JP2007181724A - Nebulizer, and dosage detection method for nebulizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nebulizer system capable of providing an effective and optimum service to a home-care patient. <P>SOLUTION: The nebulizer 1 includes a peak flow meter to measure the respiratory function of the patient, and the nebulizer being an inhalation device of a medical solution. The patient inhales in through a blow-in part 18 of the peak flow meter to measure the respiratory function and inhales the medical solution in a medical solution bottle 14 inserted into the insertion port 13 of the medical solution bottle through a nebulizer inhalation port 16. The open air is simultaneously measured by a temperature sensor 19 and a humidity sensor 20. These measurement data and inhalation record data are transmitted to a server from an outside connection part and health sites of the patient based on the data are opened on a network. The patient can receive suitable instruction from a doctor on the network and also receive the supply of the medical solution from a service pharmacy at an appropriate timing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a nebulizer and a method for detecting a dosage in a nebulizer, and more particularly to a nebulizer capable of grasping the type and amount of a drug set in the nebulizer and a method for detecting a dosage in the nebulizer.

  In the diagnosis and treatment of respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma and chronic bronchitis, respiratory function tests such as respirometers (called spirometers) are conducted and treatments such as drug administration are performed. Is common. For the examination of the respiratory function, a spirometer or a peak flow meter capable of performing a simpler examination is used. In addition, a method called aerosol inhalation therapy in which a drug is atomized into fine fine particles and administered directly from the nasal cavity or oral cavity to the bronchi in the lung has become widespread, and a nebulizer (inhaler) used in the method has been widely used. ) Is increasingly used.

  On the other hand, in recent years, self-management of health condition called self-medication and home medical care have been advocated, and it has become necessary to perform self-management such as taking medication by measuring own symptoms. . The above-described nebulizer tends to be used as a tool for enabling such self-management. In addition, network functions such as the Internet connecting patients performing home treatment and medical institutions have been expanded, and information transmitted between patients and doctors has increased, and home medical care is in the direction of expansion.

  As part of such home care, a homepage in the form of a diary that allows parents with pediatric asthma patients to enter and send treatment records and various data of pediatric patients as a part of home networking. Is established on the Internet. This is data that has been created by a doctor in charge by inputting the contents of a diary brought by a patient into a computer. By constructing such a system, the conventional input work by the doctor in charge, the work for the patient to record treatment records and various data in the diary, and the work for bringing the diary to the doctor are greatly reduced. It is used in various ways such as medical treatment guidance and information support, electronic database of patient data, telemedicine. In this way, various efforts to support home medical care where treatment is performed at home have been made, and home medical care is in the direction of further expansion.

  However, the conventional spirometer is an appropriate testing device for determining a treatment policy for a so-called respiratory disease, but it is expensive to perform such home medical care, and its spread is hindered. There is. In addition, systems that can be connected to a computer and perform examination data storage and retrieval functions are also commercially available, but are systems that are built for specialized institutions such as medical institutions and are used for home care. There is a problem that is difficult to use.

  A conventional peak flow meter can be easily used by a patient who is performing treatment at home and can obtain data necessary for treatment by measurement by the patient himself, but is not provided with a data storage function. However, there is a problem that the measured value must be recorded every time the measurement is performed. Furthermore, there is a problem that a communication means for transmitting the obtained measurement value to a medical institution is not provided, and it cannot be said that it is necessarily suitable for home medical care.

  Furthermore, conventional nebulizers are widely marketed and widely used for home use for home treatment, but it is difficult for doctors to grasp the specific treatment status of patients. When changes occur in symptoms, there is a problem that it is difficult to give detailed prescriptions and instructions. Such a problem is a problem that appears prominently, for example, when the patient performing home treatment is a childhood asthma patient. Specifically, in such a case, obtain more detailed information such as the treatment status such as the actual daily inhalation time and inhalation dose, the physical condition of the patient, the environmental factors such as humidity temperature and atmospheric pressure. Furthermore, more detailed measures are required. In such a case, when the conventional nebulizer is used in home treatment, it is difficult to obtain the above-mentioned data one by one, and it may be difficult to make a more accurate judgment.

  Note that the above-mentioned environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure are factors that affect the symptoms of respiratory diseases, and the recording thereof is indispensable. Therefore, when a conventional nebulizer is used for home medical care, there is a problem that the patient must read and record the values of a thermometer, a hygrometer, or a barometer.

  Moreover, since the conventional nebulizer does not have a communication function, it is difficult for a doctor to obtain real-time information when used for home medical care. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to immediately recognize even if the type and amount of the administered drug are wrong. Moreover, since the conventional nebulizer is not provided with a storage means, it is difficult for a doctor to obtain daily continuous data such as measurement data. For this reason, it may be difficult to realize a meticulous and efficient treatment.

  In conventional home medical care, nebulizers are purchased and used by patients. However, the effectiveness of drug administration treatment with a nebulizer is often judged when continuing treatment, and if the purchased nebulizer is judged to be inappropriate for the patient, it may be wasted. There is a problem.

  Furthermore, the respiratory function test results using a peak flow meter, etc., and the type and amount of drugs to be administered with the nebulizer, the number of doses, etc. should be closely related. The meter and nebulizer are separate devices and are often used at different times. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult for a doctor to grasp the actual treatment situation efficiently, and it is very difficult to promptly instruct a large number of patients.

  Furthermore, when performing home medical care using the above-mentioned homepage, it is essential to accurately input data such as measurement results into a device having a communication function such as a computer. There are various problems such as requiring

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a nebulizer capable of providing an efficient and optimal service to a patient performing home medical care, and a drug amount detection method in the nebulizer. .

  In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, the nebulizer includes a treatment means for converting a medicine into mist-like particles and spraying, and a fixing means for setting a container enclosing the medicine in the nebulizer. The fixing means includes detection means for detecting the amount of the medicine enclosed in the container fixed to the fixing means using optical means.

  Preferably, the container has light permeability, and the detection means includes a light emitting unit disposed along a direction in which the container is fixed by the fixing unit, and a light receiving unit and a pair of light receiving units sandwiching the container. The height from the lower part of the container fixed to the medicine fixing means is detected as the amount of the medicine.

  Preferably, the nebulizer includes an instruction unit for instructing processing by the detection unit, and a display processing unit for performing processing for causing the display device to display the detected amount of drug when the amount of the drug is detected by the detection unit. Is further provided.

  More preferably, the display processing means performs processing for displaying the fact on the display device when the amount of the medicine is not detected by the detection means.

  Preferably, the nebulizer further includes a calculation unit that calculates the dose of the drug in the treatment unit based on the amount of the drug detected by the detection unit.

  More preferably, the nebulizer further includes storage means for storing the dose of the medicine calculated by the calculation means.

  Further preferably, the nebulizer further includes a transmission unit that transmits the dose of the medicine calculated by the calculation unit to another device together with the identification information of the nebulizer.

  Preferably, drug information is encoded and attached to the container, and the fixing means includes information on the drug attached to the container fixed to the fixing means, optical means and magnetic means. And discriminating means for reading and discriminating using at least one means.

  Preferably, the medicine information is a bar code, and the discriminating means includes a bar code reader including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit.

  Preferably, the nebulizer includes an instruction unit for instructing processing by the determination unit, and a display processing unit for performing processing for causing the display device to display the determined drug information when the determination unit determines drug information. Is further provided.

  More preferably, the display processing means performs processing for displaying the fact on the display device when the information on the medicine is not discriminated by the discriminating means.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the nebulizer includes a treatment means for converting the medicine into mist-like particles and spraying, and a fixing means for setting a container enclosing the medicine in the nebulizer, and the medicine in the nebulizer The amount detection method includes a step of detecting the amount of the medicine enclosed in the container fixed to the fixing means by using an optical means.

  Preferably, the dose detection method in the nebulizer further includes a step of performing a process for displaying the detection result.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one configuration of a specific example of the nebulizer system in the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a nebulizer system is provided in each patient home via a network, a nebulizer 1 in a patient's home, etc., a computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 3 connected to the nebulizer 1 and transmitting / receiving data. A server (hereinafter referred to as a health server) 5 for a health site (homepage) that is centrally connected to the PC 3 and a computer (such as a health server) installed in a hospital or the like that allows doctors to browse the data on the health server and give necessary instructions. (Hereinafter referred to as a doctor PC) 7 and a computer (hereinafter referred to as a vendor PC) 9 owned by a related service provider such as a pharmacy connected to the health server 5 via a network.

  In such a system, a user who is a patient receives a loan of the nebulizer 1 from a related service provider by performing a predetermined process. The lending process will be described later.

  The user performs home treatment using the nebulizer 1 that has received the loan. Data treated using the nebulizer 1 is accumulated in the health server 5 via the network. A doctor or the like uses the doctor PC 7 to browse the user's treatment data stored in the health server 5 on the health site. Then, a doctor or the like may give the user necessary instructions or the like on the health site as appropriate, or may give the user instructions or the like by e-mail. Furthermore, a doctor or the like writes a drug to be administered to a patient on a health site, and a pharmacy that is a related service provider browses the information on the health site, thereby delivering the drug to the patient. In addition, the related service provider uses the health server 5 to perform processing such as settlement of expenses related to the lending of the nebulizer 1. Processing related to the lending of the nebulizer 1 will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a specific example of the appearance of the nebulizer 1 shown in FIG. The nebulizer in the present invention shown in FIG. 2 is characterized by having both a peak flow meter unit for examining a user's lung ventilation function and a nebulizer unit for inhaling a medicine. The peak flow meter and the nebulizer will be described later in the description of the nebulizer 1.

  Referring to FIG. 2, nebulizer 1 includes a power switch 11 for supplying power taken from a power source and function keys 12 for performing various processes.

  Further, the nebulizer 1 includes a drug solution bottle insertion port 13 for inserting a drug solution bottle 14 containing an inhaled drug, an inhalation timer 15, and a nebulizer intake port 16 for administering the drug to the patient in the form of a mist. By applying the nebulizer intake port 16 to the patient's mouth or nose, the medicine atomized into fine particles is administered directly from the nasal cavity or oral cavity to the bronchus in the lung for the time set by the inhalation timer 15.

  Further, in the nebulizer 1, a peak flow meter blowing unit 18 is provided in the blowing unit stand 17. The peak flow meter blowing unit 18 is a so-called mouthpiece having a cylindrical shape, and detects the state of the lung ventilation function when a user who is a patient blows.

  The nebulizer 1 includes a temperature sensor 19 and a humidity sensor 20, and can automatically record the temperature and humidity when the nebulizer 1 is used. Further, the ambient temperature and humidity may be automatically recorded at predetermined intervals when the nebulizer 1 is not used.

  Further, the nebulizer 1 may incorporate a barometric pressure sensor (not shown) and automatically record the atmospheric pressure when the nebulizer 1 is used or when the nebulizer 1 is not used.

  Further, the nebulizer 1 includes a display panel 21 made of a liquid crystal panel or the like, and displays various information and measurement results.

  In the nebulizer 1, measurement results and treatment results are stored in a built-in storage unit and transmitted from an external connection unit such as an interface to the health server 5 via the network, but may be recorded on a removable IC card 22. Good. The IC card 22 may be an IC card dedicated to a nebulizer, or may be an IC card that stores and manages information related to health and health as a so-called health and health IC card. In the latter case, the IC card 22 records not only the measurement results and treatment results in the nebulizer 1 but also other information such as the user's medical history, treatment history, health insurance card number, etc. It may be used.

Next, FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the nebulizer 1.
Referring to FIG. 3, nebulizer 1 includes a power supply unit 108 that supplies power to nebulizer 1, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like, and includes a control unit 101 that performs overall control of nebulizer 1, a display The display unit 102 including the panel 21 and the like, the operation input unit 103 including the function keys 12 and the like, the program executed by the control unit 101, various measurement results, and the like are stored, and the program is executed by the control unit 101 A memory unit 104 that also serves as a work area when performing the operation, a timer 105 including a blowing timer 15 and the like, a card R / W (Read / Write) unit 106 that reads and writes information from and to the IC card 22, And an external I / F (interface) unit 107 for connecting to the PC 3 or the like.

  Furthermore, a chemical solution bottle insertion port 109 comprising a chemical determination unit 1091 and a chemical amount detection unit 1092, a peak flow meter unit 110 comprising a blowing unit 1102 including a rotary blade tachometer unit 1103 and a flow rate detection unit 1101, and a temperature sensor 19, an outside air sensor unit 111 including a humidity sensor 20 and a pressure sensor (not shown) and the like, and a nebulizer unit 112 including an atomization unit 1121 and a blowing port unit 1122.

  The atomizing unit 1121 of the nebulizer unit 112 processes the medicine filled with the chemical bottle 14 inserted into the chemical bottle insertion port 109 into a mist using ultrasonic waves. The details of the process in the atomization unit 1121 will not be described here. The medicine processed in the form of mist by the atomizing unit 1121 is sprayed from the air blowing port 1122.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a specific example of the medicine bottle insertion opening 109.
First, referring to FIG. 4A, a display label that describes information such as the name of a medicine and a barcode that records the above information are attached to the chemical bottle 14.

  Next, FIG. 4 (b) is a diagram showing the chemical solution discriminating unit 1091 of the drug bottle insertion port 109. With reference to FIG.4 (b), the chemical | medical solution discrimination | determination part 1091 is affixed on the above-mentioned chemical | medical solution bottle 14 by providing the barcode reader which consists of LED (Light Emitting Diode; light emitting diode) and a light receiving line sensor. Information such as the name of the medicine is optically read from the bar code and discriminated. Note that the determination method of the chemical solution in the chemical determination unit 1091 is not limited to the optical reading determination method, and may be a magnetic reading determination method. Other determination methods may be used.

  Further, FIG. 4 (c) is a view showing the dose detection unit 1092 of the drug bottle insertion port 109. With reference to FIG.4 (c), the dosage detection part 1092 is equipped with the predetermined number of light emitting elements and light receiving elements in the column. When the light emitted from the light-emitting element passes through the chemical part and the part other than the chemical part (the part that has been emptied), the amount of transmission differs from the refractive index. When the light receiving element provided opposite to the light emitting element receives the different transmitted light, the position where the chemical solution exists is determined, and the amount of the chemical solution in the chemical solution bottle 14 is detected. Note that the method of detecting the chemical amount in the drug amount detection unit 1092 is not limited to the above-described optical detection method, and may be other detection methods.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the peak flow meter unit 110. The peak flow meter unit 110 measures a PEF (Peak Expiratoty Flow) value, which is the maximum flow rate (liter / min) of breath that exits from the lungs after taking a deep breath. The width of the airway of the user who is a patient can be grasped by the PEF value. Specifically, it is considered that the airway is wide when the PEF value is larger than a predetermined threshold value, and the airway is narrow when the PEF value is small. Thus, the PEF value is a measurement value that plays an important role in grasping the user's lung ventilation function.

  It is desirable that the user grasps the state of the lung ventilation function in the peak flow meter unit 110 before inhaling the drug using the nebulizer 1. Also, from the viewpoint of self-medication, it is desirable to periodically measure the lung ventilation function in the peak flow meter unit 110 in order to grasp his / her health condition from the normal.

  With reference to FIG. 5, the blowing part 1102 of the peak flow meter part 110 comprised from the peak flow meter blowing part 18 equips the inside with the rotary blade tachometer. The rotary vane tachometer unit 1103 composed of the rotary vane tachometer described above sends the value of the rotary vane tachometer that rotates according to the discharge output of the user's blown air blown from the peak flow meter blowing unit 18 to the flow rate detection unit 1101. send. The flow rate detection unit 1101 includes a rotation amount amplification unit, an A / D conversion unit, and an arithmetic circuit unit, and converts the value sent from the rotary blade tachometer unit 1103 into a PEF value, thereby pulmonary ventilation of the user. Measure function. In addition, the measuring method of the discharge flow rate of the user's blowing air in the peak flow meter unit 110 is not limited to the above-described measuring method, and may be a measuring method using a pressure sensor, a strain gauge, or the like.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the PC 3 shown in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 6, PC 3 includes a CPU and the like, and includes a control unit 301 that performs overall control of PC 3, a display and the like, a display unit 302 that displays various information, a keyboard, and the like. An operation input unit 303 for inputting various operations and instructions, a program executed by the control unit 301, a memory unit 304 serving as a work area when the program is executed by the control unit 301, and a nebulizer 1 and a nebulizer I / F unit 305 for exchanging various types of information and a network I / F unit 306 for exchanging various types of information with the health server 5 and the like.

  Note that the configuration of the PC 3 shown in FIG. 6 is a general computer configuration, and is not limited to the illustrated configuration. In FIG. 1, the PC 3 is included in the nebulizer system and is a personal computer connected to the nebulizer 1 to transmit and receive data. However, the PC 3 is not limited to the computer, and has the same function. It may be a mobile communication terminal such as a mobile phone equipped with.

Next, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the health server 5 shown in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 7, health server 5 includes a CPU and the like, and includes a control unit 501 that performs overall control of health server 5, and an external I / F unit that is connected to a network and exchanges various information with PC 3 and the like. 506 and data obtained from the nebulizer 1 via the external I / F unit 506, a program executed by the control unit 501, and the like, and also serves as a work area when the program is executed by the control unit 501. Based on data stored in the memory unit 505, a memory unit 505, a homepage creating unit 502 that creates and updates a health site that is disclosed on the network, and an authentication unit that authenticates a user who accesses the health server 5 503, a registration unit 504 for registering a user who can access the health server 5, and the nebulizer system, And a lending processing unit 507 for performing processing relating to lending the organizer 1.

  The configuration of the health server 5 shown in FIG. 7 is a general server configuration and can be constructed using a personal computer or the like. Further, the configuration of the health server 5 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG.

Next, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the doctor PC 7 shown in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 8, doctor PC 7 includes a CPU and the like, and includes a control unit 701 that performs overall control of doctor PC 7, a display and the like, a display unit 702 that displays various information, and a keyboard and the like. An operation input unit 703 for inputting various operations and instructions, a memory unit 704 that stores a program executed by the control unit 701, and also serves as a work area when the control unit 701 executes the program. An external I / F unit 705 connected to the network and exchanging various information with the health server 5 and the like.

  The configuration of the doctor PC 7 shown in FIG. 8 is a general computer configuration, and is not limited to the illustrated configuration.

Next, FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the vendor PC 9 shown in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 9, merchant PC 9 is composed of a CPU and the like, and is composed of a control unit 901 that performs overall control of merchant PC 9, a display and the like, a display unit 902 that displays various information, and a keyboard and the like. An operation input unit 903 for inputting various operations, instructions, and the like; a memory unit 904 that stores a program executed by the control unit 901 and also serves as a work area when the control unit 901 executes the program; An external I / F unit 905 that is connected to the network and exchanges various types of information with the health server 5 and the like, and a loan processing unit 906 that performs processing related to the loan of the nebulizer 1 in the nebulizer system.

  The configuration of the dealer PC 9 shown in FIG. 9 is a general computer configuration and is not limited to the illustrated configuration.

  First, the treatment process executed in the above-described nebulizer system will be described below.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing in the nebulizer 1. The processing shown in FIG. 10 is realized by the control unit 101 of the nebulizer 1 executing a program stored in the memory unit 104.

  Referring to FIG. 10, in nebulizer 1, when power switch 11 is pressed and power is supplied from power supply unit 108, this program starts.

  Subsequently, a selection of a user (patient) process is input from the operation input unit 103 such as the function key 12 (S01), a medicine preparation process (S10), and an inhalation process (S20) in the nebulizer unit 112. One of the measurement process (S30) of the blown air amount in the peak flow meter unit 110 and the outside air temperature / humidity measurement process (S40) in the outside air sensor unit 111 is executed.

  In the outside air temperature / humidity measurement process shown in step S40, when the user presses the outside air temperature / humidity measurement key of the function key 12, the outside air temperature and humidity are set in the outside air sensor unit 111 including the temperature sensor 19, the humidity sensor 20, and the like. This is a process of measuring and storing in a predetermined area of the memory unit 104. The measurement value may be acquired by one measurement, or may be acquired by performing a predetermined plural number of times measurement and performing arithmetic processing such as calculating an average. The outside air measurement process may be automatically executed at predetermined intervals. Further, when an atmospheric pressure sensor (not shown) is provided in the outside air sensor unit 111, the atmospheric pressure is measured and stored.

  In addition, about the process shown by S10-S30, a subroutine is shown and demonstrated below.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the preparation process. The preparation process shown in FIG. 11 is a subroutine executed in step S10 of FIG. 10, and is started when the user presses the chemical liquid filling key of the function key 12 in step S01 of FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 11, when the user presses the chemical liquid filling key of function key 12, drug filling is confirmed in chemical liquid bottle insertion port 109 (S <b> 101). More specifically, the filling of the medicine is confirmed by causing the medicine determination unit 1091 to read the medicine name of the medicine bottle 14 inserted into the medicine bottle insertion port 13 and the medicine amount detection unit 1092 to read the medicine amount. (S101).

  If the above information cannot be read at the chemical bottle insertion port 109 (No in S103), it is possible that the chemical bottle 14 is not inserted into the chemical bottle insertion port 13, and the display unit 102 is instructed. The display panel 21 is displayed to the effect, and the filling of the medicine is confirmed again in step S101.

  When the above-mentioned information is read in the chemical bottle insertion port 109 (Yes in S103), the display unit 102 is instructed to display information such as the drug name read in Step S101 on the display panel 21 (S105). ).

  Thus, the preparation process shown in step S10 in FIG. 10 is completed, and the process returns to the main routine.

  Next, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an inhalation process in the nebulizer unit 112. The inhalation process shown in FIG. 12 is a subroutine executed in step S20 of FIG. 10, and is started when the user presses the nebulizer inhalation key of the function key 12 in step S01 of FIG. The inhalation process shown in step S20 of FIG. 10 is based on the premise that the preparation process shown in step S10 has been completed. Therefore, if the nebulizer inhalation process in step S20 is selected in step S01, the completion of the preparation process in step S10 is confirmed. If the preparation process is not completed, a message to that effect is displayed and the process is terminated. Also good. In the following description, it is assumed that the preparation process in step S10 has been completed.

  Referring to FIG. 12, when the user depresses the nebulizer inhalation key of function key 12, the setting of the intake time is received from intake timer 15, and the input time is set in timer 105 (S201).

  Thereafter, when the user presses the start key of the function key 12 (Yes in S203), the nebulizer unit 112 is instructed to administer the drug (S205). At the same time, the dose is measured (S207), and the display unit 102 is instructed to display the user's inhalation amount and elapsed time on the display panel 21 (S209). In step S207, the dose of the drug may be calculated from the amount of the drug solution present in the drug solution bottle 14 detected by the dose detection unit 1092. If the nebulizer unit 112 includes a flow meter (not shown), the flow rate It may be measured by a meter.

  If the timer time set in step S201 has elapsed (Yes in S211), or if the stop key of the function key 12 has been pressed before the timer time has elapsed (Yes in S213), the stop of the above-described drug administration process is nebulized. The unit 112 is instructed (S215), and the display unit 102 is instructed to display the total inhalation amount and inhalation time of the user on the display panel 21 (S217). Further, the total inhalation amount and inhalation time of the user are stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 104 (S219).

  Thereafter, the display unit 102 is instructed to display the completion of drug administration on the display panel 21, and the user is notified of this (S221).

  When the user presses the transmission key of the function key 12 and selects the process of transmitting the user's total inhalation amount and inhalation time data to the health server 5 (Yes in S223), the data is transferred to the external I / F unit 107. Then, the data is transmitted to the health server 5 via the network (S225). In step S225, the external I / F unit 107 of the nebulizer 1 is connected to the nebulizer I / F unit 305 of the PC 3, and transmission processing is realized by a program executed in the control unit 301 of the PC 3. The data transmission process executed in the PC 3 will be described in detail later with a subroutine.

  If the user does not transmit the data (No in S223), the inhalation process shown in Step S20 of FIG. 10 ends, and the process returns to the main routine.

  Next, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing measurement processing in the peak flow meter unit 110. The measurement process shown in FIG. 13 is a subroutine executed in step S30 of FIG. 10, and is started when the user presses the peak flow meter measurement key of the function key 12 in step S01 of FIG. Note that the measurement process shown in step S30 of FIG. 10 is desirably executed prior to the inhalation process shown in step S20. This is because it is desirable to know the state of the user's lung ventilation function in advance and perform inhalation processing according to the state. Therefore, when the inhalation process of the nebulizer in step S20 is selected in step S01, the completion of the measurement process in step S30 is confirmed. If the measurement process is not completed, the fact is displayed and the measurement process is executed. You may be prompted.

  Referring to FIG. 13, when the user presses the peak flow meter measurement key of function key 12 and further presses the start key (Yes in S301), the user until the stop key is pressed (Yes in S305). The flow rate of the blown air is continuously measured in the peak flow meter unit 110 (S303).

  When the measurement of the discharge flow rate is completed by pressing the stop key, the display unit 102 is instructed to display the PEF value that is the maximum discharge flow rate on the display panel 21 (S307).

  The processes in steps S301 to S307 described above are performed a preset number of times (S309), and when the predetermined number of processes is completed, the display unit 102 is instructed to display the highest measured value in the predetermined number of measurements. Is displayed (S311) and further stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 104. Note that the measurement values displayed and stored in steps S311 and S313 are not limited to the maximum value, and may be other values such as an average value of the maximum discharge flow rate at each measurement.

  Thereafter, the display unit 102 is instructed to display the completion of measurement on the display panel 21, and the user is notified of this (S315).

  Thus, the measurement process shown in step S30 of FIG. 10 ends, and the process returns to the main routine.

  The above-described four processes (S10 to S40) shown in FIG. 10 are main routines of processes executed by the nebulizer 1 in the present embodiment, and the program in the nebulizer 1 is executed by completing the above-described processes. finish. Normally, in the nebulizer 1, steps S10, S30, and S20 are executed in this order. That is, the chemical solution is filled first, preparation for treatment in the nebulizer 1 is completed, and then the user's PEF value is measured in the peak flow meter unit 110. Thereafter, treatment (inhalation processing) is performed using the nebulizer 112. At the same time, the outside air temperature and humidity are measured in step S40. The measurement results and treatment results in the series of processes are displayed on the display panel 21 by the display unit 102 after each process is completed. Then, at the end of the series of processing, all the measurement results and treatment results are displayed on the display panel 21. By doing in this way, the user can confirm a measurement result and a treatment result at a time in the display panel 21 after performing a series of processes.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of data transmitted from the nebulizer 1 to the health server 5. The transmission data shown in FIG. 14 is created based on the data measured in the processing of steps S20 to S40 in FIG. 10 and stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 104. Note that the data may be created in the nebulizer 1 or in the connected PC 3.

  Referring to FIG. 14, the transmitted data includes terminal identification number information for identifying nebulizer 1, measurement date information, outside air measurement result information in outside air sensor unit 111, and peak flow meter unit 110. Measurement result information and treatment information in the nebulizer unit 112 are included.

  The above terminal identification number is a unique number of the nebulizer 1. When the user registers usage in the health server 5, the terminal identification number of the nebulizer 1 is registered in association with the user (patient) name and password. The health server 5 manages each user's data using the terminal identification number. The terminal identification number is an identifier for identifying the terminal, and may be information other than the number.

  Further, FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the data transmission processing in step S225 of FIG. 12 performed using the PC 3 in transition of screen display of the PC 3. The screen displays (screens 101 to 106) shown in FIG. 15 are screens that the control unit 301 of the PC 3 executes a program stored in the memory unit 304 and displays on the display unit 302 as the program progresses. .

  Referring to FIG. 15, in step S225 of FIG. 12, a user who transmits measurement data or the like accesses health server 5 via the network using PC 3. At that time, the screen 101 is displayed on the display unit 302.

  A screen 101 is a screen for the user to perform login processing. First, a login process from the user is accepted according to the screen 101. Specifically, an input of a password registered in advance in the health server 5 is accepted. At this time, in the health server 5 that has accepted the user's password via the network, the authentication unit 503 refers to the authentication information stored in the memory unit 505 to authenticate the user. When the health server 5 successfully authenticates the user, the display screen transitions to the screen 102.

  A screen 102 is a menu display screen. The data transmission process is accepted from the user as a selection result from the menu shown on the screen 102. When the data transmission process is selected, the data transmitted via the external I / F unit 107 and the nebulizer I / F unit 305 is sucked up from the memory unit 104 of the nebulizer 1 connected to the PC 3. When the data downloading is completed, the screen 103 is displayed. If the corresponding data is not stored here, a message to that effect may be displayed and the process may be terminated.

  A screen 103 is a data transmission screen. When a data transmission instruction is accepted from the user according to screen 103, the transmission data shown in FIG. 14 is transmitted from network I / F unit 306 to health server 5 via the network. The transmitted data is received by the health server 5 via the external I / F unit 506 and stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 505. Further, in the health server 5, the homepage creation unit 502 updates the user's health site based on the received data. When the data transmission is completed, the screen 104 is displayed on the display unit 302 of the PC 3.

  A screen 104 is a screen for notifying completion of data transmission. On the screen 104, the user may be notified of the completion of the data, and further, the health site data of the user updated in the health server 5 may be notified. Thereafter, the display screen transitions to the screen 105.

  Screen 105 is a screen for instructing whether to return to the menu screen shown on screen 102. When an instruction to return to the menu screen is received from the user, the screen 102 is displayed again on the display unit 302. When receiving an instruction from the user not to return to the menu screen, a screen 106 for notifying the end of the transmission process is displayed.

This completes the data transmission process.
In addition, the user can perform transmission / reception of a message with a doctor, writing of a daily state to a health site, etc. by selecting from the menu screen shown on the screen 102 of FIG. Below, the specific example is given and demonstrated.

  When the process of contacting the doctor is accepted as a selection result from the menu screen shown in the screen 102 of FIG. 15 described above, the following process shown in FIG. 16 is executed. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing message transmission / reception processing performed using the PC 3 in transition of screen display of the PC 3. The screen display (screens 102, 201 to 203) shown in FIG. 16 is also executed by the control unit 301 of the PC 3 executing the program stored in the memory unit 304 and displayed on the display unit 302 as the program progresses. It is a screen.

  Referring to FIG. 16, when a process of contacting the doctor from the user in the process shown in screen 102 of FIG. 15 is accepted as a selection result, a predetermined area in memory unit 505 of health server 5 is read and Check for messages. When it is confirmed that there is a message from the doctor, a screen 201 is displayed.

  The screen 201 is a screen that displays a message from a doctor. By referring to the screen 201, the user can obtain advice, instructions, and the like from a doctor who browsed the user's health site. The advice or the like from the doctor displayed on the screen 201 is read from a predetermined area of the memory unit 505 of the health server 5 via the network and the external I / F unit 506 and displayed.

  Further, the user can reply to the doctor. When an input of a reply key is received from the user along the screen 201, the display screen transitions to the screen 202.

  Screen 202 is a screen for replying from the user. When the input of the transmission key is received from the user along the screen 202, the input information is transmitted from the network I / F unit 306 to the health server 5 via the network. The health server 5 received via the external I / F unit 506 stores it in a predetermined area of the memory unit 505. When the transmission to the health server 5 is completed, a screen 203 for notifying the end of the transmission process is displayed.

This completes the message transmission / reception process.
In this way, measurement data and the like transmitted from each user (patient) to the health server 5 is stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 505, and a health site for each user is created in the home page creation unit 502. The created health site is opened on the network and can be viewed by the user, the doctor, the related service provider, and the like who are authenticated by the password.

  Subsequently, a process in which a doctor or the like browses a health site using the doctor PC 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a health site browsing process performed using the doctor PC 7 in transition of the display screen of the doctor PC 7. The screen display (screens 101, 301 to 304) shown in FIG. 17 is executed by the control unit 701 of the doctor PC 7 executing the program stored in the memory unit 704 and causing the display unit 702 to display the program as the program progresses. It is a screen.

  Referring to FIG. 17, a doctor who browses a health site uses doctor PC 7 to access health server 5 via a network. At that time, a screen similar to the screen 101 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display unit 702.

  A screen 101 is a screen for a doctor to perform a login process. First, according to the screen 101, a login process from a doctor is accepted. Specifically, an input of a password registered in advance in the health server 5 is accepted. At this time, in the health server 5 that has received the doctor's password via the network, the authentication unit 503 refers to the authentication information stored in the memory unit 505 to authenticate the doctor. When the doctor is successfully authenticated in the health server 5, the display screen transitions to the screen 301.

  A screen 301 is a menu display screen. A health site browsing process is accepted as a selection result from the menu shown on the screen 301 by the doctor. Then, the display screen transitions to the screen 302.

  The screen 302 is a screen that accepts an input of a chart number of a patient (user) of a health site desired to be viewed. The medical record number is an identification number assigned to the user when the doctor first examines the user (at the first visit), and is an identifier stored in the health server 5 together with the user's data. The entered medical record number is transmitted from the external I / F unit 705 to the health server 5 via the network. The transmitted medical record number is received by the health server 5 via the external I / F unit 506, and the corresponding user information is read from a predetermined area of the memory unit 505 based on the medical record number. Then, the display screen transitions to a screen 303.

  A screen 303 is a display screen of the health site of the user. The health site shown on the screen 303 will be described later with a specific example. By browsing the screen 303, the doctor can confirm the health status of the user and can make an appropriate diagnosis or the like. Further, on the screen 303, the presence or absence of a message such as a question from the user to the doctor is displayed. When the doctor browses the message, he / she inputs that the browsing is performed along the screen 303. When receiving the instruction, the doctor PC 7 reads the corresponding message from the external I / F unit 705 through a network and the external I / F unit 506 from a predetermined area of the memory unit 505 of the health server 5. Then, the display screen transitions to a screen 304.

  A screen 304 is a screen for the doctor to send and receive messages with the user. A message from the user to the doctor is displayed on the screen 304, and a reply to the message is accepted. When the doctor inputs a reply and presses the transmission key, the input information is transmitted from the external I / F unit 705 to the health server 5 via the network and the external I / F unit 506, and the memory unit 505. Is stored in a predetermined area. When the data transmission is completed, a screen 305 for notifying the end of the transmission process is displayed on the display unit 702 of the doctor PC 7.

This completes the health site browsing process.
In the menu display screen shown on the screen 301 in FIG. 17, the doctor can perform the writing process on the common bulletin board, the instruction process to the related service provider, and the like via the health server 5. A common bulletin board is a bulletin board shared by a network of patients with common symptoms or a network of doctors who share the same specialized field. It accepts general questions from patients, and doctors make appropriate advice. It is intended to promote communication between patients. In addition, it is possible to instruct the related service provider via the health server 5 to instruct the user to prescribe a new medicine or update the nebulizer 1.

  Further, a process in which a related service provider browses a healthy site using the contractor PC 9 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a health site browsing process performed using the vendor PC 9 in the transition of the display screen of the vendor PC 9. In the screen display (screens 101, 401 to 405) shown in FIG. 18, the control unit 901 of the vendor PC 9 executes the program stored in the memory unit 904, and displays it on the display unit 902 as the program progresses. It is a screen.

  Referring to FIG. 18, a related service provider who browses a health site accesses health server 5 via a network using vendor PC 9. At that time, a screen similar to the screen 101 shown in FIG. 15 is displayed on the display unit 902.

  A screen 101 is a screen for a related service provider to perform login processing. First, according to the screen 101, a login process from a related service provider is accepted. Specifically, an input of a password registered in advance in the health server 5 is accepted. At this time, in the health server 5 that has received the password of the related service provider via the network, the authentication unit 503 refers to the authentication information stored in the memory unit 505 to authenticate the related service provider. When the health server 5 successfully authenticates the related service provider, the display screen transitions to the screen 401.

  A screen 401 is a menu display screen. As a result of selection from the menu shown on the screen 401 from the related service provider, the browsing process of the healthy site is accepted. Then, the display screen transitions to a screen 402.

  The screen 402 is a screen that accepts input of a terminal identification number of a medical device such as a nebulizer 1 that is rented to a patient (user) of a health site that desires browsing. The input terminal identification number is transmitted from the external I / F unit 905 to the health server 5 via the network. The transmitted terminal identification number is received by the health server 5 via the external I / F unit 506, and information on the user using the medical device such as the nebulizer 1 having the identification number is read from a predetermined area of the memory unit 505. Is done. Then, the display screen transitions to a screen 403.

  A screen 403 is a display screen of the health site of the user. The health site shown on the screen 403 will be described later with a specific example. By browsing the screen 403, the related service provider can confirm the health status of the user, diagnosis from the doctor, and the like, and confirm the type and remaining amount of the medicine administered to the user. Can do. Therefore, preparations can be made in advance for preparations from doctors, orders from users, and the like. Then, the display screen transitions to the screen 404.

  Screen 404 is a screen for instructing whether or not to return to the menu screen shown on screen 401. When an instruction to return to the menu screen is received from the related service provider, the screen 401 is displayed again on the display unit 902. When an instruction from the related service provider not to return to the menu screen is received, a screen 405 for notifying the end of processing is displayed.

This completes the health site browsing process.
By selecting message reception processing from the user or message reception processing from the doctor on the screen 401 described above, the related service provider sends a message such as a prescription instruction from the user or doctor via the health server 5. Can receive and respond quickly. Further, by selecting the billing information transmission process, it is possible to perform a process such as a cost related to a lending process for a medical device such as the nebulizer 1 through the health server 5.

Next, the health site that the health server 5 discloses on the network will be described.
19 and 20 are diagrams showing specific examples of the display screen of the health site. The specific examples shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 may be screens displayed on one screen of a health site, or screens that are displayed separately by being selected on a menu screen (not shown). There may be. The homepage creation unit 502 of the health server 5 performs various statistical processing and processing on data transmitted from each user's PC 3 stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 505 of the health server 5. Specifically, processing for calculating an average value and processing for graphing are performed. The health site shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 includes data transmitted from each user's PC 3 subjected to statistical processing and the like, and user registration information stored in the memory unit 505 of the health server 5. Based on various information transmitted from the doctor's doctor PC 7 and the like, the home page creation unit 502 of the health server 5 creates each user and publishes it on the network.

  First, in the health site shown in FIG. 19, user information is displayed. Specifically, the name of the user (user), the name of the medical institution, the name of the doctor in charge, the medical record number, the user's e-mail address, the name of the medical device such as the nebulizer 1, the identification number of the medical device, the rental of the medical device Information such as the number and the start date of use of the medical device is displayed. Of the information displayed on the health site shown in FIG. 19, the medical device name, the identification number of the medical device, the rental number of the medical device, and the use start date information of the medical device are displayed by the user. When the data measured at 1 is transmitted to the health server 5 using the PC 3, it is automatically read from the nebulizer 1 and automatically registered. The other information is information input from a user who performs use registration and information input by a doctor or the like.

  Next, at the health site shown in FIG. 20, information based on the measurement data of the nebulizer 1 is displayed. Specifically, the date and time of treatment, temperature, humidity, PEF value of the peak flow meter, the type of drug being administered, the inhalation amount of the drug calculated from the inhalation time, and the cumulative total of inhalation volume, etc. Display information in graph form. In the specific example shown in FIG. 20, information based on measurement data of a user who performs treatment twice a day in the morning and in the afternoon is displayed. As shown in FIG. 20, these pieces of information can be calculated and displayed in a unified manner in the home page creation unit 502 of the health server 5, and these results are stored in the memory unit 505. Stored in the area. Then, it can be displayed by an instruction from a user such as a user or a doctor. Furthermore, data processing or the like not shown in FIG. 20 may be performed according to an instruction from a user such as a user or a doctor. In addition, as described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17 above, messages can be exchanged at a healthy site.

  In addition, although the specific example of the display screen of the health site shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 shows the health site of the user who performs treatment using the nebulizer 1 shown in FIG. 2, the nebulizer included in the nebulizer system Is not limited to the nebulizer 1 shown in FIG. Therefore, a specific example of the nebulizer 2 will be shown as another specific example.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a specific example of the appearance of the nebulizer 2. A nebulizer 2 shown in FIG. 21 includes a spirometer unit instead of the peak flow meter unit of the nebulizer 1 shown in FIG. 2, and has both a spirometer unit and a nebulizer unit.

  A spirometer is a device that tests a lung ventilation function, and tests a user's lung ventilation function by measuring a user's vital capacity, ventilation volume, and the like. Since the measurement method is a general measurement method, detailed description thereof will not be given here. In the present embodiment, data necessary for treatment is acquired by measuring the vital capacity and the 1-second rate in particular using a spirometer. Vital capacity is also called forced vital capacity, and is obtained by measuring the vital capacity when exhaling deeply inhaled breaths as quickly as possible. The 1 second rate is obtained by measuring the vital capacity that can be exhaled in the first second when exhaling as soon as possible, and determining the ratio to the forced vital capacity. A decrease in the rate of 1 second may be due to obstructive disorder of the lung such as bronchial asthma.

  Referring to FIG. 21, nebulizer 2 includes a spirometer blowing portion 24 which is a so-called mouthpiece, instead of peak flow meter blowing portion 18 of nebulizer 1 shown in FIG. 2. Further, a spirometer function key 23 for operating the spirometer section is included.

  After the user presses the start key of the spirometer function key 23, the user applies the spirometer blowing unit 24 to the mouth, and blows out while taking care not to leak from the nose. After all the breaths are blown out, the stop key of the spirometer function key 23 is pressed. Thus, the pulmonary ventilation function of the user is measured in the spirometer unit.

  It is desirable that a user who performs treatment using the nebulizer part of the nebulizer 2 first grasps the state of the lung ventilation function in the spirometer part. From the viewpoint of self-medication, it is desirable to periodically measure the lung ventilation function in the spirometer unit in order to grasp the health condition of the person from the normal.

  Thus, the measurement data of the user's lung ventilation function obtained by the spirometer unit of the nebulizer 2 is handled in the same manner as the measurement data obtained by the nebulizer 1 in the nebulizer system. That is, based on the measurement data obtained by the nebulizer system 2, the health site of the user shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 is created in the health server 5 and released on the network.

  As described above, in the nebulizer system of the present embodiment, an identification number is assigned to a medical instrument such as the nebulizer 1, and a medical record number is assigned to a user who uses the nebulizer 1. Based on the identification number and chart number of the device, information on the user who is a patient is accumulated. Therefore, doctors and the like can browse the user's health site shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 on the network based on the user's medical record number, and include environmental data such as the humidity temperature of the user. Treatment data can be obtained one by one. Moreover, the change of a user's physical condition can also be grasped at a glance. Furthermore, such information can be confirmed in real time. In addition, the data can be confirmed at any time by storing the data in the health server 5. For this reason, the doctor can perform a more appropriate diagnosis and fine and efficient treatment for the patient.

  Furthermore, the related service trader registered in advance in the nebulizer system of the present embodiment uses the trader PC 9 owned by the nebulizer 1 and the nebulizer 1 shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 based on the identification number of the medical device described above. The health site of the user who uses can be browsed. The related service provider can check the type and remaining amount of the drug administered by the user from the health site shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, and according to instructions from a doctor or a prior contract, It is possible to provide a service such as confirming that the medicine is not interrupted and delivering it to the user. For this reason, the user who performs home treatment can continue the treatment at home without worrying about the remaining amount of the medicine or the like and without performing the medicine ordering work. Further, based on the terminal number of the nebulizer 1, the treatment status of the patient using the nebulizer 1 can be grasped, not only the prediction of the medicine to be supplied, but also the supply of the consumables of the nebulizer 1 and the trouble of the nebulizer 1 A quick response, quality check of the nebulizer 1, version upgrade, supply of other articles used for treatment, and the like can be performed, and a service that anticipates user needs can be provided.

  Such a nebulizer system can be an efficient home treatment support system, and can greatly contribute to the home treatment and self-medication of a user who is a patient.

  As described above, since the nebulizer network includes the related service provider system (trader PC9), not only appropriate medical treatment processing is executed, but also lending and settlement processing of medical devices such as nebulizers are executed. You can also.

  Subsequently, the lending and settlement processing executed in the above-described nebulizer system will be described below.

  FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing lending and settlement processing in the health server 5. The process shown in FIG. 22 is realized by the control unit 501 of the health server 5 executing a program stored in the memory unit 505.

  Referring to FIG. 22, when external I / F unit 506 receives a message requesting lending of nebulizer 1 from PC 3 used by the user via the network (S401), external I / F unit 506 transmits the message via the network. Then, a delivery instruction for the nebulizer 1 is transmitted to the merchant PC9 of the related service provider that lends the nebulizer 1 (S403).

  At the same time, the registration unit 504 creates a file for storing various information of the user in a predetermined area of the memory unit 505, using the identification number of the nebulizer 1 that has instructed delivery to the vendor PC 9 in step S403 ( S405). The contents of the file created in step S405 are the same as the user information displayed on the health site shown in FIG.

  Then, when the external I / F unit 506 receives registration of the nebulizer system from the user who received the delivery of the nebulizer 1 from the related service provider via the network (S407), it is determined that the use of the nebulizer 1 is started. . The user registration process for the nebulizer system using the PC 3 will be described later.

  The usage period of the nebulizer 1 is stored in a predetermined area of the memory unit 505 for each identification number of the nebulizer 1, and when the usage period passes the predetermined period (Yes in S409), a rental fee is calculated in the lending processing unit 507, and the network The external I / F unit 506 transmits a charge for the rental fee of the nebulizer 1 to the user's PC 3 (S411). The rental fee transmitted to the PC 3 in step S411 may be charged by transmitting a message using e-mail or the like, or may be another method. Furthermore, in the case where registration for settlement through a credit sales company or the like is performed in step S407, and the system owned by the credit sales company is included in the nebulizer system, the ownership of the credit sales company is determined in step S411. A rental fee request may be transmitted to the system.

  Further, the external I / F unit 506 performs electronic settlement of various expenses including the rental fee of the nebulizer 1 to the lending processing unit 906 of the vendor PC 9 via the network and the external I / F unit 705 (S413). .

  The processes in steps S411 and S413 are repeatedly executed at every predetermined time such as the end of the month.

  By repeating the above program, the health server 5 can perform lending and settlement processing for the user who uses the nebulizer 1 included in the nebulizer system and related service providers.

  In addition, user registration performed by the user using the PC 3 in step S407 described above will be described.

  FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing user registration processing in the PC 3. The processing shown in FIG. 23 is realized by the control unit 301 of the PC 3 executing a program stored in the memory unit 304.

  Referring to FIG. 23, first, in order to perform a registration process, driver software delivered along with nebulizer 1 is installed (S501). When the driver software is installed in step S501, the nebulizer I / F unit 305 recognizes the connected nebulizer 1 (S503).

  Subsequently, an input of predetermined user information from the user is accepted along the information input screen displayed on the display unit 302 (S505). Further, the received user information is transmitted from the network I / F unit 306 to the health server 5 via the network (S507).

  The transmitted user information is added with the identification number of the nebulizer 1 and transmitted. In the health server 5 that has received the user information by the external I / F unit 506 via the network, the registration unit 504 stores the predetermined information stored in the memory unit 505 in step S405 of FIG. 22 based on the identification number added to the user information. The file of the user created in the area is extracted. Then, the registration unit 504 appends the received user information to the extracted user file.

  Further, the user's PC 3 sets an ID and password, which are the user's identifier, to the health server 5 (S509).

  This completes the user registration process of the user who uses the nebulizer 1 to the nebulizer system.

  In addition, as a related service provider of a nebulizer system, the case where the distribution center which manages inventory of a nebulizer, the pharmacy which performs chemical | medical agent management, etc. are considered. In that case, the health server 5 can issue a nebulizer delivery instruction to the distribution center in step S403 of FIG. 22, and can settle the delivery cost in step S413. Moreover, the prescription and delivery process of the medicine not shown in FIG. 22 can be performed, and the health server 5 receives the prescription of the medicine from the doctor PC 7 to the user who is the patient, and gives the prescription instruction and the delivery instruction to the user to the pharmacy. And payment processing can be performed for the user and the pharmacy.

  As described above, in the nebulizer system of the present embodiment, the medical device such as the nebulizer 1 is assigned an identification number, and the health server 5 manages the medical device such as the nebulizer 1 based on the identification number. And settlement processing can also be executed in a centralized manner. As a result, a more efficient home treatment support system is constructed, and it is possible to further contribute to the home treatment and self-medication of the patient user.

  In the present embodiment, a nebulizer system that performs treatment related to lung functions such as asthma using the nebulizer shown in FIGS. 2 and 21 as a medical instrument has been described. However, the medical instrument included in the system is a nebulizer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other medical devices may be used to treat other symptoms.

  In the nebulizer system described above, the user transmits data obtained by the nebulizer 1 to the health server 5 using the PC 3, but writes the data to the IC card 22 and stores the IC card 22 in a hospital or the like. The data may be transmitted to the health server 5 by reading it using a card reader or the like provided.

  Furthermore, a treatment method, a lending and a settlement method performed in the above-described nebulizer system can be provided as a program. Such a program is a computer-readable program.

  The program may be recorded on a recording medium such as a flexible disk attached to the computer, a CD-ROM, a ROM, a RAM, and a memory card, and provided as a program product. Alternatively, the program can be provided by being recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk built in the computer. A program can also be provided by downloading via a network.

  The provided program product is installed in a program storage unit such as a hard disk and executed.

  The program product includes the program itself and a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a figure which shows one structure of the specific example of the nebulizer system in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the external appearance of the nebulizer 1 shown by FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a nebulizer 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the medicine bottle insertion opening part 109. FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the peak flow meter part. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of PC3 shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of the health server 5 shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of doctor PC7 shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the specific example of a structure of trader PC9 shown by FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing in the nebulizer 1. It is a flowchart which shows a preparation process. 4 is a flowchart showing an inhalation process in the nebulizer unit 112. 5 is a flowchart showing measurement processing in a peak flow meter unit 110. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the data transmitted to the health server 5 from the nebulizer 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the transmission process of the data in step S225 of FIG. 12 performed using PC3 in the transition of the screen display of PC3. It is a figure which shows the transmission / reception process of the message performed using PC3 in the transition of the screen display of PC3. It is a figure which shows the healthy site browsing process performed using doctor PC7 in the transition of the display screen of doctor PC7. It is a figure which shows the healthy site browsing process performed using merchant PC9 in the transition of the display screen of merchant PC9. It is a 1st figure which shows the specific example of the display screen of a healthy site. It is a 2nd figure which shows the specific example of the display screen of a healthy site. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the external appearance of the nebulizer. It is a flowchart which shows the loan and payment process in the health server 5. 5 is a flowchart showing user registration processing in the PC 3;

Explanation of symbols

  1, 2 Nebulizer, 3 PC, 5 Health server, 7 Doctor PC, 9 Contractor PC, 11 Power switch, 12 Function key, 13 Chemical bottle insert, 14 Chemical bottle, 15 Inhalation timer, 16 Nebulizer intake, 17 Blow Stand for part, 18 Peak flow meter blowing part, 19 Temperature sensor, 20 Humidity sensor, 21 Display panel, 22 IC card, 23 Spirometer function key, 24 Spirometer blowing part, 101 Nebulizer control part, 102 Nebulizer display part , 103 Nebulizer operation input unit, 104 Nebulizer memory unit, 105 Timer, 106 Card R / W unit, 107 Nebulizer external I / F unit, 109 Chemical bottle insertion port unit, 110 Peak flow meter unit, 111 Outside air sensor unit 112 Nebulizer section 301 PC control unit, 302 PC display unit, 303 PC operation input unit, 304 PC memory unit, 305 nebulizer I / F unit, 306 network I / F unit, 501 health server control unit, 502 homepage creation unit 503, authentication unit, 504 registration unit, 505 health server memory unit, 506 health server external I / F unit, 507 health server loan processing unit, 701 doctor PC control unit, 702 doctor PC display unit, 703 doctor PC operation input unit, 704 Doctor PC memory unit, 705 Doctor PC external I / F unit, 901 Merchant PC control unit, 902 Merchant PC display unit, 903 Merchant PC operation input unit, 904 Merchant PC memory Department, 905 External I / F department of the dealer PC, 906 Loan processing section of the dealer PC, 1091 Liquid discriminating unit, 1092 drug amount detecting unit, 1101 flow rate detecting unit, 1102 blowing unit, 1103 rotary blade tachometer unit, 1121 atomizing unit, 1122 blowing port unit.

Claims (13)

Treatment means for converting and spraying the medicine into mist-like particles;
A fixing means for setting a container enclosing the drug in a nebulizer,
The said fixing means is a nebulizer containing the detection means which detects the quantity of the said medicine enclosed with the said container fixed to the said fixing means using an optical means. The container is light transmissive;
The detection means includes a light emitting part arranged along a direction in which the container is fixed by the fixing means, and a pair of light receiving parts sandwiching the light emitting part and the container, The nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein a height of the medicine from a lower part of the container fixed to the fixing means is detected. Instruction means for instructing processing by the detection means;
2. The nebulizer according to claim 1, further comprising display processing means for performing a process for displaying the detected amount of the medicine on a display device when the amount of the medicine is detected by the detection means.   The nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein when the amount of the medicine is not detected by the detection unit, the display processing unit performs a process for displaying the fact on the display device.   The nebulizer according to claim 1, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates a dose of the drug in the treatment unit based on the amount of the drug detected by the detection unit.   The nebulizer according to claim 5, further comprising storage means for storing the dose of the medicine calculated by the calculation means.   The nebulizer according to claim 5, further comprising a transmission unit configured to transmit the dose of the medicine calculated by the calculation unit to another device together with identification information of the nebulizer. The container is encoded and attached with information on the drug,
The fixing means further includes a discriminating means for reading and discriminating information of the medicine attached to the container fixed to the fixing means using at least one of optical means and magnetic means. The nebulizer according to claim 1. The drug information is a barcode,
The nebulizer according to claim 8, wherein the determination unit includes a bar code reader including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. Instruction means for instructing processing in the determination means;
The nebulizer according to claim 8, further comprising display processing means for performing processing for causing the display device to display the determined drug information when the determination means determines the drug information.   11. The nebulizer according to claim 10, wherein when the information on the medicine is not discriminated by the discriminating unit, the display processing unit performs processing for displaying the information on the display device. A method for detecting a dose in a nebulizer,
The nebulizer is
Treatment means for converting and spraying the medicine into mist-like particles;
A fixing means for setting a container enclosing the drug in a nebulizer,
A method for detecting a drug amount in a nebulizer, comprising: detecting an amount of the drug sealed in the container fixed to the fixing means using an optical means.   The method for detecting a dosage in a nebulizer according to claim 12, further comprising a step of performing a process for displaying the detection result.

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