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UW-Madison BME 300 - Device to Assist Pill Removal from Bubble Wrap Packaging

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Device to Assist Pill Removal from Bubble Wrap Packaging May 5th, 2008 Team Eric Printz – BWIG Ryan Carroll – Communicator Benjamin Engel – Team Leader Justin Schmidt – BSAC Client Dr. Molly Carnes, M.D., M.S., Professor Departments of Medicine and Industrial & Systems Engineering Advisor Brenda Ogle, PhD Department of Biomedical Engineering Abstract A common trait of the elderly population is decreased hand strength and dexterity. This is a condition which advances as people age. Additionally, the elderly population takes numerous pills which come in a variety of different packages. One type of packaging is called blister packaging. Due to decreased hand strength and dexterity, these blister packages are hard for the elderly to open. The goal of this project is to create a device which makes the process of opening blister packaged pills easier for the elderly population. The device that was created is ideal for home use by the patient, and does not require assistance to use. Additionally, a safety mechanism has been engineered to prevent the user from injury due to the sharp blade which the device utilizes. The device was tested using a variety of over the counter pills. Testing has shown that the device is 100% effective in opening packaging on the first try with only minimal damage to the pill (less than 1% pill damage by weight).2 Table of Contents Problem Statement………………………………………………………………………………3 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………...3 • Hand strength and aging……………………………………………………………..3 • Current devices………………………………………………………………………6 Design Specifications……………………………………………………………………………8 Design Alternatives……………………………………………………………………………...9 • Design One: Linear Punch…………………………………………………………...9 • Design Two: Rolling Punch………………………………………………………….11 • Design Three: Concealed Blade Design……………………………………………..12 Design Matrix……………………………………………………………………………………14 Final Design……………………………………………………………………………………...16 • Base/Lid……………………………………………………………………………...17 • Sliders/Custom Brackets…………………………………………………………….18 • Safety Mechanism…………………………………………………………………...19 Testing…………………………………………………………………………………………...19 Future Work……………………………………………………………………………………...20 Ethical Considerations…………………………………………………………………………...21 References……………………………………………………………………………………….22 Appendix A: Project Proposal…………………………………………………………………...23 Appendix B: Product Design Specifications…………………………………………………….24 Appendix C: Testing Results…………………………………………………………………….26 Appendix D: Cost Analysis……………………………………………………………………...273 Problem Statement Many over-the-counter medications are packaged in blister or bubble wrap packaging so that individuals or their caretakers can easily determine the number of pills taken in a given period of time. However, it is difficult for individuals with decreased hand strength, especially the elderly, to remove medication from this type of packaging. These difficulties lead struggling patients to alternative access methods that are often dangerous. It has been proposed to design a device capable of aiding patients in the removal of over-the-counter medication from blister pack style packaging. Introduction Hand Strength and Aging With age comes vulnerability to chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cognitive impairment, and impaired vision [1]. In addition, decreases in dexterity and overall strength promote the lack of independence with elderly groups [2]. These disabilities in combination or alone make even the most everyday tasks more difficult for the elderly. These tasks can be as trivial as tying a shoe, or preparing a sandwich, or as important as removing medication from packaging. Although decreases in strength and dexterity affect most muscles in the body, one of the most important areas of concern is the hands. Most of the general activities preformed throughout the day either require dynamic gripping or manual manipulation [3]. Age brings about a significant decrease in strength of the hands [2]. Figure 1 illustrates the results of a study in which two groups, old and young were put through a variety of motor tests involving their hands.4 Figure 1: Comparison of young vs. old groups in their performance of simple hand related tasks [1]. As noted by the bar graphs, the older groups displayed significantly less grip strength than younger groups and also failed to hold their hands steady. In addition they exhibited less sensitivity, dictated by the two point discrimination experiment. All of these results translate to one fact: aging has a degenerative effect on hand function [1][3]. While decreased sensitivity does not have a major affect on the design of the device, it does illustrate the fact that the nervous system in older individuals tends to decline. This will have an effect on the design because of central command fatigue. Central command fatigue occurs when the central nervous system (CNS) stops recruiting motor units (even though there are still motor units to recruit) [4]. Thus, in elderly individuals with a degenerating nervous system, central command fatigue may set in earlier resulting in a decreased overall force produced. This is not the main reason for decreased strength in the elderly;


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UW-Madison BME 300 - Device to Assist Pill Removal from Bubble Wrap Packaging

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