Medication Support Apparatus with Image Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medication support systems fail to reliably verify that the correct user has taken the correct medicine, especially in multi-user scenarios, as they rely on user action and do not ensure proper medication timing alignment with meal times.

Innovation Solution

A medication support apparatus comprising a medication instruction information acquisition unit, user checking unit, medicine package checking unit, action recognition unit, and medication determination unit that uses image recognition and interaction to verify the correct user and medicine, and ensures medication is taken at the appropriate time relative to meal actions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a medication support apparatus delivers medicine cases automatically based on preset times, then the convenience of medication administration is improved, but the reliability of verifying correct user and correct medicine cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of medication administrationVSAvoidverification of correct user and medicine

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by capturing images of the user and medicine package, recognizing them through image processing, and comparing the recognition results with prescription information. This closed-loop feedback verifies whether the correct user is taking the correct medicine at the prescribed time, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining automated convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual verification mechanisms with automated image recognition and information processing systems. Instead of relying on user self-reporting or manual checking, the system uses cameras, image processing units, and database comparisons to automatically verify user identity and medicine correctness, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If the system notifies medication time by voice guidance and screen display, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to verify actual medication taking is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification of medication timeVSAvoidverification of medication taking action

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces subjective user reporting with objective image-based verification. Cameras capture images of the user and medicine package, and image recognition technology objectively verifies whether the correct user is taking the correct medicine, providing precise measurement of medication adherence without compromising the ease of notification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification layer between the notification and the actual medication taking. The image capture and recognition system acts as an intermediary that objectively records and verifies the medication taking action, bridging the gap between notification and actual adherence verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the system relies on user action to take medicine, then the simplicity of the system is maintained, but the reliability of medication adherence cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of systemVSAvoidmedication adherence verification

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains simplicity by having the user naturally present themselves and their medicine package to the camera without requiring complex interactions. The user's normal behavior of approaching the medication dispenser and presenting the medicine package serves as the verification mechanism, eliminating the need for complex user actions while ensuring reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes complex verification procedures with simple image capture and recognition. Instead of requiring users to perform complex verification actions or use complex verification devices, the system simply captures images and uses automated recognition to verify adherence, maintaining system simplicity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3591655B1Medication assist device, medication assist system, medication assist method, and program

Publication Date: 2022.06.01 FUJIFILM CORP

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AI summary

There are provided a medication support apparatus, a medication support system, a medication support method, and a program capable of reliably checking that a correct user has taken a correct medicine. A medication support apparatus includes: a medication instruction information acquisition unit 12 that acquires medication instruction information including medicine information and user information; a medicine package holding unit 16 that holds a medicine package; a user checking unit 14 that checks whether or not a user corresponds to the user information; a medicine package providing unit 18 that takes out the medicine package corresponding to the checked user from the medicine package holding unit 16; a medicine package checking unit 20 that checks whether or not the medicine package or the medicine in the medicine package corresponds to the medicine information; an action recognition unit 22 that recognizes an action of the user; and a medication determination unit 24 that determines whether or not medication has been performed according to the medication instruction information based on the medication instruction information, a checking result of the user checking unit 14, a checking result of the medicine package checking unit 20, and a recognition result of the action recognition unit 22.