Child-resistant pill container designed for grandparents, arthritis patients

A Purdue University innovator has designed a child-resistant pill organizer, called Sera, that is easy to open for patients with dexterity issues. (Image provided) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – More than 50,000 children younger than 5 years of age are brought to emergency rooms for medication overdoses each year.

Child-resistant pill containers help cut down the number of those emergencies, but they can be difficult for older patients to use. Dexterity issues such as arthritis can make using the pill containers even more difficult.

Now, a Purdue University innovator has designed a child-resistant pill organizer, called Sera, that is easy to open for patients with dexterity issues.

“Nearly half of all instances of young children ingesting the wrong medication involves grandparents’ medications,” said Jack Judge, a recent graduate in industrial design from Purdue, who invented the container. “As someone who grew up very close to my grandfather, I understand the value of that relationship in a child’s upbringing. But the risks cannot be ignored, so Sera steps in to cover some unmet needs.”

Sera features a hidden two-button mechanism, designed so that only adult-length fingers are long enough to unlock the container and open the pill box.

“While most child-resistant mechanisms rely on an advanced degree of dexterity to be opened, Sera relies only on finger length, making the design more accessible for the aging population,” Judge said.

Judge is working with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to license this patented technology. The office is now housed in the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus.

The researchers are looking for partners to continue developing their technology. For more information on licensing and other opportunities, contact D.H.R. Sarma of OTC at DHRSarma@prf.org and mention track code 2019-JUDG-68526.

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. The office recently moved into the Convergence Center for Innovation and Collaboration in Discovery Park District, adjacent to the Purdue campus. In fiscal year 2019, the office reported 136 deals finalized with 231 technologies signed, 380 disclosures received and 141 issued U.S. patents. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. In 2020, IPWatchdog Institute ranked Purdue third nationally in startup creation and in the top 20 for patents. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Contact otcip@prf.org for more information.      

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 6 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu.

Writer: Chris Adam, cladam@prf.org

Source: Jack Judge, jackjudge94@gmail.com

Photo Caption: A Purdue University innovator has designed a child-resistant pill organizer, called Sera, that is easy to open for patients with dexterity issues. (Image provided) https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/2020/sera-organizer.jpg