Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR A BLISTER PACK OF MEDICATIONS
This invention relates to a vertically mounted, gravity fed dispensing
container for containing a blister pack of medications by which the rnedi-
cations in the
blister pack can be ejected from the blister pack for dispensing to a patient,
or, for
self administration,
.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Medications are commonly delivered in what are knovrn as "blister
packs" in which medications are placed in a series of blisters and then
:sealed on the
other side by a foil layer. The medications are thus maintained in properly
supported
position in a hygienic manner in the individual blisters and held in place by
the foil
layer. In some, but not all cases, support is provided by a cardboard
backing/overlay, formed of card which can then include printed information or
other
written information which identifies the medication and/or the patient.
Various designs and arrangements of such blister packs have
previously been proposed including the different shaping of the openings and
therefore of the blisters to provide particular effects. In particular
Cailadian Patent
1,310,936 assigned to the present applicant there is disclosed a blistor pack
of this
type in which the openings are arranged in a matrix of seven rows ancl four
columns
providing four blisters each of which can be used for a respective day of the
week
with four medication administration times as defined by the rows, or, by four
weeks
of seven days for a single specifio medication administration time. 17hus a
patient
taking medications four times a day can be supplied with a blister pack of
this type in
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
2
which the medications for each time of day and for each day of the week are
set out
in the individual biisters,
Further details of this arrangement are shown in the above Canadian
Patent issued December 1, 1992.
Other arrangements are shown for example in US dosign patents
D296589 issued July 5, 1988 and D293887 issued January 26, 1988.
Blister packs of this type therefore make the medications properly
available to the patient so that the patient can be ensured that they hiive
taken the
proper medications at the proper time. Reminders can be provided and the
patient
will be readily aware if a medication has been omitted since the medications
not
taken will remain in the blister pack.
As shown in the above Canadian patent, the dimerisions of the
individual blisters have been modified to provide larger blisters at certain
times -of
day and smaller blisters at other times of day depending upon volume of
medication
commonly taken at those times.
A critical issue, however, is proper storage and conveni+?nt placement
of the blister packs to ensure the medications are taken and not forgotten
remains
an open problem in that they merely may be discarded within the patient's
home. By
not being stored in a consistent location or by being placed in ari
inconvenient
location, or readily supported for the convenience of the patient or for the
convenience of a caregiver looking after the patient may lead to medication
non-
compliance and a serious and potentially dangerous situation.
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
3
In addition, poor or improper storage may lead to medication
degradation, or provide easy access for individuals not intended for the
medications.
A number of different designs have been proposed o=' devices for
holding blister packs and/or expelling of medications from blister packs.
In US Patent 5,109,984 (Romick) issued May 51h 1992 is disclosed a
holder for blister packs with two overlying sheets between which the blister
pack is
retained with each sheet having opening aligned with the blisters ay which the
medications can be expelled though the openings. A cover extends over one of
the
sheets.
In US Patent 6,651,840 (Van Dulleman) issued November 25th 2003 is
disclosed a holder for a blister pack where the blister pack is annular Eind
the holder
defines a housing surrounding the outside of the blister pack with a
dispensing
plunger inside the annulus of the blister pack to expel the medications
outwardly
though an opening in the outer housing so that the medication when expelled
from
the blister falls directly through the opening. The plunger and opening are
rotated
relative to the blister pack to select one of the blisters for expulsion of
the
medication.
In US Patent 5,348,158 (Honan) issued September 20th 1994 is
disclosed a holder for a blister pack where the blister pack is rectangular
and the
holder defines a corresponding shaped housing with a top and bottom and with a
dispensing plunger at the top of the blister pack to expel thE~ medications
downwardly though the bottom so that the medication when expelled from the
blister
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
4
falls directly through a bottom opening. The plunger is movable along an S-
shaped
track across the top of the housing to interact with each blister in turn.
In US Patent 5,368,187 (Poncetta) issued November 29"n 1994 is
disciosed a dispenser for simultaneously dispensing medications from a stack
of
parallel, horizontal, overlying blister packs where a dispensing plunger with
a cutter
at the top of the blister pack stack is driven downwardly through an aligned
column
of the blisters of stack to expel the medications downwardly into a bottom
container.
In US Patent 6,318,051 (Preiss) issued November 2Qth 2001 is
disclosed an automated system for expelling medioations from blister packs
using a
vertically movable plunger which pushes downwardly through the blister pack to
expel the medication into a tray below the blister pack,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the invention to provide a dispensing container for
holding blister packs of medications which assist the user in conveniently
storing the
blister pack and dispensing the medications therefrom.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provideci a dispensing
container for use with a blister pack having a series of blisters each
containing a
dose of one or more medications which can be expelled from the blisters by a
user
for use of the medication, the dispensing container comprising:
a holder portion for receiving and supporting the blister pack;
the holder portion comprising a front panel and a rear parnel which are
connected together to as to contain the blister pack therebetween;
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
the holder portion having a plurality of openings through the front and
rear panels thereof arranged to be aligned with the blisters in the blister
pack such
that the medication in each blister can be expelled from the blister through a
respective one of the openings;
5 a housing containing the holder portion;
the housing defining a catching container rearward cif the holder
portion such that medication expelled from the blisters through the openings
is
caught and held in the catching container;
a dispensing opening at a bottom of the catching container arranged
such that the medication caught and held in the catching container can be
discharged from the catching container through the dispensing opening;
a wall mounting arrangement arranged such that with the housing
mounted on a vertical wall surface the holder portion mounts the, blister pack
vertically with the catching container behind the blister pack and ttie
dispensing
opening at a bottom wall of the catching container.
and a front door panel hingedly attached to the housing which can be
moved from a closed position covering the front and rear panels of the holder
portion
and the blister pack therein to an open position exposing the holder portion
and the
blister pack therein.
Preferably the discharge opening includes a valve operable by the user
to release the medications from the discharge opening.
Preferably the valve includes a push lever operable ty the user to
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
6
open the valve.
Preferably the wall mounting arrangement is attached on a rear face of
the catching container.
Preferably the wall mounting arrangement comprises a magnet for
attachment to a metal surface and holes for attachment to mounting screws.
Preferably the holder portion comprises a separate pi(yce from the
catching container which is arranged to snap onto the catching container.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
dispensing container for use with a blister pack having a series of blisters
each
containing a dose of one or more medications which can be expelled from the
blisters by a user for use of the medication, the dispensing container
ccmprising:
a holder portion for receiving and supporting the blister pCack;
the holder portion comprising a front panel and a rear pcinel which are
connected together to as to contain the blister pack therebetween;
the holder portion having a plurality of openings through the front and
rear panels thereof arranged to be aligned with the blisters in the blister
pack such
that the medication in each blister can be expelled from the blister through a
respective one of the openings;
a housing containing the holder portion;
the housing defining a catching container rearward of the holder
portion such that medication expelled from the blisters through the openings
is
caught and held in the catching container;
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
7
a dispensing opening at a bottom of the catching container arranged
such that the medication caught and held in the catching container can be
discharged from the catching container through the dispensing opening;
a wall mounting arrangement arranged such that with the housing
mounted on a vertical wall surface the holder portion mounts the blister pack
vertically with the catching container behind the blister pack and the
dispensing
opening at a bottom wall of the catching container.
and a front door panel hingedly attached to the housing which can be
moved from a closed position covering the front and rear panels of the nolder
portion
and the blister pack therein to an open position exposing the holder portion
and the
blister pack therein;
and a photograph holder on a front face of the door panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
16 with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of a dispensing container according
to the present invention showing the container in the closed position.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the dispensing container of
Figure 1 showing the container in an opened position for use by the patient or
caregiver.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view similar to that of Figiare 1 showing
the container mounted on a wall surface with the container opened and the
holding
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
8
portion opened for receiving the blister pack.
Figure 4 is an isometric view of the container of Figures 1, 2 and 3
showing the container in closed position.
Figure 5 is an isometric view similar to that of Figure 4 showing the
container in the open condition.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The container shown in the figures comprises a rear coritainer portion
10 defining a chamber 11 covered by a hinged front door 12. The hinged front
door
is mounted on side hinges 16 allowing it to be pivoted about a vertical Eixis
along one
side of the container from an open position shown in Figure 2 and Figure 5 to
a
closed position shown in Figures 1 and 4. The container portion 10 wKh the
door 12
is formed as an integrally molded element using conventionally known
techniques so
that the hinges 15 are integrally formed and provide sufficient flexibilii.y
to allow the
door to pivot about the vertical axis. A snap fastener 14 is provided or, the
container
portion which cooperates with a corresponding portion 13 on the door so that
door
can be closed and snapped into place in the closed position_
The front surface of the door carries a holder 16 into which a
photograph or other picture can be inserted for holding on the front face to
provide
an attractive appearance for the container. It will be appreciated that
persons using
a device of this type tend to be elderly and therefore the device can be
turned into a
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
~
personalized holder so as to reduce its utilitarian or institutional
appearance. In the
alternative, the holder 16 can be used for patient data printed on a suitable
substrate.
The container portion 11 as best shown in Figure 2 defines a
rectangular open face 18 forming a top wall 19 and two side walls 20 and 21
together with a bottom wall 22. The walls extend forwardly from a flat back
face 23
to define a rectangular chamber which is covered in the closed pc-sition by
the
hinged door. The flat back wall 23 carries a magnetic sheet 24 which is
adhesively
attached to the rear surface of the back wall 23 so that the container can be
readily
attached to a metal wall such a refrigerator.
The rear wall 23 can also be attached to other suitable vertical support
surfaces for example by double sided adhesive tape. In a further alternative,
the
rear wall has key hole slots 25 exposed on the rear surface so that screws can
be
inserted through the key hole slots allowing the container to be susperided on
a wall
of the type which can readily receive such screws_ The unit also comes with an
attached magnetic sheet on the back of the unit which allows the unit to be
mounted
on a metal fridge.
In this way, the whole container can be mounted readily on a vertical
support surface with the front wall of the hinged door presented forwardly
with the
holder 16 thereon.
A separate blister holder 30 is provided which can support a blister
pack 31 of the type previously described.
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
The blister holder 30 includes a first support sheet 32 snd a second
support sheet 33 with the support sheets being hinged at two bottom horizontal
hinge pins 34. The sheet 32 is moulded from a first stiffer plastics material
to
provide the strength of the structure and the second or front sheet 33 is
formed of a
5 transparent plastics material. Each piece includes an integrally moulded
hinge
element connected by the hinge pin so that the sheets provide sufficient
stiffness to
be self supporting and the hinge allows the second sheet 33 to be hinged
downwardly as shown in Figure 3 to open up a space between the two sheets.
The sheet 32 is rectangular so as to fit into the rectanguliar opening 20
10 in the container portion. The container portion includes suitable snap
holders 35 at
the top and flanges 36 at the bottom which co-operate with the hinges 34 so
that the
first sheet 32 can be snapped into place and held in place by the snap
fasteners as
an exposed wall within the container portion 11.
The blister sheet 31 is a separate element from the blister sheet holder
and comprises a foil layer 31 B and a blister sheet 31 C. Blister packs of
this type are
of course well known as described above. The blister sheet may include a
stiffening
card but these are optional and one is not shown in the figures.
With the front sheet 33 hinged downwardly as shown in Figure 3, the
blister pack can be dropped into the openings in the front sheet so that the
blisters
project through the front sheet and are exposed on the underside of thi; front
sheet.
It wilf be appreciated that the number and arrangement of the blisters
is equal to the number and arrangement of the openings in the two holder
sheets_
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
11
Thus the blister pack drops into the front sheet and matches the openings so
that
the blisters are exposed in front of the front sheet when the front sheet is
closed to
the position shown in Figure 1. The rear sheet 32 has of course similarly
arranged
openings so that the foil layer on the rear of the blister pack is presented
to the
openings in the rear sheet 32. Raised ribs 31A on the face of the sheet 33
facing
the sheet are provided surrounding each opening to assist in -locating the
blister
pack as the punching action is effected.
A particularly preferred arrangement utilizes the layout of the blister
pack as shown in the above Canadian patent where the blisters are arranged in
a
matrix of seven rows and four columns and in particular the first and fourth
columns
have the blisters thereof slightly larger in width than the blisters of the
second and
third columns. In this way a larger amount of medication can be contained
within the
first and fourth columns.
The manufacture of the holder 30 as a separate item from the
container allows it to be snapped out of the container and replaced by an
alternative
holder. Such an aiternative holder may utilize a different arrangement of
blister pack
with a different number of blisters and/or a different arrangement of
blisters. 1n this
way a large part of the dispensing container is generic and can be used with
blister
packs of different arrangements whereas the holder itself is shaped and
designed to
match a particular blister pack. The dimensions of the container and the
dimensions
of the holder are arranged so that they are sufficient to receive within the
rectangular
area presented blister packs of conventional sizes.
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
12
Behind the holder 30, the container portion 11 defines a chamber 40
which is generally rectangular and formed at its rear by the rear wall '23, at
its front
by the rear holder sheet 32, at its top by the top wall 19, at its sides by
the side wall
20 and 21 and its bottom by the bottom wall 22. The chamber 40 has a
sufficient
width W so that medications expelled from the blisters by pushing on the
blisters
rearwardly can be received within the chamber 40. Thus the medications,
regardless of which blister is depressed for expelling the medications;,
collects the
medications within the chamber 40. Divider walls 23A are provided extending
generally vertically and at right angles to the rear wall 23 toward the sheet
33 so as
to act as guides for the medications expelled from the blisters to guide the
medications downwardly to the bottom wall.
The bottom wall 22 of the chamber includes a central chute 41 with a
bottom mouth 42. The chamber and the bottom wall are shapecl so that any
medications, regardless of the blister from where they came, fall to the
bottom wall
and then move by a shaping of the bottom wall into the chute 41 to collect at
the
mouth 42. Thus when the user depresses a blister, the medicatiorS;, are
expelled
and tumble to the bottom for collection at the mouth 42 of the chute.
The mouth 42 is closed by a flap 43 which extends acrnss the mouth
so that the medications at the mouth 42 fall onto the flap 43 and remain
within the
chute until the user is ready to receive the medications. The flap 43 i:;
attached to a
hinged lever 44 with a forwardly extending lower end 45 at the mouth 42. Thus
the
user can place a receptacle such as a cup against the bottom end o'' the lever
and
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
13
apply pressure to the lever so that it pivots rearwardly about a designeci and
integraE
hinge member 46 which pivots the flap 43 downwardly allowing the niedications
to
be released from the mouth 42. The lever 45 is wider than the mouth 42 and has
a
central cupped area 47 tending to guide a circular edge of a receptacle such
as a
cup into the required position under the mouth 42. Thus the user, who may be
infirm, can readily place the cup in the required position under the mouth 42
and can
apply sufficient pressure flexing the lever and the flap about the hinge 46 to
release
the medications when the user is ready to receive those medications. The flap
43
and the lever 45 are preferably formed integrally, as a separate piece from
the lower
wall 22, from a memory plastics material so that it recovers to the closed
position
when the pressure by the user is released. The separate piece can be snap fit
into
the bottom wall at the top ends of the hinge pieces 46.
The user therefore has an extended period of tirne after the
medications are punched from the blister to move to the next step in the
process of
picking up the cup or receptacle and moving it to the lever tci release the
medications from the chute 41. These actions can therefore be carried out as
two
separate steps with the user being able to concentrate initially on punching
the
required blister and only after this is carried out can concentrate upon
collecting the
medications for use.
A punch 50 is provided as a separate loose element hcMng a handle
51 and a punching portion 52. The punching portion 52 has a front face 53
shaped
to match the openings in the holding sheets and the blister pack so I;hat the
punch
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
14
can be inserted into one of the openings and pushed forwardly to expel the
material
from the blister. The punch is a simple inexpensive item defined by the front
face 53
and a side wall which extends rearwardly and outwardly in a sligh,tly conical
or
pyramid shape so as to provide an effective punching action. The front face
may
therefore be slightly smaller than the openings, bearing in mind that some of
the
openings are smaller than others so that the punch face must match ttie
smallest of
the openings and thus may be significantly smaller than the largest of the
openings.
However the conical shape of the punch overcomes this problem bl, allowing the
punch to pass through the blister and through the rear holding sheet slightly
into the
chamber 40 to ensure that the medications are punched through the foil layer
and all
the medications are expelled into the chamber 40.
The handle 51 is a simple flat strap which extends acrciss the punch
and can be grasped between the finger and thumb of the user to present the
punch
face at the openings in the blister pack. A receptacle 55 is provided foi- the
punch so
that it can be held in the container at the blister pack so that it is readily
available for
the punching action. In the embodiment shown the receptacle comprises a
generally cylindrical opening having a shape matching the shape of the front
face of
the punch so that the front face can be dropped downwardly into the receptacle
so
that the expending side walls of the pur-ch portion engage against the inside
surface
of the hollow or cylindrical receptacle leaving the handle readily exposed
upwardly
from the receptacfe. Thus the user can simply lift the punch out of its
holder, effect
the punching action and immediately return the punch to its holder to be
available for
CA 02606674 2007-10-30
the next punching action.
As an alternative the punch may be simply suspended on a flexible
string or elastic so that it is permanently held within the container and
readily
available to be pulled by the user to the required blister.
5 The punch therefore is an inexpensive item readily ai+ailable at all
times and thus avoids the difficulty of the user in punching using the tip or
knuckle of
a finger bearing in mind that the users tend to be infirm.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein
above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made
10 within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such
spirit and
scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying
specification shall
be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
