JP7801546B2 - Drug packaging strip and drug packaging device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a medication placement confirmation system that checks whether medication packages are accurately placed in medication setting devices such as medication calendars and medication administration calendars. The present invention also relates to a medication placement confirmation method and a medication placement confirmation program.

Elderly patients (those taking medication) and those whose symptoms have passed the acute phase often receive treatment at home. Patients who do not require emergency care, such as those with hypertension or hyperlipidemia, also often receive treatment at home. Patients receiving treatment at home must take their medication based on self-management.
For example, if a doctor prescribes medications A and B in the morning, B in the afternoon, and then twice the amount of medication A and C after dinner, the patient must take the prescribed amount of medication from a medicine box at the prescribed time and take it themselves.
However, in reality, people sometimes take the wrong type or amount of medicine, forget to take it, or even end up taking the wrong medicine twice.
In particular, elderly people and patients with reduced energy find it difficult to take out the prescribed amount of a prescribed type of medicine from a medicine box, and they may not take the medicine correctly.

As a means for solving this problem, devices called medication calendars or medicine calendars have been proposed in Patent Documents 1 and 2.
The invention disclosed in Patent Document 1 provides a medicine storage section for storing medicine in a calendar.
In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, four medicine containers are arranged below the date. Each of the four medicine containers corresponds to a different timing (method of administration), and according to the description in Patent Document 1, they are labeled "morning,""afternoon,""evening," and "before the shower."
The medication calendar stores medications that correspond to the timing of taking the medicine. When the time comes to take the medicine, the medicine is taken out of the corresponding medication storage section and taken.

The medication calendars mentioned above are increasingly being used not only in private homes, but also in nursing homes for the elderly and hospitals with inpatient facilities.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-258999 JP 2013-248873 A

The medication calendar disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a medication setting device for setting medications, and is installed in a patient's home, a care facility, or the like.
A pharmacist from a visiting pharmacy may visit patients' homes or nursing homes to replenish medications in the medication storage section of the medication calendar.
In addition, there are cases where a pharmacist places medications in the medication placement section of a medication calendar at his or her own pharmacy (dispensing room) and then brings the medication calendar with the medications stored in it to the patient's home or nursing facility.
Regarding the format of medication calendars, there are no specific legal requirements, and various types are used by each facility.
In either format, the medication calendar has multiple medication locations, each in a specific location determined based on the recipient and the timing of the medication.
There are three types of typical medication calendars (shown as "medication calendars" in the figure) shown in Figures 15, 16, and 17.

The first type is a personal medication calendar 100 as shown in FIG. 15, which is in a matrix form (row and column form) composed of an axis for days of the week and an axis for timing of medication.
Specifically, it is in a matrix format with the seven days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) on the vertical axis and "morning,""afternoon,""evening," and "before bed" on the horizontal axis.
The personal medication calendar 100 is for exclusive use by one user, and contains, for example, the medications that user Muramatsu takes in a week, sorted by day of the week and timing of administration.
For example, after lunch on Wednesday, the patient, Muramatsu, takes the medicine stored in the lunchtime position in the Wednesday row.
Many personal medication calendars 100 use one week as a unit, but the number of days that constitute one unit can be arbitrary, and may be in units of 10 days, two weeks, 28 days, etc.

The second format is a daily medication calendar (labeled "Medicine Calendar") 101 for multiple users, as shown in Figure 16. The daily medication calendar 101 has the days of the week on which medication should be taken written in large letters, like a tear-off calendar. The daily medication calendar 101 also has medication containers arranged in a matrix, arranged according to the user's name and the timing of medication.
Specifically, the seven names Muramatsu, Hayata, Arashi, Fuji, Ide, Kirishima, and Morohoshi are on the vertical axis, and "morning use,""afternoonuse,""eveninguse," and "before bed" are on the horizontal axis.
The daily medication calendar 101 is used jointly by multiple users, and contains, for example, medications to be taken by seven users in one day, sorted by user name and timing of administration.
For example, on the morning of the day, seven people, Muramatsu, Hayata, Arashi, Fuji, Ide, Kirishima, and Morohoshi, will take the medicine stored in their respective "morning" medicine storage compartments. After lunch, the seven people will take the medicine stored in their respective "afternoon" medicine storage compartments.
The daily medication calendar 101 for multiple recipients is used in nursing homes and hospitals. The number of recipients in one unit of the daily medication calendar 101 is arbitrary, and may be 5 or 10.

The third format is a medication calendar by medication time point (shown as a "medication calendar" in the figure) 102 for multiple users, as shown in FIG.
Specifically, the timing of administration is written in large letters at the top, such as "Morning use," and the names of 28 people, including Hongo, Ichimonji, Tojo, and Sano, are listed.
The medication calendar 102 by time of administration is used by multiple users in nursing homes, hospitals, etc. For example, the medications to be taken by each of 28 users at specific times each day are stored by user name.
For example, on the morning of the day, 28 people whose names are on the calendar will take the medicine contained in the medicine containers labeled with their names.
When all patients have taken their medication, the medication calendar 102 by medication time point is removed and a daytime medication calendar 102 by medication time point is prepared.
In the medication calendar by time point 102, the number of recipients that is counted as one unit is arbitrary, and may be 10 or 30 recipients.

As mentioned above, medication calendars 100, 101, and 102 come in several formats.
For example, the medication calendar disclosed in Patent Document 1 is installed in the patient's home or a nursing facility, and a pharmacist from a visiting pharmacy makes regular visits to the patient's home or nursing facility to replenish medication in the medication storage section.
Furthermore, if a pharmacist places medications in the medication placement sections of medication calendars 100, 101, and 102 at his or her own pharmacy (dispensing room) and then takes medication calendars 100, 101, and 102 with the medications placed therein to the patient's home or nursing facility, the pharmacist will place the specified medications in each medication placement section according to the format of medication calendars 100, 101, and 102.
However, as mentioned above, there are a number of different types of medication calendars 100, 101, and 102, which can be confusing and lead to mistakes.

Therefore, the present invention (related invention) focuses on the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and aims to develop a drug placement confirmation system, method, and computer program for confirming whether drug packaging is accurately contained in a drug setting device such as a medication calendar.
The present invention focuses on the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and aims to develop a drug packaging band suitable for a drug placement confirmation system, method, and computer program that can confirm whether drug packages are accurately placed in a drug setting device such as a medication calendar.

An aspect of the related invention for solving the above-mentioned problems comprises a medicine setting device that holds multiple medicine packages and a photographing means, wherein the medicine packages each contain a single dose of medicine to be taken by a specific recipient, the medicine setting device has multiple medicine storage sections that are distributed in a plane and hold medicine packages for recipients and dosing timings corresponding to the medicine storage sections, medicine package identification information that identifies the medicine package is attached in a visible position on the medicine package, and the medicine setting device is attached in a visible position with a set device identification mark including information that identifies the medicine setting device, and the medicine setting device, at least one of the medicine packages, At either visible position, medicine package/setup related information relating to the relationship between the medicine package and the medicine setup that should hold it, and set position related information relating to the position of the medicine package to be held in the medicine setup are attached.The imaging means can photograph each medicine package contained in the medicine storage section of the medicine setup, and the medicine placement confirmation system determines whether each medicine package held in the photographed medicine setup is properly contained in a genuine medicine setup based on the photographed medicine package identification information, setup identification display, medicine package/setup related information, set position related information, and the position of the photographed medicine package.

It is desirable that the medicine setting device has a plurality of medicine storage sections, which are distributed in a plane and each located at a specific position determined based on the user and the timing of administration.
It is desirable that the position of the photographed medicine package be used to determine whether or not each medicine package held in the photographed medicine set device is properly stored in a position corresponding to the authorized user and timing of administration of the medicine set device.

The "medicine package identification information" is sufficient as long as it can identify the medicine package, and may be a symbol, code, barcode, etc. It is desirable that the "medicine package identification information" be information that can identify which patient will take the medicine and when.
Information that identifies which patient the medication is for may include, for example, the patient's name or nickname in text, a patient card number or My Number number, or a symbolic, readable pattern such as a barcode or two-dimensional barcode.
The same applies to "information specifying when the medication should be taken," which may include, for example, text such as morning or afternoon, numbers, or symbolized, readable patterns such as barcodes or two-dimensional barcodes.

The medicine package/setting device related information and setting position related information are attached to the medicine package, and the medicine package/setting device related information may include information identifying the medicine setting device that should hold the medicine package, and the setting position related information may include information about the position of the medicine package that should be held in the medicine setting device.

There may be a medicine package arrangement information storage means, which stores combination information of the medicine package and the medicine set device in which the medicine package is held, and the relative positions of the medicine package and the medicine set device held in the medicine set device. The medicine package/set device related information and set position related information may be attached to the medicine package, and information may be read from the medicine package arrangement information storage means based on the medicine package/set device related information and set position related information.

There may be a medicine package arrangement information storage means, which stores combination information of the medicine package and the medicine set device in which the medicine package is held, and the relative positions of the medicine package and the medicine set device held in the medicine set device. The medicine package/set device related information and set position related information may be attached to the medicine set device, and information may be read from the medicine package arrangement information storage means based on the medicine package/set device related information and set position related information.

and a medicine package arrangement information storage means for storing information on the combination of the medicine package and the medicine set device in which the medicine packages are held, and the relative positions of the medicine packages and the medicine set device held in the medicine set device, the imaging means being able to photograph the state in which each medicine package is contained in the medicine storage section of the medicine set device, and information being read out from the medicine package arrangement information storage means based on the photographed medicine package identification information and the set device identification display, and the position of the photographed medicine package being compared to determine whether each medicine package held in the photographed medicine set device is properly contained in a genuine medicine set device.

Another related aspect of the invention for solving the above-mentioned problems comprises a medicine setting device that holds multiple medicine packages, a medicine package arrangement information storage means, an imaging means, and a comparison means, wherein the medicine packages each contain a single dose of medicine to be taken by a specific user, and a user identification mark that identifies the user and a dosage timing mark that identifies the timing of administration are printed in a visible position on the medicine package, the medicine setting device is affixed with a set device identification mark that identifies the medicine setting device in a visible position, the medicine setting device has multiple medicine storage sections, the multiple medicine storage sections are distributed in a plane and are each located in a specific position determined based on the user and the dosage timing, and medicine packages for the user and dosage timing corresponding to the medicine storage sections are held in the medicine storage sections, and the medicine package arrangement information storage means stores the corresponding medicine storage sections in the medicine setting device. This medicine placement confirmation system stores, for multiple medicine set devices, correct position information for medicine packages when each medicine package is correctly placed in the medicine storage section, and is capable of photographing the state in which each medicine package is placed in the medicine storage section of the medicine set device using an imaging means. The system identifies the photographed medicine set device from the photographed set device identification display, obtains actual position information for each medicine package held in the medicine set device from the patient identification display and administration timing identification display on the photographed medicine package and the position of the photographed medicine package, identifies the correct position information for the medicine set device identified based on the set device identification display from the multiple correct position information stored in the medicine package placement information storage means, and uses a comparison means to determine whether each medicine package held in the photographed medicine set device is correctly placed in a position corresponding to the patient and administration timing of the medicine set device.

Examples of "user-specific markings" that may be displayed on the drug packaging include the patient's name or nickname, a patient card number or My Number number, or a symbolic, readable pattern such as a barcode or two-dimensional barcode.
The same applies to "dose timing specification indications," which may include text indications such as morning or afternoon, numbers, or symbols that are readable, such as barcodes or two-dimensional barcodes.
The "user specific indication" and the "dose timing specific indication" may be combined into a single barcode or two-dimensional barcode.
The same applies to the set tool identification marking, which may be a textual indication such as "For Muramatsu,""For Fujita Clinic's Morning Use,""For Fujita Clinic's Monday Medication Use,""For Rokko Nursing Home's Morning Use," or "For Sanno Nursing Home's Monday Medication Use." The set tool identification marking may also be a number or symbol uniquely assigned by the hospital or pharmacy. Furthermore, the set tool identification marking may be a symbolized, readable pattern such as a barcode or two-dimensional barcode.

In the above-described aspect, the medicine package placement information storage means preferably stores, for multiple medicine set devices, information regarding the layout of each medicine package when it is correctly contained in the corresponding medicine storage section of the medicine set device as regular position information, obtains information about the layout of each actual medicine package held in the medicine set device from the photographed recipient identification display and dosage timing identification display and their positions, identifies the regular position information of the medicine set device identified based on the set device identification display from the photographed regular position information stored in the medicine package placement information storage means, and compares the information about the layout of each actual medicine package with the identified regular position information using the comparison means.

In each of the above aspects, it is desirable that the medicine package placement information storage means includes information on medicine containers that should be empty, and that an alert be issued when the photographing means captures an image showing that a medicine package is present in a medicine container that should be empty.

In each of the above aspects, it is desirable that the medicine setting device be provided with an empty room indicator in a visible position to identify the medicine storage compartment that should be empty, that the imaging means capture an image of the empty room indicator to identify the medicine storage compartment that should be empty, and that an alert be issued if the imaging means captures an image of a medicine package in the medicine storage compartment that should be empty.

Another aspect of the present invention for solving a similar problem is a medication placement confirmation system that includes a medication setting device that holds multiple medication packages and a photographing means. Each medication package contains one dose of medication to be taken by a specific recipient, and a recipient identification marking that identifies the recipient and a dose timing marking that identifies the timing of administration are printed in a visible position on the medication package. The medication setting device has multiple medication storage compartments that are distributed in a plane and hold medication packages for the recipients and dose timings that correspond to each medication storage compartment. The medication setting device is provided with vacant room indicators in visible positions that identify medication storage compartments that should be empty. The vacant room indicators are photographed by the photographing means to identify medication storage compartments that should be empty, and an alert is issued if the photographing means photographs medication packages in medication storage compartments that should be empty.

In each of the above aspects, it is desirable that the medicine setting device has a visible medicine storage unit identification marking that identifies each medicine storage unit, and the medicine packaging has a medicine storage unit designation marking that identifies the medicine storage unit to be held, and that the medicine storage unit identification marking and the medicine storage unit designation marking are photographed on the same screen by an imaging means, and the two are compared to determine whether each medicine package held in the medicine setting device is properly placed in a position that corresponds to the user of the medicine setting device and the timing of administration.

Another related invention that solves a similar problem is a medication placement confirmation system that includes a medication setting device that holds multiple medication packages and a photographing means. Each medication package contains one dose of medication to be taken by a specific recipient, and a recipient identification marking that identifies the recipient and a dose timing marking that identifies the timing of administration are printed in a visible position on the medication package. The medication setting device has multiple medication containers that are distributed in a plane and hold medication packages for the recipients and dose timings corresponding to each medication container. Each medication container has a visible medication container unit identification marking that identifies it. The photographing means can photograph the medication packages contained in the medication containers of the medication setting device. The photographing means photographs the medication container unit identification marking and the medication container unit designation marking on the same screen, and the two are compared to determine whether each medication package held in the medication setting device is properly placed in a position that corresponds to the recipient and dose timing of the medication setting device.

Another related invention that solves a similar problem is a drug placement confirmation system that includes a drug setting device that holds multiple drug packages and a photographing means. Each drug package contains a single dose of medication to be taken by a specific recipient. The drug setting device has multiple drug storage compartments that are distributed in a plane and hold drug packages for the recipient and dosing timing that correspond to each drug storage compartment. Set position information related to the position of the drug packages to be held in the drug setting device is attached to a visible position on the drug package. The photographing means can photograph the state of each drug package contained in the drug storage compartment of the drug setting device. The photographed set position information and the position of the photographed drug package determine whether each drug package held in the photographed drug setting device is properly contained in the drug setting device.

In each of the above-mentioned aspects, it is desirable that the medicine storage section of the medicine setting device is pocket-shaped so that the interior can be seen through, that a portion of a graphic is illustrated on the medicine storage section, and that a portion of a graphic is also illustrated on the medicine packaging, and that when the medicine packaging is correctly placed in a position corresponding to the recipient and timing of administration of the medicine setting device, the graphic on the medicine storage section and the graphic on the medicine packaging combine to complete a specific graphic.

A method for determining whether a medicine set device is properly placed in a position corresponding to the recipient and the timing of administration using the medicine placement confirmation system of each of the above aspects, preferably by dividing the medicine set device into multiple sections, photographing them with a photographing device in a predetermined order, and sequentially comparing them with the correct position information stored in a medicine package placement information storage device.

Another related invention aspect for solving a similar problem is a drug placement confirmation program that is at least partially stored in a terminal equipped with a photographing means and a computer, and that confirms the placement of drug packaging relative to a drug setting device, either alone or in conjunction with another computer. The drug packaging contains one dose of drug to be taken by a specific user, and is marked in a visible position on the drug packaging with a user identification mark that identifies the user and a dose timing identification mark that identifies the timing of administration. The drug setting device is marked in a visible position with a set device identification mark that identifies the drug setting device. The drug setting device has multiple drug storage units, and the multiple drug storage units are distributed in a plane and hold drug packaging for the user and dose timing corresponding to the drug storage unit. The computer of the photographing means or the other computer has a drug package placement information storage means, and the drug setting device is marked in a visible position with a set device identification mark that identifies the drug setting device. The package placement information storage means stores, for multiple medicine set devices, correct position information for medicine packages when each medicine package is correctly placed in the corresponding medicine storage section of the medicine set device; the imaging means is capable of photographing the state in which each medicine package is placed in the medicine storage section of the medicine set device; the image capture means identifies the photographed medicine set device from the photographed set device identification display; obtains actual position information for each medicine package held in the medicine set device from the user identification display and administration timing identification display on the photographed medicine package and the position of the photographed medicine package; identifies the correct position information for the medicine set device identified based on the set device identification display from the multiple correct position information stored in the medicine package placement information storage means; and determines whether each medicine package held in the photographed medicine set device is correctly placed in a position corresponding to the user and administration timing of the medicine set device.

Yet another related invention aspect for solving the same problem is a medicine placement confirmation program at least a part of which is stored in a terminal equipped with a photographing means and a computer, and which confirms the placement of medicine packaging in a medicine setting device by the terminal alone or in conjunction with another computer, wherein the medicine packaging contains one dose of medicine to be taken by a specific recipient, the medicine setting device has a plurality of medicine storage sections, the plurality of medicine storage sections are distributed in a plane and hold medicine packaging for a recipient and a dosing timing corresponding to the medicine storage section, medicine packaging identification information identifying the medicine packaging is attached in a visible position on the medicine packaging, and the medicine setting device includes information identifying the medicine setting device in a visible position. A set tool identification display is attached, and at least one of the medicine set tool and the medicine package is attached at a visible position, with medicine package/set tool related information relating to the relationship between the medicine package and the medicine set tool that should hold it, and set position related information relating to the position of the medicine package to be held in the medicine set tool, and an imaging means can photograph the state in which each medicine package is contained in the medicine storage section of the medicine set tool, and the program is characterized in that it determines whether each medicine package held in the photographed medicine set tool is correctly contained in a genuine medicine set tool based on the photographed medicine package identification information, set tool identification display, medicine package/set tool related information, set position related information, and the position of the photographed medicine package.
In one embodiment for solving the above-mentioned problems, a pharmaceutical package strip is provided in which pharmaceutical packages are connected in a long strip shape, and the pharmaceutical packages are cut from the pharmaceutical package strip and placed in a pharmaceutical setting device,
The drug setting device has a plurality of drug storage sections, and holds drug packages for users and drug administration times corresponding to the drug storage sections. Information about the drug storage sections that should be empty is connected to the drug packages . The drug packaging strip has a number of drug packages and a drug package placement information storage means connected to it, with an information printing section with prescription information printed at the beginning, followed by the drug package placement information storage means, and then the number of drug packages. The drug package placement information storage means contains information about the drug storage sections that should be empty. The drug package placement information storage means is a pattern with a number of squares, some of which correspond to the drug storage sections, and the state of the squares indicates whether a drug package is to be placed in the drug storage section. The drug packaging strip is characterized in that each drug package is accompanied by drug package identification information that identifies it .
An embodiment for solving the above-mentioned problems is a drug packaging band in which drug packages are connected in a long, strip-like shape, and the drug packages are cut from the drug packaging band and stored in a drug setting device, and the drug setting device has a plurality of drug storage sections in which drug packages for users and dosage timings corresponding to the drug storage sections are held, and a drug package placement information storage means indicating whether or not a drug package is to be placed in a drug storage section is connected to the drug packaging band, and the drug package placement information storage means is a pattern having a number of squares, some of which correspond to the drug storage sections, and the state of the squares indicates whether or not a drug package is to be placed in a drug storage section, and the drug packaging band is characterized in that an information printing section on which prescription information is printed is at the beginning, followed by a drug package placement information storage means, and then a number of drug packages, and each drug package is provided with drug package identification information that identifies it.
In each of the above aspects, it is desirable that the medicine package has a medicine container section designation mark for specifying the medicine container section to be held in the medicine package.
An aspect relating to the medicine packaging device is a medicine packaging device that dispenses and packages medicines based on input prescription data, and is characterized in that it is capable of discharging the medicine packaging strip described above.

The medication placement confirmation system, method, and computer program of the present invention make it possible to confirm whether medication packaging is accurately contained in the medication setting device.

1A is a front view of a personal medication calendar used in an embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which no medication packaging is held thereon, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the medication packaging. 10A and 10B are perspective views of a medicine packaging strip dispensed from a medicine packaging device. (a) is an explanatory diagram showing the situation when determining whether the drug packaging is properly contained in the genuine drug setting device using the personal medication calendar of Figure 1, and includes a front view of the personal medication calendar with the drug packaging held therein, and (b) is an enlarged view of a portion of the personal medication calendar. (a) shows the monitor screen of the photographing device, (b) to (d) are the monitor screens when photographing a personal medication calendar with the photographing device, (b) shows a state in which photography is possible, and (c) and (d) show states in which a photography error occurs. 1 is a block diagram of a medicine placement confirmation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a front view of a multi-person medication calendar used in another embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which no medication packages are held thereon, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the medication packages. 7A is a front view of the multi-person medication calendar of FIG. 6 showing a state in which drug packages are held, and FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of a portion thereof. 10A is a front view of a multi-person medication calendar used in yet another embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which no medication packages are held thereon, and FIG. 10B is a front view of the medication packages. 9A is a front view of the personal medication calendar of FIG. 8, showing a state in which a medication package is held, and FIG. 9B is an enlarged view of a portion thereof. 10A is a front view of a personal medication calendar used in yet another embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which no medication packages are held thereon, and FIG. 10B is a front view of a medication package placement information storage means. 11A is a front view of the personal medication calendar of FIG. 10 showing a state in which a medication package is held, and FIG. 11B is an enlarged view of a portion thereof. 12A and 12B are detailed views showing the medicine storage section and its vicinity of the personal medication calendar of Figures 9 and 11, where (a) shows the state before the medicine packaging is held in the medicine storage section, and (b) shows the state after the medicine packaging is held in the medicine storage section. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a procedure for photographing a personal medication calendar by a photographing means. FIG. Each figure is a front view showing a modified example of the medicine packaging. FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art personal medication calendar. FIG. 1 is a front view of a prior art daily medication calendar. FIG. 1 is a front view of a conventional medication calendar by time of administration.

Further embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
The medicine placement confirmation system 16 of the first embodiment is for confirming whether the medicine packages 7 are correctly accommodated in the medicine setting device such as the medication calendar 1 or the like.
The medication calendar 1 is, for example, a "medication calendar" as shown in Figure 1. Hereinafter, it will be referred to as a "medication calendar" regardless of the display in the drawings.
The medication calendar (medication setting device) 1 is a first type of personal medication calendar, and has a planar base material 2 on which a number of medication containers 3 are provided.
The medicine storage sections 3 are distributed in a planar and matrix pattern, and are each located at a specific position determined based on the recipient and the timing of administration, and hold medicine packaging for the recipient and timing of administration corresponding to the medicine storage section 3.

In this embodiment, the medicine containers 3 are arranged in a matrix shape (row and column shape) configured by a day of the week axis and a dosing timing axis.
Specifically, it is in a matrix format with the seven days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) on the vertical axis and "morning,""afternoon,""evening," and "before bed" on the horizontal axis.
The medication calendar (medication setting device) 1 is for exclusive use by one user, and for example, the medications that the user Muramatsu takes in a week are stored in the medication storage section 3 by day of the week and timing of administration.
That is, the medicine storage unit 3 is located at a specific position where the user is determined to be "Muramatsu" alone and the timing of administration is determined based on an indication such as "Monday morning, Monday afternoon, etc.", and the medicine storage unit 3 is located at a specific position determined based on the user and the timing of administration.

The medicine container 3 is a pocket-like bag formed by attaching a small transparent sheet 5 to a sheet-like substrate 2 .
Specifically, the medicine container 3 has a transparent sheet 5 adhered to the base material 2 at its left, right and bottom edges, and has a structure in which an object can be placed inside from the top edge.
The medicine container 3 is a kind of pocket made of a transparent sheet 5, so that the inside can be seen through.

A set tool identification mark 17 for identifying the medication calendar 1 is attached to the sheet-like substrate 2 in a visible position in the upper left corner. The set tool identification mark 17 is capable of identifying the medication calendar 1 and includes some kind of identification information (e.g., an identifier). Here, the identification information (e.g., the identifier) is not limited to a barcode or the like, but may also be letters or numbers.
In this embodiment, the set tool identification mark 17 is a symbolized identifier, and is a pattern that can be read by a reading device such as a barcode reader. Specifically, the set tool identification mark 17 is a two-dimensional barcode.
Information that identifies the medication calendar 1 is written in the set tool identification display 17. Specifically, information that can identify the format of the medication calendar 1, who it is for, and when it is to be used is written. Here, "identifiable" not only refers to the case where the information is directly written in the set tool identification display 17, but also includes the case where the information on the format of the medication calendar 1, who it is for, and when it is to be used can be searched for from other information sources using the identifier included in the set tool identification display 17 as a key.

In accordance with this embodiment, the format of the medication calendar 1 is a personal medication calendar format, and information identifying that the medication storage section 3 is arranged in a matrix shape (row and column shape) consisting of a day of the week axis and a dosing timing axis is written in the set tool identification display 17.
Furthermore, information identifying the patient as Muramatsu is written in the set tool identification display 17.

In this embodiment, the two-dimensional barcode provides information for identifying the type of medication calendar 1 and the user, but all or part of these may be identified by characters written on the base material 2. The characters written on the base material 2 also contain information for identifying the medication calendar 1.
For example, the base material 2 may have characters 6 that read "Mr. Muramatsu" to identify the user, and these characters may be used as an identifier to identify the user by reading them.
The format of the medication calendar 1 may also be identified by graphic recognition of the letters of the days of the week written on the base material 2, letters such as "morning" indicating the timing of taking the medication, and their layout.
In this case, the characters 6 of "Muramatsu-san" to identify the user, characters such as "morning" indicating the timing of administration, and the layout function as a set tool identification display.

The medication storage section 3 of the medication calendar 1 holds a medication package 7 containing medication for the relevant patient and at the relevant timing.
Each medicine package 7 contains all the medicines to be taken by a specific recipient at one time. The medicines enclosed in one medicine package 7 may be one type of solid medicine or multiple types of solid medicines. In addition, solid medicines and powder medicines may be contained in the same package.

Medicine packaging 7 is made by packaging individual doses of medication using a known medication packaging device (not shown). The medication packaging device dispenses and packages powdered or solid medication from a powder or solid medication supply unit based on input prescription data. The medication packaging 7 also has a specified printing pattern.

The medicine packages 7 are discharged as a long, continuous band-like medicine package strip 8 as shown in FIG. 2(a).
The medicine packaging strip 8 has an information printing section 10 at the front on which prescription information is printed, followed by a number of medicine packages 7 connected together.
The information printing section 10 has the name of the recipient, the name of the prescribed drug, the prescribed amount, etc. printed in the form of a two-dimensional barcode or the like.
Each drug package 7 is also provided with drug package identification information that identifies the drug package 7. That is, each drug package 7 has written thereon, in a visible position as drug package identification information, a recipient identification mark 11 that identifies the recipient and a dosing timing identification mark 12 that identifies the timing of dosing.
Specifically, the name of the user, "Muramatsu," is printed as the user identification mark 11. Furthermore, words such as "morning" or "afternoon" are displayed as the dosing timing identification mark 12. These words and characters distinguish each medicine package 7 from the others.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, a user usage specification pattern 15 is displayed as drug packaging specification information that can identify each drug package 7. That is, the user usage specification pattern 15 is displayed as a recipient specification indicator and a dosage timing specification indicator. The user usage specification pattern 15 is a two-dimensional barcode. The two-dimensional barcode that is the user usage specification pattern 15 has written therein information that can identify the recipient and the dosage timing. The two-dimensional barcode also distinguishes each drug package 7 from others. Therefore, the two-dimensional barcode (user usage specification pattern 15) functions as drug packaging specification information that identifies the drug package 7. The two-dimensional barcode (user usage specification pattern 15) is one of the identifiers that identify the drug package 7.
Here, "being able to identify the user and the timing of taking the medicine" includes not only the case where the information is written directly in the user usage specification pattern 15, but also the case where information on the user and the timing of taking the medicine can be searched for from other information sources using the identifier included in the user usage specification pattern 15 as a key.

The medicine packages 7 are cut from the medicine packaging band 8 and placed in the corresponding medicine storage sections 3 of the medication calendar 1 by a pharmacist or the like.
As mentioned above, the medicine storage section 3 is transparent, so when the medicine packaging 7 is placed in the medicine storage section 3, the recipient specific display 11, the dosing timing specific display 12, and the user usage specific pattern 15 (identifier) can be seen from the outside, as shown in Figure 3(b).

Next, the medicine placement confirmation system 16 of the first embodiment will be described.
The medicine placement confirmation system 16 is mainly composed of a mobile terminal 20 and a headquarters device 21 .
The mobile terminal 20 is an electronic terminal that can be carried by a user, such as a portable computer such as a notebook computer, a smartphone, or a mobile phone. These may also have external accessories attached. For example, a notebook computer, a smartphone, a mobile phone, or the like with an external barcode reader attached may be used as the mobile terminal 20.
5, the mobile terminal 20 has a built-in or external camera (photographing means) 18 and has a photographing function. The mobile terminal 20 also has a built-in computer 22. The built-in computer 22 of the mobile terminal 20 has a built-in CPU 23 and a built-in storage means 25.

The storage means 25 of the computer 22 of the mobile terminal 20 stores a computer program that functions as a comparison means 28 .
That is, it has the function of comparing the layout information of the medicine packaging obtained by the camera (photographing means) 18 with the regular position information obtained from the headquarters device 21.
The mobile terminal 20 also has a communication means 26 and can communicate with the headquarters device 21 via the Internet or the like.

5, the headquarters device 21 is a device mainly including a computer 27. The computer 27 of the headquarters device 21 includes a CPU 30 and a storage means 31.
The storage means 31 of the headquarters device 21 functions as a medicine package arrangement information storage means 33 .
The medicine package arrangement information storage means 33 stores, as normal position information, information regarding the layout of each medicine package 7 when it is correctly contained in the medicine storage section 3 corresponding to the medication calendar 1. That is, the storage means 31 stores, for a plurality of medicine setting devices, normal position information of the medicine package 7 when each medicine package 7 is correctly contained in the medicine storage section 3 corresponding to the medicine setting device (medication calendar 1, etc.). In other words, the storage means 31 stores, for a plurality of medicine setting devices, the positional relationship between the medicine setting device (medication calendar 1, etc.) and the medicine package 7 when each medicine package 7 is correctly contained in the medicine setting device (medication calendar 1, etc.).
In other words, the storage unit 31 stores an identifier for identifying the medicine package 7, an identifier of the medicine setting device indicated by the medicine setting device identification display 17, and regular position information in association with each other.

For example, the type and layout of which medicine setting device (medication calendar 1, etc.) is for whom or for which facility, when it is to be used, etc. are stored in the medicine package placement information storage means 33. Furthermore, the medicine package placement information storage means 33 stores which medicine container 3 contains the medicine package 7 according to the prescription.
For example, it is stored that a medicine package 7 to be taken "monthly morning" is stored at the intersection of the "month" axis and the "morning" axis as shown in Figure 3, and a medicine package 7 to be taken "monthly afternoon" is stored at the intersection of the "month" axis and the "afternoon" axis as shown in Figure 3.
Information about the medicine container 3 of the medicine setting device that does not contain the medicine package 7 (information indicating that the chamber is empty) is also stored.
For example, if there are days when the medicine is not taken or times when the medicine is not taken (morning, afternoon, etc.), this information is also stored in the storage means 31.
In accordance with the embodiment, patient Muramatsu is prescribed not to take medicine on Friday nights, so as shown in Figure 3, the medicine storage section 3A at the position corresponding to Friday night for Muramatsu on medication calendar 1 is empty.
Information that it is Friday for Muramatsu on the medication calendar 1 and the medicine storage section 3 at the position corresponding to night is vacant is also stored in the storage means 31.

Furthermore, the normal position information of the drug package 7 when each drug package 7 is correctly contained in the drug container 3 stores the relative positions such as the distance and angle between each drug container 3 and each drug package 7, as well as the positional relationship with the base material 2. That is, not only the relative relationships between each drug container 3 and each drug package 7, but also the relative relationships between the base material 2 and each drug container 3 and each drug package 7 are stored as normal position information.
That is, not only the matrix in which each medicine containing section 3 and each medicine package 7 are formed, but also the location of each medicine containing section 3 and each medicine package 7 on the base material 2 is stored.

The correct position information may also be information that associates an identifier that identifies the medicine package 7 with the position information of the medicine package 7 when the medicine package 7 is correctly stored.
The normal position information indicates the relative positional relationship between the base material 2 and the drug package 7. Specifically, it indicates the vertical and horizontal distances from a predetermined position on the base material 2 (e.g., any of the four corners of the base material 2) to a predetermined position on the drug package 7 (e.g., any of the four corners of the drug package 7 or the user-specific usage pattern 15) when the drug package 7 is contained in the drug container 3. Instead of the predetermined position on the drug package 7, a predetermined position on the drug container 3 where the drug package 7 should be contained (e.g., any of the four corners of the drug container 3) may be used.
The information about the vacant chamber is, for example, the vertical and horizontal distances from a predetermined position on the base material 2 to a predetermined position on the medicine container 3 that is to become the vacant chamber.

Next, the functions of the medicine placement confirmation system 16 of this embodiment will be described along with the usage procedure.
The user carries the medication calendar 1 containing the medication package 7 to the patient's home, hospital, facility, etc. Here, the user carries the mobile terminal 20. Meanwhile, the central device 21 is placed in the pharmacy.
Then, the user uses the photographing means 18 of the mobile terminal 20 to photograph the medication calendar 1 containing the medicine package 7, as shown in FIG. 3(a).
In principle, the entire medication calendar 1 is photographed from the front as one screen.

When photographing, a predetermined position of the base material 2 is included in the photographing range so that it can be determined whether the positional relationship between the medicine package 7 and the base material 2 corresponds to the normal position information.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the camera (photographing means) 18 of the mobile terminal 20 displays a rectangular frame 200 on the monitor screen.
As shown in Figure 4(b), the shutter is released when each side of the medication calendar 1 is approximately aligned with the frame 200. Note that an error occurs if the image of the medication calendar 1 extends beyond the frame 200 as shown in Figure 4(c), or if the image of the medication calendar 1 is too small for the frame 200 as shown in Figure 4(d).

The computer 22 of the portable terminal 20 then analyzes the two-dimensional barcode of the photographed setting tool identification display 17 and identifies the photographed medication calendar 1 based on the identifier or identification information contained in the two-dimensional barcode. The information is then transmitted to the computer 27 of the headquarters device 21 via the communication means 26 of the portable terminal 20, received by the communication means 32 of the headquarters device 21, and input into the computer 27 of the headquarters device 21.
It is also possible to directly transmit the information on the two-dimensional barcode of the photographed set tool identification display 17 to the computer 27 of the headquarters device 21, and have the headquarters device 21 analyze the two-dimensional barcode.

The computer 27 of the headquarters device 21 then identifies the medication calendar 1 corresponding to the identifier of the medication set device indicated by the medication set device identification display obtained by analyzing the two-dimensional barcode, and further reads out the normal position information of the identified medication calendar 1 from the storage means 31, which is the medication package placement information storage means 33.
The read normal position information is then sent to the computer 22 of the portable terminal 20 via the communication means 26 , 32 and temporarily stored in the storage means 25 of the portable terminal 20 .

Furthermore, the computer 22 of the mobile terminal 20 acquires information on the actual layout of each medicine package from the captured image.
Specifically, the characters of the photographed recipient identification display 11 and the characters of the dosage timing identification display are analyzed, and their arrangement is further detected. The arrangement includes the relative positions of the drug packages 7, such as the distance and angle between them, as well as the positional relationship between each drug package 7 and each drug storage section 3. The arrangement also includes the positional relationship between each drug package 7 and the base material 2. In other words, it includes the relationship of where each drug package 7 is located on the base material 2.

For example, the captured image is analyzed, and the vertical and horizontal distances from a predetermined position (e.g., a side or corner) on the base material 2 to the position of each drug package 7 are determined. A mark or the like may be attached to the predetermined position on the base material 2 so that the computer 22 can identify the position from the captured image.

The position of the medicine package 7 here refers to, for example, the position on the image of the medicine package specific information (user usage specific pattern 15) attached to the medicine package 7.
The computer 22 associates the position of each medicine package 7 with the medicine package identification information (identifier) attached to that medicine package 7 .
That is, the photographed plurality of medicine packages 7 are individually identified by their respective medicine package identification information (identifiers), and the positions of the medicine packages 7 on the substrate 2 are identified.

The computer 22 of the portable terminal 20 then compares the actual layout of each medicine package obtained from the captured image with the regular position information temporarily stored in the storage means 25 of the portable terminal 20 .
In particular, the actual layout of each drug package 7 is compared with the positional relationship between each drug package 7 and each drug storage section 3, as determined by the normal position information temporarily stored in the storage means 25 of the mobile terminal 20. That is, the information regarding the position of each drug package 7 on the base material 2, as temporarily stored in the storage means 25 of the mobile terminal 20, is compared with the actual position of the drug package 7 relative to the base material 2.
If the two match, a message is displayed on the mobile terminal 20 indicating that the arrangement of each medicine package 7 is correct, and if the two differ, a message to that effect is displayed to notify the user.
Specifically, if the position and identifier of each photographed drug package 7 match the position and identifier of the drug package 7 that should be there, a display will be displayed on the mobile terminal 20 indicating that the arrangement of each drug package 7 is correct, and if the two differ, a display will be displayed to notify the user.
Of course, the criteria for determining whether the two match are not limited to a perfect match, and some discrepancy is also acceptable.
This is because the medicine container 3 is larger than the medicine package 7, and even if the medicine package 7 is properly contained in the medicine container 3, the position of the medicine package 7 is not constant.

If a medicine package 7 is detected at or near the position indicated by the vacant room information, a message is displayed indicating that a medicine package 7 is contained in the medicine container 3 that should be made vacant.
According to this embodiment, each drug package 7 is held on the correct base material 2 (drug setting device), and it is confirmed that each drug package 7 is correctly stored in the correct position.

In the above embodiment, the computer program functioning as the comparison means 28 was stored in the storage means 25 of the computer 22 of the mobile terminal 20, but it may also be stored in the computer 27 of the headquarters device 21 and then imported. The comparison process may also be executed by the computer 27 of the headquarters device 21.

In the above embodiment, the two-dimensional barcode on the set tool identification display 17 was analyzed to identify the photographed medication calendar 1, but conversely, the medication calendar 1 to be stored may be identified from the user usage specification pattern 15 on the medication packaging 7, and the correct position information for the medication calendar 1 may be read by the computer 27 of the headquarters device 21. Alternatively, the medication calendar 1 to be stored and the information on the position where it should be stored may be read directly from the user usage specification pattern 15 on the medication packaging 7.

In the first embodiment described above, a first type of personal medication calendar is used as a medicine setting device, but the second and third types of medicine setting devices described above can also be used.
6 and 7 show a second type of medication setting device (medication calendar 40) that utilizes a daily medication calendar.
The medication calendar 40 is a one-day medication calendar for multiple users, with the days of the week when medication should be taken written in large letters. In the medication calendar 40, the medication containers 3 are arranged in a matrix formed by the names of users and the timing of medication, and the medication containers 3 are located in specific positions determined based on the users and the timing of medication.
The medication calendar 40 also has a set tool identification mark 17 for identifying the medication calendar 40 at a visible position in the upper left corner.
In addition, information specifying which facility the medication calendar 40 is to be used in is written in the set tool specification display 17.

In this embodiment, the two-dimensional barcode also provides information identifying the format of the medication calendar 40 and the facility in which it will be used, but all or part of this information may also be identified by characters written on the base material 2.
The format of the medication calendar 40 may also be identified by performing graphic recognition on the arrangement of patients written on the base material 2, characters such as "morning" indicating the timing of medication, and their layout.
In this case, to identify the user, the names "Muramatsu,""Hayata,""Arashi,""Fuji,""Ide,""Kirishima," and "Moroboshi" are used as the user identification display 11, and the characters such as "morning" indicating the timing of administration and the layout function as the administration timing identification display 12.

8 and 9 show a third type of medicine setting device (medication calendar 41) that utilizes a medication calendar for different times of administration.
The medication calendar 41 also has a plurality of medication storage sections arranged in a matrix. In the medication calendar 41, the patient's name is written near the medication storage section 3, and the medication storage section 3 is located in a specific position determined based on the recipient and the timing of administration.
The medication calendar 41 also has a set tool identification mark 17 for identifying the medication calendar 41 at a visible position in the upper left corner.
In addition, information specifying which facility the medication calendar 41 is to be used in is written in the set tool specification display 17.

In this embodiment, the two-dimensional barcode also provides information identifying the format of the medication calendar 41 and the facility where it will be used, but all or part of this information may also be identified by text written on the base material 2.

Next, referring to FIG. 2(b) and FIGS. 10 to 12, a second embodiment will be described, which allows the user to visually check whether the medicine package is in the correct position.
In the second embodiment, a drug packaging strip 50 as shown in Fig. 2(b) is used. The drug packaging strip 50 has an information printing section 10 on which prescription information is printed at the beginning, followed by a drug package placement information storage means 51, and then a number of drug packages 52.

The medicine package arrangement information storage means 51 is a pattern having a large number of squares. In the second embodiment, there are 33 squares. Some of these squares correspond to the medicine containers 3. Some of the squares other than the four corners are blank, while others are filled in.
The four filled corners are intended to enable the computer 22 to recognize the position of the medicine package arrangement information storage unit 51 from the image of the medication calendar 55 photographed by the photographing means 18.
The states of the squares other than the four corners represent ON or OFF. In the second embodiment, blank squares represent ON, and filled squares represent OFF.
The state of the squares indicates whether or not the medicine container 3 contains a medicine package 7, and a filled square indicates a medicine container 3 that should be empty (vacant room indication).

Cells 1 to 28 of the medication package placement information storage means 51 indicate whether or not a medication package 7 should be placed in each of the 28 medication storage sections 3 of the medication calendar 55. Specifically, cell 1 of the medication package placement information storage means 51 indicates whether or not a medication package 7 should be placed in "Monthly Morning" on the medication calendar 55, cell 2 of the medication package placement information storage means 51 indicates whether or not a medication package 7 should be placed in "Monthly Afternoon" on the medication calendar 55, cell 27 of the medication package placement information storage means 51 indicates whether or not a medication package 7 should be placed in "Daily Evening" on the medication calendar 55, and cell 28 of the medication package placement information storage means 51 indicates whether or not a medication package 7 should be placed in "Daily Before Bed" on the medication calendar 55.

As shown in Figure 12, the drug packaging 52 used in the second embodiment also has the above-mentioned recipient specific marking 11, dosing timing specific marking 12, and user usage specific pattern 15 printed on it.
In addition, the medicine package 52 employed in the second embodiment displays a medicine storage section designation mark 60 and a graphic piece 61. The graphic piece 61 is a part of a specific shape such as a circle, triangle, or square.
The shape of the graphic piece 61 varies for each medicine package 52 .
The graphic piece 61 is preferably printed by the medicine packaging device.

The medicine container designation display 60 is a graphic formed of a plurality of squares, and in this embodiment, there are nine squares.
In this embodiment, there are blank squares and filled squares. The squares display binary numbers. That is, the filled squares and blank squares represent binary numbers. The medicine container designation display 60 is different for each medicine package 7.

The medication calendar (medication setting device) 55 shown in Figs. 10 and 11 is a first type of personal medication calendar, and has the same configuration as the previous embodiment.
The medication calendar 55 employed in the second embodiment additionally has a location information setting pocket 57 .
12, a graphic piece 63 is displayed on each medicine container 3. The graphic piece 63 is a part of a specific graphic such as a circle, triangle, or square.
When a correct medicine package 52 is inserted, the graphic pieces 63 of each medicine container 3 match with each other to form a specific shape as shown in FIG. 12(b).

Furthermore, a medicine containing unit identification mark 65 is printed near each medicine containing unit 3. The graphic of medicine containing unit identification mark 65 is the same as medicine containing unit designation mark 60 on medicine package 52. Therefore, medicine containing unit identification mark 65 is different for each medicine containing unit 3.
The medicine containing unit identifying mark 65 of each medicine containing unit 3 is the same as the medicine containing unit identifying mark 60 of the medicine package 52 to be inserted therein.

In the second embodiment, the medicine package placement information storage means 51 is cut out and inserted into a placement information setting pocket 57 of the medication calendar 55. The placement information setting pocket 57 is transparent, and the medicine package placement information storage means 51 can be seen from the outside.
The medicine packages 52 are inserted into the corresponding medicine containers 3. When the medicine packages 52 are truly placed in the corresponding medicine containers 3, the graphic pieces 61 of the medicine packages 52 and the graphic pieces 63 of the respective medicine containers 3 combine to form a specific shape.
Furthermore, since the graphic of the medicine containing unit designation mark 60 on the medicine package 52 and the graphic of the medicine containing unit identification mark 65 on each medicine containing unit 3 are the same, any mistake is easily noticeable.

In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the photographing means 18 of the mobile terminal 20 is used to photograph the medication calendar 55 containing the medication package 52, and the comparison means 28 compares this with the normal position information obtained from the headquarters device 21 to determine whether the position of the medication package 52 is correct.
In the second embodiment, in addition to the above judgment method, the figure (vacant room display) of the medicine package placement information storage means 51 is recognized, and it is confirmed that there are no medicine packages 52 in the medicine storage section 3, which should be vacant.
That is, the camera (photographing means) 18 of the mobile terminal 20 is used to photograph the medication calendar 55 with the medication package 52 attached. By photographing, the figure (vacant room indication) in the medication package arrangement information storage means 51 is recognized, and the medication container 3 that should be vacant is confirmed.
Then, by referring to the information on the actual layout of each medicine package 52 obtained from the photographed image, it is confirmed whether or not there is a medicine package 52 in the medicine container section 3 that should be empty.
If there is a medicine package 52 in the medicine container 3 that should be empty, some kind of error message is displayed to notify the user.

Specifically, the camera (photographing means) 18 of the mobile terminal 20 is used to photograph the medication calendar 55 with the medication package 52 attached. The photographed area is set so that the medication placement information storage means 51 and the predetermined positions of the base material 2 are included.
Mobile terminal 20 recognizes the figure in medicine package arrangement information storage means 51 by photographing, and confirms the medicine storage units 3 that should be vacant and the medicine storage units 3 that should store medicine packages 7. The positional relationship between each medicine storage unit specific display 65 near each medicine storage unit 3 and a predetermined position on base material 2 is stored in advance in storage means 25.
From the positional relationship, mobile terminal 20 identifies the position of medicine container unit identifying mark 65 on the captured image that is attached near medicine container unit 3 that is to contain medicine package 7. Mobile terminal 20 determines whether or not there is a medicine container unit designation mark 60 with a shape corresponding to each identified medicine container unit identifying mark 65 near that mark 65 on the captured image.
If there is a drug storage unit designation display 60 of a shape corresponding to each identified drug storage unit specific display 65 near that display 65, the mobile terminal 20 determines that the drug packaging is correctly stored, and if there is no such display, it notifies the user that the drug packaging is not correctly stored.
Furthermore, portable terminal 20 identifies the position of medicine containing unit identifying indicator 65 attached near medicine containing units 3 that should be vacant. Portable terminal 20 notifies of an error if any medicine containing unit designating indicator 60 is present near each identified medicine containing unit identifying indicator 65 on the captured image.

The computer 22 of the mobile terminal 20 also analyzes the captured image and compares the graphic of the drug storage unit designation display 60 on each drug package 52 with the graphic of the drug storage unit identification display 65 on each drug storage unit 3. If the two are not identical, some kind of error message is displayed.

In the second embodiment, a layout comparison confirmation is used in which the actual layout information of each drug package 52 obtained by photographing is compared with the normal position information obtained from the headquarters device 21 to determine whether the position of the drug package 52 is correct, and an individual confirmation is used in which the graphic of the drug storage unit designation display 60 of each drug package 52 is compared with the graphic of the drug storage unit specific display 65 of each drug storage unit 3.
However, even if an individual check is performed by comparing the graphic of the drug storage section designation mark 60 of each drug package 52 with the graphic of the drug storage section specific mark 65 of each drug storage section 3, it is possible to detect with a considerable probability that the drug package 52 has been placed incorrectly.
Furthermore, by simply using the graphic recognition of the drug package placement information storage means 51 and checking for available spaces based on the information on the actual layout of each drug package 52 obtained from the captured image, it is possible to detect with a considerable degree of probability that drug packages 52 have been placed incorrectly.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the two-dimensional barcode (user usage specific pattern 15) serving as drug packaging specific information on the drug packaging 7 contains information identifying the user and the timing of administration. In addition to this, it is also recommended to write drug package/setting equipment related information relating to the relationship between the drug packaging 7 and the medication calendars 1, 40, 41, 55 that should hold it (third embodiment).
For example, as the medicine package/setting tool-related information, information specifying the medication calendar 1 that each medicine package 7 is to hold is written directly into the two-dimensional barcode (user usage-specific pattern 15) of the medicine package 7. Specifically, information is written that can specify the type of medication calendar 1 that each medicine package 7 is to hold, who the medication calendar 1 is for, and when it is to be used. Alternatively, the medication calendar 1 may have a serial number or code, and the information may directly identify the number or code of the medication calendar 1 that each medicine package 7 is to hold. In short, the medicine package/setting tool-related information that can be used to trace the medication calendar 1 that each medicine package 7 is to hold is written into the two-dimensional barcode of the medicine package 7.

Furthermore, set position related information relating to the position of the drug package 7 to be held in the medication calendar 1, 40, 41, 55 may also be written directly into the two-dimensional barcode (user usage specific pattern 15) of the drug package 7.
For example, among the information corresponding to the normal position information stored in the aforementioned medicine package placement information storage means 33, information regarding the location where the medicine package should be stored is written in a two-dimensional barcode (user usage specific pattern 15).
For example, the two-dimensional barcode indicates at which position on the base material 2 the drug packaging 7 is held, and how far away the drug packaging 7 is held from multiple reference positions such as the top edge or side edge of the base material 2.
Of course, information related to the medicine package and the setting device and information related to the setting position may be written in a barcode, symbol, character, etc. separate from the user usage specification pattern 15.

With this configuration (third embodiment), it is possible to directly check whether the drug package 7 is accurately contained in the medication calendars 1, 40, 41, and 55 without relying on the medication package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21.

In the third embodiment, the user also uses the photographing means 18 of the mobile terminal 20 to photograph the medication calendar 1, 40, 41, 55, etc. containing the medication package 7. The photographing method is the same as that described above, and the shutter is released when each side of the medication calendar 1 is approximately aligned with the frame 200, as shown in Figure 4(b). Alternatively, when photographing, a predetermined reference position of the base material 2 is included in the photographing range so that it can be determined whether the positional relationship between the medication package 7 and the base material 2 corresponds to the normal position information.
For example, the medication calendar 1 contains a large number of medicine packages 7, and a large number of medicine packages 7 are photographed by the photographing means 18.
In the third embodiment, the two-dimensional barcode of each photographed drug package 7 is individually analyzed, and the drug package 7 is identified from the information identifying the drug package calendar contained in the drug package/set-device related information of each drug package 7.
On the other hand, the medication calendar that actually contains the medication package 7 is identified from the set tool identification display 17 of the medication calendar being photographed. Then, the two are compared to determine whether each medication package 7 is contained in the correct medication calendar.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the two-dimensional barcode of each photographed medicine package 7 is individually analyzed, and the position of the medicine package 7 to be held in the medication calendar 1 is identified.
On the other hand, the position of each drug package 7 relative to the base material 2 is detected from the captured image. The two images are then compared to determine whether each drug package 7 is contained in the correct position.

In the third embodiment, the drug placement confirmation system includes information on the drug package/setting device and the setting position information attached to the drug package 7, the drug package/setting device information including information identifying the drug setting device 1, 40, 41, or 55 that should hold the drug package 7, and the setting position information including information on the position of the drug package that should be held in the drug setting device 1, 40, 41, or 55.

In the third embodiment, medication package identification information is not used to determine whether the medication package 7 is contained in the correct medication container 3 of the correct medication calendar 1, so the user usage identification pattern 15 does not need to include medication package identification information.

The drug package/setting tool-related information relating to the relationship between the drug package 7 and the medication calendar 1, 40, 41, 55 that should hold it may be attached to the medication calendar 1. That is, information regarding which drug package 7 the medication calendar 1, 40, 41, 55 should hold may be attached to any part of the medication calendar 1. For example, it may be written in the two-dimensional barcode of the setting tool identification display 17 (fourth embodiment).
Set position related information relating to the position of the medicine package 7 may also be attached to the medication calendar 1 side.

That is, the position on the medication calendar 1, 40, 41, 55 where each drug package 7 is held may be marked anywhere on the medication calendar 1. As specific information, information associating drug package identification information with position information may be marked anywhere on the medication calendar 1. For example, this may be written in a two-dimensional barcode on the set tool identification display 17.
When medication calendar 1 is provided with information related to the medication package/setting tool and setting position, the information is compared with the medication package identification information provided on the medication package 7 to determine whether each medication package 7 is contained in the correct position.
In this case, it is not necessary to add the set tool identification information to the medication calendar. Furthermore, the medicine package/set tool related information does not need to include information identifying the medication calendar to which the medicine package/set tool related information is added. It is sufficient that the medicine package/set tool related information includes at least information identifying the drug package 7 to be contained in the medication calendar.

In the fourth embodiment, the drug package/setting device related information and setting position related information are attached to the medication calendars 1, 40, 41, and 55. The drug package/setting device related information includes information identifying the drug package 7 to be held in the medication calendars 1, 40, 41, and 55, and the setting position related information includes information on the position of the drug package to be held in the drug setting device 1, 40, 41, and 55. This is a drug placement confirmation system.

Either the medicine package/setting device related information or the setting position related information may be attached to the medication calendar 1, 40, 41, 55, and the other may be attached to the medicine packaging 7.

Furthermore, the headquarters device 21 may be utilized as in the first embodiment.
The fifth embodiment of the drug placement confirmation system simplifies the process of writing information related to the drug package and set of items, for example, to a two-dimensional barcode on the drug package 7, and uses the information related to the drug package and set of items on the drug package 7 as a search key to identify the relevant medication calendar from the drug package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21.
On the other hand, the medication calendar that actually contains the medication package 7 is identified from the set tool identification display 17 of the medication calendar being photographed. Then, the two are compared to determine whether each medication package 7 is contained in the correct medication calendar.

Furthermore, the set position related information written to the two-dimensional barcode or the like of the drug package 7 is made simpler, and the set position related information is used as a search key to read out the position of the drug package 7 relative to the base material 2 from the drug package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21.
On the other hand, the position of each drug package 7 relative to the base material 2 is detected from the captured image. The two images are then compared to determine whether each drug package 7 is contained in the correct position.

The drug placement confirmation system of the fifth embodiment has a drug package placement information storage means 33, which stores combination information of the drug package 7 and the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55 in which the drug package 7 is held, and the relative positions of the drug package 7 held in the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55 and the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55.
The fifth embodiment is a drug placement confirmation system in which drug package/setting device related information and setting position related information are attached to the drug packaging 7, and information is read from the drug package placement information storage means 33 based on the drug package/setting device related information and setting position related information.
In addition, the fifth embodiment is a drug placement confirmation system in which drug package/setting device related information and setting position related information are attached to the drug packaging 7, and information is read from the drug package placement information storage means 33 based on the drug package/setting device related information and setting position related information.
Moreover, the fifth embodiment can be said to determine whether or not each drug package 7 is contained in the correct position based on the set tool identification display and the drug package identification information.

Furthermore, as in the first embodiment, the headquarters device 21 may be utilized to add information related to the medicine package and the set device and information related to the set position to the medication calendar 1 (sixth embodiment).
For example, the drug package/set-related information written in the two-dimensional barcode of the medication calendar 1 can be made simpler, and the drug package/set-related information of the medication calendar 1 can be used as a search key to identify the drug package 7 to be retained from the drug package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21.

Furthermore, the set position related information written in the two-dimensional barcode of the medication calendar 1 is made simpler, and the set position related information is used as a search key to read out the position of the drug package 7 relative to the base material 2 from the drug package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21.
On the other hand, the position of each drug package 7 relative to the base material 2 is detected from the captured image. The two images are then compared to determine whether each drug package 7 is contained in the correct position.

In the sixth embodiment, there is also a drug package placement information storage means 33, which stores combination information of the drug package and the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55 in which the drug package is held, as well as the relative positions of the drug package 7 held in the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55 and the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55.
The sixth embodiment is a drug placement confirmation system in which drug package/setting device related information and setting position related information are attached to drug setting devices 1, 40, 41, and 55, and information is read from drug package placement information storage means 33 based on the drug package/setting device related information and setting position related information.

Even when utilizing the headquarters device 21, either the medicine package/setting tool related information or the setting position related information may be attached to the medication calendar 1, 40, 41, 55, and the other may be attached to the medicine package 7 side.
In addition, either the medicine package/setting device related information or the setting position related information may be simple.

Furthermore, the medication packages 7 and medication calendar 1 may not be provided with medication package/setting tool-related information or setting position-related information. Instead, medication packages 7 may simply be provided with medication package identification information that identifies each medication package 7, and the medication calendar 1 may be provided with a setting tool identification display 17. These may then be used as search keys to read out the necessary information from the medication package placement information storage means 33 (seventh embodiment).

For example, the drug package identification information of each drug package 7 or the identifier of the drug package 7 read from the two-dimensional barcode which is the user usage specific pattern 15 is used as a search key to read out drug package/setting tool related information and setting position related information from the drug package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21.
Alternatively, the medication calendar 1 uses an identifier indicating a specific medication calendar 1 read from a two-dimensional barcode that is a set tool identification display 17 as a search key to read out information related to the medication package and set tool and information related to the set position from the medication package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21.

In the seventh embodiment, for example, each drug package 7 may simply be provided with drug package identification information, which is an identifier that identifies each drug package 7. In the seventh embodiment, the identifier of each drug package 7 is read by photographing with the photographing means 18. Since the drug package 7 is identified by the identifier, the medication calendar 1 that should hold the drug package 7 corresponding to the identifier is identified from the drug package placement information storage means 33 for each photographed drug package 7, and information (normal position information) regarding the layout when each drug package 7 is correctly contained in the corresponding drug storage section 3 of the medication calendar 1 is obtained from the drug package placement information storage means 33.
The medication calendar 1 also has a set tool identification mark 17 that is an identifier for the medication set tool. In the seventh embodiment, the medication calendar 1 identified for each medication package 7 is compared with the set tool identification mark 17 on the photographed medication calendar to confirm the relationship between the medication package 7 and the medication calendar 1.
Furthermore, the actual layout of each drug package obtained from the captured image is compared with the correct position information obtained from the drug package placement information storage means 33 to determine whether each drug package 7 is stored in the correct position.

In the seventh embodiment, drug packaging identification information that identifies the drug packaging 7 is attached in a visible position on the drug packaging 7, and drug setting devices 1, 40, 41, and 55 are attached in a visible position with a setting device identification display 17 that includes information that identifies the drug setting device 1, 40, 41, and 55.
The seventh embodiment also has a drug package placement information storage means 33, which stores combination information of the drug package 7 and the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55 in which the drug package 7 is held, and the relative positions of the drug package 7 held in the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55 and the drug set device 1, 40, 41, 55.
The seventh embodiment is a drug placement confirmation system in which an image of each drug package 7 contained in the drug storage section 3 of a drug set device 1, 40, 41, or 55 can be photographed by an imaging means 18, and information is read from a drug package placement information storage means 33 based on the photographed drug package identification information and a set device identification display 17, and the position of the photographed drug package 7 is compared to determine whether each drug package 7 held in the photographed drug set device 1, 40, 41, or 55 is properly contained in a position corresponding to the legitimate user of the drug set device and the timing of administration.

Either the medicine package/setting tool related information or the setting position related information may be read from the medicine package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21 using the identifier of the setting tool identification display 17 attached to the medication calendar 1, 40, 41, 55 as a search key, and the other may be read from the medicine package placement information storage means 33 of the headquarters device 21 using the medicine package identification information (e.g., identifier) of the medicine package 7 as a search key (eighth embodiment).

In the first to eighth embodiments described above, the medication calendar 1, etc., and the drug packaging 7, etc. attached thereto are associated with each other by the set tool identification display 17 and the drug package/set tool related information, but as a simpler measure, the set tool identification display 17 and the drug package/set tool related information may be eliminated, and the set position related information alone may be used to determine whether the drug packaging 7 is correctly stored in the correct position.
The following method can be used to check whether the medicine package 7 is contained in the correct medicine container 3 (ninth embodiment).
In the ninth embodiment, the set position related information is provided on the drug package 7. The set position related information is position information indicating at which position on the base material 2 the drug package 7 is held, for example, how far away the drug package 7 is held from a plurality of reference positions such as the top edge or side edge of the base material 2.

The set position related information is not limited to position information, and may, for example, specifically identify the medication storage unit 3 of the medication calendar 1, etc. For example, as in the medication packages 7 of a-1 and a-2 in Figure 14, the set position related information 70 may be characters or symbols that represent the matrix shape of the medication calendar, such as "row 2, number 2" or "2:2." Here, "row 2, number 2" or "2:2" refers to the second row from the top and the second column from the left on the medication calendar. For example, in the medication calendar 1 of Figure 1, this indicates the medication storage unit 3 that contains the medication package 7 for Tuesday afternoon. In addition, in the medication calendar 40 for multiple people such as Figure 6, this indicates the medication storage unit 3 that contains the medication package 7 that Hayata will take at noon. Similarly, in the medication calendar 41 of Figure 8, this indicates the medication storage unit 3 that contains the medication package 7 that Yamamoto will take.

14(b-1)(b-2) may be used as the set position related information 70, as long as it can identify the medicine containing unit 3. The number indicates the position when the medicine containing units 3 are numbered in order on a medication calendar, for example.
For example, if the set position related information 70 is number 6, for example, in the medication calendar 1 of Fig. 1, it indicates the medication storage section 3 that stores the medication package 7 for Tuesday afternoon. Also, in the medication calendar 40 for multiple people as shown in Fig. 6, it indicates the medication storage section 3 that stores the medication package 7 that Hayata will take at noon.
The set location related information 70 may be, for example, a bar code as shown in Fig. 14c. Alternatively, text such as "Tuesday morning" may be used as the set location related information.

In the ninth embodiment, the photographing means 18 of the mobile terminal 20 is also used to photograph the medication calendar 1 in which the medicine package 7 is already housed.
The actual layout information of each medicine package 7 is then obtained from the captured image, and it is confirmed whether each medicine package 7 is positioned as indicated in the set position relation information 70.
In the ninth embodiment, it is not possible to determine whether the medication calendar is appropriate, but it is possible to determine whether the medicine package 7 is in the correct position.

The ninth embodiment is a drug placement confirmation system in which set position related information 70 relating to the position of the drug package 7 to be held in the drug setting device 1 is attached to a visible position on the drug package 7, and an imaging means can capture an image of each drug package 7 contained in the drug storage section 3 of the drug setting device 1.The system determines whether each drug package 7 held in the photographed drug setting device 1 is properly contained in the drug setting device 1 based on the photographed set position related information 70 and the position of the photographed drug package.

In the first to ninth embodiments described above, the entire medication calendar 1 is photographed as a single image, but the medication calendar 1 may be photographed in sections. For example, each row or column may be photographed in order. Alternatively, each medication container may be photographed separately. For example, photographing may be performed in a zigzag pattern as shown by the arrows in FIG. 13.
In either case, the images are taken in a predetermined order and compared with the regular position information obtained from the headquarters device 21 in the predetermined order.

1, 40, 41, 55 Medication calendar (medication set)
3 Medicine storage section 7, 52 Medicine packaging 11 User identification mark 12 Dosage timing identification mark 15 User usage method identification pattern 16 Medicine placement confirmation system 17 Set tool identification mark 18 Camera (photographing means)
20 Portable terminal 21 Headquarters device 22 Computer 27 Computer 28 Comparison means 51 Medicine package arrangement information storage means 57 Arrangement information installation pocket 60 Medicine storage unit designation display 61 Graphic piece 63 Graphic piece 65 Medicine storage unit designation display 70 Set position related information

Claims (4)

A pharmaceutical packaging strip in which pharmaceutical packages are connected in a long strip shape, and the pharmaceutical packages are cut from the pharmaceutical packaging strip and placed in a pharmaceutical setting device;
The medicine setting device has a plurality of medicine storage sections, and medicine packages for recipients and dosing timings corresponding to the medicine storage sections are held in the medicine storage sections,
Information about the medicine container that should be empty is linked to the medicine package;
The medicine packaging strip has a number of medicine packages and a medicine package arrangement information storage means connected to it, and an information printing section on which prescription information is printed is at the front, followed by the medicine package arrangement information storage means, and then a number of medicine packages,
The medicine package arrangement information storage means stores information about medicine containers that should be empty,
the medicine package arrangement information storage means is a pattern having a number of squares, some of which correspond to medicine containers;
The state of the grid indicates whether or not a medicine package is placed in the medicine storage section,
A drug packaging strip characterized in that each drug package is provided with drug package identification information that identifies the drug package. A pharmaceutical packaging strip in which pharmaceutical packages are connected in a long strip shape, and the pharmaceutical packages are cut from the pharmaceutical packaging strip and placed in a pharmaceutical setting device;
The medicine setting device has a plurality of medicine storage sections, and medicine packages for recipients and dosing timings corresponding to the medicine storage sections are held in the medicine storage sections,
a medicine package placement information storage means for storing information indicating whether or not a medicine package is to be placed in the medicine storage section is connected to the medicine package band;
the medicine package arrangement information storage means is a pattern having a number of squares, some of which correspond to medicine containers;
The state of the grid indicates whether or not a medicine package is placed in the medicine storage section,
The information printing section on which prescription information is printed is at the beginning, followed by a medicine package arrangement information storage means, and then a number of medicine packages,
A drug packaging strip characterized in that each drug package is provided with drug package identification information that identifies the drug package. 3. The medicine packaging strip according to claim 1, further comprising a medicine container section designation mark for specifying the medicine container section to be held in the medicine package. 4. A medicine packaging device that dispenses and packages medicines based on input prescription data, characterized in that the medicine packaging device is capable of discharging the medicine packaging strip according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .