EP1794056B1 - Device for the individual packaging of tablets in a multi-dose system - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for the individual packaging of pharmaceutical tablets comprising a charging template (1) with recesses (5) for receiving tablets (11) of dosage at given times, the recesses (5) have recess bases (6) for openable by a displaceable arranged control template (2) to pass on the tablet (11), a tablet container (3), physically arranged below the charging template (1) such as to be displaced relative to the charging template (1) and having compartments for transfer of the tablets (11), and a weighing scale positioned beneath the charging template (1) and above the tablet container (3) for checking the weight of the tablets (11) assigned to the charging template (1).

Description

The invention relates to a device for individual packaging of drug tablets according to the preamble of claim 1. The term "drug tablets" in the following context solid oral dosage forms, ie whole or parts of tablets, dragees, film-coated tablets, capsules, etc. Im These are always (also) meant when talking about "tablets".

In the treatment of nursing home residents and other elderly or chronically ill citizens, the problem arises that often at different times of the day several drugs must be taken. For nursing home residents, the medication is provided by the nursing staff. This work is generally not much appreciated by caregivers because the work is time consuming and error prone. Therefore, there is the individual packaging already in pharmacies, where tailored to the persons concerned individual packs, generally for a week, so-called weekly pack, are produced. The reading of the individual tablets by hand is not only expensive, the corresponding costs are not covered by the trading range of the drugs, but also prone to error.

Out GB 2177074 A a device for individual packaging of drug tablets is known, to which a loading template with at least one nest belongs to the defined insertion of tablets to be taken on given days and / or times of the day. The respective nest has an openable nest floor for forwarding the inserted tablets. In addition, the known includes Device comprises a spatially under the assembly template relative to this slidably arranged tablet container, which has to be brought to the nest floor to cover, certain days and / or times of the day associated tablet compartments to take over the existing in the nest tablets. However, the known device is provided only for a unit-dose system and not for a targeted in the present multi-dose system.

One speaks of a multi-dose system when different tablets in individual compartments of a tablet container individually for a particular person and for a longer period of use, eg. As a week, be prepared. The opposite is a unit dose system with only a single sort of tablets in a tablet pack. The term "tablet compartment" is to be understood in the present context in general, it also includes, for example, tablet sachets.

In the context of the invention, tablet containers come before all medicament cartridges, preferably with folding or sliding lids (lower lids), or tablet blisters (likewise with a large number of tablet compartments). The blisters, whose compartments are generally sealed with a peelable sealing film, are usually disposable packaging.

The invention has for its object to provide a device that makes it possible to rationalize the production of tailored to each person a specific person individual packaging and, in particular with the help of a computerized control, to exclude a wrong equipment.

For the above-mentioned device for individual packaging of tablets, the invention is described in claim 1.

Some improvements and further developments of the invention are given in the subclaims.

The area of the device according to the invention, in which tablets are inserted into the nests and then transferred from the loading template into a tablet container, can also be referred to as a loading area (or tablet feeding station). Preferably, the loading area should already comprise all means for preventing incorrect loading. If several and / or different tablets are to be inserted into a nest, a corresponding number of feed passages should follow one another in the feed area. After finding the correct and complete loading of a tablet container this is a packaging station, fed and sealed. If it is a tablet blister, this can be brought into a sealing station, in particular heat-sealing station.

The assembly template according to the invention usually has seven nest columns for inserting tablets for the seven days of a week and four or five rows of nests corresponding to the times of the day. Preferably, in each pass or operation, only one row of nests with only the same tablets, ie with only one and the same type of tablet, and only for a time of day (morning - sober and / or after breakfast -, noon, evening or night) supplies. Per pass, each nest is to receive zero or one tablet (one piece).

In order to avoid mishandling, according to another invention it may additionally be advantageous to indicate on the one hand which nest to feed, since it happens that a drug need not be taken every day, and on the other hand to check whether the individual tablet got into the right nest. In order to prevent a tablet from being inserted where it is not intended to be ingested, each nest can be individually closed so that it is only possible to insert a tablet on the days when the medication is to be administered at the time of administration ,

It can also be detected with a light barrier, whether a tablet has gotten into a nest, in which it does not belong. Then an alarm can be triggered via EDP and the further charging process paused until this tablet has been removed again. For the display comes an LED light or the like at each nest, for the control of whether a tablet has been inserted, photocells, preferably at or in each nest, and / or a scale in question. The respective photocell should preferably be switched so that the LED light goes out when a tablet gets into a nest. If one tablet falls too far into a nest, it becomes apparent by activating the balance. This ensures that everyone Completely - as prescribed by the doctor - get exactly zero or one tablet into each nest of a nest row or each compartment of a blister tray row. According to this, two or more passes are required per nest or tray row if two or more tablets are to be placed in at least one tray. Of course, a new pass will also be required for a new type of tablet.

The nests of the assembly template according to the invention have trays that can be opened to empty the nests in the compartments of a placed below the tablet container. The respective tablet container and the charging template are positioned relative to one another so that the tablets inserted into the respective nests fall exactly into the tablet compartments of the container, which correspond to the initially predetermined administration time. For adjusting the respective relative movement, small electric motors are suitable. In principle, it is within the scope of the invention to supply the nests and thus the tablet compartments on a daily or daily basis (i.e., in rows or columns or even individually).

For opening and closing the nest floors, a control template is preferred within the scope of the invention, which closes the nest floors in one position and has openings which are to be brought into a different position with the nests to coincide, so that the passage from the nest into the optionally underneath positioned tablet compartment is released.

In order to check whether - after inserting the tablets - the nests of a row (or column) or the corresponding tablet compartments are equipped with the right number of tablets, the assembly template or the tablet container is assigned a (fine) balance. The balance can be used to check whether exactly the right number of tablets has been inserted in the respective passage.

In order to avoid misadjustments, it may be favorable according to another invention to make the tablet container so that it is only defined in a single, defined Position in the process is to introduce. This configuration can preferably be realized by different dimensions of the tablet compartments (cavities) for individual administration times or other geometric features of the container.

In the context of the invention, it may be beneficial to form the respective nest floor as a weighing pan. Since the scale used must be extremely sensitive, there may be a delay in weight determination when the nest and / or the inserted tablet is exposed to draft. This may possibly falsify the determined weight value. According to a further invention, this problem is solved by providing, before the respective weighing is triggered, a cover, e.g. made of glass, over which nests are driven. Then a breeze can no longer influence the weight measurement. If necessary, the weighing process is triggered after covering the nests. If the weight is correct, the loading template is displaced together with the cover for transferring the tablets in the tablet container relative to the control template. This has the added advantage that during the transfer process, there are still no objects that can not be thrown into the container; the said nest cover thus also constitutes a sabotage safeguard or incorrect assembly assurance. If the result of the weighing is that the prescribed weight is not present, an alarm is triggered and the cover is returned to correct the contents of the nests.

The invention provides a device for individual packaging of tablets, which is designed so that it is accessible to a computerized control. For this purpose, a computer can be fed with the relevant data (eg name and medication) of each individual patient. In addition, each individual preparation (each type of tablet) can be detected by the computer during feeding, for example by scanning. The computer can then control the entire system or regulate, for example, the lights and photocells on said nests, the respective scale and the drives for relative movement of the various components of the invention Device and optionally the mechanical supply and removal of the tablets to be distributed.

If now exactly all (possibly different) tablets, which should take the respective patient in the week (or in the other period prepared) to have been filled in the tablet container, the latter is closed. If it is a blister, this is brought from the loading station to a packaging station, preferably designed with a heat-sealing station. On the tablet container, preferably individually on each tablet compartment, a label, for example, on a sealing foil, are applied, which should contain the name of the patient, the intake date and / or the time of administration for each administration time. In addition, a drug documentation is preferably separable, e.g. with perforation, attached to the finished tablet container.

To optionally guarantee a prescribed position of the sealing film on the blister, it may be advantageous according to yet another invention to provide the sealing film with positioning. Preferably, for this purpose dowel pins can be used, which are located in the blister holder for the sealing process. Optionally, there should be punched holes in the (separable) sides of the sealing foil, which correspond with the dowel pins. When placing the film, the punched holes are placed on the dowel pins, so that all films are positioned in exactly the same way. After the sealing process, the positioning aids can be separated.

The above documentation may, for example, on page 1, reveal the patient's address and the complete intake plan including any non-packaged preparations (injectables, juices, drops, ointments, suppositories, etc.). The separately administered drugs can, for example, highlighted in color. The documentation may also contain, for example on page 2, illustrations of all the tablets in the container, their dimensions and weights. If necessary, then, if the doctor has changed the continuous medication, individual tablets are taken specifically before administration.

In addition, the documentation (e.g., on page 3) may leave room for entering patient measurements (e.g., blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.). Finally, the documentation (e.g., page 4) may briefly list all known adverse drug reactions from the patient's total medication. After removal from the tablet container, the documentation should preferably be filed in the patient's file or fixed on his bed or in his room.

According to a further invention, the delivery and removal of the tablets to / from the loading area of the loading stencil may be effected mechanically, e.g. Computer-controlled - for example, by a storage robot or picking machines - done. In this operation, the tablets of a preparation - even loosely - in a special (preferably airtight) storage containers are located, the mechanically open after insertion into the loading area after reaching the intended position and after the completion of each dosing passage again airtight to close and should be transported automatically.

The individual parts of the entire unit of the device according to the invention with assembly template and optionally control template with the respective displacement drives, positioning of the tablet container and balance have specified, certain spatial assignment with respect to each other and can be installed in a table so that there is an ergonomically full-fledged workplace. The apparatus may be associated with a computer system for control, a printer for printing the labels, in particular blister sheets, and for producing said documentation and one or more scanners for detecting the entry and exit of the drugs.

According to yet another invention, the part of the packaging work, - in the context of the above-mentioned task, to exclude a false assembly, - is also carried out manually, preferably - at least in a smaller operation, such as in a pharmacy - edited by hand. Optionally, the tablet container is inserted by hand in the device according to the invention, the stocked Tablet container is closed by hand and if necessary by hand with the revanten label, z. B. by gluing, provided. If the tablet container is a blister, it can be placed by hand in the sealing die and the printed sealing film can be applied by hand. Finally, the documentation can be pasted by hand. The capacity of such a semi-manual workstation is about 1,000 tablet containers per week. This is also sufficient for large pharmacies that have to provide many nursing homes.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivisch dargestellte Beschickungsvorrichtung mit geschlossenen Nestböden noch ohne Tablettenbehälter;

Fig. 2

ine Beschickungsvorrichtung nach Fig. 1 mit geöffneten Nestböden;

Fig. 3

eine Anordnung nach Fig. 1 mit Blister und Waage im vertikalen Schnitt;

Fig. 4

eine der jeweiligen Bestückungsschablone zuzuordnende Steuerschablone mit angebauter Waage;

Fig. 5

einen Blister in perspektivischer Darstellung;

Fig. 6

einen Tabletten-Lagerbehälter, und

Fig. 7 bis 9

erfindungsgemäß ausgerüsteter Arbeitsplatz.

Details of the invention for the case of a blister as a tablet container will be explained with reference to the schematic representation of an embodiment.
Show it

Fig. 1

a feed device shown in perspective with closed nest floors still without tablet container;

Fig. 2

ine charging device according to Fig. 1 with open nest floors;

Fig. 3

an arrangement after Fig. 1 with blister and scales in vertical section;

Fig. 4

one of the respective assembly template attributable tax template with scale attached;

Fig. 5

a blister in perspective view;

Fig. 6

a tablet storage container, and

Fig. 7 to 9

According to the invention equipped workplace.

Fig. 1 to 3 show an assembly template 1, a control template 2, a tablet container or blister 3 and a balance 4. The two templates 1, 2 should be displaceable relative to each other and flat in the displacement, preferably with flat surfaces (as flat plates), each other. The loading template 1 has tablet nests 5, which (in Fig. 1 ) are closed by the underlying surface of the control template 2 on nest bottom 6. The control template 2 thus forms the nest base 6, but has openings or holes 7, which are to be brought to coincide by relative displacement of the templates 1 and 2 in the direction of displacement 8 by means of a drive 9 with the nests 5 Fig. 2 ).

The tablet container or blister 3, for example after Figure 3 may have rows and columns of tablet cases 10. To Fig. 3 is below the acting as a control slide control template 2 and below its openings 7, a blister 3 is positioned so that its individual tablet compartments 10 a week row of containers or blisters are vertically under each one of the openings 7 and a nest below open nest 5. The control template 2 can be moved by means of the drive 9 relative to the mounting template 1. The tablets 11 introduced into the nests 5 optionally fall through the openings 7 into the respective tablet compartment 10.

To ensure that the individual tablet 11 passes into exactly the prescribed nest 5 of the assembly template 1, the nests 5 can each be associated with a light barrier 12. In addition, a light indicator 13 can light up at each nest 5 which is to be loaded at the respective metering passage at all. The light barrier 12 may be located in the space near the nest bottom 6, e.g. 1 mm above the ground, so that they can safely grasp even the smallest of tablets. If she registers an inserted tablet 11, she should switch off the illuminating light at the relevant nest 13 - via an associated electronics. If the photocell 12 can not determine how many tablets are placed in a nest 5, it can be checked with the help of the balance 4 (fine scale), whether the correct number of tablets in the respective filling process in a nest 5 or in a nest row or fan row has arrived. By the way: The weight of an industrially manufactured tablet is a characteristic of the respective preparation. There is hardly a drug whose tablet weighs just as much as the tablet of another drug.

The filling of the nests 5 should preferably be done manually. For delivering the tablets, however, a picking machine 14 can be provided. This one can be for Each medication of each patient comprises special storage containers 21. The latter should be equipped with means, such as a flap 22, for automatic, preferably airtight, closing and opening (accessible to the processor). Preferably, a dehumidifier space 23 is provided within the storage container 21, which can receive a desiccant, such as silica gel, and optionally bind humidity within the storage container 21. The desiccant is conveniently provided with a color indicator which indicates whether the desiccant is exhausted and therefore needs to be replaced. After opening the flap 22 (arrow direction), tablets 11, preferably a predetermined number, can pass from the container 21 onto a tray 24, from which it is to be placed (by the operator) in a nest 5.

In one embodiment, a storage container 21 consists essentially of two tubes, in particular plastic tubes, which can be telescoped into each other and each and at the end with a rectangular plate, in particular also made of plastic, are tightly closed. Optionally, the outer, always visible tube to wear at the end two or more cams, which fit into corresponding receptacles in the tail of the inner tube, so that the container by turning the two end pieces against each other can be opened or closed (bayonet lock). To protect the stored tablets, the outer tube should be pressed by the clamping force of this closure against a silicone seal and thus can be hermetically sealed. The storage container should have a removal opening with an insert, preferably as a plastic deep-drawn part, which is adapted to the bulk volume of the tablets to be stored possess. This rules out that the stored tablets grind each other during transport operations, such as in a ball mill.

In Fig. 4 a modification of the control template 2 according to the invention is shown, in which a balance 4 is coupled with the latter, which forms the nest bottoms 6 when filling the assembly template 1 or its nests 5. Preferably, the nest floors should rest on the balance 4. This balance registers, eg an indicator 15, whether a tablet 11 has come too much or too little in a nest 5.

Fig. 5 shows in the lower part as an example a blister 3 with four rows and seven columns of pigeonholes 10, namely one row for four times of the day (morning, noon, evening, night) and one column for the seven days of a week. Within the scope of the invention blisters with five and more rows for correspondingly many intake times per day and / or blisters with more than seven columns for administration periods with a length of more than one week are also suitable.

If the prescribed tablets 11 are properly filled in the tablet compartments 10 and a blister is to be filled, this is placed in a heat-sealing station, where the individual blister compartments 10 are to be sealed with a sealing film 16. The film 16 may have perforations 17 which allow the compartments 10 to be opened individually. On the slide 16, the details described above can be printed, also can be stapled to the (sealed) blister documentation 18 of the specified type.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment will be described, which was designed for operation with computer control.

Within a feed area or a tablet delivery station 19 spatially above the mounting template 1 of Fig. 1 to 3 should only one single preparation, so should only be the same tablets. The preparation can in the tablet container according to the invention, for. B. blister 3, with the customer number of the respective patient, the pharmaceutical central number and the batch designation machine-readable, eg with barcode to be marked. Especially in the case of the computerized operation enabled according to the invention, these data are recorded during the introduction of the respective preparation (tablet or tablet container). In the IT system controlling the system according to the invention, the administration plan for the individual patient should also be stored if necessary. In connection With the abovementioned stored data, the entire described selection and filling process can then be carried out in the device according to the invention without the risk of incorrect loading.

About a mechanical feeder, a so-called container positioner 20 is after Fig. 1 to 3 an empty tablet container or blister 3, z. B. for a week spatially below feed and control template 1, 2 placed on a balance 4. Above the blister 3 is then the feed template 1, which can be moved relative to the blister 3. In the template 1 are the nests 5, in which the respective tablets 11 are to be inserted. Each nest 5 is provided with a light barrier 12, with which it can be detected whether at least one tablet 11 has been inserted. In addition, each nest 5 can be assigned a signal lamp 13, which should optionally indicate to the operator in which nests the current tablet type is to be inserted, and goes out when a tablet is inserted.

Now, if all tablets of the preparation in preparation have been placed in the nests 5 for a time of taking (for example in the morning), the assembly template 1 is displaced by means of the drive 9 against the control template 2 (or this against the former). As a result, the tablets 11 fall out of the nests 5 into the compartments 10 of the blister 3 corresponding to the intake time in question. The balance 4 can be used to check at the same time whether the correct number of tablets has been filled.

Alternatively, the mounting template 1 can be firmly mounted and the balance 4 can be positioned below the template ( Fig. 4 ). Then, the weighing process is already performed when inserting the tablets in the nests 5. The part of the control template 2, which is located below the Bestückungsnester 5, may optionally be formed as a fine scale (4). The transfer of the tablets 11 into the blister 3 is triggered in this arrangement, when all the nests to be populated 5 have been served with the correct number of at most one tablet (weight).

If the preparation being processed is to be inserted two or more times at the same time or additionally for another time of the respective day of the week, the nest trays 6 of the loading template 1 are closed again and the dosing passage begins again. In order to pass the tablets out of the nests 5, the blister 3 can be brought into the respectively desired or required relative position below the assembly template 1 with the aid of the container positioner 20.

If all the tablets of a preparation for the respective week are in the blister 3, the operator or the order-picking machine (for example via the associated EDP control) can be requested to dispense the preparation. The removal can be documented by scanning the bar code of the respective tablet or tablet container. When the ejection of the previously dosed tablets is completed, the next preparation can be introduced. After this is done, the process described may begin again.

Fig. 6 This consists essentially of two telescopically into one another stuck tubes, namely an outer tube 25 and an inner tube 26. The one end of both tubes is closed by a respective plate 27, the - about to prevent a roll - should be rectangular. For connecting, closing or separating the two tubes 25, 26 will provide a bayonet closure 28. The enclosed by the assembled tubes 25, 26 interior space to receive the respective tablets, with the aid of a silicone gasket 29 against which the outer tube 25, z. B. with its open end to be pressed by the clamping force of the shutter 28 are shot airtight. In the interior of the container, an insert 30 may be located, the volume of which is adapted to the bulk volume of the tablets to be stored.

An embodiment of the system layout for a workstation 40 for individual blistering according to the invention is based on the Fig. 7 to 9 explained. Fig. 7 shows a work table 41 with a device positioned thereon for the manual loading of the tablet container. The device includes a power supply 42, a PC 43 and a controller 44 and a display 45. The workstation is also a dosing unit 46, a scanner 47 and a heat seal press 48 and a printer 49. To the dosing unit 46 includes a scale three photocells and one shutter slide.

Details of the device according to Fig. 7 become noticeable in the blast image Fig. 8 in the same parts as in Fig. 7 are designated. Additionally shows Fig. 8 a tray gripper 50 and a blister 3 with associated blister holder or die 51. The parts 3 and 51 are enlarged again and individually in the cutout Z according to Fig. 9 shown. In this drawing also pins 52 can be seen, which serve to position blister or film and are asymmetrically positioned to achieve that film and blister are to be placed only in a single position on the die 51.

Claims (10)

1. A device for the individual packaging of medicinal tablets (11) with an insertion template (1) with at least one nest (5) for the specific insertion of tablets (11) to be taken on given days and/or at given times of day, wherein the respective nest (5) has a base (6) which needs to be opened to convey the inserted tablets (11), and with a tablet container (3) arranged spatially underneath the insertion template (1) and being displaceable relative to the latter, which tablet container (3) comprises tablet compartments (10), which are to be moved so as to coincide with the nest base (5) and are allocated to specific days and/or times of day, for transferring the tablet (11) in the nest (5), characterised by its use in a multi-dose system, in which the insertion template (1) or the tablet container (3) is allocated scales (4) for checking the weight of the inserted tablet (11).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that during filling the tablet container (3) stands on the scales (4) underneath the control template (2).
3. The device according to claim 1, characterised in that the base (6) of the respective nest (5) of the insertion template (1) lies on the scales (4) during filling.
4. The device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised by a sensor allocated to each nest (5) of the insertion template (1), preferably a light barrier (12), for checking whether a tablet (11) has been inserted.
5. The device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that a display, preferably a signal light (13), is allocated to each nest (5) for displaying the local requirement for tablets (= requirement in tablet compartment).
6. The device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the insertion template (1) inside a tablet delivery station (19) is allocated a picking machine (14) for automatically bringing and removing tablet storage containers (21).
7. The device according to claim 6, characterised in that the picking machine (14) comprises a tablet storage container (21), in particular with means (22) for automatic, preferably airtight, closing and opening.
8. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the storage container (21) comprises a space (22) for mounting a drying means.
9. The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a cover protecting the nests and their contents from draughts is allocated to the nests (5) of the insertion template (1).
10. A method for operating the device with tablet containers (3) designed in the form of a blister pack according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the tablet container (3) is inserted by hand into the device, the filled tablet container (3) is placed by hand into a sealing matrix, a printed sealing film (16) is placed on by hand and a sealing press is used to secure the film, and if necessary the documentation (18) for the respective patient is adhered, preferably by hand, onto the packaging.

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