Rotating Lid Medication Dispenser with Wireless Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medication dispensing containers are space inefficient, inconvenient for daily use, and prone to spilling when carried, as they require moving medications into separate compartments based on time of administration, occupying significant space and bulk.
Innovation Solution
A medication dispensing container with a rotatable lid, lid position detection device, and programmable computing device that tracks dosages, provides a display for information, and allows wireless communication with external devices to manage multiple medications efficiently, emitting reminders and tracking usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If medications are stored in separate compartments organized by time of administration, then dosages can be easily accessed by time, but the container occupies significant space and adds bulk when carried
Solution Approach 1:
The container is divided into multiple compartments, each designated for specific time periods (morning, afternoon, evening). This segmentation allows users to easily access the correct dosage by time without searching through the entire container, while still maintaining a compact overall structure that reduces bulk when carried.
2Ease of operation
If the container is made portable for daily carrying, then mobility is improved, but individual compartments can easily open and spill contents
Solution Approach 1:
The lid is designed to rotate dynamically between locked and unlocked positions. When rotated to the locked position, it securely seals all compartments to prevent spilling during transport. When rotated to the unlocked position, it allows easy access to compartments. This dynamic mechanism maintains reliability while preserving portability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the container includes programming buttons and display for tracking dosages, then functionality is improved, but space required on the container increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit serves multiple functions: it shows dosage information, tracks administered doses, provides alerts for missed doses, and communicates with external devices. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single integrated display unit, the design achieves high adaptability while minimizing the space required on the container.
4Loss of information
If the container communicates with external devices for data tracking, then monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display unit acts as an intermediary between the internal dosage tracking system and external devices. It receives data from sensors monitoring dosage administration and transmits this information to external devices via wireless communication. This intermediary approach enables comprehensive data tracking while keeping the overall device complexity manageable by separating communication functions from the core dispensing mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A container for dispensing dosages of multiple medications over time. The present invention includes a container which has a plurality of compartments each configured to contain a plurality of dosages of a different medication. A rotatable lid is attached on top of the container such that an opening in the lid may be selectively positioned in fluid communication with each of the plurality of compartments. A lid position detection device is provided for identifying which of the compartments the opening is presently addressing. A programmable computing device is provided to track dosages administered from each of the plurality of compartments. A display, controlled by the programmable computing device, conveys information regarding the medication contained within a selected compartment. The ability to transmit and receive information from an external device or the Internet, either by a data port or wirelessly, is provided for increased functionality of the device.