Patent Description:
In a clinical examination work, a clinical examination room for testing a specimen, a blood collection room for collecting the specimen, a disease room, and the like are often located physically apart from one another, and it is essential to transport the specimen from a collection place of the specimen to the clinical examination room in order to measure the specimen. Since it takes time and effort to transport the specimen with a human hand after the specimen is collected, a technique for automatically transporting the specimen has been developed.

In a related art, in order to transport a specimen to an examination room without being transported by a human hand, it has been common to use an air supply tube that transports the sample with air pressure in the tube. The tube is spread in a facility.

In order to protect a specimen from an impact of high-speed transport by the air supply tube, a transport device described in PTL <NUM> in which an air supply member is provided with a protective material, and a transport device described in PTL <NUM> in which an antibacterial air supply member is provided for preventing infection are provided.

As a device that transports a medical material in a hospital, a transport device described in PTL <NUM> including a transport system using a self-propelled carriage is provided.

PTL <NUM> discloses a drone including a payload receiving area to receive a container, a payload retainer to secure the container relative to the payload receiving area, and a spectrometer positioned relative to the payload receiving area to measure a first spectrum of a payload within the container.

PTL <NUM> discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle that may include a fuselage, an anchor structure coupled to the fuselage and comprising a wing retention structure and a power module retention structure, a wing releasably coupled to the wing retention structure, thereby coupling the wing to the fuselage, and a power module releasably coupled to the power module retention structure, thereby coupling the power module to the fuselage.

PTL <NUM> discloses an unmanned aircraft flight control application that is launched on a smart device connected to an unmanned aircraft, and acquires and analyses an image captured by a camera unit of the smart device.

PTL <NUM> discloses a drone, wherein a notification signal including state information indicating a state of the drone, which is a signal from the drone or an unmanned aircraft, is received through a communication. Upon receipt of the state or the like notification signal through the communication, a state discrimination part discriminates whether or not the state of the drone is an emergency based on the state information included in the state or the like notification signal.

PTL <NUM> discloses a printed matter conveyance system including: one or more image formation devices; one or more unmanned flying objects loaded with a conveyance case for conveying printed matters output by the image formation device; and an information processing device receiving a printing job from one or more user terminals.

PTL <NUM> discloses a mobile wireless control system, a guidance device on a mobile object side, and a guidance device on a base side with which it is possible to autonomously move a mobile object easily and safely.

PTL <NUM> discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for transporting a payload. The UAV comprises a body and one or more propellers rotatably connected to the body. The UAV further comprises a battery mounted to the body. The battery is releasable from the bottom of the UAV. The UAV further comprises a payload container mounted to the body. The payload container is releasable from the bottom of the UAV to a landing platform associated with a UAV station.

PTL <NUM> discloses an unmanned aerial vehicle transportation system for transporting hospital blood samples and a transportation method.

PTL <NUM> discloses a delivery system having unmanned aerial delivery vehicles and a logistics net-work for control and monitoring. PTL <NUM> discloses a logistics of delivering blood by drone.

According to a technique in related arts, a device that automatically transports a specimen from a collection place to a clinical examination room has been implemented.

However, the transport system using the air supply tube requires a great deal of cost for installation, operation, and maintenance, and there is a problem that the entire system is unusable in an event of a failure.

The transport system using the self-propelled carriage has a problem in terms of safety since a person also travels through a passage through which the self-propelled carriage passes. Although it is conceivable to provide a dedicated passage for the self-propelled carriage, a region and equipment for the dedicated passage are required, and a large cost is required.

An object of the invention is to solve the above problems and to implement a medical material transport system that is inexpensive, stable and safe, and that does not lead to a failure of an entire system even when a failure occurs in each specimen transport device.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention is configured as follows.

A medical material transport system, including: an unmanned aerial body configured to transport a medical material; a medical material transportation requesting terminal device configured to request the transportation of the medical material to the unmanned aerial body; and a management unit configured to issue, to the unmanned aerial body, a command of a flight operation to a collection place of the medical material and a flight operation from the collection place of the medical material to a transport place based on the transportation request of the medical material from the medical material transportation requesting terminal device. The medical material transportation requesting terminal device includes an operation unit that is provided in the collection place of the medical material, that is configured to operate the unmanned aerial body, and that is configured to guide the unmanned aerial body to land. According to the presently claimed invention, the medical material is a specimen, the collection place of the medical material is a specimen collection place, and the transport place of the medical material is a clinical examination room; the unmanned aerial body is a drone, wherein a plurality of the drones are present and also a plurality of the specimen collection places are present. Each specimen collection place is provided with a portable specimen collection requesting terminal. Information on test items that can be measured at each of the plurality of clinical examination rooms can be transmitted to the specimen collection requesting terminal and displayed on the specimen collection requesting terminal, thereby a suitable clinical examination room can be selected from the plurality of clinical examination rooms, and the specimen can be delivered by the drone.

According to the invention, a medical material transport system that is inexpensive, stable and safe, and that does not lead to a failure of the entire system even when a failure occurs in each specimen transport device can be implemented.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to attached drawings, together with examples not covered by the presently claimed invention but helpful for understanding features thereof.

Embodiments and examples not covered by the presently claimed invention.

<FIG> is an overall schematic configuration diagram of a specimen transport system according to a first example not covered by the presently claimed invention.

In <FIG>, the specimen transport system according to the first example includes a drone <NUM> that transports a specimen, a specimen holder <NUM> that holds the specimen, an arrival station <NUM> that collects the specimen, a standby dock <NUM> that allows the drone <NUM> to stand by, a specimen collection requesting terminal (medical material transport requesting terminal device) <NUM> that requests specimen collection (transport of a medical material), and a management unit <NUM> that manages the entire specimen transport system.

The management unit <NUM> receives a specimen collection request <NUM> from a specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM>, and sends a specimen reception command <NUM> to the drone <NUM>. Based on the received information, the drone <NUM> starts from the standby dock <NUM> and flies to a specimen collection place <NUM>. After the specimen is collected in the specimen holder <NUM>, the specimen is transported to the arrival station <NUM> provided in the clinical examination room <NUM>. That is, the management unit <NUM> commands the drone <NUM> to perform a flight operation to the specimen collection place <NUM> and a flight operation from the specimen collection place <NUM> to the clinical examination room <NUM> (transport place).

A plurality of specimen collection places <NUM> are present.

The above is an outline of the system according to an example not covered by the presently claimed invention.

Next, a flow of transporting a specimen according to the first example will be described with reference to <FIG> shows an operation flow of transporting the specimen according to the first example.

First, in step S1 in <FIG>, collection of a specimen is requested by the human hand from the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM>. At this time, it is assumed that the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> can be provided or carried for each specimen collection place <NUM>.

The management unit <NUM> that has received the specimen collection request <NUM> sends the specimen reception command <NUM> (step S2).

Based on the received information, the drone <NUM> that has received the specimen reception command <NUM> starts from the standby dock <NUM> and flies to the specimen collection place <NUM> (steps S3 and S4).

A specimen tray <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) that allows the specimen to be set is removed by the human hand from the specimen holder <NUM> of the drone <NUM> that has flown to the specimen collection place <NUM> (step S5).

A specimen container <NUM> is stored in the specimen tray <NUM>, and the specimen tray <NUM> is returned to the specimen holder <NUM> and locked by a lock mechanism <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) (step S9). Accordingly, the specimen tray <NUM> cannot be removed from the specimen holder <NUM>.

After the specimen container <NUM> is collected, the drone <NUM> flies to the arrival station <NUM> which is a collection place of the specimen (step S7).

After the drone <NUM> has arrived at the arrival station <NUM>, the specimen tray <NUM> is removed from the specimen holder <NUM> by the human hand using a provided unlock key <NUM> (shown in <FIG>) (step S8).

After the specimen container <NUM> in the specimen tray <NUM> has been collected, the specimen tray <NUM> is set in the specimen holder <NUM> by the human hand, and the drone <NUM> returns to the standby dock <NUM> (step S9).

The above is the flow of transporting the specimen according to the first example.

Next, a configuration of the drone <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of the drone <NUM>.

In <FIG>, it is assumed that the drone <NUM> includes the specimen holder <NUM> that holds a specimen. It is assumed that the specimen holder <NUM> is fixed to the drone <NUM> and cannot be removed. It is assumed that the specimen holder <NUM> has approximately a size that does not interfere with a flight of the drone <NUM> and allows the specimen to be contained, has a weight within a transportable weight of the drone <NUM>, and is formed by a material that achieves the above.

It is assumed that the drone <NUM> is equipped with a sensor <NUM> and can communicate with the management unit <NUM> by wireless communication. It is assumed that the drone <NUM> recognizes a position itself by grasping a rough position by the sensor <NUM>, calculating a movement distance, and recognizing an image.

The sensor <NUM> is attached to a drone main body <NUM>. The drone main body <NUM> of the drone <NUM> includes a flight motor <NUM>, a CPU <NUM>, and a memory <NUM>. The drone main body <NUM> includes a wireless antenna <NUM>.

It is assumed that the drone <NUM> flies by always reports the position of the drone <NUM> itself recognized by the above-described configuration to the management unit <NUM> by wireless communication, and receives information of a direction and a distance of a course from the management unit <NUM>.

It is assumed that the drone <NUM> performs charging while waiting in the standby dock <NUM>.

The above is the configuration of the drone <NUM>.

Next, the configuration of the specimen holder <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of the specimen holder <NUM>.

It is assumed that the specimen holder <NUM> includes a drawer-type sample tray <NUM> therein, and the specimen tray <NUM> can be removed from the specimen holder <NUM>.

The specimen tray <NUM> has a structure capable of accommodating the specimen container <NUM>. It is assumed that the specimen container <NUM> has a structure in which the specimen container <NUM> can be fixed in a manner of not moving in-the specimen tray <NUM> due to vibration or inclination during transportation.

It is assumed that, in order to secure security of the specimen to be transported and safety to surroundings, the specimen holder <NUM> includes the lock mechanism <NUM> (a specific mechanism capable of locking and unlocking the specimen holder <NUM>). The lock mechanism <NUM> fixes the specimen tray <NUM> such that the specimen tray <NUM> cannot be removed from the sample holder <NUM> except when the specimen is accommodated in the specimen collection place <NUM> and when the specimen is collected in the clinical examination room <NUM>.

The above is the configuration of the specimen holder <NUM>.

Next, a configuration of the arrival station <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is a schematic configuration diagram of the arrival station <NUM>.

In <FIG>, positioning markers <NUM> are formed in the arrival station <NUM>. It is assumed that the drone <NUM> recognizes an image of the positioning marker <NUM> by a camera of the sensor <NUM> and the drone <NUM> can land on a specified place. It is assumed that the arrival station <NUM> is provided with an unlock key <NUM>, and that a person can unlock the specimen holder <NUM> using the unlock key <NUM> and take out the specimen tray <NUM>. Here, it is assumed that the unlock key <NUM> is a physical key or an electronic key.

The above is the configuration of the arrival station <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a display screen configuration 107A of the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM>.

In <FIG>, it is assumed that the specimen collection terminal <NUM> is an information device such as a tablet or a PC, and is provided with an application <NUM> that requests collection of the specimen.

It is assumed that the specimen collection terminal <NUM> can communicate with the management unit <NUM> in a wireless or wired manner.

The specimen collection terminal <NUM> includes an operation unit used for specimen collection on the application <NUM>. When the collection of the specimen is requested, a button <NUM> that causes the drone <NUM> to be called is pressed. Accordingly, the specimen collection request <NUM> is sent. At this time, position information registered in advance or recognized using a position recognition function such as a GPS provided in a specimen collection terminal is also sent.

It is assumed that, when the drone <NUM> arrives at the specimen collection place <NUM>, the specimen collection terminal <NUM> notifies a specimen collection requester by an alarm or the like. At this time, it is assumed that a landing position fine adjustment key <NUM> and the button <NUM> that causes the drone to land can be operated.

A position of the drone <NUM> can be operated by the human hand by the landing position fine adjustment key <NUM>, and the drone <NUM> is guided to a place suitable for landing.

After the drone <NUM> has been guided to the place suitable for landing, the button <NUM> that causes the drone <NUM> to land is pressed so that the drone <NUM> lands.

After landing, the button <NUM> that causes the specimen holder <NUM> to be unlocked becomes operable, and the specimen holder <NUM> is unlocked.

After the specimen container <NUM> has been put in the specimen tray <NUM> and accommodated in the specimen holder <NUM> by the human hand, when the button <NUM> that causes the drone <NUM> to depart is pressed, the drone <NUM> starts to fly. At this time, it is assumed that all functions related to the drone operation of the application <NUM> cannot be operated, and thereafter, the drone <NUM> automatically flies without being operated by the human hand.

It is assumed that, when the drone <NUM> arrives at the arrival station <NUM>, the collection requesting terminal <NUM> displays an arrival of the specimen and notifies the specimen collection requester of the arrival.

It is assumed that the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> can be operated only by a specimen collection requester registered in advance by security such as a password or a fingerprint authentication.

<FIG> is an internal functional block diagram of the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM>. In <FIG>, the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> includes a CPU <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a communication unit <NUM>, and a requesting application storage unit <NUM>, and the requesting application <NUM> includes a screen display setting unit <NUM> and an operation input unit (operation input setting unit) <NUM>.

The above is the configuration and function of the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM>.

Next, with reference to <FIG>, information exchange (signal transmission and reception method) among the components according to the first example will be described. <FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the information exchange among the components.

In <FIG>, the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> makes a request of the specimen collection request <NUM> to the management unit <NUM>, and the management unit <NUM> transmits the specimen reception command <NUM> to the drone <NUM> in response to the request <NUM>.

The drone <NUM> has a function of transmitting position information of the drone itself, and the position information of the drone itself is transmitted from the drone <NUM> to the management unit <NUM> during a flight of the drone <NUM>. In response to this, a traveling direction and movement distance information are transmitted from the management unit <NUM> to the drone <NUM>. The drone <NUM> flies based on the transmitted traveling direction and movement distance information.

It is assumed that, in-hospital equipment <NUM> such as an elevator can be remotely operated from the management unit <NUM>, and when it is necessary to use the in-hospital equipment <NUM> on the route of the drone <NUM>, an equipment operation command is issued from the management unit <NUM> to operate the in-hospital equipment <NUM>.

When the drone <NUM> arrives at the specimen collection place <NUM>, an arrival signal is transmitted from the management unit <NUM> to the collection requesting terminal <NUM>.

According to the presently claimed invention, a position fine adjustment signal and a landing signal are transmitted from the collection requesting terminal <NUM> to the drone <NUM> through the management unit <NUM> by the operation of the collection requester.

After the accommodation of the specimen container <NUM> in a specimen holding container <NUM> has been completed, a delivery request signal is transmitted from the collection requesting terminal <NUM> to the drone <NUM> through the management unit <NUM> by the operation of the collection requester.

When the drone <NUM> arrives at the arrival station <NUM>, an arrival report is transmitted from the arrival station <NUM> to the management unit <NUM>. When the unlock key <NUM> is an electronic key, the unlock key <NUM> is transmitted to the arrival station <NUM> at this time. The arrival report is transmitted from the management unit <NUM> to the collection requesting terminal <NUM>.

When the specimen tray <NUM> is removed from the specimen holder <NUM> at the arrival station <NUM> and the specimen tray <NUM> is set in the specimen holder <NUM> again, a collection completion report is transmitted from the arrival station <NUM> to the management unit <NUM>. The management unit <NUM> receives the collection completion report and transmits a return command to the drone <NUM>.

After returning to the standby dock <NUM>, the drone <NUM> transmits a returning report to the management unit <NUM>. At this time, information on a failure place or a place requiring maintenance is transmitted to the management unit <NUM>. It is assumed that the drone <NUM> transmits a state of charging to the management unit <NUM> during standby.

The above is the information exchange among the components according to the first embodiment.

<FIG> is a schematic connection diagram of the management unit <NUM> including the in-hospital equipment.

The clinical examination room <NUM> and the specimen collection place <NUM> are located in one hospital (in one facility), and the management unit <NUM> can also perform an operation command of an elevator or an automatic door which is the in-hospital equipment (in-facility equipment).

The management unit <NUM> is connected to an in-hospital network system <NUM>. Then, the in-hospital network system <NUM> is connected to the arrival station <NUM>, a wireless communication system <NUM>, an elevator <NUM>, and an automatic door <NUM>. The elevator <NUM> and the automatic door <NUM> are the in-hospital equipment.

The wireless communication system <NUM> is connected to the drone <NUM> and the requesting terminal <NUM>.

<FIG> shows control functions of a management system.

The management unit <NUM> performs a drone control 108A, an in-hospital equipment control 108B, a requesting terminal control 108C, and an arrival station control 108D.

The drone control 108A has route (designation of the traveling direction and the distance information) control of the drone <NUM>, takeoff and landing instructions, a pause (hovering) instruction, and drone state monitoring (the position of the drone itself, a stop signal, and an emergency signal).

The in-hospital equipment control 108B has a facility operation instruction and an in-hospital state (congestion and traffic prohibition) collection function. The requesting terminal control 108C has an information communication function. The arrival station control 108D has an unlock information transmission function.

Next, a hierarchical movement of the drone <NUM> in the facility will be described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of the hierarchical movement of the drone <NUM> in the facility. In <FIG>, when the clinical examination room <NUM> and the specimen collection place <NUM> are in different layers in a facility such as a hospital, the drone <NUM> needs to move between the layers. When the drone <NUM> moves between the layers for transporting the specimen, it is assumed that the in-facility elevator <NUM> that is also used by humans is used. The in-facility elevator <NUM> is provided with a drone boarding place <NUM> inside.

After entering the elevator <NUM>, the drone <NUM> temporarily lands at the drone boarding place <NUM>. It is assumed that, after the hierarchical movement by the elevator <NUM>, the drone <NUM> starts to fly again.

It is assumed that, when the drone <NUM> uses the elevator <NUM>, people around the drone <NUM> is alerted that the drone <NUM> is using the elevator <NUM> to ensure safety.

<FIG> shows the signal transmission and reception method (information exchange) in the case of the hierarchical movement by the elevator <NUM> which is the in-hospital equipment.

In <FIG>, the drone <NUM> transmits a signal of the position of the drone itself to the management unit <NUM>. When the management unit <NUM> detects that the drone <NUM> is positioned near the door of the elevator <NUM>, the management unit <NUM> transmits a pause signal to the drone <NUM>. Upon receiving the pause signal, the drone <NUM> pauses in front of the door of the elevator <NUM>.

Next, the management unit <NUM> transmits an operation signal for opening the door of the elevator <NUM> which is the in-hospital equipment <NUM> to the elevator <NUM>. The elevator <NUM> opens the door in response to the operation signal, and when the door opening is completed, door open information (completion) is transmitted to the management unit <NUM>.

Subsequently, the management unit <NUM> transmits an elevator entry command signal to the drone <NUM>. When the drone <NUM> enters the elevator <NUM> and is positioned above the drone boarding place <NUM>, the drone <NUM> transmits the signal of the position of the drone itself to the management unit <NUM>. The management unit <NUM> detects that the drone <NUM> is positioned above the drone boarding place <NUM>, and transmits a landing signal to the drone <NUM>. Subsequently, the management unit <NUM> transmits the operation command to the elevator <NUM>. The elevator <NUM> closes the door and moves to a target layer, arrives at the target layer, opens the door, and transmits a completion report signal to the management unit <NUM>.

Upon receiving the completion report signal from the elevator <NUM>, the management unit <NUM> transmits a takeoff signal to the drone <NUM>. Upon receiving the takeoff signal, the drone <NUM> takes off, exits the elevator, and moves to a destination position.

The above is the hierarchical movement of the drone <NUM> in the facility.

In the first example, because of a configuration as described above, the specimen transport system that is inexpensive, stable and safe, and that does not lead to a failure of the entire system even when a failure occurs in each specimen transport device, that is, the drone <NUM>, can be implemented.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention and examples not covered by the presently claimed invention will be described.

Unless otherwise specified, it is assumed that the components described in the first example can be combined with parts of the other embodiments and examples.

The second example is another example relating to security.

When the drone <NUM> is in flight and there is no change in the position information of the drone itself for a certain period of time (or when there is no position information of the drone itself) even though a command to proceed has been issued from the management unit <NUM>, or when the position information of the drone itself is lost, the management unit <NUM> issues an alarm to give a notification of a possibility of loss of the specimen being transported.

The drone <NUM> is provided with a plurality of independent specimen holders <NUM>. Accordingly, in a case of passing through a plurality of specimen collection places <NUM>, when there is no change in the position information of the drone itself for a certain period of time, or when the position information of the drone itself is lost, security can be maintained by causing the management unit <NUM> to issue an alarm.

In the case of an electronic type, the unlock key <NUM> that unlocks the lock mechanism <NUM> is a disposable one-time password, so that security can be protected even when the key is leaked. Security can be strengthened by setting the key for locking as a public key and the key for unlocking as a private key, and making an unlocking system independent from the management unit <NUM> and setting the unlock system offline.

<FIG> shows the arrival station <NUM> where the unlock key <NUM> is an electronic key. In <FIG>, the positioning marker <NUM> is omitted for a sake of simplification of illustration.

In <FIG>, 104B is a drone landing detection sensor and has an unlock communication function for unlocking the specimen holder <NUM>. The arrival station <NUM> includes an information display monitor 104A.

When the drone <NUM> arrives at the arrival station <NUM>, the drone landing detection sensor 104B detects the arrival and displays an unlock code input field on a display unit of the information display monitor 104A. When, for example, a key code is entered in the input field of the information display monitor 104A, an unlock communication function of the drone landing detection sensor <NUM> operates to unlock the lock mechanism <NUM>. Here, the lock mechanism <NUM> is formed in a manner of being able to be locked and unlocked by an electronic or electromagnetic function.

According to the second example, the same effect as that according to the first example can be attained, and the security of the specimen being transported can be further strengthened.

Next, a third example will be described.

The third embodiment is an example relating to fail-safe.

The drone <NUM> is called a multicopter and is characterized by flying by a plurality of propellers, and the number of propellers of a widely used drone is four. In this case, if any one of the propellers is not able to move due to a failure or the like, the drone will crash. By increasing the number of the propellers to six or eight, even if the failure occurs in one of the propellers, the other propellers can cover the failure and the flight can be continued, and therefore a crash can be prevented in an abnormal situation.

In case that the drone <NUM> crashes, since the specimen holder <NUM> is provided with a cushioning material, damage to the specimen container <NUM> is prevented and the infectious specimen is prevented from scattering. The specimen container <NUM> is prevented from being damaged by equipping an airbag on the drone <NUM> itself or the specimen holder <NUM> and operating the airbag when a drop is detected by an acceleration sensor.

Safety can be ensured by sounding an alarm when the drone <NUM> crashes to alert people around the drone <NUM> to stay away from the drone <NUM>.

By equipping the drone <NUM> with a human motion sensor, the drone <NUM> can stand by on the spot when a person approaches during flight to ensure safety. In this case, it is reported to the management unit <NUM> that a movement has been stopped because a person has approached the drone <NUM>. The management unit <NUM> measures stopping time, determines, when the drone <NUM> stops for time exceeding a preset value, that an abnormal situation has occurred, and displays the occurrence of the abnormal situation on a console of the management unit <NUM>. When the stop signal disappears within the above preset value, the drone <NUM> resumes the flight.

When the drone <NUM> detects that the drone <NUM> has deviated from the route by GPS, the management unit <NUM> determines that an abnormal situation has occurred and displays the occurrence of the abnormal situation on the console of the management unit <NUM>.

In the third example, in the drone <NUM>, the sensor <NUM> includes a GPS 303A, an acceleration sensor 303B, and a human motion sensor 303C.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of an information transmission method in an emergency (route deviation of the drone <NUM>, detection of crash of the drone <NUM>, and detection of an external force).

In <FIG>, when the GPS 303A of the sensor <NUM> of the drone. <NUM> detects a deviation from a commanded route, a route deviation detection signal is transmitted to a signal transmission and reception unit 108E of the management unit <NUM> as an emergency signal via a signal transmission and reception unit 101A of the drone <NUM>.

When the acceleration sensor 303B of the sensor <NUM> of the drone <NUM> detects the crash or an external force, a crash detection signal or the like is transmitted to the signal transmission and reception unit 108E of the management unit <NUM> as the emergency signal via the signal transmission and reception unit 101A of the drone <NUM>.

<FIG> is an explanatory diagram of an information transmission method when the facility such as the hospital is congested and a person may approach the drone <NUM>.

In <FIG>, when the human motion sensor 303C detects that a person has approached the drone <NUM>, a human detection signal is transmitted to a stop unit 101B. The stop unit 101B stops the movement of the drone <NUM>, and transmits the pause signal from the transmission and reception unit A to the signal transmission and reception unit 108E of the management unit <NUM>.

According to the third example, the same effect as that according to the first example can be attained, and a fail-safe performance can be improved.

The drone <NUM> is equipped with a light as well as a speaker, and in an emergency or an abnormality, it is possible not only to sound an alarm but also to blink the light.

Next, a fourth example will be described.

The fourth example is an example relating to foolproof.

The specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> makes the button <NUM> that causes the drone <NUM> to depart inoperable until the specimen tray <NUM> is set and locked in the specimen holder <NUM>, so that the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> has a function of preventing the drone <NUM> from starting flight without locking the specimen tray <NUM> in the specimen holder <NUM>. The prevention function may command to prohibit the start of a flight of the drone <NUM> from the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> via the management unit <NUM>, and can also command to prohibit the start of a flight of the drone <NUM> directly from the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM>.

The specimen tray <NUM> is provided with a water leakage detector. Accordingly, when the specimen container <NUM> is not sufficiently sealed and is mounted on the specimen tray <NUM>, an alarm can be sounded to call attention. Alternatively, when the drone <NUM> is in flight, the flight can be stopped, an emergency landing can be performed, and a report can be made to the management unit <NUM>.

According to the fourth example, the same effect as that according to the first example can be attained, and a foolproof performance can be improved.

Next, a fifth example will be described.

The fifth example is an example of an operation of a plurality of the drones <NUM>.

When a plurality of specimen collection places <NUM> are present, or when it is necessary to convey (synonymous with transport) a large amount of specimens at one time, a plurality of drones <NUM> are operated.

By operating a plurality of drones <NUM>, a transport processing speed can be improved and a load distribution to the drones <NUM> can be achieved. When a plurality of drones <NUM> are operated, it is assumed that the standby docks <NUM> corresponding to the number of drones <NUM> are provided. In a logic, the management unit <NUM> collects information on charging states and failure states from each drone <NUM> and determines the drone <NUM> which transmits a transport command.

Specifically, in the logic, the drone <NUM> in which the failure has occurred is not used, and the command is transmitted to the drone <NUM> having the largest charge capacity at the time of transmitting the transport command.

In the logic, a flight route of the drone is selected such that, even if a plurality of drones <NUM> fly, the drones <NUM> do not interfere with one another.

Specifically, in the logic, the flight route instructed to a certain drone <NUM> cannot be used from the transport command is transmitted until the returning command is received. When the transport command is issued in the meantime, a route is chosen from available flight routes, and when there is no flight route that can be chosen, the transport command is not sent until the returning command is received.

According to the fifth example, the same effect as that according to the first example can be attained, and the plurality of drones <NUM> can be operated appropriately and efficiently.

Next, a sixth example will be described.

The sixth example is an example of the operation of a plurality of specimen collection places <NUM>.

When the plurality of specimen collection places <NUM> are present, a plurality of specimen collection requesting terminals <NUM> are provided, so that specimen collection can be requested from each specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM>.

When a request is made, the collection is usually done in an order of the request. However, in a case of an urgent specimen, by setting the specimen as an urgent specimen when the request is made, the collection is performed in a: manner of skipping an order of requests from other places, and the urgent specimen is preferentially transported to the clinical examination room <NUM>.

The specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> is made portable like a tablet and is carried to each specimen collection place <NUM>, so that the specimens can be collected from the plurality of specimen collection places <NUM>.

According to the sixth example, the same effect as that according to the first example can be attained.

Besides, when a plurality of specimen collection places <NUM> are present, the specimen can be collected from any specimen collection place <NUM>, and in the case of the urgent specimen, the urgent specimen can be preferentially collected and transported to the clinical examination room <NUM>.

Next, a seventh example will be described.

The seventh example is an example of a decision logic of the movement route of the drone <NUM>.

It is assumed that the flight route of the drone <NUM> is determined in advance at the time of introduction of the specimen transport system and stored in a storage unit of the management unit <NUM>. In consideration of safety, it is desirable that the flight route of the drone <NUM> be set in a manner of avoiding a passage having a large traffic amount of people and a main facility as much as possible.

A plurality of flight routes between the specimen collection place <NUM> and the clinical examination room <NUM> may be set. In that case, the flight route actually used is determined by logics provided in the management unit <NUM>.

Specifically, the logics are the route determination logic shown in the fifth embodiment when a plurality of drones <NUM> are operated and the logic of not using a route having a large traffic amount of people depending on time points. It is assumed that the management unit <NUM> is provided with data of the time points and the traffic amount of people in advance.

According to the seventh example, the same effect as that according to the first example can be attained, and the plurality of drones <NUM> can be operated appropriately and efficiently.

Next, an eighth example will be described.

The eighth example is an example in which the specimen can also be transported from outside the facility such as the hospital.

According to the eighth example, the specimen can be transported without being limited to the inside of the facility.

If the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> is provided in the specimen collection place <NUM>, the drone <NUM> can reach the specimen collection place <NUM> outside the facility based on a position information recognition function of the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM>.

The flight route of the drone <NUM> outside the facility is set to be a route connecting an entrance and departure point set in the facility and a position of the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> by a straight line. However, the drone <NUM> is provided with a camera or a proximity sensor, and when an obstacle is detected by the camera or the proximity sensor, a detour route is taken.

According to the presently claimed invention, a plurality of clinical examination rooms <NUM> are present, optionally inside and outside the facility such as the hospital, and information on test items that can be measured is transmitted to the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> and displayed, so that a suitable clinical examination room <NUM> can be selected from the plurality of clinical examination rooms <NUM> on that spot, and the specimen can be delivered by the drone <NUM>. In the logic, the clinical examination room <NUM> that can be transported and is displayed on the specimen collection requesting terminal <NUM> is determined by a remaining battery capacity of the drone <NUM>, a possible flight distance calculated based on the remaining battery capacity, and a distance between a current position and the clinical examination room <NUM>.

According to the eighth example, the same effect as that according to the first example can be attained, and the plurality of drones <NUM> can be operated appropriately and efficiently.

According to the eighth example, the same effect as that according to the first example can be attained, and the drone <NUM> can be operated appropriately and efficiently even when the plurality of specimen collection places <NUM> or the plurality of clinical examination rooms <NUM> are present inside and outside the facility.

Although the above-described example is an example of transporting the specimen by the drone <NUM>, the drone <NUM> can transport not only the specimen but also a medical material such as a drug. In the facility where the clinical examination room is provided, since there are demands for transporting various medical materials such as the drug in addition to the specimen, the medical materials such as the specimen and the drug can be transported safely and inexpensively by also applying the invention to the transportation of the drug and the like.

Therefore, the invention can implement not only the specimen transport system but also a medical material transport system capable of transporting the medical material such the drug other than the specimen.

Although in the above-described example, the specimen is transported by the drone, an unmanned aerial body (for example, a radio-controlled aerial body) other than the drone can be applied to the invention. Therefore, the drone, the radio-controlled aerial body and the like applied to the invention are collectively defined as the unmanned aerial body that transports the medical material. The unmanned aerial body is an object that flies in space.

The management unit <NUM> can be provided at any place. For example, the management unit <NUM> may be provided in a server room or the clinical examination room <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A medical material transport system, comprising:
an unmanned aerial body configured to transport a medical material;
a medical material transportation requesting terminal device (<NUM>) configured to request the transportation of the medical material to the unmanned aerial body; and
a management unit (<NUM>) configured to issue, to the unmanned aerial body, a command of a flight operation to a collection place (<NUM>) of the medical material and a flight operation from the collection place (<NUM>) of the medical material to a transport place based on the transportation request of the medical material from the medical material transportation requesting terminal device (<NUM>), wherein
the medical material transportation requesting terminal device (<NUM>) includes an operation unit that is provided in the collection place (<NUM>) of the medical material, that is configured to operate the unmanned aerial body, and that is configured to guide the unmanned aerial body to land, wherein
the unmanned aerial body is a drone (<NUM>), wherein
a plurality of the drones (<NUM>) are present,
wherein the medical material is a specimen, the collection place (<NUM>) of the medical material is a specimen collection place (<NUM>), and the transport place of the medical material is a clinical examination room (<NUM>),
wherein a plurality of the specimen collection places (<NUM>) are present, wherein
each specimen collection place (<NUM>) is provided with a specimen collection requesting terminal (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the specimen collection requesting terminal (<NUM>) is portable, and information on test items that can be measured at each of the plurality of clinical examination rooms
can be transmitted tc the specimen collection requesting terminal (<NUM>) and displayed on the specimen collection requesting terminal (<NUM>), thereby a suitable clinical examination room (<NUM>) can be selected from the plurality of clinical examination rooms (<NUM>), and the specimen can be delivered by the drone (<NUM>).