HK1126955A1 - A container for a blister package - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a container for storing a blister package and for managing medication with a pharmaceutical composition comprised in the blister package. The container comprises a housing which forms a compartment for the blister package, means for indicating towards a user an appropriate time of accessing the blister package, and means for detecting a users access to a blister package in the compartment. The blister package is moved into and out of the compartment by means of an ejection structure to which the blister package may be fixed. The ejection structure facilitates an enhanced handling of the blister package during insertion and removal of the blister package and facilitates a more accurate indication of a user's access to the blister package.

Description

Container for blister packaging

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a container for a blister package (blister package), for example for containing multiple doses of a medicament, the container comprising a housing forming a compartment for the blister package, means for indicating to a user the appropriate time for taking a dose of the medicament, and means for detecting user access to the blister package and thereby to the medicament.

Background

Blister packs are typically transparent plastic mouldings which form one or more cavities sealed by a peelable or breakable foil or cardboard. Blister packages are typically used to enclose and display merchandise or to package multiple doses of medications, candy, chewing gum, and the like. Blister packages are sometimes also referred to as bubble packs (bubblpacks).

With regard to blister packs with medicaments, there are dispensers (dispensers) and containers with timing means for informing the user when to take a dose. Some existing systems automatically record the removal of a medicament from a blister package, or record compliance (compliance) of the removed medicament with a predetermined medication regimen for the medication of interest. The user may for example receive a signal indicating when to take a dose of medication or how long it has been delayed from the last dose.

WO03/003970 discloses a device for identifying blister packs with medicaments and WO99/43283 discloses a device for indicating an event of administration.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to improve upon existing containers for blister packaging. In a first aspect, the present invention provides a container of the kind mentioned in the introduction, wherein the container further comprises an ejection structure or an exit structure, on which the blister pack may be secured. The "ejection structure" and the "exit structure" may be understood as interchangeable expressions in the following description. The ejection structure is movable to an open position for moving the enclosing structure outwardly out of the compartment and movable to a closed position for moving the enclosing structure inwardly into the compartment.

Since the blister package is moved into and out of the compartment by the ejection structure forming part of the container, sliding contact between the container and the blister package during insertion or removal of the blister package from the compartment may be completely avoided. This makes it possible to enhance the functioning of the container, for example with improved guidance of the blister package into and out of the compartment, in particular for the use of blister packages of different types, sizes and conditions. Due to the guided insertion of the blister package into the compartment, the user may more certainly sense the correct positioning of the blister package in the compartment and the sensor for detecting the presence of the blister package or the user's access to the blister package may operate more reliably. Furthermore, avoiding direct sliding contact between the blister pack and the container may enhance protection of the blister pack, may avoid accidental opening and exposure of the medicament due to wear.

The ejection structure may be guided by sliding contact between the ejection structure surface and the housing surface, and a sliding bearing or a linear roller bearing may be formed on the mating surface for ease of movement. The ejection structure is preferably guided in the housing by a linear slide allowing the ejection structure to move linearly relative to the housing, and the positioning of the ejection structure is preferably supported by friction between a surface of the ejection structure and a surface of the housing. In one embodiment the ejection structure is moved back and forth in a slot sized to receive the blister package-i.e. the compartment is formed by a slot in the housing. To facilitate insertion of the blister package into the slot, the slot may form an opening with a chamfered or chamfered edge that guides the blister package into the slot.

The linear slide may define an end-stop beyond which further movement of the ejection structure relative to the housing is prevented. Thereby preventing the ejection structure from being separated from the housing.

User access to the blister package may be detected, for example, by monitoring of the blister package itself in the device, triggered by mechanical, optical or other means of movement of the blister package itself. However, blister packages may have different sizes, types and conditions. As an example, the size and shape may differ between blister packages, and a user may have removed a portion of a blister package before inserting the remaining portion into the blister package. The varying conditions of the blister pack make it difficult and inaccurate to detect the movement of the blister pack. In one embodiment of the invention, user access is detected by detecting movement of the ejection structure rather than monitoring the blister package itself. Thereby, an enhanced security of the detection of user access may be obtained independent of the type, size and condition of the blister package. The user access may be detected by any mechanical switching means, optical detector, magnetically triggered switch or magnetic induction means arranged to detect movement of the ejection structure relative to the housing. As an example, the user's access may be determined by a mechanical switch embedded in or positioned along the linear track, which is triggered when the ejection structure is moved in an outward or inward direction.

The user's access may also be detected optically, for example by interruption of the beam of electromagnetic radiation, by a magnetically sensitive switch or electrical induction located on one of the housing and the ejection structure triggered by movement of the ejection structure relative to the housing.

User access may also be registered by manual actuation of an alternative registration structure, such as a compliance button switch or the like.

In order to provide a clear indication to the user that the user's access has been recorded, the switch may provide a tactile indication or may give an indication by an electrically or mechanically generated sound.

In one embodiment, the user access is only recorded when the ejection structure is moved in one of the exit and entry directions. As an example, the user's access is not registered when the ejection structure is moved out of the compartment but only when the ejection structure and thus the blister package is moved into the compartment.

In one embodiment, the container is adapted to store a blister pack containing multiple doses of a medicament, such as pills, tablets, capsules, suppositories, dragees, chewing gums, powders, granules, gels, liquids and the like, for example for non-oral use, such as for oral or sublingual use. If the composition is designed to be taken at regular time intervals, hereinafter referred to as "according to a medication plan", i.e. not too often or too infrequently, assistance may be provided to the user by a compliance structure adapted to indicate the time at which the last user visit occurred, i.e. when the user last visited the blister pack. The compliance structure may also be adapted to the duration since the last user visit.

In a more advanced embodiment, the compliance structure contains information about the medication plan and automatically alerts the user when a medication is to be taken. As an example, the compliance structure may be adapted to switch between an attentive state (state) in which it is assumed that the user will take a medicament, and a non-attentive state in which it is assumed that the user waits for the state to change to the attentive state before taking another medicament. The transition from the attentive state to the non-attentive state may be triggered by a timer programmed according to a medication plan for the agent of interest. The transition from the attentive state to the non-attentive state may be triggered by a user access, for example by a recording of the movement of the ejection structure. Whereby upon expiration of the next dose, the user's access resets the timer, which again starts counting and transitions to the attentive state.

In an embodiment, the user's access is only registered when the compliance structure is in the attentive state. However, when the compliance structure is in the non-attentive state, i.e. not yet the time for taking the next medicament, neither movement of the ejection structure nor manual operation of the push button switch resets the timer, which continues to count time, before the next medicament expires. In another embodiment, the user's access is only registered by manually operating a push button switch when the compliance structure is in the attentive state and thereby resetting the timer. That is, movement of the ejection structure does not reset the timer. This reduces the electrical consumption of the device if the user moves the blister pack into and out of the container while the compliance structure is in the non-attentive state, which feature thereby conserves batteries and further allows the blister pack to be replaced without resetting the timer.

In a more advanced embodiment the compliance structure is adapted to read the medication plan from the blister package, e.g. by any electronic reading technique known in the art, such as magnetic or optical techniques, etc. In one embodiment, the container comprises a plurality of reading sensors, for example adapted to read respective medication plans for a plurality of medicaments comprised in the blister pack. In this embodiment, the sensor may also be used to record a history of medication, such as a first dose of medication being taken at a particular point in time, a second dose of medication being taken at another point in time, and so on. This feature makes documentation of a medication plan based on several different medicaments included in a single blister pack easier.

The user can indicate in a very simple way the desire to obtain information about compliance by using the push-button switch. As an example, the user may press a predetermined number of times, e.g. three times, to request status information of the compliance structure, i.e. whether it is time for a new medicament or optionally when to take a next medicament.

In order to indicate to the user whether the ejection structure, and thus the blister package, is not in the closed position, the container may further comprise a second timer adapted to determine a period of time during which the ejection structure is not in the closed position. The compliance structure may only be transferred from the attentive state to the non-attentive state when the timer determines that the ejection structure has not been in the closed position for a time interval which is larger than a predetermined time interval.

Note that the status may indicate to the user by a notification signal, such as a light, sound or vibration signal and combinations thereof, or the container may even communicate the notification signal by wireless communication, for example via Bluetooth^TMThe communication is transmitted to an external device. Wireless communication of notification signals facilitates remote monitoring of patients, such as those in a hospital or at home, who require care.

The notification signal may not be noticed by the user, e.g. due to noise or other conditions, and may be transmitted as a repetitive signal at predetermined time periods after the compliance structure has been switched from the non-attentive state to the attentive state in order to save battery and not create unnecessary disturbances. In one embodiment, the predetermined period of time may increase between each transmission. As an example, once the compliance structure is switched to the attentive state, a notification signal lasting e.g. 15s is transmitted, after 5 minutes a subsequent notification signal may be transmitted if the container is still in the attentive state. E.g. after 15 minutes, a further notification signal may be transmitted, etc.

If the user ignores these signals, the container may automatically switch back to the non-attentive state, for example after a certain number of repeated signals. In this case, the container may record a lack of compliance indicia for that period. According to the medication plan instructions for a particular medication, some subsequent "correct" point in time is determined at which the medicament is to be taken, i.e. a particular interval between user visits for the "correct" point in time. The container may be adapted to determine for each interval whether user access is established, i.e. for example whether the ejection mechanism has been moved. If the ejection mechanism has been moved, the container records a "compliance" for that interval, and if not, a "non-compliance" for that interval. After a certain number of intervals, the number of compliances or non-compliances from some intervals may be presented to the user or communicated to an external device through an interface.

The number of compliances over a period of time may be translated into a more easily understood identifier of the compliance, such as a numerical score, or into a signal emitted by a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or similar light on the outer surface of the container, such as a color code, or an acoustic signal may be transmitted according to a code indicating the number of compliances or non-compliances over a period of time including a certain number of intervals.

As an example, more than one non-compliance record in five records may result in a red light signal or warning tone being communicated to the user, while one or less than one non-compliance record in five records may result in a green light signal or non-warning tone being communicated to the user. The container may always count compliance over a period comprising a fixed number of intervals. I.e. each time a new interval starts, the evaluation of compliance is based on the most recent interval and a fixed number of previous intervals. This provides a moving average, i.e. an average of fixed preceding time periods.

In one embodiment, the container includes an interface structure, such as a UBS based interface or the like, through which the container can communicate with an external computer system. As an example, compliance data may be transmitted to a computer, such as a computer in a health center, to facilitate monitoring of medication planning and compliance. Alternatively or additionally, the container may be adapted for wireless communication or it may comprise a replaceable memory module, such as the SD memory module known from electronic appliances. The user may be allowed to send the compliance data to the external computer system by conventional mail.

To increase the visible area of the light signal on the outer surface of the receptacle, light may be generated by an illumination device, such as an LED, arranged to transmit light across into a prism (prism), for example forming part of the front cover of the receptacle. The prism can propagate the light and make the signal more detectable.

In one embodiment, the prism may form a shape that indicates the type of medication provided by the medication plan and included in the blister pack.

The blister package may be secured to the ejection structure by a clamping means comprising two parts forming a slot into which the blister package is inserted. As an example, the clamping means may comprise a rear member and an adjacent front member positioned relative to each other such that a blister card (blister card) may be received therebetween. The rear member and the front member may be movable relative to each other in a direction approaching or departing from each other, for example in the manner of a clip or garment clip. The clip-like gripping means may be dimensioned relative to the slot so that the rear member and the front member are pressed together by the inner surface of the slot into which the blister package is received.

In one embodiment the gripping means is adapted to support a blister pack of the type wherein the doses, e.g. tablets or pills, are located in separate bulges or cavities in the surface of the blister pack. In this embodiment, at least one of the back and front members comprises a gripping structure adapted to at least partially encircle a bulge in the blister package surface. The gripping means in particular prevents rotation of the blister package during the movement of the ejection mechanism into and out of the container. As an example, the gripping means may comprise one or more support profiles which extend along one or more outer edges of the blister package and thereby prevent rotation of the blister package relative to the ejection structure. The support profile may for example comprise a groove which receives an edge of the blister pack.

In an embodiment, the container comprises detection means adapted to detect the presence of a blister package secured to the ejection structure. As an example, the detection means may alert the user if no blister package is present in the container for a certain time. In another embodiment, the container may comprise detection means adapted to determine the volume, e.g. the number of doses remaining in a blister pack, and to alert the user when a certain level is reached. This will allow the user to access a new blister pack at a desired time, and the detection means may be formed as part of the gripping means. In one embodiment, the detection means is divided into two separate sensors which register the capacity of a blister with two rows of doses. In this embodiment, the sensor may, for example, determine the number and location of doses in each of two columns of doses.

The container may be adapted to accommodate further blister packs, for example in separate compartments.

The container may include a tear edge along which a portion of the blister package may be torn. This may for example make the removal of a single dose or a row of doses from a blister package easier. To this end, the pop-up structure is moved between different positions determined by the tactile indication. By moving between two of these positions, a row of doses is moved over the tearing edge, whereby the row of doses can be torn off.

In one embodiment, the container is configured to stand on a table top, for example with a non-collapsible stand on the back similar to a picture frame or similar to a book that can be unfolded. In embodiments where the container opens like a book, the opening of the container may register the user's access.

In one embodiment, the receptacle includes a single operating button by which various functions can be controlled depending on the number of times the button is operated. As an example, a single activation may indicate access by the user, three activations within a certain time period, e.g. three activations in 5s, may indicate that the user requires data on compliance, a greater number of activations, e.g. 5, may indicate a desire to turn off the compliance structure. In this case, the container may be used as a conventional container for storing blister packaging structures.

Preferably, the ejection structure is in the form of a sheet substantially coplanar with the housing.

In one embodiment, a cover device for covering an opening of a container in a closed position is provided, the cover device being movable between a closed end position and an open end position in which the cover device is rotated about a longitudinal axis of the container so as to form a stand for positioning the container in an inclined position on a horizontal surface. Preferably, at least a part of the movement of the cover means from said closed end position to said open end position actuates the movement of the ejection structure from the rest position to the ejection position and vice versa. These features provide an easy to use, powerful and aesthetically pleasing container having an inexpensive structure that is easy to manufacture.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a container for a compartment of a blister package and a blister package, the blister package forming at least one column of cavities with doses of a medicament, the column extending between a first end and a second end, characterised in that at least one of the ends and an adjacent cavity cooperates with gripping means of an ejection structure to make it easier to move the blister package into or out of the container. In one embodiment, the blister package comprises a plurality of weakening lines which facilitate the separation of the blister package between each cavity, whereby a user may tear off a used portion of the blister package when removing a dose. In this embodiment, no weakening line is provided between at least one end and an adjacent cavity. This prevents the user from accidentally removing the end from the blister pack, whereby the end can be used to engage with the gripping means of the container.

Drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows three different views of a first embodiment of a container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a variation of the container of FIG. 1 with a removable holder;

FIG. 3 illustrates a logic flow diagram of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows another variation of the container of FIG. 1, wherein the second compartment is open;

FIG. 5 shows a slot into first and second compartments of the container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a further variation of the container shown in FIG. 1, with a tear edge for separating a column of doses from a blister pack of the container;

figures 7 to 9 show three different views of a second embodiment according to the invention;

fig. 10 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of fig. 7 to 9; and

fig. 10a shows a detail of fig. 10.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1, 2 and 4-6 show a first embodiment of a container 1 according to the invention.

As shown in fig. 1, the container 1 of the first embodiment comprises a first slot 2 forming an opening of the first compartment and a second slot 3 forming an opening of the second compartment. The first compartment is for storing a first blister pack and the second compartment is for storing a second blister pack. The first blister pack is the active blister pack from which the medication is consumed, while the second blister pack is the "back-up" blister pack which can be moved to the first compartment when the blister pack in the first compartment is exhausted. The container comprises a housing 4, means for indicating to a user, e.g. by an acoustic signal, a suitable time for accessing the blister package, securing means 5 for holding the blister package, and means for detecting a user's access to the blister package in the compartment.

Insertion and extraction of the blister into and out of the first compartment is facilitated by an ejection structure (ejection structure) operated by a handle 6, which handle 6 can slide back and forth over the outer surface of the container thereby moving the blister into and out of the compartment. The ejection structure is movable to an open position for moving the package outwardly out of the first compartment and a closed position for moving the package inwardly into the first compartment. When the user moves the ejection structure, this movement is registered (registered as) as the user accesses the blister package in the first compartment. The ejection structure is connected to the housing via a linear guide that provides linear sliding of the ejection structure relative to the housing.

The container includes a single compliance push button switch 7 by which a user can activate a particular function depending on the number of activations of the switch within a predetermined time period.

The container comprises signal transmission means 8 which transmit a colored light signal, wherein the color indicates the compliance of the user, i.e. how many times the user follows the medication plan during a specific period. Furthermore, the container comprises a transmitter for transmitting an acoustic signal indicating when a user takes a dose of medicament in the blister pack. In this embodiment, the container is switched from the non-attentive state to the attentive state (attentive state) when the user moves the ejection structure out of the closed position and back to the closed position, i.e. the blister pack is returned to the first compartment after the medicament has been removed, the container is switched from the attentive state back to the non-attentive state and compliance is recorded for the period during which the medicament is to be taken according to the medication regimen.

In order to support the correct medication, the container has a timer and the following functions are performed by processing means in the container:

the time counted by the timer is reset once the user access to the blister pack is recorded. In practice, this registration is achieved by moving the ejection structure to the open position and back to the closed position or by the user activating the compliance button 7.

The alert is delivered after a certain period, for example after 24 hours when the medication plan prescribes a dose of medication on a day.

Snooze function (snooze function) if the drug has not been removed after 15 minutes and 30 minutes from the first warning.

Alerting the warning if the medicament has not been removed 6 hours after the first warning.

Alerting the warning if the medicament has not been removed 12 hours after the first warning.

If the dose is not removed within 24 hours +12 hours, the count is set to "non-compliance".

Furthermore, the container is adapted to determine the interactive compliance as follows:

"adherence" is defined as the sum of compliance and persistence;

"compliance" is the removal of medication according to a medication regimen, for example, once a day.

"permanent" is the continuation of treatment during the entire treatment regimen (treatment region).

"compliance time" is defined as 24 hours plus a maximum reminder time of 12 hours (24 +12 hours total-36 hours). The compliance time always starts from a default time (the start period being set when the device is reset by the user). The "default time" is defined as the time that the user sets as the warning time by pressing the compliance button for more than 5 s. The "compliance time range" — the "compliance time" -6 hours to the "compliance time" +12 hours.

Example of Warning time (in the worst case 4 reminder warnings after the first warning)

Day one XX: XX	Default time + sound 1
		The next day XX: XX	Warning 2. not removed (as an example)
The next day, snooze XX: XX +15 min	Warning 2. not taking out (doing)As an example)
		The next day, snooze XX: XX +30 min	Warning 2. not removed (as an example)
The next day XX: XX +12 hours	Warning 2-no removal: non-compliant-removal: compliance
		Third day XX: XX	Warning 2. first warning at Default time
Etc. of

The device communicates the compliance of the user according to an algorithm as shown below. The compliance algorithm calculates a 7 day moving average. When restarting or resetting, compliance should be calculated from the entire 7 days of compliance in the record. See the examples below. The numbers below indicate the total number of tablets removed during the compliance time.

The last seven days (if restarted/reset then calculated from the hypothetical 7 days of total compliance):

5-7 days very compliant (Green)

3-4 days notice (orange)

Lack of compliance (Red) for 0-2 days

Examples of compliant work functions

Taking out tablets in compliance windows

0-no tablet taken out in the compliance window

R-restart device

Algorithm starts with total compliance over the last 7 days

The signaling device 8 comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED). The LED illuminates a prism having a shape that represents the type of medication for which the medication therapy plan is programmed in the compliance structure. In this example, the shape indicates straw, which points towards grass allergy. Three color codes may be used to signal compliance: green, orange and red. Green means "very compliant," orange device "attention compliant," and red device "non-compliant.

The transmitter for transmitting sound is adapted to transmit a sound level of 74dB measured at a background of 65dB at a distance of 8 feet from the device. The alert is activated or the suggested action is performed in 30 s.

The following warnings/sounds may be used:

warning	Sound description	Note
				Warning/Sound 1	XX	'Silent' foodIdentification time set ". The two-tone short beep sound in 0 to 5s
Warning 2	XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-	Medicine taking-out device "
				Warning 3	XXX-XXX-XXX-XXX	Pushing blister pack back into compartment "
Warning 4	XX---XX---XX---XX---	"Pushing compliance button"

The container is adapted to operate on the basis of a battery 9.

The container is particularly manufactured for blister packs 10 comprising doses in the form of two columns of tablets. Each column forms a row of 5 doses, between each row the blister package comprises a weakening line 13, where the row can be torn off from the remainder of the blister package.

The clamping mechanism comprises a front member and a rear member (not visible in fig. 1) located on opposite sides of the blister package 10. The front member comprises two elements 14, 15, one of which comprises an arched portion that partly surrounds the protruding portion of the blister pack, i.e. partly surrounds a portion of the last column in a column.

Figure 2 shows a variation of the container according to the first embodiment of the invention in which the container has a removable stand 16 which can be attached to the rear surface of the container and allows the container to stand on a table top.

Fig. 3 illustrates a logic flow diagram.

Fig. 4 shows another variant of the container according to this first embodiment, in which the lid 17 is hinged to the casing 4 and makes it possible to fully open one of the compartments, in this case the second compartment.

Figure 5 shows the troughs 2, 3 entering the first and second compartments. The first slot includes first and second enlarged openings 18, 19 and an intermediate portion 20. The slot thus matches the shape of a blister pack 10 of the type disclosed in fig. 1, i.e. with two columns of doses, e.g. tablets or pills.

Fig. 6 shows a further variant of the container according to the first embodiment, in which there is a tearing edge for separating a row of doses 22 from the blister pack of the container. In this variant, the handles 23, 24 for moving the exit structure and thereby the blister package into and out of the compartment are provided with a tactile indication of the position in which the medicament in the blister package is in the correct position relative to the tear-off edge 21, e.g. the weakening line of the blister package is located near the tear-off edge.

Figures 7 to 10a show a second embodiment of a container according to the invention. Like reference numerals indicate like elements or components having the same function as in the embodiment of fig. 1 to 6.

The container 1 comprises a housing 4 which may comprise on its front side shown in fig. 7 not shown indication means, such as LEDs or LCDs and/or a compliance structure such as described above, e.g. in the form of a button or the like. The housing 4 is in the form of a sheet of material, such as plastic, that is bent to form a compartment for the blister package 10. An ejection structure in the form of an ejection sheet 30 is accommodated inside the housing 4 in the closed end position of the container 1 as shown in fig. 7. In the intermediate position shown in fig. 8 and the open end position in fig. 9, the ejection sheet 30 is ejected from the housing 4 to protrude from the side of the housing 4. Fig. 10 shows the ejection sheet 30 in an ejection position corresponding to fig. 8 and 9, and fig. 10a shows a detail of the ejection sheet 30 in fig. 10.

The ejection sheet 30, which can be best seen in fig. 9 and 10, is bent such that the front side 30b and the rear side 30c are substantially coplanar with the front side 4b and the rear side 4c of the housing 4, respectively. In the closed end position of the container 1 shown in fig. 7, the curved connecting portion 30a of the ejection sheet 30 abuts a similarly shaped connecting portion 4a of the housing 4. The ejection tab 30 comprises a linear slide in the form of a slot 31, which slot 31 engages an inward projection 32 of the front side 4b of the housing 4 to ensure that the ejection tab 30 slides smoothly and linearly between the open end position and the closed end position of the container 1. The projection 32 may form a stop, for example in the form of a wider portion (not shown), to ensure that the ejection sheet 30 remains connected to the housing 4 at all times.

The ejection sheet 30 further comprises securing means in the form of an insert (insert)33 for securing the blister package 10 to the ejection sheet 30. As shown in fig. 10a, the insert 33 comprises two protrusions which can hold the blister pack 10 inserted as indicated by the arrow in fig. 10a, i.e. the sheet-like part of the blister pack 10 is pushed into a fastened or fixed position. In the secured or fixed position of the blister pack, the projections are pressed towards each other on both sides of the panel portion of the blister pack 10. In a variation of the second embodiment of the invention, not shown, two blister packs are held in the insert 33, for example the second blister pack is held between one of the projections of the insert and the third projection.

The ejection sheet 30 comprises a notch 35 which provides a better grip on the blister package 10.

The back side 30c of the ejection sheet 30 may alternatively or additionally comprise further hole-like fixation means (not shown) corresponding to the tablet projections 10a of the blister package 10 in order to provide a better attachment of the blister package 10 on the ejection sheet 30. In the case of a blister package 10 comprising ten tablet projections, the back side will comprise ten correspondingly positioned and shaped apertures. In this variant, the projections face the back side 30c of the ejection sheet 30, however, they may also face in the opposite direction in other embodiments. In another variation, not shown, the apertures are provided on a separate sheet positioned coplanar with the back side 30c of the ejector sheet 30.

In a variant of the second embodiment of the invention, which is not shown, the ejection structure does not comprise a front side 30b and a back side 30 c. In this variant, the insert 33 itself pushes the blister package 10 out of the housing in an ejection action. However, the illustrated variation is preferred because the front side 30b and back side 30c provide support for the blister package 10.

The means for detecting the access of the user to the container 1 may be, for example, a sensor provided in the insert 33 or at the end of the projection 32.

The container 1 further comprises cover means in the form of a cover 34 for covering the opening of the container 1 in the closed state of the container 1 as shown in fig. 7. As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the opening extends from the top edge to the bottom edge of the housing 4 along the side edges. Portions 34a, 34b, and 34c correspond to the top, side, and bottom edges, respectively. The cover 34 is movable between a closed end position as in fig. 7 and an open end position as in fig. 9, between which the cover 34 in the intermediate position of fig. 8 is located. The cover 34 is connected to the ejection sheet 30 by a stub shaft (not shown) which is embedded in a corresponding hole 36 in the side of the ejection sheet 30. In an alternative variant not shown, the stub shaft is replaced by a through shaft extending through both holes 36.

When it is desired to open the container 1 in order to access the tablets, the user moves the lid 34 from the closed end position of fig. 7 to the intermediate position of fig. 8. This can be achieved by using one hand to grasp the housing 4 and the other hand to grasp the covers 34 and pull them apart from each other. This provides a linear sliding movement of the cover 34 which pulls the ejection sheet 30 out of its rest position in the housing 4 by the stub shaft pulling it out of the side edge of the opening of the housing 4. The housing 4 is formed such that when the cover 34 and the ejection sheet 30 enter the intermediate position of the container 1 of fig. 8, the cover 34 is released from the linear slide and can rotate about the longitudinal axis of the container 1 defined by the half-shafts. The user then rotates the lid to the second end position as shown in fig. 9. The blister package 10 is now easily accessible. The user removes the blister pack 10, tears or pushes out the tablet and reinserts the blister pack 10 into the insert 33. To close the container 1, the user performs the reverse operation, such as bringing the container 1 from the open end position to the closed end position.

In the open end position in fig. 9, the rotating lid 34 forms a stand for positioning the container 1 in an inclined position on a horizontal surface (not shown), such as a table top. The container 1 preferably comprises spring means (not shown) or other suitable means known to the person skilled in the art for keeping the lid 34 in the rotated position shown in fig. 9, e.g. without collapsing when positioned on said horizontal plane.

In a variant of the second embodiment of the invention, further spring means may be provided for biasing the ejection sheet 30 towards the ejection position, such spring means being actuated, for example, by a button or the like.

Claims (27)

1. Container (1) for blister packs, comprising:

a housing (4) forming a compartment for the blister package,

means for indicating to a user the appropriate time for accessing said blister package, and

means for detecting a user's access to the blister package in said compartment,

characterised in that the container further comprises an ejection structure to which the blister package is secured, the ejection structure (6) being movable to an open position for moving the package outwardly out of the compartment and to a closed position for moving the package inwardly into the compartment,

wherein i) said blister package (10) is securable to said ejection structure by a gripping means comprising two parts forming a slot into which said blister package (10) is inserted, a rear member and an adjacent front member;

ii) the container (1) further comprises a handle (6) for operating the ejection structure, wherein the handle (6) is slidable back and forth on the outer surface of the container (1) thereby moving the blister package (10) into and out of the compartment; and

iii) the rear and front members are movable relative to each other in a direction towards and away from each other.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein user access to a blister package in the compartment is detected by detecting movement of the ejection structure relative to the housing.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ejection structure is connected to the housing via a linear slide which allows linear movement of the ejection structure relative to the housing.

4. A container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein separation of the ejection structure from the housing is prevented.

5. A container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising detection means by which the presence of a blister package secured to the ejection structure can be detected.

6. The container of claim 1, further comprising a compliance structure adapted to indicate when a user last accessed a blister package in the compartment.

7. A container according to claim 6, wherein the compliance structure is adapted to switch from the attentive state to the non-attentive state upon receipt of a user-access-record signal.

8. A container according to claim 7, wherein the user-access registration signal is provided by movement of the ejection structure.

9. A container according to claim 8, wherein the user-access registration signal is provided only by movement of the ejection structure when the compliance structure is in the attentive state.

10. The container of claim 7, wherein the user access registration signal is provided by activation of a button.

11. A container according to claim 10, wherein the user-access registration signal is provided by activation of a button irrespective of the state of the compliance structure.

12. A container according to claims 7-11, further comprising a timer adapted to cause the compliance structure to switch from the non-attentive state to the attentive state after a predetermined time in the non-attentive state.

13. A container according to claim 12, further comprising indicating means for transmitting a notification signal upon a transition of the compliance structure from the non-attentive state to the attentive state.

14. A container according to claim 13, wherein the indication means transmits a notification at a predetermined period after the compliance structure has transitioned from the non-attentive state to the attentive state.

15. A container according to any of claims 7-11, wherein the compliance structure is adapted to switch to the non-attentive state in case the registration signal is not received after a predetermined period of being in the attentive state.

16. A container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising processing means adapted to determine a compliance level indicative of a difference between an expected consumption frequency of the substance and a frequency at which the registration signal is received.

17. A container according to claim 16, wherein for a plurality of time intervals, wherein in each interval a user is supposed to access the blister package at least once, the processing means is adapted to record for each time interval a compliance indication when the recording signal is received for that interval and a non-compliance indication when no recording signal is received for that interval.

18. A container according to claim 17, wherein the processing means is adapted to determine the grade level based on the number of compliance indications and non-compliance indications in a predetermined number of consecutive intervals.

19. The container of claim 18, wherein the processing device comprises a light emitting diode configured to transmit colored light and to select a color from a plurality of colors based on the grade level.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the container further comprises a front cover, the light emitting diode being configured to transmit the color signal laterally into a prism that forms part of the front cover of the container.

21. The container of claim 20, wherein the prism has a shape that identifies the substance in the blister package.

22. A container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a timer adapted to determine a period of time during which the ejection structure is not in the closed position.

23. A container according to claim 22, wherein the compliance structure is adapted to switch from the attentive state to the non-attentive state only if the timer determines that the ejection structure is not in the closed position for a time interval greater than a predetermined time interval.

24. The container of claim 1, wherein at least one of the rear member and the front member comprises a gripping structure adapted to at least partially surround a protruding portion of a blister package.

25. A container as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising an additional compartment for an additional blister card.

26. A container according to claim 1, further comprising a blister pack having a compartment for the blister pack, said blister pack forming at least one column of cavities with doses of a medicament, the column extending between a first end and a second end, characterized in that at least one of said ends and an adjacent cavity cooperate with gripping means of an ejection structure adapted to move said blister pack into or out of said container.

27. A container according to claim 26, wherein the blister package comprises a plurality of weakening lines which facilitate separation of the blister package between each cavity, whereby a user may tear off a used portion of the blister package when removing a dose.