Cartridge Separating Device for Controlled Tablet Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug dispensers are not user-friendly, especially for visually impaired individuals or in poor lighting conditions, as they often fail to ensure accurate dispensing and protection of tablets, leading to potential loss or damage.
Innovation Solution
A cartridge-based medicament dispenser with a separating device on the cartridge for controlled dispensing, allowing individual or defined number dispensing, and a design that prevents accidental release or damage, combined with a secure locking mechanism and tolerance compensation plug for stable tablet storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If tablets are provided unpackaged in a columnar arrangement in a small tube, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of tablet protection and the precision of dosing control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The packaging system is segmented into multiple functional components: an outer tube for structural support, an inner blister pack with individual tablet compartments, a closure element for sealing, and a dispensing mechanism with controlled access. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner blister pack is nested within the outer tube, creating a compact columnar arrangement. The closure element is nested within the tube structure, and the dispensing mechanism integrates within the overall packaging. This nesting reduces device complexity while maintaining protection and control functions.
2Ease of operation
If individual tablets are removed by hand from unpackaged columnar arrangement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the harmful factors increase due to risk of tablets falling out, being damaged or soiled
Solution Approach 1:
The blister pack is pre-configured with individual tablet compartments and a controlled access opening. The closure element is pre-positioned to seal the tablets during storage and transport. When dispensing, the user only needs to activate the pre-designed dispensing mechanism, which automatically presents one tablet at a time through the controlled opening, eliminating the need for manual handling of loose tablets.
3Measurement precision
If a dispenser with partial blister strip extraction is used, then the dosing precision is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to grippers and feed control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing function is extracted from a complex mechanical feed control system and simplified to a controlled access opening in the closure element. The blister pack structure itself provides the dosing precision through its design, with the opening allowing only one tablet to be accessed at a time. This eliminates the need for complex grippers and feed control mechanisms while maintaining accurate dosing.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to the safe storage and simple and safe taking of tablets T by a user by means of a cartridge (900) that can be used in a pharmaceutical dispenser (1) for solid pharmaceutical portions T and that is designed having a storage space for accommodating the pharmaceutical portions T, and by means of a pharmaceutical dispenser (1) for this cartridge (900). According to the invention, the cartridge (900) comprises a separation device (910) that is designed to dispense defined pharmaceutical portions T and that comprises a movable device (940) for separating a defined pharmaceutical portion T from the storage space and for releasing out of the pharmaceutical dispenser (1) and wherein the separation device (910) is designed for creating an operative connection to an activation device (14, 220, 224, 226; 15, 210; 230) in the pharmaceutical dispenser (1).