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A comparison of IoT-connected, automated pill
dispensers
Medipense Dec 23, 2017 · 7 min read
The year of the IoT, automated pill dispenser began with several newcomers finally out
of their prototyping phase, into manufacturing and getting ready for commercialization.
The new generation of pill dispensers are not only automated, but connected as well. We
spent some time researching for the best pill dispenser for seniors and those for general
consumer use. They all connect to patients and caregivers, some with advanced support
for pharmacists and health care professionals via online portals. Besides all the cool bells
and whistles, what distinguishes them most is their form factor, ease-of-use and target
market. The days of manually dispensing your buffet of medications into small plastic
organizers is almost over.
Whatever form your medications arrive in, there is now a perfect(almost), connected,
automated dispenser for you. Most are promising deliveries beginning in 2018 so the
timing is great if you are considering the need for a pill dispenser for yourself or loved
one.
Blister Packaged, tight security, validation by pharmacist, self programmed
RxPense is the only personal use, commercial/enterprise dispenser for blister packaged
medications specifically designed for seniors and chronic disease patients consuming up
to 15 medications per dose. The device loads prepackaged medications (2 weeks) that
have been certified by your pharmacist, and robotically opens each dose package and
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delivers them to the patient, when authenticated, at the right time. The RxPense
connects to the pharmacy to obtain the precise dispensing details needed to properly
self-program.
RxPense Automatic Pill Dispenser
The RxPense is physically locked, preventing theft, abuse and overdose. The patented,
random access, robotic mechanism allows the RxPense to skip doses, preventing over
dosing and keeping the original medications locked, until refill time. The RxPense is also
the only multilingual dispenser (EN/FR/ES +) which allows each user — patient,
caregiver or healthcare professional to choose their own language for use.
Designed primarily for industrial use in seniors residences, managed care and assisted
living faculties, it can also be used at home. IT experts will love the extensive
deployment, monitoring and management of devices, people and patients available in
the Cloud. Security is provided by PIN, Password, RFID, Bracelet and Voice biometrics.
RxPense is the only device to provide image and data authenticated dispensing and
audit trails. Patients, caregivers and other authorized users each have their own account
and security permissions to ensure HIPAA compliance.
Blister packaged medications are available at all pharmacies internationally as there is
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no upfront equipment costs for the pharmacy to absorb. Blister packaging like DisPill,
Distrimedic or others can typically hold 5–15 medication per dose.
RxPense is manufactured in Canada by Medipense Inc. RxPense is available world-wide
with data stored in local country of origin.
Strip/Pouch packaging, machine filled, specialty pharmacy.
Spencer is an automated strip packaging based medication dispenser. If your pharmacy
can supply you with strip packaged medications, this may be the best dispenser for you.
A spencer-certified pharmacist prepares medication filled packs that are pre-sorted and
arranged by the determined times based on what your doctors have prescribed. The
refill is then delivered to your home to be inserted into spencer in one easy step. Spencer
dispenses the right medications at the right time with reminders and alerts.
Designed primarily for in-home use, the medications are only provided by a spencercertified pharmacist. Strip packaging can typically hold 1–5 medication per dose. If
more that 5 are required, multiple packages much be dispensed.
Spencer
The Spencer is connected to the cloud and supports circle of care data sharing.
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Spencer is manufactured in the USA by HAP innovations.
Karie is a personal, home use, automated strip packaging based medication dispenser. If
your pharmacy can supply you with strip packaged medications, this pill dispenser will
work for you. The specialty pharmacy will fill the strip packaging and supply them in a
roll that is placed in a special cartridge. You take the cartridge home. After placing the
loaded cartridge inside Karie, it reads the information on the packaging and
automatically creates a medication schedule. The cartridge and medication are not
secure, so be sure to store away from children.
Karie
When leaving the house, you can enter the number of doses that you will be away for.
With the push of a button, Karie instantly delivers your medication pouch and adjusts
your schedule accordingly. While security is somewhat lacking, convenience and
simplicity are outstanding features. If you need a simple, lower cost medication
reminder with controlled dispensing, Karie is worth exploring.
Karie, made in Canada, has limited cloud connectivity and reporting, but makes a great,
simple, personal pill dispenser.
Vials, manually filled and programmed.
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Philips Lifeline offers a simple, affordable and automated way to manage multiple
medications with 24/7 monitoring. Philips is not advertising a pill dispenser, rather they
are now promoting a service. The Philips Medication Dispensing Service helps you to
avoid medication mistakes, so you can live independently in the comfort of your own
home. Our automated medication dispenser with 24-hour monitoring provides daily
reminders and instructions. It’s designed to help you to take the right dose at the
prescribed time.
Philips dispenser
The device holds up to 60 plastic cups (sold separately) with patient meds. Patient must
organize all the pills for a particular dose, and feed each cup into the dispenser
manually. 2-line small print LED screen displays filling instructions, 3 cups at a time.
Machine delivers missed doses to a side receptacle. Side receptacle can collect multiple
doses. Danger that patient may take multiple doses. Additional danger that several doses
may be easily accessible to family members.
The plus of this product is the service provided is similar to an alarm service. When you
need help, someone will be there.
The Philips dispenser is available in the USA with a monthly subscription.
Livi is a personal, home use, pill dispenser which can dispense up to 15 pills of different
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sizes and shapes, multiple times a day or as needed. When it’s time to take meds, the
green button lights up. One press of the button is all it takes to release the pills — the
unit stays locked to prevent over-medicating. Just pour your pills (up to 90 days) directly
from the vial into Livi, program the schedule from the web portal, and Livi dispenses
pills at the right time.
Livi
Assembly is somewhat cumbersome as each dispensing vial must be matched to the pill
size and shape it is dispensing. Scheduling information manually entered into the portal
is also copied from the pill vial.
The Livi device is key locked, preventing unauthorized access. While no pin or security s
required from dispensing, it is cloud connected at all times via a Verizon-based cellular
connection.
Livi is made available in the USA by PharmRight Corporation.
HERO is a personal, home use, smart appliance that stores, dispenses, and manages
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pills. Loading HERO couldn’t be easier. Just pour your pills into a cartridge and slide it
in. Sorting is now a thing of the past. Pour each pill into its own vial. HERO can hold
over a month’s supply of ten different pills. HERO is locked, and password protected.
HERO warns you if you are running low and can order refills.
HERO Vitamins and Pill dispenser
HERO promotes vitamins and pills of all sizes and shapes, without requiring specialized
fittings. The product is only available in the USA. For communication, they offer HERO
Connect, our premium notification service.
HERO is designed and made in the USA by HERO Health LLC.
Pillo is a personal, home use device billed as “The smartest and friendliest way to
manage yours and your family’s health”. It’s also one of the most attractive products I’ve
seen. Pillo (male) can answer health and wellness questions, connect directly with
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healthcare professionals, and securely manage vitamins and medication; storing,
dispensing, and even ordering refills when required. He sends notifications to your loved
ones when medications are missed.
Pillo
Pillo’s key features include voice and facial recognition technology, secure storage and
dispensing of your vitamins and medication, reminders, alerts & mobile notifications via
the Pillo mobile app and wirelessly syncs with wearables and smart home devices.
Pills are pours into separate divided containers inserted to the device. Programming and
scheduling is performed via the web.
Pillo will be available in the USA and is made by Pillo, Inc.
It’s great to see so many new entrants into the medication adherence space. With the
varieties now, or soon to be available, medication adherence will certainly increase.
More people will stay out of hospital, longer.
Note: we have recently written a complementary discussion of automated pill
dispensers. Feel free to read it at Medipense or on Medium.
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Automated Pill Dispenser
Medication Adherence
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