Medication Dispenser Clamping Arms for Variable Blister Packs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medication dispensers face challenges in handling medications from blister packs of varying sizes and dimensions, are difficult to reload, and require specific configurations, limiting their usability and reusability.
Innovation Solution
A medication dispenser apparatus with clamping arms that securely hold medication containers of different sizes, a pushing mechanism to dispense pills, and a refillable design with slits for easy reloading, combined with a user interface for automated dispensing and alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed configuration blister pack dispenser is used, then medications can be dispensed from predefined blister packs, but the dispenser becomes unusable when minor changes are made to the size or dimensions of the blister pack packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping arms are made movable and adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the dispenser to dynamically adapt to different blister pack sizes. The arms can be repositioned along the support bars to accommodate varying dimensions while maintaining secure holding during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the holding mechanism (specifically the distance between clamping arms) are made variable through the movable clamping arm design, enabling the system to adjust to different blister pack dimensions and maintain reliable dispensing across various packaging configurations.
2Productivity
If individual sachets are separated from a pre-loaded strip pack for dispensing, then medications can be dispensed one at a time, but the dispensed individual sachets become difficult for patients to manually manipulate to open and access medications
Solution Approach 1:
The medication is extracted from the individual sachet packaging and transferred directly to the patient's cup by the pushing mechanism, eliminating the need for patients to manually open sachets. Only the external portion of the blister pack remains in the dispenser while the medication itself is pushed out through the opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The pushing mechanism acts as an intermediary between the sealed blister pack and the patient, performing the extraction and transfer of medication without requiring patient interaction with the sachet opening process.
3Reliability
If strip pack type medication dispensers are designed to hold medication containers securely, then medications can be dispensed reliably, but the dispensers become complicated and difficult for users to reload
Solution Approach 1:
The holding mechanism is segmented into a fixed clamping arm and a movable clamping arm that can be independently positioned and adjusted, allowing the system to maintain secure holding when needed while becoming easily adjustable during reloading operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable clamping arm allows the holding mechanism to transition between a secure closed state during dispensing and an open or repositioned state during reloading, making the reloading process simple while maintaining reliable medication holding during operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a medication dispenser apparatus comprising a removable medication container having a plurality of pockets, each pocket configured for releasably containing medication to be dispensed, a holding means for the medication container, a dispensing outlet for dispensed medication, pushing means operable to push medication from a pocket of the medication container for delivery to the dispensing outlet, and positioning means to align the pushing means with a pocket of the medication container containing medication to be dispensed, in which the pushing means is actuated to apply a sufficient pressing or punching force to the pocket to push the medication out of the medication container to the dispensing outlet. The apparatus is configured to dispense medication from a medication container to a user/patient according to a specified medical regimen or prescription. The holding means is configured so that the medication container may be manually removed from the apparatus by a user/patient and replaced with relative ease. The apparatus is configured as a tabletop or desktop appliance, is portable and of relative lightweight to enable user/patients to carry and position it in any desired location.