ES1223000U - DEVICE FOR HANDLING HAZARDOUS MEDICINES (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the handling of dangerous drugs comprising a metallic chassis (1) with prismatic shape, which has two orifices (1a) for the insertion of the operator's arms and where said holes (1a) are connected with a central cavity enabled as a working area (1b) which has a small cavity (1d) through which the medicament passes to the area enabled for its reception in a medicine packaging machine, and where the chassis (1) in its front part incorporates a window (2) and which is characterized in that on its back, the chassis (1) incorporates a recess (1c) where a prefilter (3) in charge of filtering the larger particles; and where associated with said prefilter (3) is a body (4) comprising at least a first HEPA filter (4a) connected with an extraction motor (4b) that drives the suction of the contents of the working area (1b) , which is finally associated, with a second HEPA filter (4c); all commanded by a logical means of control (5). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

DEVICE FOR HANDLING HAZARDOUS MEDICINES

Object of the invention

The object of the present specification is a device for the handling of dangerous and / or non-dangerous medicaments, formed by a chassis as an isolation cabin that has high efficiency filtering means (HEPA, High Efficiency Partiole Arrestance, its acronyms in English), designed preferably for its coupling to the systems of medicine packaging of hospitals, pharmacies, clinics, laboratories or similar; and whose main distinctive advantage lies in protecting during the handling of dangerous drugs in the process of handling and "repackaging", avoiding the exposure of personnel during the operations of preparation of doses, and in such a way, ensuring the protection of the health of the same, of the medicine (avoiding possible contamination of the same and / or cross-contaminations with other medicines of various types) and of the environment (dealing in a safe and protocolized way with the remaining polluting agents).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, in the sanitary field it is known as "dangerous medicines" those medicines that present a chemical risk for the manipulative personnel of the same, in particular, related to the carcinogenic, teratogenic, genotoxic and toxic activity on the reproductive process or on a specific organ at low doses, or because it is a new drug similar to another with these types of risks, and among which are (among others) chemotherapeutic drugs, antivirals, hormones, bioengineered objects, etc.

This type of medication was usually used, without a plan of action on its specific risks, which according to the first indications of its danger for the manipulative personnel (or other workers who may have more or less contact with it) has forced to review its management in all agencies where they are used, incorporating security procedures reserved for drugs used in cancer therapies.

As can be inferred from the aforementioned, in terms of exposure, it represents a risk to the health of the health personnel who handle it, this has provoked the intervention of the competent authorities that have regulated the regulations regarding the protection of workers related to exposure to chemical agents, carcinogenic or mutagenic, under the protection of the Law on Prevention of Occupational Risks (LPRL). Implementing a series of recommendations for safe handling, with measures of a preventive nature, which guarantee the minimum possible exposure. The minimum exposure that is technically possible (principle A.L.A.R.A.) considering the prevailing preventive attitude always against the corrective one by virtue of the LPRP.

This exposure occurs mainly through inhalation and / or skin contact, which makes a specific action in this area essential, as is the solution recommended here, which minimizes the risk of inhaling dangerous products for health thanks to its double filtering (together with a pre-filter) during its handling (which occurs in a closed environment, which avoids possible contamination of the environment).

All this is a consequence of knowledge of the field of hospital pharmacy, where the medicines prescribed for a treatment are packaged in multidose or bulk format, and this department should be responsible for separating and assigning the patient the treatment prescribed by the doctor.

For this, the operator or user in charge of such operation, must (manually) separate the medicine from the multidose or bulk format and adapt it for each case, which inevitably exposes the operator to harmful particles (in many cases with imperceptible densities). for the user).

To alleviate the problem described (the packaging of the medicine), the applicants are aware of the existence of a multitude of machines for the packaging of medicines, which do not protect the operator during the handling thereof, which does not prevent contamination of the medicine (and of the patient), the manipulator and the environment.

Designed to solve the problem of pollution, the existence is known of security booths, where the packaging is done manually, totally handmade, so that the packaging process is long and tedious; they require ample space for their installation and they are not compatible with the known medicine packaging equipment, which causes in most cases, the operator has to lean for the realization of a certain solution at the time of packaging (or either work safely or work more efficiently).

The air expelled from the device free of contaminating particles allows the equipment to be placed on nearby or shared work surfaces, since it does not need coupling with extractor equipment to the exterior; its portability allows it to be independent of the technical requirements of the area where it is located.

Finally, white rooms that are used for this type of work are also known, but they have as main drawbacks the need to require an entire instance authorized for this purpose, with a very high installation and maintenance cost, which makes it totally unfeasible in most hospitals, or other locations such as clinics, pharmacies or even in certain types of laboratories.

In turn, the ergonomic design of the device, not contemplated in the devices known and / or currently marketed, does not guarantee the occupational risks arising from the posture and repetitive task in the process of packaging medicines, so guaranteeing the ergonometric risk is contemplated in the design of the equipment with respect to the manipulator.

Likewise, the placement of the device with respect to the manipulating operator, in terms of the inclination of this, allows a line of sight with respect to the horizontal of the work area, providing the maximum guarantees of prevention of occupational risks.

For all the above, the invention presented here, solves in a simple manner all the technical problems discussed above, since it provides a safe working environment where to handle and medicines, and is able to join on any packaging machine, shortening the times of handling and packaging of medicines, and in turn, optimizing hospital resources, since it does not require more space than is already being used (it will only require the space already occupied by the packaging machine, since it will be located on said machine).

Description of the invention

The technical problem that resolves the present invention is to achieve a device or ventilated cabin to handle medicines of dangerous and / or non-dangerous drugs, which allows its users to work safely (in accordance with current regulations) and that has a system filtering that eliminates the possibility of evacuating or extracting dangerous particles abroad that can be inhaled by health workers and / or pollute the environment.

For this, the device for the handling of dangerous drugs, object of the present utility model, is characterized in that it comprises a metallic chassis with prismatic shape, which has respective holes for the insertion of the arms of the operator. These holes are located to the extent that they allow maintaining an elevation of the arms with respect to the trunk and a flexion of elbows and wrists compatible with the recommendations of risk protection by posture and repetitive task. The orifices are connected to a central cavity enabled as a work area that has a small cavity through which the medicine passes to the area enabled for its reception in a medicine packaging machine, and where the chassis in its front part incorporates a window that allows the visualization of the tasks performed. And where, in its back, the chassis incorporates a hole where a prefilter in charge of filtering the larger particles is lodged; and where associated with said prefilter is a body comprising at least a first HEPA filter connected with an extraction motor that drives the aspiration of the content of the working area, which is finally associated, with a second HEPA filter; all commanded by a logical means of control.

Thanks to its design, the device presented here, will ensure the containment of dangerous drugs inside the chassis that makes up the cabin of the device, during the time of preparation of the dose (before packaging). In this way, the exposure of personnel authorized for such operations (hospital pharmacy operators, or any authorized personnel for this type of manipulation) to contaminating agents and dangerous to their health, respecting the protocols and conditions necessary for a way of working, will be avoided. safe. Likewise, the system of ventilation and filtration of the air will allow the extracted air to be free of contaminants, being able to be eliminated in the same area of the work area or outside of it.

In the same way, the device recommended here will be able to guarantee the efficiency during its use, thanks to the presence of control and / or operation supervision systems, implemented in the electronic control means that command said device.

The device will only require an electrical connection for its operation, which will make its use more versatile, being able to be installed in any room where it can be enabled with the packaging machine, since its design and the different security elements (will avoid possible cross contamination about the medication).

Therefore, hazardous waste will remain inside the device, which will allow an adequate treatment to the risk that they imply, and, therefore, will improve the environmental character of it. Since, the materials used in its manufacture allow the cleaning by dragging, decontamination, neutralization and the clearing of the possible contaminants of the area in contact with the dangerous medicines.

Since it does not require large technical requirements for its operation, it will become an economical and more efficient solution than the solutions known in the state of the art, since it does not require large sites for installation, nor for the evacuation of filtered air ; what allows to adapt to the already saturated hospital pharmacy stays.

Throughout the description and the claims the word "comprises" and its variants do not intend to exclude other technical characteristics, additives, components or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge partly from the description and partly from the practice of the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration, and are not intended to restrict the present invention. In addition, the present invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments indicated herein.

Brief description of the figures

In the following, a series of drawings that help to better understand the invention and that are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention that is presented as a non-limiting example thereof, are briefly described.

FIG 1. Shows a front view of the device for the handling of dangerous drugs, object of the present report.

FIG 2. Shows a perspective view of the device for the handling of dangerous drugs.

FIG 3. Shows a schematic view of the constituent elements of the device advocated here.

FIG 4. Shows a first plan view of the chassis (1) as part of the device for the handling of dangerous drugs.

FIG 5. Shows a second view of the chassis (1) as part of the device for the handling of dangerous drugs.

FIG 6. Shows a third view of the chassis (1) as part of the device for the handling of dangerous drugs, object of the present utility model.

Presentation of a detailed embodiment of the invention

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached figures. More specifically, the device for the handling of dangerous drugs, object of the present specification, is characterized in that it comprises a metallic chassis (1) with prismatic shape, which has respective holes (1a) for the insertion of the arms of the operator intended to work , and that are connected to a central cavity enabled as a work zone (1b). The orifices (1a) will incorporate adjustment means, which allow to adapt its diameter to the diameter of the arm of the operator in charge of the operation.

The work zone (1b) will have a small cavity (1d) through which the medication will travel to the area enabled for its reception in a medicine filling machine.

The chassis (1) on its front incorporates a window (2) materialized preferably in laminated safety glass or other material with equivalent mechanical characteristics; and incorporates at least one closure (2a) that provides easier access to its interior, especially for those containers of drugs with large capacity, which will later be handled and repackaged; and in turn, prevents its opening until the end of the cleaning cycle.

The window (2), in a preferred embodiment, will have an opening range of up to 180 °, with its preferred opening measurement being 180 °.

In a practical embodiment, the window (2) incorporates two closures (2a) which may be an electronic lock, an electromechanical lock or any equivalent closing means.

The chassis (1) will be made of stainless steel with polished corners or another material with equivalent mechanical characteristics; and it presents inside, a spill tray also materialized in stainless steel or other material with equivalent mechanical characteristics.

In its rear part, the chassis (1) incorporates a recess (1c) in which a prefilter (3) in charge of filtering the larger particles; and where associated with said prefilter (3) is a body (4) comprising at least a first HEPA filter (4a) connected with an extraction motor (4b) that drives the suction of the contents of the work area (1b) , which is finally associated, with a second HEPA filter (4c).

In a practical non-limiting embodiment, the body (4) will in turn house a logical control means (5), comprising at least one microcontroller or a PLC responsible for the management and operation of the device, and where among other functions, will be responsible for enabling the ignition and / or shutdown both of the device itself, the control over lighting means, etc .; and wherein further, said logic control means (5) will comprise a plurality of sensors that determine pressure; Hours of use; programmed alarms; operating status; electronic lock for opening the window (2) or similar.

In a particular embodiment, the electronic control means (5) will incorporate a sensor that determines the speed of the extraction flow.

In turn, the electronic control means (5) will be programmed in such a way that controls the ventilation and hours of use of the device, and in this way, control and / or guarantee the operation of the device, even in the presence of the effects caused by the progressive obstruction of the HEPA filters (4a, 4c).

In a particular embodiment, the logic control means (5) will be integrated into the logical control means of a drug packaging machine, connected and / or associated with the device described herein.

The logic control means (5) will be operable either by a hand console or keypad with display arranged on the outside of the body (4), either by a touch screen (6) attached or integrated in the chassis itself (1) of the device, or else, by the means of action of the logical means of control of a packaging machine to which it is connected and / or associated.

In a preferred embodiment, the two HEPA filters (4a, 4c) are located in line and are of the H14 type with an efficiency of 99.995% MPPS.

In a preferred embodiment, the extraction motor (4b) is a centrifugal motor or a motor with equivalent mechanical characteristics.

The chassis (1) will house lighting means on the work surface, by means of lamps with a power of between 30 and 60 watts (W).

In a particular embodiment, the chassis (1) will be connected and / or attached to a data display screen (7), where the medication data can be displayed, so that it can subsequently be printed as a medicine label packaged by a machine packager attached and / or connected to the device presented herein.

Claims (19)

one.

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs comprising a metal chassis (1) with prismatic shape, which has two orifices (1a) for the insertion of the operator's arms and where said holes (1a) are connected with a central cavity enabled as working area (1b) which has a small cavity (1d) through which the medicament passes to the area enabled for its reception in a medicine filling machine, and where the chassis (1) in its front part incorporates a window (2) ) and which is characterized in that in its rear part, the chassis (1) incorporates a recess (1c) in which a prefilter (3) in charge of filtering the larger particles; and where associated with said prefilter (3) is a body (4) comprising at least a first HEPA filter (4a) connected with an extraction motor (4b) that drives the suction of the contents of the work area (1b) , which is finally associated, with a second HEPA filter (4c); all commanded by a logical means of control (5). two.

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to claim 1 wherein the chassis (1) will house in its interior means of illumination on the work surface, by lamps with a power of between 30 and 60 watts. 3.

- Device for handling dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1 - 2 wherein the holes (1a) present in the chassis (1) incorporate adjustment means that allow to adapt its diameter to the diameter of the arm of the operator in charge of the operation. Four.

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1 - 3 wherein the window (2) has an opening range of up to 180 °. 5.

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1 - 4 wherein the window (2) is materialized in laminated safety glass or other material with equivalent mechanical characteristics. 6

- Device for handling dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1 - 5 wherein it incorporates at least one closure (2a) that provides easier access to its interior and in turn, prevents its opening until the end of the cleaning cycle. 7

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1-6 wherein the chassis (1) is made of stainless steel with polished corners or other material with equivalent mechanical characteristics. 8

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1 - 7 wherein the chassis (1) has inside a spill tray materialized in stainless steel or other material with equivalent mechanical characteristics. 9

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1 - 8 wherein the body (4) in turn houses the logical control means (5), comprising at least one microcontroller or a PLC responsible for the management and operation of the device; and wherein further, said logic control means (5) comprise a plurality of sensors that determine the pressure; Hours of use; programmed alarms; operating status; electronic lock for opening the window (2) or similar. 10

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of the claims 1-9 wherein the logic control means (5) incorporate a sensor that determines the speed of the extraction flow. eleven.

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1-10 wherein the logical control means (5) are integrated into the logical control means of a medicine packaging machine, connected and / or associated with the device. 12

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1 - 11 wherein the logical control means (5) are operable by means of a hand console or push-button panel with a display arranged on the external part of the body (4). 13

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1 - 11 wherein the logical control means (5) are operable by means of a touch screen (6) attached or integrated in the chassis (1) of the device itself. 14. - Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to claim 11 wherein the logical control means (5) are operable by the means of action of the logic control means of a packaging machine to which it is connected and / or associated 15. - Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to claim 6 wherein the window incorporates two closures (2a). 16. - Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 6 - 7 wherein the closure (2a) is an electronic closure, an electromechanical closure or any equivalent closing means. 17

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of claims 1-16 wherein the HEPA filters (4a, 4c) are located in line and are of the H14 type with an efficiency of 99.995% MPPS. 18

- Device for the handling of dangerous drugs according to any of the claims 1-17 wherein the extraction motor (4b) is a centrifugal motor or a motor with equivalent mechanical characteristics. 19

- Device for handling dangerous drugs according to any of the preceding claims wherein the chassis (1) will be connected to a data display screen (7).