University creates Smarter drug treatment

Patients could soon be receiving safer drug treatment thanks to a medicine-dispensing device, created by the University of Hull and Belgravium Technologies.

The team is developing a Computerised Smart Trolley (CST) to control and monitor drug-dispensation in hospitals and care homes. The device would mean accidents from medicine misadministration are reduced with patients at a much lower risk of receiving the wrong type or the wrong quantity of drugs.

Controlled by a touch screen computer, the trolley holds all patient information including name, photo identification, bed location, medical condition and drug requirements. A hand-held scanner reads patients" identification tags and the relevant treatments are distributed on the automatic carousel dispensing system, enhancing the accuracy of drug-administration. Access to the trolley is controlled by a series of passwords ensuring security.

CST is now in the first stage of production after the partnership won a SPARK award, enabling them to research the idea with practitioners up and down the country. The project won the award for excelling in design and development of a complex product.