DE102011076729A1 - Dispensing device for medicaments - Google Patents

Abstract

A dispensing device for medication has a magazine with compartments for receiving medication in solid form. The filling of the compartments is put together individually for a patient and contains a supply for a certain period of time. Every magazine has at least one means of identification. The dispensing device has a corresponding reading device and can identify the magazine by reading out the identification and optionally call up further information about the magazine and / or its contents. A withdrawal unit withdraws a desired dosage of medicament from a compartment. The withdrawal of the drug is monitored. For this purpose, for example, the number, shape or weight of tablets can be recorded. Furthermore, tablets are checked for their integrity. The dispensing device communicates with the patient via an operating unit, for example a tablet PC.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a drug delivery device. It is used to deliver preferably solid drugs, especially in the form of tablets. Through an integrated control, the delivery of the drug can be controlled and monitored.

State of the art

In the DE 10 2005 048 515 A1 is disclosed a dispenser for solid drug portions. This is essentially a timer of a holder for a blister pack of tablets. The timer reminds you to take the tablets on time and asks for a confirmation of the intake. This donor still requires a relatively high degree of patient cooperation. If the blister pack is exchanged with a blister pack of another type of medication, then a life-threatening incorrect dosage may occur.

The US 2009/0001093 A1 discloses another medication dispenser. In various openings of the dispenser containers are used with drugs. These are identified by the donor and compared to a database. The donor now dispenses the appropriate medication to a patient according to a specific prescription. Here, too, a certain cooperation of the patient in the operation of the device is required. The containers must be inserted correctly and the device must be operated accordingly.

Presentation of the invention

The invention has for its object to design a dispensing device for drugs, which requires minimal cooperation of the user and possibly actively provides assistance in the use of medication.

This object is achieved by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Especially older people often receive a variety of medicines. There are often different medications to take at different times. In case of unreliable or incorrect ingestion, adverse effects may occur in a wide range of undesirable long-term effects, including acute life-threatening situations. In order to enable elderly people to live in their own home without longer-term care, a reliable intake of medication must be ensured. Here, the known from the prior art drug dispensers are a certain help. On the one hand, they still require a certain amount of cooperation from the elderly, also referred to as patients in the following, and at the same time they can not ensure absolutely reliable intake of the medication. For the sake of simplicity, the following remarks refer to the term medication. Of course, any other substances such as dietary supplements, foods and others can be delivered with a dispensing device according to the invention. These are also summarized here under the term of drugs. Although the preferred area of use of a dispenser according to the invention in the field of drug supply for the elderly or of people who can move and / or act restricted, the dispenser can basically be used wherever drugs must be dispensed or dosed, as in clinics or households. It is achieved by the automated delivery and a certain child safety. So children can not get a high dose of medication.

A medicament delivery device according to the invention has a magazine with at least one compartment for receiving at least one medicament in solid form. Particularly suitable are tablet-like drugs. In principle, powdered medicines can also be used. Preferably, several compartments are provided. In this case, the individual compartments are preferably filled with different types of medicines. In a further preferred embodiment, a magazine contains a type of medication. The filling of a single or multiple magazines is individually compiled for a patient and contains a supply for a specific period, for example a week or a month. The magazine itself is locked and can not be opened by the patient. Preferably, the magazine is a disposable magazine that is preferably closed or sealed with a disposable snap fastener. A filling of the magazine is preferably carried out by a pharmacist. Each magazine has at least one means of identification. The dispenser has a corresponding reader and can identify the magazine by reading the identification as well as optionally retrieve further information about the magazine and / or its content. Likewise, information about the content of individual subjects of the magazine could also be read.

Furthermore, a dispensing device according to the invention to a removal unit to Remove medication from the magazine. The removal unit optionally has means for positioning a corresponding compartment at a removal position, for example in the case of a cylindrical magazine. The removal unit preferably has means for monitoring the removal. Thus, for example, the amount of taken drugs or the number of tablets can be detected. Furthermore, it is advantageous if other parameters, such as the type, the shape or the weight of the removed tablets are detected. Advantageously, tablets are also checked for their integrity. To transport the medication from the magazine to an output shaft, the removal unit has a transport device. This transport device can optionally take over the function of a metering device at the same time. For this purpose, for example, only a predetermined number of tablets or any other predetermined amount of a drug is transported to the output shaft.

For controlling the dispensing device and in particular for controlling functional parts thereof, such as the removal unit, a control unit is preferably provided.

• – Erinnern an die Einnahme von Medikamenten.
• – Protokollierung der Funktionen der Abgabevorrichtung, wie Ausgabe von Medikamenten.
• – Bestätigung der Einnahme von Medikamenten durch den Patienten.
• – Informationen über die Menge der einzunehmen Medikamente.
• – Information über Nebenwirkungen der Medikamente.
• – Ergänzende Informationen über die Medikamente.
• – Automatische Bestellung neuer Medikamente.
• – Bedienungshinweise für die Abgabevorrichtung.
• – Technische Unterstützung für die Abgabevorrichtung.
• – Notruffunktion.
• – Kontakt mit Apotheker und/oder Arzt, insbesondere für Rückfragen zu den Medikamenten oder auch zur Unterstützung bei der Bedienung der Abgabevorrichtung sowie zur Bestellung ergänzender oder neuer Medikamente, wobei die kontaktierte Person automatisch Informationen über den Patienten und bevorzugt auch über den Zustand der Abgabevorrichtung erhält.
• – Expertensystem zur Beratung des Patienten bei der Einnahme der Medikamente.
• – Hinweis des Patienten auf die Einnahme weiterer Medikamente außerhalb der Abgabevorrichtung, welche beispielsweise in einem Kühlschrank gelagert sind.
• – Hinweis auf weitere Aktivitäten des Patienten, wie beispielsweise zur Flüssigkeitsaufnahme oder zur körperlichen Bewegung.
• – Überwachung von physiologischen Parametern des Patienten wie beispielsweise Blutdruck, Sauerstoffsättigung, Pulsfrequenz, Blutzucker, Gewicht. Hierzu kann eine Verbindung mit zusätzlichen Sensoren hergestellt werden.
• – Alarmierung von Arzt oder anderen Personen im Falle von Abweichungen der physiologischen Parameter.
• – Kommunikation mit anderen Patienten, die bevorzugt ähnliche Medikamente erhalten.
• – Werbung bzw. Information über neue Produkte aus der Apotheke.

Preferably, an operating unit is provided, which communicates with the control unit. About this control unit, the patient can communicate with the dispenser. Particularly preferably, the operating unit comprises a standalone computer, such as a tablet PC or parts thereof. The operating unit may also be a mobile phone, in particular a mobile phone adapted for this application. It is particularly favorable if the operating unit has a touch screen. The communication between the operating unit and the control unit can take place via radio such as UMTS, GSM, WIFI, Bluetooth, etc. or also wired via USB, RS232, docking connection etc. The following functions are preferably made available via the operating unit:

• - Remember to take medication.
• - Logging of the functions of the dispenser, such as dispensing drugs.
• - Confirmation of medication by the patient.
• - Information about the amount of medication to take.
• - Information about side effects of the drugs.
• - Additional information about the medication.
• - Automatic order of new drugs.
• - Operating instructions for the dispenser.
• - Technical support for the dispenser.
• - Emergency call function.
• - Contact with the pharmacist and / or doctor, in particular for inquiries about the drugs or to assist in the operation of the dispenser and to order supplementary or new drugs, the contacted person automatically receives information about the patient and preferably also about the state of the dispenser ,
• - Expert system to advise the patient on taking the medication.
• - Note to the patient on the intake of other drugs outside the dispenser, which are stored for example in a refrigerator.
• - Indication of other activities of the patient, such as fluid intake or physical activity.
• - Monitoring of physiological parameters of the patient such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood sugar, weight. For this purpose, a connection can be made with additional sensors.
• - Alerting of doctor or other persons in case of deviations of the physiological parameters.
• - Communicate with other patients who prefer to receive similar medicines.
• - Advertising or information about new products from the pharmacy.

Of course, only a certain subset can be selected from this selection of functions. The control unit may be part of the operating unit. It is particularly favorable if the control unit itself is a mobile telephone. It could then be controlled via the microcontroller in the mobile phone functions of the dispenser. With a built-in camera, the functions could be monitored.

There may also be provided an additional transmitter and / receiver for informing the patient over a distance. This could, for example, be a key fob in which a light or sound signal reminds you to take medicines. This can also be combined again with a button for an emergency call function. Alternatively, this function can also be realized by a mobile phone. For example, a telephone call or an SMS with the message for taking medication could be discontinued by the dispenser. The request for medication could also be made by a special application on a mobile phone.

For communication with the patient via the operating unit of the delivery device, a special terminal may be provided at a pharmacist and / or doctor. However, one could also normal personal computer with appropriate software for this purpose.

In the following, individual aspects of the invention are described in detail: In a preferred embodiment, the magazine has one or more compartments for receiving medicaments. In one embodiment, the magazine is adapted for receiving a dose of medicament, such as a tablet, or if several tablets are to be taken at the same time, for several tablets. It is then advantageously filled accordingly. In a specific embodiment, only a single tablet is in a compartment at a time. It is particularly favorable if different tablets or medicaments which are to be taken at the same time are contained in one compartment. Alternatively, several tablets of an active substance or an active substance group can be accommodated in a magazine. It is again advantageous if different doses of active ingredient are contained in different compartments.

In a preferred embodiment, the magazine corresponds to a cylinder divided into circle segments. The compartments for receiving medicaments are arranged therein in the form of circular segments. In the dispenser, the individual compartments can be achieved by turning the magazine. Preferably, adjacent compartments are filled in the sequence of drug delivery. Such a magazine preferably has means for identifying the individual compartments, which may be similar or corresponding to the means for identifying a magazine. It is particularly favorable if the magazine itself can also be identified with the means for identifying a compartment. Additionally or alternatively, the magazine may also have a reference mark. This allows the dispenser to recognize a defined position of the magazine. This can be, for example, the first subject. Starting from the reference mark, further subjects can be identified by counting the subjects. Furthermore, a reference mark could be created to the effect that the magazine can be used only in a certain position in the dispensing device. This then corresponds to a reference position, from which the different subjects can be identified.

In a further preferred embodiment, the magazine is a tube with an inner diameter corresponding to the diameter of a tablet. Here, the tablets are arranged one behind the other in the tube. Different tubes should be used for different tablet sizes. The different tubes have a standardized adapter for connection to the dispenser. An adaptation to the tablet size can also be done by an insert into a tube.

In another embodiment, the magazine is a bulk material container, for example similar to a can or bottle. The medication (s) are contained here as bulk material. Preferably, only one type of medication is in such a bulk container. Again, a single adapter is preferably provided for connection to the dispenser.

According to another embodiment, the magazine is a blister pack. Here, the individual drug doses or tablets are preferably arranged at uniform intervals or predetermined positions.

Individual and / or multiple tablets or drug doses can be stored in a grouped package in the magazine. So they can be individually wrapped again in a blister pack or for example by a plastic film. For example, several tablets could be packaged in a small plastic bag.

The magazine is preferably a disposable magazine which is filled only once and then emptied in the dispenser. Is preferably configured such that it can not be opened by the patient. It is particularly preferred that it is a disposable magazine which can not be opened after being filled during normal use. This can be realized for example with a disposable snap closure or with a welding of the magazine. It is particularly favorable in a disposable magazine, since it can be kept clean in its interior in a simple manner. It is also a carryover of drugs effectively prevented. Thus, it is prevented from the outset that in the case of a filling remains of another drug remain in the magazine and spent here at a later date to another drug adhering. Furthermore, a magazine preferably has at least on the surfaces which come into contact with a drug, a surface of a material to which the drug does not or only to a very limited extent. In a further advantageous embodiment, the magazine comprises a material which is biodegradable and particularly preferably compostable.

There are different models of filling the magazine conceivable here. So can be done in the simplest case, a manual filling of individual magazines. More rational and reliable is at least a partially automated filling. Likewise, however, a filling can also take place in a fully automatic filling plant. This could be from one operated central pharmacy, which sends the filled magazines individually to the patients.

Advantageously, fillings of the magazine are put together for certain groups of patients with similar medication. Depending on the individual dosage, however, it may be the case that certain tablets are left with individual tablets. However, this loss can still be acceptable, at least for cheaper drugs, if costs can be reduced due to the more efficient filling due to a uniform filling scheme.

Filling a magazine can be arranged in several ways. In the simplest case, this can be the personal order of the patient in a pharmacy. Since the magazines are filled with a predetermined amount of medication for a predetermined period of time, a new magazine can be filled and delivered to the patient in good time before the end of this period. A filling can also be triggered by the dispenser itself. This is particularly advantageous for a highly fluctuating need for medication. The dispenser knows the current stock at any time and can order a new magazine if it falls below a threshold.

A magazine has at least one means of identifying the magazine and / or individual subjects. It is preferably an RF-ID transponder. Alternatively, identification means such as barcodes, machine-readable labels, color coding, electrically conductive surfaces, mechanically contacted integrated circuits (for example similar to credit cards or printer cartridges), or even mechanically scannable surface contours may be provided. It is preferred if the means for identifying the magazine and / or individual subjects allow a clear identification of the magazine and / or individual subjects. This can be realized for example by a unique serial number. Another preferred embodiment is a memory for additional information. This is particularly cheap to produce in conjunction with an RF-ID transponder. For example, information about the contents of the magazine, number of tablets, amount of the drug, dosage limits, date of filling, expiration date, manufacturer, filler, pharmacist, patient, and others may be stored therein. Preferably, this information can be at least partially read by the dispenser. It is particularly favorable if information can also be written into the means for identification. For example, the number of tablets removed or the amount of withdrawn medication can be stored. In a further advantageous embodiment, a dose counter is integrated, which indicates the number of doses contained during the filling and is reduced in each case when taking a dose.

In order to achieve high reliability and also a tamper-proof security of the dispensing device, preferably at least one means for identification contains a unique and / or encrypted information. This may be, for example, an identifier and / or a key of the pharmacy or the doctor. This in turn must match a specific identifier and / or a key of the dispenser. Preferably, each magazine, particularly preferably as a disposable magazine, has its own identifier and / or a separate key. In the dispenser is checked before each drug delivery matching the identifiers and / or keys. This can also prevent unauthorized filling of a magazine. There could even be provided a means of identifying the patient, such as special transponders. By means of several such transponders, a distinction can be made between different patients. Thus, the delivery device is able to issue drugs for different patients.

An extraction unit according to the invention serves for the removal of medicaments from the magazine. Thus, with a removal unit, either individual tablets or several tablets packaged together can be removed. Alternatively, a powdered drug can be removed. Preferably, the removal unit comprises means for controlling the type and / or amount of the withdrawn drugs. Control of the amount may be accomplished, for example, by counting tablets and / or weighing the withdrawn drugs. Therefore, a control of the type of medicaments taken can preferably be done by weighing and weight comparison with a desired value. It is particularly advantageous if the control is done optically. For this purpose, individual sensors, which recognize, for example, the size of a tablet, its color, or even an individual imprint. Also, optical properties in the non-visible range, such as infrared or ultraviolet can be detected. By a control, in particular a visual inspection, the integrity of a tablet can be determined. Thus, fragments can be prevented from being discharged to the patient. Particularly advantageous is an optical control by means of an image sensor, such as a CCD or CMOS sensor. This sensor can take a picture of the drug and / or tablet and take from this image, for example, shape, size, color, imprint and other parameters. It can be checked in a particularly simple way, the integrity of a tablet. By suitable selection of a fixed image recording area or by a pivotable or focal length adjustable image sensor can also be used to detect other parameters or measured values. Thus, the image sensor can also identify a magazine or simply the magazine, for example by detecting a barcode or other identification feature of the subject or magazine. By the sensor can continue to be a perfect function of the extraction unit to be controlled. Furthermore, the image sensor can be used for example for weighing the drug. For this purpose, for example, a tablet could be stored in a defined position on a bending beam, for example a plastic tongue, which bends through the weight of the tablet. This bend can then be detected and evaluated by the image sensor.

The removal unit preferably also has a transport device. The task of the transport device is to transport medicaments, in particular tablets, from a magazine to the output shaft. The transport device may in the simplest case consist of a shaft through which the withdrawn drug falls. But it can also be a transport system with at least one roller, and / or at least one screw conveyor and / or at least one conveyor belt. Preferably, the transport device is designed so that the transport of the drug through the area of a means for controlling the type and / or amount of the withdrawn drugs. Particularly preferably, the transport device is designed such that it stops the movement of the medicament in the region of the means for checking for a certain time, so that the medicament can be detected. Another object of the transport device is to weed out damaged portions of medication, for example fragments of tablets, so that they are not dispensed to the patient. These are preferably stored in a special container. This residual container is not accessible by the patient and must be emptied by the pharmacist, for example. The remaining container can also be part of the magazine.

For controlling the dispensing device and in particular for controlling functional parts thereof, such as the removal unit, a control unit is preferably provided. For continuously supplying the control unit with electrical energy, an optional rechargeable battery is preferably also provided in the dispensing device. This can bridge power failures for a certain period of time and also ensure a supply of medication to the patient. By this battery are preferably further components of the dispensing device, such as the removal unit and the transport device fed. Due to the battery, the entire delivery device can be taken along when traveling. Preferably, a temperature sensor is connected for communication with the control unit. This can warn, for example, if the permissible storage temperature for the medication or also permissible operating temperatures is exceeded or not reached.

The operating unit may comprise a simple display unit, such as LEDs, but also a display, for example an LCD or TFT display. Particularly preferably, the operating unit comprises a standalone computer, such as a tablet PC or parts thereof. It is particularly favorable if this has a touch screen. Preferably, at least one input element is also provided with which the patient can at least acknowledge the taking of a medicament and / or make adjustments. Preferably, the operating unit communicates with the control unit and receives from this information about internal states of the dispenser or transmits this control information. The communication between the operating unit and the control unit can take place via radio such as UMTS, GSM, WIFI, Bluetooth, etc. or also wired via USB, RS232, docking connection etc. Preferably, also a power supply of the operating unit via the dispensing device. If necessary, the operating unit can also be supplied for a certain time by a battery present in the dispenser if no network is available.

The control unit can preferably provide a wide range of functions and services. These include patient support and communication with third parties. This includes medical monitoring and / or diagnosis of the patient. For example, an image or a video of the patient could be taken by an integrated camera. It can also be carried out a remote maintenance or remote diagnosis of the dispenser. For this purpose, various parameters can be queried automatically. For example, one or more images of an image sensor in the extraction unit can also be transferred.

For equipping a magazine with drugs, a placement device can be provided. This can, for example, automatically fill certain medicines or tablets into the magazine or the compartments of a magazine. The placement device preferably has at least one means for identifying a medication package, for example a barcode reader, with the aid of which the correct allocation of the medication to a magazine or a compartment is ensured. Optionally, the correct assignment can be checked here and, if necessary, a warning can be issued. Alternatively, the identification of the drug or a corresponding value can be stored in the means for identifying the magazine and legal step / or subject.

Description of the drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example without limitation of the general inventive idea by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a device according to the invention

2 shows a magazine according to the invention.

In 1 a device according to the invention is shown. The dispenser shown here has three magazine adapters 102 for holding magazines 100 , The magazines have means for identifying a magazine 101 on. By removal units 150 are taken from the individual magazines medication, by an image sensor 151 controlled and then in an output shaft 210 output. The functions of the dispenser are by means of a control unit 160 controlled. The power supply is a battery 170 intended. Operation is via a control unit 300 connected to the control unit 160 communicated.

In 2 an inventive magazine is shown. It has fans 110 - 117 for taking medication.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

magazine

101

Means for identifying a magazine

102

Magazine adapter

110-117

subjects

150

withdrawal unit

151

image sensor

160

control unit

170

battery

210

output tray

300

operating unit

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102005048515 A1 [0002]
• US 2009/0001093 A1 [0003]

Claims (9)

Medication delivery device comprising at least one magazine, a removal unit, a control unit and an operating unit, characterized in that the delivery device has means for identifying the magazine. Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the magazine is a disposable magazine. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magazine has a plurality of compartments for receiving medicaments. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing device has a removal unit, which checks the withdrawn drugs on number and / or type and / or integrity. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing device has an operating unit, which allows communication with a pharmacist and / or doctor. Dispensing device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating unit detects physiological parameters of the patient and forwards them to a doctor. A method of dispensing medicaments through a dispenser according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - identification of the magazine and / or a subject of the magazine, - Checking whether the identification matches the medication to be dispensed, - taking medicines out of the magazine, - review of the withdrawn drugs, - Issue of the withdrawn drugs - request of the patient to acknowledge the withdrawal and taking the medication. Device for loading a magazine for a dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises means for identifying medication packages and means for storing medication information in a means for identifying a magazine. Method for loading a magazine for a dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that drugs are identified and filled after successful identification in the magazine and a means for identifying the magazine is programmed according to the filled medication.

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