Medication Lid With Timer-Activated Puncture Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for disposing of unused opioids require active participation from users and have low compliance rates, leading to accumulation and potential misuse of these medications.
Innovation Solution
A lid for medication containers that includes a receptacle with a deterrent composition, a sharp object that punctures the receptacle after a set timer expires, and a compression assembly to facilitate the flow of the deterrent composition, which inactivates the medication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If automatic inactivation system is implemented, then disposal compliance is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lid system performs disposal automatically without requiring user action. The sharp object self-activates after the timer expires to puncture the receptacle, and the compression assembly self-activates to facilitate flow of deterrent composition, making the system serve itself rather than requiring external user intervention for each disposal action.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer is pre-set to a predetermined duration that automatically triggers the sharp object to puncture the receptacle after the medication has been stored for the specified time. This preliminary timing action ensures disposal occurs automatically without requiring user remembrance or manual intervention at the moment of disposal.
2Reliability
If deterrent composition is released automatically, then medication inactivation is ensured, but loss of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deterrent composition is pre-loaded into the receptacle during manufacturing or initial setup, ready for automatic release. The timer is also pre-set to the appropriate duration, so that when the sharp object punctures the receptacle, the deterrent composition is immediately released without requiring additional user preparation or measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The deterrent composition is extracted from its original container and placed into the receptacle within the lid system, separating it from the medication container. This extraction allows the deterrent to be held in reserve and released only when needed, preventing premature contact with the medication while ensuring reliable inactivation when the timer triggers.
3Ease of operation
If timer-based activation is used, then user intervention is eliminated, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The timer is pre-configured with the optimal duration needed for safe medication storage before inactivation. This preliminary timing setup balances the need for automatic operation (eliminating user intervention) with minimizing unnecessary waiting time, as the duration is set in advance to be the minimum required for safe disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The timer automatically tracks the storage duration and self-activates the sharp object to puncture the receptacle when the predetermined time expires. This self-service timing function eliminates the need for user monitoring or manual activation, achieving ease of operation while the predetermined duration minimizes the time loss to only what is necessary for safe disposal.
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 solution effectively reduces the risk of opioid misuse by automatically inactivating the medication after a predetermined time, eliminating the need for user intervention and enhancing disposal compliance.
Implementation Method 1
a sharp object that is movable from a first position that is spaced from the receptacle to a second position in which the sharp object punctures the receptacle
Implementation Method 2
A compression assembly applies a pressure to the receptacle so that, when the sharp object moves from the first position to the second position to puncture the receptacle, the compression assembly facilitates flow of the deterrent composition from the receptacle
Data Source
AI summary
A lid for inactivating or otherwise deterring use of a medication in a medication container is disclosed. The lid has a body that is configured to be secured to the medication container. A receptacle has a deterrent composition therein. A sharp object is movable from a first position that is spaced from the receptacle to a second position in which the sharp object punctures the receptacle. A controller is operable to: initiate a timer having a set duration; and cause the sharp object to move from the first position to the second position upon expiration of the set duration of the timer. A compression assembly applies a pressure to the receptacle so that, when the sharp object moves from the first position to the second position to puncture the receptacle, the compression assembly facilitates flow of the deterrent composition from the receptacle.