There is a large percentage of people who have to take medication and either forget to take it or are unable to swallow. Lohmann-Therapie Systeme have developed Transdermal technology which basically are smart patches that make treatment much more convenient and pleasant for the patient. Instead of having to take lots of tablets, patients often only have to apply a new patch once a week. In addition, patches from LTS also ensure a constant drug level for the entire duration of wear. Symptoms upon getting up in the morning as a result of low drug levels during the night are avoided. The company has just partnered with EINK to have a patient’s data displayed on the Transdermal Patches.
The LTS smart patch is equipped with 2-inch electronic paper display which leverages the display’s bistable nature to ensure the patient does not need to recharge the battery. The patch also features a switch and pressure sensor to show helpful information with functionalities including the countdown for the next dose and a reminder to remove the patch when it is time to switch to another.
“There are many advantages to TTS technologies, and now we can add a decisive enhancement – an EIH display,” said Tim Schlange, CMO at LTS. “This feature allows LTS to provide functionalities to patients with more reliable, safe and pain-free applications and to further enhance the value of solutions for its partners in the pharmaceutical industry.”
Smart drug systems are a fledgling industry, but by 2024 they will generate over $81 billion dollars as they provide a more targeted, uniform and secure method of drug delivery, according to data from New England Healthcare Institute.
I think dermal patches seem really good on paper. There is no need to take tablets or pills anymore when you can just wear a patch and it will constantly dispense the medicine into your body. You will need less dosages, which saves everyone money. It also avoids a bunch of nasty side effects. Maybe E-Ink is ahead of the curve on this, but it remains to be seen if it will take off with the public.
Michael Kozlowski is the editor-in-chief at Good e-Reader and has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past fifteen years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
