Child-Resistant Pharmaceutical Container with Non-Opposing Access Components
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Transdermal patches pose risks due to residual active pharmaceuticals and lack of secure disposal methods, with current solutions being costly and inefficient, and there is a need for a container that prevents accidental or deliberate misuse by children.
Innovation Solution
A pharmaceutical product container with telescoping portions and non-opposing access components that require non-collinear forces to open, providing a child-resistant mechanism and secure storage and disposal options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If transdermal patches are stored in simple paperboard cartons, then ease of access is improved, but child safety is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into a body and a lid that can be separated. The lid portion includes access components that must be activated to open the container, segmenting the opening action into distinct steps that are difficult for children to complete but manageable for adults.
Solution Approach 2:
Access components serve as intermediary elements between the child and the pharmaceutical product. These components require specific actions (pushing, twisting, or pulling) to activate the opening mechanism, creating a barrier that protects children while allowing authorized adults to access the patches.
2Ease of operation
If used patches are disposed of in trash, then disposal simplicity is improved, but misuse risk is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The access components are extracted or removed from the container body after use. This extraction disables the container's opening mechanism, ensuring that even if the container is discarded in trash, children cannot reopen it to access the patches inside.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for the discarding of access components after they have served their protective function. By removing or disabling these components after use, the container transitions from a protective state to a disposable state, eliminating ongoing safety risks while simplifying disposal.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If multiple access components are required, then child resistance is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple access components are merged into a single integrated opening mechanism. The first and second access components work together with the opening mechanism to achieve container opening, combining their functions into a unified system that provides enhanced child resistance without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The access components serve multiple functions: they act as child-resistant barriers, guide the opening action, and can be designed to indicate when the container is properly opened. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, managing complexity while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A container (100) for storing transdermal patches is disclosed. The container (100) includes a child-resistant mechanism (112) to reduce the likelihood of access to the transdermal patches (TP) by children. The child-resistant mechanism (112) may include first and second access components (116, 120) that may be disposed in a non-opposing manner and that may be in any appropriate form (e.g., buttons). Activation or engagement of the first and second access components (116, 120) in a particular manner allows the container (100) to assume an open configuration to access and/or load patches. In one arrangement, the first and second access components (116, 120) may be simultaneously engaged (e.g., depressed) to open the container (100). In another arrangement, the first and second access components (116, 120) may be engaged in series in a particular sequence to open the container (100).