2018 Build - Bill of Material and Tools Needed to Build

Bills of Materials

Where possible, the bills of materials below have links to the exact or similar products to those that I used to build basalsure1, but similar and reasonable substitutions can easily be made. Note that basalsure1 was built on a Raspberry Pi 2 Model B Rev 1.1 that I had laying around, but below I recommend a model 3 or Zero W.

Device hardware

• A box to build in. I used this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M97PK8F
• Raspberry Pi (a 3, a Zero W, or newer)
  • The two that I have personally used are:
    • Pi Zero W: https://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Zero-Wireless-model/dp/B06XFZC3BX (is much smaller, but requires soldering)
    • Pi 2 B: https://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-3-Model-B/dp/B082QN6L1N/ (does not require soldering)
    • Those both have age on them now and have been replaced by newer models, which also should work just fine.
  • The newer Pi Zero 2 W: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-zero-2-w/
  • The newer Pi 4 B: https://www.raspberrypi.com/products/raspberry-pi-4-model-b/
  • Note: As of May, 2022, the recent global supply chain shortages are a problem for RPis... eBay is a good source for them and I wouldn't worry too much about buying used ones -- they are hardy little devices.
• You'll need a micro SD card to hold the system software - https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-MicroSD-Adapter-MB-ME32GA-AM/dp/B06XWN9Q99/
  • An 4GB SD card is large enough, but 32GB cards are very inexpensive, work just fine, and are about as small as can be had in now-a-days.
  • For over 3 years, this Samsung SD card worked perfectly for me: https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-MicroSD-Adapter-MB-ME32GA-AM/dp/B06XWN9Q99/
  • As of May 2022, I have switched this this San Disk card. It is less expensive than the Samsung and I learned of it through a work project with a company that has a lot or RPis deployed in field service all over the USA. If it does not hold up well, I'll go back to the Samsung: https://amazon.com/gp/product/B07P14QHB7/
• Photo interrupter sensor with 6mm gap width (x2) - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0FQ21B/
  • A 6mm gap width is most appropriate for standard insulin syringes. Wider might work, but I did not try.
• 5V DC Buzzer - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07JQKBMNX (no longer available)
  • https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S85WRSZ/ (3V version should work just fine)
  • https://www.amazon.com/GFORTUN-Terminals-Electronic-Continuous-Industrial/dp/B0716FD838 (same part)
  • During development, I used a simple LED bulb, pulled from a string of LED christmas tree lights.

When built in late 2018 with a Raspberry Pi Zero W, my total cost for the device hardware was under $70.

Consumables for device build

• Breadboard wires - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EV70C78
  • Unless you use a Pi Zero W, this build is completely solderless, which is only possible with breadboard wires such as these
• Sticky-backed and low-profile Velcro - https://www.amazon.com/VELCRO-Brand-Industrial-Strength-Thickness/dp/B000VR8B3K/
• Label maker - and random label maker. I used a Brother brand, home handheld.
• Small piece of shallow cork board, or similar, on which to mount the photo interrupter sensors
• Small screws - 4x very small wood screws are needed to secure the photo interrupter sensors
• Four inch cable ties - https://www.amazon.com/Mudder-Nylon-Cable-Black-Pieces/dp/B017B6CMQK
• Plastic to mount Raspberry Pi onto - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049MWXM8/

Software, services, and consumables for using the device

• Twilio for SMS messages - http://www.twilio.com
• Software and configuration file - in the code section of this project
• Avery Removable Color Coding Labels - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004INKH08
  • Because syringes are made of clear plastic, they do not adequately block the photo interrupter sensors. Wrapping one of these removable and reusable labels around the body of the syringe solves that problem. Almost anything will work -- even a small piece of plain paper -- but we find these to work well, be convenient, and they are inexpensive.

Tools needed

• Cutting dikes - https://www.amazon.com/Stanley-84-105-6-Inch-Diagonal-Cutting/dp/B0001IW89W
• Sheers or tin cutters to cut plastic to mount Pi onto
• Drill or angle grinder to cut grooves in box for power cord egress (I used an angle grinder)
• Scissors
• Small screw driver
• If a Raspberry Pi Zero W is chosen, you will need a soldering iron to affix the 40-pin GPIO headers.