US20090065506A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20090065506A1
Application number: US12/065,956
Authority: US
Inventors: John Currie; Christopher Harris; Derek Shaw
Original assignee: AstraZeneca AB
Current assignee: AstraZeneca AB
Priority date: 2005-09-09
Filing date: 2006-09-07
Publication date: 2009-03-12
Also published as: AU2006287982A1; MX2008003069A; JP2009507728A; KR20080045172A; CA2620518A1; NO20081680L; ZA200801559B; IL189506A0; EP1926671A1; WO2007030067A1; CN101258083A; BRPI0615586A2

Abstract

A device for holding a blister pack (42) with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, said device comprising a housing (8) for receiving said blister pack (42), which housing (8) comprises a base (9) provided with base openings (10) and is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack (42) between a first position and a second position, in which first position the base openings (10) are displaced from the cavities and the base (9) blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings (10) are aligned with the cavities, the base openings (10) permitting passage of said article therethrough. The device comprises a locking arrangement (12) comprising a operating means (13) operable by a user, between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the blister pack (42) is locked in said first position, and in which non-locking position the blister pack (42) is movable to said second position. Said operating means (13) are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by a first movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, followed by at least one second movement of said operating means in relation to the housing. Further, a method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed in said device.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a device for holding a blister pack with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, said device comprising a housing for receiving said blister pack, which housing comprises a base, positioned facing the foil side of the blister pack, provided with base openings and is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between a first position and a second position, in which first position the base openings are at least partially displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings are aligned with the cavities, the base openings being sized to permit passage of said article therethrough. The device comprises a locking arrangement comprising a operating member operable by a user using one single hand, between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the blister pack is locked in said first position, and in which non-locking position the blister pack is movable to said second position. Further, the present invention relates to a method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed in said device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many medicaments are packaged in blister packs comprising several deformable cavities formed in a flexible sheet. Doses of medicament are received in the cavities which are sealed by a foil. In most cases, to release a dose of medicament, force is applied to the blister pack and is transmitted to the dose, which ruptures the foil, for removal of the dose by the user. These blister packs are convenient and widely used. Unfortunately, it is also easy for unsupervised children to release the doses of medicament from the blister packs, whereby they can be poisoned by ingesting said medicament.

US 2002/0153276 A1 describes a child-proof package for tablets and similar pharmaceutical products comprising a blister pack having cavities containing tablets, and a wall part provided with openings. Said package is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between an open position and a closed position, in which closed position the cavities are displaced from the openings, and in which open position the cavities are aligned with the openings, the openings being sized to permit passage of a tablet therethrough. The openings in the wall part are covered by a tear-off strip which is removed before pushing the blister pack from the closed position into the open position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,793 A discloses a device for inhibiting removal of an article from a blister pack with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain articles. Said device comprises a housing for receiving a blister pack, which housing comprises a base provided with base openings and is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between a first position and a second position, in which first position the base openings are displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings are aligned with the cavities, the base openings being sized to permit passage of said article therethrough. Said device comprises biasing means for biasing the blister pack toward said second position.

US 2004/0188314 A1 describes blister pack comprising a protective panel having an array of holes substantially identical to the array of cavities, overlaying the foil and slidable between a first position with the holes at least partially offset from the cavities and the panel blocking the cavities, and a second position with the holes aligned with the cavities. Further, the blister pack comprises a spring web unitary formed with the blister pack and with the panel, and arranged to urge the panel into said first position.

US 2001/0017273 A1, upon which the preamble ofclaim1 is based, discloses a child-resistant unit dose holder comprising a blister pack and a sleeve for slidably receiving said blister pack. The sleeve comprises a base provided with two base openings and is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between a first position and a second position, in which first position the base openings are displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings are aligned with the cavities, the base openings being sized to permit passage of an article contained in the cavity. Said device comprises releasable detents operable by a user, between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the blister pack is locked in said first position, and in which non-locking position the blister pack is movable to said second position. The detents are operated in response to flexing the sleeve.

However, above-mentioned solutions have several drawbacks, and are not effective enough in preventing children from opening the blister pack. Some of above-mentioned devices are also too hard to operate for elderly or disabled users. In the solutions of U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,793 and US 2004/0188314 A1, respectively, the cavities are held in the displaced position only by biasing means, the force of which can be easily overcome by a child, but too hard to overcome by a disabled person. In the solution of US 2002/0153276 A1, after the removal of the tear-off strip, the cavities are held in the displaced position only by a frictional force of resistance of a narrowing between the closed and open position, which force also can be easily overcome by a child. Further, in the solution of US 2001/0017273 A1, the locking detents are released only by a simple flexing operation, whereby the blister pack is unlocked and can be easily slid to the position where the cavities can be opened, and the children can gain access to the medicament contained in the cavities of the blister pack.

THE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for holding a blister pack, securely protecting children from opening the blister pack, and at the same time being easy to operate by the intended user, especially by elderly or disabled persons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above-mentioned object is achieved by providing a device of the kind defined in the preamble ofclaim1, comprising the special features that said operating means are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by a first movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, followed by at least one second movement of said operating means in relation to the housing.

By the use of said inventive device having said operating means which necessarily has to be moved in at least two steps following each other for unlocking the blister pack from said first position and enabling the blister pack to be moved to said second position, thus enabling opening of the cavities, a very secure arrangement is provided in the event of a child getting hold of the blister pack. At the same time, the device is easy to handle by the intended user, especially by elderly or disabled persons, since the operating means are operable without any greater force and the operation of the operating means is intuitive.

The device according to the invention provides a convenient and simple solution for protecting children from accessing medicaments. The protective device only slightly enlarges the blister pack, and the protective device together with the blister pack are both discrete and handbag friendly. It is also safe to carry the blister pack in a bag, since there is no risk of pills falling out from the blister pack, as a result of the secure locking arrangement.

The article contained in a cavity of the blister pack comprises a dose of medicament, e.g. a pill. The device can be adapted to various kinds of blister packs having different kinds of patterns for the array of cavities. The device can be provided with an inserted blister pack and ready to use, and be a disposable article, but can also be re-filled and re-used after a blister pack has been emptied.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, said operating means are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by being moved in a predetermined first direction of movement, followed by at least being moved in a predetermined second direction of movement. Advantageously, said first direction of movement is substantially transverse to said second direction of movement.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means are arranged to be moved in said first direction of movement by moving a first region of the operating means, and arranged to be moved in said second direction of movement by moving a second region of the operating means, said operating means regions being spaced apart. This embodiment further increases the child resistant character, without impairing the easy and intuitive operation of the device for an intended user. However, it is also possible to provide the operating means with a single operating means region arranged to be pushed in both the first and the second direction of movement.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, said operating means are operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by moving a first region of the operating means in a certain direction of movement, followed by at least moving one second region of the operating means in said certain direction of movement, said operating means regions being spaced apart.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, said locking arrangement comprises blocking means for blocking the movement of the operating means to the non-locking position if said second operating means region is moved without moving said first operating means region.

According to still another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means are arranged to visually indicate to the user whether the blister pack is locked in said first position or movable to said second position.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means, when being operated from the non-locking position to the locking position, are arranged to move the blister pack back to said first position.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means comprise stop means for preventing the movement of the blister pack and thereby locking it in said first position when the operating means are in the locking position, and for pushing the blister pack back to said first position when the operating means are operated from the non-locking position to the locking position, said stop means comprising two fangs between which the blister pack is captured.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means are operable by pushing by the user.

According to still another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means are movable from the non-locking position to the locking position by being pushed in a single predetermined third direction of movement.

According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the locking arrangement comprises spring means for urging the operating means into the locking position when being pushed in said predetermined third direction of movement. Advantageously, said spring means are arranged to urge the operating means toward the non-locking position.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the locking arrangement is arranged at a compartment at one side of the housing, in the direction of movement of the blister pack held by said device, in which compartment a portion of the blister pack is insertable when the operating means are in the non-locking position.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means comprise at least two operating members, the first operating member comprising said first operating means region, and the second operating member comprising said second operating means region, and advantageously, said operating members comprise said blocking means.

According to still another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, the operating means comprise one single operating member.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the present invention, said device is flexible to a certain degree, whereby the breaking of the foil covering the blister pack is facilitated. By using a flexible device, breaking of the foil covering the blister pack blisters is easily achieved by bending the device together with the blister pack, thereby breaking the foil. This is especially advantageous when in use by elderly persons, or persons with weak hands like rheumatics. The device can be made of any suitable material which is flexible enough and rigid enough, for example a plastic material.

Further, the above-mentioned objects are attained by a method of the kind defined in the preamble ofclaim19 comprising the special steps of:

- unlocking the blister pack from the first position by operating the operating means according to the first movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, followed by at least operating the operating means according to the second movement of said operating means in relation to the housing, whereby the operating means are operated from the locking position to the non-locking position,
- moving the blister pack from the first position to the second position, in which second position said base openings are aligned with the cavities, and
- opening a cavity by breaking the foil, whereby the article contained in said cavity is passed through the base opening.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the present invention, the foil is broken by flexing said device together with the blister pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1-2 are side views of the same embodiment of the device according to the present invention, without the blister pack,

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of a portion of the embodiment ofFIG. 1,

FIGS. 4-5 are schematic perspective views of the embodiment ofFIG. 1, holding a blister pack,

FIGS. 6-10 are cross sectional views of the locking arrangement of the embodiment ofFIG. 1, where the operating member is in different positions,

FIG. 11 is an illustrative view illustrating the different steps of the method for opening a cavity in a blister pack placed in a device according to the present invention, and

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an inventive auxiliary device for use in combination with the device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows the front side of an embodiment of the device for holding a blister pack with an array of cavities closed by a foil, which cavities contain an article, according to the present invention. The device comprises ahousing8 for receiving said blister pack. Thehousing8 is designed to be flexible to a certain degree and is formed of a plastic material. Thehousing8 comprises aplanar base9, positioned facing the foil side of the blister pack, provided with an array ofelliptical base openings10, but any other shape of thebase openings10 is possible, and with a pair oflongitudinal flanges11 extending inwardly from opposed sides to define a slot for receiving the blister pack. Thehousing8 is arranged to permit movement of said blister pack between a first position and a second position, in which first position thebase openings10 are at least partially displaced from the cavities of the blister pack and thebase9 blocking the cavities, and in which second position thebase openings10 are aligned with the cavities. Further, thehousing8 comprises spacing means, provided inside thehousing8 at thebase9, for providing a space between the foil side of the blister pack and thebase9, in order to allow the blister pack to slide smoothly between said first position and said second position, especially after the removal of several articles from the cavities when ruptured foil portions may extend from the foil side of the blister pack. Thebase openings10 are sized to permit passage of the article, contained in the cavity, therethrough. Further, thehousing8 comprises anentry portion41, which will be discussed in more detail in connection toFIG. 2, via which the blister pack is inserted into thehousing8. The device comprises a lockingarrangement12 comprising an operatingmember13 operable by a user using one single hand or two hands, between a locking position and a non-locking position, in which locking position the blister pack is locked in said first position, and in which non-locking position the blister pack is movable to said second position.

FIG. 2 shows the rear side of the device ofFIG. 1. When the blister pack is in the second position where thebase openings10 are aligned with the cavities, an article contained in the cavity can be released by flexing the device and applying a force to the front side of the blister pack, more specifically to the cavity in question, which is then transmitted to the article which ruptures the foil and passes through thebase opening10.

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of theentry portion41 shown inFIG. 1. At theentry portion41 eachflange11 is provided with anotch14. Thenotches14 are positioned opposite each other, forming a transverse entry slot, and theend portion15 of theentry portion41 is provided with a pair of leadingedges16. The length of the transverse entry slot formed by saidnotches14, i.e. the distance from theinner wall17 of one of thenotches14 to theinner wall17 of theother notch14, is slightly smaller the width of the sheet of the blister pack. When the blister pack sheet is forced into said transverse entry slot, the blister pack sheet is slightly buckled by the two leadingedges16, whereby the blister pack sheet is fitted into said transverse entry slot and can be inserted into the housing. When the blister pack is fully received by the housing, the two leadingedges16 function as blocking means preventing children from removing the blister pack from thehousing8 via said transverse entry slot. In theentry portion41, three

recesses

43,44 are provided in thebase9. These

recesses

43,44 are arranged to be penetrated by a certain tool from the rear side of the device, in order to remove the blister pack from the device. Said certain tool is arranged to force the blister pack away from thebase9 in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the blister pack between said first and second positions, and out of its engagement with the housing.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment ofFIG. 1 in perspective, holding ablister pack42. Theblister pack42 is in said first position and the operatingmember13 of the locking arrangement is in the locking position.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment ofFIG. 4, having theblister pack42 in said second first position and the operatingmember13 in the non-locking position.

FIG. 6 shows, in cross section, the lockingarrangement12 of the embodiment ofFIG. 1, where the operatingmember13 is in the locking position. The lockingarrangement12 comprises a guidingframe30 in which the operatingmember13 is guided. There is no actual attachment between the guidingframe30 and the operatingmember13, but the operatingmember13 is retained in the locking arrangement by said guidingframe30. Further, the guidingframe30 prevents the operatingmember13 from being moved in a direction transverse to the plane of saidbase9. The operatingmember13 is operable from the locking position to the non-locking position by being pushed in a predetermined first direction ofmovement19, followed by being pushed in a predetermined second direction ofmovement20. Said first direction ofmovement19 is substantially transverse to said second direction ofmovement20. The operatingmember13 is arranged to be pushed in said first direction ofmovement19 by pushing afirst region21 of the operatingmember13, and arranged to be pushed in said second direction ofmovement20 by pushing asecond region22 of the operatingmember13, said operating means

regions

21,22 being spaced apart. The lockingarrangement12 is arranged at acompartment23 at one side of thehousing8, in the direction of movement of the blister pack held by said device, in which compartment23 a portion of the blister pack is insertable when the operatingmember13 is in the non-locking position. The operatingmember13 comprises stop means24 for stopping the blister pack from being inserted into thecompartment23 when the operatingmember13 is in the locking position, as it is inFIG. 6, whereby the blister pack is prevented from being moved to the second position. The stop means24 are in the form of two

fangs

FIG. 7 shows the lockingarrangement12 with the operatingmember13 in a first transitional position. The user is pushing the first operating meansregion21 in said first direction ofmovement19, whereby the operatingmember13 is pushed in the same direction. By this action, aprotrusion33 of the operatingmember13, which is projecting in the second direction ofmovement20, is positioned in alignment with acomplementary recess34 of the guidingframe30, permitting the operatingmember13 to be pushed in the second direction ofmovement20.

FIG. 8 shows the lockingarrangement12 with the operatingmember13 in a third transitional position, between the second transitional position and the non-locking position. The lockingarrangement12 comprises third retaining means40 for preventing the operatingmember13 to be fully released from the guidingframe30. The third retaining means40 comprise ahitch35 provided on the operatingmember13 and acomplementary hitch recess36 provided in the guidingframe30.FIG. 8 shows thehitch35 and thecomplementary hitch recess36 just before they are engaging.

FIG. 9 shows the lockingarrangement12 with the operatingmember13 in the non-locking position. Saidhitch35 has fully engaged thecomplementary hitch recess36, whereby the operatingmember13 is prevented from being fully released from the guidingframe30. Said spring means27,28 are arranged to urge the operatingmember13 toward the non-locking position. In the non-locking position, the operatingmember13 is arranged to visually indicate to the user whether the blister pack is locked in said first position or movable to said second position. The operatingmember13 is movable from the non-locking position to the locking position by being pushed in a single predetermined third direction ofmovement37. The operatingmember13, when being operated from the non-locking position to the locking position, is arranged to move the blister pack back to said first position, by means of said stop means24. When the operatingmember13 is pushed in said third direction ofmovement37, the spring means27,28 are arranged to urge the operatingmember13 back into the locking position.

FIG. 10 shows the lockingarrangement12 with the operatingmember13 in a blocked position. The locking arrangement comprises second blocking means38 for blocking the movement of the operatingmember13 in said second direction ofmovement20 if said second operating meansregion22 is pushed without pushing said first operating meansregion21. Said second blocking means38 comprise saidprotrusion33 of the operatingmember13 and a blockingrecess39. When the user is pushing the second operating meansregion22 in said second direction ofmovement20 without pushing said first operating meansregion21, theprotrusion33 is arranged to engage said blockingrecess39, and since the blockingrecess39 is considerably shallow the movement of the operatingmember13 in the second direction ofmovement20 is blocked. By providing a blockingrecess39 instead of a just blocking wall, an accidental sliding of theprotrusion33 from the blocking position into alignment with acomplementary recess34 is prevented.

FIG. 11 illustrates the method for opening a cavity in a blister pack held in a device according to the present invention, by way of seven different steps.

Instep1, the first operating member portion is pushed in the predetermined first direction of movement, whereby the operating member is pushed in same direction and moved to the first transitional position, which is shown inFIG. 7, in which position the operating member is permitted to be pushed in the second direction of movement.

In step2, the second operating member portion is pushed in the predetermined second direction of movement, whereby the operating member is pushed in same direction and moved to the second transitional position, in which position the second operating member portion is permitted to be moved in a direction substantially transverse to the second direction of movement into the non-locking position.

In step3, the operating member is urged in a direction transverse to the second direction of movement into the non-locking position, which is shown inFIG. 9, by means of the spring means of the locking arrangement and the user's thumb. When the operating member is in the non-locking position, the operating member visually indicates to the user, by means of its position, whether the blister pack is locked in said first position or movable to said second position.

In step4, the blister pack is moved in the direction of the arrow and a portion of the blister pack is inserted in the compartment of the locking arrangement, whereby the blister pack is moved from the first position to the second position, in which first position the base openings are displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, and in which second position the base openings are aligned with the cavities.

In step5, a cavity is opened by breaking the foil, which foil is broken by flexing the device together with the blister pack, whereby the article contained in said cavity is passed through the base opening, and falls into the hand of the user.

In step6, the operating member is pushed in the single predetermined third direction of movement, shown by the arrow, and by this action the operating member starts to urge the blister pack toward said first position, in which the base openings are displaced from the cavities and the base blocking the cavities, preventing the cavities from being opened.

In step7, the blister pack is forced back to the first position in the direction of the arrow, by means of the stop means of the operating member, and the spring means of the locking arrangement urge the operating member into the locking position, whereby the blister pack is locked in said first position.

InFIG. 11, the operating member is operated by a user using two hands, but the operating member is very suitable for operation by a user using one single hand.

FIG. 12 shows schematic view of an embodiment of the auxiliary device for use in combination with the device according to the present invention. The auxiliary device comprises aplanar base portion50 and

wall portions

51,52 surrounding saidbase portion50, forming a tray with an opening. The auxiliary device comprises resting means53 for permitting the device to rest at the opening with its rear side facing the base portion of the auxiliary device. The auxiliary device can also comprise retaining means positioned at said opening, for releasably retaining the device of the invention at said opening. The engagement of the device with the auxiliary device enables elderly/handicapped people to remove an article more easily from the blister pack, for example by using a tool. Further, the auxiliary device comprises anopening54 at thebase portion50, in any of the

wall portions

51,52 or in thebase portion50, advantageously at a corner, through which the removed article can pass. Further, the auxiliary device can be used for storing the device when not in use.