Development of a 3D-printed Medication Label for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Open Access
- 27 March 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by AccScience Publishing in International Journal of Bioprinting
- Vol. 6 (2), 114-124
- https://doi.org/10.18063/ijb.v6i2.276
Abstract
This study explored the potential of three-dimensional printing (3DP) technology in producing a three-dimensional (3D) medication label for blind and visually impaired (BVI) patients to ease their drug administration. Different variations of label wordings, dosing instructions, and medication identifiers were designed with reference to guidelines by the American Foundation for the Blind. Shapes and symbols were used as dosing instructions and medication identifiers to the patient’s medical conditions. Prototype designs were created with common graphics computer-assisted drafting software and 3D-printed using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene as the polymer filament. Feedback was then obtained from five people with normal vision and four BVI persons. The initial prototype comprised four components, namely, medication name and strength, patient’s name, dosing instruction, and medication identifier. A revised label comprising the latter two components was developed after feedback by BVI persons. Words were in all uppercase and regular font type, with a 5-mm center-to-center letter spacing. Elevation heights of the letters alternated between 1 mm and 1.5 mm. A half sphere represented the medication dose unit, while vertical lines and a horizontal center line with alternating elevation of arrowheads represented the frequency of administration and the medication’s consumption in relation to food, respectively. Symbols based on target organs were used as medication identifiers. With rapid advancements in 3DP technologies, there is tremendous potential for producing 3D labels in patients’ medication management.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- 3D bioprinting for tissue engineering: Stem cells in hydrogelsInternational Journal of Bioprinting, 2016
- Caring for visually impaired patientsJournal of the American Pharmacists Association, 2013
- Over-the-Counter Medication Purchase and Use by Blind ConsumersJournal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2012
- Pushing frontiers with the first lady of emerging technologies - How is "Internet of the 3D printed products" going to affect our lives?IETE Technical Review, 2012
- Prevalence and Causes of Visual Impairment and Blindness in an Urban Indian Population: The Singapore Indian Eye StudyOphthalmology, 2011
- 3D printing based on imaging data: review of medical applicationsInternational Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery, 2010
- The Role of Braille in the Literacy of Blind and Visually Impaired ChildrenAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology, 2009
- Prevalence and Causes of Low Vision and Blindness in an Urban Malay PopulationJAMA Ophthalmology, 2008
- Additive fabrication technologies applied to medicine and health care: a reviewThe International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 2007
- Viability and electrophysiology of neural cell structures generated by the inkjet printing methodBiomaterials, 2006