AT524988A1 - Tablet blister with tablet removal indicator - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a conventional tablet storage and removal blister with a tearable, thin, approximately sheet-like base film and a cover film made of preferably transparent Polymer material with a number of 3D shapes adapted to the shapes of the tablets to be taken, preferably circular or oval, having a base edge, in particular edgeless, dome-shaped or hilly, deformable when pressure is applied. According to the invention, it is provided that for recording and monitoring the removal of tablets, at least one pressure sensor that enables electronic detection of this process is provided directly at the base edge of the elevation or in the vicinity thereof, at least one pressure sensor that enables each of the elevations to be pressed in when the tablets are released while at the same time tearing open the base film to form a removal opening arranged or incorporated into the cover film itself, which in turn is electrically connected to a multiple contact element that can be connected to a corresponding pressure detection device by means of each of the elevations and their pressure sensor(s) associated conductor tracks, excluding any contact with the base film if this is metallic.

Description

A lack of adherence is in itself a multifactorial problem and is influenced by a wide variety of social, societal, health-economic, therapy-specific and patient-relevant factors.

So far, various methods and strategies have been developed and tested to measure and improve medication intake and regularity.

However, there is still no gold standard in this area.

A promising approach to measuring adherence is to record the time of pill collection electronically by a device or system programmed to respond

capture.

However, a hitherto unsolved challenge for such a system for recording the withdrawal of medication consists in the variety of different medication blisters. Similar to the geometric shape of the tablets, these blisters differ in shape, size and number of tablets per blister depending on the drug manufacturer and drug type. The changes and design variants of the _medicament packaging for a desired

Standard solution lead to additional costs for the pharmaceutical companies.

There is currently no “gold standard” for recording adherence. Numerous different methods have already been developed and are used in studies. Direct measurement methods for determining adherence are usually carried out using biological markers in body fluids, primarily in blood or urine. However, these methods are very complex and expensive and are not scalable and feasible for larger populations.

Furthermore, the direct recording of a specific tablet removal is possible using printed conductor tracks. This latter method is already state of the art. When the tablet is removed, a specific conductor track is destroyed and the resulting change in resistance, voltage or current can therefore be recorded

will.

The aim of the present invention is to search for a simple, but nevertheless effective detection of the tablet removal—both the number and the point in time—and to find it.

The subject matter of the invention is a new tablet or pill storage and removal blister with a preferably planar, locally tearable, thin, in particular metallic, approximately thin sheet-like, plastic or paper-based base film and materially bonded to the same effectively over the entire surface and adapted to its overall shape or similarly shaped cover film, also thin and permanently or reboundably deformable by applying finger pressure, made of preferably transparent polymer material with at least one, in particular with a plurality of, the shape(s) of the tablet(s) or pill(s) to be taken adapted 3D shape having / n, preferably circular or oval, having base edge / n, in particular edgeless / n dome or hill-like / n when pressure is exerted as above deformable / n survey / s, which is characterized in that for a, in particular temporal, registration and control of tablet or pill removal , in particular directly at the base edge of each elevation or at the edge of the removal recess or in the immediate vicinity of the same, the pressing of each elevation in the course of the tablet or pill release taking place with simultaneous tearing of the base film to form a removal opening at least one , an electronic detection of this process enabling, almost or actually complete, sectoral or essentially punctiform pressure sensor arranged

The tablet removal is therefore detected by means of at least one pressure sensor, which is located on or around each of the removal recesses or

Removal points of the individual tablets of a medication blister is arranged.

As discussed above, there is no standard for the design of medication blisters. Depending on the medication, the blisters differ in shape, size and/or number of tablets.

This problem therefore required a simple, scalable solution that could be produced as inexpensively as possible. The pressure sensors are therefore to be adapted to the specific type of embodiment of the medication blister.

According to the invention, pressure sensors are arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically in sectors around the removal holes to detect the removal of tablets from a specific blister. The pressure sensors are specially arranged and designed depending on the blister and shape, number of tablets and their size. The structure of the pressure sensors corresponds to that of the Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR). The change in the current or voltage signal when pressure is exerted on one of the elevations and thus on the tablet and thus also on the base film is determined by means of electronics (ADC).

For this purpose, it can be determined in a simple manner whether and/or when a tablet was removed and possibly also with what force.

The essential features of the invention are summarized below: To record the removal of tablets from a medication blister are according to

present invention arranged within or around the extraction holes or extraction points pressure sensors.

The pressure sensor of a bleed hole can, but does not have to be exclusively,

be fully implemented.

Both a single pressure sensor and several individually listed pressure sensors on the removal dome edges or points can be used to record the removal of tablets, i.e. these can be designed as at least one sector or point pressure sensor.

The individual pressure sensors around the extraction hole can be connected in parallel or in series

be wired.

If necessary, all pressure sensors of the medication blister can be replaced by one

be connected to a common return conductor.

The number of pills on the medication blister is not relevant to the type of real design of the pressure sensor.

However, the overall design depends on the shape of the medication blister and the number of tablets.

Provision can be made, for example, for each of the pressure sensors to be vapour-deposited onto the elevations in the vicinity of their edge, in particular on the inside.

As such, there are almost no limits to the shape of the base edges of the yields; It is favorable if the base edge of the elevation/s or the edge of the pill-removal recess/s has a rectangular, square or, in particular regular, polygonal configuration.

It is also provided that the individual pressure sensors of the blister are connected in parallel or in series.

In this case, if necessary all, pressure sensors of the blister can be connected to a common return conductor.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the / the pressure sensor / s and the conductor tracks on the outside of the base film or underside of the medication blister applied, in particular printed or vapor-deposited, is / are, the same / s in the case of a metallic Base film is protected against the same out by an insulating layer against electrical contact / 'are.

A further variant provides that the pressure sensor(s) and the conductor tracks are applied to an adhesive film, preferably on the adhesive side, and the same is attached to the outer or Underside of the base film or underside of the drug blister is bound flat.

Last but not least, it should be mentioned that, in particular to reduce waste, the pressure sensor(s) and the conductor tracks are/are arranged on a printed circuit board that is coated on one side with multiple-time adhesive and is separate from the medication blister and has recesses that correspond to the pill removal recesses in the medication blister Circuit board for the controlled removal of the pills or tablets can be bonded over the entire surface to the underside of the medication blister and can be detached from the medication blister and reused after the pills or tablets have been used up.

In this sense, a circuit board is advantageous which is built in such a way that it is equipped with pressure sensors, conductor tracks connected to them and multi-conductor contact elements for connection to a pressure exertion detection device, with the functional elements mentioned on the circuit board corresponding to the respective individual design of the medication blister.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawings: FIG. 1 shows a top view of a medication blister according to the invention with ten elevations, FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through one of its elevations, and FIG. 3a

to 3d each in plan view of a survey the different possibilities of the arrangement of the pressure sensors at the edge thereof, the Fig. 4 schematically a

1 shows the cover film 12 with the approximately dome-like elevations 120 formed from the same, which cover film 12 is materially bonded to the base film 11 at the points where no elevation 120 is provided for receiving a tablet. A tablet 4 is arranged within the elevation 120 .

In the immediate vicinity of the base edge 121 of each of the elevations 120 or the edge 111 of the tablet-removal recesses 110, two short and one longer, ring-sector-like pressure sensors 3', 3 are arranged here — each separately from one another — and at least one conductor track 31 emanates from each of them. In addition, all pressure sensors 3.3' are connected to a common return conductor 31'.

All conductor tracks 31, 31' lead to a common plug-in element 30 which can be connected to an electronic tablet-removal elevation element--not shown here.

The edge of the tablet removal opening 110 in the base film 11 is denoted by reference number 111 .

It can be seen from FIG. 2--while the meaning of the reference numerals otherwise remains the same--where the pressure sensor 3 is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the base edge 121 of the elevation 120 or the edge 111 of the tablet-removal recesses 110. Furthermore, between the base film 11 and the cover film 12 there is an intermediate film 13 with a conductor track 31 integrated therein—bonded to these two films over a large area.

The underside of the cover film 12 is denoted by 125 and the underside or outside of the base film 11 or the medication blister is denoted by 115.

3a to 3c show—with otherwise the same reference numbers—four possible arrangements and configurations of the pressure sensors 3, 3′, 3″, specifically in the form of a ring around the entire circumference of the removal recess 110, in a ring sector or essentially in a point-like manner.

As already shown in FIG. 1, several pressure sensors 3, 3′, 3″ of different design and arrangement can be provided on a medication blister 100

be. In this regard, reference is made to FIG. 4, which—with the meaning of reference symbols otherwise remaining the same—schematically shows the interconnection of different

Pressure sensors 3, 3', 3", as can be arranged, for example, on a circuit board for actuating the new medication blister 100.

5 shows - with the meaning of the reference numerals otherwise remaining the same - a section through a new medication blister 100, in which case the pressure sensor conductor track structure 3, 3', 31, 31' is applied directly to the underside 115 of a base film 11, e.g. made of a non-conductive material.

However, it can also be provided that this structure is arranged on a film that is bonded flat to the underside of the medication blister 100 .

Furthermore, this structure can also be arranged on a board that is separate from the medication blister 100 and is provided with a multiple-use adhesive and can be used several times subsequently put into use

Medication blister 100 can be re-adhesive on the underside.

FIG. 5 also shows various common shapes of tablet removal recesses 110, namely square, circular and oval.

Finally, FIG. 6 shows—with the meaning of the reference symbols otherwise remaining the same—a section through a medication blister 100, the sensor conductor track structure 3, 3′, 31, 31° being arranged there directly between the cover film 12 and the base film 11.

Claims (10)

1. Tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) with, preferably flat, locally tearable, thin, in particular metallic, approximately thin sheet-like, plastic or paper-based base film (11) and materially connected to it effectively over the entire surface cover film (12) of preferably transparent polymer material with at least one, in particular with a plurality of, the shape(s) of the tablet/ n or pill(s) having an adapted 3D shape, preferably circular or oval, base edge (121) having, in particular edgeless, dome- or hill-like elevation(s) (120 ), characterized, - That for a, in particular temporal, detection and control of tablet or pill removal, in particular directly at the base edge (121) of each elevation (120) or at the edge (111) of the removal recess (110) or in the immediate Near the same area, the pressing in of each elevation (120) in the course of the respective tablet or pill release with simultaneous tearing of the base film (11) to form a removal opening at least one, an electronic recording of this process enables, almost or actually completely sectoral or essentially punctiform pressure sensor (3, 3', 3") is arranged or incorporated into the cover film (12) itself, which in turn has its own conductor track(s) (31, 31°) assigned by means of the or each of the elevation(s) (120) and their pressure sensor(s) (3, 3′, 3″)—while avoiding any electrical short-circuiting Contacts in the case of a metallic base film (11), for example by means of its own intermediate film (13) - is electrically connected to a multiple contact element (30) which can be connected to a corresponding pressure detection device. 2, tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the pressure sensors (3) on the surveys (120) in the vicinity of the base edge (121), preferably on the inside, vapour-deposited. 3. tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the base edge (121) of 4. Tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the individual pressure sensors (3, 3 ', 3 ") of the blister (100) parallel or in are connected in series. 5. tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, optionally all, pressure sensors (3, 3 ', 3 ") of the blister (100). connected to a common return conductor (31°). 6. tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the of the pressure sensors (3, 3 ') leading away conductor tracks (31, 31') and preferably the pressure sensors (3, 3', 3”) are also arranged in a separate, non-conductive intermediate film (112) between the cover film (12) and base film (11) or are worked into or integrated directly into the cover film (12) itself. 7. Tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pressure sensor(s) (3, 3', 3") and the conductor tracks (31 , 31 ') on the outside (115) of the base film (11) or underside of the medication blister (100), in particular printed or vapor-deposited, is / are, the same / n in the case of a metallic base film (11) against the same is protected towards by an insulating layer against electrical contact / 'are. 8. Tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pressure sensor(s) (3, 3', 3") and the conductor tracks (31 , 31') on an adhesive film, preferably on the adhesive side, and the same is bonded flat to the outside or underside (115) of the base film (11) or underside of the medication blister (100). 9. Tablet or pill storage and removal blister (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pressure sensor(s) (3, 3', 3") and the conductor tracks (31 , 31') on a printed circuit board which is coated on one side with multiple-time adhesive and is separate from the medication blister (100) and has recesses which correspond to the pill removal recesses (110) of the medication blister (100). 10. Circuit board for controlling the removal of pills or tablets from a medication blister (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the same is equipped with pressure sensors (3, 3', 3"), conductor tracks ( 31, 31') and multi-conductor contact element (30) for connection to a pressure exertion detection device, the functional elements mentioned being arranged on the circuit board in accordance with the respective, individual design of the medication blister (100).