Blister-Strip Dispenser With Interconnected Rollers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dry powder inhalers (DPIs) using blister-packs face limitations in dispensing multiple types of medications from a single blister-strip, leading to complex arrangements and issues with waste dose accumulation, which can cause cross-contamination and device malfunction.
Innovation Solution
A blister-strip based dispenser with a rotatable lever arm, interconnected rollers, and a waste-dose collection mechanism that uses funnels over slotted gears to isolate non-inhaled medicament, preventing it from interfering with the dispensing mechanism and ensuring secure collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple blister strips are used to dispense different medications, then the device can deliver multiple types of drugs, but the device complexity increases and separate manufacturing/assembly/testing is required for each blister strip
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple blister strips into a single integrated blister strip structure where different medications are positioned in alternating pockets along one continuous strip. This eliminates the need for separate blister strips for each medication, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to dispense multiple drug types through a unified mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The single blister strip structure serves multiple functions by containing different medications in its pockets while being managed by a single winding mechanism. The strip acts as a universal carrier for multiple drug types, eliminating the need for separate handling mechanisms for each medication type.
2Ease of operation
If separate blister strips are used for each medication, then each medication can be dispensed independently, but waste dose accumulation occurs and cross-contamination can happen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the waste dose collection function from the main dispensing mechanism by providing a dedicated waste dose collection chamber. This separates the harmful waste accumulation issue from the functional dispensing areas, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining independent dispensing capability through the alternating pocket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The waste dose collection chamber acts as an intermediary component that receives and isolates waste doses from the main dispensing path. This mediator structure prevents waste doses from contaminating the active dispensing areas while still allowing the system to operate with multiple medication types.
3Device complexity
If a single blister strip is used for multiple medications, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to dispense more than two drug types requires careful arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single blister strip into multiple alternating pockets, each containing different medications. This segmentation allows the strip to carry multiple drug types in a systematic arrangement, with the alternating pattern enabling flexible configuration of different medication combinations while maintaining structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present subject matter refers a blister-strip based dispenser (100) comprising a lever arm rotatable on receiving a user-actuation. A chassis (106, 108) is provided for supporting placement of at least one blister-strip (104) in the form of the coil. The blister-strip (104) comprises medicament-pockets at at-least one side of the blister-strip (104). A plurality of interconnected-rollers (110, 114, 116) comprises at-least one roller linked to the lever-arm and rotatable by the lever arm. The plurality of interconnected rollers (110, 114, 116) are configured for anchoring the blister-strip (104) from one end for enabling the placement in a coil-form and unwinding of the blister strip (104) from the coil-form, guiding at least two split-portions of the blister-strip (104), anchoring an end of each of said at-least two portions of the blister-strip (104) for winding the at-least two portions separately, and anchoring an end of a lid-foil peeled off the at least two portions for winding the lid-foil.