K.I.S.S.
I appreciate your thoughts. It’s good to get all opinions. So now let me try and address your thoughts. First in regards to the countless variety of pill shapes and sizes. Yes I have given this great thought and my feeling is that at least initially my device is best suited for the clinical trial environment. In these cases the pills could be designed for the device. Then if the device showed merit, other pills could be custom designed to fit the device. I don’t see the device as useful to the casual medication user, but more for people with chronic illness that required continued medication. The key to the device is not the mechanical components, but instead the integration of the Smartphone’s computer in the medication delivery process to combat the non-compliance and counterfeit problem.
Second with regards to exposing your pills on your Smartphone. The prototype unit was designed to accommodate commercially available components. A production unit would use custom designed components to allow for a much smaller and sleeker package, not unlike current battery back-up cases used today. And of course the pill cartridges and dispensing compartment would not be transparent. So the only one that would know what was in the case is you.
I don’t believe there is one answer or device to solve the serious medication issues, but I do believe our InteMed devices offers one potential one.

 

Hi,

I have to say that whilst I admire your commitment to the device, I have some doubts about the realistic philosophy that underpins your Company's vision.
If you intend to attempt to get ANY pharmaceutical Company to standardise their medication to suit your device, then firstly I would urgently ask you to re-visit the post from Erich - there are innumerable complications involved with such a move. Have you taken into consideration the fact that there is a standard classification and identification system that allows paramedics and doctors to quickly and easily identify pill overdoses? This is comprised of the three primary factors of shape, colour and size. They simply cannot be reliant upon miniscule markings upon the surface of the pill, as these can be quickly eaten away by digestive stomach acids, so in the event of a overdose stomach pump...
And secondly, I would urge you to give consideration to the fact that many medications are required to be of slow release format - this is done in two ways, the primary one being the capsule format with different granules within the capsule being provided with different stomach acid resistant coatings, and the other common way is through the relative dilution of the medication when swallowed in the form of a pill through the dilution of the medication within a neutral medium.
These are issues that you will quite frankly require millions, if not billions of $$$ to overcome when dealing with the medical industry.
So, again, I don't see it as being a viable product, sorry.

 

No problem, the feedback is great. I understand your points and agree they are not simple issues. But non-compliance and counterfeit meds cost hundreds of billions of dollars and lives every year. Again I don't think our device is the answer to everything, but it offers the integration of a Smartphone computer to verify, record, notify and dispense pills. Following your position, nothing can change we just have to except the losses caused by these issues. Call me an optomist, but I think progress results in change every day. Not to many years ago, we could not communicate like this..

 

Hi,

As a final note, when in some idle conversation with my wife today, I brought up your concept. My wife holds a Degree in Care Management, and she was frankly horrified by the prospect of automated medication dispensing - she raised some very valid points, not least of which is that at some point along the line, you ARE going to get sued when something goes wrong. And so will the smart phone manufacturer when the battery dies, as will the mobile network operator when the network is down. The list is almost endless and will probably result in lawsuits being kicked down the road to every single component manufacturer, until they get kicked back up the road again to the person that is ultimately responsible - the designer...
I personally detest the current legalistic culture that we find ourselves in, but I'm afraid that it's a sad reality of our modern society.

 

Everyone sues everyone for everything... But progress still happens. Automated pill dispensing is used today in hospitals and there are many in-home units available. But none of them have the computer power of the Smartphone, nor the portability. Nothing in this world is perfect, but some things can make help solve major problems. Your legal argument could be used against almost any device or service and yet new devices and services are offered every day.

I enjoyed our back and forth, good luck and have a safe life.........

 

Likewise - good luck, and enjoy your pending arraignment....

 

Anyone else have an opinion??

 

Don't know if I missed something but what about the heat that can be generated by the battery in close contact to the pills. is that safe enough ? And what about the gas fumes ? IMOHO, you should go wireless.

 

Thanks for the question. Venting and placement of the battery allows for a similar environment as carry the pills in a plastic bottle.

 

Your initial market would be small. But hope you'll do well in a long run.

My suggestion:
1) At least have 5-6 catridge available, as this is a product for the people who are just living with drugs/pills daily, and I know many of them takes pills and pills a day, so having a 5-6 catridge of pills are essential.
2) This thing doesn't look good, have a modification in the design, or else you won't be able to get a good market.