Digitalization has led to comprehensive transformations across numerous aspects of business, offering exceptional favorable circumstances for value creation and capture, while also representing a main source of risk. Over past few years, advancement in medication was a major aim of digital health technology development. Scientists developed a novel miniature medical chip used in smart pills to treat and diagnose diseases within the body.
The emergence of smart pills industry, healthcare-cum-technology devices has addressed the growing demand for excellent diagnostics and tracking tools. This digital technology is exclusively used to diagnose gastrointestinal (GI) problems like gastroporesis and constipation. Moreover, these pills are expected to replace conventional diagnostic techniques like colonoscopy and endoscopy. The enhanced pill records data based on several factors like pH, pressure, and temperature of gastrointestinal facts.
Smart pills, also termed as digital pills, are an innovative technology of drug delivery. These are basically, prescription medications or medical devices that are equipped with edible electronic sensors, trackers, and cameras. These sensors send wireless messages outside the body to devices like smart phones, patches, or tablets when the pills are ingested. These ingestible medical devices allow complete health monitoring of several physiological metrics.
After ingestion of gelatin capsule, the radiofrequency emitter is activated by the chloride ion gradient in the stomach to transmit unique signal outside the body. A receiver detects signals of the ingested medication and time of ingestion using third generation (3G) cellular signaling.
Abilify MyCite – A New Pill for a New Age
Abilify MyCite (aripiprazole) became the first digital pill approved by FDA with a digital tracking system. This next-generation pill is embedded with ingestible Proteus sensor that records the amount of medication that was taken. It is used by professionals to treat Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other major depressive disorders. The sensor embedded comprises safe ingredients such as silicon, copper, and magnesium that are also found in several foods.
Next-Generation Digital Chemotherapy Pill to Treat Colorectal Cancer Patients to Support Treatment Regimens
The smart chemotherapy pills or capecitabine after swallowing alerts caregivers and physicians to record daily movements of colorectal cancer patients. The sensor in capecitabine capsule is held loosely to treat several types of cancers and is prescribed routinely by physicians. Health information technology functions best when implemented in partnership with doctors and patients in a collaborative aspect.
Major Insights – patients depends on their medications to keep them healthy, but complicated medication agenda may lead to mistakes such as taking medicines at wrong time, missing doses, or taking incorrect amount of medicine. Furthermore, rising in medication adherence not only offer improved patient outcomes, but also provide substantial economic value. However, the smart pills industry is a booming industry that offers enhanced technology and help healthcare professionals to treat several disorders and save lives.
Are Smart Pills/Drugs the Future of Medications?
Developing smart cities, high government funding for the development of enhanced R&D sectors and innovations in relation to IoT are the future of healthcare industry. These advanced pills will change the way of taking medications.