JP2007331757A - Continuous sterilizing system for medicine container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a continuous sterilizing system capable of individually detecting the sufficient heating and sterilizing states of a medicine container, grasping the states in a substantially real time basis, and preventing the medicine container which has not been sufficiently heated and sterilized from being filled wiht a medicine. <P>SOLUTION: The continuous sterilizing system comprises a temperature measuring device 2 which is arranged adjacent to at least one or a plurality of the medicine containers with at least a distance of several centimeters or smaller above a conveying device for continuously conveying a large number of the medicine containers, and equipped with a temperature detecting unit with its fore end being inserted in the medicine container, a radio transmitting unit for radio-transmitting the temperature data detected by the temperature detecting unit to a receiver together with its own identification data, and a heat insulating case 5 for protecting the radio transmitting unit from the heat in a heating and sterilizing device. Furthermore, a receiver 7 arranged outside of the heating and sterilizing device is equipped with a receiver 7 which receives the temperature data and the identification data from the radio transmitting unit and transmits the data to a recording device, and the recording device for displaying and recording the temperature data and the identification data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a system for continuously sterilizing drug containers such as vials and ampoules, and a temperature measuring device suitable for use in the system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, pharmaceutical manufacturers and the like have used continuous sterilization systems for drug containers for sterilizing drug containers such as vials and ampoules before filling them with drugs. With regard to such a conventional continuous sterilization system for drug containers, for example, a halogen heater is provided in the middle of a transport device that continuously transports ampoules, and the state of heating by the halogen heater is detected by a temperature sensor, and the transport device It has been proposed to feed back to the conveyance speed (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-362516 A

  However, in the continuous sterilization system for drug containers proposed in Patent Document 1, since the temperature sensor is only arranged in the vicinity of the halogen heater, the heating state of each drug container is individually detected and conveyed. It cannot be reflected in device control. That is, even if the heat source such as the halogen heater is operating normally, there may be a case where there are some individual drug containers that do not sufficiently heat in the shadow of other drug containers. In this system, it is impossible to grasp the situation of such individual drug containers.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems of the prior art, and individually detects the heating / sterilization status of each drug container, grasps and records it in substantially real time, and records it in the transport device. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a continuous sterilization system for drug containers that can be reflected in control in almost real time and can prevent drug containers from being sufficiently heated and sterilized. And

  In addition, the present invention provides a continuous sterilization system for a drug container that can determine the position in the heat sterilization area at the time of measurement of each drug container for which the heating temperature has been measured and record the position together with the measured temperature. For the purpose.

  Furthermore, the present invention is a temperature measuring device suitable for use in such a continuous sterilization system for a drug container, and eliminates the need for a battery for driving a wireless transmitter provided in the temperature measuring device. An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature measuring device capable of greatly reducing the size.

  The continuous sterilization processing system for drug containers according to the present invention includes a transport apparatus for continuously transporting a large number of drug containers to a place of a drug filling apparatus described later, and a heat sterilization apparatus covered with a substantially box-shaped cover. A carry-in port for receiving the drug container carried by the carrying device, a heating unit for heat-sterilizing the drug container being carried in from the carry-in port in a dry environment, A heat sterilizer equipped with a discharge port for discharging the heat sterilized drug container to a drug filling device, which will be described later, and a drug for filling the drug container discharged from the heat sterilizer A temperature measuring device disposed adjacent to a filling device and at least one or a plurality of the drug containers on the transport device via a distance of at least several centimeters, respectively; tip A rod-shaped temperature detector inserted into the adjacent medicine container, and wirelessly transmitting temperature data detected by the temperature detector together with its own identification data to a receiving device described later in real time at predetermined time intervals. A temperature measuring device including a transmitter, a heat insulating case made of a heat insulating material for protecting the wireless transmitter from heat in the heat sterilizer, and a receiver arranged outside the heat sterilizer. A receiving device for receiving the temperature data and the identification data from the wireless transmission unit of the temperature measuring device and transmitting them to a recording device to be described later, and displaying the temperature data and the identification data from the receiving device. A recording apparatus for recording is provided.

  Moreover, in the continuous sterilization treatment system for a medicine container according to the present invention, it is desirable that the heat sterilization apparatus also includes a cooling part for cooling the medicine container heated by the heating part.

  Further, the continuous sterilization processing system for a medicine container according to the present invention further includes a control device for stopping the transport device when temperature data received from the receiving device is lower than a predetermined temperature. It is desirable.

  The continuous sterilization processing system for a medicine container according to the present invention further includes an alarm generating device for generating a predetermined alarm when the temperature data received from the receiving device is lower than a predetermined temperature. Is desirable.

  Further, in the continuous sterilization treatment system for a medicine container according to the present invention, at least three receiving devices are provided outside the heat sterilizer and in the vicinity of the heat sterilizer, the at least three The above receiving device detects the radio wave or ultrasonic wave reception intensity when receiving a predetermined signal from the temperature measuring means by radio wave or ultrasonic wave, or the arrival time of radio wave or ultrasonic wave from transmission to reception. , Data indicating the strength or arrival time is transmitted to the recording device together with the temperature data and identification data, and each of the data based on the data indicating the strength or arrival time from the at least three receiving devices. It is desirable that a position calculation unit for obtaining a position of the temperature measuring device in the heat sterilizer is built in or connected to the recording device.

  Furthermore, the temperature measuring device used in the continuous sterilization treatment system for a medicine container according to the present invention includes an outer side of the heat insulating case heated by a heating unit of the heat sterilizing device or a high temperature side near the inner side of the heat insulating case ( It comprises a thermoelectric element (thermoelectric generator) that generates electric power by the Seebeck effect from the temperature difference between the inside of the heat insulating material or the low temperature side of the radio transmission part), and the radio transmission part is controlled by the thermoelectric element. It is desirable that the temperature data is wirelessly transmitted by the generated power.

In the present invention, while continuously conveying a large number of drug containers, the state of heat sterilization by the heat sterilizer is measured for each drug container, and the measurement result is abbreviated to a recording device outside the heat sterilizer. Since it is possible to transmit and display and record wirelessly in real time, it is possible to grasp and record the heat sterilization defects of individual drug containers in almost real time, and more reliably reduce the occurrence of heat sterilization defects of individual drug containers. It is possible to prevent the medicine container that is not sufficiently heat-sterilized from being filled with the medicine.
That is, in the continuous sterilization system of Patent Document 1 described above, the “total heating temperature on the transfer line” is only measured by a temperature sensor provided in the vicinity of the transfer line. It is not possible to measure the “heating temperature of an individual drug container”. In general, when sterilizing a drug container on a transport line, a certain drug container is heated to a temperature sufficient for sterilization due to the positional relationship with a heater or a hot air discharge part, but other drug containers are sufficient for sterilization. Often a situation where the temperature is not heated can occur. The invention of Patent Document 1 cannot cope with such a situation. On the other hand, in the present invention, the heating temperature of each drug container is measured by a temperature measuring device arranged adjacent to one or a plurality of drug containers on the transport line, and the measured temperature is measured in substantially real time. Since it is wirelessly transmitted to the outside, it is possible to grasp in detail whether or not each drug container on the transport line is heated to a temperature sufficient for sterilization, and it is possible to effectively cope with such a situation.

  Further, according to the present invention, when the temperature data received from the receiving device is lower than a predetermined temperature, the control device can stop the conveying device in substantially real time, so that the sterilization failure of each individual drug container is further improved. It can be surely prevented.

  According to the present invention, when the temperature data received from the receiving device is lower than a predetermined temperature, the alarm generating device can generate a predetermined alarm in substantially real time. It becomes possible to prevent sterilization defects more reliably.

  In addition, according to the present invention, together with the temperature data of the individual drug containers at the time of heat sterilization, the position data of the drug containers in the heat sterilization area of the heat sterilizer is also recorded and displayed on the recording device. For example, even when an individual drug container is underheated (sterilization failure), it is possible to immediately know where in the heating area the drug container where the underheating occurred is, It can be used for investigating the cause of the shortage (sterilization failure) and countermeasures.

  Furthermore, the temperature measuring device of the present invention includes a thermoelectric element that generates electric power by the Seebeck effect from a temperature difference between a high temperature side that receives heat from the heat sterilizer and a low temperature side that hardly receives this heat. The temperature data is wirelessly transmitted by the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element. Therefore, in the temperature measuring device of the present invention, it is not necessary to incorporate a battery in order to wirelessly transmit the measured temperature data, and the size of the temperature measuring device can be greatly reduced. In particular, the continuous heat sterilization process of the drug container may take several hours or more (in some cases, several days or more). Therefore, in the case where the power necessary for this process is provided only by the battery, a large battery is required and the apparatus is There was a problem of increasing the size. On the other hand, when a thermoelectric element is used as in the present invention, electric power can be generated using heat (eg, a high temperature of 300 ° C. or higher) when the heat sterilization apparatus heat sterilizes the drug container. The energy utilization efficiency of the entire continuous sterilization treatment system for drug containers can be increased, and the size of the temperature measuring device can be greatly reduced.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention is a mode as described in Example 1 below.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view for explaining a continuous sterilization system for drug containers according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a vial that is transported at a predetermined speed to a place of a medicine filling device (not shown) by a transport device (not shown) such as a belt conveyor, and 2 is arranged in the vicinity of the vial 1. A temperature measuring device 3 conveyed together with the vial bottle 1 by the conveying device 3 is a rod-shaped temperature sensor provided in the temperature measuring device 2, and a temperature sensor whose tip is inserted into the inside of the vial bottle 1. Reference numeral 4 denotes an antenna that constitutes a part of a wireless transmission unit built in the temperature measuring device 2. The wireless transmission unit including the antenna 4 sends the temperature in the vial 1 detected by the temperature sensor 3 and its own identification data to a later-described receiver 7 at predetermined time intervals (for example, every second). Send wirelessly.

  The temperature measuring device 2 has a heat insulating material affixed to the inside of the outer case 5, and the wireless transmitter and the like are built therein. In the first embodiment, since the case 5 outside the temperature measuring device 2 is made of metal, the antenna 4 is exposed to the outside of the case. However, if the case 5 is made of plastic, for example, the antenna 4 Can also be provided inside the case 5.

  Moreover, in FIG. 1, 6 is the dry sterilizer arrange | positioned in the middle of the said conveying apparatus. The dry sterilizer 6 has a case (cover) 6a for covering the periphery in a box shape, a carry-in port 6b formed in the case 6a for the transfer device to enter, and a discharge device for discharging the transfer device. A discharge port 6c formed in the case 6a, a heating part (not shown) for heating and sterilizing the vial 1 with hot air formed by a halogen heater (not shown), and the heated and sterilized vial A cooling unit (not shown) for cooling the bottle 1 by supplying cold air.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 7 denotes a receiver installed at a position near the outside of the dry sterilizer 6. The receiver 7 wirelessly receives data indicating the measured temperature of the vial 1 being heat sterilized in the dry sterilizer 6 together with the identification data of each temperature measuring device 2 from the antenna 4 of the wireless transmitter in substantially real time. Is to do.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes the display temperature data of the measured temperature data of the vials 1 and the identification data of the temperature measuring machines 2 transmitted from the receiver 7 through the communication cable 9 in substantially real time. A variator 10 for displaying and recording in association with each other is a management computer 10 for receiving the recording data from the variator 8 in substantially real time via the Ethernet (registered trademark) cable 11 and recording and displaying it in a database. It is.

  The management computer 10 is connected to a control device 12 for controlling a motor (drive unit) for driving the transport device. The management computer 10 compares the measured temperature data transmitted from the variator 8 with reference data stored in advance, and when the measured temperature data is lower than the reference data, sends a predetermined signal to the control device 12. A program for transmitting and stopping the conveying operation of the conveying device via the control device 12 is recorded.

  The management computer 10 is connected to an alarm generator 13 that generates a predetermined alarm sound. The management computer 10 compares the measured temperature data from the variator 8 with reference data stored in advance, and transmits a predetermined signal to the alarm generator 13 when the measured temperature data is lower than the reference data. A program for generating a predetermined warning sound from the alarm generator 13 is recorded.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment will be described. A large number of vials 1 are placed on the transport device, and a part of the vials 1 is selected, and the temperature is set in a position immediately next to each of them (for example, within a distance of several mm to several cm). The measuring device 2 is placed, and the tip of the temperature sensor 3 of the temperature measuring device 2 is inserted into each vial 1. Thereafter, the conveying device is driven to convey the vial 1, and the vial 1 is introduced into the dry sterilizer 6 from the carry-in port 6 b of the case 6 a in the middle thereof.

  The dry sterilizer 6 supplies hot air to the introduced vial 1 from a heating unit composed of a heater or the like to heat the vial 1 to, for example, 300 ° C. or higher while drying the vial 1. Sterilize by continuing for several minutes. The heating temperature of the vial 1 at the time of heating and sterilization is measured by the temperature sensor 3 of the temperature measuring device 2. The measured temperature data is wirelessly transmitted from the antenna 4 of the wireless transmission unit to the receiver 7 together with the measured identification data of the temperature measuring device 2.

  The measured temperature data and identification data received by the receiver 7 are transmitted to the variator 8 in substantially real time, where they are displayed and recorded on the display unit 8a in substantially real time. The variator 8 transmits the measured temperature data and the identification data to the management computer 10 via Ethernet (registered trademark). The management computer 10 compares the received measured temperature data with previously stored reference data, and when the measured temperature data is lower than the reference data, sends a predetermined signal to the control device 12. The transport operation of the transport device is stopped, and a predetermined signal is transmitted to the alarm generation device 13 to output a predetermined alarm sound.

  The vial bottle 1 conveyed in the dry sterilizer 6 passes through the next cooling area after passing through the heating / sterilizing area by the heating unit. In the cooling area, the heated vial 1 is cooled by supplying cold air from a cooling unit including a refrigerator. The cooled vial 1 is discharged out of the dry sterilizer 6 from the discharge port 6c of the case 6a with the conveyance. The discharged vial 1 moves to the next medicine filling device (not shown), and is filled with a predetermined medicine there.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the temperature measuring devices 2 are respectively installed in a part (or all) of a large number of vials 1 that are transported by the transport device, and the dry sterilizer 6 performs the above. The temperature of each vial 1 at the time of heating and sterilization is measured, and the measurement data is transmitted to the outside wirelessly and recorded and displayed in substantially real time. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, even when some of the vials 1 are shaded by other vials 1 during heating and sterilization by the dry sterilizer 6, even when the sterilization is not performed sufficiently. This can be recorded accurately, and it can be immediately recognized and appropriate measures taken.

  Further, in the first embodiment, sufficient sterilization is performed due to a failure of a part of the heater at the time of heating / sterilization by the dry sterilizer 6 or a part of the vial 1 being a shadow of another vial 1. If not, the management computer 10 controls the control device 12 to immediately stop the transporting operation of the transporting device, so that the drug is not put into the vial 1 that has not been sufficiently sterilized. It is possible to prevent filling. Further, in the first embodiment, sufficient sterilization is performed due to a failure of a part of the heater at the time of heating / sterilization by the dry sterilizer 6 or a part of the vial 1 being a shadow of another vial 1. If not, the management computer 10 immediately generates an alarm sound from the alarm generator 13, so that workers in the factory immediately take appropriate measures to perform sufficient sterilization. It is possible to prevent the vial 1 that has not been filled with the medicine.

  Next, a continuous sterilization treatment system for drug containers according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. The continuous sterilization processing system according to the second embodiment has the same basic configuration as that of the first embodiment. The differences are as follows.

  In the first embodiment, since the temperature measuring device 2 transmits its identification data to the receiver 7 together with the temperature data of the vial 1 to be measured, the variator 8 or the management computer 10 When vials 1 have not been heated or sterilized sufficiently due to a failure of some of the heaters or shadows of other vials 1 when heated and sterilized by the dry sterilizer 6 It can be recognized whether the bottle 1 has not been sufficiently heated and sterilized. However, in Example 1, it was impossible to recognize where the vial 1 that was not sufficiently heated and sterilized was in the heat sterilization area of the dry sterilizer 6 at the time of measurement. In the second embodiment, by adopting the following configuration, a part of the heater breaks down or a part of the vial 1 becomes a shadow of the other vial 1 at the time of heating and sterilization by the dry sterilizer 6. When a sufficient sterilization was not performed due to a cause such as which vial 1 was not sufficiently sterilized, the vial 1 that was not sufficiently sterilized was measured by the dry sterilizer at the time of measurement. It was made possible to recognize where it was in the 6 heat sterilization area.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing the dry sterilizer 6 of the second embodiment and the receivers 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d installed at the four corners of the upper outer wall of the substantially box-shaped case (cover) 6a of the dry sterilizer 6, respectively. It is. In FIG. 2, 21 is a conveyor belt which comprises a conveying apparatus. A number of vials 1 are placed on the conveyor belt 21. A temperature measuring device 2 is arranged at a position next to some of the vials 1 among the many vials 1 on the conveyor belt 21, and the temperature sensor 3 of the temperature measuring device 2 is inserted into the vial 1. (Similar to FIG. 1). In addition, receivers 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d are arranged on the outer wall surfaces of the upper four corners of the substantially box-shaped case 6a of the dry sterilizer 6, respectively.

  In the second embodiment, when measured temperature data and identification data of each temperature measuring device 2 are transmitted wirelessly from each temperature measuring device 2 every predetermined time, the signals are sent to the receivers 7a, 7b, 7c, All of 7d receive. At this time, each of the receivers 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d detects the intensity at the time of reception of a radio wave (for example, a highly directional microwave) transmitted from the temperature measuring device 2. Each of the receivers 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d transmits data indicating the detected intensity of the received radio wave to the variator 8 together with the temperature data and the identification data. The variator 8 receives, displays and records the temperature data, identification data, and received radio wave intensity data, and transmits the data to the management computer 10.

  Based on the temperature data, identification data, and received radio wave intensity data transmitted from the variator 8, the management computer 10 detects the temperature and identification data of each vial 1 that is a measurement target of each temperature measuring device 2. Is recorded in the database and displayed on the display, the position in the dry sterilizer 6 at the time of temperature measurement is obtained, and this position data is also recorded in the database and displayed on the display.

  That is, for example, the measured temperature data of the vial 1a to be measured and its own identification data are transmitted by microwaves from the temperature measuring device 2a being transported (moving) in the dry sterilizer 6 of FIG. And microwaves received by each receiver 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d due to the difference in the directivity of the microwave and the distance between each temperature measuring device 2 and each receiver 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d ( The intensities of the symbols A1, A2, A3, and A4 in FIG. The management computer 10 obtains the position in the dry sterilizer 6 when measuring the temperature of the vial 1 to be measured based on the difference in the intensity of the received radio wave.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the temperature of the vial 1 as a measurement target and the position in the dry sterilizer 6 at the time of measurement can be grasped. When not sufficiently sterilized, the position of the vial 1 in the dry sterilizer 6 when not sufficiently sterilized, as well as the vial 1 not sufficiently sterilized. As a result, it becomes possible to investigate the cause of the insufficient sterilization and countermeasures more accurately. In the second embodiment, an ultrasonic signal is transmitted together with the microwave from the temperature measuring devices 2 and 2a, and the intensity when the ultrasonic signals are received by the receivers 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d. May be detected, and the management computer 10 may detect the position based on the detected intensity.

  In the above, each vial that is a measurement target based on the intensity of the received radio wave (or received ultrasonic wave) received by each receiver 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d that receives the radio wave from each temperature measuring device 2 Although the position of 1 is detected, in the second embodiment, the radio wave or supersonic wave when each receiver 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d receives the radio wave or ultrasonic wave transmitted from each temperature measuring device 2 is used. It is also possible to detect the position of each vial 1 that is a measurement target based on the arrival time from the transmission of the sound wave to the reception. In this case, each of the temperature measuring devices 2 and 2a transmits the measured temperature data and its identification data by radio waves, and transmits time data at the time of transmission by radio waves and ultrasonic signals. That is, when each temperature measuring device 2 measures the temperature inside the vial 1 to be measured, it immediately transmits the temperature data and identification data wirelessly, but also transmits the time data at that time ( At this time, a predetermined ultrasonic signal is also transmitted). Each of the transmitted data (including the ultrasonic signal) is received by each of the receivers 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d. The arrival time of the radio wave or ultrasonic wave from the transmission to the reception is as follows. The temperature measurement device 2 and the receivers 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d differ depending on the distances (see reference numerals A1, A2, A3, and A4 in FIG. 2). Therefore, the management computer 10 transmits the data of the arrival time until it is received by each of these receivers 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d to the management computer 10 via the variator 8, so that the management computer 10 For each vial 1, the position data in the dry sterilizer 6 at the time of measurement can be obtained together with the temperature data, and the position data can be displayed and recorded.

  In addition, a system that can also determine the position of the measurement object used in the second embodiment (three or more receivers that wirelessly receive the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor, and three or more receivers) The system including a program for obtaining the position of the measurement object based on the intensity of the radio wave and the arrival time of the radio wave) is applied not only to the continuous sterilization treatment system for the drug container to which the second embodiment is applied, but also to various systems. Is possible. FIG. 3 shows an example of such a system, which is a system for controlling the temperature of freeze dryers, autoclaves or storage refrigerators used for food processing or pharmaceutical manufacturing (or injection needles and It may also be a system for performing temperature control of steam heat sterilization of a medical device such as a scalpel). In FIG. 3, 31 is a substantially box-shaped heat insulation case such as a freeze dryer, autoclave or storage refrigerator for food processing or chemical production (or heat insulation for sterilizing medical devices such as injection needles and scalpels with steam. Case), 32 is a temperature sensor with a radio device disposed in a state where it is attached to food at a plurality of predetermined locations in the heat insulation case 31, and 33 is a surface (for example, six surfaces) of the outer wall of the heat insulation case 31. (In FIG. 3, only one receiver 33 is illustrated, and the other five are omitted in FIG. 3). In the lyophilizer / autoclave or storage refrigerator temperature management system for food processing or medicine production shown in FIG. 3, the temperature sensors 32 are each food, medicine, or The temperature of the place (space) is measured, and the measured temperature data (and time data at the time of transmission) are transmitted by radio every predetermined time. Each of these data is received by each of the six receivers and transmitted to the management computer 10 via the variator 8. The management computer 10 obtains the position of each temperature sensor 32 based on each data, displays the position data and the measured temperature data together, and records them in a database. That is, the management computer 10 determines the difference in received radio wave intensity when the measured temperature data from each temperature measuring device 32 is received by each receiver 33 (or the arrival time of the radio wave determined from the time data). Based on the difference, the position in the heat insulating case 31 where each temperature measuring device 32 exists is obtained, and this is displayed and recorded. As described above, in the system shown in FIG. 3, the difference or arrival time of the received radio waves when the radio waves from the temperature measuring devices 32 arranged at a plurality of locations in the heat insulating case 31 are received by the receivers 33. On the basis of the difference, the management computer 10 can grasp not only the temperature of each measurement object but also the position at the time of temperature measurement in the heat insulation case. The temperature control of the autoclave or the storage refrigerator can be performed more finely and appropriately.

  Further, a system that can also determine the position of the measurement object used in the second embodiment (three or more receivers that wirelessly receive temperature data detected by the temperature sensor, and three or more receivers receive the data). The system including a program for obtaining the position of the measurement object based on the intensity of the radio wave and the arrival time of the radio wave can be similarly adopted not only in the system shown in FIG. 3 but also in the system shown in FIG. The system shown in FIG. 4 has the same basic configuration as the system shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, instead of the variator 8 described in FIG. 3, a microcomputer board 34 and a display 35 for receiving measured temperature data from each receiver 33 and displaying them in substantially real time, And a general-purpose recorder 36 for recording the measured temperature data on a recording sheet. Except for this, the configuration and operational effects of FIG. 4 are the same as those of FIG.

  Next, a continuous sterilization treatment system for drug containers according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. The basic sterilization processing system according to the third embodiment has the same basic configuration as that of the first embodiment. The difference is the configuration of the temperature measuring device 2 used in the system. In the first embodiment, the temperature measuring device 2 incorporates a fairly large battery, and the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor 3 is transmitted wirelessly from the wireless transmission unit by the electric power from the battery. On the other hand, in the temperature measuring device 2 according to the third embodiment, a thermoelectric element as shown in FIG. 5 is incorporated instead of the battery. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 41 denotes a semiconductor element made of a bismuth tellurium alloy, 42 denotes a semiconductor element of a different type from the semiconductor 41 arranged in a paired relationship with the semiconductor 41, and 43 denotes each of the semiconductor elements 41, The high-temperature side end portions of the semiconductor elements 41 and 42 are the high-temperature side end portions disposed on the outside of the heat insulation case 5 of the temperature measuring device 2 in FIG. A low-temperature side end disposed on the inner side of the heat insulating case 5 (on the side closer to the wireless transmitter), 46 is a power supply circuit connected between the ends 44 and 45, and the high-temperature side end 43 It is a power supply circuit comprising a capacitor or the like for temporarily storing electric power generated due to a temperature difference between the low temperature side end portions 44 and 45. Such a thermoelectric element has already been put into practical use as a power source for a wristwatch (for example, Seiko's “Thermic”), but in the case of a wristwatch, the temperature difference between the body temperature and the outside air is relatively small so There is a problem of being small. On the other hand, in the thermoelectric element of Example 3, heat of about 300 ° C. or higher is continuously applied to the high temperature side end 43 by the dry sterilizer 6 for a long period of time, for example, several hours or several days. Therefore, sufficient electric power for driving the temperature measuring device 2 (particularly, the wireless transmission unit therein) can be generated continuously and continuously for a long period of time.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, a thermoelectric element is incorporated in the temperature measuring device 2 instead of the battery, and measured temperature data is obtained by the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element using the heat from the dry sterilizer 6. And so on. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the size of the temperature measuring device 2 can be greatly reduced as compared with the temperature measuring device 2 of the first embodiment in which a considerably large battery is incorporated.

  In addition, the temperature measuring device 2 incorporating the thermoelectric element used in the continuous sterilization treatment system of the medicine container according to the third embodiment is only in the continuous sterilization treatment system of the medicine container to which the third embodiment is applied. Rather, it can be used in various systems. For example, a system or an injection needle or scalpel for controlling the temperature of a freeze dryer, autoclave or storage refrigerator used for food processing or chemical production shown in FIGS. It can be used in the same manner in a system for performing temperature management of steam heating sterilization of medical devices such as the system (a system using a heat source as in the system of the third embodiment).

The schematic block diagram which shows the continuous sterilization system of the chemical | medical agent container by Example 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the dry sterilizer, temperature measuring device, receiver, etc. for demonstrating the continuous sterilization system of the chemical | medical agent container by Example 2 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the other system which can utilize the apparatus for measuring the position of each temperature measuring device currently used in the present Example 2. FIG. The figure which shows an example of the other system which can utilize the apparatus for measuring the position of each temperature measuring device currently used in the present Example 2. FIG. The figure for demonstrating the thermoelectric element used as the power supply of the temperature measuring machine used in the continuous sterilization system of the chemical | medical agent container by Example 3 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1a Vial 2, 2a Temperature measuring device 3, 32 Temperature sensor 4 Antenna 5, 31 Heat insulation case 6 Dry sterilizer 6a Substantially box-shaped case 6b Carry-in port 6c Discharge port 7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d Receiver 8 Variator 8a Display unit 9 Communication cable 10 Management computer 11 Ethernet (registered trademark) cable 12 Controller 13 Alarm generator 21 Conveyor belt 33 Receiver 34 Microcomputer board 35 Display 36 General-purpose recorder 41, 42 Semiconductor element 43 High temperature side Ends 44, 45 Cold side end

Claims (6)

A system for continuous heat sterilization of drug containers such as vials and ampoules,
A transport device for continuously transporting a large number of drug containers to a place of a drug filling device described later;
A heat sterilization apparatus provided with a substantially box-shaped cover, which is configured to dry a carry-in port for receiving a drug container transported by the transport device and a drug container being transported carried in from the transport port. A heating sterilization device comprising a heating unit for heat sterilization in an environment, and a discharge port for discharging the heat sterilized drug container toward a drug filling device described later;
A medicine filling device for filling medicine into the medicine container discharged from the heat sterilizer;
A temperature measuring device disposed on the transport device so as to be adjacent to at least one or a plurality of the drug containers via a distance of at least several centimeters, the tip of the temperature measuring device being the adjacent A substantially rod-shaped temperature detection unit inserted into a matching medicine container, and wireless transmission that wirelessly transmits temperature data detected by the temperature detection unit to a receiving device described later in real time at predetermined time intervals together with its own identification data And a temperature measuring device including a heat insulating case including a heat insulating material for protecting the wireless transmitter from heat in the heat sterilizer,
A receiver arranged outside the heat sterilizer, a receiver for receiving the temperature data and the identification data from the wireless transmitter of the temperature measuring device and transmitting them to a recording device described later;
A recording device for displaying and recording the temperature data and the identification data from the receiving device;
A continuous sterilization system for drug containers, comprising: In the continuous sterilization treatment system for a medicine container according to claim 1,
The continuous sterilization treatment system for a medicine container, wherein the heat sterilization apparatus also includes a cooling part for cooling the medicine container heated by the heating part. The continuous sterilization treatment system for a medicine container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a control device for stopping the transport device when temperature data received from the receiving device is lower than a predetermined temperature. A system for continuous sterilization of drug containers. 4. The continuous sterilization treatment system for a medicine container according to claim 1, further comprising an alarm generating device for generating a predetermined alarm when temperature data received from the receiving device is lower than a predetermined temperature. A continuous sterilization treatment system for drug containers, characterized in that In the continuous sterilization treatment system for a drug container according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
At least three receivers are provided outside the heat sterilizer and in the vicinity of the heat sterilizer, and the at least three receivers are predetermined signals from the temperature measuring means. When the signal is received by radio wave or ultrasonic wave, the intensity of the radio wave or ultrasonic wave at the time of receiving the signal or the arrival time of the radio wave or ultrasonic wave from transmission to reception is detected, and the data indicating the intensity or the arrival time is the temperature data. And the identification data is sent to the outside.
A position calculation unit for obtaining a position in the heat sterilizer at the time of the measurement of each temperature measuring device based on data indicating the intensity or arrival time from the at least three receiving devices is incorporated in the recording device. A continuous sterilization treatment system for a drug container, characterized in that the system is connected. A temperature measuring device used in the continuous sterilization treatment system for a drug container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the temperature is high outside or near the heat insulating case heated by a heating unit of the heat sterilizing device. And a thermoelectric element that generates electric power by the Seebeck effect from a temperature difference between the low-temperature side of the wireless transmission unit and the heat-insulating case, and the wireless transmission unit includes the temperature generated by the electric power generated by the thermoelectric element. A temperature measuring device characterized in that it wirelessly transmits data.

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