Automated Medication Dispensing with Blister Pack Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual production of dispensing packs for medications often results in errors, such as incorrect filling of medication portions into wrong chambers or excess portions not being returned to the original pack, and existing automated systems require special cases for medication portions, limiting the use of conventional blister packs.

Innovation Solution

An automated method for need-based commissioning of medication portions in dispensing packs using a computer-controlled storage system that identifies and manages blister packs of varying sizes, allowing for the use of conventional medication packs and enabling flexible storage and retrieval of blister packs, which are filled as needed into dispensing packs without the need for special cases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual production of dispensing packs is used, then flexibility in handling conventional medication packs is maintained, but errors occur such as incorrect filling of medication portions into wrong chambers or excess portions not being returned to the original pack

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in handling conventional medication packsVSAvoidaccuracy of filling medication portions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses automatic identification and tracking of medication portions through coding (barcodes, RFID, or optical codes) that enables the dispensing system to self-verify and self-correct, eliminating manual errors in portion identification and chamber assignment while maintaining flexibility in handling various pack types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously tracking medication portions from storage through dispensing to final placement, using automated verification to confirm correct chamber assignment and providing real-time monitoring to prevent and detect errors in the dispensing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If automated dispensing systems are used, then filling accuracy is improved, but special cases for medication portions are required which limits the use of conventional blister packs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of filling medication portionsVSAvoidcompatibility with conventional medication packs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by designing a multi-functional identification and tracking mechanism that can read and process multiple types of codes (barcodes, RFID tags, optical codes) on various conventional medication pack formats, enabling a single automated system to handle diverse pack types without requiring specialized containers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary identification layer (codes, barcodes, RFID tags) that bridges conventional medication packs and the automated dispensing system, allowing the automation to recognize, track, and verify portions from standard packs without requiring modification to the packs themselves

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of stationary object

If conventional medication packs with multiple blister packs are used, then storage space utilization is improved, but tracking individual medication portions becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoidcomplexity of tracking medication portions

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies segmentation by assigning unique identification codes to individual medication portions or groups of portions within blister packs, allowing the tracking system to break down complex multi-pack structures into individually trackable units while maintaining efficient storage arrangements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a nested tracking structure where identification codes at the pack level contain or reference codes for individual portions within blisters, creating a hierarchical tracking system that simplifies monitoring by nesting portion-level data within pack-level data structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9845195B2Method for need based order picking of medicine portions in dispensing packs

Publication Date: 2017.12.19 CAREFUSION GERMANY 326

AI summary

A method for the automated dispensing of medication portions is disclosed. Medication packs are automatically retrieved by a control unit from an automated storage facility, and medication portions are automatically removed from the packs and dispensed into a dispensing pack. A determination is made as to whether any medication portions are remaining within the retrieved medication packs, and those medication packs having remaining medication portions are returned to the automated storage facility by the control unit.