Optical Character Recognition for Medicament Dose Indicator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring medicament injections lack reliability and accuracy, requiring specialized devices and user familiarity, which can lead to errors in recording doses and medicament types.
Innovation Solution
A data collection device equipped with a camera and processing arrangement that captures images of medicament dose indicators, adjusts for skew and scale, uses optical character recognition to identify doses, and determines medicament types based on color information, allowing for reliable and accurate recording using familiar devices like smartphones or tablets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If specialized data collection devices are used to monitor medicament injections, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to requiring specialized equipment and user familiarity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling common mobile devices (smartphones, tablets) to perform the specialized function of medicament dose monitoring. The camera and processing arrangement in standard devices are utilized to capture and analyze dose indicator images, replacing dedicated specialized devices with multi-functional consumer electronics that users already possess and know how to operate
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a digital image copy of the physical dose indicator display through the device camera. This optical copy is then processed through image analysis and OCR to extract dose information, eliminating the need for direct interaction with specialized monitoring equipment while maintaining measurement precision
2Device complexity
If manual dose recording methods are used, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability and accuracy of dose monitoring deteriorate due to potential for user error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical recording processes with automated optical and computational systems. The camera captures the dose indicator, image processing algorithms analyze the visual display, and OCR technology automatically transcribes the dose value, eliminating manual transcription errors while keeping the overall system simple by using existing device capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies self-service by enabling the medicament delivery device to automatically provide its own dose information through its display, which is then captured and processed by the mobile device. The device autonomously records the dose data without requiring user intervention in the actual measurement process, improving reliability while maintaining simplicity
3Measurement precision
If image processing adjustments are made for skew and scale, then optical character recognition accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing image preprocessing operations (skew correction, scale adjustment, contrast enhancement) on the captured dose indicator image before attempting character recognition. These adjustments are made automatically and quickly using optimized algorithms, preparing the image in advance for more accurate OCR processing without significantly increasing overall processing time
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
Enables accurate and reliable monitoring of medicament doses and types without the need for specialized devices, improving user experience and reducing errors by utilizing familiar technology for data collection.
Implementation Method 1
capture an image of a medicament dose indicator of a medicament delivery device using said camera
Implementation Method 2
identify the at least one character using optical character recognition
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2a~2b
AI summary
A method of recording a medicament dose using a data collection device comprises capturing an image of a medicament dose indicator of a medicament delivery device, adjusting a scale of said image, adjusting said image for skew of one or more characters displayed by the medicament dose indicator, determining the position of at least one of said one or more characters in the image, identifying the at least one character using optical character recognition and determining a medicament dose indicator by the medicament dose indicator based on a result of the optical character recognition. The method may be performed using a handheld electronic device comprising a camera, such as a cellphone, a tablet computer or other device. A computer program for controlling a data collection device to perform the method may be provided in the form of a software application or "app".