Medication Tray Compartments With Visual Time Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to efficiently maintain medication compliance, particularly for individuals taking multiple medications, due to difficulties in explaining medication purposes, navigating technology, and power/internet connectivity issues, especially in underdeveloped areas.
Innovation Solution
A tray-based system with compartments and time indicators that organize and track medications, featuring customizable compartments and time indicators, along with an insert providing visual and symbolic medication information, ensuring adherence to prescribed therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If technology solutions (mobile/desktop applications) are used to track medication compliance, then tracking capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates for populations with limited technology skills
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a simple, low-cost physical pill organizer tray with visual indicators instead of expensive electronic devices. The tray uses basic mechanical components (compartments, flags, markers) that require no power source, making it accessible to all populations regardless of technology literacy or infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces electronic/digital tracking systems with a mechanical visual indicator system. The physical tray uses movable flags, color-coded compartments, and visual markers that automatically indicate medication status without requiring batteries, screens, or internet connectivity.
2Ease of operation
If visual and symbolic medication information is provided through inserts, then ease of operation is improved for understanding medication purposes, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual inserts and labeling materials as intermediary elements between the medication and the user. These inserts provide lay-term explanations, color codes, and symbolic representations that bridge the gap between complex medication information and user understanding without complicating the core tray mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color-coded compartments, flags, and visual indicators to convey medication information at a glance. Different colors represent different medication types, timings, or statuses, allowing users to quickly understand their regimen without reading complex text instructions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If customizable compartments and time indicators are implemented, then adaptability is improved for different medication schedules, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the medication storage system into multiple separable compartments arranged in a grid pattern. Each compartment can be independently configured, removed, or rearranged to accommodate different medication schedules. The segmented design allows customization without requiring a completely different device for each regimen.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates movable and adjustable components within the tray, such as repositionable flags, removable compartments, and flexible organizational structures. These dynamic elements allow the system to adapt to changing medication needs while maintaining a simple overall structure that doesn't require complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a device for maintaining medication compliance. The device includes a tray base having a plurality of recesses aligned in a plurality of rows and columns and a tray drawer disposed within a hollow portion of and slideably coupled to the tray base. The device includes a plurality of pill compartments coupled to the tray base in a plurality of corresponding recesses. The pill compartments have a lid disposed on the top portion of pill compartment, rotatably coupled to the back wall and releaseably coupled to the front wall. The pill compartments can be coupled together. The device includes a plurality of time indicator compartments that are coupled to the tray base 104 and the pill compartments. Each of the time indicator compartments includes a time set component.