The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7363 p219
20 August 2005

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Electronic wristband matches wearer to drugs

An electronic wristband that can prevent medication errors by matching the wearer with their medicines has been designed by Claire Dunne, an industrial design and technology student at Brunel University, London.

The reuseable wristband, called “Brilliant”, contains a chip that is programmed with the patient’s details and drug requirements. The wristband scans an electronic chip that can be built in to medicines packaging and a small screen displays the patient’s details and whether the correct drug has been selected. Each time a dose is given the date and time are recorded on the wristband chip and this information can later be downloaded for audit and billing purposes.

Ms Dunne was awarded a prize in the Reliance Awards for Innovation and Enterprise presented at the annual Brunel Design Show earlier this year. She has piloted her prototype on staff and patients at St Anthony’s Private Hospital, Surrey, and hopes to develop it further.