Sealed Medication Delivery Unit with Pneumatic Rupturing Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing medication delivery systems require direct user force to extract medications, which can crush pills or break capsules, and are difficult for the aged to use, while also being accessible to young children and prone to medications getting hung-up on rough exit edges.
Innovation Solution
A sealed delivery unit with a pumping chamber that generates rupturing pressure through compressed air, allowing medications to fall out without direct user force application, featuring a removable port closure and a design that prevents young children from easily accessing the mechanism, while assisting in dislodging medications stuck on edges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If direct user force is applied to extract medication through blister pack, then medication can be delivered, but medication may be crushed or capsule jacket broken
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery system is divided into separate functional chambers: a medication chamber containing the medication and a pumping chamber for generating pressure. This segmentation allows the force generation and medication delivery functions to be separated, preventing direct force application to the medication while enabling controlled extraction through the rupture mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Air acts as an intermediary medium between the user's applied force and the medication. The user compresses air in the pumping chamber, and this compressed air serves as the intermediary that generates rupturing pressure to open the medication chamber seal, thereby delivering medication without direct force contact.
2Ease of operation
If manual dexterity is required for pushing and extracting medication, then medication can be delivered, but operation becomes difficult for the aged
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical extraction process (pushing through blister pack) is replaced with a pneumatic system. Instead of requiring fine motor skills to push and pick at medication, the user simply applies compression force to the pumping chamber, and the pneumatic system handles the extraction through seal rupture and air stream delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pneumatic principles where compressed air generated in the pumping chamber serves dual functions: (1) generating the rupturing pressure to open the medication chamber seal, and (2) creating an air stream that carries the medication out through the delivery port, eliminating the need for manual manipulation.
3Ease of operation
If pull-away closure is used for delivery port, then medication can be delivered, but young children may easily access the mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The delivery mechanism operates in a different dimensional plane than traditional blister packs. The medication chamber and pumping chamber are arranged with the delivery port positioned such that children cannot easily reach or manipulate the closure, while adults can access it. The geometric arrangement and positioning create natural accessibility differentiation.
4Productivity
If medication is delivered through rough exit edges, then medication can be extracted, but medication hangs-up on the edges
Solution Approach 1:
The pneumatic system generates an air stream that flows through the delivery port. This air stream serves to carry the medication out smoothly and prevents hanging-up by providing continuous pneumatic support and reducing contact with the port edges. The air stream effectively cushions the medication during extraction.
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 ensures medications are delivered without direct force application, is user-friendly for adults, and minimizes disturbance to adjacent units, while preventing young children from easily accessing the mechanism, effectively addressing the challenges of pill crushing and edge sticking.
Implementation Method 1
The user applies force directly onto an adjacent pumping chamber to compress air which generates the rupturing pressure
Implementation Method 2
Compressed air from the pumping chamber supplies an air stream that carries the smooth medication out the exit site
Data Source
AI summary
Sealed delivery unit 10 (shown in exploded format in FIG. 1A) contains medication 10M, and is formed by a generally flat member 10F pressed into selective engagement with an opposed shaped member 10S. Pumping chamber 12P, enclosed between the members generates a rupturing pressure in response to an external force applied by the user (indicated by arrow F shown in FIG. 1B). Enclosed Medication chamber 12M contains the medication to be delivered. Tunnel conduit 14 provides fluid communication between the chambers for rupturing the medication chamber in response to the rupturing pressure. Perimeter seal 16 extends around the pumping chamber and the medication chamber and the tunnel conduit. The perimeter seal is secure enough to withstand the internal rupturing pressure generated during delivery. Delivery port 18 with pull-away closure 18C (see FIG. 1C) delivers the medication out of medication chamber 12M. Rupture site 18S is proximate the delivery port. Rupture flap 18F produced by the rupturing at the rupture site, is connected to the pull-away closure. The flap projects outward permitting the user to grasp the pull-away the closure and open the delivery port for delivery of the medication.