CA2719054A1 - A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board - Google Patents
A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2719054A1 CA2719054A1 CA 2719054 CA2719054A CA2719054A1 CA 2719054 A1 CA2719054 A1 CA 2719054A1 CA 2719054 CA2719054 CA 2719054 CA 2719054 A CA2719054 A CA 2719054A CA 2719054 A1 CA2719054 A1 CA 2719054A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tag
- package
- grid
- layer
- content use
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims abstract 2
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 229940079593 drug Drugs 0.000 description 6
- 239000003814 drug Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000011087 paperboard Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229920002799 BoPET Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000005041 Mylar™ Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000996 additive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007646 gravure printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000010354 integration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012806 monitoring device Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000007645 offset printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012858 packaging process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007650 screen-printing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/28—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
- B65D75/30—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
- B65D75/32—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents
- B65D75/36—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents one sheet or blank being recessed and the other formed of relatively stiff flat sheet material, e.g. blister packages, the recess or recesses being preformed
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
- A61J1/03—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets
- A61J1/035—Blister-type containers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/02—Pill counting devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0481—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers working on a schedule basis
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/50—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
- B65B11/50—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins
- B65B11/52—Enclosing articles, or quantities of material, by disposing contents between two sheets, e.g. pocketed sheets, and securing their opposed free margins one sheet being rendered plastic, e.g. by heating, and forced by fluid pressure, e.g. vacuum, into engagement with the other sheet and contents, e.g. skin-, blister-, or bubble- packaging
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B69/00—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for
- B65B69/005—Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for by expelling contents, e.g. by squeezing the container
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
- B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
- B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
- B65D75/52—Details
- B65D75/54—Cards, coupons, or other inserts or accessories
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01V—GEOPHYSICS; GRAVITATIONAL MEASUREMENTS; DETECTING MASSES OR OBJECTS; TAGS
- G01V15/00—Tags attached to, or associated with, an object, in order to enable detection of the object
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J2200/00—General characteristics or adaptations
- A61J2200/30—Compliance analysis for taking medication
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0418—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with electronic history memory
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
- A61J7/04—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
- A61J7/0409—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers
- A61J7/0427—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
- A61J7/0436—Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers with timers with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system resulting from removing a drug from, or opening, a container
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/49815—Disassembling
- Y10T29/49822—Disassembling by applying force
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Composite Materials (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Geophysics (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
- Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
- Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
Abstract
There is provided a content use monitoring package and method of making the same.
The package includes a cover layer followed by a blister pack layer. The third layer includes a flex circuit connector having an electronic sensor monitoring tag attached to a rupturable layer imprinted with a conductive grid so as to ensure precise and reliable electrical continuity between the tag and the grid. The tag includes re-usable electronic circuitry and a power source. The grid is printed on a substrate and is aligned with associated blisters in the blister pack. The fourth and bottom layer is a backing which contains a mechanism to tear open the package and remove the flex circuit connector. Once removed, the tag can then be easily separated from the substrate for re-use of the tag.
The package includes a cover layer followed by a blister pack layer. The third layer includes a flex circuit connector having an electronic sensor monitoring tag attached to a rupturable layer imprinted with a conductive grid so as to ensure precise and reliable electrical continuity between the tag and the grid. The tag includes re-usable electronic circuitry and a power source. The grid is printed on a substrate and is aligned with associated blisters in the blister pack. The fourth and bottom layer is a backing which contains a mechanism to tear open the package and remove the flex circuit connector. Once removed, the tag can then be easily separated from the substrate for re-use of the tag.
Description
A DISPOSABLE CONTENT USE MONITORING PACKAGE WITH A REMOVABLE
RE-USABLE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Alan Wilson, Michael Petersen, Ehrensvaerd Jakob and Grip Stina, amongst others, have described devices for monitoring, recording and downloading medication dispensing histories for blister packaged medication; see for example U.S. Patent Nos.
7,113,101, 7,178,417, 6,628,199, 6,244,462, 7,170,409, 6,616,035, 7,616,116 and 7,772,974 along with PCT application having publication number WO/20091135283. Also see Canadian application No. 2353350 and U.S. Publication Nos, 20070278285, 20080191174 and 20080053222.
Such devices broadly comprise sensor detecting/monitoring electronic tags, sensor grids printed with conductive ink, means of connecting the two and means of inserting the device in a pharmaceutical blister package.
Despite having been marketed and tested for ten years, the success of any current technology for medication monitoring of blister packages has been severely limited. A need has been identified for further refinements of such devices to address problems with the current technologies. These include:
= instability of conductive inks printed on paperboard substrates yielding unreliable electrical characteristics;
= tendency of printed conductive inks to crack under repeated deformation (bending) = cost of conductive inks = difficulty tearing or breaking the substrate with tablet expulsion = cost of the sensor monitoring tag = difficulty connecting the flexible substrate grid physically and electrically to the tag The pharmaceutical market wants a medication monitoring device that is:
= cheap = 100 percent reliable = fits seamlessly in the packaging process = is easy for the consumer to use = has a reusable electronic module = allows for the use of breakable substrates to facilitate consumer use = allows for the use of thin substrates to minimize package bulk SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the limitations of prior art and meets the criteria set forth herein. The invention contemplates in one aspect a means of attaching a sensor monitoring electronic tag to a printed flexible substrate so as to ensure precise and reliable electric continuity between the two. Tags can then be used to monitor either digital or analog printed grids.
Such means is also reversible to allow reuse of the tag with new printed grids in new packages, thereby reducing cost.
This means allows the use of ultra thin (e.g.: MylarTM, etc.) printed grid substrates facilitating consumer use by easy breaking of the substrate and grid by tablet expulsions from the associated blister. Such non paperboard substrates are humidity stable and give more reliable electrical characteristics to the printed grid.
RE-USABLE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BOARD
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Alan Wilson, Michael Petersen, Ehrensvaerd Jakob and Grip Stina, amongst others, have described devices for monitoring, recording and downloading medication dispensing histories for blister packaged medication; see for example U.S. Patent Nos.
7,113,101, 7,178,417, 6,628,199, 6,244,462, 7,170,409, 6,616,035, 7,616,116 and 7,772,974 along with PCT application having publication number WO/20091135283. Also see Canadian application No. 2353350 and U.S. Publication Nos, 20070278285, 20080191174 and 20080053222.
Such devices broadly comprise sensor detecting/monitoring electronic tags, sensor grids printed with conductive ink, means of connecting the two and means of inserting the device in a pharmaceutical blister package.
Despite having been marketed and tested for ten years, the success of any current technology for medication monitoring of blister packages has been severely limited. A need has been identified for further refinements of such devices to address problems with the current technologies. These include:
= instability of conductive inks printed on paperboard substrates yielding unreliable electrical characteristics;
= tendency of printed conductive inks to crack under repeated deformation (bending) = cost of conductive inks = difficulty tearing or breaking the substrate with tablet expulsion = cost of the sensor monitoring tag = difficulty connecting the flexible substrate grid physically and electrically to the tag The pharmaceutical market wants a medication monitoring device that is:
= cheap = 100 percent reliable = fits seamlessly in the packaging process = is easy for the consumer to use = has a reusable electronic module = allows for the use of breakable substrates to facilitate consumer use = allows for the use of thin substrates to minimize package bulk SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the limitations of prior art and meets the criteria set forth herein. The invention contemplates in one aspect a means of attaching a sensor monitoring electronic tag to a printed flexible substrate so as to ensure precise and reliable electric continuity between the two. Tags can then be used to monitor either digital or analog printed grids.
Such means is also reversible to allow reuse of the tag with new printed grids in new packages, thereby reducing cost.
This means allows the use of ultra thin (e.g.: MylarTM, etc.) printed grid substrates facilitating consumer use by easy breaking of the substrate and grid by tablet expulsions from the associated blister. Such non paperboard substrates are humidity stable and give more reliable electrical characteristics to the printed grid.
Thin substrates also contribute to easy consumer use by minimizing package size.
The present means uses a zero insertion force (ZIF) flex circuit connector to connect to the input pads of an electronic sensor monitoring tag and its matching unit to the o/p traces of a conductive grid printed on thin Mylar substrate. At the time of assembly the two components of the flex circuit connector are snapped together.
This confers major advantages to prior art:
1) Robust electrical continuity from grid to tag.
2) Precise alignment of electrical contacts permitting the use of multiple conducting traces for either digital or analog grid designs.
The present means uses a zero insertion force (ZIF) flex circuit connector to connect to the input pads of an electronic sensor monitoring tag and its matching unit to the o/p traces of a conductive grid printed on thin Mylar substrate. At the time of assembly the two components of the flex circuit connector are snapped together.
This confers major advantages to prior art:
1) Robust electrical continuity from grid to tag.
2) Precise alignment of electrical contacts permitting the use of multiple conducting traces for either digital or analog grid designs.
3) Accurate alignment facilitates thinner conducting traces for more complex blister package designs.
4) Thinner conducting traces save on the cost of conductive ink lowering package costs and reducing the cost to the environment.
5) After use blister package can be disassembled and tag separated from grid and reused with a new grid in a new package saving considerable cost (up to 99% if re-used 100 times).
6) Use of thin breakable grid substrate facilitates the breaking of the grid during table expulsion from the blister contributing to user friendliness.
7) Use of thin robustly attached grids contributes to seamless insertion into the blister package during assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the attached drawings in which:
Figures 1 shows the content use monitoring package in a disassembled state, showing each layer therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One embodiment of the present invention includes a content use monitoring package, such as used for monitoring the use of blister-packaged medication doses. The package has a removable re-usable electronic circuit board and also contains a rupturable layer imprinted with conducting and/or sensing circuitry printed thereon by additive conductive flexographic, inkjet, offset, gravure or screen printing methods. The circuitry is no thicker than 2 micron and typically less than 1 micron, available from Conductive Inkjet Technology. The circuitry is printed on a tough and resilient Mylar base material.
The removable re-usable electronic circuitry contains a power source, communication interface and/or RFID wireless interface antenna, central processor, and connector to the printed flexible circuit, such as a 2mm AMP-LATCH Tyco ribbon cable to rigid PCB connectors.
Preferably, the connectors, integrated circuit, battery and/or other devices on the removable electronic circuit shall not exceed the height of 2.5 mm so as to enable complete and seamless integration of the removable circuit into the consumer package.
The package also contains a means of easy access and removal of the electronic circuit after package content has been consumed, such as a pull-tab or other mechanism to tear open the package and remove the tag for re-use. Moreover, the battery can be replaced occasionally allowing even more frequent re-use of the circuit.
Figure 1 of the present invention shows the various layers of the package. The cover 10 or top layer is an easy seal paperboard or other similar material. This is followed by a blister pack 12 underneath containing medication, each blister aligned with each bubble in the cover 10. The third layer comprises a flex circuit connector that is made up of an electronic sensor monitoring tag having re-usable electronic circuitry and a power source 14 connected to a rupturable layer 16 imprinted with a conductive grid printed on a thin Mylar substrate or substrate made of similar material. The rupturable layer 16 is aligned with the associated blisters. The fourth and bottom layer is a backing made of easy seal paperboard or other similar material and which contains a pull-tab die cut 18 or other mechanism to tear open the package and remove the flex circuit connector. Once removed, the tag can then be easily separated from the grid for re-use of the tag.
It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variants can exist in the above-described material and package layout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the attached drawings in which:
Figures 1 shows the content use monitoring package in a disassembled state, showing each layer therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
One embodiment of the present invention includes a content use monitoring package, such as used for monitoring the use of blister-packaged medication doses. The package has a removable re-usable electronic circuit board and also contains a rupturable layer imprinted with conducting and/or sensing circuitry printed thereon by additive conductive flexographic, inkjet, offset, gravure or screen printing methods. The circuitry is no thicker than 2 micron and typically less than 1 micron, available from Conductive Inkjet Technology. The circuitry is printed on a tough and resilient Mylar base material.
The removable re-usable electronic circuitry contains a power source, communication interface and/or RFID wireless interface antenna, central processor, and connector to the printed flexible circuit, such as a 2mm AMP-LATCH Tyco ribbon cable to rigid PCB connectors.
Preferably, the connectors, integrated circuit, battery and/or other devices on the removable electronic circuit shall not exceed the height of 2.5 mm so as to enable complete and seamless integration of the removable circuit into the consumer package.
The package also contains a means of easy access and removal of the electronic circuit after package content has been consumed, such as a pull-tab or other mechanism to tear open the package and remove the tag for re-use. Moreover, the battery can be replaced occasionally allowing even more frequent re-use of the circuit.
Figure 1 of the present invention shows the various layers of the package. The cover 10 or top layer is an easy seal paperboard or other similar material. This is followed by a blister pack 12 underneath containing medication, each blister aligned with each bubble in the cover 10. The third layer comprises a flex circuit connector that is made up of an electronic sensor monitoring tag having re-usable electronic circuitry and a power source 14 connected to a rupturable layer 16 imprinted with a conductive grid printed on a thin Mylar substrate or substrate made of similar material. The rupturable layer 16 is aligned with the associated blisters. The fourth and bottom layer is a backing made of easy seal paperboard or other similar material and which contains a pull-tab die cut 18 or other mechanism to tear open the package and remove the flex circuit connector. Once removed, the tag can then be easily separated from the grid for re-use of the tag.
It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that variants can exist in the above-described material and package layout.
Claims (2)
1. A content use monitoring package as described in the description and shown in the drawing.
2. A method of making a content use monitoring package comprising the steps of:
aligning a blister pack with a cover having bubbles, so that the bubbles in the cover are aligned with the respective blisters in the blister pack;
connecting an electronic sensor monitoring tag having re-usable electronic circuitry and a power source to a conductive grid printed on a substrate to form a flex circuit connector;
arranging the flex circuit connector so that the conductive grid is aligned with the blisters;
obtaining a backing having punchable slots and an opening mechanism;
sealing the backing to the cover so that the slots are aligned with the bubbles and the opening mechanism is arranged to enable removal of the tag when the opening mechanism is opened.
aligning a blister pack with a cover having bubbles, so that the bubbles in the cover are aligned with the respective blisters in the blister pack;
connecting an electronic sensor monitoring tag having re-usable electronic circuitry and a power source to a conductive grid printed on a substrate to form a flex circuit connector;
arranging the flex circuit connector so that the conductive grid is aligned with the blisters;
obtaining a backing having punchable slots and an opening mechanism;
sealing the backing to the cover so that the slots are aligned with the bubbles and the opening mechanism is arranged to enable removal of the tag when the opening mechanism is opened.
Priority Applications (12)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA 2719054 CA2719054A1 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2010-10-27 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
DE112011103562.4T DE112011103562B4 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | Single-use monitoring package with removable reusable electronic circuit board |
CN201180052122.XA CN103249653B (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable reusable electronic circuit board |
PCT/CA2011/001189 WO2012055021A1 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
US13/881,782 US9101530B2 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | Disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
KR1020137010814A KR101462130B1 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
JP2013535217A JP5927620B2 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | Disposable contents use observation packaging using removable and reusable electrical circuit board |
EP11835388.7A EP2632819B1 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
CA2816103A CA2816103C (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
GB1309066.7A GB2498906B8 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
AU2011320064A AU2011320064B2 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
FI20135554A FI124605B (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2013-05-23 | Disposable Content Tracking Pack with Removable, Reusable Electronic Printed Circuit Board |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA 2719054 CA2719054A1 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2010-10-27 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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CA2719054A1 true CA2719054A1 (en) | 2012-04-27 |
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Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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CA 2719054 Abandoned CA2719054A1 (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2010-10-27 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
CA2816103A Active CA2816103C (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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CA2816103A Active CA2816103C (en) | 2010-10-27 | 2011-10-26 | A disposable content use monitoring package with a removable re-usable electronic circuit board |
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US (1) | US9101530B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2632819B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5927620B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101462130B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103249653B (en) |
AU (1) | AU2011320064B2 (en) |
CA (2) | CA2719054A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE112011103562B4 (en) |
FI (1) | FI124605B (en) |
GB (1) | GB2498906B8 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012055021A1 (en) |
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EP2977752A1 (en) * | 2014-07-25 | 2016-01-27 | Nallen Kylpyhuoneet ja Saunat Oy | System and method for measuring moisture in a structure |
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-
2010
- 2010-10-27 CA CA 2719054 patent/CA2719054A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2011
- 2011-10-26 WO PCT/CA2011/001189 patent/WO2012055021A1/en active Application Filing
- 2011-10-26 CA CA2816103A patent/CA2816103C/en active Active
- 2011-10-26 DE DE112011103562.4T patent/DE112011103562B4/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2011-10-26 JP JP2013535217A patent/JP5927620B2/en active Active
- 2011-10-26 EP EP11835388.7A patent/EP2632819B1/en active Active
- 2011-10-26 US US13/881,782 patent/US9101530B2/en active Active
- 2011-10-26 KR KR1020137010814A patent/KR101462130B1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2011-10-26 GB GB1309066.7A patent/GB2498906B8/en active Active
- 2011-10-26 CN CN201180052122.XA patent/CN103249653B/en active Active
- 2011-10-26 AU AU2011320064A patent/AU2011320064B2/en active Active
-
2013
- 2013-05-23 FI FI20135554A patent/FI124605B/en active IP Right Grant
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP2844582A4 (en) * | 2012-04-25 | 2016-07-06 | Intelligent Devices Sezc Inc | A smart package and monitoring system with indicator and method of making same |
US10278287B2 (en) | 2012-04-25 | 2019-04-30 | Intelligent Devices Sezc Inc. | Smart package and monitoring system with indicator and method of making same |
EP2977752A1 (en) * | 2014-07-25 | 2016-01-27 | Nallen Kylpyhuoneet ja Saunat Oy | System and method for measuring moisture in a structure |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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EP2632819A1 (en) | 2013-09-04 |
EP2632819B1 (en) | 2016-08-24 |
KR20140032339A (en) | 2014-03-14 |
CN103249653B (en) | 2015-01-28 |
GB2498906B (en) | 2015-09-09 |
WO2012055021A1 (en) | 2012-05-03 |
GB2498906A8 (en) | 2016-04-06 |
GB2498906B8 (en) | 2016-04-06 |
GB201309066D0 (en) | 2013-07-03 |
FI124605B (en) | 2014-10-31 |
DE112011103562T5 (en) | 2013-08-08 |
JP5927620B2 (en) | 2016-06-01 |
AU2011320064B2 (en) | 2014-07-17 |
AU2011320064A1 (en) | 2013-06-13 |
EP2632819A4 (en) | 2015-10-07 |
CA2816103C (en) | 2014-01-28 |
FI20135554A (en) | 2013-05-23 |
CA2816103A1 (en) | 2012-05-03 |
GB2498906A (en) | 2013-07-31 |
DE112011103562B4 (en) | 2017-05-04 |
CN103249653A (en) | 2013-08-14 |
US9101530B2 (en) | 2015-08-11 |
KR101462130B1 (en) | 2014-11-14 |
JP2013542143A (en) | 2013-11-21 |
US20150164741A1 (en) | 2015-06-18 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 20131029 |