JP2020062223A - Medication management device and medication management method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device and method in which the use of a medical agent is managed even if a sensor is not attached to a container.SOLUTION: A medication management device is used which has a storage unit for temporarily storing a first container, a measurement unit for recognizing the first container, a recording unit for recording results of recognizing the first container by the measurement unit, and a control unit for deciding whether the second container is the same as the first container from the recognition results of the second container. Further, a medication management method is used which comprises a recognition step of recognizing the first container, a storage step of storing the first container, a use step of using the first container, a decision step of recognizing the second container and deciding whether it is the same as the first container when storing the second container after the use step, and a notification step of notifying of the different fact when the second container is different from the first container at the decision step.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

  The present invention relates to a medication management device and a medication management method. In particular, it relates to devices and methods for managing the use of containers containing medication. (Hereinafter, the container and the packaging are called containers)

  Conventionally, there has been a device that manages the use of drugs (Patent Document 1). In this method, a sensor is attached to a container for eye drops, and medication of the eye drops is managed based on information from the sensor.

JP, 2017-153873, A

However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, the use of the container can be managed for the container with the expensive sensor, but the use of the container without the sensor cannot be managed. In other words, if the user makes a mistake in the container and uses a container that does not have a sensor, the use of the drug cannot be controlled.
Further, if the sensor covers the drug name and the component display, it violates the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law.
Therefore, it is an object of the present application to provide an apparatus and method for controlling the use of medicines without attaching an expensive sensor to the container.

  In order to solve the above problems, a storage unit in which the first container is temporarily stored, a measurement unit that measures the first container, and a recording unit that records a result of measuring the first container by the measurement unit, A medication management apparatus having a control unit that determines whether the second container is the same as the first container based on the measurement result of the second container and a measurement unit that measures the dose reduction is used.

  In addition, a measuring step of measuring the first container, a storing step of storing the first container, a using step of using the first container, and a storing step of the second container after the using step, A determination step of measuring two containers and determining whether they are the same as the first container, a measuring unit for measuring the dose reduction in the second container, and the determination step in which the second container is the first container. A notifying step of notifying information at different times and when an abnormal dose reduction occurs, and a medication management method is used.

  With the medication management device and medication management method of the present invention, it is possible to manage the use of medicines without attaching a sensor to the container.

1 is a perspective view of the medication management device 30 according to the first embodiment. Sectional drawing of the medication administration device 30 of Embodiment 1. Configuration diagram of the medication management device 30 of the first embodiment Flowchart of the medication management method of the first embodiment Sectional drawing of the modification of the medication administration device 30 of Embodiment 1. Configuration diagram of the medication management system of the second embodiment Configuration diagram of a medication management device according to a second embodiment Flowchart of the medication management method of the second embodiment Configuration diagram of the medication management system of the second embodiment The figure which shows the relationship between the medication management apparatus 30 of Embodiment 3, and the external server 10. Perspective view of a medication management device 30 suitable for the third embodiment Perspective view of a medication management device 30 suitable for the third embodiment Perspective view of a medication management device 30 suitable for the third embodiment (A) to (d) Example of display on medication administration device 30 according to Embodiment 3 The figure which shows the relationship between the medication management apparatus 30 of Embodiment 3, and the external server 10.

Hereinafter, the invention will be described with reference to the embodiments, but the invention is not limited to the following.
(Embodiment 1): Device <Regarding medication administration device 30>
The medication management device 30 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the medication management device 30. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the medication management device 30. FIG. 1C is a configuration diagram of the medication management device 30.

  The first container 31A is stored (placed on the upper surface) on the upper surface of the medication management device 30. The medication management device 30 measures the external appearance of the first container 31A in advance. After that, the first container 31A is once used. Then, it is determined whether the container stored in the medication management device 30 is the same as the first container 31A. In the case of different containers, the indicator 36 emits sound or light. Or display the error on the display or indicator.

The user notices that the container is wrong due to this error, searches for the first container 31A, and stores (places) it in the medication management device 30.
The medication management device 30 is a device that allows the predetermined first container 31A to be continuously used.

<Configuration of medication management device 30>
The medication management device 30 includes an input unit 38, a recording unit 32, a control unit 33, a measuring unit 34, a lighting unit 35, an instruction unit 36, and a power supply unit 37. Each unit not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is located anywhere in the medication management device 30.
The input unit 38 is a unit that gives an instruction to the medication management device 30. An input device such as a touch panel.

The recording unit 32 is a unit that holds the measurement result of the measurement unit 34 and the data necessary for the operation of the medication management device 33. For example, semiconductor memory.
The control unit 33 is a unit that controls the entire medication management device 30, such as the measurement unit 34, the instruction unit 36, and the illumination unit 35. These include microcomputers, semiconductor devices, circuit boards, etc.

The measurement unit 34 is an imaging device that measures the shape of the first container 31A. Image sensors, CCDs, etc. Further, as will be described below, the weight of the first container 31A may be measured with a load cell or the like. Further, the color of the first container 31A may be measured by a camera.
The following describes an example of measuring the appearance.
The illuminating unit 35 irradiates the first container 31A with light when the measuring unit 34 measures the appearance of the container. A light source such as an LED. The appearance is the shape or color of the container. The camera of the measuring unit 34 may be provided with an illuminating device.

The instruction unit 36 emits sound or light when a certain state is reached. Alternatively, it is displayed by a display, a lamp, lighting, or the like. Buzzers, LEDs, displays, etc.
The power supply unit 37 supplies power to each element of the medication management device 30. It may be an AC power supply or a secondary battery.

<First container 31A>
The first container 31A is a resin container, a glass container, a PTP package, a package, or the like. The first container 31A contains a drug, for example, an eye drop or a drug. It is a liquid or solid (powder, tablet).

<User>
The user is a person who uses the medication management device 30. The user is an elderly person, a sick person, or the like who needs to use the drug. For example, the first container 31A is a container for eye drops, and the user regularly uses the eye drops in the first container 31A in the morning, the evening, or the like. Various drugs may be used instead of eye drops.

<Process>
FIG. 2 shows a flow (medication management method).
(1) Measure the first container 31A in the medication management device 30 (measurement step)
The first container 31A is placed on the upper surface of the medication management device 30. The measurement unit 34 is used to capture an image of the first container 31A and record it in the recording unit 32. The measurement measures the outer shape of the first container 31A. It should be noted that it is not limited to the upper surface as long as it can be captured by the measuring unit 34. In this case, the outer shape of the first container 31A is the outer shape of the lower surface of the first container 31A.
The camera of the measuring unit 34 can image the lower surface of the first container 31A, perform image processing, and measure the outer shape. It can be processed by the program of the control unit 33. The measurement can be started with a button of the input unit 38 or the like.

(2) The first container 31A is stored in the medication management device 30 (storage process)
After the measurement in (1), the first container 31A is placed on the upper surface of the medication management device 30 as it is. The storage state can be managed with a pressure sensor, a contact sensor, or the like.
(3) Use the first container 31A (use process)
At a certain time, the user uses the medicine inside by using the first container 31A. For example, after a meal in the morning or at dinner. The fact that the first container 31A has been taken out can be managed in the same manner as above.

(4) Store and measure the second container 31B in the medication management device 30 (determination step 1)
The second container 31B is stored in the medication management device 30. The user considers the second container 31B as the first container 31A. After the second container 31B is started to be stored in the medication management device 30, after a certain time has elapsed, the measuring unit 34 images the second container 31B and measures the second container 31B in the same state as (1). Similarly to the above, the sensor can control the storage of the second container 31B.

(5) Judgment whether the first container 31A and the second container 31B are the same (judgment step 2)
It is determined whether the second container 31B is the same as the first container 31A measured in (1). The control unit 33 compares the measured data. As a result, when the second container 31B is the same as the first container 31A, the process returns to (2) and is repeated. If different, proceed to (6).

(6) Notification when the first container 31A and the second container 31B are different (notification process)
When the second container 31B is different from the first container 31A measured in (1), the instruction unit 36 emits a sound or light in order to inform the fact. Or, display it on a display.

(7) Replace the second container 31B with another container or change the state of the second container 31B. Instead of the second container 31B, the container considered to be the first container 31A is used as the second container 31B, and (4) Go to. Alternatively, the state of the second container 31B is changed. Since the measurement result differs between the state where the second container 31B is standing and the state where the second container 31B is lying, the state is changed and the process proceeds to (4).
As a result, the container will not be mistaken. Even when the container is PTP (press through packaging), SP packaging (strip package), packaging, etc., it is not mistaken. In this case, it is determined by appearance measurement whether the packaging has a certain size. In the case of sachets, each time, a separate sachet is used for measurement. For the same drug, the sachets have the same shape.

<Modification of medication management device 30>
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the medication management device 30. FIG. 3 shows an example of the positional difference of the measurement unit 34 of the medication management device 30.

In FIG. 1B, the structure is such that the first container 31A is imaged from the lower portion of the first container 31A. On the other hand, in FIG. 3, the first container 31A is imaged from the side surface. 2 (1) and 2 (4) are measured and compared.
<Measuring unit 34>
In the above description, the measuring unit 34 measures the outer shape of the first container 31A with a camera. The following may be measured:

(1) Color The color of the container may be measured with a camera. The outer shape and the color may be measured as a pair, or only the color may be identified. You can identify each container by its color.
It should be noted that the amount of the drug or the like in the first container 31A can also be measured by the color depth. You can understand the decrease of drugs. However, the first container 31A needs to be transparent or semi-transparent. Also, to measure the amount accurately,
The management device 30 and the like need to have a relationship between the color and the amount of the drug in the first container 31A. The management device 30 also needs to have a calculation algorithm.
(2) Weight Instead of the camera, or a load cell may be provided together with the camera to measure the weight of the first container 31A.
2 (5) based on the weight, compared with the weight of the first container 31A immediately before, if not significantly changed, the same container can be used. In other words, since the amount of drug used per time is small and does not change significantly, it is possible to judge the identity. Alternatively, the amount of medicine used per time may be set in advance, and it may be determined whether or not the weight of the first container 31A is the same as the weight obtained by subtracting the amount of medicine used from the previous weight. Good.
The amount of the drug or the like in the first container 31A can also be measured by the weight. Further, in order to accurately measure the amount, the management device 30 or the like needs to have the weight of the first container 31A itself. The management device 30 also needs to have a calculation algorithm.
If the decrease in the amount of the content (medicine) in the second container 31B is unexpected in the determination of FIG. 2 (5), it is preferable to notify that it is abnormal.
It is preferable to judge the identity of the container by measuring the outer shape and control the amount of the drug in the container by measuring the weight.

In addition, the measurement means to measure the characteristics of the container in order to identify the container.
From the weight and the color, it can be seen that the amount of the medicine used in the first container 31A has decreased, and the medicine can be replenished. It is preferable that a display unit is provided on the medication management device 30 to display the amount of medicine in the container.
In the following second and third embodiments, since the decrease in the amount of the drug is managed externally via the net, it is also possible to contact the user 14 or his / her relatives, or supplement the drug. it can.
It is preferable to measure one or more of shape, color, and weight. It is more preferable to measure two or more.
<Effect>
The user can use (manage) the medicine without mistake. Here, the term “management” includes a broad interpretation and management of not only the use of the container but also ensuring that the container is used correctly.

(Embodiment 2): Example via internet A medication management system according to Embodiment 2 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the medication management system. Items not described are the same as those in the first embodiment.

The user 14 is a person who uses the medication management device 30 to use the medicine. Elderly people and sick people.
The administrator 13 is a person who controls the use of the medicine by the user 14. They are close relatives, medical personnel, information processing managers, etc.

The external server 10 is a device including a computer, a hard disk, etc., and is connected to the medication management device 30 via a network. The network may be the Internet or a network within a facility or area.
The external server 10 can store various data in the database 12. The external server 10 is arranged in a company, an organization, a hospital, a specialized company, or the like.

  The medication management device 30 is a medication management device arranged for each drug, each home, or each place. Although one medication management device 30 is provided in FIG. 4, one or more medication management devices 30 may be provided at a plurality of locations. Since the medication management device 30 is small, the medication management device 30 is not limited to a home, and can be arranged in a hospital room, next to a patient's bed, an individual place of residence, a dining room, or the like. The medication management device 30 is specified (identified), and the first information 12A is sent to the external server 10 for each of the specified medication management devices 30.

<Medication management device 30>
FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the medication management device 30. It is the same as FIG. 1C of the first embodiment, but differs in that a communication unit 41 is provided.
The communication unit 41 sends various information regarding the operation of the medication management device 30 (medication management method, each step) as the first information 12A via the net. For example, information obtained in each step of FIG. 2, data obtained in each step, such as data measured by the measurement unit 34, data obtained by processing the data by the control unit 33, judgment results, and notifications. And the like are sent to the external server 10 as the first information 12A. The sent first information 12A is stored in the database 12.

The administrator 13 can know from the first information 12A of the database 12 whether the user 14 has used the first container 31A, whether there is a problem, or the like.
<Process>
The process is shown in FIG. It is similar to FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, except that there are (7) data communication and (8) administrator's check. The different points will be explained.

(8) Data Communication As described above, the medication management device 30 has the communication unit 41 and can send the information of the operations of (1) to (7) of FIG. 6 to the external server 10. For example, the information measured in (1), the information stored in (2), the information that (3) the first container 31A is used and is not in the medication management device 30, the storage in (4), and measured. Information, the determination result of (5), the information of (6) notification, etc. can be sent as the first information 12A. It is also preferable to send information on the error of the medication management device 30. Based on this information, the pharmacist at the dispensing pharmacy, the attending doctor, or a close relative can visit.

(9) Check by administrator The administrator 13 can check that the first information 12A has been sent to the external server 10 by (8). The administrator 13 can know whether the user 14 has used the first container 31A for medication.
If the amount of medicine in the first container 31A is used as the first information 12A, the administrator 13 can know the decrease in medicine. When the amount of the remaining medicine is small, the administrator 13 can arrange the supplement of the medicine. When the reduction of the medicine is unexpected, the administrator 13 can instruct the user 14.
The administrator 13 may contact a doctor, a pharmacist, a hospital, etc., instead of making a direct contact.

<Medication management system>
FIG. 7 shows a configuration diagram of an example of the medication management system.
There are a plurality of medication management devices 30. The medication management devices 30A to 30D are used by different users 14A to 14D, respectively.

Each medication management device 30 is connected to one external server 10 via a net. The administrator 13 manages the external server 10 and the database 12.
A plurality of terminals 40A to 40C are connected to the external server 10.

For example, the terminal 40A can be used by a doctor, can access the database 12, and can check the use of the first container 31A of a certain user 14, that is, the use of the medicine inside. It can be used as a reference when examining the next time and prescribing medicine. Change the drug. The amount of drug can be increased or decreased.
The terminal 40B is used by a doctor, a pharmacist, a pharmacy, or the like, and can access the database 12 to check the usage of the first container 31A of a certain user 14, that is, the usage and usage amount of a drug. Next time, encourage the use of drugs. The shape of the drug can be changed so that it can be easily used.

The terminal 40C can be used by a close relative, can access the database 12, and can check the use of the first container 31A of a certain user 14, that is, the use of the medicine. User 14 can be instructed to use the drug.
Further, the administrator 13 can know the usage state of the medication management device 30A. If the medication management device 30A is not used, the user 14 can be contacted and advised. Further, the failure and error of the medication management device 30A can be known and dealt with.

In addition, since the usage state of the medication management device 30A can be known via the net, it is possible to know whether or not the first container 30A is being used without mistake.
<Effects> In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the use of the first container 31A can be managed more via the net. The various measures described above can be taken depending on the usage status of the first container 31A.
The medication management device 30 can be provided with a function of displaying the image of the user 14, and the image can be sent to the external server 10 as the first information 12A. It can be determined whether or not the first container 31A is actually used.

(Third Embodiment): Transmission from External Server 11 (Second Information 12B)
The third embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the second information 12B is communicated from the external server 10 to the medication management device 30. Other matters that are not described are the same as in the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the medication management device 30 and the external server 10 according to the third embodiment. In the third embodiment, the second information 12B is transmitted from the external server 10 to the medication management device 30.
The administrator 13 views the first information 12A stored in the database 12. Then, according to the first information 12A, the second information 12B is sent to the medication management device 30.

<Medication management device 30>
9A to 9C show a medication administration device 30 suitable for the third embodiment.
FIG. 9A shows an example in which the medication management device 30 has a display unit 39. The display unit 39 is a liquid crystal display or the like. The second information 12B can be displayed on the display unit 39.

FIG. 9B shows an example in which the medication management device 30 has a terminal 40. The terminal 40 is a smart phone or a large terminal. It is connected to the medication management device 30 or the external server 10 by wireless or the like. The second information 12B can be displayed on the terminal 40.
FIG. 9C is an example in which there are two medication management devices 30 and one terminal 40. There are two types of the first container 31A, and there are two medication management devices 30. There is one terminal 40. The medication management device 30 can be simplified.
When there are a plurality of first containers 31A, a plurality of medication management devices 30 may be provided, but a single medication management device 30 may measure a plurality of first containers 31A. An example of the case of the two first containers 31A will be described.
First, in FIG. 2A, the two first containers 31A are measured. In FIG. 2 (2), two first containers 31A are stored. In FIG. 2C, one first container 31A is used. In (4) of FIG. 2, the first container 31A and the second container 31B are stored and measured. In (5) of FIG. 2, it is determined whether one first container 31A is the same as one of the first container 31A and the second container 31B. It is determined whether the other first container 31A is the same as either the first container 31A or the second container 31B. If both are the same, proceed to (2) in FIG. If either one is different, the process proceeds to (6) in FIG. Then, the process proceeds to (7) in FIG. The used second container 31B is exchanged with another container, or the posture of the used second container 31B is changed, and the process proceeds to (4) in FIG.

<Second information 12B>
The second information 12B may be as follows. This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is an example of the display unit 39 of the medication management device 30.
(A) The time when the first container 31A should be used is displayed. It is better to ring the bell by the instruction unit 36 when the time comes. It is preferable that the database has the time when the first container 31A is used in advance, and the time is displayed on the display unit 39. Furthermore, if it is found from the first information 12A that the use of the first container 31A is not used at the scheduled time, a display prompting the use may be displayed.

(B) If there is a difference in the judgment of (5) in FIG. 6, the contents of (7) are displayed. The user 14 can respond by looking at the display.
(C) Display images such as instructions of the nurse and how to use the medication management device 30. The user 14 can ask a question to the nurse and the maker of the medication management device 30 by a method of using the drug in the first container 31A, a usage method of the medication management device 30, and the like, and the answer can be displayed on the display unit 39. When the amount of medicine becomes low, it can be notified.

(D) The guidance of the doctor is displayed on the display unit 39. By viewing the usage status (usage amount) of the first container 31A via the database 12, the doctor can make a comment prompting the user 14 to use the first container 31A. When the amount of the drug becomes low, the doctor may look at the user 14 and determine whether to supplement the drug. In this case, a camera set is provided so that the user 14 can also send sound and images. Also in the case of (c), it is preferable to send this image with the camera set.
In addition, in (c) and (d), it is preferable that an expert be involved in the configuration of FIG. 11 below.

<Effect>
In addition to the effects of the first and second embodiments, the medication management device and the medication management method of the third embodiment allow the user 14 to easily use the first container 31A without making a mistake.

<Another configuration>
Note that FIG. 11 shows a configuration in which the expert 20, not the manager 13, is involved.
There is a specialist 20, and the terminal 40 receives the information 12D2 from the external server 10. The expert 20 sends the information 12D1 corresponding to the information 12D2 to the external server 10 via the terminal 40.

The first information 12A and the second information 12B are the same as in the above example.
The specialist 20 is a doctor, a pharmacist, a hospital, a close relative, or the like.
The information 12D2 is all or a part of the first information 12A.

The information 12D1 is similar to the information 12B shown above.
The terminal 40 may be a mobile terminal such as a smart phone or a personal computer.
The use of the first container 31A can be controlled and the user 14 can be instructed from a distance from the user 14.

(as a whole)
The above embodiments can be combined.

  The medication management device and medication management method of the present invention can be used not only at home but also at various facilities and hospitals for use of medicines. In addition, it can be used to control the use of the container as well as the drug.

10 External Server 12 Database 12A First Information 12B Second Information 12D1, 12D2 Information 13 Administrator 14, 14A, 14B, 14C, 14D User 20 Expert 30, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D Medication Management Device 31A First Container 31B 2nd container 32 Recording part 33 Control part 34 Measuring part 35 Illumination part 36 Instruction part 37 Power supply part 38 Input part 39 Display parts 40, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D Terminal 41 Communication part

Claims (12)

A storage unit for temporarily storing the first container,
A measuring unit for recognizing the first container,
A recording unit for recording the result of measuring the first container by the measuring unit,
A medication management device comprising: a control unit that determines and measures whether the first container is the same when the first container is used and the second container is stored. The medication management device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement unit measures the shape of the first container. The medication management device according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit measures the weight of the first container. A medication management device having a display unit for displaying the information on the medication management device The medication management device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a communication unit that sends the recognition result or the determination result to an external server. The medication management device according to claim 3, wherein the communication unit has a display unit that receives information from the external server and displays the information. The medication management device according to claim 1, wherein the first container and the second container are containers containing a drug. A measurement step of measuring the first container,
A storage step of storing the first container,
A step of using the first container,
After the using step, when the first container is stored, the second container is measured, and a determination step of determining whether or not it is the same as the first container,
And a notification step of notifying that the second container is different from the first container in the determination step. In the measuring step, the outer shape of the first container is measured,
The medication management method according to claim 7, wherein the outer shape of the second container is measured in the determination step. In the determining step, the amount of the content in the second container is measured,
The medication management method according to claim 7, wherein, in the notifying step, if the decrease in the amount is unexpected, an abnormality is notified. 10. The medication management method according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a step of transmitting first information regarding any one of the steps to an external server. The method of receiving the 2nd information from the said external server, The medication management method of any one of Claims 8-11.