DE102018125003B4 - Arrangement consisting of a dispenser system for medication and a storage system for stocking the medication - Google Patents

Abstract

Arrangement consisting of a dispenser system (1) for medication and a storage system (10) for storing the medication and for filling the dispenser system (1), the dispenser system (1) having an arrangement of at least two vessels (5) below the storage system (10). Dispensing the medication to patients, and the storage system (10) has at least two medication compartments (111), which are formed one behind or next to one another at a defined distance in a supply bar (11), the medication compartments (111) being of one relative to the supply bar (11) can be closed by a sliding closure strip (12) and the storage system (10) has positioning means through which it is positioned relative to the underlying arrangement of vessels (5) in order to empty the medication compartments (111) into the vessels (5). , characterized in that the closure strip (12) has dispensing openings (121) which correspond in number and position to the medication compartments (111) of the supply bar (11), so that each medication compartment (111) is assigned a dispensing opening (121).

Description

The present invention relates to an arrangement consisting of a dispenser system for medication and a storage system for storing the medication according to the preamble of claim 1.

Patients, especially in home care, are often overwhelmed by the composition and administration of their medication. To support these patients, various storage systems are known in the market, in which medications can be individually sorted into individual medication compartments for different times of administration, for example in the morning, at noon, in the evening or for certain days of the week. This task can be carried out by nursing services or pharmacies, for example.

For example, the storage systems are small plastic boxes in which the individual medication compartments are arranged one behind the other, with a mostly transparent slider being arranged on the top, which can be pulled out and thus releases the medication for removal from the compartments. Such a storage system is, for example, from the publication US 2013/0075418 A1 known. However, older people or people with disabilities often have problems taking medication out of the compartments if the necessary coordination or vision is limited. Alternative storage systems are blister packs, in which the medication is sealed into individual compartments of the blister pack. As disposable packaging, these meet all the required hygienic standards, but removal is often similarly difficult.

In order to be able to better control the intake of medication and also monitor the administration times, dispenser systems for medication are also known, for example from publications EP 3 123 901 A1 . In the system described in this publication, the patient is provided with handy and easy-to-use containers for medication and, at the same time, water as an aid to taking medication. However, this very comfortable intake of medication for the patient requires that the individual medications are previously filled from the storage system into the containers provided by the dispenser system. When using known storage systems, this is time-consuming and also prone to errors. The order of medication compartments and containers could be swapped around, or medication could fall next to the containers when being refilled and therefore not be taken. The writings also show similar donation systems US 5,915,589 A and US 4,573,606 A . In the devices presented there, the medications to be administered are sorted into compartments of a fan wheel rotating around a horizontal axis. Here too, filling the individual compartments of the fan wheel is time-consuming and error-prone.

It is an object of the present invention to create an arrangement of a dispenser system and a storage system in which the dispenser system can easily be filled with medication from the storage system.

This task is solved by an arrangement consisting of a dispenser system and a storage system with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous refinements and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

In an arrangement according to the invention consisting of a dispenser system and a storage system, the dispenser system has an arrangement of at least two vessels for dispensing the medication to the patients and the storage system with the positioning means is used to easily and reliably equip the vessels of the donation system with the medication . The containers are filled with medications in a particularly hygienic manner, as the medications enter the containers directly from the storage system without touching them.

For this purpose, the storage system has positioning means through which it is positioned relative to an underlying arrangement of vessels in order to empty the medication compartments into the vessels. By means of the positioning means, the storage system as a whole can be placed on the arrangement of vessels mentioned and is fixed on the vessels. Each medication compartment is assigned to a container. By moving the closure bar relative to the supply bar, the medication compartments are opened and the medication goes into the assigned container. The patient can easily take the medication from the container, preferably a cup or a glass.

In the arrangement according to the invention, the closure strip of the storage system has dispensing openings which correspond in number and position to the medication compartments of the supply strip, with each medication compartment being assigned a dispensing opening. In a first position of the supply bar relative to the closure bar, all medication compartments are closed, and in a second position all medication compartments are open. The positioning means are preferably formed on the closure strip on a side of the closure strip that faces away from the medication compartments.

The positioning means are particularly preferably protruding collars, which are each formed around an edge of the individual delivery openings. In this embodiment, the storage system can be placed with the storage bar facing upwards with the closure bar on the arrangement of the vessels. The positioning means which then protrude downwards and are formed on the closure strip, for example the collars formed around the edge of the dispensing opening, prevent the dispensing openings from slipping next to the openings of the vessels. If the supply bar is then moved relative to the closure bar from the first, closing position to the second position, the medication compartments are each pushed over the dispensing opening, so that the medication contained in the medication compartments is dispensed through the dispensing openings into the vessel underneath.

The supply bar is preferably guided in the closure bar, for example in that the closure bar has an envelope on its long sides, which forms a guide groove for the storage bar. The storage system is therefore only placed on the vessels with the closure bar, whereby the storage bar can be moved in a guided manner in the closure bar without frictional forces being exerted on the vessels, which can lead to unwanted displacement of the vessels.

In order to securely close the medication compartments during transport or when placing them on the vessels and also to provide haptic feedback about the displacement process, the supply bar and/or the locking bar are advantageously provided with locking means, through which the supply bar can be moved relative to the locking bar when moved the first and/or the second position engages.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the arrangement, the closure bar of the storage system is designed to be continuous, with all medication compartments being closed in a first position of the closure bar relative to the storage bar and with the medication compartments being successively opened when the closure bar is moved relative to the storage bar.

In this embodiment, the positioning means are preferably formed on a side of the supply bar facing away from the medication compartments. For example, the positioning means can be support contours that match the underlying vessels and are formed around an opening in the medication compartments. The supply bar is then preferably positioned between the medication compartments and the support contours and, for example, guided through undercuts in the supply bar.

In this configuration of the arrangement, the storage system with the storage bar is placed on the vessels. The support contours can, for example, surround an upper edge of the vessels on the outside or rest against the edge of the vessel from the inside with formed projections. The closure bar is then pulled out between the vessel and the supply bar, so to speak, whereby the individual medication compartments are opened one after the other and the medication is dispensed into the respective allocated vessel.

In both configurations, the distances between the medication compartments in the supply bar are adapted to the intended arrangement of the vessels. The arrangement of the vessels can be equidistant, but different distances between the individual vessels can also be provided.

• 1, 2 jeweils eine isometrische Ansicht eines Spendersystems für Medikamente in verschiedenen Betriebszuständen;
• 3, 4 das Spendersystem gemäß 2 während des Befüllens mit einem Vorratssystem;
• 5a - d verschiedene Ansichten eines Vorratssystems zur Bevorratung und Abgabe von Medikamenten in einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel; und
• 6a - c verschiedene Ansichten eines Vorratssystems in einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel.

The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments with the help of figures. The figures show:

• 1 , 2 each an isometric view of a dispensing system for medication in different operating states;
• 3 , 4 the donor system according to 2 during filling with a storage system;
• 5a - d various views of a storage system for storing and dispensing medication in a first exemplary embodiment; and
• 6a - c different views of a storage system in a second exemplary embodiment.

1 shows an isometric representation of a dispenser system 1, which is part of an arrangement according to the application consisting of a dispenser system and a storage system, in its normal operating state for dispensing medication. The dispenser system 1 comprises a housing base 2 and a hinged lid 3, in which a control 4 with a display, for example a screen, is arranged.

The donor system 1 here comprises, for example, two arrangements of vessels 5 positioned one behind the other, the first of which is in a dispensing position from which it can be removed by the patient. Such a dispenser system 1 can be used in home care, in residential groups, care and senior centers and also in the outpatient area.

At the scheduled collection time, for example in the morning, at noon, etc., the controller 4 draws attention to the upcoming medication intake visually and, if necessary, acoustically. The medication can be located in one of the two removable vessels 5, for example in the left row of vessels 5 as seen by the user, and in the other, in the right row, water as an ingestion liquid.

To fill the vessels 5, the lid 3 can be folded up, as shown in 2 is shown.

The 3 and 4 show the dispenser system 1 with an attached storage system 10. Medicines are sorted, for example by an external service provider such as a nursing service or a pharmacy, into a plurality, in this case five, medication compartments 111 of the storage system 10 for each patient. The medication compartments 111 are formed in a storage bar 11 of the storage system 10 and are closed by a closure bar 12 in the delivery state.

This closure strip 12 has a plurality of delivery openings 121, which are positioned between the medication compartments 111 in the delivery state of the storage system, whereby the medication compartments 111 are closed.

As a rule, an adhesive strip is also applied to the underside of the storage system 10, which is not visible here, on which relevant patient data is applied for clear identification of the storage system and which additionally closes the storage system 10.

After removing the adhesive strip, the storage system 10 is as in 3 shown placed on the arrangement of the vessels 5, with a delivery opening 121 being positioned above the respective associated vessel opening. For this purpose, positioning means are formed on the storage system 10, which are connected to the 5a until 5d and 6a until 6c be explained in more detail.

After placing the storage system 10 on the arrangement of the vessels 5, the storage bar 11 is pulled forward on a tab projecting forward while maintaining the position of the closure strip 12. The medication compartments 111 are thereby moved over the dispensing opening 121, whereby the medications contained in the medication compartments 111 are dispensed into the respective vessels 5 precisely and without being touched by the operator. The supply bar 11 only protrudes from the closure bar 12 on one side. This means that it is not possible to use the storage system 10 in a reversed direction, in which the order of the medication would be reversed, for reasons of ease of use.

The filling process of the dispenser system 1 is thus completed in one easy-to-implement step simultaneously for all vessels 5 into which medication is to be introduced. After removing the storage system 10 and closing the lid 3, the dispenser system 10 is ready for use.

The storage system 10 can be designed as a disposable system to comply with hygiene standards or as a reusable system that is returned to the service provider for refilling.

It is noted that the storage system 10 in the example shown is adapted to use with the dispenser system 1, for example by adapting the distances between the dispensing openings 121 and thus also the medication compartments 111 to the distances between the vessels 5 in the dispenser system. However, it is understood that the storage system 10 can also be used in connection with other arrangements of vessels which are then used to take medication, even if these are not provided in a specially designed dispenser system.

That in the 3 and 4 Storage system 10 shown is in the 5a until 5d presented in more detail in various views. 5a shows an isometric view of the storage system 10 with the storage bar 11 and the closure bar 12 in a position in which the delivery opening 121 is located next to the medication compartments 111, so that the medication compartments 111 are closed. 5b shows the supply bar 11 and the closure bar 12 separated from each other in the form of an exploded view. The 5c is a sectional view in a longitudinal direction through the storage system 10 according to 5a . The 5d Finally, the closure strip 12 shows its underside separately in an isometric view.

The dispensing openings 121 of the closure strip 12 are funnel-shaped (truncated cone-shaped) and have a protruding collar 122 pointing away from the medication compartments 111. When using the storage system, it is placed on vessels, for example the vessels 5 of the dispenser system 1 according to 1-4 , the protruding collar 122 projects into the vessels 5 and thus positions the storage system relative to the vessels 5.

The supply bar 11 is guided on its longitudinal edges in guide grooves 123 of the closure bar 12, these guide grooves 123 being designed as an envelope on the longitudinal edges of the closure bar 12. Like this in particular 5a and 5d show, locking means 112, 124 are formed on the supply bar 11 and the closure bar 12, which are shown in FIG 5a position shown and an open position in which the medication compartments 111 lie exactly above the delivery openings 121 (see also 4 ) snap into each other and thus define these two positions of the supply bar 11 relative to the closure bar 12.

In the first, closing position according to 5a the supply bar 11 protrudes above the closure bar 12 on one side, which thus defines the front of the arrangement, so that it can be easily gripped on this side and moved into the second position. The front can also be marked with a label and a corresponding movement arrow that indicates the opening direction. Furthermore, for additional security, the medication compartments 111 can be numbered or otherwise marked, so that there is a clear association between the respective medication compartment 111 and the underlying vessel. All labels, markings and symbols can be printed and, if necessary, additionally embossed so that they can be recognized or read even if you are visually impaired. Written symbols can also be reproduced in Braille.

The two elements of the storage system 10, the storage bar 11 and the closure bar 12, are preferably made from a food-grade plastic, for example polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), in particular deep-drawn or using a plastic injection molding process. The number of medication compartments 111 is at least two, but can also be significantly larger than the number of 5 medication compartments 111 shown in this example. For example, storage systems 10 for a week or a whole month with a corresponding number of medication compartments 111 are conceivable.

To protect the sorted medications, the supply bar 11 is preferably made of a non-transparent plastic that is impermeable to UV (ultraviolet) light. For visual control of the medication, the closure strip 12 can be transparent, so that the medication stored in the medication compartments 111 can be viewed and checked before they are removed.

In addition to the locking in the two positions mentioned by the locking means 112, 124, an adhesive strip is preferably applied to the closure strip 12 along the entire storage system 10, which prevents the storage strip 11 from moving relative to the closure strip 12 and is also opaque, so that the medication are also stored protected from light by the closure strip 12 during transport. Before using the storage system 10, the adhesive strip is removed.

Patient data and/or medication information can be applied to the adhesive strip. Applying the information on the adhesive strip and not on the storage strip 11 or the closure strip 12 itself enables data-protected disposal of the storage system 10. The data applied to the adhesive strip is illegible after the adhesive strip is crumpled.

The spaced arrangement of the medication compartments 111 makes it possible to arrange two of the storage systems 10 with their medication compartments 111 offset from one another and in the longitudinal direction, so that space-saving transport in appropriate transport packaging is possible. The volume of the medication compartments 111 can be adapted to a typical medication with approximately one to a few cubic centimeters (cm ³ ).

In the 6a until 6c a second exemplary embodiment of a storage system 10 is shown, which is also in connection with the dispenser system 1 1 until 4 or can be used independently with an arrangement of vessels. The same reference numbers in these figures indicate parts that are the same or have the same effect as in the previous figures.

The 6a and 6b show analogous to the 5a and 5b the storage system in an isometric composite illustration or in an isometric exploded view. The 6c shows the storage system 10 in a side view of its transverse side.

The comments on the choice of material, size and position of the medication compartments 111 as well as the possibility of labeling using the applied adhesive strip, which were made in connection with the first exemplary embodiment, can be transferred to the second exemplary embodiment.

In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, in the present case the positioning means for positioning the storage system 10 on the arrangement of the vessels are formed by support contours 113 which are formed in the storage bar 11. In the case shown, the support contour corresponds to 113 Geometry of the upper edge of cups used as vessels.

The closure bar 12 is continuous in this exemplary embodiment and is guided in the supply bar 11 in the form of a slide. With lateral guide webs 125, it engages under undercuts 114, which are formed in the area of the support contours 113. The closure strip 12 is thus arranged between the medication compartments 111 on top and the vessels underneath when the storage system is in place. Due to the shape of the support contour 113 and the guidance of the closure strip 12, it can be pulled out of the supply strip 11 without contact with the vessels 5 and thus successively opens the medication compartments 111, the contents of which are correspondingly dispensed into the vessels 5. The guidance of the closure bar 12 in the storage bar 11 is good in the side view 6 to recognize. Instead of the undercuts 114, other guide means can alternatively or additionally be formed.

In the example shown, locking means 124 are again formed on the closure strip 12, which fixes the closure strip at least in the first position in which all medication compartments 111 are closed.

In both exemplary embodiments of the storage system 10 shown, the medication compartments 111 are arranged one behind the other with regard to a direction of displacement between the storage bar 11 and the closure bar 12. In alternative configurations, the medication compartments 111 can also be arranged next to one another with regard to the direction of displacement, so that the sliding movement takes place, so to speak, towards the long side of the storage system 10.

Reference symbols

1

Donor system

2

Case base

3

Lid

4

steering

5

vessel

10

Medicine storage system

11

Supply bar

111

Medicine compartment

112

Rest means

113

Support contour

114

Undercut

12

Closing strip

121

Delivery opening

122

protruding collar

123

Guide groove

124

Rest means

125

Guide bridge

Claims (12)

Arrangement consisting of a dispenser system (1) for medication and a storage system (10) for storing the medication and for filling the dispenser system (1), the dispenser system (1) having an arrangement of at least two vessels (5) below the storage system (10). Dispensing the medication to patients, and the storage system (10) has at least two medication compartments (111), which are formed one behind or next to one another at a defined distance in a supply bar (11), the medication compartments (111) being of one relative to the supply bar (11) can be closed by a sliding closure strip (12) and the storage system (10) has positioning means through which it is positioned relative to the underlying arrangement of vessels (5) in order to empty the medication compartments (111) into the vessels (5). , characterized in that the closure strip (12) has dispensing openings (121) which correspond in number and position to the medication compartments (111) of the supply bar (11), so that each medication compartment (111) is assigned a dispensing opening (121). Arrangement according to Claim 1 , wherein in a first position of the supply bar (11) relative to the closure bar (12) all medication compartments (111) are closed and in a second position all medication compartments (111) are open. Arrangement according to Claim 2 , in which the positioning means are formed on a side of the closure strip (12) facing away from the medication compartments (111). Arrangement according to Claim 3 , wherein the positioning means are protruding collars (122) formed around an edge of the dispensing openings (121). Arrangement according to one of the Claims 2 until 4 , in which the closure strip (12) has an envelope on its long sides, each of which forms a guide groove (123) for the supply strip (11). Arrangement according to one of the Claims 2 until 5 , in which locking means (112, 124) are formed on the supply bar (11) and/or the closure bar (12). are through which the supply bar (11) engages in the first and/or second position when moved relative to the closure bar (12). Arrangement according to Claim 1 , in which the closure strip (12) is designed to be continuous, with all medication compartments (111) being closed in a first position of the closure strip (12) relative to the storage strip (11), and when the closure strip (12) is moved relative to the storage strip (11) the medication compartments (111) are successively opened. Arrangement according to Claim 7 , in which the positioning means are formed on a side of the supply bar (12) facing away from the medication compartments (111). Arrangement according to Claim 8 , in which the positioning means are support contours (113) that match the underlying vessels (5) and are arranged around an opening in the medication compartments (111). Arrangement according to one of the Claims 7 until 9 , in which the supply bar (11) has at least one undercut (114) for guiding the closure bar (12). Arrangement according to Claim 9 , in which the supply bar (11) has at least one undercut (114) for guiding the closure bar (12), the at least one undercut (114) being arranged between the medication compartments (111) and the support contours (113), viewed in the vertical direction. Arrangement according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , in which the medication compartments (111) are arranged equidistantly on the supply bar (11).

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