Ingestible Event Marker Adherence Tracking System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current medication adherence packaging lacks real-time tracking and feedback mechanisms to ensure patients take medications on schedule and manage daily activities effectively, leading to potential non-adherence issues.
Innovation Solution
A subscription-based healthcare information system that integrates an ingestible event marker (IEM) device with medication blister packs, using a wearable receiver and mobile device to track medication ingestion and physical activity, providing personalized feedback and communication with caregivers through a backend processing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional medication adherence packaging is used, then patients can access their medication, but real-time tracking and feedback mechanisms are lacking leading to non-adherence issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback by detecting IEM ingestion events through the receiver, transmitting this data via mobile device to a backend system, and providing immediate notifications to patients and caregivers about medication adherence status. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable tracking and prompt intervention when non-adherence occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
An ingestible event marker (IEM) acts as an intermediary between the medication and the detection system. The IEM is embedded in the medication dose and contains unique identifiers that enable automatic detection when ingested, serving as a bridge that captures ingestion information without requiring patient manual input.
2Measurement precision
If no real-time tracking system is implemented, then the system remains simple, but patient compliance cannot be monitored effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: IEM devices embedded in individual medication doses, a wearable receiver for detection, a mobile device for data transmission, and a backend system for analysis. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall measurement precision without requiring a monolithic complex system.
Solution Approach 2:
The IEM devices automatically detect and transmit ingestion information without requiring patient manual reporting or complex external monitoring equipment. The system serves itself by using the ingestion act to trigger detection and data collection, eliminating the need for complex patient-operated measurement devices.
3Ease of operation
If medication packaging lacks communication capabilities, then manufacturing remains straightforward, but caregivers cannot be notified of adherence status
Solution Approach 1:
The medication packaging system is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it contains the medication, embeds the IEM device for tracking, enables wireless communication through the receiver and mobile device, and provides notification capabilities to caregivers. This multi-functional approach allows a single integrated system to handle both manufacturing requirements and communication needs without requiring separate specialized components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances medication adherence by providing real-time tracking and feedback, improving patient compliance and reducing non-adherence-related costs, while facilitating communication between patients and caregivers to manage daily activities effectively.
Implementation Method 1
a receiver, e.g., a wearable patch device worn by the person taking the medication, detects the ingestion of an IEM device embedded in a medicinal dose
Data Source
AI summary
A method of managing adherence to a regimen in a subscription based computer implemented healthcare information environment. The method includes receiving at a mobile device information from a receiver that a dose was ingested by a living subject. The mobile device comprises a processor, a memory and a display coupled to the processor. The method provides wirelessly communicating the information over a wireless network to a backend computer processing system and receiving from the computer at the backend processing system a personal information stream characterizing behavior of the living subject based on the received information over a predetermined period. An apparatus includes an adherence package including a foldable sheet, at least one of blister pack coupled to the foldable sheet, at least one ingestible device associated with a dose, and a perforation provided on the foldable sheet to enable removal of the at the least one blister pack.