London, Aug 16 (IANS) A ‘smart’ pill that texts your cellphone when your next dose is due is undergoing tests in Britain.
The chips in the pills alert a patch attached to the patient’s shoulder when swallowed. It also texts the patient if he or she forgets to take medication.
The system, known as Raisin, also monitors heart rate, heart activity and how well the patient is sleeping — all of which may indicate a worsening condition, reports the Daily Mail.
It costs a few pence per pill and was initially tested in the US, where it improved the patients’ compliance with medicine from 30 percent to 80 percent.
If successful, the four-month trial being run by Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, could lead to a year-long trial.
Nicholas Peters, professor of cardiology at Imperial College Healthcare, said the main aim was to encourage heart patients to be regular about dosage.
With a stricter medication regime, heart patients are less likely to be admitted to hospital in an emergency.
In the trial, the patches will allow doctors to check whether patients have taken their pills, track the heart rate and determine whether they are frequently sitting up at night.
This can signal fluid in the lungs which means the dosage needs adjusting.
