JP2004198332A - Drug feeder, and device for elution test - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow easy drug feeding work, and to allow simultaneous feeds of the same timing to a plurality of test containers. <P>SOLUTION: This drug feeder 10 used for feeding a drug into the test containers 4 filled with a test liquid is provided with drug filling parts 13 for filling the drug to be filled, the first holding table 11 for holding the plurality of drug filling parts 13, a switching mechanism comprising a pinion gear 17 and a rack gear 18 for switching the filling parts 13 held in the first holding table 11 between the first posture capable of filling the drug and the second posture capable of feeding the drug into the the test containers 4, and an operation part 14 for operating the switching mechanism. The plurality of drug filling parts 13 are switched from the first posture to the second posture at the same timing by operating the switching mechanism with the operation part 14. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a drug dispenser and a dissolution tester which are used for dispensing a drug into a test container containing a test solution and performing a dissolution test.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to confirm the efficacy and safety of drugs (pharmaceuticals), tests based on dissolution test methods are performed. In this method, a test solution (artificial gastric juice or the like) is charged into each of six test containers, a predetermined amount of a drug is charged, and the speed at which the drug dissolves is tested. That is, when the drug is absorbed into the body, it is necessary to dissolve it once in the digestive fluid in the digestive tract. At this time, the test is performed in order to physicochemically test the dissolution property of the drug. As a dissolution tester for performing such a dissolution test, a dissolution tester disclosed in the following non-patent document is known. This tester has six test containers arranged side by side, and is configured so that a medicine can be introduced from above.
[0003]
[Non-patent document 1]
Pharmaceutical equipment, "dissolution tester" [online] [searched November 1, 2002], Internet <URL: http://www.toyamas.co.jp/yakka/prd_101.html>
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The dissolution tester having the above configuration has the following problems. In other words, drugs to be added include granules and tablets, and these drugs are manually input by workers. However, the input operation of the powdery granules is particularly complicated. Originally, it is necessary to supply the medicines to the six test containers at (substantially) the same timing, so that the operator needs to quickly perform the supplying operation. However, in reality, it is difficult to quickly perform the charging operation, and in the case of granules, it is necessary to carefully perform the operation so as not to spill the granules around the test container. In addition, since it is inevitable to supply the medicines to the six test containers in order, there is a time lag between the start time and the end time of the test containers. In performing the dissolution test, there may be a case where the time lag of the charging time affects the measurement error.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a drug dispenser and a dissolution tester that can easily perform a drug dispensing operation and can be dispensed into a plurality of test containers at the same timing. That is.
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the drug input device according to the present invention,
A drug dispenser used to perform a dissolution test by introducing a drug into a test container containing a test solution,
A drug loading section for loading a drug to be charged,
A first holding table for holding a plurality of medicine loading units,
A switching mechanism for switching the medicine loading section held by the first holding table between a first posture in which the medicine can be loaded and a second posture in which the medicine can be charged into the test container;
An operation unit for operating the switching mechanism,
By operating the switching mechanism with the operation unit, a plurality of medicine loading units can be switched from the first posture to the second posture at the same timing.
[0005]
The medicine dispenser having this configuration includes a first holding table on which a plurality of medicine loading units are held. Each of the drug loading sections is filled with a drug such as a granule or a tablet. The medicine loading section can switch between a first posture in which the medicine can be loaded and a second posture in which the medicine can be charged into the test container. That is, by operating the switching mechanism, the postures of the plurality of medicine loading units are switched from the first posture to the second posture at the same timing. As a result, the drugs filled in the respective drug loading sections can be charged into the test container at the same timing. In addition, since the operation is performed by the operation unit, the operation of introducing the medicine is also simplified. As a result, it was possible to easily perform the medicine introduction operation, and to provide a medicine introduction device that can be introduced into a plurality of test containers at the same timing.
[0006]
As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a second holding table for holding the first holding table is provided so that the first holding table can relatively slide in a horizontal direction,
The first holding table is relatively slid by the operation of the operation unit, and the medicine loading unit is rotated while sliding in the same direction in conjunction with the first holding table, thereby switching the posture. Things are raised.
[0007]
In the first posture, it is preferable that the filling port of the medicine loading section faces upward from the viewpoint of easy introduction of the medicine. On the other hand, a test container is set below the medicine loading section. Therefore, the first holding table is slid by the operation of the operation unit. In conjunction with this, the medicine loading section also slides and rotates. Thereby, the medicine loading section can be smoothly switched from the first posture to the second posture. In this case, the first holding table may be slidable relative to the second holding table. That is, the first holding table may be moved while the second holding table is fixed, or the second holding table may be slid while the first holding table is fixed. Both the first and second holders may slide.
[0008]
As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the medicine loading section is configured to be rotatable around an axis provided on the first holding table, and a pinion gear is mounted on the axis, and There is one in which a rack gear that meshes with the pinion gear is provided on the holding table.
[0009]
By using the above-described pinion gear and rack gear as a switching mechanism for switching the posture of the medicine loading section, a switching mechanism with a simple configuration can be provided.
[0010]
As still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the medicine loading section is configured such that a medicine container for loading a medicine is detachably configured.
[0011]
If the medicine container is made detachable when the medicine loading section is filled with the medicine, the medicine filling operation becomes easier.
[0012]
As still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the medicine container is mounted on the medicine loading section via a rubber ring.
[0013]
The medicine container is usually made of glass, and can be safely attached without a problem such as breakage by being attached via a rubber ring. Further, the medicine container does not fall off even if the posture is changed.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the drug injector according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the dissolution tester 1.
[0015]
The apparatus main body 2 is provided with a container holding box 3 in which six test containers 4 are held. The test container 4 is filled with a test solution such as artificial gastric juice. Further, water is put in the container holding box 3, and a mechanism for warming the water to a temperature equal to the human body temperature is provided. Above the position where the test container 4 is set, a stirring rod 5 for stirring the test liquid is provided for each test container. Although not shown, a computer for analyzing the test contents is also provided.
[0016]
Above each test container 4, a drug injector 10 shown in FIG. 2 is detachably attached. The medicine injector 10 includes a first holding table 11 and a second holding table 12 extending in the longitudinal direction. The first holding table 11 holds six medicine loading units 13. The first holding base 11 is slidably mounted on the second holding base 12. An operation unit 14 for sliding the first holding table 11 in the longitudinal direction is provided. The operation unit 14 includes a first operation knob 14 a implanted on the first holding stand 11 and a second operation knob 14 b implanted on the second holding stand 12. Further, a long hole 11a is formed in the first holding base 11 so as to make the second operation knob 14b protrude.
[0017]
The medicine loading section 13 includes a beaker holder 15 for holding a beaker 16 (corresponding to a medicine container), and is rotatably supported by bearing members 16 provided on both sides in the width direction of the first holding table 11. . The beaker holder 15 is made of resin, and the shaft is also integrally formed. A pinion gear 17 is attached to this shaft. On the other hand, a rack gear 18 that meshes with the pinion gear 17 is attached to the second holding table 12. As described above, the pinion gear 17 and the rack gear 18 function as a switching mechanism that switches the posture of the medicine loading unit 13.
[0018]
A long hole 11b is formed below the medicine loading section 13 of the first holding table 11. A hole is also formed in the second holding table 12 at a position corresponding to the hole. This hole is a hole required for introducing a medicine. An upright wall portion 11c is formed at a part of the edge of the long hole 11b. The standing wall portion 11c prevents the granular medicine from being inadvertently scattered.
[0019]
FIG. 7 and the like show the internal configuration of the beaker holder 15. The glass beaker 20 is configured to be detachable from the beaker holder 15. This is for the convenience of filling the beaker 20 with the drug at another place. On the inner surface of the beaker holder 15, a concave groove 15a is formed in a ring shape, into which an O-ring 19 (corresponding to a rubber ring) is fitted. Thereby, the beaker 20 can be attached in a stable state.
[0020]
Further, in order to hold the first holding base 11 slidably with respect to the second holding base 12, the first holding base 11 is provided with a total of six guide holes 11 d. Is done. The guide pin 21 is connected to the second holding table 12 via a spacer. The guide pins 21 prevent the first holding table 11 from being detached from the second holding table 12.
[0021]
<Action>
Next, the operation of the medicine injector 10 will be described. First, each of the six beakers 20 is filled with a drug. Drugs are granules and tablets. The amount to be filled (the amount of granules, the number of tablets, and the like) is set according to the content of the test, and is not limited to a specific filling form. After the six beakers 20 are filled with the drug, the beakers 20 are set in the beaker holder 15. Thereafter, the drug injector 10 is set in the dissolution tester 1.
[0022]
Of course, the medicine may be filled while the beaker 20 is set in the beaker holder 15. In this case, the medicine loading section 13 is set in the posture shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 (corresponding to the first posture). The order in which the drug injector 10 is set in the dissolution tester 1 and the timing in which the beaker 20 is set in the beaker holder 15 can be appropriately changed so that the worker can easily work. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
[0023]
Then, the user operates the operation unit 14 to slide the first holding table 11 with respect to the second holding table 12. This operation process is shown in FIGS.
[0024]
FIG. 7 shows a state in which the medicine loading unit 13 is in the first posture, and before the operation is performed. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the operation of the medicine loading unit 13 is moving in the horizontal direction and the beaker 20 is slightly rotated clockwise in the middle of the operation. FIG. 9 shows that the state is further advanced. In FIG. 10, the mouth of the beaker 20 faces downward, and the medicine in the beaker 20 is put into the test container. That is, in FIG. 10, the medicine loading section is switched to the second posture. Since the beaker 20 is held by the O-ring 19 by frictional force, the beaker 20 does not drop from the beaker holder 15 carelessly. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the drug injector in the second posture, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the same.
[0025]
After the completion of the introduction of the medicine, the operation unit 14 is operated to return the medicine loading unit 13 to the first first posture. Then, the drug injector 10 is removed from the dissolution tester 1, and the stirring rod 5 is inserted into the test container and stirred. Thereafter, a predetermined dissolution test is performed.
[0026]
According to the medicine injector described above, the medicine can be introduced into the six test containers 4 at the same timing. In other words, there is almost no time lag between the introduction timings of the medicines for the six test containers 4. Therefore, the dissolution test can be executed accurately. In addition, even in the case of granules in which the drug is difficult to handle, the granules can be filled in the beaker 20 at another place, and the input operation is performed simply by operating the operation unit 14, thereby simplifying the operation. Also, the granules are not inadvertently scattered.
[0027]
<Another embodiment>
(1) In the present embodiment, an example in which there are six test containers has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. A number other than six may be set.
(2) In this embodiment, the operator manually operates the operation unit to move the switching mechanism, but other configurations are also conceivable. For example, the operation unit may be configured to perform only switch input, and the switching mechanism may be electrically driven by an actuator such as a motor. In the case of using an actuator, the beaker may be simply rotated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a dissolution tester. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a drug injector. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the configuration of a drug injector. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the medicine injector in the second posture. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the medicine injector in the second posture. FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of the medicine injector. FIG. FIG. 9 shows the operation of the drug injector. FIG. 9 shows the operation of the drug injector. FIG. 10 shows the operation of the drug injector.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 dissolution tester 4 test container 10 drug injector 11 first holder 12 second holder 13 drug loading unit 14 operation unit 14a first operation knob 14b second operation knob 15 beaker holder 17 pinion gear 18 rack gear 19 O-ring 20 beaker

Claims (6)

A drug dispenser used to perform a dissolution test by introducing a drug into a test container containing a test solution,
A drug loading section for loading a drug to be charged,
A first holding table for holding a plurality of medicine loading units,
A switching mechanism for switching the medicine loading section held by the first holding table between a first posture in which the medicine can be loaded and a second posture in which the medicine can be charged into the test container;
An operation unit for operating the switching mechanism,
A medicine dispenser characterized in that a plurality of medicine loading units can be switched from the first posture to the second posture at the same timing by operating a switching mechanism with the operation unit. A second holder that holds the first holder so that the first holder can slide relatively in the horizontal direction;
The first holding table is relatively slid by the operation of the operation unit, and the medicine loading unit is rotated while sliding in the same direction in conjunction with the first holding table, thereby switching the posture. The drug injector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The medicine loading section is configured to be rotatable around an axis provided on the first holding table, and a pinion gear is mounted on the axis, and a rack gear meshing with the pinion gear is provided on the second holding table. The drug injector according to claim 1, wherein the drug injector is provided. The medicine loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the medicine loading unit is configured such that a medicine container for loading a medicine is detachable. The medicine dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the medicine container is mounted on the medicine loading unit via a rubber ring. An elution tester provided with the drug injector according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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