Single-item-access drawer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Automated Dispensing Machines (ADMs) require multiple trips by nurses to manage patient medications, as they cannot store all necessary medications and often lead to expired or unused medications due to infrequent use, and existing transport solutions are inefficient for multiple medications.
Innovation Solution
A dockable multi-compartment sub-drawer with latching lids and a communication interface, allowing secure storage and dispensing of multiple patient-specific medications, which can be efficiently moved between ADMs and patient rooms, utilizing a processor to control access and release mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single-compartment receptacle is used to transport medications, then security during transport is improved, but the ability to provide multiple patient-specific medications is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The single-compartment receptacle is divided into multiple compartments, each capable of storing different medications. This segmentation allows the receptacle to securely transport multiple patient-specific medications simultaneously while maintaining the security benefits of the original design through individual lid-latch mechanisms for each compartment.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an ADM contains all medications, then medication availability is improved, but medication expiration and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts medication storage based on patient-specific needs. Rather than statically storing all medications in the ADM, the receptacle is configured with compartments only for medications currently prescribed to a specific patient, allowing the system to respond to changing patient requirements while minimizing waste of unused medications.
Solution Approach 2:
Specific medications are extracted from the central ADM storage and placed into the portable receptacle for individual patient use. This extraction allows the ADM to maintain comprehensive medication availability while the receptacle contains only the subset of medications needed for a particular patient, preventing expiration and waste of medications not currently required.
3Ease of operation
If a pharmacist manually loads medications into the ADM, then medication access is improved, but nurse workload and trips increase
Solution Approach 1:
The portable receptacle serves as an intermediary between the ADM and the patient. It is pre-loaded with patient-specific medications at the ADM, then transported to the patient's bedside where it provides direct access to medications. This eliminates the need for nurses to repeatedly travel to the ADM, as all required medications are available in the receptacle at the point of care.
4Device complexity
If medications are stored at the nursing station, then central control is improved, but nurse travel time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centralized medication storage system is segmented into patient-specific portable receptacles. Each receptacle maintains connection to the central ADM through communication interfaces for tracking and control, while physically being transportable to patient locations. This segmentation allows central control to be maintained through digital monitoring while eliminating the need for nurses to travel to the nursing station for medication retrieval.
Data Source
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AI summary
A single-item-access (SIA) sub-drawer is disclosed that has a body with a compartment and a lid that is selectably se - curable in a closed position that encloses the compartment. The SLA sub-drawer includes a lid latch configured to secure and selectably release the lid and a sub-drawer latch configured to engage and selectably release a retention hook to secure the SIA sub-drawer to a dispensing cabinet. The SIA sub-drawer also includes a processor configured to cause the lid latch to release the lid upon receipt of a lid release signal and to cause the sub-drawer latch to release the retention hook upon receipt of a sub-drawer release signal.