Dissolvable Medication Administration Bag for Complete Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pill crusher pouches fail to extract the entire medication dose due to particle accumulation and aerosolization, posing health hazards and compromising the integrity of extended-release medications.
Innovation Solution
A dissolvable medication administration bag constructed with a pouch made of edible and soluble material that dissolves completely in a liquid, eliminating the need for pouring and reducing aerosolization, and pre-packaged dosage forms that prevent crushing of unsuitable medications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional non-dissolvable pouches are used for pill crushing, then the pouch provides structural integrity during crushing, but medication particles accumulate in corners and cling to pouch material preventing complete extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The pouch material transitions from a traditional non-dissolvable state to a dissolvable state in liquid media. This parameter change allows the pouch to maintain structural integrity during crushing while completely dissolving afterward to eliminate particle accumulation and enable complete medication extraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the pouch material itself into the liquid media through dissolution. By making the pouch material soluble, the pouch effectively disappears into the liquid, eliminating the problem of particles clinging to the pouch surface and allowing complete medication recovery.
2Ease of operation
If pills are crushed in traditional pouches and poured into beverages, then the medication can be administered to patients who cannot swallow pills, but aerosolization of medication particles occurs creating health hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The dissolvable pouch acts as an intermediary container that eliminates the need for pouring. By dissolving the pouch directly in the beverage, the medication is transferred from the pouch to the liquid without requiring pouring actions that generate aerosols, thereby eliminating inhalation risks.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical pouring action with a chemical dissolution process. Instead of mechanically pouring crushed medication from the pouch into the beverage (which creates aerosols), the pouch dissolves chemically in the liquid, allowing medication to transfer without mechanical disturbance.
3Ease of operation
If extended-release medications are crushed in traditional pouches, then the medication can be administered in liquid form, but the pharmacokinetic properties and controlled release characteristics are destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs preliminary dissolution of the pouch in the beverage before the medication is fully released. This preliminary action of dissolving the pouch material first creates a safe environment where the medication can then be released controlledly, preserving extended-release properties while enabling liquid administration.
4Quantity of substance
If corner-less pouch designs are used to prevent particle accumulation, then medication extraction is improved, but particles still embed in flat inner surfaces of the pouch
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the entire pouch material into the liquid media through complete dissolution. This eliminates the problem of particles embedding in pouch surfaces by removing the pouch material itself, allowing complete medication recovery regardless of pouch geometry.
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
Ensures complete medication administration, reduces health hazards by preventing aerosolization and preserving the pharmacokinetic properties of medications, and streamlines the administration process for healthcare professionals.
Implementation Method 1
the pouch and its contents are dissolved into a beverage or other liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A dissolvable medication administration bag for the safe and effective crushing and administration of medication to patients who have difficulty swallowing pills. A dissolvable medication administration bag may be constructed in accordance with a pill crusher pouch embodiment into which a pill is placed prior to being crushed and subsequently the whole of pouch and the crushed pill contents are dissolved into a liquid, e.g. a beverage, as a means of reducing health hazards associated with current pill crushing practices such as inadvertent direct contact and aerosolization with subsequent inhalation of the crushed medication.