MEDICAMENT DISPENSING SYSTEM AND DISPENSING METHOD

Abstract

A dispensing system (2) and method for dispensing unit dosage forms (38) from a blister pack (30) is disclosed. The system (2) comprises a housing (4) for receiving a blister pack (30), the blister pack (30) having a plurality of cavities (32) with at least one unit dosage form (38) sealed in each of the cavities (32), the housing (4) comprising at least one housing aperture. The system (2) also comprises a sensing layer comprising a plurality of apertures, each sensing layer aperture configured to substantially align with a corresponding one or more of the plurality of cavities (32) of the blister pack (30) when a blister pack (30) is received in the housing (4) and at least one sensing region. The system (2) further comprises an electronics unit and a power source for providing voltage to the sensing layer. In use, the unit dosage forms (38) are dispensed from the blister pack (30) through the sensing layer apertures and through the at least one housing aperture, for example by application of pressure (P) upon each cavity (32), and the sensing layer senses each unit dosage form (38) being dispensed from the blister pack (30).

Claims

1. A dispensing system for dispensing unit dosage forms from a blister pack, the dispensing system comprising: a housing for receiving a blister pack, the blister pack having a plurality of cavities with at least one unit dosage form sealed in each of the cavities, the housing comprising at least one housing aperture; a sensing layer comprising: a plurality of apertures, each sensing layer aperture configured to substantially align with a corresponding one or more of the plurality of cavities of the blister pack when a blister pack is received in the housing; and at least one sensing region; an electronics unit; and a power source for providing voltage to the sensing layer; wherein: in use, the unit dosage forms are dispensed from the blister pack through the sensing layer apertures and through the at least one housing aperture; and the sensing layer senses each unit dosage form being dispensed from the blister pack.

2. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensing layer comprises a pressure sensitive layer and a conductive layer, the conductive layer comprising at least one conductive region.

3. The dispensing system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of conductive regions, at least one conductive region at least partially surrounding each sensing layer aperture, preferably comprising segments or zones of conductive regions surrounding each sensing layer aperture, wherein the sensing layer senses the pressure applied in the vicinity of each cavity as each unit dosage form is dispensed from the blister pack.

4. The dispensing system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of conductive regions, the conductive regions arranged at the edges and/or in the corners of the conductive layer, wherein the sensing layer senses the pressure applied to the sensing layer as each unit dosage form is dispensed from the blister pack.

5. The dispensing system of claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the sensing layer further comprises a spacing layer between the pressure sensitive layer and the conductive layer, the spacing layer spacing the pressure sensitive layer and conductive layer apart such that they are not in electrical contact, and the spacing layer being compressible such that the pressure sensitive layer and the conductive region(s) of the conductive layer can be brought into electrical contact.

6. The dispensing system of claim 5, wherein the spacing layer comprises foam.

7. The dispensing system of claim 5 or 6, wherein the sensing layer apertures are substantially circular or elliptical, and the sensing layer aperture of the spacing layer has a larger diameter than the sensing layer aperture of the pressure sensitive layer and of the sensing layer aperture of the conductive layer, such that an air gap is provided between the pressure sensitive layer and conductive layer in the vicinity of the apertures.

8. The dispensing system of claim 7, wherein the sensing layer is configured such that compression of the compressible spacing layer depletes the air gap until the pressure sensitive layer and the conductive region(s) of the conductive layer are brought into electrical contact.

9. The dispensing system of any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the power source provides voltage to the conductive region(s) of the conductive layer.

10. The dispensing system of any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the pressure sensitive layer comprises a non-conductive material comprising conductive particles dispersed therein.

11. The dispensing system of any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the pressure sensitive layer comprises a polymer film layer, preferably a polyolefin, such as polyethylene, layer, impregnated with conductive particles, preferably carbon black particles.

12. The dispensing system of any one of claims 2 to 11, wherein the conductive layer comprises a printed circuit board (PCB), the conductive region(s) of the conductive layer being printed onto the conductive layer.

13. The dispensing system of any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the conductive regions of the conductive layer are substantially ring-shaped and encircle the apertures in the conductive layer, each conductive region being discrete from any other conductive region of the conductive layer.

14. The dispensing system of any one of claims 3 to 12, wherein the conductive regions of the conductive layer comprise substantially all of the conductive layer.

15. The dispensing system of any one of claims 2 to 14, wherein the sensing layer senses the profile of the pressure applied to the sensing layer to determine if: a unit dosage form has been dispensed from the blister pack; or the pressure has a non-dispensing pressure profile.

16. The dispensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensing layer comprises a first capacitive layer and a second capacitive layer, the first and second capacitive layers separated by a compressible spacing layer therebetween, wherein compression of the compressible layer as a unit dosage form is being dispensed from the blister pack brings the first and second capacitive layers closer together thereby changing the capacitance of the system.

17. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the sensing layer comprises an inductive sensor with inductive properties, where dispensing the dosage unit, by displacing the sensing layer or by rupture of the blister pack, changes the inductive properties.

18. The dispensing system of claim 1 wherein the sensing layer comprises an inductive sensor with inductive properties, where dispensing the dosage unit, by displacing the sensing layer, by displacing or by rupture tearing of the blister pack, changes the electrical properties.

19. The dispensing system of claim 18 where the changes of electrical properties are used to detect when the user change blister.

20. The dispensing system of claim 1, further comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver, the receiver configured to receive a signal from the transmitter, wherein the receiver and transmitter are aligned with each other such that at least one of the apertures of the sensing layer is located between them.

21. The dispensing system of claim 18, wherein dispensing of a unit dosage form is from the blister pack and through the at least one of the apertures of the sensing layer interrupts the signal transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver as it passes therethrough.

22. The dispensing system of claim 19, wherein the transmitter comprises an optical transmitter and the signal is a light beam.

23. The dispensing system of any preceding claim, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of housing apertures, the housing apertures arranged in an array such that each housing aperture substantially aligns with at least one of the plurality of cavities of the blister pack when a blister pack is received in the housing, the blister pack being a standard blister pack.

24. The dispensing system of any preceding claim, wherein the electronics unit comprises a memory for storing data corresponding to at least the time and date at which the sensing layer senses each unit dosage form being dispensed from the blister pack.

25. The dispensing system of any preceding claim, wherein the electronics unit comprises a transmitter, preferably a wireless transmitter, preferably a Bluetooth LE, NFC, WiFi, 3G, 4G or 5G transmitter, for transmitting data to a remote device, the data corresponding to at least the time and date at which the sensing layer senses each unit dosage form being dispensed from the blister pack and/or the data corresponding to a reminder that a unit dosage form is due to be dispensed at a predetermined date and time.

26. The dispensing system of claim 24 or 25, further comprising a display for displaying the data.

27. The dispensing system of any preceding claim, wherein the housing and the sensing layer are separable components and are configured such that sensing layers with different configurations are each receivable in the housing.

28. The dispensing system of any preceding claim, wherein the electronics unit is configured for any one or more of the following: detecting an identification of a blister pack from a memory of the blister pack having the identification stored therein; detecting the presence of a blister pack within the housing; detecting removal of a blister pack from the housing; detecting insertion or a blister pack into the housing; and/or detecting the orientation of the blister pack within the housing.

29. The dispensing system of any preceding claim, further comprising an accelerometer, the accelerometer configured for determining movement of the system, and preferably for determining movement above and/or below one or more thresholds for detecting whether the system is in use by a user.

30. A method of dispensing unit dosage forms from a dispensing system having a blister pack received therein, the dispensing system comprising: a housing for receiving a blister pack, the blister pack having a plurality of cavities with at least one unit dosage form sealed in each of the cavities, the housing comprising at least one housing aperture; a sensing layer comprising: a plurality of apertures, each sensing layer aperture configured to substantially align with a corresponding one or more of the plurality of cavities of the blister pack when a blister pack is received in the housing; and at least one sensing regions; an electronics unit; and a power source for providing voltage to the sensing layer; the method comprising: sensing with the sensing layer when each unit dosage form is dispensed from the blister pack through the sensing layer apertures and through the at least one housing aperture.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the sensing layer comprises a plurality of pressure sensing regions, at least one pressure sensing region at least partially surrounding each sensing layer aperture, and wherein the step of sensing with the sensing layer when each unit dosage form is dispensed from the blister pack comprises sensing pressure applied in the vicinity of each cavity with the sensing layer.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the sensing layer further comprises a spacing layer between the pressure sensitive layer and the conductive layer, the spacing layer spacing the pressure sensitive layer and conductive layer apart such that they are not in electrical contact, and the method further comprising bringing the pressure sensitive layer and conductive layer into electrical contact by compressing the spacing layer.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the sensing layer apertures are substantially circular or elliptical, and the sensing layer aperture of the spacing layer has a larger diameter than the sensing layer aperture of the pressure sensitive layer and of the sensing layer aperture of the conductive layer, such that an air gap is provided between the pressure sensitive layer and conductive layer in the vicinity of the apertures, the method further comprising compressing the compressible spacing layer to deplete the air gap to bring until the pressure sensitive layer and the conductive layer into electrical contact.

34. The method of claim 32 or 33, further comprising providing voltage to the conductive layer from the power source.

35. The method of any one of claims 32 to 33, further comprising storing data corresponding to at least the time and date at which the sensing layer senses the pressure applied in the vicinity of each cavity as each unit dosage form is dispensed from the blister pack in a memory of the electronics unit.

36. The method of any one of claims 32 to 35, further comprising transmitting data to a remote device, the data corresponding to at least the time and date at which the sensing layer senses the pressure applied in the vicinity of each cavity as each unit dosage form is dispensed from the blister pack and/or the data corresponding to a reminder that a unit dosage form is due to be dispensed at a predetermined date and time.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein transmitting data comprises transmitting data wirelessly, preferably comprising Bluetooth LE, WiFi or NFC transmission.

38. The method of claim 36 or 37, further comprising displaying the data on a display of the dispensing system.

39. The method of any one of claims 30 to 38, further comprising sensing a profile of the pressure applied in the vicinity of each cavity, to determine if: a unit dosage form has been dispensed from the blister pack; or the pressure has a non-dispensing pressure profile.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Preferred aspects and embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dispensing system with a blister pack received therein, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispensing system of FIG. 1, without a blister pack;

[0029] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a portion of the dispensing system of FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a portion of the layers of a sensing layer of a dispensing system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0031] FIGS. 5A to 5D are schematic top views illustrating embodiments of the layers of the sensing layer of FIG. 4;

[0032] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a conductive layer of a dispensing system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a communications network for dispensing systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0034] FIG. 8 illustrates examples of information transmitted from a dispensing system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, and displayed on a device of a patient using the dispensing system;

[0035] FIG. 9A is a schematic side view of a portion of the layers of a sensing layer of a dispensing system in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 9B is a schematic top view of a portion of the conductive layer of FIG. 9A with conductive regions surrounding a conductive aperture;

[0037] FIG. 9C is a schematic side view of the dispensing system layers of FIG. 9A in a compressed state as a dose is dispensed;

[0038] FIG. 10 is a schematic top view of an inductive sensing layer in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention;

[0039] FIGS. 11A and 11B are schematic side views of a capacitive sensing layer in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention, in an uncompressed and compressed state respectively;

[0040] FIG. 12A is a schematic side view of an optical sensing layer in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 12B is a schematic top view of the optical measuring layer of FIG. 12A;

[0042] FIGS. 13A and 13B are schematic top views of conductive layers with conductive regions in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention; and

[0043] FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic side views of a sensing layer in accordance with alternative, simplified embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Dispensing systems (and methods) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are configured for dispensing unit doses from a blister pack, typically a standard blister pack. Blister packs are considered to be standard blister packs when, for example, a particular medicament is dispensed in blister packs that typically remain of the same configuration for a prolonged period of time, e.g. are mass produced, and/or have a standard arrangement of multiple cavities, etc. A typical standard blister pack comprises flat sheet(s) of foils (covering each other and being attached to each other). One, relatively rigid foil, most commonly called the base, comprises cavities or open blisters, for accommodating a tablet or capsule each, while the other foil is flat and most commonly called the lid, and seals the opening of the cavities or blisters. The most commonly used sealing process is heat sealing, at least one of the foils having thermoplastic properties, and at present the manufacture of the pack is most rationally carried out by continuously joining webs of the foils for said sealing, and cutting them to said packs. Whereby depressing the blister from the top will cause the medication to puncture through the lid foil so that the medication is freed from the pack to be taken by the patient.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 1, a dispensing system 2 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention is illustrated, the dispensing system 2 having a blister pack 30 received in the housing 4 of the dispensing system 2. The blister pack comprises a blister base 34, having a plurality of cavities 32 formed therein and each cavity 32 contains a unit dose 38 of medicament. The cavities 32 are sealed with a frangible layer 36 (not shownsee FIG. 3). The housing 4 is of a suitable size and shape to receive the blister pack 30 securely between the side edges 4a, 4b of the housing 4 and a cover 6 at one end and an end edge 4c at the other. A cut out 8 is provided in the end edge 4c to aid the patient in lifting out the blister pack 30 when it is desired to replace it with a new blister pack 30.

[0046] The cover 6 of the housing 4 encloses an electronics unit 10. In the illustrated arrangement, there is provided an opening in the cover 6 through which a connection to a connector 12 of the electronics unit 10 (not shownsee FIG. 3) can be made. However in other arrangements the electronics unit and the sensing component(s) can be manufactured on the same printed circuit board. Typically the housing is formed from plastic, or other suitable material.

[0047] The housing 4 is illustrated in FIG. 2 with the blister pack 30 removed. The housing 4 comprises a plurality of apertures 5, which in the FIG. 2 embodiment are arranged in a regular array of two by seven apertures 5, though of course other arrangements are possible in other embodiments. Thus one aperture 5 corresponds with each cavity or blister 32 of the blister pack 30 of FIG. 1. Therefore a dose 38 from each blister 32 can be pushed out through an aperture 5 in the housing 4 to be dispensed to the patient. The base 7 of the housing 4 may be integrally formed with the housing 4 (e.g. the entire housing may be moulded or the like as a single component) or the base 7 may be removable from the rest of the housing 4, for example it may be slidable away from the cover 6 end or may be liftable away from the housing 4. This enables alternative bases 7 to be inserted into the rest of the housing 4, for example those having a different number and/or arrangement of apertures 5, thereby enabling a different type of blister pack 30 to be used with the same housing 4. Alternatively, the housing 4 may comprise only a single aperture 5, the aperture being of a size so as to substantially define the base 7, thus enabling all doses 38 to be dispensed from each blister 32 through the singe aperture 5. Alternatively the housing 4 may comprise two or more apertures 5, which are sufficiently sized to correspond with more than one blister 32.

[0048] Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a portion of a dispensing system 2 such as that illustrated in FIG. 1, from a side sectional view. Only the four blisters 32 and doses 38 nearest the cover 6 end are shown as is the corresponding portion of the housing 4. The housing apertures 5 can be seen to be aligned with the blisters 32, thus enabling the doses 38 in the blisters 32 to be expelled through the apertures 5. To dispense a dose 38, the patient simply pushes downwards on the blister 32 with a finger or thumb, for example (as indicated by arrow P showing the general direction of pressure from the patients finger or thumb), which in turn pushes the dose 38 into contact with the seal 36. As the seal 36 is configured to be frangible or rupturable, pressure from the dose bursts the seal and the dose 38 drops out, through a corresponding aperture 23, 25, 27 (not shownsee FIG. 4) in the sensing layer 20 and through the corresponding aperture 5 in the housing 4. As also shown in FIG. 3, the electronics unit 10 is enclosed in the housing cover 6, with an opening to enable the sensing layer to be inserted into the cover 6 for connection with a connector 12 of the electronics unit 10. Thus, voltage from a power source can be provided to the sensing layer 20, or at least a portion or layer thereof as discussed further below.

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the sensing layer 20 that, in use with a blister pack 30 inserted in the dispensing system 2 containing the sensing layer 20, would be aligned with a single blister 32 of the blister pack 30. The sensing layer 20 comprises multiple component layers, including a pressure sensitive layer 22, a conductive layer 24 and a compressible foam layer 26 separating the pressure sensitive layer 22 from the conductive layer 24. The pressure sensitive layer 22 is shown in FIG. 5A and is formed from a material that has at least one property that changes as pressure is exerted in the layer 22. For example, the layer 22 may comprises a semi-conductive layer comprising a polymer with conducting particles dispersed therein, which changes resistance as pressure is applied (typically the resistance decreases with applied pressure). Preferred materials for use for the sensing layer 24 include Velostat and the like. Other sensing methods may be used, which are illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12 for example, and include capacitive, inductive, piezo electric and optical sensing and are discussed further below. The pressure sensitive layer 22 comprises a plurality of apertures 23 for allowing a dose 38 to pass therethrough. The apertures 23 each have a diameter D.sub.23 that is larger than the largest dimension of a dose 38 in the blister pack 30. The pressure sensitive layer 22 is dimensioned to fit in the housing 4 and be retained therein, having an appropriate length L and width W.

[0050] Two different conductive layers 24, 24 are shown in FIGS. 5C and 5D respectively. Other configurations are also contemplated and discussed below with regard to FIGS. 9A to 9C and FIGS. 13 and 14, for example. The first conductive layer 24 of FIG. 5C comprises a substrate 29, for example of glass-reinforced epoxy laminate, glass fibre, or other suitable substrate material, with conductive regions 25b printed or otherwise provided thereon. The conductive regions 25b are generally ring-shaped or tablet-shaped (e.g. adapted to be substantially the same shape and slightly larger than the tablet of the particular blister pack) and surround the apertures 25 of the conductive layer 24. The conductive regions 25b are formed of any suitable material such as copper, for example. The conductive layer 24 may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB) as shown in FIG. 6, having apertures 25a surrounded by conductive regions 25b and traces 11 connecting the conductive layers to the electronics unit 10, etc., all printed onto a substrate 29 or etched to expose the conductive regions and traces. This arrangement provides discrete conductive regions 25b which can transmit voltage to the pressure sensitive layer 22 when in contact with that layer in the vicinity of the sensing layer apertures 23, 25, 27. The diameter D.sub.25b of the conductive regions 25b is larger than the diameter D.sub.25a of the apertures 25a.

[0051] The alternative conductive layer 24 of FIG. 5D is formed from conductive material, for example from a copper sheet or other suitable material, or may be formed from a substrate with a layer of conductive material printed thereon (not shown). The diameter D.sub.25 of the apertures 25 is generally the same as those of the FIG. 5C embodiment.

[0052] A spacing layer 26 is provided between the pressure sensitive layer 22 and the conductive layer 24, 24. This spacing layer 26 is compressible, being made of compressible foam for example, and whilst it spaces the pressure sensitive layer 22 apart from the conductive layer 24, 24 when no pressure is applied, pressure from a user dispensing a dose 38 from a blister 32 compresses the spacing layer 26 and brings the pressure sensitive layer 22 and the conductive layer 24, 24 into electrical contact. The apertures 27 of the spacing layer 26 are configured to enable the pressure sensitive layer 22 and the conductive layer 24, 24 to make contact, since the apertures 27 of the spacing layer 26 have a diameter D.sub.27 larger than the diameters D.sub.23, D.sub.25, D.sub.25a of the apertures 23, 25, 25a of the pressure sensitive layer 22 and of the conductive layer 24, 24. Namely an air gap 21 is formed adjacent the edges of the spacing layer 26 surrounding the aperture 27 which exposes the surface of the pressure sensitive layer 22 in the region of the aperture 23 of that layer to the surface of the conductive layer 24, 24 in the region of the aperture 25 of the conductive layer (i.e. exposes the conductive region 25b of the embodiment of FIG. 5C). Thus, as the pressure sensitive layer 22 and the conductive layer 24, 24 are compressed towards each other, the exposed regions can be brought into direct electrical contact. Therefore current from the conductive layer 24, 24 can flow through the pressure sensitive layer 22 and into a conductive contact layer 16 and back through the pressure sensitive layer 22 and further back into the conductive layer 22, 24 as the circuit is closed by the layers contacting each other under deformation. This will be discussed in further detail below in relation to FIG. 9.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, on top of the above three layers 22, 24, 26 additional layers are provided in this embodiment, including a protective plastic layer 14, formed of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for example, and the additional conductive layer 16, hereinafter referred to as a contact layer 16 for ease of reference. The contact layer 16 is arranged above the pressure sensitive layer 22 and is formed of a conductive material, such as carbon (e.g. graphite) or aluminium, etc., preferably being flexible and thin. A broken portion 17 of the protective layer 14 may extend into the apertures 23, 25, 27 of the three main sensing layer 20 layers in use, or (as shown in FIG. 9) the protective layer 14 may simply flex and not break, providing further protection to the system (if the protective layer 17 is above the dosage being dispensed). The broken portion 17 of the protective layer 14 in the FIG. 4 arrangement covers the contact layer 16 and protects the contact layer 16 and the edges of the apertures 23, 25 of the pressure sensitive layer 22 and the conductive layer 24, 24 (and thus the airgap 21) from dirt and other contaminants. Similarly the unbroken portion of the protective layer 14 of FIGS. 9A and 9C protects the contact layer 16, etc.

[0054] FIGS. 9A to 9C illustrate a portion of a sensing layer in accordance with alternative embodiments of the present invention. This arrangement again includes a conductive layer 24 and the layer 24 is arranged on a substrate 29, the substrate comprising glass fibre. The conductive layer 24 is printed on the substrate 29 as is known in a standard PCB arrangement (which is shown in FIG. 9B). The conductive layer 24 comprises at least one aperture 25a, with conductive regions 25b arranged around the aperture, though in this embodiment, the conductive regions 25b are isolated from each other and do not form a solid ring around the aperture 25a, but are generally arranged in a ring shape. The substrate 29 also includes appropriate apertures (not shown in the Figures). The sensing layer 20 of FIG. 9A further comprises other layers in a similar manner to earlier embodiments, including a foam layer 26, a pressure sensitive layer 22, comprising Velostat or other suitable material, a contact layer 16, of carbon or the like, a protective layer 14, of PET or the like, etc.

[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 9C, when it is desired to dispense a unit dose such as a tablet, downward pressure P is applied to a dose inside a blister (not shown) and this pressure P compresses the layers of the sensing layer 20, particularly the foam layer 26. The layers are thus brought together and conductive layer 24 contact the pressure sensitive layer 22, which in turn contacts the contact layer 16. As illustrated by the line a-b, voltage applied to the conductive layer 24 can therefore pass through the conductive layer 24 to the pressure sensitive layer 22 and into the contact layer 16, then back through the pressure sensitive layer 22 into the conductive layer 24. Comparing FIG. 9C with FIG. 9A, the circuit is closed in FIG. 9C due to the pressure P and voltage passes through the pressure sensitive layer 22, thereby enabling a determination of pressure being applied and where it is applied (particularly due to the isolated conductive regions 25b shown in FIG. 9B), whereas in FIG. 9A, absent any pressure, the circuit is open and no voltage passes to the pressure sensitive layer 22.

[0056] Referring now to FIG. 7, dispensing systems 2 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in use in an exemplary network 40. Each dispensing system 2 comprises a transmitter, such as a Bluetooth LE transmitter, within the electronics unit 10 or otherwise connected thereto. The electronics unit 10 also comprises a memory in which information (relating to each dose 38 dispensed from an inserted blister pack 30 and determined as dispensed by the sensing layer 20) is stored, the information including at least the time and date when the medicament dose 38 was dispensed. The transmitter of the dispensing system 2 transmits the data to a remote device, such as a smartphone device 42 of the patient, either continuously or at regular or irregular intervals, or when the smartphone 42 is detected as being in range of the dispensing device 2, or when power is supplied to the transmitter of the electronics unit 10, etc. In alternative arrangements, the data may be transmitted additionally or alternatively to other remote systems, such as to a computer of the patient and/or of a caregiver responsible for treatment of the patient, etc.

[0057] The smartphone 42 is provided with suitable software, such as an appropriate application 50, so that the information contained in the data is displayed on the smartphone 42, as shown in FIG. 8A. Therefore the patient (or caregiver or other recipient of the data) can easily view historical data relating to each dose 38 dispensed from a blister pack using the dispensing device 2. For example, the patient can see whether they have adhered to the treatment regimen, for example as indicated with a traffic light arrangement 52 as shown in FIG. 8A (where colours may be used on the display device but are not shown in the Figures). The green indicators 54 illustrate that a dose 38 has been dispensed at the appropriate time with red indicators 56 showing that a dose 38 was not dispensed when it should have been. The white indicators 55 show doses 38 that have yet to be dispensed but are not yet due to be taken. The position of the dose 38 in the blister pack 30 may be indicated with a display 52 having the same number and arrangement of blisters 32 as the blister pack 30, for example. The application 50 may additionally or alternatively show other information 58 to the patient, such as the exact time and date of dispensing each dose 38 and which dose 38 in the treatment regimen was taken (i.e. the first, second, third, etc., dose), with the zeroth dose 59 indicating when a new blister pack 30 is inserted into the dispensing device 2 and thus begins a new treatment regimen.

[0058] Additionally or alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, information regarding dispensed doses 38 can be sent from the dispensing system 2 directly or indirectly (e.g. via a smartphone 42 as illustrated in the Figure) to another device of the patient, such as a smartwatch 44. For example, an indicator 45 may be triggered on the patient's smartwatch 44 immediately on dispensing a dose 38, to inform the patient that the dose 38 they have taken has been successfully registered as shown in FIG. 8B. Other information, including the same information as may be displayed on the application 50 of the smartphone 42 can also or alternatively be displayed on the smartwatch 44.

[0059] As also shown in FIG. 7, data from the dispensing system 2 may additionally or alternatively be transmitted to another remote location, such as a server 46, etc. This facilitates long term storage of the data and allows, for example, a caregiver such as a physician to access the data if the data is available from the server 46 via the Internet without the patient needing to attend the physician's office or the like.

[0060] The above embodiments comprise pressure sensing arrangements but alternative embodiments having alternative sensing layers are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, an induction sensitive layer 122 (or inductive layer 122) is disclosed, which may be used in any suitable embodiment described above or below instead of a pressure sensitive layer 22. The inductive layer 122 comprises an induction coil layer 126 (or any other suitable means in which an electromotive force may be induced) and an induction coil substrate 124. When the induction coil layer 126 and induction coil substrate 124 are deformed (for example due to pressure P applied to the layers as per the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9A to 9C), a change of the electrical properties of the inductor can be detected. Therefore pressure, indicative of a dose being dispensed, is determined in the region of the coils, which surround an aperture 125 in the layer 122 through which the dose is dispensed. Alternatively, the induction coil layer 126 couples to an inductive layer in blister (34 in FIG. 3), which coupling is changed if the inductive layer in blister moves or is ruptured due to tablet removal. This change in coupling is then detected by the induction coil 126.

[0061] FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate another alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, which comprises a capacitance sensitive layer 222 (or capacitive layer 222). Much like the inductive layer 122 embodiment described in relation to FIG. 10, this capacitive layer 222 operates on the same principle of layers being brought closer together and thus, in this case, the capacitance of the layers alters and thereby indicates pressure applied to the layers in bringing them together. In more detail, capacitive layer 222 comprises a substrate 229 with a first capacitor layer 224 above the substrate 229. A foam layer 226 is provided between the first capacitor layer 224 and a second capacitor layer 216, these two capacitor layers 224, 216 forming a capacitor having a capacitance Cu. Also provided are other suitable layers such as a protective layer 214 as in other embodiments. As pressure P is applied to the capacitive layer 222 (as a dose is pushed from a blisternot shown), the capacitor layers 224, 216 are brought into closer proximity, changing the capacitance Cu (from the uncompressed state) to a different capacitance Cc in the compressed state (e.g. increasing the capacitance). Thus the change in capacitance is indicative of a dose being dispensed from a blister pack associated with the capacitive layer 222.

[0062] FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate another alternative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, which comprises an optical sensitive layer 322 (or optical layer 322). In the illustrated embodiment, a blister pack 30 is shown above the optical layer 322 having a blister 32 containing a unit dose of medicament 38. Beneath the blister pack 30 the optical layer 322 comprises a substrate 329 with at least one optical transmitter 304 aligned across an aperture 329a in the substrate 329 with at least one optical receiver 306. The optical transmitter 304 is configured to emit, either continuously or intermittently (for example only when powered and/or at regular intervals), a light beam 302 in the direction of a corresponding optical receiver and across a corresponding aperture 329a. If a dose 38 is dispensed from the blister pack 30 and passes through the aperture 329a, the light beam 302 is temporarily interrupted by the passage of the dose 38 and thus dispensing of a dose 38 is detected. FIG. 12B illustrates a top view of the optical layer 322, illustrating that a plurality of corresponding transmitters 304 and receivers 304 may be used to detect dispensing through each aperture 329a in the substrate 329. Of course, other configurations of this layer are within the scope of the invention. Furthermore, other layers from earlier embodiments, for example a protective layer 314, may also be provided in this optical embodiment.

[0063] The above embodiments are illustrative of arrangements in accordance with the present invention, but are non-limiting and the scope of the invention is defined by the claims. It will be appreciated that other arrangements of each of the above examples are possible. For example, other resistive embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 13A to 13B and 14A to 14B. FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate two, alternative arrangements of the conductive regions of a conductive layer. In FIG. 13A, the conductive regions 426 do not surround each of the apertures 425 in the conductive layer 424, but instead are located at the corners of the conductive layer 424. This simplified structure will still detect pressure applied to a pressure sensitive (or other) layer associated therewith (not shown) and is simpler to manufacture. Another arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 13B, which has multiple conductive regions 426 arranged in an array around prolonged apertures 425, through which doses from multiple cavities of the blister pack can be dispensed. This provides a more accurate, compared to the arrangement of FIG. 13A, determination of from where a dose is dispensed, but at the same time providing a more generic configuration able to accommodate broader blister cavity arrangements, thus allowing for possible reduction of manufacturing costs due to reduced number of adaptations needed for each particular product blister.

[0064] It will also be appreciated that although in some embodiments above multiple layers form the sensing layer and/or are associated therewith, not all embodiments require all these layers and/or additional layers may be provided as required. FIG. 14A illustrates a simplified sensing layer 520, which is similar to the sensing layer 20 of FIG. 9A, and comprises a protective layer 514, a foam layer 526, a conductive layer 524 and a substrate 529, but comprises a combined pressure sensitive and contact layer 522. FIG. 14B illustrates a further simplified sensing layer 620, which is similar to the sensing layer 20 of FIG. 14A, and comprises a protective layer 614 and a substrate 629, but comprises a combined pressure sensitive, foam, conductive and contact layer 626. It will be understood therefore that many modifications can be made to embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

[0065] A method of using the dispensing system 2 of some of the various embodiments is now described. A patient is provided with the dispensing device 2, either with a full blister pack already inserted into the housing 4, or separately from the blister pack 30, which may be dispensed to the patient in a separate transaction from the pharmacy for example. In this latter case, the patient simply inserts the blister pack 30 into the housing 4, for example dropping or sliding the blister pack 30 into place between the edges 4a, 4b of the housing 4 and the ends defined by the cover 6 and the opposite end 4c. The blister pack 30 is a close fit inside the housing 4, thus ensuring good alignment of the blisters 32 with the apertures 23, 25, 27 in the sensing layer 20.

[0066] In this rest configuration, voltage from the power source is provided to the conductive layer 24, but the pressure sensitive layer 22 is isolated from the conductive layer 24 by the air gap 21 defined by the larger apertures of the foam layer 26. Therefore the dispensing system 2 is in a lower power mode, saving the e.g. battery power until it is desired to dispense a dose 38.

[0067] The patient may receive a reminder from the dispensing system 2 to prompt the patient to take a dose 38 at the appropriate time, or may otherwise determine a dose 38 should be dispensed. To do so, the patient simply pushes downwardly on a particular blister 32, as generally indicated by arrow P in FIG. 3. Pressure on the cavity 32 from the patient's finger or thumb or the like, pushes the dose 38 into contact with the seal 36 of the blister base 34 and through the seal 36 which is configured to rupture under such pressure. The dose 38 thus drops out of the dispensing system 2 through the holes 23, 25, 27 in the sensing layer 20 and the housing apertures 5 and the patient can take the dose 38.

[0068] As the patient pushes downwardly on the blister 32, not only is a dose 38 pushed through the seal 36 and out of the dispensing system 2, but also the foam layer 26 of the sensing layer 20 is compressed. This brings the pressure sensitive layer 22 and the conductive layer 24, 24 closer together and if the foam layer 26 is configured to be sufficiently compressible, the pressure sensitive layer 22 and the conductive layer 24, 24 can be pressed into direct electrical contact, by virtue of the portions of each layer 22, 24, 24 being exposed to each other due to the larger apertures 27 of the foam layer 26. Voltage is therefore provided to the pressure sensitive layer 22 by this direct electrical contact with the conductive layer 24, 24. Thus, only when it is necessary to dispense a dose 38 is voltage provided in a timely manner to the pressure sensitive layer 22 and this layer is used to sense the pressure applied to the blister 32, for example by measuring the change in resistance of the pressure sensitive layer 22 as it is compressed. The electronics unit 10 stores this information regarding the change in resistance of the pressure sensitive layer 22 and either transmits the information for further processing to a remote device 42, 44, 46 and/or processes the information to determine the time/date of the dose 38 being dispensed. In other illustrated embodiments, the sensing layer senses a different change or variation in state to determine that a dose has been dispensed, for example a change in capacitance (as shown in FIG. 11), or an interruption of a light beam (as shown in FIG. 12), or an induced voltage (as shown in FIG. 10), etc.

[0069] In some embodiments, the sensing layer 20 is a removable component from the housing 4. If a different blister pack 30 is to be used with the dispensing system 2, a different sensing layer 20 having a configuration that corresponds with the configuration of the different blister pack 30 can be inserted into the housing 4 in replacement for the existing sensing layer 20. If the housing 4 comprises apertures 5 in an array generally corresponding to the blisters 32 of the blister pack 30, then the base 7 of the housing 4 may be configured to be removable from the remainder of the housing 4 and a replacement base 7 can be provided with a configuration corresponding to that of the different blister pack 30.

[0070] As disclosed in the various embodiments above, a modular dispensing system 2 is provided, in which standard blister packs 30 are received and in the event that a dose 38 is dispensed from a blister 32 of the blister pack 30, this is detected by the dispensing system 2 and the dispensing of a dose 38 is displayed or recorded for future reference. Thus an improved dispensing system 2 is provided, that is cost attractive, reliable, reusable, patient and manufacturing friendly, and that aids a patient in adhering to a dosing regimen and provides relevant information for review by the patient and/or a care giver as a dose 38 is dispensed and/or at an appropriate time after several doses 38 have been dispensed.