ELECTRONIC LABELING ARRANGEMENT, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRONIC LABELING ARRANGEMENT, AND MEDICATION PACKAGE

Abstract

An electronic labeling arrangement for attachment to a medication package includes a protective member, having a covering portion and cavities, and a predetermined formed protrusion; a conductor track film having conductor tracks and cavities, at least one conductor track being associated with each respective track film cavity so that the conductor track crosses the respective track film cavity at least in sections; and an electronic unit coupled to the conductor tracks and is arranged to detect a change in resistance of a respective conductor track. The protective member and the conductor track film are coupled such that the covering portion covers a track film top side, and the protective member cavities and the track film cavities are arranged one above the other and overlap at least in sections. The protrusion covers an underside of the conductor track film so that the covering portion and the protrusion surround the electronic unit.

Claims

1. An electronic labeling arrangement (1) for attachment to a medication package, comprising: a protective member (10) having a covering portion (18) with a plurality of cavities (13) formed spaced apart from each other and having a predetermined formed protrusion (11) formed adjacent to the covering portion (18), wherein a fold line (15) is provided between the covering portion (18) and the protrusion (11), a conductor track film (20), which has a plurality of conductor tracks (24) and a plurality of cavities (23), which are each formed spaced apart from one another, a respective cavity (23) of the conductor track film (20) being assigned a respective conductor track (24) and the conductor track (24) crossing the respective cavity (23) of the conductor track film (20) at least in sections, and an electronic unit (22) which is coupled to the conductive tracks (24) and is configured to detect a change in resistance of a respective conductor track (24), the protective member (10) and the conductor track film (20) further being coupled to one another in such a way that the covering portion (18) covers a top side (27) of the conductor track film (20) so that the cavities (13) of the protective member (10) and the cavities (23) of the conductor track film (20) are arranged one above the other and overlap at least in sections, and in that the protrusion (11) covers an underside (28) of the conductor track film (20), so that the electronic unit (22) is surrounded by the covering portion (18) and the protrusion (11) of the protective member (10).

2. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the protective member (10) is made of cardboard or comprises a cardboard element.

3. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the protective member (10) is made of foil or comprises a foil element.

4. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, in which the electronic unit (22) is designed to be replaceable and the protective member (10) has a recess (17) in the region of the electronic unit (22), so that the electronic unit (22) can be inserted through the recess (17) of the protective member (10) and coupled to the conductor tracks (24) of the conductor track film (20) and can be removed through the recess (17) of the protective member (10) and decoupled from the conductor tracks (24) of the conductor track film (20).

5. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, in which the conductor tracks (24) are applied by means of printing or etching to the top side (27) of the conductor track film (20), which faces the covering portion (18) of the protective member (10).

6. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, in which the electronic unit (22) is arranged integrated in the protective member (10) or in the conductor track film (20).

7. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, in which the conductor track film (20) has an adhesive layer (26) arranged on the underside (28) facing away from the covering portion (18) of the protective member (10).

8. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the protective member (10) comprises an adhesive layer (16) adhesively bonding the protective member (10) to the conductor track film (20).

9. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic unit (22) comprises an RFID transponder and/or a printed circuit board.

10. The electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conductor track film (20) comprises perforations (25) each delimiting a cavity (23) of the conductor track film (20).

11. A medication package, comprising: a container for medications, and the electronic labeling arrangement (1) according to claim 1, coupled to the container.

12. The medication package according to claim 11, formed as a foldable medication sleeve, wherein the electronic labeling arrangement (1) is arranged on an outer side of the medication sleeve.

13. The medication package according to claim 11, which is formed as a tablet blister with a plurality of cavities, wherein the electronic labeling arrangement (1) is arranged on the tablet blister such that the cavities (13) of the protective member (10) and the cavities (23) of the conductor track film (20) are arranged above the cavities of the tablet blister and overlap at least in sections.

14. A method of manufacturing an electronic label arrangement (1) for attachment to a medication package, comprising: providing a protective member (10) having a covering portion (18) with a plurality of cavities (13) formed spaced apart from each other and having a predetermined formed protrusion (11) formed adjacent to the covering portion (18), wherein a fold line (15) is provided between the covering portion (18) and the protrusion (11), providing a conductor track film (20) which has a plurality of conductor tracks (24) and a plurality of cavities (23) which are each formed spaced apart from one another, a respective cavity (23) of the conductor track film (20) being assigned in each case one conductor track (24) and the conductor track (24) crossing the respective cavity (23) of the conductor track film (20) at least in sections, providing an electronic unit (22), coupling the electronic unit (22) to the conductor tracks (24) of the conductor track film (20), so that a change in resistance of a respective conductor track (24) can be detected by means of the electronic unit (22), coupling the protective member (10) to the conductor track film (20) in such a way that the covering portion (18) covers a top side (27) of the conductor track film (20), so that the cavities (13) of the protective member (10) and the cavities (23) of the conductor track film (20) are arranged one above the other and overlap at least in sections, and folding over the protrusion (11) along the fold line (15) so that the protrusion (11) covers an underside (28) of the conductor track film (20) and thereby enables the electronic unit (22) to be surrounded by the covering portion (18) and the protrusion (11) of the protective member (10).

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein providing the protective member (10) comprises: providing the protective member (10) made of cardboard and/or foil, and punching segments from the covering portion (18) and thereby forming the plurality of cavities (13) of the protective member (10).

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein providing the conductor track film (20) comprises: providing a foil element (21), and. printing the conductor tracks (24) and/or the electronic unit (22) on the foil element (21).

Description

[0034] In the following, embodiments of the invention are explained with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

[0035] FIG. 1 an embodiment of a conductor track film with an electronic unit for an electronic labeling arrangement,

[0036] FIG. 2 an embodiment of a protective member for the electronic labeling arrangement,

[0037] FIGS. 3-4 embodiments of a cross-section of the electronic labeling arrangement,

[0038] FIG. 5 a further embodiment of a cross-section of the conductor track film for the electronic labeling arrangement,

[0039] FIG. 6 a further embodiment of the electronic labeling arrangement, and

[0040] FIG. 7 a flow chart for a method of manufacturing the electronic labeling arrangement according to FIGS. 1-6.

[0041] Elements or features of the same design or function are identified with the same reference signs throughout the figures. For reasons of clarity, not all of the elements or features shown in all of the figures are identified with the corresponding reference signs, possibly.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a conductor track film 20 for an electronic labeling arrangement 1 for attachment to a medication package, such as a tablet blister or a foldable medicament sleeve. A schematic side view of the conductive track foil 20 is shown in FIG. 5. The conductor track film 20 has a foil element 21 on which a plurality of conductor tracks 24 are formed spaced apart from each other, for example by means of etching or printing. In addition, the foil element 21 has a plurality of cavities 23 formed spaced apart from each other. The cavities are also each bounded by a predetermined perforation 25, which allow a tablet or drug to be easily pushed through a respective cavity 23 of the foil element 21.

[0043] At least one conductor track 24 is associated with a respective cavity 23, which crosses the cavity 23 at least in sections. The conductor tracks 24 converge in an upper region or a head region of the conductor track film 20 and are coupled to an electronic unit 22. The electronic unit 22 is designed as a so-called printed circuit board with an integrated RFID unit and is set up to detect a change in resistance or conductivity of a conductor track 24 and to assign such an event to the corresponding cavity 23.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a protective member 10 for the electronic labeling arrangement 1. The protective member 10 is made, for example, of cardboard and has a plurality of cavities 13 which are formed at a distance from one another. The cavities 13 are realized as openings or recesses and are formed, for example, by means of punching and in particular in shape and position in coordination with the cavities 23 of the foil element 21.

[0045] The cavities 13 are formed in a covering portion 18 of the protective member 10, which adjoins a protrusion 11 of the protective member 10. A fold line 15 is introduced between the protrusion 11 and the covering portion 18, which allows controlled folding and folding of the protrusion 11 relative to the covering portion 18. With respect to a longitudinal axis L of the protective member 10, the protrusion 11 is formed in a head portion of the protective member 10 and serves to safely and reliably protect the electronic unit 22, as will be explained below.

[0046] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the protective member 10 may comprise positioning elements 14 in the form of protruding ribbon-shaped sections extending from the projection 11. Such positioning elements 14 enable a particularly simple and precise attachment of the labeling arrangement 1 to a medicament package, such as a tablet blister. A distance between the positioning elements 14 is preferably matched to a width of the tablet blister to be attached, so that the cavities of the tablet blister and the cavities 13 and 23 of the protective member 10 and the conductor track film 20 are aligned with each other and substantially superimposed. The positioning elements 14 and an intervening edge of the protrusion 11 thus provide an outer edge for the tablet blister to contact in a folded down state.

[0047] FIGS. 3 and 4 show, in a respective schematic side view, embodiments of the electronic labeling arrangement 1 with the protective member 10 and the conductor track film 20. In each case, it is indicated that the projection 11 of the protective member 10 protrudes beyond the conductor track film 20, so that the protrusion 11 can be selectively folded over along the fold line 15 and coupled to an underside 28 of the foil element 21. The covering portion 18 is associated with an upper side 27 of the foil element 21 and, with respect to its cavities 13, is formed in such a way that these overlap, at least in sections, with the cavities 23 of the conductor track film 20. Preferably, the cavities 13 and 23 of the protective member 10 and of the conductor track film 20 are formed and arranged in such a way that they lie substantially congruently one above the other.

[0048] The protrusion 11 has a predetermined length, so that the electronic unit 22 is enclosed by the protective member 10 on an upper side and a lower side. Thus, after the protrusion 11 has been folded down, the electronic unit 22 is securely and reliably embedded, surrounded or enclosed in the protective member 10 and protected from external influences.

[0049] FIG. 3 further illustrates that the protective member 10 may include a recess 17 through which the electronic unit 22 may be inserted and removed. Thus, the electronic unit 22 may be formed as a replaceable component of the electronic labeling arrangement 1 and may be coupled to the conductor track film 20 and the conductor tracks 24 formed thereon, for example, by means of insertion or pressing. Alternatively, the electronic unit 22 is, for example, bonded to the conductive track film 20 and/or the protective member 10 and cannot be non-destructively removed.

[0050] The conductor tracks 24 are formed on the upper side 27 of the foil element 21 and cross a respective cavity 23 through which a tablet can be removed (see FIG. 3). During such an operation, the perforated foil section of the foil element 21 covering the associated cavity 23 is broken and lifted, causing an interruption or change in the electrical resistance of the conductor track 24 above it. The electronic unit 22 can detect such a change in resistance and store it as a removal event with an associated time stamp. A readout of the electronic unit 22 thus enables electronic, automated monitoring of a medication plan and contributes to a safe and reliable treatment plan for a patient, in that the electronic labeling arrangement 1 is applied to a provided multi-dose blister, for example.

[0051] FIG. 3 further illustrates that the conductor track film 20 has an adhesive layer 26 attached, for example printed, to the underside 28 of the foil element 21. The adhesive layer 26 enables easy and reliable attachment of the labeling arrangement 1 to a medication package, such as the multi-dose blister. Referring to FIG. 1, the conductor track film 20 may be covered with the adhesive layer 26 on the underside 28 except for the regions of the cavities 23 or completely. The adhesive layer 26 may further be used to secure the folded over protrusion 11 of the protective member 10 to the underside 28 of the conductor track film 20.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 4, the protective member 10 may also have an adhesive layer 16 on its underside facing the conductor track film 20. Referring to FIG. 2, the protective member 10 may be covered with the adhesive layer 16 on its underside except for the regions of the cavities 13 or completely. In this way, the protective member 10 can be easily and reliably adhesively bonded to the conductor track film 20. In addition, the conductor tracks 24 and the electronic unit 22 can thus be embedded and protected in the adhesive layer 16.

[0053] Alternatively, or in addition to the adhesive layer 16, an adhesive layer may be provided on the upper surface 27 of the foil element 21, covering the upper surface 27 completely or partially except for the regions of the cavities 23.

[0054] The adhesive layer 16 may also extend into the area of the protrusion 11 on the underside of the protective member 10, and may be used to secure the folded-over protrusion 11 of the protective member 10 to the underside 28 of the conductor track film 20. Alternatively or additionally, the protrusion 11 can be coupled to the underside 28 of the foil element 21 by means of a Velcro fastening element, by means of heat sealing or by means of hooking and protectively enclose the electronic unit 22.

[0055] FIG. 6 shows in a schematic top view a further embodiment of the electronic labeling arrangement 1, in which a respective conductor track 24 diagonally crosses an associated cavity 23.

[0056] Furthermore, it is illustrated that the protrusion 11 protrudes over the conductor track film 20 in a predetermined manner with respect to the longitudinal axis L, so that it forms a length LU in this respect when folded over. Also, a lateral projection of the protective member 10 over the conductive track film 20 and/or a medication package may be predeterminedly formed to form a stable and secure cover. Illustrated is a lateral projection having a length LS.

[0057] By means of the described electronic labeling arrangement 1, a reliably detectable medicament removal can be realized in a simple and inexpensive manner. In particular, the labeling arrangement 1 makes it possible to retrofit medication blisters or so-called multi-dosage cards, which comprise a plurality of usually tablet-shaped medications. In this way, by means of the labeling arrangement 1, a convenient electronic monitoring of a medication withdrawal can be set up, which automatically detects withdrawal events and provides and stores them with associated information, such as time of withdrawal and position or number of the associated cavity.

[0058] A method for manufacturing an embodiment of the electronic labeling arrangement 1 may be carried out according to the flow chart as shown in FIG. 7. In a step S1, the protective member 10 is provided. The providing may comprise punching out the cavities 13 and inserting the fold line 15 and thus forming the covering portion 18 and the protrusion 11.

[0059] In a further step S2 of the method, the conductor track film 20 is provided with a plurality of conductor tracks 24 and a plurality of cavities 23. The providing may include inserting the perforations 25 delimiting the respective cavities 23. Further, providing may include printing or etching the conductor tracks 24 on the upper surface 27 of the foil element 21.

[0060] In a further step S3 of the method, the electronic unit 22 is provided and coupled to the conductor tracks 24 of the conductor track film 20. The providing may thereby comprise a partial imprinting of elements of the electronic unit 22. Alternatively, the providing may comprise a plugging or pressing of the electronic unit 22 onto the conductor track film 20, for example through a recess 17 of the protective member 10 provided for this purpose.

[0061] In a step S4, coupling of the protective member 10 to the conductor track film 20 is carried out, for example by means of bonding with the adhesive layer 16 to the upper side 27 of the foil element 21. The coupling is carried out in such a way that the covering portion 18 covers the upper side 27 of the conductor track film 20 or of the foil element 21, so that the cavities 13 of the protective member 10 and the cavities 23 of the conductor track foil 20 are arranged one above the other and overlap at least in sections.

[0062] In a step S5, the protrusion 11 is folded over along the fold line 15 so that the protrusion 11 covers the underside 28 of the foil element 21 and thereby the electronic unit 22 is embedded between the covering section 18 and the protrusion 11 of the protective element 10.

[0063] By means of the described method, an embodiment of the electronic labeling arrangement 1 can be realized, which enables a beneficial and convenient extension of a medication packaging. In particular, the labeling arrangement 1 is adaptable for multi-dose cards or multi-tablet blisters and can be manufactured simply and inexpensively. The multi-dose card already provides barrier layers in the form of aluminum and/or paper layers, which form a secure separation of the medications located in the cavities from the labeling arrangement 1. Thus, when the electronic labeling arrangement 1 is attached to the medication package, there is no direct contact with the drugs. Handling and printing of the multi-dose cards can be carried out as before.

[0064] The electronic labeling arrangement 1 implements a type of intelligent two-layer card overlay or smart layer card that can also be adhered to an outer surface of a commercially available medication package, such as a multi-dose card or tablet blister, to electronically detect a removal of individual tablets. The conductive tracks 24 are disposed over the cavities 23 of the conductor track film 20 and are interrupted or altered when a tablet is removed, which is detected by the electronic unit 22. The conductor track film 20 is bonded, for example, to the protective member 10 in the form of a cardboard package, the cardboard package being punched out in the region of the cavities 13 and having the protrusion 11 in the form of a projecting flap which is folded around the electronic unit 22 and thereby protects the latter from external influences. After a complete application of the labeling arrangement 1, the protective member 10 thus surrounds the electronic unit 22 in a sandwich-like manner. The electronic unit 22 is enclosed by the protrusion 11 and the covering portion 18, or is embedded between the protrusion 11 and the covering portion 18.

[0065] As an alternative to the cardboard of the two-layer labeling arrangement 1, a film may be used to stabilize and protect the conductor track film 20 and the electronic unit 22. In addition, the cardboard or film of the protective member 10 may include the recess 17 which allows the electronic unit 22 to be non-destructively detached from the remainder of the smart layer card for reuse.

List of Reference Signs

[0066] 1 electronic labeling arrangement

[0067] 10 stabilizing protective member

[0068] 11 foldable protrusion

[0069] 13 cavity of the protection member

[0070] 14 positioning element

[0071] 15 folding line

[0072] 16 adhesive layer

[0073] 17 recess

[0074] 18 covering portion

[0075] 20 conductor track film

[0076] 21 foil element

[0077] 22 electronic unit/RFID transponder

[0078] 23 cavity of the conductor track film

[0079] 24 conductor track

[0080] 25 perforation

[0081] 26 adhesive layer

[0082] 27 top side of the conductor track film

[0083] 28 underside of the conductor track film

[0084] L longitudinal axis of the labeling arrangement

[0085] LS lateral overlap

[0086] LU overlap of the folded-over protrusion

[0087] S(i) steps of a method for manufacturing an electronic labeling arrangement