Uploaded August 2011 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
A US entry to the 2011 International James Dyson Award.
myRx is an intelligent replacement to the outdated bottle caps currently in use with prescription drug bottles. Aiming to reduce accidental misuse of potent prescription drugs, myRx acts as a virtual nurse by guiding users to take prescriptions as intended. Controlled by a microcontroller-based integrated circuit and powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, myRx uses prescription-specific information to remind users to take prescriptions at the prescribed intervals and to alert users when it detects possible misuse. Prior to giving prescriptions to patients, pharmacists download patient and prescription information (including patient name, drug name, recommended dosage, expiration date, and instructions) onto myRx. Using an embedded internal clock, myRx digitally logs the times at which the bottle is opened, essentially maintaining the user's prescription schedule. If, at any time, the bottle remains unopened for too long, an embedded speaker beeps and a green LED lights up indicating that it is time for medication. Moreover, if the bottle is opened too frequently, the speaker beeps and a red LED flashes signaling possible overdosing. Additionally, myRx keeps track of the prescription's expiration date and alerts users upon prescription expiration. myRx uses an intelligent cap-removal system to prevent child-access, minimize accidental prescription mix-ups and prevent overdosing and underdosing. To open myRx, the user must push and hold the blue button located on the cap's face for 3 seconds. As the button holds the button, the intended user's name, the drug name, and dosage instructions are both displayed on myRx's LED screen and are audibly read by the embedded speaker. To prevent accidental misuse caused by language barriers, the audible instructions are configurable to match the user's native language. To further prevent drug mix-ups within families, the user's name is printed on myRx. Further, doctors can easily access the myRx's log to monitor the patient's intake schedule and to discover unauthorized accesses and possible abuse. As it is also reusable and portable, myRx is a practical, intuitive, and effective solution to the serious problem of prescription drug misuse.
Background Music: Vanilla Twilight Instrumental by Owl City
A US entry to the 2011 International James Dyson Award.
myRx is an intelligent replacement to the outdated bottle caps currently in use with prescription drug bottles. Aiming to reduce accidental misuse of potent prescription drugs, myRx acts as a virtual nurse by guiding users to take prescriptions as intended. Controlled by a microcontroller-based integrated circuit and powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, myRx uses prescription-specific information to remind users to take prescriptions at the prescribed intervals and to alert users when it detects possible misuse. Prior to giving prescriptions to patients, pharmacists download patient and prescription information (including patient name, drug name, recommended dosage, expiration date, and instructions) onto myRx. Using an embedded internal clock, myRx digitally logs the times at which the bottle is opened, essentially maintaining the user's prescription schedule. If, at any time, the bottle remains unopened for too long, an embedded speaker beeps and a green LED lights up indicating that it is time for medication. Moreover, if the bottle is opened too frequently, the speaker beeps and a red LED flashes signaling possible overdosing. Additionally, myRx keeps track of the prescription's expiration date and alerts users upon prescription expiration. myRx uses an intelligent cap-removal system to prevent child-access, minimize accidental prescription mix-ups and prevent overdosing and underdosing. To open myRx, the user must push and hold the blue button located on the cap's face for 3 seconds. As the button holds the button, the intended user's name, the drug name, and dosage instructions are both displayed on myRx's LED screen and are audibly read by the embedded speaker. To prevent accidental misuse caused by language barriers, the audible instructions are configurable to match the user's native language. To further prevent drug mix-ups within families, the user's name is printed on myRx. Further, doctors can easily access the myRx's log to monitor the patient's intake schedule and to discover unauthorized accesses and possible abuse. As it is also reusable and portable, myRx is a practical, intuitive, and effective solution to the serious problem of prescription drug misuse.
Background Music: Vanilla Twilight Instrumental by Owl City
