Liquid medicine supply device

Abstract

To provide a liquid medicine supply device capable of shortening a time to start processing of topping up with excipient.SOLUTION: A liquid medicine supply device for supplying liquid medicine from a liquid medicine bottle storing the liquid medicine to a medication bottle, includes a bottle holding part for holding the liquid medicine bottle and an excipient bottle storing excipient, an excipient supply pipe in which the excipient heading from the excipient bottle to the medication bottle flows, a supply pipe moving part for moving the excipient supply pipe, and a control part for controlling the operation of the liquid medicine supply device. The control part executes dispensing processing of supplying the liquid medicine from the liquid medicine bottle to the medication bottle, when the dispensing processing is completed, immediately moves the excipient supply pipe and makes the excipient supply pipe face an upper opening of the medication bottle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aqueous solution supply device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in a dispensing pharmacy or the like, an aqueous solution, which is a liquid medicine, is dispensed. According to a prescription for a patient, one or more types of aqueous solutions are sequentially injected into a dosing bottle in predetermined amounts, and necessary excipients are injected to dispense the aqueous solution. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-184027 (Patent Document 1) discloses control for adding an excipient after dispensing the aqueous solution into the dosing bottle.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above document, after the dispensing of the aqueous solution is completed, whether or not to add an excipient is determined by the user. If it is determined that the addition is necessary, the user operates a button for instructing the addition of the excipient, and the excipient is dispensed into the dosing bottle. Therefore, the time until the start of adding the excipient is long.

[0005] The present disclosure proposes an aqueous solution supply device capable of shortening the time until the start of the excipient addition process.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to the present disclosure, there is proposed a liquid medicine supply device that supplies a liquid medicine from a liquid medicine bottle containing the liquid medicine to a dispensing bottle. The liquid medicine supply device includes a bottle holding unit that holds a liquid medicine bottle and an excipient bottle containing an excipient, an excipient supply pipe through which the excipient flows from the excipient bottle toward the dispensing bottle, a supply pipe moving unit that moves the excipient supply pipe, and a control unit that controls the operation of the liquid medicine supply device. The control unit executes a dispensing process of supplying the liquid medicine from the liquid medicine bottle to the dispensing bottle, and immediately after the dispensing process is completed, moves the excipient supply pipe so that the excipient supply pipe faces the upper opening of the dispensing bottle.

[0007] The above liquid medicine supply device further includes an input unit for the user of the liquid medicine supply device to input an instruction to execute a top-up process of supplying the excipient from the excipient bottle to the dispensing bottle, and the control unit may wait for the input of an instruction to execute the top-up process in a state where the excipient supply pipe faces the upper opening of the dispensing bottle.

[0008] The above liquid medicine supply device is configured to be able to set whether or not to perform the top-up process, and when it is set not to perform the top-up process, the control unit may omit moving the excipient supply pipe so as to face the upper opening of the dispensing bottle after completion of the dispensing process.

[0009] The above liquid medicine supply device further includes an input unit for the user of the liquid medicine supply device to input an instruction to stop the top-up process of supplying the excipient from the excipient bottle to the dispensing bottle, and when an instruction to stop the top-up process is input before the excipient supply pipe moves to a position facing the upper opening of the dispensing bottle, the control unit may stop the movement of the excipient supply pipe.

Advantages of the Invention

[0010] According to the liquid medicine supply device of the present disclosure, the time until the start of the top-up process of the excipient can be shortened.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the aqueous solution supply device 1 of the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the aqueous solution supply device 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the aqueous solution supply device 1 along line III-III shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the aqueous solution supply device 1 along line IV-IV shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the aqueous solution supply device 1 along line V-V shown in FIG. 2. The aqueous solution supply device 1 of the embodiment is used to supply and dispense the aqueous solution 5, which is a liquid medicine, from the aqueous solution bottle 23 containing the aqueous solution 5 to the dosing bottle 2 according to the prescription for the patient.

[0014] The aqueous solution supply device 1 includes an aqueous solution supply unit 3 that supplies the aqueous solution 5 from the aqueous solution bottle 23 to the dosing bottle 2, and a weight detection unit 4 that detects the weight of the aqueous solution 5 accommodated in the dosing bottle 2. From the weight of the aqueous solution 5 detected by the weight detection unit 4 and the specific gravity of the aqueous solution 5, the volume of the aqueous solution 5 supplied to the dosing bottle 2 is calculated. The aqueous solution supply unit 3 is controlled so that a predetermined volume of the aqueous solution 5 according to the prescription is supplied to the dosing bottle 2. The aqueous solution supply unit 3 and the weight detection unit 4 are provided in the housing 6. The housing 6 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is installed on a horizontal installation surface in an upright state.

[0015] Inside the housing 6, a support frame 8 is provided. The support frame 8 is arranged between the bottom plate 9 of the housing 6 and the top plate 10 of the housing 6, and more specifically, is arranged closer to the top plate 10 of the housing 6. The internal space of the housing 6 is partitioned by the support frame 8 into an upper space 11 above the support frame 8 and a lower space 12 below the support frame 8. On the front surface portion 13 of the housing 6, a touch panel 14 and printers 17a, 17b are arranged. Further, on the front surface portion 13, a lower opening 15 that communicates the lower space 12 with the outside of the housing 6 is formed.

[0016] The lower opening 15 is formed between the left and right side portions 16a, 16b on the front surface portion 13 of the housing 6. Above the lower opening 15 between the left and right side portions 16a, 16b, a curved plate-shaped front cover portion 18 that partitions the lower space 12 from the outside of the housing 6 is arranged. The front cover portion 18 is formed of a transparent material so that the lower space 12 can be visually recognized from the front side outside of the housing 6. The front cover portion 18 is attached to one of the left and right side portions 16a, 16b via a hinge and is provided so as to be rotatable around the axis of the hinge. Thus, the front cover portion 18 can be opened and closed.

[0017] The aqueous agent supply unit 3 is a rotating body disposed in the lower space 12 and rotatably provided around an axis perpendicular to the support frame 8 (hereinafter referred to as the "drum axis"), and includes a rotating drum 21 and a drum rotation motor 22 mounted on the upper surface of the support frame 8 for rotating the rotating drum 21 around the drum axis with respect to the support frame 8. The aqueous agent supply unit 3 also includes a plurality of pumps 24 provided on the rotating drum 21 for transferring the aqueous agent from a plurality of aqueous agent bottles 23 storing the aqueous agent 5 to the dosing bottle 2, and a pump drive unit 25 for driving each pump 24. Each pump 24 may be a tube pump.

[0018] The rotating drum 21 includes a pump holder 31 for holding each pump 24, and an aqueous agent bottle holder 32 for holding each aqueous agent bottle 23 in an upright state with the opening facing upward. The aqueous agent bottle holder 32 is provided below the pump holder 31 and is formed in an annular flat plate shape in plan view. Each pump 24 is arranged on the pump holder 31 at intervals in the circumferential direction of a virtual circle centered on the drum axis (hereinafter referred to as the "drum circumferential direction"). Each aqueous agent bottle 23 is arranged on the aqueous agent bottle holder 32 at intervals in the drum circumferential direction.

[0019] In the present embodiment, the number of the aqueous agent bottles 23 and pumps 24 mounted on the rotating drum 21 can be arbitrarily changed according to the purpose. Each of the plurality of aqueous agent bottles 23 may contain a plurality of different types of aqueous agents 5. The plurality of aqueous agent bottles 23 may contain the same type of aqueous agent 5 with a high prescription frequency. One or more of the aqueous agent bottles 23 contain an excipient such as normal water or simple syrup. The aqueous agent bottle 23 containing the excipient is also referred to as an excipient bottle in the following description.

[0020] The pump drive unit 25 selectively drives each of the pumps 24 to selectively supply the aqueous solution 5 or the excipient from a plurality of aqueous solution bottles 23 to the dosing bottle 2. A connecting member 42 is fixed to the tip of a drive shaft 41 that is rotationally driven by the pump drive unit 25. A connected member 44 that is connected to the connecting member 42 is fixed to the rotating shaft 43 of the rotor of each pump 24. By connecting the connecting member 42 and the connected member 44, the rotational force is transmitted to the pump 24. The pump 24 is configured to be driven for each respective pump 24 in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating drum 21.

[0021] The pump drive unit 25 includes a pump drive motor 40 that drives the pump 24 and a moving motor 39 that moves the pump drive motor 40. By driving the moving motor 39, the pump drive motor 40 moves in the front-rear direction. Due to the movement of the pump drive motor 40, it is possible to switch between a connected state in which the connecting member 42 of the pump drive motor 40 is connected to the connected member 44 of the pump 24 and a disconnected state in which the connecting member 42 is not connected to the connected member 44. The rotating drum 21 can rotate with respect to the support frame 8 in the disconnected state.

[0022] By rotating the rotating drum 21 in the disconnected state, the rotating drum 21 is moved to a position where the connected member 44 of a specific pump 24 selected according to the dispensing data created based on the prescription information input to the aqueous solution supply device 1 faces the connecting member 42. After the rotation of the rotating drum 21, the connecting member 42 is switched to a connected state in which it is connected to the connected member 44. Thereby, the selected specific pump 24 can be driven to dispense the aqueous solution 5 or the excipient supplied from the desired aqueous solution bottle 23 into the dosing bottle 2. Note that both the connecting member 42 and the connected member 44 are configured as gears, but any configuration may be used as long as power can be transmitted.

[0023] A plurality of aqueous agent bottles 23 are mounted on the aqueous agent bottle holder 32 of the rotary drum 21. A plurality of cups 58 for holding the aqueous agent bottles 23 are attached above the aqueous agent bottle holder 32. The cup 58 is formed in a bottomed hollow cylindrical shape. The cup 58 functions as a holder for holding the aqueous agent bottle 23. The aqueous agent bottle 23 is accommodated inside the cup 58, and the bottom of the aqueous agent bottle 23 is held by the cup 58.

[0024] A rotary drive unit 51 that generates a rotational force is disposed below the aqueous agent bottle holder 32. The rotary drive unit 51 rotates the aqueous agent bottle 23 along the center line of the aqueous agent bottle 23. Along with the rotation of the aqueous agent bottle 23, the aqueous agent 5 accommodated in the aqueous agent bottle 23 flows inside the aqueous agent bottle 23 along the circumferential direction of the cylindrical side portion of the aqueous agent bottle 23 in the rotation direction of the aqueous agent bottle 23. By generating the flow of the aqueous agent 5 accommodated in the aqueous agent bottle 23, the aqueous agent 5 is stirred inside the aqueous agent bottle 23.

[0025] Pumps 24 corresponding to each of the plurality of aqueous agent bottles 23 are provided on the pump holder 31 of the rotary drum 21. A nozzle mounting plate 53, which is an annular flat plate, is provided at the lower end of the pump holder 31. The nozzle mounting plate 53 is disposed above the aqueous agent bottle holder 32. The nozzle mounting plate 53 and the aqueous agent bottle holder 32 are parallel to each other and are configured to be rotatable about the drum axis on a horizontal plane together with the rotary drum 21. By the rotation of the rotary drum 21, the plurality of aqueous agent bottles 23, pumps 24, and supply nozzles 36 also rotate integrally in the horizontal direction. The rotary drum 21 functions as a supply pipe moving unit that moves a supply pipe 60 described later including the supply nozzle 36.

[0026] The plurality of supply nozzles 36 are attached on the same circumference of the outer peripheral portion of the nozzle mounting plate 53. Each supply nozzle 36 is arranged on the nozzle mounting plate 53 at equal intervals in the drum circumferential direction on a virtual circle centered on the drum axis. An upper opening 2A is formed in the dosing bottle 2, and the supply ports 36A of the plurality of supply nozzles 36 are configured to be relatively movable with respect to the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2.

[0027] As the rotary drum 21 rotates, the supply nozzle 36 moves in a rotational motion about the drum axis. The supply nozzle 36 moves along the drum circumferential direction, which is the circumferential direction of an imaginary circle centered on the drum axis. The supply pipe 60 including the supply nozzle 36 moves in the drum circumferential direction due to the rotation of the rotary drum 21 and moves relative to the dosing bottle 2. As the supply port 36A of the supply nozzle 36 moves relative to the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2, one of the plurality of supply ports 36A is sequentially arranged opposite to the upper opening 2A.

[0028] The supply nozzle 36 is arranged to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the drum axis. The liquid medicine 5 flowing out from the supply port 36A of the supply nozzle 36 is supplied into the dosing bottle 2 via the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2. Since the supply nozzle 36 is arranged to be inclined with respect to the drum axis, the liquid medicine 5 injected into the dosing bottle 2 flows along the inner circumferential side wall of the dosing bottle 2. Thereby, foaming of the liquid medicine 5 inside the dosing bottle 2 can be prevented. An attachment portion 55 is fixed to the upper side of the nozzle mounting plate 53. The supply nozzle 36 is provided so as to be arbitrarily detachable with respect to the attachment portion 55 and is attached to the nozzle mounting plate 53 with the attachment portion 55 interposed therebetween.

[0029] The weight detection unit 4 is arranged at the lower opening 15. The weight detection unit 4 includes an electronic balance 45, a casing 46 that houses the electronic balance 45, and a dosing bottle holder 47 that is placed on and fixed to the electronic balance 45 and holds the dosing bottle 2 in an upright state with the upper opening 2A opening upward. The electronic balance 45 detects the weight of the liquid medicine 5 supplied to the dosing bottle 2. When the weight of the liquid medicine 5 reaches a predetermined value, the liquid medicine supply unit 3 stops driving the pump 24 and stops supplying the liquid medicine 5 to the dosing bottle 2. The electronic balance 45 may be of any type such as a tuning fork type, a load cell type, or an electromagnetic type. The casing 46 is provided at the lower part between the left and right side parts 16a, 16b of the front part 13 of the housing 6. The dosing bottle holder 47 includes a mounting table 48 on which the dosing bottle 2 is placed, and a holder 49 provided above the mounting table 48 for holding the dosing bottle 2.

[0030] The weight detection unit 4 is configured to be lifted and lowered by a lifting device 50 as a driving unit shown in FIG. 5. The lifting device 50 moves the weight detection unit 4 in the vertical direction so that it can be located at two positions, namely, the attachment / detachment position and the dispensing position. Along with this, the dosing bottle 2 placed on the mounting table 48 of the weight detection unit 4 is moved. The attachment / detachment position is a position for attaching the dosing bottle 2 onto the mounting table 48 of the aqueous solution supply device 1 or removing the dosing bottle 2 from the mounting table 48. The dispensing position is a position where the dosing bottle 2 and the supply nozzle 36 are closer than the above attachment / detachment position, and is a position for supplying the aqueous solution 5 to the dosing bottle 2 for dispensing. By the lifting device 50, the dosing bottle 2 reciprocates between the attachment / detachment position and the dispensing position.

[0031] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the supply pipe 60. The supply pipe 60 forms a path through which the aqueous solution 5 or the excipient flows from the aqueous solution bottle 23 to the dosing bottle 2. The aqueous solution supply device 1 includes a plurality of supply pipes 60 so that different aqueous solutions 5 or excipients can be supplied from each of the plurality of aqueous solution bottles 23 to the dosing bottle 2. The supply pipe 60 through which the excipient flows from the aqueous solution bottle 23 containing the excipient to the dosing bottle 2 is also referred to as an excipient supply pipe in the following description.

[0032] The supply pipe 60 includes the above-described supply nozzle 36, a tube 34, and an elbow member 65. The tube 34 has a suction end 34a which is one end and a discharge end 34b which is the other end. The open suction end 34a of the tube 34 is disposed inside the aqueous solution bottle 23 and is immersed in the aqueous solution 5 in the aqueous solution bottle 23. The suction end 34a is the end on the side where the aqueous solution 5 is sucked into the tube 34 when the aqueous solution 5 is supplied from the aqueous solution bottle 23 to the dosing bottle 2. The discharge end 34b is the end on the side where the aqueous solution 5 is discharged from the tube 34 when the aqueous solution 5 is supplied from the aqueous solution bottle 23 to the dosing bottle 2. The discharge end 34b of the tube 34 is attached to the elbow member 65. The elbow member 65 connects the tube 34 and the supply nozzle 36.

[0033] The supply port 36A where the end of the supply nozzle 36 opens forms one end of the supply pipe 60 on the side of the dosing bottle 2. One end of the supply pipe 60 is arranged facing the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2. When the aqueous solution 5 or excipient in the aqueous solution bottle 23 is supplied to the dosing bottle 2, the supply port 36A of the supply nozzle 36 is arranged facing the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2. The aqueous solution 5 flows out of the supply pipe 60 toward the dosing bottle 2 through one end of the supply pipe 60. The suction end 34a of the tube 34 forms the other end of the supply pipe 60 on the side of the aqueous solution bottle 23. The other end of the supply pipe 60 is inserted into the aqueous solution bottle 23 and submerged in the aqueous solution 5 contained in the aqueous solution bottle 23.

[0034] The pump 24 is used as a power source for sucking the aqueous solution 5 in the aqueous solution bottle 23 toward the supply nozzle 36. When the pump 24 is a tube pump, the middle part of the tube 34 between the suction end 34a and the discharge end 34b is inserted into the pump 24 and is detachably gripped by the pump 24.

[0035] By driving the pump 24, the aqueous solution 5 in the aqueous solution bottle 23 is sucked from the suction end 34a into the supply pipe 60, flows through the inside of the supply pipe 60, and flows out of the supply pipe 60 through the supply port 36A of the supply nozzle 36. The aqueous solution 5 flowing out of the supply pipe 60 flows into the dosing bottle 2 through the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2. In this way, the aqueous solution 5 is transferred from each of the plurality of aqueous solution bottles 23 to the dosing bottle 2 via the supply pipe 60, and the aqueous solution 5 is supplied to the dosing bottle 2. By selecting the combination of the aqueous solution bottle 23 and the supply pipe 60, different types of aqueous solutions 5 or excipients are selectively supplied to the dosing bottle 2.

[0036] The elbow member 65 has the shape of a 90° elbow. The aqueous solution 5 flows from the tube 34 through the elbow member 65 to the supply nozzle 36. The elbow member 65 makes the flow of the aqueous solution 5 flowing from the tube 34 into the elbow member 65 an upward flow flowing upward with respect to the vertical direction, and makes the flow of the aqueous solution 5 flowing out from the elbow member 65 to the supply nozzle 36 a downward flow flowing downward with respect to the vertical direction. The flow direction in the vertical direction of the aqueous solution 5 flowing in the supply pipe 60 toward the supply port 36A changes inside the elbow member 65. As a result, among the aqueous solution 5 present inside the supply pipe 60, the aqueous solution 5 that can flow toward the supply port 36A by the action of gravity when the pump 24 stops is limited to only the aqueous solution 5 present inside the elbow member 65 and the supply nozzle 36.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the aqueous solution supply device 1. As shown in FIG. 7, the aqueous solution supply device 1 includes a control unit 90 that controls the operation of the entire aqueous solution supply device 1. The touch panel 14 functions as an input unit for inputting various parameters related to the operation of the aqueous solution supply device 1 such as prescription data, various information such as patient names and pharmacist names, and an instruction to execute a top-up process of supplying the excipient from the excipient bottle to the dosing bottle 2 after the dispensing process is completed. The touch panel 14 also functions as a display unit for displaying the operating state of the aqueous solution supply device 1. The aqueous solution supply device 1 may include, as a display unit, in addition to the touch panel 14, for example, a lamp that lights up when a malfunction occurs in the operation of the aqueous solution supply device 1.

[0038] The electronic balance 45 detects the weight of the aqueous solution 5 supplied to the dosing bottle 2 and inputs the detected weight value to the control unit 90. While receiving the weight data of the aqueous solution 5 in the dosing bottle 2 from the electronic balance 45, the control unit 90 supplies a predetermined amount of the aqueous solution 5 to the dosing bottle 2. The aqueous solution supply device 1 includes a sensor 85 for detecting the position of the dosing bottle 2. The dosing bottle 2 moves up and down between the detachable position and the dispensing position as described above. The sensor 85 detects that the dosing bottle 2 is in a predetermined dispensing position when supplying the aqueous solution 5 to the dosing bottle 2. The sensor 85 detects that the dosing bottle 2 is in the dispensing position and inputs the detection result to the control unit 90.

[0039] The aqueous solution supply device 1 includes bottle position detection means 91 for detecting the position of each aqueous solution bottle 23 in the lower space 12 inside the housing 6. The bottle position detection means 91 may be various types of sensors, for example, and the sensor may detect the rotation angle of the aqueous solution bottle holder 32 around the drum axis. As the rotary drum 21 rotates, the aqueous solution bottle 23 rotates and moves around the drum axis, so the current position of the aqueous solution bottle 23 frequently changes. The current position of the aqueous solution bottle 23 is accurately detected using the bottle position detection means 91, and the data related to the detected current position of the aqueous solution bottle 23 is input to the control unit 90.

[0040] The aqueous solution supply device 1 also includes a communication unit 92 for communicating with external devices and receiving data from the external devices. Various parameters related to the operation of the aqueous solution supply device 1 may be input to the control unit 90 by operating the touch panel 14 described above, or alternatively, may be input to the control unit 90 from an external computer via the communication unit 92.

[0041] The aqueous solution supply device 1 also includes a memory 93 for the control unit 90 to perform calculations. The memory 93 stores data on the aqueous solution 5 and excipients contained in the aqueous solution bottle 23 mounted on the aqueous solution supply device 1, as well as data related to the current position of the aqueous solution bottle 23. The aqueous solution supply device 1 also includes a recording medium access unit 94 for mounting a removable recording medium. The above-described data on the aqueous solution 5 and excipients may be stored in various recording media mounted on the recording medium access unit 94 and appropriately read from the recording medium by the control unit 90.

[0042] The control unit 90 controls the aqueous agent supply device 1 based on the information input from the various devices described above. Specifically, control signals are transmitted from the control unit 90 to the drum rotation motor 22, the movement motor 39, the pump drive motor 40, the stirring motor 52 for stirring the aqueous agent 5, and the lifting device 50, and the respective motors operate and stop as appropriate, whereby the aqueous agent 5 is supplied from the aqueous agent bottle 23 to the dosing bottle 2. After the supply of the aqueous agent 5 is completed, pieces of paper printed with the pouring results are output from the printers 17a and 17b that constitute the output unit 17.

[0043] FIG. 8 is an example of a table showing the setting of the topping-up process. The aqueous agent supply device 1 of the embodiment can perform a dispensing process of supplying the aqueous agent 5 to the dosing bottle 2 based on the prescription information, and a topping-up process of supplying the excipient from the excipient bottle to the dosing bottle 2 after the completion of the dispensing process. The setting of the topping-up process can be arbitrarily set.

[0044] Dispensing data is input to the aqueous agent supply device 1. The dispensing data is data for the operation of the aqueous agent supply device 1 created based on the prescription information. This dispensing data may include the setting of the topping-up process.

[0045] A user such as a pharmacist who operates the aqueous agent supply device 1 may input the setting of the topping-up process. For example, the user may be able to input the setting of the topping-up process by operating the touch panel 14. When the dispensing data includes the setting of the topping-up process, the user does not have to input the setting of the topping-up process. The setting of the topping-up process included in the dispensing data may be arbitrarily changed by the user's input.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 8, as settings for the top-up process, it is possible to set the necessity of performing the top-up process and the type of excipient. Whether to execute the top-up process can be arbitrarily set by the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1. For example, in accordance with the internal regulations of a hospital or pharmacy, etc., the user can set the necessity of the top-up process as the initial setting. When the excipient is included in the dispensing data, the control unit 90 may set the type of excipient so that the excipient used in the top-up process is the same type as the excipient used in the dispensing process. It is also possible to set not to prioritize the excipient used in the dispensing process. In this case, regardless of the type of excipient used in the dispensing process, the top-up process is performed using the excipient set in the table (purified water in the case of FIG. 8).

[0047] FIG. 9 is a flowchart at the time of starting up the aqueous solution supply device 1. When starting up the aqueous solution supply device 1, first, when the user switches the power of the aqueous solution supply device 1 from off to on in step (S11), in step (S12), the control unit 90 checks the startup of the devices included in the aqueous solution supply device 1 such as each motor, and confirms that all devices can operate normally. Subsequently, in step (S13), a control signal is transmitted from the control unit 90 to the drum rotation motor 22 to rotationally move the rotating drum 21 to the initial position.

[0048] The position where the supply port 36A of any one of the supply nozzles 36 faces the upper opening 2A of the medicine bottle 2 may be set as the initial position of the rotating drum 21. Alternatively, the position where the supply port 36A of any of the supply nozzles 36 does not face the upper opening 2A of the medicine bottle 2 may be set as the initial position of the rotating drum 21. When the movement to the initial position is completed, the process then proceeds to step (S14), and the aqueous solution supply device 1 enters the standby state. In this way, a series of operations at the time of starting up the aqueous solution supply device 1 are performed.

[0049] Figures 10 to 11 are flowcharts showing the dispensing process and the top-up process. When performing the dispensing process according to the dispensing data based on the prescription information using the aqueous solution supply device 1 of the embodiment, first, dispensing start is instructed in step (S21). For example, after the aqueous solution supply device 1 receives the dispensing data, the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 operates the touch panel 14, selects the dispensing data, and touches the start button, whereby the dispensing may be started. Also, for example, when the control unit 90 receives the dispensing data via the communication unit 92, the dispensing may be immediately started. When the dispensing start is instructed, the control unit 90 commands the printers 17a and 17b to print a label for attaching the dispensing bottle 2 on which the patient name, pharmacy name, medication time, and medication amount are printed.

[0050] Next, in step (S22), it is determined whether or not the dispensing bottle 2 is held by the dispensing bottle holder 47 described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The touch panel 14 is displayed to prompt the user to set the dispensing bottle 2. When the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 holds the dispensing bottle 2 in the dispensing bottle holder 47, the user operates a button on the touch panel 14 to instruct the completion of the setting of the dispensing bottle 2. When the dispensing bottle 2 setting completion button is operated, it is determined that the dispensing bottle is held by the dispensing bottle holder 47, and the process proceeds to step (S23).

[0051] In step (S23), the control unit 90 transmits a control signal to the lifting device 50, and the lifting device 50 moves the weight detection unit 4 upward, so that the dispensing bottle 2 rises from the attachment / detachment position to the dispensing position. The weight detection unit 4 moves upward until it reaches the dispensing position where the aqueous solution 5 can be supplied from the supply nozzle 36 to the dispensing bottle 2. When the dispensing bottle 2 reaches the dispensing position, next, in step (S24), the vertical position of the dispensing bottle 2 is confirmed. When the upper opening 2A of the dispensing bottle 2 reaches the specified position, the position of the dispensing bottle 2 is detected by the sensor 85 shown in FIG. 7. The control unit 90 receives a signal indicating the position of the dispensing bottle 2 from the sensor 85 and confirms the position of the dispensing bottle 2.

[0052] Next, in step (S25), the medicine bottle 2 is moved to a position where it does not interfere with the rotation of the rotary drum 21. Specifically, a control signal is sent from the control unit 90 to the lifting device 50, and the lifting device 50 moves downward to a certain extent, so that the medicine bottle 2 also moves downward. Note that the moving direction of the medicine bottle 2 is not limited to the vertical direction, and it may be, for example, a direction away from the rotary drum 21.

[0053] After the movement of the medicine bottle 2, next, in step (S26), the drum rotation motor 22 is controlled and the rotary drum 21 rotates. The control unit 90 transmits a control signal to the drum rotation motor 22 and transmits the driving force of the drum rotation motor 22 to the rotary drum 21. When the drum rotation motor 22 is driven, the rotary drum 21 rotates. Due to the rotation of the rotary drum 21, the supply pipe 60 corresponding to the aqueous solution 5 to be supplied to the medicine bottle 2 moves horizontally along the circumferential direction of the drum until the supply port 36A of the supply nozzle 36 faces the upper opening 2A of the medicine bottle 2.

[0054] When the rotation of the rotary drum 21 is completed, next, in step (S27), the pump drive motor 40 is moved forward, and the connecting member 42 of the pump drive motor 40 is connected to the connected member 44 of the pump 24. Thereby, the rotation of the pump drive motor 40 can be transmitted to the pump 24, that is, the pump 24 is in a drivable state.

[0055] Next, in step (S28), the medicine bottle 2 moved in step (S25) is moved back to the dispensing position. A control signal is sent from the control unit 90 to the lifting device 50, and the lifting device 50 moves upward again, so that the medicine bottle 2 also moves upward. Thereby, the medicine bottle 2 is arranged at the dispensing position where the aqueous solution 5 can be supplied from the supply nozzle 36 to the medicine bottle 2.

[0056] Subsequently, in step (S29), the control unit 90 transmits a control signal to the pump drive motor 40 to drive the pump 24. By driving the pump 24, a predetermined amount of the aqueous solution 5 determined by the prescription is supplied from the aqueous solution bottle 23 to the dosing bottle 2 via the supply pipe 60. The control unit 90 receives the weight data of the aqueous solution 5 in the dosing bottle 2 from the electronic balance 45 and confirms the amount of the aqueous solution 5 supplied to the dosing bottle 2. When the predetermined amount of the aqueous solution 5 is supplied to the dosing bottle 2, the pouring of the first aqueous solution 5 into the dosing bottle 2 is completed.

[0057] Subsequently, in step (S30), when the supply of the aqueous solution 5 (and excipient if necessary) to the dosing bottle 2 according to the dispensing data is all completed, it is determined whether the dispensing is completed. If the supply of the aqueous solution 5 is not completed, the process returns to step (S25), and the supply of the next aqueous solution 5 or excipient to the dosing bottle 2 is performed.

[0058] If it is determined that the dispensing is completed, the process proceeds to step (S31) via the coupler A, and it is determined whether to perform the top-up process. The control unit 90 refers to the table shown in FIG. 8 to recognize the necessity of performing the top-up process. If it is set to perform the top-up process, the control unit 90 refers to the table to recognize the type of excipient. The table shown in FIG. 8 is pre-stored in the memory 93 (FIG. 7). The control unit 90 determines the setting of the necessity of the top-up process and the setting of the type of excipient by reading the table from the memory 93.

[0059] If it is determined that it is set to perform the top-up process (YES in step (S31)), then in step (S32) next, the dosing bottle 2 is moved. This process is performed in the same manner as step S(25).

[0060] Next, in step (S33), it is determined whether an instruction to cancel the top-up process is input. The user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 can input an instruction to cancel the top-up process, for example, by operating the touch panel 14. When the user determines that the top-up process is not necessary, an instruction to cancel the top-up process is input by operating the touch panel 14. For example, the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 can determine that the top-up process is unnecessary because the liquid level of the aqueous solution 5 in the dispensing bottle 2 coincides with the scale of the dispensing bottle 2, or because the top-up process is not performed for the current dispensing process.

[0061] If it is determined that no instruction to cancel the top-up process is input (NO in step (S33)), the process proceeds to step (S34), and the rotary drum 21 rotates in the same manner as in step (S26). Due to the rotation of the rotary drum 21, the supply pipe 60 corresponding to the excipient used in the top-up process (i.e., the excipient supply pipe) moves horizontally along the circumferential direction of the drum until the supply port 36A of the supply nozzle 36 faces the upper opening 2A of the dispensing bottle 2.

[0062] Next, in step (S35), the pump 24 is made drivable in the same manner as in step (S27). Subsequently, in step (S36), the dispensing bottle 2 is placed in the dispensing position where the excipient can be supplied from the supply nozzle 36 to the dispensing bottle 2 in the same manner as in step (S28).

[0063] In this state, the aqueous solution supply device 1 enters the standby state. In the standby state, it is determined whether an instruction to end the top-up process is input (step (S37)), and when it is determined that no instruction to end the top-up process is input, it is determined whether an operation to start the top-up process has been performed (step (S38)). If an operation to start the top-up process is not performed (NO in step (S38)), the determination in step (S37) and the determination in step (S38) are repeated.

[0064] In the standby state, the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 can input an instruction to end the top-up process, for example, by operating the touch panel 14. When the user determines that it is not necessary to perform the top-up process, an instruction to end the top-up process is input by operating the touch panel 14. Also, in the standby state, the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 can visually compare the liquid volume of the aqueous solution 5 contained in the dosing bottle 2 with the apparent liquid volume indicated by the scale of the dosing bottle 2. If the user determines that it is necessary to perform the top-up process as a result of the visual comparison of the liquid volumes, the user inputs an instruction to start the top-up process. The instruction to start the top-up process may be given by operating a button provided on the housing 6, or may be given by operating the touch panel 14.

[0065] When it is determined that an operation to start the top-up process has been performed (YES in step (S38)), next in step (S39), the control unit 90 transmits a control signal to the pump drive motor 40 to drive the pump 24. By driving the pump 24, the excipient used in the top-up process is supplied from the excipient bottle to the dosing bottle 2 via the supply pipe 60.

[0066] Subsequently, in step (S40), it is determined whether an operation to end the top-up process has been performed. While the button is being pressed, the control unit 90 may be configured to drive the pump 24. In this case, it may be determined that an operation to end the top-up process has been performed by detecting that the user has removed their hand from the button and the button is no longer being pressed. Alternatively, the button operated to start the top-up process and the button operated to end the top-up process may be provided separately.

[0067] The user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 visually checks the liquid volume of the aqueous solution 5 stored in the dosing bottle 2 and the scale of the dosing bottle 2. Until the liquid level of the aqueous solution 5 coincides with the scale of the dosing bottle 2, the operation to end the replenishment process is not performed (NO in step (S40)). During this period, the control unit 90 continues to drive the pump 24, and the supply of the excipient to the dosing bottle 2 continues. When it is determined that the operation to end the replenishment process has been performed (YES in step (S40)), in step (S41), the control unit 90 transmits a control signal to the pump drive motor 40 to stop the pump 24. As a result, the supply of the excipient to the dosing bottle 2 stops.

[0068] Thereafter, the aqueous solution supply device 1 returns to the standby state, and the determination in step (S37) is made again. When the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 determines that no further replenishment process needs to be performed, an instruction to end the replenishment process is input by operating the touch panel 14. When it is determined that an instruction to end the replenishment process has been input (YES in step (S37)), the process proceeds to step (S42).

[0069] If it is determined in the determination of step (S33) that an instruction to cancel the replenishment process has been input (YES in step (S33)), and if it is determined in the determination of step (S31) that the setting is not to perform the replenishment process (NO in step (S31)), the replenishment process is not performed. Since the process of step (S34) is skipped, the process proceeds to step (S42) without moving the excipient supply pipe to a position facing the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2.

[0070] In step (S42), the medicine bottle 2 descends. A control signal is sent from the control unit 90 to the elevating device 50, and the elevating device 50 moves the mounting table 48 downward, whereby the medicine bottle 2 descends. The mounting table 48 moves downward until it returns from the dispensing position to the attaching / detaching position. Thereafter, in step (S43), the rotary drum 21 moves to the initial position. Then, it proceeds to step (S44), and the aqueous solution supply device 1 enters the standby state. In this way, the dispensing process and the top-up process using the aqueous solution supply device 1 of the embodiment are completed ("End" in FIG. 11).

[0071] In the aqueous solution supply device 1 of the embodiment described above, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the control unit 90 executes a dispensing process of supplying the aqueous solution 5 from the aqueous solution bottle 23 to the medicine bottle 2, and immediately after the dispensing process is completed, moves the excipient supply pipe and opposes the excipient supply pipe to the upper opening 2A of the medicine bottle 2.

[0072] Rather than moving the excipient supply pipe after checking the liquid level in the medicine bottle 2 after the dispensing process is completed, regardless of the actual liquid level in the medicine bottle 2, the configuration is such that the excipient supply pipe is moved when the dispensing process is completed. By moving the excipient supply pipe without waiting for the instruction of the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1, the user can start the top-up process as soon as the user checks the liquid level of the aqueous solution 5 in the medicine bottle 2. By being able to omit the time of waiting for the user's instruction, the time until the top-up process of the excipient is started can be shortened, and the dispensing time can be shortened.

[0073] While the aqueous solution supply device 1 is under automatic control, the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 can perform other dispensing operations. On the other hand, in the top-up process, the user needs to check the liquid level in the dosing bottle 2 and perform an operation to start the top-up process. After checking the liquid level in the dosing bottle 2 after the dispensing process is completed and determining that it is necessary to add the excipient, if the movement of the excipient supply pipe is started after that determination, the user cannot perform other dispensing operations during the movement of the excipient supply pipe, and the dispensing operation will be wasted. In the aqueous solution supply device 1 of the embodiment, regardless of the actual liquid level in the dosing bottle 2, the configuration is such that the excipient supply pipe is moved when the dispensing process is completed, so that the efficiency of the dispensing operation can be improved and the dispensing time can be shortened.

[0074] Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the control unit 90 waits for an input of an instruction to execute the top-up process with the excipient supply pipe facing the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2. In this way, as soon as the user of the aqueous solution supply device 1 inputs an instruction to execute the top-up process, the excipient can be added to the dosing bottle 2 immediately. The time until the top-up process starts can be shortened, and the dispensing time can be shortened.

[0075] Also, as shown in FIG. 11, when it is set not to perform the top-up process, the control unit 90 omits moving the excipient supply pipe to face the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2 after the completion of the dispensing process. If the top-up process is not to be performed, moving the excipient supply pipe is an unnecessary operation, so the dispensing time can be shortened by omitting this unnecessary operation.

[0076] Also, as shown in FIG. 11, before the excipient supply pipe moves to a position facing the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2, if an instruction to abort the top-up process is input, the control unit 90 aborts the movement of the excipient supply pipe. If the top-up process is not to be performed, moving the excipient supply pipe is an unnecessary operation, so the dispensing time can be shortened by omitting this unnecessary operation.

[0077] In the description of the above embodiment, in step (S33) after the step (S32) of moving the dosing bottle 2, it is determined whether an instruction to end the top-up process is input. Not limited to this example, at any timing from the start of the movement of the dosing bottle 2 in step (S32) to the end of the movement of the dosing bottle 2 to the dispensing position in step (S36), it may be determined whether an instruction to abort the top-up process is input. In this case, when an instruction to abort the top-up process is input, the operation of the aqueous solution supply device 1 for the top-up process can be immediately stopped, thereby saving unnecessary operations. Typically, if an instruction to abort the top-up process is input before the excipient supply pipe moves to a position facing the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2, the movement of the excipient supply pipe to a position facing the upper opening 2A of the dosing bottle 2 can be aborted, thereby shortening the dispensing time.

[0078] In the description of the embodiment, an example was described in which after stopping the pump 24 that was being driven for the top-up process, the aqueous solution supply device 1 returned to the standby state and received an instruction to end the top-up process and lowered the dosing bottle 2. In this case, since the top-up process is ended according to the user's intention of ending the top-up process, the adjustment of the liquid level in the dosing bottle 2 by performing the top-up process can be more reliably performed. On the other hand, not limited to this example, it may proceed directly to step (S42) and lower the dosing bottle 2 immediately after the step (S41) of stopping the pump, and in this case, the dispensing time can be further shortened.

[0079] Although the embodiments have been described as above, it should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of this invention is indicated not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope are included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0080] 1 Aqueous solution supply device, 2 Medicine bottle, 2A Upper opening, 3 Aqueous solution supply section, 5 Aqueous solution, 14 Touch panel, 21 Rotating drum, 22 Drum rotation motor, 23 Aqueous solution bottle, 24 Pump, 25 Pump drive unit, 34 Tube, 34a Suction end, 34b Discharge end, 36 Supply nozzle, 36A Supply port, 50 Lifting device, 85 Sensor, 90 Control unit, 91 Bottle position detection means, 92 Communication section, 93 Memory, 94 Recording medium access section.

Claims

1. A liquid medication supplying device that supplies a liquid medication from a liquid medication bottle containing the liquid medication to a prescription bottle, comprising: a bottle holding section that holds the liquid medication bottle and an excipient bottle containing an excipient; an excipient supply pipe through which the excipient flows from the excipient bottle to the prescription bottle; A supply pipe moving unit that moves the excipient supply pipe; a control unit that controls an operation of the liquid medication dispensing device, the control unit executes a dispensing process to supply the liquid medication from the liquid medication bottle to the prescription bottle, and immediately after the dispensing process is completed, moves the excipient supply pipe to face an upper opening of the prescription bottle.

2. an input unit for a user of the liquid medication dispensing device to input an instruction to execute a top-up process of supplying the excipient from the excipient bottle to the prescription bottle, The liquid medication dispensing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit waits for input of an instruction to execute the top-up process with the excipient supplying pipe facing the upper opening of the prescription bottle.

3. the liquid medication dispensing device is configured to be able to set whether or not to carry out the replenishment process, 3. The liquid medication supplying device according to claim 2, wherein the control unit, when set to not perform the top-up process, omits moving the excipient supplying pipe to face the upper opening of the prescription bottle after completion of the dispensing process.

4. an input unit for a user of the liquid medication dispensing device to input an instruction to stop a top-up process of supplying the excipient from the excipient bottle to the prescription bottle, 2. The liquid medication supplying device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops movement of the excipient supplying pipe when an instruction to stop the top-up process is input before the excipient supplying pipe moves to a position facing the upper opening of the prescription bottle.

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