Adhesive Dose Indicator with Rotating Dial for Medication Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reminder devices for medication intake are often complex with multiple moving parts, making them difficult to use and costly, failing to effectively address the issue of missed doses or overdoses, particularly for the elderly with reduced dexterity or impaired vision.
Innovation Solution
A simple, cost-effective dose indicator device with a rotating reminder dial attached to medication containers via a self-adhesive base, featuring a single moving part for easy use, which displays days of the week and doses taken, allowing users to track medication intake without batteries or complex mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing reminder devices with multiple moving parts are used, then they can provide medication tracking functionality, but they become complex and costly to manufacture and difficult to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of medication tracking from complex mechanical reminder devices and implements it using a simple adhesive label with a single movable indicator element. The label is applied directly to the medication container, eliminating the need for complex housing, batteries, and multiple moving parts while maintaining the core tracking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable adhesive label that is inexpensive to manufacture and replace. The label contains a simple indicator mechanism that can be easily replaced when worn or lost, providing a cost-effective solution compared to durable but complex electronic or mechanical reminder devices.
2Reliability
If existing reminder devices with multiple moving parts are used, then they can track medication doses, but they become costly and appeal is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an inexpensive disposable adhesive label that can be manufactured at very low cost using standard printing and adhesive application processes. The label replaces complex mechanical or electronic tracking devices with a simple paper or plastic substrate containing printed indicators and a single movable element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the medication container cap or surface using an adhesive label that replicates the essential tracking functionality without needing to manufacture an entire complex device. The label copies the interface between user and medication, providing all necessary tracking features in a thin, inexpensive format.
3Reliability
If complex reminder devices are used, then they may provide comprehensive tracking, but they are difficult to use for elderly with reduced dexterity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential interaction element needed for medication tracking - a single movable indicator - and removes all extraneous components. The indicator can be easily moved by fingers with reduced dexterity, and the adhesive label provides a stable, easy-to-apply base that requires minimal manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the interaction interface by using a large, flat adhesive label with clearly printed indicators and a single movable element. This increases the size of interactive elements and reduces the precision required for manipulation, making it suitable for users with reduced dexterity or visual impairment.
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 device ensures medication safety and adherence by providing clear, readable reminders, suitable for various dosing schedules, and can be easily attached to any container or cap, offering durability and versatility without the complexity of prior art solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The second lower surface 48 of the base disk 40 contains an adhesive material 80 which allows the base disk 40 to be attached to any surface of a medicine container 12
Data Source
AI summary
A record-keeping indicator device, and in particular, to an indicator device associated with medicine containers permits a user to determine the number of doses of medicine taken in a successive interval and on a given day. The indicator device includes a disk having a top and bottom surface. The top surface displays a first set of indicia for the seven days of the week spaced circumferentially around the perimeter. A second set of indicia for the number of doses of medication ingested are evenly spaced between each indicator of the first set. A dial or arrow arm, at the center of the disk, extends outwardly toward the dose indicia and is rotatable about the disk via a turning mechanism. The bottom surface of the disk contains an adhesive material which allows the disk to be attached to any surface of a medicine container.