Created November 8, 2019 © CC BY-NC-ND

PillMinder

Insure a senior takes the right medication at the right time by monitoring and controlling medication intake with caregiver notifications.

AdvancedFull instructions provided24 hours37

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Custom PC Board

Particle Photon

Adafruit 16-Channel 12-bit PWM/Servo Shield - I2C interface

3 mm LED: Green

Buzzer

Capacitive switch

micro servo GH37A

Software apps and online services

Blynk

Used for UI

Twilio SMS Messaging API

Used for SMS messaging

Heroku Dynos

Connector between Particle Cloud and Twillio

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Raise 3D N2 Printer

3D print used to make parts

Story

Excerpt from New York Tims article "The Cost of Not Taking Your Medicine" April 17, 2017.

"There is an out-of-control epidemic in the United States that costs more and affects more people than any disease Americans currently worry about. It’s called nonadherence to prescribed medications, and it is — potentially, at least — 100 percent preventable by the very individuals it afflicts.

The numbers are staggering. “Studies have consistently shown that 20 percent to 30 percent of medication prescriptions are never filled, and that approximately 50 percent of medications for chronic disease are not taken as prescribed,” according to a review in Annals of Internal Medicine. People who do take prescription medications — whether it’s for a simple infection or a life-threatening condition — typically take only about half the prescribed doses."

This problem is especially acute in the senior segment of the population. Almost all of us has had a parent or loved one that struggled to get their medication right, even when a relative or caregiver would organize the medications. What is needed is a simple and inexpensive way to help insure seniors take the right medication at the right time.

The PillMinder system looks like a simple pillbox. The main physical difference is that the pill slots are not opened manually. For setup, the client or caregiver (if the client needs help) sets up the PillMinder by connecting it to WiFi, putting in the time to take the medication, loading contact numbers for the client and caregiver and loading the medication.

Once set, the PillMinder takes care of the rest. It will notify the client of the need to take medication via a light on the box, an optional sound, and a text to the clients phone. If the medication is not takin, reminders will be sent to the client and caregiver(s) will also be notified.

To take the medication, the client simply touches the top of the PillMinder and the proper lid opens automatically. The lid control insures that only the right medication is made available to the client. The act of opening only on request insures that the client is planning to take the medication. For locations where children or others may have access to the medication and the client wants more security, access can be restricted to an app on the clients phone. Compliance reports can also be generated.

The PillMinder system uses a WiFi connection for notifications but the system will continue to operate with the WiFi not connected. The current system uses a power adaptor but future versions will also come with rechargeable batteries.

Configuration and management is all done through the phone App that was created using BLYNK. The owner can monitor the box as shown in this screen:

The user can setup thing like the time of day to take medications and alert timing:

The system provides SMS alerting to the client and up to 2 caregivers.

The system will also display the time until the next pill and allow you to open the box from the application.

This system provides a dramatic advancement for one of the key issues facing older people today. It can simply help any older person take their pills on time but it can also help in caregiving situations helping the caregiver insure that medication is being taken at the proper times.

Schematics

Code

Photon Code

SYSTEM_THREAD(ENABLED);
// This #include statement was automatically added by the Particle IDE.
#include <blynk.h>
#include <Adafruit_PWMServoDriver.h>
// called this way, it uses the default address 0x40
Adafruit_PWMServoDriver pwm = Adafruit_PWMServoDriver();
/* Function prototypes -------------------------------------------------------*/
#define BLYNK_PRINT Serial
#define SERVOMIN  150 // this is the 'minimum' pulse length count (out of 4096)
#define SERVOMAX  600 // this is the 'maximum' pulse length count (out of 4096)

char auth[] = "QnbZ5V15eDpxUK_o9cjSouJ_BdwNsG3r";

int previousState = 0;
int lastSync;
int ONE_DAY_MILLIS = (24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
int alarmTime = 0;
int currentTimeInSecs ;
int LEDday[] = {0,A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7};//Lights
int lid[] = {0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0};//lid status
// int lidDay[]= {0,D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7};//switches
int pFull[] = {0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0}; //Pill status
int speaker = D2;//Speaker pin
int button = D3;
int takePills =0;
int openLid = 0;
int lidSpeed = 2;
char LEDdayNow;
int tTaken = 0;
int localTimeZone =0;
int clientAC =0;
int clientNumber =0;
int care1AC = 0;
int care1Number =0;
int care2AC = 0;
int care2Number =0;
int refillBox = 0;
int buttonStatus = 0;
int pillsRemaining;
int reminderTime = 15; //time in minutes
int careWarningTime = 15;
int reminderNum = 1;
int creminderNum = 1;
int pillMin = 0;
int audibleAlerts = 0;
int today = 0;
int second = 0;
int minute = 0;
int hour = 0;
int day = 0 ;
int refillToday = 0; //prevents box from alerting on the day a refill was done
int i = 0; //counter
int vFID;
int vEID;
int vUID;
char SMS[32]; //for sneding text info
char SMScare1[32];
char SMScare2[32];
char message[60];
char boxName[12];
char deviceName[20];
String deviceEN;
String deviceN;
String dayOfWeek[8];
//BLYNK Functions
BLYNK_WRITE(V0) {
   String deviceEN = param[0].asStr();  //From Blynk
   strcpy (deviceName, deviceEN);
   EEPROM.put(300, deviceName) ;
   Serial.print("Name Set to: ");
   Serial.println(deviceName);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V1) {
  TimeInputParam t(param);
  int startTimeInSecs = param[0].asInt();
  localTimeZone = t.getTZ_Offset()/3600;
  alarmTime = startTimeInSecs;
  EEPROM.put(0, alarmTime);
  EEPROM.put(10, localTimeZone);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V2) {
  clientAC = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(20,clientAC);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V3) {
  clientNumber = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(30,clientNumber);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V4) {
  care1AC = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(40,care1AC);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V5) {
  care1Number = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(50,care1Number);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V6) {
  care2AC = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(60,care2AC);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V7) {
  care2Number = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(70,care2Number);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V9){
  pillMin = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(90,pillMin);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V10) {
  refillBox = param[0].asInt();
  Serial.println("BLYNK STATUS - Refilling SET ");
  Serial.println(refillBox);
  if (refillBox == 1) {
    if (currentTimeInSecs >= alarmTime) {
      refillToday = 1;
    }
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V8, 0);
    EEPROM.put(110,1);
    EEPROM.put(120,1);
    EEPROM.put(130,1);
    EEPROM.put(140,1);
    EEPROM.put(150,1);
    EEPROM.put(160,1);
    EEPROM.put(170,1);
    int k=0;
    while (k<7) {
        k++;
        pFull[k]=1; 
        vFID = (20 + k);
        vEID = (30 + k);
        vUID = (40 + k);
        Blynk.virtualWrite(vFID, 255);
        Blynk.virtualWrite(vEID, 0);
        Blynk.virtualWrite(vUID, 0);
        // Open all Lids
        for (uint16_t pulselen = SERVOMIN; pulselen < SERVOMAX; pulselen++) {
          pwm.setPWM(k, 0, pulselen);
          delay(lidSpeed);
        }
    }
  }
  if (refillBox == 0) {
      int k=0;
      while (k<7) {
        k++;
        for (uint16_t pulselen = SERVOMAX; pulselen > SERVOMIN; pulselen--) {
        pwm.setPWM(k, 0, pulselen);
        delay(lidSpeed);
        } 
      }   
  }
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V11) {
  audibleAlerts = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(80,audibleAlerts);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V12) {
  reminderTime = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(200,reminderTime);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V13) {
  careWarningTime = param[0].asInt();
  EEPROM.put(210,careWarningTime);
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V14){
    int k = param[0].asInt();
    if (k == 1){
        activate();
    }
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V51) {
  int k = param[0].asInt();
  if (k == 0) {
      i=1;
      closeRefill();
  }  
  if (k == 1) {
      i=1;
      writeRefill();
  }
   
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V52) {
  int k = param[0].asInt();
  if (k == 1) {
      i=2;
      writeRefill();
  }
  if (k == 0) {
      i=2;
      closeRefill();
  } 
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V53) {
  int k = param[0].asInt();
  if (k == 1) {
      i=3;
      writeRefill();
  }
  if (k == 0) {
      i=3;
      closeRefill();
  } 
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V54) {
  int k = param[0].asInt();
  if (k == 1) {
      i=4;
      writeRefill();
  }
  if (k == 0) {
      i=4;
      closeRefill();
  } 
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V55) {
  int k = param[0].asInt();
  if (k == 1) {
      i=5; 
      writeRefill();
  } 
  if (k == 0) {
      i=5;
      closeRefill();
  } 
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V56) {
  int k = param[0].asInt();
  if (k == 1) {
      i=6;
      writeRefill();
  }
  if (k == 0) {
      i=6;
      closeRefill();
  } 
}
BLYNK_WRITE(V57) {
  int k = param[0].asInt();
  if (k == 1) {
      i=7;
      writeRefill();
  }
  if (k == 0) {
      i=7;
      closeRefill();
  } 
}

void writeRefill() {
      //open the lid
      for (uint16_t pulselen = SERVOMIN; pulselen < SERVOMAX; pulselen++) {
      pwm.setPWM(i, 0, pulselen);
      delay(lidSpeed);
    }
      int l = ( 100 + (i *10));
      EEPROM.put(l,1);
      pillsRemaining = pillsRemaining + 1;
      pFull[i] = 1;
      vFID = (20 + i);
      vEID = (30 + i);
      vUID = (40 + i);
      Blynk.virtualWrite(vFID, 255);
      Blynk.virtualWrite(vEID, 0);
      Blynk.virtualWrite(vUID, 0);
      if (currentTimeInSecs >= alarmTime && i == today) {
          refillToday = 1;
      }
 }

void closeRefill() {
   for (uint16_t pulselen = SERVOMAX; pulselen > SERVOMIN; pulselen--) {
      pwm.setPWM(i, 0, pulselen);
      delay(lidSpeed);
   }   
}

void setup() {
    // Retrive NV Variables
    EEPROM.get(0, alarmTime);
    EEPROM.get(110, pFull[1]);
    EEPROM.get(120, pFull[2]);
    EEPROM.get(130, pFull[3]);
    EEPROM.get(140, pFull[4]);
    EEPROM.get(150, pFull[5]);
    EEPROM.get(160, pFull[6]);
    EEPROM.get(170, pFull[7]);
    EEPROM.get(10, localTimeZone);
    EEPROM.get(20, clientAC);
    EEPROM.get(30, clientNumber);
    EEPROM.get(40, care1AC);
    EEPROM.get(50, care1Number);
    EEPROM.get(60, care2AC);
    EEPROM.get(70, care2Number);
    EEPROM.get(80, audibleAlerts);
    EEPROM.get(90, pillMin);
    EEPROM.get(200, reminderTime);
    EEPROM.get(210, careWarningTime);
    
    const int STRING_BUF_SIZE = 20;
    char stringBuf[STRING_BUF_SIZE];
        EEPROM.get(300, stringBuf);
        strcpy (deviceName, stringBuf);
  
  // LED Lights
  pinMode(LEDday[1], OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LEDday[2], OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LEDday[3], OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LEDday[4], OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LEDday[5], OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LEDday[6], OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LEDday[7], OUTPUT);
  
  pinMode(speaker,OUTPUT);
  
  pinMode(button, INPUT_PULLDOWN);
  attachInterrupt(button, buttonPressed, RISING);



  // Debug console
  Serial.begin(9600);

  tone(speaker,1000,500);

  i=0;
  while (i<7) {
    i++;
    digitalWrite(LEDday[i], HIGH);
  }

  delay(3000); // Allow board to settle
  
  i=0;
  while (i<7) {
    i++;
    digitalWrite(LEDday[i], LOW);
  }
  
  // start and setup servos
  pwm.begin();
  pwm.setPWMFreq(60);  // Analog servos run at ~60 Hz updates
  
  //Close all Lids
  i=0;
  while (i<7) {
      i++;
      pwm.setPWM(i, 0, SERVOMIN);
      delay(100);
  }
  
  Blynk.begin(auth);
  
  pillsRemaining = 0; //calculate pills remaing for initial value
  i = 0; 
  while (i<7) {
    i++;
    if (pFull[i] > 0) {
    pillsRemaining = pillsRemaining + 1;
    }
  // write inital status to app
  i=0;
  while (i<7) {
    i++; 
    vFID = (20 + i);
    vEID = (30 + i);
    vUID = (40 + i);
    if (pFull[i] == 1) {
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vFID, 255);
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vEID, 0);
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vUID, 0);
    }
    if (pFull[i] == 0){
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vFID, 0);
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vEID, 255);
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vUID, 0);
    }
    if (pFull[i] == -1){
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vFID, 0);
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vEID, 0);
       Blynk.virtualWrite(vUID, 255);
    }
  }
  
 }
 
  today = Time.weekday();
  day = today;
 
  Serial.println("Setup Complete");

}

/* This function loops forever --------------------------------------------*/
void loop()
{
    Blynk.run();
    
    updateTime();
    
    updateLog();
    
     // once a day - housekeeping - pills are Low
    if (day != today) {
        day = today;
        refillToday = 0; // clear the flag if box refilled yesterday
    }
    
    delay(5000);
    //Check if time for a pill
    if (pFull[today] != 0 && currentTimeInSecs >= alarmTime && refillToday == 0) {
         pillTime();
    }
    // update BLYNK status display
    Blynk.virtualWrite(15, ((alarmTime - currentTimeInSecs) /60));
   // check if button pressed
   if (buttonStatus ==1) {
       activate();
   }
    //check if reminder needed
    if (takePills == 1) {
        if (currentTimeInSecs >= (alarmTime + (reminderTime * 60 * reminderNum))) {
            pillReminder();
        }
        if (currentTimeInSecs >= (alarmTime + (careWarningTime * 60 * creminderNum))) {
            careWarning();
        }
    }
   
}

void pillsLow() {
    strcpy(boxName, deviceName);
    sprintf (message,"PILLMINDER: %s Pillbox is running low",boxName);
    clientSMS();
    careSMS();// do the SMS thing
    Blynk.virtualWrite(V8, 255);
}

void buttonPressed() {
    buttonStatus = 1;
}

void activate() {
     Serial.println("Button Pushed");
     if (takePills != 1) {
         failMusic();
     }
     if (takePills == 1) {
         //open the lid "today"
         for (uint16_t pulselen = SERVOMIN; pulselen < SERVOMAX; pulselen++) {
           pwm.setPWM(today, 0, pulselen);
           delay(lidSpeed);
         }
         wellDone();
     }
     buttonStatus = 0;
}

void pillReminder() {
     sprintf (message,"PILLMINDER: Reminder # %i. Take your pills now.",reminderNum);
     clientSMS();
     reminderNum = (reminderNum + 1);
     alarmMusic();
}
void careWarning() {
     int m = ((currentTimeInSecs - alarmTime) * 0.01667);
     strcpy(boxName, deviceName);
     sprintf (message,"PILLMINDER: %s pills are now %i minutes overdue.",boxName, m);
     careSMS();
     creminderNum = (creminderNum + 1);
     alarmMusic();
}
void pillTime() {
     takePills = 1;
     Serial.println("Alarm ON "); 
     digitalWrite(LEDday[today], HIGH);
     alarmMusic();
}

void wellDone() {
    digitalWrite(LEDday[1], LOW);
    digitalWrite(LEDday[2], LOW);
    digitalWrite(LEDday[3], LOW);
    digitalWrite(LEDday[4], LOW);
    digitalWrite(LEDday[5], LOW);
    digitalWrite(LEDday[6], LOW);
    digitalWrite(LEDday[7], LOW); // just to be sure all LEDs off
    pFull[today]= 0;
    vFID = (20 + today); //update app
    vEID = (30 + today);
    vUID = (40 + today);
    Blynk.virtualWrite(vFID, 0);
    Blynk.virtualWrite(vEID, 255);
    Blynk.virtualWrite(vUID, 0);
    int l = 100 + (today * 10);
    EEPROM.put(l,0); //save the state
    takePills = 0;
    reminderNum = 1;
    creminderNum = 1;
    tTaken = currentTimeInSecs;
    int takeDeltaMin = (tTaken-alarmTime)/60;
    sprintf (message,"PILLMINDER: %s pills taken %i mintutes after alarm.",deviceName, takeDeltaMin);
    clientSMS();
    careSMS();
    successMusic();
    pillCount();
}

void clientSMS () {
   sprintf(SMS, "Twilio-SMS/+1%i%i",clientAC,clientNumber);
   Serial.printlnf("SMS: %s", message );
   //Particle.publish(SMS,message,PRIVATE);   
}

void careSMS () {
   sprintf(SMS, "Twilio-SMS/+1%i%i",care1AC,care1Number);
   // Particle.publish(SMS,message,PRIVATE);  
   sprintf(SMS, "Twilio-SMS/+1%i%i",care2AC,care2Number);
   // Particle.publish(SMS,message,PRIVATE); 
   Serial.printlnf("SMS: %s", message );
}

void pillCount(){
   pillsRemaining = 0;
   i=0;
   while (i<7) {
     i++;
     if (pFull[i] > 0) {
        pillsRemaining = pillsRemaining + 1;
     }
   }
   if (pillsRemaining <= pillMin) {
     pillsLow();
   }
   else { 
     Blynk.virtualWrite(V8, 0);
   }
}

void successMusic() {
    tone(speaker,500,500);
    delay(500);
    tone(speaker,2000,500);
}

void failMusic() {
     tone(speaker,5000,200);
     delay(400);
     tone(speaker,5000,200);
     delay(400);
     tone(speaker,5000,200);

}

void alarmMusic() {
     if (audibleAlerts == 1) {
     tone(speaker,1200,200); 
     }
}

void updateTime() {
    if (millis() - lastSync > ONE_DAY_MILLIS) { //daily cloud time sync
      Particle.syncTime();
      lastSync = millis();
    }
    Time.zone(localTimeZone);
    second = Time.second();
    minute = Time.minute();
    hour = Time.hour();
    currentTimeInSecs = second + (minute*60) + (hour*60*60);
    today = Time.weekday();
}

void updateLog() {
    Serial.println();
    Serial.printlnf("Current Alive Seconds= %i", millis()/1000);
    Serial.printlnf("Name: %s ", deviceName);
    Serial.printlnf("Client Number: %i-%i", clientAC, clientNumber );
    Serial.printlnf("Care1 Number: %i-%i", care1AC, care1Number );
    Serial.printlnf("Care2 Number: %i-%i", care2AC, care2Number );
    Serial.printlnf("Local Time Zone = %i Day = %i ",localTimeZone, today);
    Serial.printlnf("Alarm Time Hour = %i Alarm Time Seconds = %i ",alarmTime/3600, alarmTime );
    Serial.printlnf("Current Hour = %i Current Time In Seconds = %i",Time.hour(), currentTimeInSecs);
    Serial.printlnf("Client Reminder Time =%i minutes Reminder Count =%i--Care Reminder Time =%i minutes - Reminder Count = %i",reminderTime, reminderNum, careWarningTime, creminderNum);
    Serial.printlnf("Take Pills= %i Pills Remaining = %i ",takePills, pillsRemaining);
    Serial.printlnf("Pill Bin Status: Sun= %i Mon= %i Tues= %i Wed= %i Thur= %i Fri= %i Sat= %i", pFull[1], pFull[2], pFull[3], pFull[4], pFull[5], pFull[6], pFull[7]);
}

Credits

Mark Lewis

3 projects • 2 followers

PillMinder

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Custom parts and enclosures

Base

Cover

Lid

Lens

Schematics

Schematic

Code

Photon Code

Credits

Mark Lewis

Comments

Embed the widget on your own site

PillMinder

PillMinder

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Software apps and online services

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Story

Custom parts and enclosures

Base

Cover

Lid

Lens

Schematics

Schematic

Code

Photon Code

Credits

Mark Lewis

Comments

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