Smart drug dispensing trolley

The so-called Computerised Smart Trolley (CST) is controlled by a touchscreen computer, which holds all key patient information, including name, photo identification, bed location, medical condition and drug requirements. Andy Smith, MediCET business manager, explained: “While the detailed design is still under development, the idea is for ward staff to be able to use a handheld scanner to read patient information tags, for the data to be transmitted back to the trolley and for the relevant drugs then to be distributed on an automatic carousel dispensing system, enhancing the accuracy of drug distribution. Access to the trolley would be password controlled and the patient scanning could potentially use either barcode or RFID technology.”

The CST is now “in the first stage of development” after the partnership won a £5,000 SPARK award (presented by the Government-backed Electronics- Enabled Products Knowledge Transfer Network), enabling the team to research its idea with health service practitioners up and down the country. During development Belgravium was able to utilise the MediCET centre’s specialist design and prototyping expertise.

Andy Smith said: “We hope that once the initial stage of this exciting project has been completed further funding will be found to allow MediCET to continue onto the next phase. We want to go on to design and manufacture a prototype.”