EZ-Split Pill Cutting Machine
By Fry, James A.; Mollendorf, Joseph C.; NSF 2005 Engineering Senior Design Projects to Aid Persons With Disabilities, pp. 132-133Publication Date: 2005
Description of a precision cutting tool for people who take medication in half-pill doses. Developed at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at State University of New York at Buffalo, the device provides for an identical cutting force for every cut. The machine consists of a round disk with different-shaped cutouts set around the perimeter, interfaced with a detent system, a cutting blade attached to a pushrod, which is in turn attached to a magnetic solenoid, and a switch. The detent system allows for each shape to be clicked into place and only allows for rotation in one direction. The user puts the pill into a cutout of similar shape and rotates the disk until it clicks into place under the blade. Cutting force is provided by the magnetic solenoid. After the pill has been aligned under the blade, the user presses the switch, which provides power to the solenoid, causing the pushrod to fire downward and driving the blade through the pill. When the switch is released, springs force the pushrod back up to its resting position. After cutting, the user rotates the disk and the cut halves fall through a hole for retrieval. Cost of production was $40.
Published by: Creative Learning Press, Inc. (Website:http://www.creativelearningpress.com)
Link to text: http://nsf-pad.bme.uconn.edu/2005/Buffalo.pdf
ISBN: 1-931280-03-7
