Amiko Inhaler is an affordable, lightweight, sensor-packed medication adherence tracker that comes in the form of a leaf-shaped sleeve, and is specially designed to fit on five common types of medicine packaging. Aside from keeping track of medicine taken, it also sends information to a connected app to patients and caregivers.

Dubbed “personal medication assistant,” Amiko can help patients and caregivers manage prescriptions, while also making sure the right dosage has been taken for each medication. Similarly, it can alert patients to refill specific prescriptions when levels are low, or determine if the inhaler is held and loaded correctly. Step-by-step guidance in real-time also comes included.

Amiko fits most dry powder inhaler packaging, including all accuhalers, aerolizers, handlers and turbuhalers, commonly used for asthma and COPD.“We learned medication adherence is a huge global problem and thought there had to be a way to use advanced motion and weight change algorithms, dedicated high tech sensors and Bluetooth to devise a solution,” said Duilio Macchi, president and co-founder, Amiko. “We created a wearable that automatically collects data about usage, helping patients stay on track with their meds, providing instant feedback and eliminating errors due to prescription timing and dosage.”

Amiko’s patented technology, Sensenergy, relies on a proprietary algorithm that uses 9 axis MEMS sensors to measure the energy released from the mechanical extraction of the medication from its packaging. The device fits most dry powder inhaler packaging, including all accuhalers, aerolizers, handlers and turbuhalers, commonly used for asthma and COPD. Going forward, the company plans to make different versions of the device for blister packs, insulin pens and pill bottles. In the meantime, it is trying to raise $50,000 at the crowdfunding website Indiegogo.