EP0554137A1 - Capsule or pill dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Capsule or pill dispensing apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0554137A1
EP0554137A1 EP93400108A EP93400108A EP0554137A1 EP 0554137 A1 EP0554137 A1 EP 0554137A1 EP 93400108 A EP93400108 A EP 93400108A EP 93400108 A EP93400108 A EP 93400108A EP 0554137 A1 EP0554137 A1 EP 0554137A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compartments
orifice
charger
housing
casing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93400108A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0554137B1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Pierre Coustenoble
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Physior
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Physior
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0554137A1 publication Critical patent/EP0554137A1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
    • A61J7/0076—Medicament distribution means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/03—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for medicaments in the form of a capsule or pill, of the type comprising a medicament dispensing box and a removable charger capable of containing the medicaments previously stored in the charger, the casing comprising on the one hand means for drive of the charger in a determined direction, to bring each of the drugs successively, one by one, above an outlet orifice of the casing, and on the other hand optical detection means arranged near said orifice arranged to detect the passage of a drug at the time of its exit from the box and connected to electronic means of memorization, calculation and restitution of the data concerning the distribution of the drugs.
  • This type of device is particularly advantageously used when approving a new medical treatment, recommended from new drugs.
  • a dispensing device of the type defined above is already known (WO 90/05684).
  • This device has drawbacks. It indeed requires a charger in the form of a wafer into which the drugs in the form of rigid pills, ejectable from said support or magazine by pressure.
  • the present invention aims to provide an apparatus which meets the requirements of practice better than those previously known, in particular in that it allows, with the same charger, to dispense medicaments having substantially different forms, which may as well be capsules. flexible than rigid pills, and this is simple and easy to implement.
  • the invention which uses the known means of direct detection of the passage of the medicament when it leaves the casing before use, does not require the exercise of an external pressure constraint on the medicament itself to dispense the latter .
  • the invention provides in particular a pocket dispensing device for medicaments in the form of a capsule or pill of the type defined above, characterized in that the loader comprises several transverse compartments regularly distributed to form a continuous longitudinal chain, each compartment being open on the side of the outlet orifice, closed on the other side and suitable for storing a medicament, and in that the feeder and the orifice are arranged to allow the outlet of said medicament directly by gravity, during its distribution .
  • FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a pocket dispensing device 1 for medicaments 2 in the form of a capsule or pill, comprising a casing 3 and a charger 4 removable from the casing, suitable for containing the medicaments stored one by one in said charger.
  • the housing comprises a base 5 and a cover 6.
  • the base supports the means 7 for driving the charger.
  • the means 7 comprise a thick toothed wheel 8 pierced from end to end with an axial bore 9 comprising a first end bore part 10, a second cylindrical middle bore part 11 provided with notches 12 regularly distributed over the inner wall of said bore portion 11, and a third end bore portion 13.
  • the notches 12 are adapted to cooperate in a manner known per se with two pawls 14 secured to an axial tube 15 capped with a bell-shaped part 16 secured in rotation to the tube 15 with which it is for example screwed.
  • the axial tube 15 is fitted with gentle friction on a central cylindrical axis 17, itself connected with the base 5 by means of a fixing pin 18 inserted, for example, in the part tubular 18 ', itself cooperating externally with gentle friction with a socket 19 in the base 5, of complementary shape with the pin, as will be seen below.
  • the bell piece 16 is provided with a groove 20 in the upper part, arranged to cooperate with a parallelepiped pin 21 secured to a circular cup 22 external to the housing cover, for rotationally actuating the toothed wheel 8 in steps not, in a manner known per se, by means of the pawls.
  • the cup 22 for example substantially circular, comprises an axis of rotation terminated by said lug, which passes through the cover 6 through a cylindrical opening with which the axis cooperates with gentle friction, in a rotary manner.
  • a projecting part keeps the cup secured to the cover.
  • the charger 4 is for example made up of an endless chain 23 of compartments in the form of cells 24 in which the medicaments 2 are arranged.
  • the chain 23 comprises for example thirty compartments in noria.
  • Each compartment is in the form of a cylindrical tube with an axis directed in the transverse direction (thickness) of the device. It is connected to the two adjacent compartments respectively by a flexible tongue 27, each compartment being open on one side 25 and closed on the other side 26 by a bottom constituted for example by a washer 28.
  • the chain is for example made of plastic material flexible (elastomer), the housing being for example made of rigid plastic material such as PVC.
  • the base comprises a plate 29 for retaining the medicaments in their compartments, when the charger is turned over and put in place in the casing, and means 30 for guiding the chain to guide the latter during its rotation in all step by step around the housing.
  • the teeth 31 of the wheel 8 are of complementary shape to the external walls 32 of the compartments 24, that is to say substantially in the form of grooves of transverse axis relative to the housing, the internal parts 33 intermediate. between two adjacent teeth forming portions of cylindrical sectors.
  • the base comprises on the side of a longitudinal end, a thicker part 34, provided with a circular orifice 35 in the lower part, for the outlet of the drugs from the housing, with an internal diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of a compartment.
  • This orifice is in connection with the lower plane 36 of the compartments of the charger 4 by means of a cylindrical channel 37 of the same diameter which opens on the other side onto a circular opening 38, always of the same diameter, in the plate 29 .
  • the channel and the orifices are therefore of sufficient size to allow the medication to pass easily and by gravity, from the compartment where it is stored to the outlet orifice 35.
  • the channel 37 is moreover provided with optical detection means 39, located near the orifice 35, arranged to detect the passage of a drug in the canal when it comes out of the housing.
  • the means 39 are connected to electronic means 40 for storing, calculating and restoring data concerning the distribution of the drugs.
  • the means 40 are located in the central part 41 of the housing, integral with the base 5.
  • the detection means 39 comprise opto-electronic means 42 for emitting light radiation towards the interior of the channel.
  • These means 42 comprise a photo-emitter component 43, generally constituted by a light-emitting diode, associated with a current generator 44 supplied by a supply battery represented at 45, for example constituted by two 1.4 Volt batteries.
  • a circuit 46 allows for example to adjust the light intensity.
  • the optical detection means also comprise means 47 for receiving the light emitted by the means 42, located opposite the latter on the opposite side wall of the channel.
  • reception means comprise a receiver 48, which can be a photodiode or a photocoupler represented by a transistor in FIG. 4.
  • the base of the transistor is supplied by the photons emitted in the channel by the means 42, the transmitter / receiver circuit of the transistor being connected to microprocessor 49 for calculating and processing received signals.
  • the circuit 47 is also supplied by the generator 44 via a resistor 50 in a manner known per se.
  • the receiver 48 In response to the light emission, the receiver 48 therefore transmits to the microprocessor 49 an electrical signal representative of the level of light received.
  • This integrated circuit is for example a NEC 75P008 microprocessor from the American company NEC Electronics programmed in a manner known per se.
  • the circuit 49 is moreover connected to a serial interface 50 RS 232 (CCITT standard) for connection to means (not shown) for external processing and restitution of the data known in themselves, for example possibly comprising a microcomputer.
  • RS 232 CITT standard
  • the microprocessor 49 is also connected to a random access memory (RAM) for working and storing data 51, and possibly to a read only memory (ROM) not shown.
  • RAM random access memory
  • ROM read only memory
  • Display means for example constituted by a liquid crystal screen 52, are provided and allow in particular, depending on the programming of the microprocessor 49, to display data related to the distribution of the drugs.
  • a normally open switch 53 suitable for activating the operation of the dispensing device, and which automatically engages during rotation of the cup 22 is also provided. It limits the energy consumption of the device. Once the drug has been detected, for example after a determined time delay, the switch opens again.
  • FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second embodiment of an apparatus 60 according to the invention, the mechanical means 61 for driving the charger are integral with the cover 62, and not with the base 63 of the housing 64 as previously described .
  • Figure 5 shows the housing 64 closed.
  • the means 61 are of similar design to the ratchet drive means of Figures 1 to 3, with the difference that they are suspended via an axis 65, to the cup 66 of actuation by the user.
  • FIG. 6 schematically shows the cover 62 provided with the drive means 61.
  • the cover includes a part 67 for fixing a screw 68 (see FIG. 7) making it possible to secure the base and cover with one another.
  • Figure 7 shows the base 63 having on one side a part 69 adapted to cooperate with the end 70 of the axis of the motor means 61, when the cover is in place on the base.
  • the base 63 also includes a receptacle 71 capable of containing the opto-electronic detection circuits 72 connected to the means 73 for transmitting and detecting radiation located on the outlet channel of the medicament.
  • the optical detection means 72 are for example of the same type as those described above with reference to FIG. 4.
  • the means for fixing the base to the cover provided above are also and for example actuable only and in a manner known per se by means of a key (not shown).
  • FIG 8 is a sectional view of a charger 75 usable in the embodiment described above.
  • This charger is for example constituted by an endless chain of cylindrical compartments 76, attached to each other by means of a cord 77.
  • the device according to the invention is advantageously a pocket device, that is to say that these dimensions are relatively reduced, for example forming part of a parallelepiped of 7 cm by 12 cm by 4 cm in height.
  • the housing is firstly opened, the cover 6 being detached from the base 5 to which it was fixed for example by means of a locking screw which, as we have seen, can only be actuated by means of a key lock determined.
  • the charger 4 is then extracted from the base on which it rests freely, by simple fitting on the one hand with the teeth of the wheel 8 and on the other hand around the part 30.
  • the latter has a horizontal section whose contour is in the form of an ellipse portion, or substantially in the form of an ellipse portion.
  • the part 30, integral with the base is also hollow and contains the electronic means. It allows guiding with gentle friction by its external surface, of chain 4, a slight clearance of a few millimeters being for example provided between chain and guide.
  • the chain is made of relatively flexible material but having a rigid surface in the plane 36, which allows in particular a substantially frictionless sliding during the actuation of the rotation mechanism making it possible to bring the compartments 24 one by one, opposite the outlet 35.
  • the magazine 4 having been removed it is turned over so that the closed part of the cylindrical compartments 28 is downwards.
  • the charger is then filled with the drugs to be dispensed, for example thirty capsules placed successively in each of the compartments of a chain which can for example comprise forty compartments.
  • the base is then placed above the cartridge or chain of the charger, by simple interlocking, easily, then the base is returned to the operating position.
  • the cover 6 is then fixed, the cup 22 being placed so that the lug 21 comes cooperate with the groove 20 of the bell 16. This is done by groping in a manner known per se.
  • the device is then ready to operate, the batteries (1.5 Volt batteries) described in the context of FIG. 4, being of course charged to allow the operation of the electronic part of the device.
  • a mechanical device 81 comprising a hatch 82 for closing the orifice 35.
  • This hatch is placed in the base and actuated by means 83 .
  • this hatch 82 is made in one piece with the means 83 which comprise a cylindrical tubular part 18 'fitted on the central axis 18 and integral in rotation with the bell 16, and therefore with the button 22 for driving the wheel.
  • the rotation of the button 22 drives the toothed wheel one notch through the ratchet device and at the same time opens the hatch 82.
  • the hatch then returns to the closed position at the same time as the pawl returns to the initial position, by means of a spring (not shown) placed in the base.
  • closure valve or hatch are of course possible. This can also be more simply placed at the opening 38 in the plate 29 opposite the orifice 35. However, such an arrangement does not allow permanent protection optical cells of the opto-electronic transmitter / receiver device 37 in the channel part at 37.
  • the user turns the cup 22 with one step and thus brings a first compartment loaded with a capsule opposite the orifice 35 and the channel 37. Simultaneously the hatch 82 disappears.
  • the capsule falls by gravity directly and without any external action of the user through the orifice 38, the channel 37 and the orifice 35.
  • the hatch then closes automatically as we have seen.
  • the opto-electronic device registers a change in intensity in the quantity of light received by the receiver 48, which results in the recording of a signal at the level of the microprocessor which is then able to process it .

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  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
  • Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing apparatus (1, 60) for medicinal products (2) in capsule or pill form, comprising a casing (3, 64) dispensing the medicinal products, and a removable loader (4, 75) capable of containing the medicinal products previously stored in the loader. The casing comprises means (7, 61) for driving the loader in a given sense, and optical detection means (39) arranged to detect the passage of a medicinal product at the moment when it leaves the casing, and which are connected to electronics means (40) for memory storage, computation and retrieval of data relating to the dispensing of the medicinal products. The loader comprises a plurality of transverse compartments (24) forming a continuous longitudinal chain, the loader and the orifice being arranged so as to allow the medicinal product to leave directly under gravity when it is dispensed. <IMAGE>

Description

La présente invention concerne un appareil distributeur pour médicaments en forme de gélule ou de pilule, du type comprenant un boîtier distributeur des médicaments et un chargeur amovible propre à contenir les médicaments préalablement rangés dans le chargeur, le boîtier comportant d'une part des moyens d'entraînement du chargeur dans un sens déterminé, pour amener chacun des médicaments successivement, un par un, au-dessus d'un orifice de sortie du boîtier, et d'autre part des moyens de détection optique disposés à proximité dudit orifice agencés pour détecter le passage d'un médicament au moment de sa sortie du boîtier et connectés à des moyens électroniques de mémorisation, de calcul et de restitution des données concernant la distribution des médicaments.The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for medicaments in the form of a capsule or pill, of the type comprising a medicament dispensing box and a removable charger capable of containing the medicaments previously stored in the charger, the casing comprising on the one hand means for drive of the charger in a determined direction, to bring each of the drugs successively, one by one, above an outlet orifice of the casing, and on the other hand optical detection means arranged near said orifice arranged to detect the passage of a drug at the time of its exit from the box and connected to electronic means of memorization, calculation and restitution of the data concerning the distribution of the drugs.

Elle trouve une application particulièrement importante, bien que non exclusive, dans le domaine du contrôle de la prise de médicaments par un utilisateur. Ce type de dispositif est notamment avantageusement utilisé lors de l'homologation d'un nouveau traitement médical, préconisé à partir de nouveaux médicaments.It finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in the field of controlling the intake of drugs by a user. This type of device is particularly advantageously used when approving a new medical treatment, recommended from new drugs.

On connaît déjà (WO 90/05684) un appareil distributeur du type ci-dessus défini.A dispensing device of the type defined above is already known (WO 90/05684).

Cet appareil présente des inconvénients. Il nécessite en effet un chargeur en forme de plaquette dans laquelle s'insèrent les médicaments en forme de pilules rigides, éjectables dudit support ou chargeur par pression.This device has drawbacks. It indeed requires a charger in the form of a wafer into which the drugs in the form of rigid pills, ejectable from said support or magazine by pressure.

Or une telle conception n'autorise notamment pas la distribution de médicaments moins rigides et/ou l'utilisation d'un même chargeur pour distribuer des médicaments de forme sensiblement différente.However, such a design does not in particular authorize the distribution of less rigid drugs and / or the use of the same charger for dispensing drugs of substantially different shape.

La présente invention vise à fournir un appareil répondant mieux que ceux antérieurement connus aux exigences de la pratique, notamment en ce qu'elle permet, avec un même chargeur, de distribuer des médicaments présentant des formes sensiblement différentes, qui peuvent aussi bien être des gélules souples que des pilules rigides, et ce de façon simple et aisée à mettre en oeuvre.The present invention aims to provide an apparatus which meets the requirements of practice better than those previously known, in particular in that it allows, with the same charger, to dispense medicaments having substantially different forms, which may as well be capsules. flexible than rigid pills, and this is simple and easy to implement.

Par ailleurs l'invention, qui utilise le moyen connu de détection direct du passage du médicament lors de sa sortie du boîtier avant utilisation, ne nécessite pas l'exercice d'une contrainte de pression externe sur le médicament lui-même pour distribuer ce dernier.Furthermore, the invention, which uses the known means of direct detection of the passage of the medicament when it leaves the casing before use, does not require the exercise of an external pressure constraint on the medicament itself to dispense the latter .

Dans ce but l'invention propose notamment un appareil distributeur de poche pour médicaments en forme de gélule ou de pilule du type ci-dessus défini, caractérisé en ce que le chargeur comprend plusieurs compartiments transversaux régulièrement répartis pour former une chaîne longitudinale continue, chaque compartiment étant ouvert du côté de l'orifice de sortie, fermé de l'autre côté et propre à stocker un médicament, et en ce que le chargeur et l'orifice sont agencés pour permettre la sortie dudit médicament directement par gravité, lors de sa distribution.To this end, the invention provides in particular a pocket dispensing device for medicaments in the form of a capsule or pill of the type defined above, characterized in that the loader comprises several transverse compartments regularly distributed to form a continuous longitudinal chain, each compartment being open on the side of the outlet orifice, closed on the other side and suitable for storing a medicament, and in that the feeder and the orifice are arranged to allow the outlet of said medicament directly by gravity, during its distribution .

Dans des modes de réalisation avantageux de l'invention on a de plus recours à l'une et/ou à l'autre des dispositions suivantes :

  • l'orifice comporte une trappe de fermeture agencée pour s'effacer lors de la présentation d'un nouveau compartiment au-dessus de l'orifice et pour se refermer après passage du médicament. Une telle disposition permet notamment la protection des moyens optiques de détection contre la lumière et la poussière ;
  • les compartiments sont formés par des alvéoles de forme tubulaire cylindrique ou sensiblement cylindrique, de diamètre compris entre de l'ordre de 8 mm et de l'ordre de 1,5 cm et de hauteur comprise entre de l'ordre de 5 mm et de l'ordre de 2,5 cm, avantageusement de hauteur de l'ordre de 2 cm ;
  • le dispositif comporte des moyens de connexion à un système externe de traitement et de restitution de données ;
  • les moyens d'entraînement comportent une roue dentée propre à guider et engrener pas à pas la chaîne de compartiments, par exemple via des moyens à cliquets ;
  • le chargeur comporte au moins 20 compartiments et avantageusement de l'ordre de 30 compartiments ;
  • le dispositif comporte des moyens de verrouillage du boîtier propres à empêcher l'enlèvement de la cartouche amovible, sans utilisation d'une clé, par exemple avant déroulement complet de la chaîne de médicaments. Une telle possibilité de verrouillage est utile lors du contrôle du suivi d'un traitement par un utilisateur, notamment lors des tests d'homologation dudit médicament ;
  • les moyens de détection optique comprennent des moyens optoélectroniques comportant des premiers moyens d'émission d'un rayonnement visuel ou infrarouge et des seconds moyens de réception dudit rayonnement, lesdits premiers et seconds moyens étaient placés en vis à vis l'un de l'autre sur un canal de sortie de médicaments situé entre le plan comprenant les extrémités ouvertes de compartiments et l'orifice de sortie ;
  • les compartiments et le couvercle du boîtier comprennent respectivement une paroi latérale externe au moins en partie transparente, de façon à permettre à un utilisateur d'observer le contenu des compartiments.
In advantageous embodiments of the invention, one and / or the other of the following arrangements are also used:
  • the orifice has a closing hatch arranged to disappear when a new compartment is presented above the orifice and to close after passage of the medicament. Such an arrangement allows in particular the protection of the optical detection means against light and dust;
  • the compartments are formed by cylindrical or substantially cylindrical tubular cells, with a diameter between about 8 mm and about 1.5 cm and a height between about 5 mm and on the order of 2.5 cm, advantageously on the order of 2 cm in height;
  • the device comprises means of connection to an external system for processing and restoring data;
  • the drive means comprise a toothed wheel capable of guiding and meshing step by step the chain of compartments, for example via ratchet means;
  • the charger comprises at least 20 compartments and advantageously of the order of 30 compartments;
  • the device comprises means for locking the casing capable of preventing the removal of the removable cartridge, without the use of a key, for example before the medication chain is completely unwound. Such a locking possibility is useful when controlling the monitoring of a treatment by a user, in particular during the approval tests of said drug;
  • the optical detection means comprise optoelectronic means comprising first means for emitting visual or infrared radiation and second means for receiving said radiation, said first and second means were placed opposite one another on a drug outlet channel located between the plane comprising the open ends of compartments and the outlet port;
  • the compartments and the cover of the housing respectively comprise an external side wall at least partially transparent, so as to allow a user to observe the contents of the compartments.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui suit de deux modes particuliers de réalisation donnés à titre d'exemple non limitatif. La description se réfère aux figures qui l'accompagnent dans lesquelles :

  • la figure 1 est une vue de côté partiellement en coupe d'un premier mode de réalisation d'un appareil selon l'invention dont le boîtier est en partie ouvert ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue latérale en coupe du chargeur de l'appareil de la figure 1 ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue de dessus partiellement éclatée de la figure 1 ;
  • la figure 4 est un schéma électrique montrant les moyens de détection optique utilisés dans le mode de réalisation de l'appareil selon l'invention plus particulièrement décrit ici ;
  • la figure 5 est une vue de côté partiellement en coupe d'un second mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention ;
  • la figure 6 est une vue de côté en coupe de la partie supérieure ou couvercle du boîtier du dispositif de la figure 5 ;
  • la figure 7 est une vue de côté en coupe de la partie inférieure ou socle du boîtier de la figure 5 ;
  • la figure 8 est une vue de côté d'un chargeur utilisé avec le dispositif de la figure 5.
The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of two particular embodiments given by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to the accompanying figures in which:
  • Figure 1 is a side view partially in section of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, the housing is partially open;
  • Figure 2 is a side sectional view of the charger of the apparatus of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a partially exploded top view of Figure 1;
  • Figure 4 is an electrical diagram showing the optical detection means used in the embodiment of the device according to the invention more particularly described here;
  • Figure 5 is a side view partially in section of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention;
  • Figure 6 is a sectional side view of the upper part or cover of the housing of the device of Figure 5;
  • Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the lower part or base of the housing of Figure 5;
  • FIG. 8 is a side view of a charger used with the device of FIG. 5.

Les figures 1, 2 et 3 montrent un appareil distributeur 1 de poche, pour médicaments 2 en forme de gélule ou de pilule, comportant un boîtier 3 et un chargeur 4 amovible par rapport au boîtier, propre à contenir les médicaments rangés un par un dans ledit chargeur.FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a pocket dispensing device 1 for medicaments 2 in the form of a capsule or pill, comprising a casing 3 and a charger 4 removable from the casing, suitable for containing the medicaments stored one by one in said charger.

Le boîtier comporte un socle 5 et un couvercle 6. Le socle supporte les moyens 7 d'entraînement du chargeur.The housing comprises a base 5 and a cover 6. The base supports the means 7 for driving the charger.

Les moyens 7 comprennent une roue dentée épaisse 8 percée de bout en bout d'un alésage axial 9 comportant une première partie d'alésage d'extrémité 10, une deuxième partie d'alésage médiane cylindrique 11 munie d'encoches 12 régulièrement réparties sur la paroi interne de ladite partie d'alésage 11, et une troisième partie d'alésage d'extrémité 13.The means 7 comprise a thick toothed wheel 8 pierced from end to end with an axial bore 9 comprising a first end bore part 10, a second cylindrical middle bore part 11 provided with notches 12 regularly distributed over the inner wall of said bore portion 11, and a third end bore portion 13.

Les encoches 12 sont propres à coopérer de façon connue en soi avec deux cliquets 14 solidaires d'un tube axial 15 coiffé d'une pièce en cloche 16 solidaire en rotation du tube 15 avec lequel elle est par exemple vissée.The notches 12 are adapted to cooperate in a manner known per se with two pawls 14 secured to an axial tube 15 capped with a bell-shaped part 16 secured in rotation to the tube 15 with which it is for example screwed.

Le tube axial 15 est emmanché à frottement doux sur un axe central cylindrique 17, lui-même connecté avec le socle 5 par l'intermédiaire d'un pion de fixation 18 inséré, par exemple, dans la pièce tubulaire 18', elle-même coopérant extérieurement à frottement doux avec une alvéole 19 du socle 5, de forme complémentaire avec le pion, comme on le verra plus loin.The axial tube 15 is fitted with gentle friction on a central cylindrical axis 17, itself connected with the base 5 by means of a fixing pin 18 inserted, for example, in the part tubular 18 ', itself cooperating externally with gentle friction with a socket 19 in the base 5, of complementary shape with the pin, as will be seen below.

La pièce en cloche 16 est munie d'une rainure 20 en partie supérieure, agencée pour coopérer avec un ergot parallélépipédique 21 solidaire d'une coupelle circulaire 22 externe au couvercle du boîtier, d'actionnement en rotation de la roue dentée 8 en pas à pas, de façon connue en soi, par l'intermédiaire des cliquets.The bell piece 16 is provided with a groove 20 in the upper part, arranged to cooperate with a parallelepiped pin 21 secured to a circular cup 22 external to the housing cover, for rotationally actuating the toothed wheel 8 in steps not, in a manner known per se, by means of the pawls.

La coupelle 22 par exemple sensiblement circulaire comporte un axe de rotation terminé par ledit ergot, qui traverse le couvercle 6 par une ouverture cylindrique avec laquelle l'axe coopère à frottement doux, de façon rotative. Une partie en saillie maintient la coupelle solidaire du couvercle.The cup 22, for example substantially circular, comprises an axis of rotation terminated by said lug, which passes through the cover 6 through a cylindrical opening with which the axis cooperates with gentle friction, in a rotary manner. A projecting part keeps the cup secured to the cover.

Le chargeur 4 est par exemple constitué d'une chaîne sans fin 23 de compartiments en forme d'alvéoles 24 dans lesquels sont disposés les médicaments 2.The charger 4 is for example made up of an endless chain 23 of compartments in the form of cells 24 in which the medicaments 2 are arranged.

Plus précisément la chaîne 23 comporte par exemple trente compartiments en noria.More precisely, the chain 23 comprises for example thirty compartments in noria.

Chaque compartiment est en forme de tube cylindrique d'axe dirigé dans le sens transversal (épaisseur) de l'appareil. Il est raccordé aux deux compartiments adjacents respectivement par une languette souple 27, chaque compartiment étant ouvert d'un côté 25 et fermé de l'autre côté 26 par un fond constitué par exemple par une rondelle 28. La chaîne est par exemple en matière plastique souple (élastomère), le boîtier étant par exemple en matière plastique rigide comme du PVC.Each compartment is in the form of a cylindrical tube with an axis directed in the transverse direction (thickness) of the device. It is connected to the two adjacent compartments respectively by a flexible tongue 27, each compartment being open on one side 25 and closed on the other side 26 by a bottom constituted for example by a washer 28. The chain is for example made of plastic material flexible (elastomer), the housing being for example made of rigid plastic material such as PVC.

Le socle comporte une plaque 29 de rétention des médicaments dans leurs compartiments, lorsque le chargeur est retourné et mis en place dans le boîtier, et des moyens de guidage 30 de la chaîne pour guider celle-ci lors de sa rotation en pas à pas tout autour du boîtier.The base comprises a plate 29 for retaining the medicaments in their compartments, when the charger is turned over and put in place in the casing, and means 30 for guiding the chain to guide the latter during its rotation in all step by step around the housing.

Pour permettre cette rotation, les dents 31 de la roue 8 sont de forme complémentaire aux parois externes 32 des compartiments 24, c'est-à-dire sensiblement en forme de cannelures d'axe transversal par rapport au boîtier, les parties internes 33 intermédiaires entre deux dents adjacentes formant des portions de secteurs cylindriques.To allow this rotation, the teeth 31 of the wheel 8 are of complementary shape to the external walls 32 of the compartments 24, that is to say substantially in the form of grooves of transverse axis relative to the housing, the internal parts 33 intermediate. between two adjacent teeth forming portions of cylindrical sectors.

Le socle comporte du côté d'une extrémité longitudinale, une partie plus épaisse 34, munie d'un orifice circulaire 35 en partie basse, de sortie des médicaments du boîtier, de diamètre interne supérieur ou égal au diamètre d'un compartiment. Cet orifice est en connexion avec le plan inférieur 36 des compartiments du chargeur 4 par l'intermédiaire d'un canal cylindrique 37 de même diamètre qui débouche de l'autre côté sur une ouverture circulaire 38, toujours de même diamètre, dans la plaque 29.The base comprises on the side of a longitudinal end, a thicker part 34, provided with a circular orifice 35 in the lower part, for the outlet of the drugs from the housing, with an internal diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of a compartment. This orifice is in connection with the lower plane 36 of the compartments of the charger 4 by means of a cylindrical channel 37 of the same diameter which opens on the other side onto a circular opening 38, always of the same diameter, in the plate 29 .

Le canal et les orifices sont donc de dimensions suffisantes pour laisser passer le médicament facilement et gravitairement, du compartiment où il est stocké à l'orifice de sortie 35.The channel and the orifices are therefore of sufficient size to allow the medication to pass easily and by gravity, from the compartment where it is stored to the outlet orifice 35.

Le canal 37 est par ailleurs muni de moyens 39 de détection optique, situés à proximité de l'orifice 35, agencés pour détecter le passage d'un médicament dans le canal au moment de sa sortie du boîtier.The channel 37 is moreover provided with optical detection means 39, located near the orifice 35, arranged to detect the passage of a drug in the canal when it comes out of the housing.

Les moyens 39 sont connectés à des moyens électroniques 40 de mémorisation, de calcul et de restitution des données concernant la distribution des médicaments. Les moyens 40 sont situés dans la partie centrale 41 du boîtier, solidaire du socle 5.The means 39 are connected to electronic means 40 for storing, calculating and restoring data concerning the distribution of the drugs. The means 40 are located in the central part 41 of the housing, integral with the base 5.

Dans le mode de réalisation plus particulièrement décrit ici, en référence au schéma de la figure 4, les moyens 39 de détection comprennent des moyens opto-électroniques 42 d'émission de rayonnement lumineux vers l'intérieur du canal. Ces moyens 42 comportent un composant photo-émetteur 43, généralement constitué par une diode électroluminescente, associée à un générateur de courant 44 alimenté par une batterie d'alimentation représentée en 45, par exemple constituée par deux piles de 1,4 Volts.In the embodiment more particularly described here, with reference to the diagram in FIG. 4, the detection means 39 comprise opto-electronic means 42 for emitting light radiation towards the interior of the channel. These means 42 comprise a photo-emitter component 43, generally constituted by a light-emitting diode, associated with a current generator 44 supplied by a supply battery represented at 45, for example constituted by two 1.4 Volt batteries.

Un circuit 46 permet par exemple de régler l'intensité lumineuse.A circuit 46 allows for example to adjust the light intensity.

Les moyens de détection optique comportent également des moyens de réception 47 de la lumière émise par les moyens 42, situés en vis à vis de ces derniers sur la paroi latérale opposée du canal.The optical detection means also comprise means 47 for receiving the light emitted by the means 42, located opposite the latter on the opposite side wall of the channel.

Ces moyens de réception comprennent un récepteur 48, qui peut être une photodiode ou un photocoupleur représenté par un transistor sur la figure 4. La base du transistor est alimentée par les photons émis dans le canal par les moyens 42, le circuit émetteur/récepteur du transistor étant connecté au microprocesseur 49 de calcul et de traitement des signaux reçus.These reception means comprise a receiver 48, which can be a photodiode or a photocoupler represented by a transistor in FIG. 4. The base of the transistor is supplied by the photons emitted in the channel by the means 42, the transmitter / receiver circuit of the transistor being connected to microprocessor 49 for calculating and processing received signals.

Le circuit 47 est par ailleurs alimenté par le générateur 44 via une résistance 50 de façon connue en elle-même.The circuit 47 is also supplied by the generator 44 via a resistor 50 in a manner known per se.

En réponse à l'émission lumineuse, le récepteur 48 transmet donc au microprocesseur 49 un signal électrique représentatif du niveau de lumière reçue.In response to the light emission, the receiver 48 therefore transmits to the microprocessor 49 an electrical signal representative of the level of light received.

Lorsque une gélule 2 passe dans le conduit de passage 37, la quantité de lumière reçue change, ce qui a ainsi pour effet de modifier le signal électrique transmis par le récepteur au circuit intégré 49.When a capsule 2 passes through the passage conduit 37, the quantity of light received changes, which thus has the effect of modifying the electrical signal transmitted by the receiver to the integrated circuit 49.

Ce circuit intégré est par exemple un microprocesseur NEC 75P008 de la société américaine NEC Electronics programmé de façon connue en elle-même.This integrated circuit is for example a NEC 75P008 microprocessor from the American company NEC Electronics programmed in a manner known per se.

Le circuit 49 est par ailleurs connecté à une interface série 50 RS 232 (norme CCITT) de connexion vers des moyens (non représentés) de traitement externe et de restitution des données connus en eux-mêmes, par exemple pouvant comprendre un micro-ordinateur.The circuit 49 is moreover connected to a serial interface 50 RS 232 (CCITT standard) for connection to means (not shown) for external processing and restitution of the data known in themselves, for example possibly comprising a microcomputer.

Le microprocesseur 49 est également connecté à une mémoire vive (RAM) de travail et de stockage de données 51, et éventuellement à une mémoire morte (ROM) non représentée.The microprocessor 49 is also connected to a random access memory (RAM) for working and storing data 51, and possibly to a read only memory (ROM) not shown.

Des moyens de visualisation, par exemple constitués par un écran à cristaux liquides 52, sont prévus et permettent notamment, en fonction de la programmation du microprocesseur 49, d'afficher des données liées à la distribution des médicaments.Display means, for example constituted by a liquid crystal screen 52, are provided and allow in particular, depending on the programming of the microprocessor 49, to display data related to the distribution of the drugs.

Dans le mode de réalisation plus particulièrement décrit ici, un interrupteur normalement ouvert 53 propre à activer le fonctionnement de l'appareil distributeur, et qui s'enclenche automatiquement lors de la rotation de la coupelle 22 est également prévu. Il permet de limiter la consommation d'énergie de l'appareil. Une fois la détection du médicament effectué, par exemple après une temporisation déterminée, l'interrupteur s'ouvre à nouveau.In the embodiment more particularly described here, a normally open switch 53 suitable for activating the operation of the dispensing device, and which automatically engages during rotation of the cup 22 is also provided. It limits the energy consumption of the device. Once the drug has been detected, for example after a determined time delay, the switch opens again.

Sur les figures 5 à 8 on a représenté un second mode de réalisation d'un appareil 60 selon l'invention dont les moyens mécaniques 61 d'entraînement du chargeur sont solidaires du couvercle 62, et non du socle 63 du boîtier 64 comme précédemment décrit.FIGS. 5 to 8 show a second embodiment of an apparatus 60 according to the invention, the mechanical means 61 for driving the charger are integral with the cover 62, and not with the base 63 of the housing 64 as previously described .

Plus précisément, la figure 5 montre le boîtier 64 fermé. Les moyens 61 sont de conception similaire aux moyens d'entraînement à cliquets des figures 1 à 3, à la différence qu'ils sont suspendus via un axe 65, à la coupelle 66 d'actionnement par l'utilisateur.More specifically, Figure 5 shows the housing 64 closed. The means 61 are of similar design to the ratchet drive means of Figures 1 to 3, with the difference that they are suspended via an axis 65, to the cup 66 of actuation by the user.

La figure 6 montre schématiquement le couvercle 62 muni des moyens 61 d'entraînement. Le couvercle comprend une partie 67 de fixation d'une vis 68 (voir figure 7) permettant de solidariser socle et couvercle l'un avec l'autre.FIG. 6 schematically shows the cover 62 provided with the drive means 61. The cover includes a part 67 for fixing a screw 68 (see FIG. 7) making it possible to secure the base and cover with one another.

La figure 7 montre le socle 63 comportant d'un côté une pièce 69 propre à coopérer avec l'extrémité 70 de l'axe des moyens moteurs 61, lorsque le couvercle est en place sur le socle. Le socle 63 comprend également un réceptacle 71 propre à contenir les circuits opto-électroniques de détection 72 connectés aux moyens 73 d'émission et de détection des rayonnements situés sur le canal de sortie du médicament.Figure 7 shows the base 63 having on one side a part 69 adapted to cooperate with the end 70 of the axis of the motor means 61, when the cover is in place on the base. The base 63 also includes a receptacle 71 capable of containing the opto-electronic detection circuits 72 connected to the means 73 for transmitting and detecting radiation located on the outlet channel of the medicament.

Les moyens 72 de détection optique sont par exemple du même type que ceux décrits ci-avant en référence à la figure 4.The optical detection means 72 are for example of the same type as those described above with reference to FIG. 4.

Les moyens de fixation du socle sur le couvercle prévus ci-dessus sont également et par exemple actionnables uniquement et de façon connue en soi par l'intermédiaire d'une clé (non représentée).The means for fixing the base to the cover provided above are also and for example actuable only and in a manner known per se by means of a key (not shown).

La figure 8 est une vue en coupe d'un chargeur 75 utilisable dans le mode de réalisation décrit ci-dessus. Ce chargeur est par exemple constitué par une chaîne sans fin de compartiments 76 cylindriques, attachés les uns aux autres par l'intermédiaire d'une cordelette 77.Figure 8 is a sectional view of a charger 75 usable in the embodiment described above. This charger is for example constituted by an endless chain of cylindrical compartments 76, attached to each other by means of a cord 77.

On va maintenant décrire le mode d'utilisation de l'appareil selon l'invention plus particulièrement décrit en référence aux figures 1 à 4.We will now describe the mode of use of the device according to the invention more particularly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

L'appareil selon l'invention est avantageusement un appareil de poche, c'est-à-dire que ces dimensions sont relativement réduites par exemple s'inscrivant dans un parallélépipède de 7 cm par 12 cm par 4 cm de hauteur.The device according to the invention is advantageously a pocket device, that is to say that these dimensions are relatively reduced, for example forming part of a parallelepiped of 7 cm by 12 cm by 4 cm in height.

Le boîtier est tout d'abord ouvert, le couvercle 6 étant désolidarisé du socle 5 auquel il était fixé par exemple par l'intermédiaire d'une vis condamnable qui, comme on l'a vu, ne peut être actionnée que grâce à une clé de verrouillage déterminée.The housing is firstly opened, the cover 6 being detached from the base 5 to which it was fixed for example by means of a locking screw which, as we have seen, can only be actuated by means of a key lock determined.

Le chargeur 4 est alors extrait du socle sur lequel il repose de façon libre, par simple emboîtement d'une part avec les dents de la roue 8 et d'autre part autour de la pièce 30. Cette dernière présente une section horizontale dont le contour est en forme de portion d'ellipse, ou sensiblement en forme de portion d'ellipse.The charger 4 is then extracted from the base on which it rests freely, by simple fitting on the one hand with the teeth of the wheel 8 and on the other hand around the part 30. The latter has a horizontal section whose contour is in the form of an ellipse portion, or substantially in the form of an ellipse portion.

La pièce 30, solidaire du socle est par ailleurs creuse et contient les moyens électroniques. Elle permet le guidage à frottement doux par sa surface externe, de la chaîne 4, un léger jeu de quelques millimètres étant par exemple prévu entre chaîne et guide.The part 30, integral with the base is also hollow and contains the electronic means. It allows guiding with gentle friction by its external surface, of chain 4, a slight clearance of a few millimeters being for example provided between chain and guide.

La chaîne est en matériau relativement souple mais présentant une surface rigide dans le plan 36, ce qui autorise notamment un glissement sensiblement sans friction lors de l'actionnement du mécanisme de rotation permettant d'amener les compartiments 24 un à un, en face de l'orifice de sortie 35.The chain is made of relatively flexible material but having a rigid surface in the plane 36, which allows in particular a substantially frictionless sliding during the actuation of the rotation mechanism making it possible to bring the compartments 24 one by one, opposite the outlet 35.

Le chargeur 4 ayant été enlevé il est retourné de façon à ce que la partie fermée des compartiments cylindriques 28 soit vers le bas.The magazine 4 having been removed it is turned over so that the closed part of the cylindrical compartments 28 is downwards.

Le chargeur est alors rempli avec les médicaments à distribuer, par exemple trente gélules disposées successivement dans chacun des compartiments d'une chaîne qui peut par exemple comporter quarante compartiments.The charger is then filled with the drugs to be dispensed, for example thirty capsules placed successively in each of the compartments of a chain which can for example comprise forty compartments.

Le socle est alors mis en place au-dessus de la cartouche ou chaîne du chargeur, par simple emboîtement, de façon aisée, puis le socle est retourné en position de fonctionnement.The base is then placed above the cartridge or chain of the charger, by simple interlocking, easily, then the base is returned to the operating position.

Les gélules 2 reposent donc maintenant sur la plaque 29. Avantageusement aucune gélule n'a été placée dans le compartiment qui se place d'entrée de jeu au-dessus de l'orifice 35, car sinon ladite gélule tomberait par gravité et sortirait du boîtier.The capsules 2 therefore now rest on the plate 29. Advantageously, no capsule has been placed in the compartment which is placed from the outset above the orifice 35, because otherwise said capsule would fall by gravity and leave the housing .

Le couvercle 6 est ensuite fixé, la coupelle 22 étant placée de façon à ce que l'ergot 21 vienne coopéerer avec la rainure 20 de la cloche 16. Ceci se fait par tatonnement de façon connue en soi.The cover 6 is then fixed, the cup 22 being placed so that the lug 21 comes cooperate with the groove 20 of the bell 16. This is done by groping in a manner known per se.

Puis le couvercle est verrouillé avec le socle grâce aux moyens de fixation décrits ci-avant (symbolisés par un axe 80 sur la figure 2).Then the cover is locked with the base thanks to the fixing means described above (symbolized by an axis 80 in Figure 2).

Le dispositif est alors prêt à fonctionner, les batteries (piles de 1,5 Volts) décrites dans le cadre de la figure 4, étant bien entendu chargées pour permettre le fonctionnement de la partie électronique du dispositif.The device is then ready to operate, the batteries (1.5 Volt batteries) described in the context of FIG. 4, being of course charged to allow the operation of the electronic part of the device.

Dans le mode de réalisation plus particulièrement décrit ici en référence à la figure 1, il est prévu de plus un dispositif mécanique 81 comprenant une trappe 82 de fermeture de l'orifice 35. Cette trappe est placée dans le socle et actionnée par des moyens 83.In the embodiment more particularly described here with reference to FIG. 1, there is further provided a mechanical device 81 comprising a hatch 82 for closing the orifice 35. This hatch is placed in the base and actuated by means 83 .

Par exemple cette trappe 82 est fabriquée d'une seule pièce avec les moyens 83 qui comportent une partie tubulaire cylindrique 18' emboîtée sur l'axe central 18 et solidaire en rotation de la cloche 16, et donc du bouton 22 d'entraînement de la roue.For example, this hatch 82 is made in one piece with the means 83 which comprise a cylindrical tubular part 18 'fitted on the central axis 18 and integral in rotation with the bell 16, and therefore with the button 22 for driving the wheel.

La rotation du bouton 22 entraîne la roue dentée d'un cran par l'intermédiaire du dispositif à cliquet et ouvre en même temps la trappe 82.The rotation of the button 22 drives the toothed wheel one notch through the ratchet device and at the same time opens the hatch 82.

La trappe revient ensuite en position fermée en même temps que le cliquet revient en position initiale, par l'intermédiaire d'un ressort (non représenté) placé dans le socle.The hatch then returns to the closed position at the same time as the pawl returns to the initial position, by means of a spring (not shown) placed in the base.

D'autres modes de réalisation du clapet ou trappe de fermeture sont bien entendu possibles. Celle-ci peut également être de façon plus simple placée au niveau de l'ouverture 38 dans la plaque 29 en vis à vis de l'orifice 35. Cependant une telle disposition ne permet pas la protection permanente des cellules optiques du disposif émetteur/récepteur opto-électronique 37 dans la partie de canal en 37.Other embodiments of the closure valve or hatch are of course possible. This can also be more simply placed at the opening 38 in the plate 29 opposite the orifice 35. However, such an arrangement does not allow permanent protection optical cells of the opto-electronic transmitter / receiver device 37 in the channel part at 37.

Pour distribuer une gélule, l'utilisateur tourne d'un pas la coupelle 22 et amène ainsi un premier compartiment chargé d'une gélule en vis à vis de l'orifice 35 et du canal 37. Simultanément la trappe 82 s'efface.To dispense a capsule, the user turns the cup 22 with one step and thus brings a first compartment loaded with a capsule opposite the orifice 35 and the channel 37. Simultaneously the hatch 82 disappears.

La gélule tombe par gravité directement et sans aucune action extérieure de l'utilisateur au travers de l'orifice 38, du canal 37 et de l'orifice 35. La trappe se referme ensuite automatiquement comme on l'a vu.The capsule falls by gravity directly and without any external action of the user through the orifice 38, the channel 37 and the orifice 35. The hatch then closes automatically as we have seen.

Lors de son passage, le dispositif opto-électronique enregistre un changement d'intensité dans la quantité de lumière reçue par le récepteur 48, ce qui entraîne l'enregistrement d'un signal au niveau du microprocesseur qui est alors à-même de le traiter.During its passage, the opto-electronic device registers a change in intensity in the quantity of light received by the receiver 48, which results in the recording of a signal at the level of the microprocessor which is then able to process it .

Cette information est comptabilisée et conservée en mémoire RAM 51 puis récupérée via la sortie 50 vers des moyens de traitement non représentés qui peuvent alors effectuer suivant les besoins, des opérations de calcul de valeurs moyennes, médianes, maximales, minimales, des calculs d'écart type et permettre notamment l'établissement d'une fiche de rapport comportant par exemple les informations suivantes :

  • médicament distribué :
  • posologie :
  • identification du patient :
  • date du premier enregistrement :
  • date du dernier enregistrement :
  • nombre de gélules dans le distributeur :
  • nombre de gélules restantes :
  • nombre de gélules utilisées :
  • nombre de prises manquantes :
  • horaire moyen des prises :
  • statistiques sur les variations par rapport aux horaires moyens et les délais entre prises, où sont notamment fournis la moyenne, la médiane, le maximum, le minimum et l'écart type de ces mesures.
This information is recorded and stored in RAM memory 51 and then recovered via output 50 to processing means not shown which can then perform, as required, operations for calculating mean, median, maximum, minimum values, deviation calculations type and in particular allow the establishment of a report card including for example the following information:
  • drug dispensed:
  • dosage:
  • patient identification:
  • date of first registration:
  • date of last recording:
  • number of capsules in the dispenser:
  • number of capsules remaining:
  • number of capsules used:
  • number of missing sockets:
  • average catch schedule:
  • statistics on the variations compared to the average hours and the times between taken, where are provided in particular the average, the median, the maximum, the minimum and the standard deviation of these measurements.

Bien entendu d'autres informations peuvent être extrapolées et obtenues, de façon connue en soi.Of course other information can be extrapolated and obtained, in a manner known per se.

Il est en effet à la portée de l'homme du métier d'adapter de tels moyens à un problème de posologie plus spécifique, simplement en programmant le microprocesseur en conséquence.It is in fact within the reach of the skilled person to adapt such means to a more specific dosage problem, simply by programming the microprocessor accordingly.

La présente invention ne se limite pas aux modes de réalisation plus particulièrement décrits. Elle en concerne au contraire toutes les variantes et notamment :

  • celles où les compartiments comportent des parois transparentes, la paroi latérale du boîtier qui recouvre lesdits compartiments étant elle-même également transparente en totalité ou en partie, de façon à permettre à l'utilisateur d'observer le contenu du boîtier ;
  • celles où des moyens d'émission d'un signal sonore rappellent à l'utilisateur le moment de prendre son médicament ;
  • celles où le nombre de compartiments prévu est plus grand, par exemple soixante ou quatre-vingt compartiments.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments more particularly described. On the contrary, it concerns all variants and in particular:
  • those where the compartments have transparent walls, the side wall of the housing which covers said compartments being itself also completely or partly transparent, so as to allow the user to observe the contents of the housing;
  • those where means of emitting an audible signal remind the user when to take his medication;
  • those where the number of compartments provided is greater, for example sixty or eighty compartments.

Claims (9)

Appareil distributeur (1, 60) pour médicaments (2) en forme de gélule ou pilule, comportant un boîtier (3, 64) distributeur des médicaments et un chargeur (4, 75) amovible propre à contenir lesdits médicaments préalablement rangés dans ledit chargeur, ledit boîtier comportant : - des moyens (7, 61) d'entraînement du chargeur dans un sens déterminé, pour amener chacun desdits médicaments successivement et un par un au dessus d'un orifice (35) de sortie du boîtier, - et des moyens (39) de détection optique disposés à proximité dudit orifice, agencés pour détecter le passage d'un médicament au moment de sa sortie du boîtier et connectés à des moyens électroniques (40) de mémorisation, de calcul et de restitution des données concernant la distibution de médicaments, caractérisé en ce que le chargeur comprend plusieurs compartiments (24) transversaux formant une chaîne longitudinale continue, chaque compartiment étant ouvert du côté (25) de l'orifice de sortie, fermé de l'autre côté (26) et propre à stocker un médicament, et en ce que le chargeur et l'orifice sont agencés pour permettre la sortie du médicament directement par gravité lors de sa distribution.Dispensing device (1, 60) for medicaments (2) in the form of a capsule or pill, comprising a casing (3, 64) dispensing medicaments and a removable charger (4, 75) suitable for containing said medicaments previously stored in said charger, said housing comprising: - means (7, 61) for driving the charger in a determined direction, for bringing each of the said drugs successively and one by one above an orifice (35) leaving the housing, - And optical detection means (39) disposed near said orifice, arranged to detect the passage of a medicament when it leaves the housing and connected to electronic means (40) for storing, calculating and restoring data on the distribution of drugs, characterized in that the feeder comprises several transverse compartments (24) forming a continuous longitudinal chain, each compartment being open on the side (25) of the outlet orifice, closed on the other side (26) and suitable for storing a medicament, and in this that the feeder and the orifice are arranged to allow the drug to exit directly by gravity during its distribution. Appareil selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'orifice comporte une trappe (82) de fermeture agencée pour s'effacer lors de la présentation d'un nouveau compartiment au-dessus dudit orifice et pour se refermer après passage du médicament.Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the orifice has a closing hatch (82) arranged to disappear when a new compartment is presented above said orifice and to close after passage of the medicament. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les compartiments (24) sont des alvéoles de forme tubulaire cylindrique ou sensiblement cylindrique, de diamètre compris entre de l'ordre de 8 mm et de l'ordre de 1,5 cm et de hauteur comprise entre de l'ordre de 5 mm et de l'ordre de 2,5 cm, avantageusement de hauteur de l'ordre de 2 cm.Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compartments (24) are cells of cylindrical or substantially cylindrical tubular shape, with a diameter between about 8 mm and about 1.5 cm and a height between around 5 mm and around 2.5 cm, advantageously around 2 cm high. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens (50) de connexion à un système externe de traitement et de restitution de données.Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (50) for connection to an external system for processing and restoring data. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens (7) d'entraînement comportent une roue dentée (8) propre à guider et engrener la chaîne de compartiments, via des moyens à cliquet (12, 13, 14, 15, 16).Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive means (7) comprise a toothed wheel (8) capable of guiding and meshing the chain of compartments, via ratchet means (12, 13, 14 , 15, 16). Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le chargeur comporte au moins vingt compartiments et avantageusement de l'ordre de trente compartiments.Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the charger comprises at least twenty compartments and advantageously of the order of thirty compartments. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte des moyens de verrouillage du boîtier propre à empècher l'enlèvement du chargeur amovible sans utilisation d'une clé.Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for locking the casing capable of preventing the removal of the removable magazine without the use of a key. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de détection optique comprennent des moyens opto-électroniques comportant des premiers moyens (42) d'émission d'un rayonnement visuel ou infrarouge et des seconds moyens (47) de réception dudit rayonnement, lesdits premiers et seconds moyens étant placés en vis à vis l'un de l'autre sur un canal (37) de sortie de médicament situé entre le plan (36) comprenant les extrémités ouvertes de compartiments et l'orifice (35) de sortie.Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical detection means comprise opto-electronic means comprising first means (42) for emitting visual or infrared radiation and second means (47) for reception of said radiation, said first and second means being placed opposite one another on a drug outlet channel (37) located between the plane (36) comprising the open ends of compartments and the outlet orifice (35). Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les compartiments (24) et le couvercle (6) du boîtier (3) comprennent une paroi externe au moins en partie transparente, de façon à permettre à un utilisateur d'observer le contenu des compartiments.Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the compartments (24) and the cover (6) of the housing (3) comprise an external wall at least partly transparent, so as to allow a user to observe the contents of the compartments.
EP93400108A 1992-01-29 1993-01-18 Capsule or pill dispensing apparatus Expired - Lifetime EP0554137B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9200958A FR2686508B1 (en) 1992-01-29 1992-01-29 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING MEDICINAL PRODUCTS IN THE FORM OF A CAPSULE OR PILL.
FR9200958 1992-01-29

Publications (2)

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EP0554137A1 true EP0554137A1 (en) 1993-08-04
EP0554137B1 EP0554137B1 (en) 1996-04-03

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ID=9426109

Family Applications (1)

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EP93400108A Expired - Lifetime EP0554137B1 (en) 1992-01-29 1993-01-18 Capsule or pill dispensing apparatus

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US (1) US5310082A (en)
EP (1) EP0554137B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE136280T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69302031T2 (en)
FR (1) FR2686508B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0554137B1 (en) 1996-04-03
FR2686508B1 (en) 1994-04-08
ATE136280T1 (en) 1996-04-15
US5310082A (en) 1994-05-10
DE69302031T2 (en) 1996-11-28
FR2686508A1 (en) 1993-07-30
DE69302031D1 (en) 1996-05-09

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