JP2020030524A - Medication support system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a medication support system which enables confirmation that a person who is to be medicated has taken a medicine while suppressing increase of a mental burden on the person.SOLUTION: A medication support system 1 includes a medication support device 10, an imaging device 20, a dependent terminal 30, and a medication support server 40. The medication support device 10 includes a container 204 containing a plurality of medicine cases 202 and a drainage execution information sending unit 160 for sending drainage execution information to the medication support server 40. The imaging device 20 has an imaging unit 21, an imaging information sending unit 23, and a start signal receiving unit 24. The medication support server 40 includes a drainage execution information receiving unit 41, an imaging information transfer unit 44, and a start signal sending unit 42. The start signal sending unit 42 sends a start signal to the start signal receiving unit 24 when the drainage execution information receiving unit 41 receives the drainage execution information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a medication support system.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-10881 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Document 1”) discloses a medication support device installed at a patient's home and a medication support server to which the medication support device can be connected via a network. A medication support system comprising:

JP-A-2017-108811

  2. Description of the Related Art As described in Patent Literature 1, there is known a medication support system for supporting a medication taker. In such a medication support system, although the medication is discharged from the medication support device at a preset time, a pharmacy or a medical institution cannot check whether the medication is actually taken by the pharmacy. . Therefore, there is a need in pharmacies, medical institutions, and the like, for confirming whether or not a pharmacy is taken by a video. However, taking a picture of the actions of a drug taker with a camera or other photographing device involves monitoring the drug taker, which places a great burden on the drug taker.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a medication taking support system capable of confirming whether or not a medication has been taken by a medication taker while suppressing an increase in mental burden on the medication taker.

  A medication support system according to the present invention includes a medication support device installed in a home of a drug taker, an imaging device installed in a home of a drug taker, and an independent terminal that can be used by a person different from the drug taker. A medication support server connectable to a medication support device, an imaging device, and an independent terminal via a network. The medicine taking support device includes a container for accommodating a plurality of medicine cases each containing a medicine, and a discharge execution information transmitting unit that transmits discharge execution information indicating that the medicine case has been discharged from the container to the medicine taking support server. And The photographing device receives a photographing unit that photographs the inside of the home of the drug taker, a photographing information transmitting unit that transmits photographing information photographed by the photographing unit to the medicine taking support server, and a start signal that instructs the photographing unit to start photographing. A start signal receiving unit. The medication support server includes a discharge execution information receiving unit that receives the discharge execution information transmitted by the discharge execution information transmitting unit, and a photographing information that receives the photographing information transmitted by the photographing information transmitting unit and transmits the photographing information to the independent terminal. It has a transfer unit and a start signal transmitting unit that transmits a start signal to a start signal receiving unit. The start signal transmitting unit transmits a start signal to the start signal receiving unit when the discharge execution information receiving unit receives the discharge execution information.

  In this medication support system, since the imaging information of the interior of the medication recipient's home is sent to the independent terminal via the medication medication support server, the medication recipient can be located at a location away from the medication recipient's home (pharmacy, medical institution, etc.). You can check whether you have taken the medicine. Further, the photographing by the photographing unit is started when the ejection execution information (information indicating that the medicine case has been ejected from the container) is transmitted to the ejection execution information receiving unit. The mental burden on the pharmacist is reduced as compared with the case where the interior of the pharmacist's home is constantly photographed. Therefore, in the medication support system, it is possible to confirm whether or not the medication has been taken, while suppressing an increase in the mental burden of the medication.

  Further, the medication support device has a setting unit that can set a discharge time for discharging the medicine case, and a discharge mechanism that discharges one of the plurality of medicine cases from the container when the discharge time has come. May be further provided. The discharge execution information is set when the discharge time set in the setting unit has come.

  In this aspect, since the photographing by the photographing unit is started from the discharge time, the photographing time can be effectively reduced.

  Alternatively, the medication support device further includes an extraction unit for extracting the medicine case discharged from the container, and a sensor provided in the extraction unit and capable of detecting the presence or absence of the medicine case in the extraction unit. Is also good. The discharge execution information is set to the fact that the sensor has detected that there is no medicine case in the extraction unit.

  In this aspect, imaging by the imaging unit is started when the medicine case disappears from the extraction unit (when the pharmacy takes out the medicine case from the extraction unit), so that the imaging time can be effectively reduced.

  Preferably, the medication support server further includes a stop signal transmitting unit that transmits a stop signal for instructing the imaging unit to stop imaging to the imaging device. The imaging device further includes a stop signal receiving unit that receives the stop signal. The stop signal transmitting unit may transmit the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit after a lapse of a predetermined time after the start signal is transmitted by the start signal transmitting unit.

  In this aspect, the photographing by the photographing unit is automatically stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the photographing by the photographing unit, so that the photographing time is shortened.

  Preferably, the medication support device further includes a pressing unit that can be pressed by the pharmacy user and that transmits a pressing signal to the medication support server when the pharmacy is pressed. The stop signal transmitting unit may transmit the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit after receiving the pressing signal.

  In this aspect, the imaging by the imaging unit is stopped when the pharmacist presses the pressing unit, so that the imaging time by the imaging unit is effectively reduced.

  Preferably, the imaging device further includes a storage unit that stores imaging information from the start to the stop of imaging by the imaging unit. The photographing information transmitting unit may transmit the photographing information stored in the storage unit to the photographing information transfer unit.

In this aspect, the shooting information stored (recorded) in the storage unit is transferred to the independent terminal.
Alternatively, the photographing information transmitting unit may transmit the photographing information to the photographing information transfer unit at the same time as the photographing by the photographing unit, and the photographing information transfer unit may transmit the photographing information to the independent terminal simultaneously with the reception of the photographing information.

  In this aspect, the shooting information during shooting by the shooting unit is transferred to the independent terminal.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a medication support system capable of confirming whether or not a medication is taken while suppressing an increase in a mental burden of the medication. it can.

It is a figure showing roughly the whole composition of the medication support system of one embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of the medication support system shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a medication support device of the medication support system shown in FIG. 1. It is a side view of the medication support apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the medication support device shown in FIG. 3.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or corresponding members have the same reference characters allotted.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of a medication support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the medication support system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a medication support device of the medication support system shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the medication administration device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the medication support device shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the medication support system 1 will be described first, and then the medication support device 10 that forms a part of the medication support system 1 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the medication support system 1 of the present embodiment includes a medication support device 10, an imaging device 20, an independent terminal 30, and a medication support server 40.

  The medication support device 10 is for supporting medication by a pharmacy, and is installed in the home of the pharmacy. The medication support apparatus 10 is configured to discharge a medicine at a preset time. As shown in FIG. 2, the medication administration device 10 includes a plurality of medicine cases 202, containers 204, an extraction unit 106, an ejection mechanism 111, a setting unit 140, an ejection execution information transmission unit 160, and a sensor 170. And a pressing portion 180. The other configuration of the medication support device 10 will be described later.

  Each medicine case 202 contains a medicine. The medicine case 202 is preferably formed in a spherical shape and dividable. However, the medicine case 202 can be displaced between a cylindrical body, a closing part that closes an opening on one side of the body, and a posture that closes and opens the opening on the other side of the body. And a lid portion.

The container 204 contains a plurality of medicine cases 202.
The setting unit 140 can set a discharge time (medication time) at which the medicine case 202 is discharged from the container 204. The setting unit 140 can set, for example, four discharge times (morning, noon, night, and before bedtime) per day.

  The discharge mechanism 111 discharges one of the plurality of medicine cases 202 from the container 204 when the discharge time comes.

  The removal unit 106 is a part for removing the medicine case 202 discharged from the container 204.

  The sensor 170 is provided in the extraction unit 106. The sensor 170 can detect the presence or absence of the medicine case 202 in the extraction unit 106.

  The discharge execution information transmitting unit 160 transmits discharge execution information indicating that discharge from the medicine case 202 from the container 204 has been performed to the medication support server 40. The discharge execution information is set when the discharge time set in the setting unit 140 has come, or when the sensor 170 detects that the medicine case 202 is not present in the extraction unit 106. That is, the discharge execution information transmitting unit 160 transmits the discharge execution information when the discharge time set in the setting unit 140 has come, or when the sensor 170 detects that there is no medicine case 202 in the extraction unit 106. Send.

  The pressing unit 180 is capable of being pressed by the pharmacy, and transmits a pressing signal to the pharmacy support server 40 when pressed by the pharmacy.

  The photographing device 20 is installed in the home of a drug taker. The photographing device 20 is movable. The image capturing device 20 can capture a moving image and a still image (such as a screen shot). The imaging device 20 has an enlargement and reduction function. The imaging device 20 is installed at a position where an image of a patient taking a medicine can be taken. The imaging device 20 includes an imaging unit 21, a storage unit 22, an imaging information transmission unit 23, a start signal reception unit 24, and a stop signal reception unit 25.

The photographing unit 21 photographs the inside of the home of the drug taker.
The storage unit 22 stores shooting information (moving image and still image data, etc.) shot by the shooting unit 21. The storage unit 22 stores shooting information from the start to the stop of shooting by the shooting unit 21.

  The imaging information transmission unit 23 transmits the imaging information captured by the imaging unit 21 or the imaging information stored in the storage unit 22 to the medication support server 40 via the network N (see FIG. 1).

  The start signal receiving unit 24 receives a start signal for instructing the photographing unit 21 to start photographing, and sends the start signal to the photographing unit 21. Thereby, the photographing unit 21 starts photographing.

  The stop signal receiving unit 25 receives a stop signal for instructing the photographing unit 21 to stop photographing, and sends the stop signal to the photographing unit 21. Thereby, the imaging unit 21 stops the imaging.

  The independent terminal 30 is a terminal (a smart phone, a tablet, a notebook personal computer, or the like) that can be used by a person different from the drug taker. The independent terminal 30 includes a photographing information receiving unit 31 that receives photographing information, and a display unit 32 that displays photographing information. The independent terminal 30 is installed in, for example, a pharmacy or a hospital. The independent terminal 30 may be owned by a family member of the drug taker located at a location remote from the drug taker.

  The medication support server 40 can be connected to the medication support device 10, the imaging device 20, and the independent terminal 30 via the network N. The medication support server 40 is installed in the data management center. The medication support server 40 includes a discharge execution information receiving unit 41, a start signal transmitting unit 42, a stop signal transmitting unit 43, and a photographing information transfer unit 44.

  The discharge execution information receiving unit 41 receives the discharge execution information transmitted by the discharge execution information transmitting unit 160. The discharge execution information receiving unit 41 sends the discharge execution information to the start signal transmitting unit 42.

  The start signal transmitting unit 42 transmits a start signal to the start signal receiving unit 24. Specifically, when receiving the discharge execution information from the discharge execution information receiving unit 41 (when the discharge execution information receiving unit 41 receives the discharge execution information), the start signal transmitting unit 42 transmits the start signal to the start signal receiving unit. 24.

  The stop signal transmitting unit 43 transmits a stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit 25. Specifically, the stop signal transmitting unit 43 transmits a stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit 25 when receiving the pressing signal.

  The photographing information transfer unit 44 receives the photographing information transmitted by the photographing information transmitting unit 23 and transmits the photographing information to the photographing information receiving unit 31 of the independent terminal 30. The photographing information transfer unit 44 may transmit the photographing information to the photographing information receiving unit 31 simultaneously with the reception of the photographing information from the photographing information transmitting unit 23, or the photographing information stored in the storage unit 22 from the photographing information transmitting unit 23. After receiving the information, the shooting information may be transmitted to the shooting information receiving unit 31.

  Next, the medication support device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The medication support device 10 includes a device main body 100 and a drug unit 200.

  The device main body 100 supports the medicine unit 200. The apparatus main body 100 includes, in addition to the setting unit 140, the discharge execution information transmitting unit 160, the sensor 170, and the pressing unit 180, the support base 102, the switching unit 112, the auxiliary unit 113, the driving unit 114, and the collecting unit 116. , A controller 120, a display unit 130, and a speaker 150.

  The support base 102 has a support 103 that supports the medicine unit 200. The support part 103 is provided at the rear part of the support base 102. The support portion 103 is provided with an opening 103a (see FIG. 4) having a shape that allows the medicine case 202 to fall. The support base 102 has a passage 104 and the above-described extraction unit 106.

  The take-out part 106 is a part for taking out the medicine case 202. The take-out unit 106 is provided on the front surface of the support base 102. The take-out unit 106 is arranged below the opening 103 a of the support unit 103 (below the container 204 of the medicine unit 200). The extraction unit 106 has a bottom wall 108 and an opening / closing unit 110.

  The bottom wall 108 is provided with a drop hole 109 having a shape that allows the medicine case 202 to fall.

  The opening / closing part 110 is relatively displaceable with respect to the bottom wall 108. Specifically, the opening / closing unit 110 includes an open position (a position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) for opening the drop hole 109 so as to allow the medicine case 202 to fall through the fall hole 109, and a medicine case 202. 3 can be displaced between a closed position (a position shown by a solid line in FIG. 3) that closes the drop hole 109 so as to prevent the fall through the drop hole 109.

  The passage 104 has a shape extending downward from the opening 103 a provided in the support portion 103 toward the extraction portion 106. The passage 104 has an inclined surface 105 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) having a shape that is inclined from a portion located below the opening 103a toward the bottom wall 108. The lower end of the inclined surface 105 is connected to the bottom wall 108.

  The collection unit 116 is provided below the extraction unit 106, and collects the medicine case 202. The collecting unit 116 has a receiving port (not shown) for receiving the medicine case 202 dropped through the drop hole 109. The receiving port is provided at a position vertically facing the drop hole 109. That is, the opening / closing unit 110 opens the drop hole 109 so as to allow the medicine case 202 to drop from the extraction unit 106 to the collection unit 116 in the open position, and in the closed position, the medicine case 202 The falling hole 109 is closed so as to prevent the falling hole 109 from dropping into the collecting section 116. The collecting unit 116 can be pulled out forward from the support base 102. The collection unit 116 is provided with a lock unit 117 that prohibits the collection unit 116 from being pulled out from the support base 102. The key for unlocking the lock unit 117 is managed by the supporter.

  When the medicine case 202 is collected by the collection unit 116, the medication support device 10 may transmit collection information indicating that to the medication support server 40.

  The driving unit 114 is provided in the support base 102. The drive unit 114 drives a partition unit 220 described below to rotate.

  The switching unit 112 switches between a state of blocking the passage 104 and a state of releasing the passage 104. Specifically, the switching unit 112 is configured to discharge the medicine case 202 via the passage 104 toward the extraction unit 106 by its own weight, and to set the discharge case in a state in which the medicine case 202 is supported while the medicine case 202 is supported. It is possible to switch between a blocking posture (a posture shown in FIG. 4) for blocking the movement toward the extraction unit 106. As shown in FIG. 4, the switching unit 112 has a shape that blocks the passage 104 on the inclined surface 105. The switching unit 112 is provided in the passage 104 at a position where only a single medicine case 202 is accommodated between the opening 103 a and the switching unit 112. The switching unit 112 is displaced between a position for blocking the passage 104 (blocking posture) and a position for releasing the passage 104 (discharge posture).

  The auxiliary part 113 has a shape that closes the opening 103a. The auxiliary part 113 can be displaced between a closing position for closing the opening 103a (a position shown in FIG. 4) and a releasing position for releasing the opening 103a.

  The controller 120 is provided on the support base 102. The controller 120 includes a switching unit control unit 121, an opening / closing unit control unit 122, and a drive unit control unit 123.

  The switching unit control unit 121 controls the medicine case 202 supported by the switching unit 112 among the plurality of medicine cases 202 to reach the extraction unit 106 at a preset time (discharge time). The switching unit 112 is switched from the cutoff position to the discharge position, and then the switch unit 112 is switched from the discharge position to the cutoff position. Specifically, before the discharge time comes, the switching unit control unit 121 places the auxiliary unit 113 in the release position while the switching unit 112 is in the blocking posture. As a result, only one medicine case 202 falls from the container 204 onto the inclined surface 105. The medicine case 202 is supported by the switching unit 112 on the inclined surface 105. In this state, the switching unit control unit 121 positions the auxiliary unit 113 at the closed position. Thus, the medicine case 202 is prevented from falling from the container 204 to the passage 104, and a single medicine case 202 exists between the auxiliary unit 113 and the switching unit 112. In this state, when the discharge time comes, the switching unit control unit 121 displaces the switching unit 112 to the discharge posture. Thereby, the medicine case 202 supported by the switching unit 112 falls by its own weight toward the extraction unit 106. Thereafter, the switching unit control unit 121 switches the switching unit 112 from the discharge posture to the cutoff posture.

  As described above, the switching unit 112, the auxiliary unit 113, and the switching unit control unit 121 cause one of the plurality of medicine cases 202 to be ejected from the container 204 when the ejection time comes. That is, the switching unit 112, the auxiliary unit 113, and the switching unit control unit 121 constitute the above-described ejection mechanism 111.

  The opening / closing unit control unit 122 displaces the opening / closing unit 110 to the open position after a lapse of a predetermined time since the medicine case 202 is arranged in the removal unit 106. Thereby, the medicine case 202 is collected by the collection unit 116. After the medicine case 202 is collected by the collection unit 116, the opening and closing unit control unit 122 displaces the opening and closing unit 110 from the open position to the closed position.

  The display unit 130 displays the content indicating the medication time (discharge time) (for example, “Medicine time”), the current time, and the like. The display unit 130 is provided on a front upper surface of the support base 102. The display unit 130 is controlled by the controller 120.

The setting unit 140 is provided at a position adjacent to the display unit 130.
The speaker 150 is provided on the front surface of the support base 102. From the speaker 150, a notification such as a voice indicating that it is the medication time or an alert when a predetermined time has elapsed from the medication time is issued. The speaker 150 is controlled by the controller 120.

  The sensor 170 includes, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element (see FIGS. 3 and 5) provided on a side wall of the extraction unit 106. When the medicine case 202 is present on the bottom wall 108 of the extraction unit 106, the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are blocked on the bottom wall 108 of the extraction unit 106 while the light emitted from the light-emitting element is blocked by the medicine case 202. When the medicine case 202 does not exist, it is provided at a position where light emitted from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element. After the discharge time, when the light emitted from the light emitting element is not blocked by the medicine case 202 and received by the light receiving element, the discharge execution information transmitting unit 160 transmits the discharge execution information. Note that a weight sensor provided on the bottom wall 108 may be used as the sensor 170. In this case, the discharge execution information transmitting unit 160 transmits discharge execution information when the weight of the medicine case 202 is no longer detected by the weight sensor.

  The pressing portion 180 may be provided on the support base 102 or may be arranged at a position separated from the support base 102.

  The medicine unit 200 is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 100. A lock mechanism is provided between the medicine unit 200 and the apparatus main body 100 to prevent the medicine unit 200 from being removed from the apparatus main body 100. This lock mechanism is released by, for example, inputting a password to setting section 140. The password is managed by a supporter. The medicine unit 200 has a partition part 220 and a handle 230 in addition to the plurality of medicine cases 202 and containers 204 described above.

  The container 204 has a discharge port 211 for discharging the medicine case 202. The container 204 has a cylindrical peripheral wall 206, an upper wall 208 connected to the upper end of the peripheral wall 206, and a bottom wall 210 connected to the lower end of the peripheral wall 206. A discharge port 211 is provided in a part of the bottom wall 210. The discharge port 211 has a shape that allows the medicine case 202 to be inserted (falled). The discharge port 211 is disposed above the opening 103a so as to vertically overlap the opening 103a of the support 103. For this reason, the discharge port 211 and the extraction unit 106 are connected by the passage 104.

  The handle 230 is connected to the peripheral wall 206 of the container 204.

  The partitioning section 220 partitions the inside of the container 204 into a plurality of storage chambers arranged around an axis parallel to the vertical direction (the central axis of the peripheral wall 206). The partitioning part 220 has a shape that partitions the inside of the container 204 so that each storage chamber can vertically store a predetermined number (four in this embodiment) of the plurality of drug cases 202. are doing. Specifically, the partition part 220 has a plurality of (seven in this embodiment) cylindrical members arranged at equal intervals around the central axis of the peripheral wall 206. Each cylindrical member has a storage chamber capable of storing a predetermined number of medicine cases 202 in a direction parallel to the vertical direction. The lower end of each cylindrical member is open. Each cylindrical member is driven to rotate about the central axis of the peripheral wall 206 by the driving unit 114. It is preferable that the four medicine cases 202 accommodated in each cylindrical member are set to different colors from each other.

  When the medicine unit 200 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100, the driving unit control unit 123 stores the medicine case 202 that is to be discharged next among the plurality of accommodation rooms (cylindrical members) in the container 204. The drive unit 114 is driven so that the (cylindrical member) is positioned on the discharge port 211. The controller 120 determines the tubular member accommodating the medicine case 202 to be discharged next based on information from a wireless communication element or the like attached to the tubular member. Note that the auxiliary unit 113 is in the closed position while the driving unit 114 is rotating each cylindrical member.

  Here, the function or operation of the medication support system 1 described above will be described. The medication support device 10 and the imaging device 20 are installed in advance in the home of the medication recipient. At this time, the discharge time is also set in advance from the setting unit 140 of the medication support apparatus 10. The independent terminal 30 is installed in a pharmacy or a hospital in advance.

  (1) When the medication support system 1 is activated, the switching unit control unit 121 of the medication support device 10 sets the switching unit 112 in the blocking posture before the discharge time set in advance by the supporter (such as a pharmacist). The auxiliary unit 113 is located at the release position, and after one medicine case 202 falls from the container 204 onto the inclined surface 105, the auxiliary unit 113 is located at the closed position. After that, when the discharge time comes, the switching unit control unit 121 displaces the switching unit 112 to the discharge posture. Thereby, the medicine case 202 supported by the switching unit 112 falls by its own weight toward the extraction unit 106.

  At this time, the display unit 130 displays the content indicating the medication time (discharge time) (for example, “drug time”), the current time, and the like. A notification such as a voice indicating that the message is issued is issued.

  (2) Then, when the pharmacy takes out the medicine case 202 from the take-out unit 106, the sensor 170 detects that, and the ejection execution information is sent to the ejection execution information receiving unit 41 of the medication support server 40. Then, since the start signal transmitting unit 42 transmits the start signal to the start signal receiving unit 24, the photographing by the photographing unit 21 is started. The shooting information is stored in the storage unit 22 at the same time as the shooting by the shooting unit 21. If the pharmacy does not remove the medicine case 202 from the removal unit 106 for a certain period of time, the opening and closing unit control unit 122 switches the opening and closing unit 110 to the open position. As a result, the medicine case 202 falls (collects) into the collecting section 116 through the drop hole 109. In this case, the medication support apparatus 10 sends collection information indicating that the medicine case 202 has been collected to the medication support server 40.

  (3) When taking the medicine, the medicine taking person presses the pressing portion 180. Thereby, the imaging by the imaging unit 21 is stopped, and the imaging information and the pressing information stored in the storage unit 22 are sent to the independent terminal 30 installed in a pharmacy, a hospital, or the like. At this time, information on the room temperature of the medication taker's home may be sent together with the imaging information and the pressing information. Further, the shooting information may be automatically reproduced on the display unit 32 of the independent terminal 30 simultaneously with the transmission of each information. Note that the photographing information may be transmitted to the independent terminal 30 via the photographing information transfer unit 44 at the same time as the photographing by the photographing unit 21. Based on this photographing information, a supporter such as a pharmacist determines whether or not the pharmacist has taken the medicine. If the pressing unit 180 is not pressed, the photographing by the photographing unit 21 is stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the photographing, and photographing information photographed during that time is transmitted to the independent terminal 30.

  The above steps (1) to (3) are repeated, for example, four times a day (morning, noon, night, before going to bed).

  (4) After the end of the fourth step (3), the drive control unit 123 moves the cylindrical member accommodating the four medicine cases 202 scheduled to be discharged the next day onto the discharge port 211. As described above, the driving unit 114 is rotated. Thereafter, the steps shown in the above (1) to (3) are repeated four times a day.

  (5) After the above-mentioned steps (1) to (4) are repeated for one week, the supporter brings a new medicine unit 200 to the home of the user. Then, the used medicine unit 200 is removed from the apparatus main body 100 by inputting a password to the setting unit 140, and a new medicine unit 200 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100. Then, when the drive unit control unit 123 drives the drive unit 114, the cylindrical member accommodating the medicine case 202 to be discharged next is located on the discharge port 211. The supporter unlocks the lock unit 117 and pulls out the collection unit 116 from the support base 102 to check the medicine case 202 collected in the collection unit 116. Thus, the supporter can grasp the medicine that the pharmacy did not take.

  After that, the process is repeated again from the above step (1).

  As described above, in the medication support system 1 of the present embodiment, since the imaging information of the interior of the drug recipient's home is sent to the independent terminal 30 via the medication support server 40, the user is away from the medication recipient's home. At a place (a pharmacy, a hospital, or the like), a supporter (a pharmacist, a doctor, or a family of a pharmacist who is away from the pharmacist) can check whether or not the pharmacist has taken the medicine. Further, the photographing by the photographing unit 21 is started when discharge execution information (information indicating that the medicine case 202 has been discharged from the container 204) is transmitted to the discharge execution information receiving unit 41. Therefore, for example, the mental burden on the drug taker is reduced as compared with a case where the inside of the home of the drug taker is constantly photographed. Therefore, in the present medication administration support system 1, it is possible to confirm whether or not the medication is taken while suppressing the increase in the mental burden of the medication.

  Further, the discharge execution information transmitting unit 160 transmits the discharge execution information when the discharge time set in the setting unit 140 has come. In this aspect, the photographing by the photographing unit 21 is started from the discharge time, so that the photographing time is effectively reduced.

  Alternatively, the discharge execution information transmitting unit 160 may transmit the discharge execution information when the sensor 170 detects that there is no medicine case 202 in the extraction unit 106. In this aspect, since the imaging unit 21 starts imaging when the medicine case 202 is removed from the extraction unit 106 (when the pharmacy takes out the medicine case 202 from the extraction unit 106), the imaging time is effectively reduced. You.

  Further, the stop signal transmitting unit 43 transmits a stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit 25 after receiving the pressing signal. In this aspect, the imaging by the imaging unit 21 is stopped by the user pressing the pressing unit 180, so that the imaging time by the imaging unit 21 is effectively reduced. In addition, an increase in the capacity of the shooting information transmitted by the shooting information transmitting unit 23 is suppressed as compared with the case where the shooting is performed for a long time.

  Alternatively, the stop signal transmitting unit 43 may transmit the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit 25 after a lapse of a fixed time (for example, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes) after the start signal transmitted by the start signal transmitting unit 42. Good. In this aspect, the photographing by the photographing unit 21 is automatically stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the photographing by the photographing unit 21, so that the photographing time is shortened. In addition, even for a drug recipient who has difficulty in pressing the pressing portion 180, the shortening of the imaging time is realized.

  Also, in the medication support device 10 of the present embodiment, the take-out unit 106 is disposed below the outlet 211 of the container 204, and the passage 104 has a shape extending downward from the outlet 211 toward the take-out unit 106. Therefore, when the switching unit 112 switches from the blocking posture to the discharging posture, the medicine case 202 is displaced by its own weight to the removal unit 106 via the passage 104. Therefore, in the medication support apparatus 10, the medicine case 202 can be taken out with a simple structure.

  Further, since the medication support device 10 includes the switching unit control unit 121 that controls the switching unit 112, when the preset time (discharge time) comes, the switching unit of the plurality of medicine cases 202 One medicine case 202 supported by 112 moves to the extraction unit 106 by its own weight.

  In addition, in the medication support device 10, when a certain period of time has elapsed from the medication time, the opening / closing unit 110 is displaced from the closed position to the open position, so that the medicine case 202 falls from the extraction unit 106 to the collection unit 116 through the drop hole 109. (Collected). Therefore, based on the medicine case 202 collected by the collection unit 116, the supporter can grasp the medicine that the pharmacy did not take. In addition, it is possible to prevent the user from taking the medicine at a time different from the medicine taking time.

  Further, since the medicine case 202 is formed in a spherical shape, the medicine case 202 is smoothly displaced by its own weight from the discharge port 211 of the container 204 to the extraction portion 106 via the passage 104. When the medicine case 202 is formed in a cylindrical bottle shape, it is easy to take out the medicine from the medicine case 202 (open and close the lid), and it is suppressed that the medicine case 202 jumps out of the take-out part 106.

  The partitioning section 220 has a shape that partitions the inside of the container 204 such that each storage chamber can vertically store a predetermined number (for example, four) of the plurality of drug cases 202 among the plurality of drug cases 202. ing. In this embodiment, since each medicine case 202 housed in the vertical direction falls under its own weight, the space can be saved as compared with the case where a dedicated mechanism for pushing each medicine case 202 is provided.

  In addition, since the medicine unit 200 (container 204) is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 100, a supporter (for example, a pharmacist) visits the home of the drug taker with the new medicine unit 200 and receives the new medicine. The unit 200 can be replaced with an old medicine unit 200. For this reason, it becomes possible for the supporter to omit the work of refilling the container 204 with the new medicine case 202 at the home of the pharmacist.

  Further, when the medicine unit 200 is mounted on the apparatus main body 100, the drive control section 123 ejects the accommodation room accommodating the medicine case 202 to be discharged next among the plurality of accommodation rooms in the container 204. It is located on the exit 211. For this reason, when the supporter mistakenly attaches the medicine unit 200 to the apparatus main body 100, the medicine case 202 accommodated in the accommodation room different from the accommodation room for accommodating the medicine case 202 to be discharged next is next. Can be suppressed.

  Note that eight cylindrical members each of which accommodates four medicine cases 202 may be accommodated in the container 204. By doing so, the degree of freedom of the timing at which the supporter performs the step (5) is increased. For example, if the above-mentioned step (5) is performed between the second discharge time (drug time in the day) and the third discharge time (drug time in the night) in one day, When the second medication time comes, the medicine case 202 scheduled to be discharged at the first discharge time (morning medication time) of the day is discharged from the first cylinder member. In order to avoid this situation, after the new medicine unit 200 is installed, two medicine cases 202 scheduled to be ejected at the first and second ejection times of the day before the third ejection time of the day are replaced by one. The two medicine cases 202 are collected by the collection unit 116 while being discharged from the first cylindrical member. In this way, the above-mentioned (1) to (4) can be performed for one week from the time when the supporter wears the medicine unit 200 (the time between the second discharge time and the third medication time on the replacement day). Even if the process is performed, on the last day, by the time the medicine unit 200 is replaced on this day (the time between the second discharge time and the third medication time on the last day), the eighth cylinder From the member, the medicine case 202 to be discharged on the first and second times on the last day is discharged. When such management is performed, a medicine case 202 for substantially eight days is required.

  Further, in the case of performing the above-described management, at the time of replacing the medicine unit 200 for the second time or later, the supporter leaves one of the eight cylindrical members empty at the home of the pharmacist in an empty state. It is also possible to bring the medicine case 202 for morning and daytime from the collection unit 116 and bring it into an empty cylindrical member. In this way, it is possible to manage only the medicine case 202 for seven days.

  It should be noted that the embodiment disclosed this time is an example in all respects and is not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description of the embodiments, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  The present invention is applied to a medication support device and a medication support system.

  REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 medication support system, 10 medication support device, 20 imaging device, 21 imaging unit, 22 storage unit, 23 imaging information transmission unit, 24 start signal reception unit, 25 stop signal reception unit, 30 independent terminal, 31 imaging information reception unit, 32 display unit, 40 medication support server, 41 discharge execution information receiving unit, 42 start signal transmitting unit, 43 stop signal transmitting unit, 44 photographing information transfer unit, 100 device main body, 102 support base, 104 passage, 106 extraction unit, 108 Bottom wall, 109 drop hole, 110 opening / closing part, 111 discharging mechanism, 112 switching part, 113 auxiliary part, 114 driving part, 116 collecting part, 120 controller, 121 switching part controlling part, 122 opening / closing part controlling part, 123 driving part controlling Section, 130 display section, 140 setting section, 150 speaker, 160 discharge execution information transmitting section, 170 cm , 180 pressing portion 200 medication unit, 202 drug cases, 204 containers, 211 outlet 220 separated portion.

Claims (7)

A medication support device installed in the home of the medication user,
An imaging device installed in the home of the drug taker,
An independent terminal that can be used by a person different from the drug taker,
The medication support device, comprising a medication support server connectable to the imaging device and the independent terminal through a network,
The medication support device,
A container containing a plurality of drug cases, each containing a drug;
A discharge execution information transmitting unit that transmits discharge execution information indicating that the medicine case has been discharged from the container to the medication support server,
The photographing device,
A photographing unit for photographing the home of the drug taker,
A photographing information transmitting unit that transmits photographing information photographed by the photographing unit to the medication support server,
A start signal receiving unit that receives a start signal instructing start of shooting by the shooting unit,
The medication support server,
A discharge execution information receiving unit that receives the discharge execution information transmitted by the discharge execution information transmitting unit,
A photographing information transfer unit that receives the photographing information transmitted by the photographing information transmitting unit and transmits the photographing information to the independent terminal;
A start signal transmitting unit that transmits the start signal to the start signal receiving unit,
The medication support system, wherein the start signal transmitting unit transmits the start signal to the start signal receiving unit when the discharge execution information receiving unit receives the discharge execution information. A setting unit configured to set a discharge time at which the medicine case is discharged; and a discharge unit configured to discharge one of the plurality of medicine cases from the container when the discharge time comes. And a mechanism,
The medication support system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge execution information is set when the discharge time set in the setting unit is reached. The medication support device,
A take-out unit for taking out the medicine case discharged from the container,
A sensor that is provided in the take-out unit and that can detect the presence or absence of the medicine case in the take-out unit,
The medication administration system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge execution information is set when the sensor detects that the medicine case does not exist in the extraction unit. The medication support server further includes a stop signal transmission unit that transmits a stop signal for instructing the imaging unit to stop imaging to the imaging device,
The imaging device further includes a stop signal receiving unit that receives the stop signal,
4. The stop signal transmitting unit according to claim 1, wherein the stop signal transmitting unit transmits the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit after a lapse of a predetermined time after the start signal transmitting unit transmits the start signal. 5. Medication support system. The medication support server further includes a stop signal transmission unit that transmits a stop signal for instructing the imaging unit to stop imaging to the imaging device,
The imaging device further includes a stop signal receiving unit that receives the stop signal,
The medication support device further includes a pressing unit that is capable of being pressed by the pharmacy, and transmits a pressure signal to the medication support server when pressed by the pharmacy,
The medication support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stop signal transmitting unit transmits the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit after receiving the pressing signal. The imaging device further includes a storage unit that stores the imaging information during a period from the start to the stop of imaging by the imaging unit,
The medication support system according to claim 4, wherein the imaging information transmission unit transmits the imaging information stored in the storage unit to the imaging information transfer unit. The shooting information transmitting unit transmits the shooting information to the shooting information transfer unit simultaneously with shooting by the shooting unit,
The medication support system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the imaging information transfer unit transmits the imaging information to the independent terminal simultaneously with the reception of the imaging information.

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