A Novel Approach of Microcontroller based Automatic Medication Reminder (AMR) System for Patients

A Novel Approach of Microcontroller based Automatic Medication Reminder (AMR) System for Patients

Priyadharshini. R1

1 B. E/EEE IIIrd year, Knowledge Institute of Technology,

Tamilnadu, India.

Kalaiyarasi. S3

3B.E/EEE IIIrd year, Knowledge Institute of Technology,

Tamilnadu, India.

Mr. Manivannan. L5

5Assistant professor

EEE, Knowledge Institute of Technology, Tamilnadu, India.

Ramya. S2

2B.E/EEE IIIrd year,

Knowledge Institute of Technology, Tamilnadu, India.

Mithuna. S4 4B.E/EEE IIIrd year,

Knowledge Institute of Technology, Tamilnadu, India.

Dr. SuthanthiraVanitha. N6

6Professor & Head

EEE, Knowledge Institute of Technology, Tamilnadu, India.

Abstract-This paper proposes a novel idea to provide the information automatically to patients to take their right dosages at appropriate time. Now a day, most of the patients may forget to take their medicines as per the prescription due to mental stress. Hence, it may cause prolong period to recover from the diseases. Sometimes, the aged patients are gulping tablets and their dosage level incorrectly causing a severe problem. Henceforth, it is necessary to the patient to take proper medicines at precise quantity and time. To overcome these problems, a novel Automatic Medication Reminder (AMR) system is proposed. This system uses a normal 4×4 matrix keypad, Microcontroller (Master IC & Slave IC), LCD display and Real Time Clock (RTC) module and an alarm system used to intimate the patients to take proper dosage at right time. The master microcontroller is interfaced with timer, LCD display and 4×4 matrix keypad used to store the details of the prescriptions of a particular patient. The Slave IC is used to engross the instructions from Master IC and it would work as per the instructions. This portable and economical AMR system would help aged patients especially to the illiterate people.

Key words: Arduino controller; RTC; Alarm System; LCD Display.

1. INTRODUCTION

   In-taking of proper dosage at proper time is a mandatory thing of every patient in the world. The patients may include children, students, businessman, aged persons etc. They are always very busy with their daily work schedule. If they would be suffering from any diseases or illness, then it is necessary to take their correct dosages efficiently, especially elder persons. Now a day, caring of old age is serious concern. Family members are the only responsible persons to help the patients. In this century, it is impossible to look after the elder persons at all the time due to busy schedule for everyone. So the problems such as1) In-taking of irregular medicine due to patients busy schedule.2) Complicationin- taking large number of medicines at a time.3) Adverse drug reactions caused by un-reconciled prescriptions obtained from different sources. 4) Lack of knowledge about

   proper use of medicines. These above problems are arising toeveryone due to nonadherence of medications. Then it is essential to take the appropriate medicines for their good health. As the cost of the in-home medical care upswings, every individuals search for a well-organized device to handle their medicines properly. Even though some medication reminders are available, they have complication in using by the older persons. In order to avoid these critical situations a novel Automatic Medication Reminder (AMR) system is proposed to help the patients to take their dosages effectively. Then one more noticeable advantage of this AMR system is an affordable cost and it is easy to handle by the elderly populations.

2. LITERATURE SURVEY

   Kale Sapna, Bhadane, Ashwini, Pawar Pallavi, P.N.Achaliya [1], An Android based Medication Reminder System based on OCR using ANN. In this method, an Android based application is used for the patients. This application will remind their user to take correct medicines at appropriate time by setting the reminders in the mobile which is anautomatic manner. These reminders will be spontaneously set by the application as per the prescription. This reminder will remind the patients to take medicine competently. This method will help only for young people who are having Android mobile. But for elder illiteracy people it is very difficult to operate and understand it. The device used in this system is costly and the process of creating the application in android mobile is tedious.

   S.Mukund, N.K.Srinath [2], Design of Automatic Medication Dispenser. This method uses microcontroller interface with alphanumeric keypad, LED display, motor controller, multiple pill container and dispenser, alarm system. It is partially an automated device. The general procedure is to facilitate the user to set the timings to dispense multiple pills at required timings. Here the user is required to press a button to get the pill box and reset the

   alarm button. In this method motor controller is used. So additionally 12V is required for providing supply to motor and it is suitable only for limited number of medicines. More chances are available to mishandle the device and it is not a portable device. Cost wise it is somewhat high.

   Corey McCall, Branden Maynes, Cliff C. Zou, Ning J.Zhang[3], An Automatic Medication Self-Management and Monitoring System for Independently Living Patients. This paper describes the development and evaluation of RMAIS (RFID-based Medication Adherence Intelligence System). This system provides an automatic operation for easy medication by using built-in scale for dosage measurement and a motorized rotation plate to bring the correct medicine container in front of patient. This prototype consists of five parts which includes a motorized rotation platform, scale, RFID reader, Microcontroller, user interface panel. The process used in this system is tedious and the RMAIS is an in-home device which is useful only when the patients are in home itself. It can support only up to seven medicines. The device would not be aware and it may introduce errors or wrong alarms until the tray is checked frequently. The scale used in this prototype is expensive and this RMAIS needs skilled persons to operate efficiently.

   P.H. Tsai, C.Y. Yu, W.Y. Wang, J.K.Zao, H.C. Yeh, C.S. Shih, J.W.S. Liu [4],Wedjat: A Mobile phone based medication reminder and monitor and iMAT: Intelligence Medication Administration Tools. This iMAT enables the pharmacist of each user to extract a machine readable medication schedule specifications (MSS) from the users prescriptions. Once it is loaded into that iMAT schedule manager, then the tool automatically makes a medications timing which meets all restrictions indicated by the users MSS. Based on the agenda, the tool intimate the user to take proper medicine in a proper quantity at proper time.

   Zao J.K., Mei-Ying Wang, Peihsuan Tsai, Liu J.W.S.[5], Wedjat-Smart phone Application, This application is used to help the patients to avoid medication administration errors such as in-taking of wrong dosage instead of correct one, forgetfulness,etc. To avoid such critical situations, Wedjat can perform three functions: a) Issue medicine in-take reminders. b) Provide medicine identification and in-take directions. C) Keep the medicine in-take records.

3. PROPOSED METHOD

   All human beings in the world may or may not affect by any of the diseases. Then all patients should take proper medicine which is specified in the prescription for their good healthat proper time. Due to mental stress or depression, most of the times they forget to take proper medicines at proper time which leads to late recovery from diseass and it will create some problems in their normal health conditions. To overcome these problems, all patients particularly elderly persons need medication reminder system.Even thoughsome devices are available for reminding the patients to take medicines in automatic, somewhat they are not favorable to the users in the aspects of cost, portability, difficulties in handling etc. To make favorable to the users the AMR system is proposed. Fig.1 shows the block diagram of proposedAMR system. This proposed prototype system consists ofmicrocontroller (Master and Slave IC), 4×4 matrix keypad, LCD display, Real Time clock (RTC module) and

   alarm systemconsists of buzzer. Then Light Emitting Diode (LED) is also provided to know the quantity of the dosages.

   Fig 1: Block Diagram of AMR Prototype

   Microcontroller is being responsible to perform all the commands and functions of the medicinecontainer boxes in AMR system. Arduino controller of the system is capable to meet all the required functionalities without wasting money on unnecessary features and this system does not require any external peripheral devices and memory. The memory requirement is only 8K for both Master and Slave microcontroller. Initially the microcontroller (Master IC) interfaces with keypad and LCD display. Here there are three simple processes are required to be done in Master IC and their interfacing units. The process comprises 1) Enter the number of dosages. 2) Set the corresponding timings which are mentioned in prescription. 3) Set the current time. The dosages mentioned in the prescriptionsare stored in Master IC and time setting operation can be done through the matrix keypad. After completion of these above processes, the Master IC is interfaced with that RTC module which is used to track the current time. This interfacing is done by connecting Serial Clock pin (SCL) and Serial Data pin (SDA) of RTC to the analog pins 5 and 4 of Master IC respectively. Here the number of medicines and time setting operations are changed frequently as per the prescription schedule given by doctor; but there should not be made any changes in current time. Once the user sets the current time then it always keeps on tracking current time with minutes and seconds. Now the number of medicines that would be taken by the patients and their corresponding timings are displayed to user through LCD display unit.Then buzzer and LEDs which are placed above to each medicine containers interfaces with the Slave IC.After that the microcontroller (Slave IC) also interfaces with Master IC to receive the commands from it. The

   interfacing between two microcontrollers is achieved by connecting transmitter (Tx) and receiver (Rx) pins of each other. Finally the Slave IC receives commands from Master IC when the setting time matches with current time. Based on the command received to Slave IC, it sends the input to buzzer and corresponding LED. Subsequently the LED lighting indications and beep sound will be provided. So obviously the alarm system gives information to the patients at appropriate time. If the set time does not match with current time then no commands will be received to Slave IC. Hence, the buzzer and LED will be off.

   Fig 2: Prototype of Automatic Medication Reminder (AMR) System.

   The Fig. 2 shows proposed AMR prototype system which can be handled easily by everyone. The patientscan have lot of welfares from thisAMR prototype system as it avoids expensive in-home medical care. This system can support large number of medicines and it avoids confusion while taking more dosages by providing perfect LED indications on particular medicine container boxes. The color of LED indications are varied depends on the quantity of medicines which is mentioned in prescription. Then only the patient can easily find their medicines without any confusion. The only work of thepatient is to take proper medicines when they receive the alarm buzzer sound. The process used in this system is simple and it is also portable one. The major drawbacks of existing methods are not economical and complication in handling by old age persons. Here the proposed system is less cost and itwill easilybe handled by elder persons also.

4. EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS

   The simplest experiment was made with Automatic Medication Reminder (AMR) system. In this technique, the proposed system is used to give information to patientsautomatically for taking proper dosage at accurate time which is mentioned in the prescription schedule. Initially the number of tablets or dosages and their time setting operations for entire prescription schedule can be entered by the doctor. Then the RTC module is also interfaced with Master IC to track the current time. For example if the patient needs to take three tablets at morning time (9.30 am) then the doctor has to enter the solution for the command No. of. Tablets is 3. Then the doctor needs to answer for another command set time as 9.30 am. All the above details are done with the help of Master IC, keypad, LCD display. After that the controller (Master IC) is interfaced with RTC module to track the current time. All the three commands including Number of Tablets, Set time, Current time are displayed with the help of LCD display.Then the Slave IC receives the commands from Master IC when set time matches with current time. So that the LED indications and beep sound will be happened at corresponding medicine (tablet) container boxes. Similarly it can give the information for noon and night time also. Here the one and only work of patients is to take these medicines properly when they hear the beep sound and views LED lighting on the medicine containers. The Fig. 3 shows that there are two LEDs are provided on each boxes to indicate the quantity of dosages (Red color LED for full dosage and Blue color LED for half dosage) which would be taken by patients and buzzer sound is common for all dosages. The LED indication and buzzer sound will be ON until the patient press the RESET button.

   Fig 3: Prototype of AutomaticMedication Reminder (AMR) System with LED Indications.

   TABLE 1: Distinguish between Existing and ProposedMethod.

   Problems in existing methodology	Solution in proposed methodology
   RMAIS- RFID based	In Automatic Medication Reminder
   Medication Adherence	(AMR) system totally five
   Intelligent System. In this	inexpensive equipments are used
   system totally five	and it a portable.
   expensive materials are used
   for system architecture and
   it is non portable.
   An Android based	The Proposed AMR prototype
   Medication Reminder	consists of simple process. So it
   System based on OCR using	can be operated easily. Cost wise, it
   ANN. This system is	is more economical and efficient
   completely based on android	system.
   version. So it is not
   appropriately suitable for
   elder persons.

   TABLE 2: Cost Estimation of AMR Prototype

   Materials	Cost (in Rupees)
   Microcontroller 8K (Master)	250
   LCD display	120
   Microcontroller 8K (Slave)	250
   4×4 Matrix Keypad	135
   Alarm system (Buzzer)	30
   Medicine container box with LED indications	235
   RTC Module	200
   Total cost( in Rupees	1,220

5. ALGORITHM

   1. Assign Variables for Number of Tablets.

   2. Set the prescribed time.

   3. If the set time matches with the current time, then the command from Master IC is sent to slave IC.

   4. According to the command received to Slave IC, it sends input as HIGH to the corresponding LEDs and Buzzer.

   5. Otherwise, there will be no command passed to Slave IC and hence no input will be sent to LED and buzzer.

   6. The quantity of dosages will be indicated by using different colors of LEDs.

6. CONCLUSION

Currently, there are some medication reminder systems are available. But it has some difficulties such as complex process, expensive and not a portable one. The proposed Automatic Medication Reminder (AMR) system overcomes the drawbacks in the conventional system. This novel device has smaller in size, economical, better accuracy, compactness and less complexity in operation. The proposed system certainly would help all the aged patients especially to the illiterate people to take their medicines on time at the precise quantity. This system would also be a feasible solution for the elderly patients struggling in swallowing medicines as per the prescription given by the practitioner.

REFERENCES

1. Kale Sapna, Bhadane, Ashwini, Pawar Pallavi and P.N.Achaliya, An Android based Medication Reminder System based on OCR using ANN, International Journal of Computer Applications (0975 8887) International Conference on Recent Trends in engineering & Technology – 2013(ICRTET'2013).

2. S.Mukund, N.K.Srinath, Design of Automatic Medication Dispenser, pp.251-257, 2012.

3. Corey McCall, Branden Maynes, Cliff C. Zou, Ning J.Zhang, An Automatic Medication Self-Management and monitoring System for Independently Living Patients,

4. P.H. Tsai, C.Y. Yu, W.Y. Wang, J.K.Zao, H.C. Yeh, C.S. Shih and

   J.W.S. Liu, Wedjat: A Mobile phone based medication reminder and monitor, Proceedings of the 9th IEEE International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering, June 2006.

5. Zao J.K., Mei-Ying Wang, Peihsuan Tsai, Liu J.W.S. Smart phone Based Medicine In-take Scheduler, Reminder and Monitor, IEEE e- Health Networking Applications and Services (Healthcom) 2010.

6. V. Kalaichelvi and Ahammed Shamir Ali, Application of Neural networks in Character Recognition, International Journal of Computer Applications (0975-8887) Volume52-No.12, August 2012.

7. Veacez, P.J., An International based framework for a study on medical error, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Vol.18, No.4, may 2006.

8. Lisby, M., L.P. Nielsen and J. Mainz, Errors in the medication process: frequency, type, and potential clinical consequences, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, Vol. 17, No.1, 2005.

BIOGRAPHIES

PRIYADHARSHINI.R is pursuing Bachelor of Engineering in the discipline of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, under Anna University, Chennai, India. She has presented number of technical papers in symposium. She isacting

as a student member of various clubs and forums like Robotics and Intelligence Machines (RIM) club, Green club, i-can Club, Instrumentation and Control Engineers (ICE) club. She received YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD for her biomedical project during the year 2014. She also published an International Journal and presented a paper at National Conference. Presently she is doing minor research works on various fields like Biomedical Instrumentation, Robotics etc. She is highly appreciated by the Head of the Department.

RAMYA.S is pursuing Bachelor of Engineering in the discipline of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, under Anna University, Chennai, India. She has presented number of technical papers in symposium. She is acting as a student member of various clubs and forums like Robotics and Intelligence Machines (RIM)

Club, Green club, i-can club, Instrumentation and Control Engineers (ICE) club and Science club. She won prizes for project contest.She received YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD for her biomedical project. She was selected for Grand finale of the ROBO ZEST14 competition in IIT (Bombay) which was conducted by Robospecies Technology Pvt.Ltd during the year 2014. Presently she is doing minor research works on various fields like Embedded Systems, Biomedical Instrumentation and Robotics etc. Her performance towards academic is excellent. She is highly appreciated by the Head of the Department.

KALAIYARASI.Sis pursuing Bachelor of Engineering in the discipline of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, under Anna University, Chennai, India. She has presented number of technical papers in symposium. She is acting as a student member of various cells and forums like Robotics and Intelligence Machines (RIM) club, Green

club, i-can Club and Science club. She won prizes for project contest.She received YOUNG SCIENTIST AWARD for her biomedical project during the year 2014. She also published an International Journal and presented a paper in National Conference.She was selected for Grand finale of the ROBO ZEST14 competition in IIT (Bombay) which was conducted by Robospecies Technology Pvt.Ltd during the year 2014. Presently she is doing minor research works on various fields like embeddedsystems, Biomedical Instrumentation and Robotics etc. She is highly appreciated by the Head of the Department.

MITHUNA.Sis pursuing Bachelor of Engineering in the discipline of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, under Anna University, Chennai, India. She has presented number of technical papers in symposium. She is acting student member of various clubs and forums like Robotics and

Intelligence Machines (RIM) Club, Green club, i-can Club, Instrumentation and Control Engineers (ICE) club. She was selected for Grand finale of the ROBO ZEST14 competition in IIT (Bombay) which was conducted by Robospecies Technology Pvt.Ltd during the year 2014. She won prizes for project contest. Presently she is doing minor research works on various fields likePower Electronics, Biomedical Instrumentation and Robotics etc. She got more awards and prizes for her extracurricular activities. She is highly appreciated by the Head of the Department.

Mr.L.MANIVANNAN is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, Tamilnadu. He received his UG degree in the discipline of Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Institute of Road and Transport Technology under Anna University, Chennai and PG degree in the discipline of Power Electronics and Drives from

K.S.R. College of Engineering under Anna University of Technology, Coimbatore. He presented technical papers at National and International level conferences. He alsopublished at about 6 International Journals in Renewable Energy areas. He is the member of Board of Studies in Master of Engineering of Power Electronics and Drives discipline of Electrical and Electronics Engineering department at K.S.R. College of Engineering since June 2012. He received Rs.9,000 fund from Tamilnadu State Council for Science and Technology under Student Projects Scheme for the project titled as, Corporation Mini Hydro Power Plant during the academic year 2012 – 13. He has guided number of projects for students at UG level. His research interests lie in the field of Power Electronics, Renewable Energy, Robotics and Embedded Systems.

Dr.N.SUTHANTHIRA VANITHA is

currently working as a Professor and Head in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Knowledge Institute of Technology, Salem, Tamilnadu. She received her UG degree in the discipline of Electrical and Elecronics Engineering from K.S.R.College of Technology under University of Madras, PG degree in the

discipline of Applied Electronics from Mohamed Sathak Engineering College under Madurai Kamaraj University and Ph.D degree under the Faculty of Information and Communication Engineering from Anna University, Chennai. She presented technical papers at National and International level conferences. She published number of National and International journals in her specialized areas. She has number of academic and professional honors include Bharat Seva Ratna Gold Medal Award from Global Economic Progress and Research Association, New Delhi for the individual achievements in the field of Biomedical and Embedded Systems, 2014 and she received cash award of Rs.5,00,000 for guiding the under graduate students project titled A Novel Design of High Efficient Vertical Axis Wind Turbine and has won GE Edison Award on par with IITs at Edison Challenge Contest 2014 conducted by General Electric, Bangalore at National level. She organized various Guest lectures, Seminars, Workshops and FDP. She acted as a chair person at National level conferences and symposiums. She has Ph.D supervision for guiding research scholars under Faculty of Electronics and Communication Engineering. She is guiding students projects at UG and PG level. Her technical field interests include Biomedical Instrumentation, Embedded Systems, Robotics, Power Electronics and Renewable Energy, Digital Signal Processing and Wireless Communication Networks. She is the life member of ISTE and IEEE.