Blister Sheet Non-Compliance Detection Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Pharmacists face challenges in identifying recurring patterns of non-compliance with medication dosing due to the time-consuming nature of comparing used blister packages for unopened blisters, which can indicate a recurring failure in patient adherence.

Innovation Solution

Apparatus with a touch-sensitive screen and circuitry to mark and compare unopened blister positions across multiple packages, displaying superimposed images with intensity changes to highlight coinciding unopened blisters, facilitating the detection of recurring non-compliance patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a pharmacist manually compares used blister packages to identify recurring non-compliance patterns, then detection accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a digital copy of the blister package layout and uses it to automatically detect and mark unopened blisters. The software stores and compares digital representations of multiple packages, eliminating the need for manual visual comparison while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of visually inspecting and comparing physical blister packages is replaced with an automated optical and computational system. The apparatus uses image capture, digital storage, and computer processing to automatically identify and highlight recurring non-compliance patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If a pharmacist manually inspects each blister package, then detection capability is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidoperational efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service detection where the apparatus automatically inspects, records, and analyzes blister package data without requiring pharmacist intervention. The software independently compares packages, identifies patterns, and highlights issues for pharmacist review only when necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors and stores data from multiple blister packages over time, maintaining an ongoing database that automatically compares each new package against historical records. This continuous automated comparison eliminates interruptions in detection capability while maintaining high operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Loss of information

If detailed analysis of non-compliance patterns is performed, then understanding of patient behavior is improved, but time required for investigation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunderstanding of patient behaviorVSAvoidtime required for investigation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and isolates specific information about unopened blisters from the overall package data. It automatically identifies and separates recurring patterns from normal variation, presenting only the critical information that indicates non-compliance behavior to the pharmacist for further investigation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary automated analysis and classification of blister package data before pharmacist review. It pre-identifies potential non-compliance patterns and prepares summarized reports, so that when pharmacists do investigate, they receive ready-to-review information rather than raw data requiring analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9076038B2Detection of non-compliance patterns in prescribed medication doses

Publication Date: 2015.07.07 MANREX PTY LTD

AI summary

Apparatus for detecting non-compliance patterns on a series of used blister sheets previously returned by the same patient, reads a code (2) on each blister sheet (1) providing, inter alia, information relating to the position of each blister on the blister sheet. This information is passed by the code reader (4) through a key (15) to an image (5) of the blister sheet appearing on one-half (14) of a split screen (6). The screen (14) displays a picture of a blister sheet with its blister positions marked by dots or rings (8). By means of the key (15), which may take the form of a joystick, an image of a disc (9) can be placed over each of the blister positions where an unopened blisters occurs. The image of the blister sheet together with the discs is then transferred by operation of a key (10) to the second half (11) of the split screen (6) screen where it is superimposed on a slightly offset stack (13) of used blister sheets previously returned by the same patient. The positions of the discs (9) are compared by the apparatus with corresponding positions on previously returned blister sheets and, if a coincidence is detected, the apparatus produces a change in the appearance of the corresponding disc on the blister sheet on the top of the stack. A change in a disc appearance suggests that there may be a pattern of non-compliance that can then be investigated further.