JP2012130779A - Medicine dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medicine dispensing device which suitably supports a valid term management of a medicine in work of implementing the medicine to a medicine cassette typified by a case in which a medicine once filled in a vial is returned to the medicine cassette (medicine storage container).SOLUTION: Valid term specifying information to be used for specifying a valid term of a medicine is read from a vial (providing container) (S202), the medicine being filled into the vial by means of a medicine dispensing means which dispenses medicine by filling the medicine of a kind and quantity according to a prescription content from a medicine cassette (medicine container) into the vial. When the valid term of the medicine filled in the vial specified by the valid term specifying information is earlier than the valid term of the medicine contained in the medicine cassette corresponding to the medicine filled in the vial or earlier than by the prescribed term (No of S205), a prescribed alarm display is carried out (S215).

Description

  The present invention relates to a medicine dispensing device that dispenses a kind and amount of medicine according to the prescription content of medicine to each patient from a plurality of medicine containing containers each containing a specific medicine.

A drug dispensing device (or drug distribution device) installed in a pharmacy or the like is a drug for each patient from each of a plurality of drug cassettes (an example of a drug container) that is a container for storing a specific drug (mainly a tablet). By filling a predetermined container (an example of a providing container) called a vial with a kind and quantity of medicine according to the prescription content, the medicine is divided and dispensed for each prescription. In this way, a vial filled with the drug is provided to the patient. In addition, such a medicine dispensing device normally has an information recording function for recording various information related to the prescription of the medicine in the vial when the medicine is filled in the vial. In general, this information recording function is a function for recording information on prescription of a drug on a label and attaching the label to a vial. In this label, in addition to character information indicating the name and usage of the medicine, information for identifying the prescription of the medicine (prescription identification information) is recorded by a barcode or the like.
By the way, in US pharmacies, etc., when providing prescription drugs to patients, the prescription of the drugs is accepted according to the reservation of the drug withdrawal from the patient for whom the drug is prescribed, the receipt of the prescription issued by the doctor, etc. In some cases, the medicine is dispensed in advance by the medicine dispensing device, and then the vial is delivered (provided) when the patient comes to pick up the medicine. Hereinafter, such operation is referred to as advance payment.
If the patient does not pick up the drug (vial bottle) within the prescribed period despite such pre-payout, the drug is not wasted and the original drug cassette is transferred from the vial. The drug is returned. This operation is hereinafter referred to as drug return. In the United States in particular, the frequency of such drug return is high.
If the medicine cassette to which the medicine is to be returned is mistaken when returning the medicine, it will lead to a medical accident. Therefore, it is extremely important to return the medicine to the correct medicine cassette. However, in busy medical practice, it is difficult to expect prevention of errors in drug return work relying solely on human attention.
On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, when a medicine is replenished from a container (container 45) containing a medicine for replenishment to a medicine cassette (cell 12), a bar written on each of the container for replenishment and the medicine cassette is provided. A technique is disclosed in which an indicia such as a code is read by a bar code reader or the like, and whether or not the medicine in the replenishing container matches the medicine in the medicine cassette by comparing both indicia. If the replenishing container in this technique is replaced with a vial, it can contribute to prevention of errors in the medicine returning operation.
Japanese National Patent Publication No. 11-513554

By the way, in general, since a medicine has an expiration date, if a medicine that has passed the expiration date is replenished to a medicine container (medicine cassette), it can lead to a medical accident. While the expiration date management is important, the conventional medicine dispensing device does not have a function for appropriately supporting the expiration date management of the medicine when the medicine return occurs.
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to a drug cassette which is a typical example of a case where a drug once filled in a vial is returned to a drug cassette (drug container). It is an object of the present invention to provide a medicine dispensing device that can appropriately support medicine expiration date management in the medicine replenishment work.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of medicine containers (the medicine cassette is a typical example) and a container for providing a kind and amount of medicine according to the contents of the prescription from the medicine container (the vial bottle). The drug delivery means for delivering the medicine by filling in the typical example), and the provision of the expiration date specifying information used for specifying the expiration date of the medicine filled in the supply container by the medicine delivery means The expiration date specifying information reading means read from the container for the expiration date and the expiration date of the medicine filled in the providing container specified by the expiration date specifying information read by the expiration date specifying information reading means, A predetermined warning is displayed when the expiry date of the medicine stored in the medicine container corresponding to the medicine filled in the supply container is earlier than the expiration date or more than a predetermined period. Effective and expiration alarm notifying means is configured as a medicine dispensing device including a.
According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that a medicine (old medicine) whose expiration date is earlier than a medicine already contained in the medicine container or earlier than a predetermined period is replenished.

  Further, the medicine dispensing device has a first expiration date in which withdrawal history information in which an expiration date of the medicine filled in each of the providing containers and the expiration date specifying information corresponding to the medicine are associated is stored. A configuration further comprising storage means is conceivable. Here, the expiration date warning notification means includes the expiration date specifying information and the expiration date of the medicine in the providing container specified by the dispensing history information stored in the first expiration date storage means, A predetermined warning is displayed when the expiry date of the medicine accommodated in the medicine container corresponding to the medicine filled in the supply container is earlier than the expiration date or more than a predetermined period.

  The dispensing history information includes the expiration date of the medicine filled in each of the supply containers, the expiration date specifying information corresponding to the medicine, and the medicine storage container in which the medicine filled in the provision container is stored. It is conceivable that this is associated with identification information for identifying. Here, the expiration date warning notification means specifies the expiration date of the medicine in the providing container specified by the expiration date specifying information and the withdrawal history information by the expiration date specifying information and the withdrawal history information. The predetermined warning display is performed when the expiry date of the medicine stored in the medicine container corresponding to the identification information to be performed is earlier than the expiration date or more than a predetermined period.

  The medicine dispensing apparatus further includes a second expiration date storage unit that stores medicine supply history information in which the identification information and the expiration date of the medicine stored in the medicine container are associated with each other. It is possible. Here, the expiration date warning notification means is configured such that the expiration date of the medicine in the providing container specified by the expiration date specifying information and the dispensing history information is stored in the identification information and the second expiration date storage means. A predetermined warning is displayed when the expiry date of the medicine stored in the medicine container specified by the stored medicine supply history information is earlier than the expiration date or more than a predetermined period.

  In the medicine supply history information, the identification information, the expiration date of the medicine stored in the medicine storage container, and the replenishment date information indicating the date on which the medicine is supplied to the medicine storage container are associated with each other. It is considered that the data includes a plurality of supply history data. Here, the expiration date of the medicine currently stored in the medicine storage container is the expiration date of the medicine included in the replenishment history data in which the date indicated by the replenishment date information is the newest. is there.

  In addition, when the medicine supply to the medicine container that has run out of medicine is completed, a control unit that performs initial setting of the expiration date of the medicine contained in the medicine container contained in the medicine supply history information It may be possible to provide

  Specifically, the control unit reads and inputs the expiration date of the medicine stored in the medicine container from the initial value arbitrarily input to the operation unit or the container from which the medicine is replenished. The initial value is set.

  Further, it is conceivable that the medicine dispensing device further includes an expiration date specifying information recording means for recording the expiration date specifying information in the providing container.

  It is considered that a label on which the expiration date specifying information is recorded is attached to the providing container, and the expiration date specifying information reading means reads the expiration date specifying information from the label. It is done.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that a medicine (old medicine) whose expiration date is earlier than a medicine already contained in the medicine container or earlier than a predetermined period is replenished.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings so that the present invention can be understood. The following embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the technical scope of the present invention.
1 is a perspective view and a partially enlarged view of the main body of the medicine dispensing apparatus X according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of the medicine dispensing apparatus X, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a drug delivery process in the drug delivery device X, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a drug replenishment process in the drug delivery device X, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing examples of various databases and data related to the medicine dispensing apparatus X, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when the medicine dispensing apparatus X is in the replenishment process, and FIG. 8 is affixed to the vial bottle by the medicine dispensing apparatus X It is a figure showing an example of a label to be performed.
The medicine dispensing device X according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed in a pharmacy or the like, and each of a plurality of medicine cassettes, each of which is a container for containing a specific medicine (here, a tablet), is sent to each patient. The medicines are dispensed separately for each prescription by filling a predetermined container (an example of a container for providing) called a vial with a kind and quantity of medicine according to the prescription content of the medicine. The vial filled with the medicine in this way is provided to the patient.
Here, the feature of the medicine dispensing device X is that cassette shelves in which medicine cassettes containing medicines corresponding to the input information are input by inputting predetermined information (medicine specifying information) used for specifying medicines. Is specified, and a shelf lamp (an example of a display unit) provided on the specified cassette shelf is controlled to be in a predetermined notification display state. Thereby, it is possible to accurately and efficiently perform an operation of specifying a medicine cassette as a medicine supply destination and a cassette shelf to which the medicine cassette is mounted from among a large number of medicine cassettes.

First, the configuration of the medicine dispensing device X will be described with reference to the perspective view shown in FIG. 1 and the block diagram shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the medicine dispensing device X is roughly composed of a main body device 100 and a management computer 200.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the main body device 100 includes a plurality of medicine cassettes 1 (an example of a medicine container) each containing a specific medicine and a plurality of medicine cassettes 1 arranged on one surface of the main body device 100. Cassette shelf 2 (an example of a container mounting unit) provided with shelf lamps 3 each serving as a predetermined display unit, and vials serving as containers for providing drugs to each patient are empty And a vial container 5 housed in a state.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the main unit 100 includes a cassette sensor 101, a bottle removing / conveying machine 102, a medicine filling machine 103, a medicine counter 104, a communication interface 105, a label output machine 106, a bar code reader 107, a display / display unit. An operation unit 108, a control unit 109, and the like are provided. Each component will be described below.

The cassette sensor 101 is a sensor (an example of a container attachment / detachment detection means) that detects the attachment / detachment state of the medicine cassette 1 for each cassette shelf 2, and is a displacement of a predetermined displacement portion that is displaced in contact with the attached medicine cassette 1. A contact type switch for detecting a state, a non-contact type switch such as a transmissive or reflective photosensor (photocoupler), and the like are used.
The bottle taking-out / conveying device 102 takes out an empty vial stored in the vial storage unit 5 and stores the vial in the drug cassette 1 that stores a type of drug according to the prescription content of the drug to each patient. It is an actuator that conveys a vial filled with a medicine from the medicine cassette 1 in the cassette shelf 2 to the medicine shelf 4 (see FIG. 1) on the front surface of the main body device 100. .
The medicine filling machine 103 corresponds to the prescription contents of the medicines to each patient from the medicine cassette 1 mounted on the cassette shelf 2 to the vial bottle conveyed to the predetermined cassette shelf 2 by the bottle take-out / conveyance machine 102. It is an actuator that fills an amount (number) of medicines. In general, a rotation drive unit that moves to each cassette shelf 2 together with the vials by the bottle take-out / conveyance device 102 and a drug cassette 1 are provided in each of the drug cassettes 1 and are driven to rotate by the rotation drive unit. And a medicine delivery mechanism for delivering (dropping) medicine (tablets) one by one to the vial, and controlling the number of rotations of the rotation drive unit controls the amount of medicine filling (number of fillings). .
The medicine counter 104 is a sensor that detects the number of medicines filled when the medicine filling machine 103 fills one tablet at a time. For example, the number of ON / OFF changes such as a contact type switch that detects a displacement state of a displacement part that is displaced in contact with a falling drug, or a non-contact type switch such as a transmissive or reflective photosensor (photocoupler) Is used to detect the number of medicines to be filled (filling amount).
Here, the bottle taking-out / conveying device 102, the medicine filling machine 103, and the medicine counter 104 are used to supply the medicines of the type and amount (number) of medicines according to the prescription contents of the medicines to each patient from the vials (providing containers). ) It is an example of a medicine filling means for filling each.

The communication interface 105 communicates with the management computer 200 connected through a predetermined communication line 11. Here, the management computer 200 is configured to be able to communicate with a host computer Y which is an external device connected through a predetermined network 10, and information transmitted from the host computer Y via the management computer 200 is the main body. It is configured to be transmitted to the device 100.
The label output device 106 prints (records) information on the prescription of the drug on the label s and attaches the label to the vial.
FIG. 8 shows an example of a label s attached to the vial by the label output device 106. As shown in FIG. 8, on the label s, a prescription code (an example of prescription identification information) for identifying each prescription (prescription) of a medicine for each patient is recorded as a bar code p1 and character string information p2, Drug information p3, such as the name and usage, quantity (number of tablets), expiration date, manufacturer name, etc. of the prescribed drug (that is, filled in the vial). Doctor information p5 such as name, patient information p6 such as patient name and address, various comment information p7 (notes, etc.), and store information p8 such as the name and address of the pharmacy that provides the drug are recorded. .
The label output device 106 is a label in which various information as shown in FIG. 8 including a prescription code (its barcode p1 and character string information p2) is printed on each vial filled with the medicine by the medicine filling machine 103. Is recorded on the vial (an example of means for recording the medicine specifying information and the expiry date specifying information). As will be described later, the prescription code is information (an example of information for specifying the medicine) used to specify the medicine filled in the vial by collating with the dispensing history DBd4, and the expiration date of the medicine. It is also information used to specify the (expiration date specifying information).

The bar code reader 107 optically reads a bar code representing a prescription code (information for identifying a prescription of a drug to each patient) recorded in a vial (drug specifying information input means, drug specifying) An example of the information reading unit and the expiration date specifying information reading unit). Here, the prescription code is information used to specify the medicine, the medicine cassette 1 and the cassette shelf 2 as will be described later, and is also information used to specify the expiration date of the medicine.
The display / operation unit 108 is a liquid crystal touch panel, an EL touch panel, or the like provided in a part of the main device 100 (see FIG. 1), and is a display unit that displays various types of information and accepts an operation input by a user. It is also an operation input means.
The control unit 109 includes a CPU and its peripheral devices (RAM, ROM, etc.). The control unit 109 inputs detection results of various sensors such as the cassette sensor 101 and the medicine counter 104, and executes a control program recorded in advance in the ROM. Is executed to control each component provided in the main device 100.
The management computer 200 is a computer such as a personal computer connected to the main unit 100 through a predetermined communication line 11 and further connected to an external host computer Y through a predetermined network 10, and includes a CPU and its peripheral devices ( In addition to arithmetic units comprising RAM, ROM, etc., general computers such as storage means such as a hard disk for storing various data and programs, operation input means such as a keyboard and mouse, display means such as a liquid crystal display, etc. It has various components.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration of various databases (DB) stored in a storage unit (hard disk or the like) included in the management computer 200 and prescription data received by the medicine dispensing device X from an external host computer Y.
As shown in FIG. 6, the management computer 200 includes (a): drug master DB (d1), (b): cassette DB (d2), (d): payout history DB (d4) and (e): drug. A database such as a supply history DB (d5) is stored, and the medicine dispensing device X receives (c): prescription data d3 of each patient from the host computer Y.
The medicine master DB (d1) is information in which information about medicines (medicine information) is associated with each kind of medicine, and as shown in FIG. 6A, the medicine is stored for each kind of medicine. Drug code d11 to be identified (NDC: National Drug Code), drug name d12, unit d13 for managing quantity (sheet, CAP, tablet, etc.), and form information d14 of the drug (tablet, capsule, external use / attachment) Etc.), usage information d15 (ingestion period, timing, etc.), appearance photo data d16, shape information d17 (disc shape, spherical shape, etc.), dimension information d18, color information d19, etc. is there.
The cassette DB (d2) is information in which the type of medicine is associated with the cassette shelf 2 on which the medicine cassette 1 that contains the medicine is currently mounted. As shown in FIG. A cassette code d21 which is information for identifying each cassette shelf 2 on which the medicine cassette 1 is mounted (which can also be referred to as identification information of the medicine cassette 1 when the mounting position of the medicine cassette 1 is not changed), and the cassette shelf 2 The medicine code d11 (NDC) for identifying the medicine stored in the medicine cassette 1 is associated with the remaining amount (remaining number) information d22 of the medicine currently stored in the medicine cassette 1 of the cassette shelf 2. It is a stored data group. The cassette DB (d2) is a database that is always updated to the latest state by an operation input or the like through the display / operation unit 108 every time the cassette shelf 2 in which each medicine cassette 1 is mounted is changed.

The prescription data d3 is information representing prescription contents for each patient. As shown in FIG. 6C, a prescription code d31 that is information for identifying prescription contents (prescription) for each patient; NDC (d11) representing the prescribed medicine, the medicine name d12, the prescribed quantity d32 of the medicine, the container size d33 representing the size (type) of the vial filled with the medicine, and the label s ( This is a data group in which label print information d34 including various information to be recorded (printed) in FIG.
The dispensing history DB (d4) stores the history information (hereinafter referred to as dispensing history information) every time the filling and dispensing of the medicine into the vial (conveying to the dispensing port 4 of the vial) is completed. As shown in FIG. 6 (d), a payout date and time d41 indicating the date and time when the payout (filling of the medicine into the vial) is performed, and the payout thereof are performed. The cassette representing the prescription code d31 for identifying the prescription of the medicine corresponding to the medicine, the medicine code d11 (NDC) representing the medicine dispensed, and the cassette shelf 2 corresponding to the medicine cassette 1 dispensed. Dispensing history information in which the code d21, the dispensed amount (dispensed quantity d42), the expiration date d43 of the medicine that has been dispensed, and the like are associated is accumulated. A 憶 data group. The storage means of this payout history DB (d4) is an example of a first expiration date storage means.
Here, the dispensing history DB (d4) and the cassette DB (d2) have the NDC (d11) in common, thereby identifying the prescription code d31 of the dispensing history DB (d4) (prescription of each medicine to each patient). An example of prescription identification information) is associated with a cassette code d21 in a cassette DB (d2) for identifying a cassette shelf 2 in which a medicine cassette 1 containing a prescribed medicine is mounted. It is an example of chemical | medical agent accommodation corresponding information. In this case, every time the medicine dispensing process (process for transporting the vial to the medicine dispensing outlet 4) is performed, the dispensing history information including the prescription code d31 corresponding to the medicine filling is one of the prescription / drug accommodation correspondence information. Part.
In the payout history DB (d4) stored in the storage unit of the management computer 200, the prescription code d31 (an example of prescription identification information for identifying each prescription of the medicine to each patient) is associated with the cassette code d21. If the mounting position of the medicine cassette 1 does not change, this can be regarded as an example of prescription / medicine accommodation correspondence information. In this case, the payout history DB (d4), which is a set of payout history information, constitutes all of the prescription / drug storage correspondence information.

In the dispensing history DB (d4), the prescription code d31 is associated with the prescription code d31 and the expiration date information d43 of the prescription code d31. Therefore, the prescription code d31 is used to specify the prescription prescribed to the patient. It is an example of information for specifying a drug that can be used, and is also an example of information for specifying an expiration date that can be used to specify the expiration date of the drug.
Furthermore, the cassette DB (d2) and the drug master DB (d1) stored in the storage means of the management computer 200 have NDC (d11) in common, so that drug information d12 to d19 and each drug related to each drug are stored. A cassette code d21 (an example of container mounting part identification information) for identifying the cassette shelf 2 in which the medicine cassette 1 to be accommodated is attached is associated with the medicine / accommodation correspondence information.
In the withdrawal history DB (d4), the current processing state of the dispensed medicine (“not delivered” to the patient, “delivered” to the patient, and “returned” the medicine to the original medicine cassette 1) It is preferable in that it can grasp the situation such as how much of the medicine (vial bottle) that has been dispensed has not yet been delivered to the patient. It is.

The drug supply history DB (d5) is information in which a history (hereinafter referred to as supply history data) is additionally registered each time a drug is supplied to the drug cassette 1 of each cassette shelf 2, as shown in FIG. ), The replenishment date information d51 indicating the date on which the medicine was replenished, the cassette code d21 for identifying each of the cassette shelves 2 in which the medicine cassettes 1 are mounted, and the type of the supplemented medicine are represented. The NDC (d11), the replenishment quantity d52 representing the quantity of the replenished medicine, the expiration date d53 of the replenished medicine, the replenisher information d54 representing the person in charge who has replenished the medicine, and the like are stored in association with each other. Data group. The storage unit of the medicine supply history DB (d5) is an example of a second expiration date storage unit.
Here, when a combination of the cassette code d21 and NDC (d11) is designated, one or a plurality of replenishment history data corresponding to the combination is specified by referring to (searching) this medicine replenishment history DB (d5). Is done. In the supply history data, the expiration date d53 included in the latest supply date d51 represents the expiration date of the medicine currently stored in the medicine cassette 1.

Next, the procedure of the medicine dispensing process in the medicine dispensing apparatus X will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The medicine dispensing process is a process performed by the CPU 109 of the control unit 109 and the management computer 200 executing a predetermined control program. Hereinafter, S101, S102,... Represent identification codes of processing procedures (steps). The medicine dispensing process shown below is the same as the process executed by the conventional medicine dispensing apparatus.
First, when the prescription data d3 of each patient is received (S101) from the host computer Y, which is an external device connected via the network 10, by the management computer 200, it is stored in its storage means by the management computer 200. A search of the database is performed, and a process of specifying the medicine cassette 1 that contains medicine according to the received prescription data d3 and the cassette shelf 2 in which the medicine cassette 1 is mounted is executed (S102).
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), since the prescription data d3 includes the drug code d11 (NDC), the cassette DB (d2) (FIG. 6) using this NDC (d11) as a search key. (See (a)) and the corresponding cassette code d21 is specified (obtained). At the same time, the expiration date d53 specified by searching the medicine supply history DB (d5) based on the NDC (d11) of the medicine and the cassette code d21 is also acquired.

Next (or in parallel with the processing of S101 and S102), the control unit 109 controls the bottle taking-out / conveying device 102 so that empty vials are moved from the vial storage unit 5 to the specified cassette shelf 2. In the middle of the movement, the label output device 106 prints the label s and attaches it to the vial as shown in FIG. (S103).
Specifically, a predetermined medicine containing the cassette code d21 (identification information of the cassette shelf 2) specified in step S102 and prescription quantity information d32, container size d33 and label printing information d34 included in the prescription data d3. A dispensing command is transmitted from the management computer 200 to the control unit 109 through the communication line 11 and the communication interface 105, and the control unit 109 controls the bottle taking-out / conveying machine 102 to thereby dispense the medicine from the vial storage unit 5. The empty vial is moved to the cassette shelf 2 designated by the cassette code d21 in the command.
Here, the vial container 5 is provided separately for each size (type) of the vial, and the bottle removing / conveying device 102 is a vial corresponding to the container size d33 included in the medicine dispensing instruction. An empty vial is taken out from the storage unit 5 and conveyed to the designated cassette shelf 2. Also, the print information p1 to p8 for the label s shown in FIG. 8 is included in the label print information d35 of the prescription data d3 (see FIG. 6C) received from the host computer Y.
Furthermore, the medicine filling process from the medicine cassette 1 of the cassette shelf 2 which is the movement destination of the vial bottle in the process of step S103 to the vial bottle is performed (S104).
Specifically, when the control unit 109 controls the medicine filling machine 103, the medicine filling operation from the medicine cassette 1 to the vial is performed by the quantity according to the prescription quantity information d32 designated by the medicine dispensing instruction. Done. At this time, the medicine filling amount is counted by the medicine counter 104 until the quantity according to the prescription quantity information d32 is reached, and the counted quantity (hereinafter referred to as count quantity) is sent from the control unit 109 to the management computer 200. In the management computer 200, the remaining amount information d22 in the cassette DB (d2) is subtracted by the count quantity and the data is updated. That is, the management computer 200 subtracts and updates the remaining amount information d22 of the medicine in each medicine cassette 1 stored in the storage means as the cassette DB (d2) according to the amount of medicine filled by the medicine filling machine 103 ( Example of first medicine remaining amount updating means).

Further, during the filling of the medicine, the control unit 109 monitors whether or not the medicine in the medicine cassette 1 has run out (S105), and whether or not the number counted by the medicine counter 104 has reached the quantity of the prescription quantity information d32. Whether or not the medicine filling is completed is determined (S106).
Here, when the control unit 109 detects that the medicine filling amount by the medicine counter 104 is not counted up even though the medicine filling operation by the medicine filling machine 103 has been performed for a certain time or more, the medicine is charged. It is determined that the medicine in the cassette 1 has run out (Y side of S105). In this case, the control unit 109 causes the shelf lamp 3 provided on the cassette shelf 2 to blink, and outputs an alarm sound with a predetermined alarm buzzer (S109). As a result, the user is made aware that the medicine has run out, and the medicine cassette 1 is urged to replenish the medicine.
When the control unit 109 detects that the medicine supply to the medicine cassette 1 in which the medicine has run out is completed (S110), the control unit 109 notifies the management computer 200 to that effect, and the management computer 200 , The remaining amount information d22 in the cassette DB (d2) and the expiration date information d53 corresponding to the cassette code d21 of the medicine cassette 1 are initially set (S111), and the shelf lamp 3 is turned off by the control unit 109 (S112). , The process is returned to step S104. Thus, the medicine filling process is continued.
Here, the detection (determination) of the completion of the medicine supply is determined as, for example, the completion of the medicine supply when a predetermined medicine supply completion operation is detected through the display / operation unit 108, or the shelf lamp 3 blinks in step S109. For the cassette shelf 2 that has been removed, it may be determined that the replenishment of the medicine is completed when the cassette sensor 101 detects that the medicine cassette 1 has been removed and attached.

In addition, as shown in Patent Document 1, when a medicine is replenished, a medicine code d11 for identifying a medicine contained in each of the medicine container and medicine cassette 1 as a replenishment source is recorded in advance as a barcode. It is conceivable that both barcodes (medicine code d11) are read by the barcode reader 107, and whether or not correct drug replenishment has been performed based on the determination result of the coincidence or mismatch of the read medicine codes d11. In this case, an alarm sound may be output when it is determined that the two medicine codes d11 do not match.
In addition, when the initial value of the remaining amount information d22 is determined in advance (for example, when the capacity of the supply source medicine container is determined in advance), the initial value is stored in the management computer 200 or the like in advance. It is conceivable to set the value automatically. If a plurality of initial value candidates are determined in advance, the candidates are stored in advance in the management computer 200 or the like, and the candidates are displayed on the display / operation unit 108 to be selected by the user. It is conceivable to configure as follows. In addition, a configuration in which a user inputs a numerical value of an initial value through the display / operation unit 108 is also conceivable.
In addition, the initial value of the expiration date information d53 can be input by a user through the display / operation unit 108, or the expiration date information can be recorded in advance on the container from which the medicine is supplied as a barcode. It is conceivable to input by reading with the reader 107.
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S106 that the medicine filling is completed, the vial take-out / conveying device 102 transports the vial filled with the medicine from the cassette shelf 2 to the medicine dispensing outlet 4 (medicine dispensing process). , S107).

When the medicine dispensing process is normally performed as described above, the management computer 200 records the dispensing history, that is, adds the dispensing history information to the dispensing history DB (d4) (see FIG. 6D). Registration (accumulation storage) processing is performed (S108), and the medicine dispensing processing ends. The payout history information includes a prescription code d31 as shown in FIG. 6D, and the management computer 200 that performs the processing of step S108 is an example of the payout history information storage means. In step S107, if the medicine dispensing process does not end normally due to a vial conveyance failure or the like, the additional data registration process in the dispensing history DB (d4) is not performed.
Here, the acquisition source of the data recorded (registered) as the payout history information is, for example, as follows.
That is, the current date and time measured by the time measuring means (clock function) of the management computer 200 or the like is used as the dispensing date and time d41, and the prescription code d31, the drug code d11, and the dispensed amount are stored in the prescription data d3 received from the host computer Y. The included prescription code d31, drug code d11, and prescription quantity information d32 are used.
The cassette code d21 and the expiration date d43 are supplied based on the cassette code d21 retrieved (specified) from the cassette DB (d2) in step S102 and the cassette code d21 and the corresponding NDC (d11). An expiration date d53 (corresponding to the latest supply date d51) specified by referring to (searching) the history DB d5 is used. However, regarding the expiration date d43, it may be considered that the expiration date d53 retrieved from the medicine supply history DB (d5) is a date that allows for a predetermined safety factor.

Next, the procedure of processing such as drug delivery will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This medicine delivery process is also performed by the CPU 109 of the control unit 109 and the management computer 200 executing a predetermined control program, and is started when a predetermined operation is performed through the display / operation unit 108. The Note that the processing such as drug delivery shown below is the same as the processing executed by the conventional drug dispensing device except for the contents of the drug replenishment processing (S132) described later.
First, when the control unit 109 detects that a predetermined operation has been performed through the display / operation unit 108, it is determined whether or not the operation is a start operation of a medicine delivery process (S121).
This medicine delivery process is a process performed when a vial filled with a medicine (dispensed medicine) is delivered to a patient.
If it is determined that the medicine delivery process is started, a process of reading the barcode of the prescription code d31 recorded in the vial (label s) to be processed by the barcode reader 107 is performed. (S122).
Furthermore, after the management computer 200 performs other processing (S123) such as payment processing for the drug accompanying the delivery of the drug to the patient, the process of the delivery of the drug ends.
In the process of step S123, the management computer 200 may update the payout history DB (d4) based on the prescription code d31 read by the barcode reader 107. That is, information indicating the processing state of each data is stored in association with the prescription code d31 in the payout history DB (d4), and the processing state of the data corresponding to the prescription code d31 read by the barcode reader 107 is Update the initial value from “not delivered” to “delivered”. Alternatively, it is possible to delete the corresponding data.
As described above, by updating the processing state in each data of the dispensing history DB (d4) in accordance with the delivery of the medicine to the patient, each vial bottle in which the medicine has been dispensed (filled) (that is, to each patient). For each of the prescriptions), it can be managed (referenced) separately from those that have already been delivered to the patient and those that have not yet been delivered.
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S121 that the operation is not a medicine delivery process start operation, the control unit 109 further determines whether or not the process is a medicine start operation (S131). If it is determined that the process is a start operation of the above-described process, a process at the time of drug replenishment (S132), which will be described in detail later, is executed, and then the process of delivering the drug ends.
If it is determined in step S131 that the operation is not an operation for starting the medicine supply, other processing (S141) corresponding to the operation is executed, and then the processing such as the delivery of the medicine ends.

Next, referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, the contents of the drug supply process (S132), which is a process that characterizes the drug dispensing device X, will be described in detail. This medicine replenishment process is also a process performed by each of the control unit 109 and the CPU of the management computer 200 executing a predetermined control program.
First, the control unit 109 determines whether the operation detected through the display / operation unit 108 is a start operation of a process for returning the medicine or another process for supplying the medicine (S201).
Here, the process at the time of returning the medicine refers to the medicine that has been filled in the vial by the process shown in FIG. 3 and the patient has not received the medicine (vial bottle) within a predetermined period. Therefore, this process is performed when the medicine is returned from the vial to the original medicine cassette 1 so as not to waste the medicine.
On the other hand, the other processing at the time of drug replenishment refers to a drug that is not contained in a vial in which a barcode (prescription code d31) is recorded (for example, a naked tablet that has been accidentally dispensed). This process is performed when the medicine cassette 1 containing the same medicine is replenished.

If it is determined in step S201 that the operation is a start operation for returning the medicine, the label s of the vial is brought closer to the barcode reading window (reading light output window) of the barcode reader 107 by the operator. The barcode of the prescription code d31 recorded in the vial (label s) to be returned to the medicine is read by the barcode reader 107 (S202). The read prescription code d31 is transmitted from the barcode reader 107 to the management computer 200.
Next, the management computer 200 searches the dispensing history DB (d4) and the cassette DB (d2) stored in the storage means, and the prescription code d31 (an example of drug specifying information) read by the barcode reader 107 is obtained. ) And a process for specifying the cassette shelf 2 in which the medicine cassette 1 containing the medicine is mounted is executed (S203, an example of a container mounting portion specifying means).
Specifically, by searching the payout history DB (d4), the payout history information corresponding to the prescription code d31 read by the barcode reader 107 is specified, and the NDC (d1) included in the payout history information is determined. The cassette shelf 2 is specified by searching the cassette DB (d2) as a search key and specifying the cassette code d21 (identification information of the cassette shelf 2).
If the mounting position of the medicine cassette 1 does not change, the cassette shelf 2 is searched by searching the dispensing history DB (d4) for the cassette code d21 corresponding to the prescription code d31 read by the barcode reader 107. You may comprise so that it may identify.

Next, the management computer 200 determines whether or not the payout history information corresponding to the prescription code d31 read from the vial exists in the payout history DB (d4) (S204), and does not exist (is not found). If it is determined, the management computer 200 notifies the control unit 109 to that effect, and the control unit 109 displays a predetermined alarm through the display / operation unit 108 and also outputs an alarm sound through an alarm buzzer (not shown). Is output (S214), the process at the time of drug supply ends.
Further, even when the payout history information corresponding to the prescription code d31 read from the vial is present, the management computer 200 refers to the expiration date d43 included in the payout history information, and this is set as a predetermined allowable condition. It is determined whether or not they match (S205). Here, when it is determined that the expiration date d43 does not meet the allowable condition, the management computer 200 notifies the control unit 109 to that effect, and the control unit 109 displays a predetermined alarm through the display / operation unit 108. In addition, after a warning sound is output through a warning buzzer (not shown) (an example of an expiration date warning notification unit in S215), the process at the time of drug replenishment ends.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S205 that the expiration date d43 meets the allowable condition, the process proceeds to step S206 described later.

Hereinafter, an example of allowable conditions for the expiration date d43 will be described.
For example, as an example of the allowable condition, an expiration date d43 specified based on a prescription code d31 (an example of expiration date specifying information) read by the barcode reader 107 (an example of expiration date specifying information reading means), There can be considered a condition determined by comparison with the current date and time which is timed by a time measuring means (a clock function for measuring the current date and time) provided in the management computer 200.
In this case, if the expiration date d43 based on the payout history DB (d4) has passed the current date and time, or if the expiration date d43 is within a predetermined period from the current date and time, it is not allowed. A condition that is allowed when the expiration date d43 is the first (future) is conceivable.
As another example of the permissible condition, a barcode replenishment history DB (d5) that stores the expiration date d53 of the medicine accommodated for each medicine cassette 1 is used, and the barcode reader 107 (expiration date specifying information reading means) is used. It is determined by comparing the expiration date d43 specified based on the prescription code d31 (an example of information for specifying the expiration date) read by one example) and the corresponding expiration date d53 stored in the medicine supply history DB (d5). There are also conceivable conditions. The storage means of the management computer 200 that stores the medicine supply history DB (d5) is an example of the medicine expiration date information storage means.
For example, if the expiry date d43 of the medicine filled in the vial is earlier than the expiry date d53 of the medicine already contained in the medicine cassette 1 or earlier than a predetermined period, it is not acceptable. Otherwise, it is acceptable. The conditions to be considered are conceivable.
Any of these permissible conditions or a combination of both (OR conditions, etc.) can prevent the inconvenience of replenishing old drugs.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S201 that the operation is a start operation for other drug supply, the control unit 109 specifies predetermined drug search information (an example of drug specifying information) used to specify the drug to be supplied. ) Is displayed on the display / operation unit 108, and drug search information input processing through the drug search screen is executed (S221, an example of a drug specifying information input unit).
FIG. 7 shows an example of the medicine search screen Pg1.
As shown in FIG. 7, on the drug search screen Pg1, as input interfaces for drug search information used for specifying a drug, input frames g1 and g2 for inputting drug name information and drug code d11, and drug form information ( Selection menus g3 to g6 for selecting and inputting color information, shape information (disc shape, spherical shape, etc.), and size (size) information from the choices are displayed. The medicine search information is information corresponding to each of the form information d14, the shape information d17, the color information d19, and the dimension information d18 included in the medicine master DB (d1). That is, each of drug search information (an example of drug specifying information) that can be input by the display / operation unit 108 and drug information in the drug master DB (d1) includes drug name information, color information, shape information, and size information. And a drug code for identifying each drug.
In the medicine search screen Pg1, when one or more pieces of search information are input by the user and then the search button g7 is operated, drug candidate extraction / list processing is executed by the control unit 109 and the management computer 200. (S222).
Specifically, the input search information (an example of drug specifying information) is transmitted from the control unit 109 to the management computer 200, and the drug master DB (d1) is searched using the search information as a search key. Drug information of each drug candidate related to the input search information is extracted. At that time, the cassette DB (d2) is also searched based on the drug code d11 included in the extracted drug information, and the corresponding cassette code d21 is also extracted. Further, the extracted medicine information and the cassette code d21 are transmitted from the management computer 200 to the control unit 109, and a part of the medicine information of each extracted drug candidate is displayed on the display / operation unit 108 by the control unit 109. A list is displayed (presented) (S222, an example of drug information search means).
7 shows an example in which a list of extracted drug candidates is displayed as a list by drug name d12 and drug code d11 in a partial display field g8 of the drug search screen Pg1 shown in FIG.

Next, the drug information (drug name d12 & drug code d11) is selected from the drug candidates listed in the display field g8 of the drug search screen Pg1 by the control unit 109 according to the operation of the display / operation unit 108 by the user. ) Is selected (an example of drug information selection means).
In this medicine selection process, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when any medicine candidate is selected by a touch panel operation or the like in the medicine candidate list display field g8, the control unit 109 corresponds to the selected medicine candidate. Other drug information (form information d14, shape information d17, dimension information d18, color information d19 and image based on appearance photograph data d16) and a cassette code d21 corresponding to the drug cassette 1 containing the drug are displayed in a drug information display field. is displayed at g9.
Then, the drug selection is confirmed by operating the confirm button g10 in a state where any one of the drug candidates displayed in the list is selected. In addition, you may make it extract and list-display the thing similar to the name etc. of the inputted medicine as a medicine candidate. Further, appearance photograph data obtained by photographing a medicine to be replenished with a digital camera or the like is input (transferred) to the management computer 200 through a predetermined storage medium or communication medium, and the inputted appearance photograph data and medicine master are input. It is also conceivable to have a function of extracting and displaying a list of drug candidates that are close to the image by pattern matching with each of the appearance photograph data d16 stored in the DB (d1).
When the selection of the specific medicine is confirmed in this way, the control unit 109 performs the process (S224) for specifying the cassette code d21 (that is, the cassette shelf 2) corresponding to the selected medicine, and then the process is performed. The process proceeds to step S206.
Here, the control unit 109 and the management computer 200 that perform the processes of steps S221 to S224 are configured so that the drug cassette 1 that stores the drug corresponding to the input information through the display / operation unit 108 (an example of the drug specifying information input unit). It is an example of the container mounting part specifying means which specifies the cassette shelf 2 with which it is mounted.

Next, when the process proceeds from step S205 or S224 described above to step S206, the control unit 109 determines whether or not the medicine cassette 1 as a medicine return destination is mounted on any cassette shelf 2. In step S203 or S224, it is determined whether or not the cassette code d21 can be specified by referring to (searching) the cassette DB (d2) (S206), and the medicine cassette 1 to which the medicine is returned is placed in any cassette shelf 2. If it is determined that it is not attached, the control unit 109 converts the NDC (d11) specified based on the dispensing history DB (d4) in step S202, the NDC (d11), and the medicine master DB (d1). The drug name d12 that can be specified based on the information or the information on the drug selected in step S223 is displayed / operated 1 While being displayed through 8, after the notification sound from a predetermined speaker is outputted (S216), when the drug supply process ends.
Thereby, the operator can recognize that the medicine cassette 1 which is the return destination of the medicine does not exist in the cassette shelf 2. Further, when the storage location information of the medicine cassette 1 is set as the setting contents of the cassette code d21 in the cassette DB (d2), the storage location information is displayed on the display / operation unit 108 to display the medicine location. The medicine cassette 1 that is the return destination can be easily found.

On the other hand, in step S206, if it is determined in step S202 or S224 (corresponding to the processing of the container mounting unit specifying means) that the medicine cassette 1 of the drug to be replenished is mounted on the cassette shelf 2, the control unit 109 Thus, for example, the shelf lamp 3 provided in the cassette shelf 2 is brought into a relatively long cycle blink display state (hereinafter referred to as a report display state) (S207, an example of a report display control means).
As a result, the shelf lamp 3 reports the cassette shelf 2 on which the medicine cassette 1 containing the medicine to be returned is loaded by simply reading the prescription code d31 recorded in the vial with the barcode reader 107. Therefore, the work of searching for a drug return destination from among a large number of drug cassettes 1 (cassette shelves 2) can be made accurate and efficient.
Even if the medicine to be replenished to the medicine cassette 1 is not contained in a container in which information readable by the information reading means such as the barcode reader 107 is recorded (for example, a bare tablet as it is) By inputting the search information, it is possible to easily and accurately specify the cassette shelf 2 that is the supply destination of the medicine. In particular, since drug color information, shape information, and size information can be searched as search information, it is possible to cope with cases where the drug name or drug code is unknown (S221 to S224).
In addition, since the medicine information includes the appearance photo data d16 of the medicine, it can be confirmed by comparing the presented appearance photograph with the actual appearance of the medicine, and the erroneous operation of supplying the medicine to the wrong medicine cassette 1 is further improved. It can be surely prevented.

When the shelf lamp 3 is in the notification display state as described above, the controller 109 monitors the mounting / demounting state of the medicine cassette 1 by the cassette sensor 101, and the shelf lamp 3 is in the notification display state. It is determined whether the medicine cassette 1 in the cassette shelf 2 (hereinafter referred to as a legitimate cassette) has been removed or the medicine cassette 1 in the other cassette shelf 2 (hereinafter referred to as an unauthorized cassette) has been removed (S209).
Here, when it is detected that the unauthorized cassette has been removed, the control unit 109 causes the shelf lamp 3 on which the unauthorized cassette is mounted to blink in a relatively short cycle (hereinafter, a warning display). And a warning sound is output by a predetermined alarm buzzer (S210, an example of a container error warning means), and then the process returns to step S208.
Thereby, in a situation where a large number of cassette shelves 2 are densely arranged, the medicine is erroneously taken from the cassette shelves 2 (for example, the adjacent cassette shelves 2) other than those in which the shelf lamp 3 is in the notification display state. When the cassette 1 is removed, the warning can be noticed of the error.

On the other hand, when it is detected in step S209 that the legitimate cassette has been removed, the control unit 109 has completed the medicine supply to the medicine cassette 1 in the cassette shelf 2 in which the shelf lamp 3 is in the notification display state. Is monitored (S211). Here, when the completion of the medicine supply is detected, the control unit 109 notifies the management computer 200 to that effect, and in the management computer 200, the remaining amount information d22 in the cassette DB (d2) indicates the quantity of the supplied medicine. (S212, an example of second medicine remaining amount updating means) and the shelf lamp 3 is turned off by the control unit 109 (S213), and then the medicine is replenished. Processing ends.
Here, as a means for acquiring a medicine replenishment quantity used for addition of the remaining amount information d22 at the time of medicine withdrawal (corresponding to a medicine replenishment quantity obtaining means), the prescription code read from the vial in step S202 by the management computer 200 is used. The prescription code is obtained by acquiring the payout quantity information d42 specified by d31 and the payout history DB (d4), or by sending the prescription code d31 from the control unit 109 or the management computer 200 to the host computer Y. It is conceivable that the prescription quantity d32 included in the prescription data d3 corresponding to d31 is requested and acquired.
Further, as a means for acquiring a medicine replenishment quantity used for addition of the remaining amount information d22 in a case other than at the time of medicine withdrawal (others) (corresponding to a medicine replenishment quantity obtaining means), the replenishment quantity by the user through the display / operation unit 108 is used. What is acquired by inputting the information is considered.
The method of detecting (discriminating) the completion of drug supply is the same as that for detecting the completion of drug supply shown in step S110. In the case of processing for returning the medicine (when it is determined as “medicine return” in S201), NDC (d11) or cassette code d21 is recorded in advance as a barcode on the medicine cassette 1, and this is stored in the barcode. The drug code d11 read by the reader 107 and identified based on the read information is collated with the drug code d11 identified by the prescription code d31 read from the vial bottle in step S202, and the correct drug cassette 1 is determined according to the collation result. It may be possible to determine whether or not the medicine has been replenished. In this case, an alarm sound may be output when it is determined that the two medicine codes d11 do not match.

By the way, after the process of step S213, in the case of the process for returning the medicine (when it is determined as “medicine return” in S201), the prescription code d31 read from the vial in step S202 is transmitted to the management computer 200. The management computer 200 may be configured to update the payout history DB (d4) based on the prescription code d31.
In the update processing of the payout history DB (d4), the processing state of data is stored in correspondence with each prescription code d3 in the payout history DB (d4) and corresponds to the prescription code d31 read by the barcode reader 107. The processing state to be updated is updated from the initial value “undelivered” to “returned”. Alternatively, it is possible to delete the corresponding data.
In this way, by updating the processing state in each data of the dispensing history DB (d4) in accordance with the return of the drug from the vial, each vial that has been returned to the drug (ie, each prescription for each patient). )), It is possible to manage (refer to) a medicine returned and a medicine not.

In the embodiment described above, the prescription code d31, which is information for specifying the medicine and the expiration date of the medicine, is recorded as a barcode in the medicine cassette 1 by the label output device 106, and the recorded information is recorded by the barcode reader 107. Although an example of reading was shown, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an IC tag, which is a memory that can read and write information by radio signals by applying RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to a vial (providing container), is provided. As a means for recording information in a vial and a means for reading the recorded information, a tag writer for writing information to an IC tag provided in the vial through a wireless signal and a tag reader for reading the written information (memory information) through a wireless signal Employment is also conceivable.
Moreover, although the example which records prescription code d31 conventionally recorded as recording information to a vial bottle was shown in above-mentioned embodiment, it is not restricted to this, For example, it uses for specification of a chemical | medical agent. It is also conceivable to record the medicine code d11, the expiration date information d43 used for specifying the expiration date of the medicine, and the like.
Further, the configurations of the various databases shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and various other configurations can be considered.
In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the main device 100 and the management computer 200 are separated has been described. However, a configuration in which the functions of the management computer 200 are provided in the main device 100 and integrated is also conceivable.

(Other forms of drug dispensing device)
By the way, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 is applied after a drug cassette to be returned to a drug is identified, and a drug return target is selected from among many dozens of drug cassettes. There is a problem that it cannot contribute to the accuracy and efficiency of the work of identifying the drug cassette to be. In particular, in the medicine dispensing device, each of the medicine cassettes is configured to be detachable with respect to the cassette mounting portion in which a plurality of medicine cassettes are arranged, and the mounting position of the medicine cassettes each containing a specific medicine can be changed. There is a problem in that it is difficult to quickly and accurately specify the cassette mounting portion on which the drug cassette is mounted. These can be said not only in the medicine returning operation but also in the whole operation of putting the medicine into the medicine cassette (hereinafter referred to as replenishment).
Therefore, in the replenishment work of the medicine to the medicine cassette, which is typically the case where the medicine once filled in the vial is returned to the medicine cassette (medicine storage container), the work for identifying the medicine cassette as the medicine replenishment destination is accurately determined. It is desirable to provide a drug dispensing device that can improve efficiency and can appropriately support the expiration date management of drugs and the remaining amount management of drug cassettes.

Therefore, a plurality of medicine storage containers (the medicine cassette is a typical example thereof) and a plurality of container mounting portions each provided with a predetermined display section (LED lamp or the like), each of which is provided with each medicine storage container. (A typical example of the cassette mounting unit) and a medicine dispensing device that dispenses a medicine of a type and amount corresponding to prescription contents (ie, prescription) from the medicine container, A medicine mounting information input means for inputting information for specifying medicine used for specification, and a container mounting portion in which a medicine storage container for storing medicine corresponding to the information for specifying medicine through the information specifying means for medicine specification is mounted. A medicine dispensing device comprising: a container mounting portion specifying means to be specified; and a notification display control means for causing a display section provided in the specified container mounting portion to be in a notification display state. It is conceivable to.
As the medicine dispensing means, a medicine filling means for filling a supply container (the vial bottle is a typical example) with a kind and amount of medicine according to the contents of the prescription can be considered.
Thus, if the operator inputs information for specifying the medicine to be supplied to the medicine container through the medicine specifying information input means, the container mounting in which the medicine container for containing the medicine is attached. Since the unit is notified by the display unit, it is possible to accurately and efficiently perform the operation of specifying the medicine container (container mounting part) as a medicine replenishment destination from among a large number of medicine containers.

As a more specific first configuration, a medicine specifying information reading means for reading the medicine specifying information recorded on the providing container from the providing container can be considered as the medicine specifying information input means. In this case, there may be provided means for recording the medicine specifying information in each of the providing containers filled with medicine by the medicine filling means.
Here, as the medicine specifying information recording means and the medicine specifying information reading means, for example, means for attaching a label on which a barcode is recorded and means for optically reading the barcode (so-called barcode reader) are employed. Since these are provided in a general medicine dispensing device, they can be used in combination.
Thereby, the troublesome operation of input means such as a keyboard and a mouse is avoided, and the efficiency of information input work can be improved.

The first configuration is preferably implemented by effectively utilizing means included in a general medicine dispensing device.
That is, a general medicine dispensing apparatus stores information in which prescription identification information for identifying a prescription is associated with container mounting portion identification information for identifying the container mounting portion (hereinafter referred to as prescription / drug storage correspondence information). Storage means is provided.
More specifically, when a predetermined dispensing process (a process of transporting to a predetermined drug dispensing outlet) is performed on the drug container filled with the drug by the drug filling means, at least a prescription identification corresponding to the drug filling A means for storing and storing payout history information including information in the storage means (payout history information storage means), and the prescription / medicine accommodation correspondence information is configured with the payout history information as a part or all of the constituent elements. It is common.
In addition, there is provided means for recording the prescription identification information in each of the providing containers filled with the medicine by the medicine filling means (generally, means for recording and sticking a barcode representing the prescription identification information on a label). Therefore, this can be used as the medicine specifying information recording means, and the recorded prescription identification information (bar code or the like) can be used as the medicine specifying information. That is, the prescription identification information is read based on the prescription identification information read as the drug specifying information by the drug specifying information reading means and the prescription / drug storage correspondence information. What is necessary is just to specify the container mounting part in which the chemical | medical agent storage container in which the chemical | medical agent same as the chemical | medical agent with which the container for supply is filled is mounted | worn is mounted | worn.
Accordingly, the first configuration can be implemented by effectively utilizing the means included in a general medicine dispensing device.

By the way, in general, since a medicine has an expiration date, if a medicine that has passed the expiration date is replenished to a medicine container (medicine cassette), it can lead to a medical accident. While the expiration date management is important, the conventional medicine dispensing device does not have a function for appropriately supporting the expiration date management of the medicine when the medicine return occurs.
Therefore, in the first configuration, the expiration date storage means for storing the expiration date of the medicine stored in each of the supply containers, and the medicine mounted on the container mounting portion specified by the container mounting portion specifying means The expiration date reading means that reads (reads) the expiration date of the medicine stored in the container from the expiration date storage means, and the comparison result between the expiration date read by this and the current date and time meets a predetermined allowable condition. If it does not, it is suitable if it is provided with an expiration date warning notification means for notifying a predetermined warning (for example, an alarm indicating that the medicine is prohibited from being returned from the supply container to the medicine container). .
As a result, it is possible to prevent inconveniences such as replenishing medicines that have already expired or medicines that are about to expire.
In addition to the above, means for recording expiration date specifying information used for specifying the expiration date of the medicine in each of the patient provision containers filled with medicine by the medicine filling means, and recorded in the patient provision container It is also possible to include a means for reading the expiration date specifying information and a means for notifying a predetermined alarm when the expiration date specifying information read thereby does not meet a predetermined allowable condition.
In this case, when a means for storing the expiration date information of the medicine to be stored for each of the medicine storage containers is provided, an expiration date based on the expiration date specifying information read by the specifying information reading means is set as an allowable condition. One having a condition determined by comparison with the expiration date information stored in the medicine expiration date information storage means is conceivable.
As a result, it is possible to prevent inconvenience that a medicine (old medicine) whose expiry date is earlier than a medicine already contained in the medicine container or earlier than a predetermined period is replenished.

On the other hand, as a second configuration, there is provided storage means for storing in advance medicine / accommodation correspondence information in which medicine information relating to each medicine and container mounting part identification information for identifying the container mounting part are associated, As the container mounting unit specifying means, for example, drug information candidates related to the drug specifying information input by the drug specifying information input means including operation input means such as a keyboard and a mouse are selected from the drug / accommodation correspondence information. Drug information search means for searching through a so-called keyword search and presenting it through predetermined information display means, etc., and drug information selection means for selecting one drug information from the candidate drug information presented thereby A container mounting portion corresponding to the drug information selected by the drug information selection means from the drug / accommodation correspondence information. Those who use can be considered.
In this case, as the medicine specifying information and the medicine information, for example, one of medicine name information, color information, shape information, size information, medicine identification information for identifying each medicine, and medicine appearance photo information Or what includes plural is conceivable.
Thereby, when the medicine to be replenished to the medicine container is not contained in the container in which the medicine specifying information readable by the information reading means such as a barcode reader is recorded (for example, a bare tablet as it is). Even in such a case, it is possible to easily and accurately specify the container mounting portion (the drug storage container) as the supply destination of the drug. In particular, if searching is possible based on the color information, shape information, and size information of a medicine, it is possible to cope with cases where the name and identification information of the medicine are not known.
In addition, if the drug information includes information on the appearance of the drug, the displayed appearance photo information can be checked by comparing it with the actual appearance of the drug. It is possible to prevent erroneous work more reliably.

The following can be considered as matters common to the first configuration and the second configuration.
For example, it is important to know the remaining amount of drug in each drug container for the purpose of managing the timing of drug replenishment to the drug container (drug cassette). The conventional medicine dispensing device does not have a function capable of appropriately managing the remaining amount.
In general, the medicine dispensing apparatus is configured so that the remaining amount of medicine in each of the medicine storage containers stored in a predetermined storage means according to the amount of medicine dispensed by the medicine dispensing means (corresponding to the amount of medicine filled by the medicine filling means). Means for subtracting and updating information (first medicine remaining amount updating means) are provided.
Therefore, when such a means is provided, the amount of medicine replenished in the medicine container (hereinafter referred to as a target medicine container) that contains medicine corresponding to the input information through the medicine specifying information input means is acquired. When a medicine is supplied to the medicine supply amount acquisition means and the target medicine storage container, the remaining amount information of the medicine in the target medicine storage container is the amount of the medicine supply amount acquired by the medicine supply amount acquisition means. Any device that further includes addition updating means (second medicine remaining amount updating means) is suitable.
Thereby, when the medicine is returned, it is possible to prevent the inconvenience of the mismatch between the remaining amount information of the medicine stored in the storage unit and the actual remaining amount of medicine in each medicine container.
Here, as the medicine replenishment amount acquisition means, a predetermined operation input means for manually inputting the medicine replenishment amount is conceivable. In addition, barcodes recorded in the medicine container, IC tag storage data, etc. It is also possible to have a means for reading the information (predetermined information used for specifying the amount of medicine supply) and a means for specifying the amount of medicine supply based on the read information.
Further, in a general medicine dispensing device, the remaining amount information of the medicine is stored in the storage means in association with the container identifying information for identifying each medicine container (this storage information is referred to as the container remaining amount information). Suppose). Further, the container identification information is based on the above-mentioned prescription / drug storage correspondence information, drug filling history information stored in a predetermined storage unit each time the drug is filled in the supply container by the drug filling unit, and the like. In general, the information is stored in the storage means in association with the prescription identification information. That is, the prescription / drug storage correspondence information includes prescription identification information for identifying each prescription of the drug for each patient, information on the contents of the prescription, and a drug storage container identification for identifying the drug storage container for storing the prescribed drug. The information is associated with the container mounting part identification information for identifying the container mounting part on which the medicine container is mounted, or the filling history information corresponds to the executed medicine filling. The prescription identification information to be performed and the medicine container identification information are associated with each other.
For this reason, as the second medicine remaining amount updating means, the prescription read by the medicine specifying information reading means when the prescription identification information is recorded in the providing container in the first configuration is used. It is conceivable to specify the remaining amount information of the medicine to be added and updated based on the identification information and the prescription / drug storage correspondence information or the filling history information and the storage container remaining amount information.

Further, the general medicine dispensing apparatus includes container attachment / detachment detection means for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the medicine container for each of the container mounting portions. Therefore, when it is detected by the container attachment / detachment detection means that the medicine container has been removed for a container mounting part other than the container mounting part in which the display part is in the notification display state by the notification display means. It is even more preferable if a container erroneous removal warning means for performing a predetermined warning notification is provided.
Thus, in a situation where a large number of container mounting parts are closely arranged, the medicine is erroneously received from a container mounting part (for example, an adjacent container mounting part) other than the one in which the display part is in a notification display state. When the storage container is removed, the warning notification can make the error notice.
In addition, when the medicine storage container is mounted for each container mounting portion, the lock means for releasing and releasing the lock, and when the display portion is in the notification display state by the notification display means Also, a device provided with a lock control means for controlling the lock means so that the lock is released only for the container mounting part whose display part is in the notification display state, etc. can be considered.

According to another aspect of the medicine dispensing apparatus, the container in which the medicine container for housing medicine corresponding to the input information is input by inputting predetermined medicine specifying information used for specifying medicine. Since the mounting part is specified, and the display unit provided in the specified container mounting part is controlled so as to be in a predetermined notification display state, the medicine serving as a medicine replenishment destination from among a large number of medicine storage containers The work of specifying the container (container mounting portion) can be made accurate and efficient.
In particular, an input means such as a keyboard or a mouse is provided if the means for recording the medicine specifying information in each of the providing containers filled with the medicine and the means for reading the recorded information as the medicine specifying information are provided. Can be avoided, and the efficiency of information input can be improved. Moreover, such a recording means and reading means are suitable in that a bar code recording means, a bar code reading means and the like provided in a general medicine dispensing apparatus can be effectively used.

In addition, when it is provided with an expiration date storage means for storing the expiration date of the medicine stored in each of the providing containers, it is stored in the medicine storage container mounted on the container mounting portion specified by the container mounting portion specifying means. Means for reading (reading) the expiration date of the medicine that has been read from the expiration date storage means, and notifying a predetermined alarm when the comparison result between the read expiration date and the current date and time does not meet a predetermined allowable condition Can prevent inconveniences such as replenishment of drugs that have already expired or drugs that are about to expire, and can be properly managed to prevent medical accidents.
In addition, for example, drug name information, color information, shape information, size information, drug identification information for identifying each drug, or appearance photo information of the drug is input and stored in advance based on the input information. By searching for and presenting drug candidates from the drug information and making it possible to select one drug information from the candidates, the drug to be replenished to the drug container can be read by a barcode reader, etc. Even when the information for identifying the medicine that can be read by the information reading means is not contained in the container in which the information is recorded (for example, a bare tablet as it is) ) Can be specified easily and accurately. In particular, if the information on the appearance of the medicine is included in the medicine information, it can be confirmed by comparing the appearance information on the presented appearance with the appearance of the actual medicine. It can be prevented more reliably.

  In addition, when a drug replenishment amount to the drug container (target drug container) that stores a drug corresponding to the input information for specifying the drug is acquired and the drug is supplied to the target drug container, If the amount of medicine remaining in the target medicine container is updated for the amount of medicine replenished, the amount of medicine remaining information stored in the storage means and the actual amount of medicine remaining are stored in each medicine container. The inconvenience of inconsistency can be prevented, and accurate drug remaining amount management becomes possible.

  The present invention is used for a medicine dispensing device that fills each predetermined supply container with a kind and amount of medicine corresponding to the prescription content of medicine to each patient from a plurality of medicine containing containers each containing a specific medicine. Is possible.

The perspective view and partial enlarged view of the chemical | medical agent dispensing apparatus X main body which concern on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram showing the structure of the principal part of the medicine delivery device X. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a medicine dispensing process in the medicine dispensing apparatus X. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing such as drug delivery in the drug dispensing device X. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing such as drug delivery in the drug dispensing device X. The figure showing the structure of the various databases and data relevant to the medicine delivery device X. The figure showing the example of a screen in the case of the medicine supply process in the medicine delivery device X. The figure showing an example of the label affixed on a vial bottle by the chemical | medical agent delivery apparatus X. FIG.

X: Drug dispensing device Y according to the embodiment of the present invention Y: Host computer 1: Drug cassette 2: Cassette shelf 3: Shelf lamp 100: Drug dispensing device main body 101: Cassette sensor 102: Bottle removal / conveyance device 103: Drug filling device 104: Drug counter 105: Communication interface 106: Label output machine 107: Bar code reader 108: Display / operation unit 109: Control unit 200: Management computer d1: Drug master DB
d2: Cassette DB
d3: prescription data d4: payout history DB
s: Labels S101, S102, ...: Processing procedure (step)

Claims (9)

A plurality of drug containers;
A medicine dispensing means for dispensing the medicine by filling the container for supply with the kind and amount of the medicine according to the prescription content;
Expiration date specifying information reading means for reading the expiration date specifying information used for specifying the expiration date of the medicine filled in the supply container by the medicine dispensing means from the supply container;
The drug whose expiry date of the medicine filled in the providing container specified by the information for specifying the expiration date read by the information for reading expiration date specifying information corresponds to the medicine filled in the providing container Expiration date notification means for displaying a predetermined warning when the expiration date of the medicine stored in the container is earlier than the expiration date or more than a predetermined period;
A medicine dispensing device comprising: A first expiration date storage means for storing payout history information in which the expiration date of the medicine filled in each of the providing containers and the expiration date specifying information corresponding to the medicine are associated;
The expiration date warning notification means is configured such that the expiration date of the medicine in the supply container specified by the expiration date specifying information and the dispensing history information stored in the first expiration date storage means is the supply container. The medicine dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined warning display is performed when the expiry date of the medicine accommodated in the medicine storage container corresponding to the medicine filled in is earlier than the expiration date or more than a predetermined period. The dispensing history information includes the expiration date of the medicine filled in each of the supply containers, the expiration date specifying information corresponding to the medicine, and the medicine storage container in which the medicine filled in the provision container is stored. Is associated with identification information for identifying
The expiration date warning notification means is configured such that the expiration date of the medicine in the providing container specified by the expiration date specifying information and the withdrawal history information is specified by the expiration date specifying information and the withdrawal history information. The medicine dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a predetermined warning display is performed when the medicine contained in the medicine container corresponding to the identification information is earlier than the expiration date of the medicine or for a predetermined period or more. Further comprising a second expiration date storage means for storing medicine supply history information in which the identification information and the expiration date of the medicine stored in the medicine container are associated with each other;
The expiration date warning notification means stores the expiration date of the medicine in the providing container specified by the expiration date specifying information and the dispensing history information in the identification information and the second expiration date storage means. 4. The medicine dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a predetermined warning is displayed when an expiration date of the medicine stored in the medicine container specified by the medicine supply history information is earlier than or more than a predetermined period. . In the medicine supply history information, the identification information, the expiration date of the medicine stored in the medicine storage container, and the replenishment date information indicating the date on which the medicine is supplied to the medicine storage container are associated with each other. Including multiple replenishment history data,
The expiration date of the drug currently stored in the drug storage container is an expiration date of the drug included in the most recent month and date indicated by the supply date information among the plurality of supply history data. 4. The medicine dispensing device according to 4.   A controller that performs initial setting of the expiration date of the medicine stored in the medicine storage container included in the medicine supply history information when the medicine supply to the medicine storage container in which the medicine has run out is completed; The medicine dispensing device according to claim 4 or 5.   The control unit sets the expiration date of the medicine stored in the medicine container to an initial value arbitrarily input to the operation unit, or an initial value read by reading from the medicine supply source container. The medicine dispensing device according to claim 6, which is set.   The medicine dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an expiration date specifying information recording unit that records the expiration date specifying information in the providing container. A label on which the expiration date specifying information is recorded is affixed to the providing container;
9. The medicine dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the expiration date specifying information reading means reads the expiration date specifying information from the label.