Team MembersCara Dunn

Farshad FahimiSujan Bhaheetharan

Nipun Yamdagni

UW/VA Hospitals – Geriatric psychiatrist/Sleep specialist

Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering

Timothy Juergens, M.D.William L. Murphy

ClientAdvisor

Problem Statement

Construct a device with the ability to record time & date information during daily operation of a patient’s standard medication box.

Stationary alarm should be attached in order to alert the user to take medication.

Information should be easily accessed on a computer for the client and patient to discuss, in efforts to ensure proper adherence.

Client Requirements

Device must obtain data regarding patient’s adherence of their medications.

Lightweight and durable. An alarm should alert patient Total prototype cost may not exceed $300. Normal use, includes cleaning the device,

may not interfere with recording. Must consume low amounts of power.

Motivation & Significance

Compliance: Taking correct amount of the prescribed medicine at the correct time.

Medicine is only helpful when taken correctly.

Only 24% of people take their medicines correctly.

Non-compliance causes 125,000 deaths per year in the USA.

Last Semester’s Design

Texas Instruments MSP430 microcontroller with development kit

Program in C language Recognized open

compartments Used a 7x4 pill box Switches activated by

compartment Lids

Activation recorded by the microcontroller

Switch matrix utilized

Design Limitations

Only had 2x2 switch matrix Switches were not always

activated No time-keeping method Lack of sleep function Parallel port interface No computer software for

interface with pillbox Cost

The MSP430 microcontroller is too expensive for our need

Overview of Current Design

Altered existing parts Switches 7x4 Pill Box

Adding new functionality Power saving functionality Accurate time keeping USB Interface

Smaller than previous design

Computer interface

Solution to Switch Problem

Altered individual lids Plexiglas makes flat surface

for switch actuation Higher accuracy More information from Sujan

New Microcontroller

MicroChip’s PIC 18F4550

Cheaper More widely known Allows the use of the

B.A.S.I.C. programming language

Easier to interface with: Clock USB

Electronic Components

USB to Serial (TTL) converter Allows communication

between microcontroller and almost any computer

Watch chip Allows the microcontroller to

keep accurate time Gives non-volatile storage

memory

DLP-USB232M

DS1307

Alarm

Auditory, visual, and vibratory alarm possible Further investigation required to

determine which alarm techniques will be used.

Alarm times are variable

Computer Interface

Allows the setting alarm schedule

Allows download

of patient data Easy to use and

navigate

Present Accomplishments

Established communication between microcontroller and PC

Installed Plexiglas to increase stable contact area between the compartment lid and switch

Began writing code in B.A.S.I.C.

Future Work

Convert code from C programming language to B.A.S.I.C.

Implementing time functionality Integrate alarm clock Test entire prototype Have final circuit printed

References VIASYS Healthcare, Inc. University of Wisconsin – Madison Medical Electronics

Lab http://www.dipdesign.com/usb/usb232.html http://www.sparkfun.com http://www.microchip.com