Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Dynamically Programmable Electronic Pill Dispenser System

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Medical Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Compliance in medicine dispensation has proven critical for dosage control, diagnosis, and treatment. We have designed, manufactured, and characterized a novel dynamically programmable e-pill dispensing system. Our system is initially programmed remotely through a cell phone. After programming, the system may be reconfigured in order to adapt pill dispensation to new conditions. In this paper we describe the mechanics, electronics, control, and communication protocols implemented. Our dyn-e-pill devices can be actuated for over 350 h with two pill retrievals per hour. We challenged the charging circuit and demonstrated that the system has a lifetime longer than 6 h with a 30 min charging cycle, while it lasts for 14 h of uninterrupted use with a full charge.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wertheimer, A. I., and Santella, T. M., Medication compliance research: still so far to go. J. Appl. Res. Clin. Exp. Ther. 3 (3)254–261, 2003.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Rogers, P. G., and Bullman, R., Prescription medicine compliance: a review of the baseline of knowledge. A report of the national council on patient information and education. J. Pharmacoepidemiol. 2:3–36, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Corlett, A. J., Caring for older people: aids to compliance with medication. BMJ. 313:926–929, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Doughty, K., Williams, G., and Holloway, L., TEMPEST-An intelligent pill reminder and delivery system for telecare applications, Proceedings of the 20th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, vol. 20, no 3, pp. 1206–1209, 1998. doi 10.1109/IEMBS.1998.747089.

  5. Greenberg, R. N., Overview of patient compliance: a study of elderly patients in the community. J. R. Coll. Gen. Pract. 29:391–396, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Sabaté, E. (ed.): Adherence to long term therapies: Evidence for action, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2003.

  7. Lee, R., Chen, K., Hsiao, C., and Tseng, C., Mobile care system with alert mechanism. IEEE Trans. Inf. Technol. Biomed. 11 (5)507–517, 2007. doi:10.1109/TITB.2006.888701.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Hadzievski, L., Bojovic, B., Vukcevic, V., Belicev, P., Pavlovic, S., Vasiljevic-Pokrajcic, Z., and Ostojic, M., A novel mobile transtelephonic system with synthesized 12-Lead ECG. IEEE Trans. Inf. Technol. Biomed. 8:428–438, 2004. doi:10.1109/TITB.2004.837869.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Boquete, L., Bravo, I., Barea, R., and García, M. A., Telemetry and control system with GSM communications. Microprocess. Microsyst. 27:1–8, 2003. doi:10.1016/S0141-9331(02)00080-7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Pruna, S. S., Dixon, R., and Harris, N. D., Black Sea TeleDiab: diabetes computer system with communication technology for Black Sea region. IEEE Trans. Inf. Technol. Biomed. 2:193–196, 1998. doi:10.1109/4233.735784.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bellazzi, R., Larizza, C., Montani, S., Riva, A., Stefanelli, M., d'Annunzio, G., et al., A telemedicine support for diabetes management: the T-IDDM project. Comput. Methods Programs Biomed. 69:147–161, 2002. doi:10.1016/S0169-2607(02)00038-X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Gómez, E. J., Hernando, M. E., García, A., del Pozo, F., Cermeño, J., Corcoy, R., Brugués, E., and de Leiva, A., Telemedicine as a tool for intensive management of diabetes: the DIABETel experience. Comput. Methods Programs Biomed. 69:163–177, 2002. doi:10.1016/S0169-2607(02)00039-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Woodward, B., Istepanian, R. S., and Richards, C. I., Design of a telemedicine system using a mobile telephone. IEEE Trans. Inf. Technol. Biomed. 5:13–15, 2001. doi:10.1109/4233.908361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Salvador, C. H., Pascual, M., González, M. A., Muñoz, A., Márquez, J., Sosa, L., et al., Airmed-cardio: a GSM and internet services-based system for out-of-hospital follow-up of cardiac patients. IEEE Trans. Inf. Technol. Biomed. 9:73–85, 2005. doi:10.1109/TITB.2004.840067.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Kirsch, C., Mattingley-Scott, M., Muszynski, C., Schaefer, F., and Weiss, C., Monitoring chronically ill patients using mobile technologies. IBM Syst. J. 46:1, 2007. doi:10.1147/sj.461.0085.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Szeto, A. Y., and Giles, J. A., Improving oral medication compliance with and electronic aid. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Mag. 16:48–54, 1997. doi:10.1109/51.585517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Sachpazidis, I., Fragou, S., and Sakas, G., Medication adherence system using SMS technology. ISSNIP. 2004:571–576, 2004. doi:10.1109/ISSNIP.2004.1417524.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Hodgson, Y., Short message service as a support tool in medication adherence and chronic disease management, Health Care & Informatics Review Online, 1 September 2005.

  19. Gudish, W. A., “Medication Dispenser”, U.S. Patent 6 145 697, 2000.

  20. Lapsker, J., “Dial-type pill dispenser with timer and reminder means”, US2006/0163267 A1, 2006.

  21. Baum, E., “Pill Dispenser”, U.S. Patent 7100793 B2, 2006.

  22. Lim, J., “Programmable automatic pill dispenser”, U.S. Patent 6510962B1, 2003.

  23. Jekle, C., Krämer, I., OtCM (objective therapy compliance measurement): smart blister packages for measuring patient compliance, Hospital Pharmacy Europe, Number 40, September/October 2008.

  24. Landry, P., Iorillo, D., Darioli, R., Burnier, M., and Genton, B., Do travelers really take their mefloquine malaria chemoprophylaxis? Estimation of adherence by an electronic pill box. J. Travel Med. 13:8–14, 2006. doi:10.1111/j.1708-8305.2006.00005.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Rodríguez-Oroz, M., et al., Bilateral deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's disease: a multicentre study with 4 years follow-up. Brain. 128 (10)2240–2249, 2005. doi:10.1093/brain/awh571.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Grosset, K. A., and Grosset, D. G., Effect of educational intervention on medication timing in Parkinson's disease: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Neurol. 7:20–26, 2007. doi:10.1186/1471-2377-7-20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Sriskanthan, N., Tan, F., and Karande, A., Bluetooth based home automation system. Microprocess. Microsyst. 26:281–289, 2002. doi:10.1016/S0141-9331(02)00039-X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Kanma, H., Wakabayashi, N., Kanazawa, R., and Ito, H., Home appliance control system over bluetooth with a cellular phone. IEEE Trans. Consum. Electron. 49:1049–1053, 2003. doi:10.1109/TCE.2003.1261194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Leen, G., and Heffernan, D., Vehicles without wires. IEE Comput. Contr. Eng. J. 12:201–211, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Choi, S. H., Kim, B. K., Park, J., Kang, C. H., and Eom, D. S., An implementation of wireless sensor network for security system using bluetooth. IEEE Trans. Consum. Electron. 50:236–244, 2004. doi:10.1109/TCE.2004.1277868.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Rasid, M. F. A., and Woodward, B., Bluetooth telemedicine processor for multichannel biomedical signal transmission via mobile cellular networks. IEEE Trans. Inf. Technol. Biomed. 9:35–43, 2005. doi:10.1109/TITB.2004.840070.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Marshall, A., Medvedev, O., and Antonov, A., Use of a smartphone for improved self-management of pulmonary rehabilitation. Int. J. Telemed. Appl. 2008:753064, 2008. doi:10.1155/2008/753064.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

The project “Development of a pill dispenser controlled by cell phone”, ref. 28/05, was supported by the IMSERSO (Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales), Spain.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electronics Department, Biomedical Engineering Group, Alcala University, Alcalá de Henares, Spain

    Luciano Boquete, Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Ascariz, Irene Artacho & Joaquin Cantos-Frontela

  2. Neural Engineering Laboratory, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA

    Nathalia Peixoto

Authors
  1. Luciano Boquete
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jose Manuel Rodriguez-Ascariz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Irene Artacho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Joaquin Cantos-Frontela
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nathalia Peixoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luciano Boquete.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boquete, L., Rodriguez-Ascariz, J.M., Artacho, I. et al. Dynamically Programmable Electronic Pill Dispenser System. J Med Syst 34, 357–366 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-008-9248-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-008-9248-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation