Preventing Accidental Overdoses by Innovating a Restrictive Prescription Pill Dispenser Vial (RPPDV)

Abstract

Abstract: Rather than attempting to prevent all overdoses, the Prescription Pill Dispenser Vial (RPPDV) aims to prevent accidental overdoses by controlling how many pills a user can access within a twenty-four hour period. The RPPDV is much like a traditional pill vial. The body is similar to a conventional pill vial; however, it is modified to prevent the cap's opening without a special screw. The cap is heavily modified and uses a CR2032 or CR2025 coin cell battery to power a gate and the unlocking of the pill cap. The RPPDV works first when the user clicks the red button on the cap of the RPPDV, which opens the pill gate and opens space into a pill container section. This section is large enough for only one pill (or two if multiple pills are required simultaneously). Once a tablet has entered the pill container section, the button must be pressed again to close the pill gate. The user cannot open the lid to the pill container section until the pill gate is closed (see Fig 1.4.1). The RPPDV is similar to an escrow service, with the pill holder section acting as a middleman. The size of the pill holder container prevents access to multiple pills at the same time. The number of times the user presses the button is recorded and timed with a 555 timer set for twenty-four hours. For example, if a drug has a maximum dose of three pills per day, the button could be capped at four cycles or eight total pushes (to allow a grace cycle if a tablet is broken or stuck). Similarly, the gate cannot be opened unless the lid to the pill container section is closed. The production price of the RPPDV is significantly higher than a traditional pill vial and can get higher depending on the additional features added to the RPPDV. The necessary components to function include CR2032 or CR2025 lithium batteries, a 555 timer, and a coin battery holder, along with plastic and metal molds. The base model alone produces an estimated average cost per unit of $1.33 USD (see Fig 4.2.1). Additional features include adding a Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth LE) component to customize the number of unlocks per day and RFIDs for storage and tracking. Prices vary depending on the specifications of the RPPDV.