Abstract:
A medicament dispensing device capable of managing the effective use period of a medicament preparation-containing syringe by simply and accurately detecting a period of time after the start of use of the preparation. In a medicament dispensing device ( 1 ), when a medicament preparation-containing syringe ( 11 ) is replaced, a microprocessor ( 23 ) detects the time at which the replacement is performed as the time of the start of use of the preparation, and counts the elapsed time after the use of the preparation has started. Then, the microprocessor ( 23 ) notifies the result of the counting by a LCD ( 10 ), etc. to the user. Also, the microprocessor ( 23 ) detects that a syringe needle for dispensing the preparation has been mounted, and after detecting the mounting of the syringe needle, the microprocessor ( 23 ) counts the elapsed time after the start of use of the preparation. In a step S 12 , the microprocessor ( 23 ) checks whether or not the elapsed time counted by a timer ( 21 ) has exceeded a specified time. When an effective use period has expired, the microprocessor ( 23 ) issues a message in a step S 17  that the effective period of a medicament has expired.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a medicine injection device equipped with a formulation syringe containing a formulation and capable of injecting the formulation into a living body and the like, and particularly, to a medicine injection device managing a term of expiration of a formulation after the start of use of the formulation. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     When injecting medicine solution from a formulation syringe to a test subject, the operator prepares a formulation syringe containing appropriate medicine solution. A medicine injection device injects medicine solution from a formulation syringe to a test subject by moving a piston member relative to a cylinder member by means of an injecting mechanism, in response to predetermined operation. 
     There has been practically used a medicine injection device in which a control section calls data of a formulation from a data carrier (which is changeable by a doctor) having formulation treatment information (the number of treatment times, the expiration date of the formulation, and the medicine composition) upon injecting the formulation and which prevents the injection when it is determined that the formulation to be injected is not appropriate. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     PTL 1 
     
         
         Published Japanese Translation No. 2003-521977 of the PCT International Publication 
       
    
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     However, in the existing medicine injection device, there is a problem in that the term of expiration of the formulation from the start of use thereof may not be managed since the expiration date of the formulation is only the expiration date from the manufactured date thereof. 
     In this case, when a doctor changes a data carrier and inputs the expiration date from the start of use thereof, the formulation may be managed. However, since the data carrier is manually changed by the doctor, there is a concern that a mistake such as an omission or an erroneous input may be generated by a person. 
     The invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a medicine injection device capable of automatically and accurately managing a expiration date of a formulation by simply and reliably detecting a time from the start of use of a formulation syringe containing the formulation and having high safety preventing the formulation that is out of date from being injected into a body. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The medicine injection device of the present invention is equipped with a formulation syringe containing a formulation and used to inject the formulation into a living body, wherein the medicine injection device includes: a formulation replacement detecting section which detects replacement of the formulation syringe; a use start detecting section which detects the replacement of the formulation syringe as a time to start using the formulation; a use time counting section which counts a time elapsed from the start of use of the formulation; and a notification section which notifies information about the counted elapsed time. 
     The medicine injection device of the present invention is equipped with a formulation syringe containing a formulation and used to inject the formulation into a living body, wherein the medicine injection device includes: a formulation dissolving section which dissolves the formulation contained in the formulation syringe; a formulation dissolving detecting section which detects whether the formulation is dissolved by measuring time from the time at which the formulation starts being dissolved; a use start detecting section which detects the dissolving start time of the formulation as a time to start using the formulation; a use time counting section which counts a time elapsed from the start of use of the formulation; and a notification section which notifies information about the counted elapsed time. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     According to the invention, the expiration date from the start of use of the formulation syringe may be objectively and accurately measured by counting the time elapsed from the start of use of the formulation, and the expiration date may be easily managed. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The medicine injection device according to the invention may be effectively used as a medicine injection device which has a function of accurately measuring a time from the start of use of a formulation through an operation necessary for the injection of the formulation, is equipped with a formulation syringe containing the formulation, and is capable of injecting the formulation into a living body and the like. Particularly, it is useful for injection into elderly people, children and physically-challenged people by themselves, injection into patients by their families, and so forth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view showing a medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view showing the internal state before a formulation syringe is mounted in a syringe holder in the medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view showing the internal state after a formulation syringe is mounted in a syringe holder in the medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 4  is an internal cross sectional view illustrating a state before an injection needle of the medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1 is mounted on a syringe cover; 
         FIG. 5  is an internal cross sectional view illustrating a state after the injection needle of the medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1 is mounted on the syringe cover; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing the electrical circuit of the medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of detecting a time of the start of use of the medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart determining an expiration date of the medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a display example of an LCD of the medicine injection device according to Embodiment  1 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an internal cross-sectional view illustrating a medicine injection device automatically dissolving a formulation according to Embodiment 2 of the invention; 
         FIG. 11  is an internal cross-sectional view illustrating the medicine injection device semi-automatically dissolving the formulation according to Embodiment 2; and 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of detecting a time of the start of use of a medicine injection device without a function of detecting an injection needle mounted state according to Embodiment 3 of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIG. 1  is an overall perspective view showing a medicine injection device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , medicine injection device  1  includes: housing  2 , tip cap  3 , check window  4 , syringe cover  5 , detecting protrusion  5   b  (refer to  FIG. 2 ), power supply button  6 , air-bleeding button  7 , completion button  8 , medicine injection button  9 , and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)  10  as a display means. 
     Medicine injection device  1  is covered with housing  2 , which is the exterior of the apparatus body. 
     Tip cap  3  is attachable to or detachable from one end of housing  2  and is attached thereto or detached therefrom if necessary when formulation syringe  11  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is attached or detached, or an injection needle injecting a medicine solution is attached or detached. 
     Check window  4  is a window for checking the inside, which visually checks the presence or absence and the type of formulation syringe  11  (see  FIG. 2 ), and the amount of formulation and so forth through syringe cover  5  made of a transparent member. Check window  4  may be formed as a transparent or semi-transparent member, or may be an opening formed cut out physically. The formation method may be arbitrarily set as long as the interior of the syringe cover may be visibly checked. 
     Power supply button  6  turns on and off the power supply of medicine injection device  1 . Accordingly, activation for an operation of medicine injection device  1  is performed. 
     Air-bleeding button  7  is used to bleed air inside formulation syringe  11  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). Since air may be present inside formulation syringe  11  or the injection needle (a hollow needle having a cavity therein) for injection, the air present inside formulation syringe and the like is removed by air-bleeding button  7 . 
     Completion button  8  allows the step to move the next step after air-bleeding operation, or when necessary operation, including checking various displays and so forth, is completed. 
     Medicine injection button  9  is pressed when injecting a formulation after the injection of the formulation is completely prepared. 
     LCD  10  as a display means visually displays various necessary information including a battery level, air-bleeding operation and so forth. 
     Further, tip cap  3  serves to cover the injection needle for the injection of the formulation so that the injection needle is not exposed. Furthermore, when the formulation is injected, skin is made contact tip cap  3  and punctured with an injection needle for formulation injection from a top opening part in tip cap  3  to inject the formulation into a body. Tip cap  3  secures safety in operation by covering a member having a sharply pointed tip such as an injection needle. 
       FIGS. 2 and 3  are cross sectional views showing states before and after formulation syringe  11  is mounted in medicine injection device  1 .  FIG. 2  is an internal cross sectional view illustrating a state before formulation syringe  11  is mounted into a syringe holder which is a mounting part of medicine injection device  1 , and  FIG. 3  is an internal cross sectional view illustrating a state after formulation syringe  11  is mounted into the syringe holder. The syringe holder includes piston case  12 , attaching and removing groove  12   a , piston  15 , and the like. 
     In a state before syringe cover  5  is mounted as shown in  FIG. 2 , syringe cover  5  is removed from medicine injection device  1 , and, after formulation syringe  11  is inserted in medicine injection device  1 , syringe cover  5  is mounted, and then fitted into piston case  12  placed in housing  2 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , syringe cover  5  includes attaching and removing protrusion  5   a  and detecting protrusion  5   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , in a state after syringe cover  5  is mounted in medicine injection device  1 , attaching and removing protrusion  5   a  is fitted into attaching and removing groove  12   a  formed in the inner surface of piston case  12  provided in housing  2 . 
     Detecting protrusion  5   b  is provided to push one end of syringe cover detecting lever  14   a  formed in housing  2 . 
     Formulation syringe  11  includes seal rubber  11   a  and syringe end surface  11   b . Seal rubber  11   a  is provided to preserve formulation  11   c  contained in the syringe by sealing formulation syringe  11 . 
     Piston case  12  is a substantially cylindrical member provided along the inner wall surface of housing  2 , where the outer peripheral surface thereof is provided with medicine injection button  9  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) and the interior of piston case  12  is provided with piston  15 , syringe detecting switch  13 , syringe cover detecting section  14 , and piston drive motor  16 . 
     Medicine injection button  9  is provided on the side surface of medicine injection device  1  and is pressed when injecting formulation  11   c.    
     Piston  15  comes into contact with seal rubber  11   a  provided at the rear end part of formulation syringe  11 , moves forward, and presses formulation  11   c  toward the injection object. 
     Syringe detecting switch  13  is pressed down by syringe end surface  11   b  provided in formulation syringe  11  when syringe cover  5  equipped with formulation syringe  11  is inserted into piston case  12 . Accordingly, since syringe detecting switch  13  is switched, it may be detected whether formulation syringe  11  is mounted into syringe cover  5 . 
     Syringe cover detecting section  14  includes syringe cover detecting lever  14   a , syringe cover detecting lever spring  14   b , and syringe cover detection switch  14   c . When syringe cover  5  is inserted into piston case  12 , one end of the syringe cover detecting lever  14   a  is pressed by detecting protrusion  5   b  provided in formulation syringe  11 , and the syringe cover detecting lever  14   a  moves against a spring force of the syringe cover detecting lever spring  14   b  to press down the syringe cover detection switch  14   c . Accordingly, since the syringe cover detection switch  14   c  is switched, it may be detected whether syringe cover  5  is mounted into piston case  12 . As described above, since syringe detection switch  13  detecting formulation syringe  11  and the syringe cover detecting switch  14   c  detecting the syringe cover are detected, the press operation of medicine injection button  9  becomes possible and the formulation inside formulation syringe  11  may be injected. 
     When piston drive motor  16  rotates in a desired direction, piston  15  moves back and forth (lengthened or shortened) in the injection direction of the formulation (the left/right direction in  FIG. 3 ), and seal rubber  11   a  moves while being pressed by piston  15 . Accordingly, a predetermined amount of the formulation inside formulation syringe is injected in accordance with the movement amount of seal rubber  11   a.    
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are internal cross sectional views respectively illustrating the states before and after injection needle  17  is mounted on syringe cover  5 .  FIG. 4  is an internal cross sectional view illustrating a state before injection needle  17  is mounted on syringe cover  5 , and  FIG. 5  is an internal cross sectional view illustrating a state after injection needle  17  is mounted on syringe cover  5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , syringe cover  5  is provided with injection needle detecting lever mechanism  18 , and the interior of medicine injection device  1  is provided with the injection needle detecting switch  19 . Injection needle detecting lever mechanism  18  and injection needle detecting switch  19  constitute an injection needle detecting means to detect the injection needle. 
     Injection needle detecting lever mechanism  18  provided in syringe cover  5  includes injection needle detecting lever  18   a , detecting protrusion  18   b , injection needle detecting lever spring  18   c , and spring fixation lid  18   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the injection needle detecting lever mechanism  18 , when injection needle  17  is attached to the front end of syringe  5 , injection needle detecting lever  18   a  is pressed by one end of injection needle holding part  17   a , and injection needle detecting lever  18   a  moves against a spring force of the injection needle detecting lever spring  18   c  so that detecting protrusion  18   b  moves. Accordingly, injection needle detecting switch  19  provided inside medicine injection device  1  is pressed down by detecting protrusion  18   b , thereby detecting whether injection needle  17  is attached to syringe cover  5 . 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing the electrical circuit of medicine injection device  1  and its nearby parts. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , medicine injection device  1  includes: power supply button  6 , air-bleeding button  7 , completion button  8 , medicine injection button  9 , syringe cover detecting switch  14   c , injection needle detecting switch  19 , calendar  20 , timer  21 , power supply section  22  as a power supply of the medicine injection device, microprocessor  23 , piston drive motor  16 , motor drive circuit  24 , current detecting circuit  25 , encoder  26 , display section  27  (LCD  10 ), sounder  28 , vibrator  29 , and communication section  30 . 
     Each of power supply button  6 , air-bleeding button  7 , completion button  8 , medicine injection button  9 , syringe cover detecting switch  14   c , piston drive motor  16 , and injection needle detecting switch  19  is electrically connected to microprocessor  23  as a control section. 
     Power supply button  6  is used to switch the power supply between on and off in medicine injection device  1 . By turning on the power supply, medicine injection device  1  is activated. 
     Air-bleeding button  7  is used to perform air-bleeding operation, which is generally performed as advance preparation before medicine injection. 
     Completion button  8  is pressed at the time necessary operation is completed to move the step to the next step. 
     Medicine injection button  9  is used when the medicine injection operation is needed. 
     Microprocessor  23  controls the overall operation of the apparatus and also controls operation of the apparatus corresponding to each of various buttons  6  to  9 , according to electrical signals transmitted from these buttons  6  to  9 . Further, microprocessor  23  includes storage section  23 A and embedded timer  21 A. 
     Storage section  23 A includes a ROM, a RAM and a semiconductor memory such as an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) or a flash memory, and stores data of the expiration date of the formulation. The ROM stores in advance a software program executed by microprocessor  23  or fixed data. The RAM is used as a so-called working memory which temporarily stores data related to the injection time and the injection amount, use time count data, data used for calculation, and a calculation result. The RAM stores data related to the expiration date of the predetermined formulation even when power supply button  6  is turned off since the EEPROM stores a part or all of the data for power backup. 
     Embedded timer  21 A has a timekeeping function. 
     In particular, microprocessor  23  controls a formulation injection operation. Specifically, when medicine injection button  9  is pressed, microprocessor  23  checks syringe cover detecting switch  14   c  and injection needle detecting switch  19  to confirm whether formulation syringe  11  is normally mounted. After it is confirmed that formulation syringe  11  is normally mounted, microprocessor operates piston drive motor  16  by transmitting an electrical signal to motor drive circuit  24 . When piston drive motor  16  rotates, piston  15  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) mechanically connected to piston drive motor  16  moves forward so that the formulation inside formulation syringe  11  is administrated into a body. The injection amount of the formulation is determined and managed by counting an output signal (a pulse signal) from encoder  26  connected to piston drive motor  16 . 
     Further, microprocessor  23  also functions as a use time counting means to count the time elapsed from the start of use of the formulation by executing a program described later in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . Furthermore, microprocessor  23  may inject a predetermined amount of the formulation into a body by automatically controlling the motor drive circuit based on the information of the predetermined formulation injection amount. That is, microprocessor  23  also has a medicine dosage control section. In addition, microprocessor  23  further has a medicine injection information setting section that sets information about medicine injection such as the dosage of medicine. Further, the formulation injection information such as the formulation injection amount is stored in the memory. 
     Calendar  20 , timer  21 , and embedded timer  21 A inside microprocessor  23  are used for the management of time of medicine injection device  1 . For example, when the formulation is injected, a user may effectively manage the time by referring to a current time displayed on LCD  10  during the injection. 
     Calendar  20  is used to manage and monitor a comparatively long time such as a day, and timer  21  or embedded timer  21 A is used to manage and monitor a comparatively short time such as an hour and a minute. Of course, calendar  20 , timer  21 , and embedded timer  21 A may be independently used, any one of timer  21  and embedded timer  21 A may be provided. Further, when a plurality of them are simultaneously used and compared with each other to monitor each other and correct a difference in time, the reliability in the management of time may be improved. 
     Power supply section  22  represents the power supply part of medicine injection device  1 . Power supply section  22  has a mobility-focused configuration and is composed of rechargeable battery  22   a  and charging circuit  22   b . Nickel metal hydride battery and a lithium-ion battery may be used as rechargeable battery. Here, power supply section  22  can operate using a primary battery. 
     Since a current larger than that of a normal case flows when an abnormal load is applied to piston drive motor  16 , current detecting circuit  25  detects the current in the abnormal case and transmits an electrical signal to microprocessor  23 . When microprocessor  23  receives the electrical signal, microprocessor determines that it is an abnormal state, stops the medicine injection operation, and informs the user of the abnormality by displaying an error or the like on LCD  10 , allowing the display LED to flicker, outputting a warning sound from sounder  28 , or generating a vibration using vibrator  29 . 
     Each of display section  27 , sounder  28 , and vibrator  29  is used as a notification means with respect to the user. Display section  27  indicates LCD  10  as a display means or an LED and an organic EL shown in  FIG. 1 , and is used to visually check the current operation state, the display of warning, or the like. 
     An optical reporting method using a display LED and so forth can be realized by illuminating, flashing and so forth. In addition, when a multicolor type display LED and so forth is used, it is possible to visually report the degree of importance or urgency of the reported content by switching RGB components and illuminating or flashing any color based on the ratio between colors. Therefore, it is useful for people with impaired hearing. 
     Further, the display LED may be provided separately from LCD  10 . 
     Display section  27  may be arranged nearby a mounting section to mount formulation syringe  11  in medicine injection device  1 . 
     Sounder  28  outputs a warning sound, a sound representing the medicine injection operation, and a sound representing a battery charging start and end. Further, sounder  28  includes therein a voice synthesis LSI (not shown) and performs a voice announcement explaining the operation or the like. Accordingly, the medicine injection device may be effectively used for a person with impaired vision. 
     Vibrator  29  informs the user of warning or the like by the vibration of medicine injection device  1 . Since vibrator  29  vibrates instead of the voice announcement or together with the voice announcement, the vibrator may inform the user of the abnormality or the like so that the operation state of medicine injection device  1  or the like may be effectively informed. 
     Communication section  30  communicates with other devices (for example, a PC and the like) in a wired or wireless manner. For example, examples of communication section  30  may include universal serial bus (USB), infrared communication, Bluetooth (trademark), wired and wireless LAN, radio frequency (RF) communication, a local area wireless communication, and the like. In the embodiment, communication section  30  is used as an input means which inputs data of expiration date of the formulation. Furthermore, the input section may be a key operation means (not shown). 
     Communication section  30  is used when the expiration date needs to be changed via a wireless communication or a wired communication. Specifically, communication section  30  uses an infrared communication, an RF communication, or the like in the case of the wireless communication and uses a PC or a keyboard via a USB, a LAN, or the like in the case of the wired communication to set and change the formulation injection data, the formulation expiration date data, or the like. In the case of using a PC, communication section  30  receives time-related data stored in advance on the memory of the PC and stores the time-related data on storage section  23 A of microprocessor  23 . Further, communication section  30  may store the numerical value data directly input via the keyboard of the PC or the like on storage section  23 A. Then, the communication section stores the data in its internal memory to set, change, and update the data. 
     Now, operation of medicine injection device  1  configured as described above, will be explained. 
     First, an operation of detecting the time of the start of use will be described. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating the operation of detecting the time of the start of use of medicine injection device  1 , and the operation is executed by microprocessor  23 . In the figure, S represents each step in the operation flow. 
     In step S 1 , microprocessor  23  checks whether injection needle  17  is correctly mounted on syringe cover  5  by using injection needle detecting switch  19  and the like. When injection needle  17  is correctly mounted, step S 2  is performed. When injection needle  17  is not mounted, the standby state of step S 5  is performed. 
     In step S 2 , microprocessor  23  checks whether formulation syringe  11  is replaced during a time from the precedent attachment of injection needle  17  to the current attachment of the injection needle. When formulation syringe  11  is not replaced, step S 4  is performed and the medicine injection process is performed. 
     When formulation syringe  11  is replaced, in step S 3 , microprocessor  23  starts the timekeeping of timer  21 , and counts a time elapsed from the start of use of formulation syringe  11  by setting the replace time of the formulation syringe as the use start time. 
     In step S 4 , the process of the flowchart ends and the medicine injection process is performed. 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart determining the expiration date of medicine injection device  1 , and the process is executed by microprocessor  23 . This flow is started when power supply button  6  is pressed. 
     In step S 11 , microprocessor  23  checks the time elapsed from the time of the start of use of the formulation using timer  21 . 
     In step S 12 , microprocessor  23  checks whether the elapsed time of timer  21  is elapsed by a stipulated time. Here, the stipulated time indicates the term of expiration of the formulation. 
     When the term of expiration is over, microprocessor  23  determines that the term of expiration of the formulation is over and performs the process of step S 17 . 
     In step S 17 , microprocessor  23  generates a warning message that the expiration date of the medicine is over. Specifically, in order to inform the user that the expiration date is over, microprocessor  23  displays a warning message of “! medicine is out of date” on LCD  10  as a display means so that the user is informed that the expiration date of the medicine is over. Further, microprocessor  23  performs a process of generating a warning sound using sounder  28  or generating a vibration using vibrator  29 . In addition, reporting may be made by flashing a display LED. Moreover, combination of these is possible. 
     In this manner, since the user is reliably informed that the expiration date of the formulation is over when the term of expiration of the formulation is over, the user may reliably recognize the possibility that the formulation that is out of date may not be safely used due to oxidization thereof or the like. Accordingly, the user may safely use the medicine injection device. 
     In step S 18 , microprocessor  23  automatically stops the operation of medicine injection device  1  so that the formulation may not be injected any more. The reason the formulation is prohibited from being injected into the user when the expiration date of the formulation is over is because the formulation that is out of date may have an adverse influence on a human body due to oxidization thereof or the like and may not be safely used. The configuration in which medicine injection device  1  automatically prohibits the injection of the formulation is very effective from the viewpoint of the user&#39;s safety. 
     In step S 12 , the expiration date of the formulation is within the stipulated time, step S 13  is performed. 
     In step S 13 , microprocessor  23  calculates the number of remaining days until the expiration date of the formulation from the elapsed time of timer  21 . 
     In step S 14 , microprocessor  23  checks whether or not the calculated number of days matches a predetermined number of days (for example, two days) before the expiration date. 
     When the number of remaining days matches certain number of days, in step S 15 , microprocessor  23  displays the number of days until the expiration date of the medicine on LCD  10  as a display means. Since the remaining days until the expiration date of the formulation are displayed on LCD  10  as a display means or the like, the user may simply check the remaining days with naked eyes. Further, the remaining time until the expiration date of the formulation may be output by a voice using sounder  28  or the like or be output by the generation of vibration. Alternatively, these methods may be combined with each other. When voice output or vibration is used, the user and, of course, the person with impaired vision may easily check the remaining days. Further, since the remaining days are output by vibration, even the person with impaired vision may easily check the remaining days without giving a trouble to the peripheral persons. 
     In this manner, when the remaining time reaches a predetermined threshold value before the expiration date (for example, when two days are left), the notification means may reliably inform the user that the expiration date will be expired through an alarm or the like. Accordingly, the user may prepare a formulation syringe for replace with enough time. 
     In step S 14 , when the calculated number of remaining days does not match a predetermined number of days until the expiration date or after the number of remaining days is displayed in above step S 15 , the step moves onto step S 16 . That is, when there is still enough time until the expiration date of formulation syringe  11 , it is determined that the formulation syringe is correctly mounted without the warning or the display of the remaining term of expiration, and the formulation injection operation of step S 16  is performed. 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating a display example of LCD  10  as a display means of the medicine injection device. 
     The example of  FIG. 9  indicates, for example, a display example of step S 15  of  FIG. 8 . The message of step S 17  of  FIG. 8  may be displayed in the same manner.  FIG. 9(   a ) illustrates a progress bar type. In this display method, the current elapsed time may be intuitively recognized by the graphical display.  FIG. 9(   b ) illustrates a type displaying the use days. The term of expiration may be accurately recognized by displaying the specific date. 
     As described above in detail, in medicine injection device  1  of the embodiment, microprocessor  23  detects the replace time of formulation syringe  11  as the time to start using the formulation, and counts the elapsed time from the start of use of the formulation. Then, since microprocessor  23  informs the user of the counted result by displaying the result on LCD  10  as a display means or the like, the time elapsed from the start of use of formulation syringe  11  may be simply and reliably detected and the term of expiration may be managed. 
     Accordingly, the user may not perform an operation of recording the term of expiration from the start of use by himself or herself, and easily manage the counted elapsed time from the start of use without any trouble. Since the setting (when changing the data carrier) using the manual input is not needed, a mistake such as an omission or an erroneous input generated by a person may be prevented, and the formulation that is out of date may be prevented from being injected into a body by mistake, thereby providing the medicine injection device with high safety. 
     Further, in the embodiment, since the formulation syringe detecting means shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and the injection needle detecting means shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  are provided, the time to start using the formulation is detected. That is, the replacement of the formulation syringe and the attachment of the injection needle are operations necessary for the injection of the formulation, and the medicine injection device automatically detects the start of use of the formulation during the necessary operations. Specifically, the attachment of the injection needle for the injection of the formulation is detected, and after the attachment of the injection needle is detected, the elapsed time from the start of use of the formulation is counted. Accordingly, the elapsed time from the start of use of the formulation may be more reliably and simply managed, and the user may be easily informed of the replace timing of the formulation by a warning. 
     Embodiment 2 
       FIG. 10  is an internal cross sectional view illustrating a medicine injection device automatically dissolving a formulation according to Embodiment 2 of the invention. The same symbols will be given to the same components as those of  FIG. 6  and the same point will not be repeated. 
     In Embodiment 2, there is shown a formulation use start detecting means when formulation syringe  44  dissolved in use is used. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , formulation syringe  44  is of a mixture use type in which two or more formulations are mixed with each other in advance before the formulation is injected into a body and are used in a mixed state, and includes powdered formulation  44   a , syringe convex part  44   b , medicine solution  44   c , rubber A 44   d , and rubber B 44   e . Furthermore, protection cap  43  is attached to injection needle  17  mounted on formulation syringe  44 . 
     In formulation syringe  44  dissolved in use, the term of expiration after dissolving the formulation is set. Further, medicine injection device  1  may automatically or semi-automatically dissolve powdered formulation  44   a  and medicine solution  44   c . Accordingly, medicine injection device  1  may manage the term of expiration by starting timer  21  (which may be embedded timer  21 A of microprocessor  23 ) while the formulation dissolving time is set as the use start time. 
     When formulation syringe  44  is attached to medicine injection device  1 , the attachment of formulation syringe  44  is detected by syringe detecting switch  13 , and a detection electrical signal is transmitted to microprocessor  23 . 
     Microprocessor  23  rotates piston drive motor  16  by transmitting the electrical signal to motor drive circuit  24  and moves piston  15  mechanically connected thereto forward. Microprocessor  23  dissolves powdered formulation  44   a  and medicine solution  44   c  inside formulation syringe  44  by moving piston  15  forward by a predetermined amount. When piston  15  moves forward (the left direction of  FIG. 10 ), rubber B 44   e  moves forward (the left direction of  FIG. 10 ), and rubber A 44   d  and medicine solution  44   c  also move forward (the left direction of  FIG. 10 ) by the forward movement. At this time, when a part of medicine solution  44   c  starts to enter syringe convex part  44   b  having a slightly larger inner diameter of the syringe, medicine solution  44   c  flows toward powdered formulation  44   a  to bypass rubber A 44   d  via syringe convex part  44   b  and is mixed with powdered formulation  44   a . The distance moving piston  15  forward may be obtained by counting the number of pulses generated from encoder  26  connected to piston drive motor  16 . Further, microprocessor  23  may determine whether powdered formulation  44   a  is dissolved by medicine solution  44   c  by counting the number of predetermined pulses. 
       FIG. 11  is an internal cross sectional view illustrating the medicine injection device semi-automatically dissolving the formulation. The same symbols will be given to the same components as those of  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 11 , the replace of formulation syringe  44  is determined based on whether completion button  8  is pressed down instead of the detection using syringe detecting switch  13  of  FIG. 10 . When completion button  8  is pressed, powdered formulation  44   a  and medicine solution  44   c  are made to be dissolved and timer  21  is activated. This may be applied to a medicine injection device or the like using a disposable automatic dissolving medicine. 
     In this manner, according to Embodiment 2, since the formulation dissolving means to dissolve the formulation inside formulation syringe  44  and the formulation dissolving detecting section detecting the dissolved state of the formulation are provided, when powdered formulation  44   a  inside formulation syringe  44  is dissolved in use, the dissolved state of the formulation may be easily detected, and the elapsed time from the start of use may be counted by starting timer  21  while the formulation dissolving time is set as the use start time in the use time count section. Further, the formulation syringe has a formulation used by dissolving powdered formulation  44   a  in different medicine solution  44   c . In this case, the expiration date is decided after the dissolving of powdered formulation  44   a . Accordingly, the elapsed time after the dissolving may be effectively detected when using the dissolving type (mixture use type) formulation syringe. 
     Further, in Embodiment 2, in formulation syringe  44  using powdered formulation  44   a  while being dissolved in medicine solution  44   c , the start of use is detected by detecting the dissolving of the formulation. The dissolving of the formulation is an operation necessary for the injection of the formulation, and the medicine injection device automatically detects the time to start using the formulation (here, the powdered formulation dissolving timing) during the necessary operation. Accordingly, it is found that the elapsed time from the start of use of the formulation may be reliably and simply managed and the user may be easily informed of the replace timing of the formulation. 
     Embodiment 3 
     In Embodiment 3, the needle attachment detection function is not provided, and the activation of timer  21  when medicine injection button  9  is pressed will be described in detail, where the medicine injection button is configured to be pressed down upon injecting the formulation. 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of detecting a time of the start of use of a medicine injection device without a function of detecting an injection needle mounted state according to Embodiment 3 of the invention. 
     In Embodiment 1, timer  21  is activated by two types of detections, that is, the detection of the replace of formulation syringe  11  and the detection of the attachment of injection needle  17 , and the term of expiration is checked. In Embodiment 3, the detection of the attachment of the injection needle is not provided, but the detection may realized by the medicine injection operation. 
     First, in step S 21 , microprocessor  23  determines whether formulation syringe  11  is replaced. For example, this is detected by the method shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . It is assumed that the disposable medicine injection device is not used yet. Microprocessor  23  determines that it is new formulation syringe  11  when formulation syringe  11  is replaced. When formulation syringe  11  is in use, the standby state of step S 25  is performed. 
     In step S 22 , microprocessor  23  determines whether medicine injection button  9  is pressed down. When it is determined as new formulation syringe  11  and medicine injection button  9  is pressed down, microprocessor  23  determines that it is the use start timing of formulation syringe  11 , and in step S 23 , timer  21  is activated. When medicine injection button  9  is not pressed down, step S 24  is directly performed. 
     In step S 24 , the process of the flowchart ends and the medicine injection process is performed. 
     The reason the injection needle attachment detection function is not provided is because the medicine injection device needs to be further decreased in size. 
     Further, as a notification means, the display of characters on LCD  10  as a display section is used. In addition to this method, sounder  28  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) may generate a voice output of “the expiration date of the formulation is over. Please replace a new product” or “two days are left until the expiration date of the formulation. Please prepare a new formulation.” Accordingly, even a person with impaired vision may safely use the formulation. 
     Further, since vibrator  29  is provided, a warning is generated by vibration. Accordingly, even a person with impaired vision may more safely use the medicine injection device. 
     In this manner, according to Embodiment 3, the start of use of the formulation may be detected based on an operation of pressing medicine injection button  9  instead of the formulation syringe detecting means shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and the injection needle detecting means shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The replacement of the formulation syringe and the pressing of the button for the injection of the formulation are operations necessary for the injection of the formulation, and the start of use of the formulation is automatically detected during the necessary operations. Accordingly, the elapsed time from the start of use of the formulation may be more reliably and simply managed, and the user may be easily informed of the replace timing of the formulation by a warning. 
     Further, since the injection needle detection function shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  is not provided, the medicine injection device may be further decreased in size. 
     The above description is illustration of preferred embodiments of the present invention and the scope of the invention is not limited to this. 
     For example, in the above-described embodiments, the laser emission device or the needle medicine injection device is used as the puncturing means, the invention is not limited thereto, and both may be simultaneously used as the puncturing means. 
     Although the name “medicine injection device” is used in the embodiments for ease of explanation, “medicine injecting device”, “medicine injection system” and so forth are possible naturally. 
     Moreover, the type, the number, the connection method and so forth of components constituting the above-described medicine injection device are not limited. 
     The above-described medicine injection method may be realized by a program to operate this medicine injection method. This program is stored in a computer-readable storage medium. 
     The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-325896, filed on Dec. 22, 2008, including the specification, drawings and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
           1  Medicine injection device 
           2  Housing 
           3  Tip cap 
           4  Check window 
           5  Syringe cover 
           5   b  Detecting protrusion 
           6  Power supply button 
           7  Air-bleeding button 
           8  Completion button 
           9  Medicine injection button 
           10  LCD 
           11 ,  44  Formulation syringe 
           11   a  Seal rubber 
           11   b  Syringe end surface 
           11   c  Formulation 
           12  Piston case 
           13  Syringe detecting switch 
           14  Syringe cover detecting section 
           14   a  Syringe cover detecting lever 
           14   b  Syringe cover detecting lever spring 
           14   c  Syringe cover detecting switch 
           15  Piston 
           16  Piston driving motor 
           17  Injection needle 
           18  Injection needle detecting lever mechanism 
           18   a  Injection needle detecting lever 
           18   b  Detecting protrusion 
           18   c  Injection needle detecting lever spring 
           18   d  Spring fixation lid 
           19  Injection needle detecting switch 
           20  Calendar 
           21  Timer 
           21 A Embedded timer 
           22  Power supply section 
           23  Microprocessor 
           23 A Storage section 
           24  Motor drive circuit 
           25  Current detecting circuit 
           26  Encoder 
           27  Display section 
           28  Sounder 
           29  Vibrator 
           30  Communication section 
           44   a  Powder formulation 
           44   b  Syringe convex part 
           44   c  Medicine solution 
           44   d  Rubber A 
           44   e  Rubber B