WO2006002667A1

WO2006002667A1 - Blister packaging

Info

Publication number: WO2006002667A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/007118
Authority: WO
Inventors: Viktor Grinewitschus; Gerd VOM BÖGEL
Original assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
Priority date: 2004-06-30
Filing date: 2004-06-30
Publication date: 2006-01-12

Abstract

The invention relates to blister packaging (100) comprising a film or foil (104) for sealing a blister (102) of said packaging (100). The film or foil (104) comprises an electrically conductive region (106). The blister packaging (100) also comprises a monitoring unit (108), which is configured to display, independently of an electrical characteristic of the conductive region (106), whether the blister (102) is sealed or has been opened.

Description

blister

description

The present invention is concerned with blister packs, such as those used for packaging medicaments or small parts, or with their closure foils.

Blister packs are now used to package a number of different products such. As drugs, Klein¬ share (screws, spare parts, etc.) or liquids and powders th used.

A blister pack has a blister or a plurality of blisters. A blister is a capsule or receptacle that can hold an item. The blister has an opening, which is usually covered with a foil, so that the object can not fall out of the blister. The blister is usually made of plastic. The film for closing the blister is usually a plastic film or a metal foil. To remove the article from the blister, the film is destroyed. For this purpose, the film is either removed from the blister, pressed from the outside or the article is pushed through the film through to the outside.

Several blister packs can be packaged in another package. For equipping machines, for example, electronic components are packed in elongated blister packs which are rolled up onto a roll.

Conventional blister packs have the disadvantage that their fill level is not automatically verifiable. This creates problems with stockpiling. Furthermore, in the field of medicine, regular withdrawal of medicines can be From a blister pack, it is not automatically controlled that can lead to a patient forgetting to take a medication.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a blister pack, a film for closing a blister and a method for monitoring a blister pack, which permit monitoring of an opening state of the blister pack.

This object is achieved by a blister pack according to claim 1, a film for closing a blister according to An¬ claim 14 and a method for monitoring a blister pack according to claim 15.

The present invention provides a blister pack having the following features:

a film for closing a blister of the blister pack, the film having a conductive area; and

a monitoring device configured to indicate whether the blister is in a state closed by the film or in an opened state, depending on an electrical property of the conductive region.

The present invention is based on the finding that damage or destruction of a film during removal of a content of a blister can be monitored if the film has a conductive region whose electrical properties are detected by a monitoring device. In this way, an opening of a blister can be automatically detected and evaluated. The procedure according to the invention offers a possibility for recognizing in which capsules (receiving compartments) of the packaging the contents are still present. For different Requirements it is necessary to know the exact contents of a blister pack to z. B. storage of individual parts or a regular intake of medi¬ kamenten and their stockpile to monitor.

According to a further embodiment, an indication of an opening state of a blister via a transponder. This is advantageous since the state of a blister pack can be read out via a transponder base station and used by other applications, such as a reminder for taking medicines, forwarder of goods, etc. The transponder can also be used to a drug z. For example, they can be recorded in a home box during delivery and provide information regarding the delivery in a connected network.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a blister pack according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the blister pack shown in FIG. 1 in an opened state; FIG.

3 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of a blister pack according to the present invention;

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a blister pack according to the present invention; and

5 is a schematic representation of an integration of a blister pack according to the present invention into a monitoring system. In the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements shown in the various drawings and similarly acting, with a repeated description of these elements is omitted.

1 shows a schematic representation of a blister pack 100 according to the present invention. The blister pack 100 has a blister 102. Blister 102 is a capsule or receptacle that is closed by a film 104. According to the present invention, the film 104 has an electrically conductive region 106. The electrically conductive region 106 is coupled to a monitoring device 108. The blister pack 100 is designed to store an article 114, for example a medicament or small parts such as screws or spare parts.

The monitoring device 108 is designed to monitor an electrical property of the electrically conductive region 106. The electrical property may be an electrical conductivity, an electrical resistance, or a capacitive or inductive property, or in response to an externally supplied electromagnetic field. In order to remove the article 114 from the blister 102, the film 104 must be opened in a region which closes the blister 102. The electrically conductive region 106 is arranged above the blister 102 such that when the blister is opened, the electrically conductive region 106 is damaged or destroyed. This leads to a change in the electrical property of the conductive region, which is detected by the monitoring device 108. Depending on the detected electrical characteristic of the conductive region 106, the monitoring device 108 indicates that the blister 102 is opened or is still closed. FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a blister pack 100 'in an opened state. In order to open the blister 102, the film 104 'and in particular also the conductive region 106' has been interrupted and partially pressed into the blister 102. The electrically conductive region 106 'thus has an interruption.

In this embodiment, the blister 102 was opened by pushing the film 104 'in from the outside. It is also possible to push out the object 114 shown in FIG. 1 from the blister 102 and thus to destroy the film 104 'from the inside. This also results in an interruption of the conductive region 106 '.

The monitoring device 108 can be arranged anywhere on the blister pack. In Fig. 1, it is disposed on the film 104 '. Alternatively, the monitoring device can be arranged in the film. If the film is a plastic film, the monitoring device can be cast into the plastic film. It is likewise possible to arrange the monitoring device in or on the blister and to establish an electrical connection to the electrically conductive region of the film via electrical contacts.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a blister pack 300 according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The blister pack 300 has a blister 302 and a film 304 for closing the blister 302. The film 304 has an electrically conductive region 306, which is connected to a monitoring device 308. The monitoring device 308 has an antenna 310. In addition to the blister 302, the blister pack 300 has a plurality of further blisters 312.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the conductive region 306 is a printed conductor, which is arranged above the blister 302 is that it is interrupted by opening the blister 302. The conductor track 306 is advantageously vapor-deposited or printed on the film 304. It is also possible to integrate the conductor track 306 in the film 304 or to realize it as a partially conductive plastic. The film 304 is preferably constructed of a nonconductive material, apart from the conductive region 306. Typically, the film 304 is plastic, but other materials suitable for sealing a blister are also possible. For example, paper or films with a layer structure of example, plastic and metal. If the film 304 consists of an electrically conductive material, then the electrically conductive region 306 has an insulation.

If the conductive region 306 is realized by a single printed conductor, the foil 304 or the electrically conductive region 306 advantageously has a predetermined breaking point, which ensures that the electrically conductive region 306 breaks when the blister 302 is opened or damaged. Alternatively, the electrically conductive region 306 may be realized via a plurality of printed conductors which cover the blister 302 such that when the blister 302 is opened, at least one of the printed conductors forming the conductive region 306 is interrupted. Alternatively, the conductive region 306 can be embodied as a large-area conductor track, so that it is ensured that when the blister 302 opens, the conductive region 306 is at least partially interrupted.

The monitoring device 308 is connected to the conductive area 306. By means of a continuity measurement or a resistance measurement, the monitoring device 308 determines whether the electrically conductive region 306 is partially or completely interrupted. If the conductive region 306 is realized as a single printed conductor, which is interrupted when the blister 302 is opened, then so a passage measurement is sufficient. If the conductive region 306 is interrupted, this means that the blister 302 has been opened. If the conductive region 306 is realized by a plurality of conductor tracks or by a widely implemented electrically conductive region, which is interrupted only partially when the blister 302 is opened, a simple passage measurement is not sufficient. In this case, the monitoring device 308 is designed to detect a change in resistance at the electrically conductive region 306.

In particular, when evaluating capacitive or inductive properties, a deformation of the electrically conductive region is already sufficient to change the electrical property of the conductive region such that an opening of a blister is reliably detected.

For carrying out the continuity measurement or the resistance measurement, the monitoring device 308 is designed to cause a flow of current in the conductive region 306. For this purpose, the monitoring device 308 has a power supply device (not shown). Alternatively, the conductive region 306 is arranged or connected to the monitoring device 308 such that an externally supplied electromagnetic field induces a voltage in the electrically conductive region 306, which is evaluated by the monitoring device 308.

The monitoring device 308 is designed to indicate whether the blister 302 is in a closed or in an opened state. In this exemplary embodiment, the monitoring device 308 is connected to the antenna 310 and designed to transmit a status signal via the antenna 310. Depending on whether blister 302 is in an open or closed state, the status signal contains information indicating whether blister 302 is in position is a closed or open state. The monitoring device 308 may be configured to continuously transmit the status signal. Advantageously, however, the monitoring device 308 is designed to receive a readout signal via the antenna 310 and to send the status signal responsively to the readout signal.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, the monitoring device 308 is supplied with energy via the antenna 310, the energy being supplied to the antenna 310 via an electromagnetic field supplied from outside. This can be generated, for example, by a high-frequency readout signal.

In FIG. 3, only the blister 302 has a conductive region 306 whose properties are monitored by the monitoring device 308. Preferably, all blisters of a blister pack are monitored by the monitoring device. In this case (not shown in FIG. 3), each blister of the blister pack has its own conductive area, which is connected to the monitoring device. In this way, the monitoring device is able to output an opening state of each blister pack blister via the status signal. In Fig. 3, the conductive region is realized in the form of a detector loop. In the application, where each blister is monitored, each receptacle is provided with a detector loop.

4 shows a schematic representation of a blister pack 400 according to the present invention, which has a longitudinal shape, as used in blister packs which are present as a roll. The blister pack 400 has a plurality of unopened blisters 402a and two opened blisters 402b. In this embodiment, the film 404 is constructed of a conductive material. An electrically conductive region is thus realized via the foil 404 and via leads 406a and 406b, which connect to the monitoring device 408.

In this embodiment, the monitoring device 408 is designed to carry out a resistance measurement. If all the blisters of the blister pack 400 are unopened, the film 404 has a defined resistance value between the connections 40βa, 406b. This resistance value increases through each opened blister 402b because an opened blister 402 represents an interruption in the film 404 which causes a resistance increase for a current I. In order to obtain a defi¬ ned resistance change when opening a blister, the film is advantageously opened in a predetermined manner. For example, along a predetermined breaking point, or machine-controlled.

The monitoring device 408 is in turn designed to indicate, depending on a detected resistance value, how many blisters of the blister pack 400 have already been opened.

FIG. 5 shows an integration of a first blister pack 500 and a second blister pack 500 'in a monitoring system. The first blister pack 500 in turn has a blister 502, a film 504 with an electrically conductive region 506 and a monitoring device 508 in the form of a transponder. The transponder 508 is connected to an antenna 510. The second blister pack 500 'has components corresponding to the first blister pack 500, with corresponding reference numerals.

Outside the blister pack 500, there is a base station 520, which has an antenna 522. The base station 520 is designed to send readout signals 530, 530 'to the blister packs 500, 500'. The transponders 508, 508 'are configured to receive the readout signals 530, 530' and to send status signals 532, 532 ', which are the Base station 520 transmit a state information of blisters 502a, 502a ', 506a, 506a'. Alternatively, the read-out signal 530 for the first blister pack 500 is identical to the read-out signal of the second blister pack 500 '.

The blister packs 500, 500 'may be packaged in an overpack (not shown in the figures). Advantageously, the signals 530, 530 ', 532, 532' penetrate such an outer packaging.

The monitoring process makes it possible to detect in which capsules (receiving compartments) of the packaging the contents are still present. For this purpose, conductor tracks of conductive material are applied to the film for covering the capsules. These can be vapor-deposited or printed. It is also conceivable to close the capsules with films of partially conductive plastic. The conductor tracks are to be arranged so that they are damaged or destroyed when the capsule contents are pressed out. The increase in the track resistance caused thereby is detected by a chip in the blister pack. This chip can be executed as a transponder. The required antenna for communication with a transponder base station can also be applied to the closure film.

The transponder is "multi-tag capable ^λλ , so that several blister packs in one outer package (or a plurality of packages are readable.) Also, blister packaging in rolls (eg, 3,000 items in electronic components) can carry multiple transponders.

With the arrangement according to the invention, a monitoring functionality can be achieved. If the packaging is stored in the vicinity of a transponder base station, it can be detected via the transponder chip which capsules are closed with an intact film and thus still contain the material. This information is provided by the Transponder chip determined by resistance measurements or Durchgangs¬ examination of the individual interconnects.

The value can be read out via the transponder base station and used for other applications, such as reminder for taking medication, for forwarding goods, etc.

According to a further embodiment, a transponder can be used in a blister pack to deliver a drug in e.g. B. in the delivery in a home box to capture and provide the information regarding the delivery in a connected network.

A status signal may alternatively be output as an acoustic or optical signal. Likewise, a wire-bound forwarding is possible.

For example, for standardized blister packs, a separate film can be provided, which has according to the arrangement of the blister of the blister pack, electrically conductive areas and a monitoring device. In this way, a manufacturer has the possibility to seal blister packs with a film according to the present invention for special requirements and blister packs with a conventional film without monitoring function for normal requirements. It is also possible to provide films with electrically conductive areas, but without monitoring device. In this case, the film has an additional contact, which allows a connection between the electrically conductive regions of the film and a monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device is arranged in this case not on the film but for example on a blister.

Claims

claims

1. Blister pack with the following features:

a film (104; 104 '; 304; 404; 504) for closing a blister (102; 302; 402a, 402b; 502a, 502b) of the blister pack (100; 100'; 300; 400; 500), wherein the Film has an electrically conductive region (106; 306; 506a, 506b); and

a monitoring device (108; 308; 408; 508) which is designed to indicate, depending on an electrical characteristic of the conductive region, whether the blister is in a state closed by the film or in an opened state.

A blister pack (100 ') according to claim 1, wherein the conductive region (106') is partially or completely interrupted in an open state.

A blister pack according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the monitoring means (108; 308; 408; 508) is connected to the conductive area (106; 306; 506a, 506b) and adapted to determine the electrical power shaft To generate current flow in the electrically conductive region.

4. blister pack according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the conductive region (306) is connected to the Überwa¬ chung device (308) and is adapted to receive an electromagnetic signal which, for determining the electrical operating shaft, a current in induced in the conductive region.

A blister pack according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the monitoring means (108; 308; 408; 508) is adapted to transmit the electrical characteristic to determine a continuity measurement or a resistance measurement.

A blister pack according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the monitoring means (308; 508) includes

A transponder having an antenna (310; 510) for transmitting a state signal (532), the state signal being configured to indicate a state of the blister (302; 502a, 502b).

A blister pack according to claim 6, wherein the antenna (310) is integrated in the film (304).

8. Blister pack according to claim 6, wherein the monitoring device (508) is designed to receive a readout signal (530) and to send the status signal (532) in response to the readout signal.

9. Blister pack according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the antenna (310; 510) is designed to supply the monitoring device with a supply voltage in response to a received electromagnetic field.

A blister pack according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the conductive region (306) is a conductive trace.

11. The blister pack according to claim 10, wherein the conductor track (306) is vapor-deposited or printed on the film (304).

12. Blister pack according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the conductive region is a conductive plastic.

13. Blister pack according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the conductive region (306) has a predetermined breaking point le.

14. Film for closing a blister pack blister pack with the following features:

an electrically conductive area; and

a monitoring device which is designed to indicate, depending on an electrical property of the conductive region, whether the blister is in a state closed by the film or in an opened state.

15. A method of monitoring a blister pack, the blister pack comprising a film for closing a blister pack blister, and wherein the film has an electrically conductive region, comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring an electrical property of the conductive region; and

b) indicating whether the blister is in a state closed by the film or in an opened state, depending on the electrical property of the conductive region.