EP2393466A1

EP2393466A1 - Device and use for storing and supplying medicament wafers

Info

Publication number: EP2393466A1
Application number: EP10702446A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kathrin Reichardt; Sven Filler; Uwe Karla
Original assignee: Bayer Pharma AG
Current assignee: Bayer Intellectual Property GmbH
Priority date: 2009-02-06
Filing date: 2010-02-03
Publication date: 2011-12-14
Also published as: US20120048771A1; IL214085A0; BRPI1008772A2; AU2010211257A1; DE102009008027A1; KR20110114621A; WO2010089090A1; ZA201106479B; CN102307555A; CA2751427A1; JP2012516725A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for storing and supplying medicament wafers (2) preferably used for contraception or hormone replacement therapy. Said device comprises a stack (1) of medicament pouches (4) used for storing and supplying the medicament wafers (2). First zones (10) of the medicament pouches (4) have mutually flush openings (8). The device further comprises at least one connection element (9) which penetrates the openings (8), interconnects the medicament pouches (4), and allows the pouches (4) to be moved relative to each other.

Description

Device and use for storage and provision of drug wafers

Description:

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a device for storing and providing medicament wafers, i. of drug in layer form, as well as a use of the device of contraception or hormone replacement therapy serving drug wafers.

State of the art

Pharmaceutical wafers are sheet-like devices containing pharmaceutically active agents contained in a drug carrier. For example, the active ingredients in the wafers may be administered transmucosally, i. via the oral mucosa, by placing the wafers on or under the tongue, whereby the active ingredient carrier dissolves, thereby releasing the active ingredients. The wafers are provided enclosed in foil pockets. According to DE 101 59 746 B4, these pockets can consist of at least one carrier film and at least one cover film, wherein at least the areal larger film has two parallel side edges and wherein between the carrier film and the cover film, the foil or sheet-like material (wafer) gas and moisture-tight is included. Devices for storing and providing the drug wafers may contain foil bags stacked therein.

The device for storing and providing the wafers described in DE 101 59 746 B4 comprises an at least single-split housing, against which the lateral edges of the stacked film pockets abut, while on a front inner side that edge of a carrier film rests over the edge of a corresponding one Cover film protrudes and wherein the stacked film pockets are pressed by a spring against the upper inside of the housing. The front upper portion of the housing has two slots for separately discharging the carrier film and the cover film, whereby the wafer can be provided with the carrier film or with the cover film. The task of the spring is to hold together the remaining film pockets near the slots after removal of a foil bag and to position them for further removal. Between the slots, a separating tool for separating the carrier film from the cover film is arranged, on which the uppermost carrier film with its front edge of the cover film ne- is present region. To transport the drug pockets from the housing serves a rotatable about a rotation axis transport element.

This device has the disadvantage that a user has no control over whether or not a given intake has already taken place for a certain period of time. Therefore, it can easily come to a double intake, or the user in general forgets to take the wafer. On the other hand, the user in this closed device can not see how many wafers he has already taken or how long the intake has yet to take place. An opening of this compact built device is not provided and would destroy it.

From the state of the art with regard to the control of timing and frequency of taking tablets, dragees o.a. so-called drug blisters, i. Facilities for storing tablets, dragees or similar, in which the tablets, dragees o.a. contained in pockets embossed in a first film and the film is connected to a tearable second film closing the pockets.

For example, in EP 0 166 763 B1 a blister is provided with pockets for the tablets arranged in a row, the pockets corresponding in one-to-one to the days of at least one calendar month, further comprising sequential integer numerical indications arranged in a one-to-one relation near the pockets in that each pocket is visually identifiable with one and only one calendar day of the calendar month, and wherein consecutive integer numerical indicia of near rupturable zones in the second sheet are arranged to be visible on the second sheet from the back, and wherein each Zone is visually identifiable with one and only one calendar day of the calendar month. This allows each pocket to be visually identified from both the front and back with one and only one calendar day. Thus, removal of the tablets on a daily basis and compliance with user compliance can be facilitated.

Furthermore, EP 0 511 726 B1 describes an arrangement for receiving tablets in a field, comprising: a blister pack having a predetermined area in which a plurality of tablets configured in a selected field are located, a container for holding the blister pack and a Daily calendar that can be aligned with the field of tablets in the blister pack, with the daily calendar being shiftable to place a selected start day on a first tablet in the field of tablet and wherein pointers are provided on the container and the blister pack has a locating notch close to and in proximity to a first tablet so that the first tablet to be removed is displayed.

Furthermore, DE 10 2005 032 015 A1 discloses a case for receiving a blister pack which has a first and a second half hinged thereto. The first Etuihälfte is designed as a pocket for receiving the blister pack and has an outer part and an inner visible part and first openings in the visible part and second openings in the outer part, wherein the first openings are aligned with the second openings, at least where the containers for the tablets are in the blister pack after picking up in the bag. The second half of the case has a compartment for receiving a display of the days of the week and windows for displaying the days of the week in an inner visible area of the second half of the compartment in the area of the compartment, wherein the windows are arranged such that they correspond to the columns of the containers of a pocket Blister pack are assigned.

However, these embodiments of devices for storing and providing drug units concern tablets in blister packs, but not drug wafers in drug pockets.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for storing and providing drug wafers which allows control over the progress of the administration of drug wafers.

Another object of the present invention is to ensure that the wafers are safely taken out of the device at a predetermined rhythm, i. in that the device is suitable for allowing the user to have control over the administration of a drug wafer predetermined over a certain period of time.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device for storing and providing the drug wafers which is suitable for everyday use, which has the required mechanical stability and which can be produced easily and simply and thus inexpensively.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide safe storage for the drug wafers. Summary of the invention

These and other objects are achieved by the claimed device for storing and providing drug wafers as well as the claimed use of the device. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Typically, a drug pocket of the device according to the invention consists of a base film and a cover film. The cover film can be connected to the base film, for example glued or welded, via a preferably strip-shaped connection extending along the side edges of the cover film, or vice versa. Furthermore, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the base film and the cover film may each have on each at least one side edge protruding tabs which are not connected to each other. Thus, a pulling apart and thus opening the drug bag for removal of the wafer contained therein is greatly simplified, because the two slides can be easily grasped. A drug wafer is preferably trapped between the base sheet and the coversheet within a region formed by the compound, in a manner that is air and moisture tight. Due to their structure or only in the area of the wafer, the film pockets can have a small elevation due to this condition.

The device according to the invention for storing and providing drug wafers comprises a stack of drug pockets serving for storing and providing the drug wafers and at least one connecting element. The medicament pockets each have first medicament pocket regions which have mutually aligned openings through which the at least one connecting element is passed and which connects the medicament pockets to one another and arranges them movably relative to one another.

Due to the suitability of the connecting element, which is passed through the aligned openings to arrange the drug pockets movable to each other, is achieved in an advantageous manner that the openings containing the areas of the drug pockets need not lie directly on each other, but may be a little spaced apart. This avoids the fact that the stack due to the increased thickness of the drug pockets in the region of the respective drug wafer is impractically and inappropriately exfoliated in the direction of the otherwise closely spaced drug pockets on the side which the opening in the drug pockets similar to, for example, as in a wet become book, in which the side portions of the pages of the book that are not involved in the spine, taking in their spatial extent overall more space and thereby make the entire book look unsightly and shapeless.

This simple device has the further advantage over the prior art that the user (s) at any time check the number of remaining drug bags and with knowledge of the total number of drug pockets at the beginning of the first intake and the start time (date) of the first intake or Taking a medicine bag can determine whether she / he has already taken a medicine bag or still needs to remove. In addition, he / she can determine how long the treatment is still going on or when he / she needs a new device.

Preferably, the device according to the invention can be used to store and provide medicament wafers used for contraception or hormone replacement therapy.

Detailed description

The at least one connecting element, which is passed through the openings, the drug pockets connected to each other and movable to each other, for example, may be formed as a rivet, i. The at least one connecting element can consist of two, for example, rod-shaped connecting element parts, which can be inserted into one another or screwed or glued together. The at least one connecting element may also be rod-shaped.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the connecting element may also be formed in a compact construction in which it consists of two parts, wherein it, when assembled, can almost completely fill the openings in the medicament pockets. The at least one connecting element may in particular comprise a box-shaped lower part with a web arranged therein for passage through the openings and a top part closing off the box-shaped lower part. Furthermore, the box-shaped lower part of the box-shaped connecting element may comprise a base plate, a wall resting on the base plate and partially enclosing and thus guiding the respective first medicament pocket regions, and the web. In any case, a connection element is understood to mean a component which is passed through the openings in the medicament pockets and connects the medicament pockets. Thus, a rivet and also the web of the formed in a compact design connecting element can be understood as connecting elements. In the case of the bridge, it is of course necessary to hold the stack together additional suitable holding devices on the foot and the head of the bridge. These additional holding devices can be realized, for example, by the box construction consisting of the box-shaped lower part and the upper part. Alternatively, differently shaped foot and head parts may be provided at the foot and the head of the bridge, which hold the stack together. The web can also be designed as a rivet with two web-shaped rivet heads.

When assembling of the at least one connecting element forming connecting element parts, these can lock together and are preferably not non-destructively detachable from each other, or they can be glued together, welded or connected to each other with another joining technique. In all these cases it is a so-called tamper-evident closure, i. a tamper evident closure. It is particularly preferred if the connection of the at least two parts which form the connecting element is achieved by positive locking.

A rivet is to be understood as meaning a connecting element which consists of at least two parts which engage in one another and are connected to one another in a form-fitting manner and which, by means of corresponding head formations, is able to staple together the stack of medicament pockets arranged therebetween.

The openings, which are located in the first drug pocket areas, are preferably in the form of oblong holes. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, two spaced-apart connecting elements can be used for connecting the medicament pockets, in particular the connecting elements can each be guided adjacent to the ends of the elongated holes. By this embodiment, a displacement of individual drug pockets against each other is avoided. Thus, the connecting elements also act as guide elements for the drug pockets.

Preferably, the shape of the apertures is such that a connecting member passed through the apertures slides frictionally therethrough. The drug pockets with the wafers contained therein are stacked by the chosen construction of the device, such as in a booklet, book or block, and can be removed successively preferably from above. By each of the top pocket is removed in a first intake period, the underlying bag in the stack is visible. This underlying pocket can then be removed during a subsequent second intake period. The other pockets with the wafers can be removed according to the order of the pockets in the stack. For removal, the bag can be removed by tearing or tearing out.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the drug pockets in addition to the first drug pocket area in which the openings, but not the drug wafers are located, a second drug pocket area in which the drug wafer is located.

The first drug pocket area and the second drug pocket area are preferably separably connected. Preferably, the first drug pocket area and the second drug pocket area are connected to each other via a perforation. This allows the pockets to be easily removed from the stack, such as by tearing or severing. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the perforation, via which the first medicament pocket regions and the second medicament medicament regions are respectively connected to one another, is not formed over the entire width of the medicament pockets, but is shortened as a whole and merges at its two ends into slots, which Notches act. This makes the removal of the drug wafer even easier. It has thus been found that difficulties that often arise at the beginning of the separation process of the second medicament pocket area due to the solid material nature of the medicament pockets can be avoided or reduced.

To further simplify or improve the overview of the number of drug pockets, the drug pockets may additionally each contain a recess which is located at an edge of the drug pockets, which preferably form the first and second drug bag areas together. The recesses can for example be punched out of the medicament bag. They reveal a graphic mark on the medicine bag in the stack underneath. The graphic mark may be, for example, a symbol such as a colored colon, a smiley, a logo or a crossbar. The gap is incrementally larger from drug bag to drug bag, resulting in over all drug pockets in the stack seen a staircase shape of the recesses results so that the marks are visible on all drug bags. The recesses and the thereby recognizable graphic marks have the additional advantage that the production staff or a suitable control device in the production of the stack can easily check their completeness and thus the number of drug pockets in the stacks.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the second drug pocket regions at a marker edge each have a marker in one of a plurality of adjacent marker portions arranged on the marker edge, wherein the respective markers on the respective second drug pocket areas within the stack stepwise from a drug pocket to the next drug pocket in successive marking sections are arranged. This allows a user to easily observe the progress of taking the drug wafers.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the stack can be additionally connected by means of the at least one connecting element with a carrier, which serves to give the stack additional stability and to protect it against mechanical damage. In addition, a cover may be provided which at least partially covers the second medicament pocket regions. The cover may for example also be part of the connecting element. The stack is preferably arranged between the carrier and the cover which at least partially covers the second medicament pocket regions. It is particularly preferred if the cover and the carrier are formed in one piece.

The carrier and the cover are intended primarily for the protection of pharmaceutical bags. The carrier and the covers are preferably made of a stable material, such as cardboard or plastic. On the cover and / or on the support may also be attached a label or a logo or a different design, which does not serve exclusively or no functional purposes, but also or exclusively for aesthetic purposes. For example, on the inside of the cover, a mirror or a graphical representation, for. As a photograph or a drawing can be arranged. Likewise, a storage area may be provided at this point, in which z. As cosmetics, such as face powder or similar makeup products, can be provided. On the inside of the cover, a calculator or a clock can be provided. The said devices and representations can also or additionally be provided on the outside of the cover and / or on the inside or the outside of the carrier. In a further particular embodiment, successive times are applied to the carrier or the cover. The times are aligned with the marker portions on the drug pockets and allow the user to control the ingestion of the wafers.

If the time indications are affixed to the cover, the cover preferably covers the second medicament pocket regions only partially so far that the markings on the second medicament pocket regions are barely visible when the cover is closed and can be aligned with the time specifications. However, the times may also be located on the inside of the cover so that they are visible along with the markings on the drug pockets when the wafer pocket booklet is open.

Preferably, the times are attached to an edge of the cover adjacent to the second medicament pocket regions. Accordingly, the times are aligned with the markings located in the second drug pocket areas, each at a marker edge adjacent to the edge of the cover having the times. The markers are each provided in one of a plurality of marking portions arranged adjacent to one another at the marking edge and are arranged stepwise in the second medicament pocket areas within the stack from one drug pocket to the next in successive marking portions.

Furthermore, the carrier may have a time stamped on one edge of the second drug bag areas over these end strips and on the end strip. In this case, the times may be aligned with markings located in the second drug pocket areas at a marker edge adjacent the end strip. The markings are each provided in one of a plurality of marking portions arranged side by side on the marking edge. They are progressively positioned within the stack in the second drug pocket regions from one drug pocket to the next in successive marker sections. The times may be either on the inside of the end strip as well as on its outside. In the former case, the time information and preferably also the markings are visible only when the end strip is unfolded. In the latter case, the end strip should be folded in order to make the time information visible. In this case, the markings on the drug pockets are preferably to be applied so that they are adjacent to the times on the end strip when it is collapsed. With the aid of the two last-mentioned embodiments, the observation of the progress of taking the drug wafers can be improved, since the progress is related to the time information.

When the wafers are to be taken daily, in a preferred embodiment, the times are weekdays or calendar days, the latter represented by the numbering of the days of a month. Weekday data have the advantage over the calendar day data on the one hand that the repetition takes place more frequently than in the latter. This allows easier attachment of times on the end strip of the carrier or the cover, since for the first day only the appropriate day of the week must be selected from the seven days of the week, while in the case of calendar days the appropriate calendar day from 28, 29, 30 or 31 calendar days must be selected.

The times are preferably applied by applying a time-indicia display means, such as a display strip, on the end strip of the carrier or on the cover. For example, a display strip containing the times can be applied by insertion into a holder on the end strip of the carrier or on the cover or by gluing on the end strip of the carrier or on the cover. The holder may be formed, for example, as a slot which has windows in the region of the times attached to the inserted display strip, which releases the view of the times and allows the assignment to an aligned mark on the overhead drug bag.

For example, such a display strip may initially have about twice as many consecutive times as can be accommodated in the holder to suitably prepare the display strip for attachment to the end strip of the carrier or cover. After determining the time period for the first capture of a wafer, the associated time indication is applied to the display strip on the end strip of the carrier or cover and the length of the display strip is then reduced, based on this determined time indication, to the length range corresponding to the available length on the display End strip of the carrier or the cover corresponds. For example, the display strip for the first intake may be kinked or truncated. The thus prepared display strip is then fixed in the holder on the end strip of the carrier or the cover, for example, inserted into this or clamped there, or on the end strip of the carrier or the cover glued so that the times are aligned with the marks on the medicine bags. Of course, the time information on the display strip or the end strip of the carrier or the cover can also be applied by hand. The weekdays, calendar days or other times are preferably applied at the beginning of a take-up phase of the wafers.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the carrier, on which the stack of medicament pockets is arranged, is further preferably formed integrally with a cover closing the medicament pockets. Depending on the embodiment, the lid may comprise the above-described end strips with times.

In a preferred embodiment, the lid may extend to the cover, and either the lid and the cover may each comprise a closure member or only the cover or only the carrier may comprise a closure member so that the lid is closable with the cover.

For example, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, a first closure element may comprise a metal element, e.g. a metal strip, and a second closure element comprises a magnetic element, e.g. a magnetic strip, his. It is also conceivable that the closure elements form a hook and loop fastener. In a further variant of the invention, the closure elements can also be a push-button system, e.g. like a handbag, form. In another embodiment, a closure element may be button-like and the other closure element may be designed like a buttonhole and be connected to one another accordingly. Likewise, one of the closure elements can be designed as a tab, which is inserted into a slot-like opening in the second closure element. Furthermore, the carrier or the cover can have an expandable closure element, for example a rubber band. In this embodiment, the rubber band connects the closed lid, which extends to and on the closed cover, with the cover, the rubber band being passed around the outside of the entire device.

A device according to the invention which can be used for contraception can contain, for example, 120 drug pockets for holding drug wafers in a stack. Although it has hitherto been customary for contraception that, for example, one intake unit, ie one wafer, is taken within 21 days and that an interruption phase of 7 days follows this intake phase. Alternatively, one unit can be taken within 24 days, to which followed by a 4-day interruption period for this intake phase. However, modern contraceptives have flexible usage cycles that can last longer than 21 days, for example up to 120 days. This prolonged intake phase is then followed by an interruption phase of, for example, 4 days. In order to be able to provide wafers in sufficient numbers for such a case, a larger number of medicament pockets in the stack can also be provided in the stack than a total of 28. For example, 60 or also 120 medicament pockets for the administration phase can be provided in the device.

The device according to the invention is preferably designed to be forgery-proof. For this purpose, one or more security features are provided on the device, which allow verification of the authenticity of the device, for example, imprints in micro-writing, holograms, tilt images or other security features.

The figures described below are used to generally understand the invention. However, they are not intended to be limiting, but are only intended to explain certain embodiments which are preferred without excluding other preferred embodiments.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stapled wafer stack according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a wafer stack according to a second embodiment of the invention; FIG.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket booklet according to a third embodiment of the invention with stepped recesses;

4 is a perspective view of a wafer pocket booklet according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows another perspective view of the wafer pocket booklet of Fig. 4 in the closed state;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a wafer pocket booklet according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a wafer pocket booklet according to a sixth embodiment of the invention in various stages of assembly; Fig. 7a: carrier with a slot; Fig. 7b-1; Stack and connecting element in separate representation; Fig. 7b-2: stack and connecting element assembled; Fig. 7c: device in the assembled state; Fig. 7d: device when closed; FIG. 7e: alternative embodiment of the wafer pocket booklet; FIG.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the wafer pocket booklet of Fig. 4 in the open and closed states;

FIG. 8a: shows a side view of the wafer pocket booklet of FIG. 8, but with magnetic closure; FIG.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the wafer pocket booklet of Fig. 4 in a partially opened and closed condition with a stretchable closure member;

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the wafer pocket booklet of Figure 9 in the open and in the closed state with another closure element.

Fig. 11 shows a side view of a wafer pocket booklet according to the invention in the partially opened and closed state;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a wafer pocket booklet with the fastener of Fig. 7 in various stages of assembly; Fig. 12a: carrier with the connecting element; 12a-1: first variant for arranging a weekday strip, Fig. 12a-2. second variant for arranging a weekday strip; Fig. 12b: after installation of the stack, Fig. 12c: device partially closed.

Like reference numerals in the figures indicate the same features.

1 shows a wafer pocket booklet according to the invention for storing and providing medicament wafers 2. The wafer pocket book comprises a stack 1 of a plurality of medicament pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "which serve to store and provide the medicament wafers 2. The medicament pockets 4, 4' 4 "have first drug pocket regions 10 and second drug pocket regions 11. The drug wafers 2 are contained in the second drug pocket regions 11. The first medicament pocket regions 10 each have mutually aligned openings 8. The openings 8 are formed as slots. Through the openings 8, the connecting element 9 is passed. The connecting element 9 connects the medicament pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "with each other and arranges them movably relative to each other .The connecting element 9 is a rivet. The first medicament pocket areas 10 and the second medicament pocket areas 11 are each connected to one another via a perforation 7, whereby the removal of a Drug wafer 2 is facilitated by simply separating the second drug pocket area 11 from the first drug pocket area 10 at the perforation 7. At the same time, the first drug pocket area 10 remains in the wafer pocket booklet. Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the wafer pocket booklet according to the invention. The wafer pocket booklet of FIG. 2 is substantially similar to the structure of the wafer pocket booklet of FIG. 1. The wafer pocket booklet consists of a stack 1 of a plurality of drug pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "for storing and providing the drug wafers 2. The drug pockets 4, 4', 4 "have first drug pocket regions 10 and second drug pocket regions 11, wherein the second drug pocket regions are in turn provided in each case with an aligned opening 8. The opening 8 is formed as a slot. The medicament pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "are in this embodiment, in contrast to Fig. 1, interconnected by a compact connecting element 9. The compact connecting element 9 completely fills the opening in the assembled state.

Above the stack 1, the compact connecting element 9, which is a rivet, is shown: The connecting element 9 has a bottom part 9a and a top part 9b. The lower part 9a engages from below through the slots 8 therethrough. The columnar rivet holders 9d, 9e are mounted on a base plate 9c spaced from each other so that the outer flanks of the rivet holders 9d, 9e loosely abut the rounded slot ends. These outer flanks are slightly tilted towards the top (see enlarged illustration of the rivet holder 9e), so that the drug pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "successively placed on the rivet lower part 9a slide lightly onto the rivet 9 with their respective slot 8. After the entire stack 1, the rivet 9 is closed by pressing in the rivet upper part 9b between the columnar rivet holders 9d, 9e For the positive connection of the rivet top part 9a to the rivet bottom part 9b, both rivet parts have tooth-shaped side surfaces which engage with each other is closed, the stack 1 can be handled easily, without fear that the integrity of the stack 1 could be affected during handling.The positive connection also ensures that the rivet can not be opened without destroying the connecting element is a tamper-proof design erm In addition, the riveted stack 1 can also be used to refill a separate carrier. The rivet 9 is designed so long that the medicament pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "have vertical play thereon, thereby taking into account the difference in thickness of the second medicament pocket regions 11 relative to the first medicament pocket regions 10. The medicament pockets 4, 4', 4" slide on the rivet 9 also frictionless.

The first drug pocket regions 10 and the second drug pocket regions 11 are each connected to one another via a perforation 7, the total perforation shorter than in Fig. 1 is formed, that does not extend over the entire width of the drug pockets 4, 4 ', 4', but merges into slots 20 at its two ends. Thereby, the removal of the drug wafer 2, which is located in the second drug pocket area 11, is facilitated by easier separation of the second drug pocket area 11 from the first drug pocket area 10 at the perforation 7. In fact, it has been found that, due to the material nature at the transitions from the first medicament pocket region 10 to the second medicament medicament region 11, the medicament pocket regions 10, 11 often can not be easily separated from one another, which avoids this. Upon separation, the first drug pocket region 10 remains in the wafer pocket booklet.

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention with a structure analogous to Fig. 1, wherein the drug pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "additionally each have a recess 16 and a mark 3. The recesses 16 are each located at one The edge of the drug pockets 4 shared by the first and second drug-cell regions 10, 11. The individual recesses 16 of the drug-containing pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "in the stack 1 are designed to be incrementally larger, from drug-to-drug-bag , as a result of which, seen across all medicament pockets, a step-shaped course of the cut-outs of medicament pouch to medicament pouch forms. The recesses 16, which can be punched out of the medicament pockets 4, 4 ', 4 ", for example, during the production process, provide a view of a graphic mark 21 introduced in the region of the recess, shown as a colon, on the medicament bag underlying the stack 1 4 ', 4 "free.

The stack 1 is arranged on a support in this embodiment. The stack 1 and the carrier are connected by two rivets 9. Optionally, only a single rivet 9 'could be used to connect the stack 1 to the carrier and to connect the medicament pockets 4, 4', 4 "to one another The marker 3 can be seen in the second medicament pocket area 11 on the medicament pocket 4 resting on top.

In this embodiment, the carrier has time indications 6 at an edge of the second medicament pocket regions 11 which project beyond these end strips 17 and on the end strip 17. Said edge of the second drug regions 11 is the marking edge, on each of which a marking 3 is located. The times 6, here weekdays, aligned with the respective mark 3. The times 6 are applied, for example, by sticking a time-indicating strip and have the weekday indications "Mo", "Di", "Wed", "Do", "Fr", "Sa", "So" The first day of the week is indicated on the left-most side of the medicament bag 4 with the first day mark "Mo" aligned. Other markings are not shown because they are hidden by the upper drug pocket 4.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention with a structure with stepped recesses 16 analogous to FIG. 3. In this embodiment, a cover 12 is provided next to the carrier 5, wherein the carrier 5 and the cover 12 are integrally formed. The cover 12 extends over the first drug pocket area 10 and to the lower edge of the second drug pocket area 11. It terminates almost flush with the second drug pocket area 11. At the end of the cover 12 is on this or in this a closure element 15 in the form of a metal strip or introduced. In addition to the cover 12, the carrier 5 is integrally formed with a lid 13 closing to cover a part of the second medicament pocket regions 11. The lid 13 includes the protruding end strip 17 shown in Fig. 3 with times 6, here weekdays. The time indications 6 are aligned with the respective markings 3 which are located on the marking edge of the second medicament pocket regions 11 adjoining the end strips 17 and are arranged stepwise from one medicament pocket 4 to the next medicament pocket 4 in successive marking sections 22.

The times 6 are applied by sticking on a strip having the times and have the weekday indications "Mo", "Di", "Wed", "Do", "Fr", "Sa", "So" in that the initial weekday indication appears on the far left.A first marking 3, which is aligned with the day of the week "Mo", is affixed to the overhead medicine bag 4. Further markings are not shown, as they are hidden by the overhead drug pocket 4.

On the cover 13, a further closure element 15 'is mounted, which is designed as a magnetic strip.

FIG. 5 shows another perspective view of the wafer pocket booklet shown in FIG. 4. FIG. FIG. 5 shows the wafer pocket booklet according to the invention of FIG. 4 in a closed state. The lid 13 rests on the cover 12 and thus closes the inventive booklet. On the cover 12 and on the lid 13 ornaments and a logo are applied.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention with carrier 5 and cover 12. The wafer pocket booklet according to the invention in FIG. 6 corresponds in principle to the illustration of the booklet in FIG. 4.

In contrast to the wafer pocket booklet of FIG. 4, the times 6, here weekday indications, in this embodiment are at the end of the cover 12 on the closure element 15. The cover 12 extends only to the edge of the area having the markings 3 on the second medicament pocket regions 11 and leaves the markings when the cover is closed. As a result, the marking 3 of the medicament bag 4 which rises above remains visible when the cover 12 is closed.

In this embodiment, the lid 13 is formed with the closure element 15 'without end strips and time information and formed directly on the carrier 5, the lid 13, the wafer pocket booklet as in Fig. 4 closes.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a wafer pocket booklet according to another embodiment of the invention in various stages of assembly.

FIG. 7 a shows a carrier 5 with a slot 19 introduced into the carrier according to a further embodiment of the invention. To the carrier 5, an end strip 17 with times 6 and an adjoining cover 13 are formed.

Fig. 7b-1 shows a stack 1 with drug pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "with a mark 3, wherein the drug pockets 4, 4', 4" as in Fig. 2 have a perforation 7 with slots 20.

In this embodiment, another connector 9 consisting of the lower connector part 9a and the upper connector part 9b is shown. The lower connecting element part 9a is box-shaped and comprises in the middle a web 9c for accommodating in the openings 8 in the medicament pockets 4, 4 ', 4 ".The web 9c is arranged on a base plate 9d The base plate 9d also carries a wall 9e The upper connecting element part 9b is designed as a plate and can be placed on the lower connecting element part 9a in a conclusive manner and, for example, glued to it or connected by means of ultrasound welding is in This embodiment simultaneously formed as a cover 12 and thus assumes its function. The connecting element 9 has at the lower end a tab 18 for insertion of the stapled with the connecting element stack 1 in a separate carrier 5. For insertion, for example, serves the slot 19 shown in Fig. 7a in the carrier 5. Thus, a reusable carrier 5 can be refilled several times with a stapled stack 1.

In a particularly favorable variant of this embodiment, the connecting element 9 is designed as a rivet (not shown). For this purpose, the web 9c has a slit-like recess extending in the longitudinal direction, which extends from the upper end side of the web down into the web. On the plate 9b is further provided in this case, a downwardly projecting further web, which is preferably formed integrally with the plate and which has the function to intervene in the recess in the lower web 9c. Thus, a connection of the upper connecting element part 9b with the lower connecting element part 9a becomes possible. This compound can also be formed positively, such as by the additional web on the plate 9c and the walls of the recess in the web 9c each have tooth-shaped surfaces which dig together when closing the rivet. Furthermore, the wall 9e may be provided with a slot at the end face and on the underside of the plate 9b, for example, a further circumferential further longitudinal web are located, which engages in the slot in the wall and there, for example, locked.

In Fig. 7b-2, a stack 1 is shown, which is inserted into the lower connecting element part 9a. The box-shaped wall 9e of the lower connecting element part 9a completely encloses the medicament pocket region 10 on its outer sides and thus serves as an outer guide for the medicament pockets 4, 4 ', 4 ".

7c shows the wafer pocket booklet according to the invention assembled with the carrier 5 and the cover 13. For this purpose, the stapled stack 1 is inserted into the slot 19 (FIG. 7a) of the carrier 5 by means of the tab 18 (FIG. 7b-1). This embodiment has the advantage that the carrier 5 can be used several times, with only new stacks 1 being used in each case.

Finally, FIG. 7d shows the closed wafer pocket booklet of this embodiment, with prints on the cover 13. In this embodiment, the lid 13 is formed so that it extends in the closed state of the booklet on the drug pockets 4, 4 ', 4 "to the edge of the cover 12 and terminates almost flush with this. In Fig. 7e an alternative embodiment to the embodiment described above is shown. This differs from that shown in FIGS. 7a-7d in that the cover 12 is guided from behind over the stack 1 and that the time indications 6 on the cover 13 are located in front of a closure block 14 which serves to form a closure element to record, for example, a magnetic strip.

Fig. 8 shows a variant of the embodiment of Fig. 4 in the side view, in which the closure elements 15, 15 'are formed as Velcro. The closure element 15 'is at the end of the cover 12 on the underside thereof and the closure element 15 at the end of the lid 13 on its upper side (viewed in the closed state) attached. In the closed state of the device, the closure elements 15 and 15 ', as shown in FIG. 8, engage each other.

In Fig. 8 it can be seen that the rivet 9 is made so long that the drug pockets have perpendicular game on it.

A wafer pocket booklet with a magnetic closure is shown in FIG. 8a. On the edge of the lid 13, a metal strip 15 is preferably applied over its entire width, and on the edge region of the cover 12, a magnetic strip 15 'is also preferably applied over its entire width.

9 shows perspective views of a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in the partially opened and in the closed state. The device has a compact connecting element 9, formed from the closure element parts 9a and 9b (FIG. 2). On the carrier 5, a closure element 15 ", which is designed as a rubber band, is provided.

In the illustration of the closed embodiment in FIG. 9, it is shown that the rubber band 15 "encloses the device and thereby closes the cover 12 with the cover 13.

10 shows a perspective view of a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 9 in the opened and closed state. The device has a closure element 15, 15 'deviating from the wafer pocket booklet shown in FIG. 9. In this embodiment, a closure element 15 in the cover 12 and a closure element 15 'in the cover 13 are provided. The closure element 15 is designed as a tab and the Closing element 15 'formed as a slot or slot. To close the cover 12 with the lid 13, the tab 15 is inserted into the slot 15 '. In the illustration of the closed embodiment in Fig. 10 it is shown that the tab 15 engages in the slot 15 'and thus closes the lid 13 with the cover 12.

Fig. 11 shows side views of a further embodiment of the invention in the partially open and in the closed state. The cover 13 has a closure element 15, which is formed knobhole-like, from. The material of the lid 13 is preferably cardboard. The connecting element 9 is designed as a rivet, which simultaneously serves as a closure element 15 'and assumes its function.

In order to close the lid 13 in this case with the rivet 9, the connecting element 15 of the lid 13, which is formed as a hole, with slight pressure on the rivet 9 is pressed. The head end of the rivet 9 is thereby passed through the hole 15 and thus closes the device.

Figures 12a, 12b, 12c show another embodiment of a wafer pocket booklet in various stages of assembly.

The stack 1 comprises a multiplicity of medicament pockets 4, for example 28 pockets, of which only the uppermost medicament pouch is visible. The medicine bag 4 contains a welded-in wafer 2. At the bottom edge of the drug pockets 4 there are marking portions 22. On one of the marking portions 22 is a mark 3. In the (not visible) lying under the upper visible drug pocket 4 second drug bag this mark is on attached to the marking portion, which is adjacent to the first marking portion in which the mark is located on the uppermost drug pocket.

The medicament pockets 4 are notched on two sides in the upper region at 20 and have a perforation 7 on. In addition, the medicament pockets 4 have slots 8 through which a web 9c engages in the assembled state of the wafer pocket booklet.

In Fig. 12a, the lower connector part 9a on the carrier 5 is shown. As in the embodiment of FIG. 7, the connecting element has a two-part construction: it has a lower part 9a and an upper part 9b. The lower part 9a comprises a web 9c, a frame 9e and a base plate 9d. The web 9c engages from below through the slots 8. The frame 9e is seated on the edge of the base plate 9d. He limits the base plate 9d partially on three sides as well as on the fourth page. Where this frame 9e is not located, the medicament pockets 4 can extend over the connecting part having the perforation 7. Incidentally, this frame 9e surrounds the upper part of the medicament pockets 4 flush and guides them so that they are firmly seated in the wafer pocket booklet without play. The upper connecting element part 9b is formed by a plate which can be positively or materially fastened on the lower connecting element part 9a. This plate 9b is connected to the carrier 5, for example, materially bonded (welding, gluing or the like).

The lower connecting element part 9a is fixed on the carrier 5, for example by gluing. In the production of the stack 1 from medicament pockets 4, the carriers 5 are preferably provided with the lower connecting element part 9a. The medicament pockets 4 are then placed on the carrier 5, wherein the web 9c of the base 5 mounted on the carrier 5 slides in each case into the oblong hole 8 of the pockets 4. Through this web 9c and the frame 9e the drug pockets 4 are held on the carrier 5. In addition, their position is accurately determined by the frame 9e.

After stacking all the drug pockets 4 of a wafer pocket booklet together and closing the connecting element, the carrier 5 is provided with a weekday strip 6. The weekday strip 6 may be attached to both the position shown in Figs. 12a-1 and the position shown in Figs. 12a-2. The weekday strip 6 is mounted so that it aligns with the marking portions 22 on the medicament pockets 4. As a result, the user can recognize on which day of the week the wafer 2 of the medicament bag 4 located at the top must be taken.

The carrier 5 is then folded over at the upper end so that the end forms a cover 12 for the wafer pocket booklet. On the cover 12, for example, information about the manufacturer and the name of the drug or a logo may be appropriate. The cover 12 extends over the entire surface of the drug pockets 4 and over the supernatant of the carrier 5 at the lower end of the wafer pocket booklet.

After folding and closing the connecting element, the wafer pocket booklet is assembled.

Claims

claims

A device for storing and providing drug wafers (2), comprising a stack (1) of drug pockets (4) for storing and providing the drug wafers (2), wherein first drug pocket regions (10) have mutually aligned openings (8), and at least one through the openings (8) guided through the connecting element (9) which connects the drug pockets (4) with each other and arranged movable to each other.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one connecting element (9) is a rivet.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one connecting element (9) has a box-shaped lower part (9a) with a web disposed therein (9c) for passage through the openings (8) and a box-shaped lower part (9a) final upper part (9b).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the box-shaped lower part (9a) a base plate (9d), a seated on the base plate (9d) and the respective first drug pockets areas (10) partially enclosing and thus leading wall (9e) and the Footbridge (9c) includes.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the openings (8) are in the form of elongated holes.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shape of the openings (8) is such that the through the openings (8) guided through the connecting element (9) slides therein without friction.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the medicament pockets (4) in each case from the first drug bag area (10) in which the openings (8), but not the drug wafer (2) are located, and a second drug pocket area ( 11) in which the drug wafer (2) is located, wherein the first drug pocket portion (10) and the second drug pocket portion (11) are separably connected to each other.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first drug pocket area (10) and the second drug pocket area (11) via a perforation (7) are interconnected.

9. Device according to one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that each of the second drug bag areas (11) at a marking edge each have a mark (3) in one of a plurality of juxtaposed at the marking edge marking portions (22), wherein the respective markings (3) within the stack (1) are arranged stepwise from one drug pocket (4) to the next drug pocket (4) in successive marker portions (22).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stack (1) by means of the at least one connecting element (9) is additionally connected to a carrier (5).

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the stack (1) between the carrier (5) and a second pharmaceutical bag areas (11) at least partially covering the cover (12) is arranged.

12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (12) and the carrier (5) are integrally formed.

13. Device according to one of claims 10 - 12, characterized in that on the carrier (5) or the cover (12) successive times (6) are mounted.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the times (6) are weekday or calendar days.

15. The device according to any one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the times (6) are attached to one of the second drug pockets areas (11) adjacent the edge of the cover (12), so that the times (6) with markings (3 ), which are located in each of the second medicament pocket regions (11) at a marking edge adjacent to the edge of the cover (12) having the times (6), are each provided in one of a plurality of marking sections (22) arranged next to each other on the marking edge and in the second drug pocket regions (11) within the stack (1) are arranged stepwise from one drug pocket (4) to the next drug pocket (4) in successive marker portions (22).

16. The device according to any one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the carrier (5) at one edge of the second drug pockets areas (11) protruding end strip (17) and on the end strip (17) the times (6), wherein the time indications (6) are aligned with markings (3) which are located in the second medicament pocket regions (11) at a marking edge adjacent to the end strip (17), in each case in one of a plurality of marking sections (22) arranged adjacent to one another at the marking edge, and within the stack (1) in the second drug pocket areas (11) are arranged stepwise from one drug pocket (4) to the next drug pocket (4) in successive marker portions (22).

17. The device according to any one of claims 10 - 16, characterized in that the carrier (5) is formed integrally with a lid for covering the second drug pockets areas (11) closing lid (13).

18. The device according to claim 17, characterized in that the cover (13) extends to the cover (12) and either the cover (13) and the cover (12) each have a closure element (15, 15 ') or only the Cover (12) or only the carrier (5) have a closure element (15 "), whereby the lid (13) with the cover (12) is closable.

19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the one closure element (15) is a metal element and the other closure element (15 ') is a magnetic element or that the closure elements (15, 15') form a hook-and-loop fastener or that the one closure element (15 ) knob-like and the other closure element (15 ') are formed knobhole-like or that the closure element (15 ") is a rubber band.

20. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the medicament pockets (4) additionally each have an edge-side recess (16), wherein the recesses (16) of the medicament bag (4) to the medicament bag (4) are incrementally larger, so that Seen over all drug bags (4) seen in the stack (1) forms a step-shaped course of the recesses (16).

1. Use of the device according to one of claims 1 - 20 for storing and providing for contraception or hormone replacement therapy serving drug wafern (2).