WO2008003775A1

WO2008003775A1 - Dispenser

Info

Publication number: WO2008003775A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/056874
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jørn REX; Jacob Stürich NIELSEN; Mikal Christian HALLSTRUP
Original assignee: Novo Nordisk A/S
Priority date: 2006-07-06
Filing date: 2007-07-06
Publication date: 2008-01-10

Abstract

A dispenser for an article is provided, the article having a thickness varying along the length of the article, the article comprising a first portion with a first larger thickness, a second portion and an intermediate portion with a second lesser thickness. The dispenser comprises a cavity having an outlet opening with an initial and a distended height, wherein the article can be arranged in the dispenser cavity with the first portion arranged inside the cavity and a portion arranged outside the cavity, the intermediate portion being arranged corresponding to the outlet opening. By this arrangement movement of an article out of the cavity will result in distension of the opening as the first portion is moved through the opening. By this arrangement it is prevented that articles drop out of the cavity should the dispenser inadvertently be turned e.g. upside-down.

Description

DISPENSER

The present invention generally relates to a dispenser allowing a user easy and safe access to items arranged in a dispenser. The items may be in the form of medical strips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Presently, strips such as test strips are normally dispensed for use with patients from bulk supply containers and reusable container. For such an arrangement there exists a risk that the container may be dropped or turned upside-down and the contained strips may fall out. Further, it is possible to place a used strip in the container again, this introducing the risk of contaminating the unused strips and as well as the risk that the user inadvertently will use an already used strip.

Some strips are substantially flat having a handle end and a "functional" end of approximately the same thickness. However, other strips have a functional end with a larger thickness. An example of such a strip is provided by Aradigm Corporation in the form of an insulin strip containing a small blister and a nozzle array at one end of the strip, the blister providing a larger thickness than the remaining portion of the strip.

US 4,911 ,344 and US 2005/0281706 disclose strip dispensers for flat test strips. Apart from being designed for flat test strips, these dispensers are sealed containers adapted to fully enclose and protect the strips from environmental influences. Dispensers for objects having a protruding reservoir or container portion are known from e.g. US 2003/0075561 and US 2,574,565 showing dispensers for continuous bands comprising a plurality of individual reservoirs or containers.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Having regard to the above description of known strip dispensers, it is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser for a "non-flat" article such as a strip which is easy and safe to use and protects the enclosed article to a high degree.

In the disclosure of the present invention, embodiments and aspects will be described which will address one or more of the above objects or which will address objects apparent from the below disclosure as well as from the description of exemplary embodiments. Correspondingly, a dispenser assembly is provided, comprising at least one article and a dispenser. The at least one article has a length, a width and a thickness varying along the length of the article, the article comprising a first portion with a first larger thickness, a second portion and an intermediate portion with a second lesser thickness. The dispenser comprises at least one cavity having an outlet opening, the outlet opening having a width and a height, the opening having an initial and a distended height, wherein the at least one article is arranged in a dispenser cavity with the first portion arranged inside the cavity and a portion arranged outside the cavity, the intermediate portion being arranged corresponding to the out- let opening. By this arrangement movement of the article out of the cavity will result in distension of the opening as the first portion is moved through the opening. As appears, this simple arrangement prevents the article(s) from inadvertently being pulled out or dropping out of the cavity should the dispenser inadvertently be turned e.g. upside-down. Further, it protects the most critical portion of the article, yet allows easy access to the remaining non- enclosed portion of the article as well as an overview of the number of articles still remaining in the dispenser.

The article may be in the form of an individual strip comprising a single portion with the first larger thickness. A given cavity may then comprise a plurality of such individual strips. Alter- natively the strip may be a continuous band comprising a plurality of portions with the first larger thickness and with intermediate portions arranged in between, whereby the first portion would be represented by the portion of the strip extending from the cavity.

The outlet opening may be adapted to allow the first portion to be moved out of the cavity, yet prevents the first portion to be moved into the cavity, whereby it can be prevented that a user re-inserts an item after use. The distensability of the opening may be provided by e.g. a flexible element or by a spring arrangement.

In an exemplary embodiment the flexible element is in the form of a flexible lip element with a free edge. The free edge may have a general orientation away from the cavity, this providing that the first portion can be moved out of the cavity, yet prevents that it can be moved back into the cavity.

The dispenser may comprise a plurality of cavities arranged side-by-side, each cavity con- taining a plurality of articles. Optionally the dispenser may be provided with a lid, e.g. removable or pivotable, covering one or more of the cavity openings. One or more of the articles may have a general strip-formed configuration, the first portion comprising a drug-containing blister defining the first larger thickness. In other embodiments the thicker portion may comprise a sensor element or an analytical substance.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser as described above, adapted to cooperate with at least one article as described above.

As used herein, the term "drug" is meant to encompass any drug-containing flowable medicine capable of being extracted from the article, such as a liquid, solution, gel or fine suspen- sion. Representative drugs include pharmaceuticals such as peptides, proteins, and hormones, biologically derived or active agents, hormonal and gene based agents, nutritional formulas and other substances in both solid (dispensed) or liquid form. In the description of the exemplary embodiments reference will be made to the use of insulin. US 6,230,706, which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a number of specific drugs, substances and formulations which may be contained in a blister.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following the invention will be further described with references to the drawings, wherein

fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional drawing of a strip dispenser cavity with strips, fig. 2 shows the strip dispenser cavity of fig. 1 with a strip being pulled partly out, fig. 3 shows a strip comprising a blister, fig. 4 shows a strip dispenser in a pre-assembled state, and fig. 5 shows a strip dispenser in an assembled and closed state.

In the figures like structures are mainly identified by like reference numerals.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

When in the following terms such as "upper" and "lower", "right" and "left", "horizontal" and "vertical" or similar relative expressions are used, these only refer to the appended figures and not to an actual situation of use. The shown figures are schematic representations for which reason the configuration of the different structures as well as there relative dimensions are intended to serve illustrative purposes only. Fig. 1 shows in a cross-sectional view a dispenser 1 with a cavity 10, the cavity having a first closed end portion 1 1 and a second end portion 12 comprising an outlet opening 13. The outlet opening is formed between a flexible lip element 20 and a wall portion 15 of the dis- penser. The lip element has a free edge 21 moveable between an initial and a distended position, thereby forming an outlet opening having an initial respectively a distended height (i.e. distance between the free edge and the wall portion.

The dispenser is shown with two individual strips partly arranged in the cavity. Each strip 30 (see fig. 3) has a length, a width and a thickness varying along the length thereof. In the shown embodiment the strip comprises a first end portion 31 with a blister 35 and a second end portion 32 serving as a handle for gripping and handling the strip. The blister contains a fluid drug adapted to be aerosolized for topical or systemic administration, e.g. an insulin formulation for pulmonary administration. Between the two end portions an intermediate por- tion 33 is provided. For such a strip the blister defines a first larger thickness and the intermediate portion a second lesser thickness. The disclosed exemplary strip also comprises an initially closed nozzle array (not shown) associated with the blister and is adapted to be used in a system for pulmonary delivery of insulin, see e.g. US 6,230,706 which discloses a disposable package comprising a blister and nozzle array of the same general type as may be used for the strip 30.

In fig. 3 it can be seen that a strip 30 has been moved partly out of the cavity with the blister being arranged in the outlet opening thereby forcing the flexible lip element 20 upwards whereby the opening is distended, this allowing the strip to be pulled fully out of the cavity. When the strip has been removed the flexible lip element will return to the initial position (see also below). As can be seen, the free edge has a general orientation away from the cavity, this providing that the first end portion with the blister can be moved out of the cavity, yet prevents that the first portion can be moved into the cavity. In other words, the flexible lip element serves as a one-way opening preventing the user from inadvertently inserting a used strip in the dispenser.

The cavity and the lip element may be adapted to hold one or more strips just as the strips may be allowed to partly move in the opening. For example, in its initial configuration with no strips arranged in the cavity the lip element may be in contact with the opposed wall portion. When one or more strips are arranged in the cavity, e.g. 5 strips in a stack, the lip will be lifted away and the opening distended corresponding to the total thickness of the 5 strips. When a strip is subsequently removed from the cavity the lip will engage the next upper strip in the stack and so forth. In this way the strips are held in place and cannot rattle. The initial opening may also be larger than the initial thickness of the stacked strips whereby the strips are allowed to move partly out of the cavity before engaging the non-distended opening. In- deed, the opening should always be smaller than the thickness of the first end portion, e.g. the blister.

Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of an injected moulded dispenser 100 in a pre-assembled state. The dispenser comprises an initially open main portion 1 10 with dividing walls 11 1 creating 8 cavities 112, a hinged top portion 120 with a flexible lip element 121 along the free portion of the top portion, and a hinged lid portion 130. The main portion and the top portion comprise corresponding coupling means 115, 125 allowing the top portion to be locked in a closed position thereby forming 8 closed cavities having the general configuration as shown in fig. 1. The coupling means may provide a permanent coupling preventing the user from opening the top portion. Indeed, in such a case the strips would have to be arranged in the cavities before the dispenser cavities are closed. When the hinged lid 130 is closed also handle portions of the strips protruding from the cavities will be enclosed and thus protected during transport of the dispenser. A coupling may be formed between the lid and the top and/or main portion of the dispenser. For example, the lid and the top portion may comprise corre- sponding coupling means 136. In such an embodiment a flexible top portion may be allowed to be pushed down corresponding to the location 126 of the coupling, this freeing the lid from engagement. Forming the dispenser as a unitary injection moulded element is only exemplary as the dispenser may be formed using any desired material, manufacturing process and number of components.

In a situation of use, the user opens the lid, grips the free handle end of a strip and removes it from the dispenser cavity. Starting to remove the strips from one end allows the user an overview of how many strips are remaining in the dispenser.

In the above description of the preferred embodiments, the different structures and means providing the described functionality for the different components have been described to a degree to which the concept of the present invention will be apparent to the skilled reader. The detailed construction and specification for the different components are considered the object of a normal design procedure performed by the skilled person along the lines set out in the present specification.

Claims

1. A dispenser assembly (1 , 100) comprising:

(a) at least one article (30) with a length, a width and a thickness varying along the length thereof, the article comprising a first portion (31 ) with a first larger thickness, a second portion (32) and an intermediate portion (33) with a second lesser thickness, and

(b) a dispenser comprising at least one cavity (10, 1 12) having an outlet opening (13), the outlet opening having a width and a height, the opening having an initial and a distended height, - wherein the at least one article is arranged in a dispenser cavity with the first portion arranged inside the cavity and a portion arranged outside the cavity, the intermediate portion being arranged corresponding to the outlet opening, whereby movement of the article out of the cavity will result in distension of the opening as the first portion is moved through the opening.

2. A dispenser assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the outlet opening is adapted to allow the first portion to be moved out of the cavity, yet prevents the first portion to be moved into the cavity.

3. A dispenser assembly as in claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening comprises a flexible element (20, 121 ) providing the opening with its distensability.

4. A dispenser assembly as in claim 3, wherein the flexible element is in the form of a flexible lip element with a free edge (21 ).

5. A dispenser assembly as in claim 4, wherein the free edge has a general orientation away from the cavity, this providing that the first portion can be moved out of the cavity, yet prevents that the first portion can be moved into the cavity.

6. A dispenser assembly as in any of claims 1-5, wherein at least one cavity contains a plurality of individual articles.

7. A dispenser assembly as in any of claims 1-5, wherein at least one cavity contains a plurality of articles forming a continuous band.

8. A dispenser assembly as in any of claims 1-5, wherein the dispenser comprises a plurality of cavities (1 12) arranged side-by-side, each cavity containing a plurality of articles.

9. A dispenser assembly as in any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one arti- cle has a general strip-formed configuration, the first portion comprising a drug-containing blister (35) defining the first larger thickness.

10. A dispenser as in any of the previous claims, adapted to cooperate with at least one article as defined in claim 1 or 9.