Device for accommodating a drug blister

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel device for accommodating and storing blister packs, particularly pharmaceutical blisters, and for releasing a tablet or capsule from the blister pack using a means for punching the cover film of the blister.

Claims

1. A device, comprising: a case for receiving and storing a non-push-through blister pack (4) having a plurality of wells (5), the case including an upper part (1) hinged to a lower part (2) defining an interior volume within which an entirety of the non-push-through blister pack (4) is contained; a plurality of buttons (10) located on the upper part (1) of the case, each button (10) being in registration with a respective one of the plurality of wells (5); and retaining elements (6) disposed within the lower part (2), which act as a support structure (6), and which are suitable for fixing the non-push-through blister (4) within the lower part (2), wherein: as a result of actuation of a respective one of the buttons (10), a respective cover film of the respective blister well (5) of the blister pack (4) is punched around a tablet or capsule (12) within such well (5), such that the tablet or capsule (12) may be taken out of the respective blister well (5) respective mouldings of the respective blister wells (5) point towards the lower part (2) as the non-push-through blister is inserted and thus the non-push-through blister (4) is secured against lateral movement, a base height of the support structure (6) corresponds at least to a depth of indentation of the blister wells (5), the buttons (10) each include a respective wall with a cutting edge and/or teeth for each of the respective blister wells (5), so that when the respective button (10) is actuated the cutting edge and/or teeth cut open the respective cover film of the respective blister well (5), and before the actuation of the respective button (10), the holding position of the cutting edge and/or teeth is spaced by a support structure (9) and/or a strut (7) from the cover film of the non-push-through blister (4) placed in the device, and after actuation of the respective button (10) the cutting edge and/or the teeth make a circular, segment-shaped, semicircular, arcuate or oval cut in the respective cover film at a spacing from the tablet or capsule (12).

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein after actuation of the respective button (10) the cutting edge and/or the teeth penetrate the respective cover film by 1 or at most 2 mm.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is suitable for accommodating an at least a 2-row, non-push-through blister (4) and the upper part (1) contains a strut (7) which when the device is closed presses the non-push-through blister into the lower part, thus ensuring that in the resting position the respective cutting edge and/or teeth of are spaced from the respective cover film.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the upper part (1) including the buttons (10) and the strut (7) are made from a single plastics part, the buttons (10) for punching out the tablet or the capsule (12) being movably attached to the upper part (1), while the circular, segment-shaped, semicircular, arcuate or oval means are separated from the upper part (1) by a slot, apart from a connecting point, so that the buttons (10) are attached to the cover only on one side, the connecting point in the form of a pivot having a material attenuation, and the buttons (10) being capable of being resiliently lowered onto it by pressing.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device has the capacity to hold a patient's medication that the patient will need for 7 days, the being administered twice a day, in the morning and evening, and the respective button is characterised by a symbol (11a) or (11b), so that the medication can be assigned to a morning or evening administration, and the device comprises markings (13) which permit allocation of the medication that is needed on a particular day of the week.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the non-push-through blister (4) contains a pharmaceutical formulation containing dabigatran etexilate.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the non-push-through blister (4) contains inhalation capsules as a medicament.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the inhalation capsules comprise an active substance tiotropium.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising: at least one strut (7) extending from an inside surface of the upper part (1) toward the lower part (2) and engaging the lower part (2) when the case is closed, wherein: the at least one strut (7) is elongate in a longitudinal direction along the upper part (1), and at least one of the plurality of buttons (10) is disposed on a first lateral side of the at least one strut (7), and at least one other of the plurality of buttons (10) is disposed on a second, opposite, lateral side of the at least one strut (7).

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising: at least one support structure (9) extending from an inside surface of the lower part (2) toward the upper part (1) and engaging the at least one strut (7) when the case is closed, wherein: the at least one support structure (9) is elongate in a lateral direction, transverse to the longitudinal direction, across the lower part (2).

Description

(1) The invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by means of an exemplifying embodiment with reference to the associated drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention for accommodating a blister pack and for releasing a tablet or capsule from the blister pack.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an opened device according to the invention, in which a blister is pushed into the lower part of the device as indicated by the arrows and is secured in the lower part.

(4) FIG. 3 shows the closed device according to the invention (with the blister insertednot visible), wherein the punching means is actuated by operating a button.

(5) FIG. 4 shows an opened device containing a blister after the punching operation, in which the cover film of a blister well has been cut open by the punching operation and the exposed capsule can be removed from the blister well.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(6) (1) upper part of the device

(7) (2) lower part of the device

(8) (3) punching means/means with a cutting edge and/or teeth for cutting open the cover film of a blister well

(9) (4) blister pack/blister/pharmaceutical blister

(10) (5) blister well

(11) (6) retaining elements/support structure

(12) (7) strut in the upper part for keeping the punching means at a spacing from the cover film of the blister in the resting position

(13) (8a) strut for fixing the blister to the lower part of the device

(14) (8b) strut for fixing the blister to the lower part of the device

(15) (9) support structure for keeping the punching means at a spacing from the cover film of the blister in the resting position of the punching means

(16) (10) operating area/button, by means of which the punching means can be resiliently lowered by pressing on it

(17) (11a) symbol as an indicator to enable the dose of medicament to be assigned to a time of day (e.g., sun=morning)

(18) (11b) symbol as an indicator to enable the dose of medicament to be assigned to a time of day (e.g., moon=evening/before bed)

(19) (12) tablet or capsule

(20) (13) marking that enables the medication to be assigned to a particular day of the week, e.g.: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

(21) FIG. 1 shows the device according to the invention consisting of an upper part and a lower part, wherein a blister can be placed in the device after the device has been opened.

(22) FIG. 2 shows the opened device. Integrated in the upper part (1) are the punching means (3). Typically, the device contains the same number of punching means as there are blister wells (5) contained in the blister or blisters (optionally parts of blisters) that are to be accommodated. A blister or a part of a divisible blister can be placed in the lower part by insertion in the fixing means (8a), (8b), so that the blister wells (5) are protected from moving within the lower part by the retaining elements (6). The support structure (6) in addition to its function as a retaining element also acts as a means of protecting the blister wells from being deformed.

(23) FIG. 3 shows the closed device, while by pressing on an operating area/button (10) in the shape of a tab the integrated punching means can be pressed into the cover film of the blister placed therein (not visible). The actuating areas/buttons (10) are provided with symbols that enable the patient to see whether the corresponding medication (tablet or capsule) is to be taken in the morning (11a) or evening (11b). The upper part may additionally contain markings (13) that enable the medication to be assigned to a particular time when it should be taken, e.g. day of the week.

(24) FIG. 4 shows the opened device containing a blister after the punching operation has taken place. After the cover film has been punched and the device opened the tablet or capsule can then be taken out of the blister well.