Abstract:
Disclosed is a technology of discharging, from a drug cartridge, a drug instructed to discharge, while managing a plurality of drugs stored in a drug cartridge. The technology makes it possible to correctly discharge the drugs even when the dosing order of the drugs is changed. A medical agent dispenser has: a main body case ( 1 ); an annular drug cartridge ( 2 ) which is housed in the main body case ( 1 ) and has a plurality of holders ( 3 ) at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction; a discharge mechanism ( 7 ) which discharges the drugs from the holders ( 3 ); and an input interface ( 6 ) which receives operations of leading the drug to be discharged. Based on the number of operations the input interface ( 6 ) has received, gears ( 4   a   , 4   b ), i.e., rotating mechanisms which rotationally transfer the drug cartridge ( 2 ), are controlled.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a medical agent dispenser that manages a plurality of drugs held in a drug cartridge, and automatically discharges from the drug cartridge a drug for which a discharge command has been received. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     With a conventional medical agent dispenser, a drug cartridge is inserted which holds one tablet of each drug, and when drug discharge commands are received, the drug cartridges are opened up one at a time starting from an end of the drug cartridge, until all of the drugs held in the drug cartridge have been discharged (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     
         
         Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication (Translation of PCT Application) No. 2006-528500 
       
    
     SUMMARY 
     This prior art can be effective as long as the user is only using one type of drug. However, patients today often take a number of different kinds of drug, which are to be taken at different times of day. In such a case, for example, the type and quantity of drugs to be taken in the morning, at noon, in the evening, and before bed can be quite confusing. 
     This prior can be used to discharge drugs so as to accommodate such situations, but the following problems are encountered. 
     If the user should for some reason skip one dose, so that the drug is not dispensed, then the drug that is dispensed at the next scheduled time will not be the desired one. Therefore, the user had to dispense drugs that would not be taken, until the desired drug came around in the dispensing order again. These dispensed drugs were unnecessary. Therefore, a problem with prior art was that the proper drug could not be dispensed if the drug administration order were disrupted. 
     In view of this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a medical agent dispenser with which the proper drug can be dispensed even if the drug administration order should be disrupted. 
     To achieve the stated object, the medical agent dispenser of the present invention comprises a main body case, a discharge mechanism, a rotation mechanism, an input interface, and a controller. The discharge mechanism discharges the desired drug from one of a plurality of holders that hold drugs and are disposed equally spaced in the lengthwise direction of an annular drug cartridge installed inside the main body case. The rotation mechanism rotationally moves the annular drug cartridge. The input interface is operated to bring about drug discharge processing by the discharge mechanism. The controller controls the rotational movement of the drug cartridge on the basis of number of times the input interface is operated. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     With the medical agent dispenser of the present invention, just the desired drug can be properly discharged even if the drug administration order should be disrupted. Thus, there is no need to discharge unnecessary drugs even if the user should skip taking a drug because of testing or the like. As a result, the user can be prevented from taking the wrong drug. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  is an overall oblique view of the configuration of the medical agent dispenser pertaining to Embodiment 1, and  FIG. 1   b  is an exploded oblique view of  FIG. 1   a;    
         FIG. 2  is an interior cross section illustrating a state in which a drug cartridge has been inserted into the lower shell of the medical agent dispenser in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3   a  is an oblique view of the configuration of the drug cartridge installed in the medical agent dispenser of  FIG. 1   a , and  FIG. 3   b  is a schematic diagram of the drug holding portion of the drug cartridge in  FIG. 3   a;    
         FIG. 4   a  is a cross section of the configuration of a cartridge orientation detector, and  FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c  are oblique views of the peripheral configuration of the drug cartridge; 
         FIGS. 5   a  to  5   d  are diagrams illustrating the positional relation of the front portion of the drug cartridge to a cartridge distal end position detector; 
         FIG. 6  is a signal block diagram of a logic circuit installed in the medical agent dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7   a  is an overall oblique view of the configuration of the medical agent dispenser pertaining to Embodiment 2, and  FIG. 7   b  is a cross section of the interior configuration of a medical agent dispenser in which the drug cartridge of  FIG. 7   a  has been installed; 
         FIG. 8  is a detail view of the area near the discharge port of the medical agent dispenser in  FIG. 7   a;    
         FIGS. 9   a  to  9   c  are diagrams illustrating the relation between the hook of the medical agent dispenser and the covers of the drug cartridge; 
         FIGS. 10   a  to  10   f  are diagrams illustrating the relation between the hook of the medical agent dispenser and the covers of the drug cartridge; 
         FIG. 11   a  is an overall oblique view of the configuration of the medical agent dispenser pertaining to Embodiment 3, and  FIG. 11   b  is a cross section of the interior configuration of a medical agent dispenser in which the drug cartridge of  FIG. 11   a  has been installed; 
         FIG. 12  is a detail oblique view of the area near the discharge port of the medical agent dispenser in  FIG. 11   a;    
         FIGS. 13   a  to  13   c  are diagrams illustrating the relation between the hook of the medical agent dispenser and the covers of the drug cartridge; 
         FIGS. 14   a  to  14   f  are diagrams illustrating the relation between the hook of the medical agent dispenser and the covers of the drug cartridge; 
         FIGS. 15   a  to  15   c  are diagrams illustrating the relation between the hook of the medical agent dispenser and the covers of the drug cartridge; 
         FIGS. 16   a  to  16   f  are diagrams illustrating the relation between the hook of the medical agent dispenser and the covers of the drug cartridge; and 
         FIGS. 17   a  and  17   b  are diagrams illustrating the feed direction of the drug cartridge. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments pertaining to the medical agent dispenser of the present invention will now be described in detail along with the drawings. 
     Embodiment 1 
       FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  show the configuration of the medical agent dispenser in this embodiment.  FIG. 1   a  shows the outside of the medical agent dispenser, and  FIG. 1   b  shows the constituent elements of the medical agent dispenser. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , the medical agent dispenser comprises a main body case  1  and an annular drug cartridge  2  disposed inside the main body case  1 . 
     The drug cartridge  2  has a plurality of holders  3  provided equally spaced in the lengthwise direction of a film formed in an annular shape. One or more drugs are contained in these holders  3 . 
     The main body case  1  has a separable upper shell  1   a  and a lower shell  1   b.    
     The upper shell  1   a  has on its upper face a command button (input interface)  6  that receives drug discharge commands from the user, and a display section  8  that displays prescription information for the discharged drug and so forth. 
     The lower shell  1   b  has gears  4   a  and  4   b  that engage with the holders  3  of the drug cartridge  2  and rotate the drug cartridge  2 , and an openable and closeable discharge port  5  through which drugs are discharged to outside the main body case  1 . When the discharge of a drug is directed by the user with the command button  6  provided to the upper shell  1   a , the gears  4   a  and  4   b  rotate and move the drug cartridge  2  annularly, and the holder  3  containing the desired drug is positioned at the front face of the discharge port  5 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a state in which the drug cartridge  2  has been inserted into the lower shell  1   b.    
     As shown in  FIGS. 1   b  and  2 , the lower shell  1   b  further has a drug ejector  7  further to the inner peripheral side than the mounted drug cartridge  2 , at a position opposite the discharge port  5 . The drug ejector  7  operates in conjunction with the operation of the command button  6  or the opening or closing of the discharge port  5 . When a drug is to be discharged, the drug ejector  7  moves from the inner peripheral side of the lower shell  1   b  toward the discharge port  5  disposed on the outer peripheral side, and operates so as to apply pressure to the holder  3 . 
     The gears  4   a  and  4   b  provided to the lower shell  1   b  will now be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the gears  4   a  and  4   b  are provided with grooves  4   c  in its surface, which are substantially arc-shaped in cross sectional view, so as to mesh with the convex portions of the holders  3  protruding to the inner peripheral side in a state in which the drug cartridge  2  has been mounted in the lower shell  1   b . The gears  4   a  and  4   b  are driven by a motor (not shown) and rotate clockwise and counter-clockwise, so that the drug cartridge  2  rotates in a circle. Drive force from a motor may be imparted to both of the gears  4   a  and  4   b  here, or may be imparted to just one of them, with the other gear rotating freely. 
     Next, the drug cartridge  2  will be described through reference to  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b .  FIG. 3   a  is an oblique view of the drug cartridge  2 , and  FIG. 3   b  is a partial cross section thereof. 
     The drug cartridge  2  has holder outer shells  3   a  that constitute the outer shells of the holders  3 , a linking portion  3   b  that links the outer shells  3   a  in an annular shape, and a sealing film  3   c  that is stuck onto the outer peripheral face. 
     The holders  3  are spaces bounded by the outer shells  3   a  and the sealing film  3   c , and one or more drugs are sealed inside each of these spaces. 
     The outer shells  3   a  and the linking portion  3   b  are molded integrally. ABS or another such resin is used for the molding material thereof, so that they are flexible and bend easily. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 3   a , the drug cartridge  2  is formed in an annular shape in the lengthwise direction, and can be rotated in this shape. Furthermore, the outer shells  3   a  are designed so that when the drug ejector  7  presses them in the direction of the sealing film  3   c , the outer shells  3   a  can be readily deformed and crushed. It is also preferable for the outer shells  3   a  to have enough elasticity that they will return to their original shape in a state in which the drug ejector  7  has retracted is not pressing on them. 
     The sealing film  3   c  is formed from a metal thin film of aluminum or the like. The sealing film  3   c  is stuck onto the outer peripheral face side of the linking portion  3   b  with an adhesive agent or the like, and blocks and seals the open portion of the holders  3 . When the outer shells  3   a  are crushed by movement of the drug ejector  7 , this sealing film  3   c  is pushed out and torn by the drug sealed inside. Consequently, the desired drug can be discharged from the drug cartridge  2  by movement of the drug ejector  7 . 
     The outer shells  3   a  and the sealing film  3   c  are preferably formed from a material that does not transmit substances that would denature the drug, such as moisture or oxygen. Furthermore, the outer shells  3   a  are preferably formed from a transparent or semi-transparent material so that the number and type of drugs sealed in the drug cartridge  2  can be checked. However, when drugs are sealed in which need to be kept away from light, the outer shells  3   a  must be opaque. 
     Next, the rotational control of the drug cartridge  2  inside the main body case  1  will be described. 
     A single dose of drug is sealed in each of the holders  3 , and the holders  3  are arranged in the order in which the user is to take the drugs. For example, the holders  3  are arranged in the order of after breakfast, after lunch, after dinner, and before bed. The medical agent dispenser needs to recognize the orientation in which the drug cartridge  2  is inserted and the position of the holder  3  to be discharged first (that is, the front position), so that the drugs will be discharged properly in this order. One possible way to accomplish this is to specify the orientation and front position of the drug cartridge  2  and direct the user to insert the cartridge in the correct position, but it is more convenient if the apparatus automatically identifies these regardless of which way the user inserts the drug cartridge  2 , and this is preferable from a safety standpoint because it prevents the wrong drug from being taken. 
     In view of this, the medical agent dispenser in this embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   c , further comprises a cartridge orientation detector  9  that detects the orientation of the drug cartridge  2 , and a cartridge front position detector  10  that detects the front position of the drug cartridge  2  (the position of the holder  3  containing the drug that is supposed to be discharged first). 
     The cartridge orientation detector  9  may be disposed at a position touching the end of the annular drug cartridge  2  in its width direction (the up and down direction in  FIG. 3   a ) inside the upper shell  1   a  or the lower shell  1   b . In particular, it is preferable that the cartridge orientation detector  9  is disposed at a position near the gears  4   a  and  4   b  so that there will be no malfunction due to sagging of the drug cartridge  2  or the like. 
     Also, the cartridge front position detector  10  is preferably disposed near the discharge port  5  so that it will be easier to adjust the front position of the holders  3  of the drug cartridge  2 . 
       FIGS. 4   a  to  4   c  show the configuration of the cartridge orientation detector  9 , the cartridge front position detector  10 , and a drug cartridge  11  corresponding to these.  FIG. 4   a  is a top cross section of the cartridge orientation detector  9 ,  FIG. 4   b  is a view of the drug cartridge  11  inserted in the “forward” direction, and  FIG. 4   c  is a view of the drug cartridge  11  inserted in the “backward” direction.  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   c  and  FIG. 5  (discussed below) are all diagrams of the drug cartridge  11  as seen from the opposite side of the holders  3 , so the positions of the holders  3  are indicated by dotted lines. 
     The cartridge orientation detector  9  has a light emitter  9   a  and a light receiver  9   b  that are opposite each other with the drug cartridge  11  in between. That is, if there is no obstruction between the light emitter  9   a  and the light receiver  9   b , the positional relation is such that the light receiver  9   b  receives light emitted from the light emitter  9   a . The cartridge orientation detector  9  further has an orientation determination section  9   c  and an orientation determination controller  9   d.    
     The drug cartridge  11  has direction detection openings  12  aligned equally spaced in the lengthwise direction of the approximately circular shape. These direction detection openings  12  are provided to only one end in the width direction of the drug cartridge  11 . 
     The orientation determination controller  9   d  controls the light emitter  9   a , the light receiver  9   b , and the orientation determination section  9   c  and determines the orientation of the drug cartridge  11  when the drug cartridge  11  has been inserted into the main body case  1  and the upper shell  1   a  and lower shell  1   b  put together, or when the power is switched on after this. 
     More specifically, first the orientation determination controller  9   d  causes the light emitter  9   a  to emit light, and outputs the amount of light received by the light receiver  9   b  from the light receiver  9   b  to the orientation determination section  9   c . The orientation determination section  9   c  determines the orientation of the drug cartridge  11  on the basis of this output result. 
     In determining orientation, the orientation determination section  9   c  compares the amount of received light as outputted from the light receiver  9   b  with a specific threshold, according to a command from the orientation determination controller  9   d . If the amount of received light is below the threshold, it is determined that the drug cartridge  11  has been mounted backward, and if the amount of received light is over the threshold, it is determined that the drug cartridge  11  has been mounted in the proper direction. 
     Specifically, as shown in  FIG. 4   b , when the drug cartridge  11  is inserted in the forward direction, at least one of the direction detection openings  12  will overlap the cartridge orientation detector  9 . Accordingly, the proper mounting of the drug cartridge  11  can be detected by using the light receiver  9   b  to detect the light from the light emitter  9   a  that has passed through the direction detection opening  12 . 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 4   c , if the drug cartridge  11  is accidentally mounted in the backward direction, the space between the light emitter  9   a  and the light receiver  9   b  inside the cartridge orientation detector  9  will be blocked by the drug cartridge  11 . Therefore, almost none of the light emitted from the light emitter  9   a  will reach the light receiver  9   b.    
     Consequently, the insertion direction of the drug cartridge  11  can be easily detected on the basis of the difference in the amount of light received by the light receiver  9   b . To accurately detect whether or not the drug cartridge  11  has been properly mounted, the light radiation/light reception range of the light emitter  9   a  and the light receiver  9   b  is preferably set to be relatively wider than the gaps between the direction detection openings  12 . 
     The cartridge front position detector  10  has a detector switch  10   a . With the cartridge front position detector  10 , the output is high when the detector switch  10   a  is pushed to the main body side of the cartridge front position detector  10 , and the output is low when the switch is not being pushed. The detector switch  10   a  normally protrudes from the main body of the cartridge front position detector  10 , and is biased in the protruding direction so as to move only when in contact with something. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4   b  and  4   c , the drug cartridge  11  is provided with front position marks  13   a  and  13   b  for detecting the front position. The front position marks  13   a  and  13   b  are disposed at the ends of the drug cartridge  11  in its width direction so as to flank the front holder  14 . 
     Of the plurality of holders  3  had by the drug cartridge  11 , the front holder  14  here is the one at the starting point of the holder  3  containing the drug that is supposed to be taken first. For instance, a drug is sealed in that is to be taken after breakfast on the first day. The front position mark  13   a  is formed as a single cut-out portion that communicates with one of the direction detection openings  12 . 
     The front position marks  13   a  and  13   b  are simple cut-outs with a substantially trapezoidal shape, and the position of the front holder  14  is detected when the detector switch  10   a  goes into a cut-out portion. 
     The method for detecting the position of the front holder  14  with the detector switch  10   a  will now be described through reference to  FIGS. 5   a  to  5   d . These drawings are detail views of the area of the drug cartridge  11  around the front holder  14 .  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b  show the state when the drug cartridge  11  has been properly mounted in the forward direction, and  FIGS. 5   c  and  5   d  show the state when the drug cartridge  11  has been accidentally inserted in the backward direction. 
       FIGS. 5   a  and  5   c  shown the state when the drug cartridge  11  is not located at the specified initial position. In this case, as shown in the drawings, the detector switch  10   a  hits the end face of the drug cartridge  11 , and is pushed into the main body of the cartridge front position detector  10 . At this point the cartridge front position detector  10  outputs at high. 
     On the other hand,  FIGS. 5   b  and  5   d  show the state when the drug cartridge  11  has moved to the specified initial position. In this case, the detector switch  10   a  is at the position of the front position mark  13   a  or the front position mark  13   b , and is not pushed into the main body of the cartridge front position detector  10 . At this point the cartridge front position detector  10  outputs at low. 
     In this embodiment, the rotation of the drug cartridge  11  is controlled on the basis of output information from the above-mentioned cartridge orientation detector  9  and cartridge front position detector  10 . 
     Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 6 , a cartridge feed direction decision section  15  to which signals from the orientation determination section  9   c  are inputted, and a rotation controller (controller)  16  to which signals from the command button  6 , the cartridge front position detector  10 , and the cartridge feed direction decision section  15  are inputted are disposed within the main body case  1 . The cartridge feed direction decision section  15  and the rotation controller  16  are logic circuits such as a signal processor IC, for example. 
       FIG. 6  is a signal block diagram of these logic circuits. 
     The cartridge feed direction decision section  15  decides the feed direction of the drug cartridge  11 , that is, the rotation direction of the gears  4   a  and  4   b , upon receipt of a signal from the orientation determination section  9   c  indicating the result of detecting whether the drug cartridge  11  has been mounted in the forward direction or the backward direction. The rotation direction of the gears  4   a  and  4   b , which are used to feed the drug cartridge  11  in the dose direction, is then outputted to the rotation controller  16  as a reference signal for the forward feed direction. 
     The rotation controller  16  first refers to a signal outputted by the cartridge front position detector  10  when the drug cartridge  11  has been mounted in the lower shell  1   b  of the main body case  1  and the upper shell  1   a  and the lower shell  1   b  have been put together. If this signal is at the high level, it is determined that the drug cartridge  11  is not in the specified initial position. A driven signal is then outputted to the motor (not shown) that rotates the gears  4   a  and  4   b , so that the drug cartridge  11  will be feed in the forward feed direction indicated by the cartridge feed direction decision section  15 . 
     If the rotation controller  16  detects that the signal outputted by the cartridge front position detector  10  has changed from high to low, drive of the motor (not shown) is stopped. The motor installed in the medical agent dispenser here to precisely control this rotation and stopping is preferably a stepping motor, for example. 
     When the cartridge front position detector  10  is at a position away from the discharge port  5 , the positional relation between the discharge port  5  and the front holder  14  is recognized, and it is detected that the signal outputted by the cartridge front position detector  10  has changed from high to low, after which the motor is rotated and the position of the drug cartridge  11  is adjusted so that the front holder  14  will move to the position of the discharge port  5 . 
     After the drug cartridge  11  has been rotationally moved to the specified initial position, the rotation controller  16  outputs a drive signal to rotationally drive the motor in the forward feed direction every time a signal from the command button  6  arrives. The amount of rotational drive of the motor here is an amount approximately equal to one holder  3 . 
     When the command button  6  is pressed twice within a short span, a drive signal is outputted to rotationally drive the motor an amount equal to two holders  3 . This assumes a case such as when the user skips his dose after lunch, and wants to dispense the drug to be taken after dinner, right after the one to be taken after breakfast. With the medical agent dispenser of this embodiment, the user can tell the apparatus to move by three or four holders  3  according to how many times the command button  6  is pushed. 
     Then, if it is detected that the signal outputted by the cartridge front position detector  10  has again changed from high to low when the rotation controller  16  is performing control to move the drug cartridge  11  in conjunction with the command button  6 , it is determined that the drug cartridge  11  has gone all the way around once, that is, that the specified amount has been discharged. The rotation controller  16  then outputs a signal to the display section  8  to display a message prompting the user to replace the drug cartridge  11 . 
     As discussed above, with the medical agent dispenser in this embodiment, when the holders  3  of the drug cartridge  11  have been fed one after the other to be positioned at the discharge port  5 , if a specific signal is received from the command button  6 , such as a signal outputted when the command button  6  is held down, control is performed so that the drug ejector  7  presses on the holder  3  from the inner peripheral side and the drug sealed in the holder  3  is discharged from the discharge port  5 . 
     Consequently, this results in an annular drug cartridge in which holders containing single-dose drugs are linked in the lengthwise direction, and an apparatus with which this drug cartridge is rotated by the required amount to discharge the desired drug, so the proper drug can be discharged even if the drug administration order should be disrupted. 
     In this embodiment, the drug ejector  7  was provided as a mechanism for discharging the drugs, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the drug ejector  7 , a member such as a hook or the like that rips the sealing film  3   c  in conjunction with the opening and closing of the discharge port  5  may be provided near the discharge port  5 . 
     Embodiment 2 
     The medical agent dispenser pertaining to another embodiment of the present invention will now be described through reference to  FIGS. 7   a  to  10   f.    
       FIG. 7   a  is an oblique view of a drug cartridge  21 , and  FIG. 7   b  is a top cross section of the medical agent dispenser. 
     In this Embodiment 2, instead of using the drug ejector  7  from Embodiment 1 as above, a hook (first hook, discharge mechanism, opening member)  25  is provided near the discharge port  5  as an opening member that opens covers  22  by hooking onto part of the covers  22 , which are used to discharge drugs provided to the various holders  3  of the drug cartridge  21 . It is in this respect that Embodiment 2 differs from Embodiment 1. 
     In other words, in Embodiment 1 above the drug ejector  7  was used as the discharge mechanism for discharging the drug from the drug cartridge, but in Embodiment 2 here the rotation controller  16  (controller, discharge mechanism) that controls the rotation direction of the hook  25  and the drug cartridge  21  is used as the discharge mechanism. 
     Therefore, those components that have the same function as in Embodiment 1 above are numbered the same and will not be described again. 
     With the medical agent dispenser in Embodiment 2, as shown in  FIG. 7   a , the drug cartridge  21  having the holders  3 , the covers  22 , tabs  23 , and hole portions  24  is installed. 
     The covers  22 , the tabs  23 , and the hole portions  24  are provided on the outer peripheral face side of each of the plurality of holders  3 . The covers  22  are stuck onto each of the holders  3  and seal up the holders  3  so as to block the open portion on the outer peripheral face side of the holders  3 . 
     The tabs  23  are provided to one end of the covers  22 , and have a shape that sticks out slightly from the outer peripheral face of the annular drug cartridge  21 . 
     The ends  22   a  of the covers  22  on the opposite side from the tabs  23  are securely bonded to the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  21 , or are integrated with the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  21 , formed such that the covers  22  will not come off of the drug cartridge  21 . The three sides of the substantially quadrangular covers  22  other than the ends  22   a  are bonded with a pressure-sensitive adhesive substance to the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  21 . The peel strength between the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  21  and the three sides of the covers  22  other than the side where the ends  22   a  are located is low enough that the tabs  23  can be peeled back when pulled. 
     The hole portions  24  are through-holes provided in the approximate center of the substantially circular tabs  23 . The diameter of the hole portions  24  is slightly larger than the distal ends of the hook  25  (see  FIG. 7   b ) provided on the main body case  1  side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7   b , the main body case  1  in which the drug cartridge  21  is installed has substantially the same configuration as that in Embodiment 1 above, but has the hook  25  for peeling back the covers  22 , instead of the drug ejector  7 , as the discharge mechanism. 
       FIG. 8  is a detail view of the configuration of the medical agent dispenser near the discharge port  5 .  FIG. 8  is an oblique view of the area near the discharge port  5  as seen from the inside of the main body case  1 , and the drug cartridge  21  near the discharge port  5  is indicated by a dotted line in the drawing. In  FIG. 8 , the outer shells  3   a  of the drug cartridge  21  are not depicted, in order to make the drawing easier to understand. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7   b  and  8 , the hook  25  extends from the face on the discharge port  5  to the drug cartridge  21  side, and at about the middle its distal end is bent substantially in a right angle. The distal end of the hook  25  is formed pointing in the opposite direction from the forward feed direction of the drug cartridge  21  (to the left in the drawing) so that the distal end part of the hook  25  will catch the hole portions  24  in the tabs  23  provided to the holders  3  when the drug cartridge  21  moves from the left to the right in  FIG. 8 . 
     The operation by which the hook  25  opens the covers  22  will be described through reference to  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  and  FIGS. 10   a  to  10   f . In Embodiment 2, the direction going from the left to the right in  FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  and  FIGS. 10   a  to  10   f  will be called the forward feed direction of the drug cartridge  21 , and the direction going from right to left will be called the backward feed direction of the drug cartridge  21 . 
       FIGS. 9   a  and  9   b  schematically show the positional relation between the hole portions  24  and the hook  25  when the drug cartridge  21  is fed forward. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9   a , the tabs  23  are formed so as to protrude from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  21 , facing in the opposite direction from the forward feed direction. The hook  25  is formed so that its distal end points in the forward feed direction. 
     As the drug cartridge  21  is fed forward from this state, as shown in  FIG. 9   b , the tabs  23  touch the hook  25 . At this point the tabs  23  come into contact with the back face of the bent portion of the hook  25 , or the rear portion on the opposite side from the distal end. Accordingly, the tabs  23  do not catch on the hook  25 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 9   c , the tabs  23  are not snagged by the hook  25 , and the holders  3  pass to the other side of the hook  25 . 
     Next, the operation by which a drug  26  is taken out of the holders  3  of the drug cartridge  21  will be described through reference to  FIGS. 10   a  to  10   f.    
     First, the drug cartridge  21  is fed forward, and as shown in  FIG. 10   a , the holder  3  containing the drug  26  to be discharged is moved to a position that is slightly past the hook  25  portion. The feed is started from here. 
     When the backward feed of the drug cartridge  21  is commenced, as shown in  FIG. 10   b , the distal end of the hook  25  catches on the hole portion  24  of the tab  23 . When the backward feed is continued from this state, as shown in  FIG. 10   c , the cover  22  is peeled back from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  21  in a state of being caught on the hook  25 . 
     Once the cover  22  has been peeled back a certain amount by the hook  25  from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  21 , the drug  26  sealed inside the holder  3  is exposed. At this point, if the medical agent dispenser is held with the discharge port  5  facing down, as shown in  FIG. 10   d , the drug  26  falls from the holder  3  toward the discharge port  5  under the force of gravity, and is discharged from the medical agent dispenser. 
     The positional relation between the hook  25  and the discharge port  5  inside the medical agent dispenser, as shown in  FIG. 10   d , is such that when the cover  22  has been peeled almost entirely back from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  21 , the open portion of the holder  3  is located at the front of the discharge port  5 . 
     After this, the drug cartridge  21  is again fed forward as shown in  FIG. 10   e , and when the holder  3  has moved to the right beyond the hook  25  as shown in  FIG. 10   f , the distal end of the hook  25  comes out of the hole portion  24 , and the hook  25  separates from the tab  23 . 
     When the user presses the command button  6  and a discharge command is received by the rotation controller  16 , just as in Embodiment 1 above, the desired holder  3  containing the drug  26  to be discharged is moved to near the discharge port  5 . After this, as shown in  FIGS. 10   a  to  10   f , the drug cartridge is fed backward and forward at a suitable timing, which discharges the drug  26  from the holder  3 . 
     In Embodiment 2, the cover  22  can be torn back and the drug  26  inside discharged by feeding the drug cartridge  21  backward and thereby catching the distal end of the hook  25  in the hole portion  24  of the tab  23 . Accordingly, when the rotation controller  16  rotates the drug cartridge  21 , it rotates it in the backward feed direction only during discharge of the drug  26 . 
     Also, when the drug cartridge  21  is mounted backward in the main body case  1 , the cartridge orientation detector  9  detects that it is backward, and the rotation controller  16  displays a warning message on the display section  8  and performs control so that the gears  4   a  and  4   b  (motor) will not be rotated. 
     Although not depicted in the drawings, the direction detection openings  12  and the front position marks  13   a  and  13   b  are provided to the drug cartridge  21  just as in Embodiment 1. The cartridge orientation detector  9  and the cartridge front position detector  10  are also provided to the main body case  1  just as in Embodiment 1 above. 
     As discussed above, with Embodiment 2, there are provided an annular drug cartridge  21  in which holders  3  containing single-dose drugs  26  are linked in the lengthwise direction, and an apparatus with which this drug cartridge is rotated by the required amount to discharge the desired drug  26 , and the desired drug  26  is discharged by an operation in which the drug cartridge  21  is moved. 
     Also, if for some reason the drug administration order should be disrupted, then just as in Embodiment 1, one or more holders  3  are skipped according to how many times the command button  6  is pressed, allowing the desired drug  26  to be discharged from the holder  3  in which it is contained. 
     More specifically, when the command button  6  is pressed twice, the drug cartridge  21  is fed forward by an amount equivalent to two holders  3 , after which it is fed backward, allowing the desired drug  26  to be discharged from the holder  3  after the skipped position. 
     Consequently, even if the drug administration order is disrupted, proper discharge of the drug  26  can be carried out by adjusting the amount of forward feed of the drug cartridge  21 . Also, compared to the configuration in Embodiment 1 above, there is no need for a driver for discharging the drug, such as the drug ejector  7 , so the configuration of the medical agent dispenser is simplified, and the overall apparatus can be smaller. 
     Embodiment 3 
     Yet another embodiment of the present invention will now be described through reference to  FIGS. 11   a  to  17   b.    
       FIGS. 11   a  and  11   b  show the configuration of the medical agent dispenser in Embodiment 3.  FIG. 11   a  is an oblique view of a drug cartridge  31 , and  FIG. 11   b  is a top cross section of the medical agent dispenser. 
     Embodiment 3 differs from Embodiment 2 above in that tabs  33  formed at one end of covers  32  provided to the holders  3  are in a position that is offset from the center position in the width direction of the drug cartridge  31 , and a hook (second hook, discharge mechanism, opening member)  34  is provided near the discharge port  5  as a discharge mechanism (opening member). 
     Those components that have the same function as the members appearing in Embodiments 1 and 2 above are numbered the same and will not be described again. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11   a , the covers  32  are stuck on so as to block the open portion on the outer peripheral face side of the holders  3 , and seal up the holders  3 . 
     The tabs  33  are provided at a position that is offset from the center of the covers  32  in the width direction (the up and down direction in the drawings) of the drug cartridge  31 , and have a shape that sticks out slightly from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  31 . 
     Other than differing in the position of the tabs  33  on the covers  32 , the drug cartridge  31  in Embodiment 3 has the same configuration as the drug cartridge  21  given in Embodiment 2 above. 
       FIG. 12  is a detail view of the configuration of the drug cartridge  31  near the discharge port  5 .  FIG. 12  is a diagram of the area near the discharge port  5  as seen from inside the main body case  1 , and the drug cartridge  31  near the discharge port  5  is indicated by a dotted line in the drawing. In  FIG. 12 , the outer shells  3   a  of the drug cartridge  31  are not depicted, in order to make the drawing easier to understand. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11   b  and  12 , the hook  25  and the hook  34  extend from a face on the discharge port  5  side to the drug cartridge  31  side, and at about the middle the distal ends are bent substantially in a right angle. The distal ends of the hooks  25  and  34  point in mutually opposite directions, with the hook  25  pointing to the left in  FIG. 12  and the hook  34  pointing to the right. Further, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the hook  25  and the hook  34  are at different positions in the vertical direction (the up and down direction in  FIG. 12 ). These positions are separated by an equal distance in the width direction from the center in the width direction (the up and down direction in  FIG. 12 ) of the drug cartridge  31  installed in the medical agent dispenser. 
     Specifically, when the drug cartridge  31  is installed in the medical agent dispenser such that its tabs  33  are higher than the center position of the drug cartridge  31  in its width direction, the hook  25  and the tabs  33  are disposed at the same height. Conversely, when the drug cartridge  31  is installed in the medical agent dispenser such that its tabs  33  are lower than the center position of the drug cartridge  31  in its width direction, the hook  34  and the tabs  33  are disposed at the same height. 
     The operation by which the hook  25  and the hook  34  open the covers  32  will be described through reference to  FIGS. 13   a  to  14   f.    
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the drug cartridge  31  is inserted with the tabs  33  facing upward, that is, with the tabs  33  at the same height as the hook  25 . Here, the rotational movement of the drug cartridge  31  from the left to the right side in  FIGS. 13   a  to  14   f  will be called forward feed, and movement in the opposite direction will be called backward feed. 
     When the drug cartridge  31  is fed forward from the state in  FIG. 13   a , as shown in  FIG. 13   b , a tab  37  of a holder  35  and a tab  40  of a holder  38  move to positions opposite the hook  25  and the hook  34 . At this point, the tab  37  and the hook  25  are located at the same height, so they come into contact. However, since the distal end of the hook  25  is pointing in the same direction as the feed direction of the drug cartridge  31 , the distal end portion of the hook  25  does not catch in the hole portion  24  of the tab  37 . On the other hand, the tab  40  and the hook  34  are at different height positions, so they pass each other without coming into contact. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 13   c , a cover  36  and a cover  39  move in the forward feed direction without being unsealed. 
     The backward feed of the drug cartridge  31  is then commenced from the position shown in  FIG. 14   a . When the backward feed of the drug cartridge  31  begins, first, as shown in  FIG. 14   b , the distal end of the hook  25  catches the hole portion  24  in the tab  37 . When backward feed is continued from this state, as shown in  FIG. 14   c , the cover  36  is pulled by the hook  25  and is peeled back from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  31 . 
     Once the cover  36  has been peeled back a certain amount from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  31 , the drug  26  is exposed. At this point, if the medical agent dispenser is held with the discharge port  5  facing down, as shown in  FIG. 14   d , the drug  26  falls from the holder  35  toward the discharge port  5  under the force of gravity, and is discharged from the medical agent dispenser. 
     The positional relation between the hook  25  and the discharge port  5  inside the medical agent dispenser, as shown in  FIG. 14   d , is such that when the cover  36  has been peeled almost entirely back from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  31 , the open portion of the holder  35  is located at the front of the discharge port  5 . 
     After the drug  26  has been discharged, the rotation direction of the drug cartridge  31  is switched back to forward feed as shown in  FIG. 14   e . Then, as shown in  FIG. 14   f , the distal end of the hook  25  separates from the hole portion  24  at the point when the holder  35  has gone by the opposing face of the hook  25 . At this point the tab  40  of the holder  38 , which is adjacent downstream in the forward feed direction to the holder  35  from which the drug  26  was discharged, moves to near the hook  34 , but as mentioned above, the tab  40  and the hook  34  are at different height positions. Thus, the distal end of the hook  34  does not catch the tab  40  and unseal the cover  39  of the holder  38  containing the drug that is not supposed to be discharged at this point. 
     Next, a case in which the drug cartridge  31  is inserted in the opposite orientation from that in  FIG. 12 , that is, with the tab  37  and the hook  34  at the same height positions, will be described through reference to  FIGS. 15   a  to  16   f . Here, movement of the drug cartridge  31  from the right to the left side in  FIGS. 15   a  to  16   f  will be called forward feed, and movement in the opposite direction will be called backward feed. 
     When the drug cartridge  31  is fed forward from the state in  FIG. 15   a , as shown in  FIG. 15   b , the tab  37  of the holder  35  and the tab  40  of the holder  38  move to positions opposite the hook  25  and the hook  34 . At this point, the tab  37  and the hook  34  are located at the same height, so they come into contact. However, since the distal end of the hook  34  is pointing in the same direction as the feed direction of the drug cartridge  31 , the distal end portion of the hook  34  does not catch in the hole portion  24  of the tab  37 . On the other hand, the tab  40  and the hook  25  are at different height positions, so they pass each other without coming into contact. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 15   c , the cover  36  and the cover  39  move in the forward feed direction without being unsealed. 
     The backward feed of the drug cartridge  31  is then commenced from the position shown in  FIG. 16   a . When the backward feed of the drug cartridge  31  begins, first, as shown in  FIG. 16   b , the distal end of the hook  34  catches the hole portion  24  in the tab  37 . When backward feed is continued from this state, as shown in  FIG. 16   c , the cover  36  is pulled by the hook  34  and is peeled back from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  31 . 
     Once the cover  36  has been peeled back a certain amount from the drug cartridge  31 , the drug  26  is exposed. At this point, if the medical agent dispenser is held with the discharge port  5  facing down, as shown in  FIG. 16   d , the drug  26  falls from the holder  35  toward the discharge port  5  under the force of gravity, and is discharged from the medical agent dispenser. 
     The positional relation between the hook  34  and the discharge port  5  inside the medical agent dispenser, as shown in  FIG. 16   d , is such that when the cover  36  has been peeled almost entirely back from the outer peripheral face of the drug cartridge  31 , the open portion of the holder  38  is located at the front of the discharge port  5 . 
     After the drug  26  has been discharged, the rotation direction of the drug cartridge  31  is switched back to forward feed as shown in  FIG. 16   e . Then, as shown in  FIG. 16   f , the hook  34  separates from the hole portion  24  at the point when the holder  35  has gone by the opposing face of the hook  34 . 
     At this point the tab  40  of the holder  38  moves to near the hook  25 , but as mentioned above, the tab  40  and the hook  25  are at different height positions. Thus, the distal end of the hook  25  does not catch the tab  40  and unseal the cover  39  of the holder  38  containing the drug that is not supposed to be discharged at this point. 
     If the user should for some reason skip one dose, then just as in Embodiments 1 and 2, one or more holders  35  and  38  are skipped according to how many times the command button  6  is pressed, allowing the desired drugs  26  to be discharged from the holders  35  and  38  in which they are contained. 
     More specifically, when the command button  6  is pressed twice, the drug cartridge  31  is fed forward by an amount equivalent to two holders  35 , etc., after which it is fed backward, allowing the desired drug  26  to be discharged from the holder  35 , etc., after the skipped position. 
     Next, the specification of forward feed and backward feed in the medical agent dispenser of this embodiment will be described. 
     The medical agent dispenser in Embodiment 3, just as in Embodiment 1 above, comprises the cartridge orientation detector  9  and the cartridge front position detector  10 . The drug cartridge  31  is also provided with the direction detection openings  12  and the front position marks  13   a  and  13   b.    
     The method for specifying the feed direction of the drug cartridge  31  will now be described through reference to  FIGS. 17   a  and  17   b . The cartridge front position detector  10  and the front position marks  13   a  and  13   b  are not depicted in  FIGS. 17   a  and  17   b.    
     In  FIGS. 17   a  and  17   b , the direction in which the drug cartridge  31  is installed in the medical agent dispenser is different. For example, when the drug cartridge  31  is installed in the direction shown in  FIG. 17   a , the operation of rotationally moving the drug cartridge  31  from the left to the right side in the drawing becomes forward feed. On the other hand, when the drug cartridge  31  is installed in the direction shown in  FIG. 17   b , the operation of rotationally moving the drug cartridge  31  from the right to the left side in the drawing becomes forward feed. 
     Specifically, when the cartridge orientation detector  9  has detected the direction detection openings  12  by the method described in Embodiment 1 above, the cartridge feed direction decision section  15  can recognize an orientation of left to right as the forward feed direction, and when no direction detection openings  12  can be detected, an orientation of right to left can be recognized as the forward feed direction. 
     As discussed above, with the medical agent dispenser of Embodiment 3, there are provided an annular drug cartridge  31  in which holders  35  and  38  containing single-dose drugs  26  are disposed in the lengthwise direction, and an apparatus with which this drug cartridge is rotated by the required amount to discharge the desired drug  26 , and the desired drug  26  is discharged by moving the drug cartridge  31  according to how many times the command button  6  has been pressed. 
     Consequently, even if the administration order of the drug  26  is disrupted, the proper drug  26  can be discharged. Also, compared to the configuration in Embodiment 1 above, there is no need for a driver for discharging the drug (drug ejector  7 ), so the configuration is simplified and the overall apparatus can be smaller. 
     Furthermore, no matter which way the drug cartridge  31  is facing when it is installed, the covers  36  and  39  of the holders  35  and  38  can still be unsealed, which makes the product more convenient to use. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     With the medical agent dispenser pertaining to the present invention, the proper drug can be discharged even if the drug administration order should be disrupted, so this medical agent dispenser is useful as a way to manage drug dosage and so forth in the home as well as in medical facilities. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  main body case 
               1   a  upper shell 
               1   b  lower shell 
               2  drug cartridge 
               3  holder 
               3   a  outer shell 
               3   b  linking portion 
               3   c  sealing film 
               4   a ,  4   b  gear 
               5  discharge port 
               6  command button (input interface) 
               7  drug ejector (discharge mechanism) 
               8  display section 
               9  cartridge orientation detector 
               9   a  light emitter 
               9   b  light receiver 
               9   c  orientation determination section 
               9   d  orientation determination controller 
               10  cartridge front position detector 
               10   a  detector switch 
               11  drug cartridge 
               12  direction detection opening 
               13   a ,  13   b  front position mark 
               14  front holder 
               15  cartridge feed direction decision section 
               16  rotation controller (controller, discharge mechanism) 
               21  drug cartridge 
               22  cover 
               22   a  end 
               23  tab 
               24  hole portion 
               25  hook (first hook, discharge mechanism, opening member) 
               26  drug 
               31  drug cartridge 
               32  cover 
               33  tab 
               34  hook (second hook, discharge mechanism, opening member) 
               35  holder 
               36  cover 
               37  tab 
               38  holder 
               39  cover 
               40  tab