JP7075586B2 - Medication management device and drug loading / unloading detection method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a medication management device in which drugs are arranged one by one. The present invention also relates to a method for detecting that a drug has been taken in and out from a medication management device or the like.

Elderly patients and patients whose symptoms have passed the acute phase are often treated at home. In addition, patients who do not need urgency such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia are often treated at home. Patients who are treated at home need to take medication based on self-management.
For example, if the doctor's prescription is to take medicines A and B in the morning, medicine B in the afternoon, and double the doses of medicines A and C in the morning after dinner, the patient decides himself. It is necessary to take out a fixed amount of a fixed amount of a fixed amount of medicine from a medicine box or the like and take it at a fixed time.
However, as a practical matter, the type and amount of medicine to be taken may be wrong or missed. On the contrary, it may be taken in duplicate. Especially in the case of elderly people with multiple diseases, polypharmacy was used, which was remarkable.
In addition, it is difficult for elderly people and patients with weakened energy to sort medicines and take out a certain amount of a certain amount of medicines from a medicine box, etc., and it may not be possible to take the medicines accurately. be.

In addition, in long-term care facilities for the elderly, long-term care personnel assist in the management of medication, but in the current long-term care facilities, one long-term care worker often cares for multiple elderly people, which imposes a burden on the long-term care staff. big. That is, in a long-term care facility, a long-term care worker takes out a fixed amount of a fixed amount of a fixed amount of medicine from a medicine box or the like at a fixed time and hands the medicine to the patient, but this work is troublesome and is improved. Was desired.

A technique related to this problem is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In the medication management device disclosed in Patent Document 1, pockets for accommodating drugs are arranged in four rows, and LED lights are provided on the left and right sides of each pocket. It also has an infrared sensor that detects the presence or absence of drugs stored in the pocket.
In the medication management device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the time for medication arrives, the LED lights on the left and right of the pocket containing the medication to be taken are turned on to alert the patient.
When the drug is taken out of the pocket, the LED light turns off, data is sent to the server, and the information is recorded in the database.

In the medication management device disclosed in Patent Document 1, an infrared sensor detects that the drug has been taken out from the pocket. That is, the medication management device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an infrared sensor that detects whether or not there is a drug in the pocket.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-12469

As described above, in the medication management device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is detected that the drug is taken out from the pocket by the infrared sensor, but this detection accuracy cannot be said to be high.
The infrared sensor irradiates infrared rays and detects the presence or absence of an article by the intensity of the reflected light. That is, if there is a drug in the pocket, infrared rays are reflected on the surface of the drug, and the intensity of the reflected light becomes strong. On the contrary, if there is no drug in the pocket, the reflected light is weak.
The infrared sensor outputs a voltage or current according to the intensity of the reflected light. In the conventional medication management device, it is determined whether or not there is a drug in the pocket based on an absolute value such as an output voltage.

However, due to space limitations, the infrared sensor must be installed very close to the pocket. Further, the pocket structurally has an inner wall surface for holding an article.
Therefore, infrared rays are reflected on the inner wall surface of the pocket, and even though the pocket is empty, it may be erroneously detected as having a drug. On the other hand, if the drug or drug package has a blackish color, there is little reflected light, and even though the drug is in the pocket, it may be falsely detected that there is no drug.
In addition, due to light from indoor lighting or the like, it may be erroneously detected that there is a drug even though the pocket is empty.
Therefore, in the medication management device disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to carefully adjust the sensitivity of the infrared sensor according to the environment of the installation site and the individual medicines stored in each pocket, which is troublesome.

It is an object of the present invention to pay attention to the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to develop a medication management device capable of detecting the inflow and outflow of a drug without carefully adjusting the sensitivity of the sensor. ..

In an embodiment for solving the above-mentioned problem, in a medication management device in which a plurality of drug accommodating portions are distributed in a plane and the corresponding drug is held in the drug accommodating portion, the drug to the drug accommodating portion is charged. It has an in / out detection means for detecting in / out, and the in / out detection means has a light ray irradiating means for irradiating a light beam in a drug accommodating portion and a reflected light ray detecting means for detecting a reflected light ray by the light beam, and the reflected light ray detection means. It is a medication management device characterized by determining whether or not a drug is taken in or out based on a change in reflected light rays detected by the means.

In the medication management device of this embodiment, it is detected that the medicine is taken in and out from the medicine accommodating portion due to the change of the reflected light beam.
When the drug is in the drug compartment, the reflected light is stable. In addition, the reflected light beam is stable even when the drug is not in the drug housing.
On the other hand, when the drug is taken out, the reflected light ray changes because the drug moves in the drug housing.
This aspect pays attention to this phenomenon, captures a change in the reflected light beam, and determines that the drug is taken in and out of the drug accommodating portion when the reflected light beam is disturbed.
Since the change in the reflected light occurs regardless of the reflectivity of the drug or the drug package and the influence of the disturbance, it is possible to detect the loading and unloading of the drug without finely adjusting the sensitivity of the sensor.

In the above-described embodiment, the intensities of the reflected light rays before and after the change of the reflected light rays and the occurrence of turbulence in the reflected light rays are compared, and whether the drug is inserted into the drug accommodating portion due to the change in the intensity of the reflected light rays before and after the occurrence of the turbulence. It is desirable to determine if it has been discharged.

In the medication management device of this embodiment, it is detected that the medicine is taken in and out from the medicine accommodating portion due to the disturbance of the reflected light beam.
As mentioned above, when the drug is in the drug compartment, the reflected light is stable. In addition, the reflected light beam is stable even when the drug is not in the drug housing.
On the other hand, when the medicine is taken out, the medicine moves in the medicine storage part, so that the reflected light beam is disturbed.
This aspect pays attention to this phenomenon, captures the turbulence of the reflected light beam, and determines that the drug is taken in and out of the drug accommodating portion when the reflected light beam is disturbed.
Further, in the medication management device of this embodiment, the intensities of the reflected light rays before and after the occurrence of the turbulence are compared, and it is determined whether the medicine is inserted or discharged into the medicine accommodating portion by the change in the intensity of the reflected light rays before and after the occurrence of the turbulence. do.
For example, if the inner wall of the drug-containing portion is of a color or material that is difficult to reflect, the intensity of the reflected light beam is relatively reduced by removing the drug from the drug-containing portion. On the contrary, when the drug is inserted into the drug container, the intensity of the reflected light beam is relatively increased.
If the inner wall of the drug housing is made of a material that easily reflects, such as a mirror surface, the intensity of the reflected light rays will increase relatively when the drug is removed from the drug housing, and it will be reflected when the drug is inserted. The intensity of light rays is relatively low.
Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the drug has been inserted into or discharged from the drug container by comparing the intensities of the reflected light rays before and after the occurrence of the turbulence.

In each of the above embodiments, it is desirable to compare the intensities of the reflected light rays before and after the occurrence of the turbulence, and if the intensity of the reflected light rays decreases after the turbulence, it is determined that the drug has been discharged from the drug accommodating portion.

In each of the above embodiments, it is desirable to compare the intensities of the reflected light rays on the condition that the turbulence continues for a certain period of time or longer.

According to this aspect , it is possible to prevent false detection due to noise, and it is possible to more accurately determine the loading and unloading of a drug.

In each of the above embodiments, it is desirable that the turbulence requires that a certain amount of intensity fluctuation occurs based on the intensity of the reflected light beam in a stable state.

Also in this embodiment , false detection due to noise can be prevented, and the loading and unloading of the drug can be determined more accurately.

In each of the above embodiments, a method of monitoring the intensity of the reflected light beam and determining that the drug has been taken in and out when the reflected light beam changes from a stable state at a constant intensity to a stable state at a different intensity. It may be adopted.

In each of the above embodiments, it is desirable that there is a light emitting member at a position corresponding to each drug accommodating portion, and a specific light emitting member emits light to indicate a drug to be taken.

In each of the above embodiments, the main body device and the drug set tool are provided, the main body device is provided with the light irradiation means and the reflected light ray detecting means, and the drug set tool is provided with the drug accommodating portion. It is desirable that the tool is removable from the main body device.

In each of the above embodiments, the drug accommodating portion has a pocket-shaped inner bag portion having an outer wall portion facing the user side and an inner side wall portion facing the outer wall portion, and the inner bag portion absorbs light. A member or a reflective member is built in, and the light absorbing member or the reflective member is arranged on the inner wall contact portion that abuts on the inner wall of the outer wall portion and the lower surface of the inner wall contact portion on the bottom surface of the inner bag portion. It is desirable that the bottom plate portion is integrally formed.

In the medication management device of this embodiment, since the light absorbing member or the reflecting member is built in the inner bag portion, the reflection intensity when the drug is present in the drug accommodating portion and the reflection intensity when the drug is not present in the drug accommodating portion. The difference is large.
Further, in the light absorbing member or the like, the inner wall contact portion that abuts on the inner wall of the outer wall portion and the bottom plate portion arranged on the bottom surface of the inner bag portion are integrally formed, so that the swelling of the inner bag portion is ensured. Will be done. Further, it is possible to secure an appropriate distance between the light absorbing member or the like and the reflected light detecting means.

Another aspect for solving the same problem is a drug loading / unloading detection method for detecting the loading / unloading of a drug into the drug containing section, which irradiates the inside of the drug containing section with light and monitors the intensity of the reflected light. When the intensity of the reflected light is disturbed, the intensity of the reflected light is compared before and after the intensity of the reflected light, and the loading and unloading of the drug is detected depending on whether the intensity of the reflected light becomes stronger or weaker. The method.
Another specific embodiment for solving the same problem is a drug loading / unloading detection method for detecting the loading / unloading of a drug into the drug containing section, which irradiates the inside of the drug containing section with light to determine the intensity of the reflected light beam. Monitor and compare the intensity of the reflected light before and after the disturbance of the reflected light, which is a phenomenon that accompanies both the increase and decrease of the amount of reflected light, and the intensity of the reflected light becomes stronger or weaker. It is a drug loading / unloading detection method characterized by detecting the loading / unloading of a drug depending on the amount of light.

Another aspect for solving the same problem is a drug loading / unloading detection method for detecting the loading / unloading of a drug into the drug containing section, which irradiates the inside of the drug containing section with light and monitors the intensity of the reflected light. This is a drug loading / unloading detection method for determining that a drug has been loaded / unloaded when the reflected light beam changes from a stable state with a constant intensity to a stable state with a different intensity.

According to the medication control device and the drug loading / unloading detection method of the present invention, it is possible to detect the drug loading / unloading without carefully adjusting the sensitivity of the sensor.

It is a front view of the medication management apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the medication management device of FIG. 1, and shows a state in which the medication management device is divided into a main body device and a drug set tool. It is a perspective view which observed the drug setting tool of FIG. 2 from the back surface side. It is sectional drawing of a part of the medication management apparatus of FIG. It is an exploded sectional perspective view of a part of the medication management apparatus of FIG. It is an exploded perspective view of a drug accommodating part. (A), (b), and (c) are cross-sectional views showing a state when the drug is removed from the drug accommodating portion. It is a graph which shows an example of the intensity change of the reflected light ray at the time of inserting and removing a drug from a drug accommodating part. It is a graph which shows the other example of the intensity change of the reflected light ray at the time of inserting and removing a drug from a drug accommodating part. It is a graph which shows still another example of the intensity change of the reflected light ray at the time of inserting and removing a drug from a drug accommodating part. (A) and (b) are perspective views of the time display pocket.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be further described.
The medication management device 1 of the present embodiment is composed of a main body device 2 and a drug set tool 3 as shown in FIG. Further, as a device attached to the medication management device 1, there is a communication terminal 5 as shown in FIG.

The communication terminal 5 is a known notebook computer, communication tablet, smartphone, or the like, and has an input means such as a keyboard or a touch panel and a display screen. Further, the communication terminal 5 has a communication function for connecting to the Internet. The communication terminal 5 can construct a wireless LAN together with other devices, and is cordless and portable.
Further, the communication terminal 5 also has a function of communicating with the communication means 72 built in the medication management device 1. The communication method with the medication management device 1 may be wired communication or wireless communication.

The communication terminal 5 is also used as a mobile terminal, and can be in contact with medical institution-related persons such as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists via the Internet and the like. It is also used to keep in touch with relatives such as children and grandchildren when the patient is in a facility or is elderly. The communication terminal 5 can also communicate with an external cloud computing service.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the drug setting tool 3 is provided with a large number of drug accommodating portions 11 on a flat base material 10.
The planar shape of the base material 10 is substantially rectangular, and a hook piece (engagement piece) 22 is provided on the back surface side of each side portion.
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the drug accommodating portion 11 has an outer wall portion 12 facing the user side, an inner side wall portion 13 facing the outer wall portion 12, a side wall portion 15, and a bottom. It has a side wall portion 16, and has an inner bag portion 17 as if it were a pocket with a gusset.

In the present embodiment, the drug accommodating portion 11 is composed of a transparent pocket sheet 18. Specifically, the drug accommodating portion 11 has a structure in which the left and right sides and the lower side of the transparent pocket sheet 18 are adhered (or adhered) to the base material 10, and an object can be put inside from the upper side.
In the present embodiment, the drug accommodating portion 11 is a pocket having an opening 27 on the upper side. In the present embodiment, the opening 27 of the drug accommodating portion 11 serves as a drug inlet / outlet port.

Focusing on the inside of the drug accommodating portion 11, an opening 20 is provided in the inner bag portion 17 and in the inner side wall portion 13 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The opening 20 penetrates the inner bag portion 17 and the back surface side of the drug setting tool 3, and the inside of the inner bag portion 17 can be seen from the back surface side of the drug setting tool 3.

In the present embodiment, the light absorbing member 21 is built in the inner bag portion 17.
The light absorbing member 21 is, for example, black and is made of a material that does not easily reflect light. As shown in FIG. 6, the light absorbing member 21 has an “L” -shaped side surface, and has an inner wall contact portion 24 that abuts on the inner wall of the outer wall portion 12 and an inner bag that is located below the inner wall contact portion 24. The bottom plate portion 23 arranged on the bottom surface side of the portion 17 is integrally formed.
The light absorption member 21 is made by bending, for example, a black resin plate.

The inner wall 41 of the light absorbing member 21 is a surface facing the infrared sensor 60 described later. The outer wall 40 of the light absorbing member 21 comes into contact with the inner surface of the outer wall portion 12 of the drug accommodating portion 11.
Since the silhouette of the outer wall 40 of the light absorbing member 21 may be seen through the outer wall portion 12 from the outside of the drug accommodating portion 11, it is desirable to color the outer wall 40 in a color similar to the color of the drug accommodating portion 11. It is also recommended to color it white.
In the present embodiment, the outer wall 40 of the light absorbing member 21 is colored white. Further, the outer wall 40 of the light absorbing member 21 is adhered to the inner surface of the outer wall portion 12 of the drug accommodating portion 11 by an adhesive means such as double-sided tape.

The inner wall 41 of the light absorbing member 21 has a lower light reflectance than at least the inner wall of the outer wall portion 12.
The light absorbing member 21 may be configured so as to be exposed (covered) by light rays emitted from at least the opening 20 on the front surface of the inner wall of the outer wall portion 12.

The drug storage unit 11 is distributed in a plane and a matrix as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and is located at a specific position determined based on the timing of taking the drug, and corresponds to the drug storage unit 11. It holds the drug package 25 (see FIG. 7) for the user and the timing of administration.
The drug package 25 contains one or more drugs to be taken at the same time.
There are cases where one drug package 25 is contained in one drug container 11 or a plurality of drug packages 25 are contained in one drug container 11.
Of course, there may be a drug storage unit 11 that does not contain the drug package 25.

In the present embodiment, the drug accommodating section 11 is arranged in a matrix shape (matrix) in which the usage is divided into a day of the week axis and a dosing timing axis.
Specifically, the vertical axis is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and the horizontal axis is "morning,""day,""night," and "before going to bed."

In the present embodiment, there are time display pockets 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d on the region where the drug accommodating portion 11 is arranged. The time display pockets 43a, 43b, 43c, and 43d contain tags labeled "morning,""day,""night," and "before going to bed." The time display pockets 43a, 43b, 43c, and 43d are transparent, and the characters "morning,""day,""night," and "before going to bed" written on the tag can be read from the outside.
For the display of 7 days of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the day of the week display pockets 45a, 45b, 45c, 45d, 45e, 45f, 45g are filled with "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", and " There are tags labeled "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday", and "Sunday".

The drug set tool 3 is used exclusively by one user. For example, the drug taken by the user A in a week is stored in the drug storage unit 11 at each day of the week and the timing of administration.
That is, the drug storage unit 11 is in a specific position where the person taking the drug is determined to be one person A and the timing of administration is determined based on the display such as "moon morning, moon noon ...", and the drug storage unit 11 is located. It is in a specific position based on the person taking it and the timing of taking it.

Next, the main body device 2 will be described.
The main body device 2 has a plate shape as shown in FIG. 2, and has a set tool mounting area 50 in the center. Further, there is an operation area 51 above the set tool mounting area 50.
The set tool mounting area 50 is slightly recessed as a whole. A hook piece (engagement piece) 57 is provided on the side of the set tool mounting area 50.
The drug setting tool 3 described above is mounted on the set tool mounting area 50. Specifically, the hook piece (engagement piece) 22 of the drug set tool 3 is engaged with the hook piece (engagement piece) 57 of the set tool mounting area 50, and the drug set tool 3 is attached to the main body device 2. The drug setting tool 3 is removable from the main body device 2.

The set tool mounting area 50 has a plurality of pocket-corresponding portions 53.
The pocket-corresponding portion 53 is located at a position corresponding to the position of each drug accommodating portion 11 of the drug setting tool 3, and is a surface on which the inner bag portion 17 of each drug accommodating portion 11 is arranged.
At the center of the pocket-corresponding portion 53, there is a drug detection unit 52. Further, there is an upper light emitting portion 55 at the upper part of the pocket corresponding portion 53, and lateral light emitting portions 56 on both sides of the pocket corresponding portion 53.
The upper light emitting portion 55 contains an LED and other light emitting members, and is located at a position corresponding to the upper side of the inner bag portion 17 of each drug accommodating portion 11.
The lateral light emitting unit 56 has a built-in LED and other light emitting members, and is located at positions corresponding to the left and right of the inner bag portion 17 of each drug accommodating unit 11. However, in the present embodiment, the lateral light emitting unit 56 arranged between the adjacent drug accommodating units 11 is shared.

The drug detection unit 52 has an infrared sensor 60 mounted therein as shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5. The infrared sensor 60 is a known reflective infrared sensor, which is a combination of a light projecting unit (light emitting means) 61 and a light receiving unit (reflected light detecting means) 62.
The infrared sensor 60 irradiates infrared rays from the light projecting unit (light ray irradiating means) 61 and receives the reflected light by the light receiving unit (reflected light ray detecting means) 62 in the same manner as the known infrared sensor 60.
In the present embodiment, there is an opening 63 in the center of the pocket corresponding portion 53 on the surface of the main body device 2, and the infrared sensor 60 is provided in the opening 63.

In the present embodiment, one of the infrared sensors 60 also serves as a detachment detection sensor for detecting the attachment / detachment of the drug setting tool 3. The attachment / detachment detection sensor may be a sensor different from the infrared sensor 60.

Next, the operation area 51 will be described.
The operation area is provided with a speaker 65 and a plurality of operation switches 66, 67, 68, 70.
In this embodiment, the speaker 65 is on the left end when facing the speaker. In the same row as the speaker 65, there are a volume switch 66, a confirmation switch 67, a pre-emption switch 68, and a time switch 70. The description of the function of each switch is omitted.
Further, a control device 71 and a communication means 72 are built in the main body device 2.
The control device 71 controls the light emitting unit 55, the light emitting unit 56, and the infrared sensor 60.
The control device 71 has a calendar function for knowing the day and day of the week and a clock function for knowing the time.

Next, the function and usage of the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
In the medication control device 1, the drug is put in the drug package 25 or directly stored in each drug storage unit 11 of the drug set tool 3.
Here, the drug storage unit 11 corresponds to the day of the week and the time of administration as described above, and each drug storage unit 11 stores the drug (drug packaging 25) to be taken when the patient arrives at the time of administration. The day of the week.

In the present embodiment, the main body device 2 of the medication management device 1 is placed at the patient's home or the like.
Here, in the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment, since the drug setting tool 3 is removable from the main body device 2, the pharmacist removes the drug setting tool 3 from the medication management device 1 and puts the drug in the drug storage unit 11. Can be accommodated.
Further, the pharmacist can also perform the work of accommodating the drug in the drug accommodating unit 11 at a place other than the patient's home or the like.
That is, the pharmacist can store the drug in the drug storage unit 11 in his own pharmacy (dispensing room), and can bring the drug set tool 3 in the state where the drug is stored to the patient's home or nursing care facility, and the patient's home, etc. The drug setting tool 3 can be attached to the main body device 2.

When it is time to take any of the medications, the patient will be informed. For example, if there is a drug to be taken after lunch, the speaker 65 emits a sound urging the patient to take the drug at noon. Further, in the present embodiment, the upper light emitting unit 55 and the lateral light emitting unit 56 corresponding to the drug accommodating unit 11 in which the drug to be taken are accommodated emit light, and visually inform the patient that the time for taking the drug has arrived.

The patient knows that it is time to take the medicine by the sound of the speaker 65 and the light emitting parts 55 and 56, and is instructed to the medicine storage unit 11 in which the medicine to be taken is stored.
The patient then removes the drug from the particular drug container 11.

Then, when the patient takes out the drug from the predetermined drug accommodating unit 11, the corresponding drug detection unit 52 detects it.
Here, in the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment, the withdrawal of the drug is detected by a characteristic method.
That is, in the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment, the inside of the medicine accommodating portion 11 is irradiated with light (infrared rays) to monitor the intensity of the reflected light, and when the intensity of the reflected light changes or is disturbed, before and after that. Compare the intensity of reflected light during this period. Then, the inflow and outflow of the drug is detected depending on whether the intensity of the reflected light becomes stronger or weaker. In the present embodiment, when the intensity of the reflected light becomes stronger or weaker, it is determined that the drug has been taken out.

In the present embodiment, it is determined that the turbulence has occurred when the fluctuation amount of the reflected light is a certain amount or more. That is, it is determined that the turbulence has occurred when the amplitude exceeds a certain level.
Fluctuation amount of reflected light In order to remove noise caused by an object hitting the medication control device 1 or wind, it is determined that the medicine has been taken in or out when the reflected light is disturbed for a certain period of time or longer. The duration is, for example, about 50 ms to 500 ms. It is preferably about 100 ms to 300 ms.
If there is a turbulence with a large fluctuation range, it may be determined that the drug has been taken in or out regardless of the duration.
On the contrary, when the amplitude is small, it is desirable to determine that the drug has been taken in and out when the amplitude is continued for a certain period of time or longer.

Further, in the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment, the inside of the medicine accommodating portion 11 is irradiated with light (infrared rays), the intensity of the reflected light is constantly monitored, and the reflected light changes from a stable state with a constant intensity. Even when the state becomes stable with different intensities, the intensities of the reflected light in the period before and after that are compared. Then, the inflow and outflow of the drug is detected depending on whether the intensity of the reflected light becomes stronger or weaker.

Hereinafter, a specific description will be given.
In the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment, the light emitting unit (light irradiation means) 61 of the infrared sensor 60 constantly emits light.
If the drug package 25 is present in the drug container 11 as shown in FIG. 7A, the light emitted from the light projecting unit 61 is reflected by the surface of the drug package 25 and returns to the light receiving unit 62.
Therefore, the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 is large, and the infrared sensor 60 generates a certain amount of output voltage as in the time zone A of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10.
If the patient does not touch the drug package 25, the drug package 25 does not move and the relative positional relationship between the drug package 25 and the infrared sensor 60 does not change. That is, the reflected light beam is stable at a constant intensity.
Therefore, if the patient does not touch the drug package 25, the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 is constant, and the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 is constant as in the time zones A of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10. be.

When the patient touches the drug package 25 and tries to take out the drug package 25, the drug package 25 moves and the relative positional relationship between the drug package 25 and the infrared sensor 60 changes.
As a result, the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 changes.

The state of change differs depending on the color and surface shape of the drug package 25, vibration during extraction, and the like, but a typical change curve is divided into three states of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10.
8, 9, and 10 all assume that the drug package 25 is present in the drug storage section 11, and the intensity of the reflected light beam changes when the drug package 25 is once extracted and then stored in the drug storage section 11 again. Is a graph.
The state shown in FIG. 8 is a case where the relative positional relationship between the drug package 25 and the infrared sensor 60 is finely changed, the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 changes little by little, and the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 is the output voltage of FIG. It is disturbed little by little like the B time zone.
Here, "disturbed" means a state in which the amount of incoming light increases or decreases, and the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 increases or decreases.
In the time zone B of FIG. 8, the amount of incoming light finely increases or decreases during a short period of time, and the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 finely increases or decreases.

The state shown in FIG. 9 is a case where the relative positional relationship between the drug package 25 and the infrared sensor 60 changes at once, the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 changes significantly, and the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 changes. It is greatly disturbed as in the B time zone in FIG.
In the time zone B in FIG. 9, the amount of incoming light temporarily increases and drops significantly at the next moment. In the time zone B in FIG. 9, the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 suddenly increases and then suddenly decreases within a short period of time.

The state shown in FIG. 10 is a case where the surface of the drug package 25 is smooth and the drug package 25 is pulled out straight, and the amount of light entering the light receiving portion 62 is the time zone B in FIG. The output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 changes without being greatly disturbed.

Then, when the drug package 25 is completely separated from the drug accommodating section 11 as shown in FIG. 7 (c), the light emitted from the light projecting section 61 hits the light absorbing member 21 and returns to the light receiving section 62.
Here, the relative positional relationship between the light absorbing member 21 and the infrared sensor 60 does not change.
Therefore, the reflected light beam is in a stable state with a constant intensity.
Therefore, the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 is constant, and the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 is constant as in the C time zone of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10.

Further, in the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment, when there is a disturbance in the output voltage as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the magnitude relation of the output voltage before and after the disturbance is compared.
Further, in the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment, the output voltage changes from the stable state as shown in FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, and even when the output voltage changes to a stable state with different intensities, the output voltage before and after the stable state is changed. The magnitude relationship is compared.

When the output voltage after the turbulence becomes lower than that before the turbulence, it is determined that the drug package 25 has been taken out from the drug accommodating section 11. On the contrary, when the output voltage after the turbulence becomes higher than that before the turbulence, it is determined that the drug package 25 has been inserted into the drug accommodating portion 11.

Further, even when the output voltage changes to a stable state with different intensities, if the output voltage after the change becomes lower than that before the change, it is determined that the drug package 25 has been taken out from the drug accommodating portion 11. do. When the output voltage after the change becomes higher than that before the change, it is determined that the drug package 25 has been inserted into the drug accommodating portion 11.

That is, if there is a drug package 25 in the drug container 11, the light beam is reflected by the surface of the drug package 25 and enters the light receiving unit 62. On the other hand, if the drug container 11 does not have the drug package 25, the light beam is reflected by the light absorbing member 21 and returns to the light receiving unit 62.
Here, comparing the conditions when the drug packaging 25 is present and when the drug packaging 25 is not present, the drug packaging 25 which is the reflection target when the drug packaging 25 is present is larger than the light absorbing member 21 which is the reflection target when the drug packaging 25 is present. It is located close to the infrared sensor 60. Therefore, considering only the distance condition, when the drug packaging 25 is provided in the drug accommodating section 11, the amount of light input to the light receiving section 62 is larger than that in the case where the drug package 25 is not provided.
Further, considering the reflectance of the object to be reflected, the chemical packaging 25 is higher than the light absorbing member 21.
Therefore, considering only the reflectance of the object to be reflected, when the drug package 25 is provided in the drug accommodating portion 11, the amount of light input to the light receiving portion 62 is larger than that in the case where the medicine package 25 is not provided.

In the present embodiment, it can be said that the amount of light input to the light receiving unit 62 is larger in both the distance condition and the reflectance condition than in the case where the drug packaging 25 is not present in the drug accommodating section 11.
Therefore, when the output voltage after the turbulence becomes lower than that before the turbulence or change, it is determined that the drug package 25 has been taken out from the drug accommodating portion 11.

Even when the drug package 25 is inserted into the drug accommodating section 11, the amount of light entering the light receiving section 62 changes as in the D time zone of FIGS. 8 and 9, and the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 is disturbed. After that, the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 is stabilized, and the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 is stabilized as in the E time zone of FIGS. 8 and 9.
In this case, the output voltage after the turbulence is higher than before the turbulence.

Further, as in the D time zone of FIG. 10, when the drug package 25 is inserted into the drug accommodating portion 11, the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 changes, and then the amount of light entering the light receiving unit 62 stabilizes. In some cases.
In this case, the output voltage after the change is higher than before the turbulence.

In the medication management device 1 of the present embodiment, it is detected that the medicine package 25 has moved due to a disturbance in the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 or a change in the output voltage at the time of stability. Further, the output voltages before and after the turbulence or the like are compared to determine whether the drug package 25 has been removed or inserted from the drug accommodating portion 11.
As described above, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether the drug package 25 is taken out or inserted from the drug accommodating unit 11 by a relative value rather than an absolute value of the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60. Therefore, a plurality of drug accommodating units 11 It is not always necessary to adjust the sensitivity in order to eliminate the standard of the sensor detection value generated from the machine difference of each of the plurality of infrared sensors 60 corresponding to the above, the mounting condition of the sensor, and the like.

If the output voltage of the infrared sensor 60 is disturbed and then smoothed and becomes lower than the original voltage, it is determined that the drug package 25 has been taken out from the drug housing section 11, and the sound of the speaker 65 and the light emitting sections 55 and 56 are determined. Stops emitting light.

In the present embodiment, the discharge of the drug from the specific drug storage unit 11 is recorded in the control device 71 of the medication management device 1, and the record is stored for a certain period of time. It should be noted that the fact that the drug is discharged from the drug storage unit 11 is regarded as the patient taking the drug, and that fact is also recorded.
The above-mentioned record is transmitted to the communication terminal 5 by the communication means 72 of the medication management device 1, and the same information is also stored in the communication terminal 5.
Further, the communication means 72 of the medication management device 1 is connected to the Internet or the like, and the time when the patient is considered to have taken the drug and the drug information are transmitted from the medication management device 1 to an outside person such as a doctor or a family member via the Internet or the like. Will be done.
Further, information may be transmitted from the medication management device 1 to an external cloud computing service via the Internet or the like.
In the present embodiment, the medication management device 1 is directly connected to the Internet for information communication, but may be connected to the Internet via the communication terminal 5.

In the above-mentioned time display pockets 43a, 43b, 43c, 43d, the inner dimensions of the openings are the same as the inner dimensions of the inner bag portion, but the inner dimensions of the openings 81 are the same as those of the time display pockets 80 and 82 shown in FIG. The dimensions may be smaller than the inside.
In the time display pocket 80 shown in FIG. 11A, a flap 83 is provided at the upper end of the side wall portion 15 to narrow the internal dimension of the opening 81. In the time display pocket 82 shown in FIG. 11B, a flap 85 is provided at the upper end of the outer wall portion 12 to narrow the inner dimension of the opening 81.
According to this embodiment, the drug package 25 is unlikely to fall off from the drug accommodating portions 80 and 82.

In the above-described embodiment, the infrared sensor 60 is adopted as the loading / unloading detecting means. The infrared sensor 60 uses infrared rays (light rays) and is widely used, but an optical sensor that uses other light rays may be used. For example, a sensor that uses laser light, a sensor that uses visible light, or an optical sensor that uses ultraviolet light may be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the light absorbing member 21 is arranged in the drug accommodating portion 11. The light absorbing member 21 is not essential and may be omitted. Further, instead of the light absorbing member 21, a reflecting member such as aluminum may be provided. Here, the reflective member is a member having a higher reflectance than the inner surface of the drug accommodating portion 11.
When the reflective member is adopted, when the output voltage after the turbulence becomes higher than that before the turbulence, it is determined that the drug package 25 is taken out from the drug accommodating portion 11.

The drug set tool 3 described above is a personal drug set tool, but it is a daily drug set tool for a plurality of users and a drug set tool for a plurality of users according to the time of administration. The present invention may be applied to.
The daily drug set tool is a device in which the day of the week to be taken is described, for example, like a daily calendar, and the drug storage unit 11 is arranged in a matrix composed of a plurality of doser names and a timing axis of administration. be.
The drug setting tool according to the time of administration is used jointly by a plurality of users, and is used in a nursing facility or a hospital. In the drug set tool according to the time of administration, the drug to be taken by each of the plurality of users at a specific time of the day (for example, in the morning) is stored according to the name of the person taking the drug.

As a method of attaching the medicine set tool 3 to the main body device 2, a known joining means such as a hook-and-loop fastener can be adopted in addition to an engaging means such as a hook. In this case as well, since the drug setting tool 3 is removable from the main body device 2, the pharmacist can remove the drug setting tool 3 from the medication management device 1 and store the drug in the drug storage unit 11.

1 Medication management device 2 Main unit device 3 Drug set tool 11 Drug accommodating part 12 Outer side wall part 17 Inner bag part 20 Opening 21 Light absorbing member 25 Drug packaging 50 Set tool mounting area 52 Drug detection part 55 Upper light emitting part 56 Lateral light emitting part 60 Infrared sensor 61 Floodlight (light irradiation means)
62 Light receiving part (reflected ray detecting means)

Claims (11)

In a medication management device in which a plurality of drug storage sections are distributed in a plane and the corresponding drugs are held in the drug storage sections.
It has a loading / unloading detecting means for detecting the loading / unloading of a drug into the drug containing portion, and the loading / unloading detecting means includes a light beam irradiating means for irradiating a light beam into the drug containing portion and a reflected light ray detecting means for detecting the reflected light beam by the light beam. Have,
The intensity of the reflected light is monitored to detect the disturbance of the reflected light, which is a phenomenon that accompanies both the increase and decrease of the amount of the reflected light, and the intensity of the reflected light before and after the occurrence of the disturbance is compared, and the disturbance occurs. A medication management device, characterized in that it determines whether or not a drug is taken in or out based on a change in the intensity of the reflected light ray detected by the reflected light beam detecting means before and after the action. The medication management device according to claim 1, wherein it is determined whether or not the drug has been inserted into or discharged from the drug accommodating portion based on the change in the intensity of the reflected light rays before and after the occurrence of the turbulence. The first or second claim is characterized in that the intensities of the reflected light rays before and after the occurrence of the turbulence are compared, and when the intensity of the reflected light rays decreases after the turbulence, it is determined that the drug is discharged from the drug accommodating portion. The medication management device described. The medication management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the intensities of the reflected light rays are compared on condition that the turbulence continues for a certain period of time or more. The medication management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein it is determined that the disturbance has occurred when the intensity of the reflected light beam has an amplitude of a certain value or more. 1 The medication management device according to any one of 5 to 5. The medication management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a light emitting member is provided at a position corresponding to each drug accommodating portion, and a specific light emitting member emits light to indicate a drug to be taken. It has a main body device and a drug set tool,
The main body device is provided with the light ray irradiating means and the reflected light ray detecting means.
The medication management device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drug set tool is provided with the drug accommodating portion, and the drug set tool is removable from the main body device. The drug accommodating portion has a pocket-shaped inner bag portion having an outer wall portion facing the user side and an inner side wall portion facing the outer wall portion, and a light absorbing member or a reflecting member is built in the inner bag portion. In the light absorbing member or the reflecting member, the inner wall contact portion that abuts on the inner wall of the outer wall portion and the bottom plate portion that is located at the lower part of the inner wall contact portion and is arranged on the bottom surface of the inner bag portion are integrated. The medication management device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the medication is formed in 1. It is a drug loading / unloading detection method that detects the loading / unloading of a drug into the drug containing section. It irradiates the inside of the drug containing section with light and monitors the intensity of the reflected light beam.
Disturbance of the reflected light, which is a phenomenon that accompanies both increase and decrease of the amount of reflected light, is detected, and when the disturbance occurs, the intensity of the reflected light in the period before and after the disturbance is compared.
A drug loading / unloading detection method characterized in that the drug loading / unloading is detected depending on whether the intensity of the reflected light beam becomes stronger or weaker. The drug loading / unloading detection method according to claim 10, wherein it is determined that the drug has been loaded / unloaded when the reflected light beam changes from a stable state with a constant intensity to a stable state with a different intensity.

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