Dispensing your own medicine

[Rogue]

They can print body parts now the printable pill is on the way
OCTOBER 31, 20154:50PM


Your computer printer could soon be dispensing your medicine. Picture Thinkstock
Sue DunlevyNews Corp Australia Network

YOUR computer printer could soon be printing pills personalised to your individual biological needs and they could include a camera that diagnoses health problems and notifies your doctor.

Pharmaceutical company GSK says it is already testing biosensors that measure hydration, blood pressure and heart rate that could soon be built into clothing.
And in August this year the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the world’s first printable pill — Spritam levetiracetam — which controls seizures bought on by epilepsy.

Pharmaceutical company Aprecia uses 3D printing to create a porous pill that dissolves in just ten seconds when it makes contact with liquid.

Your medicine could soon be made by your computer and diagnose your illnesses.

GSK’s general manager Geoff McDonald says it’s the start of a health revolution and his company is also using technology to develop new drugs.

It won’t be long before you’ll get up in the morning and touch a marker which pricks your finger and tests your blood.

“This information travels to your biologic 3D printer which automatically prints a personalised pill for the day addressing any deficiencies or health risks,” he says.
“The pill includes a camera which, as it travels through your body, sends data to your electronic health record which can be accessed by your doctor.

“The camera notices something unusual; it sends an alert to your phone and your doctor,” he says.

GSK has been using wearable or remote biosensors to accurately monitor a patient’s physiology and behaviour in its clinical trials.

Drug companies are using special body censors to research the effectiveness of new medicines.

The company is asking patients to wear a small, rectangular lightweight monitor that sticks to their chest and measures movement in a study for motor neurone disease.
Similar monitors are being used in research on new drugs for asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and stroke to provide high quality data on whether the medication actually works.

“The biometric data is stored in the device and downloads automatically via a Bluetooth connection when a patient nears a small wireless router. The data is sent to a secure server GSK can use for researching much-needed treatments for the disease,” he said.

Full article>>
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/they-can-print-body-parts-now-the-printable-pill-is-on-the-way/story-fneuz9ev-1227589380023

[Kaere]

Interesting stuff! It's amazing the things people will think up. I think there could be a lot of benefit to this type of thing but also lots of chances for abuse or mistakes.

[Agartha]

I think this is great for serious conditions... but I strongly believe people should do more themselves to keep healthy: staying fit and eating healthy food can help prevent hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol etc.... I hate it when people only rely on pills for preventable diseases!!!

But yes, great idea... if used in a positive way, like K said.

[Stargate]

wow, we will soon have a machine to go to the toilet, and have menstruation for women. We might have to get rid of the doctors and expose ourselves totally to a machine. I think it would be good for people who like that sort of stuff, for me, I don't think so. 

[Lenzabi]

yep, for chronic and serious conditions it makes sense as there are times I have to wait to get my pills. BUT for frivolous things that are not serious or life threatening, it should still be go to the store and get that off-the-shelf stuff.

[Rockhopper]

Be useful for me, I have to take so many pills I rattle when I walk!

Tim.

[Stargate]

Be useful for me, I have to take so many pills I rattle when I walk!

Tim.

Don't feel bad Tim, I don't rattle just yet, but I don't take the pills I am supposed to take. 

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