JP2003235942A - Dosage management support device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support self-dosage management by a patient or a caregiver of the patient so as to prevent twice drinking or drinking failure. <P>SOLUTION: An electronic lock is mounted to a medicine vessel. The electronic lock comprises an electronic lock drive circuit 23 and a locking mechanism 24. An electronic control device including a CPU 11 and a RAM 13, on detecting a start timing of a dosage period, releases the electronic lock. The electronic control device, on detecting a closing signal from a medicine vessel sensor 15 and a closing signal from a medicine shell vessel sensor 16, stores the present time as a dosage recognizing time in the RAM 13, displays the dosage recognizing time T on a liquid crystal display 20, and then locks the electronic lock. Thus, the medicine vessel is kept in an open/close impossible state from the dosage recognizing time to a start time of the next dosage period. When the electronic lock lies in the locking state, operation of a recognizing switch 18 re-displays the dosage recognizing time T on the liquid crystal display 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medication management support apparatus for assisting a patient or his / her caregiver so that a prescription drug prescribed in a hospital or a pharmacy can be properly taken by a method designated by a prescription.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In today's society, which is undergoing rapid changes and aging is progressing rapidly, not only people who are undergoing medical treatment in hospitals or homes but also working normally while suffering from chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. The number of people is not small, and it is increasing year by year.
A person taking a prescription drug for chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes (hereinafter referred to as a patient) must continue to take the drug according to the method specified by the prescription. Therefore, patients should carefully and voluntarily manage to avoid inappropriate medication such as forgetting to drink or taking twice, but in reality, it seems that inappropriate medication is sometimes occurring. . Therefore, the anxiety associated with taking medication such as forgetting to take it and taking it twice is very great for the patient.

The conventional medication management support device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-6047 is an alarm-equipped medicine box configured by combining a digital clock and a medicine box. In other words, this medicine box with an alarm has a digital clock built in the front of the box containing the medicine, and when it is time to take the medicine, an alarm will sound, and the lid will be opened, the medicine taken out, and the lid closed. , It is a medicine container box that can display the next time to take the medicine digitally to prevent you from forgetting to take the medicine. Such an alarm-equipped medicine box is effective for inpatients whose medication time is fixed every day.

However, the alarm-equipped medicine box has various problems as follows. In other words, the alarm-equipped medicine box is completely useless for the designation of the medication time such as after each meal or between meals where the time cannot be specified. It is impossible to set the medication time such as after each meal or between meals, which cannot be specified, in the electronic timer. In addition, it is very difficult to use for patients taking several kinds of prescription drugs. It is annoying to the patient that the alarm is heard many times every day at a fixed time. Therefore, it is considered that it is not uncommon to stop the alarm unknowingly immediately after the alarm is generated. In that case, the patient may not take medicine even when the alarm is generated, as in the case where the alarm clock alarm may not wake up. Therefore, with the alarm-equipped medicine box, it is difficult to surely prevent forgetting to take the medicine.

As another conventional medication management support apparatus, there is a medication management apparatus as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-331080. This medication management device receives a medication notification signal transmitted from a computer such as a doctor or a pharmacy, and issues an alarm. When the patient presses the stop button, the alarm stops and a stop signal is sent to the computer. The computer stores the time when the stop signal is generated in the memory. However, since it is quite possible for the patient to press the stop button without taking the drug, it is not always possible to confirm that the patient has taken the drug from the time stored in the memory.

Since the medication management device is functionally an electronic alarm device with a transmitter / receiver, it has various problems similar to those of the alarm-equipped medicine box. In addition, there is an inconvenience that the medication management device must be always carried. Above all, it is undeniable that many patients are reluctant to manage their medications by others rather than by their own will. Therefore, the medication management device cannot be considered to be a practical medication management support device.

[0007]

First problem to be solved
The problem is to provide a medication management support device that assists a patient or his / her caregiver so that proper medication management can be voluntarily performed.

[0008] A second problem to be solved is to provide a medication management support device for preventing a patient from taking a so-called twice-dose, in which a patient takes a prescription medication a plurality of times within a medication prohibition time designated by a prescription. is there.

A third problem to be solved is to provide a medication administration support device which is easy for a patient or a caregiver to operate.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a medication management support device is constituted by a medicine box to which an electronic lock is attached and an electronic control device for controlling the electronic lock. The electronic lock is locked, and the electronic lock is automatically unlocked after the locked state is maintained for a predetermined time exceeding the medication prohibition time. The medication check time is the time at which it is confirmed that the patient has taken the prescription medicine from the medicine container of the medicine box and has taken it.

That is, a medication management support apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problems is a medicine box having a medicine case, an electronic lock attached to the medicine case, an electronic control device for controlling the electronic lock, and the medicine. It is composed of a medicine container opening / closing sensor for detecting opening / closing of the container. Then, the electronic control unit locks the electronic lock based on a closing signal from the medicine container opening / closing sensor and unlocks at a preset unlocking time. The unlocking time is the start time of the first medication time period after the electronic lock is locked, or the time when the elapsed time after the electronic lock is locked reaches the medication prohibition time. The medication confirmation time in this case is the time when the electronic control unit detects a closing signal from the medicine container opening / closing sensor.

A medication management support device for solving the above-mentioned problems is a medicine box having a medicine container and a medicine shell, an electronic lock attached to the medicine container, and an electronic control device for controlling the electronic lock. And a medicine container opening / closing sensor for detecting opening / closing of the medicine container, and a medicine container inserting / closing sensor for detecting opening / closing of the medicine container. Then, the electronic control unit locks the electronic lock based on a closing signal from the medicine container opening / closing sensor and a closing signal from the medicine shell container opening / closing sensor, and unlocks at a preset unlocking time. . The unlocking time is the start time of the first medication time period after the electronic lock is locked, or the time when the elapsed time after the electronic lock is locked reaches the medication prohibition time. The medication confirmation time in this case is the time at which the electronic control unit detects a closing signal from the medicine container opening / closing sensor or a closing signal from the medicine shell putting sensor.

Further, a medication management support apparatus for solving the above-mentioned problems is a medicine box provided with a medicine case, an electronic lock attached to the medicine case, an electronic control device for controlling the electronic lock, and a confirmation switch. It consists of and. And
The electronic control unit locks the electronic lock based on the medication confirmation signal from the confirmation switch, and unlocks at a preset unlocking time. The unlocking time is the start time of the first medication time period after the electronic lock is locked, or the time when the elapsed time after the electronic lock is locked reaches the medication prohibition time. The medication confirmation time in this case is the time when the confirmation switch is operated and the medication confirmation signal is input to the electronic control device.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A medication management support apparatus according to the present invention comprises a medicine box having a medicine case, an electronic lock attached to the medicine case, an electronic control device for controlling the electronic lock, and the medicine. It is composed of a medicine container opening / closing sensor for detecting opening / closing of the container. The medicine box provided with the medicine case includes a medicine case provided with only a medicine case and a medicine case provided with a medicine case and a shell case. There are a box type with a lid and a drawer type in the medicine case, and a box type with a lid and a drawer type in the medicine shell case. Therefore, the medicine box provided with the medicine case and the medicine case is classified into the following seven typical cases.

The first-type medicine box is a medicine box in which a medicine box with a lid and a medicine shell box with a lid are provided in the medicine box body, respectively. The second-type medicine box is a medicine box in which a medicine box with a lid and a medicine shell container drawer are provided in the medicine box body, respectively. The third type medicine box is a medicine box in which a medicine container drawer and a medicine shell container drawer are provided in the medicine container body, respectively. Fourth
The mold medicine box is a medicine box in which a medicine drawer and a shell case with a lid are provided in the medicine box body, respectively. The fifth-type medicine box is a medicine box in which a main body with a lid and a medicine shell with an inner lid are formed. The sixth-type medicine box is a medicine box in which a main body with a lid is provided with a medicine case, and a medicine shell case that can be put in and taken out of the medicine case is arranged. The 7th type medicine box is a medicine box in which a medicine drawer is provided in the medicine box main body, and a medicine shell case that can be put in and taken out of the medicine case is arranged. All of these seven types of medicine chests can be realized as stationary medicine chests, but some types of medicine chests can also be realized as portable medicine chests.

In the present specification, the drug shell is PTP.
It is a concept that includes packaging, vinyl packs, medicine wrapping paper, and wrapping paper.

The medication management support apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a medicine box having a medicine case and a medicine case, and a CPU 11 for performing various calculations and controls according to a program, ROM 12 in which the program and various message information and the like are stored, RAM 13 in which medication confirmation time and the like are stored, timing circuit 14 for timing the time, medicine container opening / closing sensor 15, medicine shell container opening / closing sensor 16, setting switches for time adjustment, etc. 17, a confirmation switch 18, a display drive circuit 19, a liquid crystal display 20, a music box drive circuit 21, a music box 22, an electronic lock drive circuit 23, and a lock mechanism 24.

The electronic lock for restricting the opening and closing of the medicine container is composed of an electronic lock drive circuit 23 and a lock mechanism 24. The electronic lock drive circuit 23 that drives the lock mechanism 24 such as a dead bolt is a drive circuit that includes an actuator such as a solenoid, an electromagnetic motor, or an ultrasonic motor. The electronic lock is attached to the medicine container so as to restrict the opening and closing of the lid in the case of a medicine container box with a lid, and to restrict the withdrawal of the drawer in the case of a medicine container drawer.

The electronic control unit for controlling the electronic lock is C
PU11, ROM12, RAM13, timing circuit 14, setting switch 17, confirmation switch 18, indicator drive circuit 1
9 and a liquid crystal display 20.

The medicine container opening / closing sensor 15 is provided with a medicine container opening signal S ₁₁ or a medicine container closing signal S when the user uses the medicine container.
₁₂ is generated and input to the CPU 11. The medicine container opening / closing sensor 15 is a lid opening / closing sensor in the case of a medicine container box with a lid,
In the case of a medicine drawer, it is a drawer extraction sensor. Also,
The medicine shell putting opening / closing sensor 16 generates a medicine shell putting open signal S ₂₁ or a medicine shell putting close signal S ₂₂ when the user uses the medicine shell, and inputs the signal into the CPU 11. Open / close sensor 1
6 is a lid opening / closing sensor in the case of a drug shell case with a lid,
In the case of the drug shell drawer, it is a drawer withdrawal sensor. These open / close sensors can be realized by mechanical switches such as micro switches, but can of course be used by other sensors such as magnetic sensors and optical sensors.

The ROM 12 stores a control program for the CPU 11 and the like. Further, the RAM 13 stores the start time and end time of the medication time zone, the medication prohibition time, the medication confirmation time, and the like. Generally, the prohibition time is 3 to 4 hours for prescription drugs designated to be taken after each meal and 6 to 7 hours for prescription drugs designated to be taken 3 times a day. The start time and end time of the medication time zone and the medication prohibition time are preset by the setting switch 17.

The start time and the end time of the medication time zone are stored in the RAM 13 in advance. For example, for prescription drugs designated to be taken after each meal, the post-breaking medication time zone from 6:00 am to 8:00 am, the post-lunch medication time zone from 12:00 am to 2:00 pm, and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm If a medication time zone such as the post-dinner medication time zone is set, 6:00 am, 12:00 am, and 7:00 pm are stored as the start time of the medication time zone, and 8:00 am, 2:00 pm, and 9:00 pm It is stored as the end time of the medication time zone. Regarding prescription drugs designated to be taken twice a day in the morning and evening, they are set as the post-breaking medication time zone from 6:00 am to 8:00 am and the post-dinner medication time zone from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. In addition, for prescription drugs specified to be taken between meals or on an empty stomach, 1 am
It is set as the morning medication time zone from 0:00 to 12:00, the afternoon medication time zone from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, and the before-sleep medication time zone from 10:00 pm to 12:00 pm.

The medication notification device comprises a music box drive circuit 21.
And not an electronic music box composed of the music box 22 and
It may be a mechanical music box or an indicator light such as a light emitting diode.

Next, the medication administration support device of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is applied to a medicine box equipped with a medicine case, and performs various calculations and controls according to a program.
U11, ROM 12 in which the program and various message information and the like are stored, RAM in which medication confirmation time and the like are stored
13, a timing circuit 14 for timing the time, a medicine container opening / closing sensor 15, a setting switch 17, a display drive circuit 18, a liquid crystal display 19, an electronic lock drive circuit 23, and a lock mechanism 2.
4 and.

The medication management support apparatus according to the second embodiment is different from the medication management support apparatus according to the first embodiment described above in that the medicine shell insert opening / closing sensor 16, the music box drive circuit 20, and the music box 21 are provided.
It is configured by removing the.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view (A) of an embodiment in which the medication administration support device of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 is applied to the second type medicine box, and is cut along line XX ′. It is sectional drawing (B).

That is, in FIG. 3, the second-type medicine box 1 in which a medicine box with a lid and a medicine shell drawer are provided in the medicine box main body, respectively,
Medicine box body 1a and medicine case box 2 formed in the medicine box body 1a
And a lid 1b attached to the medicine box body 1a by a hinge 1c,
It comprises a drug shell container drawer 3 housed in a drawer container provided at the bottom of the medicine box body 1a. 3a is a knob of the drug shell drawer 3.

The electronic control unit 4 is arranged inside the medicine container 2. A medicine container opening / closing sensor 15 is attached to the upper surface of the electronic control unit 4. A liquid crystal display 20 is attached to the front of the medicine container 2. An electronic lock 5 that controls the opening and closing of the medicine container is installed in front of the medicine container 2. The medicine shell container sensor 16 is installed in the interior of the drawer storage portion provided in the lower portion of the medicine box body 1a.

Hereinafter, the medication management support operation by the medication management support apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the medication management support device shown in the block circuit diagram of FIG. In FIG. 4, the CPU 11 monitors whether or not the current time measured by the time counting circuit has reached the start time of the medication time zone stored in the RAM 13 (101). When the CPU 11 determines that the current time has reached the start time of the medication time zone, the electronic lock drive circuit 2
3 is controlled to drive the lock mechanism 24 to unlock the electronic lock (102).

In this way, the electronic lock is automatically unlocked at the start time of the medication time zone, and the medicine container to which the electronic lock is attached becomes available. That is, in the case of the medicine container with the lid, the lid is opened, and in the case of the medicine container drawer, the drawer can be pulled out.

In this unlocked state, the CPU 11 waits for the input of the medicine-fill opening signal S ₁₁ (103). CPU11 when it detects the Kusurikara insertion opening signal _{S 11,} to start playing the music box 22 (104), waits for input of drug shell insertion opening signal _{S 22} with waits for input of drug insertion close signal _{S 12} (105) ( 106). When the CPU 11 detects the two signals of the medicine close signal S ₁₂ and the medicine shell close signal S ₂₂ , the music box 22 stops playing (107), and the current time measured by the timing circuit 14 is set as the medication confirmation time. RAM1 as T
3 (108). Subsequently, the CPU 11 is RA
The medication confirmation time T is read from M13, the display drive circuit 18 is controlled to display the medication confirmation time T on the liquid crystal display 19 (109), and the CPU 11 causes the electronic lock drive circuit 23 to operate.
Is controlled to drive the lock mechanism 24 to lock the electronic lock (110).

As described above, when the medication is completed, the electronic lock is automatically locked, and the medicine container to which the electronic lock is attached cannot be opened or closed. That is, in the case of a medicine container with a lid, the lid cannot be opened, and in the case of a medicine container drawer, the drawer cannot be pulled out. In this case, the locking action of the patient or his / her caregiver is one of the medication-related actions of closing the lid of the drug container, so the locking operation is simple and reliable.

If NO at step 103, C
The PU 11 checks whether or not the current time has reached the end time of the medication time zone (111), and if YES, the CPU 11 locks the electronic lock (110).

As described above, when the medication is not performed, the electronic lock is automatically locked after a predetermined time elapses, and the medicine container to which the electronic lock is attached cannot be opened or closed.

For example, when the post-breaking medication time zone is set to be 6 am to 8 am, the electronic lock is automatically unlocked at 6 am. When the patient takes the prescription medicine by 8 am, the electronic lock is automatically locked immediately after the medicine administration, for example, at 7:23. If the patient does not open the drug compartment by 8am, the electronic lock is automatically locked at 8am.

After step 110, the process returns to step 101, and the medication management support apparatus according to the present invention holds the locked state of the electronic lock until the start time of the next medication time zone is reached.

In the medication management support device equipped with the electronic music box which operates as shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 13 stores the medication confirmation time in two signals: the medicine close signal S ₁₂ and the medicine shell close signal S _{2 2.} Is executed by the CPU 11 detecting all.

The fact that the medication confirmation time is memorized taking into consideration not only the opening and closing of the medicine shell but also the opening and closing of the medicine shell is extremely rare, but it is very rare that the patient forgets to take the medicine. Because it is happening in Japan. So to speak, they are doing a double check. Moreover, checking the type and number of the drug shells remaining in the drug container helps prevent forgetting to take the drug. This is because the drug shell is evidence of medication.

Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the medication administration support device shown in the block circuit diagram of FIG. In FIG. 5, the CPU 11 monitors whether the elapsed time t after being locked exceeds the medication prohibition time t ₀ (201). When the CPU 11 determines that the elapsed time t after being locked exceeds the medication prohibition time t ₀ , the CPU 11 unlocks the electronic lock (202). The elapsed time t after being locked is, for example, CP according to the program.
U11 is calculated by comparing the latest medication confirmation time T stored in the RAM 13 with the current time measured by the timing circuit 14.

As described above, the elapsed time t after the lock
When the medication prohibition time t ₀ is exceeded, the electronic lock is automatically unlocked, and the medicine container to which the electronic lock is attached can be opened and closed. That is, in the case of the medicine container with a lid, the lid can be opened, and in the case of the medicine container drawer, the drawer can be pulled out.

In this unlocked state, the CPU 11 waits for the input of the medicine-fill open signal S ₁₁ (203). CPU11 when it detects the Kusurikara insertion opening signal _{S 11,} waits for input of the medicine put close signal _{S 12} (204). The CPU 11 indicates the medicine close signal S ₁₂
When the time is detected, the current time measured by the time counting circuit 14 is stored in the RAM 13 as the medication confirmation time T (20
5). Subsequently, the CPU 11 reads the medication confirmation time T from the RAM 13, controls the display drive circuit 18 to display the medication confirmation time T on the liquid crystal display 19 (206), and locks the electronic lock (207).

In this way, when the medication is completed, the electronic lock is automatically locked, and the medicine container to which the electronic lock is attached cannot be opened or closed. That is, in the case of a medicine container with a lid, the lid cannot be opened, and in the case of a medicine container drawer, the drawer cannot be pulled out. In this case, the locking action of the patient or his / her caregiver is one of the medication-related actions of closing the lid of the drug container, so the locking operation is simple and reliable.

If NO in step 203, C
The PU 11 checks whether or not the current time has reached the end time of the medication time zone (208), and if YES, the CPU 11 locks the electronic lock (207).

As described above, when the medication is not performed, the electronic lock is automatically locked after a predetermined time elapses, and the medicine container to which the electronic lock is attached cannot be opened and closed.

For example, in the case of a prescription drug in which the medication time zone after lunch is set to 12:00 am to 2:00 pm and the medication prohibition time is specified to be 4 hours, it was locked at 7:23. The electronic lock will be automatically unlocked at 11:23, four hours later. When the patient takes the medicine by 2:00 pm, the electronic lock is automatically locked immediately after taking the medicine, for example, at 12:32. If the patient does not take out the prescription medicine from the medicine container by 2:00 pm, the electronic lock is automatically locked at 2:00 pm which is the end time of the post-lunch medication time zone.

After step 207, the procedure returns to step 201, and the medication administration support device according to the present invention holds the locked state of the electronic lock until the elapsed time t after locking exceeds the medication prohibition time t ₀ .

[0048] In the medication management support apparatus for performing such operation of FIG. 5, the storage of the medication check time to RAM 13, the medicine put close signal _{S 12} is CPU11 is performed by detecting.

As is apparent from the above description, the medication management support device according to the present invention locks the electronic lock attached to the medicine container at the medication confirmation time, and the solution after a predetermined time that exceeds the medication prohibition time has elapsed. It automatically unlocks at the time of lock, which functions so that the medicine container cannot be opened or closed except during the medication time.

The medication confirmation time is the time when the patient or his / her caregiver confirms that the prescription drug has been taken out of the medicine container of the medicine box and taken.

As a specific example, the medication confirmation time is the time at which a medication close signal is generated in a medication management support device equipped with a medication open / close sensor. In the provided medication management support device, it is the time when the medicine shell closing signal is generated after the medicine shell closing signal is generated, or the time when the medicine shell closing signal is generated after the medicine shell closing signal is generated.

In the medication management support device in which the above-mentioned medication confirmation time is specified based on the signals of the medication container opening / closing sensor and the medication shell sensor, the prescription medicine is taken out from the medication box equipped with the medication shell and the medication shell and taken. The electronic lock is automatically locked without adding any troublesome action to the patient's inevitable series of basic medication-related actions. Therefore, since the locking action of the patient or his / her caregiver is performed as a medication related action, it is simple and reliable.

The medication confirmation time may be the time when the electronic control unit detects a medication confirmation signal input by the patient or his / her caregiver operating the confirmation switch 18. For example, step 106 in the flowchart of FIG.
If the step is to determine whether or not the medication confirmation signal is input, not whether or not the medicine shell closing signal is input, the medication confirmation time is the time when the medication confirmation signal is input.

Alternatively, it is also possible to construct a medication management support device for detecting a medication-related action of confirming medication only by a confirmation switch without providing a drug-fill opening / closing sensor or a drug-shell loading / unloading sensor for detecting a medication-related action. is there. Also in this medication management support device, in addition to the electronic lock being locked at the medication confirmation time, the medication confirmation time is stored, the medication confirmation time is displayed, and the medication confirmation time is displayed again. Of course,
Also in this medication management support device, the locked state is held until the preset unlocking time.

In the medication management support device in which the medication confirmation time is specified based on the signal of the confirmation switch, an inevitable series of patients who take a prescription medicine from a medicine box equipped with a medicine holder and a shell holder. The electronic lock is automatically locked in addition to the basic medication-related actions described in (1) and (4) above, in addition to the action for confirming the medication performed by operating the confirmation switch. This medication confirmation act is also one of the medication-related acts. Therefore, since the locking action of the patient or his / her caregiver is performed as a medication related action, it is simple and reliable. Moreover, it is recognized that operating the confirmation switch is useful for remembering the fact that the patient or his / her caregiver has taken the medication.

The unlocking time is the time when a predetermined time has elapsed from the time when the electronic lock was locked. Specifically, the unlocking time is the time when the elapsed time from the time when the electronic lock is locked reaches the medication prohibition time, or the start time of the medication time zone that first arrives from the time when the electronic lock is locked. is there.

In the medication administration support device according to the present invention, when the confirmation switch is operated while the electronic lock is locked, the latest medication confirmation time stored in the ROM 13 of the electronic control unit is re-displayed on the liquid crystal display device. Is displayed.
Therefore, the patient or his / her caregiver can easily know the latest medication confirmation time and its history, and can eliminate the anxiety about medication.

Then, the medication notification device such as an electronic music box is started by the signal of the sensor detecting the first medication-related action of the patient and stopped by the signal of the sensor detecting the last medication-related action. Electronic music boxes and mechanical music boxes have the effect of providing comfort to the person taking the medicine.

Therefore, the medication management support apparatus according to the present invention basically does not require any action other than the inevitable medication-related actions to the patient or his / her caregiver, and is therefore a fun and easy-to-use medication management support apparatus. is there. The inevitable medication-related act is opening and closing of the lid in the case of the medicine container box with lid and the medicine shell container box with lid, and the drawer withdrawal and withdrawal in the case of the drug container drawer and the drug shell container drawer. This is a medication confirmation act that uses the five senses to confirm that medication has been taken.

The medication prohibition time and the medication time zone are specified by the type of prescription drug. However, if some standard times are set in the RAM in advance, the actual medication management support apparatus Then, the patient or his caregiver does not need to change the set time. Alternatively, by applying the present invention to a medicine box equipped with a plurality of medicine containers each having an electronic lock, it is possible to configure a medicine administration support device capable of simultaneously managing a plurality of prescription medicines having different medication time zones. . For example,
It is a medicine box with a plurality of medicine boxes such as after-meal medicine case, morning and evening medicine case, inter-meal medicine case, before bedtime medicine case, each medicine case with an electronic lock attached, A medication management support apparatus to which the present invention is applied can be configured. According to this medication administration support device, it is possible to prevent accidental accidental ingestion caused by taking the wrong type of medication.

In the medication management support apparatus according to the present invention, when it becomes necessary to take medication at a time other than the preset medication time zone, for example, the set end time of the post-dinner medication time zone, until 9 pm When dinner is not possible, an emergency unlock signal is generated by operating the setting switch 17 and inputting a personal identification number. The electronic control unit unlocks the electronic lock when the emergency unlock signal is detected.

[0062]

According to the present invention, a medication management support device is provided in which the medication compartment is automatically locked at the medication confirmation time and the locked state of the medication compartment is maintained until the medication prohibition time or the start time of the next medication time zone. Was done. In the medication management support device,
Since the locking of the medicine container is performed as a medicine-related act of the patient or his / her caregiver, the operation is simple and reliable. Also,
According to the present invention, the patient or his / her caregiver can easily know the latest medication confirmation time and history.

Therefore, a patient or his / her caregiver who uses the medication management apparatus according to the present invention can easily administer the medication for the purpose of preventing the user from taking the prescription medicine twice, taking the medicine more than the number of times per day, and forgetting to take the medicine. And now I can do it reliably. Moreover,
In a household using the medication management support apparatus according to the present invention, it has become possible to prevent accidental ingestion accidents when an infant takes a prescription drug by mistake for food.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a medication management support device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a medication management support device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view (A) of one example in which the medication administration support device of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 is applied to a medicine box including a medicine case and a shell case drawer; It is sectional drawing (B) cut by '.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the medication administration support device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the medication administration support device according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 medicine box 1a Medicine box body 1b lid 1c hinge 2 medicine containers 3 shells 3a knob 4 Electronic control unit 5 Electronic lock 11 CPU 12 ROM 13 RAM 14 Clock circuit 15 Medicine container opening / closing sensor 16 Drug shell opening / closing sensor 17 Setting switch 18 Confirmation switch 19 Display drive circuit 20 liquid crystal display 21 Music Box Drive Circuit 22 Music Box 23 Electronic lock drive circuit 24 Lock mechanism

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A medicine box provided with a medicine case, a medicine case opening / closing sensor for detecting opening / closing of the medicine case, an electronic lock attached to the medicine case, and a closing signal of the medicine case opening / closing sensor. A medication management support device comprising: an electronic control device that locks the electronic lock and unlocks the electronic lock at a preset unlocking time. 2. A medicine box provided with a medicine case and a medicine case, a medicine case opening / closing sensor for detecting opening / closing of the medicine case, a medicine case inserting / closing sensor for detecting opening / closing of the medicine case, and the medicine. An electronic lock attached to the container, the electronic lock is locked based on a closing signal of the medicine container sensor and a closing signal of the medicine shell container opening / closing sensor, and the electronic lock is unlocked at a preset unlocking time. A medication management support device comprising an electronic control device for locking. 3. A medicine box provided with a medicine case, a confirmation switch, an electronic lock attached to the medicine case, and the electronic lock locked and preset when the confirmation switch is operated. A medication management support device comprising an electronic control device that unlocks the electronic lock at a lock time. 4. The medication management support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking time is a time at which the elapsed time after the electronic lock is locked reaches a medication prohibition time. 5. The medication management support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the unlocking time is a start time of a medication time zone.