JP7067361B2 - Medication support system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a medication support system.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-108811 (hereinafter referred to as “Patent Document 1”) describes a medication support device installed in a patient's home and a medication support server to which the medication support device can be connected via a network. A medication support system is disclosed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-108811

As described in Patent Document 1, a medication support system that supports medication by a medication recipient is known. In such a medication support system, the drug is discharged from the medication support device at a preset time, but it is not possible for a pharmacy or a medical institution to confirm whether or not the medication was actually taken by the recipient. .. For this reason, there is a need in pharmacies and medical institutions to visually confirm whether or not the person taking the drug has taken the drug. However, taking a picture of the behavior of the person taking the drug with a photographing device such as a camera involves monitoring the person taking the drug, which places a heavy mental burden on the person taking the drug.

An object of the present invention is to provide a medication support system capable of confirming whether or not a recipient has taken a drug while suppressing an increase in the mental burden on the recipient.

The medication support system according to the present invention includes a medication support device installed in the home of the medication person, a photographing device installed in the home of the medication recipient, and an independent terminal that can be used by a person different from the medication recipient. , A medication support device, a imaging device, and a medication support server that can be connected to an independent terminal via a network. The medication support device is a container that houses a plurality of drug cases, each of which stores a drug, and an discharge execution information transmission unit that transmits discharge execution information indicating that the drug case has been discharged from the container to the medication support server. And have. The photographing device receives a photographing unit that photographs the inside of the patient's home, a photographing information transmitting unit that transmits the photographing information photographed by the photographing unit to the medication support server, and a start signal instructing the start of photographing by the photographing unit. It has a start signal receiving unit. The medication support server receives the discharge execution information receiving unit that receives the discharge execution information transmitted by the discharge execution information transmission unit, and the shooting information transmitted by the shooting information transmission unit, and also transmits the shooting information to the independent terminal. It has a transfer unit and a start signal transmission unit that transmits a start signal to the start signal reception unit. When the discharge execution information receiving unit receives the discharge execution information, the start signal transmitting unit transmits the start signal to the start signal receiving unit.

In this medication support system, the shooting information taken of the inside of the medication person's home is sent to the independent terminal via the medication support server, so that the medication recipient can take a picture at a place away from the medication person's home (pharmacy, medical institution, etc.). You can check whether you have taken the medicine. Further, since the imaging unit starts photographing when the discharge execution information (information indicating that the drug case has been discharged from the container) is transmitted to the discharge execution information receiving unit, for example, Compared with the case where the inside of the home of the taking person is constantly photographed, the mental burden on the taking person is reduced. Therefore, in this medication support system, it is possible to confirm whether or not the medication has been taken while suppressing the increase in the mental burden on the medication.

In addition, the medication support device has a setting unit that can set the discharge time for discharging the drug case, and a discharge mechanism that discharges one of the multiple drug cases from the container when the discharge time is reached. May further have. The discharge execution information is set to the discharge time set in the setting unit.

In this aspect, since the photographing by the photographing unit is started from the ejection time, the photographing time can be effectively shortened.

Alternatively, the medication support device further has a take-out section for taking out the drug case discharged from the container, and a sensor provided in the take-out section and capable of detecting the presence or absence of the drug case in the take-out section. May be good. The discharge execution information is set to the fact that the sensor detects that there is no drug case in the take-out part.

In this embodiment, since the photographing unit starts taking an image when the drug case disappears from the taking-out part (when the taking person takes out the drug case from the taking-out part), the photographing time can be effectively shortened.

Further, preferably, the medication support server further has a stop signal transmission unit that transmits a stop signal instructing the imaging unit to stop imaging to the imaging device. The photographing apparatus further includes a stop signal receiving unit for receiving the stop signal. The stop signal transmitting unit may transmit the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit after a certain period of time has elapsed after the start signal is transmitted by the start signal transmitting unit.

In this aspect, the shooting time is shortened because the shooting by the shooting unit is automatically stopped after a certain period of time has elapsed from the start of shooting by the shooting unit.

Further, preferably, the medication support device further includes a pressing portion that can be pressed by the medication recipient and that transmits a pressing signal to the medication support server when pressed by the medication recipient. After receiving the pressing signal, the stop signal transmitting unit may transmit the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit.

In this aspect, since the photographing by the photographing unit is stopped by the person taking the drug pressing the pressing portion, the photographing time by the photographing unit is effectively shortened.

Further, preferably, the photographing device further has a storage unit for storing the photographing information from the start to the stop of the photographing by the photographing unit. The shooting information transmission unit may transmit the shooting information stored in the storage unit to the shooting information transfer unit.

In this aspect, the shooting information stored (recorded) in the storage unit is transferred to the independent terminal.
Alternatively, the shooting information transmission unit may transmit the shooting information to the shooting information transfer unit at the same time as the shooting by the shooting unit, and the shooting information transfer unit may transmit the shooting information to the independent terminal at the same time as receiving the shooting information.

In this aspect, the shooting information during shooting by the shooting unit is transferred to the independent terminal.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a medication support system capable of confirming whether or not a medication has been taken while suppressing an increase in the mental burden on the medication. can.

It is a figure which shows outline the whole structure of the medication support system of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the medication support system shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the medication support device of the medication support system shown in FIG. 1. It is a side view of the medication support device shown in FIG. It is a top view of the medication support device shown in FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings referred to below, the same or corresponding members are assigned the same number.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an overall configuration of a medication support system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the medication support system shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the medication support device of the medication support system shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the medication support device shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the medication support device shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the medication support system 1 will be described first, and then the medication support device 10 constituting a part of the medication support system 1 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the medication support system 1 of the present embodiment includes a medication support device 10, an imaging device 20, an independent terminal 30, and a medication support server 40.

The medication support device 10 supports medication by the medication recipient, and is installed in the medication recipient's home. The medication support device 10 is configured to discharge the drug at a preset time. As shown in FIG. 2, the medication support device 10 includes a plurality of drug cases 202, a container 204, an extraction unit 106, a discharge mechanism 111, a setting unit 140, a discharge execution information transmission unit 160, and a sensor 170. And a pressing portion 180. The other configurations of the medication support device 10 will be described later.

Each drug case 202 contains a drug. The drug case 202 is preferably formed in a spherical shape and indivisible. However, the drug case 202 can be displaced between the cylindrical body portion, the closing portion that closes the opening on one side of the body portion, and the posture that closes and opens the opening on the other side of the body portion. It may be formed in the shape of a cylindrical bottle having a lid portion.

The container 204 contains a plurality of drug cases 202.
The setting unit 140 can set the discharge time (medication time) for discharging the drug case 202 from the container 204. In the setting unit 140, the discharge time can be set, for example, four times (morning, noon, night, and before bedtime) per day.

The discharge mechanism 111 discharges one of the plurality of drug cases 202, the drug case 202, from the container 204 at the discharge time.

The take-out unit 106 is a part for taking out the medicine case 202 discharged from the container 204.

The sensor 170 is provided in the take-out unit 106. The sensor 170 can detect the presence or absence of the drug case 202 in the take-out unit 106.

The discharge execution information transmission unit 160 transmits the discharge execution information indicating that the discharge from the drug case 202 from the container 204 has been executed to the medication support server 40. The discharge execution information is set that the discharge time set in the setting unit 140 has come, or that the sensor 170 has detected that the medicine case 202 does not exist in the take-out unit 106. That is, the discharge execution information transmission unit 160 outputs the discharge execution information when the discharge time set in the setting unit 140 is reached, or when the sensor 170 detects that the take-out unit 106 does not have the drug case 202. Send.

The pressing unit 180 can be pressed by the medication person and transmits a pressing signal to the medication support server 40 when the medication recipient presses the pressure.

The photographing device 20 is installed in the home of the person taking the drug. The photographing device 20 is movable. The photographing device 20 can capture moving images and still images (screenshots and the like). The photographing apparatus 20 has an enlargement / reduction function. The photographing device 20 is installed at a position where it is possible to photograph a state in which the person taking the drug is taking the drug. The photographing apparatus 20 includes a photographing unit 21, a storage unit 22, a photographing information transmitting unit 23, a start signal receiving unit 24, and a stop signal receiving unit 25.

The photographing unit 21 photographs the inside of the home of the person taking the drug.
The storage unit 22 stores shooting information (video, still image data, etc.) shot by the shooting unit 21. The storage unit 22 stores shooting information from the start to the stop of shooting by the shooting unit 21.

The shooting information transmission unit 23 transmits the shooting information shot by the shooting unit 21 or the shooting information stored in the storage unit 22 to the medication support server 40 via the network N (see FIG. 1).

The start signal receiving unit 24 receives a start signal instructing the start of photography by the photographing unit 21 and sends the start signal to the photographing unit 21. As a result, the photographing unit 21 starts photographing.

The stop signal receiving unit 25 receives a stop signal instructing the photographing unit 21 to stop photographing, and sends the stop signal to the photographing unit 21. As a result, the photographing unit 21 stops photographing.

The independent terminal 30 is a terminal (smartphone, tablet, notebook personal computer, etc.) that can be used by a person different from the person taking the drug. The independent terminal 30 has a shooting information receiving unit 31 for receiving shooting information and a display unit 32 for displaying shooting information. The independent terminal 30 is installed in, for example, a pharmacy or a hospital. The independent terminal 30 may be owned by the family of the taking person who is away from the taking person.

The medication support server 40 can be connected to the medication support device 10, the photographing device 20, and the independent terminal 30 via the network N. The medication support server 40 is installed in the data management center. The medication support server 40 includes an discharge execution information receiving unit 41, a start signal transmitting unit 42, a stop signal transmitting unit 43, and a photographing information transfer unit 44.

The discharge execution information receiving unit 41 receives the discharge execution information transmitted by the discharge execution information transmission unit 160. The discharge execution information receiving unit 41 sends the discharge execution information to the start signal transmission unit 42.

The start signal transmission unit 42 transmits the start signal to the start signal reception unit 24. Specifically, when the start signal transmission unit 42 receives the discharge execution information from the discharge execution information receiving unit 41 (when the discharge execution information receiving unit 41 receives the discharge execution information), the start signal transmitting unit 42 sends a start signal to the start signal receiving unit. Send to 24.

The stop signal transmitting unit 43 transmits the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit 25. Specifically, when the stop signal transmission unit 43 receives the pressing signal, the stop signal transmission unit 43 transmits the stop signal to the stop signal reception unit 25.

The shooting information transfer unit 44 receives the shooting information transmitted by the shooting information transmission unit 23, and also transmits the shooting information to the shooting information receiving unit 31 of the independent terminal 30. The shooting information transfer unit 44 may transmit the imaging information to the shooting information receiving unit 31 at the same time as receiving the shooting information from the shooting information transmitting unit 23, or the shooting information transmission unit 23 may store the shooting information in the storage unit 22. After receiving the information, the shooting information may be transmitted to the shooting information receiving unit 31.

Next, the medication support device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. The medication support device 10 includes a device main body 100 and a drug unit 200.

The device body 100 supports the drug unit 200. In addition to the above-mentioned setting unit 140, discharge execution information transmission unit 160, sensor 170, and pressing unit 180, the device main body 100 includes a support base 102, a switching unit 112, an auxiliary unit 113, a drive unit 114, and a collection unit 116. It has a controller 120, a display unit 130, and a speaker 150.

The support base 102 has a support portion 103 that supports the drug unit 200. The support portion 103 is provided at the rear portion of the support base 102. The support portion 103 is provided with an opening 103a (see FIG. 4) having a shape that allows the drug case 202 to fall. The support base 102 has a passage 104 and the above-mentioned take-out portion 106.

The take-out unit 106 is a part for taking out the drug case 202. The take-out portion 106 is provided on the front surface of the support base 102. The take-out portion 106 is arranged below the opening 103a of the support portion 103 (below the container 204 of the drug unit 200). The take-out portion 106 has a bottom wall 108 and an opening / closing portion 110.

The bottom wall 108 is provided with a drop hole 109 having a shape that allows the drug case 202 to fall.

The opening / closing portion 110 can be displaced relative to the bottom wall 108. Specifically, the opening / closing portion 110 has an open position (position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) for opening the drop hole 109 so as to allow the drug case 202 to fall through the drop hole 109, and the drug case 202. Can be displaced between a closed position (position shown by a solid line in FIG. 3) that closes the drop hole 109 so as to prevent the drop hole 109 from falling through the drop hole 109.

The passage 104 has a shape extending downward from the opening 103a provided in the support portion 103 toward the take-out portion 106. The passage 104 has an inclined surface 105 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) having a shape inclined toward the bottom wall 108 from a portion located below the opening 103a. The lower end of the inclined surface 105 is connected to the bottom wall 108.

The collection unit 116 is provided below the extraction unit 106, and collects the drug case 202. The collection unit 116 has a receiving port (not shown) for receiving the drug case 202 that has fallen through the drop hole 109. The receiving port is provided at a position facing the drop hole 109 in the vertical direction. That is, the opening / closing section 110 opens the drop hole 109 so as to allow the drug case 202 to fall from the take-out section 106 to the recovery section 116 in the open position, and the drug case 202 is removed from the take-out section 106 in the closed position. The drop hole 109 is closed so as to prevent it from falling into the collection unit 116. The recovery unit 116 can be pulled forward from the support base 102. The collection unit 116 is provided with a lock unit 117 that prohibits the collection unit 116 from being pulled out from the support base 102. The key for unlocking the lock unit 117 is managed by the supporter.

When the medicine case 202 is collected by the collection unit 116, the medication support device 10 may transmit collection information indicating that fact to the medication support server 40.

The drive unit 114 is provided in the support base 102. The drive unit 114 rotates and drives the partition unit 220, which will be described later.

The switching unit 112 switches between a state in which the passage 104 is blocked and a state in which the passage 104 is released. Specifically, the switching section 112 has a discharge posture that allows the drug case 202 to be displaced by its own weight toward the take-out section 106 via the passage 104, and the drug case 202 supports the drug case 202. It is possible to switch between a blocking posture (a posture shown in FIG. 4) for blocking toward the take-out unit 106. As shown in FIG. 4, the switching portion 112 has a shape that blocks the passage 104 on the inclined surface 105. The switching portion 112 is provided at a position in the passage 104 where only a single drug case 202 is accommodated between the opening 103a and the switching portion 112. The switching unit 112 is displaced between the position where the passage 104 is blocked (blocking posture) and the position where the passage 104 is released (discharging posture).

The auxiliary portion 113 has a shape that closes the opening 103a. The auxiliary portion 113 can be displaced between the closed position (position shown in FIG. 4) for closing the opening 103a and the open position for opening the opening 103a.

The controller 120 is provided on the support base 102. The controller 120 has a switching unit control unit 121, an opening / closing unit control unit 122, and a drive unit control unit 123.

The switching unit control unit 121 is set so that when the preset time (discharge time) is reached, the drug case 202 supported by the switching unit 112 among the plurality of drug cases 202 reaches the take-out unit 106. The switching unit 112 is switched from the shut-off posture to the discharge posture, and then the switching unit 112 is switched from the discharge posture to the shut-off posture. Specifically, the switching unit control unit 121 positions the auxiliary unit 113 at the release position in the state where the switching unit 112 is in the shut-off posture before the discharge time is reached. As a result, only one drug case 202 falls from the container 204 onto the inclined surface 105. The medicine case 202 is in a state of being supported by the switching portion 112 on the inclined surface 105. In this state, the switching unit control unit 121 positions the auxiliary unit 113 at the closed position. As a result, the drop of the drug case 202 from the container 204 into the passage 104 is restricted, and a single drug case 202 exists between the auxiliary portion 113 and the switching portion 112. In this state, the switching unit control unit 121 displaces the switching unit 112 to the discharge posture when the discharge time is reached. As a result, the medicine case 202 supported by the switching unit 112 falls toward the extraction unit 106 by its own weight. After that, the switching unit control unit 121 switches the switching unit 112 from the discharging posture to the blocking posture.

As described above, the switching unit 112, the auxiliary unit 113, and the switching unit control unit 121 discharge the drug case 202, which is one of the plurality of drug cases 202, from the container 204 at the discharge time. That is, the switching unit 112, the auxiliary unit 113, and the switching unit control unit 121 constitute the above-mentioned discharge mechanism 111.

The opening / closing unit control unit 122 displaces the opening / closing unit 110 to the open position after a certain period of time has elapsed since the drug case 202 was arranged in the take-out unit 106. As a result, the drug case 202 is collected in the collection unit 116. The opening / closing unit control unit 122 displaces the opening / closing unit 110 from the open position to the closed position after the drug case 202 is collected by the collection unit 116.

The display unit 130 displays the content indicating that it is the medication time (discharge time) (for example, "medicine time"), the current time, and the like. The display unit 130 is provided on the upper surface of the front portion of the support base 102. The display unit 130 is controlled by the controller 120.

The setting unit 140 is provided at a position adjacent to the display unit 130.
The speaker 150 is provided on the front surface of the support base 102. From the speaker 150, a notification such as a voice indicating that it is the medication time, an alert when a predetermined time has elapsed from the medication time, and the like are issued. The speaker 150 is controlled by the controller 120.

The sensor 170 includes, for example, a light emitting element and a light receiving element (see FIGS. 3 and 5) provided on the side wall of the take-out portion 106. In the light emitting element and the light receiving element, when the drug case 202 is present on the bottom wall 108 of the extraction unit 106, the light emitted from the light emitting element is blocked by the drug case 202, while the light emitting element is on the bottom wall 108 of the extraction unit 106. It is provided at a position where the light emitted from the light emitting element is received by the light receiving element when the medicine case 202 is not present. After the discharge time has come, when the light emitted from the light emitting element is not blocked by the drug case 202 and is received by the light receiving element, the discharge execution information transmitting unit 160 transmits the discharge execution information. As the sensor 170, a weight sensor provided on the bottom wall 108 may be used. In this case, the discharge execution information transmission unit 160 transmits the discharge execution information when the weight of the drug case 202 is no longer detected by the weight sensor.

The pressing portion 180 may be provided on the support base 102, or may be arranged at a position separated from the support base 102.

The drug unit 200 is configured to be removable from the device main body 100. A lock mechanism is provided between the drug unit 200 and the device body 100 to prohibit the drug unit 200 from being removed from the device body 100. This lock mechanism is released, for example, by entering a password in the setting unit 140. The password is managed by the supporter. The drug unit 200 has a partition 220 and a handle 230 in addition to the plurality of drug cases 202 and the container 204 described above.

The container 204 has a discharge port 211 for discharging the drug case 202. The container 204 has a peripheral wall 206 formed in a cylindrical shape, an upper wall 208 connected to the upper end portion of the peripheral wall 206, and a bottom wall 210 connected to the lower end portion of the peripheral wall 206. A discharge port 211 is provided in a part of the bottom wall 210. The discharge port 211 has a shape that allows the drug case 202 to be inserted (dropped). The discharge port 211 is arranged above the opening 103a so as to overlap the opening 103a of the support portion 103 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the discharge port 211 and the take-out portion 106 are connected by the passage 104.

The handle 230 is connected to the peripheral wall 206 of the container 204.

The partition 220 divides the inside of the container 204 into a plurality of storage chambers arranged around an axis parallel to the vertical direction (central axis of the peripheral wall 206). The partition portion 220 has a shape that divides the inside of the container 204 so that each storage chamber can store a predetermined number (4 in this embodiment) of the drug cases 202 in the vertical direction among the plurality of drug cases 202. are doing. Specifically, the dividing portion 220 has a plurality of (seven in this embodiment) tubular members arranged at equal intervals around the central axis of the peripheral wall 206. Each tubular member has a storage chamber capable of accommodating a predetermined number of drug cases 202 in a direction parallel to the vertical direction. The lower end of each tubular member is open. Each tubular member is rotationally driven around the central axis of the peripheral wall 206 by the drive unit 114. It is preferable that the four drug cases 202 housed in each tubular member are set to different colors from each other.

When the medicine unit 200 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the drive unit control unit 123 stores the medicine case 202 to be discharged next among the plurality of storage chambers (cylinder members) in the container 204. The drive unit 114 is driven so that the (cylinder member) is located on the discharge port 211. The controller 120 determines the cylinder member accommodating the drug case 202 to be discharged next based on the information from the wireless communication element or the like attached to the cylinder member. While the drive unit 114 is rotating each tubular member, the auxiliary unit 113 is in the closed position.

Here, the function or operation of the medication support system 1 described above will be described. The medication support device 10 and the photographing device 20 are installed in advance in the home of the medication recipient. At this time, the discharge time is also set in advance from the setting unit 140 of the medication support device 10. Further, the independent terminal 30 is installed in a pharmacy or a hospital in advance.

(1) When the medication support system 1 is activated, the switching unit control unit 121 of the medication support device 10 is in a state where the switching unit 112 is in a shut-off posture before the discharge time preset by a supporter (pharmacist or the like). The auxiliary portion 113 is positioned in the open position, and after one drug case 202 has fallen from the container 204 onto the inclined surface 105, the auxiliary portion 113 is positioned in the closed position. After that, the switching unit control unit 121 displaces the switching unit 112 to the discharge posture when the discharge time is reached. As a result, the medicine case 202 supported by the switching unit 112 falls toward the extraction unit 106 by its own weight.

At this time, the display unit 130 displays the content indicating that it is the medication time (discharge time) (for example, "It is the medication time"), the current time, and the like, and the speaker 150 displays the medication time. A notification such as a voice indicating that is is issued.

(2) Then, when the taking person takes out the medicine case 202 from the taking-out unit 106, the sensor 170 detects it, and the discharge execution information is sent to the discharge execution information receiving unit 41 of the medication support server 40. Then, since the start signal transmitting unit 42 transmits the start signal to the start signal receiving unit 24, the photographing unit 21 starts photographing. At the same time as shooting by the shooting unit 21, the shooting information is stored in the storage unit 22. If the medication person does not take out the medicine case 202 from the take-out unit 106 for a certain period of time, the opening / closing unit 102 switches the opening / closing unit 110 to the open position. As a result, the drug case 202 is dropped (recovered) into the recovery unit 116 through the drop hole 109. In this case, the medication support device 10 sends the recovery information indicating that the medicine case 202 has been recovered to the medication support server 40.

(3) When the person taking the medicine finishes taking the medicine, he / she presses the pressing portion 180. As a result, the imaging by the imaging unit 21 is stopped, and the imaging information and the pressing information stored in the storage unit 22 are sent to the independent terminal 30 installed in a pharmacy, a hospital, or the like. At this time, information on the room temperature of the person taking the drug may be sent together with the photographing information and the pressing information. Further, at the same time as the transmission of each information, the display unit 32 of the independent terminal 30 may automatically reproduce the shooting information. The shooting information may be transmitted to the independent terminal 30 via the shooting information transfer unit 44 at the same time as the shooting by the shooting unit 21. Based on this imaging information, a supporter such as a pharmacist determines whether or not the person taking the drug has taken the drug. If the pressing unit 180 is not pressed, the imaging by the imaging unit 21 is stopped after a certain period of time has elapsed from the start of imaging, and the imaging information captured during that period is transmitted to the independent terminal 30.

The steps shown in (1) to (3) above are repeated, for example, four times a day (morning, noon, night, and before bedtime).

(4) Then, after the completion of the fourth step (3), in the drive unit control unit 123, the tubular member accommodating the four drug cases 202 scheduled to be discharged the next day moves onto the discharge port 211. As such, the drive unit 114 is rotated. After that, the steps shown in (1) to (3) above are repeated four times a day.

(5) After the above steps (1) to (4) are repeated for one week, the supporter brings a new drug unit 200 to the home of the person taking the drug. Then, by inputting the password in the setting unit 140, the used drug unit 200 is removed from the device body 100, and the new drug unit 200 is attached to the device body 100. Then, the drive unit control unit 123 drives the drive unit 114, so that the tubular member accommodating the drug case 202 to be discharged next is located on the discharge port 211. The supporter unlocks the lock unit 117 and pulls out the collection unit 116 from the support base 102 to confirm the drug case 202 collected by the collection unit 116. As a result, the supporter can grasp the medicine that the person taking the medicine did not take.

Then, the process of (1) above is repeated again.

As described above, in the medication support system 1 of the present embodiment, the photographing information obtained by photographing the inside of the medication person's home is sent to the independent terminal 30 via the medication support server 40, so that the patient is away from the medication person's home. At a location (such as a pharmacy or hospital), a supporter (such as a pharmacist, a doctor, or a family member of the medication person who is away from the medication recipient) can check whether or not the medication recipient has taken the medication. Further, the photographing by the photographing unit 21 is started when the discharge execution information (information indicating that the medicine case 202 has been discharged from the container 204) is transmitted to the discharge execution information receiving unit 41. Therefore, for example, the mental burden on the taking person is reduced as compared with the case where the inside of the taking person's home is constantly photographed. Therefore, in the present medication support system 1, it is possible to confirm whether or not the medication recipient has taken the medication while suppressing the increase in the mental burden on the medication recipient.

Further, the discharge execution information transmission unit 160 transmits the discharge execution information when the discharge time set in the setting unit 140 is reached. In this aspect, since the photographing by the photographing unit 21 is started from the ejection time, the photographing time is effectively shortened.

Alternatively, the discharge execution information transmission unit 160 may transmit the discharge execution information when the sensor 170 detects that the ejection unit 106 does not have the drug case 202. In this embodiment, since the photographing unit 21 starts photographing when the drug case 202 disappears from the taking-out unit 106 (when the taking person takes out the drug case 202 from the taking-out unit 106), the photographing time is effectively shortened. To.

Further, the stop signal transmitting unit 43 transmits the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit 25 after receiving the pressing signal. In this aspect, since the imaging unit 21 stops the imaging by pressing the pressing unit 180 by the taking person, the imaging time by the imaging unit 21 is effectively shortened. Further, the increase in the capacity of the shooting information transmitted by the shooting information transmission unit 23 is suppressed as compared with the case where the shooting is performed for a long time.

Alternatively, the stop signal transmitting unit 43 may transmit the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit 25 after a certain period of time (for example, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, or 30 minutes) has elapsed after the start signal transmitting unit 42 transmits the start signal. good. In this aspect, the shooting time is shortened because the shooting by the shooting unit 21 is automatically stopped after a certain period of time has elapsed from the start of the shooting by the shooting unit 21. Further, even for a person who takes a drug in which it is difficult to press the pressing portion 180, the shooting time can be shortened.

Further, in the medication support device 10 of the present embodiment, the take-out portion 106 is arranged below the discharge port 211 of the container 204, and the passage 104 has a shape extending downward from the discharge port 211 toward the take-out portion 106. Therefore, the switching portion 112 is switched from the shutoff posture to the discharge posture, so that the medicine case 202 is displaced to the take-out portion 106 via the passage 104 by its own weight. Therefore, in this medication support device 10, the medication case 202 can be taken out with a simple structure.

Further, since the medication support device 10 includes a switching unit control unit 121 that controls the switching unit 112, the switching unit among the plurality of drug cases 202 when the preset time (discharge time) is reached. One drug case 202 supported by 112 moves to the take-out section 106 by its own weight.

Further, in the medication support device 10, the opening / closing portion 110 is displaced from the closed position to the open position when a certain time elapses from the medication time, so that the medication case 202 falls from the ejection portion 106 to the collection portion 116 through the drop hole 109. (Recovered). Therefore, the supporter can grasp the medicine that the taking person did not take based on the medicine case 202 collected by the collecting unit 116. In addition, it is suppressed that the person taking the medicine takes the medicine at a time different from the time of taking the medicine.

Further, since the medicine case 202 is formed in a spherical shape, the medicine case 202 is smoothly displaced by its own weight from the discharge port 211 of the container 204 toward the take-out portion 106 via the passage 104. When the drug case 202 is formed in the shape of a cylindrical bottle, the drug can be easily taken out from the drug case 202 (opening / closing of the lid portion), and the drug case 202 is prevented from popping out from the taking-out section 106.

Further, the partition portion 220 has a shape that divides the inside of the container 204 so that each storage chamber can store a predetermined number (for example, four) of the drug cases 202 in the vertical direction among the plurality of drug cases 202. ing. In this embodiment, since each drug case 202 housed in the vertical direction falls by its own weight, the space is saved as compared with the case where a dedicated mechanism for pushing out each drug case 202 is provided.

Further, since the drug unit 200 (container 204) is configured to be removable from the device main body 100, a supporter (for example, a pharmacist) visits the home of the taking person with the new drug unit 200 and the new drug. It is possible to replace the unit 200 with the old drug unit 200. Therefore, it is possible for the supporter to omit the work of refilling the container 204 with the new drug case 202 at the home of the taking person.

Further, when the drug unit 200 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the drive unit control unit 123 discharges the storage chamber for accommodating the drug case 202 to be discharged next among the plurality of storage chambers in the container 204. Located on exit 211. Therefore, if the supporter mistakenly attaches the drug unit 200 to the apparatus main body 100, the drug case 202 housed in a storage room different from the storage room for storing the drug case 202 to be discharged next is next. It is possible to suppress the discharge to.

It should be noted that the container 204 may contain eight tubular members, each containing four drug cases 202. By doing so, the degree of freedom in the timing of performing the above-mentioned step (5) by the supporter is increased. For example, if the step (5) above is performed between the second discharge time (daytime medication time) and the third medication time (nighttime medication time) in a day, 3 of the day. At the time of the first dose, the medicine case 202 scheduled to be discharged at the first discharge time (morning dose time) of the day will be discharged from the first tubular member. In order to avoid this situation, two drug cases 202 scheduled to be discharged at the first and second discharge times of the day after the new drug unit 200 is installed and before the third discharge time of the day is reached. These two drug cases 202 are collected by the collection unit 116 while being discharged from the main cylinder member. By doing so, one week from the time when the supporter puts on the drug unit 200 (the time between the second discharge time and the third dose time on the replacement day), the above (1) to (4) Even if the process is performed, on the final day, by the time of replacement of the drug unit 200 on that day (the time between the second discharge time and the third medication time on the final day), the eighth cylinder From the member, the medicine case 202 to be discharged for the first time and the second time on the final day is discharged. In addition, in the case of such management, a drug case 202 for 8 days is substantially required.

Further, in the case of the above management, at the time of the second and subsequent replacement of the drug unit 200, the supporter puts one of the eight tubular members in the empty state of the medication person's home. You may bring it and take out the morning and lunch drug cases 202 from the collection unit 116 and fill them into empty tubular members. In this way, it becomes possible to manage only the drug case 202 for 7 days.

It should be noted that the embodiments disclosed this time are examples in all respects and should be considered not to be restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the description of the embodiment described above, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

The present invention applies to medication support devices and medication support systems.

1 medication support system, 10 medication support device, 20 imaging device, 21 imaging unit, 22 storage unit, 23 imaging information transmitter, 24 start signal receiver, 25 stop signal receiver, 30 independent terminal, 31 imaging information receiver, 32 Display unit, 40 Medication support server, 41 Discharge execution information receiving unit, 42 Start signal transmitting unit, 43 Stop signal transmitting unit, 44 Imaging information transfer unit, 100 Device main unit, 102 Support stand, 104 passage, 106 Extraction unit, 108 Bottom wall, 109 drop hole, 110 open / close part, 111 discharge mechanism, 112 switching part, 113 auxiliary part, 114 drive part, 116 recovery part, 120 controller, 121 switching part control part, 122 open / close part control part, 123 drive part control Unit, 130 display unit, 140 setting unit, 150 speaker, 160 discharge execution information transmission unit, 170 sensor, 180 pressing unit, 200 drug unit, 202 drug case, 204 container, 211 discharge port, 220 partition section.

Claims (7)

A medication support device installed in the home of the recipient,
The imaging device installed in the home of the person taking the drug,
An independent terminal that can be used by a person different from the person taking the drug,
The medication support device, the imaging device, and the medication support server that can be connected to the independent terminal via a network are provided.
The medication support device is
A container that holds multiple drug cases, each of which holds drugs,
It has a discharge execution information transmission unit that transmits discharge execution information indicating that the medicine case has been discharged from the container to the medication support server.
The photographing device is
The photography department that photographs the inside of the drug recipient's home,
A shooting information transmission unit that transmits the shooting information taken by the shooting unit to the medication support server, and a shooting information transmission unit.
It has a start signal receiving unit that receives a start signal instructing the start of imaging by the photographing unit.
The medication support server is
The discharge execution information receiving unit that receives the discharge execution information transmitted by the discharge execution information transmitting unit, and the discharge execution information receiving unit.
A shooting information transfer unit that receives the shooting information transmitted by the shooting information transmission unit and transmits the shooting information to the independent terminal.
It has a start signal transmitting unit that transmits the start signal to the start signal receiving unit, and has.
The start signal transmission unit is a medication support system that transmits the start signal to the start signal reception unit when the discharge execution information receiving unit receives the discharge execution information. The medication support device has a setting unit capable of setting a discharge time for discharging the drug case, and a discharge that discharges one of the plurality of drug cases from the container when the discharge time is reached. With a mechanism,
The medication support system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge execution information is set at the discharge time set in the setting unit. The medication support device is
A take-out part for taking out the medicine case discharged from the container,
Further, a sensor provided in the take-out part and capable of detecting the presence or absence of the drug case in the take-out part is provided.
The medication support system according to claim 1, wherein the discharge execution information is set so that the sensor detects that the medicine case does not exist in the take-out unit. The medication support server further includes a stop signal transmission unit that transmits a stop signal instructing the imaging unit to stop imaging to the imaging device.
The photographing device further includes a stop signal receiving unit for receiving the stop signal.
The one according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stop signal transmitting unit transmits the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit after a lapse of a certain period of time after the start signal transmitting unit transmits the start signal. Medication support system. The medication support server further includes a stop signal transmission unit that transmits a stop signal instructing the imaging unit to stop imaging to the imaging device.
The photographing device further includes a stop signal receiving unit for receiving the stop signal.
The medication support device further includes a pressing portion that can be pressed by the medication person and that transmits a pressing signal to the medication support server when pressed by the medication person.
The medication support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the stop signal transmitting unit transmits the stop signal to the stop signal receiving unit after receiving the pressing signal. The photographing apparatus further has a storage unit for storing the imaging information from the start to the stop of imaging by the imaging unit.
The medication support system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the shooting information transmitting unit transmits the shooting information stored in the storage unit to the shooting information transfer unit. The shooting information transmission unit transmits the shooting information to the shooting information transfer unit at the same time as shooting by the shooting unit.
The medication support system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the shooting information transfer unit transmits the shooting information to the independent terminal at the same time as receiving the shooting information.

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