Blister Pack Pill Detection via Multi-Touch Pressure Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions fail to accurately detect the number and position of pills in a blister pack, leading to medication non-compliance issues as patients often forget to take their medication on time or in the correct order.
Innovation Solution
A pill detection apparatus comprising a blister pack receiving container, an elastomeric connector layer, and a printed circuit board (PCB) layer with touch points that sense pressure and position, allowing for accurate tracking of pill presence and position within the pack.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional detection methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision of pill number and position is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The detection apparatus is segmented into multiple independent touch points arranged in a grid pattern, where each touch point independently detects pressure at a specific location. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high measurement precision for both pill number and position by combining data from multiple discrete sensing points, rather than using a single complex detector.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from one-dimensional or simple presence detection to two-dimensional spatial mapping by arranging touch points in a grid pattern. This dimensional expansion enables simultaneous detection of pill presence, position coordinates, and pressure distribution across the blister pack surface, significantly improving measurement precision without requiring a single overly complex device component.
2Loss of information
If simple presence detection is used, then the device complexity is low, but the information completeness about pill position is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is divided into multiple discrete touch points that each report presence/pressure independently. By segmenting the detection function across multiple simple sensors rather than one complex sensor, the system captures complete positional information (which touch point is activated) while keeping individual sensor complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The array of touch points creates a spatial map or copy of the blister pack layout, where each touch point corresponds to a specific location. This replicated sensing structure allows the system to infer pill position information without requiring direct complex analysis, as the physical arrangement of activated touch points directly represents pill locations.
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 apparatus effectively tracks pill compliance by detecting the number and position of pills, sending reminders and data to patients and healthcare providers, thereby improving medication adherence.
Implementation Method 1
The PCB layer may include a plurality of touch points, wherein each touch point of the plurality of touch points is configured to, when the blister pack is disposed on top of the elastomeric connector layer, sense whether a respective region of the blister pack is in contact with the elastomeric connector layer and in some cases, how hard the blister pack is pressing against the elastomeric connector layer.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a pill detection apparatus may comprise a blister pack receiving container, an elastomeric connector layer; and a printed circuit board (PCB) layer disposed beneath the elastomeric connector layer. The PCB layer may include a plurality of touch points, wherein each touch point of the plurality of touch points is configured to, when the blister pack is disposed on top of the elastomeric connector layer, sense whether a respective region of the blister pack is in contact with the elastomeric connector layer. The PCB layer may include a plurality of IR sensors sense properties of a respective region of the blister pack.