SBIR-STTR Award

Of 28 million Americans over age 65,8.5 million live alone. More than 50 percent suffer from such chronic ailments as arthritis, hypertension, and heart disease, all often requiring daily medication. U.S. public health records estimate that 125,000 deaths occur each year from the misuse of cardiovascular drugs alone, and that one in every two patients taking medicine regularly makes errors sufficient to alter the drug's effect. The inability of geriatric patients to comply with medication regimens diminishes independence and quality of life and presents a problem requiring special consideration. Along with memory impairment, a third of such patients suffer from some loss of vision. The proposed technological solution to this problem is development of a $75 tablet- and capsule-dispensing device to establish the reliability and safety of single or multiple medications (nonliquid) by automating the process of time- and dosage-dependent dispensing. The device will (1) handle up to six different medications simultaneously, (2) eliminate pill counting, (3) require no adjustments or visual acuity on the patients' part, and (4) require no more dexterity than is necessary to pick up a pill. It also provides complete logging, is secure against theft, and is fully portable.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The U.S.government spends approximately $12 billion annually assisting 1.5-million nursing home residents. Because 23 percent of nursing home admissions result from geriatric patients'inability to comply with prescribed medication regimens, this device has tremendous commercial potential. Other commercial applications include use by the handicapped and blind.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Rising medical costs and a rapidly growing elderly population have resulted in a need for improved home assisted health care. While the elderly make up just 12% of the nation's population, they consume 30% of all prescription drugs. Compliance errors account for 23% of nursing home admissions, as well as 125,000 deaths a year from the misuse of cardiovascular drugs. Over 6.5 million of the elderly need some form of long-term care and 5.2 million of these patients are living semi-independently in the community. These patients, the target population, must rely primarily on family and friends for assistance with medication, even though at least 51% of these caregivers work full or part-time. The objective of Phase I was to evaluate a specific design concept for a fully automated home tablet and capsule dispenser in terms of consumer utility and engineering feasibility. Phase II objectives are to manufacture 20 prototypes, to test them with 100 semi-independent elderly patients for medication compliance improvements, and to make necessary modifications for high-volume production in Phase III. The Phase I design:(1) handles up to 6 different medications simultaneously;(2) eliminates pill counting;(3) requires no programming;(4) requires no patient visual acuity;(5) delivers medication on an automated tray; and(6) prevents overdosing. It also provides complete logging, is secured against theft, and is fully portable, allowing for patient use during overnight or weekend visits.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The primary marketing target population includes 4.3 million semi-independent elderly receiving home health care, as well as the general elderly population whose medication regimen compliance is estimated at only 48%. Secondary, targeted markets include the nation's 254,000 blind and other patients under the age of 65 currently receiving home health care.National Institute on Aging (NIA)