GB2439420A

GB2439420A - Weakening pill blister packs prior to ejection of contents

Info

Publication number: GB2439420A
Application number: GB0709864A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Anthony Reynolds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-24
Filing date: 2007-05-23
Publication date: 2007-12-27
Also published as: GB0709864D0; GB0610260D0

Abstract

A device 1 is for use with blister packs comprising a plurality of pockets each containing a pill, each pocket being covered by a foil. The device 1 comprises a first member 3 provided with an aperture 9 to receive a pocket of the blister pack, and a second member 5 provided with a foil weakening formation in the form of a plurality of projections 11. The second member 5 is movably attached to the first member 3 such that they can be moved together so that the projections 11 contact the foil of the blister pack pocket so as to weaken, eg partially puncture, the foil. This foil weakening facilitates the pushing of the pill from the blister pocket and minimises damage to the pill. The projections 11 may comprise a pair of arcuate sets.

Description

A DEVICE FOR USE WITH PILL BLISTER PACKS

The present invention relates to a device for use with pill blister packs.

Many pharmaceutical pills are sold packed in blister packs. Blister packs have a number of pockets formed in a sheet of plastics and a pill in each pocket, with a foil covering the pockets to prevent the pill falling out of the pockets. To remove a pill, the pill must be pushed through the foil by depressing the pocket containing the pill. However, sometimes it can be difficult to remove the pills because of the strength of the foil.

Sometimes, the pills can be removed but only in a damaged condition, due to the force required to be exerted on the pills to break the foil.

These problems are particularly relevant when dispensing multiple pills from a blister pack in a commercial environment such as a pharmacy.

Pill' as used herein is intended to include any medicinal compressed tablet or capsule of any size or shape, of a type that can be supplied or stored in blister packs. Foil' as used herein is intended to include any covering of a blister pack pill pocket that retains the pill within the pocket, and includes, but is not limited to, a sheet-like covering of aluminium or plastics that is glued or heat sealed to the blister pack.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for use with blister packs of the type comprising a plurality of pockets each containing a pill, each pocket being covered by a foil, the device comprising a first member provided with retaining means operative to retain the blister pack on the first member, and a second member provided with a foil weakening formation, the second member being movably attached to the first member such that, when the blister pack is retained on the first member in use, the members can be moved together such that the formation contacts the foil of the blister pack pocket so as to weaken the foil.

By weakening' we mean any contact between the foil weakening formation and foil that reduces the tensile strength of the foil, and may include punching a hole or holes all the way through the foil.

Preferably the retaining means comprises an aperture in which a pocket of the blister pack is received in use of the device.

Preferably the device comprises a plurality of apertures on the first member, and a plurality of foil weakening formations on the second member.

Preferably, when the members are moved together, the or each aperture is adjacent a respective set of foil weakening formations.

Preferably each set of foil weakening formations comprises a pair of spaced apart foil weakening formations.

Preferably each pair comprises a plurality of foil weakening formations.

Preferably the foil weakening formations in each pair are arranged in an arc.

Preferably the foil weakening formations are arranged such that in use of the device, part of the foil covering a respective blister pocket is not contacted by the foil weakening formations.

Preferably the or each foil weakening formation comprises a projection depending from the second member.

Preferably the distance that the tip of the projection extends from the second member is such that in use of the device, when the members are fully moved together, the projection pierces fully through the foil.

Other aspects of the present invention may include any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.

The present invention may be carried into practice in various ways, but embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 2 is a plan view of another device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring initially to Figure 1, a device 1 comprises a first oblong member 3 and a second oblong member 5 that are movably attached together at their shorter edges via a hinge 7.

The members 3, 5 are oblong and formed, in this example, from a plastics material although any other suitable material or combination of materials can alternatively be used.

The first member 3 is provided with retaining means comprising a plurality of apertures 9 which in this example are arranged in a pair of parallel lines 8 each having seven apertures 9. The arrangement of the apertures 9 is configured to correspond to the arrangement of the pill pockets in the blister pack with which the device 1 is intended to be used.

It will be appreciated that any suitable arrangement of apertures 9 could be used, and that a kit of different devices 1 could be provided, each device 1 being for use with a particular type of blister pack. The apertures 9 are arranged such that, in use of the device 1, the pockets of the blister pack are received in the apertures 9 such that the foil covering the pockets is uppermost. The apertures 9 thus retain the blister pack in position on the first element 3.

The second member 5 is of the same size and shape as the first member 3 and is provided with a plurality of foil weakening formations 11. Each formation 11 comprises a shallow, pointed projection depending from the plane of the second member 5. The projections are arranged in generally circular sets 13, there being two parallel lines 14 of seven sets 13. Each set 13 is positioned so as to be aligned with a respective aperture 9 on the first member 3 when the members 3, 5 are pivoted toward one another about hinge 7 so as to be in a position wherein the planes of the members 3, 5 are parallel and abutting.

In use of the device 1, a blister pack (not shown) is placed on top of the first member 3 with each pocket of the blister pack being received in a respective aperture 9. The second member 5 is then pivoted toward the first member 3 such that the blister pack is sandwiched between the two members 3, 5. Further relative movement of the two members 3, 5 toward one another causes each set 13 of projections 11 to contact and penetrate the foil surrounding a respective blister pocket.

The projections 11 of each set 13 are arranged to contact the foil at various positions around the periphery of a respective blister pocket to weaken the foil such that less force is required to push the pill out of the blister pack pocket by breaking the foil. Thus the projections 11 may penetrate the foil so that perforations are formed all the way through the foil, or may penetrate the foil so as to form thinner foil regions without piercing all the way through the foil.

Referring to Figure 2, a modified device 21 comprises similar features to those of device 1 and like features have therefore been given like references.

The device 21 comprises two lines 28 of staggered apertures 9 so arranged to correspond to the arrangement of blister pockets of a different type of blister pack.

In this example, the first and second members 3, 5 of device 21 are hinged 27 along their longest edges.

The device 21 comprises a plurality of foil weakening formations 11 that are arranged in sets 23, each set 23 comprising two pairs of three arcuately arranged projections 11. Each pair of projections 11 mirrors the curve of the curved ends of the apertures 9 so that in use of the device 21 only the foil at the curved ends of each blister pocket are contacted and weakened.

The devices 1, 21 may be formed from any suitable material including a plastics material. The features of the members 3, 5, apertures 9, hinge 7, 27 and foil weakening formations 11 are preferably formed integrally from a single piece of material such that the devices 1, 21 are preferably of one piece construction.

The members 3, 5 may be any suitable shape, size and thickness as required to enable the devices 1, 21 to be used with any desired shape and size of blister pack. Likewise the apertures 9 and foil weakening formations ii can be arranged in any desired number, shape, and orientation to match the arrangement of blister pockets on the blister pack concerned.

Each member 3, 5 may be provided with cut-outs to enable the margins of each member 3, 5 to be more easily gripped by a user of the device 1, 21. The cut-outs may comprise semi-circular cut-outs formed on the margin of each member 3, 5 that is distal from the hinged margin.

The foil weakening formations could comprise any suitable formation that enable the foil to be penetrated sufficiently that the foil is weakened, and more particularly so that the tensile strength of the foil is reduced sufficiently that the pill can be pushed from the blister pocket through the foil with reduced force and such that the pill is less likely to be damaged.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A device for use with blister packs of the type comprising a plurality of pockets each containing a pill, each pocket being covered by a foil, the device comprising a first member provided with retaining means operative to retain the blister pack on the first member, and a second member provided with a foil weakening formation, the second member being movably attached to the first member such that, when the blister pack is retained on the first member in use, the members can be moved together such that the formation contacts the foil of the blister pack pocket so as to weaken the foil.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the retaining means comprises an aperture in which a pocket of the blister pack is received in use of the device.

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of apertures on the first member, and a plurality of foil weakening formations on the second member.

4. The device of claim 2 or claim 3 wherein, when the members are moved together, the or each aperture is adjacent a respective set of foil weakening formations.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein each set of foil weakening formations comprises a pair of spaced apart foil weakening formations.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein each pair comprises a plurality of foil weakening formations.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the foil weakening formations in each pair are arranged in an arc.

8. The device of any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the foil weakening formations are arranged such that in use of the device, part of the foil covering a respective blister pocket is not contacted by the foil weakening formations.

9. The device of any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the or each foil weakening formation comprises a projection depending from the second member.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the distance that the tip of the projection extends from the second member is such that in use of the device, when the members are fully moved together, the projection does not pierce fully through the foil.

11. A device substantially as described herein and as shown in Figure 1.

12. A device substantially as described herein and as shown in Figure
2.