Ingestible Capsule with External Intelligence for Controlled Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drug delivery systems are complex and costly, limiting their practicality for everyday use, and lack control over dosing, leading to ineffective treatment and potential overdosing due to user variability.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost, controllable medicament delivery system comprising a capsule with a reservoir and an external device that stores and activates capsules according to a predetermined schedule, ensuring precise administration of medicaments at specific times, using a combination of mechanical and electronic components to manage the release of the medicament.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex mechanical or electronic dispensing components are integrated into the capsule, then the capsule can achieve controlled release at specified positions, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides functionality between the capsule and external device. The capsule contains only simple mechanical components (reservoir, outlet, actuator) while the external device houses the intelligence and control systems. This segmentation allows the capsule to remain simple and low-cost while achieving controlled release through external activation signals.
Solution Approach 2:
An external device acts as an intermediary between the user and the capsule. The external device receives user input, processes dispensing logic, and sends activation signals to the capsule. This intermediary approach transfers complexity from the ingestible capsule to the external device, simplifying capsule manufacturing while maintaining sophisticated control capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If the capsule includes electronic controls and actuators for precise drug dispensing, then dosing accuracy improves, but the manufacturing and assembly cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Electronic controls and intelligence are extracted from the capsule and placed in the external device. The capsule retains only essential mechanical components (reservoir, outlet, simple actuator) that can be manufactured inexpensively. Dosing accuracy is maintained through precise external control signals that activate the simple capsule actuator at the correct moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule is designed as a low-cost, disposable component with minimal mechanical parts. The expensive electronic intelligence is contained in the reusable external device. This allows multiple capsules to be manufactured economically while maintaining precise dosing through the external device's control systems.
3Ease of operation
If users can access all capsules freely, then ease of use improves, but control over dosing schedule is lost leading to improper administration
Solution Approach 1:
The external device pre-loads multiple capsules into a receptacle and manages their dispensing according to a predetermined schedule. Users can only access capsules when the device makes them available, ensuring dosing occurs at the correct times. This preliminary organization of capsules in the external device maintains ease of use while enforcing schedule compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the external device tracks capsule dispensing and user consumption. The device controls when capsules become accessible, providing feedback to users about proper dosing timing. This feedback loop ensures users administer doses according to the prescribed schedule while maintaining simple interaction.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system for administering a medicament includes a plurality of capsules, a capsule dispenser, and a capsule activator. Each of the capsules includes a reservoir containing a medicament and an outlet in communication with the reservoir through which the medicament exits the capsule. The capsule dispenser releasably contains the ingestible capsules and is adapted to dispense the capsules to a user in accordance with a predetermined schedule. The capsule activator activates the dispensed capsules prior to administration to the user.