COPA Device Dentition Authentication for Medication Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

The misuse and mismanagement of prescription medications, particularly opioids, in patient-controlled settings remain a significant challenge due to the ease of use and portability of pill forms, leading to issues like addiction and abuse, despite efforts at improved education and restrictive prescribing practices.

Innovation Solution

The development of computerized oral prescription administration (COPA) devices equipped with capacitive dentition sensing, environmental sensing, and biometric authentication to ensure precise and controlled dispensing of medications, using a mouthpiece with a capacitive sensor array and a processor to verify the intended user and authenticate them before dispensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If pills are used for patient managed administration, then patient ease of use and production cost reductions are achieved, but misuse and mismanagement increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient ease of useVSAvoidmisuse and mismanagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dispensing device as an intermediary between the medication and the patient. This device includes authentication mechanisms (biometric sensors, capacitive dentition sensing) and controlled release mechanisms that mediate the administration process, preventing direct access to pills while ensuring proper dosing and patient identification

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the simple mechanical system of pill ingestion with an electronic control system. The dispensing device uses processors, sensors, and electronic authentication to control medication release, substituting the passive mechanical act of taking a pill with an active electronic verification and dispensing system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If biometric authentication and capacitive dentition sensing are implemented, then medication delivery accuracy to intended recipient is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemedication delivery accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple authentication functions (biometric recognition, capacitive dentition sensing, environmental sensing) into a single multi-functional dispensing device. This universal device performs patient identification, authentication, environmental monitoring, and controlled medication dispensing all through one integrated system, reducing the need for multiple separate devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If restrictive prescribing practices are implemented, then addiction and abuse are reduced, but treatment effectiveness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaddiction and abuseVSAvoidtreatment effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the dispensing device tracks and records medication administration data, patient authentication results, and environmental conditions. This feedback loop allows verification that the intended patient received the correct dosage at the appropriate time, providing accountability while maintaining treatment efficacy through precise delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 COPA devices ensure that medications are delivered to the intended recipient, reducing misuse and mismanagement, allowing for better tracking and evaluation of treatment plans, and providing precise dosing, especially beneficial for elderly or impaired patients.

Implementation Method 1

capacitive dentition sensing, environmental sensing, and biometric authentication to ensure precise and controlled dispensing of medications, using a mouthpiece with a capacitive sensor array

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance sensing: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS12186096B2Computerized oral prescription administration with refillable medication dispensing devices and associated systems and methods

Publication Date: 2025.01.07 BERKSHIRE BIOMEDICAL LLC

AI summary

A substance dispensing apparatus comprises a housing for handheld use and a mouthpiece coupled to the housing. The housing comprises a biometric sensor and a cavity sized to receive a reservoir. The mouthpiece comprises a recess and a capacitive sensor array. The apparatus further comprises a pump coupled to the mouthpiece and couplable to the reservoir and comprises a processor in communication with the biometric sensor, capacitive sensor array, and pump. The processor is configured to cause the pump to automatically dispense a substance from the reservoir to a mouth of an intended user via the mouthpiece in response to determining that: a unique biometric attribute of the intended user is detected by the biometric sensor based on biometric data from the biometric sensor; and a unique dentition of the intended user is positioned within the recess of the mouthpiece based on dentition data from the capacitive sensor array.