WO2010100399A1 - Dispensing cups - Google Patents

Dispensing cups Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2010100399A1
WO2010100399A1 PCT/GB2010/000310 GB2010000310W WO2010100399A1 WO 2010100399 A1 WO2010100399 A1 WO 2010100399A1 GB 2010000310 W GB2010000310 W GB 2010000310W WO 2010100399 A1 WO2010100399 A1 WO 2010100399A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cavity
medication
dispensing cup
cover sheet
tray
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2010/000310
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Howard Elliott
Original Assignee
Future Technology (R&D) Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Future Technology (R&D) Ltd filed Critical Future Technology (R&D) Ltd
Publication of WO2010100399A1 publication Critical patent/WO2010100399A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J1/00—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes
    • A61J1/03—Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes for pills or tablets
    • A61J1/035—Blister-type containers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
    • A61J7/00—Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons; Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine
    • A61J7/0015—Devices specially adapted for taking medicines
    • A61J7/0046—Cups, bottles or bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/28—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by associating or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
    • B65D75/30—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
    • B65D75/32—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents
    • B65D75/325—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents one sheet being recessed, and the other being a flat not- rigid sheet, e.g. puncturable or peelable foil
    • B65D75/327—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents one sheet being recessed, and the other being a flat not- rigid sheet, e.g. puncturable or peelable foil and forming several compartments
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D83/00—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents
    • B65D83/04—Containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents for dispensing annular, disc-shaped, or spherical or like small articles, e.g. tablets or pills
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2575/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D2575/28—Articles or materials wholly enclosed in composite wrappers, i.e. wrappers formed by association or interconnecting two or more sheets or blanks
    • B65D2575/30—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding
    • B65D2575/32—Articles or materials enclosed between two opposed sheets or blanks having their margins united, e.g. by pressure-sensitive adhesive, crimping, heat-sealing, or welding one or both sheets or blanks being recessed to accommodate contents
    • B65D2575/3209—Details
    • B65D2575/3218—Details with special means for gaining access to the contents
    • B65D2575/3227—Cuts or weakening lines

Definitions

  • the invention relates to dispensing cups, and in particular to medication dispensing cups for use with containers for storing and dispensing medication such as pills, tablets and capsules.
  • the containers may be conventional blister packs for the packaging of pills, tablets and capsules, or containers for organising and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensation according to a predefined dosage regimen.
  • the principle behind such mixed medication containers is that a dosage regimen of mixed medication can be organised in advance for a period of a week or more, and a patient or nurse can then remove from the container, at predefined times over the said period, the one or more pills, tablets and/or capsules to be administered on each occasion according to the dosage regimen.
  • Blister packs are of course well known for the storage and dispensing of pills, tablets and capsules, which are stored individually in cavities in a multi-cavity tray and removed by pushing each pill, tablet or capsule through a rupturable film or foil covering the cavities.
  • the film or foil cover may be paper or a plastics film that can be peeled or torn away to expose the medication in the tray cavities, but is generally aluminium foil, which has the dual advantage of being easily rupturable and vapour- impermeable.
  • Such blister packs normally carry only one unit dose of the same medication in each cavity.
  • a tray may have a 2 x 7, 3 x 7, 4 x 7 or 5 x 7 array of cavities corresponding to 2, 3, 4 or 5 predefined medication times per day over a 7- day period, or one dose prescribed per day over a 2, 3, 4 or 5 week period.
  • a 4 x 7 tray may be filled with the medication to be taken at breakfast-time, lunchtime, early evening and immediately before retiring each day for a week, and then the filled cavities sealed with a rupturable or sequentially rupturable film or foil cover.
  • Printed instructions on the pack identify the intended sequence of opening the individual cavities to dispense their contents according to the prescribed dosage regimen.
  • Disadvantages of conventional blister packs using a rupturable cover sheet are the difficulty experienced by some patients, particularly the elderly, in pushing the medication through the cover sheet, the need for expensive laminating equipment to seal the aluminium cover sheet over the cavities after the initial filling, and the difficulty experienced by the user in selecting the cavity containing the medication to be dispensed if the medication is pushed up through the foil from below. If the wrong cavity is opened by mistake then re-sealing is impossible because the cover sheet has ruptured.
  • a major disadvantage of the blister pack using a peelable cover sheet is the difficulty experienced by the user in peeling or tearing away a single selected portion of the cover sheet to expose the contents of only one preselected cavity. This can be achieved by scraping a finger-nail over a corner or tab portion of a segment of the cover sheet sealing the preselected cavity, but grasping that corner to peel away the complete segment sometimes requires considerable manual dexterity and possibly good eyesight, which is beyond the abilities of many elderly users. Also, if a tacky peelable adhesive is used to adhere the cover sheet to the tray, it is desirable to prevent the contents of the tray from coming into contact with the adhesive.
  • a cover film is adhered to the generally planar top surface of the tray by a layer of peelable adhesive to seal the one or more cavities to retain the medication in the one or more cavities.
  • the cover film has pre-formed tear lines defining a tear-off portion per cavity to retain the medication in that cavity until it is removed by tearing along its tear lines.
  • the or each tear-off portion can also be defined by cut lines extending completely through the material of the cover film.
  • the or each tear-off portion of the cover film has low vapour transmission properties in the area which in use overlies the associated cavity, those low vapour transmission properties being created by a barrier patch with high vapour barrier properties shaped and sized to overlie the associated cavity.
  • the or each barrier patch is adhered to the underside of the cover film by the same layer of peelable adhesive as that which adheres the cover film to the top surface of the tray.
  • EP 1357050 to the present Applicant discloses an alternative container where the tear- off portions of the cover film have an associated lug portion that is not secured to the tray in use, for gripping by a user preparatory to tearing off the tear-off portion.
  • the generally planar top surface of the tray also has an upwardly extending protrusion positioned to be located beneath each lug portion in use to bend that lug portion upwardly out of the plane of the remainder of the cover film when the cover film is secured to the tray. Because the or each lug portion is bent up out of the plane of the remainder of the cover film when the film is applied, it can very easily be grasped by the user for removal of the tear-off portion. This makes the container particularly suitable for elderly users or those with limited manual dexterity.
  • the present invention provides a dispensing cup for use with a container for storing and dispensing medication comprising a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the medication, and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the medication in the one or more cavities, wherein the dispensing cup comprises: a rim part that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the one or more discrete cavities with an interference fit (e.g. a press fit) such that, in use, the dispensing cup is releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity; and a main body that defines a volume for receiving and storing the medication once it has been dispensed from a cavity.
  • an interference fit e.g. a press fit
  • the rim part of the dispensing cup is preferably formed to be a particular shape and size so that when it is pressed into the open mouth of a cavity it is retained securely in position by friction until it is deliberately removed by the user.
  • the rim part of the dispensing cup may be slightly resilient or flexible so that it can be narrowed slightly when it is pressed into the open mouth of the cavity.
  • a part of the cover sheet that overhangs the open mouth of the cavity may be pushed into the cavity by the dispensing cup and trapped between the outer surface of the rim part and the cavity wall.
  • the overhanging part of the cover sheet may therefore assist in providing the friction fit that retains the rim part of the dispensing cup securely in position.
  • An overhanging part of the cover sheet may be provided if a removable portion of the cover sheet (see below) is shaped and sized to be slightly smaller than the open mouth of the cavities.
  • the rim part may be releasably secured to the tray in register with a particular cavity by any suitable means.
  • An engagement fit may be used instead of, or in addition to, the interference fit with any suitable cooperating engagement means being provided at the cavity (or other part of the tray) and the rim part of the dispensing cup.
  • a protrusion may be provided at a surface of one of the dispensing cup and the cavity and a corresponding recess may be provided at a surface of the other of the dispensing cup and the cavity.
  • the main body While the rim part is shaped and sized to enable it to be inserted into the or each cavity formed in the tray, the main body will not be subject to these design constraints and can therefore have any suitable shape or size.
  • the outer surface of the main body may be ergonomically shaped or include one or more gripping features to help the user to hold the dispensing cup while it is being secured to, and removed from, the tray.
  • the dispensing cup can further include an annular shoulder adjacent the rim part that preferably abuts the top surface of the tray when the rim part is properly located in the cavity.
  • the annular shoulder can act to limit the insertion depth of the rim part of the dispensing cup within the cavity. In practice, this can allow the insertion depth to be selected for any particular container/dispensing cup combination so that the dispensing cup is held firmly by an interference fit when the container is inverted as described in more detail below, but can be easily removed from the cavity once its contents have been dispensed into the dispensing cup.
  • the cover sheet that is used to seal the one or more cavities may be adhered to the generally planar top surface of the tray by a suitable adhesive or heat-sealed directly to the tray.
  • the cover sheet can be a conventional rupturable film of paper or foil, for example.
  • the cover sheet can also be a plastics film of single or multiple-layer construction having pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity to retain the medication in that cavity until it is removed (either partly or completely) along its line of separation.
  • the removable portion is only partly removed then it preferably remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is defined by a gap in the associated pre-formed line of separation.
  • the cover sheet of single or multiple-layer construction is preferably non-rupturable (except around pre-formed tear lines) so that the medication cannot be accidentally or deliberately pushed through it.
  • the or each removable portion of the cover film may include a barrier patch shaped and sized to overlie the associated cavity.
  • the or each associated barrier patch can be formed in a barrier sheet that is adhered to the cover sheet (e.g. by a layer of peelable adhesive).
  • the periphery of the or each removable portion can be defined by a pre- formed cut line extending completely through the cover sheet material, a pre-scored or pre- perforated tear line, or any combination thereof.
  • the pre-scored tear lines may be created by pressing a knife on to the surface of the seal so as to cut or score part way through but not fully through the thickness of the cover sheet.
  • the pre-scored tear lines, pre-perforated tear lines and cut lines can be formed using a rotary die cutter or the like.
  • an associated barrier patch formed in a barrier sheet will be shaped and sized to be larger than the removable portion.
  • the cover sheet and barrier sheet will be adhered together by a layer of peelable adhesive or static bonding such that the or each barrier patch must be peeled away from a narrow border of the cover sheet immediately outside the line of separation defining the periphery of the removable portion when the overlying removable portion is released.
  • the cover sheet may be a metal foil, such as aluminium foil, a metallized polymeric film or paper sheet, a plastics film of single or multiple layer construction, or any combination thereof, depending on the sort of medication to be stored and dispensed from the container.
  • a metal foil such as aluminium foil, a metallized polymeric film or paper sheet, a plastics film of single or multiple layer construction, or any combination thereof, depending on the sort of medication to be stored and dispensed from the container.
  • the cover sheet includes one or more removable portions then the removable portion that overlies the particular cavity can be removed (e.g. by tearing along tear lines such as pre-formed score lines or perforations) to provide an opening in the cover sheet through which the rim part of the dispensing cup can be inserted into the cavity. If the removable portions have lug portions as described in EP 1357050 then the removable portion that overlies the particular cavity can be removed by grasping its lug portion.
  • the dispensing cup itself can be used to rupture the cover sheet.
  • the rim part of the dispensing cup can be placed against the cover sheet in register with the open mouth of a cavity and then pushed through the cover sheet and into the cavity.
  • the rim part of the dispensing cup may be adapted to assist in the process of rupturing the cover sheet.
  • the rim part of the dispensing cup may be chamfered to create a narrow rupturing surface; care being taken to ensure that such a rupturing surface is not sharp enough to cause danger to the user.
  • a slot or recess may be provided in the rim part of the dispensing cup so that when it is pushed through the rupturable cover sheet, the part of the cover sheet overlying the cavity is not completely removed from the remainder of the cover sheet but remains joined to it by a bridge that is coincident with the slot or recess.
  • the container is preferably a multiple-compartment container for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen, wherein an array of discrete cavities are formed into the generally planar top surface of the tray, and the cover sheet has pre-formed lines of separation defining an array of removable portions, each removable portion being shaped and sized so that in use it overlies one of the cavities.
  • the dispensing cup can be provided with a suitable lid or cover that can be releasably secured to the rim part.
  • the lid or cover can be formed as a separate item or can be attached to the dispensing cup by a connector such as a flexible strip, for example, which enables it to be secured to, and removed from, the rim, but prevents it from being accidentally misplaced or lost.
  • Two or more dispensing cups may be joined together - either releasably by means of suitable cooperating engaging means, or integrally formed as a single unit.
  • the joined dispensing cups will be releasably secured to the tray of the container such that each dispensing cup is in register with a cavity and the joined dispensing cups must be spaced apart and oriented relative to each other accordingly.
  • the container is a multiple-compartment container for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen and an array of discrete cavities are formed into the generally planar top surface of the tray then the discrete cavities may be substantially rectangular in shape.
  • Each corresponding dispensing cup will preferably have a rim part that is also substantially rectangular in shape and two dispensing cups can either be joined together along their short sides or their long sides depending on which two respective cavities they are to be inserted into.
  • a tray can have a 2 x 7, 3 x 7, 4 x 7 or 5 x 7 array of cavities corresponding to 2, 3, 4 or 5 predefined medication times per day over a 7-day period, or one dose prescribed per day over a 2, 3, 4 or 5 week period.
  • a 4 x 7 tray may be filled with the medication to be taken at breakfast-time, lunchtime, early evening and immediately before retiring each day for a week.
  • each dispensing cup can include a region on which any suitable label could be attached or written on using a marker pen, for example.
  • the dispensing cups mean that the user does not need to take the whole dispensing container with them each time they temporarily leave the house or care home.
  • the dispensing cup may include cooperating engaging means on each of its sides so that it can be releasably joined to one or more dispensing cups to form an array of dispensing cups.
  • the dispensing cup is generally rectangular in cross section then one short side and one long side of the dispensing cup may include a 'male' or first type of engaging means and one short side and one long side of the dispensing cup may include a 'female' or second type of engaging means.
  • any number of dispensing cups could be permanently joined together to form an integral array.
  • the present invention further provides a combination of: a container for storing and dispensing medication comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the medication; and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the medication in the one or more cavities; and a dispensing cup comprising: a rim part that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the one or more discrete cavities with an interference fit such that, in use, the dispensing cup is releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity; and a main body that defines a volume for receiving and storing the medication once it has been dispensed from a cavity.
  • the present invention further provides a method of using the combination described above, comprising the steps of: securing the dispensing cup to the tray in register with a cavity by inserting the rim part into the cavity, optionally until the annular shoulder abuts the top surface of the tray; manipulating the container so that the medication in that cavity is received into the dispensing cup; and removing the dispensing cup from the container.
  • a preliminary step may include unsealing a cavity by removing the associated removable portion of the cover sheet.
  • a preliminary step may include using the dispensing cup to rupture the cover sheet by pushing the rim part of the dispensing cup through the cover sheet and into the cavity.
  • the user To dispense the contents of a cavity where the cover sheet has a removable portion per cavity then the user simply pushes down on the associated removable portion with their forefinger. This may require the user to release the removable portion from the remainder of the cover sheet by tearing along tear lines such as pre-formed score lines or perforations.
  • the force needed to release the removable portion is preferably less than is necessary to push the medication through a rupturable cover sheet.
  • the released removable portion is then pushed down into the cavity on top of the medication and can be removed through the newly created opening in the cover sheet by sliding it up the side of the cavity until it can be grasped firmly between forefinger and thumb.
  • the removable portion can simply be left in the cavity or may remain partially attached to the remainder of the cover sheet by the use of a bridge portion defined by a gap in the lines of separation defining the periphery of the or each removable portion. If the removable portions have lug portions as described in EP 1357050 then the removable portion that overlies the particular cavity can be removed by grasping its lug portion. Once the removable portion has been released then the dispensing cup can be inserted into the cavity through the newly created opening in the cover sheet.
  • the user To dispense the contents of a cavity where the cover sheet is a rupturable cover sheet then the user simply pushes the rim of the dispensing cup through the cover sheet and into the underlying cavity.
  • the dispensing cup Before the container is inverted, the dispensing cup is secured to the tray in register with the open mouth of the cavity. The container and the secured dispensing cup can then be inverted so that the medication falls into the dispensing cup through the newly created opening in the cover sheet.
  • the part of the cover sheet that has been removed by the dispensing cup will also fall into the dispensing cup unless the rim part of the dispensing cup includes the slot or recess described above such that it remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge.
  • the weight of the medication will dislodge the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity and cause it to pivot about the bridge so that the medication falls into the dispensing cup.
  • the user can shake the container slightly to dislodge the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity.
  • the medication can also be pushed through the cover sheet from the rear in the usual way so that it falls into the dispensing cup that is releasably secured to the tray in register with the cavity.
  • the dispensing cup is released from the container and the medication can be carefully poured from the dispensing cup into the open hand of the user, picked out of the dispensing cup, or temporarily stored in the dispensing cup.
  • the dispensing cup may be provided with a suitable lid or cover that can be releasably secured to the rim part of the dispensing cup.
  • the lid or cover can be formed as a separate item or can be attached to the dispensing cup by a connector such as a flexible strip, for example, which enables it to be secured to, and removed from, the rim part but prevents it from being accidentally misplaced or lost.
  • the dispensing cup therefore provides an improved way of safely dispensing the medication.
  • Figure 1 is a cross section view through a container with a non-rupturable cover film before a first type medication dispensing cup is secured to it;
  • Figure 2 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 1 with the first type of medication dispensing cup secured to it;
  • Figure 3 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 1 in an inverted position with the first type of medication dispensing cup removed;
  • Figure 4 is a cross section view through a container with a non-rupturable cover film before a first type medication dispensing cup is secured to it and where the removable portions of the cover sheet are shaped and sized such that a portion of the cover sheet overhangs the open mouth of the cavity;
  • Figure 5 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 4 with the first type of medication dispensing cup secured to it;
  • Figure 6 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 4 in an inverted position with the first type of medication dispensing cup removed;
  • Figure 7 is a cross section view through a container with a rupturable cover sheet before a second type of medication dispensing cup is secured to it;
  • Figure 8 is an end view of the second type of medication dispensing cup
  • Figure 9 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 7 with the second type of medication dispensing cup secured to it;
  • Figure 10 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 7 with the second type of medication dispensing cup removed.
  • a multiple-compartment container for storing and dispensing medication such as pills, capsules, tablets etc.
  • the tray 2 is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material, and may be formed for example by press moulding or by vacuum moulding.
  • the tray 2 has a generally planar top surface 4 into which has been formed an array of discrete cavities 6. It will be readily appreciated that the arrangement of the discrete cavities will depend on the particular dosage regimen required.
  • cover sheet 8 which may be of laminated construction.
  • the cover sheet 8 includes an array of tear-off portions, each of which is defined by perforations that extend completely around the periphery of an underlying cavity 6 in the moulded tray 2 when the cover sheet is adhered to the top surface 4 of the tray.
  • the perforations represent predefined zones of weakness in the cover sheet 8.
  • a required mixture of medication is placed in the discrete cavities 6 (for example, by a pharmacist or other trained medical professional) and the cavities are then sealed by securing the cover sheet 8 to the generally planar top surface 4 of the tray 2.
  • the cover sheet 8 can be adhered to the tray 2 by a suitable adhesive or heat-sealed directly to the tray.
  • the user To dispense the medication (e.g. the tablets labelled M) stored in one of the discrete cavities 6, the user simply presses down on the overlying tear-off portion. The application of a sufficient amount of force will cause the perforations to tear such that the tear-off portion is released from the remainder of the cover sheet 8. Once released, the tear-off portion can be pushed down into the cavity 6 on top of the medication.
  • the medication e.g. the tablets labelled M
  • the tear-off portion is easily removed through the newly created opening in the cover sheet 8 by sliding it up the side of the cavity 6 until it can be grasped firmly between forefinger and thumb. Alternatively, the tear-off portion can be left in the cavity 6 and removed at the same time as the medication is dispensed.
  • tear-off portions have lug portions as described in EP 1357050 then they can be removed by grasping the lug portion.
  • the tear-off portion may remain joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is defined by a gap in the perforations.
  • Figure 1 shows the situation where a tear-off portion has been removed to leave a newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8 but before the medication has been dispensed from the cavity 6.
  • the medication dispensing cup 12 is specifically designed for use with the container.
  • the rim part 14 is designed to be an interference fit with the open mouth of the cavities 6, but in an optional design may additionally (or alternatively) include a pair of engaging tabs or protrusions 16.
  • the medication dispensing cup 12 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6 through the newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8.
  • Each tear-off portion is the same size as (or slightly larger than) the underlying cavity 6 so that the periphery of the opening 10 is substantially coincident with the periphery of the open mouth of the cavity. The region of the cover sheet 8 bordering the opening 10 will therefore not interfere with the insertion of the medication dispensing cup 12 into the cavity 6.
  • the medication dispensing cup 12 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together as the rim part 14 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6.
  • the medication dispensing cup can be released such that the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 on the rim part are engaged with corresponding recesses 18 formed in the side wall of the cavity 6 as shown in Figure 2.
  • recesses 18 are only shown in one cavity 6 for convenience, it will be readily appreciated that all of the cavities have the same shape and size and include recesses that correspond with the engaging tabs or protrusions of the medication dispensing cup 12.
  • the side wall of the cavity may be provided with engaging tabs or protrusions that would engage with recesses or openings provided on the rim part of the medication dispensing cup.
  • the container is then completely inverted together with the secured medication dispensing cup 12 so that the medication in the cavity 6 (and in some cases the removed tear-off portion that is still in the cavity) fall into the medication dispensing cup through the newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8.
  • the medication dispensing cup 12 remains secured to the tray 2 as a result of the interference fit and the additional engagement between the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 and the corresponding recesses 18. The medication dispensing cup 12 will therefore remain located in register with the cavity 6 even when the tray in inverted.
  • the medication dispensing cup 12 While the container is in the inverted position, the medication dispensing cup 12 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together to disengage them from the corresponding recesses 18. The medication dispensing cup can then be removed from the open mouth of the cavity 6.
  • Figures 4 to 6 show how the same medication dispensing cup 12 (but without engaging tabs or protrusions 16) can be used with a cover sheet where the tear-off portions are slightly smaller than the underlying cavities 6 such that once a tear-off portion has been removed an annular region 8a of the cover sheet 8 overhangs the open mouth of the cavity. Once the tear-off portion has been removed, the medication dispensing cup 12 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6. The overhanging region 8a of the cover sheet 8 is pushed into the cavity 6 by the medication dispensing cup 12 and is trapped between the rim part 14 and the cavity wall as shown in Figure 5. This effectively narrows the open mouth of the cavity 6 and provides a secure friction fit to properly locate the medication dispensing container 12 within the cavity.
  • the medication dispensing cup 20 is specifically designed for use with a rupturable cover sheet 22 that may be made of paper or foil, for example. In this case, there are no tear-off portions and the medication in a cavity 6 is dispensed in a slightly different way.
  • the medication dispensing cup 20 is specifically designed for use with the container. More particularly, the cross section of a rim part 14 of the medication dispensing cup 20 is shaped and sized to correspond to the shape and size of the open mouth of the cavities 6. As shown in Figure 8, the rim part 14 is chamfered to define a narrow rupturing surface 14a. The rim part 14 also includes a slot 24 that extends the full length of the rim part until it reaches an annular shoulder 26 of the medication dispensing cup 20. This defines a gap in the rupturing surface 14a. The medication dispensing cup 20 is located in register with a cavity 6 and with the rupturing surface 14a in contact with the cover sheet 20.
  • the cover sheet 22 is ruptured in such a way that the part of the cover sheet 22a ( Figure 10) that overlies the cavity 6 remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is coincident with the slot 24.
  • the cut line in the cover sheet 22 produced by the rupturing surface 14a does not extend completely around the periphery of the open mouth of the cavity 6 but includes a gap that defines the bridge.
  • the gap in the rupturing surface may be omitted and in this case the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity will be completely removed from the remainder of the cover sheet and will fall into the medication dispensing cup 20 when the container is inverted.
  • the container is then completely inverted together with the secured medication dispensing cup 20 so that the medication in the cavity 6 (and in some cases the removed part of the cover sheet) fall into the medication dispensing cup through the newly created opening in the cover sheet 22.
  • the medication dispensing cup 20 remains secured to the tray 2 as a result of the interference fit and the additional engagement between the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 and the corresponding recesses 18.
  • the medication dispensing cup 20 will therefore remain located in register with the cavity 6 even when the tray in inverted. While the container is in the inverted position, the medication dispensing cup 20 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together to disengage them from the corresponding recesses 18.
  • the medication dispensing cup can then be removed from the open mouth of the cavity 6.

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Abstract

The present invention provides a container for storing and dispensing medication. The container includes a tray (2) having a generally planar top surface (4) into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities (6) for receiving the medication. The cavities (6) are covered by a cover sheet (8) that can either be rupturable or which has pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity. The tray (2) is adapted to releasably secure a dispensing cup (12) in register with a cavity. The dispensing cup (12) is releasably engaged with the tray by an interference fit. The contents of a cavity are therefore dispensed directly into the dispensing cup (12) by inverting the container. This prevents the medication from being mishandled or falling onto the floor.

Description

Dispensing cups
DESCRIPTION Technical Field
The invention relates to dispensing cups, and in particular to medication dispensing cups for use with containers for storing and dispensing medication such as pills, tablets and capsules.
The containers may be conventional blister packs for the packaging of pills, tablets and capsules, or containers for organising and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensation according to a predefined dosage regimen. The principle behind such mixed medication containers is that a dosage regimen of mixed medication can be organised in advance for a period of a week or more, and a patient or nurse can then remove from the container, at predefined times over the said period, the one or more pills, tablets and/or capsules to be administered on each occasion according to the dosage regimen.
Background Art Blister packs are of course well known for the storage and dispensing of pills, tablets and capsules, which are stored individually in cavities in a multi-cavity tray and removed by pushing each pill, tablet or capsule through a rupturable film or foil covering the cavities. The film or foil cover may be paper or a plastics film that can be peeled or torn away to expose the medication in the tray cavities, but is generally aluminium foil, which has the dual advantage of being easily rupturable and vapour- impermeable. Such blister packs normally carry only one unit dose of the same medication in each cavity.
Mixed medication blister packs have been proposed, having larger cavities for filling by a pharmacist, wherein each cavity in a multi-cavity tray can be filled with a mixture of medications. Typically, a tray may have a 2 x 7, 3 x 7, 4 x 7 or 5 x 7 array of cavities corresponding to 2, 3, 4 or 5 predefined medication times per day over a 7- day period, or one dose prescribed per day over a 2, 3, 4 or 5 week period. For example, a 4 x 7 tray may be filled with the medication to be taken at breakfast-time, lunchtime, early evening and immediately before retiring each day for a week, and then the filled cavities sealed with a rupturable or sequentially rupturable film or foil cover. Printed instructions on the pack identify the intended sequence of opening the individual cavities to dispense their contents according to the prescribed dosage regimen.
Disadvantages of conventional blister packs using a rupturable cover sheet are the difficulty experienced by some patients, particularly the elderly, in pushing the medication through the cover sheet, the need for expensive laminating equipment to seal the aluminium cover sheet over the cavities after the initial filling, and the difficulty experienced by the user in selecting the cavity containing the medication to be dispensed if the medication is pushed up through the foil from below. If the wrong cavity is opened by mistake then re-sealing is impossible because the cover sheet has ruptured.
A major disadvantage of the blister pack using a peelable cover sheet is the difficulty experienced by the user in peeling or tearing away a single selected portion of the cover sheet to expose the contents of only one preselected cavity. This can be achieved by scraping a finger-nail over a corner or tab portion of a segment of the cover sheet sealing the preselected cavity, but grasping that corner to peel away the complete segment sometimes requires considerable manual dexterity and possibly good eyesight, which is beyond the abilities of many elderly users. Also, if a tacky peelable adhesive is used to adhere the cover sheet to the tray, it is desirable to prevent the contents of the tray from coming into contact with the adhesive. Finally, the film cover sheet may not have as high a vapour impermeability as metal foil, so there is a reluctance on the part of pharmacists to pre-fill a mixed medication blister pack with medication for administration more than seven days in advance of the filling date, lest the medication deteriorates due to storage in humid ambient conditions. WO 2005/023670 to the present Applicant describes a container that aims to overcome some or all of the above problems and disadvantages. The container is for storing and dispensing medication and includes a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the medication. A cover film is adhered to the generally planar top surface of the tray by a layer of peelable adhesive to seal the one or more cavities to retain the medication in the one or more cavities. The cover film has pre-formed tear lines defining a tear-off portion per cavity to retain the medication in that cavity until it is removed by tearing along its tear lines. In practice it will be readily appreciated that the or each tear-off portion can also be defined by cut lines extending completely through the material of the cover film. The or each tear-off portion of the cover film has low vapour transmission properties in the area which in use overlies the associated cavity, those low vapour transmission properties being created by a barrier patch with high vapour barrier properties shaped and sized to overlie the associated cavity. The or each barrier patch is adhered to the underside of the cover film by the same layer of peelable adhesive as that which adheres the cover film to the top surface of the tray.
The barrier patch beneath the or each tear-off portion can be created from a single sheet of barrier film as follows. A single sheet of barrier film is secured to the underside of the cover film by a peelable adhesive. The barrier film has pre-formed tear-lines defining the periphery of the or each vapour-resistant barrier patch so that peeling away the majority of the barrier film from the cover film immediately prior to application of the cover film to secure it to the generally planar top surface of the tray exposes the peelable adhesive in areas necessary for adhesion to the tray but leaves a barrier patch attached to the underside of the or each tear-off portion of the cover film. In practice it will be readily appreciated that the or each barrier patch can also be defined by cut lines extending completely through the material of the barrier film.
The sheet of barrier film can have a further pre-defined tear line (or cut line) close to one edge thereof to define a tear-off strip which when removed exposes a location anchorage area of the peelable adhesive on the underside of the cover film, for adhering an edge portion of the cover film to an edge portion of the tray before peeling away the majority of the barrier film and adhering it over the cavities. To assist in the process of adhering the cover film to the top surface of the tray, the tray can have upstanding cover film location means. The cover film can have cooperating means for accurate location of the cover sheet over the tray with the one or more cavities and associated tear-off portions in register before adhering the cover film to the tray.
EP 1357050 to the present Applicant discloses an alternative container where the tear- off portions of the cover film have an associated lug portion that is not secured to the tray in use, for gripping by a user preparatory to tearing off the tear-off portion. The generally planar top surface of the tray also has an upwardly extending protrusion positioned to be located beneath each lug portion in use to bend that lug portion upwardly out of the plane of the remainder of the cover film when the cover film is secured to the tray. Because the or each lug portion is bent up out of the plane of the remainder of the cover film when the film is applied, it can very easily be grasped by the user for removal of the tear-off portion. This makes the container particularly suitable for elderly users or those with limited manual dexterity.
Although the containers described in WO 2005/023670 and EP 1357050 are considered to be easier to use than blister packs having rupturable or peelable cover sheets, there is still a potential problem that the medication may be mishandled when they are being dispensed from the cavities. This is because the user will often place their hand over the open cavity and then invert the container so that the medication falls into their hand through the opening in the cover film that is created when the tear-off portion has been released. However, this can often result in the medication being mishandled or falling onto the floor, for example. Similar problems can also be experienced with blister packs having rupturable or peelable cover sheets where the medication is often pushed through the cover sheet into an open hand of the user.
Summary of the invention
The present invention provides a dispensing cup for use with a container for storing and dispensing medication comprising a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the medication, and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the medication in the one or more cavities, wherein the dispensing cup comprises: a rim part that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the one or more discrete cavities with an interference fit (e.g. a press fit) such that, in use, the dispensing cup is releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity; and a main body that defines a volume for receiving and storing the medication once it has been dispensed from a cavity.
The rim part of the dispensing cup is preferably formed to be a particular shape and size so that when it is pressed into the open mouth of a cavity it is retained securely in position by friction until it is deliberately removed by the user. The rim part of the dispensing cup may be slightly resilient or flexible so that it can be narrowed slightly when it is pressed into the open mouth of the cavity. A part of the cover sheet that overhangs the open mouth of the cavity may be pushed into the cavity by the dispensing cup and trapped between the outer surface of the rim part and the cavity wall. The overhanging part of the cover sheet may therefore assist in providing the friction fit that retains the rim part of the dispensing cup securely in position. An overhanging part of the cover sheet may be provided if a removable portion of the cover sheet (see below) is shaped and sized to be slightly smaller than the open mouth of the cavities.
In an alternative arrangement the rim part may be releasably secured to the tray in register with a particular cavity by any suitable means. An engagement fit may be used instead of, or in addition to, the interference fit with any suitable cooperating engagement means being provided at the cavity (or other part of the tray) and the rim part of the dispensing cup. For example, a protrusion may be provided at a surface of one of the dispensing cup and the cavity and a corresponding recess may be provided at a surface of the other of the dispensing cup and the cavity.
While the rim part is shaped and sized to enable it to be inserted into the or each cavity formed in the tray, the main body will not be subject to these design constraints and can therefore have any suitable shape or size. The outer surface of the main body may be ergonomically shaped or include one or more gripping features to help the user to hold the dispensing cup while it is being secured to, and removed from, the tray.
The dispensing cup can further include an annular shoulder adjacent the rim part that preferably abuts the top surface of the tray when the rim part is properly located in the cavity. The annular shoulder can act to limit the insertion depth of the rim part of the dispensing cup within the cavity. In practice, this can allow the insertion depth to be selected for any particular container/dispensing cup combination so that the dispensing cup is held firmly by an interference fit when the container is inverted as described in more detail below, but can be easily removed from the cavity once its contents have been dispensed into the dispensing cup.
The cover sheet that is used to seal the one or more cavities may be adhered to the generally planar top surface of the tray by a suitable adhesive or heat-sealed directly to the tray.
The cover sheet can be a conventional rupturable film of paper or foil, for example.
The cover sheet can also be a plastics film of single or multiple-layer construction having pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity to retain the medication in that cavity until it is removed (either partly or completely) along its line of separation. In the case where the removable portion is only partly removed then it preferably remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is defined by a gap in the associated pre-formed line of separation. The cover sheet of single or multiple-layer construction is preferably non-rupturable (except around pre-formed tear lines) so that the medication cannot be accidentally or deliberately pushed through it.
The or each removable portion of the cover film may include a barrier patch shaped and sized to overlie the associated cavity. The or each associated barrier patch can be formed in a barrier sheet that is adhered to the cover sheet (e.g. by a layer of peelable adhesive).
The periphery of the or each removable portion can be defined by a pre- formed cut line extending completely through the cover sheet material, a pre-scored or pre- perforated tear line, or any combination thereof. The pre-scored tear lines may be created by pressing a knife on to the surface of the seal so as to cut or score part way through but not fully through the thickness of the cover sheet. The pre-scored tear lines, pre-perforated tear lines and cut lines can be formed using a rotary die cutter or the like.
In the case where the periphery of the or each removable portion is defined by a preformed cut line then an associated barrier patch formed in a barrier sheet will be shaped and sized to be larger than the removable portion. The cover sheet and barrier sheet will be adhered together by a layer of peelable adhesive or static bonding such that the or each barrier patch must be peeled away from a narrow border of the cover sheet immediately outside the line of separation defining the periphery of the removable portion when the overlying removable portion is released.
The cover sheet may be a metal foil, such as aluminium foil, a metallized polymeric film or paper sheet, a plastics film of single or multiple layer construction, or any combination thereof, depending on the sort of medication to be stored and dispensed from the container.
Before the dispensing cup can be inserted into a cavity it will normally be necessary to provide some means of access through the cover sheet. This can be achieved in two different ways. In the case where the cover sheet includes one or more removable portions then the removable portion that overlies the particular cavity can be removed (e.g. by tearing along tear lines such as pre-formed score lines or perforations) to provide an opening in the cover sheet through which the rim part of the dispensing cup can be inserted into the cavity. If the removable portions have lug portions as described in EP 1357050 then the removable portion that overlies the particular cavity can be removed by grasping its lug portion.
However, in the case where the cover sheet is a rupturable cover sheet then the dispensing cup itself can be used to rupture the cover sheet. For example, the rim part of the dispensing cup can be placed against the cover sheet in register with the open mouth of a cavity and then pushed through the cover sheet and into the cavity. The rim part of the dispensing cup may be adapted to assist in the process of rupturing the cover sheet. For example, the rim part of the dispensing cup may be chamfered to create a narrow rupturing surface; care being taken to ensure that such a rupturing surface is not sharp enough to cause danger to the user.
A slot or recess may be provided in the rim part of the dispensing cup so that when it is pushed through the rupturable cover sheet, the part of the cover sheet overlying the cavity is not completely removed from the remainder of the cover sheet but remains joined to it by a bridge that is coincident with the slot or recess.
The container is preferably a multiple-compartment container for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen, wherein an array of discrete cavities are formed into the generally planar top surface of the tray, and the cover sheet has pre-formed lines of separation defining an array of removable portions, each removable portion being shaped and sized so that in use it overlies one of the cavities.
The dispensing cup can be provided with a suitable lid or cover that can be releasably secured to the rim part. The lid or cover can be formed as a separate item or can be attached to the dispensing cup by a connector such as a flexible strip, for example, which enables it to be secured to, and removed from, the rim, but prevents it from being accidentally misplaced or lost.
Two or more dispensing cups may be joined together - either releasably by means of suitable cooperating engaging means, or integrally formed as a single unit. The joined dispensing cups will be releasably secured to the tray of the container such that each dispensing cup is in register with a cavity and the joined dispensing cups must be spaced apart and oriented relative to each other accordingly. For example, if the container is a multiple-compartment container for containing and dispensing medication according to a pre-defined dosage regimen and an array of discrete cavities are formed into the generally planar top surface of the tray then the discrete cavities may be substantially rectangular in shape. Each corresponding dispensing cup will preferably have a rim part that is also substantially rectangular in shape and two dispensing cups can either be joined together along their short sides or their long sides depending on which two respective cavities they are to be inserted into. A tray can have a 2 x 7, 3 x 7, 4 x 7 or 5 x 7 array of cavities corresponding to 2, 3, 4 or 5 predefined medication times per day over a 7-day period, or one dose prescribed per day over a 2, 3, 4 or 5 week period. For example, a 4 x 7 tray may be filled with the medication to be taken at breakfast-time, lunchtime, early evening and immediately before retiring each day for a week. If a user wishes to dispense lunchtime and early evening doses of medication from the dispensing container because they are going to be out of the house or care home for a few hours then two appropriately joined dispensing cups can be simultaneously inserted into the cavities that contain the lunchtime and early evening doses of medication. The medication is temporarily retained in the dispensing cups until needed. To avoid any confusion between the two doses of medication, one of the dispensing cups could be marked 'lunchtime' and the other could be marked 'evening'. Alternatively, each dispensing cup can include a region on which any suitable label could be attached or written on using a marker pen, for example. The dispensing cups mean that the user does not need to take the whole dispensing container with them each time they temporarily leave the house or care home.
The dispensing cup may include cooperating engaging means on each of its sides so that it can be releasably joined to one or more dispensing cups to form an array of dispensing cups. For example, if the dispensing cup is generally rectangular in cross section then one short side and one long side of the dispensing cup may include a 'male' or first type of engaging means and one short side and one long side of the dispensing cup may include a 'female' or second type of engaging means. With such a structure, there is no limit to how many dispensing cups can be joined together to form an array.
Alternatively, any number of dispensing cups could be permanently joined together to form an integral array.
The present invention further provides a combination of: a container for storing and dispensing medication comprising: a tray having a generally planar top surface into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities for receiving the medication; and a cover sheet to seal the one or more cavities to retain the medication in the one or more cavities; and a dispensing cup comprising: a rim part that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the one or more discrete cavities with an interference fit such that, in use, the dispensing cup is releasably secured to the tray in register with a cavity; and a main body that defines a volume for receiving and storing the medication once it has been dispensed from a cavity.
The features of the container and dispensing cup are as described above.
The present invention further provides a method of using the combination described above, comprising the steps of: securing the dispensing cup to the tray in register with a cavity by inserting the rim part into the cavity, optionally until the annular shoulder abuts the top surface of the tray; manipulating the container so that the medication in that cavity is received into the dispensing cup; and removing the dispensing cup from the container.
In the case where the cover sheet has pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity to retain the medication in that cavity until it is removed (either partly or completely) along its line of separation then a preliminary step may include unsealing a cavity by removing the associated removable portion of the cover sheet. However, in the case where the cover sheet is a rupturable cover sheet then a preliminary step may include using the dispensing cup to rupture the cover sheet by pushing the rim part of the dispensing cup through the cover sheet and into the cavity.
To dispense the contents of a cavity where the cover sheet has a removable portion per cavity then the user simply pushes down on the associated removable portion with their forefinger. This may require the user to release the removable portion from the remainder of the cover sheet by tearing along tear lines such as pre-formed score lines or perforations. The force needed to release the removable portion is preferably less than is necessary to push the medication through a rupturable cover sheet.
The released removable portion is then pushed down into the cavity on top of the medication and can be removed through the newly created opening in the cover sheet by sliding it up the side of the cavity until it can be grasped firmly between forefinger and thumb. In other cases, the removable portion can simply be left in the cavity or may remain partially attached to the remainder of the cover sheet by the use of a bridge portion defined by a gap in the lines of separation defining the periphery of the or each removable portion. If the removable portions have lug portions as described in EP 1357050 then the removable portion that overlies the particular cavity can be removed by grasping its lug portion. Once the removable portion has been released then the dispensing cup can be inserted into the cavity through the newly created opening in the cover sheet.
To dispense the contents of a cavity where the cover sheet is a rupturable cover sheet then the user simply pushes the rim of the dispensing cup through the cover sheet and into the underlying cavity.
Before the container is inverted, the dispensing cup is secured to the tray in register with the open mouth of the cavity. The container and the secured dispensing cup can then be inverted so that the medication falls into the dispensing cup through the newly created opening in the cover sheet. In the case of a rupturable cover sheet, the part of the cover sheet that has been removed by the dispensing cup will also fall into the dispensing cup unless the rim part of the dispensing cup includes the slot or recess described above such that it remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge. The weight of the medication will dislodge the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity and cause it to pivot about the bridge so that the medication falls into the dispensing cup. In some cases it might be necessary for the user to shake the container slightly to dislodge the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity. The medication can also be pushed through the cover sheet from the rear in the usual way so that it falls into the dispensing cup that is releasably secured to the tray in register with the cavity.
Once the medication has been dispensed, the dispensing cup is released from the container and the medication can be carefully poured from the dispensing cup into the open hand of the user, picked out of the dispensing cup, or temporarily stored in the dispensing cup. If the dispensing cup is to be used to temporarily store the medication then it may be provided with a suitable lid or cover that can be releasably secured to the rim part of the dispensing cup. The lid or cover can be formed as a separate item or can be attached to the dispensing cup by a connector such as a flexible strip, for example, which enables it to be secured to, and removed from, the rim part but prevents it from being accidentally misplaced or lost.
The dispensing cup therefore provides an improved way of safely dispensing the medication.
Drawings
Figure 1 is a cross section view through a container with a non-rupturable cover film before a first type medication dispensing cup is secured to it;
Figure 2 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 1 with the first type of medication dispensing cup secured to it; Figure 3 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 1 in an inverted position with the first type of medication dispensing cup removed; Figure 4 is a cross section view through a container with a non-rupturable cover film before a first type medication dispensing cup is secured to it and where the removable portions of the cover sheet are shaped and sized such that a portion of the cover sheet overhangs the open mouth of the cavity; Figure 5 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 4 with the first type of medication dispensing cup secured to it;
Figure 6 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 4 in an inverted position with the first type of medication dispensing cup removed;
Figure 7 is a cross section view through a container with a rupturable cover sheet before a second type of medication dispensing cup is secured to it;
Figure 8 is an end view of the second type of medication dispensing cup;
Figure 9 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 7 with the second type of medication dispensing cup secured to it; and
Figure 10 is a cross section view through the container of Figure 7 with the second type of medication dispensing cup removed.
Referring to Figure 1 a multiple-compartment container for storing and dispensing medication such as pills, capsules, tablets etc. includes a moulded tray 2. The tray 2 is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material, and may be formed for example by press moulding or by vacuum moulding. The tray 2 has a generally planar top surface 4 into which has been formed an array of discrete cavities 6. It will be readily appreciated that the arrangement of the discrete cavities will depend on the particular dosage regimen required.
The cavities 6 are sealed by cover sheet 8, which may be of laminated construction.
The cover sheet 8 includes an array of tear-off portions, each of which is defined by perforations that extend completely around the periphery of an underlying cavity 6 in the moulded tray 2 when the cover sheet is adhered to the top surface 4 of the tray. The perforations represent predefined zones of weakness in the cover sheet 8. A required mixture of medication is placed in the discrete cavities 6 (for example, by a pharmacist or other trained medical professional) and the cavities are then sealed by securing the cover sheet 8 to the generally planar top surface 4 of the tray 2. The cover sheet 8 can be adhered to the tray 2 by a suitable adhesive or heat-sealed directly to the tray.
To dispense the medication (e.g. the tablets labelled M) stored in one of the discrete cavities 6, the user simply presses down on the overlying tear-off portion. The application of a sufficient amount of force will cause the perforations to tear such that the tear-off portion is released from the remainder of the cover sheet 8. Once released, the tear-off portion can be pushed down into the cavity 6 on top of the medication.
The tear-off portion is easily removed through the newly created opening in the cover sheet 8 by sliding it up the side of the cavity 6 until it can be grasped firmly between forefinger and thumb. Alternatively, the tear-off portion can be left in the cavity 6 and removed at the same time as the medication is dispensed.
If the tear-off portions have lug portions as described in EP 1357050 then they can be removed by grasping the lug portion.
In another arrangement the tear-off portion may remain joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is defined by a gap in the perforations.
Figure 1 shows the situation where a tear-off portion has been removed to leave a newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8 but before the medication has been dispensed from the cavity 6.
To dispense the medication a separate medication dispensing cup 12 is used. The medication dispensing cup 12 is specifically designed for use with the container.
More particularly, the cross section of a rim part 14 of the medication dispensing cup
12 is shaped and sized to correspond to the shape and size of the open mouth of the cavities 6. The rim part 14 is designed to be an interference fit with the open mouth of the cavities 6, but in an optional design may additionally (or alternatively) include a pair of engaging tabs or protrusions 16.
Once the tear-off portion has been removed, the medication dispensing cup 12 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6 through the newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8. Each tear-off portion is the same size as (or slightly larger than) the underlying cavity 6 so that the periphery of the opening 10 is substantially coincident with the periphery of the open mouth of the cavity. The region of the cover sheet 8 bordering the opening 10 will therefore not interfere with the insertion of the medication dispensing cup 12 into the cavity 6. The medication dispensing cup 12 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together as the rim part 14 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6. Once the rim part 14 is properly located in the cavity 6, with the annular shoulder of the medication dispensing cup 12 abutting the top surface 4 of the tray 2, then the medication dispensing cup can be released such that the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 on the rim part are engaged with corresponding recesses 18 formed in the side wall of the cavity 6 as shown in Figure 2. Although recesses 18 are only shown in one cavity 6 for convenience, it will be readily appreciated that all of the cavities have the same shape and size and include recesses that correspond with the engaging tabs or protrusions of the medication dispensing cup 12. In an alternative design, the side wall of the cavity may be provided with engaging tabs or protrusions that would engage with recesses or openings provided on the rim part of the medication dispensing cup.
The container is then completely inverted together with the secured medication dispensing cup 12 so that the medication in the cavity 6 (and in some cases the removed tear-off portion that is still in the cavity) fall into the medication dispensing cup through the newly created opening 10 in the cover sheet 8. The medication dispensing cup 12 remains secured to the tray 2 as a result of the interference fit and the additional engagement between the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 and the corresponding recesses 18. The medication dispensing cup 12 will therefore remain located in register with the cavity 6 even when the tray in inverted.
While the container is in the inverted position, the medication dispensing cup 12 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together to disengage them from the corresponding recesses 18. The medication dispensing cup can then be removed from the open mouth of the cavity 6.
Figures 4 to 6 show how the same medication dispensing cup 12 (but without engaging tabs or protrusions 16) can be used with a cover sheet where the tear-off portions are slightly smaller than the underlying cavities 6 such that once a tear-off portion has been removed an annular region 8a of the cover sheet 8 overhangs the open mouth of the cavity. Once the tear-off portion has been removed, the medication dispensing cup 12 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6. The overhanging region 8a of the cover sheet 8 is pushed into the cavity 6 by the medication dispensing cup 12 and is trapped between the rim part 14 and the cavity wall as shown in Figure 5. This effectively narrows the open mouth of the cavity 6 and provides a secure friction fit to properly locate the medication dispensing container 12 within the cavity.
An alternative version of the medication dispensing cup is shown in Figures 7 to 10. Like parts have been given the same reference numerals. The medication dispensing cup 20 is specifically designed for use with a rupturable cover sheet 22 that may be made of paper or foil, for example. In this case, there are no tear-off portions and the medication in a cavity 6 is dispensed in a slightly different way.
The medication dispensing cup 20 is specifically designed for use with the container. More particularly, the cross section of a rim part 14 of the medication dispensing cup 20 is shaped and sized to correspond to the shape and size of the open mouth of the cavities 6. As shown in Figure 8, the rim part 14 is chamfered to define a narrow rupturing surface 14a. The rim part 14 also includes a slot 24 that extends the full length of the rim part until it reaches an annular shoulder 26 of the medication dispensing cup 20. This defines a gap in the rupturing surface 14a. The medication dispensing cup 20 is located in register with a cavity 6 and with the rupturing surface 14a in contact with the cover sheet 20. Downward pressure is applied to the medication dispensing cup 20 to press the rim part 14 through the rupturable cover sheet 22 and into the open mouth of the cavity 6. The medication dispensing cup 20 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together as the rim part 14 is inserted into the open mouth of the cavity 6. Once the rim part 14 is properly located in the cavity 6, with the annular shoulder 26 of the medication dispensing cup 20 abutting the top surface 4 of the tray 2, then the medication dispensing cup can be released such that the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 on the rim part are engaged with corresponding recesses 18 formed in the side wall of the cavity 6 as shown in Figure 9.
Because the rupturing surface 14a includes a gap, the cover sheet 22 is ruptured in such a way that the part of the cover sheet 22a (Figure 10) that overlies the cavity 6 remains joined to the remainder of the cover sheet by a bridge that is coincident with the slot 24. In other words, the cut line in the cover sheet 22 produced by the rupturing surface 14a does not extend completely around the periphery of the open mouth of the cavity 6 but includes a gap that defines the bridge. In an alternative design the gap in the rupturing surface may be omitted and in this case the part of the cover sheet that overlies the cavity will be completely removed from the remainder of the cover sheet and will fall into the medication dispensing cup 20 when the container is inverted.
The container is then completely inverted together with the secured medication dispensing cup 20 so that the medication in the cavity 6 (and in some cases the removed part of the cover sheet) fall into the medication dispensing cup through the newly created opening in the cover sheet 22. The medication dispensing cup 20 remains secured to the tray 2 as a result of the interference fit and the additional engagement between the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 and the corresponding recesses 18. The medication dispensing cup 20 will therefore remain located in register with the cavity 6 even when the tray in inverted. While the container is in the inverted position, the medication dispensing cup 20 is squeezed slightly to bring the engaging tabs or protrusions 16 closer together to disengage them from the corresponding recesses 18. The medication dispensing cup can then be removed from the open mouth of the cavity 6.

Claims

1. A dispensing cup (12; 20) for use with a container for storing and dispensing medication comprising a tray (2) having a generally planar top surface (4) into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities (6) for receiving the medication, and a cover sheet (8; 22) to seal the one or more cavities (6) to retain the medication in the one or more cavities, wherein the dispensing cup (12; 20) comprises: a rim part (14) that is sized and shaped to be inserted into the one or more discrete cavities (6) with an interference fit such that, in use, the dispensing cup (12; 20) is releasably secured to the tray (2) in register with a cavity (6); and a main body that defines a volume for receiving and storing the medication once it has been dispensed from a cavity (6).
2. A dispensing cup (12; 20) according to claim 1 , further comprising an annular shoulder (26) adjacent the rim part (14) that abuts the top surface (4) of the tray (2) when the rim part (14) is properly located in the cavity (6).
3. A dispensing cup (20) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the rim part (14) defines a rupturing surface (14a).
4. A dispensing cup (20) according to claim 3, wherein the rim part (14) includes a slot or recess (24) defining a gap in the rupturing surface (14a).
5. A dispensing cup (12; 20) according to any preceding claim, further comprising engaging means to enable the dispensing cup to be releasably secured to another dispensing cup.
6. A plurality of dispensing cups (12; 20) according to any preceding claim integrally joined together as a single unit.
7. A combination of: a container for storing and dispensing medication comprising: a tray (2) having a generally planar top surface (4) into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities (6) for receiving the medication; and a cover sheet (8; 22) to seal the one or more cavities (6) to retain the medication in the one or more cavities; and a dispensing cup (12; 20) according to any preceding claim.
8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing cup (12; 20) further comprises an annular shoulder (26) adjacent the rim part (14) that abuts the top surface (4) of the tray (2) when the rim part (14) is properly located in the cavity (6).
9. A method of using the combination of claim 7 or claim 8, comprising the steps of: securing the dispensing cup (12; 20) to the tray (2) in register with a cavity (6) by inserting the rim part (14) into the cavity (6); manipulating the container so that the medication in that cavity (6) is received into the main body of the dispensing cup (12;20); and removing the dispensing cup (12; 20) from the container.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein part of the cover film (8) is pushed into the cavity (6) when the dispensing cup (12, 20) is secured to the tray and is trapped between the rim part (14) and a surface of the cavity.
1 1. A method of using the combination of claim 8, comprising the steps of: securing the dispensing cup (12; 20) to the tray (2) in register with a cavity (6) by inserting the rim part (14) into the cavity (6) until the annular shoulder (26) abuts the top surface (4) of the tray (2); manipulating the container so that the medication in that cavity is received into the main body of the dispensing cup (12; 20); and removing the dispensing cup (12; 20) from the container
12. A method according to any of claims 9 to 11 , wherein the cover sheet (8) of the container has pre-formed lines of separation defining a removable portion per cavity (6) to retain the medication in that cavity until it is removed along its line of separation, the method further comprising the step of: unsealing a cavity (6) by removing the associated removable portion of the cover sheet (8).
13. A method according to any of claims 9 to 1 1 , wherein the cover sheet (22) of the container is a rupturable cover sheet, the method further comprising the step of: using the dispensing cup to rupture the cover sheet (22) by pushing the rim part (14) of the dispensing cup through the cover sheet (22) and into the cavity (6).
PCT/GB2010/000310 2009-03-06 2010-02-22 Dispensing cups WO2010100399A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0903841.5 2009-03-06
GB0903841A GB2468471B (en) 2009-03-06 2009-03-06 Medication dispensing cups

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2010100399A1 true WO2010100399A1 (en) 2010-09-10

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2010/000310 WO2010100399A1 (en) 2009-03-06 2010-02-22 Dispensing cups

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GB (1) GB2468471B (en)
WO (1) WO2010100399A1 (en)

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GB2468471B (en) 2011-06-15
GB2468471A (en) 2010-09-08

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