Visual Medication Verification System with Automated Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The medication prescription and fulfillment process is complex due to data fragmentation across patient, healthcare provider, and pharmacist systems, leading to inefficiencies and safety risks, particularly with infectious diseases and medication verification challenges.
Innovation Solution
A visual verification system that includes a medication sorting device and a system for medication visual verification, using cameras and processors to identify medications and verify prescriptions, while also recommending alternative medications based on patient data and health conditions, reducing human interaction and enhancing accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated medication verification systems are implemented, then productivity and accuracy are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical verification processes with automated optical and computational systems. Cameras capture images of medications, and image processing algorithms automatically identify and verify medication properties, eliminating the need for manual inspection while significantly improving verification speed and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies (images) of physical medications for verification purposes. By capturing and analyzing images of medications through cameras and processing systems, the patent enables verification without direct physical handling, improving both productivity and safety while managing complexity through digital representation.
2Measurement precision
If individual medication verification is performed manually, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous automated verification processing where medications are verified as they move through the system without interruption. The automated image capture and processing occur continuously, eliminating the discontinuous nature of manual verification and significantly reducing total verification time while maintaining high accuracy through algorithmic consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual visual inspection is replaced with automated image recognition systems that process medication identification continuously and accurately, eliminating the time-consuming nature of manual verification while maintaining or improving measurement precision through consistent algorithmic analysis.
3Reliability
If pharmacists review images of medications, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-verification through automated image analysis and identification algorithms. The medication verification process serves itself by automatically capturing, analyzing, and verifying medication properties without requiring pharmacist intervention for routine identification tasks, thereby improving reliability while reducing operational burden.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual image review by pharmacists is partially replaced with automated image processing systems that perform initial verification and identification. This substitution maintains reliability through consistent algorithmic analysis while significantly easing the operational burden on pharmacists by automating routine verification tasks.
4Loss of information
If data is centralized across all systems, then loss of information is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional centralized data system that serves multiple purposes: storing patient information, tracking medications, verifying prescriptions, and generating reports. This universal system consolidates data management functions across different stakeholders, reducing information loss while managing complexity through integrated multi-functionality rather than separate specialized systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges previously separate data systems (patient records, prescription databases, medication inventory, verification logs) into a single integrated platform. By combining these functions into one unified system, the patent reduces information loss through comprehensive data availability while managing integration complexity through centralized architecture.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a visual verification system for medication, medication prescription verification, and alternative medication recommendation. A visual verification system may include a medication sorting device that has a medication entry; a moving part configured to receive the plurality of medications from the medication entry at a first location and move the plurality of medications to a second location; a fixed part disposed adjacent the moving part and configured to interact with the plurality of medications, as the plurality of medications are moved to the second location, in order to generate a sequence of axially spaced apart medications. For instance, a method may include receive, from camera(s), a plurality of images of a plurality of medications; determine, based on the plurality of images, features of at least a first medication of the plurality of medications; and determine an identity of at least the first medication based on the features.