BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a drug refilling apparatus and a method of controlling
the same, and more particularly, to a drug refilling apparatus capable of allowing
only an administrator authenticated to justifiably access to put and refill various
shapes and sizes of drugs into drug cartridges and a method of controlling the drug
refilling apparatus..
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] Drugs generally used are manufactured to treat corresponding illnesses, kinds thereof
are various, and drugs are produced in various forms such as tablets, powders, and
parenteral injections.
[0003] To automatically keep and supply various shapes and kinds of drugs as described above,
drug supplying apparatuses have been developed.
[0004] Such drug supplying apparatuses keep drugs by using drug cartridges, and drugs kept
therein are discharged according to prescribing information and supplied to an administrator.
[0005] However, typically, while putting or supplementing drugs into drug cartridges, wrong
drugs are kept and drugs are wrongly administrated, thereby generating the misuse
of the drugs.
[0006] Particularly, in the case of narcotics, opioids, psychotropic drugs, when being given
to other patients who are not corresponding patients, patients taking the drugs may
be greatly damaged. Accordingly, it is necessary to set permissions for how users
access respective drugs to allow only an administrator having a justifiable right
to keep and administrate corresponding drugs.
[0007] Accordingly, to set permissions for administrators to access individual drugs and
to put or refill drugs into drug cartridges, it is needed to develop drug refilling
apparatuses allowing only an administrator authenticated to justifiably access to
put or refill the drugs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a drug refilling apparatus capable of refilling drug
cartridges formed in various shapes and sizes depending on shapes and sizes of drugs
and a method of controlling the apparatus.
[0009] The present invention also provides a drug refilling apparatus capable of determining
an access right of an administrator with respect to individual drugs and allowing
only an administrator whose access right is authenticated to refill a drug cartridge
with drugs and a method of controlling the apparatus.
[0010] The present invention also provides a drug refilling apparatus capable of providing
convenience of refilling a drug cartridge with drugs regardless of a position of a
cover of the drug cartridge and a method of controlling the apparatus.
[0011] The technical objects of the present invention are not limited to those described
above, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following
description that the present invention includes other technical objects not specifically
mentioned herein.
[0012] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drug refilling
apparatus including a main body on which a drug cartridge is mounted, a cartridge
mounting unit installed on a top surface of the main body to allow the drug cartridge
mounted thereon, an unfastening unit unfastening a fastened state of a cover included
in the drug cartridge, and a cartridge locking unit locking or unlocking the drug
cartridge while the drug cartridge is being mounted on the cartridge mounting unit.
[0013] The cartridge mounting unit may be installed in the main body to be pivotable with
a certain angle in such a way that the inside of the drug cartridge faces a direction
inclined upwardly with a horizontal direction as a reference when a cover installed
on an open surface of the drug cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting unit opens.
[0014] The cartridge mounting unit may include a position transfer part allowing whether
being pivotable to be determined depending on whether being coupled with the main
body according to position transfer due to an external force.
[0015] The position transfer part may include a first protrusion and a second protrusion
formed to be protruded to fix the cartridge mounting unit to the main body. The main
body may include a first protrusion-corresponding element and a second protrusion-corresponding
element corresponding to the first protrusion and the second protrusion, respectively.
The cartridge mounting unit may maintain horizontality when the first protrusion is
hanged on the first protrusion-corresponding element, may pivot after the first protrusion
is separated from the first protrusion-corresponding element by an external force,
and may maintain a pivoted state while the second protrusion is being hanged on the
second protrusion-corresponding element.
[0016] An end of the second protrusion-corresponding element, on which the second protrusion
is hanged, may be formed to be lower than an end of the first protrusion-corresponding
element, on which the first protrusion is hanged.
[0017] The apparatus may further include a guide driving unit selectively allowing a plurality
of guide elements provided on the cartridge mounting unit to ascend to correspond
to a shape of the drug cartridge.
[0018] The cartridge mounting unit may include a mounting plate in contact with a rear surface
of the drug cartridge and a seating plate, on which a bottom surface of the drug cartridge
is seated, and the seating plate may include an ascending slot to allow a plurality
of guide elements inserted into guide grooves formed on both sides of the drug cartridge
to ascend.
[0019] Ascending bars driven by the guide driving unit and insertion elements coupled with
bottom ends of the ascending bars and inserted into ascending-guiding grooves formed
on the guide driving unit may be provided below the guide elements.
[0020] The apparatus may further include a display unit installed on a front part of the
main body and displaying a menu screen for operations of refilling drugs and authentication
of an access right of an administrator, an input unit receiving a command by allowing
menus displayed on the display unit to be selected to perform a desired operation,
a communication module performing communication with a hospital server, and a control
unit controlling the guide driving unit, the unfastening unit, and the cartridge locking
unit to refill the drug cartridge with drugs when the access right of the administrator
is authenticated by the hospital server via the communication module.
[0021] The guide driving unit may include a motor driven according to a control signal of
the control unit, a length-variable element, whose length varies, connected to a driving
axis of the motor by a belt, a moving plate straightly reciprocating according to
a change of the length of the length-variable element, a moving bar, whose rear end
is coupled with the moving plate, straightly reciprocating, and a guide block coupled
with one side of a top of the moving plate and determining a mounting position of
the drug cartridge. The ascending-guiding grooves, into which the insertion elements
are inserted to ascend, may be formed on a side surface of the moving bar. The length-variable
element may be formed of as one pair of axes screw-coupled with each other in such
a way that a second axis is straightly moved by rotation of a first axis according
to driving of the motor, thereby changing the length thereof.
[0022] The apparatus may further include a movement detection unit detecting a moved position
of a bent bar coupled with a bottom of the moving plate to control motor-driving of
the guide driving unit. The movement detection unit may include one pair of photo
couplers installed to be separated from each other with an interval as a maximum moving
distance of the bent bar. The control unit may determine a rotation direction of the
motor according to a detection signal of the movement detection unit and may control
the motor to drive and to stop.
[0023] The drug cartridge may include a cartridge body formed in the shape of a box with
an open top, in which a space for keeping drugs is provided, a cover installed on
the open top of the cartridge body, a cover fastening unit fastening the cover, a
memory chip storing identification information given to the drug cartridge and information
on drugs kept inside the cartridge body, and a locking element formed to be protruded
backward to be coupled with the drug refilling apparatus. The drug refilling apparatus
may further include a memory chip recognizing the identification information and the
drug information stored in the memory chip.
[0024] The unfastening unit may include a motor driven according to a control of the control
unit and a key element coupled with a front end of a driving axis of the motor. The
key element may be coupled with a latch element of the cover fastening unit and may
rotate according to driving of the motor to allow the cover fastening unit to unfasten
the cover included in the drug cartridge to be open.
[0025] The cartridge locking unit may include a motor driven according to a control signal
of the control unit, a rotating element, whose cross section is formed in an oval
shape, rotating by rotating of the motor, a pressing element with a step formed on
a top end thereof, straightly reciprocating while being pressed by the rotating of
the rotating element, a hook element with a rear end axis-coupled with a bracket and
engaged with the step formed on the top of the pressing element, with a front end
engaged with the locking element of the drug cartridge, the hook element being rotated
while the pressing element is moving, and an elastic element supported by one side
of the pressing element and elastically deformed as the pressing element moves in
one direction to provide a restoring force to the pressing element.
[0026] The cartridge mounting unit may include a mounting plate in contact with the rear
surface of the drug cartridge and a seating plate on which the bottom surface of the
drug cartridge is seated. The memory recognition unit, the unfastening unit, and the
cartridge locking unit may be formed in the mounting plate.
[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method
of controlling a drug refilling apparatus. The method includes receiving information
of an administrator and authenticating an access right thereof, when the access right
of the administrator is authenticated, allowing one selected pair of guide elements
corresponding to a width of a drug cartridge to ascend, among a plurality of guide
elements provided on a cartridge mounting unit, to refill the drug cartridge managed
by the corresponding administrator, with drugs, mounting the drug cartridge between
the one pair of guide elements, and opening a cover of the drug cartridge and refilling
the drug cartridge with the drugs.
[0028] The method may further include, when the refilling the drug cartridge with the drugs
is finished, transmitting information of the drugs refilling the drug cartridge and
the information of the administrator to a hospital server, in which the hospital server
manages a stock of drugs in real time by using the information of the drugs refilling
the drug cartridge and the information of the administrator.
[0029] In the mounting the drug cartridge, identification information and drug information
stored in a memory chip of the drug cartridge may be transmitted to a hospital server
and authenticity of the drug cartridge is certified.
[0030] The opening the cover of the drug cartridge and refilling the drug cartridge with
the drugs may include allowing the cartridge mounting unit to pivot with a certain
angle to the main body before or after the cover is open in such a way that the cover
is open and the inside of the drug cartridge faces a direction inclined upwardly with
a horizontal direction as a reference, when the cover of the drug cartridge is installed
on an open surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become
more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference
to the attached drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a drug refilling apparatus and a drug cartridge
mounted thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block configuration view illustrating the drug cartridge of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view illustrating a configuration of a guide driving unit
of the drug cartridge of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state of coupling the guide driving
unit and guiding elements shown in FIG. 3;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are operation-state views illustrating operations of the guide driving
unit;
FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view illustrating a configuration of a movement detection
unit of the drug cartridge of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state of a rear cover separated
from the drug cartridge of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged views illustrating a state of coupling a fastening element
of the drug cartridge of FIG. 8 with a locking releasing unit of the drug refilling
apparatus and operations thereof;
FIGS. 11 and 12 are enlarged views illustrating a state of coupling a locking element
and a cartridge locking unit and operations thereof;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a drug refilling apparatus
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective views illustrating a drug refilling apparatus and
a drug cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a state of rotating a cartridge mounting
unit provided in a drug refilling apparatus according to another embodiment of the
present invention;
FIGS. 17 and 18 are configuration views illustrating states previous to rotating the
cartridge mounting unit provided in the drug refilling apparatus according to another
embodiment of the present invention;
FIGS. 19 and 20 are configuration views illustrating states for rotating the cartridge
mounting unit provided in the drug refilling apparatus according to another embodiment
of the present invention; and
FIGS. 21 and 22 are configuration views illustrating states of rotating the cartridge
mounting unit provided in the drug refilling apparatus according to another embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0032] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited
to the embodiments and a person skilled in the art understanding the spirit of the
present invention may easily invent other examples included within the technical scope
of the present invention through adding other elements or changing and deleting elements
within the same technical scope, which may be considered as being included in the
technical scope of the present invention. Also, the same reference numerals designate
the same elements throughout.
[0033] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a drug refilling apparatus 20 and a drug
cartridge 10 mounted thereon according to an embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 2 is a block configuration view illustrating the drug cartridge 10.
[0034] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view illustrating a configuration of a guide driving unit
50 of the drug cartridge 10, FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a
state of coupling the guide driving unit 50 and guide elements 43 shown in FIG. 3,
FIGS. 5 and 6 are operation-state views illustrating operations of the guide driving
unit 50, and FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view illustrating a configuration of a movement
detection unit 26 of the drug cartridge 10 of FIG. 3.
[0035] Also, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state of a rear cover
113 separated from the drug cartridge 10, FIGS. 9 and 10 are enlarged views illustrating
a state of coupling a fastening element 133 of the drug cartridge 10 shown in FIG.
8 with an unfastening unit 60 of the drug refilling apparatus 20 and operations thereof,
and FIGS. 11 and 12 are enlarged views illustrating a state of coupling a locking
element 15 and a cartridge locking unit 70 and operations thereof.
[0036] The drug refilling apparatus 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a main body
30, on which the drug cartridge 10 is mounted, a cartridge mounting unit 40 installed
on a top surface of the main body 30 to allow the drug cartridge 10 to be mounted
on, a guide driving unit 50 selectively ascending or descending a plurality of guide
elements 43 installed on the cartridge mounting unit 40 to correspond to a shape of
the drug cartridge 10, the unfastening unit 60 unfastening a cover 12 included in
the drug cartridge 10, and the cartridge locking unit 70 locking or unlocking the
drug cartridge 10 mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 40.
[0037] Together with this, the drug refilling apparatus 20 includes a display unit 21 installed
on a front part of the main body 30 and displaying a menu screen for authenticating
an access right of an administrator, an input unit 22 receiving a command to perform
a desired task by selecting a menu displayed on the display unit 21, a communication
module 23 performing communication with a hospital server 100, and a control unit
24 controlling operations of the guide driving unit 50, the unfastening unit 60, and
the cartridge locking unit 70 to allow drugs to be putted into or refill (hereinafter,
referred to as refill) the drug cartridge 10 when the access right of the administrator
is authenticated via the communication module 23.
[0038] The display unit 21 and an input unit 22 may be provided as a touch panel that simultaneously
performs inputting operations and displaying operations to display all kinds of menus
on a screen, to receive a command according to a touch of the administrator, and display
an operation state according to the corresponding command.
[0039] The display unit 21 may be provided as a display such as a liquid crystal display
(LCD) and a light emitting diode (LED) panel, and the input unit 22 may be provided
as a separate input unit such as a keyboard.
[0040] The control unit 24 communicates with the hospital server 100 via the communication
module 23, transmits an identification and a password of the administrator inputted
via the input unit 22 to the hospital server 100, and controls the guide driving unit
50 to drive to mount the drug cartridge 10 on the cartridge mounting unit 40 when
the authentication for the access right of the administrator is finished.
[0041] Also, the control unit 24 drives the unfastening unit 60 to open a cover 12 of the
drug cartridge 10 and controls driving of the cartridge locking unit 70 to detach
the drug cartridge 10 when filling with drugs is finished.
[0042] Together with this, the drug refilling apparatus 20 further includes a memory recognition
unit 25 electrically connected to a memory chip 14 (refer to FIG. 8) included in the
drug cartridge 10 and recognizing identification information and drug information
stored in the memory chip 14 and a movement detection unit 26 for controlling the
driving of the guide driving unit 50.
[0043] Accordingly, the control unit 24 controls the communication module 23 to transfer
the information recognized by the memory recognition unit 25 to the hospital server
100 and controls driving of a motor included in the guide driving unit 50 according
to a detection signal of the movement detection unit 26.
[0044] The main body 30, as shown in FIG. 1, is approximately formed in the shape of a box,
and the cartridge mounting unit 40, on which various shapes of the drug cartridges
10 are mounted, is provided on one side of a top of the main body 30.
[0045] On the front of the main body 30, a printed circuit board (PCB) where the display
unit 21, the input unit 22, the communication module 23, and the control unit 24 are
installed is installed.
[0046] The front of the main body 30 is formed to be inclined downwardly in such a way that
the administrator may easily check the screen of the display unit 21.
[0047] The cartridge mounting unit 40, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a mounting plate 41
in contact with a rear surface of the drug cartridge 10 and a seating plate 42 where
a bottom surface of the drug cartridge 10 is seated.
[0048] In this case, on the mounting plate 41, the memory recognition unit 25, the unfastening
unit 60, and the cartridge locking unit 70 are installed.
[0049] For this, on the mounting plate 41, the memory recognition unit 25 is installed and
a penetration hole 411 where a key element 62 of the unfastening unit 60 penetrates
and protruded and a coupling hole 412 coupled with the locking element 15 are formed.
[0050] On the seating plate 42, ascending slots 421 through which the plurality of guide
elements 43 coupled with guide grooves 115 (refer to FIG. 7) formed on both sides
of the drug cartridge 10 ascend are formed. On one side of the seating plate 42, a
moving slot (not shown) through which a moving plate 53 of the guide driving unit
50 moves is formed, which will be described below.
[0051] That is, in the present embodiment, since the drug cartridge 10 is manufactured in
various sizes to keep various shapes and sizes of drugs, one pair of the guide elements
43 among the plurality of guide elements 43 selectively ascends and stably mounts
the drug cartridge 10, the one pair of the guide elements 43 being installed with
an interval corresponding to a width of the corresponding drug cartridge 10.
[0052] For this, the guide elements 43, as shown in FIG. 1, are blocks formed to be extended
in a length direction of the drug cartridge 10 and top ends of the guide elements
43 are coupled with the guide grooves 115 formed on the both sides of the drug cartridge
10.
[0053] Also, below the guide elements 43, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, ascending bars 431
ascending-operated by the guide driving unit 50 and insertion elements 432 coupled
with bottom ends of the ascending bars 431 and inserted into ascending-guiding grooves
541 formed on a moving bar 54 of the guide driving unit 50, which will be described
below, are provided.
[0054] The guide driving unit 50, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a length-variable
element 52 connected to a driving axis of a motor 51 and having a variable length,
the moving plate 53 straightly reciprocating in a front and rear direction by rotation
of the length-variable element 52, and the moving bar 54 coupled with the moving plate
53 at a rear end thereof and straightly reciprocating.
[0055] The length-variable element 52 is provided as one pair of axes screw-coupled with
each other, in which a second axis is straightly moved by rotation of a first axis
driven by the motor 51, thereby changing the length thereof.
[0056] The moving plate 53 is vertically disposed and coupled with the length-variable element
52.
[0057] That is, the moving plate 53 straightly reciprocates in a horizontal direction according
to a change of the length of the length-variable element 52.
[0058] An upper part of the moving plate 53 is protruded upwardly via a moving hole formed
on the seating plate 42, and a guide block 55 is installed on one side of the upper
part of the moving plate 53.
[0059] The guide block 55 straightly reciprocates together with the moving plate 53 and
determines a reference position while being in contact with one side surface of the
drug cartridge 10 when the drug cartridge 10 is mounted.
[0060] On a side surface of the moving bar 54, as shown in FIG. 4, there is formed the ascending-guiding
grooves 541, into which the insertion elements 432 are inserted, the ascending-guiding
grooves 541 guiding the insertion elements 432 to vertically ascend.
[0061] The ascending-guiding grooves 541 are formed in the shape of arcs convex upwardly
or downwardly to allow the insertion elements 432 to be inserted and to ascend.
[0062] In FIGS. 3, 5, and 6, from left to right, the ascending-guiding grooves 541 include
a groove formed in the shape of an arc convex upwardly to allow one pair of the insertion
elements 432 to be inserted, a groove formed in the shape of an arc convex downwardly
to allow one pair of the insertion elements 432 to be inserted, a groove arched downwardly
to the right to allow one insertion element 432 to be inserted, and a groove formed
in the shape of an arc convex upwardly to allow one pair of the insertion elements
432 to be inserted.
[0063] However, the present invention is not limited thereto.
[0064] That is, various shapes of ascending-guiding grooves may be formed to allow one selected
pair of guiding elements to ascend to correspond to a width of a drug cartridge.
[0065] Accordingly, in the present embodiment, according to a shape of a drug cartridge
to be refilled with drugs, it is possible to stably mount the drug cartridge by allowing
one pair of guiding elements to ascend, the guiding elements being installed with
an interval corresponding to a width of the cartridge among a plurality of guiding
elements.
[0066] Together with this, inside the main body 30, as shown in FIG. 3, a fastening block
31 formed to be long in a longitudinal direction and a pair of guide bars 32 is installed
below the fastening block 31 with a certain interval from both sides of the fastening
block 31.
[0067] In this case, the fastening blocks 31 are formed by coupling one pair of blocks formed
to be symmetrical to each other and have a plurality of guiding grooves 311 guiding
the ascending bars 431 to ascend.
[0068] On the other hand, on a bottom surface of the main body 30, as shown in FIGS. 3 and
7, the movement detection unit 26 detecting a moved position of a bent bar 531 coupled
with a bottom of the moving plate 53 is installed.
[0069] In the present embodiment, the movement detection unit 26 includes one pair of photo
couplers installed separated from each other as a maximum moving distance of the bent
bar 531 and transmits a detection signal to the control unit 24 when a bottom end
of the bent 531 moves to any one of the photo couplers.
[0070] Accordingly, the control unit 24 determines a rotation direction of the motor 51
and transmits a driving signal to drive the guide driving unit 50 according to the
detection signal of the movement detection unit 26 and transmits a driving-stop signal
to stop driving the motor 51 and controls the driving of the motor 51.
[0071] Before describing configurations of the unfastening unit 60 and the cartridge locking
unit 70, a configuration of the drug cartridge 10 will be described in detail with
reference to FIG. 7.
[0072] The drug cartridge 10, as shown in FIG. 8, includes a cartridge body 11 formed in
the shape of a box with an open top with a space for keeping drugs, the cover 12 installed
on the open top, a cover fastening unit 13 fastening and unfastening the cover 12,
the memory chip 14 storing identification information of the drug cartridge 10 and
information of drugs stored inside the drug cartridge 10, and the locking element
15 protruded backward to be coupled with the drug refilling apparatus 20.
[0073] Together with this, the drug cartridge 10, not shown in the drawings, further includes
an outlet opening-closing unit opening and closing an outlet 111 formed on a front
bottom thereof and discharging drugs, an opening closing-blocking unit fastening and
unfastening the outlet opening-closing unit to be in a closed state to allow the outlet
opening-closing unit to be opened only when the drug cartridge 10 is mounted on a
drug supplying apparatus (not shown), an inclined element installed to be inclined
toward the outlet to transfer drugs stored thereinside to the outlet when the drugs
are formed in a cylindrical shape, and a guiding unit fixing drugs stored inside the
cartridge body 11 not to float.
[0074] On a rear surface of the cartridge body 11, as shown in FIG. 8, an installation space
112 where the cover fastening unit 13 and the memory chip 14 are installed is formed
and the rear cover 113 shielding the installation space 112 is coupled therewith.
[0075] On the rear cover 113, a key coupling hole 114 with which the key element 62 included
in the unfastening unit 60 is coupled is formed.
[0076] The guide grooves 115 are formed on both sides of a bottom of the cartridge body
11, the guide grooves 115 being extended in a length direction of the cartridge body
11.
[0077] On a rear bottom of the cover 12, a hooking element 121 is formed to be engaged with
a threshold 134 included in the cover fastening unit 13 when closing the cover 12.
[0078] The cover 12 is open only while being coupled with the drug refilling apparatus 20.
[0079] The cover fastening unit 13, as shown in FIG. 8, includes a latch element 131 installed
on a position corresponding to the key coupling hole 114 of the rear cover 113 to
be rotated while being coupled with the key element 62 of the unfastening unit 60,
a moving element 132 moved in one direction by rotation of the latch element 131,
and the fastening element 133 with a top of one side on which the threshold 134 engaged
with the hooking element 121 of the cover 12 is formed, the fastening element 133
being coupled with a top of the moving element 132.
[0080] The latch element 131 is formed in an approximate oval shape and rotates according
to rotation of the key element 62.
[0081] On the moving element 132 and the fastening element 133, guide holes 135 with which
guide protrusions 116 formed on the rear surface of the cartridge body 11 to be extended
in a horizontal direction are coupled are formed in the shape of a slot hole, respectively.
[0082] Between one side surfaces of the moving element 132 and the fastening element 133
and a right inner surface of the installation space 112 as shown in FIG. 8, springs
136 providing restoring forces are installed, respectively.
[0083] Accordingly, the moving element 132 and the fastening element 133 horizontally reciprocate
inside the installation space 112.
[0084] The memory chip 14 may be a read-only memory to prevent deleting and changing information
originally stored.
[0085] The unfastening unit 60, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, includes a motor 61 driven according
to a control signal of the control unit 24 and the key element 62 coupled with a front
end of a driving axis of the motor 61.
[0086] The key element 62 is coupled with the latch element 131 of the cover fastening unit
13 by penetrating through the key coupling hole 114 of the rear cover 113 and rotates
according to driving of the motor 61 to rotate the latch element 131.
[0087] That is, when the motor 61 rotates according to the control of the control unit 24
and the key element 62 rotates in a direction of an arrow shown in FIG. 9, the latch
element 131, as shown in FIG. 10, rotates in one direction to move the moving element
132 and the fastening element 133 to the right.
[0088] Accordingly, coupling between the hooking element 121 of the cover 12 and the threshold
134 of the fastening element 133 is released, thereby opening the cover 12.
[0089] The cartridge locking unit 70, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, includes a motor 71 driven
according to a control signal of the control unit 24, a rotating element 72 rotated
by rotation of the motor 71, a pressing element 73 having a step 731 formed on a top
thereof and straightly reciprocating while being pressed by the rotating of the rotating
element 72, and a hook element 74 having a rear end axis-coupled with a bracket and
engaged with the step 731 formed on the top of the pressing element 73 and a front
end engaged with the locking element 15 and rotating while the pressing element 73
is moving.
[0090] Also, the cartridge locking unit 70 further includes an elastic element 75 supported
by one side, for example, in FIG. 10, a left side of the pressing element 73, elastically
deformed as the pressing element 73 moves left, and provides a restoring force to
the pressing element 73.
[0091] That is, when the drug cartridge 10 is mounted on the drug refilling apparatus 20,
as shown in FIG. 10, the hook element 74 and the locking element 15 are engaged with
each other. Accordingly, the drug cartridge 10 maintains a state of being mounted
on the drug refilling apparatus 20.
[0092] On the contrary, when refilling with drugs is finished, the control unit 24 generates
a control signal to allow the motor 71 of the cartridge locking unit 70 to be driven.
[0093] When the motor 71 is driven according to the control signal of the control unit 24,
the rotating element 72 rotates in a direction of an arrow shown in FIG. 12 and presses
the pressing element 73 toward the one side.
[0094] Then, as the pressing element 73 moves to the left along the direction of the arrow
shown in FIG. 12, the hook element 74 engaged with the step 731 formed on the top
of the pressing element 73 rotates around an axis of a bottom end in such a way that
the locking element 15 is separated from the hook element 74.
[0095] According thereto, the drug cartridge 10 becomes detachable from the drug refilling
apparatus 20.
[0096] Referring to FIG. 13, a method of controlling the drug refilling apparatus according
to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.
[0097] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the method of controlling the drug refilling
apparatus.
[0098] The display unit 21 of the drug refilling apparatus 20 displays a screen guiding
authentication of an access right of an administrator according to control of the
control unit 24 (S10).
[0099] When administrator information such as an identifier and a password of the administrator
is inputted via the input unit 22, the communication module 23 transmits the inputted
administrator information to the hospital server 100 (S11) and receives a result of
the authentication from the hospital server 100 (S12)
[0100] According thereto, the control unit 24 checks whether the authentication of the access
right is completed from the authentication result received in S12 (S13).
[0101] When the administrator has no appropriate access right, the control unit 24 controls
the display unit 21 to inform the administrator that the authentication has failed
(S14) and to display a screen for guiding the administrator to check whether having
the access right.
[0102] On the contrary, when the access right of the administrator is authenticated, the
control unit 24 controls the guide driving unit 50 to drive one pair of the guide
elements 43 among the plurality of the guide elements 43 to ascend, according to a
shape of the drug cartridge 10 keeping corresponding drugs administrated by the administrator
(S15).
[0103] That is, the control unit 24 transmits a driving signal to the motor 51 of the guide
driving unit 50 to allow the one pair of the guide elements 43 to ascend, the guide
elements 43 being installed with an interval corresponding to a width of the drug
cartridge 10, and the motor 51 is driven in one direction according to the driving
signal.
[0104] Then, a length of the length-variable element 52 is reduced by driving of the motor
51, the moving plate 53 and the moving bar 54 whose one end is coupled with the moving
plate 53 move to the right as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
[0105] Due thereto, all the guide elements 43 whose insertion elements 432 are inserted
into the ascending-guiding grooves 541 of the moving bar 54 ascend along the ascending-guiding
grooves 541, and finally, only one pair of the guide elements 43 installed with the
interval corresponding to the width of the drug cartridge 10 ascend.
[0106] In this case, the movement detection unit 26 detects a moved position of the bent
bar 531 installed on the moving plate 53, and the control unit 24 transmits a driving-stop
signal to the motor 51 to stop the driving of the motor 51 according to a detection
signal of the movement detection unit 26.
[0107] According thereto, the driving of the motor 51 is stopped and then the movement of
the moving plate 53 is stopped.
[0108] Together with this, the guide block 55 coupled with the top of the moving plate 53
moves in a horizontal direction to be in contact with one side of the drug cartridge
10 and determines a reference position.
[0109] Subsequently, the drug cartridge 10 is located to allow the one pair of the guide
elements 43 to be inserted into the guide grooves 115, is moved to the inside of the
cartridge mounting unit 40, and is mounted on the drug refilling apparatus 20 (S16).
[0110] In this case, the locking element 15 of the drug cartridge 10 is engaged with the
hook element 74 of the cartridge locking unit 70, and the key element 62 of the unfastening
unit 60 is coupled with the latch element 131 included in the cover fastening unit
13 of the drug cartridge 10.
[0111] Together with this, the memory recognition unit 25 is electrically connected to the
memory chip 14 of the drug cartridge 10 and recognizes identification information
and drug information stored in the memory chip 14.
[0112] Then, the control unit 24 controls the communication module 23 to transmit the recognized
information to the hospital server 100 and receive a result of certifying authenticity
of the corresponding drug cartridge 10 and information on drugs to refill the corresponding
drug cartridge 10 from the hospital server 100 (S17).
[0113] When the motor 61 of the unfastening unit 60 is driven according to the control of
the control unit 24 and the key element 62 rotates in a direction of an arrow shown
in FIG. 10, the latch element 131 rotates in one direction as shown in FIG. 9 in such
a way that the moving element 132 and the fastening element 133 are moved to the right.
[0114] According thereto, coupling between the hooking element 121 of the cover 12 and the
threshold 134 of the fastening element 133 is released and then the cover 12 is open
to refill the inside of the drug cartridge 10 with drugs (S18).
[0115] Subsequently, when drug-refilling is finished and the cover 12 is closed (S19), the
motor 71 of the cartridge locking unit 70 is driven according to a control signal
of the control unit 24 and the rotating element 72 formed in an oval shape rotates
in a direction of an arrow shown in FIG. 11 and presses the pressing element 73 in
one direction.
[0116] Then, as the pressing element 73 is moved to the right along a direction of an arrow
shown in FIG. 12, the hook element 74 engaged with the step 731 formed on the top
of the pressing element 73 rotates around the axis of the bottom end in such a way
that a locking state is released, thereby separating the locking element 15 from the
hook element 15 (S20).
[0117] According thereto, the drug cartridge 10 is detached from the drug refilling apparatus
20 (S21).
[0118] In this case, the drug cartridge 10 is detached while being guided by one pair of
the guide elements 43 coupled with the guide grooves 115 formed on both sides.
[0119] The control unit 24 controls the communication module 23 to transmit information
on the drugs refilling the drug cartridge 10 and the administrator refilling the drug
cartridge 10 with the drugs to the hospital server 100 (S22).
[0120] According thereto, the hospital server 100 manages a stock of drugs in real time
by using the received information (S23).
[0121] Through the process as described above, in the present embodiment, after a access
right of an administrator may be authenticated, one pair of guide elements may ascend
to correspond to a width of a drug cartridge to be refilled with drugs, and a cover
of the drug cartridge may be open to allow drugs to be inserted into the drug cartridge
or to refill the same.
[0122] FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective views illustrating a drug refilling apparatus 200
and a drug cartridge 110 according to another embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a state of rotating a cartridge mounting
unit 400 provided in a drug refilling apparatus according to another embodiment of
the present invention.
[0123] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, since a configuration and effects of the drug refilling
apparatus 200 are identical to those of the drug refilling apparatus 20 except the
cartridge mounting unit 400 installed in a main body 300 to be pivotable with a certain
angle and one surface on which a cover 120 of the drug cartridge 110 is installed,
a detailed description of other parts will be omitted.
[0124] The cartridge mounting unit 400 may be installed in the main body 300 to be pivotable
with the certain angle to allow the inside of the drug cartridge 110 to face a direction
inclined upwardly with a horizontal direction as a reference when the cover 120 installed
on open one surface of the drug cartridge 110 is open.
[0125] This is for conveniently refilling drugs regardless of positions of covers of various
drug cartridges. In the case of the drug cartridge 10 described with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 13, since the cover 12 is installed on an open top surface of the cartridge
body 11, although the cartridge mounting unit 40 is fixed to the main body 30, there
is no inconvenience for refilling drugs.
[0126] However, since the kind of drug cartridges may be various and a surface on which
a cover is installed may also be various, drug refilling apparatuses should provide
convenience of users refilling drugs, regardless of positions where covers are installed.
[0127] As an example, as shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, in the case of the cover 120 of the drug
cartridge 110 installed on an open surface of a cartridge body 130, when a cartridge
mounting unit is fixed to a main body and the cover 120 is open, the inside of the
drug cartridge 110 faces a horizontal direction, thereby making refilling drugs inconvenient.
[0128] Accordingly, the drug refilling apparatus 200 effectively overcomes the inconvenience
by installing the cartridge mounting unit 400 in the main body 300 to be pivotable.
[0129] In detail, the cartridge mounting unit 400 may include a mounting plate 410 in contact
with a rear surface of the drug cartridge 110 and a seating plate 420 on which a bottom
surface of the drug cartridge 110 is seated. As shown in FIG. 15, when the drug cartridge
110 is mounted on the cartridge mounting unit 400, the cartridge mounting unit 400
may pivot with a certain angle and may be fixed as a state shown in FIG. 16.
[0130] After that, since the drug cartridge 110 may be refilled with drugs via an opening
and the inside of the drug cartridge 110 may face the direction inclined upwardly
with the horizontal direction as the reference, it is possible to provide convenience
of users.
[0131] A detailed operation theory will be described below.
[0132] FIGS. 17 and 18 are configuration views illustrating states previous to rotating
the cartridge mounting unit 400, FIGS. 19 and 20 are configuration views illustrating
states for rotating the cartridge mounting unit 400, and FIGS. 21 and 22 are configuration
views illustrating states of rotating the cartridge mounting unit 400.
[0133] In FIGS. 17 to 22, for convenience of description, the drug cartridge 110 with the
cover 120 installed on an open surface of the cartridge body 130 is omitted.
[0134] Referring to FIGS. 17 and 18, when the drug cartridge 110 is mounted on the cartridge
mounting unit 400, the cartridge mounting unit 400 may be fixed to the main body 300
by a position transfer part 430 of the cartridge mounting unit 400.
[0135] In detail, the position transfer part 430 is a part of the cartridge mounting unit
400, in which it may be determined according to transferring a position thereof by
an external force whether the position transfer part 430 is coupled with the main
body 300, thereby determining whether the cartridge mounting unit 400 is pivotable.
[0136] The position transfer part 430 may include a first protrusion 432 and a second protrusion
438 formed to be protruded to fix the cartridge mounting unit 400 and the main body
300. The first protrusion 432 may be hanged up by a first protrusion-corresponding
element 332 protruded from a bottom surface of the main body 300 in such a way that
the cartridge mounting unit 400 maintains horizontality.
[0137] In other words, the position transfer part 430 may include an external force-applying
element 434 disposed to be protruded outward from the main body to apply an external
force, an extended bar 436 extended inside the main body 300, and the first and second
protrusions 432 and 438 formed in the shape of hooks protruded from a bottom surface
of the extended bar 436. A position of the extended bar 436 may be transferred along
an inner space of an extended bar guiding element 440 coupled with a bottom surface
of the seating plate 420 of the cartridge mounting unit 400.
[0138] The extended bar guiding element 440 may be bent to form a certain inner space and
may be coupled with the bottom surface of the seating plate 420. In the inner space,
the extended bar 426 may be disposed to be movable.
[0139] In this case, the horizontality of the cartridge mounting unit 400 may be maintained,
as described above, by hanging the first protrusion 432 on the first protrusion-corresponding
element 332 coupled with the bottom surface of the main body 300 to be protruded.
[0140] Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, when the cover 120 of the drug cartridge 110 mounted
on the cartridge mounting unit 400 is installed on the open surface, an external force
F may be applied to the external force-applying element 434 of the position transfer
part 430 to allow the cartridge mounting unit 400 to pivot.
[0141] When the external force F is applied to the external force-applying element 434,
the extended bar 436, in connection with the external force-applying element 434,
may be horizontally transferred to the inside of the main body 300 along the inner
space of the extended bar guiding element 440.
[0142] When the extended bar 436 is horizontally transferred, the first protrusion 432 hanged
on an end of the first protrusion-corresponding element 332 is separated therefrom
in such a way that the cartridge mounting unit 400 may be pivotable.
[0143] Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, when a user holds a handle H (refer to FIG. 14) and
lift the same upwardly, the cartridge mounting unit 400 pivots around a pivot provided
by at least one hinge 500.
[0144] In this case, the hinge 500 may be coupled with a bottom surface of the cartridge
mounting unit 400 and the main body 300 and may be a structure connecting the cartridge
mounting unit 400 to the main body 300.
[0145] On the other hand, pivoting of the cartridge mounting unit 400 may be performed previously
to or after opening the cover 120 of the drug cartridge 110.
[0146] That is, when the cartridge mounting unit 400 pivots before the cover 120 is open,
the cover 120 may be open to allow refilling drugs after the cartridge mounting unit
400 pivots. When the cartridge mounting unit 400 pivots after the cover 120 is open,
the drug cartridge 110 may be refilled with drugs right after the cartridge mounting
unit 400 pivots.
[0147] A state in which the cartridge mounting unit 400 pivots with a certain angle may
be maintained by hanging the second protrusion 438 of the position transfer part 430
on the second protrusion-corresponding element 338 coupled with the bottom surface
of the main body 300 to be protruded.
[0148] An end of the second protrusion-corresponding element 338 may be bent to allow the
second protrusion 438 formed in a hooked shape to be hanged thereon, which may be
performed by allowing the position transfer part 430 transferred by the external force
to return to an original position.
[0149] The position transfer part 430 may automatically return to the original position
when removing the external force applied by an elastic element (not shown) and may
return to the original position by being manually operated without the elastic element.
[0150] On the other hand, the end of the second protrusion-corresponding element 338 on
which the second protrusion is hanged may be formed to be lower than the end of the
first protrusion-corresponding element 332 on which the first protrusion is hanged
in such a way that the cartridge mounting unit 400 may pivot in the shape of a seesaw.
[0151] As described above, the drug refilling apparatus 200, regardless of positions of
covers 120 of various drug cartridges 110, allows refilling the drug cartridges 110
with drugs to be convenient by pivoting of the cartridge mounting unit 400.
[0152] However, the position transfer part 430 to allow the cartridge mounting unit 400
to pivot, the first protrusion 432, the second protrusion 438, the first protrusion-corresponding
element 332, and the second protrusion-corresponding element 338 to fix the cartridge
mounting unit 400 to the main body 300 are not limited thereto and the cartridge mounting
unit 400 may automatically pivot or be fixed by control of a motor.
[0153] As described above, it is possible to refill drug cartridges, formed in various shapes
and sizes, with drugs by using a drug refilling apparatus manufactured separately
from a drug supplying apparatus.
[0154] Particularly, only one pair of guide elements provided with an interval corresponding
to a width of a drug cartridge to be refilled with drugs selectively ascend among
a plurality of guide elements by using one motor included in a guide driving unit.
[0155] Accordingly, it is possible to refill drug cartridges having various shapes and sizes
with drugs by using one drug refilling apparatus regardless of the shapes and sizes
of the drug cartridges and it is also possible to reduce manufacturing costs of the
drug refilling apparatus.
[0156] Also, it is possible to conveniently refill a drug cartridge with drugs regardless
of a position of a cover of the drug cartridge.
[0157] Also, an access right of an administrator is given to each of individual drugs and
only the administrator whose access right is authenticated is allowed to refill a
drug cartridge with drugs to prevent the misuse of drugs generated by drugs wrongly
administrated and taken.
[0158] Also, it is possible to improve efficiency and accuracy of managing the stock of
drugs by transmitting information of drugs refilling a drug cartridge and information
of an administrator refilling the drug cartridge with the drugs to a hospital server
in real time.
[0159] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference
to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill
in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.
1. A drug refilling apparatus comprising:
a main body on which a drug cartridge is mounted;
a cartridge mounting unit installed on a top surface of the main body to allow the
drug cartridge mounted thereon;
an unfastening unit unfastening a fastened state of a cover included in the drug cartridge;
and
a cartridge locking unit locking or unlocking the drug cartridge while the drug cartridge
is being mounted on the cartridge mounting unit.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cartridge mounting unit is installed in the
main body to be pivotable with a certain angle in such a way that the inside of the
drug cartridge faces a direction inclined upwardly with a horizontal direction as
a reference when a cover installed on an open surface of the drug cartridge mounted
on the cartridge mounting unit opens.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cartridge mounting unit comprises a position
transfer part allowing whether being pivotable to be determined depending on whether
being coupled with the main body according to position transfer due to an external
force.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the position transfer part comprises a first protrusion
and a second protrusion formed to be protruded to fix the cartridge mounting unit
to the main body,
wherein the main body comprises a first protrusion-corresponding element and a second
protrusion-corresponding element corresponding to the first protrusion and the second
protrusion, respectively, and
wherein the cartridge mounting unit maintains horizontality when the first protrusion
is hanged on the first protrusion-corresponding element, pivots after the first protrusion
is separated from the first protrusion-corresponding element by an external force,
and maintains a pivoted state while the second protrusion is being hanged on the second
protrusion-corresponding element.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein an end of the second protrusion-corresponding element,
on which the second protrusion is hanged, is formed to be lower than an end of the
first protrusion-corresponding element, on which the first protrusion is hanged.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a guide driving unit selectively allowing
a plurality of guide elements provided on the cartridge mounting unit to ascend or
descend to correspond to a shape of the drug cartridge.
7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the cartridge mounting unit comprises a mounting
plate in contact with a rear surface of the drug cartridge and a seating plate, on
which a bottom surface of the drug cartridge is seated, and
wherein the seating plate comprises an ascending slot to allow a plurality of guide
elements inserted into guide grooves formed on both sides of the drug cartridge to
ascend.
8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein ascending bars driven by the guide driving unit
and insertion elements coupled with bottom ends of the ascending bars and inserted
into ascending-guiding grooves formed on the guide driving unit are provided below
the guide elements.
9. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:
a display unit installed on a front part of the main body and displaying a menu screen
for operations of refilling drugs and authentication of an access right of an administrator;
an input unit receiving a command by allowing menus displayed on the display unit
to be selected to perform a desired operation;
a communication module performing communication with a hospital server; and
a control unit controlling the guide driving unit, the unfastening unit, and the cartridge
locking unit to refill the drug cartridge with drugs when the access right of the
administrator is authenticated by the hospital server via the communication module.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the guide driving unit comprises:
a motor driven according to a control signal of the control unit;
a length-variable element, whose length varies, connected to a driving axis of the
motor by a belt;
a moving plate straightly reciprocating according to a change of the length of the
length-variable element;
a moving bar, whose rear end is coupled with the moving plate, straightly reciprocating;
and
a guide block coupled with one side of a top of the moving plate and determining a
mounting position of the drug cartridge,
wherein the ascending-guiding grooves, into which the insertion elements are inserted
to ascend, are formed on a side surface of the moving bar, and
wherein the length-variable element is formed of as one pair of axes screw-coupled
with each other in such a way that a second axis is straightly moved by rotation of
a first axis according to driving of the motor, thereby changing the length thereof.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a movement detection unit detecting
a moved position of a bent bar coupled with a bottom of the moving plate to control
motor-driving of the guide driving unit,
wherein the movement detection unit comprises one pair of photo couplers installed
to be separated from each other with an interval as a maximum moving distance of the
bent bar, and
wherein the control unit determines a rotation direction of the motor according to
a detection signal of the movement detection unit and controls the motor to drive
and to stop.
12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the drug cartridge comprises:
a cartridge body formed in the shape of a box with an open top, in which a space for
keeping drugs is provided;
a cover installed on the open top of the cartridge body;
a cover fastening unit fastening the cover;
a memory chip storing identification information given to the drug cartridge and information
on drugs kept inside the cartridge body; and
a locking element formed to be protruded backward to be coupled with the drug refilling
apparatus,
the drug refilling apparatus further comprising a memory chip recognizing the identification
information and the drug information stored in the memory chip.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the unfastening unit comprises:
a motor driven according to a control of the control unit; and
a key element coupled with a front end of a driving axis of the motor, and
wherein the key element is coupled with a latch element of the cover fastening unit
and rotates according to driving of the motor to allow the cover fastening unit to
unfasten the cover included in the drug cartridge to be open.
14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cartridge locking unit comprises:
a motor driven according to a control signal of the control unit;
a rotating element, whose cross section is formed in an oval shape, rotating by rotating
of the motor;
a pressing element with a step formed on a top end thereof, straightly reciprocating
while being pressed by the rotating of the rotating element;
a hook element with a rear end axis-coupled with a bracket and engaged with the step
formed on the top of the pressing element, with a front end engaged with the locking
element of the drug cartridge, the hook element being rotated while the pressing element
is moving; and
an elastic element supported by one side of the pressing element and elastically deformed
as the pressing element moves in one direction to provide a restoring force to the
pressing element.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the cartridge mounting unit comprises:
a mounting plate in contact with the rear surface of the drug cartridge; and
a seating plate on which the bottom surface of the drug cartridge is seated, and
wherein the memory recognition unit, the unfastening unit, and the cartridge locking
unit are formed in the mounting plate.