Germany-based secondary packaging manufacturer, August Faller has developed a new digitized folding carton prototype, Medical Prescription, for pharmaceutical packaging.

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Image: The new smart packaging prototype is integrated with electronics to improve compliance. Photo: courtesy of August Faller.

Said to be intelligent and interactive, the new smart packaging prototype is integrated with electronics to improve compliance and help patients in easily handling their medication intake.

Featuring a small e-paper display and electronic controls (buttons), the new packaging solution counts down the tablets, reminds the patient of the time to take them and provides alerts when it is time to order a new prescription.

In order to remind patients to take their medication promptly, the packaging solution comprises an integrated clock, an LED and a tone signal.

August Faller said in a statement: “The special trick: With the help of an app developed in-house and via Bluetooth, doctors or pharmacists can transfer the individual dosage instructions onto the folding carton.”

The digitalized folding carton allows doctor or pharmacist to transfers the personalized dosage instructions including time to take medication, the number of tablets to be taken and the in days, by pressing a button via smartphone, laptop or PC.

Once opened by the patient for the first time, the pharmaceutical packaging allows them to press one of the operating buttons on the front following which it shows a greeting.

The packaging solution also offers the patient the possibility to count the tablets or see the correct dosage instructions by allowing them to navigate through the menu using the operating buttons.

Additionally, the intelligent folding carton shows a warning to the patient if the number of tablets drops below a certain level, and recommends them to order a new prescription.

Created by a particularly flat electronics system with e-paper display, microcontroller, battery and Bluetooth/wireless interface, the packaging also informs the patients if it is not correctly closed.

Developed together with MSC Technologies from Freiburg and Pforzheim College, the smart folding carton in the “Medical Prescription” design is one of the three digitalized packaging prototypes being designed by Faller.

August Faller plans to display its Smart Packaging solutions at the upcoming events including CPhI 2018 and FachPack 2018.