JP7398631B2 - Pharmaceutical packaging system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a drug packaging system that includes a plurality of drug dispensing devices.

The present applicant disclosed drug dispensing devices that automatically package drugs in the following Patent Documents 1 to 5. The drug dispensing device disclosed by the present applicant can automatically package powdered medicine according to a prescription.
The drug dispensing device disclosed in the patent document includes a container storage device, a distribution plate, a container mounting device disposed near the distribution plate, a container moving means, and a drug packaging device. A plurality of drug containers are stored in the container storage device, and each drug container is filled with powder medicine. The container mounting device includes a vibration table and weight measuring means for directly or indirectly measuring the weight of the drug container.

In the drug dispensing device disclosed in the patent document, prescription information is transmitted from a host device, and powdered medicines are packaged based on the prescription information.
In the medicine dispensing device disclosed in the patent document, a necessary medicine container is taken out from the container storage device by a container moving means and placed on a vibration table.
Then, while rotating the distribution plate, the vibration table is vibrated to discharge the drug from the drug container into the distribution plate little by little. At the same time, the weight measuring means monitors the amount of medicine discharged from the medicine container, and when the discharge amount reaches a predetermined amount, the vibrations are stopped and the rotation of the distribution plate is stopped.
Then, the powdered medicine spread on the dispensing tray is cut into individual doses and placed into a medicine packaging device, where each dose is packaged.

Further, Patent Documents 6 and 7 disclose drug dispensing devices having a structure different from that of Patent Documents 1 to 5. The drug dispensing devices disclosed in Patent Documents 6 and 7 are also capable of automatically packaging drugs.

JP2018-114281A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-35001 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-86874 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-187544 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-130972 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-132135 Patent No. 6406785

The drug dispensing device disclosed in the patent document can almost completely automate the packaging operation of powdered medicines, and has been well received in the market.
Therefore, there is a desire in the market to introduce a plurality of the above-mentioned drug dispensing devices. Demand is particularly strong from large hospitals.
On the other hand, drug dispensing devices are designed with the assumption that the system will be completed with one drug dispensing device or a host device constituting the system, and when using multiple drug dispensing devices. No consideration was given to the system configuration.

The present invention addresses the above-mentioned situation and provides a drug dispensing system that includes a plurality of drug dispensing devices as components.

One aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above-mentioned problems is a drug having a plurality of drug dispensing devices and a prescription input means into which prescription information including information regarding the type and quantity of drugs is input. In the dispensing system, one of the plurality of drug dispensing devices has an information holding section that holds prescription information input by the prescription input means, and the remaining drug dispensing devices have It does not have an information holding unit that holds the prescription information, and each of the plurality of drug dispensing devices has a drug holding unit that holds multiple types of drugs, a storage unit, and a storage unit that stores the information about the cases obtained from the information holding unit. Each medicine dispensing device has a medicine packaging function that takes out the necessary medicine from the medicine holding part based on prescription information, packages it for each dose , and discharges it, and each medicine dispensing device has the prescription information inputted into the storage part. The remaining drug dispensing devices perform drug discharging processing based on the prescription information held in the information holding unit of any of the drug dispensing devices, and each drug dispensing device has its own information. Unprocessed information in the prescription information input to the medicine dispensing device is stored in the storage unit, and according to the unprocessed information of each of the medicine dispensing devices , one of the medicine dispensing devices to the other one of the remaining medicine dispensing devices is sent. This drug dispensing system has a function of redirecting the drug dispensing device that performs the drug discharging process to the drug dispensing device.
In a preferred embodiment, the unprocessed information is information on prescription information input to each drug dispensing device for which processing has not yet been completed in a state where no malfunction has occurred in each drug dispensing device. It is a separate packaging system.
In a further preferred embodiment, the unprocessed information is information about prescription information input to each drug dispensing device for which processing has not yet been completed in a state where a malfunction has occurred in each drug dispensing device. It is a separate packaging system.
A further preferable aspect is that the display device is provided, and the display device displays candidates for transfer destinations for performing drug discharge processing, and the drug discharge processing is performed for the transfer destination selected by the worker from among the transfer destination candidates displayed on the display device. This is a drug packaging system that transfers unfinished prescription information.
A further preferable embodiment is a medicine packaging system having a mutual communication function for mutually communicating between at least two or more medicine delivery apparatuses among the plurality of medicine delivery apparatuses.
A further preferred embodiment is a display device and a mutual communication function for mutually communicating between at least two of the plurality of drug dispensing devices, and one of the drug dispensing devices has prescription information. If the remaining drug dispensing device does not hold the included drug and all the drugs included in the prescription information are held in the remaining other drug dispensing device, the display device of the remaining other drug dispensing device will display the A display requesting approval for transmitting prescription information that does not hold drugs from one of the drug dispensing devices to the remaining other drug dispensing devices is displayed, and the other drug dispensing device is determined by the user. In this drug dispensing system, prescription information for drugs that do not hold drugs is transmitted to other drug dispensing devices.
Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems includes an information holding unit that holds prescription information and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes the types of powdered medicines required and In a drug dispensing system that includes information on quantities, a drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds multiple types of powdered drugs, and a drug holding section that dispenses necessary powders from the drug holding section based on the prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. It has a drug packaging function that takes out, packages, and discharges individual doses.A specific drug dispensing device receives prescription information, and the received drug dispensing device performs drug discharging processing. Each of the dispensing devices stores prescription information and unprocessed information among the prescription information, and the acceptance confirmation means determines which of the plurality of drug dispensing devices among the unprocessed information. As a result of the determination, it is determined whether there is a congestion in the discharge process and whether there is a drug dispensing device with no unprocessed cases. In this case, it is a drug packaging system that can transfer prescription information already stored in a drug dispensing device that is congested to a drug dispensing device that has no unprocessed cases.
A preferred embodiment is a drug packaging system in which a drug dispensing device to process a new case is determined using unprocessed information of each of a plurality of drug dispensing devices as one of the conditions.
Another aspect of the present invention developed to solve the above problems includes an information holding unit that holds prescription information and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes the types of powdered medicines required and In a drug dispensing system that includes information on quantities, a drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds multiple types of powdered drugs, and a drug holding section that dispenses necessary powders from the drug holding section based on the prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. It has a drug packaging function that takes out, packages, and discharges individual doses.A specific drug dispensing device receives prescription information, and the received drug dispensing device performs the drug discharging process. Each of the dispensing devices stores prescription information and unprocessed information among the prescription information, and the acceptance confirmation means selects one of the plurality of drug dispensing devices among the unprocessed information. -+Identifies whether or not there is a traffic jam in the discharge process, and if there is a traffic jam in the discharge process, candidates for the transfer destination are displayed on the display device, and when the user selects a candidate for the transfer destination, the memory This is a drug dispensing device in which prescription information is transferred to another drug dispensing device.
A preferred embodiment is a drug packaging system in which a drug dispensing device to process a new case is determined using unprocessed information of each of a plurality of drug dispensing devices as one of the conditions.
An aspect (related invention) for solving the above problems includes an information holding unit that holds prescription information and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes information regarding the type and quantity of required drugs. In the drug dispensing system, the drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, and a drug holding section that dispenses necessary drugs from the drug holding section based on prescription information for a case obtained from the information holding section. It has a medicine packaging function of taking out, packaging and discharging one dose at a time, and has an unprocessed information storage means that stores unprocessed information of the medicine dispensing device. This is a drug packaging system in which a drug dispensing device that processes a case is determined.

In the aspect described above, it is desirable that the unprocessed information includes at least one of the following.
(1) Total number of unpackaged drug packages to be discharged when processing backlog cases.
(2) Total number of prescription information for unprocessed cases.
(3) Time required to process unprocessed cases.
(4) Total number of drug packages to be discharged when processing backlog cases.

In each aspect described above, the unprocessed information includes the total number of unpackaged drug packages to be discharged when processing the unprocessed case, and the total number of unpackaged drug packages of each drug dispensing device. It is desirable that the drug dispensing device with the least total number of undivided drug packages becomes the drug dispensing device that processes the new case.

In each aspect described above, the unprocessed information includes the total number of unpackaged drug packages to be discharged when processing the unprocessed cases, the total number of prescription information of the unprocessed cases, and Comparing the total number of unpackaged drug packages of the devices, if the total number of unpackaged drug packages of each drug dispensing device is the same, select the drug dispenser with the least total number of prescription information of unprocessed cases. It is desirable that the device be a drug dispensing device that processes new cases.

Another aspect (related invention) for solving the same problem includes an information holding unit that holds prescription information, and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes information on the type of drug required. In a drug packaging system that includes information regarding quantities, the drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, and a drug dispensing device that stores information about the number of drugs required from the drug holding section based on prescription information of a case obtained from the information holding section. The device has a drug packaging function that takes out drugs, packages them in single doses, and discharges them, and a specific drug dispensing device receives prescription information, and the receiving drug dispensing device performs drug discharging processing. The drug dispensing system is characterized in that it is possible to perform drug discharge processing from the specific drug dispensing device to another drug dispensing device.
A mode for solving the above problems includes an information holding unit that holds prescription information and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes information regarding the type and quantity of the requested drug. In the packaging system, the drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, and a drug holding section that takes out necessary drugs from the drug holding section based on the prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. It has a drug packaging function of packaging and discharging in minutes, a specific drug dispensing device receives prescription information, and the received drug dispensing device performs the drug discharging process.It is equipped with a display device and displays prescription information. When there is a traffic jam in the drug discharging process of a drug dispensing device that has received a message, candidates for transfer destinations are displayed on the display device, and the transfer destination selected by the user from the candidates for transfer destinations displayed on the display device has already been transferred to the transfer destination. This is a drug packaging system in which prescription information that has been received by a specific drug dispensing device and for which drug ejection processing has not yet been completed is transferred.
Another aspect for solving the same problem is to have an information holding unit that holds prescription information and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes information regarding the type and quantity of required drugs. In the drug dispensing system, the drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, and takes out necessary drugs from the drug holding section based on prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. The device has a drug packaging function of packaging and discharging one dose at a time, a specific drug dispensing device receives prescription information, the received drug dispensing device performs drug discharging processing, and is equipped with a display device. , the display device displays a drug dispensing device in which all the drugs included in the prescription information are held in the drug holding section as transfer destination candidates, and the user selects a transfer destination candidate from among the transfer destination candidates displayed on the display device. In this drug packaging system, prescription information that has already been received by the specific drug dispensing device and for which drug ejection processing has not yet been completed is transferred to the transferred destination.
In the above aspect, unprocessed information of each drug dispensing device is stored, and the unprocessed information is the prescription information input to each drug dispensing device in a state where no malfunction has occurred in the drug dispensing device. Among these, it is information about the unprocessed items, and it is desirable that a drug dispensing device to process a new case be determined using the unprocessed information of each drug dispensing device as one of the conditions.

Yet another aspect (related invention) for solving the same problem includes an information holding unit that holds prescription information and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes the types of drugs required. In the drug dispensing system, the drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, and a drug dispensing device that stores information from the drug holding section based on the prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. It has a drug packaging function that takes out the necessary drugs, packages them in single doses, and discharges them, and a specific drug dispensing device receives prescription information, and the receiving drug dispensing device performs the drug discharging process. , a drug dispensing device characterized in that it has an unprocessed information storage means that holds unprocessed information of a drug dispensing device, and can change the drug dispensing device that performs the drug discharging process according to the unprocessed information. It is a packaging system.
Another aspect for solving the same problem is to have an information holding unit that holds prescription information and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes information regarding the type and quantity of required drugs. In the drug dispensing system, the drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, and takes out necessary drugs from the drug holding section based on prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. It has a drug packaging function that packages and discharges individual doses, and a specific drug dispensing device receives prescription information, and the receiving drug dispensing device performs drug discharging processing. The unprocessed information of the device is stored, and the unprocessed information is the prescription information input to each drug dispensing device that has not yet been processed when there is no malfunction in the drug dispensing device. It has an acceptance confirmation means that compares the type of medicine required by the prescription information and the type of medicine held in the medicine holding section of the medicine dispensing device, and the medicine discharge device This drug dispensing system is capable of transferring a drug dispensing device that performs processing to another drug dispensing device that holds all the drugs required by prescription information.
In the aspect described above, it is desirable that a drug dispensing device that processes a new case be determined using the unprocessed information of each drug dispensing device as one of the conditions.

Yet another aspect (related invention) for solving the same problem includes an information holding unit that holds prescription information and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, and the prescription information includes the types of drugs required. In the drug dispensing system, the drug dispensing device includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, and a drug dispensing device that stores information from the drug holding section based on the prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. It has a drug packaging function that takes out the necessary drugs, packages them one dose at a time, and discharges them.A specific drug dispensing device receives prescription information, and the drug dispensing device that has received the prescription information stores its own drug. This drug packaging system is characterized by having an acceptance confirmation function that determines whether all the drugs required by the prescription information can be discharged using the drugs held by the department.

In the aspect described above, if it is impossible to discharge all the drugs requested by the prescription information, the prescription information is forwarded to another drug dispensing device and the prescription information requested by the other drug dispensing device is sent. It is desirable to be able to expel the drug.

In the aspect described above, if it is impossible to discharge all the drugs requested by the prescription information, the drugs held by other drug dispensing devices are referred to, and multiple types of drugs requested by the prescription information are discharged. It is desirable to be able to specify the drug dispensing device that holds the largest number of types of drugs.

In each of the above embodiments, it is desirable to determine whether or not all the medicine can be discharged before importing the prescription information into the medicine dispensing device.

Yet another aspect (related invention) for solving the same problem is a drug packaging system having an information storage unit and a plurality of drug dispensing devices, wherein the drug dispensing device holds multiple types of drugs. between at least two of the plurality of drug dispensing devices; This drug packaging system is characterized by having a mutual communication function for mutual communication.

According to the drug packaging system of the present invention, a plurality of drug dispensing devices can be operated efficiently.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a drug packaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a drug dispensing device constituting the drug packaging system of FIG. 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of another drug dispensing device constituting the drug packaging system of FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drug feeder employed in the drug dispensing device. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a control device of a drug dispensing device. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of prescription information stored in a shared server, where (a) shows prescription information immediately after starting up the drug packaging system, and (b) shows prescription information after a certain period of time has elapsed.

Embodiments of the present invention will be further described below.
The medicine packaging system 30 of this embodiment is configured by a host system 31 and a medicine dispensing device group 32.
The host system 31 is composed of a plurality of prescription input means 5 and one shared server (information holding unit) 6. The prescription input means 5 is a computer at hand of each doctor.
The shared server 6 and the prescription input means 5 are connected by a LAN 7 (local area network) and communicate with each other.

In this embodiment, the drug dispensing device group 32 includes three drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300. Of course, the number of drug dispensing devices is arbitrary, and may be two or four or more.
Each of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, and a drug holding section that takes out the necessary drug and administers it based on the prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. It has a drug packaging function that packages and discharges medicines in minutes.

Since the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 have substantially the same configuration, the drug dispensing device 100 will be described as a representative.
The medicine dispensing device 100 uses a medicine feeder 1 as shown in FIG. 4 to feed powder medicine into a distribution tray 116.
In the medicine feeder 1 of this embodiment, the medicine container 2 and the container mounting device 3 are separate, and when packaging powdered medicine, the two are combined to form the medicine feeder 1.

The medicine dispensing device 100 of this embodiment is surrounded by a housing 101, and the inside thereof is divided into a medicine shelf area 102, a medicine division area 103, and a medicine packaging area 105.

The drug shelf area 102 is provided with a container storage device (drug holding section) 106 in which the drug containers 2 are placed. The container storage device 106 has a vertical drum member 107, and a plurality of container installation portions 108 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drum member 107.

A container moving means 110 is provided in an area extending from the medicine shelf area 102 to the medicine division area 103. The container moving means 110 is a robot.

The medicine dividing area 103 is an area in which a powder medicine dispensing device is built-in, and two distribution trays 116 are installed therein. A plurality of container mounting devices 3 are installed around the two distribution plates 116 of the medicine dividing area (powder medicine dispensing device) 103 .
In addition, a known scraping device 120 is provided in the drug division area 103. In this embodiment, two distribution plates 116 are mounted in the drug division area 103, but there is also a case where only one distribution plate 116 is installed.

A medicine packaging device 122 is built into the medicine packaging area 105 . The drug packaging device 122 is a machine that packages drugs in single doses, and is composed of a packaging paper supply device and a packaging device, as is well known. Further, a powder medicine introduction hopper 123 is provided for supplying medicine into the packaging section.

In the medicine feeder 1 of this embodiment, the medicine container 2 and the container mounting device 3 are separate, and when packaging powdered medicine, the two are combined to form the medicine feeder 1.
The medicine container 2 is stored in the container storage device 106, and the powder medicine is stored in the medicine container 2. In this embodiment, the drug container 2 is held by the hand portion 113 of the container moving means 110, and the drug container 2 is moved and placed on the container mounting device 3 as shown in FIG.

Then, a current of a constant frequency is applied to the vibration excitation means 51 to generate vibration, and the vibration table 50 is caused to vibrate by this vibration.
Further, the distribution plate 116 is rotated before and after the start of vibration.
Before and after the start of vibration, the weight of the drug container 2 is measured by a weight measuring means (not shown).

When the vibration table 50 starts vibrating, the medicine container 2 vibrates, and the powder medicine stored in the medicine container 2 moves toward the medicine discharge part 13 side, reaches the medicine discharge part 13 of the medicine container 2, and is discharged from the bottom. It enters the groove of the distribution plate 116.

While the powder medicine is falling from the medicine discharge part 13 of the medicine container 2, the current weight (current weight g) of the medicine container 2 is continuously monitored by the weight measuring means 55. Then, the original weight G of the medicine container 2 immediately after being placed on the vibration table 50 is compared with the current weight g, and the falling amount H (G minus g) of the powder medicine is constantly calculated.
Then, when the total falling amount H of the powder reaches a desired weight, the vibration of the vibration table 50 is stopped.
Thereafter, the container moving means 110 automatically operates and the drug container 2 is returned to the drum member 107 of the drug shelf area 102.

If multiple powder medicines have been prescribed, the above steps are repeated and other powder medicines are placed in the distribution tray 116.
When all kinds of powder medicines are put into the distribution tray 116, the scraping device 120 is placed in the distribution tray 116, and the distribution tray 116 is rotated by a predetermined angle, so that a certain amount of powder medicine is placed in front of the scraping device 120. are collected and scraped out from the distribution tray 116, and packaged into single doses using the drug packaging device 122.

Each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 includes a display device 33, 35, 36 and a control device 45, 46, 47.
The display devices 33, 35, and 36 are touch panels and also serve as input devices.

Each of the control devices 45, 46, and 47 has a CPU (not shown) and a storage device, and as shown in FIG. It has information storage means, comparison means and acceptance confirmation means.
The unprocessed information storage means stores information (unprocessed information) about prescription information input to each drug dispensing device 100, 200, and 300 that has not yet been processed.

In this embodiment, the following two types of information are stored as unprocessed information.
(1) The total number of undivided drug packages that should be discharged when processing unprocessed cases (hereinafter referred to as the number of remaining packages).
(2) Total number of prescription information of unprocessed cases (hereinafter referred to as the number of unprocessed cases).

Here, the "number of remaining packages" is the number of drug packages that will be created and discharged by the drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 in the future.
For example, if the prescription for patient A is for 4 days of medicine to be taken three times a day, the total number of medicine packages based on the prescription is 12 packages (3*4=12). Furthermore, if the prescription for patient B is for 21 days worth of medicine to be taken twice a day, the total number of medicine packages based on the prescription is 42 packages (2*21=42).
If drug packaging for patient A and patient B has not yet been completed, the "number of remaining packages" is 12 packages plus 42 packages, which is a total of 54 packages.
If the drug packaging work for patient A is still in progress and 10 packages have already been packaged, the "number of remaining packages" will be 44 packages.

To explain using the previous example, the "number of unprocessed cases" is the total of prescription processing for patient A and prescription processing for patient B, which is two cases.

The comparison means is a means for comparing own unprocessed information and unprocessed information of other drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300.

The acceptance confirmation means is means for comparing the type of medicine required by the prescription information and the type of medicine held in the container storage device 106 of the own medicine dispensing device 100, 200, 300.

In this embodiment, the communication means of the three medicine dispensing apparatuses 100, 200, and 300 are connected through the LAN 8, and the three medicine dispensing apparatuses 100, 200, and 300 communicate with each other. Further, the host system 31 and the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 are also connected via the LAN 10, and the host system 31 and the drug dispensing device group 32 also communicate with each other.

Next, the functions of the drug packaging system will be explained.
As described above, the prescription input means 5 is in the hands of each doctor, and each doctor determines the necessary medicine according to the patient's condition and inputs the prescription.
The input prescription information is accumulated in the shared server 6 of the host system 31. Prescription information includes information regarding the type and quantity of the drug required. Of course, the prescription information also includes information such as quantity and timing of administration.

In this embodiment, the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 of the drug dispensing device group 32 refer to the shared server 6 and obtain prescription information from the shared server 6.
For example, as shown in FIG. 6(a), when the drug packaging system 30 is started, if prescription information No. 1 to No. 10 is stored in the shared server 6, prescription information No. 1 is stored in the drug dispensing device. 100 acquires prescription information No. 2, medicine dispensing device 200 acquires prescription information No. 3, and medicine dispensing device 300 acquires prescription information No. 3.
Each of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 automatically determines the drug container 2 filled with the target drug based on the acquired prescription information, and dispenses the drug from the drug container 2 into the dispensing tray 116. After that, it is divided and packaged.

Regarding the following prescription information No. 4, the medicine dispensing devices 100, 200, 300 to be acquired are changed based on the unprocessed information of each medicine dispensing device 100, 200, 300.
In this embodiment, each medicine dispensing device 100, 200, 300 refers to the shared server 6 at regular intervals. Around this time, each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 refers to the unprocessed information storage means of the other drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300 through mutual communication, and uses the comparison means to store its own unprocessed information. Compare with.

In this embodiment, first, the number of remaining packages is compared. For example, the total number of drug packages with prescription information No. 1 acquired by the drug dispensing device 100 is 9, the total number of drug packages with prescription information No. 2 acquired by the drug dispensing device 200 is 20, and the drug dispensing device 300 has acquired Assume that the total number of drug packages for prescription information No. 3 is 8. It is assumed that none of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 has completed loading the drug into the dispensing tray 116 and has not distributed any drug packages.
Based on this assumption, the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 300 is the smallest, and the drug dispensing device 300 acquires the next prescription information No. 4. Then, the drug dispensing device 300 is determined as the drug dispensing device that processes the new case.

In the actual control method, as described above, each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 refers to the shared server 6 at regular intervals. For example, when the drug dispensing device 100 refers to the shared server 6, it refers to and compares the number of remaining packages of its own and the number of remaining packages of the other drug dispensing devices 200 and 300.
Assuming that packaging has not yet started, the number of remaining packages for itself is 9, and the number of remaining packages for the drug dispensing device 300 is 8, so there is a drug dispensing device 300 that has fewer remaining packages than its own. do.
In this case, the next prescription information No. 4 is not imported into the own medicine dispensing device 100.

Similarly, when the drug dispensing device 200 refers to the shared server 6, it refers to and compares the number of remaining packages of its own with the number of remaining packages of the other drug dispensing devices 100 and 300.
Assuming that packaging has not yet started, the number of remaining packages for itself is 20, and the number of remaining packages for the drug dispensing device 300 is 8, so there is a drug dispensing device 300 that has fewer remaining packages than its own. do.
In this case, the next prescription information No. 4 is not imported into the own medicine dispensing device 200.

Similarly, when the drug dispensing device 300 refers to the shared server 6, it refers to and compares the number of remaining packages of its own with the number of remaining packages of the other drug dispensing devices 100 and 200.
Assuming that packaging has not yet started, the number of remaining packages for the self is 8, the number of remaining packages for the drug dispensing device 100 is 9, and the number of remaining packages for the drug dispensing device 200 is 20. There is no drug dispensing device that has fewer remaining packages.
In this case, the next prescription information No. 4 is taken into the own drug dispensing device 300, and the drug dispensing device 300 is determined to be the drug dispensing device that will process the new case of prescription information No. 4.

Even in this state, it is assumed that none of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 has completed loading any drug into the distribution tray 116 and has not discharged any drug packages.
In this state, the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 100 is 9, the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 200 is 20, and the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 300 is 16.
Therefore, the next prescription information No. 5 is taken into the drug dispensing device 100 with the least number of remaining packages.

Even in this state, it is assumed that none of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 has completed loading any drug into the distribution tray 116 and has not discharged any drug packages.
In this state, the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 100 is 15, the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 200 is 20, and the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 300 is 16.
Therefore, the next prescription information No. 6 is taken into the drug dispensing device 100 with the least number of remaining packages. That is, in this case, prescription information No. 6, which is a new case, is continuously fetched into the same drug dispensing device 100.

In this way, the prescription information (numbers 1 to 10) stored in the shared server 6 is distributed to the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300, and each drug dispensing device 100, 200, and 300 sequentially performs packaging processing. .
When a certain amount of time has passed and prescription information No. 11 is newly input to the shared server 6 as shown in FIG. 200 and 300 will be used to import new prescription information No. 11.
For example, there is a track record in which three pieces of prescription information are input to the drug dispensing device 100, two pieces of prescription information are input to the drug dispensing device 200, and five pieces of prescription information are input to the drug dispensing device 300. Even if the processing is progressing and the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 100 is 30 packages, the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 200 is 40 packages, and the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 300 is 10 packages, The drug dispensing device 300 with the least number of remaining packages takes in prescription information No. 11. That is, the medicine dispensing device 300 is determined as the device that processes prescription information No. 11, which is a new case.

Furthermore, when the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 refer to the shared server 6, they compare the number of remaining packages of their own with the number of remaining packages of the other drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and find that the number of remaining packages is the same. , if it is less than any of the others, compare the number of unprocessed cases.
For example, assume that the number of remaining packages in the medicine dispensing device 100 is 20, and the number of unprocessed cases is three. Assume that the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 200 is 30, and the number of unprocessed cases is 3. Assume that the number of remaining packages in the drug dispensing device 300 is 20, and the number of unprocessed cases is 2.

Under this condition, if the drug dispensing device 100 refers to the shared server 6 and compares the number of remaining packages of itself with the number of remaining packages of the other drug dispensing devices 200 and 300, the number of remaining packages will be the same as that of the drug dispensing device 300. However, the number of unprocessed cases is greater than that of the drug dispensing device 300. In this case, the next prescription information is not imported into the own medicine dispensing device 100.
Further, when the drug dispensing device 200 refers to the shared server 6 and compares the number of remaining packages of its own with the number of remaining packages of the other drug dispensing devices 100 and 300, the number of remaining packages is larger than that of the other drug dispensing devices 100 and 300. Therefore, the following prescription information will not be imported.
When the drug dispensing device 300 refers to the shared server 6 and compares the number of remaining packages of its own with the number of remaining packages of the other drug dispensing devices 100 and 200, the number of remaining packages is the same as that of the drug dispensing device 100, and the number of remaining packages is the same as that of the drug dispensing device 100. The number of cases to be processed is smaller than that of the drug dispensing device 100. In this case, the following prescription information is loaded into the own medicine dispensing device 300.

In principle, the prescription information is taken into each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 in accordance with the above-mentioned rules and processed by each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300, but once it is taken in, it is sent to the control device 45, 46. , 47 may be transferred to other drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300 for processing.
For example, although prescription information is imported into each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 in accordance with the above-mentioned rules, it may take a long time for any of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300 to discharge the drug. .
That is, the above-mentioned rules do not take into account the time required to separate a single package of medicine, so there may be cases where it takes a long time to discharge the medicine.
For example, prescription information No. 1 may prescribe one type of powdered medicine, whereas prescription information No. 2 may prescribe three types of powdered medicine.
When three types of powdered medicines are prescribed, the removal and discharge of the medicine container 2 is repeated three times, and the three types of powdered medicines are stacked on the distribution tray 116, which requires a long time for the process of loading the medicines.
If such prescriptions occur continuously, the discharge process becomes congested and takes a considerably longer time than other methods.
Furthermore, some kind of malfunction may occur in the equipment, resulting in a traffic jam in the discharge process. For example, the packaging process may be interrupted during the process due to a drug shortage, packaging paper being out of stock, or some other error.

In such a case, prescription information that has already been input to other drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 is transferred.
For example, if the processing of one drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 is congested, and there are other drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300 that have no remaining packages or unprocessed cases, the number of unprocessed cases will increase. Prescription information that has already been input to a drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 that is congested is transferred to another drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300.

At this time, transfer destination candidates are displayed on the display devices 33, 35, and 36 of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 that are congested. Further, a display requesting approval for the transfer appears on the display devices 33, 35, and 36. When the pharmacist inputs an approval signal by touching the touch panel, the already input prescription information is transferred to other drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300.

Further, in the drug packaging system 30 of this embodiment, when prescription information is imported from the shared server 6 to each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300, the acceptance confirmation means confirms whether or not the prescription can be processed.
That is, there is a limit to the number of drug containers 2 that can be held in the container storage device 106 of each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300. In some cases, the medicines written in the prescription may include medicines that are not stored in the container storage device 106.
Therefore, in this embodiment, before importing the prescription information from the shared server 6 to each medicine dispensing device 100, 200, 300, the medicine included in the prescription information and the medicine held in the container storage device 106 are accepted and confirmed. Compare by means.
If the prescription information includes a drug that is not held by the container storage device 106, this fact is displayed on the display devices 33, 35, and 36.

Also, through mutual communication, if another drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 holds all the drugs included in the prescription information, that drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 is displayed on the display device 33, 35, 36. to be displayed.
Then, a display is displayed requesting approval for transmitting the prescription information to the drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300. When the pharmacist inputs an approval signal by touching the touch panel of the display device 33, 35, 36, the prescription information is displayed in the drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 holding all the drugs included in the prescription information. forwarded.

Further, if there is no medicine dispensing device 100, 200, 300 holding all the medicines included in the prescription information, this fact is displayed on the display devices 33, 35, 36.
The drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 are displayed in the order of the overlap between the drugs included in the prescription information and the drugs they hold.
In this way, the drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 that holds the most types of drugs among the plurality of types of drugs required by the prescription information is specified.

In the drug packaging system 30 of this embodiment described above, the host system 31 and the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 are connected via the LAN 10 and are mutually compatible. Therefore, the host system 31 can also obtain information that one of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300 is out of order or is not powered on.

In the embodiment described above, when importing processing information from the shared server 6 to each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300, the number of remaining packages is compared preferentially, and if the numbers are the same, the number of remaining packages is compared secondarily. We compared the number of unprocessed cases and decided whether or not to import the information.
Alternatively, the number of unprocessed cases may be compared to determine whether information can be imported. Alternatively, the time required to process unprocessed items may be compared.
In this embodiment, the number of medicine packages that are being processed and have already been discharged is excluded from the number of remaining packages, but the number of medicine packages that are being processed and already discharged is included in the number of remaining packages. You may. It may be determined whether or not information can be captured based on the total number of drug packages to be discharged when processing unprocessed cases.

In the embodiment described above, each drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 is provided with an unprocessed information storage means, but the shared server 6 or the host system 31 may have an unprocessed information storage means.

In the embodiment described above, the medicine dispensing apparatuses 100, 200, and 300 refer to the information on the shared server 6, but the shared server 6 or the host system 31 refers to the information on the medicine dispensing apparatuses 100, 200, and 300. Cases to be processed may be distributed.
In this case as well, the drug dispensing device that processes the new case is determined using the unprocessed information of each of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 as one of the conditions.
In addition, when distributing cases to be processed from the shared server 6 or host system 31 to the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300, if one of the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 is out of order or the power is turned off, If not, the medicine dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 that are malfunctioning or the like are excluded from the distribution.
When the failure is resolved or the power is restored, the information is transmitted to the shared server 6 or the host system 31, and the distribution is immediately switched to include the medicine dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 whose failure has been recovered.

In the embodiment described above, the medicine dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 of the type disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 5 are exemplified. This type of drug dispensing device 100 , 200 , 300 has a drug container 2 containing a specific powder medicine, moves the drug container 2 to the vicinity of a dispensing tray 116 , and directly dispenses the drug from the drug container 2 into the tray. 116 is used to inject powdered medicine.

The drug dispensing system 30 of the present invention is not limited to these types of drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300, and may also employ drug dispensing devices such as those disclosed in Patent Documents 6 and 7, for example. .
In the drug dispensing devices as disclosed in Patent Documents 6 and 7, the weighing container is moved to the vicinity of the drug container, and the drug is put into the weighing container from the drug container. At the same time, the amount of medicine put into the weighing container is weighed by the weighing device. Then, the weighing container is moved to the vicinity of the distribution plate 116 and placed into a feeder arranged near the distribution plate 116, and the powder is placed into the distribution plate 116 via the feeder. The weighing container is returned to its predetermined location.

In the embodiment described above, each of the medicine dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 is for dispensing powdered medicines, but devices for dispensing solid medicines such as tablets may be mixed together.

Further, the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 described above are all fully automatic drug dispensing devices that have a function of automatically dispensing drugs, but some parts are manually added to the drug dispensing system 30. It may also include traditional powder medicine packaging equipment.
Conventional powder medicine packaging devices do not have dedicated medicine containers (sometimes referred to as medicine cassettes) for each type of powder medicine, such as the medicine container 2 described above, and instead require a pharmacist to weigh the prescribed amount using a weighing device. This is a type of device that automatically divides and packages the powder after it is put into the main device (hereinafter referred to as an automatic powder dividing and packaging device).
If there is a drug that cannot be processed by the fully automatic drug dispensing device, a message to that effect is displayed and the prescription information is sent to the conventional automatic powder drug dispensing device. good.

The operation of the system described above is for normal operation, but it is desirable to be able to give priority to cases that require urgent packaging.

According to the drug packaging system 30 described above, the load on the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 belonging to the system is equalized. Therefore, troubles such as congestion in the packaging operation of a particular drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 are less likely to occur, and the overall operation can be completed more quickly.

The medicine packaging system 30 of the embodiment described above is configured by a host system 31 and a medicine dispensing device group 32, and the shared server 6 of the host system 31 functions as an information holding unit. The present invention is not limited to this configuration, and another device may be used as the information holding section.
That is, another computer or the like of the host system 31 may be used as the information holding unit. A server may be provided in the drug dispensing device group 32 and serve as an information holding section. Other equipment (such as a computer) provided in the medicine dispensing device group 32 may be used as the information holding unit. The information holding unit and the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, and 300 may be connected in parallel. Further, the storage means of any one of the control devices 45, 46, 47 of the medicine dispensing devices 100, 200, 300 may be used as the information holding section.
Further, a cloud server may be used as an information holding unit.

Prescription information containing drugs that cannot be processed by the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300 may be selected in advance by the host system 31 and excluded from the prescription information input to the drug dispensing devices 100, 200, 300. It is recommended that the removed prescription information be sent to a conventional automatic powder medicine dividing and packaging device, and that the powder medicine be divided and packaged using the automatic powder medicine dividing and packaging device.
The host system 31 and each drug dispensing device (fully automatic drug dispensing device) 100, 200, 300 can be started and stopped individually, and if the drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 is not started. Or, if the device is out of order, the upper system 31 may allocate prescription information to a conventional automatic powder medicine dividing and packaging device.
For example, the drug dispensing devices (fully automatic drug dispensing devices) 100, 200, and 300 transmit a stop signal or a failure signal to the higher-level system 31, and the higher-level system 31 receives this signal and uses the conventional automatic powder dispensing device. Send prescription information to the packaging device.
When the drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300 starts up, the destination of prescription information is switched and the prescription information is transmitted to the drug dispensing device 100, 200, 300.

5 Prescription input means 6 Shared server 30 Drug packaging system 31 Upper system (upper unit)
33, 35, 36 Display devices 45, 46, 47 Control devices 100, 200, 300 Medicine dispensing device 106 Container storage device (medicine holding unit)

Claims (1)

In a drug packaging system having a plurality of drug dispensing devices and a prescription input means into which prescription information including information regarding the type and quantity of drugs is input,
One of the plurality of drug dispensing devices has an information holding section that holds prescription information input by the prescription input means, and the remaining drug dispensing devices hold the prescription information. does not have an information holding department to
Each of the plurality of drug dispensing devices includes a drug holding section that holds a plurality of types of drugs, a storage section, and an information holding section that takes out necessary drugs from the drug holding section based on the prescription information of the case obtained from the information holding section. It has a drug packaging function that packages and discharges individual doses.
The remaining other drug dispensing device performs drug discharging processing based on prescription information held in the information holding unit of any of the drug dispensing devices,
In each drug dispensing device, unprocessed information is stored in a storage unit,
It has a function of redirecting the drug dispensing device that performs the drug dispensing process from any of the drug dispensing devices to the remaining other drug dispensing devices according to the unprocessed information,
Equipped with a display device,
Equipped with a mutual communication function for mutual communication between at least two or more drug dispensing devices among the plurality of drug dispensing devices,
If any of the drug dispensing devices does not hold the drugs included in the prescription information, and the remaining drug dispensing devices hold all the drugs included in the prescription information,
Approval for transmitting prescription information for a drug that does not hold a drug from one of the drug dispensing devices to the display device of the remaining other drug dispensing device; A drug dispensing system characterized in that, when a display requesting a drug dispensing device is displayed and a user decides on another drug dispensing device, prescription information that does not hold a drug is transmitted to the other drug dispensing device.

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