Abstract:
This invention relates generally to assistive devices, and more particularly refers to an automatic substance applicator system for applying or administering a substance to a receiving surface.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from provisional application Ser. No. 60/798,637 entitled AUTOMATIC SUBSTANCE APPLICATOR SYSTEM, filed on May 8, 2006. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     This invention relates generally to assistive devices, and more particularly to a device that can automatically apply a substance to a receiving surface under the control of the user or by remote control. 
     Applying a substance such as nail polish to a receiving surface such as a fingernail or a toenail can require the ability to evenly and uniformly distribute the substance to a variable-sized and variable-textured receiving surface. Applying a substance such as a drug to a receiving skin surface can additionally involve dosage timing. Such activities, when performed manually, can require steady and even movement, as well as a good memory, which can be difficult for users with, for example, shaky hands, poor eyesight, poor eye/hand coordination, and poor memories. 
     What is needed is a system that assists users in applying substances to receiving surfaces with a uniform and steady motion. Still further, what is needed is a system that assists users with dosage timing. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is an automatic substance applicator system that can be used to apply a predetermined amount of substance to a receiving surface in a steady and controlled way, optionally at pre-selected intervals. For example, the automatic substance applicator system could be used to automatically apply nail polish to fingernails, or drugs to a skin surface or subcutaneously. The automatic substance applicator system can include, but is not limited to, a controller having switches to control such features as, for example, power, pump speed, and applicator motor speed. The controller can optionally provide switches to control an identification means such as, for example, a biosensor, an adjustable dosage meter, and a timer. The pump can draw or push a substance from a reservoir and supply the substance to an applicator such as, for example, a brush, a sponge, a nozzle, or combinations thereof, possibly through tubing. The applicator can be connected to a positioning or alignment device, and actuator such as a servo motor, which can adjust the position of the applicator, thereby automatically distributing the substance across the receiving surface. The biosensor or identification means can determine the identity of the person to whom the substance will be applied, the timer can provide the substance at pre-selected intervals, and the dosage meter can provide a pre-determined amount of substance. The applicator system can include an applicator that is removable to accommodate a variety of different applicator head shapes, sizes, and uses. 
     The controller can optionally have an electronic connection, wired or wireless, that allows remote control of dosage amount and timing. For example, medical personnel could establish the dosage and timing through an internet connection and the controller could automatically adjust its parameters according to the instructions from the medical personnel. The user could be informed of any external interaction with medical personnel through a wired or wireless personal device, for example, a Personal Data Assistant (PDA), a Personal Computer (PC), or a display associated with the controller or actuator. Additionally, the controller could be geographically separate from the applicator and could send and receive wireless electronic signals to control the pump and actuator and to send/receive signals to/from the identification means. The controller can include sensors including, but not limited to, for example, a position sensor, an angle sensor, and a pump sensor. 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description. The scope of the present invention is pointed out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the system of the invention in which a substance, possibly fingernail polish, is being applied to fingernails; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of the applicator cap of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1C  is a flowchart of the method of operation of an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of the applicator holder and stabilizer of an illustrative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic diagram showing a front view of the applicator distribution of the invention; 
         FIG. 2C  is a schematic diagram of an applicator for removing nail polish; 
         FIG. 2D  is a schematic diagram of an applicator for applying a nail polish stamp; 
         FIG. 2E  is a schematic diagram of a French tip nail polish applicator; and 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the system of the invention in which the substance, possibly a medication, is being applied to skin subcutaneously. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments according to the present teachings are now described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following configuration description is presented for illustrative purposes only. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , applicator system  100 , an illustrative embodiment according to the present teachings, can include, but is not limited to, reservoir  13  holding substance  14 , pump  11  coupled with reservoir  13 , tube  25  coupled with pump  11 , applicator  21  coupled with tube  25 , and actuator  17  coupled with application  21 . Pump  11  can draw substance  14  from reservoir  13  and, if tube  25  is present, provide substance  14  received from pump  11  to tube  25 . Applicator  21  can receive substance  14  from tube  25 , if present, and place substance  14  onto receiving surface  19 . Actuator  17  and motion coupler  24  can move applicator  21  to distribute substance  14  over receiving surface  19 . Applicator system  100  can include controller  15  that can control pump  11  and actuator  17 , as well as sense the status of devices under the control of controller  15 , and provide an on/off switch  31  and/or a power cable  32  or battery (not shown). Applicator system  100  could be wirelessly controlled. Substance  14  can be, for example, nail polish or nail polish remover, and receiving surface  19  can be. for example, a fingernail or toenail. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 1A , a method for operating of the device of the present teachings can include the steps of pumping substance  14  from reservoir  13  to applicator  21 , activating actuator  17  that is coupled with applicator  21 , and applying substance  14  across receiving surface  19 , for example, in a Cartesian space  23 , or any other Cartesian shape, through applicator  21  driven by actuator  17 . The method can further include the steps of setting the speed of actuator  17  to control distribution of substance  14  across receiving surface  19 , fixedly positioning receiving surface  19  with respect to applicator  21 , coupling pump  11  to applicator  21  by means of tube  25 , mounting tube  25  to position applicator  21  to distribute substance  14  across receiving surface  19 , moving, for example, rotating, applicator  21 , for example, in Cartesian space  23 , or moving laterally, to distribute substance  14  across receiving surface  19 , and adding substance  14  to reservoir  13 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1B , applicator  21  can be protected by cap  38 . 
     Referring now primarily to  FIG. 1C , method  150  ( FIG. 1C ) for automatically applying substance  14  ( FIG. 1A ) to a receiving surface  19  ( FIG. 1A ) can include the steps of powering on  151  ( FIG. 1C ) applicator system  100  ( FIG. 1A ) with on/off switch  31  ( FIG. 1A ) and, if begin checks such as, for example, checking  153  ( FIG. 1C ) if there is substance  14  in reservoir  13  and checking  153  ( FIG. 1C ) if receiving surface  19  is in the proper location, are unsuccessful, return to step  153 . Possible actions if the checks are unsuccessful can include, but are not limited to including, presenting warnings to the user such as “NO NAIL POLISH” or “PLEASE PLACE FINGER IN POLISH STATION”. If begin checks are successful, method  150  ( FIG. 1C ) can include the steps of starting  155  ( FIG. 1C ) pump  11 , warming up  155  pump  1 , pumping  155  ( FIG. 1C ) substance  14  to tube  25  ( FIG. 1A ), and checking  155  level of substance  14  in reservoir  13 . When a start button is depressed and before a stop button is depressed, method  150  ( FIG. 1C ) can include the steps of enabling actuator  17  ( FIG. 1A ) to swing  159  ( FIG. 1C ) applicator  21  ( FIG. 1A ), for example, left and right at, for example, 0.25 second period to apply substance  14  ( FIG. 1A ) to receiving surface  19  ( FIG. 1A ), and returning to step  157 . If the stop button is depressed, method  150  ( FIG. 1C ) can include the steps of stopping  161  ( FIG. 1C ) actuator  17  ( FIG. 1A ), which stops applicator  21  ( FIG. 1A ) and pump  11  ( FIG. 1A ), and returning to step  153 . Other possible actions when the stop button or on/off switch  31  is depressed can include, but are not limited to including, powering off applicator system  100  if on/off switch  31  is depressed, or stopping actuator  17  if the stop button is depressed, then powering off applicator system  100 , returning to step  151 . 
     Referring now primarily to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , tube  25  can be fixedly positioned by holder  33  and stabilizer  35 , and receiving surface positioner  37  can maintain receiving surface  19  ( FIG. 2A ) in a fixed position while applicator  21  distributes substance  14  ( FIG. 1A ). Actuator  17  ( FIG. 2A ) can move applicator  21  across, for example, a Cartesian space  23  ( FIG. 2B ) to cover a pre-selected area of receiving surface  19 . Actuator  17  can operate at a plurality of speeds controlled by controller  15  ( FIG. 1A ) which can cause applicator  21  to move in a swinging motion, in the illustrative embodiment, taking, for example, a few seconds for a complete cycle when a fingernail is receiving surface  19 . Applicator  21  can, for example, move a pre-selected distance from neutral position ( 26 ), for example, up to ¼ turn right and ¼ turn left of neutral position  26  ( FIG. 2B ) of applicator  21 , by means of actuator  17  and motion coupler  24 . Applicator  21  can also move laterally, or can remain in situ while drawing patterns composed of, for example, dots. Applicator  21  can be removed and replaced by applicators depicted in  FIGS. 2C ,  2 D, and  2 E, for example. In  FIG. 2C  is shown a sponge-like brush for removing nail polish, for example. In  FIG. 2D  is a shown a designer brush that could be used to stamp on a design such as a star, rose, etc. In  FIG. 2E  is shown a thin brush to create, for example, a French tip. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , medical system  200 , another embodiment of the present teachings, the embodiment illustrating subcutaneous dose administration, can include, but is not limited to, the elements of applicator system  100  ( FIG. 1A ), as well as medical applicator  53 , identification database  47 , and identification reader  51 . A method for using medical system  200  can include, but is not limited to, the step of receiving identifying information, such as a fingerprint, to identification reader  51  to initialize identification database  47 . Identification database  47  can be electronically coupled with controller  15  through identification interface  41 , which can receive signals from identification database  47  through, for example, a medium such as, for example, wired or wireless technology. The method of use of medical system  200  can further include the step of providing power through power interface  45  to controller  15 . Controller  15  can, for example, be battery-operated, can have a wall connection through electric cord  32 , or can be powered by another method, and can be wirelessly controlled. The method can further include the steps of receiving an identifying surface  49 , shown illustratively as the side of receiver  19 A that is flush with sensor platform  61 , reading identifying information from identifying surface  49  through identification reader  51 , and comparing the received identifying information with identifying information stored in identification database  47  during the previous initialization step. If there is a match, the method can include the step of providing, by identification database  47 , a signal to controller  15  through identification interface  41 . If there is no match, controller  15  can, for example, take no activation action with respect to pump  11  and actuator  17 . Note that identification database  47  and sensor platform  61  can be integrated devices or can be physically and/or electronically separated and can, for example, communicate through wired, wirelessly, or an internet connection. The configuration shown in  FIG. 3  is illustrative. 
     Continuing to refer to  FIG. 3 , if controller  15  receives an activation signal from identification database  47 , the method can include the step of sending, by controller  15 , a timer signal to initialize timer  55  and set a time for administering a dosage to receiver  19 A associated with the identifying information. When timer  55  determines that, for example, a preselected timing interval has expired, the method can include the step of sending, by timer  55 , a pump signal to pump switch  27  to activate pump  11 , and a regulator signal to motor regulator  29  to activate actuator  17 . The method can also include the steps of receiving, from movement manager  57 , and sending to motor regulator  29 , a dosage location with respect to receiver  19 A. Movement manager  57  can receive the dosage location from, for example, service provider  59  through, for example, a local graphical user interface (not shown) or a remote user interface or automatic means through communications network  43 , or the dosage location can be associated with the identifying information, or any other appropriate means to determine dosage location. For example, if the dosage is to be spread across the skin, movement manager  57  can provide the geometric parameters. As another example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , if the dosage is to be administered in a single location, movement manager  57  can provide that single location to motor regulator  29 . 
     Continuing to further refer to  FIG. 3 , the method can further include the steps of positioning medical applicator  53  with respect to receiver  19 A according to a positioning signal from movement manager  57 , and activating actuator  17  to properly position medical applicator  53 . The method can still further include the step of pumping substance  14  from substance reservoir  13  through tube  25  to medical applicator  53  while actuator  17  positions medical applicator  53 , if necessary, appropriately for administering the dosage. The method can even still further include the step of discontinuing the dosage when a signal is received from timer  55 , where timer  55  has associated, for example, a dosage time or dosage amount with the identifying information, the medication being administered, or any other appropriate means. In medical system  200 , values such as dosage amount and applicator position can be established either locally to medical system  200 , for example, through a touch pad, a computer, or any other means, or remotely, for example, through communications network  43 , a Personal Data Assistant, a cell phone, or any other means. Further, the values can be established automatically through software executing in any of the components of medical system  200 , or through user entry to a graphical user interface (not shown), either locally or remotely to medical system  200 . 
     Although the invention has been described with respect to various embodiments, it should be realized that this invention is also capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments. The following claims define the scope of the invention.