Challenge
Demonstrate the potential value of adding connectivity to Bespak by Recipharm’s innovative VapourSoft® powered range of auto-injectors.
Approach
Our cross-functional team worked with Bespak by Recipharm to develop a connected demonstrator to allow the evaluation of functionality for different devices and use cases. Low-cost development technologies and prototyping techniques enabled the project to progress quickly without the need for significant investment in hardware and software development.
Outcome
We developed a proof-of-concept connected module to fit inside the rear cap of Bespak by Recipharm’s existing auto-injector, along with an iOS application, cloud database and web portal. The demonstrator device and connected system showed the potential for incorporating sensing technology. Sensing would allow collection of valuable data and insight from users and encourage patient adherence by providing a considered and supportive user experience.
At a glance
Client
Bespak by Recipharm
Sector
Connected health
Services
UX/UI design
Electronics
Software
Team staff on project
5
Connected solution for drug delivery
The rapid development of functional demonstrator systems reduces the risk to future development, ensuring that key challenges are addressed early and that the right solution is brought to market.
Ben Cox, Head of Digital Design
Designing the system
For connected systems to be successful, it is important that the use sequence is robust, seamless and that set-up steps are minimised to ease burden on the user.
Our project team mapped out the use sequence to visualise the system states, describing their behaviour and interactions between the auto-injector, mobile app and back-end. This enabled us to highlight technical requirements and specific design challenges.
1
Device pairing
For the demonstrator module, no active pairing step is required; an injection is recorded whether the app is open or not.
2
Powering on
The module electronics do not use any power before use, switching on automatically just before the device is activated.
3
Sensing
At the point of activation, various parameters including time, orientation, temperature, and force are recorded.
4
Data transmission
A data package is transmitted via Bluetooth including sensor data, in addition to device and therapy information.
Prototype electronics
We selected off-the-shelf components for the electronics development. This helped us to quickly meet the project requirements for sensing orientation and temperature, in addition to providing a microcontroller and Bluetooth low energy connectivity. This compact module, packed with sensors, was ideal for creating a concept demonstrator and initial prototype before investing further in hardware and software development. We also designed a rigid printed circuit board to interface with the development kit and used prototypes to develop the firmware and test core functionality.
Integration with an existing package
Carbon 3D prototyping was used to generate a chassis to house the electronics and secure the module to the auto-injector casework. This technique was chosen to ensure the prototype parts could be used for numerous demonstrations and to be able to withstand forces during activation and injection.
The optimised, single-use concept design for volume production adds less than 5% to the auto-injector length.
App design
We used digital design and prototyping tools to efficiently design a companion app and web portal in a few weeks to demonstrate full system functionality. We gave careful consideration to features and functions that could add value both from a patient and healthcare professional perspective.
The user experience was designed to be supportive, guide a new patient through the process and also work in the background once a patient becomes more confident with their medication.
Chris Davies, UX Designer
Invisibly intelligent hardware
The connected module mimics the form of the existing rear cap of the auto-injector to ensure the integration appears seamless. This allows the module to be easily removed from a used auto-injector and attached to a new one, for demonstration purposes, without affecting performance.
Complementary interfaces
The patient-facing iOS app we built ensures an accurate record of doses taken, providing a clear visual state change when an injection is due. Additional prescription information is included, and a data feature offers a friendly guide to adherence without overwhelming the patient.
The responsive web portal provides healthcare professionals or clinical sites with the necessary details to monitor adherence and keep track of a patient population. Technical data for each injection is also captured, including metrics such as orientation and temperature, in addition to device and therapy information. For demonstration purposes, a list of most recent doses is presented to highlight when a new injection has been transmitted from the iOS app to the database.
Our approach enabled Bespak by Recipharm to quickly get a prototype device into the hands of users and commercial partners.
Team understood our requirements to embody connectivity in a way that would be flexible in its usage and minimally invasive to the existing device functionality. They were able to rapidly deliver a connected demonstrator system to support stakeholder engagement to understand and validate needs.
Alastair Willoughby, Development Manager, Recipharm
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