JP7709739B2 - Integrated Ship Systems - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a multi-ship system that is equipped with a medical treatment function in the event of an emergency, where medical personnel can board the ship and travel to disaster areas to provide medical care to rescuers, and a drug storage ship function that stores prescription drugs prescribed in connection with the medical treatment function.

In order to prevent disasters caused by recent global climate change, the United Nations and other bodies are actively discussing worldwide the issue of limiting carbon dioxide emissions.

For example, the Cabinet Office in Japan is currently discussing the idea of a hospital ship to provide rapid medical care to people affected by large-scale natural disasters, earthquakes, floods, mudslides, pyroclastic flows caused by volcanic eruptions, etc.

Taking the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake as an example, the massive earthquake that occurred before dawn caused buildings to collapse and fires to break out simultaneously, claiming the precious lives of thousands of people, a fact that is still fresh in our memory.
Local authorities have concluded that the blockage of land transport in many places, which paralyzed firefighting and rescue efforts, also contributed to the increased number of casualties.

For this reason, the Cabinet Office is discussing the idea of avoiding land routes and instead using sea routes to build several new hospital ships and to use 5G communications networks to support rapid rescue and relief efforts.
In addition, the free encyclopedia states that in the United States, the 9,800-ton hospital ship Mercy (AH-8) operated by the U.S. Navy was in active service.

In addition, the following Patent Document 1 describes a rescue ship (e.g., a hospital ship) that is dispatched to coastal disaster areas and the like, and that can improve communication conditions in disaster areas and the like, and describes that the rescue ship is equipped with a hull, an onboard relay station mounted on the hull and forming a first wireless communication area around the hull and/or its periphery, at least one mobile body that is deployed on the hull and can move to any location away from the hull, and a movable relay station mounted on the mobile body, the onboard relay station is configured to receive radio waves transmitted from a terrestrial base station and transmit them to a wireless terminal device within the first wireless communication area, and transmit radio waves transmitted from the wireless terminal device within the first wireless communication area to the terrestrial base station, and the movable relay station is configured to relay radio waves transmitted and received between the onboard relay station and the terrestrial base station.

JP 2021-172179 A

Currently, a hospital ship called "Saiseimaru" operates as a mobile medical ship in the Seto Inland Sea, which has many "doctor-less islands" with no resident doctors.

Here, the subjects of checkups at Saiseimaru are the same as those at a general hospital, including chest diseases, digestive diseases, circulatory diseases, gynecological diseases, and surgical diseases.Specific medical departments include ophthalmology, otorhinolaryngology, plastic surgery, and dermatology, and a pediatrics department is also provided for general checkups.
The Saiseimaru's mobile medical service functions as a sort of general hospital on a boat, providing important medical services to the residents of remote islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
On the other hand, in the event of a disaster, the number of people requiring medical care would number in the thousands, and the number of medical personnel at Saiseimaru would not be enough to respond quickly.

In such an emergency, simply being equipped with the medications needed to treat a few hundred people would not be enough to prepare an environment in which medications could be prescribed to rescuers in the event of a disaster involving thousands of people.

In discussions within the Cabinet Office regarding hospital ships, plans to increase the number of medical staff and equipment on board are progressing, but there has been insufficient discussion about equipping hospital ships with a permanent pharmaceutical warehouse function in order to provide sufficient medicines for the large number of disaster victims.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to provide a composite ship system that enhances the medical service functions of a hospital ship and also has a drug warehouse ship function that can stockpile the appropriate quantity and quality of drugs in preparation for emergencies so that the drug prescription function of the medical service function is not paralyzed.

The composite ship system of the present invention that achieves the above objective has the following configuration:

The multi-ship system of the present invention is characterized in that the medical ship function and the warehouse ship function are complementarily performed by communication between a ship control system that controls the navigation of a multi-ship that combines medical ship functions and warehouse ship functions, a hospital ship system equipped with equipment for providing specified medical services on board the multi-ship, a warehouse management system that stores the storage locations of medicines stored in a medicine warehouse secured on board the multi-ship and controls the entry and exit of medicines, and an emergency information system that issues instructions for maneuvering the multi-ship.

The present invention provides a multi-ship system that enhances the functions of a hospital ship, quickly delivers necessary medicines to medical personnel providing medical relief on-site, provides appropriate medical services to disaster victims, and stocks a sufficient amount of medicines on board the multi-ship that medical personnel can prescribe to patients in disaster areas where the hospital ship calls at the time of a disaster.

The drawings show specific embodiments of the present invention, including essential features of the invention as well as alternative and preferred embodiments.
FIG. 2A is a configuration block diagram of a complex ship system, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of mooring points of the complex ship. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the complex vessel shown in FIG. 1 . FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a composite ship system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the medicine cart shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a control system for the medicine cart shown in FIG. 4 . FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the structures of the first medicine storehouse, the second medicine storehouse, and the third medicine storehouse shown in FIG. 2 . FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of the medicine collection robot shown in FIG. 6 . FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a table for managing interconnected complex ships in the complex ship system according to the present embodiment. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine management table managed by the emergency information system shown in FIG. 1.

Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The drawings show specific embodiments of the present invention, including essential features of the invention as well as alternative and preferred embodiments.

<System configuration>
First Embodiment
Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a multi-ship system according to the present embodiment. This system is characterized by a multi-ship system having both medical ship functions and warehouse ship functions, in which a ship control system 202 that controls the navigation of the multi-ship makes the medical ship function and the warehouse ship function function complementarily while communicating with a hospital ship system 206 that provides medical services via a predetermined communication medium and a warehouse management system 201 that stores the storage locations of medicines stored in a medicine warehouse secured on the multi-ship and controls the entry and exit of the medicines.

The displacement of the combined vessel will be built as a large or medium-sized vessel depending on the scale of its functions as a medical vessel and a pharmaceutical warehouse, and the number of medical beds will vary depending on the number of medical personnel on-site and the advanced medical capabilities of the medical equipment.

In addition, this complex ship has multiple medical workspaces secured in a multiple-layer structure according to multiple traffic routes secured on board the ship, and in each medical workspace, medical equipment adapted to the type of treatment, medical diagnostic equipment, and medical beds are placed, providing medical services to rescuers.It also has a medical ship function that memorizes the storage locations of medicines stockpiled in the pharmaceutical warehouse secured on board the complex ship and stores and retrieves the medicines.Under normal circumstances, the complex ship operates as a medical ship, and in the event of an emergency disaster, it operates as a warehouse ship that transports medicines, and when a disaster occurs, it will call at a port close to the disaster area to support medical treatment and pharmaceutical prescription operations.
In addition to the emergency medicine stockpile storage function (warehouse ship to transport medicines in case of disaster), one of the hierarchically laid out warehouse functions may also function as a medicine warehouse in peacetime. In this case, the medicines and drugs to be stored in the warehouse will be a lineup specific to surgery, internal medicine, orthopedics, cardiac surgery, brain surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, dermatology, and emergency medicine, but the lineup should be decided through discussion between medical professionals specialized in each department.

For this reason, in the multipurpose ship system shown in this embodiment, the ship is equipped with an automatic transport route network and a dedicated elevator for transport, in order to function as a warehouse ship for transporting pharmaceuticals and to automate the storage (carrying in) and removal (carrying out) of pharmaceuticals using transport units (medicine carts described below) containing stockpiled pharmaceuticals.
Furthermore, the transport unit is equipped with a camera and an obstacle sensor, enabling the automatic transport function to move vertically or horizontally on the automatic transport path network.

In addition, a multi-vessel system equipped with this function can moor at multiple base ports at the same time, but the ports that each multi-vessel can call at are narrowed down based on the size of the multi-vessel, as determined by the Prime Minister's Office Headquarters.

In addition, in the event of an emergency, the ship will depart from its mooring port based on the candidate land hospital destinations to which rescuers will be transported, and then move to the port closest to the disaster area, making it possible to provide rapid medical support and prioritize the transport of medicines to designated general hospitals and other facilities in disaster-stricken areas where land transport is difficult.

In addition, if it is expected that a single multi-purpose ship will not be able to provide sufficient medicines in the event of a disaster, a fleet of multiple multi-purpose ships can collect medicines by land and store them in warehouses near ports, and then use the multi-purpose ship calling at the port to transport them to ports close to the disaster area.

Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a complex ship system and an example of the layout of a complex ship according to this embodiment. (a) is a block diagram of the complex ship system, and (b) is a diagram illustrating an example of the layout of mooring points for the complex ship.

In FIG. 1(a), 1 indicates a complex ship group (fleet), and shows an example consisting of complex ships 1-1 to 1-N. Note that the number of complex ships 1-1 to 1-N (N=7 in this embodiment) is not limited to seven, and the number may increase or decrease depending on the size of the complex ship.

Specifically, as shown in Figure 1(b), the multi-vessel 1-1 will be responsible for the Kyushu region PA and will be moored at designated mooring ports in Nagasaki and Saga. The multi-vessel 1-1 will be selected by a subcommittee or other group participating in the emergency information system 2 managed by the Cabinet Office, as shown in Figure 1(a).

The multi-vessel 1-2 will be responsible for the San'in Bay area PF and will be moored at the designated mooring port of Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The multi-vessel 1-2 will be selected by a subcommittee or other group participating in the emergency information system 2 managed by the Cabinet Office shown in Figure 1(a).
The emergency information system 2 is made up of an emergency information system communication unit 21 and conference room terminals 22-1 to 22-N.

The multi-vessel 1-3 will be moored at the designated mooring port of Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture, to handle PE in the coastal area of the Sea of Japan. The multi-vessel 1-3 will be selected by subcommittees and other parties participating in the emergency information system 2 managed by the Cabinet Office, as shown in Figure 1 (a).

Since the multi-vessel 1-4 is in charge of the Hokkaido Bay Area PG, it will be moored at the designated mooring port of Tomakomai, Hokkaido, and will be selected by subcommittees and other parties participating in the emergency information system 2 managed by the Cabinet Office shown in Figure 1 (a).

Since the multi-vessel 1-5 is responsible for the Tohoku Bay Area PD, it will be moored at the designated mooring port in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, and will be selected by subcommittees and other parties participating in the emergency information system 2 managed by the Cabinet Office, as shown in Figure 1 (a).

The multi-vessel 1-6 will be moored at the designated mooring port of Takebashi, Tokyo, to serve as the Kanto Bay area PC, and will be selected by subcommittees and other parties participating in the emergency information system 2 managed by the Cabinet Office, as shown in Figure 1(a).

Since the multi-vessel 1-7 is in charge of the Tokai Bay area PB, it will be moored at a designated mooring port in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, and the multi-vessel 1-7 will be selected by subcommittees and other parties participating in the emergency information system 2 managed by the Cabinet Office shown in Figure 1 (a).

The emergency information system 2 is constructed inside the official residence, and the emergency information system communication unit 21 receives disaster relief commands via each conference room terminal 22-1 to 22-N, and the administrative communication unit 3 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications issues orders for rescue operations and medical supplies transport operations under the disaster relief law to the multipurpose vessels 1-1 to 1-7 moored or anchored in designated ports in Japan. The administrative communication unit 3 is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, and centrally manages the communication status of the information network in the event of an emergency.

Figure 2 is a diagram explaining the configuration of the multi-vessels 1-1 to 1-7 shown in Figure 1. In this example, the vessel is registered in Japan, as indicated by the national flag 55. The following explanation uses the multi-vessel 1-1 as an example.

In Figure 2, 51 is a multi-purpose vessel, for example with a gross tonnage of 10,000 tons or more, and desirably capable of carrying approximately 600 to 1,000 people, including medical staff and patients.

Reference numeral 52 denotes a fuel room, which supplies C heavy oil to the engine section located in the machinery room 53, enabling the composite vessel 1-1 to navigate continuously over a wide range. Reference numeral 54 denotes a propeller, which is configured to transmit the rotational force supplied from the machinery room 53, thereby enabling the vessel to propel at a predetermined speed, for example, 22.7 knots.

56 is a crane that lifts from the land side multiple medicine cards containing medicines that have been transported overland to the pier at the port of call, moves them to the gate of the receiving floor (receiving deck) of the second elevator 72, and the cards are then loaded onto the second elevator 72 by deckhands and transported to the designated warehouse floor.

The second elevator (EL) 72 is composed of, for example, a group of four elevators to correspond to each of the gates S1 to S4 described below provided in the first pharmaceutical warehouse 85 to the third pharmaceutical warehouse 83 on each floor reserved as a pharmaceutical warehouse.
In addition, on the floor close to the deck, there is a medicine storeroom 81 for storing regular supplies and a dining hall 82 where medical personnel and others can eat their meals.

71 is the first elevator, which functions as a hospital ship and is made up of, for example, a group of four elevators that transport medical staff between each floor to the diagnostic/examination room 64, the third hospital room 63, the second hospital room 62, and the first hospital room 61.

The diagnostic/examination room 64 is equipped with medical equipment to take X-rays of patients examined in the third hospital room 63, the second hospital room 62, and the first hospital room 61, as well as an examination room equipped with testing equipment.

In addition, the third hospital room 63, the second hospital room 62, and the first hospital room 61 are configured so that each floor can have an operating room and, for example, 50 nursing beds for temporary patient care, as shown in the figure.

Reference numeral 57 denotes the bridge, where the captain and several officers work, and where a GPS navigation system (not shown) and various communication devices (including a hotline to the Prime Minister's Official Residence) are located. Reference numeral 58 denotes a blade antenna, which is configured to enable mutual communication with nearby medical personnel and drug transporters using, for example, 5G. Reference numeral 59 denotes a navigation radar, which performs navigational communication to identify the current position on the nautical chart.

Reference numeral 60 denotes a heliport, which is configured to allow a transport helicopter 65 for transporting medicines and a doctor helicopter (not shown) for transporting rescuers to take off and land freely.
In addition, the two combined vessels may be equipped with a special lifting function to load/unload patients from other vessels as a means of moving patients during sea-to-sea interception.

Figure 3 is a block diagram explaining the configuration of the composite ship system according to this embodiment. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in Figure 2, and their explanations will be omitted.

In FIG. 3, 200 is a multi-ship system that includes a hospital ship system 206 that provides medical services, a ship control system 202 that controls the navigation of the multi-ship and the cranes 56, etc., and a warehouse management system 201 that includes an in-stock/out-stock status memory unit 210 that stores information on medicines stored in the warehouse. However, the multi-ship system may be configured to further expand the functions of the hospital ship system 206.

Here, the hospital ship system 206 is equipped with a controller C1 for comprehensively managing power, communications, electronic medical records, etc. in the diagnostic/examination room 64, the third hospital room 63, the second hospital room 62, and the first hospital room 61 shown in FIG. 2. The controller C1 is driven by power supplied from the power supply unit 203, and controls the power supply to the medical equipment used in various operations in the operating room, as well as registering electronic medical records in a memory unit that manages the electronic medical records, and controlling the reading of the electronic medical records stored in the memory unit.

204 is an elevator control unit that receives power from the power supply unit 203 and controls the vertical movement of the transport cars of the first elevator (EL) 1 and the second elevator (EL) 2 shown in Figure 2.

The in-stock/out-stock status memory unit 210 stores in-stock/out-stock information on medicines stored in the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N that contain the medicines described below. The controller C2 can read information on medicines, such as type, quantity, storage period, and storage location information (an identification code indicating where in the warehouse the medicine is stored), that is written to the memory chips provided in the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N and stored in the in-stock/out-stock status memory unit 210.

Reference numeral 211 denotes a calculation means, which, upon receiving instructions from the Prime Minister's Office, periodically or when a major disaster occurs, calculates the quantity of medicines stored in the warehouse of the complex ship by type of medicine, and can notify the emergency information system 2 (on the Prime Minister's Office side) of guidelines for identifying complex ships that can set sail to the disaster area via the emergency information system communication unit 21 from the communication unit 251.
In addition, the controller C1 of the hospital ship system 206 is configured to be able to share the latest medical equipment information obtained by mutual communication with other complex ships.

The transport control means 212 acquires the current positions of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N, controls the transport status of the self-propelled medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N, and generally controls the transport status of medicine carts entering and leaving the warehouse.

The controller C2 controls the first communication unit 213 to communicate with the communication units of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N moving within the warehouse via wireless LAN, and can identify each of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N.

In addition, controller C2 can communicate with the communication units of medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N to read information from the memory chips in medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N and retrieve the types and quantities of medicines currently stored.

The controller C2 controls the movement of the medicine collection robot 300 that moves along a predetermined route within the warehouse via the second communication unit 214, and can take out medicines stored in the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N in small lot units and transport the specified medicines to a medicine elevator box (not shown).

The controller C2 also controls the movement of the drug collection robot 300, which moves along a predetermined route within the warehouse, via the second communication unit 214, and can transport the specified medicine using one of the elevators after retrieving the regular medicines stored in the medicine storage 81 in the warehouse shown in FIG. 2.

The ship control system 202 includes a communication unit 251, a bridge controller 252, a crane control unit 253, an engine unit 254, and a power generation unit 255, and provides overall control of the maneuvering, electricity, and power equipment of the composite ship.

The communication unit 251 wirelessly communicates with the outside, for example, the administrative communication unit 3, via the blade antenna 58. The bridge controller 252 controls the crane 56, engine unit 254, and power generation unit 255 equipped on the composite ship, controls the operation of the engine equipped in the machine room 53, and supplies appropriate power to the power supply unit 203.
In addition, the controller C1 of the hospital ship system 206 has a function of communicating with the emergency information system 2 via the communication unit 251 and notifying the emergency information system 2 of the latest medical equipment information (type, number of tablets, number of packs, etc.) stored in the warehouse periodically or when called upon.
In this way, the emergency information system 2 can obtain the latest medical equipment information stored on multiple complex ships deployed in nearby waters from each complex ship system, and can instruct the disposal or replenishment of medicines with a set expiration date. Furthermore, in the event of an emergency, the emergency information system 2 can instruct the transfer of medicines equipped on any complex ship to a specific medicine, and can instruct the rapid and sufficient transportation by sea of medicines needed in the disaster area.
In addition, the emergency information system 2 can also instruct the multipurpose vessel to make an emergency departure designated to deal with an exogenous infectious disease as a measure against the source of infection within Japan.

The warehouse management system 201 is composed of a storage/return status storage unit 210, a tallying means 211, a controller C2, a transport control means 212, a first communication unit 213, and a second communication unit 214. The controller C2 receives the medicine information transmitted by the transmission unit, and controls a creation function for creating a storage map of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N carried into the multipurpose vessel, and a display function for displaying the created storage map on a display unit (not shown). Furthermore, the controller C2 communicates with the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N to recognize their current positions, and controls a first instruction function for instructing the rearrangement of each medicine cart.
In addition, the controller C2 controls a second instruction function that communicates with a medicine collection robot 300 that collects a specified medicine in lots from one of the medicine carts, and instructs the medicine collection robot 300 to transport the collected medicine in lots to a replenishment port that leads to the receiving port of each medical workspace.

The in-stock/out-stock status memory unit 210 stores the type, level, remaining number of tablets, and expiration date of the medicine contained in the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N that are being stocked or stocked in an updatable manner.

The counting means 211 counts the number of remaining medicine tablets stored in the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N arranged in the first medicine warehouse 85, the second medicine warehouse 84, and the third medicine warehouse 83 by type, level, and expiration date, and notifies the controller C2 of the latest medicine inventory amount.

The controller C2 stores the latest drug inventory amount tallied by the tallying means 211 in an external storage device (not shown), and notifies the administrative communication unit 3 of the latest drug inventory amount when it receives a regular report from the administrative communication unit 3 or an emergency report in the event of an emergency.

The transport control means 212 communicates with the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N to monitor the current position, movement position, and movement status of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N, while issuing instructions to enter a specified storage position and instructions to remove the medicine carts from a specified storage position, thereby controlling the linear movement, rotational movement, stopping, locking, and unlocking of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N without human intervention.

Medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N are equipped with wheels for self-propelling on the floor, and can move forward or backward in a straight line. The front wheels and rear wheels can be moved independently at a specified angle, allowing the carts to move forward or backward in the left and right directions.

As a result, medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N can freely move to each floor within the first medicine warehouse 85, the second medicine warehouse 84, and the third medicine warehouse 83 based on instructions from the transport control means 212, and medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N can be stopped or parked (locked state).
This allows the storage positions of the medicines contained in the first medicine storehouse 85, the second medicine storehouse 84, and the third medicine storehouse 83 to be freely interchanged and rearranged.

The second communication unit 214 notifies the movement, stopping, and drive control commands to the manipulator (arm mechanism (including the hand)) of the drug collection robot 300 based on instructions from the controller C2.

As a result, the medicine collection robot 300 can freely move within the first medicine warehouse 85, the second medicine warehouse 84, and the third medicine warehouse 83, identify any of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N, and collect the specified medicine by dispensing the specified lot amount.

In the composite ship system configured in this manner, the equipment providing medical services includes medical equipment adapted to the type of medical treatment, medical diagnostic equipment, and medical beds, and the warehouse management system 201 includes an in-stock/out-stock status memory unit 210 that stores the in-stock or out-stock status of regular medicines prescribed based on the type of medical treatment and emergency medicines to be prescribed for disaster relief, a counting means 211 that counts the stock amounts of regular medicines and emergency medicines stored in the in-stock/out-stock status memory unit 210 by linking them to storage locations, and a controller C2 that notifies the emergency information system 2 of the medicine information counted by the counting means 211.

The multi-vessel system shown in FIG. 3 also includes medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N that store the medicines to be stored, and a transport control means 212 that controls the automatic transport of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N into storage boxes laid out on the ship, or the automatic transport of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N from the storage boxes to outside the ship.

Furthermore, medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N each include a controller 500 (see FIG. 5) that travels on a transport route laid out in a storage box according to received transport route information and stops at a specified position.
Here, the storage boxes correspond to the designated areas (entry boxes) of the locker sections R1 to R4.

Furthermore, the transport control means 212 communicates with the controllers 500 of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N according to the storage location information it receives, and executes control to determine the transport direction of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N while reading the identification information provided on each level of the ship.

The transport control means 212 is also characterized in that when the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N are brought onto the ship, the transport control means 212 controls the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N to be transported from the top deck of the composite ship toward the bottom of the ship via the second elevator 72.

Figure 4 is a perspective view explaining the structure of medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N shown in Figure 3.

In Fig. 4, 401 is the cart body, and inner boxes 404-1 to 404-6 are configured to be freely pulled out from the front side. 402-1, 402-2, 403-1, and 403-2 are wheels, which are driven by an electric motor described later and can move forward, backward, and diagonally. Note that the corresponding reference numeral for 403-1 is not shown because it is a perspective view.
Reference numeral 406 denotes an RF tag which stores information for identifying medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N. Reference numeral 407 denotes an antenna which communicates with second communication unit 214.
In this embodiment, an example of identifying medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N will be described, but it is also possible to attach an RF tag to each individual packaging box of medicine contained in medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N (each package containing a PTP sheet) so that inventory can be managed by individual packaging box.
This makes it possible to accommodate both cases in which medicines are moved in individual packaging boxes and cases in which medicine units are moved in medicine carts.

Figure 5 is a block diagram explaining the control system of medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N shown in Figure 4.

In FIG. 5, 500 denotes a controller, which includes a memory chip 501 composed of a PROM, a CPU 502, a communication unit 503, a rechargeable battery unit 504, an electric motor 505, a locking mechanism 506, a power supply plug 507, and a moving body 508. The controller 500 also functions as a travel control unit, and determines the transport direction of the medicine carts (101-1 to 101-N) while reading the identification information provided on each layer of the ship in accordance with the storage location information received from the transport control means 212.

In this embodiment, the mobile body 508 is equipped with four wheels 402-1, 402-2, 403-1, and 403-2, and a rotational force is transmitted from the electric motor 505 via a gear (not shown). However, by making the mobile body 508 separable from the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N, it is also possible to configure the cart itself without being equipped with a smart communication function.

When the mobile unit 508 and the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N can be separated, the controller 500, ROM 501, CPU 502, communication unit 503, rechargeable battery unit 504, electric motor 505, locking mechanism 506, and power supply plug 507 are collected in the mobile unit 508.

This allows for a significant reduction in the cost of medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N.

Figure 6 is a perspective view explaining the structure of the first medicine storehouse 85, the second medicine storehouse 84, and the third medicine storehouse 83 shown in Figure 2. In this example, the first medicine storehouse 85 will be explained, and the explanation of the second medicine storehouse 84 and the third medicine storehouse 83 will be omitted.

In FIG. 6, the four second elevators (shown as EL2 in the figure) 72 are associated with gates S1 to S4 corresponding to the first medicine warehouse 85, and medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N are carried in and out of designated areas (carry-in boxes) of locker sections R1 to R4 where they are laid out, by automatic entry/exit control. It is shown that two medicine collection robots 300 are in operation. M1 to M4 are gates of the first elevator (shown as EL1 in the figure) 71.

In addition, the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N are capable of reading signs marked on the floor of the first medicine warehouse 85, and are configured to be transported along the route shown by the dashed dotted line and placed in the designated input box of the locker section R1 to R4.

Furthermore, the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N shown in FIG. 6 are placed in the carrying box BOX by the separate transport robot S-ROB, and the carrying box BOX separated from the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N is returned to the elevator cage, enters the bottom of the medicine cart waiting to be transported, and automatically picks up the medicine cart and places it on the loading platform.

The separate transport robot S-ROB also has a lifter on the loading platform side, and by raising and lowering the lifter, the transported medicine cart can be stored in a state where it is supported by guides on the loading box side.

Figure 7 is a perspective view showing an example of the drug collection robot shown in Figure 6.

In Figure 7, 300 is a drug collection robot that is equipped with a communication antenna, a controller, a battery, an electric motor, and four wheels 305-1 to 305-4 (however, 305-4 is not shown).

301, 302 are manipulators (examples in which an arm mechanism and hand mechanisms 303, 304 are integrated), which grab the pull-out hooks on the medicine cart with the hand mechanisms 303, 304 to pull out pull-out trays T1, T2 as shown in FIG. 6, take out the specified medicines by lot, place them in pull-out trays T1, T2, and deliver them to the specified delivery box BOX via the first elevator 71 or the second elevator 72.

The drug collection robot 300 also includes a camera 310, a microphone 311, and a speaker 312, and is configured to communicate with the controller C2 via the second communication unit 214, so that the image captured by the camera 310 can be transmitted to the controller C2, and a predetermined message can be output from the speaker 312 based on the voice data received from the controller C2.

In particular, when the worker and the drug collection robot 300 work in the same warehouse, the drug collection robot 300 is configured to be able to communicate with the worker or medical staff monitoring on the warehouse management system 201 side via the microphone 311.

Figure 8 is a diagram explaining a table that manages the interconnected complex ships in the complex ship system according to this embodiment.

In this example, the emergency information system 2 collects the latest drug inventory information stored in the loading/unloading status memory unit 210 of each of the composite vessels 1-1 to 1-7, and registers and manages it in a memory unit (external storage device including a hard disk and SSD) that constitutes the emergency information system 2.

The emergency information system 2 displays this management table on a display device (not shown) for reference, allowing Cabinet Office personnel to check at any time the latest positions (based on GPS information) of complex vessels currently moored or anchored in the waters of Japan, inventory information, classification codes, and interconnected Ship IDs.

The inventory information is ranked into levels L1 to L5 so that medicines specialized for each type of disaster can be provided, and so highly toxic drugs (medicines and drugs that must be handled with care, such as morphine and vancomycin) can be clearly distinguished and managed. The classification codes are described in detail in Figure 9.

This will enable integrated management of the complex ships currently moored or anchored in Japanese waters, and in the event of a large-scale disaster that is too large for a single ship to handle, complex ships that will operate in conjunction with each other can be assigned in advance, enabling rapid medical supplies to be provided.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of a medicine management table managed by the emergency information system 2 shown in Figure 1. In this example, the emergency information system 2 collects the latest medicine inventory information stored in the loading/unloading status memory unit 210 of each of the multi-purpose vessels 1-1 to 1-7, and registers and manages it in a memory unit (external storage device including a hard disk and SSD) that constitutes the emergency information system 2. Note that medicines are classified into multi-purpose vessel identification codes S-ID1 to S-ID7, with tablets as classification code A and packs (including blood and intravenous drip) as classification code B, and the inventory is managed by the number of tablets and packs, but the management information is not limited to this. If there is a provision in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act, the standard shall be followed.

[Effects of the First Embodiment]
According to this embodiment, the function of the hospital ship is enhanced, necessary medicines can be quickly delivered to medical personnel providing relief medical care on-site, appropriate medical services can be provided to disaster victims, and a sufficient amount of medicines can be stocked on board the multipurpose vessel so that medical personnel can prescribe them to patients in disaster areas where the hospital ship calls in the event of a disaster.

Second Embodiment
In the above embodiment, an example was described in which stocked medicines are stored using the second elevator 72, but the transport control means 212 may also be configured to control the opening of the rear opening and closing door of the medical vessel when the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N are brought on board, and to transport the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N from the quay side toward the bottom of the vessel.

[Effects of the second embodiment]
According to this embodiment, by adapting to the structure of the port where the composite ship docks, it is possible to bring the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N onto the ship after driving the medicine transport vehicle onto the deck without using a crane.

Third Embodiment
Although the above embodiment does not mention in detail the configuration of each floor, the interior of the composite ship may be configured to be composed of multiple floors, and any of the floors may be equipped with a transport network consisting of a horizontal transport path for moving medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N vertically or horizontally, and a vertical transport path for moving the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N vertically from the deck.

[Effects of the third embodiment]
According to this embodiment, by moving the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N horizontally or vertically, the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N can be stored in a warehouse box shape (stackable boxes).

Fourth Embodiment
In the above embodiment, an example was described in which medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N are equipped with a memory chip 501 that rewritably stores information about the contained medicine, but the configuration may also be such that the medicine information stored in the memory chip 501 is transmitted to the warehouse management system 201.

[Effects of the fourth embodiment]
According to this embodiment, the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N can quickly notify the warehouse management system 201 of the medicine information stored in the memory chip 501.

Fifth Embodiment
In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the hospital ship system 206 manages the medicines stored in the warehouse so that the types of medicines cannot be identified. However, an emergency medicine memory unit that stores emergency medicine information identified based on the type of emergency may be provided in a specific memory area of the loading/unloading status memory unit 210, and a controller C1 may be provided that identifies the type of disaster from the disaster information received by the ship control system 202 and determines whether the identified highly urgent medicines can be unloaded. If the controller C1 determines that the highly urgent medicines can be unloaded, the transport control means 212 may be configured to send the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N to be unloaded to the unloading port while the complex ship is sailing so that they can be immediately removed after the ship is moored at the port where it docks.

[Effects of the Fifth Embodiment]
According to this embodiment, medicines, particularly those designated as being in high demand, are transported off the ship in sequence in the disaster area, thereby providing convenience to medical personnel waiting for specific medicines.

Sixth Embodiment
In the above embodiment, the controller C2 can grasp the arrangement and storage status of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N, but the worker cannot visually grasp the arrangement and storage status of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N. Therefore, a control may be incorporated to receive the medicine information transmitted by the controller C2 of the warehouse management system 201, create a storage map of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N carried into the multipurpose vessel, and display the created storage map on a display device (not shown).

[Effects of the Sixth Embodiment]
According to this embodiment, workers working on the multipurpose vessel can visually grasp the arrangement and storage status of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N. As a result, even if a malfunction occurs in the medicine collection robot, the workers can visually grasp the positions of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N that store the necessary medicines.
This will enable the collection and delivery of necessary medicines to medical personnel on board waiting for them, which is expected to improve medical services.

Seventh Embodiment
In the above embodiment, an example was described in which control is not performed to move the storage positions of medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N, but the system may also be configured to respond to the occurrence of any of medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N or any communication failure on board the ship.
Specifically, the controller C2 of the warehouse management system 201 may communicate with the multiple medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N to recognize their current positions and instruct the rearrangement of each medicine cart.

[Effects of the Seventh Embodiment]
According to this embodiment, if any of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N or any communication failure occurs on board the ship, it is possible to flexibly respond, and it is expected that the downtime for system recovery from the failure will be shortened.

Eighth embodiment
In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the drug collection robot 300 transports a specified drug using the first elevator 71 or the second elevator 72. However, when the drug collection robot 300 collects a specified drug in lots from any of the medicine carts 101-1 to 101-N, the controller C2 of the warehouse management system 201 may be configured to instruct the drug collection robot 300 to transport the collected drug in lots to a replenishment port leading to the receiving port of each medical workspace.

[Effects of the Eighth Embodiment]
According to this embodiment, the distance traveled by the drug collection robot 300 for drug collection can be shortened, and the time required for the drug collection robot 300 to collect drugs can be shortened, making it possible to efficiently collect and deliver small lots of drugs quickly to medical personnel providing medical care on board the complex ship.

The disclosure of the present invention described above can be summarized at least as follows:

(1) A ship control system that controls the navigation of a complex ship that combines medical ship functions and warehouse ship functions, a hospital ship system equipped with equipment for providing specified medical services on board the complex ship, a warehouse management system that stores the storage locations of medicines stored in a medicine warehouse secured on board the complex ship and controls the entry and exit of medicines, and an emergency information system that issues instructions for maneuvering the complex ship communicate via a specified communication medium, allowing the medical ship function and the warehouse ship function to function in a complementary manner.

(2) In the hospital ship system, the equipment providing the medical services includes medical equipment adapted to the type of medical treatment, medical diagnostic equipment, and medical beds, and the warehouse management system includes an in-stock/out-stock status storage means for storing the in-stock or out-stock status of regular medications prescribed based on the type of medical treatment and emergency medications to be prescribed for disaster relief, a counting means for counting the inventory amounts of regular medications and emergency medications stored in the in-stock/out -stock status storage means by linking them to the storage location, and a notification means for notifying the emergency information system of the medication information counted by the counting means.

(3) The system is characterized by being equipped with a medicine cart that stores the medicines to be stored, and a transport control means that controls the automatic transport of the medicine cart into a storage box laid out on the ship, or the automatic transport of the medicine cart from the storage box to outside the ship.

(4) The medicine cart is characterized by having a travel control unit that travels on a transport route laid out in the storage box according to the received transport route information and stops at a specified position.

(5) The travel control unit is characterized in that it determines the transport direction of the medicine cart while reading the identification information provided on each level of the ship in accordance with the storage location information received from the transport control means.

(6) The transport control means is characterized in that, when the medicine cart is brought onto the ship, the transport control means controls the medicine cart to be transported from the top deck of the composite vessel toward the bottom of the ship via an elevator.

(7) The transport control means is characterized in that, when the medicine cart is brought on board, the rear opening and closing door of the medical vessel is opened and the medicine cart is brought in from the wharf side toward the bottom of the vessel.

(8) The hospital ship system is characterized by having a sharing means for sharing the latest medical equipment information acquired through mutual communication with other complex ships.

(9) The interior of the complex vessel is characterized in that it is composed of multiple floors, and is equipped with a transport network on any one of the floors consisting of a planar transport path for moving the medicine cart vertically or horizontally, and a vertical transport path for moving the medicine cart vertically from the deck.

(10) The medicine cart is characterized by having a memory chip that rewritably stores information about the medicines contained therein, and a transmission means that transmits the medicine information stored in the memory chip to the warehouse management system.

(11) The hospital ship system is equipped with an emergency drug memory unit that stores emergency drug information identified based on the type of emergency, and is provided with a judgment means that identifies the type of disaster from the disaster information received by the ship control system and determines whether the identified highly urgent drugs can be shipped, and when the judgment means determines that the highly urgent drugs can be shipped, the transport control means causes the medicine cart to be shipped to the shipping port while the complex ship is underway so that it can be immediately transported after the ship moors at the port where it docks.

(12) The warehouse management system is characterized in that it includes a creation means for receiving the drug information transmitted by the transmission means and creating a storage map of the medicine carts brought into the complex vessel, and a display means for displaying the storage map created by the creation means.

(13) The warehouse management system is characterized by having a first instruction means for communicating with a plurality of medicine carts to recognize their current positions and instructing the rearrangement of each medicine cart.

(14) The warehouse management system is characterized in that it is provided with a drug collection robot that collects a specified medicine in lots from any of the medicine carts, and the warehouse management system is provided with a second instruction means that instructs the drug collection robot to transport the medicine in lots taken out from any of the medicine carts to a replenishment port leading to the receiving port of each medical workspace.

Each step of the present invention can also be realized by executing software (programs) acquired via a network or various storage media on a processing device (CPU, processor) such as a personal computer (computer).

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications (including organic combinations of the embodiments) are possible based on the spirit of the present invention, and are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

Below, we will supplement the explanation in the section on problems that the invention aims to solve in order to explain the industrial applicability.

Currently, logistics warehouses for land transport tend to be concentrated in areas attracted by the convenience of their roads and by local governments. Furthermore, the demand for logistics warehouses is increasing due to changes in purchasing behavior and the rise of companies such as Amazon (registered trademark), and it has become difficult to secure logistics centers in good locations recently.

As a result, the rental and construction prices of logistics warehouses, including land prices, are also rising sharply.

Furthermore, since the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Japanese archipelago has entered a period of active earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, making it difficult to pinpoint when and where a disaster will occur. In the event of an earthquake or other disaster, land routes will be cut off, distribution of goods will be disrupted, and transport vehicles will be unable to reach logistics warehouses where medical supplies are stored.

Warehouses built on land by national or local governments cannot avoid this risk no matter where they are built. We are convinced that these issues can be resolved by shifting logistics warehouses, especially those that store pharmaceuticals, from land to sea.

In particular, in a country surrounded by the sea, Japan believes that by making effective use of the natural environment that comes with being an island nation, it will not only bring peace of mind to the people, but also lead to the development of new industries and schemes that are unlike any other in the world.

Specifically, in Japan, a country prone to earthquakes, this will not only prevent the disruption of land transport due to volcanic earthquakes and eruptions and expand the stable supply of medicines, but also enable the ship to sail to disaster-stricken countries such as Southeast Asian countries that are islands like Japan to provide support, or the constructed multi-purpose ship and the know-how related to its system can be exported to the affected countries, contributing to the world and creating and developing new industries.

I believe that this will have a positive effect on not only the shipbuilding and shipping industries, which are currently struggling with low-cost competition and an excess of ships, but also on creating new industries in their permanent ports of call (Japan), and by adding a new perspective to Japan's national security through relief activities in other countries, it will contribute to further strengthening the country's overall strength.

1-1 Complex vessels 1-2 Complex vessels 1-3 Complex vessels 1-4 Complex vessels 1-5 Complex vessels 1-6 Complex vessels 1-7 Complex vessels 2 Emergency information system 3 Administrative communication department

Claims (14)

A complex ship system characterized by communication via a specified communication medium between a ship control system that controls the navigation of a complex ship that combines medical ship functions and warehouse ship functions, a hospital ship system equipped with equipment for providing specified medical services on board the complex ship, a warehouse management system that stores the storage locations of medicines stored in a medicine warehouse secured on board the complex ship and controls the entry and exit of medicines, and an emergency information system that issues instructions for maneuvering the complex ship, thereby allowing the medical ship function and the warehouse ship function to function in a complementary manner. In the hospital ship system,
The equipment for providing the medical services includes medical equipment suitable for the type of medical treatment, a medical diagnostic device, and a medical bed;
The warehouse management system includes:
A storage/delivery status storage means for storing the storage status or delivery status of the regular medicines prescribed based on the medical treatment type and the emergency medicines to be prescribed for disaster support;
A counting means for counting the stock amount of the regular medicine and the stock amount of the emergency medicine stored in the storage/ dispatch status storage means by linking them to the storage location;
a notification means for notifying the emergency information system of the drug information collected by the collection means;
2. The composite ship system according to claim 1, further comprising: a medicine cart for storing the medicines to be stocked;
a transport control means for controlling automatic transport of the medicine cart into a storage box laid out inside the ship, or automatic transport of the medicine cart from the storage box to outside the ship;
The complex ship system according to claim 1, further comprising: The multi-vessel system according to claim 3, characterized in that the medicine cart is equipped with a travel control unit that travels on a transport route laid out in the storage box according to the transport route information received and stops at a specified position. The composite ship system according to claim 4, characterized in that the travel control unit determines the transport direction of the medicine cart while reading the identification information provided on each level of the ship in accordance with the storage location information received from the transport control means. The composite vessel system according to claim 4, characterized in that the transport control means controls the medicine cart to be transported from the top deck of the composite vessel toward the bottom of the vessel via an elevator when the medicine cart is brought on board. The composite ship system according to claim 4, characterized in that, when the medicine cart is brought on board, the transport control means controls the rear opening and closing door of the medical ship to open and the medicine cart to be brought in from the quay side toward the bottom of the ship. The hospital ship system according to claim 1, characterized in that it is equipped with a sharing means for sharing the latest medical equipment information acquired by communicating with other complex ships. The complex ship system described in claim 3, characterized in that the complex ship is composed of multiple floors, and one of the floors is equipped with a transport network consisting of a planar transport path for moving the medicine cart vertically or horizontally, and a vertical transport path for moving the medicine cart vertically from the deck. The medicine cart includes a memory chip for rewritably storing information about the medicines contained therein;
4. The complex ship system according to claim 3, further comprising a transmitting means for transmitting the drug information stored in the memory chip to the warehouse management system. The hospital ship system includes an emergency medicine storage unit for storing emergency medicine information specified based on the type of emergency, and a judgment means for identifying the type of disaster from the disaster information received by the ship control system and judging whether the specified highly urgent medicine can be shipped,
The multipurpose vessel system according to claim 3, characterized in that when the judgment means determines that a highly urgent drug can be shipped, the transport control means causes the medicine cart to be shipped to the shipping port while the multipurpose vessel is underway so that it can be transported immediately after mooring at the port where the multipurpose vessel is docked . The warehouse management system includes a creating unit that receives the medicine information transmitted by the transmitting unit and creates a storage map of the medicine carts carried into the complex ship;
A display means for displaying the storage map created by the creation means;
The complex ship system according to claim 10 , further comprising: The composite ship system according to claim 1, characterized in that the warehouse management system is provided with a first instruction means for communicating with a plurality of medicine carts to recognize their current positions and instructing the rearrangement of each medicine cart. A medicine collection robot is provided for collecting a prescribed medicine in lots from any one of the medicine carts;
The complex ship system according to claim 13, characterized in that the warehouse management system is provided with a second instruction means for instructing the medicine collection robot to transport the medicines in lots taken out from any of the medicine carts to a replenishment port leading to a receiving port of each medical workspace.