036] The display device 102 may include, but is not limited to, a television, a smart television, .a monitor, a laptop or tablet computer, a mobile device, a projector, or any other means for creating or displaying visualizations. The display device 102 may be part of or otherwise incorporated into the processing device 107, or may be connected to the processing device 107 with appropriate wired connections, wireless transfer protocols, or other means of communication. The display device 102 may be in communication with the processing device 107 directly via wired or wireless connections, or may be in communication with the processing device 107 indirectly through, for example, a local network or some other device. If a computer is the processing device 107, the display device 102 may be a monitor or display associated with the computer.

[0037] With continued reference to FIG. 2, a server 114, connected to the network 113, may facilitate the system and method for reducing patient non- adherence. The server 114 may be a dedicated web server, game server, or may be some other form of server or array of servers. In one embodiment, the server 114 hosts content for the non-adherence system and method including, but not limited to, patient data, game data, game contents, character data, etc. The server 114 may facilitate the game or media provided by the system by allowing users to connect to each other and, in some instances, may receive and transmit the necessary data for creating the virtual environment and allowing a patient 100 to interact with the virtual environment. In other embodiments, the server is not necessary and the game, data, and/or virtual environment are provided to the patient 100 by a processing device 107 or by other means.

[0038] Still referring to FIG. 2, an input device 108 may include, but is not limited to, one or more human interface devices, such as game controllers, keyboards, mice, etc., one or more biological sensors or other forms of physiologic sensors, and/or one or more medical apparatuses or devices (e.g., inhaler, syringe, etc.). The input device 108 may be used by the patient 100 to interact with the virtual environment, to administer a medical treatment, to input data into the processing device 107, or to perform other activities resulting in data being transmitted to the processing device 107 or, in some embodiments, directly to a network 113. The input device 108 may be connected to the processing device 107 directly via wired or wireless connections, or may be connected to the processing device 107 indirectly through, for example, a local network or some other device.

[0039] The medical entity 112 may be a physician, a physician's office, a hospital, a medical facility, an overseer, a nurse, or any type of prescriber for the patient 100 that provides or suggests prescription information, medical treatment information, and/or the like. The medical entity 112 may be in communication with the network or network environment 113, as depicted in FIG. 2, or may be in communication with the processing device 107 or detection device 103 by some other means, remotely or locally. The medical entity 112 may transmit (e.g., upload) prescription data to the processing device 107 or other system component. Such prescription data may be related to the patient 100 and may affect the virtual environment, the virtual character 106, or some other component of game play. For example, the prescription data could cause the processing device 107 to detect a particular activity (e.g., using an inhaler or other medical apparatus), and/or the frequency that a particular activity occurs. The prescription data may also place limits or other forms of restrictions on game play such as, for instance, the amount of time that a patient can play the game.

[0040] The prescription data may create requirements and/or consequences in the virtual environment based on an adherence or non-adherence of a patient 100 (i.e., based on a patient's activities, physiological traits, movements, etc.), and may create rules that govern one or more aspects of the virtual environment, virtual character 106, or both. For example, the virtual character 106 may perfomi at an optimized level when the patient 100 adheres to the prescription data, and the virtual character 106 may perform poorly when the patient 100 does not adhere to the prescription data. It will be appreciated that the prescription data may be submitted in a variety of ways, such as through a graphical user interface on a physician's computer, a website portal, automatically generated based on preset information, or by other methods.

[0041] A virtual environment, as used herein, refers to any computing environment capable of hosting at least one virtual character 106. As used herein, a virtual character 106 is a character or other form of visually perceivable entity associated with at least one characteristic or attribute. In one embodiment, the virtual character 106 is associated with a patient 100 and may be controlled by one or more input devices 108 (e.g., game controllers, etc.) associated or utilized by the patient 100.

[0042] The virtual environment is embodied in the form of source or object code, program instructions, etc., and/or other data stored on at least one device and/or system that may be local to the patient, may be remote, may be distributed, or may be any combination thereof. At least portions of the virtual environment are associated with visual components that are viewable by patients on, for example, a display device 102. In one embodiment of the present invention, the virtual character 106 is part of the virtual environment and is associated with visualizations viewable by a patient.

[0043] The detection device 103 may transmit or otherwise communicate detection data associated with the patient, such that the detection data may be processed. The detection data may be transmitted to a processing device 107 that may include a local device, such as but not limited to a computer system, entertainment console, mobile device, etc., or may be a remote device or some other destination reached through one or more network connections. The processing device 107 is able to receive detection data from at least one detection device 103 associated with the patient 100. In one embodiment, the detection data is processed within the detection device 103 or by means in communication with the detection device 103, such that the detection device may transmit adherence information for at least one medical treatment, medication, or other patient requirement. The processing device 107 is able to receive, from at least one input device 108 (e.g., the detection device 103 or some other device), adherence information for at least one medical treatment.

[0044] Referring now to FIG. 3, a further embodiment of a system for carrying out the present invention is shown. A medical entity (e.g., physician) 112 uploads prescription data to the cloud (e.g., network environment, network storage, Internet, etc.) 113. A patient 100, in communication with a detection device 103 and viewing a display device 102, uses a medical device (e.g., an inhaler) 111 while playing a game or otherwise interacting with the virtual environment. A virtual entity (e.g., avatar associated with the patient 100) 106 has one or more attributes and/or characteristics that change or are otherwise updated based on the activities of the patient 100 such as, for example, use of an inhaler 111, use of an inlialer 111 at appropriate intervals, etc. A patient 100 may associate more importance, or a higher emotional level, with that patient's avatar 106 within the virtual environment than with comments and/or advice of a physician 112, family members, or others. In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 3, the detection device is a visual/optical detection device such as, but not limited to, the Microsoft ^® X-Box ^® Kinect ^® . The virtual character 106 may be associated with a popular video game to increase the level of importance and/or emotion associated with it by the patient 100.

[0045] Referring now to FIG. 4, a detailed view of the system depicted in FIG. 3 is shown. A patient 100 is using a medical device (e.g., inhaler) 111 while playing a game on a display device 102. The detection device 103 senses and/or detects when the patient 100 uses the inhaler 111 and transmits this adherence or non-adherence information to a processing device, server, etc. In this example, the patient 100 is afflicted with asthma and is prescribed an inlialer 111 for the intake of prescribed medicine. The avatar or character 106, displayed on the display device 102, is associated with at least one attribute or characteristic 115 within the virtual environment. In this example, the avatar or character 106 is also afflicted with asthma, as shown by a visualization 115 of this attribute or characteristic. The avatar or character 106 may, in some examples, exhibit visual and/or auditory symptoms of the medical condition. For example, if the medical condition is asthma, the avatar or character 106 may wheeze, exhibit shortness of breath, move slower, and/or the like.

[0046] The attribute or characteristic 115 may be associated with a level of adherence or non-adherence to a medical treatment, which would be the use of an asthma inlialer 111 in this example. By using the asthma inhaler 111 in a way that may be detected by the detection device 103, effects, consequences, and/or benefits may be associated with the avatar 106 and/or the avatar's attributes or characteristics 115 in the virtual environment.

[0047] For example, by linking adherence or non-adherence of a medical treatment to a virtual character 106 within a virtual environment, the health or compliance of a patient 100 may be linked to benefits within the virtual environment (e.g., points, bonuses, rewards, time for game play, etc.), or benefits to the virtual character (e.g., health levels, points, items, abilities, etc.). [0048] In one embodiment, the character 106 is an avatar, i.e., a graphical representation of a patient, an alter ego of a patient, or a character otherwise associated with a patient. This avatar may be represented in the virtual environment in a number of ways, including but not limited to three-dimensional and two-dimensional human-like characters, fictional characters, animal-like characters, other anthropomorphic characters, and other types of objects and/or beings.

[0049] In one embodiment, the character moves within the virtual environment in accordance with the movement of a patient. This movement may be captured by the detection device or some other device. In some embodiments, only a small portion of a patient's movement affects the movement of the character (i.e., performing a medical treatment or using a medical treatment device), and in other embodiments other movements involving a patient's body, anus, hands, legs, feet, head, facial features, or other fonris of movement. The movement may be tracked/sensed by a detection device, devices and/or controllers held or otherwise attached to a patient, or by some other means.

[0050] With reference to FIGS. 3-4, a patient 100 may be interested in video games and may spend several hours every day playing video games. In certain cases, this patient may be a child or an adolescent and in other cases, this patient may be an adult. This same patient 100 may also suffer from asthma, which worries the family of the patient 100 because the patient 100 does not appear to realize the consequences and/or complications of his disease. Like many asthmatics, the patient 100 may not frequently take his medicine outside of crises, which are becoming more frequent for the patient 100.

[0051] In order to minimize patient non-adherence, the doctor may introduce the patient 100 to a video game in which the health level of virtual characters 106 (e.g., avatars associated with the patient 100) have a direct impact on the performance of those virtual characters 106. The video game may be custom created for this purpose or may be a modified/updated version of an existing game. The doctor may provide a specially designed inhaler, or a standard inhaler, along with software for the patient to install. To keep playing, the patient 100 may cause the performance of his or her character or avatar 106 to be increased if the patient 100 uses the inhaler 111. This may be accomplished by using the inhaler in front of a detection device 103, or by using a specially designed inhaler configured to communicate adherence or non-adherence data, or by some other means.

[0052] The doctor may upload prescription information relating to the patient 100 so that, when the patient 100 connects to the game online, the game will know when he or she should be taking medication and will remind the patient 100. The system may also be configured to provide reminders to parents, guardians, or physicians. If the patient 100 does not adhere to his or her prescribed medical treatment (e.g., does not use the inhaler on a regular basis while playing the game), his character may undergo health effects similar to that which would likely be experienced by the patient 100 in the future, allowing the patient 100 to see the effects of non-adherence or non-compliance to a prescribed medical treatment. In certain embodiments, the patient 100 may be able to view events that could potentially happen in the future if the patient does not adhere to their prescribed medical treatment. For example, the patient 100 may view now the effects of a chronic condition on an avatar that would not occur until 20-30 years later if a treatment program is disregarded. In this manner, the patient 100 may connect with an avatar to build a sense of urgency to adhere to a medical treatment with the help of a connection to the video game. For example, a condition that may presently be asymptomatic may be perceived as symptomatic when the chronic effects of the disease are virtually manifested in the form of events that are visualized with respect to an avatar in the present.

[0053] In one embodiment of the present invention, the system may be configured to provide feedback and/or alerts to parents, guardians, or physicians if the patient 100 fails to adhere or comply with the prescribed treatment, or if the patient 100 is adhering to the prescribed treatment appropriately or inappropriately. There may be multiple levels of alerts or feedback communications, including emergency communications when a patient condition may be at dangerous levels, or status communications apprising individuals of a patient's status, condition, progress, etc.

[0054] Further, the system may also be configured to alert or provide other forms of feedback to the patient. For example, the processing device 107 or a server may generate and initiate "real world" communications, such as text messages, e-mails, phone calls, etc., to the patient 100, or to parents, guardians, physicians, and/or other medical professionals.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, the characteristic or attribute of the virtual character 106 that relates to a patient's 100 condition may have an affect on the patient's progress through the game and/or virtual environment. For example, the health or other feature of the virtual character 106 may need to be at a predetermined level in order for the patient 100, through the character or avatar 106 in the virtual environment, to proceed to a further stage and/or level of game play. In certain embodiments, the patient 100 may be able to disconnect from the denial of being "sick" by connecting to other features of the virtual world, i.e., improving the patient's actual overall health (by taking a prescribed treatment) allows a virtual avatar to become stronger and thus advance to a new level or aspect of the virtual game.

[0056] The system may also include confidentiality features for guarding patient information regarding their medical condition, or other personal data. Such a feature is of importance in the context of online gaming in which other gamers may be able to view certain aspects or attributes of the patient's character or avatar within a common virtual environment. This feature may be implemented, for instance, by only providing feedback regarding the characteristic or attribute of the character or avatar to the patient. For example, if the character or avatar has asthma, the patient may see this condition manifest in the character's performance (e.g., coughing, wheezing, etc.), but other online players would not be able to see such a condition manifested in the patient's character or avatar. However, it will be appreciated that further embodiments of the present invention may allow this information, characteristic, or attribute of the character to be visible to other players.

[0057] It will be appreciated that the present invention may help eliminate or reduce mistrust of medical treatment on behalf of patients and may reduce patient forgetfulness and lifestyle constraints. The present invention may also increase trust in the perception of medical care and medical treatment, may raise the level of awareness of the effects of asymptomatic chronic diseases or other afflictions, and may also provide patient education. The present invention may also allow for customized online follow-ups with patients by medical professionals.

[0058] The present invention may address the risk of patients forgetting to take and/or purchase medicines/prescriptions, may create an awareness of the long term effects of a disease or affliction, may encourage patients to share their experiences with others, may help patients deal with self-esteem issues resulting in their affliction/disease, may provide sustainable motivation for adherence to a medical treatment, and may provide methods for physicians to track data/adherence/non-adherence online or through some other means.

[0059] The present invention may also provide pharmaceutical companies with efficient tracking within low adherence populations, or populations of patients generally. The system may provide for the creation of an adherence/audience meter, allowing for better argumentation in negotiations with payers for reimbursement rates of new drugs. Pharmaceutical companies may also experience an increase in drug sales in populations that do not adhere well to treatment. Features may be provided to allow for customized branding and contextual marketing through the virtual environment. [0060] The present invention may be implemented on a variety of computing devices and systems, wherein these computing devices include the appropriate processing mechanisms and computer-readable media for storing and executing computer-readable instructions, such as programming instructions, code, and the like. As shown in FIG. 5, personal computers 900, 944, in a computing system environment 902 are provided. This computing system environment 902 may include, but is not limited to, at least one computer 900 having certain components for appropriate operation, execution of code, and creation and communication of data. For example, the computer 900 includes a processing unit 904 (typically referred to as a central processing unit or CPU) that serves to execute computer-based instructions received in the appropriate data form and format. Further, this processing unit 904 may be in the form of multiple processors executing code in series, in parallel, or in any other manner for appropriate implementation of the computer-based instructions.

[0061] In order to facilitate appropriate data communication and processing information between the various components of the computer 900, a system bus 906 is utilized. The system bus 906 may be any of several types of bus structures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, or a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. In particular, the system bus 906 facilitates data and information communication between the various components (whether internal or external to the computer 900) through a variety of interfaces, as discussed hereinafter.

[0062] The computer 900 may include a variety of discrete computer-readable media components. For example, this computer-readable media may include any media that can be accessed by the computer 900, such as volatile media, non-volatile media, removable media, non-removable media, etc. As a further example, this computer-readable media may include computer storage media, such as media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVDs), or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer 900. Further, this computer-readable media may include communications media, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media, wired media (such as a wired network and a direct-wired connection), and wireless media (such as acoustic signals, radio frequency signals, optical signals, infrared signals, biometric signals, bar code signals, etc.). Of course, combinations of any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0063] The computer 900 further includes a system memory 908 with computer storage media in the form of volatile and non-volatile memory, such as ROM and RAM. A basic input/output system (BIOS) with appropriate computer-based routines assists in transferring information between components within the computer 900 and is normally stored in ROM. The RAM portion of the system memory 908 typically contains data and program modules that are immediately accessible to or presently being operated on by processing unit 904, e.g., an operating system, application programming interfaces, application programs, program modules, program data, and other instruction-based computer-readable codes.

[0064] With continued reference to FIG. 5, the computer 900 may also include other removable or non-removable, volatile or non-volatile computer storage media products. For example, the computer 900 may include a non-removable memory interface 910 that communicates with and controls a hard disk drive 912, i.e., a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic medium; and a removable, non- volatile memory interface 914 that communicates with and controls a magnetic disk drive unit 916 (which reads from and writes to a removable, non-volatile magnetic disk 918), an optical disk drive unit 920 (which reads from and writes to a removable, non-volatile optical disk 922, such as a CD ROM), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port 921 for use in connection with a removable memory card, etc. However, it is envisioned that other removable or non-removable, volatile or non-volatile computer storage media can be used in the exemplary computing system environment 900, including, but not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, DVDs, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, etc. These various removable or non-removable, volatile or nonvolatile magnetic media are in communication with the processing unit 904 and other components of the computer 900 via the system bus 906. The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 5 provide storage of operating systems, computer-readable instructions, application programs, data structures, program modules, program data, and other instruction-based computer-readable code for the computer 900 (whether duplicative or not of this information and data in the system memory 908).

[0065] A user may enter commands, information, and data into the computer 900 through certain attachable or operable input devices, such as a keyboard 924, a mouse 926, etc., via a user input interface 928. Of course, a variety of such input devices may be utilized, e.g., a microphone, a trackball, a joystick, a touchpad, a touch-screen, a scanner, etc., including any arrangement that facilitates the input of data, and information to the computer 900 from an outside source. As discussed, these and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 904 through the user input interface 928 coupled to the system bus 906, but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port, or a universal serial bus (USB). Still further, data and information can be presented or provided to a user in an intelligible form or format through certain output devices, such as a monitor 930 (to visually display this information and data in electronic form), a printer 932 (to physically display this information and data in print form), a speaker 934 (to audibly present this information and data in audible form), etc. All of these devices are in communication with the computer 900 through an output interface 936 coupled to the system bus 906. It is envisioned that any such peripheral output devices be used to provide information and data to the user.

[0066] The computer 900 may operate in a network environment 938 through the use of a communications device 940, which is integral to the computer or remote therefrom. This communications device 940 is operable by and in communication to the other components of the computer 900 through a communications interface 942. Using such an arrangement, the computer 900 may connect with or otherwise communicate with one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 944, which may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network personal computer, a peer device, or other common network nodes, and typically includes many or all of the components described above in connection with the computer 900. Using appropriate communication devices 940, e.g., a modem, a network interface or adapter, etc., the computer 900 may operate within and communicate through a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), but may also include other networks such as a virtual private network (VPN), an office network, an enterprise network, an intranet, the Internet, etc. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown are exemplary and other means of establishing a communications link between the computers 900, 944 may be used.

[0067] As used herein, the computer 900 includes or is operable to execute appropriate custom-designed or conventional software to perform and implement the processing steps of the method and system of the present invention, thereby, forming a specialized and particular computing system. Accordingly, the presently-invented method and system may include one or more computers 900 or similar computing devices having a computer-readable storage medium capable of storing computer-readable program code or instructions that cause the processing unit 902 to execute, configure, or otherwise implement the methods, processes, and transformational data manipulations discussed hereinafter in connection with the present invention. Still further, the computer 900 may be in the form of a personal computer, a personal digital assistant, a portable computer, a laptop, a palmtop, a mobile device, a mobile telephone, a server, or any other type of computing device having the necessary processing hardware to appropriately process data to effectively implement the presently-invented computer-implemented method and system.

[0068] It will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) that the system may utilize databases physically located on one or more computers which may or may not be the same as their respective servers. For example, programming software on computer 900 can control a database physically stored on a separate processor of the network or otherwise.

[0069] Furthermore, although the present invention has been described above as providing a mechanism for patient adherence to a prescribed medical treatment, it is further contemplated herein that this system can be employed to allow for adherence to a diet, vitamin or pro-biotic regimen, vaccine schedule, wellness treatment, preventative system or other desired lifestyle change. In a further configuration, an activity tracker, which may collect information about the diet, activity, sleep efficiency, etc. about a patient, may communication with the system described herein. In such a configuration, this information may be uploaded to the video game an included in an individualized avatar. The activity tracker may be worn by the patient and may wirelessly communicate with the video game consol to provide data about the patient in real time. It is further noted herein that the avatar of the present invention may be capable of providing answers to health-related questions and provide generalized healthy living information to the patient.

[0070] While this disclosure has been described as having exemplary designs, the present disclosure can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.