Assessment of opioid dependent patients in a replacement program has traditionally relied on conventional methods such as urine testing or face to face examination with a physician. We are introducing new assessment techniques based on pupillometry, reaction time and slurring of speech. The pupillometry test uses a webcam, controlled lighting and customized software to measure pupil parameters. The reaction time test uses a push-button to detect time to respond to a visual stimulus. The slurred speech test involves detection of slurring of a set of individual test words. These three tests will be combined to provide the physician with an objective "sedation index" for patients. These techniques will be used with remote dispensing technology currently under development.

This paper describes the design of a medication dispenser developed for narcotic rehabilitation programs. The dispenser holds up to four doses of medication and operates under remote supervision. A direct-into-mouth dispensing mechanism is a feature of the device. The mechanical dispenser mechanism includes a rotating barrel, medication tubes and dispensing slider unit. The electronic design involves a microprocessor PIC18F4550, stepper-motors, sensing devices a LabVIEW-based computer interface for remote supervisory control and monitoring. The dispenser stores medication and successfully delivers it directly into the mouth under remote supervision.

Low bandwidth has long been a reason for the unsuitability of wireless internet in telemedicine. However with the advent of extended third generation wireless as an economically accessible high speed network, more opportunities are being created in this area of telemedicine. This paper explores the opportunity created by the latest wireless broadband technology for remote monitoring of patients in the home.

Achieving quality outcomes from our Biomedical Engineering research relies on effective engagement with the Medical community. This typically takes the form of collaborative research with clinicians, or clinician-researchers, on issues they identify. While this presents opportunities, there are also significant challenges, and the goal of effective engagement and collaboration can be difficult to achieve. Engaging is a complex process -not only does it bring a "second party" into the research, but the project itself becomes more complex. Here we aim to promote engagement and stimulate discussion by considering the process and challenges together with relevant examples.We can identify a number of stages in the process of typical clinically-relevant research. The first is the preliminary stage of establishing the collaboration, including identifying appropriate potential clinical partners, identifying the real medical needs, educating biomedical engineers on the required medical knowledge and the surrounding medical culture, and developing mutual understanding and trust between engineering researchers and clinicians. The next stage is defining the problem and issues, and the specific aims and methods for the research. A further stage is attracting sufficient funding and competent research personnel. Subsequent stages are undertaking the core technical developments, gaining appropriate ethical and regulatory approvals, conducting an experimental program and trials, and finally, potentially commercialising developed technology.A particular challenge for clinicians is to invest the required time and energy in the process. Government, professional and personal incentives for clinicians to be involved in successful collaborative research programs are key factors.Two case study projects are given as examples. The first involves collaborative research in hospital-based neonatal care. This project comprises research into methods and technology directed at improving the delivery of supplementary oxygen to premature babies, including logging data from babies to assess the performance of current systems, and prototyping an improved oxygen controller.The second case study involves collaborative research in drug addiction rehabilitation with local community-based clinicians. The research in this project relates to improving the safety of take-home narcotic substitute medication. This includes development of technology for secure storage and delivery of the medication and remote assessment of patients, gaining ethics and regulatory approvals for patient trials, conducting trials and analysing results.Despite inherent difficulties, the case studies illustrate that the benefits of engagement are substantial, and the insight and expert knowledge of clinician-researchers is paramount to achieving quality outcomes. It is hoped that by exposing the issues, difficulties and benefits of engaging the Medical community, wider discussion will be promoted and effective collaboration encouraged.