Smart Medication Cover With Light-Blocking Sensor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medication compliance devices lack a mechanism to accurately control the time and amount of medication use, particularly for complex treatment plans, leading to risks for patients with conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.
Innovation Solution
A medication intelligent device connected to a server, featuring a cover with an auxiliary medicine delivery system that includes a main control chip, medicine delivery gate, and a light-blocking sensing module, which controls the dispensing of medication based on predefined policies and counts the quantity of medication used, ensuring accurate timing and dosage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional pill boxes are used to monitor and track medication quantity, then patients can be reminded to take medication, but the device cannot actually control the time and amount of medication used
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automatic medication dispensing controlled by the smart cover. The main control chip automatically opens the medicine delivery gate at scheduled times without requiring patient intervention, and the restricting element ensures only one medicine can be taken at a time, making the system self-regulating and eliminating manual monitoring needs
Solution Approach 2:
The light-blocking sensing module provides real-time feedback by detecting when medicine passes through the first through-hole and sends signals to the main control chip. This feedback mechanism allows the system to track medication consumption accurately and adjust future dispensing accordingly, creating a closed-loop control system that ensures compliance
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of medicines with different use times and dosages are provided for complex treatment plans, then comprehensive treatment can be achieved, but it causes difficulties for patients to use medicine correctly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the medication management function into distinct components: the restricting element physically separates different medicine types and limits quantity to one at a time, the main control chip manages scheduling for different medicines, and the sensing unit tracks each medicine individually. This segmentation allows complex treatment plans to be broken down into simple, manageable actions for the patient
Solution Approach 2:
The smart cover acts as an intermediary between the patient and the medicines. It mediates the complex interaction by automatically managing dispensing timing and quantity based on pre-programmed treatment plans, eliminating the need for patients to manually track multiple medicines with different schedules and dosages
3Ease of operation
If patients are responsible for tracking their own medication usage, then they have autonomy, but they may forget to take medicine or take it twice
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-monitoring through the light-blocking sensing module that automatically detects when medicine is removed and reports to the main control chip. This self-service capability eliminates the need for patient memory or manual tracking, while the automatic dispensing control ensures medicines are released only at appropriate times, preventing both omission and duplication
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/memory-based patient tracking system with an electronic control system. The main control chip uses electronic timing and control signals to manage medication dispensing, substituting human cognitive functions with automated electronic control, thereby eliminating forgetting and errors associated with manual tracking
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 device enhances medication compliance by ensuring accurate and timely dispensing of medication, improving patient adherence and treatment efficacy while providing real-time monitoring and tracking capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The sensing unit of the auxiliary medicine delivery device is disposed in a light blocking sensing module located in the inner peripheral surface of the first cover portion, and the light block sensing module outputs a sensing signal to the main control chip and the main control chip counts to acquire a current medicine quantity according to the sensing signal when the at least one medicine each passes through the first through-hole
Data Source
AI summary
A medical intelligent device is for use with a medical jar. The medical jar defines an accommodating space for containing at least one medicine. The medication intelligent device includes a cover and an auxiliary medicine deliver. The cover is detachably mounted on the medical jar. The auxiliary medicine deliver is disposed on the cover and includes a main control chip and a medicine delivery gate electrically connected to the main control chip. The main control chip is used to move the gate between a closed position and an opened position relative to the cover. In the closed position, the medicine delivery gate closes the accommodating space. In the opened position, the medicine delivery gate opens the accommodating space.