Medicament Dispensing Container Recess for Particle Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage containers for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions face contamination issues due to the accumulation of particles during medicament handling and refilling, which can impair the mechanics of the dispensing system and lead to errors in medication management.

Innovation Solution

The storage container incorporates a housing with a separation device featuring channels for medicament portions and a recess on the bottom surface to collect contamination particles, utilizing a rotor with channels for dispensing and a funnel-shaped section to direct particles to the recess, along with a retention component to prevent simultaneous dispensing of multiple medicaments and a vibration device to actively move contamination towards the recess.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If storage containers are used for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions, then dispensing efficiency is improved, but contamination particles accumulate and impair mechanics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing efficiencyVSAvoidmechanical functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful contamination particles from the dispensing system by introducing a recess in the bottom surface that collects particles. The separation device with channels allows medicament portions to pass through while the recess captures particles that would otherwise accumulate and impair mechanics, thus maintaining reliability without reducing dispensing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The recess acts as an intermediary element between the dispensing channels and the accumulated particles. It serves as a collection zone that intercepts contamination particles before they can enter and damage the mechanical components, thereby protecting the system's reliability while preserving the high-speed dispensing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If multiple medicament portions are stored in the container, then storage capacity is improved, but risk of simultaneous dispensing errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoiddispensing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the storage space into multiple independent channels within the separation device. Each channel is designed to hold and dispense individual medicament portions separately. This segmentation prevents multiple portions from being dispensed simultaneously by creating distinct pathways, thereby maintaining accuracy even with high storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each channel in the separation device is designed with specific local properties to control the dispensing of individual portions. The channels are positioned and dimensioned to allow precise control over which portion is dispensed when, ensuring that even when multiple portions are stored, only one can be dispensed at a time through controlled local mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If channels are designed to guide medicament portions, then dispensing precision is improved, but contamination particles can still enter and accumulate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing precisionVSAvoidcontamination particles

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful accumulation of contamination particles into a beneficial collection mechanism. The recess in the bottom surface is designed to actively collect and retain particles, transforming the problem of particle accumulation into a solution that protects the precision channels from contamination, thereby maintaining dispensing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This design effectively reduces exposure to contamination, prevents mechanical malfunctions, and ensures accurate dispensing of individual medicament portions by capturing and retaining contamination particles, thereby maintaining the integrity of the dispensing system.

Implementation Method 1

having a funnel shape to direct the contamination particles to the recess by gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a vibration device to actively move contamination towards the recess

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS9828168B2Storage container for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 CAREFUSION GERMANY 326

AI summary

Described herein are methods and systems for automated dispensing of individual medicament portions. The systems can include a housing that encloses a receiving space having a bottom surface. A separation device may be provided and arranged on the bottom surface with at least one channel to receive at least one medicament portion. At least one channel may have an opening facing the receiving space and an opening facing the bottom surface. The opening facing the bottom surface may be associated with a contact area on the bottom surface, over which contact area the medicament portions may be guided upon a movement of separation device. At least one recess may be arranged in the bottom surface outside of the contact area to receive contamination particles present in the container.