Packaging Assembly with Lid Sensor for Dosing Reminders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Patients with chronic diseases face challenges in keeping track of scheduled dosing times for medicaments that require refrigerated storage, often stored alongside food and beverages in household fridges, leading to difficulties in remembering when to administer doses.
Innovation Solution
A packaging assembly that includes a case for injection devices, a lid with a sensor to detect position changes, a countdown timer, and a reminder alert system that provides audio or visual cues when the scheduled dosing time is due, deactivating upon lid opening, and indicating low battery state.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reminder alert system is continuously activated to remind patients of dosing times, then patient compliance improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reminder alert is activated periodically only when the fridge door is open, rather than continuously. The control unit detects door opening events and triggers the reminder alert at these specific moments, ensuring patient compliance while minimizing energy consumption by keeping the alert inactive during closed door periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the door position sensor to control the reminder alert activation. When the sensor detects that the door is open, it provides feedback to the control unit, which then activates the reminder alert. This feedback mechanism ensures the alert operates only when necessary, balancing compliance effectiveness with energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If the reminder alert is activated at all times, then patients are reliably reminded of dosing times, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when the door is open using the integrated sensor and autonomously activates the reminder alert without requiring manual patient input. The control unit processes sensor data and manages alert activation independently, reducing the need for complex user interfaces or manual setup while maintaining reliable reminder functionality.
3Reliability
If the packaging assembly includes always-on alert functionality, then dosing compliance improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reminder alert operates periodically based on door opening events rather than continuously. This reduces the operational requirements for the alert system, allowing for simpler component specifications and lower manufacturing costs while maintaining effective patient compliance through timely reminders at relevant moments.
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 packaging assembly effectively reminds patients of scheduled dosing times, ensuring timely administration of medicaments while conserving energy by activating alerts only when the fridge door is open, thus improving compliance and reducing the risk of missed doses.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to output a signal representative of a change in position of the lid from the closed position to the open position
Data Source
AI summary
A packaging assembly includes a case configured to at least partially contain injection devices for delivering a medicament; a light sensor configured to detect light incident on the packaging assembly; and a status indicator configured to generate an output which indicates a status of the packaging assembly conditional on an intensity of light detected by the light sensor exceeding a threshold light intensity.