Drug Package Traceability via Unique Cloud Identification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drug management systems lack traceability for one-dose packaged drugs, especially across unspecified facilities, and do not provide a unique identification method for each package, leading to challenges in tracking and verifying drug information.

Innovation Solution

A drug management system that utilizes a cloud server to manage unique identification information for each packaged drug, with a drug packaging apparatus that adds this information to the packaging bag and uploads drug information to the cloud server, enabling traceability and verification of drug packages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a drug distribution support system uses a one-dimensional code or two-dimensional code including drug package number, resident ID, and drug administration time, then the system can identify drug packages and support drug distribution, but the drug package number is not a unique ID that uniquely specifies the drug package, and traceability regarding drug information of packaged drugs is not enabled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveidentification precisionVSAvoidtraceability of drug information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the identification system into two parts: a facility-specific drug package number (existing 3-digit code) and a unique identification information (newly introduced). This segmentation allows the system to maintain backward compatibility while adding unique identification capability. The unique identification information is appended to the packaging bag label, creating a composite identification system that provides both facility-level and package-level uniqueness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds another dimension to the identification system by introducing unique identification information as a new field alongside the existing drug package number. This dimensional expansion transforms the identification system from a single-dimensional code to a multi-dimensional identification structure, enabling both local facility identification and global unique identification simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If the system supports drug distribution for multiple recipients in elderly health facilities, then drug distribution work can be performed efficiently, but traceability regarding drug information of packaged drugs that have been packaged is not enabled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrug distribution efficiencyVSAvoidtraceability of packaged drug information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The unique identification information acts as an intermediary element that connects the packaging bag to the cloud server database. This intermediary enables traceability by serving as a key to retrieve comprehensive drug information including recipient details, drug composition, and administration timing, thereby maintaining efficient distribution while enabling full traceability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual traceability methods with an automated cloud server-based information retrieval system. Instead of physically tracking each package through manual records, the system uses electronic unique identification information to query and retrieve drug information from the cloud server, significantly improving traceability efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If a cloud server is introduced to manage unique identification information and drug information, then traceability and easy acquisition of drug information are enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of drug informationVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cloud server is designed as a universal platform that handles multiple functions: storing unique identification information, managing drug information databases, processing identification requests, and providing data retrieval services. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single unified platform, managing complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the unique identification information as a digital copy or reference key that points to comprehensive drug information stored on the cloud server. Instead of storing all drug information locally at each facility, the system creates a lightweight identification copy that enables remote access to the full information database, reducing local system complexity while maintaining information accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP3637426A1Drug management system, cloud server, drug dose packaging device, drug dose packaging inspection device, dose packaging bag, and drug management method
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 FUJIFILM MEDICAL CO LTD
  • EP3637426A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3637426A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3637426A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention is to provide a drug management system, a cloud server, a drug packaging apparatus, a drug package auditing apparatus, a packaging bag, and a drug management method in which packaged drugs can be traced. A label printer 22D of a drug packaging apparatus 22-1 provided in a dispensing pharmacy 20 or the like prints unique identification information, which is only one in the world issued by a numbering server on a package basis, on a label, and attaches the label to a packaging bag in which drugs are packaged by a drug packing unit 22B. The dispensing pharmacy 20 uploads at least drug information of the packaged drugs, to which the unique identification information is added, to a cloud server 10 in association with the unique identification information. The cloud server 10 unitarily manages the drug information of the packaged drugs uploaded from the dispensing pharmacy 20 or the like in association with the unique identification information. The packaged drugs can be traced by making inquiries to the cloud server 10 based on the unique identification information added to the packaging bag.