Developed by Authentix, the TCX1000 Through Cap Reader has been awarded a gold-level Excellence in Design Award by the Appliance Design magazine.

Wanted: A high-speed authentication device to check the authenticity of the product, without the pharmacist having to void the bottle’s security seals.

Look no further. To safeguard the supply of pharmaceutical drugs to consumers, Authentix has developed the TCX1000 Through Cap Reader – a technology that can authenticate pharmaceutical bottles through the caps and anti-tamper foil lining.

According to the company, the TCX1000 was designed completely in-house, from the internal optics to the external case. An industry first, it can authenticate pharmaceutical products via nondestructive, through-the-cap testing. Here’s how it works:

·         The TCX1000 uses a specialized laser to penetrate the cap of a medicine bottle and detect authenticating markers embedded in protective foil closures.

·         The TCX1000 determines if the protective foil has been tampered with while also detecting, classifying and validating the presence of a number of unique forensic level security features.

·         The device contains a rotating head capable of holding a range of bottle sizes during the authentication process. During the process, a high power infrared laser safely probes through a single bottle cap and authenticates the security foil sealing the bottle.

·         If the security features on the foil are authentic, the bottle is validated; if not, it is noted as a potential counterfeit.

The unit has no buttons to push. Pharmacy personnel can operate it easily – they can just place the bottle into the device and the process initiates and assesses the authenticity of the cap.

Stunning in its simplicity, the TCX1000 was recently recognized by the Appliance Design magazine and awarded the gold level Excellence in Design Award. This is the Texas-based Authentix’s third such award since 2004.

The key project players responsible for this innovation include: Dr. Paul John Cronin, director of Opto-Electronics; Chester Wildey, principle engineer; Amber Ansari, software engineer; Patrick Kendal, electrical technician; Jeremy Horvath, electrical technician.