Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02872221 2014-11-26
MEDICATION COMPLIANCE PACKAGE WITH HAND HOLE
This invention relates to a medication compliance package of the type
comprising an outer carrier and a blister insert therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, the outer carrier of a medication compliance package
consists of two stiff sheets of card or plastic material hinged together along
one
longitudinal edge thereof to form a rear panel with a covering front panel.
The rear
panel is provided with rows and columns of substantially rectangular cut-outs
to
receive corresponding pockets formed in a blister insert. The blister sheet of
a
flexible transparent plastics material is provided with a corresponding number
of
depressed pockets, when viewed from the rear surface thereof, to receive the
medication in the form of pills or capsules. A relatively thin sheet of foil
or other
sealing material is secured to the structure covering the open bases of the
pockets
and sealing the medication in place. The
pockets of the blister sheet engage
through the apertures within the rear panel of the carrier so that the
medication for
various times of the day and various days of the week is clearly visible in
these
projecting pockets.
In one example of a manufacturing process which can be used, the
carrier card and the blister insert are supplied as separate components of a
kit for
assembly at a pharmacy. The carrier and blister can be sold in kits of for
example
250 carrier cards and 250 blister inserts. The pharmacy which is intended to
load the
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medications for the customer receives the product and assembles with the tools
provided to prepare and seal the carrier card and blister insert together.
Because many users of this medication delivery system are elderly or
health care providers, there can be ergonomic or strength challenges when
attempting to "pop" the solid medications out of the blister pockets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved
medication compliance package which may allow the dispensing of the
medications
easier for use by person of limited strength.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a
medication compliance package for use in dispensing solid medications to
patients
comprising:
a carrier and a blister insert sheet to be carried within the carrier;
the blister insert sheet comprising a plurality of raised pockets
arranged in rows and columns, each of which can be compressed by a digit of a
hand of a user to expel the solid medications contained within the pocket
through an
open mouth of the pocket;
the carrier comprising a generally rectangular front panel with a front
face and a rear face and a generally rectangular rear panel with a front face
and a
rear face;
the front panel and the rear panel being hingedly connected together
along one corresponding mutual side edge thereof so that the front and rear
panels
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can be moved between a closed position where the front and rear panels are
parallel
and overlie for closing a rear face of the front panel over a front face of
the rear
panel and an open position in which the front panel is moved away from
overlaying
the rear panel;
the rear panel having a plurality of apertures arranged in rows and
columns matching the rows and columns of the blister insert sheet and formed
through the rear panel such that the blister insert sheet can be arranged with
the
raised pockets thereof projecting forwardly of the front face of the rear
panel from
the apertures of the rear panel;
a frangible layer covering the open mouths of the pockets at the rear
face of the rear panel;
the front panel having an opening at or adjacent the mutual side edge
with the rear panel;
the opening being shaped and arranged so allow fingers of the hand of
the user to extend through the opening, with the front and rear panels in the
open
position, from the rear face of the front panel to reach around the mutual
side edge
to the rear face of the rear panel.
Preferably the opening includes a filler portion of the card or other
material from which the panels are made which is formed by a perforation line
in the
front panel at least partly around a full extent of the opening. Thus the user
acts to
tear out the filler portion from the front panel to define the opening into
the front
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panel. However the opening may be formed during manufacture soa s to avoid the
user from having to tear out the filler.
When used, preferably the perforation is continuous over an extent
thereof to form a tab which is sufficiently long to allow the user to grasp an
end of
the filler portion to be pulled to tear along the perforation line. Preferably
this is
arranged at one end of the opening to allow the end portion to form the pull
tab.
Preferably the front and rear panels are formed of card as is
conventionally used to allow the product to be disposable. However other
materials
can be used including plastics molded materials.
Preferably the front panel includes an edge strip at the mutual side
edge with a first fold line on the side of the edge strip adjacent the front
panel and a
second fold line on the side of the edge strip adjacent the rear panel
allowing the
edge strip to stand in the closed position at right angles to the front and
rear panels.
Preferably the opening is arranged at the first fold line so that it is
immediately adjacent the rear panel. However it can be moved away from the
fold
line.
Preferably the opening forms an elongate slot extending in a direction
longitudinally along the edge of the front panel so that the slot can receive
the
fingers of a user with larger hands. However the slot is not so large that it
interferes
with the structure or stability of the card.
Thus in one example the opening has a length extending in a direction
longitudinally along the edge of the front panel of at least 3 inches and a
width
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extending in a direction transverse to the edge of the front panel of at least
1 inch.
This roughly fits the fingers of the user. However the length and width can be
increased without making the slot interfere with the front panel.
Preferably the opening is spaced from top and bottom edges of the
5 front panel and is spaced from a side edge of the front panel remote from
the rear
panel. That is the opening is contained wholly within the edges of the front
panel
and allows the front panel to be folded back into place over the pockets to
protect
the pockets from damage or inadvertent dispensing of the medications therein.
Preferably the opening is substantially immediately adjacent the rear
panel so that the opening is sufficiently close to the rear panel to allow the
thumb of
the user to reach to the rows of pockets while the fingers pass through the
hole to
the rear face of the rear panel. That is the opening is arranged at a position
aligned
with the rows of apertures.
Preferably the rear panel is formed from an upper panel at the front
face and a lower panel at the rear face bonded together with the blister
insert sheet
therebetween. In this construction the frangible layer is preferably bonded to
the
lower panel. However other constructions of the card can be used where the
frangible layer, typically a foil, is applied directly to the rear face of the
blister insert
sheet following which the structure is inserted into the card forming the
front and rear
panels.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
method of dispensing solid medications comprising:
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supplying a medication compliance package comprising:
a carrier and a blister insert sheet to be carried within the carrier;
the blister insert sheet comprising a plurality of raised pockets
arranged in rows and columns, each of which can be compressed by a digit of a
hand of a user to expel the solid medications contained within the pocket
through an
open mouth of the pocket;
the carrier comprising a generally rectangular front panel with a front
face and a rear face and a generally rectangular rear panel with a front face
and a
rear face;
the front panel and the rear panel being hingedly connected together
along one corresponding mutual side edge thereof so that the front and rear
panels
can be moved between a closed position where the front and rear panels are
parallel
and overlie for closing a rear face of the front panel over a front face of
the rear
panel and an open position in which the front panel is moved away from
overlaying
the rear panel;
the rear panel having a plurality of apertures arranged in rows and
columns matching the rows and columns of the blister insert sheet and formed
through the rear panel such that the blister insert sheet has the raised
pockets
thereof projecting forwardly of the front face of the rear panel from the
apertures of
the rear panel;
and a frangible layer covering the open mouths of the pockets at the
rear face of the rear panel;
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forming an opening in the front panel at or adjacent the mutual side
edge with the rear panel;
inserting fingers of the hand through the opening, with the front and
rear panels in the open position, from the rear face of the front panel to
reach around
the mutual side edge to the rear face of the rear panel;
and compressing a selected one of the pockets with the thumb to expel
the solid medication through the frangible layer.
The arrangement herein this provides a modification to the current
compliance card which has a cover on it to protect the medication in it and
provide
Branding information on the outside cover and space for patient/medication
information on the inside. Because many users of this medication delivery
system
are active elderly or health care providers there can be ergonomic or strength
challenges when attempting to "pop" the solid medications out of the blister
pockets.
By creating a perforated cavity or opening in the front cover, the user has
the choice
to remove (or not) the filler panel to form the opening allowing them to
insert their left
hand through the opening simplifying the ergonomics of popping the medications
out
of the blister since the fingers engage the rear of the rear panel and the
thumb can
be used to apply pressure to the pockets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the medication compliance card of the
present invention.
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Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the medication compliance card of
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the medication compliance card of
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a top plan view of the medication compliance card of Figure
1.
Figure 5 is a first side elevational view of the medication compliance
card of Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a second side elevational view of the medication
compliance card of Figure 1.
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the medication compliance card of Figure
1 in a partly assembled condition.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the medication compliance card of
Figure 1 prior to application of the blister insert sheet.
Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the medication compliance card of
Figure 1 after application of the blister insert sheet.
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the medication compliance card
of Figure 1 in the completed and folded position.
Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the medication compliance card
of Figure 1 in the open position with the hand of the user inserted for
dispensing the
solid medications.
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In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference
character 10 shows a carrier having a front panel 11 and a rear panel 12
formed of a
stiff card material. The rear panel has a plurality of substantially
rectangular
apertures 13 formed therethrough and in the present embodiment, it will be
noted
that there are four columns 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D of seven apertures each
although of course it will be appreciated that more or less apertures may be
provided
if desired.
For example, a larger carrier may be provided to carry prepackaged
medication for a greater number of days or a smaller carrier for a lesser
number of
days.
The rear panel 12 of the carrier is similar in rectangular shape and size
to the front panel 11 and this rear panel is hinged along one vertical edge 16
to a
corresponding vertical edge 17 of the front panel, preferably, by means of a
living
hinge so that the two panels can be folded open to receive an insert
collectively
designated 18
The insert collectively designated 18 is made of transparent flexible
plastic and of a thinner material than the carrier 10 and is stamped out to
provide a
plurality of pockets 20 matching the apertures in columns 13A, 13B, 13C and
13D in
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the rear panel into which the pockets engage when the insert is placed between
the
two panels of the carrier.
These pockets 20, when first formed in the plastic sheet 18 are open
based as at 21 so that medication in the form of pills, capsules or the like
22 may be
5 placed therein whereupon a thin sheet of a frangible material 23 such as
foil or the
like is adhesively or otherwise secured over the rear side 24 of the insert
thus
sealing medication within the individual pockets 20.
When medication is required, the relatively thin plastic forming the
insert enables the relevant pocket to be pushed downwardly through the
10 corresponding aperture in columns 13A, 13B, 13C or 13D of the front panel
thus
breaking the frangible foil cover of that particular pocket thereby ejecting
the
medication through the corresponding aperture in the rear panel and into a
small
container (not shown) for presentation to the patient.
The various apertures in the columns may be marked by the day of the
week vertically and by the times of medication horizontally so that a glance
will show
the, exact status of the dispensing of medication at any one time.
Against each horizontal column of apertures and preferably on the left
hand side of the front panel, there is provided further indicia preferably in
the form of
a rectangle with an arrowhead indicating the horizontal column and marked
successively Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. It will therefore be appreciated that both pictorial and written
indicia
indicate the capsule of pocket of medication which should be taken at each
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particular time period and it will be appreciated that depression of the
flexible
transparent material forming the pocket, through the relevant aperture in the
rear
panel, breaks the foil on the rear side of the insert thus ejecting the
medication
through the corresponding apertures in the rear panel into a cup or other
receptacle.
The medication compliance package as shown in the Figures thus
includes the carrier 10 and the blister insert sheet 18 to be carried within
the carrier.
The blister insert sheet 18 includes the plurality of raised pockets 20
arranged in
rows and columns 13A to 13D, each of which can be compressed by a digit of a
hand of a user to expel the solid medications contained within the pocket
through the
open mouth 21 of the pocket.
The carrier comprises the generally rectangular front panel 11 with a
front face 11A and a rear face 11B and the generally rectangular rear panel 12
with
a front face 12A and a rear face 12B. The front panel 11 and the rear panel 12
are
hingedly connected together along one corresponding mutual side edge 16, 17
thereof so that the front and rear panels can be moved between a closed
position
shown in Figure 10 where the front and rear panels are parallel and overlie
for
closing the rear face 11B of the front panel over the front face 12A of the
rear panel
and an open position shown in Figure 11 in which the front panel 11 is moved
away
from overlaying the rear panel 12 so as to extend outwardly from the edge 16.
The front panel 11 includes an edge strip 11C at the side edge 17 with
a first fold line 11D on the side of the edge strip 110 adjacent the front
panel 11 and
a second fold line12D at the edge 16 on the side of the edge strip 11C
adjacent the
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rear panel 12. This allows the edge strip 110 to stand in the closed position
at right
angles to the front and rear panels 11, 12 in the form of an edge of a book so
as to
hold the front panel spaced from the rear panel by a distance greater than or
equal
to the height of the pockets. The edge strip 11C and the front and rear panels
are
co-extensive in length L.
The rear panel 12 the plurality of apertures 13 arranged in rows and
columns matching the rows and columns of the blister insert sheet and formed
through the rear panel 12 such that the blister insert sheet 18 can be
arranged with
the raised pockets 20 thereof projecting forwardly of the front face 12A of
the rear
panel 12 from the apertures of the rear panel.
The rear panel 12 is formed from an upper panel 25 at the front face
12A and a lower panel 26 at the rear face 12B. The upper panel 25 and the
lower
panel 26 are hinged together at a fold line 27 at an edge remote from the
front panel
11. The upper surface 26A of the lower panel 26 carries a layer of adhesive 28
and
the lower surface 25A of the upper panel 25 carries a layer of adhesive 29 so
that
these layers of adhesive act to bond panels 25 and 26 together with the
blister insert
sheet 18 therebetween. Each of the panels 25 and 26 has the apertures formed
therein so that the apertures overlie when the panels are folded to the
overlying
position. The adhesive layers 28 and 29 do not of course cover the apertures
and
thus lie only on the portions of the panels forming the bridges between the
apertures. The blister sheet 18 has the pockets 20 and a base sheet 19 between
the pockets so that the adhesive layers 28 and 29 cooperate with the base
sheet
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with the pockets 20 free from adhesive. The frangible layer 23 is bonded to
the
lower panel 26 below the adhesive layer 28.
In the manufacturing process shown in Figures 8 and 9, the carrier
card 10 and the blister insert 18 are supplied as separate components of a kit
for
assembly at a pharmacy.
The front panel 11 forms a single cover sheet. The rear panel 12 is
formed in two parts 25, 26 attached to each other at the hinge 27 to locate
the blister
insert sheet 18 between the two parts 25, 26. The first part 25 has openings
25B
into which the pockets 20 of the blister sheet 18 are inserted. The second
part 26
carries the foil layer 23 covering the openings 26B.
As shown in Figure 9 a release sheet 30 covers the adhesive layers 28
and 29 when the card is supplied. When the panels 25 and 26 are attached
together by removing the release sheet 30 and folding at hinge 27, each pocket
20
of the blister sheet 18 is closed by a portion of the foil layer 23 to enclose
the solid
medications 22 for later release by breaking the foil 23.
The pharmacist or pharmacist technician places the carrier card 10
and blister insert sheet 18 on a platen enabling them to fill the pockets 20
of the
blister sheet 18 with the appropriate oral solid medications. They then fold
over the
first panel 25 and second parts 26 of the rear panel 12 to attach the two
parts
together to enclose the base layer 19 the blister sheet 18 to hold it in
place.
This can be done with cold-seal adhesive 28, 29 applied to both parts
and covered with the release sheet 30 as shown. When the release sheet 30 is
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removed, the two parts 25, 26 are brought together and sealed using a roller
to
create pressure to seal in the blister sheet 18.
Alternatively in the case of a heat seal card not shown the release
sheet can be omitted and the technician requires an electric sealer that heats
the
card and activates the glue to seal the card.
The sealed product is then provided to a retail customer for use or to a
long term care facility or hospital where a health care provider dispenses the
medications to the end user.
The frangible layer 23 of the foil covers the open mouths 24 of the
pockets 20 at the rear face 12B of the rear panel 12.
In the present invention the front panel 11 is provided with an opening
40 at or adjacent the mutual side edge 16, 17 with the rear panel 12. The
opening
40 is shaped and arranged so allow fingers F of the hand of the user as shown
in
Figure 11 to extend through the opening 40, with the front and rear panels in
the
open position. The fingers thus extend from the rear face 11B of the front
panel 11
to reach around the mutual side edge 16, 17 and past the edge strip 11C to the
rear
face 123 of the rear panel 12.
When manufactured, the opening 40 includes a filler portion 41 which
is formed by a perforation line 42 in the front panel 11 extending around a
full extent
of the opening 40 allowing the user to tear the filler portion 41 from the
front panel 11
to define the opening 40 in the front panel.
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The perforation 42 includes an extent 42A thereof which is sufficiently
long and located suitably to allow the user to grasp an end 42B of the filler
portion to
be pulled to tear along the perforation line 42.
The opening 40 is arranged at the first fold line 11D immediately
5 adjacent the edge strip 11C and forms an elongate slot with sides and
extending in a
direction longitudinally along the edge 16 of the front panel 11. The opening
has a
length extending in a direction longitudinally along the edge of the front
panel of at
least 3 inches and possibly as much as 4 inches and a width extending in a
direction
transverse to the edge of the front panel of at least 1 inch and possibly as
much as 2
10 inches. In this way the opening 40 is spaced from top and bottom edges
11T, 11X of
the front panel and is spaced from a side edge 11 Y of the front panel remote
from
the rear panel 12. The opening 40 is symmetrically located in the panel 11
relative
to the top and bottom edges or can be located closer to the bottom edge so as
to be
arranged at a position aligned with the rows of apertures.
15 The opening 40 is substantially immediately adjacent the rear
panel 12
and is sufficiently close to the rear panel 12 to allow the thumb T of the
user as
shown n Figure 11 to reach to the rows of pockets 20 allowing them to insert
their
left hand through the opening simplifying the ergonomics of popping the
medications
out of the blister since the fingers engage the rear of the rear panel and the
thumb
can be used to apply pressure to the pockets.
