Drug removal tool

Abstract

To provide a drug removal tool having a simple structure and having both the function of removing tablets of a wide range of granular shapes from a tablet enclosing sheet and the function of opening a drug bag enclosing drugs. [Solution] The medicine dispensing device 100 comprises a top plate 3 having an opening 2 through which tablets can pass, a base 5 having a tablet storage space 4 communicating with the opening, a piston 7 that presses against a tablet encapsulation sheet placed on the opening, a coil spring 8 that is attached to the outer periphery of the piston and has its upper end engaged with the piston, and a medicine bag cutter 10 having a blade 9 at its lower end.The device further comprises a handle 11 that slides the piston up and down in conjunction with the medicine bag cutter, and a piston holder 12 that has first and second piston holders 14 and 16 that hold the piston so that it can slide up and down, and a medicine bag placing base 18 that has a through slit 17 through which the medicine bag cutter can be inserted, and that supports the handle so that it can rotate up and down while holding the lower end of the coil spring with the second piston holder 16.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drug removal tool for removing drugs from a tablet encapsulation sheet or a drug bag encapsulating drugs. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, tablets and capsules are often distributed and provided in tablet encapsulating sheets such as blister packs, especially PTP (press-through package) sheets, in order to ensure airtightness and moisture resistance. On the other hand, many people who take medicines are elderly people with weak finger strength or people who have physical conditions that make it difficult for them to remove tablets or capsules from the tablet encapsulating sheets with their fingertips. In light of this, many devices have been devised for removing tablets or capsules from the tablet encapsulating sheets. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a device in which a piston is pushed by a handle to remove tablets from the tablet encapsulating sheet.

[0003] Furthermore, in many cases, people who have difficulty with finger manipulation find it difficult to remove medicine such as powder medicine from a medicine bag with their bare hands. Patent Document 2 discloses a device that has the function of removing tablets or capsules from a tablet enclosing sheet, as well as the function of opening a medicine bag containing the medicine. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Registered Utility Model No. 3206411 [Patent Document 2] Registered Utility Model No. 3159216 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, for example, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the operating direction of the piston is approximately perpendicular to the direction of gravity, so it is unavoidable to make detailed adjustments to dimensions such as the thickness of the PTP holding portion and the thickness of the lower part of the PTP holding portion.

[0006] Furthermore, for example, in the device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the mechanism responsible for the function of removing tablets or capsules from the tablet enclosing sheet and the mechanism responsible for the function of opening the medicine bag containing the medicine are formed separately and independently, leaving room for further improvement in terms of reducing the number of parts, efficient mechanism design, and ease of operation.

[0007] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a drug removal device that has a simpler structure than conventional drug removal devices and has both the function of removing a wide range of granular tablets and capsules from corresponding tablet enclosing sheets and the function of opening drug bags containing the drugs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The drug dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a top plate having an opening through which tablets can pass and a base having a tablet storage space communicating with the opening; a piston that presses a tablet encapsulation sheet placed on the opening; a coil spring that is provided on the outer periphery of the piston and has an upper end engaged with the piston; and a handle that is provided with a medicine bag cutter having a blade at its lower end and that slides the piston up and down in conjunction with the medicine bag cutter; and A piston holder extending above the top plate, The device is equipped with a first piston holding portion having a first through hole through which the piston is inserted and holding the piston so that it can slide up and down, a second piston holding portion having a second through hole through which the piston is inserted and holding the piston so that it can slide up and down and holding the lower end of the coil spring, and a piston holding body having a medicine bag placing base with a through slit through which the medicine bag cutter can be inserted, and which supports the handle so that it can rotate up and down. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The medicine removal device of the present invention has a simple structure and can simultaneously remove tablets or capsules from the corresponding tablet encasement sheet and open the medicine bag containing the medicine. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the configuration of a medicine dispensing device 100. As shown in FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the selection position of the tablet shape selection plate 19 when the tablets 1 stored in the PTP sheet 6a are large-diameter tablets 1a. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the tablet shape selection plate 19 and the base 5 when the tablets 1 stored in the PTP sheet 6a are large-diameter tablets 1a. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the selection position of the tablet shape selection plate 19 when the tablet 1 is a capsule 1b having a long particle size. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the selection position of the tablet shape selection plate 19 when the tablet 1 is a small particle size tablet 1c. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the descending piston 7 approaches the protrusion of the PTP sheet 6a that stores the tablet 1. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the descending piston 7 comes into contact with and presses against the protrusions of the PTP sheet 6a. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state in which the descending piston 7 presses the convex portion of the PTP sheet 6a, causing the stored tablet 1 to break the back surface of the PTP sheet 6a and fall into the tablet storage space 4. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state in which the blade 9 at the lower end of the descending medicine bag cutter 10 approaches the opening portion of the medicine bag 25 placed on the medicine bag placing table 18. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which the blade 9 at the lower end of the descending medicine bag cutter 10 comes into contact with and presses against the opening portion of the medicine bag 25 placed on the medicine bag placing table 18. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in which the blade 9 at the lower end of the descending medicine bag cutter 10 partially cuts the opening portion of the medicine bag 25 placed on the medicine bag placing table 18. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] (Embodiment) [General configuration of medicine dispensing device 100] The drug extraction device according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings, but it goes without saying that the embodiment is not limited to this. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the outline of the configuration of a drug extraction device 100.

[0012] Hereinafter, when the base 5 of the medicine extraction device 100 is placed on a horizontal plane, the vertically upward direction is defined as the upward direction, and the vertically downward direction is defined as the downward direction. Furthermore, the direction in which the handle 11 extends from the piston holder 12 is defined as the forward direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the backward direction. Furthermore, the leftward direction as viewed from the front of the piston holder 12 is defined as the leftward direction, and the opposite direction is defined as the rightward direction. The front-rear direction, the up-down direction, and the left-right direction are all mutually orthogonal. Note that the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are defined for the sake of convenience. Therefore, the left-right direction and the front-rear direction do not have to coincide with the front-rear direction and the left-right direction of the piston holder 12 of the medicine extraction device 100. Furthermore, the front and rear directions may be interchanged, and the left and right directions may be interchanged.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the medicine dispensing device 100 comprises a top plate 3 having an opening 2 through which a tablet 1 can pass, a base 5 having a tablet storage space 4 connected to the opening 2, a piston 7 that presses against a tablet enclosing sheet 6 placed on the opening 2, a coil spring 8 that is provided on the outer periphery of the piston 7 and has its upper end engaged with the piston 7, a medicine bag cutter 10 having a blade 9 at its lower end, a handle 11 that slides the piston 7 up and down in conjunction with the medicine bag cutter 10, and a piston holder 12 that extends above the top plate 3.

[0014] Furthermore, the piston holder 12 has a first piston holder 14 having a first through hole 13 through which the piston 7 is inserted and holding the piston 7 so that it can slide up and down, a second piston holder 16 having a second through hole 15 through which the piston 7 is inserted and holding the piston 7 so that it can slide up and down and holding the lower end of the coil spring 8, and a medicine bag placing base 18 having a through slit 17 through which the medicine bag cutter 10 can be inserted, and also supports the handle 11 so that it can rotate up and down.

[0015] That is, the base 5 has a top plate 3 with an opening 2 through which the tablet 1 can pass, and a tablet storage space 4 that communicates with the opening 2. As a result, the tablet 1 that passes through the opening 2 is taken into the tablet storage space 4 in the base 5. The size of the tablet storage space 4 is sufficient as long as it is large enough to store one or more tablets 1, and there are no other restrictions. Furthermore, there are no restrictions on the shape, internal structure, presence or absence of openings, etc. of the tablet storage space 4, as long as it does not interfere with solving the above problem.

[0016] The base 5 further includes a piston holder 12 extending above the top plate 3. The piston holder 12 supports the handle 11 by a shaft member 23 so that the handle 11 can rotate up and down. The piston holder 12 also has a first piston holder portion 14 and a second piston holder portion 16 that support the piston 7 so that the piston 7 can slide up and down. The piston holder 12 also has a medicine bag mounting base 18 that has a through slit 17 through which the medicine bag cutter 10 can pass. Meanwhile, the medicine bag cutter 10 is supported on the handle 11 by a shaft member 20 so that it can rotate back and forth, so that it can smoothly pass through the through slit 17 under its own weight. However, the method of connecting the medicine bag cutter 10 to the handle 11 is not limited to this, as long as it allows the medicine bag cutter 10 to slide up and down in conjunction with the piston 7. The material of the medicine bag cutter 10 is not particularly limited, but for example, metals, particularly various steels such as carbon steel and stainless steel, and ceramics such as PSZ (partially stabilized zirconia) can be suitably used.

[0017] The coil spring 8 is provided on the outer periphery of the piston 7, and its upper end is engaged with the piston 7, while its lower end is held by the second piston holding portion 16. The piston 7 may be formed, for example, as a coaxial cylinder with a large diameter portion on the upper side and a small diameter portion on the lower side, with the coil spring 8 disposed on the outer periphery of the small diameter portion on the lower side of the piston 7, and its upper end being held by the lower end of the large diameter portion where the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion join. In this case, to reduce wear on the lower end of the large diameter portion of the piston 7, a ring-shaped spacer made of a metal such as stainless steel may be interposed between the lower end of the large diameter portion of the piston 7 and the upper end of the coil spring 8. Of course, it goes without saying that the manner in which the coil spring 8 is held by the piston 7 is not limited to these. Therefore, when the piston 7 slides downward by pressing down the handle 11, it is compressed between the upper and lower ends of the coil spring 8, and when the downward force on the handle 11 is released, the restoring force of the coil spring 8 returns the piston 7, handle 11, and cutter 10 to their positions before operation. There are no particular restrictions on the material of the coil spring 8, but highly elastic metals such as piano wire (SWP) and hard steel wire (SWC) are suitable for use.

[0018] The medicine dispensing device 100 further has a tablet shape selection plate 19. The tablet shape selection plate 19 is arranged so as to overlap the opening 2z on the top plate 3, and has one or more opening portions 21 that can form openings 2 of a predetermined shape through which the tablets 1 can pass. That is, as shown in Figures 1 to 5, by arranging one or more opening portions 21 of a predetermined shape so as to overlap the openings 2z on the top plate 3, and forming openings 2 of a predetermined shape, it is possible to selectively dispense a plurality of types of tablets or capsules of different sizes and shapes from the tablet enclosing sheet 6, such as the corresponding PTP sheet 6a.

[0019] Furthermore, in the medicine dispensing device 100, the tablet shape selection plate 19 is supported on the top plate 3 so as to be rotatable about the shaft member 22. Currently, the sizes and shapes of the storage areas for tablets and capsules distributed and provided, and the corresponding tablet encapsulation sheets such as PTP sheets, are limited to a predetermined range. Therefore, it would be advantageous to prepare a tablet shape selection plate 19 having one or more apertures 21 in which corresponding apertures 2 can be formed in advance, and to support the tablet shape selection plate 19 on the top plate 3 so as to be rotatable about the shaft member 22. Of course, the tablet shape selection plate 19 may be axially attached to the shaft member 22 or may be formed detachably, and there is no restriction whatsoever. Furthermore, there is no restriction whatsoever on the size, shape, number, etc. of the apertures 21, and there is no restriction whatsoever on the size, shape, etc. of the apertures 2 formed thereby.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows the selection position of the tablet shape selection plate 19 when the tablets 1 stored in the PTP sheet 6a are large-diameter tablets 1a, and FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship between the tablet shape selection plate 19 and the base 5 in this case. Meanwhile, FIG. 4 shows the selection position of the tablet shape selection plate 19 when the tablets 1 are capsules 1b with long diameters. Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows the selection position of the tablet shape selection plate 19 when the tablets 1 are small-diameter tablets 1c. Here, the tablet shape selection plate 19 has three openings 21a, 21b, and 21c of different shapes and sizes, while the top plate 3 is provided with an opening 2z that is not smaller than any of the openings 21a, 21b, and 21c. By rotating the tablet shape selection plate 19 around the shaft member 22 on the top plate 3 and selecting, optimal openings 2a, 2b, and 2c corresponding to the tablets 1a, 1b, and 1c of different shapes and sizes can be formed.

[0021] The materials used for the main components of the medication dispensing device 100, such as the base 5, piston 7, handle 11, and piston holder 12, or the tablet shape selection plate 19, are not particularly limited. Examples include various thermoplastic resins, such as polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyamide (PA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacetal (POM), and ABS resin. For areas where transparency is particularly important, acrylic resins such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) are also suitable. Furthermore, when these components are made of resin, they can be manufactured by known molding methods such as injection molding, or by cutting the resin. Furthermore, materials that can be used for the shaft members 20, 22, and 23 include, but are not limited to, various known stainless steel pins.

[0022] [Operation of the medicine dispensing device 100 with respect to the tablet encapsulating sheet 6] As described above, the piston holder 12 has the first piston holder 14 and the second piston holder 16 that hold the piston 7 so that it can slide up and down. As a result, the handle 11 slides the piston 7 up and down, and by pressing down the depression 24 of the handle 11, the piston 7 can press and open the tablet encapsulating sheet 6 placed on the opening 2. The tablets 1 stored in the tablet encapsulating sheet 6 are taken out, pass through the opening 2, and stored in the tablet storage space 4.

[0023] Figures 6 to 8 show an outline of the operation of using the medicine removal device 100 to remove a tablet 1 stored in a PTP sheet 6a, which is a tablet encapsulating sheet 6. Figure 6 shows a state in which the depression portion 24 of the handle 11 is pressed, causing the descending piston 7 to approach the convex portion of the PTP sheet 6a that stores the tablet 1; Figure 7 shows a state in which the descending piston 7 comes into contact with and presses against the convex portion of the PTP sheet 6a; and Figure 8 shows a state in which the descending piston 7 presses against the convex portion of the PTP sheet 6a, causing the stored tablet 1 to break the back surface of the PTP sheet 6a and fall into the tablet storage space 4.

[0024] As shown in Figure 6, the PTP sheet 6a is placed directly below the piston 7 and directly above the aperture 2, with the convex portion storing the tablet 1 facing upward. In Figure 7, the piston 7 comes into contact with the convex portion of the PTP sheet 6a and presses it, deforming the convex portion of the PTP sheet 6a, and the pressed tablet 1 presses against the back surface of the PTP sheet 6a above the aperture 2. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, the tablet 1 breaks the back surface of the PTP sheet 6a and falls into the tablet storage space 4, allowing the tablet 1 to be removed from the PTP sheet 6a.

[0025] [Operation of the medicine dispensing device 100 on the medicine bag 25] On the other hand, the piston holder 12 has a medicine bag placing base 18 with a through slit 17 through which the medicine bag cutter 10 can be inserted. As a result, the handle 11 slides the medicine bag cutter 10 up and down in conjunction with the piston 7, so that by depressing the depression portion 24 of the handle 11, the medicine bag 25 placed on the medicine bag placing base 18 can be opened extremely easily.

[0026] Figures 9 to 11 provide an overview of the operation of opening a medicine bag 25 placed on a medicine bag placing table 18 using the medicine removal device 100. Figure 9 shows the state in which the blade 9 at the lower end of the descending medicine bag cutter 10 approaches the opening portion of the medicine bag 25 placed on the medicine bag placing table 18 when the depressing portion 24 of the handle 11 is pressed; Figure 10 shows the state in which the blade 9 at the lower end of the descending medicine bag cutter 10 comes into contact with and presses against the opening portion of the medicine bag 25 placed on the medicine bag placing table 18; and Figure 11 shows the state in which the blade 9 at the lower end of the descending medicine bag cutter 10 partially cuts the opening portion of the medicine bag 25 placed on the medicine bag placing table 18.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 9, a medicine bag 25 containing medicines is placed so that the opening portion is directly below the blade 9 at the bottom of the medicine bag cutter 10 and directly above the through slit 17 on the medicine bag placing table 18. In Fig. 10, the blade 9 comes into contact with and presses the opening portion of the medicine bag 25. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 11, the blade 9 cuts the opening portion of the medicine bag 25 placed on the medicine bag placing table 18, allowing the medicines contained in the medicine bag 25 to be taken out.

[0028] In this way, with the medicine removal device 100, the tablet 1 can be removed from the tablet enclosing sheet 6 such as the PTP sheet 6a simply by pressing the pressing portion 24, and the medicine enclosed in the medicine bag 25 can also be removed, so that by pressing the pressing portion 24 once, the tablet 1 can be removed and the medicine bag 25 containing the medicine can be opened at the same time.

[0029] [effect] As described above, the medicine dispensing device 100 has a simple structure as described above, and by pressing the depression portion 24 of the handle 11, the tablet enclosing sheet 6 such as the PTP sheet 6a is pressed, allowing the tablets 1 (tablets or capsules) stored in the tablet enclosing sheet 6 to be easily dispensed. The depression of the depression portion 24 can be performed with one hand, and is performed vertically downward in the same direction as gravity, so that the operational burden can be reduced even for elderly people with weak fingertip strength or people who have physical difficulties in dispensing tablets or capsules from the tablet enclosing sheet with their fingertips. Additionally, in the medicine dispensing device 100, the medicine bag 25 containing the medicine can also be opened by pressing the depression portion 24.

[0030] Furthermore, with medicine dispensing device 100, by pressing depression portion 24 once, it is possible to simultaneously dispense tablet 1 (tablet or capsule) and open medicine bag 25 containing the medicine.

[0031] In this way, despite its simple structure, the drug removal device 100 can be easily operated by elderly people with weak finger strength or people who have physical difficulties removing tablets or capsules from tablet enclosing sheets with their fingertips, and has the particularly notable effect of being able to perform both the function of removing a tablet 1 (tablet or capsule) from the corresponding tablet enclosing sheet 6 and the function of opening a drug bag 25 containing the drug, simply by pressing the pressing portion 24.

[0032] (Other embodiments) The medicine dispensing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is not limited to medicine dispensing device 100 and can be modified within the scope of the invention. For example, an embodiment of medicine dispensing device 100 that does not include tablet shape selection plate 19 is also an embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1: Tablets 1a: Tablet (large particle size) 1b: Capsules 1c: Tablet (small particle size) 2: Open hole 2a: Open hole 2b: Open hole 2c: open hole 2z: open hole 3: Top plate 4: Tablet storage space 5: Base 6: Tablet sealing sheet 6a: Press-through pack sheet 7: Piston 8: Coil spring 9: Blade (medicine bag cutter 10) 10: Medicine bag cutter 11: Handle 12: Piston holder 13: First through hole 14: First piston holding part 15: Second through hole 16: Second piston holding part 17:Through slit 18: Medicine bag placement table 19: Tablet shape selection plate 20: Shaft member 21: Opening part 21a: Opening part 21b: Opening part 21c: Opening part 22: Shaft member 22a: Shaft hole 22b: Shaft hole 23: Shaft member 24: Depression part (handle 11) 25: Medicine bag 100: Drug removal tool F: Depression force (depression part 24)

Claims

1. a top plate having an opening through which tablets can pass and a base having a tablet storage space communicating with the opening; a piston that presses a tablet encapsulation sheet placed on the opening; a coil spring that is provided on the outer periphery of the piston and has an upper end engaged with the piston; and a handle that is provided with a medicine bag cutter having a blade at its lower end and that slides the piston up and down in conjunction with the medicine bag cutter; and A piston holder extending above the top plate, A medicine dispensing device comprising: a first piston holding portion having a first through hole through which the piston is inserted and holding the piston so that it can slide up and down; a second piston holding portion having a second through hole through which the piston is inserted and holding the piston so that it can slide up and down and holding the lower end of the coil spring; and a medicine bag placing base having a through slit through which the medicine bag cutter can be inserted, and a piston holder that supports the handle so that it can rotate up and down.

2. The drug dispensing device of claim 1, further comprising a tablet shape selection plate disposed over the opening on the top plate and having one or more openings capable of forming openings of a predetermined shape through which tablets can pass.

3. 3. The medicine dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the tablet shape selection plate is rotatably supported on the top plate.

Images