Jason Littman, the CEO of Life Integrating Technologies and Experiences, or LITE, says his company’s Lumma takes on a problem which will only get more critical with the passage of time as the population ages.
“Here’s the thing, remembering to take medication and supplements can get downright confusing. In fact, medication non-adherence is costing America 300 billion dollars a year and it’s robbing better health for millions of people,” Littman says. “So we decided to reinvent the entire process with Lumma.”
Littman says Lumma is the first system — for home use — that completely automates the medication experience.
Most of the components which make up the device were custom designed in SolidWorks and then 3D printed.
Lumma sets itself apart as, unlike other solutions which only set reminders for patients, it automatically sorts and dispenses your pills using a customized schedule or even on-demand. The system wirelessly connects to any smartphone via an app.
It’s also possible to take full control of the Lumma from a touch screen or to remotely control settings from a dashboard. Lumma also includes information about the medications themselves and their potential side effects, and Littman says that makes it easier to share information with caregivers and medical professionals.
The company says Lumma can hold up to 3 months of pills and is capable of sending alerts via push notification, text or email to prevent missing doses.
Lumma just launched on Kickstarter and is already at more than $24,000 in commitments. The campaign, with a $100K goal, runs through September 18th.
According to Littman, the work began on Lumma when the team realized that family and friends were struggling with consistently taking their pills and staying healthy.
“Once we realized how widespread the problems of medication mismanagement are, we developed Lumma to be an effective and affordable solution for everyone,” Littman says. “Millions of people take multiple pills each day, and an estimated 40% struggle to stick to their plans.”
He says studies show that as many as 70% of Americans regularly take medications, while nearly 50% regularly take vitamins and supplements. He adds that scientists have discovered that the more often a patient forgets to take their pills, the more likely they are to be hospitalized.The device includes a large, front dispensing space to accommodate medicine cups or travel cases, a built-in touch screen and computer which can function with or without a Bluetooth-connected phone or tablet, can be plugged into any outlet with its power adapter and includes emergency battery back-up.
The company currently offers a pair of models – the Model 6 and the Model 12. The Model 6 can hold up to a 3-month supply of 6 different types of pills, while the Model 12 can hold up to a 3-month supply of 12 different types of pills. Prices for the two vary through the early bird backing levels, but the full Kickstarter prices are set at $199 for the Model 6 and $299 for the Model 12.
You can see more details about both the device and the app at the company website, GetLumma.com.
The Lumma team is led by Jason Littman and Terence O’Shea. Jason and Terence met in the first grade and have been best friends since. Littman is a biomedical researcher, while O’Shea is an experienced industrial engineer who specializes in mechanics and product design.
What do you think of the Lumma 3D printed medication dispenser? Do you know anyone who could use one for themselves, a friend or family member? Let us know in the Lumma 3D Printed Medication Dispenser forum thread on 3DPB.com.
