APDM/ pillbox logger - Essay Example

Electronic pillbox logger Introduction APDM is a health service company that avails new technologies for emerging markets that deal with determining human movement. The services they provide cater for individuals with stroke, movement disorders, and biomechanics and sports. The electronic pill logger is on of their new products that aim at aiding patients with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease in consumption of the prescribed medication (Zia, 15). Problem The increasing instances of diseases that severely affect movement have created a growing demand for electromedical equipment.

In the year 2010 alone, this sector grew by 11.8%. This shows the potential in this industry considering that there are only two major competitors in the field, APDM and InRange systems. An industry with such a growth margin and limited competition, provides APDM which the chance to launch its product and dominate the market.The unique features of electronic pillbox logger are created in a manner that it is able to follow up on medication and alert the user to take the medicine on time. Its size and portability enable users to use it even when they are travelling.

The existence of an alarm on the devise informs the user about the dosage and the right time to consume medication (Zia, 49). The most superior feature is the ability to maintain an electronic record of the period of consumption by sensing the availability or absence of medicine in the pillbox.Model This model is no comparison to existing pillboxes which are large hence cannot be carried, and have one compartment, or keep track of the moment of opening the box instead of the existence or lack of medication in the box.

Diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s require critical timing when consuming medication; therefore the pillbox will be useful in achieving this goal. Enabling the logger with a portable sensor will facilitate health care providers to monitor the reactions of patients to oral treatment. The pillbox can also be used in other sicknesses that impair movement, making it a device that will elicit demand in the health care industry (Zia, 78).The health care industry is moving to a direction where prescription pills are on the rise.

This is because the health care industry is moving towards out patient care where patients can access medical care at home by use of information technology tools. This is where the electronic pillbox fits as the sensor will enable physicians to monitor responses to medication. The ability to connect to a computer via a USB cable facilitates communication with a host computer that interprets data.The introduction of generic drugs has lowered the price of pills making it accessible to patients who could no afford it earlier.

Access to generic drugs to a larger population will lead to a need for accurate pill dispensers and APDM can tap into this market and market the electronic pillbox.Costs The costs incurred in manufacturing a pillbox are lower which in turn translates to a lower retail price compared to the EMMA pill dispenser which is large and is not portable meaning it is costly to produce (Zia, 108). At the moment APDM has the capability and requisite resources to develop pillbox loggers, and it requires minimal assets, but only intellectual property issues, it also has a network of local manufacturers who can be hired on contract.

The above factors lead to reduction in the cost of production and hence an affordable retail price giving it a competitive edge over its competitors.ConclusionThe survey indicates that many patients consume different pills in a day; many forget to take them, others mix pills and a sizeable number have taken the wrong pills. The survey showed that 12 out of 30 correspondents will buy a new pill box on the advice of a doctor and 18 of the correspondents are willing to spend between $41 and $70 on a new pill box.

The above statistics shows that the electronic pillbox logger has a ready market with a high demand which may make the price to rise than anticipated.Work citedZia, Beenish. Electronic Pillbox Logger for People with Parkinsons Disease. Thesis. Portland State University, 2011. Print.