Intelligent, interactive pharmaceutical packaging with integrated electronics can improve compliance and help patients handle their medication intake more easily. With the Smart Packaging prototype “Medical Prescription”, Faller has developed a digitised folding carton which supports patient compliance with regard to medication intake.
The innovative packaging solution, which includes a small e-paper display and electronic controls (buttons), counts down the tablets, reminds the patient of the correct time to take them and alerts the patient when it is time to order a new prescription. The special trick: With the help of an app developed in-house and via Bluetooth, doctors or pharmacists can transfer the individual dosage instructions onto the folding carton.
The multifunctional Smart Packaging prototype “Medical Prescription” promises special support when taking medication: The doctor or pharmacist transfers the personalised dosage instructions including what time the medication should be taken, the number of tablets to be taken and the duration of the medication in days to the digitalised folding carton by pressing a button via his/her smartphone, laptop or PC.
When the patient opens the pharmaceutical packaging for the first time, or presses one of the operating buttons on the front, the display shows a greeting. It also offers the patient the possibility to count the tablets or to find out about the correct dosage instructions. The patient navigates through the menu using the operating buttons. An integrated clock, an LED and a tone signal remind patients to take their medication promptly.
If the number of tablets drops below a certain level, the display also shows a warning and recommends the patient to order a new prescription. If the packaging was not correctly closed, patients are also informed.
The intelligent folding carton is created by a particularly flat electronics system with e-paper display, microcontroller, battery and Bluetooth/wireless interface.
Three digitalised packaging solutions
The smart folding carton in the “Medical Prescription” design is one of a total of three innovative, digitalised packaging prototypes that Faller has developed together with MSC Technologies from Freiburg and Pforzheim College. The three prototypes are the initial ideas that give an impression of what’s possible. Naturally Faller is also developing individual solutions together with its clients that are exactly customised to concrete applications. The prototype “Counting Device” is able to count the number of tablets and the folding carton solution “Level Indicator” calculates the liquid level in a bottle with liquid medication. Both solutions have an e-paper display as well as operating buttons and remind the patient to apply for a new prescription.
With the development of the prototypes for digitalised folding cartons, Faller is reacting to the growing interest in interactive packaging solutions and the increased digitalisation on the e-health market.
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