Automated Medication Dispenser with Image Recognition and Variable Orifice
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current medication dispensing systems fail to reliably and accurately dispense precise doses of medications, particularly for patients with impaired eyesight or cognitive functions, often leading to missed medications and errors in dosages, and lack effective monitoring and restocking capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An automated dispensing apparatus with a rotatable carousel and a retrieval probe that uses a vacuum system and image recognition to ensure accurate singulation and identification of medications, allowing for precise dispensing and logging, along with remote monitoring and restocking features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional manual medication dispensing is used, then patients have direct access to medications, but medication errors and missed doses increase due to impaired eyesight or cognitive functions
Solution Approach 1:
The automated dispensing system performs medication retrieval, verification, and dispensing autonomously without requiring patient manual operation. The system self-identifies medications through image recognition, self-verifies dosage accuracy, and automatically dispenses the correct medication, eliminating the need for patients to manually select or verify medications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical selection and verification processes with an automated image recognition and verification system. The camera-based identification system captures images of medications, and software algorithms automatically verify medication identity and dosage, substituting human visual and cognitive functions with mechanical-optical systems.
2Reliability
If automated dispensing systems are implemented, then medication dispensing accuracy improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The automated dispensing system integrates multiple functions into a single unified platform: medication storage, automated retrieval, image capture, medication identification, dosage verification, and dispensing. This multi-functional integration reduces the need for separate systems for each function, managing complexity through consolidation rather than multiplication of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary verification layer between medication storage and patient dispensing. The image recognition system acts as an intermediary that automatically verifies medication identity and dosage before dispensing, creating a buffer that ensures accuracy without requiring complex direct control mechanisms between storage and dispensing points.
3Measurement precision
If image recognition is used for medication identification, then verification accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image capture and medication identification before the actual dispensing action. By capturing images and verifying medication identity in advance, the system prepares verification data beforehand, allowing the dispensing process itself to proceed quickly without time-consuming verification delays during the critical dispensing moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual medication verification with rapid automated image recognition technology. The camera-based system captures medication images and processes identification through software algorithms instantaneously, substituting slow manual visual inspection and verification with fast optical-mechanical detection and computational processing.
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
The system reliably dispenses the correct medication dosage, reduces errors, and allows for remote monitoring and restocking, enhancing patient adherence and healthcare provider oversight.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum system that creates a variable orifice through which only a single object can be held and retrieved
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for dispensing objects from automated storage and retrieval systems such as medications is disclosed which may also include a singulator to assure singulation (retrieval of singular objects). The singulator may be an imaging system to confirm and/or identify the objects being dispensed and/or a variable orifice dynamically adjustable to a specific object or pill size, and through which only a single object or pill is allowed to pass. The system may further include a flexible probe so as to reduce the size of the system where the movement of the probe relative to or while retrieving objects is accomplished by advancing/retracting a flexible tube. The method and apparatus may further include an imaging system.