MedKey
HIGH SECURITY PRESCRIPTION CONTAINER
A Lock & Key Mechanism designed to provide Enhanced Security to Prescription Containers to which Pharmacists & Medical Workers are charged with.
Project Brief
Design a function and novel child resistant and/or senior friendly locking container for injection molding, using the least amount of parts possible, which requires at least a two step process for opening. Additionally, seek to employ CSP's sealing technology.
Research
Where is the Market Right Now & Where is the Thought Direction Going?
Current Market Solutions
A survey of the current market solutions for Child Resistant Mechanisms, User-Friendly Design, and Elder-Friendly Design deemed to be usable by their mass manufacture.
- Mouse or Tap Over Images for Info -
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Zyrtec uses the flexibility of the plastic to dislodge the locking mechanism.
No 2-step action.
Potentially easy to deform the lid enough to easily gain access.
Nicorette "banana" bottle has a pleasing ergonomic shape.
A 2-step opening method.
A typical prescription bottle.
Has a 2-step opening method.
Studies have shown that the push & turn method does not provide enough security to deter children.
The Target Prescription Bottle Design. Well known for it user friendliness.
Was discontinued due to its fiddliness (mainly the colored rings) for the pharmacy staff.
Blister packaging. Does a good job with securing the medication. However, once opened, the medication cannot be sealed back up.
Tiring and hurtful to medical worker's hands.
Current Market Prototype Solutions
A survey of what is currently out there for innovative design.
- Mouse or Tap Over Images for Info -
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Advil Ibuprofen bottle accommodates the elderly and those with arthritis by having a large diameter bottle and lid.
Additionally, the lid has a large finger grip design to further help those with low grip strength.
Interviews
Human Development &
Family Studies
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Children are inquisitive.
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Like to imitate adults.
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Want to eat or get into food or candy colored objects.
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Young children won't necessarily understand words or graphical prompts for how to open a container.
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Children are easily able to turn, push, and pull, but having to do two at the same time is considerably harder.
Elders
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Line & Dot containers are hard to open, as it is often hard to see the dot.
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Blister Packs are hard to open.
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Pharmacy Custom Blister Packs are convenient as all their needed medications come in one pack. But in terms of being able to open, they would prefer a bottle.
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Twisting and pulling does not inflame arthritis as much as pushing actions.
Pharmacists
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Must open and check the pill count of every prescription bottle before giving it to the patient.
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Doing this hundreds of times a day causes calluses and Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) in the wrist and thumb of the dominant hand.
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Pharmacists and medical workers are held responsible for the highly potent and expensive medications put in their care.
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It is a relatively common occurrence for pharmacies to be burglarized and have their shelves of medicine swiped clean.
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There are occurrences of unauthorized medical workers and patients stealing medications from staff medical carts.
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Interviews
Human Development & Family Studies
-
Children are inquisitive.
-
Like to imitate adults.
-
Want to eat or get into food or candy colored objects.
-
Young children won't necessarily understand words or graphical prompts for how to open a container.
-
Children are easily able to turn, push, and pull, but having to do two at the same time is considerably harder.
Elders
-
Line & Dot containers are hard to open, as it is often hard to see the dot.
-
Blister Packs are hard to open.
-
Pharmacy Custom Blister Packs are convenient as all their needed medications come in one pack. But in terms of being able to open, they would prefer a bottle.
-
Twisting and pulling does not inflame arthritis as much as pushing actions.
Pharmacists
-
Must open and check the pill count of every prescription bottle before giving it to the patient.
-
Doing this hundreds of times a day causes calluses and Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI) in the wrist and thumb of the dominant hand.
-
-
Pharmacists and medical workers are held responsible for the highly potent and expensive medications put in their care.
-
It is a relatively common occurrence for pharmacies to be burglarized and have their shelves of medicine swiped clean.
-
There are occurrences of unauthorized medical workers and patients stealing medications from staff medical carts.
-