Conveyance device, co-infusion device and injection device

Abstract

To allow a user to easily replace a held co-infusion instrument.SOLUTION: A co-infusion device (1) includes a syringe conveyance control part (141) that in a state where an instrument holding part is conveyed to a working area, positions the instrument holding part in the working area until a syringe is removed from the instrument holding part in the working area and at least a new syringe is held in the instrument holding part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a transport device, a co-infusion device, an injection device, and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a co-infusion device. The co-infusion device of Patent Document 1 includes a drug filling unit and a co-infusion processing unit. A user places drug containers, components that may constitute a syringe, and an infusion container in predetermined positions on a tray placed on a work table of the drug filling unit, and then loads the tray into the co-infusion processing unit. This allows the co-infusion device of Patent Document 1 to start the co-infusion process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-063313 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Patent Document 1 does not disclose the operation of the member that holds the injection equipment when replacing the injection equipment, such as a drug container or syringe. The first aspect of the present disclosure aims to enable the user to easily replace the held injection equipment.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 does not disclose specific operations for extracting the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine multiple times. The second aspect of the present disclosure aims to perform multiple extractions of the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine using a simple method.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 does not disclose specific operations when injecting an infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine from a syringe into a container. The third aspect of the present disclosure aims to reduce the possibility of the infusion solution leaking from the stopper of the container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The transport device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure comprises an equipment holding section capable of holding co-infusion equipment to be used for co-infusion, an equipment transport section which transports the equipment holding section to a work area where a user causes the equipment holding section to hold the co-infusion equipment or where a user removes the co-infusion equipment held in the equipment holding section, and a transport control section which, while the equipment holding section holding the co-infusion equipment is being transported to the work area, positions the equipment holding section in the work area until the co-infusion equipment is removed from the equipment holding section and at least until new co-infusion equipment is held in the equipment holding section.

[0008] A co-infusion device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure performs a first operation of injecting into a first drug container an amount of infusion liquid capable of dissolving both a first powdered medicine contained in a first drug container and a second powdered medicine contained in a second drug container, and then extracting from the first drug container a portion of the infusion liquid in which the first powdered medicine has been dissolved; and a second operation of injecting into a second drug container the infusion liquid in which the first powdered medicine has been dissolved, which has been extracted from the first drug container by the first operation, and then extracting from the second drug container all of the infusion liquid in which the first powdered medicine and the second powdered medicine have been dissolved.

[0009] An injection device according to a third aspect of the present disclosure performs an injection operation in which, when a syringe contains more infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine than the predetermined injection amount to be injected into an infusion container, the needle of the syringe is inserted into the stopper of a container with the stopper facing upward, and an amount of the infusion liquid that exceeds the injection amount is injected into the container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the user can easily replace the held co-infusion equipment.

[0011] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, multiple withdrawals of infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine can be performed using a simple method.

[0012] The third aspect of the present disclosure can reduce the possibility of infusion solution leaking from the container closure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of a co-infusion device. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a schematic internal configuration of a co-infusion device when viewed from the front. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a schematic internal configuration of the co-infusion device when viewed from the rear. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a co-infusion device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a first conveying unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the positional relationship between the needle removal unit and the waste box section. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a syringe. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a co-infusion unit. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an example of a schematic configuration of a co-infusion unit. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow when powdered medicine contained in a vial is mixed and injected into an infusion liquid. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operation of the co-infusion unit when the process of FIG. 10 is performed. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operation of the co-infusion unit. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow when powdered medicine contained in a vial is mixed and injected into an infusion liquid. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow when powdered medicine contained in a vial is mixed and injected into an infusion liquid. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow when powdered medicine contained in a vial is mixed and injected into an infusion liquid. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operation of the co-infusion unit when the process of FIG. 15 is performed. [Figure 17] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a mixed injection process when collecting both fractional and full amounts. [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of a syringe shelf and a vial shelf. [Figure 19] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an example of the configuration of one syringe shelf and one vial shelf when viewed from the first transporting unit side, and diagrams for explaining the vial shelf. [Figure 20] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow when replacing the syringe held in the instrument holding section with a new syringe. [Figure 21] 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining a processing example when the first transporting unit specifies a syringe to be taken out. FIG. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an infusion shelf; [Figure 23] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of an infusion shelf; [Figure 24] 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which an infusion container is suspended on a rail portion. FIG. [Figure 25] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of a printing and inspection unit. [Figure 26] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the internal configuration of a printing and inspection unit. [Figure 27] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow when the infusion container from which the infusion is extracted is different from the infusion container into which the infusion containing dissolved powdered medicine is injected. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] [Overall configuration of the co-infusion device] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of a co-infusion device 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the co-infusion device 1 according to this embodiment includes a syringe shelf 10, a vial shelf 20, an infusion shelf 30, a printing and inspection unit 50, an infusion receiving shelf 60, a wastebasket section 70, a touch panel 80, and buttons 90.

[0015] The co-infusion device 1 is a device that performs a co-infusion process (co-infusion operation) to mix a drug and an infusion liquid using a drug, a syringe, and an infusion liquid indicated in data related to preparation and administration (hereinafter referred to as preparation and administration data). The infusion liquid used in the co-infusion operation may be, for example, saline (physiological saline) or a liquid containing glucose.

[0016] For example, if the drug indicated in the preparation and administration data is a liquid drug (liquid drug), the co-infusion device 1 uses a syringe to aspirate the drug from a vial (a container, an example of a drug container) containing the drug, and injects the drug from the syringe into an infusion container (infusion bag). If the drug indicated in the preparation and administration data is a solid drug (powdered drug), the co-infusion device 1 uses a syringe to aspirate the infusion liquid from the infusion container and injects the infusion liquid into the vial. This allows the solid drug to be liquidized in the vial. Then, the co-infusion device 1 uses a syringe to inject the liquid drug (infusion liquid in which the drug is dissolved) into the infusion container.

[0017] In this way, the co-infusion device 1 performs the co-infusion operation. The co-infusion operation may include an operation of aspirating medicine from a vial using a syringe and injecting it into another vial. These co-infusion operations are performed by the co-infusion unit 40, which will be described later. The syringe and the vial are examples of co-infusion equipment used for co-infusion.

[0018] The co-infusion device 1 allows the user to load syringes, vials, and infusion containers into the inside of the co-infusion device 1 by, for example, opening and closing a door. An air purifying unit, which will be described later, keeps the inside of the co-infusion device 1 clean, reducing the possibility of contamination of the medicines and infusions during the co-infusion process. In addition, to keep the inside of the co-infusion device 1 clean, the inside of the co-infusion device 1 is maintained at positive pressure.

[0019] The preparation and administration data is data required for the control unit 140 (see FIG. 4) of the co-infusion device 1 to perform the co-infusion process. At least a part of the preparation and administration data may be generated based on prescription data. At least a part of the preparation and administration data may be prescription data.

[0020] The preparation and administration data includes, for example, information indicating the type of drug used for mixing, the prescribed amount of the drug, information indicating the type of syringe, information indicating the type of infusion (infusion type information), and information indicating the amount of infusion withdrawn from the infusion container. The preparation and administration data may also include information indicating the type of infusion container (e.g., size, such as capacity). The information indicating the type of drug may include information indicating whether the drug is a powder or liquid.

[0021] Furthermore, the preparation and administration data includes, for example, information about the infusion container into which the drug is injected, such as prescription attribute information such as the name of the patient to whom the drug is prescribed, prescription details such as usage and dosage, an order number indicating the order in which the prescription was received, and infusion type information (e.g., infusion name).

[0022] The preparation and administration data shown above is merely an example, and the information used for mixed injections, which will be described later, may be included in the preparation and administration data.

[0023] The syringe shelf 10 is an equipment storage shelf capable of storing syringes loaded in the co-infusion device 1. The syringe shelf 10 is provided with a syringe-side door 16. A user can store a syringe on the syringe shelf 10 by opening and closing the syringe-side door 16.

[0024] The vial shelf 20 is an equipment storage shelf capable of storing the vials filled in the co-infusion device 1. The vial shelf 20 is provided with a vial-side door 27. The user can store the vials in the vial shelf 20 by opening and closing the vial-side door 27.

[0025] The infusion shelf 30 is an infusion storage shelf capable of storing infusion containers filled in the co-infusion device 1. The infusion shelf 30 is provided with an infusion side door 34. A user can hold an infusion container in the infusion side door 34 by opening and closing the infusion side door 34.

[0026] The syringe side door 16, the vial side door 27, and the infusion side door 34 are doors that allow the user to access the syringe shelf 10, the vial shelf 20, or the infusion shelf 30 when in an open state, and can block such access when in a closed state. In the co-infusion device 1, the control unit 140 (described later) controls so that only one of the syringe side door 16, the vial side door 27, and the infusion side door 34 is unlocked.

[0027] The printing and inspection unit 50 is a unit that prints a second label and affixes it to the infusion container before or after drug injection. The printing and inspection unit 50 may also print an improper information label and affix it to the infusion container after drug injection. The printing and inspection unit 50 is also a unit that weighs the infusion container before and after drug injection.

[0028] A first label, on which, for example, the type of infusion and / or the type of infusion container is printed, is pre-attached to the infusion container by the pharmaceutical manufacturer that provides the infusion container. The first label is also called an infusion label. Meanwhile, the above-mentioned information about the infusion container into which the drug has been injected is information that is given to the infusion container into which the drug is to be injected, and is information that is different from the information contained in the first label that is pre-attached to the infusion container. The printing and inspection unit 50 prints the content of this information on a label and attaches it to the infusion container as a second label that is different from the first label.

[0029] The inappropriate information label is a label on which inappropriate information is printed. The inappropriate information label may be, for example, a label on which an X mark is printed. The inappropriate information may be, for example, information indicating that the weight measured by the printing and inspection unit 50 is inappropriate, and / or information indicating that the information read from the second label does not include the type of drug indicated in the preparation and administration data. An inappropriate weight indicates, for example, that the amount of drug injected into the infusion container (prescribed amount) or the amount of infusion withdrawn from the infusion container does not correspond to the amount indicated in the preparation and administration data. The control unit 140, described below, determines whether the weight is appropriate and whether the information read from the second label includes the type of drug indicated in the preparation and administration data.

[0030] The infusion receiving shelf 60 is a unit that receives infusion containers with a second label affixed thereto after drug injection. The infusion receiving shelf 60 is provided with an infusion receiving door 61. The trash can section 70 is a box that receives used syringes and vials (syringes and vials used in mixed injection operations). The trash can section 70 also serves as a box that receives needle caps removed from syringes. The touch panel 80 has the functions of an operation section that receives various operations by the user and a display section that displays various information. The operation section and the display section may be provided as separate components. Furthermore, a presentation section (e.g., a speaker) that presents various information may be provided instead of the display section.

[0031] The button 90 is a mechanical button that can accept a user operation to unlock the syringe side door 16, the vial side door 27, the infusion side door 34, and the infusion receiving door 61. One button 90 is provided for each of the syringe side door 16, the vial side door 27, the infusion side door 34, and the infusion receiving door 61. When the syringe side door 16, the vial side door 27, the infusion side door 34, and the infusion receiving door 61 are closed, they are locked by a locking mechanism (not shown). The syringe side door 16, the vial side door 27, the infusion side door 34, and the infusion receiving door 61 are unlocked only when the user presses the button 90. However, when it becomes possible to unlock any of the doors and set them to an open state, the control unit 140 (described later) invalidates any user operation on the button 90 corresponding to a closed and locked door. As a result, the control unit 140 maintains the doors other than the unlocked door in a closed and locked state.

[0032] The control unit 140 will not unlock the door even if the button 90 corresponding to the door of the syringe shelf 10, vial shelf 20, infusion shelf 30, or infusion receiving shelf 60 that is currently being accessed by the first transport unit 110 or second transport unit 120 described below is pressed.

[0033] Furthermore, light emitting members (not shown) (e.g., LEDs; Light Emitting Diodes) may be provided corresponding to each of the syringe shelf 10, the vial shelf 20, the infusion shelf 30, and the infusion receiving shelf 60. The control unit 140 may light up the light emitting members corresponding to the shelves accessed by the first transport unit 110 or the second transport unit 120. In this case, a locking mechanism for each door may not necessarily be provided.

[0034] [Outline of the internal configuration of the co-infusion device] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a schematic internal configuration of the co-infusion device 1 when viewed from the front (near side) of the co-infusion device 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of a schematic internal configuration of the co-infusion device 1 when viewed from the rear (rear direction).

[0035] 2 and 3, the co-infusion device 1 includes the syringe shelf 10, vial shelf 20, infusion shelf 30, printing and inspection unit 50, infusion receiving shelf 60, and trash can section 70, as well as a co-infusion unit 40, a first conveying section 110, a second conveying section 120, and an air purifying section 130. The co-infusion device 1 also includes a needle removal unit 170 and a cap removal unit 180 (see FIG. 4), which are not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0036] The co-infusion unit 40 functions as a co-infusion section that co-injects a medicine (powdered medicine or liquid medicine) contained in a vial 502 into an infusion contained in an infusion container 503. In this embodiment, the co-infusion unit 40 is located between the syringe shelf 10 and the vial shelf 20 and the infusion shelf 30 and the infusion receiving shelf 60.

[0037] The co-infusion unit 40 performs a co-infusion operation based on the preparation and administration data. When the medicine contained in the vial 502 is a powdered medicine, the co-infusion unit 40 dissolves the powdered medicine contained in the vial 502 with an infusion liquid, and performs a co-infusion operation by using the syringe 501 to inject the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved into the infusion liquid contained in the infusion container 503.

[0038] The first transport unit 110 transports a syringe 501 indicated in the preparation / administration data from the syringe shelf 10 to the co-infusion unit 40, or transports a vial 502 containing a drug indicated in the preparation / administration data from the vial shelf 20 to the co-infusion unit 40. When the preparation / administration data is input, the first transport unit 110 transports the syringe 501 stored on the syringe shelf 10 and the vial 502 stored on the vial shelf 20 to the co-infusion unit 40. In this embodiment, the first transport unit 110 grasps the upper part of the barrel of the syringe 501 stored on the syringe shelf 10 and delivers the syringe 501 to the co-infusion unit 40. Similarly, the first transport unit 110 grasps the neck of the vial 502 stored on the vial shelf 20 and delivers the vial 502 to the co-infusion unit 40.

[0039] Furthermore, the first transporting section 110 transports the syringe 501 stored in the syringe shelf 10 to the cap removal unit 180 before transporting it to the mixed injection unit 40. This allows the first transporting section 110 to remove the needle cap attached to the needle of the syringe 501, and transport the syringe 501 with the needle cap removed to the mixed injection unit 40. Furthermore, the first transporting section 110 transports the needle cap removed by the cap removal unit 180 to the trash can section 70 for disposal.

[0040] The first conveying section 110 conveys the syringe 501 used in the mixed injection operation (the syringe 501 that is no longer needed) to the needle removal unit 170. Then, the first conveying section 110 conveys the syringe 501 from which the needle has been removed by the needle removal unit 170 to the trash can section 70. The first conveying section 110 also conveys the vial 502 used in the mixed injection operation (the vial 502 that is no longer needed) to the trash can section 70. However, depending on the type of vial 502, the first conveying section 110 may not need to convey it to the trash can section 70.

[0041] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the first transport unit 110. As shown in FIG. 5, the first transport unit 110 includes a first claw unit 111, a second claw unit 112, and a rotation shaft unit 113.

[0042] First claw portion 111 and second claw portion 112 are members that respectively grip the upper part of the syringe of injector 501 or the neck part of vial 502. Rotating shaft portion 113 is a shaft portion that extends in the vertical direction, and rotates first claw portion 111 and second claw portion 112 on the XY plane.

[0043] The first claw portion 111 and the second claw portion 112 may have any structure as long as they can hold the syringe 501 and the vial 502, respectively. However, in this embodiment, the co-infusion unit 40 holds the lower part of the syringe of the syringe 501 and the barrel part of the vial 502. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first conveying part 110 is configured to grip the upper part of the syringe of the syringe 501 or the neck part of the vial 502. This makes it possible to make the position where the co-infusion unit 40 holds the syringe 501 or the vial 502 from both sides in the radial direction different from the position where the first conveying part 110 holds the syringe 501 or the vial 502 from both sides in the radial direction.

[0044] For example, one of the first claw portion 111 and the second claw portion 112 is made to function as a claw portion that holds a new syringe 501 or vial 502 to be used in the next mixed injection operation. In other words, one of the claw portions is made to function as a claw portion that transports the syringe 501 or vial 502 from the syringe shelf 10 or the vial shelf 20 to the mixed injection unit 40.

[0045] For example, the other of the first claw portion 111 and the second claw portion 112 is made to function as a claw portion that holds the syringe 501 or vial 502 used in the mixed injection operation. In other words, the other claw portion is made to function as a claw portion for transporting the syringe 501 or vial 502 from the mixed injection unit 40 to the waste box portion 70 or the needle removal unit 170.

[0046] In this embodiment, the first transporting section 110 is provided with a first claw 111 and a second claw 112 as transporting instrument holders for holding the syringe 501 and the vial 502, but may be provided with three or more instrument holders. In other words, the first transporting section 110 may be provided with a plurality of transporting instrument holders.

[0047] Furthermore, the first transport unit 110 is a transport unit that transports the syringe 501 and the vial 502 and is shared by both the syringe 501 and the vial 502, but is not limited to this. A transport unit dedicated to transporting the syringe 501 and a transport unit dedicated to transporting the vial 502 may be provided separately.

[0048] The second transport unit 120 transports the infusion container 503 indicated in the preparation and administration data between the infusion shelf 30, the mixed injection unit 40, the printing and inspection unit 50, and the infusion receiving shelf 60.

[0049] The second transport unit 120 transports the infusion container 503 to the mixing unit 40. When the preparation and administration data is input, the second transport unit 120 transports the infusion container 503 stored on the infusion shelf 30 to the mixing unit 40. In this embodiment, the second transport unit 120 suctions the body of the infusion container 503 stored on the infusion shelf 30 and delivers it to the mixing unit 40. As shown in FIG. 4 , the second transport unit 120 has a suction unit 121 that suctions the body of the infusion container 503.

[0050] The second transport unit 120 transports the infusion container 503 between the co-infusion unit 40 and the printing and inspection unit 50. In this embodiment, for example, the second transport unit 120 picks up the body of the infusion container 503 after drug injection and transports it to the printing and inspection unit 50. The second transport unit 120 also delivers the infusion container 503 to which the second label or the unsuitable information label has been affixed by the printing and inspection unit 50 to the infusion receiving shelf 60.

[0051] The second transport unit 120 also includes a third reading unit 122. The third reading unit 122 reads information indicated on the body of the infusion container 503. If the information is contained in a barcode, the third reading unit 122 may be realized by a barcode reader. The third reading unit 122 reads information contained in, for example, the first label.

[0052] The air purifying unit 130 purifies and exhausts the air inside the co-infusion device 1. In this embodiment, it is provided at the top of the co-infusion device 1. The air purified by the air purifying unit 130 flows from the top to the bottom of the co-infusion device 1. The air purifying unit 130 has, for example, a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.

[0053] The needle removal unit 170 is an external needle removal device that removes a needle from the syringe 501 to which the needle is attached. Removing a needle from the syringe 501 means removing the needle from the syringe of the syringe. The needle removal unit 170 removes a needle from the syringe 501 without a needle cap attached.

[0054] In this embodiment, after the mixed injection operation by the mixed injection unit 40 is completed, the needle removal unit 170 removes the needle from the syringe 501 used in the mixed injection operation. In this embodiment, after the first transport unit 110 inserts the needle attached to the syringe used in the mixed injection operation into the needle removal unit 170, the needle removal unit 170 removes the needle from the syringe 501. When mixed injection operations using the same type of drug are performed consecutively, the needle removal unit 170 removes the needle attached to the syringe 501 used in the mixed injection operation after the last of the consecutive mixed injection operations is completed. In this case, the mixed injection device 1 can reuse the same syringe 501.

[0055] 6 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of the positional relationship between the needle removal unit 170 and the waste bin section 70. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the co-infusion device 1 is provided with a first storage section 70A that stores a needle and a second storage section 70B that stores a syringe 501 without a needle attached, as the waste bin section 70. The waste bin section 70 is provided on the front side inside the co-infusion device 1, taking into account ease of removal. In this embodiment, the first storage section 70A is provided on the front side inside the second storage section 70B.

[0056] In this embodiment, the needle removed by the needle removal unit 170 falls due to its own weight. For this reason, the needle removal unit 170 is provided above the first storage section 70A. As a result, the needle removed from the syringe 501 by the needle removal unit 170 is discarded in the first storage section 70A.

[0057] In this embodiment, after the needle is removed from the syringe 501 by the needle removal unit 170, the first transport unit 110 transports the syringe 501 (syringe and plunger) without the needle attached to the second storage unit 70B. As a result, the syringe 501 with the needle removed by the needle removal unit 170 is discarded in the second storage unit 70B. In this way, the co-infusion device 1 can separate and discard the needle from the syringe 501 without the needle attached.

[0058] In this embodiment, the needle removal unit 170 is provided above the first storage unit 70A, but the needle removal unit 170 does not have to be provided above the first storage unit 70A. In this case, for example, the first transport unit 110 may hold the needle removed by the needle removal unit 170 and transport it to the first storage unit 70A for disposal. In this case, the syringe 501 with the needle removed may be dropped into the second storage unit 70B by its own weight. In this case, the needle removal unit 170 may be provided above the second storage unit 70B.

[0059] The second storage unit 70B is used to discard needle caps removed by the cap removal unit 180. If the co-infusion device 1 is equipped with a third storage unit different from the first storage unit 70A and the second storage unit 70B, the needle caps removed by the cap removal unit 180 may be discarded in the third storage unit. By discarding the needles and needle caps in separate spaces in this way, the needles and needle caps can be collected separately. In addition, the second storage unit 70B may be used to discard vials 502 used in the co-infusion operation.

[0060] A distance measurement sensor may be provided above first storage unit 70A. The distance measurement sensor is a detection unit that measures the distance from the distance measurement sensor to the bottom of first storage unit 70A or to a needle stored in first storage unit 70A. The distance measurement sensor may be provided, for example, on the underside of the lid of first storage unit 70A.

[0061] In this specification, the detection unit may be, for example, an optical sensor having a light receiving unit that receives light reflected from an object. The optical sensor may have an emission unit that emits light. The detection unit may be any member that can detect an object. For example, instead of an optical sensor, an imaging unit (camera) that captures an image of the object, an ultrasonic sensor, or the like may be used.

[0062] When discarded staples are stored in the first storage unit 70A, the distance measurement sensor can measure the distance from the distance measurement sensor to the discarded staples. When the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the control unit 140 notifies the user, for example via the touch panel 80, that the first storage unit 70A is full of discarded staples. This allows the user to collect the staples stored in the first storage unit 70A. This reduces the possibility that discarded staples will overflow from the first storage unit 70A.

[0063] The cap removal unit 180 is a member that removes the needle cap of the syringe 501. The cap removal unit 180 removes the needle cap attached to the needle of the syringe 501 before it is transported to the mixed injection unit 40, and holds the needle cap. When the first transport section 110 inserts the syringe 501 into the cap removal unit 180, the cap removal unit 180 holds the needle cap attached to the needle of the syringe 501, thereby removing the needle cap from the syringe 501. The cap removal unit 180 removes only the needle cap without removing the needle from the syringe 501.

[0064] The arrangement of each component in the co-infusion apparatus 1 is not limited to the arrangement described above. In this embodiment, the syringe shelf 10, the vial shelf 20, and the infusion shelf 30 are each provided with multiple tiers, but each may be provided with one tier. In this embodiment, the infusion receiving shelf 60 is provided with one tier, but each may be provided with multiple tiers. A syringe-side door 16 and / or a vial-side door 27 may be provided on the side of the co-infusion apparatus 1 (on the right side of the paper in FIG. 2). In this case, multiple syringes 501 or multiple vials 502 can be loaded from the side of the co-infusion apparatus 1. When the infusion shelf 30 has the same configuration as the syringe shelf 10 and the vial shelf 20, an infusion-side door 34 may be provided on the side of the co-infusion apparatus 1 (on the left side of the paper in FIG. 2).

[0065] [Other configurations] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of the co-infusion device 1. As shown in Fig. 4, the co-infusion device 1 includes a control unit 140 and a storage unit 200. Note that Fig. 4 shows only the main hardware configuration that can be controlled by the control unit 140, among the hardware configurations included in the co-infusion device 1.

[0066] The control unit 140 comprehensively controls the operation of the co-infusion device 1 based on the preparation and administration data. The control unit 140 includes, for example, a syringe transport control unit 141, a vial transport control unit 142, a first transport control unit 143, a co-infusion unit control unit 144, a second transport control unit 145, a pushing control unit 147, a shutter control unit 148, a printing and inspection unit control unit 149, and a touch panel control unit 150. The control unit 140 also includes an identification unit 151, a determination unit 152, and a weight determination unit 153. The identification unit 151, the determination unit 152, and the weight determination unit 153 will be described later.

[0067] The syringe transport control unit 141 controls the operation of members related to the transport of the syringe 501 in the syringe shelf 10. The vial transport control unit 142 controls the operation of members related to the transport of the vial 502 in the vial shelf 20. The co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the operation of members provided in the co-infusion unit 40.

[0068] The first transport control unit 143 controls the operation of the members included in the first transport unit 110. The first transport control unit 143 controls the movement of the first transport unit 110, for example, between the syringe shelf 10, the vial shelf 20, the mixed injection unit 40, the wastebasket unit 70, the needle removal unit 170, and the cap removal unit 180. The second transport control unit 145 controls the operation of the members included in the second transport unit 120. The second transport control unit 145 controls the movement of the second transport unit 120, for example, between the infusion shelf 30, the mixed injection unit 40, the printing / inspection unit 50, and the infusion receiving shelf 60.

[0069] The pushing control unit 147 controls the operation of members related to the transportation of the infusion container 503 in the infusion shelf 30. The shutter control unit 148 controls the movement of the shutter 37 (see FIG. 3). The printing and inspection unit control unit 149 controls the operation of members provided in the printing and inspection unit 50. The touch panel control unit 150 controls the touch panel 80.

[0070] The storage unit 200 also stores data for the control unit 140 to perform various processes (e.g., co-infusion processes). The storage unit 200 stores, for example, preparation and administration data. The information stored in the storage unit 200 may be stored in a storage device external to the co-infusion device 1.

[0071] 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a syringe 501. The syringe 501 includes a syringe (syringe barrel) 5011, a needle 5014, and a plunger 5015. The plunger 5015 is a pusher that moves in and out of the syringe 5011. By moving the plunger 5015 in and out of the syringe 5011, a medicine or the like can be drawn into the syringe 5011 or the medicine or the like in the syringe 5011 can be discharged. The syringe 5011 includes a needle-side end 5012 to which the needle 5014 is attached, and a flange 5013 that is the end opposite the needle-side end 5012 and through which the plunger 5015 moves in and out.

[0072] [Specific configuration of the co-injection unit] 8 is a perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the co-infusion unit 40. As shown in FIG. 8, the co-infusion unit 40 includes a syringe holder 41, a vial holder 42, and an infusion container holder 43.

[0073] Syringe holding section 41 is a member that holds syringe 501 transported by first transport section 110.

[0074] Syringe holding unit 41 includes moving unit 411, position fixing unit 412, first syringe holding unit 416, and plunger holding unit 417. In this specification, the member described as holding the object is merely an example, and the member may be any member that can hold the object.

[0075] The moving parts 411 are a pair of moving parts that move between a position where they are close to each other and a position where they are separated from each other. When the moving parts 411 are positioned close to each other, they clamp the needle 5014. The moving parts 411 clamp the needle 5014 and position the tip of the needle 5014 at a predetermined position. This allows even a bent needle 5014 to be inserted into the stopper provided on the infusion container 503 at the desired position (correct position) during the mixed injection operation.

[0076] The first syringe holding portion 416 is a member that first holds the syringe 501 that the first transporting portion 110 has transported from the syringe shelf 10. The first syringe holding portion 416 holds the side of the syringe 5011 (for example, the lower portion of the syringe 5011) inserted into the first syringe holding portion 416.

[0077] The position fixing portion 412 is a member that fixes the position of the syringe 501 in the extension direction of the syringe 501 at the needle side end portion 5012 and the flange 5013. In the present embodiment, the relative positions of the second syringe holding portion 413 and the third syringe holding portion 414 that constitute the position fixing portion 412 can be changed along the extension direction of the syringe 501. The second syringe holding portion 413 and the third syringe holding portion 414 are attached such that at least one of the second syringe holding portion 413 and the third syringe holding portion 414 is movable along the extension direction of the syringe 501.

[0078] In this embodiment, when the syringe 501 is held by the position fixing part 412, the second syringe holding part 413 abuts against the needle side end part 5012 from below, and the third syringe holding part 414 abuts against the flange 5013 from above. This allows the position fixing part 412 to clamp the syringe 501 along the extension direction of the syringe 501.

[0079] Plunger clamping portion 417 is a member that clamps plunger 5015. In the present embodiment, plunger clamping portion 417 clamps the tip portion of plunger 5015. Plunger clamping portion 417 moves in the vertical direction relative to moving portion 411, position fixing portion 412, and first syringe holding portion 416, thereby allowing plunger 5015 to move relative to syringe 5011.

[0080] The vial holder 42 is a member that holds the vial 502 (the vial 502 transported by the first transport unit 110) that contains the medicine to be injected into the infusion container 503. The vial holder 42 is also a member that holds the vial 502 that contains the infusion solution in which powdered medicine is dissolved, to be injected into the infusion container 503. In this embodiment, the vial holder 42 clamps the neck of the vial 502.

[0081] The infusion container holding unit 43 is a member that holds the infusion container 503 (the infusion container 503 transported by the second transport unit 120). In this embodiment, the infusion container holding unit 43 includes an infusion clamping unit 431 that clamps the neck of the infusion container 503, and a mounting base 432 on which the infusion container 503 is placed when withdrawing infusion from the infusion container 503 or when injecting infusion into the infusion container 503.

[0082] 9 is a front view showing an example of a schematic configuration of the co-infusion unit 40, and is a diagram for explaining an example of the operation of the co-infusion unit 40. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in this embodiment, the co-infusion unit 40 is provided on the side wall of the infusion shelf 30. Specifically, in the co-infusion device 1, the co-infusion unit 40 is arranged so that the syringe holding section 41, the vial holding section 42, and the infusion container holding section 43 face toward the syringe shelf 10 and the vial shelf 20 (+X-axis direction).

[0083] 9, the syringe holding part 41 is movable in the vertical direction, which allows the needle 5014 to puncture the vial 502 or the infusion container 503 located directly below the syringe 501 held by the syringe holding part 41.

[0084] In addition, the vial holding part 42 and the infusion container holding part 43 are movable in the front-to-rear direction (±Y-axis direction) of the co-infusion device 1. In this embodiment, the vial holding part 42 and the infusion container holding part 43 are attached to a base 44, and the base 44 moves in the front-to-rear direction of the co-infusion device 1. This allows the vial holding part 42 and the infusion container holding part 43 to move between the position indicated by reference numeral 1011 in FIG. 9 and the position indicated by reference numeral 1012 in FIG. 9. The position indicated by reference numeral 1011 in FIG. 9 is a first puncture position when the needle 5014 punctures the vial 502, and the position indicated by reference numeral 1012 in FIG. 9 is a second puncture position when the needle 5014 punctures the infusion container 503. Therefore, the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 held by the syringe holding part 41 can be inserted into the stopper 5021 of the vial 502 held by the vial holding part 42, or the stopper 5035 of the infusion container 503 held by the infusion container holding part 43. However, the syringe holding part 41, rather than the base 44, may move in the front-rear direction of the co-infusion device 1.

[0085] 9, the co-infusion unit 40 is provided rotatably around a rotation axis Ax (with Ax as the rotation axis). The rotation axis Ax is an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the base (±X-axis direction) on which the syringe holding section 41, the vial holding section 42, and the infusion container holding section 43 are provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the co-infusion unit 40 includes a rotation mechanism 45 (rotating section) that rotates the co-infusion unit 40 around the rotation axis Ax.

[0086] At the first puncture position indicated by reference numeral 1011 in Fig. 9, the co-infusion unit 40 rotates about the rotation axis Ax, thereby moving the vial 502 above the syringe 501. At the second puncture position indicated by reference numeral 1012 in Fig. 9, the co-infusion unit 40 rotates about the rotation axis Ax, thereby moving the infusion container 503 above the syringe 501. In these states, the co-infusion unit 40 can move the plunger 5015 to feed or discharge liquid between the syringe 501 and the vial 502 or the infusion container 503.

[0087] Not only in the above state, but also in the state shown by symbols 1011 and 1012 in Figure 9 (where the vial 502 and infusion container 503 are located below the syringe 501), the co-infusion unit 40 can inject and expel liquid between the syringe 501 and the vial 502 or infusion container 503.

[0088] <Cleaning mechanism for moving parts> The co-infusion device 1 may include a cleaning mechanism (not shown) that cleans the surface of the moving part 411. The cleaning mechanism may be, for example, a robot arm.

[0089] If liquid (liquid medicine or infusion) leaks from the syringe 501 and adheres to the needle 5014, the liquid will adhere to the moving part 411 when the moving part 411 clamps the needle 5014. In addition, there are cases where liquid leaking from the stopper 5021 of the vial 502 adheres to the needle 5014, or where liquid adheres to the needle 5014 when the tip of the needle 5014 is inserted into the vial 502 or the infusion container 503. In these cases as well, the liquid will adhere to the moving part 411 when the moving part 411 clamps the needle 5014.

[0090] Most of the moving parts 411 are made of conductive material. Therefore, when the pair of moving parts 411 are brought close to each other, the pair of moving parts 411 are electrically connected via liquid adhering to the moving parts 411. The control unit 140 detects this electrical connection, thereby detecting the state in which liquid is attached to the moving parts 411.

[0091] When the control unit 140 detects that liquid has adhered to the moving unit 411, the cleaning mechanism cleans the surface of the moving unit 411. For example, a robot arm grabs a cleaning tool prepared in advance in the co-infusion apparatus 1 and wipes the surface of the moving unit 411 with the grabbed cleaning tool. The cleaning tool may be, for example, a cotton ball. This makes it possible to wipe off liquid even if liquid adheres to the moving unit 411.

[0092] <Example 1 of mixed powder injection processing> Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing flow when powdered medicine contained in a vial 502 is mixed with an infusion. As a prerequisite for the mixed injection processing, a syringe 501, a vial 502, and an infusion container 503 used for the mixed injection are held in the mixed injection unit 40. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operation of the mixed injection unit 40 when the processing of Fig. 10 is performed.

[0093] In order to execute the mixed injection processing example of FIG. 10, the mixed injection unit 40 is provided with a vibration unit 46 (see FIG. 4). The vibration unit 46 is a member that applies vibrations to the vial holding unit 42. This allows vibrations to be applied to the vial 502 held in the vial holding unit 42. The vibration unit 46 may have any mechanism and may apply any type of vibration as long as it can apply vibrations to the vial holding unit 42. When the mixed injection processing example of FIG. 10 is not executed, the mixed injection unit 40 does not need to be provided with the vibration unit 46.

[0094] In this embodiment, the vibrating unit 46 is connected to the vial holder 42 below the vial holder 42 and vibrates in a direction parallel to a perpendicular line to the stopper 5021 of the vial 502 held by the vial holder 42 (the axis of the vial 502) (the ±Z-axis direction in the state of FIG. 9). However, the vibrating unit 46 may be provided at any position as long as it can impart vibration to the vial holder 42. Furthermore, the vibrating unit 46 may vibrate in any direction other than the parallel direction. For example, the vibrating unit 46 may swing the vial holder 42 around a rotation axis that corresponds to the direction in which the vial 502 is attached to or detached from the vial holder 42 (the ±X-axis direction in the state of FIG. 9).

[0095] In this embodiment, when the vibrating unit 46 applies vibrations to the vial holder 42, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the co-infusion unit 40 about the Ax axis. The co-infusion unit control unit 144 causes the co-infusion unit 40 to reciprocate about the Ax axis between a position where the syringe 501 is directly above the vial 502 and a position where the vial 502 is directly above the syringe 501. This allows the powdered medicine to be efficiently dissolved in the infusion solution without increasing the amplitude and frequency of vibration, for example, even if the powdered medicine is attached to the back side of the stopper 5021.

[0096] However, the co-infusion unit control section 144 may vibrate the vial holding section 42 without rotating the co-infusion unit 40. The co-infusion unit control section 144 may vibrate the vial holding section 42 when the vial holding section 42 is located at any position between the position where the syringe 501 is directly above the vial 502 and the position where the vial 502 is directly above the syringe 501.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 10, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the syringe holding unit 41 to insert the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 into the stopper 5035 of the infusion container 503, and then withdraws the infusion from the infusion container 503 (S1). The amount of infusion withdrawn by the mixed injection unit control unit 144 from the infusion container 503 is the amount of infusion withdrawn indicated in the above-mentioned preparation and administration data. This amount to be withdrawn may be set to be larger than the specified amount. If the specified amount is, for example, 5 mL, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 withdraws, for example, 10 mL of infusion from the infusion container 503.

[0098] The specified amount is the amount of infusion liquid that can be injected into the vial 502, and is determined for each type of vial 502 containing powdered medicine. When infusion liquid is injected into the vial 502, the internal pressure of the vial 502 increases. If the internal pressure continues to increase, cracks may occur in the stopper 5021 of the vial 502, and the infusion liquid may spray out from the stopper 5021. The specified amount may be determined, for example, through experiments, to an amount that will not cause cracks even without removing the infusion liquid or gas from the vial 502 to create negative pressure. The memory unit 200 stores the type of vial 502 containing powdered medicine and the specified amount of infusion liquid that can be injected into the vial 502, in association with each other. However, the specified amount may also be determined uniformly for all vials 502. The information indicating the type of vial 502 described above is included in the preparation and administration data.

[0099] Thereafter, the mixed injection unit control section 144 removes the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 from the stopper 5035, moves the base 44, and then punctures the stopper 5021 with the needle 5014 attached to the syringe 501. Thereafter, the mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the mixed injection unit 40 around the Ax axis until the vial 502 is positioned directly above the syringe 501.

[0100] The mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the plunger clamping section 417 to move the plunger 5015, thereby injecting a portion of the infusion liquid contained in the syringe 501 into the vial 502 containing the powdered medicine (S2). This injection allows the powdered medicine to dissolve in the infusion liquid in the vial 502.

[0101] The co-infusion unit control section 144 injects, for example, a specified amount of infusion liquid (for example, 5 mL out of 10 mL) into the vial 502 as part of the infusion liquid contained in the syringe 501. Information indicating the amount of injection into the vial 502 is stored in the memory section 200.

[0102] In this embodiment, as shown by reference numeral 1071 in Fig. 11, the plunger clamping portion 417 injects (sprays) the infusion liquid contained in the syringe 501 into the vial 502 with the tip of the needle 5014 attached to the syringe 501 facing upward and puncturing the stopper 5021 (with the stopper 5021 facing downward). This makes it easier for the infusion liquid injected into the vial 502 to spread throughout the vial 502. Therefore, the powdered medicine can be efficiently dissolved in the infusion liquid.

[0103] Next, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the syringe holding unit 41 to remove the needle 5014 from the stopper 5021 (S3). Thereafter, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the vibration unit 46 to vibrate the vial holding unit 42, thereby vibrating the vial 502 (S3). The mixed injection unit control unit 144 vibrates the vial holding unit 42 for a predetermined time, and then stops the vibration of the vibration unit 46. After stopping the vibration of the vibration unit 46, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the syringe holding unit 41 to puncture the stopper 5021 with the needle 5014 again. Vibrating the vial 502 agitates the infusion solution containing the powdered medicine, thereby promoting dissolution of the powdered medicine into the infusion solution.

[0104] Next, the mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the plunger clamping section 417 to move the plunger 5015, thereby extracting the infusion liquid with the powdered medicine dissolved therein from the vial 502 into which the infusion liquid was injected in S2 using the same syringe 501 as the syringe 501 into which the infusion liquid was injected in S2 (S6). By the above extraction, the infusion liquid with the powdered medicine dissolved therein extracted in S3 is mixed with the remaining infusion liquid in the syringe 501 that was not injected into the vial 502 (S7).

[0105] Reference numeral 1072 in Fig. 11 indicates a state in which the injection of the infusion liquid into the vial 502 by the plunger clamping portion 417 is completed. While maintaining this state, the mixed injection unit control portion 144 draws the infusion liquid containing dissolved powder medicine contained in the vial 502 into the syringe 501, as indicated by reference numeral 1073 in Fig. 11. In this manner, by using the syringe 501 containing the remaining infusion liquid to extract the infusion liquid containing dissolved powder medicine from the vial 502 into which the infusion liquid was injected in S2, the remaining infusion liquid and the infusion liquid containing dissolved powder medicine can be mixed inside the syringe 501.

[0106] The co-infusion unit control section 144 determines whether the processes of S2 to S7 have been performed a predetermined number of times (S8). Information indicating the predetermined number of times is stored in the storage section 200. The predetermined number of times may be a fixed value regardless of the type of powdered medicine, or may be a value set for each type of powdered medicine. The predetermined number of times is set to a value of 2 or more. The predetermined number of times may be determined, for example, through experiments, to be the number of times that the powdered medicine contained in the vial 502 is sufficiently dissolved in the infusion liquid.

[0107] When the mixed injection unit control unit 144 determines that the processes of S2 to S7 have not been executed the specified number of times (NO in S8), it returns to the process of S2 and executes the processes of S2 to S7 until the specified number of times is reached. In the process of S2 from the second time onwards, the mixed injection unit 40 (plunger clamping unit 417) injects the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved (part of the infusion solution mixed in S7) into the vial 502 as part of the infusion solution to be injected into the vial 502. As shown by reference numerals 1073 and 1074 in FIG. 11 , the mixed injection unit control unit 144 injects the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved, which has been drawn into the syringe 501, into the vial 502 while keeping the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 punctured in the stopper 5021. Furthermore, in the process of S7 from the second time onwards, the remaining infusion solution in the syringe 501 is the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved. Furthermore, the injection amount of the infusion solution from the second time onwards may be less than the specified amount.

[0108] In this way, by performing the operation of extracting the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine from vial 502 and then injecting the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine into vial 502 one or more times, the infusion liquid containing the powdered medicine can be stirred, and the dissolution of the powdered medicine into the infusion liquid can be promoted.

[0109] When it is determined that the processes of S2 to S7 have been executed the specified number of times (YES in S8), the mixed injection unit control section 144 determines whether the infusion extraction method is fractional collection or full volume collection (S9).

[0110] Fractional collection means that a portion of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine contained in the vial 502 has been dissolved is extracted from the vial 502. Full collection means that the entire amount of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine contained in the vial 502 has been dissolved is extracted from the vial 502. Whether fractional collection or full collection is performed, the amount of powdered medicine contained in part or all of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved, which is finally extracted from the vial 502, is the prescribed amount (the amount indicated in the prescription). By the time the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved is finally extracted from the vial 502, the powdered medicine has dissolved almost uniformly in the infusion solution. Therefore, even if fractional collection is performed, the prescribed amount of powdered medicine can be extracted in the final extraction of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved. The prescribed amount may be the amount of infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved, which is finally extracted from the vial 502 and injected into the infusion container 503.

[0111] When the mixed injection unit control unit 144 determines that the infusion extraction method is fractional extraction (YES in S9), it controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the mixed injection unit 40 around the Ax axis until the syringe 501 is positioned directly above the vial 502 (S10). Then, with the stopper 5021 facing upward, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 injects a portion of the infusion in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved, extracted from the vial 502 using the syringe 501, into the vial 502 (S11). Thereafter, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the syringe holding unit 41 to remove the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 from the stopper 5021, and the processing of FIG. 10 ends.

[0112] In S6, the entire amount of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine contained in the vial 502 has been dissolved is extracted by the syringe 501. Therefore, in the case of fractional collection, it is necessary to return a portion of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved, extracted by the syringe 501, to the vial 502. On the other hand, when the mixed injection unit control unit 144 determines that the method of extracting the infusion solution is to extract the entire amount (NO in S9), it controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the mixed injection unit 40 around the Ax axis until the syringe 501 is positioned directly above the vial 502 (S12). Thereafter, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the syringe holding unit 41 to remove the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 from the stopper 5021, and the processing of FIG. 10 is terminated.

[0113] (Summary of final fluid withdrawal) 11, in S6, with the stopper 5021 facing downward, the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is extracted from the vial 502. Thereafter, as shown by reference numeral 1074 in Fig. 11, if the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine contained in the syringe 501 is injected into the vial 502 while the stopper 5021 is kept facing downward, the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine contained in the vial 502 may leak from the stopper 5021.

[0114] When the stopper 5021 faces upward, the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is located at the bottom side of the vial 502, and gas is located on the stopper 5021 side. Therefore, even if the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is injected into the vial 502 in this state and the internal pressure of the vial 502 increases, the gas may leak from the stopper 5021, but the possibility of the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine leaking is extremely low. On the other hand, when the stopper 5021 faces downward, the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is located on the stopper 5021 side. Therefore, if the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is injected into the vial 502 in this state, depending on the amount, the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine may leak from the stopper 5021 due to the increase in the internal pressure of the vial 502. The less durable the stopper 5021 is, the more likely the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine will leak from the stopper 5021.

[0115] In the first injection of the infusion liquid into the vial 502 and the subsequent injection of the infusion liquid with the dissolved powdered medicine, the amount of the infusion liquid injected is less than the specified amount, so there is little possibility that the infusion liquid will leak from the stopper 5021. However, in the final injection of the infusion liquid with the dissolved powdered medicine, since it is performed according to the prescribed amount, there is a possibility that an amount of the infusion liquid exceeding the specified amount will be injected into the vial 502, and there is a possibility that the infusion liquid will leak from the stopper 5021.

[0116] Therefore, in the case of fractional collection, i.e., when the syringe 501 contains more infusion liquid with dissolved powder than the predetermined injection amount (prescribed amount) as the amount to be injected into the infusion container 503, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 performs the following process in S11. With the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 piercing the stopper 5021 facing upward, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 executes an injection operation to inject the infusion liquid with dissolved powder in an amount exceeding the predetermined injection amount into the vial 502. This reduces the possibility of the infusion liquid leaking from the stopper 5021 when the infusion liquid with dissolved powder is injected into the vial 502.

[0117] Specifically, as described above, in S2, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 injects the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine contained in the syringe 501 is dissolved into the vial 502 while the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 is puncturing the stopper 5021 that is facing downward. Thereafter, in S6, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 performs an extraction operation using the syringe 501 to extract from the vial 502 an amount of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine is dissolved that exceeds the injection amount. After the extraction operation, in S10, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 performs a rotation operation to rotate the vial 502 so that the stopper 5021 faces upward, and then performs the injection operation.

[0118] Note that the extraction and injection operations described here refer to the final operations when multiple extraction and injection operations are performed. Furthermore, when the extraction, rotation, and injection operations described here are performed, the co-infusion device 1 can also be called an injection device.

[0119] Furthermore, the processes of S10 and S11 may be executed only when the syringe 501 contains a certain amount more than the predetermined injection amount. Even if the syringe 501 contains more than the predetermined injection amount, depending on the amount, even if the infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine is injected from the syringe 501 into the vial 502 with the stopper 5021 facing downward, the infusion solution is unlikely to leak from the stopper 5021. The information indicating the certain amount is stored in the memory unit 200, and may be a constant value regardless of the type of powdered medicine, or may be a value set for each type of powdered medicine.

[0120] (Summary of vibrations applied to vials) As described above, the co-infusion device 1 includes the vial holding unit 42 and the vibration unit 46 that vibrates the vial 502 held by the vial holding unit 42 when the infusion (including the infusion with dissolved powdered medicine) is injected into the vial 502. The vial holding unit 42 continues to hold the vial 502 from the time the infusion is first injected into the vial 502 and the vibration unit 46 vibrates the vial 502 until the final extraction of the infusion with dissolved powdered medicine from the vial 502. The final extraction of the infusion with dissolved powdered medicine refers to the extraction of the infusion with dissolved powdered medicine in an amount predetermined to be extracted from the vial 502, i.e., the amount predetermined to be injected into the infusion container 503. The co-infusion device 1 that performs this operation can also be called a stirring device.

[0121] When vibration is applied to agitate an infusion containing powdered medicine, the vial holding section 42 continues to hold the vial 502 after initially puncturing the needle 5014. As shown in S3 to S5, when the vial 502 is vibrated, the mixed-infusion unit control section 144 inserts and removes the needle 5014 into and from the stopper 5021 before and after the vibration. Because the vial holding section 42 continues to hold the vial 502 during the processing of Fig. 10, when the needle 5014 is removed from the stopper 5021 and then punctured again by the needle 5014, the mixed-infusion unit control section 144 can easily identify the previous puncture position of the needle 5021.

[0122] For example, in a configuration in which the vial 502 is re-held each time the vial 502 is vibrated, when the vial 502 is re-held, for example, the vial 502 may suddenly rotate around the perpendicular line of the stopper 5021 (the axis of the vial 502) as the axis of rotation. In this case, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 may not be able to identify the previous puncture position. If the co-infusion unit control unit 144 cannot identify the previous puncture position, the next time the needle 5014 is punctured, the needle 5014 may puncture the same or approximately the same position as the previous puncture position. In this case, the puncture may cause the hole to enlarge or coring.

[0123] As described above, the vial holder 42 continues to hold the vial 502, and the co-infusion unit control unit 144 can easily identify the previous puncture position of the needle 5014, allowing the needle 5014 to be punctured at a position different from the previous puncture position. This reduces the possibility of enlargement of the hole or coring due to puncture. Patent Document 1 discloses dissolving powdered medicine with infusion liquid, but does not disclose specific processing methods. One aspect of the present disclosure (vibrating the vial 502) aims to reduce the possibility of problems occurring when dissolving powdered medicine with infusion liquid.

[0124] (Variation) Modified examples of the mixed injection process are shown below. The matters shown in the following modified examples may be applied to the mixed injection process described later if they are applicable to the mixed injection process described later.

[0125] (1) The first stirring operation for vibrating the vial 502 and the second stirring operation for performing at least one injection operation and extraction operation of an infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine into the vial 502 may be set alternatively. In other words, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 can perform only the first stirring operation, only the second stirring operation, or both the first stirring operation and the second stirring operation as an operation for stirring an infusion solution containing powdered medicine.

[0126] For example, when the first stirring operation is set, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 does not perform the second stirring operation, but first injects the infusion liquid into the vial 502, and after the vibration unit 46 vibrates the vial 502, extracts a predetermined extraction amount of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved from the vial 502. Also, if the powdered medicine can be sufficiently dissolved in the infusion liquid, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 may perform an operation of first injecting the infusion liquid into the vial 502, instead of the second stirring operation, and then extracting a predetermined extraction amount of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved from the vial 502.

[0127] Information indicating the predetermined time for vibrating vial 502 is stored in memory unit 200. The predetermined time may be a constant value regardless of the type of powdered medicine, or may be a value set for each type of powdered medicine. For example, when only the first stirring operation is performed, the predetermined time is determined, for example, through experiments, to be the time required for the powdered medicine contained in vial 502 to be sufficiently dissolved in the infusion liquid.

[0128] Whether to perform only the first stirring operation, only the second stirring operation, or both the first stirring operation and the second stirring operation may be selected by a user's input operation, or may be predetermined depending on the type of powder.

[0129] (2) In S4, the timing of vibrating the vial 502 can be set arbitrarily. When the injection and extraction operations of an infusion (including an infusion with dissolved powdered medicine) into the vial 502 are performed multiple times, the vibration unit 46 may vibrate the vial 502 intermittently rather than after each injection and extraction operation. Alternatively, the vibration unit 46 may vibrate the vial 502 only once between the first injection operation of the infusion and the final extraction operation of the infusion with dissolved powdered medicine. Alternatively, the vibration unit 46 may inject the infusion (including an infusion with dissolved powdered medicine) into the vial 502 after vibrating the vial 502.

[0130] (3) When collecting a fraction, the mixing unit 40 may not be rotated in S10, and a portion of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved may be injected into the vial 502 with the stopper 5021 facing downward. Whether or not to perform the process of S10 when collecting a fraction may be determined in consideration of the amount of infusion solution to be injected into the vial 502, the volume of the vial 502, and the durability of the stopper 5021.

[0131] (4) In S2, the mixing unit control unit 144 may inject infusion liquid (including infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine) into the vial 502 while rotating the mixing unit 40 around the Ax axis until the vial 502 is positioned directly above the syringe 501.

[0132] (5) The state in which the stopper 5021 faces upward is not limited to a state in which the stopper 5021 faces vertically upward, but also includes a state in which the stopper 5021 faces upward from the horizontal. The state in which the stopper 5021 faces downward is not limited to a state in which the stopper 5021 faces vertically downward, but also includes a state in which the stopper 5021 faces downward from the horizontal.

[0133] <Example 2 of mixed powder injection processing> When fractional collection is performed, the co-infusion unit control section 144 may perform the following process after the process of S10 shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operation of the co-infusion unit 40.

[0134] As shown by reference numeral 1031 in Fig. 12, when the stopper 5021 is facing upward, the co-infusion unit control section 144 controls the plunger clamping section 417 to draw the gas in the vial 502 into the syringe 501. The co-infusion unit control section 144 extracts, from the vial 502, an amount of gas equivalent to the amount of infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved, to be extracted from the vial 502, for example. Next, the co-infusion unit control section 144 controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the co-infusion unit 40 around the Ax axis until the vial 502 is positioned directly above the syringe 501.

[0135] 12, the co-infusion unit control section 144 controls the plunger clamping section 417 with the stopper 5021 facing downward to temporarily extract the entire amount of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved from the vial 502. Next, as shown by reference numeral 1033 in FIG. 12, a small amount of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved in the syringe 501 is injected into the vial 502, thereby eliminating any gas from the syringe 501.

[0136] 12, the co-infusion unit control section 144 controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the co-infusion unit 40 around the Ax axis until the syringe 501 is positioned directly above the vial 502. Next, with the stopper 5021 facing upward, the co-infusion unit control section 144 injects a portion of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved in the syringe 501 into the vial 502 so that an injection amount (prescribed amount) that is predetermined as the amount to be injected into the infusion container 503 remains in the syringe 501.

[0137] Next, as shown by reference numeral 1035 in FIG. 12, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the plunger clamping unit 417 to draw the gas in the vial 502 into the syringe 501. For example, an amount of gas equivalent to the amount of infusion solution in which the powdered medicine extracted from the vial 502 has been dissolved is extracted from the vial 502. This process is not limited to the process in FIG. 12, and may be executed when fractional amounts are collected. Next, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the syringe holding unit 41 to extract the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 from the stopper 5021, and the process in FIG. 12 ends.

[0138] <Example 3 of mixed powder injection processing> (Mixed injection processing example 3-1) 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the process flow when powdered medicine contained in a vial 502 is mixed with an infusion liquid. In the description of FIG. 13, the content described with reference to FIG. 10 will not be described.

[0139] In the process of FIG. 10 , after processing S1, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the co-infusion unit 40 around the Ax axis until the vial 502 is positioned directly above the syringe 501. On the other hand, in this process example, after processing S1, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 does not rotate the co-infusion unit 40 around the Ax axis. The co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the plunger clamping unit 417 with the stopper 5021 facing upward to inject a portion of the infusion solution contained in the syringe 501 into the vial 502 containing the powdered medicine (S21). Next, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the co-infusion unit 40 around the Ax axis until the vial 502 is positioned directly above the syringe 501 (S22). Next, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 executes the process of S6 with the stopper 5021 facing downward.

[0140] After processing S7, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 determines whether the processes of S21, S22, S6, and S7 have been executed a predetermined number of times (S8). If the co-infusion unit control unit 144 determines that these processes have been executed the predetermined number of times (YES in S8), it executes the processes of S9 and onward. On the other hand, if the co-infusion unit control unit 144 determines that these processes have not been executed the predetermined number of times (NO in S8), it controls the plunger clamping unit 417 to inject a portion of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved into the vial 502. Next, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 executes the process of S6.

[0141] (Summary of mixed injection treatment example 3-1) In this way, the mixed injection unit control section 144 performs an injection operation (S21) of injecting the infusion liquid contained in the syringe 501 with the stopper 5021 facing upward, and a rotation operation (S22) of rotating the vial 502 so that the stopper 5021 faces downward after the injection operation. Next, with the stopper 5021 facing downward due to the rotation operation, the mixed injection unit control section 144 performs an extraction operation (S6) of extracting the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved from the vial 502 using the syringe 501.

[0142] Therefore, even if an amount of infusion liquid that may leak from vial 502 is injected when an injection operation is performed with stopper 5021 facing downward, the possibility of the infusion liquid dissolving the powdered medicine leaking from vial 502 can be reduced. Therefore, the amount of infusion liquid injected into vial 502 can be increased, allowing the powdered medicine to be dissolved in the infusion liquid efficiently. Patent Document 1 discloses dissolving powdered medicine in the infusion liquid, but does not disclose the specific process. One aspect of the present disclosure (an aspect in which an injection operation is performed with stopper 5021 facing upward) aims to efficiently dissolve powdered medicine in the infusion liquid.

[0143] Furthermore, the rotation operation causes the stopper 5021 to face downward, but the possibility of the infusion liquid containing dissolved powder leaking from the stopper 5021 can be reduced by the mixing unit control unit 144 performing the removal operation immediately after the rotation operation or in conjunction with the rotation operation.

[0144] The amount of infusion liquid injected into the vial 502 the first time (initial injection amount) is set to be larger than the amount of infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine injected into the vial 502 the second and subsequent times. The initial injection amount is set, for example, taking into consideration the volume of the vial 502 and the durability of the stopper 5021, so that the infusion liquid will not leak from the stopper 5021 until the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is withdrawn after the stopper 5021 is turned downward. Information indicating the initial injection amount is stored in the memory unit 200 together with information indicating the injection amounts from the second time onwards. Either information may be a constant value regardless of the type of powdered medicine, or may be a value set for each type of powdered medicine.

[0145] In this processing example, after the removal operation of S6, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 performs the injection operation and removal operation of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved, while maintaining the stopper 5021 facing downward. In other words, in this processing example, the stopper 5021 faces upward only during the first injection of the infusion liquid, and during the subsequent injection operation and removal operation of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved, the stopper 5021 faces downward. This reduces the possibility of an increase in the processing time required to dissolve the powdered medicine in the infusion liquid.

[0146] (Mixed injection processing example 3-2) Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of the process flow when powdered medicine contained in a vial 502 is mixed and injected into an infusion. In explaining Fig. 14, the contents explained using Figs. 10 and 13 will not be explained.

[0147] The mixed injection unit control section 144 injects the infusion solution into the vial 502 with the stopper 5021 facing upward (S21), and then controls the plunger clamping section 417 while maintaining this state to draw the gas in the vial 502 into the syringe 501 (S31). Next, the mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the mixed injection unit 40 around the Ax axis until the vial 502 is positioned directly above the syringe 501 (S32). Next, the mixed injection unit control section 144 executes the process of S6 with the stopper 5021 facing downward.

[0148] After processing S7, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 determines whether the processes of S21, S31, S32, S6, and S7 have been executed a predetermined number of times (S8). If the co-infusion unit control unit 144 determines that these processes have been executed the predetermined number of times (YES in S8), it executes the processes of S9 and onward. On the other hand, if the co-infusion unit control unit 144 determines that these processes have not been executed the predetermined number of times (NO in S8), it controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the co-infusion unit 40 around the Ax axis until the syringe 501 is positioned directly above the vial 502 (S33). Thereafter, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 executes the process of S6.

[0149] (Summary of mixed injection processing example 3-2) In this way, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 executes the injection operation, the rotation operation, and the extraction operation in the same manner as in the above-described co-infusion processing example 3-1. Therefore, the powdered medicine can be dissolved in the infusion liquid efficiently. Note that in this processing example, the infusion liquid injected in the injection operation may be the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine is dissolved.

[0150] In this processing example, as described above, after the injection operation of S21, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 uses the syringe 501 to perform a gas extraction operation (S31) to extract gas from the vial 502, and after the gas extraction operation, performs a rotation operation (S32).

[0151] Some powdered medicines generate gas when they come into contact with infusion liquid. Therefore, when infusion liquid is injected into vial 502 containing such powdered medicine, the internal pressure of vial 502 is likely to increase. Therefore, when the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is extracted with stopper 5021 facing downward, the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is likely to leak from stopper 5021.

[0152] In this processing example, the gas inside the vial 502 is removed after the infusion (including the infusion with dissolved powdered medicine) is injected into the vial 502, thereby reducing the internal pressure of the vial 502. Therefore, when dissolving the powdered medicine that is prone to generate gas as described above, if the stopper 5021 is turned downward, the possibility that the infusion with dissolved powdered medicine will leak from the stopper 5021 can be reduced.

[0153] Furthermore, as described above, liquid is likely to leak from the stopper 5021, which has low durability. By executing this processing example, even for a vial 502 having such a stopper 5021, when the stopper 5021 is facing downward, the possibility of the infusion liquid dissolving the powdered medicine leaking from the stopper 5021 can be reduced.

[0154] The amount of infusion liquid injected into the vial 502 may be set to be greater than the amount of infusion liquid injected when the stopper 5021 is facing downward. Information indicating the amount of injection is stored in the memory unit 200. Information indicating the amount of gas to be extracted from the vial 502 is also stored in the memory unit 200. These amounts are set, for example, taking into consideration the volume of the vial 502 and the durability of the stopper 5021, so that the infusion liquid will not leak from the stopper 5021 until the infusion liquid dissolving the powdered medicine is extracted after the stopper 5021 is facing downward. These pieces of information may be constant values ​​regardless of the type of powdered medicine, or may be values ​​set for each type of powdered medicine.

[0155] The gas extracted from the vial 502 is present in the syringe 501. Therefore, when the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine is dissolved is injected into the vial 502 in S21, the gas is injected from the syringe 501 into the vial 502 together with the infusion liquid. This increases the internal pressure of the vial 502, but since the stopper 5021 faces upward as described above, the possibility of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine is dissolved leaking from the stopper 5021 is extremely low. Therefore, the possibility of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine is dissolved leaking from the stopper 5021 can be reduced until the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine is dissolved is finally extracted.

[0156] (Mixed injection processing example 3-3) Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the process flow when powdered medicine contained in a vial 502 is mixed and injected into an infusion. Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the operation of the mixed injection unit 40 when the process of Fig. 15 is performed. In the explanation of Fig. 15, the contents explained using Figs. 10, 13 and 14 will not be explained again.

[0157] As shown by reference numerals 1041 and 1042 in Fig. 16, the mixed injection unit control section 144 injects the infusion liquid into the vial 502 with the stopper 5021 facing upward (S21). Next, as shown by reference numeral 1043 in Fig. 16, the mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the plunger clamping section 417 while maintaining this state to draw the gas in the vial 502 into the syringe 501 (S31).

[0158] Next, as shown by reference numeral 1044 in Fig. 16, the mixture injection unit control section 144 controls the syringe holding section 41 to remove the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 from the stopper 5021 (S41). Next, the mixture injection unit control section 144 controls the rotation mechanism 45 to rotate the mixture injection unit 40 around the Ax axis until the vial 502 is positioned directly above the syringe 501 (S42). Next, as shown by reference numeral 1045 in Fig. 16, the mixture injection unit control section 144 discharges the gas drawn into the syringe 501 into the mixture injection device 1 (S43).

[0159] The distance between the stopper 5021 and the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 removed from the stopper 5021 is set to a degree that allows the leaked infusion to come into contact with the stopper 5021, even if the infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine leaks from the needle 5014 together with the release of gas from the syringe 501. This reduces the possibility that the infusion solution leaking from the needle 5014 will fall into the co-infusion device 1. Information indicating this distance is stored in the memory unit 200.

[0160] Next, as shown by reference numeral 1046 in Fig. 16, the mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the syringe holding section 41 to puncture the stopper 5021 with the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 (S44). Thereafter, as shown by reference numeral 1047 in Fig. 16, the mixed injection unit control section 144 executes the process of S6 with the stopper 5021 facing downward.

[0161] After the process of S7, the co-infusion unit control section 144 determines whether the processes of S21, S31, S41 to S44, S6, and S7 have been executed a preset number of times (S8). If the co-infusion unit control section 144 determines that these processes have been executed a preset number of times (YES in S8), it executes the processes of S9 and onward. On the other hand, if the co-infusion unit control section 144 determines that these processes have not been executed a preset number of times (NO in S8), it executes the process of S23.

[0162] (Summary of mixed injection treatment example 3-3) In this way, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 performs the injection operation, rotation operation, and extraction operation in the same manner as in the above-mentioned co-infusion processing example 3-1. Therefore, the powdered medicine can be efficiently dissolved in the infusion liquid. Furthermore, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 performs the gas extraction operation (S31) after the injection operation of S21, and performs the rotation operation (S42) after the gas extraction operation, in the same manner as in the above-mentioned co-infusion processing example 3-2.

[0163] In this processing example, as described above, the co-infusion unit control section 144 executes an exhaust operation (S43) to exhaust the gas contained in the syringe 501 by the gas extraction operation to the outside of the vial 502. This reduces the possibility that the internal pressure of the vial 502 will increase due to the gas extracted from the vial 502. This reduces the possibility that the infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine will leak from the stopper 5021.

[0164] Furthermore, the processes of S31 and S41 to S44 are performed only during the first infusion into the vial 502. Therefore, compared to when the processes of S31 and S41 to S44 are also performed when injecting the infusion in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved into the vial 502, the possibility of an increase in the processing time required to dissolve the powdered medicine into the infusion can be reduced.

[0165] In this processing example, the processes of S31 and S41 to S44 may also be performed when injecting the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine into the vial 502. However, in the case of this processing example, the operation of discharging gas from the syringe 501 is accompanied by the operation of inserting and removing the needle 5014, which increases the number of times the needle 5014 punctures the stopper 5021. In order to avoid increasing the number of punctures, it is better to perform the processes of S31 and S41 to S44 only when injecting the infusion liquid into the vial 502 for the first time.

[0166] (Modification of mixed injection processing example 3) Whether or not mixed injection process example 3 is performed and which of mixed injection process examples 3-1 to 3-3 is performed may be selected by a user's input operation, or may be determined in advance depending on the type of powdered medicine or the type of vial 502.

[0167] <Example 4 of mixed powder injection processing> 17 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a mixed injection process when both fractional and full volume collection are performed. This process example is a process example in which a portion of the infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine is extracted from one vial 502 among multiple vials 502, and the entire amount of the infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine is extracted from the remaining vials 502, and then the extracted solution is injected into one infusion container 503. In this process example, the vial 502 from which the fractional amount is collected is referred to as the first vial 502A (first drug container), and the vial 502 from which the entire amount is collected is referred to as the second vial 502B (second drug container). The amounts of the infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine extracted from each of the first vial 502A and the second vial 502B are indicated in the preparation and administration data.

[0168] The mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the syringe holding unit 41 to insert the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 into the stopper 5035 of the infusion container 503, and then withdraws the infusion liquid from the infusion container 503 (S1). The mixed injection unit control unit 144 withdraws from the infusion container 503 an amount of infusion liquid sufficient to dissolve both the powdered medicine contained in the first vial 502A and the powdered medicine contained in the second vial 502B. In this embodiment, the type of powdered medicine contained in the first vial 502A (first powdered medicine) is the same as the type of powdered medicine contained in the second vial 502B. However, the type of the first powdered medicine and the type of the second powdered medicine may be different from each other.

[0169] Next, the mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the plunger clamping section 417 to inject at least a portion of the extracted infusion into the first vial 502A (S61). The mixed injection unit control section 144 determines the amount of infusion to be injected into the first vial 502A, for example, based on the volume of the first vial 502A. The mixed injection unit control section 144 performs the injecting operation and the extracting operation with the stopper 5021 facing downward as described above, thereby dissolving the powdered medicine contained in the first vial 502A in the infusion.

[0170] Next, the mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the plunger clamping section 417 to extract a part of the infusion solution in which the powdered medicine contained in the first vial 502A has been dissolved from the first vial 502A (S62). The operations related to the processing of S61 and S62 may be referred to as a first operation.

[0171] Next, the first conveyance control unit 143 controls the first conveyance unit 110 to remove the first vial 502A from the vial holding unit 42, and then causes the second vial 502B to be held in the vial holding unit 42. Thereafter, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the plunger clamping unit 417 to inject at least a portion of the infusion liquid containing the extracted powdered medicine dissolved therein into the second vial 502B (S63). The mixed injection unit control unit 144 injects at least a portion of the infusion liquid containing the extracted powdered medicine dissolved therein into the second vial 502B (S63). The mixed injection unit control unit 144 determines the amount of infusion liquid to be injected into the second vial 502B, for example, based on the volume of the second vial 502B. The amounts of infusion liquid to be injected into the first vial 502A and the second vial 502B may be the same or different. The co-infusion unit control unit 144 performs the injection operation and the extraction operation with the stopper 5021 facing downward as described above, thereby dissolving the powdered medicine contained in the second vial 502B in the infusion liquid that has dissolved the powdered medicine contained in the first vial 502A.

[0172] Next, the mixed injection unit control section 144 controls the plunger clamping section 417 to extract the entire amount of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved from the second vial 502B (S64). This infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved is an infusion liquid in which the first powdered medicine and the second powdered medicine have been dissolved. The operations related to the processing of S63 and S64 may be referred to as the second operation.

[0173] For example, when extracting 1.5 bottles of powdered medicine from vial 502, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 first extracts 20 ml of infusion liquid, the amount that can be dissolved, from infusion container 503 using syringe 501. The mixed injection unit control unit 144 first injects 10 ml of infusion liquid for dissolving the first powdered medicine into first vial 502A, stirs the infusion liquid containing the first powdered medicine, and then extracts 5 ml from first vial 502A as part of the infusion liquid in which the first powdered medicine has been dissolved. This extraction corresponds to extracting 0.5 bottles of powdered medicine from vial 502. Next, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 injects 10 ml of infusion liquid for dissolving the second powdered medicine from the infusion liquid (15 ml) in which the first powdered medicine has been dissolved, which is contained in syringe 501, into second vial 502B. Next, the mixed injection unit control section 144 mixes the infusion solution containing the first powdered medicine and the second powdered medicine, and then extracts 10 ml of the infusion solution containing the first powdered medicine and the second powdered medicine from the second vial 502B. This extraction corresponds to extracting one bottle of powdered medicine from the vial 502.

[0174] This allows a fractional amount of 5 ml of the infusion liquid dissolving the first powdered medicine to be collected, and a full amount of 10 ml of the infusion liquid dissolving the second powdered medicine to be collected. Note that when the amount of the infusion liquid for dissolving the first powdered medicine and the second powdered medicine is 10 ml each, the amount of the infusion liquid extracted from the infusion container 503 as the dissolvable amount may be more than 20 ml.

[0175] Consider a case in which a predetermined amount (prescribed amount) of infusion liquid containing the first and second powdered medicines is extracted by extracting a portion of the infusion liquid containing the first powdered medicine dissolved from the first vial 502A and extracting the entire infusion liquid containing the first and second powdered medicines dissolved from the second vial 502B. In this case, by performing the second operation after the first operation, the predetermined amount of infusion liquid can be extracted without performing the concentration calculation required when performing the first operation after the second operation. Therefore, extraction in the above case can be performed using a simple method.

[0176] First, when the entire amount of powdered medicine is taken from the second vial 502B, a portion of the entire amount is injected into the first vial 502A. In this state, when a fractional amount of powdered medicine is taken from the first vial 502A, a portion of the powdered medicine injected from the second vial 502B into the first vial 502A is also extracted, along with the powdered medicine originally contained in the first vial 502A. In this case, even if the amount of infusion liquid containing the powdered medicine dissolved in the specified amount to be extracted from the first vial 502A (5 ml in the above example) is extracted, the amount of powdered medicine that should have been extracted (0.5 bottles of powdered medicine in the above example) cannot be extracted.

[0177] On the other hand, when fractional collection is performed first, an infusion solution in which the powdered medicine is not dissolved (pure infusion solution) is injected into the first vial 502A, so that the amount of powdered medicine that should have been extracted from the first vial 502A can be extracted. After that, by performing full collection to extract the entire amount of infusion solution in which the powdered medicine contained in the second vial 502B has been dissolved, the amount of powdered medicine that should have been extracted from the second vial 502B can also be extracted.

[0178] Even when the entire amount is collected first, the amount to be collected from the first vial 502A can be calculated by calculating the concentration of the powdered medicine dissolved in the infusion solution after injecting the infusion solution into the second vial 502B. However, in this case, a concentration calculation is required to collect the fractional amount. Furthermore, this concentration calculation requires the amount of infusion solution to be extracted from the infusion container 503. However, due to distortion of the syringe 5011, etc., an error may occur between the theoretical amount of the extracted infusion solution and the actual amount extracted. In this case, the concentration calculation cannot be performed accurately. Furthermore, the amount of the extracted infusion solution may not be set to an accurate value, for example, if it is set to 20 ml or more. In this case, the concentration calculation cannot be performed at all.

[0179] By collecting a fractional amount before collecting the entire amount as in this embodiment, the amount of powdered medicine to be extracted can be extracted from the first vial 502A and the second vial 502B without calculating the concentration.

[0180] (Variation) The co-infusion unit control unit 144 may perform the following process. In S62, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 uses the syringe 501 to extract a portion of the infusion solution containing the dissolved powdered medicine from the first vial 502A, and then injects the infusion solution into the infusion container 503 to empty the syringe 501. Next, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 uses the syringe 501 to extract the infusion solution from the infusion container 503 containing the dissolved powdered medicine, and then injects the infusion solution into the second vial 502B. Thereafter, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 extracts the entire amount of the infusion solution containing the dissolved powdered medicine from the second vial 502B. In this case as well, the above-mentioned effects can be obtained.

[0181] <Overtaking processing> Some powdered medicines may generate bubbles when the infusion liquid is injected into the vial 502. The bubbles must be converted into liquid in order to extract all of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has dissolved from the vial 502. To achieve this, the co-infusion unit control section 144 may perform the following process, for example.

[0182] When finally extracting the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved from the vial 502, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 first extracts a predetermined amount of the infusion liquid from the vial 502. The co-infusion unit control unit 144 extracts most of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved from the vial 502 by this extraction. The co-infusion unit control unit 144 waits a predetermined time after this extraction to turn the foam into a liquid. Thereafter, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 extracts the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved from the vial 502, which has now turned from a foam into a liquid.

[0183] In the above process, a waiting time for the mixed injection process occurs, so it is possible to execute the next mixed injection process during this waiting time. An example of such a process will be described below. In the following description, the waiting mixed injection process will be referred to as the first mixed injection process, and the next mixed injection process will be referred to as the second mixed injection process.

[0184] The first conveyance control unit 143 causes the vial 502 used in the first mixed injection process (the vial 502 held by the vial holding unit 42) to be held by the first claw 111 of the first conveyance unit 110. In addition, the first conveyance control unit 143 causes the vial 502 used in the second mixed injection process (the vial 502 stored in the vial shelf 20) to be held by the second claw 112 of the first conveyance unit 110, and then causes the vial holding unit 42 to hold it.

[0185] The first transport control unit 143 causes the second claw portion 112 to hold the syringe 501 (the syringe 501 held by the syringe holding unit 41) used in the first mixed injection process, and then places the syringe 501 on a placement table (not shown). The mixed injection unit control unit 144 rotates the mixed injection unit 40 around the rotation axis Ax, so that the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 faces upward, and then the first transport control unit 143 holds the syringe 501 on the second claw portion 112. Therefore, the syringe 501 is placed on the placement table with the needle 5014 facing upward. Thereafter, the first transport control unit 143 causes the second claw portion 112 to hold the syringe 501 (the syringe 501 stored on the syringe shelf 10) used in the second mixed injection process, and then holds the syringe holding unit 41.

[0186] In the above description, the first claw portion 111 and the second claw portion 112 may be reversed. Furthermore, the first transport control unit 143 may replace the vial 502 after replacing the syringe 501. Furthermore, when the same type of powdered medicine is used in the first mixed injection process and the second mixed injection process, the syringe 501 used in the first mixed injection process may be used in the second mixed injection process without being transported to the above-mentioned mounting table.

[0187] Furthermore, the co-infusion apparatus 1 may be provided with a platform (not shown) on which the vial 502 is placed, and the vial 502 used in the first co-infusion process may be placed on the platform. However, if the vial 502 is placed on the platform, the co-infusion unit control section 144 will not be able to identify the puncture position of the needle 5014 in the stopper 5021. Considering this point, it is preferable that the vial 502 used in the first co-infusion process is not placed on the platform, but is held by the first transport section 110.

[0188] The second transport control unit 145 also controls the second transport unit 120 to hold the infusion container 503 used in the first mixed injection process (the infusion container 503 held by the infusion container holding unit 43) in the second locking unit 57 (see FIG. 25 ) of the printing / inspection unit 50. Thereafter, the second transport control unit 145 removes the infusion container 503 used in the second mixed injection process from the infusion shelf 30 and holds it in the infusion container holding unit 43.

[0189] By performing such processing, the co-infusion unit control section 144 can start the second co-infusion process without waiting for the completion of the first co-infusion process. After the second co-infusion process is completed, the co-infusion unit control section 144 executes the remaining steps of the first co-infusion process.

[0190] <Other processing> Additionally, the co-infusion unit control section 144 may change the number of times (number of times of mixing) the injection operation and the extraction operation are performed depending on the temperature inside the co-infusion apparatus 1. For example, the co-infusion unit control section 144 may increase the number of times the injection operation and the extraction operation are performed as the temperature inside the co-infusion apparatus 1 decreases. Information associating the temperature range inside the co-infusion apparatus 1 with the number of times the injection operation and the extraction operation are performed is stored in the storage section 200, and the relationship between the temperature range and the number of times the operation is performed is specified, for example, through experiments or the like.

[0191] Even if a total extraction operation is performed to extract the infusion liquid with the powdered medicine dissolved therein from the vial 502, a small amount of the infusion liquid with the powdered medicine dissolved therein may remain in the vial 502. The total extraction operation refers to the operation of pulling back the plunger 5015 by an amount equal to or greater than the amount of the infusion liquid injected into the vial 502. After the total extraction operation, the mixing and injection unit 40 is repeatedly rotated, and then the stopper 5021 is placed in a downward position, so that the infusion liquid with the powdered medicine dissolved therein remaining in the vial 502 can be collected on the back side of the stopper 5021.

[0192] In this state, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the plunger clamping unit 417 to pull the plunger 5015 by a predetermined amount (e.g., 1 ml), thereby drawing a predetermined amount of infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine into the syringe 501.

[0193] However, there is a possibility that more than the predetermined amount of the infusion liquid containing the dissolved powdered medicine remains in the vial 502. Therefore, an additional amount to be drawn into the syringe 501 may be set in advance. In this case, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the plunger clamping unit 417 to further pull the plunger 5015 by the additional amount to be drawn, thereby drawing the additional amount of the infusion liquid containing the dissolved powdered medicine into the syringe 501. This allows the infusion liquid containing the dissolved powdered medicine to be extracted from the vial 502 with high accuracy.

[0194] The additional withdrawal amount may be set for each type of vial 502. In this case, the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved can be extracted from the vial 502 with high accuracy by pulling the plunger 5015 by the minimum necessary amount.

[0195] The co-infusion device 1 may also include a mechanism (not shown) for attaching a cap to the stopper 5035 of the infusion container 503 after the co-infusion process. In this case, the second transport unit 120 transports the infusion container 503 to which the cap has been attached by the mechanism to the infusion receiving shelf 60.

[0196] [Specific configuration of syringe shelf] Fig. 18 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of the syringe shelf 10 and the vial shelf 20. Reference numeral 1021 in Fig. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of one syringe shelf 10 and one vial shelf 20 when viewed from the first transporting unit 110 side. Reference numeral 1022 in Fig. 19 is a diagram for explaining the vial shelf 20.

[0197] As shown in Fig. 18, the syringe shelf 10 comprises a plurality of instrument holding sections 11, an instrument transport section 12, an object detection section 13, a syringe detection section 14, a needle detection section 15, and a syringe detection section 17. Note that an instrument holding section 11 is also attached to the attachment section 1211 of the instrument transport section 12 shown in Fig. 18, but this is not shown in the figure.

[0198] Prior to the mixed injection process, the user loads syringes 501 into the syringe shelf 10. The syringes 501 are loaded into the syringe shelf 10 with needle caps 5016 (see FIG. 19) attached to the needles 5014.

[0199] In this embodiment, a plurality of holes 172 are formed in the plate-like member 171 that defines each syringe shelf 10. This allows, for example, air purified by the air purifying unit 130 (see FIG. 2) to flow efficiently from the top to the bottom of the co-infusion device 1.

[0200] The multiple instrument holding parts 11 are members (holding parts) capable of holding syringes 501 to be loaded into the co-infusion apparatus 1. In this embodiment, one instrument holding part 11 holds one syringe 501, but one instrument holding part 11 may hold multiple syringes 501. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the syringe shelf 10 is described as including multiple instrument holding parts 11, but it may also be configured to include one instrument holding part 11. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19 , the instrument holding part 11 includes a free roller 1111 and an instrument clamping part 1112.

[0201] The instrument clamping parts 1112 clamp the syringe 501. In this embodiment, the instrument clamping parts 1112 clamp the flange 5013 of the syringe 501. The instrument clamping parts 1112 are provided at a height such that the syringe 501 does not come into contact with the plate-like member 171 when the syringe 501 is held in the instrument holding part 11. The pair of instrument clamping parts 1112 are biased in directions moving towards each other so that they can clamp the syringe 501.

[0202] A free roller 1111, which has a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction and is rotatable on the XY plane, is provided below the tip of the instrument clamping part 1112. The free roller 1111 holds the vicinity of the flange 5013 of the syringe 5011 clamped by the instrument clamping part 1112.

[0203] The instrument transport unit 12 is a member that transports the instrument holders 11 to the working area Ar1. In this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 12 is a member that transports each of the multiple instrument holders 11 from the working area Ar1 to outside the working area Ar1, or transports each of the multiple instrument holders 11 from outside the working area Ar1 to the working area Ar1. In this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 12 is an endless rotating member (rotating belt) to which multiple instrument holders 11 are connected. Therefore, in this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 12 transports the instrument holders 11 one by one to the working area Ar1. However, the instrument transport unit 12 may be any member that transports at least one of the multiple instrument holders 11 to the working area Ar1, and may be, for example, a transport unit that transports multiple instrument holders 11 to the working area Ar1 at once. In this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 12 operates under the control of the syringe transport control unit 141, but it may also be operated manually by the user.

[0204] The working area Ar1 is an area where the user causes the syringe 501 to be held by the instrument holding part 11, or where the user removes the syringe 501 held by the instrument holding part 11. In this embodiment, the working area Ar1 is an area where the user causes at least one of the multiple instrument holding parts 11 to hold the syringe 501. The working area Ar1 is also an area where the user removes the syringe 501 held by at least one of the multiple instrument holding parts 11. In this embodiment, the working area Ar1 is an area where the user causes one instrument holding part 11 to hold the syringe 501, and where the user removes the syringe 501 held by one instrument holding part 11.

[0205] The working area Ar1 may function only as an area where the user causes at least one of the plurality of instrument holding parts 11 to hold the syringe 501. In this case, the area where the user removes the syringe 501 held in the instrument holding part 11 may be provided in a position separate from the working area Ar1. The working area Ar1 may also function only as an area where the user removes the syringe 501 held in the instrument holding part 11. In this case, the area where the user causes the syringe 501 to be held in the instrument holding part 11 may be provided in a position separate from the working area Ar1.

[0206] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the instrument transporting unit 12 transports another instrument holding unit 11 in place of the instrument holding unit 11 located in the working area Ar1 when the object detection unit 13 detects an object (e.g., the user's hand) and then stops detecting the object, triggered by user movement detection. In this case, when the user's hand is inserted into the working area Ar1 and then the user's hand leaves the working area Ar1, the instrument transporting unit 12 transports another instrument holding unit 11 to the working area Ar1. Furthermore, in addition to detecting a user's movement, the instrument transporting unit 12 may transport another instrument holding unit 11 to the working area Ar1 when the syringe detection unit 14 detects a syringe 501 held in the instrument holding unit 11 or when the syringe detection unit 14 can no longer detect the syringe 501 held in the instrument holding unit 11.

[0207] In response to a transport instruction from the user, the instrument transport section 12 may transport another instrument holder 11 instead of the instrument holder 11 located in the working area Ar1. In this case, the syringe transport control section 141 may accept the transport instruction from the user via the touch panel 80, for example.

[0208] The instrument transport unit 12 changes the instrument holder 11 located in the working area Ar1 by rotating, for example, counterclockwise. This transport operation allows an instrument holder 11 not holding a syringe 501 to be transported to the working area Ar1 in place of the instrument holder 11 holding a syringe 501 in the working area Ar1. Also, an instrument holder 11 not holding a syringe 501 in the working area Ar1 can be transported to the working area Ar1 in place of the instrument holder 11 not holding a syringe 501 in the working area Ar1 in place of another instrument holder 11 holding a syringe 501.

[0209] The object detection unit 13 is a member that detects an object inserted into the working area Ar1. In this embodiment, the object detection unit 13 detects the user's hand or arm inserted into the working area Ar1.

[0210] The syringe detection unit 14 is a component that detects the syringe 501 held by the instrument holding unit 11 located in the working area Ar1. In the present embodiment, the syringe detection unit 14 detects the syringe 5011 when the syringe 501 is held by the instrument holding unit 11. The syringe detection unit 14 is an example of an instrument detection unit.

[0211] The needle detection unit 15 is a detection unit that detects the needle 5014 of the syringe 501 held by the instrument holding unit 11 located in the working area Ar1. In this embodiment, the needle detection unit 15 detects the needle cap 5016 attached to the needle 5014. The needle detection unit 15 may also function as the syringe detection unit. In this case, the syringe detection unit 14 does not need to be provided.

[0212] The syringe detection unit 17 is a member capable of detecting the thickness of the syringe 5011. The syringe detection unit 17 is provided at a position where it can detect the syringe 5011 being transported by the instrument transport unit 12. The syringe detection unit 17, for example, continues to detect the syringe 5011 being transported.

[0213] [Specific configuration of vial shelf] As indicated by reference numeral 1021 in Figures 18 and 19, the vial shelf 20 comprises a plurality of instrument holders 21, an instrument transport unit 22, an object detector 23, and a vial detector 24. Also, as indicated by reference numeral 1021 in Figure 19, it comprises a first reader 25 and a roller driver 26. Note that an instrument holder 21 is also attached to the attachment part 221 of the instrument transport unit 22 shown in Figure 18, but this is not shown in the figure.

[0214] Prior to the mixed injection process, the user fills the vial shelves 20 with vials 502. The vials 502 are provided with stoppers (rubber stoppers) that close the openings and lids that cover the stoppers. The vials 502 are filled into the vial shelves 20 with the lids removed. Similar to the syringe shelves 10, a plurality of holes 172 are formed in the plate-like members 171 that define each vial shelf 20.

[0215] The instrument holders 21 are members capable of holding vials 502. In this embodiment, one vial 502 is held in one instrument holder 21, but one instrument holder 21 may hold multiple vials 502. In this embodiment, the vial shelf 20 is described as having multiple instrument holders 21, but it may also be configured to have one instrument holder 21.

[0216] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the object holding part 21 comprises free rollers 211, an object clamping part 212, a drive roller 213, and a first magnet gear 214.

[0217] The instrument clamping parts 212 clamp the vial 502. In this embodiment, the instrument clamping parts 212 clamp the neck of the vial 502. The pair of instrument clamping parts 212 are biased in directions approaching each other so that they can clamp the vial 502. A free roller 211 is provided at the tip of the instrument clamping part 212, which has a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction and is rotatable on the XY plane. As indicated by reference numeral 1022 in Figure 19 , the free roller 211 supports the neck of the vial 502 at three points, together with a drive roller 213 provided on the side on which the instrument clamping parts 212 are axially supported, in a position opposite the center of the free roller 211.

[0218] A first magnet gear 214 is provided above the drive roller 213. The drive roller 213 and the first magnet gear 214 are connected to a common rotation shaft that extends in the vertical direction and are rotatable on the XY plane. The rotation of the second magnet gear 261 provided in the roller drive unit 26 causes the first magnet gear 214 to rotate, and the drive roller 213 also rotates.

[0219] The instrument transport unit 22 is a component that transports the instrument holders 21 to the working area Ar2. In this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 22 is a component that transports each of the multiple instrument holders 21 from the working area Ar2 to outside the working area Ar2, or from outside the working area Ar2 to the working area Ar2. The instrument transport unit 22 has the same function and structure as the instrument transport unit 12. As with the transport of the instrument holders 11, the transport of the instrument holders 21 is controlled based on the detection results of the object detection unit 23 and the vial detection unit 24, instead of the detection results of the object detection unit 13 and the syringe detection unit 14. As with the transport of the instrument holders 11, the transport of the instrument holders 21 may also be controlled based on a transport instruction from the user. In this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 22 operates under the control of the vial transport control unit 142, but may also be operated manually by the user. The working area Ar2 has the same function as the working area Ar1, except that the object to be attached to the instrument holder 21 or removed from the instrument holder 21 is a vial 502.

[0220] The instrument transport unit 12 is a member that transports the instrument holders 11 to the working area Ar1. In this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 12 is a member that transports each of the multiple instrument holders 11 from the working area Ar1 to outside the working area Ar1, or transports each of the multiple instrument holders 11 from outside the working area Ar1 to the working area Ar1. In this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 12 is an endless rotating member (rotating belt) to which multiple instrument holders 11 are connected. Therefore, in this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 12 transports the instrument holders 11 one by one to the working area Ar1. However, the instrument transport unit 12 may be any member that transports at least one of the multiple instrument holders 11 to the working area Ar1, and may be, for example, a transport unit that transports multiple instrument holders 11 to the working area Ar1 at once. In this embodiment, the instrument transport unit 12 operates under the control of the syringe transport control unit 141, but it may also be operated manually by the user.

[0221] The object detection unit 23 is a component that detects an object inserted into the working area Ar2. In this embodiment, the object detection unit 23 detects the user's hand or arm inserted into the working area Ar2. The vial detection unit 24 detects the vial 502 held in the instrument holder 21 located in the working area Ar2. The vial detection unit 24 is an example of an instrument detection unit.

[0222] The first reading unit 25 is a member that reads type information indicating the type of drug contained in the vial 502, which is indicated on the surface of the vial 502, in part of the transport path along which the instrument transporting unit 22 transports the plurality of instrument holding units 21. The first reading unit 25 reads the type information (e.g., a barcode) at the removal position PO11 where the first transporting unit 110 removes the vial 502.

[0223] The roller drive unit 26 is a motor that rotates the second magnet gear 261 attached to the roller drive unit 26 in order to rotate the drive roller 213 of the instrument holder 21. When the roller drive unit 26 rotates the second magnet gear 261, the drive roller 213 rotates via the first magnet gear 214. This causes the vial 502 in contact with the drive roller 213 to rotate. Therefore, no matter where on the surface of the vial 502 the type information is attached, the first reading unit 25 can read the type information.

[0224] <Example of operation of the instrument transport unit in loading mode and unloading mode> The operation of the instrument transport units 12, 22 differs depending on whether the operation mode of the instrument transport units 12, 22 is set to the filling mode or the removal mode. The filling mode is an operation mode that allows the syringe 501 to be loaded into the syringe shelf 10 and the vial 502 to be loaded into the vial shelf 20. The removal mode is an operation mode that allows the syringe 501 to be removed from the syringe shelf 10 and the vial 502 to be removed from the vial shelf 20.

[0225] The control unit 140 sets the operation mode of the instrument transport units 12, 22 to the loading mode or the unloading mode in accordance with the operation mode selection instruction. The operation mode selection instruction may be received via the touch panel 80, for example.

[0226] When the operation mode is set to the filling mode, the instrument transporting parts 12, 22 carry out the transport operation of the instrument holding parts 11, 21 when the following conditions are met.

[0227] Operating conditions of the instrument transport unit 12: After the object detection unit 13 detects an object (e.g., a user's hand), the control unit 140 detects that the syringe 501 is being held by the instrument holding unit 11 that is not holding the syringe 501, and then the object detection unit 13 no longer detects the object.

[0228] Operating conditions of the instrument transport unit 22: After the object detection unit 23 detects an object, the control unit 140 detects that the vial 502 is being held by the instrument holding unit 21 that is not holding the vial 502, and then the object detection unit 23 no longer detects the object.

[0229] In the operating conditions of the instrument transport section 12 described above, the control section 140 detects that the syringe 501 is being held by an instrument holding section 11 that is not holding the syringe 501, for example, in the following cases: When the syringe detection section 14 detects the syringe 501 from a state in which the syringe 501 had not been detected in the instrument holding section 11 located in the working area Ar1, the control section 140 detects that the syringe 501 is being held by an instrument holding section 11 that is not holding the syringe 501.

[0230] Furthermore, under the operating conditions of the instrument transport section 22, the control section 140 detects that an instrument holder 21 that is not holding a vial 502 is holding the vial 502, for example, in the following cases: When the vial detection section 24 detects the vial 502 from a state in which the vial 502 was not detected in the instrument holder 21 located in the working area Ar2, the control section 140 detects that the vial 502 is being held by an instrument holder 21 that is not holding the vial 502.

[0231] When the operation mode is set to the removal mode, the instrument transporters 12, 22 carry out the transport operation of the instrument holders 11, 21 when the following conditions are met:

[0232] Operating condition of the instrument transport unit 12: After the object detection unit 13 detects an object, the syringe detection unit 14 detects the syringe 501 in the instrument holding unit 11 located in the working area Ar1, but is no longer able to detect the syringe 501. And then, the object detection unit 13 no longer detects the object.

[0233] Operating condition of the instrument transport unit 22: After the object detection unit 23 detects an object, the vial detection unit 24 goes from detecting the vial 502 in the instrument holding unit 21 located in the working area Ar2 to being unable to detect the vial 502. And then, the object detection unit 23 no longer detects the object.

[0234] <Example of how to change injection equipment> An example of the process when replacing the co-infusion equipment held in the equipment holder with a new co-infusion equipment will be described below. For example, when the replacement mode for replacing the co-infusion equipment in the equipment holder is set as the operating mode, the following process is performed.

[0235] In the following, this processing example will be explained using the example where the co-infusion equipment is a syringe 501. When the co-infusion equipment is a vial 502, the syringe 501 should be read as the vial 502, and the terms relating to the syringe 501 should be read as the corresponding terms relating to the vial 502.

[0236] As described above, when the filling mode is set, after the syringe 501 has been filled into the instrument holding part 11, the syringe transport control part 141 transports a fillable instrument holding part 11 (an instrument holding part 11 not holding a syringe 501) to the working area Ar1. When the removal mode is set, the syringe transport control part 141 transports to the working area Ar1 the instrument holding part 11 holding the syringe 501 designated as the object to be removed by, for example, an input operation by the user. When multiple syringes 501 have been designated as the object to be removed, after the syringe 501 has been removed from the instrument holding part 11, the syringe transport control part 141 transports to the working area Ar1 the instrument holding part 11 holding another syringe 501 to be removed.

[0237] Therefore, in the filling mode and removal mode, there is a possibility that the syringe 501 held in the instrument holding part 11 cannot be replaced with a new syringe 501. Therefore, when replacing the syringe 501 held in the instrument holding part 11 with a new syringe 501, the following operations are performed. First, the user sets the removal mode and then opens the syringe side door 16. Next, the user removes the syringe 501 to be replaced from the instrument holding part 11 and then closes the syringe side door 16. Next, the user switches to the filling mode and then opens the syringe side door 16 again. Next, the user holds the new syringe 501 in the instrument holding part 11 and then closes the syringe side door 16. When replacing the syringe 501, the user must go through these steps.

[0238] Therefore, in this embodiment, the control unit 140 performs the following process, thereby enabling the user to easily replace the syringe 501 held in the instrument holding unit 11.

[0239] 2, in this embodiment, the control unit 140 includes an identification unit 151 and a determination unit 152. The co-infusion device 1 that executes the following processes can also be called a transport device.

[0240] The identification unit 151 identifies the instrument holding unit 11 that holds the syringe 501 to be replaced from among at least one instrument holding unit 11 that holds the syringe 501, out of the plurality of instrument holding units 11.

[0241] The identification unit 151 identifies the instrument holding unit 11 that holds the syringe 501 to be replaced, for example, based on an input operation by the user. For example, the touch panel control unit 150 displays on the touch panel 80 a button that can receive an input operation to display on the touch panel 80 a list of the syringes 501 stored on the syringe shelf 10. When an input operation on the button is received, the touch panel control unit 150 displays on the touch panel 80 information indicating the types of syringes 501 stored on the syringe shelf 10. This allows the user to select the syringe 501 to be replaced.

[0242] The storage unit 200 stores information indicating the type of syringe 501 held in the instrument holding unit 11 in association with instrument identification information that identifies the instrument holding unit 11. This allows the touch panel control unit 150 to display the list described above.

[0243] The control unit 140 can identify the type of syringe 501 by, for example, detecting the thickness of the syringe 5011 using the syringe detection unit 17. The control unit 140 can also identify the type of syringe 501 based on the detection result of the needle detection unit 15. For example, when the syringe detection unit 14 detects the syringe 501 and the needle detection unit 15 detects the needle 5014, the control unit 140 identifies the syringe 501 as a medium-mouth syringe 501. On the other hand, when the syringe detection unit 14 detects the syringe 501 but the needle detection unit 15 does not detect the needle 5014, the control unit 140 identifies the syringe 501 as a side-mouth syringe 501. A plurality of needle detection units 15 may be provided so that the type of each syringe 501 can be identified.

[0244] In the case of the vial 502, by reading the type information by the first reading section 25, information indicating the type of the vial 502 held in the object holding section 21 can be stored in the storage section 200 in association with the object identification information.

[0245] Furthermore, the touch panel control unit 150 may accept input of the number of syringes 501 to be replaced, for example, by displaying a numeric keypad on the touch panel 80. In this case, the identification unit 151 identifies the instrument holding unit 11 holding the syringe 501 to be replaced, based on the selected syringe 501 to be replaced and the input number of syringes 501. When identifying multiple syringes 501, the identification unit 151 identifies the instrument holding unit 11 holding the syringe 501 to be replaced, for example, in order of proximity to the working area Ar1 and in order of decreasing number assigned to the instrument holding unit 11.

[0246] Furthermore, the identification unit 151 identifies the instrument holding unit 11 that holds the syringe 501 to be replaced, for example, based on the preparation and administration data. For example, the identification unit 151 identifies, among the syringes 501 held in the instrument holding unit 11, a syringe 501 of a type not included in the preparation and administration data (a syringe 501 unrelated to mixed injection) as the syringe 501 to be replaced.

[0247] Based on the detection result of the syringe detection unit 14, the judgment unit 152 judges whether the syringe 501 has been removed from the instrument holding unit 11 located in the working area Ar1 (the instrument holding unit 11 identified by the identification unit 151) and a new syringe 501 has been held in the instrument holding unit 11.

[0248] Specifically, if the conditions for executing the transport operation of the object holder 11 when the removal mode is set as described above are met, the determination unit 152 determines that the syringe 501 has been removed from the object holder 11 located in the working area Ar1. Thereafter, if the conditions for executing the transport operation of the object holder 11 when the filling mode is set as described above are met, the determination unit 152 determines that a new syringe 501 has been held in the object holder 11.

[0249] When the syringe 501 is detected by the syringe detection unit 17 in the working area Ar1, the above determination may be made based on the detection result of the syringe detection unit 17 instead of the syringe detection unit 14. When the type information is read by the first reading unit 25 in the working area Ar1, the above determination may be made based on the reading operation of the first reading unit 25 instead of the vial detection unit 24.

[0250] The syringe transport control unit 141 controls the instrument transport unit 12 to transport the instrument holder 11 identified by the identification unit 151 to the working area Ar1. Then, the syringe transport control unit 141 positions the instrument holder 11 in the working area Ar1 at least until the syringe 501 is removed from the instrument holder 11 and a new syringe 501 is held in the instrument holder 11. The syringe transport control unit 141 is an example of a transport control unit. The vial transport control unit 142, which has a similar function, is also an example of a transport control unit.

[0251] Here, consider a case where a first instrument holding part 11A and a second instrument holding part 11B are provided as the instrument holding parts 11 that hold the syringe 501 to be replaced. In this embodiment, consider a case where the identification part 151 identifies the first instrument holding part 11A and the second instrument holding part 11B as the instrument holding parts 11 that hold the syringe 501 to be replaced. In this case, after a new syringe 501 is held in the first instrument holding part 11A from which the syringe 501 was removed, the syringe transport control part 141 operates the instrument transport part 12. As a result, the syringe transport control part 141 transports the second instrument holding part 11B, which holds a syringe 501 different from the syringe 501 removed from the first instrument holding part 11A, to the working area Ar1.

[0252] Specifically, after the determination unit 152 determines that a new syringe 501 is held in the instrument holding unit 11 from which the syringe 501 was removed, the syringe transport control unit 141 positions the instrument holding unit 11 in the work area Ar1. When the determination unit 152 determines that a new syringe 501 is held in the instrument holding unit 11, the syringe transport control unit 141 determines whether the identification unit 151 has identified another instrument holding unit 11 other than the instrument holding unit 11 in question. When the syringe transport control unit 141 determines that the identification unit 151 has identified another instrument holding unit 11 other than the instrument holding unit 11 in question, it controls the instrument transport unit 12 to transport the other instrument holding unit 11 to the work area Ar1.

[0253] FIG. 20 is a flow chart showing an example of the processing flow when the syringe 501 held in the instrument holding section 11 is replaced with a new syringe 501.

[0254] The identification unit 151 identifies the instrument holder 11 that holds the syringe 501 to be replaced, for example, based on an input operation by the user or preparation and administration data (S71). Next, the syringe transport control unit 141 determines whether the instrument holder 11 identified by the identification unit 151 is located in the working area Ar1 (S72).

[0255] If the syringe transport control unit 141 determines that the instrument holder 11 identified by the identification unit 151 is not located in the working area Ar1 (NO in S72), it controls the instrument transport unit 12 to transport the instrument holder 11 to the working area Ar1 (S73). If the identification unit 151 has identified multiple instrument holders 11, the syringe transport control unit 141 transports the instrument holders 11 to the working area Ar1, for example, in order of proximity to the working area Ar1 and in order of decreasing number assigned to the instrument holder 11. Then, the processing of S74 is performed. If the syringe transport control unit 141 determines that the instrument holder 11 identified by the identification unit 151 is located in the working area Ar1 (YES in S72), the processing of S73 is not performed and the processing of S74 is performed.

[0256] When the instrument holding part 11 is transported to the working area Ar1, the control part 140 unlocks the syringe side door 16. This allows the user to open the syringe side door 16 and replace the syringe 501. When the user closes the syringe side door 16 after completing the replacement of all syringes 501, the control part 140 locks the syringe side door 16. At this point, the replacement mode ends.

[0257] The determination unit 152 determines whether a new syringe 501 is held in the instrument holder 11 located in the working area Ar1 (S74). If the determination unit 152 determines that a new syringe 501 is not held in the instrument holder 11 (NO in S74), the syringe transport control unit 141 maintains the instrument holder 11 positioned in the working area Ar1 (S75).

[0258] On the other hand, if the determination unit 152 determines that a new syringe 501 is held in an instrument holding unit 11 located in the working area Ar1 (YES in S74), the syringe transport control unit 141 determines whether there is another instrument holding unit 11 other than the instrument holding unit 11 in question (S76). Specifically, the syringe transport control unit 141 determines whether there is another instrument holding unit 11 that has not been replaced with a new syringe 501. Of the multiple instrument holding units 11 identified by the identification unit 151, the syringe transport control unit 141 identifies an instrument holding unit 11 that has not been transported to the working area Ar1 as the other instrument holding unit 11 that has not been replaced with a new syringe 501.

[0259] When the syringe transport control unit 141 determines that the other instrument holding unit 11 is present (YES in S76), it determines whether it has detected that the syringe side door 16 has been closed (S77). When the syringe transport control unit 141 determines that it has detected that the syringe side door 16 has been closed (YES in S77), it terminates this processing. On the other hand, when the syringe transport control unit 141 determines that it has not detected that the syringe side door 16 has been closed (NO in S77), it executes the processing of S73. When there are multiple other instrument holding units 11, the syringe transport control unit 141 transports the other instrument holding units 11 to the working area Ar1, for example, in order of proximity to the working area Ar1 and in order of the instrument holding units 11 with the smallest numbers assigned to them.

[0260] Therefore, when multiple instrument holders 11 have been identified by the identification unit 151, the instrument transport unit 12 can transport to the work area Ar1 the number of instrument holders 11 equal to the number of syringes 501 that the user wishes to replace. For example, when there are ten syringes 501 to be replaced that have been identified by the identification unit 151 and stored, if the user closes the syringe-side door 16 after replacing five syringes 501, the syringe transport control unit 141 ends this process at that point.

[0261] On the other hand, if the syringe transport control unit 141 determines that the other instrument holding unit 11 does not exist (NO in S76), it assumes that the syringe 501 replacement operation has been performed for all instrument holding units 11 identified by the identification unit 151, and terminates this processing.

[0262] In this way, when the instrument holding part 11 holding the syringe 501 to be replaced is being transported to the working area Ar1, the syringe transport control part 141 keeps the instrument holding part 11 positioned in the working area Ar1 until the syringe 501 is replaced with a new syringe 501. This allows the user to easily replace the syringe 501 held in the instrument holding part 11 without having to switch the operating mode and open and close the syringe-side door 16 each time, as described above.

[0263] Furthermore, if there are multiple instrument holders 11 holding syringes 501 to be replaced, after replacement of the syringe 501 in one instrument holder 11 is completed, the syringe transport control section 141 controls the instrument transport section 12 to transport another instrument holder 11 to the working area Ar1. In other words, if there are multiple syringes 501 to be replaced, the instrument holders 11 are transported to the working area Ar1 in order. Therefore, the user can easily replace as many syringes as they wish without having to switch operating modes every time they perform a replacement operation.

[0264] <Example of specific processing of mixed injection equipment taken out by the first transport unit> Figure 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining a processing example when the first transport section 110 identifies the syringe 501 to be removed. In Figure 21, H1 to H7 are symbols assigned to distinguish each instrument holding section 11. In the explanation using Figure 21, each instrument holding section 11 will be expressed as instrument holding section 11 (H1), instrument holding section 11 (H2), .... Below, this processing example will be explained using an example in which the co-infusion instrument is a syringe 501. When the co-infusion instrument is a vial 502, the syringe 501 should be read as the vial 502, and terms related to the syringe 501 should be read as the corresponding terms related to the vial 502.

[0265] The control unit 140 identifies the instrument holding unit 11 that holds the syringe 501 that the first transport unit 110 is to remove from the syringe shelf 10, based on the preparation / administration data and the information indicating the type of syringe 501 stored in association with the instrument identification information (inventory information indicating the inventory status of the syringe 501 on the syringe shelf 10). When the control unit 140 identifies the syringe 501 stored on the syringe shelf 10 where the user is performing a filling or removal operation (the syringe shelf 10 with the syringe-side door 16 open) as the syringe to be removed, it performs the following processing.

[0266] The control unit 140 identifies the instrument holding unit 11 where the syringe 501 was filled, removed, or replaced each time. When the control unit 140 detects that the syringe side door 16 has been closed, it identifies the instrument holding unit 11 (hereinafter referred to as the holding unit to be determined) that holds the syringe 501 that may have been touched, based on the identification result.

[0267] 21 shows a case where the control unit 140 detects that the syringe side door 16 has been closed after the above operations have been performed on the instrument holding units 11(H2) to 11(H4). In this case, the control unit 140 identifies, in addition to the instrument holding units 11(H2) to 11(H4), the instrument holding units 11(H1) and 11(H5) adjacent to the instrument holding units 11(H2) and 11(H4), respectively, as the holding units to be determined.

[0268] The control unit 140 may specify only the object holding units 11(H2) to 11(H4) as the object holding units to be determined. Alternatively, the control unit 140 may specify not only the object holding units 11 adjacent to the object holding unit 11 on which the operation has been performed and on which the operation has not been performed, but also other object holding units 11 on which the operation has not been performed as the object holding units to be determined.

[0269] The control unit 140 determines whether the instrument holder 11 (hereinafter referred to as the removal target holder) that holds the syringe 501 identified as the removal target is the determination target holder.

[0270] When the control unit 140 determines that the removal target holder is a determination target holder, it updates the inventory information of the syringe 501. Thereafter, the first transport control unit 143 refers to the updated inventory information of the syringe 501, and when it determines that the syringe 501 to be removed is held in the removal target holder, it controls the first transport unit 110 to remove the syringe 501 held in the removal target holder from the syringe shelf 10.

[0271] By updating the inventory information of the syringe 501 before removing the syringe 501 from the syringe shelf 10, it is possible to reduce the possibility of removing a syringe 501 that may have been touched based on the inventory information before the update. In other words, it is possible to reduce the possibility of removing a syringe 501 that is not the target of removal. Therefore, the first transport unit 110 can reliably remove the syringe 501 that is the target of removal from the syringe shelf 10.

[0272] On the other hand, if the control unit 140 determines that the removal target holder is not a judgment target holder, the first transport control unit 143 controls the first transport unit 110 to remove the syringe 501 held in the removal target holder from the syringe shelf 10. The control unit 140 then updates the inventory information for the syringe 501. If the removal target holder is not a judgment target holder, it can be determined that the removal target syringe 501 held in the removal target holder is still being held in the removal target holder. Therefore, the first transport unit 110 can remove the removal target syringe 501 from the syringe shelf 10 even before the control unit 140 updates the inventory information for the syringe 501.

[0273] When the control unit 140 detects that the syringe-side door 16 has been closed, the control unit 140 may uniformly update the inventory information of the syringes 501 on the syringe shelf 10 on which the syringe-side door 16 is provided. In this case, even if a syringe 501 that is clearly untouched is identified as the syringe to be removed, the first transport unit 110 removes the syringe 501 from the syringe shelf 10 after the control unit 140 updates the inventory information of the syringe 501.

[0274] As described above, in this processing example, if the removal target holder is not a determination target holder, the syringe 501 to be removed can be removed from the syringe shelf 10 even before the inventory information of the syringe 501 is updated. Therefore, the processing time can be shortened compared to when the inventory information of the syringe 501 is uniformly updated before the syringe 501 is removed from the syringe shelf 10.

[0275] [Specific configuration of infusion shelf] 22 and 23 are perspective views showing an example of the configuration of the infusion shelf 30. As shown in Fig. 22 and 23, the infusion shelf 30 includes a pushing unit 31, a first infusion detection unit 32, a second infusion detection unit 33, a pushing transport unit 35, a rail unit 36, and a shutter 37.

[0276] Prior to the mixed injection process, the user fills the infusion shelf 30 with infusion containers 503. Similar to the syringe shelf 10 and the vial shelf 20, the plate-like member 301 defining each infusion shelf 30 has a plurality of holes 302 formed therein.

[0277] The rail portion 36 is a member provided inside the infusion shelf 30 and extending from the infusion side door 34 (see FIG. 1) side toward the depth of the co-infusion device 1 (i.e., in the +Y-axis direction). The end of the rail portion 36 located on the infusion side door 34 side can also be referred to as the door side end 361, and the end located on the depth side of the co-infusion device 1 can also be referred to as the depth side end 362. Infusion containers 503 are loaded onto the rail portion 36 from the door side end 361 and removed from the depth side end 362 by the second transport portion 120. At least one infusion container 503 can be hung from the rail portion 36.

[0278] In this embodiment, each infusion shelf 30 is provided with three rail portions 36. However, the number of rail portions 36 provided on each infusion shelf 30 is not limited to three. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each of the rail portions 36 is filled with the same type of infusion containers 503 (infusion containers with the same type of infusion solution contained therein and the same size of the infusion container 503). The infusion containers 503 to be filled are determined for each infusion shelf 30. However, each of the rail portions 36 may be filled with different types of infusion containers 503.

[0279] The pushing unit 31 is a member that can move along the rail portion 36 and pushes the infusion container 503 suspended from the rail portion 36 from the door-side end portion 361 to the rear-side end portion 362. In this embodiment, the pushing unit 31 is connected to the pushing transport unit 35. The pushing transport unit 35 is provided along the rail portion 36. The pushing transport unit 35 operates under the control of the pushing control unit 147, thereby moving the pushing unit 31 along the rail portion 36. The pushing transport unit 35 may be, for example, an endless rotating member. The size of the pushing unit 31 and the positional relationship between the rail portion 36 and the pushing transport unit 35 are specified so that the infusion container 503 suspended from the rail portion 36 can be pushed in by the movement of the pushing unit 31.

[0280] When the infusion side door 34 is unlocked or open, the pushing unit 31 is located at a position PO31 on the door side end 361 side and does not interfere with the filling (hanging on the rail portion 36) of the infusion container 503. The pushing control unit 147 may move the pushing unit 31 to the position PO31 by controlling the pushing transport unit 35 when, for example, the button 90 (see FIG. 1) on the infusion shelf 30 is pressed (when the infusion side door 34 is unlocked).

[0281] When the infusion side door 34 is locked, the pushing unit 31 pushes the infusion container 503 suspended from the rail unit 36 ​​from the door side end 361 to the rear end 362. In this embodiment, when the infusion side door 34 is locked after being closed, the pushing control unit 147 controls the pushing transport unit 35 to move the pushing unit 31 from position PO31 to the rear end 362.

[0282] Also, consider a case where the second transport unit 120 removes an infusion container 503 located at the rear end 362 while multiple infusion containers 503 are hanging from the rail unit 36. After the second transport unit 120 removes the infusion container 503, the pushing unit 31 pushes the remaining infusion containers 503 hanging from the rail unit 36 ​​from the door-side end 361 to the rear end 362. In this embodiment, when the second transport unit 120 removes the infusion container 503 located at the rear end 362, the pushing control unit 147 controls the pushing transport unit 35 to move the pushing unit 31 further to the rear end 362.

[0283] The first infusion detection unit 32 detects an infusion container 503 loaded in the infusion shelf 30. The first infusion detection unit 32 may also detect an infusion container 503 removed from the infusion shelf 30. As shown in FIG. 22 , the first infusion detection unit 32 is provided on the door-side end 361 side of the wall constituting the infusion shelf 30. The first infusion detection unit 32 is provided for each pair of rail portions 36. For example, when the first infusion detection unit 32 detects an infusion container 503 at the door-side end 361, it outputs a detection signal.

[0284] 23, the second infusion detector 33 is provided at the rear end 362 of the wall constituting the infusion shelf 30, and detects an infusion container 503 present at the rear end 362. Similarly to the first infusion detector 32, the second infusion detector 33 is provided for each pair of rails 36. For example, when the second infusion detector 33 detects an infusion container 503 at the rear end 362, it outputs a detection signal.

[0285] When the pushing control unit 147 stops receiving a detection signal from the second infusion detection unit 33 while receiving the detection signal, the pushing control unit 147 may determine that the infusion container 503 located at the rear end 362 has been removed by the second transport unit 120. Based on this determination, the pushing control unit 147 controls the pushing transport unit 35, causing the pushing unit 31 to push the remaining infusion containers 503 hanging from the rail unit 36 ​​from the door-side end 361 to the rear end 362. When the pushing control unit 147 receives a detection signal from the second infusion detection unit 33 again, the pushing control unit 147 stops the pushing transport unit 35.

[0286] The shutter 37 is located at the rear of the infusion shelf 30 when the infusion side door 34 is open, and blocks the rear end 362 from the area on the rear side (+Y-axis direction) so that a user cannot touch the second transport unit 120 even when they put their hand inside the infusion shelf 30 from the infusion side door 34 side. The shutter 37 is controlled by the shutter control unit 148 to be movable up and down.

[0287] The infusion containers 503 are loaded on the infusion shelf 30 with the first label facing the rear end 362. This allows the third reading unit 122 of the second transporting unit 120 to read the information indicating the type of the infusion container 503 indicated on the first label when the second transporting unit 120 removes the infusion container 503 from the infusion shelf 30.

[0288] <Response to pre-liquid removal prescription (Part 1)> Among the prescriptions, there are prescriptions (hereinafter referred to as "pre-liquid removal prescriptions") that require a predetermined amount of infusion liquid to be removed from the infusion container 503 before the mixed injection process. For the pre-liquid removal prescriptions, the prescription data specifies that an infusion container 503 from which a predetermined amount of infusion liquid has been removed should be used.

[0289] In order to enable mixed injection processing based on a pre-liquid-drain prescription, at least one of the rail sections 36 is set as a dedicated shelf for storing only the infusion container 503 from which a predetermined amount of infusion has been drawn. The dedicated shelf may be set by, for example, an input operation by the user.

[0290] The memory unit 200 stores information indicating whether the shelf is a dedicated shelf, in association with rail identification information that identifies the rail unit 36. When the control unit 140 executes a mixed injection process based on a pre-liquid removal prescription, the second transport control unit 145 identifies the dedicated shelf by referring to the memory unit 200. Then, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to remove the infusion container 503 from the dedicated shelf and transport it to the weighing unit 52 (see Figures 4 and 25) of the printing and inspection unit 50.

[0291] The control unit 140 compares the measurement result of the weighing unit 52 with reference weight information indicating the weight of the infusion container 503 used for the pre-liquid-drain prescription, which is stored in the memory unit 200. If a predetermined amount of infusion has been properly drawn from the infusion container 503, the measurement result of the weighing unit 52 will match the weight indicated by the reference weight information.

[0292] If the control unit 140 determines that the weighing result of the weighing unit 52 matches the reference weight information, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport the infusion container 503 to the co-infusion unit 40. On the other hand, if the control unit 140 determines that the weighing result of the weighing unit 52 does not match the reference weight information, the touch panel control unit 150 issues an error notification, for example, via the touch panel 80, indicating that the predetermined amount of infusion has not been properly withdrawn. In this case, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport the infusion container 503 from the weighing unit 52 to the infusion receiving shelf 60.

[0293] In this case, the printing section 51 (see FIGS. 4 and 25) of the printing and inspection unit 50 may print information on a label indicating that the predetermined amount of infusion has not been properly drawn, and then dispense the infusion container 503. In this case, the second transport section 120 transports the infusion container 503 to the infusion receiving shelf 60 after the pasting section 54 (see FIGS. 4 and 25) of the printing and inspection unit 50 pastes the label on the infusion container 503.

[0294] <Response to pre-liquid removal prescription (part 2)> Instead of setting up a dedicated shelf, at the beginning of the mixed injection process, a predetermined amount of infusion liquid may be extracted from the infusion container 503 and poured into a vial 502 dedicated to waste liquid.

[0295] Specifically, vials 502 exclusively for waste liquid, which contain extracted infusion liquid, are loaded onto the vial shelf 20. Information (e.g., a barcode) indicating that the vial 502 is exclusively for waste liquid is attached to the surface of the vial 502. Therefore, the control unit 140 can identify the equipment holding unit 21 that holds the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid by reading the information using the first reading unit 25.

[0296] When executing a mixed injection process based on a pre-liquid removal prescription, the first transport control unit 143 controls the first transport unit 110 to transport the syringe 501 used in the mixed injection process from the syringe shelf 10 and the vial 502 dedicated to waste liquid from the vial shelf 20 to the mixed injection unit 40. In addition, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport the infusion container 503 from the infusion shelf 30 to the mixed injection unit 40.

[0297] The co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the base 44, the syringe holding unit 41, and the plunger clamping unit 417, and uses the syringe 501 to extract a predetermined amount of infusion from the infusion container 503 and inject the extracted infusion into a vial 502 dedicated to waste liquid. Information indicating the predetermined amount to be extracted from the infusion container 503 is stored in the memory unit 200.

[0298] When the injection of the infusion liquid into the vial 502 for waste liquid is completed, the first transport control unit 143 controls the first transport unit 110 to remove the vial 502 for waste liquid from the mixed injection unit 40 and discard it in the trash can unit 70. Thereafter, the first transport control unit 143 controls the first transport unit 110 to remove the vial 502 containing the drug to be used in the mixed injection process from the vial shelf 20 and transport it to the mixed injection unit 40. Then, the mixed injection process is performed by the mixed injection unit 40.

[0299] The vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid may be reused without being discarded until it is full. In this case, the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid removed from the co-infusion unit 40 is placed on a vial 502 placement stand (not shown). The control unit 140 determines whether the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid is full on the placement stand. The control unit 140 determines whether the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid is full based on the amount of infusion liquid in the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid measured by a water level sensor (not shown), for example. The control unit 140 also calculates the amount of infusion liquid in the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid based on the capacity of the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid and the amount of infusion liquid injected into the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid, and determines whether the vial 502 exclusively for waste liquid is full.

[0300] If the control unit 140 determines that the vial 502 dedicated to waste liquid is full, the first transport control unit 143 controls the first transport unit 110 to discard the vial 502 dedicated to waste liquid into the trash can unit 70. If the control unit 140 determines that the vial 502 dedicated to waste liquid is not full, it is transported from the mounting table to the co-infusion unit 40 at the start of the co-infusion process based on the next pre-liquid removal prescription.

[0301] <Response to pre-liquid removal prescription (part 3)> Instead of the method of setting up a dedicated shelf and the method of extracting a predetermined amount of infusion from the infusion container 503 and injecting it into a vial 502 dedicated to waste liquid, the syringe 501 that has extracted a predetermined amount of infusion from the infusion container 503 may be discarded in the trash can section 70 at the beginning of the mixed injection process.

[0302] When executing a mixed injection process based on a pre-liquid withdrawal prescription, the first transport control unit 143 controls the first transport unit 110 to transport a syringe 501 used to withdraw a predetermined amount of infusion from the syringe shelf 10 and a vial 502 used in the mixed injection process from the vial shelf 20 to the mixed injection unit 40. In addition, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport an infusion container 503 from the infusion shelf 30 to the mixed injection unit 40.

[0303] The mixed injection unit control unit 144 controls the base 44, the syringe holding unit 41, and the plunger clamping unit 417 to extract a predetermined amount of infusion from the infusion container 503 using the syringe 501. When the extraction of the infusion is completed, the first transport control unit 143 controls the first transport unit 110 to discard the syringe 501 containing the predetermined amount of infusion into the trash can 70. Then, the first transport control unit 143 controls the first transport unit 110 to take out a new syringe 501 from the syringe shelf 10 and transport it to the mixed injection unit 40. Then, the mixed injection process by the mixed injection unit 40 is performed.

[0304] <Example of counting infusion containers> The control unit 140 manages the number of infusion containers 503 loaded in the infusion shelf 30 (the inventory number of infusion containers 503) based on, for example, the position of the pusher 31. The control unit 140 may identify the position of the pusher 31 on the rail unit 36, for example, by a distance measuring sensor (not shown) provided in the second transport unit 120. The distance measuring sensor may be provided at a position where it can detect the pusher 31, and may be provided, for example, at the door-side end 361 or the back-side end 362.

[0305] When the user closes the infusion side door 34 after filling the rail portion 36 with the infusion container 503, the pushing control unit 147 moves the pushing unit 31 toward the rear end 362 until the second infusion detection unit 33 detects the infusion container 503. As a result, the pushing unit 31 pushes the filled infusion container 503 toward the rear end 362.

[0306] The control unit 140 then causes the distance measuring sensor to measure the distance to the pushing unit 31. The position of the pushing unit 31 is the position where the pushing unit 31 abuts against the neck portion 5033 of the infusion container 503 located closest to the door-side end portion 361. The control unit 140 calculates (approximates) the number of infusion containers 503 loaded on the rail portion 36 based on the distance measured by the distance measuring sensor (the position of the pushing unit 31) and the thickness of the loaded infusion containers 503. The thickness of the infusion container 503 is the dimension of the infusion container 503 along the extension direction of the rail portion 36. The memory unit 200 also stores the thickness of the infusion container 503 to be loaded in association with the rail identification information. The control unit 140 stores the calculated number of loaded infusion containers 503 in the memory unit 200 in association with the rail identification information.

[0307] Thereafter, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to remove the infusion container 503 from the rear end 362. The pushing control unit 147 moves the pushing unit 31 toward the rear end 362 until the second infusion detection unit 33 detects the infusion container 503. When the second infusion detection unit 33 detects the infusion container 503, the pushing control unit 147 stops the movement of the pushing unit 31. At this time, the control unit 140 updates the number of filled infusion containers 503 stored in the memory unit 200 to a value obtained by subtracting one. The control unit 140 repeatedly executes this process until the number of filled infusion containers 503 reaches a predetermined number.

[0308] When the control unit 140 determines that the number of filled infusion containers 503 has reached a predetermined number, it acquires the distance to the pushing unit 31 measured by the distance measuring sensor. Based on the acquired distance and the thickness of the filled infusion container 503, the control unit 140 recalculates the number of filled infusion containers 503, and updates the number of filled infusion containers 503 stored in the memory unit 200 to the recalculated number of filled infusion containers 503.

[0309] 24 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a state in which an infusion container 503 is suspended from the rail portion 36. As shown in FIG. 24, the body 5031 of the infusion container 503 is wider than the neck 5033 of the infusion container 503 in the extension direction of the rail portion 36. Therefore, when the pushing portion 31 pushes the infusion container 503 toward the rear end 362, as the number of infusion containers 503 suspended from the rail portion 36 increases, the thickness of the body 5031 may cause the infusion containers 503 closer to the door-side end 361 to tilt more from the vertical direction. When such tilt occurs, the distance to the pushing portion 31 measured by the distance measuring sensor significantly deviates from the value of (the number of infusion containers 503 loaded on the rail portion 36) × (the thickness of the infusion container 503). Therefore, the number of infusion containers 503 filled calculated based on the position of the pushing portion 31 differs from the number of infusion containers 503 actually suspended from the rail portion 36.

[0310] On the other hand, when the number of infusion containers 503 loaded on the rail portion 36 is small, the number of infusion containers 503 calculated by the control unit 140 does not deviate significantly from the above value even if the infusion containers 503 are loaded in a state as shown in Figure 24. Therefore, the number of infusion containers 503 calculated by the control unit 140 matches the number of infusion containers 503 actually hung on the rail portion 36.

[0311] Therefore, the control unit 140 can accurately calculate the number of filled infusion containers 503 even when the number of filled infusion containers 503 is low. Therefore, when the control unit 140 determines that the number of filled infusion containers 503 has reached a predetermined number, it recalculates and updates the number of filled infusion containers 503, thereby notifying the user to refill the infusion containers 503 immediately before the infusion containers 503 run out. Therefore, the possibility of the infusion containers 503 running out can be reduced.

[0312] The predetermined number is set, for example, taking into account the thickness of the body 5031, so that the number of infusion containers 503 calculated based on the distance matches the actual number of infusion containers 503. The predetermined number may be, for example, 3. The predetermined number may be a constant value regardless of the type of infusion container 503, or may be a value set for each type of infusion container 503.

[0313] [Specific configuration of the printing and inspection unit] Fig. 25 is a perspective view showing an example of the overall configuration of the printing and inspection unit 50. Fig. 26 is a perspective view showing an example of the internal configuration of the printing and inspection unit 50. In Fig. 26, the measuring unit 52 and the second locking unit 57 are omitted. Fig. 25 also shows an example of a state in which the infusion container 503 is positioned in the printing and inspection unit 50 due to suction by the second transport unit 120.

[0314] 25 and 26, the printing and inspection unit 50 includes a printing unit 51, a weighing unit 52, a second reading unit 53, an attaching unit 54, a guide unit 56, and a second locking unit 57. The printing and inspection unit 50 may function as an example of a weighing device that weighs the infusion container 503. The weighing device may include the function of a control unit 140 that controls the printing and inspection unit 50.

[0315] The printing unit 51 is a member that dispenses the second label LA12. The printing unit 51 may dispense an unsuitability information label on which unsuitability information is printed.

[0316] The printing and inspection unit control unit 149 inspects the infusion container 503 after the drug is injected. In this embodiment, inspection includes determining whether the amount of drug injected into the infusion container 503 corresponds to the prescribed amount indicated in the preparation and administration data, or whether the amount of infusion withdrawn from the infusion container 503 corresponds to the withdrawn amount indicated in the preparation and administration data.

[0317] If the printing and inspection unit control unit 149 determines that the inspection result is acceptable, the second transport unit 120 dispenses the infusion container 503 with the second label LA12 attached thereto to the infusion receiving shelf 60. On the other hand, if the printing and inspection unit control unit 149 determines that the inspection result is unacceptable, the printing unit 51 dispenses an unacceptable information label.

[0318] The weighing unit 52 measures the weight of the infusion container 503 before and after drug injection. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 8, the weighing unit 52 includes a locking unit 521 that locks the neck portion 5033 of the infusion container 503. The pair of locking units 521 are biased in directions that move toward each other so that they can clamp the neck portion 5033. The weighing unit 52 also includes, for example, a load cell.

[0319] The second transport unit 120 transports the infusion container 503, for example, before drug injection (before mixed injection), during mixed injection, or after drug injection (after mixed injection), to the weighing unit 52 and hands over the infusion container 503 to the locking unit 521. As a result, the weighing unit 52 weighs the infusion container 503 locked by the locking unit 521. After the weighing unit 52 determines the weight of the infusion container 503, the second transport unit 120 removes the infusion container 503 from the locking unit 521 and transports it to the next destination (the infusion receiving shelf 60, the mixed injection unit 40, etc.).

[0320] The second reading unit 53 reads the second label LA12 attached to the infusion container 503 after the medicine has been injected. The second reading unit 53 is, for example, a barcode reader.

[0321] The affixing unit 54 affixes the second label LA12 to the infusion container 503 after the drug has been injected. The affixing unit 54 may affix the second label LA12 to the infusion container 503 after the drug has been injected, for example, before the printing and inspection unit control unit 149 outputs the inspection result (for example, after the final weighing of the infusion container 503 and before the output of the inspection result). Thereafter, if the inspection result by the printing and inspection unit control unit 149 is unsuitable, the affixing unit 54 affixes an unsuitable information label to the infusion container 503 after the drug has been injected.

[0322] When the attachment unit 54 attaches the second label LA12 or the inappropriateness information label to the infusion container 503 after drug injection, the guide unit 56 guides the movement of the second label LA12 or the inappropriateness information label to the infusion container 503 after drug injection.

[0323] With the second label LA12 or the inadequacy information label moved to the affixing position PO50, the second transport unit 120 presses the post-medicinal injection infusion container 503 against the guide unit 56 at the affixing position PO50. As a result, the second label LA12 or the inadequacy information label is affixed to the post-medicinal injection infusion container 503.

[0324] As described above, the infusion containers 503 are loaded into the infusion shelf 30 with the first label facing the rear end 362. Therefore, the affixing unit 54 can affix the second label LA12 or the inappropriateness information label to the surface opposite to the surface to which the first label is affixed at the affixing position PO50.

[0325] The second locking portion 57 functions as a buffer that temporarily holds the infusion container 503 that the second transporting portion 120 has removed from the infusion shelf 30.

[0326] <Modification of the second label> The second label LA12 has printed thereon, for example, the ward name, mixed injection date, order number, patient ID, and patient name as text information. The second label LA12 also has printed thereon, for example, the Rp number, infusion name, and drug name as text information. The second label LA12 also has printed thereon, for example, a barcode containing at least a portion of this information.

[0327] In addition to the above information, additional information such as the weight inspection result, preparation time, and mixed injection start date and time may be printed on the second label LA12. The information printed as the weight inspection result is information indicating that the weight measured by the weighing unit 52 is appropriate. The preparation time is, for example, the time from when the transportation of each mixed injection equipment for mixed injection processing begins until the infusion container 503 after mixed injection is dispensed to the infusion receiving shelf 60.

[0328] The additional information is unnecessary when administering the infusion to a patient. Therefore, the second label LA12 may be processed so that the portion on which the additional information is printed can be separated and peeled off from the remaining portion. For example, perforations may be formed in the second label LA12 to enable this separation. The perforations may be formed in advance, or the printing and inspection unit 50 may be provided with a mechanism for forming perforations.

[0329] The printing unit 51 may also dispense a label on which additional information is printed, separate from the second label LA12. In this case, the affixing unit 54 affixes the label to the surface of the infusion container 503 on which the second label LA12 is to be affixed.

[0330] <Example of processing when the source of the infusion solution is different from the destination of the infusion solution containing dissolved powdered medicine> 27 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing flow when the infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid is extracted is different from the infusion container 503 into which the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is injected. The infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid is extracted is the infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid is extracted, but is not the infusion container into which the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is injected. In the following description, the infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid is extracted is referred to as the infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid is extracted. Furthermore, the infusion container 503 into which the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is injected is referred to as the infusion container 503 into which the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine is injected.

[0331] Some powdered medicines are dissolved in a predetermined infusion solution and then diluted with a different infusion solution. For example, Adcetris 50 mg for intravenous infusion is dissolved in 10.5 mL of water for injection and then diluted with saline. This processing example describes an example of a process for reusing the original infusion container 503 containing the infusion solution for dissolving the powdered medicine in such a mixed injection process.

[0332] In the preparation / administration data, information indicating the type of powdered medicine is associated with information indicating the type of the infusion container 503 from which the powdered medicine is collected and the type of the infusion container 503 from which the powdered medicine is injected. The control unit 140 executes this process when executing a mixed injection process of powdered medicines from which the powdered medicines are collected and the infusion container 503 from which the powdered medicines are injected are different.

[0333] Furthermore, to enable execution of this processing example, at least one rail unit 36 ​​is set as the rail unit 36 ​​that holds the source infusion container 503. The memory unit 200 stores information, associated with rail identification information, indicating whether the shelf is dedicated to the source that holds the source infusion container 503. When the control unit 140 executes a mixed injection process of powdered medicines whose source and destination infusion containers 503 are different, the second transport control unit 145 identifies the source-dedicated shelf by referring to the memory unit 200.

[0334] To enable execution of this processing example, the control unit 140 also includes a weight determination unit 153. The weight determination unit 153 compares the most recent weight of the source infusion container 503 measured by the weighing unit 52 with the weight of the source infusion container 503 measured by the weighing unit 52 before this measurement, thereby determining whether or not it is possible to extract infusion from the source infusion container 503.

[0335] When the control unit 140 determines, based on the preparation and administration data, that the source and destination infusion containers 503 are to be mixed and infused with different powdered medicines, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to remove the source infusion container 503 from the source-specific shelf. At this time, the third reading unit 122 of the second transport unit 120 reads information indicated on the source infusion container 503 (S81). The control unit 140 determines whether the information read by the third reading unit 122 from the source infusion container 503 is information on the first label or information indicating that the infusion container 503 has been extracted (S82).

[0336] The extraction information is information indicating that the infusion has been extracted from the source infusion container 503. The extraction information is information attached to the source infusion container 503 from which the infusion has been extracted. In this processing example, the printing unit 51 dispenses a label on which the extraction information is printed, and the affixing unit 54 affixes the label to the body 5031 of the source infusion container 503 from which the infusion has been extracted. On the other hand, the extraction information is not attached to a source infusion container 503 from which no infusion has ever been extracted. The label on which the extraction information is printed is affixed to the body 5031, but on the side opposite to the side on which the first label is affixed. Hereinafter, the label on which the extraction information is printed is referred to as the extraction label.

[0337] Here, a new infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid has been extracted is loaded onto the infusion shelf 30 with the first label facing the rear end 362. The second transport unit 120 transports the infusion container 503 between the infusion shelf 30, the mixed injection unit 40, the printing and inspection unit 50, and the infusion receiving shelf 60 without changing the orientation of the body 5031. Therefore, the affixing unit 54 can affix a removed label to the side of the body 5031 opposite to the side to which the first label has been affixed after the infusion liquid has been extracted.

[0338] The infusion containers 503 with the extracted label affixed thereto are stored in the infusion shelf 30 so that the extracted label faces the rear end 362. Therefore, the third reading unit 122 can read the information on the first label from the new infusion container 503 from which the infusion has been collected, and can read the extracted information from the infusion container 503 from which the infusion has been extracted. In this processing example, the printing unit 51 prints the extracted information as a barcode on the extracted label so that the third reading unit 122 can read the extracted information.

[0339] When the control unit 140 determines that the third reading unit 122 has read the information on the first label, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport the source infusion container 503 to the mixing unit 40. Thereafter, the mixing unit control unit 144 controls the mixing unit 40 to extract the infusion from the source infusion container 503 (S83) and inject it into the vial 502. This starts the operation of dissolving the powdered medicine by the mixing unit 40.

[0340] The second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport the infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid has been extracted to the measuring unit 52, and then transports the infusion container 503 to which the infusion liquid is to be injected to the mixing and infusion unit 40. This allows the mixing and infusion unit 40 to inject the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved into the infusion container 503 to which the infusion liquid is to be injected.

[0341] The printing and inspection unit control unit 149 controls the weighing unit 52 to weigh the source infusion container 503 transported to the weighing unit 52 by the second transport unit 120 (S84). The printing and inspection unit control unit 149 stores the weighing result of the weighing unit 52 (weight of the infusion container 503 after weighing) in the memory unit 200, in association with infusion container identification information that identifies the source infusion container 503. The printing and inspection unit control unit 149 also stores the extraction completion information in the memory unit 200, in association with the infusion container identification information. The extraction completion information is stored, for example, during S83 to S85.

[0342] The printing and inspection unit control unit 149 controls the printing unit 51 to dispense a sampling-completed label on which a barcode indicating sampling information is printed. Then, the printing and inspection unit control unit 149 controls the affixing unit 54 to move the sampling-completed label dispensed by the printing unit 51 to the affixing position PO50. In this state, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to press the source infusion container 503 from which the infusion has been extracted against the guide unit 56. This causes the sampling-completed label to be affixed to the source infusion container 503 (S85). Thereafter, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to dispense the source infusion container 503 with the sampling-completed label affixed to it to the infusion receiving shelf 60 (S86).

[0343] On the other hand, if the control unit 140 determines in S82 that the extraction completion information has been read, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport the source infusion container 503 to the weighing unit 52. The printing / inspection unit control unit 149 controls the weighing unit 52 to weigh the source infusion container 503 (S87).

[0344] Next, the weight determination unit 153 compares the weight of the source infusion container 503 currently measured by the weighing unit 52 with the weight of the source infusion container 503 previously measured by the weighing unit 52, and determines whether these two weights match (S88). The weight determination unit 153 may determine that these two weights match if the difference between these two weights is within a range that can be considered to match. The weight determination unit 153 refers to the storage unit 200 and reads out the weight associated with the infusion container identification information corresponding to the extraction information read by the third reading unit 122. The weight determination unit 153 compares the weight of the source infusion container 503 currently measured by the weighing unit 52 with the weight of the source infusion container 503 read out from the storage unit 200.

[0345] The storage unit 200 stores the weight of each of the infusion containers 503 in association with the infusion container identification information for each of the multiple infusion containers 503. As described above, the extraction information read by the third reading unit 122 (the extraction information printed as a barcode on the extraction label) is stored in association with the infusion container identification information in the storage unit 200. Therefore, the weight determination unit 153 can identify the infusion container identification information associated with the extraction information read by the third reading unit 122 from the multiple infusion container identification information stored in the storage unit 200. This allows the weight determination unit 153 to determine the weight to be read from the storage unit 200 (the weight associated with the identified infusion container identification information).

[0346] If the weight determination unit 153 determines that these two weights match (YES in S88), it determines that it is possible to extract the infusion liquid from the source infusion container 503. In this case, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport the source infusion container 503 to the mixing unit 40. Thereafter, the mixing unit control unit 144 controls the mixing unit 40 to extract the infusion liquid from the source infusion container 503 (S89) and inject it into the vial 502. This starts the operation of dissolving the powdered medicine by the mixing unit 40.

[0347] Next, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to transport the infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid has been extracted to the measuring unit 52, and then transports the infusion container 503 to which the infusion liquid is to be injected to the mixing and infusion unit 40. This allows the mixing and infusion unit 40 to inject the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved into the infusion container 503 to which the infusion liquid is to be injected.

[0348] The printing and inspection unit control unit 149 controls the weighing unit 52 to weigh the source infusion container 503 transported to the weighing unit 52 by the second transport unit 120 (S90). The printing and inspection unit control unit 149 stores the weighing result of the weighing unit 52 in the memory unit 200 in association with infusion container identification information that identifies the source infusion container 503. After weighing, the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to dispense the source infusion container 503 to the infusion receiving shelf 60 (S86).

[0349] After the process of S85 or S90, the source infusion container 503 dispensed in S86 is stored again in the source dedicated shelf by the user, thereby making it possible to reuse the source infusion container 503.

[0350] On the other hand, if the weight determination unit 153 determines that the two weights do not match (NO in S88), the second transport control unit 145 controls the second transport unit 120 to dispense the infusion liquid to the infusion receiving shelf 60 rather than to the co-infusion unit 40.

[0351] For example, if the weight measured this time is smaller than the weight measured last time, the two weights will not match. In this case, it is possible that after the previous measurement, the infusion container 503 from which the infusion was taken was dispensed to the infusion receiving shelf 60, a user may have punctured the stopper 5035 of the infusion container 503 with the needle 5014 and withdrawn the infusion from the infusion container 503.

[0352] The co-infusion unit control unit 144 controls the co-infusion unit 40 so that, when the needle 5014 punctures the stopper 5035, the needle 5014 punctures at a position different from any previous puncture position. The control unit 140 counts the number of punctures by the needle 5014 each time the stopper 5035 is punctured with the needle 5014 and stores the count information in the memory unit 200 in association with the infusion container identification information. The memory unit 200 also stores information indicating the puncture position of the needle 5014 and information regarding which puncture position is to be selected for which puncture operation of the needle 5014, in association with the infusion container identification information. Therefore, by referring to the memory unit 200, the co-infusion unit control unit 144 can control the co-infusion unit 40 so that the needle 5014 punctures at a position different from any previous puncture position, as described above.

[0353] However, when the user punctures the stopper 5035 with the needle 5014, the mixed injection unit control unit 144 may puncture the previous puncture position or a position nearby the previous puncture position with the needle 5014. Therefore, by making a determination using the weight determination unit 153, it is possible to prevent the infusion container 503 from being used for mixed injection processing, the infusion container 503 from which the user is assumed to have punctured the stopper 5035 with the needle 5014.

[0354] (Variation 1) Even if the weight determination unit 153 determines that the two weights match (YES in S88), if the control unit 140 makes the following determination, the second transport control unit 145 dispenses the source infusion container 503 to the infusion receiving shelf 60. For example, if the control unit 140 determines that the weight of the source infusion container 503 is less than the weight corresponding to the extracted amount stored in the memory unit 200, the control unit 140 dispenses the source infusion container 503 to the infusion receiving shelf 60. Also, for example, if the number of times the source infusion container 503 has been punctured reaches an upper limit, the control unit 140 dispenses the source infusion container 503 to the infusion receiving shelf 60. The memory unit 200 stores an upper limit for the number of punctures in association with the infusion container identification information. The determination regarding the number of punctures may be performed before the processing of S87.

[0355] (Variation 2) In S82, when the control unit 140 determines that the information on the first label has been read, the weight of the source infusion container 503 may be determined. In this case, after processing S82, the printing / inspection unit control unit 149 controls the weighing unit 52 to weigh the source infusion container 503. Thereafter, the weight determination unit 153 determines whether the weighing result matches the weight of the source infusion container 503 when a specified amount of infusion is contained in the source infusion container 503 (the weight of a new infusion container 503). Information indicating the weight is stored in the storage unit 200 in association with the infusion container identification information. If these two do not match, the touch panel control unit 150 may notify the touch panel 80 that the source infusion container 503 may not be new.

[0356] (Variation 3) When the same type of powdered medicine is mixed (prepared) continuously, the second conveying unit 120 may lock the source infusion container 503 from which the infusion liquid has been extracted at the second locking unit 57 without dispensing it to the infusion receiving shelf 60. After injecting the infusion liquid containing dissolved powdered medicine into the destination infusion container 503, the second conveying unit 120 dispenses the destination infusion container 503 to the infusion receiving shelf 60, and then transports the source infusion container 503 locked at the second locking unit 57 back to the mixing unit 40. This allows the source infusion container 503 used in the previous mixing process to be used in the next mixing process.

[0357] As described above, in this modified example, the weighing unit 52 also weighs the source infusion container 503 before and after the mixed injection process. This allows the control unit 140 to determine whether the weight of the source infusion container 503 is less than the weight corresponding to the extracted amount stored in the memory unit 200. If the control unit 140 determines that the weight of the source infusion container 503 is less than the weight corresponding to the extracted amount, it dispenses the source infusion container 503 to the infusion receiving shelf 60, even if consecutive mixed injection processes of the same type of powdered medicine are being performed. Furthermore, if the control unit 140 determines that the number of punctures by the needle 5014 has reached the upper limit, it also dispenses the source infusion container 503 to the infusion receiving shelf 60, even if consecutive mixed injection processes of the same type of powdered medicine are being performed.

[0358] (summary) As described above, the co-infusion device 1 includes an extraction unit that extracts the infusion liquid from the source infusion container 503, and an attachment unit that attaches extraction completion information indicating that the infusion liquid has been extracted to the source infusion container 503 from which the extraction unit extracted the infusion liquid. In this embodiment, the plunger clamping unit 417 is an example of the extraction unit, and the affixing unit 54 is an example of the attachment unit. This allows the control unit 140 to determine whether the source infusion container 503 is new or has had the infusion liquid extracted from it before executing the co-infusion process.

[0359] Patent Document 1 does not disclose a specific management method for reusing the infusion container from which the infusion is collected when performing a mixed injection process using the infusion container from which the infusion is collected and the infusion container from which the infusion is to be injected. One aspect of the present disclosure (an aspect in which extraction information is assigned) aims to determine whether the infusion container from which the infusion is collected 503 is new when the infusion container from which the infusion is collected is reused.

[0360] [Additional Notes] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. an equipment holding section capable of holding injection equipment to be used for injection; an instrument transport unit that transports the instrument holding unit to a work area where a user holds the co-infusion instrument in the instrument holding unit or where a user removes the co-infusion instrument held in the instrument holding unit; a transport control unit that, while the equipment holding unit that holds the co-infusion equipment is being transported to the work area, positions the equipment holding unit in the work area at least until the co-infusion equipment is removed from the equipment holding unit and new co-infusion equipment is held in the equipment holding unit.

2. an equipment detection unit that detects the co-infusion equipment held in the equipment holding unit located in the work area; a determination unit that determines whether the co-infusion equipment has been removed from the equipment holding unit located in the work area and a new co-infusion equipment has been held in the equipment holding unit based on the detection result of the equipment detection unit, The transport device according to claim 1, wherein the transport control unit positions the instrument transport unit in the working area until the determination unit determines that a new injection instrument is held in the instrument holding unit from which the injection instrument was removed.

3. The device includes a plurality of the equipment holding parts, and includes a first equipment holding part and a second equipment holding part as the equipment holding parts for holding the co-infusion equipment, 3. The transport device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein after new injection equipment is held in the first equipment holding unit from which the injection equipment was removed, the transport control unit operates the equipment transport unit to transport the second equipment holding unit, which holds injection equipment different from the injection equipment removed from the first equipment holding unit, to the work area.

4. a first operation of injecting at least a portion of an infusion liquid into the first medicine container in an amount capable of dissolving both a first powdered medicine contained in a first medicine container and a second powdered medicine contained in a second medicine container, and then extracting a portion of the infusion liquid in which the first powdered medicine has been dissolved from the first medicine container; A co-infusion device that performs a second operation of injecting at least a portion of the infusion liquid in which the first powdered medicine has been dissolved, which has been extracted from the first medicine container by the first operation, into the second medicine container, and then extracting all of the first powdered medicine and the infusion liquid in which the second powdered medicine has been dissolved, from the second medicine container.

5. The co-infusion device according to claim 4 , wherein the type of the second powder is the same as the type of the first powder.

6. When a syringe contains more infusion liquid containing dissolved powder than the predetermined injection amount to be injected into an infusion container, the injection device performs an injection operation to inject an amount of the infusion liquid in excess of the injection amount into the container while the needle of the syringe is pierced through the stopper of the container with the stopper facing upward.

7. the container is a medicine container that contains the powdered medicine, a withdrawal operation of injecting the infusion liquid contained in the syringe into the medicine container in a state where the stopper of the medicine container is facing downward with the needle of the syringe pierced, and then using the syringe to withdraw from the medicine container an amount of the infusion liquid in which the powdered medicine has been dissolved that exceeds the injection amount; a rotation operation of rotating the medicine container so that the stopper faces upward after the removal operation; The injection device of claim 6 , wherein the injection action is performed after the rotation action.

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