Tamper-Resistant Pill Dispenser to Control Prescription Drug Abuse/Misuse

UNMET NEED: Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem with ~15,000 deaths yearly according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). There is great need for devices that help reduce the amount of overdose deaths, yet, existing products are not completely tamper proof, costly and cumbersome. Hence, inventors engineered a personalized, tamper-resistant pill dispenser that aims to control access to and use of prescription opioids by releasing drugs only in timed intervals to defined authorized users.  

• Tamper-proof device avoids unauthorized access to medications
• Personalized dispenser uses biometric fingerprint mechanism
• Time-controlled release of certain doses of drugs helps prevent over-use/abuse of prescription medications 

TECHNICAL DETAILS: Johns Hopkins researchers produced a prototype that is a personalized and tamper-resistant device that will dispense the proper dose at the proper time to the authorized user. Only the pharmacist can unlock the device to insert a month’s supply of medication and program the device for the specific patient. Using a biometric fingerprint mechanism the patient activates the release of a pre-defined dosage of medication. The product is tamper-proof and cannot be broken into by using a hammer or drill, hence, making it save against unauthorized use by others in the household, such as guest or younger family members. 
 
Patent Status: Pending PCT Application WO 2016/205609
 
Related Publications: Press release and Video

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