S&F Ref: 934373D1 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Name and Address Darren Small, of Applicant: of P 0 Box 912, Castle Hill, New South Wales, 2154, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Darren Small Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A blister pack The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5843c(3 122435_1) 1 A BLISTER PACK Field of the Invention The present invention relates to blister packs and in particular to a blister pack and a method of assembling the blister pack to seal medications or other small items in a s tamper evident form. Background of the Invention A blister pack is typically a bi-fold card having one side with cavities or holes in which a sheet of pockets (or blisters) is inserted and the other side being a sheet layer with a backing layer to seal the pocket or cavity. Several blister packs are typically housed in to a box for use by a consumer. Each blister pack may contain a variety of medicines or items. When administering medications it is important to take the right medication at the correct time and in order of days assigned. Accordingly, the use of plastic containers having date markings has been utilized to give a visual indication of when to take a medicine and on what day and time. Later blister packs in a card form were developed. is The cards having printed on them a visual indication of when to take a medicine on what day. There were problems with such cards and containers in that they were not tamper proof. Also, blister packs were placed in plastic sleeves that could be reused. There is a need for a blister pack that improves compliance and safety and is also completely disposable. 20 Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention 25 The present invention in one aspect is designed to seal medications or other small items into a blister or blister pack product with a tamper evident seal.
2 There is disclosed herein a blister pack to provide a disposable tamper evident dose administration aid, said pack including only three discrete layers: a first sheet layer, the first sheet layer being of card material and having a plurality of holes; s a backing sheet layer securable to the first sheet layer; a plurality of pockets having an end extending at least partly through the holes of the first sheet layer, said pockets being provided to receive a medicament in use; a third sheet layer of foil material to be secured to said backing sheet layer so as to at least substantially close the pockets when said first sheet layer is secured to said to backing sheet layer, said third sheet layer providing tamper evidence to said pack, and wherein: the first and backing sheet layers include a series of complimentary four by seven holes, said third sheet layer being ruptured by application of pressure applied by a user to the end of the pocket to dispense a said medicament through a respective said hole 15 and backing sheet layer. Preferably, wherein the backing sheet includes card material. Preferably, wherein the pockets are in the shape of an oblong or oval. There is further disclosed herein a method of manufacturing a blister pack to provide a disposable tamper evident dose administration aid, said pack including only 20 three discrete layers; said method including the steps of: providing a first sheet layer of card material having a series of holes; fitting a plurality of pockets into respective holes so that an end of said pockets at least partly extends through the holes of the first sheet layer; adhere said pockets to said first sheet layer; 25 placing a medicament in one or more said pockets; fitting a third sheet layer of foil material to a backing sheet layer; said backing and first sheet layers having a series of complimentary four by seven holes, said third sheet layer providing tamper evidence to said pack; adhering said backing sheet layer to said first sheet layer so that said third sheet 30 layer at least substantially closes said pockets; and wherein said method seals said medicaments in said pockets to provide a tamper evident seal, to be ruptured in use by application of pressure applied by a user to the end 3 of the pocket to dispense a medicament through a respective hole and said backing sheet layer. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way 5 of an example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a top view of an aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a top view of another aspect of the present invention; Figure 3 is a top view of another aspect of the present invention; Figure 4 is a top view of another aspect of the present invention; and 10 Figure 5 is shows the front view of an end product of the present invention. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments There is schematically depicted in the accompanying drawings, a blister pack I to provide a disposable tamper evident dose administration aid designed to manage medication regimes safely. The pack I includes a first sheet of card material 5, the card 5 is having a plurality of holes 10 extending therethrough. The holes 10 can be of any size and shape however, are particularly suited to oval or oblong. The card 5 can be of any card like material. A plurality of blisters or pockets 15 extend at least partly through the holes 10 so that a part of each pocket 15 protrudes away from the card 5. A backing sheet 20 is securable by an adhesive or the like to the card 5 in use. A sheet layer of for 20 example foil 25 or the like (see Figure 3) is secured to said backing sheet 20 and covers the holes 10 and is adhesively applied to the backing sheet 20 about the area of the holes 10 to form a tamper evident seal over the holes 10 to close off the pockets 15 and lock in medicines 30 located in the pockets 15. In one form, the backing sheet 20 can also include card material or the like and include perforations or holes. A cover sheet 40 could 25 also be provided at initial assembly.
4 The present invention in one aspect can be provided in versions of a single blister or a set of 4 blisters 15, a set of 28 blisters for 1 full week and a set of 56 blisters for 2 weeks medication. For example, there could be a series of 4 columns by 7 rows of holes 10 to provide 28 blisters or 8 by 7 to provide 56 blisters. 5 The present invention in the preferred embodiment is constructed firstly from a cardboard sheet 5 having a series of holes 10. The holes 10 each then receive a plastic blister pocket or blister 15 which in use holds the medicine 30 or items in place. The blister pocket 15 can be individual or made as a sheet of two or more pockets 15. A back sheet 20 is then placed over the holes 10 and pockets 15 to enclose the medicinal items 10 30. In the preferred form, the back sheet 20 cooperates with a foil layer 25 to close off the pockets 15. The foil 25 provides an air tight seal and reduces moisture permeation. The foil 25 may however be attached directly to the first sheet 5. The pack I could be manufactured in a range of materials which would allow for visual identification of the enclosed medications 30, and allow non compromise of medication integrity. The is assembly could also be conducted using a platen 50 or other such assembly device. The areas over the pockets 15 are adhesive free to ensure tablets or other medicines 30 do not come in contact with adhesive. The back sheet 20 and foil 25 are ruptured by the user applying pressure breaking the foil 25 releasing the medication 30 for dispensing and consumption through the back sheet 20. 20 The present invention therefore in one aspect effectively manages medication regimes for use in the community, for discharge medications from hospitals and facilities, in nursing homes, hostels, aged care and other group home facilities, in custodial situations such as Police Stations, Correctional Facilities, Gaols or the like. In these environments, the present invention can assist in the minimization of the spread of 25 infection when used in facilities such as nursing homes, aged care and group homes for disabled etc. The present invention can also assist individuals to maintain their independence through effective management of medication regimes. Labels can be applied to indicate days, weeks, times or even parts of days for medication to be taken. Also dose and special advisory labels, plus patient details, 30 medication descriptions, allergy details, facility details, pharmacy details, for example.
5 In alternate embodiments the pack I is constructed from a cardboard folder 5 split in two and folded together. That is, the sheets 5, 20 can be a bi-fold. However, could include a paper back and foil sections 20, 25 and plastic blisters 15 or any combination thereof. Each of the layers 20, 25 could also include perforations or holes to 5 assist with the removal of the medications 30. The Figures also show a variety of blister configurations which are available, however these Figures do not limit other combinations or shapes. Advantageously, the present invention at least in a preferred embodiment can seal medications 30 or other small items into a blister or blister pack I which is tamper 10 evident. These could be single units of 1 blister 15 in various configurations with up to 28 blisters. The blisters 15 can be oval, dome, rectangular, square, round, oblong and any other shape which may suit the purpose in a complete variety of sizes. It should however, be noted that any number of blisters could be used for example, 56 blisters. The backing sheet 20 may have a plurality of holes 10 which are to be at least partly aligned with the is holes 10 of the first sheet 5. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.