Bang & Olufsen Medicom, a leading supplier of drug delivery device solutions for the Pharmaceutical industry, has announced that it has received yet another design prize – the prestigious American GOOD DESIGN Award 2005. 'The Helping Hand' is an innovative electronic tablet dispenser device that helps patients remember to take and track their prescribed medication.

The design was created by Bang & Olufsen Medicom and is curved like the palm of a hand, hence the name. The winners were announced at a ceremony this New Year’s Eve at the Chicago Anthenaeum Museum.

Founded in 1950, GOOD DESIGN is the world's oldest and most celebrated awards programme that bestows international recognition upon the best international designs. 'The Helping Hand' has been recognised in the “Medical Equipment” category for advancing new and innovative product concepts, its originality and consumer-friendly design.

Easy to use by all
“We are delighted that the Helping Hand has been recognised by such a well respected design award," says Paul Erik Fabricius, Manager Concept Development, Bang & Olufsen Medicom. “The device has already helped thousands of patients worldwide in remembering to take and track their medication from Osteoporosis patients in Spain to patients with memory disorders from various corners of the world.”

'The Helping Hand' device is compatible with a blister card for holding tablets. The patient simply inserts the blister card into the open end of the device, and activates the memory function. Once activated, the device will notify the user via audio and visual signals when it is time for their medication. In addition, the device registers each time the blister pack is removed to take a tablet and records the compliance rate of the patient.

The unique design is discrete, user-friendly and its sturdy shell helps protects the tablets. 'The Helping Hand' is fully customisable for pharmaceutical clients and can be adapted to various blister card sizes and programmed to meet a prescription schedule.  The device is also being developed in several formats to assist a quick and easy data upload for physicians, patients and to support clinical trial evaluations.

'The Helping Hand' has also been recognised by several other Global and Danish award bodies including; iF Design Award 2005 (2005 Product Design award winner), in addition it was a top nominee for the INDEX award 2005 and a nominee for the D.I.D. award 2004 (Danish Innovation and Design award).

About Bang & Olufsen Medicom
Bang & Olufsen Medicom is a wholly owned subsidiary of Bang & Olufsen focused exclusively on the medical device area. Medicom designs, manufactures and co-markets intelligent device solutions that empower patients to manage more effectively their drug treatment regimes. Medicom offers high quality, customised drug delivery devices to Pharmaceutical and Healthcare partners including tablet dispensers, injection accessories, inhalers and sensor based technology. For more information you can visit www.medicom.bang-olufsen.com