Access Counting Lid for Prescription Pill Bottles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pill bottles do not provide information to patients about whether they are following prescribed dosage instructions, nor do they track the number of times the bottle has been accessed.
Innovation Solution
A pill bottle lid with an actuator and access counter that stores energy when mounted on the bottle and releases it when removed, advancing a counter for each cycle to track the number of accesses and display this information to the patient.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pill bottle lid is designed to securely hold the bottle closed, then the lid provides reliable closure, but the lid structure becomes more complex requiring multiple complemental structures and different relative motions for alignment and engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the closure function and the counting function into a single integrated lid structure. The actuator mechanism is incorporated within the lid itself, merging two functions (securing closure and counting accesses) into one device, thereby avoiding the need for separate complex mechanisms while maintaining reliable closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The lid is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides secure closure through complemental structures on the rims, simultaneously counts the number of times the bottle is accessed through the actuator and counter mechanism, and provides feedback to the patient. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate devices and simplifies the overall system.
2Loss of information
If a pill bottle provides no tracking information, then the bottle structure remains simple, but the patient cannot determine whether prescribed dosages are being followed
Solution Approach 1:
The lid automatically performs the counting function without requiring external intervention or complex electronics. The actuator mechanism is passively actuated by the patient's own actions (screwing the lid on or off), and the counter automatically increments with each access. The system serves itself by using the patient's necessary actions to drive the counting mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a counter that provides feedback to the patient about the number of times the bottle has been accessed. This feedback mechanism allows the patient to monitor dosage compliance without adding significant complexity to the lid structure. The counter can be displayed through various means (visual, tactile) and provides continuous information about usage patterns.
3Ease of manufacture
If the lid structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the lid cannot provide accurate access counting functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is divided into distinct functional components: the main lid body with complemental closure structures, the actuator mechanism with spring and cam elements, and the counter display mechanism. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using simple, cost-effective processes, then assembled into the complete functional lid. The modular approach maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling accurate counting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses mechanical intermediaries (such as cam surfaces, spring-loaded actuators, and gear mechanisms) to translate the patient's simple screwing/un-screwing actions into precise counting increments. These intermediary mechanical elements provide reliable, accurate counting without requiring complex electronics or sophisticated manufacturing processes, bridging the gap between simple user actions and precise measurement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The lid effectively tracks the number of times the pill bottle is accessed, allowing patients to determine if they have taken the correct dosage and potentially alerting them to excessive access.
Implementation Method 1
A compression spring biases the lower disk away from the upper disk
Implementation Method 2
A conical spring is axially aligned inside of the spinner housing and biases the spinner way from the upper disk toward an upper end of the spindle
Data Source
AI summary
A lid counts a number of patient accesses to a pill bottle. The lid has an actuator, a main housing containing the actuator and an access counter responsive to the actuator. The actuator stores energy in response to axial force manually applied to mount the lid on the bottle and releases the stored energy in response to counter-axial force manually applied to remove the lid from the bottle. Each release of energy causes the access counter to advance one interval, indicating an accumulated total of advances and, therefore, the total number of times the bottle has been accessed. The lid can be adjusted to account for taking various numbers of pills per dosage over a predetermined time period.