Medication Sorting System with Tracking and Inspection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for producing high volumes of individually customized medication packages face inefficiencies due to scalability issues, such as managing various medications, script validations, and non-routine requests, leading to potential delays in production.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilizes a tracking system to input and verify order data, communicate with an array of medication sorting devices, and an inspection assembly to ensure accurate packaging of medicaments into aligned pouches with indicia containing medication information and dosing schedules, optimizing the production process by selecting the appropriate devices based on their status and analyzing the contents for accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a single medication sorting device is used to process orders, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity decreases due to bottlenecks in processing high volume orders

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction volume of dispensing packagesVSAvoidsystem architecture of sorting devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the medication sorting function into multiple independent sorting devices, each capable of processing orders autonomously. The tracking system segments the workflow by routing different orders to different sorting devices based on their current status, thereby increasing overall productivity without requiring each individual device to be overly complex.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each medication sorting device is designed to be universal in its capability, able to handle various types of medications and order configurations. The tracking system provides a unified interface that manages multiple sorting devices, making the overall system multi-functional while maintaining individual device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If medication sorting devices are selected based on real-time status monitoring, then the reliability of order processing improves, but the loss of time increases due to continuous status analysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of order fulfillmentVSAvoidtime for device selection and status verification

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking system performs preliminary status checks and device selection before orders are fully processed. By pre-identifying which sorting devices are available and suitable for specific order types, the system reduces real-time decision-making time while maintaining high reliability in order fulfillment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If an inspection assembly verifies each pouch contents, then the manufacturing precision of medication packaging improves, but the productivity decreases due to additional verification steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of medication packagingVSAvoidthroughput of dispensing package production

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The inspection assembly uses optical scanning and image recognition technology to verify pouch contents automatically, replacing manual inspection methods. This substitution maintains high manufacturing precision while significantly reducing the time required for verification, thereby preserving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple sorting devices are coordinated through a tracking system, then the adaptability to handle various order types increases, but the device complexity increases due to coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecapability to process diverse medication ordersVSAvoidcoordination system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tracking system serves as an intermediary between diverse order types and multiple sorting devices. It translates various order requirements into device-specific instructions, enabling high adaptability without requiring complex direct coordination between sorting devices themselves. The tracking system absorbs the coordination complexity while maintaining simple individual device operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11004553B2Medication sorting and packaging system and method

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 EXACT CARE PHARMACY LLC

AI summary

A method and system for inputting, verifying, and communicating order data associated with a patient that may include an order for a patient to take a plurality of medications at various times of the day. The system includes an array of a medication sorting devices configured to communicate with a tracking system for receiving an order and dispensing a plurality of medicaments into a plurality of aligned pouches associated with the order information. The tracking system includes an optimization engine for selecting a medication sorting device to process each order to process a high volume of orders. An inspection assembly that is configured to analyze the plurality of medications within the medication pouches to detect and compare with the order information. The plurality of pouches may be arranged into a dispense package to dispense each pouch as arranged by the order information including medication type, dosage, and time.