WO2016185080A1

WO2016185080A1 - An apparatus and method for arranging medication

Info

Publication number: WO2016185080A1
Application number: PCT/FI2015/050347
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ossi Parviainen
Original assignee: Newicon Oy
Priority date: 2015-05-21
Filing date: 2015-05-21
Publication date: 2016-11-24

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for arranging medication, the apparatus comprising - a dispensing tray (1; 11; 21 ) provided with at least one seat (2; 22), in which at least one drug, drug dispensing cup (3) or ampoule (23) can be placed, - a data processing device (4; 14; 24) connectible to a data network, con¬ figured to control an indicator (6; 7; 26) provided next to at least one seat (2; 22) in the dispensing tray (1; 11; 21 ), and in which apparatus - the data processing device (4; 14; 24) comprises a memory or the like, in which points of time can be programmed, when an identification signal is automatically transferred to at least one indicator (6, 7; 26) which makes the indicator generate a light and/or audio signal to indicate that the drug or drugs in at least one seat (2, 22) of the dispensing tray (1; 11; 21 ) should be administered, - the seats (2; 22) of the dispensing tray (1, 11; 21 ) are provided with a detecting sensor configured to detect if the drug, dispensing cup (3) or ampoule (23) is present in the seat (2; 22) of the dispensing tray (1; 11; 21 ) or absent from it, - the detecting sensor (8; 28) is connected to the data processing device (4; 14; 24) which is configured to monitor the status of the detecting sensor (8; 28) at predetermined intervals or continuously and to inform a monitoring unit (13), connected to the same data network as the apparatus and configured to receive data transmitted by the data processing device (4; 14; 24) and to give an alarm, if a drug, a dispensing cup (3) or an ampoule (23) in a seat (2; 22) indicated by a detection signal has not been removed from the seat (2; 22) within a predetermined delay time from the transmission of the detection signal to the indicator (6; 7; 26). The invention also relates to a method, in which the medication of a patient is arranged by applying an apparatus according to the invention.

Description

AN APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR ARRANGING MEDICATION

Field of the invention The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for arranging medication. Background of the invention

At present, persons who require regular treatment with drugs at home, including elderly people, patients with mild memory disorders, or mental patients in home care, often have to take care of their drug administration either completely by themselves or in such a way that a visiting home aid sees that the drugs are administered at the correct time. A drawback in the present system is that when the person himself/herself should remember to take the drugs according to the prescribed regimen, there is a risk that taking a drug is delayed too long or completely forgotten. An arrangement in which a home aid or a nurse has to visit the person to make sure that the patient remembers to take the drugs at the correct time has the drawback that the costs of the home care are always higher when house calls have to be arranged to enable the care of the person at home. The latter applies particularly to the care of persons who are still in sufficiently good condition to live at home in other respects but who may fail to perform tasks deviating from everyday routine, such as to take their drugs at a given time.

Brief summary of the invention

It is an aim of the invention to provide a novel apparatus for arranging medication of elderly people in home care, persons with a mild memory disorder, or other such people whose regimen involves regular administration of drugs at specific times but whose health and form of medication as such make it possible that the drugs are administered without the assistance of professional nursing staff. It is also an aim of the invention to provide a method for arranging medication by using an apparatus according to the invention. The aim of the invention is achieved because the apparatus works in such a way that a memory, or the like, of a drug dispensing tray or a separate data processing device connected to it, is used for storing the points of time when an identification signal is transmitted to a detecting member in a predetermined seat in the dispensing tray of the apparatus, to generate a light signal and/or an acoustic signal, by which the apparatus informs the patient of the moment of time when a drug placed in this seat, drugs placed in a dispensing cup, or a drug in an ampoule should be taken. Furthermore, because the apparatus comprises a detecting sensor connected to the data processing device and monitoring the placement of the drugs, dispensing cups or ampoules in the seats intended for them in the dispensing tray, and because the data processing device is configured to notify a person supervising the treatment (e.g. a home aid or a nurse responsible for the administration of the drugs to the patient) if the drugs placed in the seats have not been taken, it is possible to monitor the administration of drugs by the patient in such a way that this person supervising the treatment does not need to visit the patient each time of taking the drugs to make sure that the patient takes the right drugs at the right moment of time. To put it more precisely, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in what will be presented in the independent claim 1 , and the method according to the invention is characterized in what will be presented in the independent claim 9. Dependent claims 2 to 8 and 10 to 1 1 will present some advantageous embodiments of the apparatus and the method according to the invention. The apparatus and the method according to the invention have the advantage that the medication of a patient in home care can be arranged more easily and at lower costs than before, because the apparatus can be used to make sure and to monitor, without visiting the person (or at least with considerably fewer visits) that the person has taken all the prescribed drugs at the moments of time corresponding to the respective regimen. This makes it possible to take care of such persons in their home who have e.g. a mild memory disorder or are elderly people, mental patients, or persons with other mild disorders and who have previously had to be in institutional care to make sure that they take their drugs at the right time. Moreover, the apparatus has the advantage that on the basis of the information provided by it, it is possible to conclude that something possibly serious may have happened to prevent the person from taking the drug according to the regimen, because it is obvious that something has happened to the person if the information provided by the apparatus indicates that the administration of drugs has systematically failed after a given point of time.

Description of the drawings

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a principle view of an apparatus according to the invention, shows a principle view of two dispensing trays belonging to another apparatus according to the invention, with a separate data processing device detachably? connectible to them, shows a principle view of the apparatus of Fig. 2 in a partial section, seen from the side, when the data processing device and the two dispensing trays connected to it are separated from each other,

Fig. 4 shows a principle view of a dispensing tray belonging to a third apparatus according to the invention, and Fig. 5 shows a slanted view from above of a fourth apparatus according to the invention, comprising two dispensing trays connected to each other, reporting keys, and a display.

Detailed description of some advantageous embodiments of the invention

Figure 1 shows an apparatus comprising a dispensing tray 1 with several seats 2 placed side by side or one after the other. Dispensing cups 3 can be placed in the seats 2. In this case, the dispensing tray 1 comprises an integrated data processing device 4 and a power source 5 for the data processing device 4 and for other electronic equipment of the apparatus. Light emitting indicators 6 are placed in connection with each seat 2 and configured to be controlled by the data processing device 4 by means of an identification signal. In this case, the dispensing tray 1 also comprises an indicator 7 suitable for sound production. Each seat 2 further comprises a detecting sensor 8 connected to the data processing device and configured to detect whether a dispensing cup 3 is placed in the seat 2 or removed from it.

In this case, the dispensing tray 1 is a rectangular elongated "dispensing bar" comprising several seats 2 side by side or one after the other. Typically, the dispensing tray 1 is made of plastic, but it may be made of another suitable material as well. In this embodiment, each seat 2 is a conical, downwards tapering recess, in which a dispensing cup 3 having a corresponding shape can be received. In this case, the dispensing cup 3 is an ordinary medicine cup made of plastic, in which the drug to be administered can be received in the form of tablets, capsules or liquid. Naturally, in embodiments of the apparatus similar to Fig. 1 , the shape of the seat 2 can also be different from that shown in the figure, for example rectangular. In this case, the conical dispensing cup 3 may be replaced with e.g. an open box-like cup, a box that is closed in whole or in part, or a bag or another suitable receptacle made of e.g. paper or plastic, in which the drug or drugs to be taken at a specific moment of time can be received and which can be placed in the seat 2 so that the detecting sensor in the seat detects the presence of said dispensing cup in the seat 2.

In this embodiment, the data processing device 4 is placed in a space provided in the bottom of the dispensing tray 1 . The bottom of the dispensing tray 1 may be provided with e.g. a lid which can be opened and closed, and via which the data processing device 4 can be maintained and replaced, if necessary. The data processing device 4 may be, for example, a compact computer or a corresponding programmable electronic device comprising a memory so that it can be programmed from the outside of the dispensing tray 1 to implement desired functions for controlling the medication of a person by the apparatus. The data processing device 4 also comprises a suitable network access device, such as a network interface card or the like, for connecting the data processing device 4 to the Internet data network or another data network, e.g. via a wired local area network, via a wireless local area network, or via a Bluetooth connection. For connecting a keypad to the data processing device 4, a connecting member 9 is provided by the side of the dispensing tray 1 , which connecting member may comprise e.g. one or more USB connectors or the like, by which a keypad and/or a display can be connected to the data processing device. However, these can alternatively or in addition be connectible to the data processing device 4 in a wireless manner as well (e.g. in the ways mentioned in previous). The dispensing tray 1 is equipped with a power switch for turning the apparatus off and on again. The power switch (not shown) may be provided e.g. at the bottom of the apparatus or in another location where it is not likely to be turned off accidentally. The apparatus may also comprise a few press buttons/keys (not shown) provided in a suitable location in the dispensing tray 1 for controlling the basic functions, for example for restarting a pre-programmed regimen or for controlling the sound volume, etc.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 , batteries are used as a power source 5. As seen from Fig. 1 , a space is provided for dry-cell batteries in the dispensing tray 1 , but as an alternative, the power source could also be a single battery of for example the lithium ion type similar to those used in a mobile phone or a tablet computer. The battery or batteries may be placed in a space closed by a lid, as shown in the figure, or integrated in the dispensing tray 1 , or placed in the same space as the data processing device 4. For charging the batteries, the apparatus may comprise a power source integrated in the dispensing tray, or a separate power source to be connected to the mains. For the separate power source, a dedicated socket may be provided in a suitable place, for example in connection with a connector 9 or on another side of the dispensing tray 1 . Alternatively, the primary power source of the apparatus may be a power source supplied by mains electricity. This kind of a power source may also be integrated in or separate from the dispensing tray. However, the apparatus supplied by mains electricity may also comprise one or more batteries to be used as a power source when the apparatus is used in a location where no electricity is available, or in a situation of a power failure at the location where the apparatus is used.

Indicators 6 are provided in connection with the seats 2 of the dispensing tray 1 . In this case, they are light emitting diodes placed in the annular space sur- rounded by transparent walls around the seat. Thus, they reflect light to the edges of the dispensing cup 3 to be indicated. This makes the indication very clear and thereby diminishes the risk that the person would inadvertently take the drugs from a wrong dispensing cup 3. The LEDs of the indicator 6 may be single-coloured or capable of producing several different colours, e.g. green, red or yellow, by the same unit. Furthermore, the data processing device 4 may be used to control the LEDs to flash or beam in different colours or brightnesses to indicate different things/situations. In addition to the indicators 6 giving a light signal, the dispensing tray 1 may comprise an indicator 7 giving acoustic signals, for example a speaker or the like. Thus, the indicator 7 can also be used to produce voice instead of or in addition to acoustic/alarm signals. Thanks to this, the data processing device 4 is programmable so that it instructs the person by voice commands to take the drugs available in a given dispensing cup 3. This may be implemented, for example, in such a way that each seat 2 of the dispensing tray 1 is given a code/name, e.g. "A1 ", "A2" ... "A5", whereby the administration of the drugs in the dispensing cup 3 in the seat A2 could be instructed, in addition to the light signal of the indicator 6, by a voice instruction generated by the indicator 7, which could be e.g. the following: "The drugs from the dispensing cup in seat A2 should be taken by 1 p.m. at the latest". In this case, the detecting sensor 8 placed in the seat 2 of the dispensing tray 1 is a micro switch of a contact button type, which is so sensitive that its state is changed (e.g. from "off" to "on") when a dispensing cup 3 is placed in the seat 2. On the basis of the state of the micro switch, the data processing device 4 connected to it detects whether the dispensing cup 3 is present in the seat 2 or not. Instead of the micro switch, the detecting sensor 8 could be e.g. an optical or capacitive sensor or any other suitable sensor producing or modifying an electrical signal, the signal being switched from a first state to a second state when a dispensing cup 3 is inserted in the seat 2, and back from the second state to the first state when the dispensing cup 3 is picked up from the seat 2. In this way, the data processing device 4 connected to the detecting sensor 8 can be used for reliably monitoring whether a dispensing cup 3 is present in a given seat 2 of the dispensing tray 1 or not. The detecting sensor 8 may also be such that its state is changed by merely touching the dispensing cup 3. This kind of an operation has the advantage that it is possible to detect touching the dispensing cup 3 and a possible attempt to take drugs from the dispensing cups too early, even if the dispensing cup 3 were not removed from the dispensing tray 1 .

Furthermore, the dispensing tray 1 comprises a connection 9 by which the dispensing tray 1 can be connected to external devices or to another dispensing tray 1 . The connection may comprise electrical connectors (e.g. an electrical/charging connection and/or a USB connector or the like) as well as mechanical connectors (for example, a shape) by which two or more dispensing trays 1 can be mechanically coupled together. In such an embodi- ment, the long side of the dispensing tray 1 of Fig. 1 , invisible in Fig. 1 , is provided with a male coupling means matching the connection 9 (which is a female coupling means).

The functioning of the apparatus and thereby the administration of drugs by the person whose medication is arranged by using the apparatus, can be monitored via a data network (e.g. the Internet) from any other location connected to this data network. For example, a computer, a tablet computer or a mobile phone can be used as a monitoring unit. This monitoring unit comprises a program that is compatible with the program/software programmed in the data processing unit so that the state of the data processing device 4 of the apparatus can be monitored, and information signals can be received from and transmitted to the data processing device 4 of the apparatus, for implementing and monitoring medication by using the apparatus. When using the apparatus according to Fig. 1 , a battery or batteries of the apparatus are charged, or a power source supplied by mains electricity is connected by a mains plug to the mains current, and the apparatus is placed in the home of the patient or in another location where the patient is to be treated or where the person primarily resides. The seats 2 of the dispensing tray 1 of the apparatus are equipped with dispensing cups 3, each containing the drug or drugs (if several drugs are to be taken at the same time) to be taken by the patient at specific moments of time. After this, the data processing device 4 of the apparatus is programmed to generate an identification signal for each seat 2 when the person should take the drug or drugs contained in the dispensing cup 3 placed in said seat 2. The identification signal may comprise e.g. merely a light signal, a light signal and an acoustic alarm, or a voice command and a light signal. The data processing device 4 of the apparatus is connected to a data network (e.g. the Internet) and thereby to the monitoring unit of the person (supervisor) supervising the medication of the person, whereby the supervisor may monitor whether the patient has taken the prescribed drugs as instructed by the apparatus. After these measures, the apparatus watches and informs the patient by means of the indicators 6 and 7 when the drug or drugs contained in the dispensing cups 3 in the respective seats 2 should be taken. In the case of a failure to take the drugs by a predetermined moment of time (e.g. within 2 to 4 hours from the first signal by the device), the data processing device 4 transmits a signal to the monitoring unit of the supervisor that the prescribed drugs have not been taken. Thus, the supervisor has to pay a visit to check the situation and to make sure that the drugs which were not taken are administered as required for the treatment. Similarly, in the case when all the drugs of the dispensing tray 1 have been taken, the supervisor has to pay a visit and refill the dispensing tray 1 with drugs. However, if the patient is considered capable of performing also this refilling operation himself/herself, he/she can refill the dispensing tray 1 on his/her own or e.g. according to instructions received from the supervisor on the phone. The person may also have written instructions, or the instructions may be programmed in the apparatus so that the apparatus gives them by voice commands via the indicator 7. This may be implemented, for example, in such a way that the patient presses a "reprogramming" button provided in the dispensing tray for this purpose to initiate reprogramming of the treatment cycle and the production of voice instructions relating to which drugs are to be filled in which dispensing cups 3, and in which seats 2 of the dispensing tray 1 said dispensing cups 3 are to be inserted.

The light/audio signals of the indicators may be configured to stop automatically when the respective dispensing cup 3 is removed from the dispensing tray 1 . The dispensing tray 1 may also comprise a separate "acknowledgement button" for this, or the acknowledgement could be given e.g. by applying the in previous mentioned "reprogramming" button (e.g. by pressing it only for a short time). However, the acknowledgement may be configured to function so that no acknowledgement is given until the respective dispensing cup 3 has been removed from the respective seat 2 in the dispensing tray 1 . Figure 2 shows another apparatus according to the invention, comprising two dispensing trays 1 1 whose outward appearance resembles to the dispensing tray 1 of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 and which are connected to each other by a female coupling member 9 and a corresponding male coupling member 10. The difference in the apparatus of Fig. 2 is that the dispensing trays 1 1 do not comprise an integrated data processing device but the data processing device 14 is a separate component connected to the dispensing trays coupled to each other by the coupling members 9 and 10. The separate data processing device 14 may comprise a power source of its own, whereby the dispensing trays 1 1 of Fig. 2 do not comprise a power source either. In the apparatus of Fig. 2, the seats 2 and the dispensing cups 3, the indicators 6 and the detecting sensor 8 may be similar to those in the dispensing tray of Fig. 1 . Because the coupling member 10 is compatible with the coupling member of Fig. 1 , it would be possible to apply, instead of the separate data processing device 14, the dispensing tray 1 of the apparatus of Fig. 1 as the second dispensing tray in the apparatus of Fig. 2, whereby a separate data processing device 14 would not be needed. Naturally, the apparatus of Fig. 2 may also comprise more than two dispensing trays 1 1 connected to each other. Thanks to such a structure, the apparatus of Fig. 2 enables the arrangement of medication for a longer time than the apparatus of a single dispensing tray 1 , by one preparation, and/or a regimen comprising more drugs to be taken at different times.

Figure 2 also shows an example of how a tablet computer used as the mon- itoring unit 13 can be connected to the apparatus via the Internet data network. Here, the separate data processing device comprises a USB connector, to which a device 15 of a "web stick" type is connected, utilizing a mobile communications network and connecting the data processing device to the Internet. The monitoring unit 13 may thus be connected to the Internet in a way known as such, e.g. via a wireless local area network or a mobile phone subscription. Instead of a web stick, the apparatus of Fig. 2 may be connected to the Internet in other ways as well, for example via a LAN device connected to the data processing device, via a WLAN device, via a connection to a mobile communication network, or via a Bluetooth connection. Figure 3 shows the apparatus of Fig. 2 when its components are detached from each other. The partial cross-sections of Fig. 3 also illustrate the structure of the seat 2 and the indicator 6 which are identical in the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2. It should be noted that the apparatus of Figs. 2 and 3 may also comprise, in addition to an indicator giving a light signal, an indicator that generates a voice message, an audio signal or an alarm sound in the same way as the indicator 7 in the embodiment of Fig. 1 .

Figure 4 shows a dispensing tray 21 suitable for arranging the medication when the medication comprises drugs contained in ampoules 23. Thus, the seats 22 are here designed and dimensioned so that a desired number of ampoules 23 can be placed in them. The dispensing tray 21 may comprise an integrated data processing device 24, or it may be separate and, for example, connectible to the dispensing tray by a connecting cord 25 shown in Fig. 4, by which also electricity can be supplied if the dispensing tray 21 does not comprise a power source that is integrated or e.g. connectible to the dispensing tray 21 by a separate connector. The indicators 26 in Fig. 4 are single LEDs placed next to the seats 22 as shown in Fig. 4. The detecting sensors 28 may also be micro switches or other devices of the type described in previous which generate a signal that is changed when an ampoule 23 is removed or replaced in a seat 22. Thus, in other respects, the operation of the apparatus of Fig. 4 may be e.g. completely the same as in the embodiments described in previous but the drug is contained in ampoules 23 instead of the dispensing cups of the "medicine cup" type shown in Figs. 1 to 3. Moreover, the apparatus of Fig. 4 may comprise an indicator for generating an audio signal. The indicator generating an audio signal may also be arranged in the data processing device of the apparatus, if this is separate from the dispensing tray 21 . Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the apparatus of the invention of the type shown in Figs. 1 to 3. It comprises two dispensing trays 1 connected to each other and equipped with seats 2 and dispensing cups 3 placed in them. In this apparatus, a separate data processing device 14 similar to the embodiment of Fig. 2 is connected to the dispensing trays 1 . The data processing device 14 of this apparatus comprises a power source which may be e.g. a battery, a mains power supply, or a battery-backed power supply. Further, the apparatus of Fig. 5 comprises a display 29 in connection with the data processing device 14, as well as reporting keys 30 to 32, that is, so-called "well-being keys". Thanks to the reporting keys 30 to 32, such an apparatus can be used for monitoring data relating to the condition of the patient. In this embodiment, the apparatus according to the invention comprises three reporting keys 30, 31 and 32, each with a symbol (emoticon) representing a different condition. However, in an embodiment of the apparatus of this type, the number of the reporting keys 30 to 32 may be fewer or more than three as well. In an application, the reporting might be implemented by a single reporting key in such a way that when it is pressed once, the emoticon shown on the display corresponds to the button 30, when pressed twice, it corresponds to the button 31 , and when pressed three times, it corresponds to the button 32. On the other hand, if more than three reporting keys 30 to 32 are provided, they may represent a larger variety of different conditions than the three shown in the embodiment of Fig. 5. Instead of or in addition to the reporting keys 30 to 32, the display 29 may be a touch display. In this case, the reporting keys 30 to 32 may be replaced, in whole or in part, by icons on the touch display, or the touch display may comprise, in addition to these basic reporting keys 30 to 32, icons or a menu via which additional information relating to the disease or the effects of the medication can be transmitted to the nursing staff, or e.g. a house call by a nurse/doctor can be requested, or an appointment can be made at a health centre or an outpatient clinic, or other information relating to the medication or the disease can be transmitted to the nursing staff. When the apparatus of Fig. 5 is used, the patient may be asked to report on his/her condition to the supervisor of the treatment and/or to other nursing staff at defined times by applying the reporting keys 30 to 32 in such a way that the apparatus indicates, for example by audio and/or light signals, when the reporting keys should be applied. The reporting time may be e.g. in connection with the administration of the drugs, at certain times after the administration of the drugs, and/or before the administration of the drugs, or other predetermined times. In this context, the reporting keys 30 to 32 indicate the general condition, but they might be defined to indicate, for example, the occurrence of symptoms related to a specific disease (e.g. the disease which is treated by the medication arranged with the help of the apparatus) so that the emoticon key 30 indicates that there are few (or no) symptoms with respect to the normal condition, the emoticon key 31 representing the neutral condition indicates that there have been some or a normal amount of symptoms, and the key 32 indicates that there have been clearly more symptoms than normal. The apparatus and the method according to the invention can be implemented in many different ways deviating from the example embodiments presented in previous. For example, the dispensing tray may comprise only one seat instead of several seats. Thus, the dispensing tray might comprise connectors on e.g. four different sides so that dispensing trays comprising a single seat could be connected side by side as well as one after the other. This kind of a dispensing tray has the advantage that the apparatus can be provided with exactly the same number of seats as is the number of drugs that the patient has to take at different times. The apparatus may also be implemented in such a way that it does not comprise dispensing cups or ampoules separate from the seats, for storing the drug doses during the dispensing. Thus, the dispensing tray of the apparatus may be, for example, similar to the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 3 in other respects but the seats are designed and shaped so that it is possible to take the drug directly from the seat. Such a dispensing tray could thus be equipped with, for example, a cover placed on top of the seats and equipped with one or more lids to be opened and closed. Thus, for taking drugs, the lid of that seat in the dispensing tray is opened, from which the drug is to be taken, and the dispensing tray is tilted so that the drug capsule, tablet or pill to be taken comes out of said seat. A second alternative might be to design the seats so that picking up the drug by fingers directly from the seat is as easy as possible. A third alternative might be a dispensing device placed in connection with the seat, wherein by pressing a button next to a seat, the dispensing tray is made to eject the drug capsule, tablet or pill contained in said seat out of the seat. In such an embodiment, the drugs placed in the seats of the dispensing tray could also be packed in separated portions of blister packs or in dose dispensing bags, whereby the dose dispensing bags, the whole blister packs or portions of blister packs replace the dispensing cups or are used as the dispensing cups. In all the in previous mentioned different embodiments of the dispensing tray, by which the drugs can be arranged in the seats in a suitable way, the drugs are typically dispensed in suitable doses to be taken at a time. In the different embodiments of the apparatus and the method of the invention, the supervision of the drug treatment and the control of the administration of the drugs at the right time can also be implemented so that there are two or more monitoring devices to be connected to the same dispensing tray, for example so that the same supervisor receives the alarms both via an office computer and via a mobile phone. Moreover, in an embodiment of the apparatus and the method according to the invention, the apparatus may be connected to the monitoring devices of several different supervisors so that the alarms are given to the monitoring unit of a first supervisor from 00:01 to 08:00 a.m. , to the monitoring unit of a second supervisor from 08:01 a. m. to 04:00 p.m. , and to the monitoring unit of a third supervisor from 04:01 p.m. to 00:00 a.m.

Furthermore, the apparatus may be arranged to give instructions and infor- mation relating to the administration of the drugs to the person using it. The apparatus may be used to transmit e.g. information about correct administration of medication (e.g. taking the drugs with food) and about possible side effects of the drugs, as well as about consequences if the drugs were abused. Such information may be presented on a display possibly included in the apparatus and/or via voice generated by it. By means of the apparatus, it is possible to collect information about the administration of the drugs via the reporting keys of the in previous described type or via icons displayed on a touch display, as well as to analyze how the person has taken the drugs and how the administration of the drugs has been implemented with respect to the instructions or with respect to administration by other users having the same disease. An embodiment which comprises a display, a speaker and a microphone may be provided with a possibility of setting up a voice and/or video call between the apparatus and the monitoring unit or another corresponding device used by the supervisor and/or the nursing staff.

The invention is not limited to the example embodiments presented in previous, but it may be implemented in a different way within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:

1 . An apparatus for arranging medication, the apparatus comprising

- a dispensing tray (1 ; 1 1 ; 21 ) with at least one seat (2; 22), in which at least one drug, drug dispensing cup (3) or ampoule (23) is placeable,

- a data processing device (4; 14; 24) connectible to a data network, configured to control an indicator (6; 7; 26) placed next to at least one seat (2; 22) in the dispensing tray (1 ; 11 ; 21 ),

and in which apparatus

- the data processing device (4; 14; 24) comprises a memory or the like, in which points of time can be programmed, when an identification signal is automatically transmitted to at least one indicator (6, 7; 26), which identification signal makes the indicator indicate, by means of a light and/or audio signal, that the drug or drugs in at least one seat (2, 22) of the dispensing tray (1 , 1 1 ; 21 ) should be administered,

- the seats (2; 22) of the dispensing tray (1 , 1 1 ; 21 ) are provided with a detecting sensor configured to detect if the drug, dispensing cup (3) or ampoule (23) is present in the seat (2; 22) of the dispensing tray (1 ; 1 1 ; 21 ) or absent from it,

- the detecting sensor (8; 28) is connected to the data processing device (4; 14; 24) which is configured to monitor the status of the detecting sensor (8; 28) at predetermined intervals or continuously and to inform a monitoring unit (13), connected to the same data network as the apparatus and configured to receive data transmitted by the data processing device (4; 14; 24) and to give an alarm, if a drug, a dispensing cup (3) or an ampoule (23) in a seat (2; 22) indicated by a detection signal has not been removed from the seat (2; 22) within a predetermined delay time from the transmission of the detection signal to the indicator (6; 7; 26).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the detecting sensor (8; 28) is a mechanical, optical or capacitive switch.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dispensing tray (1 ; 1 1 ; 21 ) comprises two or more seats (2; 22) next to each other or one after the other, wherein the drugs, drug dispensing cups (3) and/or ampoules (23) are piaceable next to each other or one after the other on the dispensing tray (1 ; 1 1 ; 21 ).

4. The apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the data pro- cessing device (4; 14; 24) is integrated in the dispensing tray (1 ; 1 1 ; 21 ).

5. The apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the dispensing trays (1 ; 1 1 ) comprise connectors (9, 10) for connecting two or more dispensing trays (1 ; 1 1 ) electrically and/or mechanically.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the data processing device (14) is a component separate from the dispensing tray (1 1 ) and electrically and/or mechanically connective to the dispensing tray (1 1 ) by mating connectors in the dispensing tray (1 1 ) and in the data processing device ( 4).

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the connectors (9, 10) in the data processing device (14) and in the dispensing tray (1 1 ) as well as in two dispensing trays (1 1 ) connected to each other are identical, wherein the data processing device (14) or another dispensing tray (1 1 ) can be connected to the dispensing tray (1 1 ) by applying the same connector (9, 10).

8. The apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more reporting keys (30 to 32) for reporting the condition of the patient, the effects of the medication, or other corresponding data to the supervisor and/or nursing staff monitoring the drug treatment of the person.

9. A method for arranging medication, wherein

- an apparatus according to any of the claims 1 to 8 is placed in the location of a person under drug treatment,

- at least one drug, a dispensing cup (3) containing at least one drug, or an ampoule (23) containing at least one drug is placed in at least one seat (2; 22) in dispensing trays ( ; 1 1 ; 21 ) included in the apparatus,

- the data processing device (4; 14; 24) of the apparatus is programmed to generate an identification signal to indicate at least one drug, dispensing cup (3) or ampoule (23) placed in a seat (2; 22) of a drug dispensing tray (1 , 1 1 ; 21 ) and containing a drug that the person should take within a predetermined time interval from a light and/or audio signal triggered by the identification signal in the indicator (6, 7),

- the apparatus is connected via a data network to a monitoring unit (13) placed in the location of a supervisor responsible for the medical treatment of the patient, or carried by the supervisor,

- the apparatus transmits an alarm signal to the monitoring unit (13) if the drug, dispensing cup (3) or ampoule (23) corresponding to this identification signal has not been removed from the seat (2; 22) of the dispensing tray (1 ; 1 1 ; 21 ) within the predetermined time interval from the identification signal given by the apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus is formed by joining two or more dispensing trays (1 1 ) together.

1 1 . The method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein a computer or a mobile phone, either one placed at the office of the supervisor or a portable one, is used as the monitoring unit (13).