FR3095338A1 - Device for filling a pill container and associated method. - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for filling a pillbox and associated method. The invention relates to a device 1 for filling a pill box 2 comprising several cells 31 adapted to receive pills corresponding to a prescription, the device comprising a support 11, a screen 12, fixed to the support, a mask 13 fixed removably on the screen and a computer 14 to display a light code indicating in which cell a pill should be placed. The invention also relates to a method using such a device 1. Figure for abstract: figure 1

Description

Device for filling a pillbox and associated method.

The present invention relates to compliance in taking medication. It relates more particularly to a device and to a method for assisting in the preparation of a pillbox, that is to say the distribution of pills in the cells of a pillbox according to a prescription. These pills can be tablets or capsules.

In order to ensure that medication is taken in accordance with a prescription, a pill dispenser is often used. Such a pill box must be filled with rigor and precision. When the prescription is complex, the filling can be a source of errors. However, the patient taking a treatment must be able to take the pills offered by the pill box in complete confidence, in the order offered.

It is therefore preferable for the pill box to be filled by a professional, for example a pharmacist or a nurse. The workload of these professionals, and the short time they have to fill such a pillbox, is however a notable source of errors.

The object of the invention is to propose a system which makes it possible to limit the risk of error, while reducing the time necessary for the preparation of a pill dispenser.

To achieve its object, the invention proposes a device for filling a pill box comprising several cells adapted to receive pills corresponding to a prescription, characterized in that it comprises:

- a support ;

- a screen, fixed on this support;

- A mask designed to be removably attached, at least indirectly, to this screen; And,

- a computer, preferably a nano-computer;

this computer being provided for displaying on the screen a luminous code indicating in which cell a given pill of the prescription must be placed.

Such a device may comprise a camera, arranged opposite the screen.

The mask preferably has a plate shape and comprises windows, each window being arranged so that each window can correspond to a cell of the pillbox.

Advantageously, the screen comprises a first part provided to be masked by the mask and a second free part, preferably provided for displaying a menu. The screen can be touch sensitive.

The invention also relates to a method for filling a pillbox which uses a device according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:

- put the prescription in digital form;

- load the prescription, in its digital form, into the computer;

- display according to the prescription, on a part of the screen hidden by the mask, using the computer, codes visible through the windows.

It may further comprise a step in which the computer displays, in the free part of the screen, a menu and/or instructions, preferably relating to a prescribed pill, and/or a compliance control step filling with the prescription, using the camera.

Several embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

is a schematic, exploded perspective view of a system according to the invention;

is a schematic and perspective view of the system of FIG. 1; And,

is a partial top view of the system of FIG. 1;

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a system 1 for assisting in the preparation of a pill dispenser 2. In the example illustrated, system 1 comprises in particular:

- a support 11;

- a screen 12;

- a mask 13;

- a nano-computer 14; And,

- a bracket 15 fitted with a camera 16.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the support 11 is intended to be placed on a surface 18, for example on a table or a counter. It comprises a plate 20 and feet 21, 22. Two front feet 21 are fixed. Two rear feet 22 are adjustable; they allow in particular to raise the rear part of the plate, so that a user of the device 1 can adjust the inclination A1 towards the front of the device 1.

The screen 12 is a flat touch screen. It is fixed to the plate by fixings 25. These fixings have a columnar shape extending upwards from, and perpendicular to, an upper surface 26 of the plate to the rear of the screen. The fixings are arranged so that the screen is held parallel to the surface 26, at a distance D12 from the latter.

The computer 14 is fixed under the screen 12.

The stem 15 is fixed to the rear of the plate 20. It comprises a first part 15A which extends upwards, perpendicular to the upper surface 26 of the plate 11. It also comprises a second part 15B which extends towards the front from an upper end of the first part 155, substantially parallel to this same upper surface 26.

The camera 16 is attached to a free end of the second part 15B. It is preferably arranged so that it has an overall view of the screen 12.

The mask 13 is removably attached to the screen, for example by means of velor type fasteners and hooks. The mask is suitable for positioning the pill box 2 above the screen.

A pill box comprises cells, the number, size and arrangement of which may vary depending on the use made of them. In particular according to the prescription, therefore the type of pills, their number, the time of taking and the duration of treatment.

Thus, a system according to the invention generally comprises several masks, one mask being able advantageously to be adapted to one or more types of pill dispensers. Each pill box can correspond to a given type of prescription.

In the example described, a single mask 13 and a single type of pill box 2 is illustrated.

This illustrated pillbox is made from a shaped plastic sheet, preferably thermoformed. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, it comprises cells 31 substantially parallelepipedic, open at the top. The cells are identical to each other and have a common height H31.

The cells 31 are arranged in seven rows R2 of four cells. Each of the seven rows can represent the catches of the same day, so that the pill box can represent the catches of a week. Each of the four cells of the same row R2 can represent a socket in a day, for example a first for a socket "in the morning", a second for a socket "at noon", a third for a socket "in the evening" and the fourth for a "bedtime" take.

Each cell 31 comprises several compartments 32 (here, 8 compartments, partially shown in Figure 3). Each compartment is designed to receive a pill, so that the pills are not arranged loosely in the corresponding cell, at least during filling. Thus, the progress of the filling of the pill box 2 is perfectly readable for the operator who performs it and/or for the camera.

The mask is formed in a rectangular plate, made of plastic material, of substantially constant thickness E13. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mask 13 forms a grid comprising twenty-eight windows 33 arranged in seven rows R13, each row comprising four windows 33. The windows pass through the thickness E13 of the mask. Each is provided to adjust a respective cell 31 of the pill dispenser 2 therein. The thickness E13 of the mask is at least equal to the height H13 of the cells.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the mask 13 is placed on the screen 12, so that it only covers part of it. Thus, in the configuration illustrated in Figure 3, that is to say when the mask is attached to the screen, the device 1 comprises a first screen part 35 masked and a second screen part 36 free. In the example, the free part 36 of the screen is to the right of the hidden part 35.

A filling method using the device 1 will now be described.

- We put the prescription in a digital form.

- The prescription is loaded, in its digital form, into the computer 14.

- The computer 14 displays on the hidden part 35 of the screen 12 codes, for example color codes, visible through the windows and the bottom of the housings 32.

- The computer displays in the free part a menu and/or instructions, in particular instructions relating to a prescribed pill, being distributed in the pill box.

- The camera controls the conformity of the filling with the prescription.

The prescription can be written directly in a form that can be used digitally by the prescriber, for example a doctor.

The prescription can be loaded into the computer by wired or wireless means, or using a USB key. It can also be loaded directly from the prescriber's computer.

Thus, when the pill box 2 is suitably placed in the mask 13, the screen displays under the desired compartment, a code specifying in which compartment the pill being distributed must be placed. For example, the whole of the masked part 35 can be black, except at the places under the compartments in which the pill being distributed must be arranged, places which can be displayed in white, for example.

The pillbox described corresponds to the “Monoplus™” type pillbox distributed by the company Medissimo®.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described. On the contrary, the invention is defined by the following claims.

It will indeed appear to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in the light of the teaching which has just been disclosed to them.

Thus, the device may not include a camera or a bracket, the operator being solely responsible for filling and controlling this filling.

A manual operator can be replaced by a robot, assisted by the camera, for filling the pill box.

A device according to the invention can be used with many types of pillboxes, in particular the Mono28™, Oneday™, Pluspac™, Medipac™ and Medipac-Box™ models distributed by the company Medissimo®.

Claims (8)

Device (1) for filling a pillbox (2) comprising several cells suitable for receiving pills corresponding to a prescription, characterized in that it comprises:
- a support (11);
- a screen (12), fixed to said support;
- a mask (13) intended to be removably fixed, at least indirectly, to said screen; And,
- a computer (14), preferably a nano-computer;
said computer being provided for displaying on the screen a light code indicating in which cell a given pill of said prescription should be placed. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a camera (16), arranged opposite the screen (12). Device according to one of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the mask has the shape of a plate and comprises windows (33), each window being arranged so that each window can correspond to a cell of the pill dispenser. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the screen comprises a first part (35) provided to be masked by the mask and a second free part (36), preferably provided for the display of a menu. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the screen is a touch screen. Method for filling a pill box (2) comprising several cells suitable for receiving pills corresponding to a prescription, using a device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- put said prescription in digital form;
- loading said prescription, in its digital form, into the computer (14);
- display according to the prescription, on a part (35) of the screen (12) masked by the mask (13), using the computer (14), codes visible through the windows (33 ). Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a step in which the computer displays, in the free part (36) of the screen (12), a menu and/or instructions, preferably relating to a prescribed pill. Method according to one of Claims 6 and 7, characterized in that it comprises a step of checking the conformity of the filling with the prescription, using the camera (16).