Log in
  
Home > Networking & Communications > Wireless
Related topics: Wireless ,Medical, News Room
Wireless

Vitality Selects Telit Wireless Solutions’ M2M Module

March 24, 2010

GlowCap ‘smart’ prescription pill bottle caps equipped with Telit’s GE864-QUAD help users take medications on time, auto refill prescriptions and enlist caregivers for social support.


LAS VEGAS, NV -- Telit Wireless Solutions, Inc., the U.S.-based mobile technology arm of Telit Communications (AIM: TCM), announced that its GE864-QUAD M2M module was selected by Vitality, Inc. as the cellular connectivity module in the company's intelligent pill bottle caps, called GlowCaps. Vitality GlowCaps provide individualized feedback programs that help people improve prescription adherence.

"For the first time in the healthcare industry we can use minute-by-minute adherence data to motivate healthy behavior," said David Rose, CEO of Vitality. "Telit's module enables Vitality to call people when they don't take their medication and refill people's medications before they run out."

GlowCaps fit on standard prescription bottles and use light then sound reminders then a phone call or text message so people don't miss a dose. Every time the pill bottle is opened the GlowCaps securely sends data to Vitality using the AT&T cellular network via Telit's module. Daily adherence information is used to compile periodic progress reports that are emailed to patients, caregivers and doctors. Using sophisticated pattern recognition, Vitality uncovers the key motivational levers for each individual, and then tailors programs to activate these levers and break through whatever barriers exist. GlowCaps can also automatically refill prescriptions as pills deplete.

"GlowCaps are an excellent example of how embedded cellular functionality in consumer-focused mHealth devices can vastly improve the effectiveness of patient care," said Michael Ueland, Vice President & General Manager of Telit Wireless Solutions—North America. "We are seeing a common theme emerge across various industries as more companies rely on the reach of cellular communications to encourage more positive behavior and better decision making. Thanks to Vitality, motivation from GlowCaps can not only reduce healthcare costs, but improve treatment outcomes by increasing adherence."

According to The New England Healthcare Institute poor adherence to prescription medications reduces treatment effectiveness, costing the U.S. $290 billion a year, accounting for approximately 13% of total annual healthcare expenses. Vitality GlowCaps and behavioral programs are designed to solve this problem for patients, pharmaceutical companies, retail pharmacies, and healthcare providers.

The low profile and small, 30 x 30 x 2.8 mm size of Telit's GE864-QUAD make this GSM/GPRS module one of the smallest and most powerful modules available. Featuring a ball grid array (BGA) design, tape and reel packaging and an integrated TCP/IP protocol stack that provides support for UDP, FTP and SMTP via AT commands, the GE864-QUAD is ideally engineered for seamless integration with compact consumer electronics and telemedicine applications.

All Telit modules support Over-the-Air firmware updates by means of Premium FOTA Management. Additionally, since Telit owns and controls the firmware within its modules, any changes to underlying chipsets will have minimal impact on customers' application designs.

About Telit
Telit Wireless Solutions is an internationally leading specialist in wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) technology. Telit is the only company worldwide to offer communications modules for all of the various wireless technologies: it develops, produces and markets modules for GSM/GPRS, UMTS/HSDPA, CDMA and Short-Range RF applications. M2M applications rationalize business processes by enabling machines, equipment and vehicles to communicate with each other via mobile networks.

Telit products are used all over the world and marketed via Telit's offices in Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Korea, Spain, the Republic of South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK and the USA. Telit's global distributor network comprises of specialists in wireless technologies and enhances the customer experience in over 56 countries worldwide. Telit Communications PLC is listed on AIM (ticker: TCM).

About Vitality
Vitality, Inc. addresses the billion-dollar adherence problem for pharmaceutical brands, retail pharmacies, and healthcare providers with a simple device—an Internet-connected pill cap. Vitality GlowCaps illuminate, play a melody, and even ring a home phone so patients don't forget. They can send weekly emails to remote caregivers, create accountability with doctors through an adherence report, and automatically refill prescriptions. Vitality improves medication adherence, health, and peace of mind.

Vitality is currently working with researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Center for Connected Health on a study to measure the impact of the GlowCaps CONNECT system. Vitality is the only company with a product designed to tackle the combination of factors that conspire to cause non-adherent behavior. Leveraging deep expertise in customer research, wireless consumer electronics, web services, and behavioral psychology, Vitality's patent pending solutions offer each patient the optimal mix of intervention, feedback, reminders, accountability, education, and incentives to improve their ongoing medication adherence.






Sensors.tv