fig1 shows a block diagram of an apparatus for supporting injection mixing work according to the present invention . the apparatus for supporting injection mixing work comprises a memory device 1 , an input / output device 2 and a central processing unit 3 . the memory device 1 includes an injection prescription data file , a mixing work supporting data file , an incompatibility data file , an attention information data file , a composition alteration record file , and several kinds of master files . the injection prescription data file stores , as shown in fig2 , only the code data of the injection prescription data ( fig3 ) for the one day on which an injection is conducted . concretely , the code data includes an input date , a patient number , the date of practice , a mixing result flag and a prescription number . the input date and the date of practice are represented by numbers showing the year , month and day . the patient number , which is unique for each patient , comprises a patient code represented by eight figures and code numbers corresponding to the ward , sickroom , clinic and doctor . the mixing result flag comprises code numbers 0 , 1 and 2 allocated for “ not mixing ”, “ mixing ok ” and “ generation of composition alteration ”, respectively . the mixing result flag is used as a discriminant or criterion when reading the injection prescription data as described hereinafter . the prescription number comprises code numbers allocated for each injection prescription data . thus , data is read from the several kinds of master files in accordance with these code data . generally , the doctor conducts the direction of injection prescriptions for several days together . in conformity with this practice , therefore , the injection prescriptions for several days are also stored together in the injection prescription data file . in the case where the doctor conducts the direction of an injection prescription one after another due to a change in the condition of the patient , a plurality of different injection prescription data would be present for the same patient and for the same injection day . the injection prescription data can be inputted by a keyboard 8 or a mouse 9 , or otherwise can be automatically read from the host computer 12 . the mixing work supporting data file stores all kinds of necessary data to operate the apparatus for supporting injection mixing work . such data is set for each medicament code as shown in table 1 . in table 1 , the medicament code is expressed by abbreviation so that the pharmacist can easily input it and the quantity of data can be reduced . for example , the medicament code of injection e is expressed by inje . the medicament code is the same as one stored in a medicament master file which will be described hereinafter . the ph - value is an index number of a hydrogen ion within the medicament . the injection is apt to cause composition alteration based on the ph - value . the transfusion flag serves to show whether the medicament is transfusion or not . if the medicament is transfusion , then the transfusion flag is “ 0 ”; and if the medicament is not transfusion , then the transfusion flag is “ 1 ”. in general , the injection of more than 100 ml is defined as transfusion . the transfusion is administrated after mixing with another small quantity of injection . the mixing attention flag serves to show whether any attention ( by the user ) is necessary or not when mixing injections . if no attention is necessary , then the mixing attention flag is “ 0 ”; if any attention is necessary because of a possible composition alteration resulting from mixing injections , then the mixing attention flag is “ 1 ”; and if there is need to solely administrate the medicament without mixing , then the mixing attention flag is “ 2 ”. the stability time after dissolution means a time for which , after dissolving the powder injection , the dissolved injection holds its stability . the reason why the injection has a state of powder is that if the medicament has a state of liquid , it has poor stability . in table 1 therefore , the column of stability time after dissolution for the liquid medicament is blank . the incompatibility data file stores information about an incompatibility between two kinds of injections as shown in table 2 . in table 2 , the incompatible flag is used to show the content of such an incompatibility . if the content is a conditional incompatibility ( shown by symbol of “ δ ”), then the incompatible flag is “ 0 ”; and if the content is a full incompatibility ( shown by symbol of “ x ”), then the incompatible flag is “ 1 ”. the phrase conditional incompatibility means a mixed injection that can be used within 6 hours after mixing but cannot be used after over 6 hours , which is measured from the time of mixing , has elapsed . the attention information data file stores attention matters when using an injection as shown in table 3 . the master files include a medicament master file , a patient master file , a manipulation master file , a usage master file , a ward master file , a clinic master file , a doctor master file , a nurse master file and so on . each file stores code numbers corresponding to item names . the input / output device 2 includes a liquid crystal display 4 , a touch panel 5 , a printer 6 , an identification code reader ( barcode reader ) 7 , a keyboard 8 , a mouse 9 and so on . the liquid crystal display 4 is used to display all kinds of data and so on . the liquid crystal display 4 may be replaced by a crt display . the touch panel 5 is provided in order to enhance the operation of inputting data . the touch panel 5 can be substituted by the liquid crystal display 4 , the keyboard 8 , the mouse 9 and so on . the identification code reader 7 is used to read the identification code ( barcode ) of the injection prescription and the injection . the identification code is not limited to a barcode and may be a two - dimensional code of a small surface area . the cpu 3 has an internal random - access memory ( ram ) 10 to store all kinds of data and an internal read - only memory ( rom ) 11 to store a control program . the cpu 3 executes a support process for injection mixing work in response to an input signal from the input / output device 2 , which will be described hereinafter . the numeral 12 designates a host computer which transmits injection prescription data to the aforementioned apparatus for supporting injection mixing work external to the apparatus . hereinafter , an operation of the apparatus for supporting injection mixing work will be explained in accordance with the flowchart as shown in fig4 . when an operator pushes a button of “ injection prescription data input ” on a menu screen ( not shown ) displayed on the liquid crystal display 4 , an injection prescription data input screen is displayed ( step s 1 ). the injection prescription data input screen comprises , as shown in fig3 , columns of “ patient attribute information ”, “ date of practice ”, “ mixing results ” and “ prescription ”, the current date , and operating buttons of “ new input ”, “ input ok ”, “ cancel ” and “ end of mixing work ”. the column of “ patient attribute information ” includes a patient number , patient name and so on . in the column of “ date of practice ”, the current date is indicated . if the desired date is inputted , the injection prescription data corresponding to the desired date is read in and displayed on the column of “ prescription ”. in the column of “ mixing results ”, the content of the mixing result flag for each injection prescription data is indicated . generally , the content of the mixing result flag is “ 0 ; not mixing ”. if desired , “ 1 ; mixing ok ” or “ 2 ; generation of composition alteration ” can be inputted to be read in the specified kind of injection prescription data . in the column of “ prescription ”, displayed is a prescription number , medicament code , medicament name , manipulation ( injection manipulation : intravenous injection , intravenous drip injection , hypodermic injection , intramuscular injection ), usage , and one dose rate . all columns of the injection prescription data input screen are blank in the initial state . thus , an input process of injection prescription data from the injection prescription file is executed ( step s 2 ). in the process of inputting injection prescription data , as shown in fig5 the operator conducts an input operation by using the identification code reader 7 , the key board 8 , the mouse 9 and so on ( step s 21 ). for example , identification codes of injection prescription sheets are read by using the identification code reader 7 , and operation buttons ( mouse button , touch panel , etc ) are operated . then , it is judged whether or not the identification code is inputted ( step s 22 ). if the identification code is inputted , the injection prescription data corresponding to the identification code is read from the injection prescription file , whereby data corresponding to patient attribute information , as well as the injection prescription data , is indicated on the screen ( step s 23 ). since the injection prescription data has already been automatically read in from the host computer 12 and stored in the injection prescription data file , the injection prescription data is read from the injection prescription data file . in the injection prescription data file , as described before , only medicament codes are stored . therefore , the formal medicament name corresponding to the medicament code is read in from the medicament master file . for example , in the case of the medicament code “ inja ”, the formal medicament name “ injection a ; 10 ml ” is read in from the medicament master file . the injection prescription sheet may be a list such as an injection work sheet . the identification code may be printed directly on the injection prescription sheet . alternatively , a sheet on which the identification code is printed may be stuck on the injection prescription sheet . the contents of the identification code can be a patient number , an injection prescription number , an id number of injection prescription data or so on . on the contrary , if the identification code is not inputted , it is judged whether or not the button of “ new input ” is operated ( step s 24 ). if the button of “ new input ” is operated , the injection prescription data input screen is made blank . thus , the operator can input the injection prescription data ( step s 25 ). when the patient number is inputted in the column of “ patient attribute information ”, patient name sexuality and birth are read in from the patient master file in order to display them on the column “ patient attribute information ”. the age of a patient is calculated based on birth and the current date and is then displayed . as to the ward , sickroom , clinic and doctor , when the operator inputs the code numbers for such information , the corresponding data is read in from the respective master file in order to display these data items . for example , when the operator inputs code “ 60 ” for the ward , data of “ 6 floors ward ” is read in and displayed . in the same manner , when code numbers for each column are inputted , the corresponding data are read in from the respective master file so as to be displayed . subsequently , when the button of “ cancel ” is operated ( step s 26 ), each data displayed on the injection prescription data input screen is erased ( step s 27 ). when the button of “ input ok ” is operated instead of the button “ cancel ” ( step s 28 ), the process of inputting injection prescription data is terminated in order to return to the main process . when the button of “ end of mixing work ” is operated because of no injection prescription data ( step s 29 ), the input process of inputting injection prescription data is terminated in order to return to the main process . thus , the injection prescription data input screen is changed to the menu screen . when the button of “ input ok ” on the screen of “ injection prescription data input ”, as shown in fig3 , is operated to terminate the input process of prescription data as shown in fig5 , a screen of “ injection mixing support ”, as shown in fig1 , is displayed ( step s 3 ). in this screen , the column of “ patient attribute information ” ( patient number to doctor ) is first displayed . the injection prescription data which has the mixing result flag of “ not mixing ” is read in from the injection prescription file ( step s 4 ). thus , in accordance with the injection prescription data read in at the step s 4 , decision process of injection mixing order is executed ( step s 5 ). in the decision process of the injection mixing order , as shown in fig6 , after acquiring ph values of medicaments from the mixing work supporting data file by using the medicament codes as a search key , the medicaments are rowed in order in accordance with the ph values thereof ( step s 31 ). the medicament of transfusion is moved to the forefront ( step s 32 ). if there are a plurality of medicaments of transfusion , the medicaments are moved to the forefront keeping the order of ph values as it is . then , the medicament corresponding to a sole administration is moved to the rear ( step s 33 ). in this embodiment , the medicament with the mixing attention flag of “ sole administration ” is moved to the rear . if there are a plurality of medicaments of sole administration , in the same manner as in the case of a plurality of medicaments of transfusion , the medicaments are moved to the rear keeping the order of ph values as it is . thus , the mixing order of the remaining medicaments which are not moved is decided ( step s 34 ). after the mixing order of the medicaments within the injection prescription data is decided in the decision process of injection mixing order as described above , the mixing order is indicated on the screen of “ injection mixing support ” as shown in fig1 and printed by the printer 6 ( step s 6 ). in this stage , the columns of “ incompatibility ” and “ number ” are blank . subsequently , a decision process of the incompatibility of injections is executed ( step s 7 ). in the decision process of the incompatibility of injections , as shown in fig7 , it is judged whether or not the medicaments with the mixing order decided as described above are incompatible in accordance with the incompatible combination stored in the incompatibility data file ( step s 41 ). if there is an incompatible combination ( step s 42 ), data corresponding to the incompatible combination is read in from the incompatibility data file ( step s 43 ). the contents of the data corresponding to the incompatible combination are indicated on a screen showing a content of a composition alteration , which is a different window from the screen of “ injection mixing support ” as shown in fig1 ( step s 8 ). the content of composition alteration can be printed by pressing the button of “ print ”. the content of incompatibility is indicated by the symbols “ δ ” or “ x ” in the column of “ incompatibility ” on the screen of “ injection mixing support ”. after the decision process of incompatibility of injections is terminated , the attention information is obtained from the attention information data file ( step s 9 ). then , the attention information is indicated on a attention information screen as shown in fig1 ( step s 10 ). the order of the indication is the same as in the decision process of the mixing order ( step s 5 ). the indicated attention information can be printed by pressing the button of “ print ”. after completion of preparation for mixing the injections , a management process of a mixing - work progress situation is executed ( step s 11 ). in the management process of the mixing - work progress situation , as shown in fig8 and 9 , the medicament to be mixed is indicated by marking “★” on the beginning of the line ( step s 51 ) and reversing the representation of the line . thus , the operator can recognize the medicament to be mixed at a glance . then , the operator conducts an input operation of injections which are used in the mixing work ( step s 52 ). in this input operation , the operator can read the identification code of the medicaments ( injections ) to be mixed by using the identification code reader 7 and operating the operation buttons ( mouse button , touch panel , etc ). then , it is judged whether or not the identification code is inputted ( step s 53 ). if the identification code is inputted , then it is judged whether or not the medicament with the identification code inputted is in conformity with the medicament indicated at step s 51 ( step s 54 ). if no , a nonconformity error is indicated ( step s 55 ). if yes , the number indicated on the column of “ number ” is incremental and it is judged whether or not the number reaches the specified mixing number ( step s 56 ). if no , the flow is returned to step s 52 to repeat the same process until the number reaches the specified mixing number . for example , as the mixing number of the injection a as shown in fig1 is two , the process is repeated twice . the operator ( nurse ) proceeds the mixing work of the medicaments for each time when he / she confirms the conformity . if the number reaches the specified mixing number , it is judged whether or not the input process of the medicaments to be mixed is finished ( step s 57 ). if no , the next medicament to be mixed is indicated ( step s 58 ). the sequential process is executed until the input and mixing process of all medicaments to be mixed is finished . if the input and mixing process of all medicaments to be mixed is finished , it is confirmed that a button of “ record of composition alteration ” is not operated , and then the mixing result flag of the injection prescription data in the injection prescription file is set to “ mixing ok ” ( step s 59 ). on the other hand , if the identification code of the medicament to be mixed is not inputted at step s 53 , the operation buttons on the injection mixing support screen of fig1 are operated due to the operator &# 39 ; s own discrimination . thus , it is judged whether or not the button of “ go to next medicament ” is operated ( step s 60 ). for example , in the case where the reading is out because the identification code reveals an undesirable medicament , the operator can operate the button of “ go to next medicament ” to proceed to the next medicament . if it is judged that the button is operated , then the flow is returned to step s 57 and the same process is repeated . in the case where it has been already confirmed that the mixing is proper ( ok ) because of the same combination of injections , the operator can operate the button of “ mixing ok ”. if it is judged that the button is operated ( step s 61 ), then the flow is returned to step s 59 and the same process is repeated . in the case where the mixing is not proper because the composition alteration is caused during mixing of the medicaments , the operator can operate the button of “ record of composition alteration ”. if it is judged that the button is operated ( step s 62 ), a screen of a record of the composition alteration , as shown in fig1 , is displayed . then , the operator inputs the content ( comment ) of the composition alteration ( step s 64 ) and operates the button of “ record ok ”. thus , the content of the composition alteration inputted by the operator is written in the composition alteration record file ( step s 65 ). subsequently , the mixing result flag of the injection prescription data in the injection prescription file is set to “ generation of composition alteration ” ( step s 66 ). at this stage , only the fact that the composition alteration is caused due to the combination of plural injections contained in the injection prescription data is recorded . afterward , an experiment is conducted on the basis of the record . as a result , if a combination of two kind of injections causes the composition alteration , such a combination can be specified , and the combination is recorded in the incompatibility data file . in the case where the record of composition alteration is not desired , the operator can operate the buttons of “ cancel ” or “ end of mixing work ”. if it is judged that the button is operated ( step s 63 ), the management process of a mixing - work progress situation is compulsorily terminated . when the button of “ end of mixing work ” is operated , the injection mixing support screen is changed to the menu screen . by operating the button of “ print ”, the content of the injection mixing support screen can be printed . according to the management process of the mixing - work progress situation it is possible to surely confirm whether or not the selected injection is in conformity with the indicated injection . finally , it is judged whether or not all of the injection prescription data for the present patient are treated ( step s 112 ). if no , the flow is returned to step s 4 and the same process is repeated with respect to the next injection prescription data . if yes , the flow is returned to step s 1 and the same process is repeated with respect to the next patient . in the case where a plurality of prescriptions is issued for one patient , the column of “ prescription ” of the injection prescription data input screen is shown in fig1 . the cpu 3 , the liquid crystal display 4 , the keyboard 8 , the mouse 9 and memory device 1 in the above described embodiment can be substituted by a personal computer . the memory device 1 may be an independent file server ( with a cpu built - in ). the system may be a client / server architecture in which the cpu 3 , as a client terminal , is connected to the server via the network ( lan ). for example , the server is disposed in a medicine information office of a medicament division of hospital , and a plurality of client terminals are disposed in each nurse station of the ward . according to this arrangement , all data which the apparatus needs for supporting injection mixing work can be controlled by the nurse through the server . although the present invention has been fully described by way of the examples with reference to the accompanying drawings , it is to be noted here that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art . therefore , unless such changes and modifications otherwise depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention , they should be construed as being included therein .
an apparatus for supporting injection mixing work comprises a memory for storing data for supporting injection mixing work , a display for displaying the data stored in the memory and a controller for controlling the display . the memory has a patient predictability data file for storing patient predictability data including at least patient predictable information , an injection prescription data file for storing injection prescription data corresponding to the patient predictability data , and a combination related data file for storing combination related data corresponding to each injection of the injection prescription data . the controller displays the predictability data stored in the patient predictability data file according to both the injection prescription data corresponding to the patient predictability data and the combination related data of each injection included in the injection prescription data .