To design the device, we had to address a series of specifications, for manufacturing companies as well as for physicians; i.e. say what we wanted our device to accomplish. These are some of the most important ideas we discussed:
- Intended users: responsible adults and teenagers who are in pain and are deemed capable of controlling their dosing.
- Functions and performance: dispense individual doses of analgesic upon request until a lockout time is reached, an emergency dose available and data storage.
- Ease of use: very intuitive, featuring an LCD screen and few buttons, so that patients would push a single button to request a dose, and then confirm their decision.
- Dimensions: 20x12x10cm, the weight would be under 5.5lbs(2.49kg); the LCD would be 9x7cm.
- Operating conditions: it should be exposable to the sun, water resistant to a point, allow very high/low temperatures, pressures and other conditions.
- Battery life: the battery should be long-lasting (at least 24h) and able to be plugged in to recharge.
- Cost: it should cost under $400 to manufacture.
- Lifetime: the device should have at least a 2-year life cycle.
- Maintenance and repair: the only maintenance required should be charging it and refilling the pills. Repairing the battery and springs by professionals every so often would yield a longer life cycle.
- Reliability and safety: should include a system so that only the patient can take the pills, a lock accessible only to physicians and pharmacists, a lockout time and emergency dose available. It should also inform the patient how many doses are left, and a code to activate refilling.
- Ergonomics and appearance: it should be attachable to an IV pole, have no sharp edges and include a slide-out tray to allow patients to remove the pills easily.
- Disposal: available only to hospitals and health-care centers for distribution to patients.
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