Medication Compliance

Alarm(MCA)

Senior Design I Final Presentation

Team MembersTeam Leader Electrical Engineer• Website• Image Processing• System Integration

Electrical Engineer• Hardware Design• Pic Programming

Jarvis Kenerson

Team AdvisorElectrical Engineer• Calendar/ Alarm System• System Integration

Eric Myers

Augustine Tran Dr. Randy Follett

Outline• Problem• Solution• Constraints

o Technicalo Practical

• Testing• Prototype• Future Goals• Questions

Problem• 50% to 70% of Americans do not take their medicine as prescribed [1]

• Current medication reminder devices do not have a clear way to monitor that medication is being removed from the storage containers.

[2]

Solution The MCA is a user-friendly device that monitors

noncompliance more accurately than other existing products.

The MCA:

- Stores daily medication

- Alerts patients during dosage times

- Verifies if medication has left the device

- Caregivers can visually observe medication compliance

Technical Constraints

Name Description

Power Supply The device must use 120V AC.

USBThe device must use USB interface with computer.

Quantity of Pill Containers The device must have 28 containers.

Empty Container Detection

The device has to detect when a pill container is empty.

Remote Container Visibility

The device must be able to visually see the pill container.

System OverviewWebcam

Power Supply

Patient Notification

Microcontroller

Computer

Software

Remote Caregiver

Access

Practical ConstraintsEthical

• The device must not be used to spy on the patient.

Practical ConstraintsSustainability

Device must be able to handle moderate use

To prevent complaints, the device must be easy to use and not cause stress to patients.

PrototypeBreadboard

Buzzer

LEDs

PIC24

ON/OFF

USB TTL Serial Cable

TestingUSB Interface

Logic Port Analyzer Waveform Receiving Corresponding LED Char Value

TestingPatient Notification

Decibel meter used to measure intensity of Buzzer for patient notification.

00:37.0 00:38.2 00:39.1 00:40.0 00:40.9 00:41.8 00:42.7 00:43.6 00:44.5 00:45.4 00:46.3 00:47.2 00:48.1 00:49.00

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100dB vs. Time

TestingPatient Notification

Voltage and Current characteristics of patient notification LEDs.

  Voltage (V) Current (mA) LEDs 1.96 9.08

PrototypeSoftware

PrototypeSoftware

ProgressSoftware

PrototypeSoftware

PrototypeSoftware

Remote Access

PrototypeSoftware

TestingText-subsystem

Software can send an email that will be received as an SMS text at caregiver’s cell phone

Quantity of Pills

•Can hold up to 20 jelly beans (75% the size of a size 0 capsule). •Approximately 15 size 0 capsules will fit into cup.

[3]

Device Pill Container

Empty Pill Detection

Empty Pill Detection

•Detects the empty symbol in various locations•Detection time varies with distance where camera is centered

Empty Pill Detection

Empty Pill Detection

Empty Pill Detection

Empty Pill Detection

Empty Pill Detection

•10% error with single tic-tac•Limitations of prototype camera are the root cause of this error.

Sunny Day Case• The alarm triggers and turns on webcam• Webcam determines that pill container is full• Appropriate character is sent through USB/Serial

connection to microcontroller• Microcontroller blinks corresponding LED and

sounds buzzer• Webcam continues to check pill container until

empty cup is visible• After webcam sees empty cup, the compliance

report is updated as taken

Rainy Day Case 1• The alarm triggers and turns on webcam• Webcam determines that pill container is empty

at time of medication reminder• Webcam sends text message to caregiver• Compliance report updated as refill error

Rainy Day Case 2• The alarm triggers and turns on webcam• Webcam determines that pill container is full• Appropriate character is sent through USB/Serial

connection to microcontroller• Microcontroller blinks corresponding LED to

compartment and sounds buzzer• Webcam continues to check pill container until

empty cup is visible• Patient does not take medicine in given time limit• Alarm turns off, updates compliance report as

missed dosage• Text message is sent to caregiver

Working Prototype

Working Prototype

Future Goals

Jan. Feb. March

April May

PCB Design

Software Refinement

PCP Population/ Packaging

Testing & Debugging

Final Product Design

References• [1] A.I. Wertheimer and T.M. Santella. (2003)

Medication Compliance Research: Still so Far to Go. The Journal of Applied Research. [Online] 3, 254-261. Available: http://www.jarcet.com/articles/Vol3Iss3/wertheimer.htm

• [2]http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2011/02/02/vitality-acquired-by-healthcare-investor-soon-shiong-looks-to-expand-wireless-products-for-improving-healthy-behaviors/

• [3] http://www.capsuleconnection.com/capsules

Questions?