Drug picking device

Abstract

This invention relates to a medicine picking device, comprising: a ring-shaped medicine cabinet including a positioning plate and a rotating base, wherein a plurality of cabinets are formed in a ring on the rotating base, each cabinet having a plurality of empty spaces and a plurality of medicines, the medicines being retrievable from the cabinets inward, and the interior of the cabinets forming a medicine picking space and a medicine picking outlet; and a rotating medicine picker disposed in the positioning plate, the main body of the rotating medicine picker being able to rotate and vertically lift and lower in the medicine picking space, and having a medicine picking part extending out to grab and retract medicines on one side of the main body, the rotation of the rotating medicine picker, in conjunction with the rotation of the ring-shaped medicine cabinet, can quickly locate and pick up the predetermined medicines, and the medicine picking part can extend out to place the predetermined medicines outside the ring-shaped medicine cabinet, thereby achieving the purpose of rapid medicine picking during the dispensing process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a drug picking device, and more particularly, the drug picking device further includes a processor that can control the rotation of a circular drug cabinet and the operation of a rotating drug dispenser. The processor can control the rotation of the coupled rotating drug dispenser to coordinate with the rotation of the circular drug cabinet based on the position of the circular drug cabinet and the position of the dispensing part of the rotating drug dispenser according to the prescription data in the drug database. This ensures that the predetermined drug in the circular drug cabinet and the dispensing part are aligned and picked up with the shortest distance, thereby achieving the purpose of rapid drug picking during the dispensing process. Prior Technology

[0002] Note that currently, most hospital pharmacies use open cabinets to store medications, along with L-shaped dispensing tables, and dispense medications manually. After the medication bags are printed, pharmacists look up the corresponding medication from the open cabinet according to the medication name on the bag and put it into the bag. Because there are many types of medications, some of which have similar names or appearances, and even medications with the same name may have different dosage forms, this method of operation is prone to errors in medication dispensing and is difficult to prevent.

[0003] The general operation mode of a consultation is as follows: The patient first registers, then goes to the consultation room for a consultation. The doctor writes a prescription based on the patient's condition. The patient takes the prescription to the billing and payment counter to pay. At the same time as payment, the prescription is sent to the pharmacy. The reviewing pharmacist conducts the first review and dispensing of the prescription, checking whether the prescription content is reasonable. After confirming that there are no errors, the pharmacist prints the medicine bags. The dispensing pharmacist prepares the patient's medication according to the information on the medicine bags. Then, a second check and confirmation is conducted. The check involves three readings and five verifications to confirm that the prepared medication is correct. Finally, the dispensing pharmacist gives the medication to the patient and instructs the patient on how to use the medication before leaving.

[0004] Therefore, the repackaging confirmation process should involve at least two pharmacists who visually verify the name, appearance, and dosage of the injection to ensure its correctness. However, with hospital staff shortages, the working hours and pressure on doctors, nurses, and pharmacists are constantly increasing, and the appearance and dosage of injections vary greatly (especially injections with identical appearances are more likely to cause misidentification). Furthermore, when there are many patients seeking treatment, the increased workload of pharmacists may also lead to repackaging errors. Nurses caring for patients in hospitals often need to repackage injections for inpatients, but nurses may not necessarily have the professional knowledge of pharmacists or the ability to identify injections. It is not uncommon to hear of patients receiving the wrong injections. Such oversights can, at best, delay the recovery time, and at worst, endanger the patient's life, so they cannot be ignored.

[0005] Patient medication safety has always been a crucial issue of concern for major hospitals. The consequences of medication safety oversights are serious. In recent years, hospital pharmacies have frequently made dispensing errors. Currently, medication dispensing relies entirely on pharmacists' manual methods, with manual experience determining the amount of medication to be dispensed. This approach is insufficient to effectively prevent medication safety errors. Therefore, addressing these shortcomings and deficiencies is a pressing issue for those in the profession. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, in view of the above-mentioned problems and deficiencies, the inventor collected relevant information and, after extensive evaluation and consideration, designed and invented this drug picking device.

[0007] The main objective of this invention is to provide a medicine picking device, comprising: a ring-shaped medicine cabinet including a positioning plate and a rotating base, wherein a plurality of cabinets are formed in a ring shape on the rotating base, each cabinet having a plurality of empty spaces and a plurality of medicines, the medicines being retrievable from the cabinets inward, the cabinets having a picking space and a picking outlet; and a rotating medicine dispenser disposed in the positioning plate, the main body of the rotating medicine dispenser being able to rotate and vertically lift in the picking space, and having a picking part extending out to grab and retract medicines on one side of the main body, the rotating action of the rotating medicine dispenser cooperating with the rotating action of the ring-shaped medicine cabinet to quickly locate and retrieve a predetermined medicine, and the picking part extending out to place the predetermined medicines outside the ring-shaped medicine cabinet. Based on the above, the drug picking device further includes a processor that can control the rotation of the circular medicine cabinet and the rotation of the rotary dispensing device. The processor can control the rotation of the coupled rotary dispensing device to match the rotation of the circular medicine cabinet according to the prescription data in the medicine database corresponding to the position of the circular medicine cabinet and the position of the dispensing part of the rotary dispensing device, so as to achieve the purpose of rapid drug picking during the dispensing process.

[0008] A secondary objective of the present invention is that the annular medicine cabinet has a first conveying unit for placing the predetermined medicine at the medicine picking outlet outside the rotating seat. The first conveying unit is used to convey one or more of the predetermined medicines via a conveyor belt or a robotic arm.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is that the drug picking device further includes a storage unit for storing prescription data transmitted from a drug database of a pharmacy prescription server, and the storage unit is further coupled to a processor. The prescription data further includes drug images. The processor can control the rotation of the coupled rotary dispensing device to coordinate with the rotation of the circular pharmacy cabinet based on the position of the circular pharmacy cabinet and the position of the dispensing part of the rotary dispensing device according to the prescription data. This forms the predetermined drug in the circular pharmacy cabinet and the dispensing part to be aligned and picked up with the shortest distance. One or more of the predetermined drugs are transported through the first conveying unit coupled to the processor.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is that the pharmacy-side prescription server includes a prescription analysis module coupled to the drug database, and the prescription analysis module is further coupled to prescription data in a hospital-side computer host.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is that the drug picking device is coupled to an inspection unit, the inspection unit including a work platform for one or more of the predetermined drugs to be transported by a first conveying unit, a comparison device consisting of a camera or a video camera is provided on one side of the work platform, the comparison device receives prescription data transmitted by the storage unit and performs an image comparison with one or more of the predetermined drugs on the work platform, and the processor confirms whether the predetermined drug matches the prescription data and is correct, and a second conveying unit is provided adjacent to the work platform, the second conveying unit can transport the correct predetermined drug to a packaging unit.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is that the rotating medicine dispenser includes a base fixed to the positioning plate, and a rotating platform is provided on the base for fixing a rod-shaped lifting part downward. The lifting part is fixed upward to the main body. A rod-shaped horizontal telescopic part is protruding from one side of the main body, and the medicine dispensing part is provided at the end of the horizontal telescopic part. The medicine dispensing part is composed of a suction cup with vacuum suction or negative pressure suction, or a gripper that can grasp the medicine. Simple Explanation of the Diagram

[0013] [Figure 1] is a perspective view of the drug picking device of the present invention. [Figure 2] is a functional block diagram of the drug dispensing system of the present invention. [Figure 3] is a schematic diagram of the first action of the drug picking device of the present invention performing drug picking. [Figure 4] is a schematic diagram of the second action of the drug picking device of the present invention in picking drugs. [Figure 5] is a schematic diagram of the third action of the drug picking device of the present invention in picking drugs. Implementation

[0014] To achieve the above objectives and effects, the technical means and structure adopted in this invention are described in detail below with reference to the preferred embodiments of the invention, so as to facilitate a complete understanding.

[0015] Please refer to Figure 1, which is a perspective view of the medicine picking device of the present invention. As can be clearly seen from the figure, the medicine picking device 3 of the present invention mainly includes a ring-shaped medicine cabinet 33 and a rotating medicine dispenser 34. Its main components and features are described in detail below:

[0016] The annular medicine cabinet 33 includes a positioning plate 331 located in the middle, and a rotatable rotating seat 332 is provided on the outside of the positioning plate 331. A plurality of cabinets 333 in annular shape are formed on the rotating seat 332. A plurality of empty spaces 3330 are provided in the vertical direction in each cabinet 3330, and medicine 6 is provided in each of the empty spaces 3330. The medicine 6 can be taken out from the cabinets 333 in the inward direction. A medicine picking space 330 is formed inside the annular cabinets 333, and a medicine picking outlet 3300 is formed at the cabinets 333 that is open and communicates with the medicine picking space 330. The aforementioned medicine 6 refers to the injection for syringe to draw up and inject.

[0017] The rotating medicine dispenser 34 is disposed in the positioning plate 331. The main body 341 of the rotating medicine dispenser 34 can rotate and vertically lift in the medicine picking space 330. On one side of the main body 341, there is a medicine picking part 346 that can extend horizontally to grab the medicine and retract to take it out. The rotation of the rotating medicine dispenser 34, in conjunction with the rotation of the annular medicine cabinet 33, can quickly find the predetermined medicine 6 and pick it out. The medicine picking part 346 can extend out of the medicine picking outlet 3300 to place the predetermined medicine 6 outside the annular medicine cabinet 33.

[0018] The aforementioned annular medicine cabinet 33 has a first conveying unit 35 for placing the predetermined medicine 6 at the medicine picking outlet 3300 on the outside of the rotating seat 332. The first conveying unit 35 is used to convey one or more of the predetermined medicine 6 through a conveyor belt or a robotic arm.

[0019] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 2 discloses the dispensing system of the present invention, wherein the medication picking device 3 further includes a storage unit 31 (referring to a hard disk drive HDD or solid-state drive SSD) capable of storing prescription data 11 transmitted from the medication database 22 of a pharmacy prescription server 2. The storage unit 31 is further coupled to a processor 32 (which may be a microcontroller unit MCU or a central processing unit CPU). The prescription data 11 further includes a medication image. The processor 32 can match the position of the circular pharmacy cabinet 33 and the position of the dispensing part 346 of the rotating dispensing device 34 according to the prescription data 11. The rotation of the rotary dispensing device 34 coupled to the rotation of the annular pharmacy cabinet 33 is coordinated to ensure that the predetermined medication 6 (referring to the medication 6 that matches the prescription data 11) in the annular pharmacy cabinet 33 is aligned with the dispensing unit 346 at the shortest distance for dispensing. One or more of the predetermined medication 6 are delivered through the first delivery unit 35 coupled to the processor 32. The pharmacy prescription server 2 includes a prescription analysis module 21 coupled to the medication database 22, and the prescription analysis module 21 is further coupled to the prescription data 11 in a hospital computer host 1.

[0020] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. The drug picking device 3 is coupled to an inspection unit 4. The inspection unit 4 includes a work platform 41 for one or more of the predetermined drugs 6 to be transported by the first conveying unit 35. A comparison device 42, consisting of a camera or video camera, is provided on one side of the work platform 41. The comparison device 42 receives the prescription data 11 transmitted by the storage unit 31 and performs an image comparison with one or more of the predetermined drugs 6 on the work platform 41. The processor 32 confirms whether the predetermined drug 6 matches the prescription data 11 and is correct. A second conveying unit 43 (which may be a conveyor belt, robotic arm, or trolley) is provided adjacent to the work platform 41. The second conveying unit 43 can transport the correct predetermined drug 6 to a packaging unit 5. The packaging unit 5 refers to an automated drug packaging device or a pharmacist manually packaging the drug 6.

[0021] Please refer to Figures 1 and 2. The rotating medicine dispenser 34 includes a base 342 fixed to the positioning plate 331. The base 342 is provided with a rotating platform 343 for fixing a rod-shaped lifting part 344 downward. The lifting part 344 is fixed upward to the main body 341. A rod-shaped horizontal telescopic part 345 protrudes from one side of the main body 341, and the medicine dispensing part 346 is provided at the end of the horizontal telescopic part 345. The medicine dispensing part 346 is composed of a suction cup with vacuum suction or negative pressure suction, or a gripper that can grasp the medicine 6.

[0022] Please refer to Figures 2-5. In actual operation, when a doctor completes a consultation with a patient and issues a prescription (11), the doctor uses the hospital-side computer host (1) to transmit the prescription (11) to the pharmacy-side prescription server (2). The prescription analysis module (21) of the pharmacy-side prescription server (2) analyzes and processes the prescription (11), and searches for a drug database (22) stored in the pharmacy-side prescription server (2) to determine the storage location of each drug (6) inside the circular pharmacy cabinet (33) based on the prescription (11) in the pharmacy database (22). This information is then transmitted to the storage unit (31) of the drug picking device (3). The processor (32) controls the rotation of the coupled rotating drug picker (34) to coordinate with the rotation of the circular pharmacy cabinet (33) based on the position of the prescription (11) in the pharmacy database (22) and the position of the picking part (346) of the rotating drug picker (34). (For example, the rotating drug picker (34) is driven by a stepper motor to rotate clockwise, and the circular pharmacy cabinet (34) rotates clockwise.) 3. Rotate counterclockwise; or rotate the dispensing device 34 counterclockwise and the circular medicine cabinet 33 clockwise), so that the predetermined medicine 6 in the circular medicine cabinet 33 and the dispensing part 346 are aligned and dispensed with the shortest distance, and one or more predetermined medicines 6 are placed on the first conveying unit 35 and conveyed to the working platform 41 of the inspection unit. The comparison device 42 on one side of the working platform 41 receives the prescription data 11 transmitted by the storage unit 31 and performs an image comparison with the predetermined medicine 6 to confirm whether the predetermined medicine 6 matches the prescription data 11 and is correct (if it does not match, the delivery of medicine 6 is stopped; or the mismatched medicine 6 is pushed out of the working platform 41 and recycled by the pushing fixture). Then, the correct predetermined medicine 6 can be conveyed to the automatic packaging medicine equipment or the pharmacist who dispenses the medicine can manually package the medicine 6. After the pharmacist collects and packages the predetermined medicine 6, he will check it and deliver it to the patient. By using the drug dispensing system of the present invention to dispense the drug 6, the conventional method of manually dispensing and dispensing drugs can be effectively avoided. This method is not only laborious and time-consuming, but also prone to errors and omissions in drug dispensing, and may even result in incorrect drug dispensing or administration of the wrong drug. This can lead to various disadvantages such as patients misusing drugs, affecting their condition or causing side effects.

[0023] The main feature of this invention is that the medicine picking device 3 further includes a processor 32 that can control the rotation of the annular medicine cabinet 33 and the rotation of the medicine picker 34. The processor 32 can control the rotation of the coupled rotation of the medicine picker 34 to match the rotation of the annular medicine cabinet 33 according to the position of the prescription data 11 in the medicine database 22 corresponding to the position of the annular medicine cabinet 33 and the position of the medicine picking part 346 of the rotation of the medicine picker 34, so as to form the predetermined medicine 6 in the annular medicine cabinet 33 and the medicine picking part 346 to be aligned and picked up with the shortest distance, so as to achieve the purpose of rapid medicine picking during the dispensing process.

[0024] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the patent. Therefore, any simple modifications and equivalent structural changes made using the description and drawings of the present invention should also be included within the scope of the patent of the present invention and are hereby stated.

[0025] In summary, the above-mentioned drug picking device of the present invention can reliably achieve its efficacy and purpose when in use. Therefore, the present invention is indeed a highly practical invention. In order to meet the application requirements for an invention patent, this application is hereby filed in accordance with the law. We hope that the Examination Board will grant this application as soon as possible to protect the inventor's hard work in research and development. If the Examination Board has any questions, please do not hesitate to write to us for guidance. The inventor will do his best to cooperate. We would be very grateful for your help.

[0026] 1: Hospital-side computer host 11: Prescription information 2: Pharmacy Prescription Server 21: Prescription Analysis Module 22: Pharmaceutical Database 3: Drug sorting device 31: Storage Unit 32: Processor 33: Circular medicine cabinet 330: Medicine Picking Space 3300: Drug Picking and Export 331: Positioning disc 332: Rotary seat 333: Cabinet 3330: Space 34: Rotary medicine dispenser 341: Main Body 342: Base 343: Rotary Table 344: Lifting Unit 345: Horizontal telescopic section 346: Pharmacy 35: First Conveying Unit 4: Inspection Unit 41: Work Platform 42: Comparison device 43: Second Conveying Unit 5: Packaging Unit 6: Medicine

Claims

1. A pharmaceutical picking device, comprising: A circular medicine cabinet includes a central positioning plate with a rotatable base on its exterior. The base has a plurality of circular cabinets, each containing a plurality of vertically arranged spaces, each containing a corresponding medicine. The medicine can be retrieved from the cabinets inwards. A medicine-picking space is formed inside the circular cabinets, and each cabinet has a perforated medicine-picking outlet communicating with this space. A rotating medicine dispenser is also included, located within the positioning plate. The main body of the dispenser can rotate and move vertically within the medicine-picking space. One side of the main body has a horizontally extending part that can grasp and retract the medicine. The rotation of the dispenser, in conjunction with the rotation of the circular medicine cabinet, allows for rapid retrieval of a predetermined medicine. The medicine-picking part extends out of the medicine-picking outlet to place the predetermined medicine outside the circular medicine cabinet.

2. The drug picking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular drug cabinet is provided with a first conveying unit for placing the predetermined drug at the drug picking outlet outside the rotating seat, the first conveying unit being used to convey one or more of the predetermined drugs via a conveyor belt or a robotic arm.

3. The drug picking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drug picking device further includes a storage unit capable of storing prescription data transmitted from a drug database of a pharmacy prescription server, and the storage unit is further coupled to a processor, the prescription data further including a drug image, the processor can control the rotation of the coupled rotary dispensing device to coordinate with the rotation of the annular pharmacy cabinet based on the position of the annular pharmacy cabinet and the position of the dispensing part of the rotary dispensing device according to the prescription data, so as to form the predetermined drug in the annular pharmacy cabinet and the dispensing part to be aligned and picked up with the shortest distance, and one or more predetermined drugs are transported through the first conveying unit coupled to the processor.

4. The drug picking device as described in claim 3, wherein the pharmacy-side prescription server includes a prescription analysis module coupled to the drug database, and the prescription analysis module is further coupled to prescription data in a hospital-side computer host.

5. The drug picking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drug picking device is coupled to an inspection unit, the inspection unit including a work platform for conveying one or more of the predetermined drugs by a first conveying unit, a comparison device consisting of a camera or video camera is provided on one side of the work platform, the comparison device receives prescription data transmitted by a storage unit and performs an image comparison with one or more of the predetermined drugs on the work platform, and confirms by a processor whether the predetermined drug matches and is correct with the prescription data, and a second conveying unit is provided adjacent to the work platform and the second conveying unit can convey the correct predetermined drug to a packaging unit.

6. The drug picking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotating drug picker includes a base fixed to the positioning plate, a rotating platform on the base for fixing a rod-shaped lifting part downward, the lifting part being fixed upward to the main body, a rod-shaped horizontal telescopic part protruding from one side of the main body and the drug picking part being provided at the end of the horizontal telescopic part, the drug picking part being a suction cup with vacuum suction or negative pressure suction, or a gripper capable of picking up the drug.

7. The drug picking device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drug refers to an injection for drawing up and injecting with a syringe.

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