Universal Medication Feed Mechanism With Camera-Based Dispense Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic packagers for pharmacies are costly due to expensive, space-consuming cassettes that lack verification systems for proper medication dispensing.
Innovation Solution
A universal feed mechanism using inexpensive bulk canisters with a rotatable wheel and scooping member for singulating medications, combined with a camera system for verification and an electronic processor to ensure accurate dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If expensive cassettes with verification systems are used, then medication dispensing accuracy is improved, but device cost and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical verification systems with a camera-based optical verification system. The camera captures images of medications on the platform, and image processing algorithms verify medication identity and integrity, substituting mechanical verification mechanisms with a more cost-effective optical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses image copying to verify medications. Instead of physical verification mechanisms, the system creates digital copies (images) of medications on the platform and compares them against expected medication profiles, enabling verification through information copying rather than physical inspection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple specialized cassettes are used for different medication types, then medication versatility is improved, but space requirements and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal platform design that can accommodate multiple medication types through a single cartridge. The platform's singulation mechanism and camera verification system are designed to handle various medication forms (pills, capsules, tablets) uniformly, eliminating the need for multiple specialized cassettes and reducing space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the medication storage into a modular cartridge system with a reservoir and rotatable wheel, allowing different medication types to be stored and dispensed from a single unified structure. This segmentation enables versatility while maintaining a compact footprint.
3Device complexity
If traditional feed mechanisms are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but medication singulation accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic singulation process where the rotatable wheel rotates to present medications to the camera for verification. This dynamic approach allows simple mechanical rotation to achieve precise medication positioning and singulation, maintaining mechanism simplicity while improving accuracy through motion-based verification.
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic packager including a cartridge and a cartridge mechanism is provided. The cartridge for the automatic packager includes a reservoir for storing a plurality of medications and a wheel including a bottom portion placed in the reservoir. The cartridge also includes a scooping member provided on the wheel to rotate with the wheel and singulate a medication from the reservoir. The cartridge mechanism for the automatic packager includes a platform configured to receive a medication from a cartridge and a camera system. The cartridge mechanism also includes an electronic processor coupled to the camera system configured to dispense the medication from the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is delivered to the platform and return the medication to the cartridge in response to determining that the expected medication is not delivered to the platform.