Advanced Tablet Cassette for Efficient and Safe Medicine Dispensing
Legal Citation
Summary of the Inventive Concept
An improved tablet cassette for automated tablet feeders, enhancing dispensing speed, safety, and efficiency, while reducing contamination risks and allowing for modular design and easy maintenance.
Background and Problem Solved
The original patent disclosed a tablet cassette for automated tablet feeders, but it had limitations in terms of tablet containing space, dispensing speed, and safety features. The new inventive concept addresses these limitations by introducing an adjustable tablet containing space, dynamic cam surface, enhanced safety features, modular design, and antimicrobial coating.
Detailed Description of the Inventive Concept
The advanced tablet cassette comprises an improved tablet container with a variable tablet containing space, adjustable based on the size of the tablets to be dispensed. The rotor features a dynamic cam surface that changes its shape in response to the number of tablets in the tablet cassette, optimizing dispensing speed. Enhanced safety features include a sensor to detect the presence of a tablet in the discharge port and a mechanism to prevent the discharge of multiple tablets at once. The modular design allows for easy replacement of worn or damaged components, while the antimicrobial coating on the surfaces inhibits the growth of microorganisms, reducing contamination risks.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The new inventive concept introduces a novel adjustable tablet containing space, dynamic cam surface, enhanced safety features, modular design, and antimicrobial coating, which are not present in the original patent. These features provide a non-obvious solution to the limitations of the original patent, enhancing the overall efficiency, safety, and commercial viability of the tablet feeder system.
Alternative Embodiments and Variations
Alternative embodiments of the advanced tablet cassette could include different shapes and sizes of the tablet container, varying cam surface designs, and alternative safety mechanisms. Additionally, the modular design could be adapted for use in other automated dispensing systems, expanding the inventive concept's applicability.
Potential Commercial Applications and Market
The advanced tablet cassette has significant commercial potential in the healthcare industry, particularly in hospitals and pharmacies, where efficient and safe medicine dispensing is crucial. The inventive concept's modular design and antimicrobial coating also make it attractive for use in other industries where automated dispensing systems are employed.
CPC Classifications
| Section | Class | Group |
|---|---|---|
| A | A61 | A61J1/03 |
| B | B65 | B65B35/06 |
| B | B65 | B65B35/46 |
| G | G07 | G07F17/0092 |
Section 103 Obviousness Analysis (PHOSITA)
Field of Art
Automated pharmaceutical dispensing systems, specifically tablet handling and sorting mechanisms in medical and pharmacy environments, requiring expertise in mechanical engineering, pharmaceutical packaging, and precision material handling
Person of Ordinary Skill (PHOSITA) Profile
A mechanical engineer with 3-5 years experience in medical device design, familiar with pharmaceutical automation, precision mechanical systems, and standard design optimization techniques for material handling equipment
Obviousness Rationale
A person of ordinary skill would recognize that the PTD's variations represent predictable engineering improvements to the source patent's tablet cassette design. The modifications address known limitations in tablet dispensing systems by introducing incremental enhancements in modularity, safety, and contamination control. These variations represent standard problem-solving approaches within the technical domain of automated pharmaceutical dispensing systems.
Obvious Combinations & Variations
Original Patent Information
| Patent Number | US 11,857,492 |
|---|---|
| Title | Tablet cassette |
| Assignee(s) | TOSHO, INC. |