Drug Image Inspection for Multi-Drug Dose Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug inspection technologies face inefficiencies and inaccuracies when dealing with multiple drugs per dose, leading to prolonged processing times and reduced accuracy due to overlapping or uneven distribution, particularly when imaging and inspecting large numbers of drugs.
Innovation Solution
A drug inspection apparatus and method that images and inspects a group of drugs as a whole, using drug master data for comparison, and categorizes results into normal, uncertain, or confirmation-needed categories, displaying these results separately for easy identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If drugs are moved to inspection containers on a turntable for imaging, then drugs can be inspected, but the processing time becomes prolonged and the mechanism becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-arranging multiple inspection containers (first, second, third containers) in different spatial positions before inspection begins. Drugs are distributed to these pre-positioned containers, allowing parallel imaging operations to occur simultaneously at different locations, thus reducing total processing time while maintaining inspection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-location turntable inspection to a multi-dimensional spatial arrangement of inspection containers. By distributing containers in different positions (first container at first position, second container at second position, etc.), the system enables simultaneous multi-point imaging, converting a sequential single-dimension process into a parallel multi-dimensional process.
2Measurement precision
If multiple drugs are inspected one by one on a turntable, then each drug can be individually examined, but the overall inspection efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inspection process by dividing drugs into separate inspection containers (first container for first drug, second container for second drug, etc.). Each container serves as an independent inspection station, allowing simultaneous parallel processing of multiple drugs, thereby maintaining individual inspection accuracy while significantly improving overall efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple inspection operations into a single integrated system where multiple containers are positioned simultaneously in the imaging field. By combining first, second, and third containers in different positions within the same imaging area, the system performs multiple inspections concurrently rather than sequentially, boosting productivity without sacrificing precision.
3Area of stationary object
If drugs are densely packed in inspection containers, then the mechanism size is reduced, but imaging accuracy deteriorates due to overlapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring that each inspection container maintains appropriate spacing and positioning relative to others. The first container is positioned at a first position, the second container at a second position, and so on, with each location optimized for its specific imaging requirements. This localized optimization prevents overlapping while utilizing the imaging field efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
A drug inspection apparatus includes an inspection processing portion for collating a photographed image of each drug with drug master data for a dispensed drug group; and determines a normal result when the photographed image is contained in the drug group, as an uncertain result when it is uncertain if the photographed image is a drug in the drug group, and as a result to be confirmed when it is estimated that the photographed image is a drug contained in the drug group, but recommended to be confirmed by a person. The inspection result processor displays the photographed image corresponding to the drug which needs to be confirmed in a first display field that is provided corresponding to each drug which has been identified in the inspection process, on the inspection process screen, and displays the photographed image which has been determined as uncertain, in a second display field.