Cerepak: Unique RFID Smart Bottle Cap

A packaging solution created by Information Mediary in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, uses custom-designed Class 3 Electronic Product Code (EPC) radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, RFID readers, and printed electronics to monitor patient medication.

"RFID is a hot topic in the pharmaceuticals and logistics sector," explains Peterson. "Although Med-ic only uses RFID to transfer data and track packaging, it is an excellent application for drug monitoring and tracking-retrospective applications." Integrate a simple solution approach."

Med-ic was first shown at the 2002 Interphex trade fair. After the second year of the fair, IMC company issued a commercial declaration on the product. Since then, according to Peterson's presentation to PD Magazine, various organizations will carry out various certifications, tests and trials on the possibility of integrating Med-ic into their respective projects.

The Med-ic ECM device works in much the same way as BOM's IDAS II. The blister pack uses a unique conductive ink pattern attached to the RFID tag to monitor and store the information that the tablet or capsule is removed from the package. However, unlike the BOM system, Med-ic uses a standardized wallet-style cardboard blister pack and smart label on the packaging, and is designed for mass industrial production.

Med-ic ECM packaging technology includes a generic label and a custom printed smart label for each package. In July 2004 alone, IMC brought all its packaging designs to the factory where it produced automated labeling for transparent blister packs and put it into production.

“Using our own proprietary waterborne flexographic conductive inks [now commoditized and manufactured by XINK Instacure猐 from IMC's XINK Labs, we are able to maintain the ability to mass produce this complex electronic component. It still maintains Med-ic's low cost," explains Peterson. He added: "With a simple two-point connection, Med-ic's ECM tags can be connected to any medication solution without reprogramming or reorganizing the circuit, regardless of the number of tablets in each package. ."

The delivery of medication information from the packaging to the customer's software interface was achieved through the Med-ic CertiScan® 13.56 MHz RFID reader developed by IMC and sold by Intelligent Devices, its subsidiary's smart device company, Intelligent Devices. Peterson explained that IMC designed CertiScan as an RFID reader/writer that was slightly different from the standard. It was actually responsible for verifying and correcting all time records downloaded from the ECM.

A special download protocol speeds up the download of data from an ECM-equipped device to a computer, which, for example, takes less than 1/10 of a second to download 40 medications from a Med-ic blister pack. . The unique GUI (Graphical User Interface) software provides users with an intuitive overview of the display and patient medication status.

The optional features that can be integrated into the Med-ic ECM blister pack include the ability to record temperature and humidity, as well as an alarm/alert feature, according to Peterson. He also introduced several areas in which companies believe blister packs would be of great use, including branded marketers, sleeping pills distribution and monitoring systems, HIV treatment, and nicotine that prevents rejection after organ transplantation. Applied, semi-supervised tuberculosis treatment, marketing materials and promotion, after-sales research, and nursing equipment for chronic patients in the hospital.

IMC's eCAP cap was introduced in the spring of 2004. It can record a standard child safety (CR) vial with a diameter of 33 mm or a vial containing a programmable reminder device with a diameter of 38 mm. Every time you turn it on. The eCAP bottle cap uses the same reader and software solution as the Med-ic ECM and includes a RemindCap® armored FID tag embedded in the Remind Cap company, and caps produced by Owens-Illinois Prescription Products, Inc. , plastic linings and bottles.

This eCAP cap is currently used in commercial applications at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Cornell University Medical School. According to Peterson, Med-ic ECM blister packs are being tested by research groups from several universities and have been included in a wide variety of clinical studies. In addition, IMC has also signed a cooperation agreement with ABR Pharma of France, a French contract research organization. Peterson said that the company plans to sign a statement on a three-year research plan of similar size. The study represents the commercial application of the first large-scale Med-ic electronic paste blister package. It is actually also The largest electronic automatic paste monitoring research project so far.

Source: Packaging Digest China