I had an idea like this about 6-8 months ago. I talked it over with a colleague and they said it couldn’t be done. Well it seems the smart folks at Scorpion Vision Software did what couldn’t be done. Surprise! Denis said they’ve been working on it for about a year. Congratulations are in order as I think this is brilliant.

Translated text from the video description: “This video shows a proof of concept that allows the detection volume of syringes in real time thanks to the vision software. This real-time detection, combined with the reading of bar code products can be an important addition to the quality control of the preparation of intravenous medications in sterile chamber in pharmacies of health facilities.

In this video we demonstrate how the Scorpion vision software software identifies the”bar code” that identifies the type of syringe used, the position of the piston and thesyringe body in 3D space and then estimating the volume contained in the syringe.”

Phocus Rx is camera system used in pharmacy clean rooms to document and validate the IV compounding process. It consists of two compact 5 megapixel cameras mounted outside the hood in the clean room ceiling or on articulated arm and workflow management software. That’s quite a departure from the other systems I’ve seen where the camera sits in the hood. In addition Phocus Rx includes the obligatory image capture that allows pharmacists to remotely review the compounding process. Pretty cool stuff.

By my count we now have four of these systems on the market, including PHOCUS Rx. Getting pretty crowded in there. Although I have to say that DoseEdge is far and away the most talked about of the IV workflow management systems on the market today. I’d love to play with them side by side to compare features and functionality.

The other systems that I’m aware of include:

• DoseEdge by Baxa (previously mentioned by me here in February 2010)
• Pharm-Q In The Hood (ITH) System by Envision Telepharmacy
• ScriptPro SP Central Telepharmacy System

From the PHOCUS Rx website:

PHOCUS Rx is a powerful camera verification system combining hardware and software. It enables pharmacists and technicians to remotely document and validate the preparation of IV drugs. Two ultra compact 5 megapixel cameras are located outside the hood in the clean room ceiling or on articulated arm. Bi-directional communication software enables pharmacists to review high resolution images and validate or send a warning message.

FEATURES

• scalable and modular system
• non invasive – no wires or devices in hood
• server located outside compounding area
• validate and store images
• barcode recognition
• based on client/server structure
• simple workflow screens
• historical and activity reports

I used to ask asthma patients to demonstrate how they used their inhalers, and I was almost always disappointed by what I saw. Most patients don’t understand how to properly use these simple little devices, which ultimately leads to treatment problems, and in worst case scenarios poor control of their asthma.  This is especially true in pediatric patients. Asthma education was a big part of the pharmacist’s job when I worked in a pediatric hospital.

From the Cambridge Consultants site:

Cambridge Consultants developed the T-Haler concept, a simple training device. Interactive software, linked to a wireless training inhaler, monitors how a patient uses their device and provides real-time feedback via an interactive video ‘game’. T-Haler provides visual feedback to the user on their performance and the areas that need improvement. These tools could help the estimated 235 million asthma sufferers worldwide to get the most from their inhaler, and potentially reduce the millions spent annually on asthma-related emergency room admissions.

More than 50 healthy participants, aged 18-60, took part in a recent study conducted by Cambridge Consultants to test the efficacy of T-Haler. Before using the training system, the average success rate of the group in using an inhaler correctly was in the low 20% range – in line with numerous other studies carried out. The participants had no prior experience with asthma or inhalers and were given no human instruction beyond being handed the T-Haler and told to begin. The on-screen interface walked the group through the process, which takes just three minutes to complete.

The T-Haler measures three key factors for proper inhaler use. First, whether the patient has shaken the inhaler prior to breathing in; second, the force with which they breathed in; third, when they pressed down on the canister (the step which releases the drug). These three variables can determine the efficacy with which drugs are delivered in a real metered dose inhaler (MDI) device.

As healthcare trends toward a focus on preventive care and devices which offer greater consumer appeal and compliance, innovations such as the T-Haler may soon become the norm in doctors’ offices, pharmacies and clinics.

Barcode.com: “On the football field, for example, heat prostration has led to several fatalities over the past few years. The problem starts during pre-season practices that take place under the intense summer sun. Identec has already developed a headband with an embedded heat-sensing chip. The RFID chips embedded in helmets developed by HotHead Technologies, combine RFID with a heat-sensing thermistor, offering plenty of range.”

From the hotheads technology website:

The H.O.T. System is a patent-pending, two-component package that embeds a heat sensing unit inside the helmet of an individual and collects and relays periodic temperature readings from that person’s skin to a portable data collector (A ruggedized PDA or Laptop Computer). The portable device is used to alert the individual or an observer that the person has exceeded an allowable temperature while the subject’s helmet is on.

If skin temperature ranges outside of the set parameters then the data collector will alert the sensor unit in the helmet to take temperature readings at a faster rate. The alert will be displayed on the data collector so the operator of the data collector can make a decision on whether to stop the current activity and seek to receive further observation from a professional and take measures to cool their temperature down. The alert will be automatically removed from the data collector as soon as the skin temperature falls back into the normal parameters.

There’s also a short video that shows the basic idea here.

Well, KitCheck is a system that uses RFID technology to track the medications found in all those different med trays, code boxes, etc. I thought it was pretty cool. It’s a great idea. Wish I would have thought of it.

From the website:

The KitCheck solution utilizes Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to accurately determine exactly what is in a kit, what has been consumed or missing and which items are expired.

Pharmacies start by tagging product upon bulk receiving in the hospital. The KitCheck solution makes this process fast and painless by utilizing the bar codes present on most items currently in the pharmacy code kits.

Pharmacists build kits by placing items physically into the kit. When they are finished, rather than manually checking each expiration date and quantity, the user simply puts the kit into the RFID reading station for verification. The kit contents and expiry dates are validated in less than 15 seconds. Any problems with the kit contents are reported and the pharmacist can quickly correct any issues. A control log with the kit contents and expirations is automatically generated.

When the kit is complete, simply seal it up as you would normally. The kit is now ready to be deployed for use in the hospital.

After a kit is broken open for use, simply bring it back to the RFID scanning station. The KitCheck station will show you in less than 15 seconds which items have been consumed as well as which items were erroneously put into the kit. Kit use information is updated in the system to be used for patient billing or supply ordering purposes.Simply rebuild the kit using the automatically generated report, and then you are ready to deploy the kit again for another use.

The ZiuZ Inspector:

• Verifies the contents of each unit dose bag by analyzing the size, shape and color of each item
• Takes a photo of each side of the package and saves it for future reference. The images can be viewed with the ZiuZ Viewer pictured below.
• Can handle up to 3600 unit dose bags per hour

Just think, you don’t even have to be at the packaging site to verify the contents of each bag. All you would have to do is use some type of telepharmacy setup. Tech-check-tech anyone?

That’s pretty simple. Sure beats the heck out of counting the tablets by hand. 5…10…15…20….

More information on the Eyecon Pill Counter can be found here.

Regarding IV Check:

IV Check measures IV samples in the hospital pharmacy or anywhere IVs are prepared, and instantly reports the drug, dose and diluent present to validate IVs and avoid mistakes that can injure or kill patients. IV Check can also be used to measure process streams or final product in pharmaceutical and IV manufacturing operations. It also provides a simple, one-step solution to detect diversion of narcotics, anesthetics, or other drugs, a serious problem in many hospitals. IV Check allows pharmacy technicians and pharmacists to simply and rapidly verify the drug, concentration and diluent of IVs. IV Check provides the first practical and complete verification of important medications prepared in hospital pharmacies, helping achieve a zero error workplace. IV Check is considered laboratory equipment much like an HPLC or spectrophotometer, therefore regulatory approval is not required.

In one of my post from September 2010 I wrote “a smartpump cannot identify an intravenous (IV) medication incorrectly prepared by the pharmacy; without the rare visual queues from certain medications it’s virtually impossible. While most pharmacies have a proven track record of making perfectly safe IV products, mistakes do happen. And as unfortunate as it may be, some of these errors result in patient harm or even death in the most extreme circumstances. Several systems have been developed for use inside the acute care pharmacy to minimize IV compounding errors …. However, even with these systems in place there is nothing outside the pharmacy designed to catch an incorrectly prepared IV infusion.” While IV Check won’t do what I’m looking for it appears that Smart IV by SEA Medical Systems might.

Regarding Smart IV:

Smart IV monitors the IV administration to the patient, ensuring that nurses know exactly what is being administered and alerting them to errors in IV delivery, before they harm patients. The Smart IV closes an important gap in IV safety, for the first time providing the ability to intercept administration errors at the patient’s bedside. The Smart IV system consists of a pole or rack mounted monitor attached to a sensor that plugs into the IV line.

During IV administration to patients, the Smart IV is designed to report drug, dose, diluent, flow rate and cumulative dose instantaneously and continuously, alerting nurses to mistakes that can injure or kill patients. As IVs are changed, the monitor reports the new drug without any intervention required. A history of administrations is kept allowing healthcare providers to review the history of medications for each patient. The documentation of delivery also helps hospitals insure complete reimbursement for IV medications. This product is currently in development, will require regulatory approval in the U.S., and is expected to be launched commercially in 2013.

From HealthOneMed’s website (the interactive display of the DAP’s capabilities is cool):

Dispense-a-Pill
HealthOneMed’s Dispense-A-Pill (DAP) Personal Medication Manager addresses the issue of medication non-compliance by integrating the disparate approaches of pill boxes, reminders, pill dispensers and medication alert devices into a single comprehensive device enabled by new technology developed and patented by HealthOneMed.

Click here to download the DAP brochure.

Safety & Security
DAP is unparalleled in its safety capabilities, including its “No-touch” pill organizing, loading and dispensing, advanced medication on demand capability (e.g. for “take as needed” medications), password protection (e.g. caregiver medication instructions not overridden by individual), childproof setting and battery back-up in case of power loss.

Personalization & Connectivity
HealthOneMed is unique in its approach to integrating personalization into the DAP.  Enabling the DAP to record personalized medication reminders (e.g. a granddaughter recording a reminder message, “Grandpa, time to take your medicine”) helps an individual adhere to his medication protocol. FunMinderstm are personalized reminders that can be set for life’s other important activities, errands or appointments. In addition, caregivers can view medication compliance history and be alerted if an individual misses his medication.

Capacity
The DAP is unique as it can manage up to 16 pill and non-pill medications.  The DAP can store and dispense 90+ days of up to 8 different pill medications as well as manage up to 8 additional pill and non-pill medications, including topical creams, liquids, eye drops, inhalers or insulin injections.

Click here to view an interactive display of the DAP’s capabilities.

Click here to view the DAP’s FAQs.

Anyway the Sharps Waste Eliminator (Demolizer II) is promoted as “the only technology that allows you to safely dispose of both sharps and red bag waste right at your facility while saving you money”. I don’t know what technology the product uses, but it turns sharps and other waste into an unrecognizable block resembling a brick made out of epoxy with all kinds of cool stuff on the inside. Seriously, it would make an awesome paperweight. I wish I’d thought to get a photo of it.

From the BMTS Corp website: