DRUG REFILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME

Abstract

There is provided a drug refilling apparatus. The apparatus includes 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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2012-0040541 filed on Apr. 18, 2012 and 10-2013-0028460 filed on Mar. 18, 2013, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

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

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.

To automatically keep and supply various shapes and kinds of drugs as described above, drug supplying apparatuses have been developed.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The moving plate 53 is vertically disposed and coupled with the length-variable element 52.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The cover 12 is open only while being coupled with the drug refilling apparatus 20.

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.

The latch element 131 is formed in an approximate oval shape and rotates according to rotation of the key element 62.

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.

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.

Accordingly, the moving element 132 and the fastening element 133 horizontally reciprocate inside the installation space 112.

The memory chip 14 may be a read-only memory to prevent deleting and changing information originally stored.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

According thereto, the drug cartridge 10 becomes detachable from the drug refilling apparatus 20.

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.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the method of controlling the drug refilling apparatus.

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).

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)

According thereto, the control unit 24 checks whether the authentication of the access right is completed from the authentication result received in S12 (S13).

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

According thereto, the driving of the motor 51 is stopped and then the movement of the moving plate 53 is stopped.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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.

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).

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.

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).

According thereto, the drug cartridge 10 is detached from the drug refilling apparatus 20 (S21).

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.

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).

According thereto, the hospital server 100 manages a stock of drugs in real time by using the received information (S23).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A detailed operation theory will be described below. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Also, it is possible to conveniently refill a drug cartridge with drugs regardless of a position of a cover of the drug cartridge.

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.

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.

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.

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 2, further comprising at least one hinge coupled with a bottom surface of the cartridge mounting unit and the main body to provide a pivot for the cartridge mounting unit.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, 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.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, 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.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, 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.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, 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.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, 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.

17. A method of controlling a drug refilling apparatus, the method comprising:

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.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising, 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,

wherein 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.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein, in the mounting the drug cartridge, identification information and drug information stored in a memory chip of the drug cartridge are transmitted to a hospital server and authenticity of the drug cartridge is certified.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the opening the cover of the drug cartridge and refilling the drug cartridge with the drugs comprises, 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.