MyDose Demonstrator

Methadone treats OUD (Opioid Use Disorder) by reducing opioid withdrawal symptoms and has been used successfully to treat OUD for over 40 years, but is currently only available through SAMHSA certified opioid treatment programs. There are numerous barriers to entry to these programs, including fragmented distribution systems, high rates of stigma, transportation constraints, and a lack of treatment facilities that accept public insurance coverage. By encouraging policy changes that increase treatment accessibility, progress can be made against the opioid overdose epidemic.

As part of product design course titled Product Realization, myself and 3 other engineering students worked to create MyDose Demonstrator. The objective of MyDose Demonstrator is to act as a demonstrable prototype of a mobile methadone dispensation unit to be presented to legislators, promoting policy change that will expand access to treatments for individuals via installation of MyDose in pharmacies to limit disruption of daily activities for those in recovery.

On the path to creating this project, the team developed a four phase project plan -- Project Discovery, Design Phase, Implementation and Testing, and Finalize Project -- to meet the design objective. Beginning in Project Discovery, the team evaluated previous designs and researched the current procedures by which patients receive their OUD treatment. At this phase, the team created tangible criteria to define project success. Following this in the Design Phase, the system was designed and prototyped in components -- secure carousel mechanism, user interface, system housing, evaluation of pump system. Each of these systems was reviewed by the team weekly and underwent design reviews from multiple faculty members and engineering students at the Swanson School. With each of the systems being prototyped independently, this allowed the team to move into the Implementation and Testing phase, in which components were assembled and design revisions were made to account for how everything worked together on a system level. Final manufacturing of the mechanical systems was completed and the system was tested for accuracy in terms of both liquid dispensation and in physical security measures. The project was finalized via a final report, presentation, poster, schematics, and documentation of code.

MyDose Demonstrator won 1st in the Product Realization category at the Swanson School of Engineering Spring 2024 Design Expo.

What specific tasks did I complete for the project?

Design and manufacture of full system housing
Redesign and manufacture of sliding door
Initial design ideation for revolving carousel
Biweekly presentations
Design Expo script
Design Expo poster

Design Expo Poster

Final Presentation

Team Photo

Pictured here is the MyDose team at the Swanson School of Engineering Design Expo, (left to right) Niccolo Valerio, Angel Pampena, Alina Dziamko-Chuhaj, and Dylan Tobey.

Final Report