Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE
Blister Sheet Holder for the Verification of the Contents
Thereof
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates to pills management.
[0002] More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a blister
sheet holder for the verification of the blister sheet's content.
[0003] It is known in the art of pills management and distribution to
use container-defining sheet also called blister sheet. Such sheet includes
cavities, arranged in line and columns, that represent moments in days and
that
can be filled with prescription pills for subsequent ordinate distribution to
a user.
The blister sheet is then sealed by a sheet that is inscribed with information
pertaining to the pills in each cavity. The sealed blister sheet is such that,
during distribution of the pills, each cavity can be conveniently detach.
[0004] In order to facilitate the filling and sealing operations by the
professional, the blister sheet is mounted in a support or holder that is
essentially provided to add stability to the blister sheet during these
operations.
[0005] Examples of conventional blister sheet and support thereof
are described in Canadian Patent No. 2,207,045, issued to Dispill Inc. in
June 1st, 2009 and titled "Kit and Process for the Manufacture of a Set of
Individual Pill Containers".
[0006] In most jurisdictions, it is legally required that the pharmacist
checks the content of the ampoules/blisters to ensure the adequacy of their
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filling. The conventional supports for blister sheets are not adapted to this
duty
of the professional pharmacists work.
[0007] Indeed, when a great number of pills are inserted in a single
cavity, the professional has a hard time identifying and counting the pills
therein. The professional checking the prescription in such a filled cavity is
often forced to play hide and seek with the pills. This may lead to
misidentification of pills and most of the time to a waste of time.
SUMMARY
[0008] An object of illustrated embodiments of a blister sheet holder
is to provide means to improve the verification of the prescription pills
contents
in a blister sheet prior to its sealing.
[0009] Another object is to provide means to support a blister sheet
and to ease the verification of its contents.
[0010] More specifically, the problem of limited space in filled
blisters
of a blister sheet during visually verifying the contents thereof is solved by
using a holder to receive the sheet in such a way that at least some of the
blisters are positioned in close proximity to verification receptacles
provided on
the holder to temporarily receive part of the blisters' content.
[0011] In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, there is
provided a blister sheet holder comprising:
[0012] a frame adapted for receiving a blister sheet; and
[0013] at least one verification receptacle adapted to receive part of
a content of at least one blister of the blister sheet; the at least one
verification
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receptacle being mounted to the frame in such a way as to be positioned in
close proximity to the least one blister when the blister sheet is received in
the
frame.
[0014] The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction with
the term "comprising" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one",
but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more", "at least one",
and
"one or more than one". Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a
second or more.
[0015] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words
"comprising" (and any form of comprising, such as "comprise" and
"comprises"), "having" (and any form of having, such as "have" and "has"),
"including" (and any form of including, such as "include" and "includes") or
"containing" (and any form of containing, such as "contain" and "contains"),
are
inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements.
[0016] The expression "blister sheet" is to be construed herein as a
plurality of small containers assembled into a sheet, without restriction as
to the
material of the sheet or of the containers or how such a sheet is intended to
be
sealed or closed. The "blisters" should be construed herein as the containers
included on the blister sheet.
[0017] The expression "receptacle" is to be construed herein to
include a device, etching, engraving or groove portions of an object, or else,
that is capable of receiving and holding one or more small objects, such as
without restrictions medication pills.
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[0018] Other objects, advantages and features will become more
apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of
illustrative
embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] In the appended drawings:
[0020] Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a blister sheet holder
according to a first embodiment, the holder being illustrated with its trestle
deployed;
[0021] Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the blister sheet
holder from Figure 1;
[0022] Figures 3 and 4 are side elevations of the blister sheet holder
from Figure 1, showing respectively deployed and folded positions of the
trestle;
[0023] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the blister sheet holder from
Figure 1, further showing therein an embodiment of a blister sheet filled with
prescription pills;
[0024] Figure 6 is a perspective view similar to Figure 5, further
illustrating the use of the receptacles to better distinguish a blister's
content
during verification thereof.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] A holder 10 for a blister sheet 12 according to a first
illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 2.
According to the illustrated embodiment, the blister sheet 12 is of the type
used
for receiving and distributing prescription pills 14.
[0026] The holder 10 comprises a frame 16, two series of
receptacles 18 integrally formed in the frame 16 and a foldable trestle 20
pivotably mounted to the frame 16 thereunder.
[0027] The frame 16 is generally rectangular in shape and defines a
working surface 21 on the side thereof that includes the openings of the
receptacles 18. The working surface 21 of the frame 16 includes top 22,
bottom 24 and side portions 26 together defining a generally rectangular
blister-
sheet receiving opening 28 therebetween.
[0028] The configuration and size of the frame 16 is adapted to
receive and support the blister sheet 12. More specifically, the inner portion
of
the frame 16 includes a downwardly extending serrated flange 30. The
flange 30 is configured to receive the blister sheet 12 in a complementary
way.
[0029] The flange 30 is provided with ridges 32. The gap 34
between two of the ridges 32 defines a blister receiving portion. According to
the illustrated embodiment, the blister sheet 12 includes a matrix of seven
(7)
rows by four (4) columns of blisters 34 and 34'. The flange 30 includes
ridges 32 on all its sides that are numbered and configured to complement the
blisters 34 and 34'. The frame 30 can of course be modified to accommodate a
blister sheet having another configuration (not shown).
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[0030] Depending for example on the configuration of the blister
sheet 12, the ridges 32 and/or flange 30 can be omitted. In such a case, the
peripheral edge of the frame 16 around the blister-sheet receiving opening 28
provides sufficient contact with the blister sheet to restrict its movement
therein.
[0031] However, it has been found that providing ridges 32 that
define blister-receiving portions and that are configured to receive the
blisters
34-34' in a snugly-fit manner greatly improves the stability of the sheet 12
in the
holder 10.
[0032] The top edge 36 of the flange 30 is recessed with regards to
the side portions 26 of the frame 16 and with top and bottom portions 22 and
24 so as to define a shoulder 38 that is configured to circumscribe the
peripheral edge 42 of a blister-sheet 12 when it is received in the opening
28.
The top edge 36 and shoulder 38 further contribute to stabilizing a blister
sheet 12 mounted in the opening 28.
[0033] It has been found that an opening 28 that is circumscribed by
i) a flange 30 that is complimentary to the blister arrangement of the blister
sheet 12 and ii) a peripheral recess 36 around the flange to receive the
peripheral portion of the blister sheet flange 37 yields a blister-sheet
receiving
opening 28 that both circumscribes and stabilizes the sheet 12 in the holder
10.
This has been found advantageous when a sealing sheet (not shown) is fixed
onto the blister sheet 12 to seal the blisters' openings.
[0034] The top portion 22 of the frame 16 includes an elongated
groove 44 adjacent the top portion of the shoulder 38. The groove 44 is
configured and sized to complement the top edge of the blister sheet 12.
According to the illustrated embodiment, the top edge of the blister sheet 12
is
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defined by a tab 46 that extends throughout the width of the sheet 12 and that
ends with two hooks 48.
[0035] In the present, the expressions "top" and "bottom" are used
with reference to the frame 16 to help distinguish between the portion further
away from the user during normal use of the holder 10 ("top") and the portion
nearest the user ("bottom").
[0036] Each side portion 26 of the frame 16 includes a series of
oval-shaped recesses that define the receptacles 18. The receptacles 18 are
positioned in two columns, one on each side 26 of the frame 16. The number
and positions of the receptacles 18 within a column is such that each
receptacle 18 is registered with a corresponding row of blisters 34-34' on the
sheet 12.
[0037] Each recess 18 has a depth that increases from a first side
50 of the recess 18 adjacent the shoulder 38 towards the opposite side 52 of
the recess. More specifically, the first side 50 is generally levelled with
the
upper portion of the shoulder 38 so as to be generally levelled with the top
surface or flange 37 of a sheet 12 mounted in the opening 38. A peripheral
ridge 54 is provided all around each receptacle 18 except on the first side 50
thereof. The advantageous configuration of the receptacles 18 will be further
explained hereinbelow with reference to the operation of the holder 10.
[0038] Returning to the configuration of the working surface 21, the
configuration and size of the top portion 22 of the frame 16 can be adapted to
the size of the sheet (not shown) used to seal the blister sheet. More
specifically, the top portion 22 is dimensioned to support an overdimensioned
portion of the sealing sheet at the top thereof. Such an overdimensioned
portion is used to add information pertaining to the blister sheet contents.
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[0039] The bottom
portion 24 of the working surface 21 includes a
second groove 56 for receiving and storing a pill sorting tool 58. The bottom
portion 24 further includes a recessed portion 60 contiguous to the groove 56
to
ease manual access to the tool 58 in the groove 56.
[0040] The bottom
portion 24 is recessed relative to the side
portions 26 so as to yield a shoulder 62 that extends over the width of the
frame 16. The shoulder 62 allows minimizing inadvertent intrusion of the tool
58
when it is moved in or out of the groove 56.
[0041] Turning now to
Figures 2-4, the trestle 20 will now be
described in more detail.
[0042] The trestle 20
is in the form of an elongated C-shaped
member that includes a rod 64 having a rectangular section for resting on a
surface (not shown) and two connecting arms 66 that integrally extend from the
rod perpendicularly therefrom. The distal ends of the arms 66 are provided
with
pivot pins 68 that allow detachably mounting the arms 66 in holes 69 provided
under the frame 16 so as to allow pivotal movements of the arms relative to
the
frame 16. The holes 69 are located in fins 71 that extends from the flange 30
adjacent the flange 30 under the top portion 22 of the frame 16. The trestle
66
is therefore pivotally mounted to the frame 16 for movement between folded
and deployed positions relative to the frame 16.
[0043] As can be seen
in Figure 3, which illustrates the deployed
position of the trestle 20, each of its arms 66 includes a notch 70 that abuts
onto the flange 30 and blocks the pivoting movement of the trestle 20 in its
deployed position. The arms 66 then define an angle of about seventy (70)
degrees with the frame 16. This tilts the frame 16 to about ten (10) degrees.
Such tilting of the frame 16 by raising its top portion 22 has been found to
ease
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the filling and then content verification of the blisters 34-34'. Moreover,
tilting
the arms 66 towards the flange 30 improves the stability of the holder 10
during
its use.
[0044] The arms 66 of the trestle 20 are configured and sized so as
to become an extension of the flange 30 under the top portion 22 of the
frame 16 when the trestle 20 is tilted to its folded position (see Figure 4).
[0045] A holder according to another embodiment can be configured
so that the trestle tilts the frame to a different angle than the one
illustrated.
According to still another embodiment, the trestle 20 is omitted. According to
this last embodiment, the flange 30 or other portions or members under the
frame 16 can be provided to raise the top portion of the frame relative the
bottom portion thereof.
[0046] Figure 5 illustrates the holder 10 with a blister sheet 12
mounted thereinto. As mentioned hereinabove, the frame 16 can be modified to
receive a blister sheet having a different configuration (not shown) then the
one
illustrated.
[0047] As can be seen in Figure 6, the receptacles 18 are filled with
a certain number of pills 14 that can have different colors, sizes and shapes,
as
determined for example by a prescription. The illustrated embodiment of a
blister sheet 12 is configured with seven (7) rows, one for each day of the
week, and four (4) column, each for a different moment in day, such as
morning, lunch, dinner and night.
[0048] As is often the case for an elder, the morning and night
prescriptions usually include an important number of pills 14 or bigger pills
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compared to other moments of the day. Using for example the tool 58, the
pharmacist or another authorized professional (both not shown), can transfer
part of a blister 34' from a first or last column of the blister sheet 12 into
the
receptacle 18 which is adjacent thereof (see arrows 72). This is illustrated
in
Figure 6. As a person skilled in the art would appreciate, the verification
process becomes easier in such a blister 34' that has been relieved of part of
its content. Part of a blister 34 from the middle of the sheet 12 can also be
transferred into one of the receptacles 18 during the verification step.
[0049] The risk of losing one of the pills 14 during the transfer from a
blister 34' into the adjacent receptacle 18 is minimized by the close
proximity of
the receptacles 18 to adjacent blisters and by the side of the receptacle 18
adjacent the blisters being generally levelled with the blisters flange 37.
Also,
the transfer back of pills from a receptacle 18 to an adjacent blister 34' is
facilitated by the receptacle inner surface being smooth, i.e. free of any
edge.
[0050] Since filling and sealing blisters are believed to be well-
known in the art, those steps in the managing of a prescription will not be
described herein in more detail for concision purposes.
[0051] According to the illustrated embodiment, the frame 16 is one-
piece and results from a moulded process. Since such moulding processes are
believed to be well-known in the art, they will not be described herein in
more
detail for concision purposes. The holder 10 can be made of a polymeric
material such as polypropylene, abs (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene),
polystyrene plastic or of another material or combination of materials that
provides rigidity to the frame 16.
[0052] The receptacles 18 are not limited to be integral to the
frame 16. Also, the frame 16 can be assembled from parts and/or the
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receptacles 18 can be attached to the frame 16. According to another
embodiment, the receptacles are removably mounted to the frame.
[0053] It is to be noted that other modifications could be made to the
holder 10 described hereinabove, for example:
[0054] ¨ the blister sheet receiving portion 28 of the frame 16 is not
limited to the rectangular shape and is generally configured to complement the
peripheral shape of the blister sheets so as to prevent movement of the
blister
sheet relative to the frame;
[0055] ¨ the receptacles are not limited to the illustrated oval shape.
They can be round, rectangular, teardrop shaped, irregular, etc.;
[0056] - the receptacles are also not limited to having a smooth
surface therein;
[0057] - the number, dimensions, and positions of the receptacles 18
are not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the frame 16 can
be
modified to include verification receptacles above and below the blister-sheet
receiving opening 28. In the case of receptacles being provided above the
blister-sheet receiving opening, such receptacles can be provided above the
groove 44;
[0058] - the holder is not limited to receiving a blister-sheet intended
to receive pills therein. More generally, it can be used for receiving a
blister-
sheet that receives other small objects or matter whose number and/or nature
require a verification.
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[0059] It is to be
understood that the holder for blister sheets is not
limited in its application to the details of construction and parts
illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The holder is capable of
other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be
understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose
of description and not limitation. Hence, although the holder for blister
sheets
has been described hereinabove by way of illustrative embodiments thereof, it
can be modified, without departing from the spirit, scope and nature of the
subject invention.
