Body:
The patient controlled oral analgesia device is rectangular in shape (20x12x10cm) and is sized to accommodate 200 (2cm x 2cm x 2cm) pill casings; each casing will be capable of holding more than one tablet of medication. The casings will be stacked vertically and positioned within a rectangular tube. Each tube will accommodate 10 pill boxes(1 tube=10 pill boxes); consequently, the device will be housing 20 tubes. Within the device four rows of tubes are aligned vertically in the y-direction and five rows of tubes are aligned vertically in the x-direction.
Discharging mechanism:
A constant force spring positioned within each rectangular tube will be applying a downward force on the packaged medication. The constant force spring is a pre-stressed flat strip of metal composed of spring material that is coiled around itself or a drum. When deflected, the spring material straightens as it distances from the drum. The straightened material stores energy as a result of its tendency to assume its natural curvature. This results in the rotation of the drum which in turn applies the constant force.*
A constant force spring positioned within each rectangular tube will be applying a downward force on the packaged medication. The constant force spring is a pre-stressed flat strip of metal composed of spring material that is coiled around itself or a drum. When deflected, the spring material straightens as it distances from the drum. The straightened material stores energy as a result of its tendency to assume its natural curvature. This results in the rotation of the drum which in turn applies the constant force.*
The conveyor belt (approximately 2cm in length and 2cm in width) is positioned horizontally 2cms below the tube of packaged medication(as visible in FIG 3). The conveyor belt will be connected to a DC motor which will in turn be connected to a microprocessor. There will be a total of 20 conveyor belts; one for every tube. The conveyor belts will be positioned as to rotate in the positive x-direction. One motor will be supplying the energy required to rotate them. The microprocessor will make possible for individual rotation of the conveyor belts. Physicians, pharmacists or patients will have the capability to program the device to dispense medication at predetermined times.
The conveyor belt will rotate a distance of 2cm in the positive x-direction and the horizontal force resulting from kinetic friction between the bottom surface of a pill case and the surface of the conveyor belt will discharge the pill casing located at the bottom of the rectangular tube and will allow for the subsequent pill box to be pushed down by the constant force spring to the point where the bottom surface of the subsequent pill box makes contact with the surface of the conveyor belt. The discharged pill box will fall into a chamber where the patient will have access to the box of medication by simply lifting a flap door and reaching in for the medication.
The design of the apparatus allow for pharmacist/physician to fill the device with a variety of medications. If each tube is designated one type of medication the apparatus will be capable of holding 20 different types of capsules. Upon dosage request the patient will have the capability of selecting between medication “A” and medication “B.” If medication B is selected, the conveyor belt discharging capsule B will be energized while the rest remain stationary.
Power and user interface:
The device will be powered by a long lasting rechargeable lithium-ion battery that will keep the device operating for a minimum of 24 hours without needing any type of recharging. An AC Adaptor Jack positioned in the left face (as illustrated in FIG.1) will allow for the recharging of the lithium-ion battery. In addition to the AC Adaptor Jack, the device will have a USB Port.
This will allow for the physician or pharmacist to extract data (e.g. delivery history) from the device’s hard disk for analysis. The numbers of interactive keys in the devices are kept to a minimum in an attempt to make the device as intuitive as possible. The device will have nine interactive keys (POWER BUTTON,YES, NO, REFILL, DOSE, LAST, Emerg., Up Down) and an automated fingerprint identification system. Upon dosage request the patient will have to have their fingerprint scanned to confirm that the medication is being delivered to the individual whom it is prescribed to. If the patient is unable to consume the requested dosage for whatever reason, he/she will be capable of requesting a secondary dosage by pressing the interface key labeled “Emerg.” However, the patient will have access only to a minimum number emergency pill boxes. The quantity of emergency doses that a patient is allowed to receive is ultimately dictated by the physician or pharmacist. If a patient wishes to view the time that the last dose was consumed, the patient can simply press the key labeled “LAST” and the information will be made visible in the 9 cm x 7cm LCD display located in the front face of the device.
Refilling mechanism:
The bottom face of the device has an access panel arranged for pivotal movement about a pair of hinges. This door allows for an authorized individual to have access to the inside of the apparatus for refilling of medication or repairing of malfunctioning components. An electromagnet positioned within the apparatus (upper face) will make possible for the unwinding of the constant force spring which will ultimately allow for refilling of medication. If refilling of medication is necessary, the interactive key labeled “REFILL” will be pressed which will in turn activate the electromagnet and consequently cause the constant force springs to unwind. Recognize that upon pressing “REFILL,” the source will be asked to input a code; hence only authorized individual will be capable of refilling the apparatus. If an incorrect code is entered the electromagnet activation will be terminated.
* http://www.directindustry.com/prod/ametek-hunter-products/constant-force-spring-14268-28098.html
No comments:
Post a Comment