A Smart RFId Device for Drugs Administration

In this work a device is described that can be used in hospitals to lower the risk of Adverse Drug Events (ADE) due to the incorrect link between patients and drugs. The device is a container that can be handled by the patient himself of by the caregivers. It is provided with an internal lock that prevents any openings when there is a mismatch between the patient and the drugs inside the container. It is based on passive RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology and is designed to give a visual alert if a wrong drug (tagged with RFID) is accidentally inserted, also preventing its administration by locking the top aperture. The internal RFID reader is designed to read both the patient’s wristband and the drugs inserted into the device (provided that they are tagged with RFID): the device will not open if some un-prescribed drug is found inside the container, alerting the patient/operator using the on-board display. Every single event is logged in an internal memory and can be transferred to a remote information system for analyses, statistics and risk management. The device is also provided with two status LEDs, a green one and a red one, and with a text display that can show information about the patient’s identity, and therapy. We are now working on the mechanical design and on the development of management software in order to link the device with CPOE (Computerized Physician Order Entry) systems and with automated drug storage systems.