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Medgadget. “XStraw Makes Swallowing Oral Meds Easier |.” Medgadget (2019). https://www.medgadget.com/2019/09/xstraw-makes-swallowing-oral-meds-easier.html.
Article from citation above was published September 24, 2019

DS Technology. “Xstraw.” Simple. Convincing | DS Technology (2019). https://d-s.technology/en/idea/xstraw.

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Daniel: Discipline
Daniel will be a team leader. His best asset to the team is to keep us organized and on time. He will plan the implementation process step-by-step and ensure that  things are being done in order to be able to help us produce the best result.
Rose: Relator
Rose best strength is remaining positive and helping others feel the same. Rose will be able to bond with our team members and be a source of support as well as a motivator to keep us moving toward our end goal.
Fernando: Focus
Fernando will help prioritize the task at hand. He will also be able to help us analyze whether the implementation of this product is practical and realistic.
Angelica: Analytical
Angelica will be able to evaluate the facts and data of this innovation. She will outline the reasons to be implemented as well as what the outcomes might be after use. Whatever decision the team comes to, it will be due to the facts and logic produced by Angelica.
Matthew: Mazimizer
Matthew will find ways to maximize every part of the process by evaluating everyones strengths and ensuring they are assigned appropriate tasks in order to support personal and group excellence. He will help take our implementation from one level to the next.

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Due to my time in direct care nursing with a patient population mostly comprised of the geriatric community, I see the benefit that this innovation could hold. It is not only hard on the patients to swallow whole pills or large capsules but it also takes away from the patients nurse as we can be passing meds to this patient for over 20-30 minutes. This could be dependent on the inability of the patient to take multiple pills at a time or the requirement of crushing the pills into pudding, oatmeal, etc. This product would allow easier intake of the patient which allows them to feel less dread when it comes to taking medications. It also assist the nurse with quicker med passes and less work as it eliminates the need to crush medication. The only downfall I recognize would be hospital cost on ordering packages of medication in this straw form because how hard it is to assume which medications it would be needed for. Overall, it think it is a great innovation and should be implemented to those that are struggling with swallowing medication.

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1. Unsafe for patients with aspiration precautions, i.e. dysphagia patients
2. Not able to transport/store as easily as packaged medications
3. Children must have the sucking reflex to use
4. Must order ahead of time, delaying easy administration until product arrives

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1. Ease of access
2. Exact medication dosage administered
3. Alternative for the need to crush tablets or open capsules
4. Provides safe method for oral medication to be administered
5. Can be mixed into patients favorite beverage, easier to get child to take medication

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Xstraw was constructed to service children and geriatric patients that commonly find themselves having trouble swallowing their oral medications. This drinking straw allows a pre measured dose of medication to be mixed into their favorite beverage. The dosage is controlled by orange filter that will travel up the straw as medication is being ingested until dose is fully administered.

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Many people experience difficulties swallowing their medications, with kids and elderly people being most commonly affected. Crushing pills and taking apart drug capsules is usually a poor solution, since the effectiveness and rate of release of medications can be significantly altered. DS Technology, a German firm, has developed a unique drinking straw that makes it easy and comfortable to take oral medications.

The XStraw, as the device is called, is made to contain a pre-measured dosage of drug pellets or granules. The patient simply dips it into their favorite beverage and sucks on it like a conventional drinking straw.

Inside, a special porous filter solution from Porex, a company that makes all kinds of filters, works to contain the drug and to make sure that it moves up the straw as it is sucked on. The filter is hydrophobic and so prevents the drug pellets or granules from sticking to each other and creating clumps that would make swallowing difficult and may affect medication effectiveness. Moreover, until the patient sucks on the straw, the medication will not mix with their beverage. As the drink is drunk, the control filter moves up with the medications and sticks in place to signal that the medication was ingested.

Product page: XStraw...

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XStraw Makes Swallowing Oral Meds Easier |

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Many people experience difficulties swallowing their medications, with kids and elderly people being most commonly affected. Crushing pills and taking apart drug capsules is usually a poor solution, since the effectiveness and rate of release of medications can be significantly altered.