Pharmacy Pouch Verification via Multi-Spectral Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current pharmacy packaging systems lack an efficient method for verifying the accurate filling and content of pharmaceutical pouches, which can lead to errors in dispensing medications.
Innovation Solution
An automatic packager equipped with a camera system capable of capturing images in both visible and infrared spectra, a heat source, and a visible light source, along with an electronic processor that generates images and a dashboard for real-time verification of pharmaceutical pouches, ensuring correct filling and content verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional visual inspection methods are used to verify pharmaceutical pouches, then the system remains simple, but verification accuracy and error detection capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple imaging modalities (visible light imaging, infrared imaging, and heated imaging) into a single verification system. The electronic processor integrates these different image types to comprehensively verify pharmaceutical pouch contents, resolving the contradiction by merging multiple detection methods to achieve high verification accuracy while managing system complexity through unified processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heat source as an intermediary element that enables thermal imaging capability. By heating the pouch and capturing infrared images, the system can detect pharmaceutical contents through thermal signatures. This intermediary approach enhances verification accuracy without requiring direct contact with the pharmaceuticals, thus improving measurement precision while maintaining acceptable device complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple imaging modes are used to verify pouch contents, then verification reliability improves, but the time required for verification increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by sequentially capturing visible light images, infrared images, and heated images in a structured sequence. The electronic processor coordinates these periodic imaging operations to verify pouch contents through multiple modalities. This periodic approach ensures comprehensive verification reliability while managing verification time through efficient sequencing of imaging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by first capturing visible light images to establish baseline information about pouch contents, then proceeding to infrared and heated imaging. This preliminary imaging step prepares the verification process by providing initial data that guides subsequent more time-consuming thermal imaging, thus improving overall verification reliability while optimizing the time investment through strategic sequencing.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If comprehensive imaging data is collected from multiple spectra and conditions, then detection capability improves, but data processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the electronic processor analyzes images from multiple imaging modes (visible, infrared, heated) and uses this comprehensive data to generate verification results. The system processes feedback from each imaging modality to refine detection accuracy. This feedback approach enhances detection capability by leveraging multiple data sources while managing processing complexity through systematic analysis protocols.
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 system provides real-time monitoring and verification of pharmaceutical pouches, reducing errors in dispensing by accurately determining the number and type of medications, enhancing the reliability of the packaging process.
Implementation Method 1
a heat source configured to heat the pharmaceutical pouch... capture a first image, using the camera system, of the pharmaceutical pouch when the pharmaceutical pouch is heated by the heat source
Implementation Method 2
a visible light source configured to output visible spectrum light... capture a second image, using the camera system, of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the visible light source
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic packager configured to dispense pharmaceuticals into a pharmaceutical pouch and including a verification system. The verification system includes a camera system configured to capture images in a visible spectrum and an infrared spectrum, a heat source configured to heat the pharmaceutical pouch, a visible light source, and an electronic processor communicatively coupled to the camera system, the heat source, and the visible light source. The electronic processor is configured to activate the heat source to heat the pharmaceutical pouch and capture a first image of the pharmaceutical pouch when the pharmaceutical pouch is heated by the heat source. The electronic processor is also configured to activate the visible light source and capture a second image of the pharmaceutical pouch while illuminated by the visible light source. The electronic processor is further configured to generate a third image based on the first image and the second image.