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Develop a real-time adaptive system for dispensing Warfarin medication, ensuring accurate dosages and minimizing errors. The innovative pill dispenser design features friction hinges, slotted tubes, stainless steel plates, and micro-servos for efficient performance. Battery-powered and spill-proof, the device communicates with physicians and simplifies medication management.
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Automatic Home Medication Dispenser Project # P07009 Team Guide - Dr. Daniel Phillips Project Sponsor - Dr. Michel Berg Team Members Alan Strandburg Chris Abramo Ntongho Amin Gordon Yeung Nick Columbare Albert Lam
Project Background • Warfarin is an anticoagulant used for blood clotting medical conditions. • Dosages of Warfarin need to be frequently adjusted to maintain effectiveness. • For the first few months of the regimen, adjustments are made based on weekly or bi-weekly blood test results. This requires frequent coordination with the physician, patient and pharmacist.
Problem Statement • Frequent coordination between the physician, patient, and pharmacist is • Time consuming • Inconvenient • Increases chance of dosage error Solution: A real-time adaptive system needs to be developed.
Fundamental Concept • Using a computer, the doctor programs the daily dosages for the patient. • This schedule is sent through the internet and connects to the automatic pill dispenser. • At a designated time, the unit will sound an alarm, reminding the patient to take his/her medication. • User pushes a button and the correct combination of pills are dispensed. • Patient brings device to the pharmacist to be refilled.
Objective/Scope • Create a prototype Warfarin dispensing device • Unit used for demonstration of concept • Must reliably dispense medication in accurate doses • Communicates with physician via a computer interface • Equipped with operating checks and alerts • Easily refillable by the pharmacist • Easy to use and simple user interface • Spill-proof design • Minimize future manufacturing cost
Friction Hinges / Vented Assembly • Outer housing • Easily removed for maintenance and cleaning • Four screws fasten the outer housing to the unit • The case mounted electronics are harnessed to facilitate removal • Venting the housing offers ample convective cooling for the electronics. • Friction hinges • Supports weight of lid • Cover can be rotated and held open at various positions • Prevents the lid from violently dropping closed
Slotted Tubes • Tube Configuration • Consistent orientation • Minimized jamming / damage to the pills • Slotted feature • Directs pill following mechanism • Material requirements • Rigid • Corrosion resistant • Machinable • Manufactured in seamless tubing • 9mm inner diameter • Stainless steel tubes were determined to satisfy these requirements. • Original material – polycarbonate
Stainless Steel Plates • Machined from stainless steel • Material selection • Durability • Reduction of sliding friction
Micro-Servos • Original design used larger servo-motors • Design deficiencies • Separate mounting platform • Clearance and alignment liabilities • Required more operating space • Final Design used micro servo-motors • More compact and efficient • Pushing motion • Eliminated the need for a separate mounting platform • Reduced the size, complexity, machining time, and cost of the unit
Power • Battery powered by 7.2V Lithium Ion. • Also accepts wall power. • Voltage is regulated to 5Vdc. • Battery recharged using a MAX745 smart Lithium Ion recharging chip. • The chip supplies a regulated charging current of 4A to the battery.
Pill Slide Consists of two angles: • Primary slide angle • angle at which all the pills would slide at • Secondary slide angle • allows pills from the outermost tubes to be moved towards the center of the unit and into the cup • Angles were researched and tested to ensure that the pills would not become stuck after they are ejected from the pill plates
Pill Follower Assembly • Meets the customer requirement of being spill proof • Spring • provides sufficient force to keep pills from disorienting when unit is inverted • Self contained one-piece unit
Pill Loading Device • Loading Device • Relatively quick loading with short initial learning curve • Pills poured into the funnel and are stacked within the polycarbonate tube • Release pin stops pills at end of tube • Using slot as guide, mechanism is lowered over SS tubes • Pin is released and pills fall into tube • Maintains consistent and reliable pill orientation
Handle with Sensor Switch • Modeled in vision of customer provided example • Presence of handle is detected through micro-switch • Secured through locking grab catch • Stability in unit
Accomplished Design Requirements ME Requirements: • Enable one pill to be moved from a bulk compartment to delivery compartment at a time. • Contain one month supply of Warfarin. • Enclosed and latched with tamper evident indicator. • Deliver correct dose without error. • Rapid delivery of dose after dose button push. • Quickly demonstrable. • Loading of device done easily and quickly. • Spill-proof. • Large / easily visible buttons for dose retrieval and information. • Reasonably quiet. • Easy to use latching cup handle.
Accomplished Design Requirements EE Requirements: • Backlit color screen with large characters for messages. • Rapid delivery of dose after dose button push. • Quickly demonstrable. • Alert for service when pill supply is low. • Delivery compartment with removable dose cup needs to be in place prior to dispensing. • Audio/visual alarm to alert patient that it is time to take medication.
Accomplished Design Requirements CE Requirements: • Remote dose programming through interactive software interface. • Programmable messages from programmer to dispenser. • Rapid delivery of dose after dose button push. • Update dosing information by physician. • Quickly demonstrable. • Alert for service when pill supply low. • Audio/visual alarm to alert patient that it is time to take medication.
