METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A PILL BOX

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for preparing a pillbox (23) comprising a plurality of cavities for receiving at least one pill, in which the following steps are performed: at least two filling steps in which, in each filling step, a group of at least one pill is placed in at least one cavity of the pillbox (23) according to data, named filling data, a step of acquiring an image of the pillbox (23) by an image acquisition device (24) after at least two filling steps, characterised in that, after at least one acquisition step, named current acquisition step, a step of checking the filling of the pillbox (23) is performed in which: an image acquired during said current acquisition step is compared with an image acquired during an acquisition step preceding said current acquisition step, then conformity of the filling is evaluated.

Claims

1. Method for preparing a pillbox having a plurality of cavities for receiving at least one pill, in divided solid galenic form, said method comprising the steps of: an initial step, in which the cavities of the pillbox are placed facing an image acquisition device, at least two filling steps in which, in each filling step, a group of at least one pill is placed in at least one cavity of the pillbox according to filling data, of a medical prescription for a therapeutic treatment of a patient, at least two steps of image acquisition of the pillbox by the image acquisition device, including: a step of acquiring an image of the pillbox after a filling step, another step of acquiring an image of the pillbox after another filling step, wherein, after at least one current acquisition step, a computer-implemented step of checking the filling of the pillbox is performed in which: an image acquired during said current acquisition step is compared with an image acquired during an acquisition step preceding said current acquisition step so as to identify the pills placed between this acquisition step preceding said current acquisition step and the current acquisition step, then conformity of the filling is evaluated from a comparison between the pills identified and the filling data.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein during said step of checking the filling of the pillbox: the image acquired during said current acquisition step is compared with an image acquired during the acquisition step which chronologically precedes said current acquisition step so as to identify the pills placed between this acquisition step which chronologically precedes said current acquisition step and the current acquisition step, then conformity of the filling is evaluated from a comparison between the pills identified and the filling data.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein an image acquisition step is performed after each filling step.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein a step of checking the filling of the pillbox is performed after each step of image acquisition of the pillbox.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of pills are placed in at least one cavity of the pillbox, and in that all the pills placed in the same cavity are identical.

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in at least one filling step, a plurality of pills are placed in at least one cavity of the pillbox, and in that the pills of said plurality of pills placed in the pillbox during the same filling step are identical.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the initial step comprises a step of acquiring an initial image, of the pillbox by the image acquisition device after having placed the pillbox facing the image acquisition device.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in each checking step, the position of said identified pills is determined from image processing and analyzing means and is compared with a position indicated by the filling data of the filling step preceding this checking step.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in each checking step, a quantity of said identified pills in each cavity is determined from image processing and analyzing means and is compared with a quantity indicated by the filling data of the filling step preceding this checking step.

10. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in each checking step, the image acquired during said current acquisition step is compared with the image acquired during the acquisition step preceding said current acquisition step only on zones of interest, corresponding to the position of the cavities of the pillbox for which the spatial coordinates have been recorded.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in each checking step, an indication of conformity of the filling of each of the cavities of the pillbox is displayed on at least one checking screen, after the conformity of the filling has been evaluated.

12. Method according to claim 1, wherein, in each filling step, a filling indication, relating to the filling data for this filling step, is displayed on a screen, named filling assistance screen. Device for preparing a pillbox comprising a plurality of cavities for receiving at least one pill, in divided solid galenic form, a preparation device comprising an image acquisition device adapted to: be placed facing the cavities of the pillbox during at least two filling steps in which, in each filling step, a group of at least one pill is placed in at least one cavity of the pillbox according to filling data, of a medical prescription for a therapeutic treatment of a patient, perform at least two image acquisitions of the pillbox by the image acquisition device, including: acquisition of an image of the pillbox after a filling step, another acquisition of an image of the pillbox after another filling step, characterised in that it comprises a data processing device comprising means for implementing, after at least one acquisition step, named current acquisition step, a step of checking the filling of the pillbox in which: an image acquired during said current acquisition step is compared with an image acquired during an acquisition step preceding said current acquisition step so as to identify the pills placed between this acquisition step preceding said current acquisition step and the current acquisition step, then conformity of the filling is evaluated from a comparison between the pills identified and the filling data.

13. Computer program comprising program code instructions for performing the steps of a method according to claim 1 when said program is run on a computer.

14. Computer-readable recording medium comprising program code instructions for performing the steps of a method according to claim 1 when they are run on a computer.

Description

[0111] Other aims, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description given by way of non-limiting examples which makes reference to the attached figures in which:

[0112] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a device for preparing a pillbox according to one embodiment of the invention,

[0113] FIG. 2 is a sequential diagram of a method for preparing a pillbox in accordance with one embodiment of the invention,

[0114] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a pillbox in which zones, named zones of interest, are illustrated.

[0115] A device 20, illustrated in FIG. 1, for preparing a pillbox 23 in accordance with the invention comprises a support 21 for fixing a pillbox 23.

[0116] The fixing support 21 comprises lugs 22 for fixing pillboxes 23 adapted to be placed in abutment with a pillbox 23 to hold said pillbox 23 in a fixed manner.

[0117] More particularly, the pillbox 23 comprises apertures 42 for receiving the fixing lugs 22 on at least one edge of the pillbox 23.

[0118] The fixing support 21 can be e.g., the one described in FR 2 942 132.

[0119] The pillbox 23 comprises a plurality of cavities 40 for receiving at least one medicine, named pill 41, in divided solid galenic form at least not entirely powdery (e.g. gelatine capsules), or even non-powdery (e.g., tablets).

[0120] The pillbox 23 preferably comprises a plurality of portions each comprising at least one cavity 40especially a plurality of cavities 40intended to receive a unitary dose of pills, i.e., a group of pills intended to be administered substantially in a single dose to a patient at a given time, said group of pills being in conformity with the dosage of a medical prescription intended for the treatment of at least one pathology affecting this patient.

[0121] Furthermore, in each of said plurality of portions, the adjacent cavities 40 in this portion can be separated by a common wall, especially a removable wall. Alternatively, the adjacent cavities 40 in a portion of said plurality of portions can be spaced from each other.

[0122] Said portions are preferably detachable and connected to each other by divisible connections so that a portion can be detached for each unitary dose of pills.

[0123] The fixing support 21 makes it possible to position the cavities 40 of the pillbox 23 facing an image acquisition device 24 which is itself placed facing the fixing support 21.

[0124] The image acquisition device 24 is thus arranged and adapted to perform acquisitions of images of a pillbox 23 placed facing this image acquisition device 24, especially above the pillbox 23, i.e., facing access apertures of the cavities 40.

[0125] The image acquisition device 24 is preferably rigidly fixed to the fixing support 21 of the pillbox.

[0126] The image acquisition device 24 can be a photographic device, a camera, a scanner 28, especially adapted to be used as a peripheral of said data processing device 25 and connected to said data processing device 25.

[0127] The image acquisition device 24 is connected to a data processing device 25. This data processing device 25 can be e.g., a computer.

[0128] The data processing device 25 comprises in particular image processing and analysing means. Furthermore, the data processing device 25 comprises in particular a memory.

[0129] Said data processing device 25 also comprises a computer program adapted to use said image processing and analysing means.

[0130] In particular, this computer program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. Said recording medium is preferably the memory of the data processing device 25.

[0131] Said computer program is used in a method in accordance with the invention for preparing a pillbox 23, especially during steps of filling the pillbox 23, acquiring images of the pillbox 23 and checking the filling of the pillbox 23.

[0132] Furthermore, the data processing device 25 is connected to a main screen 26 on which it is possible to display a graphical interface from said computer program.

[0133] A method for preparing a pillbox 23 illustrated according to one embodiment of the invention in FIG. 2 comprises an initial step 30 in which an empty pillbox 23 comprising a plurality of cavities 40 for receiving at least one pill 41 is placed and fixed on said fixing support 21 so that the cavities 40 of the pillbox 23 face the image acquisition device 24.

[0134] Preferably, during this initial step 30, an image, named initial image, of the empty pillbox 23 is acquired by the image acquisition device 24 and transmitted to the data processing device 25 which records it in a memory.

[0135] Furthermore, zones, named zones of interest 43, illustrated as an example in FIG. 3, corresponding to the position of the cavities 40 of the pillbox 23 are defined during a calibration step (able to be included in the initial step 30 or to proceed it) and their spatial coordinates are recorded in a memory of the data processing device 25.

[0136] The acquisition of an image of the empty pillbox 23 and definition of zones of interest 43 can be performed when a method of preparing a pillbox 23 in accordance with the invention is performed. Alternatively, it is possible to perform a single acquisition of an image of an empty pillbox 23 and a single definition of zones of interest 43 for a plurality of preparation methods in accordance with the invention when the pillboxes 23 to be prepared with these methods are identical.

[0137] A method for preparing a pillbox 23 also comprises a step 31 for loading data d.sub.1 . . . n, named filling data (n being equal to the number of filling steps described below of the filling preparation method) by the data processing device 25, in which a patient is selected in a database stored in a memory of the data processing device 25 according to a given identifier of the patient, then the data processing device 25 extracts the filling data d.sub.1 . . . n stored in a memory of the processing device 25 and linked to a given identifier of the patient.

[0138] The filling data d.sub.1 . . . n relate to a medical prescription of the patient to which they are linked. The filling data d.sub.1 . . . n thus comprise indications as to the dosage of the prescription and thus indications as to the filling of the pillbox 23 to be prepared for distribution to the patient. In particular, the filling data d.sub.1 . . . n comprise indications relating to the position of the pills 41 to be placed in the cavities 40 of the pillbox 23, the quantity of each pill 41 in each cavity 40 of the pillbox 23 and the type of each of these pills 41.

[0139] A method in accordance with the invention comprises at least two steps 32 of filling the pillbox 23 after the step 31 of loading the filling data d.sub.1 . . . n.

[0140] Furthermore, the filling data d.sub.1 . . . n are divided into filling data d.sub.i, i being between 1 and n, relating to a filling step i of a method for preparing a pillbox 23 in accordance with the invention.

[0141] Thus, in each filling step i, a group of at least one pill 41 is placed in at least one cavity 40 of the pillbox 23 according to an arrangement indicated by the filling data d.sub.i which relate to this filling step.

[0142] Before being placed in the cavities 40 of the pillbox 23, the pills 41 are packaged in cases for pills 41, each case comprising a group of pills 41 identical to each other (same galenic form, same dosage, same active substance, same size . . . ).

[0143] Each case for pills 41 advantageously has a bar code.

[0144] The pills 41 to be placed during a filling step are preferably identical to each other (same galenic form, same dosage, same active substance, same size . . . ).

[0145] Thus only identical pills 41 are handled in each filling step. This makes it possible not only to reduce the risk of error in placing pills 41 but also to reduce the preparation time for the pillbox 23.

[0146] Furthermore, before placing the pills 41 in at least one cavity 40 of the pillbox 23 in each filling step, it is preferable to read, using a scanner 28 of the preparation device 20, the bar code of the case comprising the pills 41 to be placed during this filling step.

[0147] Reading of the bar code makes it possible to indicate to the data processing device 25 which is connected to the scanner 28 the pills 41 which will be placed during the filling step.

[0148] Preferably, in each filling step, each cavity 40 in which at least one pill 41 must be placed during a filling step is indicated by a filling indication on a filling assistance screen 27 facing the cavities 40 of the pillbox 23 below the pillbox 23 and thus opposite the acquisition device 24 with respect to the pillbox 23.

[0149] More particularly, regions of the filling assistance screen 27 which are placed facing the cavities 40 in which at least one pill 41 must be placed are illuminated according to a predetermined colour code. Furthermore, for each of these regions of the filling assistance screen 27 a number can be displayed on this region in order to indicate the number of pills 41 which must be placed in the cavity 40 facing this region.

[0150] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a method in accordance with the invention comprises, after each filling step i, a step i of acquisition (step 33 in FIG. 2) of an image of the pillbox 23 by the image acquisition device 24.

[0151] In particular, when a filling step i is terminated, it is indicated to the data processing device 25 by an input peripheral 29 connected to said data processing device 25 that the filling step i has been terminated in order to be able to pass to the acquisition step i.

[0152] Alternatively, a scale can be placed below the pillbox 23 so as to detect the end of the filling of a filling step i according to the weight of the pillbox 23 and a weight of the medicines which is indicated in the filling data so as to pass automatically to the acquisition step i.

[0153] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, a method in accordance with the invention comprises, after each acquisition step i, a step 34 of checking the filling of the pillbox 23.

[0154] In particular, the step 34 of checking the filling of the pillbox 23 comprises a step 35 of comparing the image I.sub.i acquired during the acquisition step i with respect to the image I.sub.i1 acquired during the acquisition step i1, i being between 1 and n, I.sub.0 being the initial image and the acquisition step 0 being the initial step 30.

[0155] The acquisition step i1 is thus the acquisition step which chronologically precedes the acquisition step i in the group of acquisition steps of the method of preparing the pillbox 23.

[0156] In the image I.sub.i1, the pillbox 23 comprises a group, named first group, of at least one pill 41, if i is greater than 1 (no pill 41 for the image I.sub.0 in which the pillbox 23 is empty). This first group comprises the pills 41 placed during the filling step i1 which precedes the acquisition step i1 and the pills 41 placed before this filling step i1.

[0157] In the image I.sub.i, the pillbox 23 comprises the first group of at least one pill 41 and a second group of pills 41 comprising the pills 41 placed during the filling step i which precedes the acquisition step i.

[0158] The computer program is programmed to compare the image I.sub.i with respect to the image I.sub.i1 so as to identify each pill 41 of said second group of pills 41, and thus each pill 41 having been placed in the pillbox 23 during the filling step i.

[0159] In particular, during the comparison step 35, the data processing device 25 makes a distinctionby means of said computer programbetween the image I.sub.i and the image I.sub.i1 (especially a distinction between the colorimetric data of these two images) so as to identify each pill 41 of said second group of pills 41. The distinction between the image I.sub.i and the image I.sub.i1 makes it possible to obtain an image, named image to be analysed, in which only the pills 41 placed during the filling step i are present so that they can be identified easily during an analysis step 36.

[0160] When each pill 41 of said second group of at least one pill 41 has been identified, the processing device 25 determinesby means of said computer programthe position of each pill 41 of this second group.

[0161] The position of the pills 41 is determined from means, especially algorithms, for image processing and analysis which are programmed in the computer program.

[0162] For example, the position of the pills 41 can be determined from colorimetric data of the image to be analysed. Furthermore, it is also possible to determine the position of the pills 41 identified by identification of the contours of the pills 41 present in the image to be analysed (especially from a black and white image from the image to be analysed or even from the application of a Sobel filter to the image to be analysed).

[0163] Furthermore, when each pill 41 of said second group of at least one pill 41 has been identified, the processing device 25 also determines a quantity of said identified pills 41 in each cavity 40 of the pillbox 23 by means of said computer program and the position of each pill 41 of this second group.

[0164] Said quantity of the identified pills 41 identification can also be determined from means, especially algorithms, for image processing and analysis which are programmed in the computer program.

[0165] In particular, the quantity of pills 41 in each cavity 40 can be determined from the position of the pills 41 and the contours of said identified pills 41.

[0166] Furthermore, the processing device 25 can also determineby means of said computer programthe type (especially the name of the medicine) of each pill 41 in this second group.

[0167] The type of each pill 41 of said second group can be determined from means, especially algorithms, for image processing and analysis which are programmed in the computer program.

[0168] In particular, the type of each pill 41 of said second group can be determined from a colorimetric analysis of the image to be analysed.

[0169] The analysis of the position, of the quantity and of the type of each pill 41 of said second group is preferably performed only in said zones of interest 43 so as to reduce the number of calculations to be performed by the data processing device 25.

[0170] The determined position of each pill 41, the determined quantity of each pill 41 in each cavity 40 and the determined type of each pill 41 are then compared during a step 37 with the position of each pill 41, the quantity of each pill 41 in each cavity 40 and with the type of each pill 41 which are indicated by the filling data d.sub.i.

[0171] More particularly, the processing and the analysis of the image to be analysed with respect to the filling data make it possible to determine whether the pills 41 placed during the filling step i have been placed in the cavities 40 indicated by the filling data d.sub.i. This processing and this analysis also make it possible to determine whether the number of pills 41 placed in the cavities 40 corresponds to that indicated by the filling data d.sub.i. Furthermore, they also make it possible to determine whether cavities 40 not indicated by the filling data d.sub.i comprise pills 41 and also whether pills 41 not indicated by the filling data d.sub.i are present in the filling cavities 40 indicated by the filling data d.sub.i.

[0172] After having evaluated the conformity of the filling performed during the filling step i, the computer program is programmed to report the presence or lack of conformity of this filling.

[0173] In particular, the filling assistance screen 27 is used to report the presence or lack of conformity of filling during a step 38 when the filling during a step of filling the pillbox 23 is evaluated as being in conformity and during a step 39 when the filling during a step of filling the pillbox 23 is evaluated as not being in conformity.

[0174] In the case where the filling performed during the filling step i is evaluated as not being in conformity, passage to a next filling step i+1 is prevented (e.g., by displaying a message of non-conformity of the filling in a modal window on the main screen 26) until the pills 41 are placed in accordance with filling data d.sub.i.

[0175] In particular, the cavities 40 not in conformity with the filling data d.sub.i are indicated during the step 39 by indications of conformity of the filling on the filling assistance screen 27 so that it is possible rapidly to identify the pills 41 which must be moved in order to be in conformity with the filling data d.sub.i.

[0176] In particular, the regions of the filling assistance screen 27 which are placed facing the cavities 40 not in conformity with the filling data d.sub.i can be coloured according to a predetermined colour code (especially a red colour) and the number of pills 41 to be placed in these cavities 40 can also be indicated there.

[0177] The cavities 40 in conformity with the filling data d.sub.i can also be indicated during the step 39 by other filling indications on the filling assistance screen 27.

[0178] In particular, the regions of the filling assistance screen 27 which are placed facing the cavities 40 in conformity with the filling data d.sub.i can be coloured according to a predetermined colour code (e.g., a green colour).

[0179] When replacement of the pills 41 according to the filling data d.sub.i is finished, a new step i of acquisition of an image I.sub.i of the pillbox 23 is performed, then a new step 34 of checking the filling in which the image I.sub.i is still compared with the image I.sub.i1 of the acquisition step i1 in which the pillbox 23 comprises only said first group of at least one pill 41.

[0180] In the case where the filling is evaluated as being in conformity, passage to a next filling step according to filling data d.sub.i+1 is authorised by the computer program.

[0181] The cavities 40 in conformity with the filling data d.sub.i can also be indicated during the step 38 by indications of conformity of the filling on the filling assistance screen 27.

[0182] In particular, the regions of the filling assistance screen 27 which are placed facing the cavities 40 can be coloured according to a predetermined colour code (e.g., a green colour).

[0183] When all the filling steps of the preparation method have been performed and the cavities 40 of the pillbox 23 are in conformity with all the filling data, the cavities 40 are covered with a seal to seal the pillbox 23.

[0184] The invention thus relates to a method for preparing a pillbox 23, a device 20 for preparing a pillbox 23, a computer program and a computer-readable recording medium making it possible to place pills 41 in a pillbox 23 according to a medical prescription of a patient in a reliable and inexpensive manner.

[0185] A method in accordance with the invention for preparing a pillbox 23 can be performed by a caregiver.

[0186] The invention can be varied in many ways with respect to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures. In particular, the initial step 30 and the filling steps 32 can be performed by a machine. Furthermore, it may be possible not to perform the checking step 34 after each acquisition step.