Ultrasonic Ingestion Detection System for Medicine Adherence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing medicine-taking detection systems fail to accurately confirm whether a patient has ingested a prescribed medicine, particularly when the medicine does not react with conductive liquids, preventing signal transmission and detection.

Innovation Solution

A medicine-taking detection system and ingestion device that transmit and receive ultrasonic signals, using a secondary battery to power the signal transmission and reception units, which detect the ingestion based on signal intensity changes, allowing for accurate detection of medicine taking and potential loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conductive liquid-based detection system is used to detect medicine taking, then the system can detect ingestion through electrical signal transmission, but the detection fails when the medicine does not react with the conductive liquid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidcompatibility with different medicine types

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the electrical/conductive liquid-based detection system with an acoustic/ultrasonic detection system. The ultrasonic signal transmission and reflection detection mechanism does not depend on electrical conductivity or chemical reactions between the medicine and conductive liquid, thereby resolving the incompatibility issue while maintaining detection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an ultrasonic wave as an intermediary medium for detection. Instead of relying on direct electrical contact or chemical reaction between the medicine and conductive liquid, the ultrasonic wave serves as a mediator that can interact with the medicine regardless of its electrical properties, enabling universal detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the medicine device requires direct electrical contact with conductive liquid for signal transmission, then signal transmission can occur, but the system cannot detect taking when no reaction occurs between medicine and conductive liquid

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal transmission capabilityVSAvoidtaking detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes the electrical signal transmission method with ultrasonic signal transmission. The ultrasonic detection method measures the reflection characteristics of the medicine device itself, providing both signal transmission and accurate taking detection without requiring chemical reactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The medicine device uses its own reflected ultrasonic signal for detection purposes. By transmitting an ultrasonic signal and analyzing the reflection from the device itself, the system achieves self-detection capability that simultaneously provides signal transmission and accurate taking detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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

Enables precise detection of medicine ingestion by distinguishing between different states of signal intensity, ensuring accurate confirmation of medicine taking and potential loss, with the ability to record taking times and transmit notifications.

Implementation Method 1

a signal transmission unit that transmits a first signal, a signal reception unit that receives a reflected signal of the first signal transmitted from the signal transmission unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

transmits and receive ultrasonic signals, using a secondary battery to power the signal transmission and reception units, which detect the ingestion based on signal intensity changes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic detection: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentUS20220202650A1Medicine-taking detection system and ingestion device

Publication Date: 2022.06.30 MURATA MFG CO LTD

AI summary

A medicine-taking detection system is provided that includes an ingestion device 1 and a detection device that detects taking of the ingestion device. The ingestion device includes a medicine, a signal transmission unit that transmits a first signal, a signal reception unit that receives a reflected signal of the first signal transmitted from the signal transmission unit, and a secondary battery that supplies power to the signal transmission unit and the signal reception unit. The signal transmission unit is configured to, when the signal reception unit receives the reflected signal, transmit a second signal including information on a signal intensity of the reflected signal, and the detection device receives the second signal and detects the taking of the ingestion device based on the information on the signal intensity of the reflected signal.