A new medicinal dispenser,

A bridge to the future…

The Automatic Pill Dispenser (APD) was envisioned, The Automatic Pill Dispenser (APD) was envisioned, designed and created by designed and created by

Thomas Keating and Jared Kisler Thomas Keating and Jared Kisler of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in

Scottsdale, Arizona. Scottsdale, Arizona. Our goal was to create a device that decreases the Our goal was to create a device that decreases the

risk of an overdose of a prescription medication. risk of an overdose of a prescription medication. Our mentor, Don Evans, helped us to complete this Our mentor, Don Evans, helped us to complete this

project by reviewing paper work and ideas and project by reviewing paper work and ideas and planning the actual device (electronically and planning the actual device (electronically and

physically). physically). Our facilitator, Deborah Magish edited papers, made Our facilitator, Deborah Magish edited papers, made

suggestions, and watched our time line. suggestions, and watched our time line.

The Dangers Of OverdosingThe Dangers Of Overdosing

ProblemProblem Over the last few years deaths due to overdose of Over the last few years deaths due to overdose of

prescription drugs have greatly increased. Ninety-five prescription drugs have greatly increased. Ninety-five percent of all unintentional poisoning related deaths are percent of all unintentional poisoning related deaths are from prescription drug overdoses. Prescription drug from prescription drug overdoses. Prescription drug overdoses have started to overtake cocaine and heroin overdoses have started to overtake cocaine and heroin overdoses as the leading cause of overdosing deaths. overdoses as the leading cause of overdosing deaths. Any prescription drugs can be fatal if too much is taken. Any prescription drugs can be fatal if too much is taken. Our objective is to decrease the risk of overdoses from Our objective is to decrease the risk of overdoses from prescription medications. prescription medications.

Proposed SolutionsProposed Solutions

A digital calendar that alerts and then tells A digital calendar that alerts and then tells the patient the medication to take each the patient the medication to take each day and at each time.day and at each time.

A paid phone service that calls the patient A paid phone service that calls the patient and tells them to take their medication.and tells them to take their medication.

An automatic pill dispenser (APD) that An automatic pill dispenser (APD) that holds a month’s worth of medication.holds a month’s worth of medication.

Discussion of Possible SolutionsDiscussion of Possible Solutions

Discussion of Possible SolutionsDiscussion of Possible Solutions

Discussion of Possible SolutionsDiscussion of Possible Solutions

Feedback From MentorFeedback From Mentor

At this point, we sent our mentor our ideas and reasoning for our final choice. This was his response.

“I believe your statement and description of the problem of the rise in unintentional drug related deaths is very well phrased. It is clear that you have the problem well understood, and your selection of potential solutions to the problem spans a reasonable number of opportunities. Your selection of the Automatic Pill Dispenser (APD) seems reasonable and eminently possible.”

The Benefits Of Using The The Benefits Of Using The Automatic Pillbox Dispenser Automatic Pillbox Dispenser

Patient will no longer overdose or under dose themselves.Patient no longer needs to remember complex directions. Nursing homes will have a much easier time dispensing pills.Easier than answering the phone a few times a day.Controls patient compliance more easily than a calendar that only gives instructions.

Description and OverviewDescription and Overview 12’’ in height and 10’’ in diameter.12’’ in height and 10’’ in diameter. Able to hold a month’s worth of medication.Able to hold a month’s worth of medication. Programmed by the pharmacist who sets dosage Programmed by the pharmacist who sets dosage

amount and the time to be taken.amount and the time to be taken. Will make taking the proper medications in the proper Will make taking the proper medications in the proper

dosages easier and safer.dosages easier and safer.

Automatic Pillbox Dispenser (APD)Automatic Pillbox Dispenser (APD)

Screen

Lid

Dispensing Button

View of Interior

“With respect to the prototype APD that you have created, without extended engineering studies and education, I would not expect to have more than a physical model that demonstrates the potential appearance of the device with some slightly extended ideas regarding its physical properties. The model you have created gives the viewer a fair idea of how it might be operated and how it would likely perform.”

Pharmacist's RolePharmacist's RoleThe pharmacist is key to making the system run efficiently and properly. He or she is the person who loads the automatic pillbox dispenser. The dispenser is docked to the medication loading device. The loading device opens the pill dispenser. The pharmacist types on a keyboard the type of medication, the dosage, and when the medication is to be taken. The pharmacist puts the medication in the loading device and the machine places the medication into small disposable capped cups. The cups are loaded onto a rack in the order in which they are to be taken. The pharmacist locks the dispenser and returns it to the patient or caregiver.

Pharmacist InterviewPharmacist InterviewInterview with Pharmacist, Mel BecvarInterview with Pharmacist, Mel BecvarQ: How long have you been a pharmacist?Q: How long have you been a pharmacist?A: 5 years.A: 5 years.Q: What made you want to be a pharmacist?Q: What made you want to be a pharmacist?A: I like to help people.A: I like to help people.Q: What is the average age group that you provide medication to?Q: What is the average age group that you provide medication to?A: Very young patients and very old patients.A: Very young patients and very old patients.Q: What tools do you give patients to help with compliance?Q: What tools do you give patients to help with compliance?A: Counseling, calendars, & weekly pillboxes. A: Counseling, calendars, & weekly pillboxes. Q: Do you provide medication counseling and information to your Q: Do you provide medication counseling and information to your

customers?customers?A: Yes, I do provide counseling.A: Yes, I do provide counseling.Q: How big of a problem is patient compliance?Q: How big of a problem is patient compliance?A: Generally speaking it is an issue, but I usually don’t see it first hand.A: Generally speaking it is an issue, but I usually don’t see it first hand.Q: What do you do to ensure patient compliance?Q: What do you do to ensure patient compliance?A: We counsel the customers, use automatic refills, calendars, and A: We counsel the customers, use automatic refills, calendars, and

patients are called when their medication is ready.patients are called when their medication is ready.

Pharmaceutical Representative Pharmaceutical Representative InterviewInterview

Interview with Pharmaceutical Representative, John KeatingInterview with Pharmaceutical Representative, John KeatingQ: Working with Sepracor, what are your responsibilities?Q: Working with Sepracor, what are your responsibilities?A: Calling on doctor’s offices and educating them on the products I A: Calling on doctor’s offices and educating them on the products I

represent.represent.Q: What products does Sepracor market?Q: What products does Sepracor market?A: Sepracor markets different medications that are aimed at two areas of A: Sepracor markets different medications that are aimed at two areas of

the body, the central nervous system (Lunesta for insomnia) the body, the central nervous system (Lunesta for insomnia) and and the respiratory system (Xopenex for asthma, Brovana, and the respiratory system (Xopenex for asthma, Brovana, and Omnaris.) Omnaris.)

Q: Who do you call on in Phoenix?Q: Who do you call on in Phoenix?A: A: A variety of physician specialists in a fixed geographic area that center A variety of physician specialists in a fixed geographic area that center

around four valley hospitals.around four valley hospitals.Q: What do you like about your job?Q: What do you like about your job?A: Providing information that helps a doctor know how to use Sepracor’s A: Providing information that helps a doctor know how to use Sepracor’s

medication to help their patients.medication to help their patients.Q: Do you ever receive constructive criticism? Q: Do you ever receive constructive criticism? A: Yes I ask physicians for feedback to better be able to talk with their A: Yes I ask physicians for feedback to better be able to talk with their

peers. peers.

Role of CaregiverRole of Caregiver If the patient is unable to safely operate the automatic pillbox dispenser, the caregiver is responsible for operating the dispenser and giving the medication to the patient. The caregiver can receive an audible alert or wear a bracelet that gives an audible alert when it is time to take their medication. The dispenser has a screen that displays special information such as taking medication with or without food. The caregiver has an important role in a nursing home, or when the patient is unable to take the medication themselves at home. If the patient is able to take the medication themselves, they will not need a caregiver.

How The Patient Receives How The Patient Receives Medication From Start To FinishMedication From Start To Finish

The patient will receive their pillbox (APD) from the pharmacist after their medication is loaded and the dispensing directions are programmed. When it is time to take the medication, an audible sound alerts the patient with a sound transmitted from the pillbox. The patient will press a small button on the pillbox to dispense the medication and display special information such as taking medication with or without food. After a month of medication is used, the patient or caregiver will return the pillbox to the pharmacist to be refilled.

Class PresentationClass PresentationOur 8th grade class and teacher were shown the preceding slides

and told about the APD. Our classmates were asked if they had any questions and we spent about 20 minutes answering questions.

At the end of the question and answer period, we gave them the survey that follows.

We analyzed the survey and, based upon their responses, feel we need to make some changes to the Automatic Pill Dispenser.

Survey ResultsSurvey Results1. The automatic pillbox dispenser is designed to prevent certain types of

accidents. What accidents? Students said it should prevent overdosing and under dosing.

2. What advantages do you see in this device? Most students said it reminds people to take their medication and using the device would mean fewer deaths due to taking the wrong dose.

3. What are the disadvantages of this device? Most said that it was too big, it might not be safe for children, and there was no way to take medication if the patient was away from home without taking APD with them.

4. Would you personally use the APD? A little more than half of the students said yes and the rest said no.

5. Who do you think this device would most benefit? Most students said this would benefit the elderly.

Survey Results Survey Results (cont.)(cont.)

6. How much medication do you think the APD should hold? Most students chose a one month supply.

7. How should the machine identify the user? Students were offered a numeric code, password or finger print identification. Most students chose fingerprint ID.

8. Do you feel the APD should be operated by electricity, battery or both? Most students chose that it be powered by both.

9. If this device were sold, how much would you pay? Most students in our class would pay $200-$300 for the APD.

10. If you were going to use this, where would you place it in your home? Some students said they would place the APD in either the kitchen or the bathroom.

FeedbackFeedback

After our presentation and survey, we After our presentation and survey, we decided we needed to make two changes:decided we needed to make two changes:

The device needs to be made child proof The device needs to be made child proof by making it only dispense the medicine if by making it only dispense the medicine if a fingerprint match is made. a fingerprint match is made.

The device needs to dispense medication The device needs to dispense medication early if the patient needs to take it when early if the patient needs to take it when away from home. away from home.

Team ProfileTeam Profile

Jared KislerJared Kisler 88thth grade student at grade student at

OLPH catholic schoolOLPH catholic school 14 years old14 years old Favorite subjects are Favorite subjects are

math and sciencemath and science Enjoys playing golf and Enjoys playing golf and

baseball baseball Participates in Math Participates in Math

Counts as a mathleteCounts as a mathlete

Thomas KeatingThomas Keating 88thth grade student at grade student at

OLPH catholic schoolOLPH catholic school 14 years old14 years old Favorite subjects are Favorite subjects are

social studies and social studies and sciencescience

Enjoys playing lacrosse Enjoys playing lacrosse and soccerand soccer

BibliographyBibliography

Becvar, Mel. Walgreen pharmacist. Personal interview. 3 Feb. 2009.Becvar, Mel. Walgreen pharmacist. Personal interview. 3 Feb. 2009.

Drug Overdose. Altha Roberts Edgren, author. Dec. 2002. Gale Encyclopedia of Drug Overdose. Altha Roberts Edgren, author. Dec. 2002. Gale Encyclopedia of

Medicine. 3 Feb. 2009 <http://www.healthatoz.com/Atoz/common/standard/ Medicine. 3 Feb. 2009 <http://www.healthatoz.com/Atoz/common/standard/

transform.jsp?requestURl=/healthatoz/Atozency/drug_overdose.jsp>.transform.jsp?requestURl=/healthatoz/Atozency/drug_overdose.jsp>.

Evans, Don. Mentor. Personal interview. 16 Dec. 2008.Evans, Don. Mentor. Personal interview. 16 Dec. 2008.

Keating, John. Pharmaceutical representative. Personal interview. 18 Dec. 2008.Keating, John. Pharmaceutical representative. Personal interview. 18 Dec. 2008.

Prescription Drugs Blamed for Rising Overdose Deaths. 22 Feb. 2008. Join Together. 3 Prescription Drugs Blamed for Rising Overdose Deaths. 22 Feb. 2008. Join Together. 3

Feb. 2009 <http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2008/ Feb. 2009 <http://www.jointogether.org/news/headlines/inthenews/2008/

prescription-drugs-blamed- for.html> prescription-drugs-blamed- for.html>

Biography Of MentorBiography Of Mentor

Don EvansDon Evans1.1. Radio Announcer for NBC. Radio Announcer for NBC. 2.2. Actor in a Repertory Theatre.Actor in a Repertory Theatre.3.3. Korean War Army service.Korean War Army service.4.4. Electronics Repair Company.Electronics Repair Company.5.5. General Contractor building residences. General Contractor building residences. 6.6. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, as Engineer and Senior Scientist. Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, as Engineer and Senior Scientist. 7.7. Consultant on Safety of Mass Transit Systems, world wide. Consultant on Safety of Mass Transit Systems, world wide. 8.8. General Manager for a Swiss based Electronic Controls company.General Manager for a Swiss based Electronic Controls company.9.9. Cofounder and Director of Engineering for a Silicon Valley startup Cofounder and Director of Engineering for a Silicon Valley startup

company. company. 10.10. Awarded several patents for technical advancements in several Awarded several patents for technical advancements in several

fields. fields. 11.11. Degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Computer Degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Computer

Sciences and Psychology.Sciences and Psychology.12.12. Author of many technical papers and technical magazine articles. Author of many technical papers and technical magazine articles.

IndexIndex