Handheld Oral Medication Dispenser With Keyed Cartridge Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medication dispensing devices are cumbersome, confusing, and prone to errors, particularly in managing multiple medications, and do not provide a convenient and safe method for administering oral medications like tablets or syrups.
Innovation Solution
A handheld medication dispensing device with an automatic cartridge activator mechanism, featuring a keyed connector, rotatable cartridge carrier, and authentication mechanism, ensuring precise and secure dispensing of medications through a simple actuation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cartridge switching is used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to potential errors in medication selection and dosage
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic cartridge identification and positioning through the keyed connector mechanism, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The keyed connector automatically aligns and secures the correct cartridge in place, allowing the system to serve itself in the cartridge selection process, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cartridge switching with an automated activator mechanism that uses a keyed connector system. This mechanical substitution eliminates human error in cartridge selection while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through standardized connector designs that work with multiple cartridge types.
2Reliability
If authentication mechanism is added, then reliability improves through user verification, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication function is segmented as a separate module within the activator mechanism, independent from the core cartridge positioning system. This allows the authentication feature to be added or removed without affecting the fundamental medication dispensing operation, managing complexity through functional separation.
3Ease of operation
If rotatable cartridge carrier is used, then ease of operation improves for cartridge selection, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyed connector employs asymmetric keyways and corresponding protrusions that naturally guide the cartridge into the correct rotational position. This asymmetric design eliminates the need for complex sensors or motors to determine cartridge orientation, as the physical geometry itself provides the positioning information, simplifying the rotating mechanism.
4Manufacturing precision
If keyed connector is implemented, then manufacturing precision improves for cartridge alignment, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The keyed connector uses simple, inexpensive machined features on both the cartridge and carrier that can be manufactured with standard tolerances. Rather than requiring complex adjustable or programmable alignment systems, the design accepts fixed geometric constraints that are easy to manufacture and verify, reducing both complexity and manufacturing cost.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a handheld medication dispensing device. The device includes a housing containing a cartridge carrier, designed with a specific connector to align with a medication cartridge. The device also includes an authentication mechanism that works in conjunction with an activator mechanism. When operated, the activator mechanism causes the cartridge carrier to move the medication cartridge between a stored position and a dispensing position, where it can be compressed to safely and efficiently dispense medication to a user.