The team has further narrowed the product focus to a medicine bottle delivery design. The product prototype 2 is a modified version of the medicine bottle prototypes from the first and second round of prototyping. The goal of this prototype was to brainstorm and create a mechanism that will successfully allow and prevent fluid flow from one bottle cavity to another when the user flips the bottle upside down and then back to the normal position. Prototype 2 was modeled in Solid Works and printed with a 3-D printer.
We determined that the best mechanism for early modeling would be a gate to allow for fluid flow when the openings of the system were aligned by the user. This was most effectively accomplished in our computer models through a revolving gate being placed between the bulk supply of medicine and the measuring region of our bottle. The user would revolve this gate so that the holes would not align until she moves a connecting arm and flips the bottle, so as to allow for liquid medicine to fill the measuring region for her to then take orally.
We will still be considering other mechanisms based on user feedback and further testing – such as whether or not the bottle meets the functional needs of the user, is it ergonomic to her standard of living, or other ways we can make improvements to the overall design. We have also only considered rigid body mechanisms thus far, so other materials and viable mechanisms are still potential options (such as the measure/fill mechanism on mouthwash bottles).
Medicine Bottle Prototype:
Questions This Prototype Aims to Answer:
- What is the best mechanism for allowing and preventing fluid flow?
- Approximately how large do the internal cavities of the bottle need to be?
- Will the user be able to successfully use the product (weight, size, shape, etc.)?
- How will the design of the water bottle inherently incorporate the measuring aspects needed to take her medicine? (User-focused design)
- How will the product be easily broken apart to allow for refills and cleanings between uses?
Questions to Consider Moving Forward:
- What size and shape should the external surfaces of the bottle be?
- What is the best mechanism for use as the spout for the bottle?
- How will the bottle keep the liquid cold for a 12 hour period?
- How will we ensure that the liquid is fully dispensed from the container?
- How should we imitate the syringe injection features into our bottle design, so the medicine is easily dispensed from the bottle?
- Could adding any pressurized systems to the bottle design improve efficiency and user experience?
- What materials are acceptable for medicine storage?
- What features would Jen like to see in the continuation of the bottle design – what did she like or dislike about this round of prototyping?