RU2329831C2 - Device for supply, storage and provision of blood packages - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: medicine.

SUBSTANCE: invention refers to medicine, specifically to transphysiology. Specified device contains chamber comprising all device components mounted: cooled room for storage of packages; box with set of cells, every of which is designed for one package. Box is installed in cooled space. Each cell has identification code. Door is designed to provide operator's access to cells. Delivery system is placed in chamber and provides movement of cells. Cooling system is placed in chamber and provides cooling of cooled space. Data processing system is placed in chamber and equipped with control box for delivery system and cooling system and enables to operate supply, storage and delivery of packages.

EFFECT: increase of safety and reliability of storage and delivery of blood packages.

11 cl, 2 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an automated and computerized device for receiving, storing and supplying blood bags.

State of the art

Around 1996, Angelatoni developed this type of device; it consisted essentially of a refrigerator, inside which a rotating store was arranged, equipped with cells for holding blood bags; the refrigerator was controlled from a personal computer through a sequence of electrical connections; an electrical connection was provided for each sensor and for each drive; all electrical connections were grouped in two large multicore cables. The product has been commercially very successful.

In developing this device, the usual approach used in the construction of a computerized mechanical tool was adopted: that is, the mechanical part is separated from the electronic part and from the sensors, and the drives are located in the interface. This approach was well founded; in fact, mechanical and electronic parts have little in common; usually there is no advantage when placing them close to each other (on the contrary, such an arrangement can be difficult), and very often it is required to install them at a distance from each other.

The control program was downloaded to a PC connected to the device; used a regular type of PC, and therefore it was very easy to download other commercial software.

A freezing module that retains blood products (e.g., plasma) for a long time is disclosed in Scheuer Uwe, German Patent Application No. 4418005, in which fresh blood from a donor is delivered, frozen and left for classification.

Angelantoni recently decided to launch a new version of this machine on the market and therefore has done some research to improve it.

As a result of the studies, it turned out that such a device for blood bags is very different from a computerized mechanical tool.

First of all, its main action (that is, preserving blood packets at the required temperature) is performed in the absence of an operator.

This action is very important, and therefore the safety and reliability of the device are key factors.

The device is typically installed in a place where free access to it is provided.

Very often, you need to move such a device, at least a few meters.

Possible failures and errors of such a device (upon receipt and / or preservation and / or delivery of blood bags) can have very serious consequences for the life of not only one, but also several people.

The present invention is the result of these observations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to develop an improved device compared to what was previously developed, a device designed to receive, store and deliver blood bags.

This goal is essentially achieved using a device having the characteristics disclosed in independent claim 1.

Preferred features of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The idea underlying the present invention is to place all components of the device, including the data processing system, in one camera.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be clear from the following description, which should be considered in conjunction with the attached drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a simplified view of the internal block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention,

figure 2 shows a diagram of the front side of the device of figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be described with reference to the drawings; such a reference should not be construed as limiting, but solely as an explanation. The device in accordance with the present invention, generally indicated at 1 in the drawings, is intended to receive, store and deliver blood bags.

The device contains:

camera 2, which contains all the components of the device,

a refrigerated space 21 for containing the bags,

the store 3, containing many cells 31, each of which is designed to contain one package, and the store 3 is placed in a refrigerated space 21,

each of the cells 31 is identified by a cell code,

at least one door 4, designed to provide operator access to the cells 31,

a movement system 5 located in the chamber 2 and providing the ability to move, preferably, rotate the cell 31,

a cooling system 6 located in the chamber 2 and allowing to cool the cooled space 21,

a data processing system 7 located in the chamber 2, providing the ability to control the movement system 5 and the cooling system 6, and allowing to control the receipt, storage and delivery of packets,

a keyboard 8 and a screen 9 connected to the processing system 7 and mounted on the walls 23 of the camera 2.

The device, accordingly, requires a power supply system for the operation of its electrical components, in particular a movement system 5, a cooling system 6 and a processing system 7; the power system requires a source of electricity; usually this source consists of an electrical network system; in addition, preferably, it is possible to provide a battery (or a similar component) that ensures the operation of the device even in the absence of electricity in the network; neither the power supply system nor the power sources are shown in the drawings. The device in accordance with the present invention, having the characteristics presented above, works safely and reliably.

Compared with the known device, there are no cables that can be accidentally disconnected, which may interfere with the operation of the device; therefore, this device is more reliable.

Since the data processing system is located inside the camera, it is much more difficult to intervene in its operation compared to the previous device, and therefore the present device is more secure.

The only cable needed is a power cable; therefore, the device is very easy to move.

Even if the power cable must be disconnected, the replacement work is trivial and can be done by anyone.

Since all the components of the device are contained inside the camera, its design, of course, can be more studied, which is an important element at present for any machine, in particular for machines intended for installation in public places.

As for the screen and keyboard, they are placed on the walls of the camera so as not to take up too much space for the cooled space; the screen may preferably be of a flat type; the keyboard may preferably be of a flat type; the screen and keyboard can also be implemented as a "touch screen"; in figure 1, the keyboard 8 is shown slightly extended (for example, 10 cm) relative to the flat surface of the chamber wall; alternatively, the device may be configured such that neither the screen nor the keyboard protrude beyond the walls of the camera at all.

1, a cooling system 6 (usually consisting of an evaporator, compressor and condenser) is shown very schematically; here you can see the evaporator in the refrigerated space 21.

Processing system 7 provides precise control of receipt, storage and delivery of packets using cell codes; in fact, this system has information about the contents of various cells.

For optimal placement (so that the size of the camera does not become excessive) of all components in one camera, it was necessary to solve a number of technical problems.

Currently, blood bags are usually provided with bag identification means; such tools often consist of one or more bar codes; have recently been studied and experimented with packages equipped with electronic tags called RFID (RFID Radio Frequency Identifiers).

To take full advantage of this characteristic of blood bags, it is preferable to install a reader 10 for reading the bag identification means; the device 10 is connected to the processing system 7 located in the chamber 2, and mounted on the wall 23 of the chamber 2; Thus, when the operator loads a new blood bag into the device, and when the operator removes the blood bag from the device, the processing system 7 automatically and therefore simply and safely records this operation.

In accordance with the preferred exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the cells 31 are located at different levels one above the other, for example, at five levels of ten cells.

In this case, in particular, it is advantageous to provide a cell code that would be unique for the entire store; in fact, this does not allow the cells to be confused with each other.

Alternatively, cells can be distinguished by cell code and level code; in this case, however, if an error occurs in the level code during the processing phase, the cells may be confused.

For structural purposes, it is preferable to provide a cell code independent of the level at which the cell is located and the position of the cell in the level; for example, store cells can be assigned a sequence of random codes, each of which is different from the others; in fact, in this way, this eliminates the influence of structural errors on the operation of the device, as will become clear from the following description.

It is preferable to provide for the installation in the cells 31 of the cell identification means 32 for receiving and / or containing cell codes; in figure 1, the tool 32 is shown in the form of small black rectangles located on the right side of each cell; as a means of 32, it is very simple and very efficient to use barcodes; Alternatively, use electronic tags.

In the case of using barcodes, they can be applied to the cells during the manufacturing phase of the device.

If you select an option in which the cell codes are independent of position and level, the barcodes will also be independent of position and cell level, and therefore the design of the machine will work correctly, no matter how they are applied to the cells.

In this case, before normal operation, the device processing system 7 must establish an association between cell codes and cells.

If a cell identification means 32 is provided, the device may preferably comprise at least one reader 132 for reading the cell identification means 32, and which is connected to the processing system 7, and at least one corresponding movement element 131 of said a reader 132 controlled by the processing system 7; in this case, the device 132 and the element 131 are placed in the cooled space 21; a block consisting of a device 132 and an element 131 constitutes a reading system 13 for reading a cell identification means.

Such a solution is preferred when the cost of the reader 132 is significant; in addition, it makes it possible to optimally position the reader 132 relative to the identification means 32.

In figure 1, element 131 allows you to move the device 132 vertically and install it in five positions of the means 32 of the identification of cells of each level.

Preferably, the engine compartment 22 is provided separately from the cooling space 21 in which the moving system 5, cooling system 6 and processing system 7 are installed.

Thus, only those elements that really need to be cooled, that is, blood bags, can be placed in the space to be cooled; some components do not have to be placed outside the refrigerated space: an evaporator, a cell magazine and a reading system for reading cell identification means.

Preferably, a metal container may be provided in which the entire processing system 7 can be installed; this metal container is not shown separately in the drawings; the purpose of such a container is to shield and isolate the processing system 7.

The device in accordance with the present invention performs the basic actions independently. However, it should be understood that it may be preferable to connect it to another device through, for example, a computer network and / or telephone network.

The device may comprise, for example, a network port for connecting a processing system 7 to a computer network; preferably, taking into account the requirement of limiting the number of cables, the network port 11 is a wireless network port.

The device may comprise, for example, a modem for connecting the processing system 7 to the telephone network; preferably, taking into account the requirement of limiting the number of cables, modem 12 is a wireless type modem (GPS modem (GSM, communication system with mobile objects) or, in the future, USMS (UMTS, universal mobile communication system)).

The device can therefore also be connected to the Internet via a network port and / or modem.

An apparatus store in accordance with the present invention may be manufactured using a variety of different methods; it can rotate about a vertical axis, as in the example shown in figure 1, or about a horizontal axis; cell movement can also be provided based on a combination of rotation and shear.

Various embodiments may also be provided for doors or doors for accessing store cells.

In accordance with the example shown in the drawing, the device includes a door 4, which extends from the first to the last level of the store 3, in which one cell is marked at each level, and in which the movement system 5 allows you to rotate one level at a time; thus, when the device is in a stationary phase, the five marked cells are located near door 4, so when the door is open, it is impossible to access any of the blood bags; when the operator transmits to the device a request for loading or unloading the blood bag, the processing system 7 rotates one of the store levels and moves one of its cells to the door so that the operator can place or remove the blood bag from it.

According to an alternative example (not shown), the device comprises a plurality of doors, the number of which is equal to the number of store levels, the moving system allows you to rotate the entire store, and the processing system during normal operation can open one door at a time.

This alternative example requires a simpler mechanism for the magazine moving system, but a more complex door mechanism.

To increase the reliability of the device, it is preferable to provide in the processing system 7 a subsystem designed to control the temperature of the refrigerated space 21, and this subsystem should be independent of, but associated with the processing system 7; in this way, even if problems occur in the processing system 7, temperature control will be maintained; this is required to protect the contents of blood bags.

To further increase the reliability of the device, it is preferable to provide a temperature control subsystem that will be equipped with a spare power source; this is required to protect the contents of blood bags.

The processing system 7 is usually and preferably computer-based; it requires an appropriate program. Such a program should have control functions for the device and control functions.

The device in accordance with the present invention is usually installed in hospitals; in this case, it is preferable to connect it to the hospital information system and, in other words, to provide the possibility of linking the device program with the hospital management program.

To this end, it is preferable to provide in the data processing system 7 a control program equipped with a data transmission module that enables communication with the hospital management program, usually via a network port; thus, all code that relates to data exchange with the hospital management program will be grouped together.

In addition, it is preferable to provide in the data transmission module a program element independent of the control program, which can be activated by the control program during execution of the control program; Thus, if you need to modify the data transfer module, you will not need to rewrite the program, but rather it will be enough to recompile the module.

As such a data transfer module, for example, “DLL” can be used.

Such a data transmission module can be manufactured using, for example, COM technology or NET technology; both of these technologies are developed by Microsoft.

To improve the data exchange of the device in accordance with the present invention with various hospital management programs, a program interface can be provided in the control program, which is fixed and configured to interact with the data transmission module; Thus, based on this interface, various data transfer modules that are independent of the device program can be developed; various data transfer modules can be compiled, regardless of the device program. In accordance with the requirements of the client, the device in accordance with the present invention is supplied with its monitoring and control program and data transmission module corresponding to the hospital information system.

Claims (11)

1. A device for receiving, storing and supplying blood bags, containing: a camera that contains all the components of the device, refrigerated space for holding bags, a store containing many cells, each of which is designed to contain one package, the store being located in a refrigerated space, each of the cells is identified by a cell code, and in which cells are located at different levels one above the other, the cell code is unique and does not depend on the level , in which the cell is located and from the position of the cell at the level, and in which the means of identification of the cell, configured to search and / or save cell codes, preferably barcodes, is installed on the cells, at least one door designed to provide operator access to the cells, a movement system located in the chamber and allowing movement, preferably by rotating the cell, a cooling system located in the chamber and allowing to cool the cooling space, a processing system located in the chamber, providing the ability to control the movement system and the cooling system, a reader for reading the packet identification means, said device being connected to the processing system, located in the camera and mounted on the chamber walls, characterized in that it further comprises at least one reader for reading the cell identification means and connected to a processing system, and at least one corresponding movement element for said reader controlled by the processing system, wherein device and said element placed in the refrigerated space, said apparatus comprises engine compartment separated from the refrigerated space, said machine compartment further comprises a displacement system, cooling system and the processing system. 2. The device according to claim 1, in which the processing system is configured to control the receipt, storage and delivery of packages and is connected to a keyboard and screen that are installed on the walls of the camera. 3. The device according to one of the preceding paragraphs, containing a metal container configured to accommodate the entire processing system. 4. The device according to claim 1, containing a wireless-type network port for connecting a processing system to a computer network. 5. The device according to claim 1, containing a wireless type modem designed to connect the processing system to the telephone network. 6. The device according to claim 1, in which one door continues from the first to the last level of the store, in which one cell is marked at each level, and in which the movement system allows you to rotate one level at a time. 7. The device according to claim 1, in which the processing system comprises a subsystem for controlling the temperature of the refrigerated space, said subsystem being made independent of, but related to, the processing system. 8. The device according to claim 7, in which the temperature control subsystem is equipped with a spare power source. 9. The device according to claim 1, in which the processing system comprises a control program equipped with a data transmission module, which enables communication with the control program, usually via a network port. 10. The device according to claim 9, in which the data transfer module is a program element independent of the control program, driven by the control program during execution of the control program. 11. The device according to claim 10, in which the control program is equipped with a software interface that is fixed and configured to interact with the data transmission module.

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