WO2020091680A1

WO2020091680A1 - Securing clip for a tablet cartridge

Info

Publication number: WO2020091680A1
Application number: PCT/SE2019/051093
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fredrik Lundberg; Håkan HARVIGSSON; Elisabeth BULIK; Theodor SANDSTRÖM
Original assignee: Medicpen Ab
Priority date: 2018-11-01
Filing date: 2019-10-30
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Also published as: SE1851366A1

Abstract

A clip for a tablet cartridge comprising a tablet compartment member and a socket, where the tablet compartment member is configured to be rotatably attached to the socket so that the tablet compartment member is rotatable in relation to the socket, is provided. The clip is configured to engage with the tablet compartment member and with the socket so that rotational movement between the tablet compartment member and the socket is prevented.

Description

SECURING CLIP FOR A TABLET CARTRIDGE

Technical Field

The invention relates generally to the technical field of clips, and more particularly to clips for securing tablet cartridges.

Background

There are many different tablet cartridges on the market. The simplest tablet cartridges usually stating with a permanent text on the cartridge which weekday, and sometimes also time of day, tablets of a specific tablet compartment is to be taken.

These tablet cartridges can be filled e.g. weekly, with tablet by the user, or they can be filled by care personnel such as a nurse. The compartments of the cartridge are opened manually, one by one, by the user.

There are also advanced tablet dispensers, which keep track of which tablets have been taken and which tablets to take next. These dispensers may contain pre-filled tablet cartridges. When the tablet cartridges have been filled with tablets it is important that the cartridges are securely closed during transport to the dispenser, so that the correct tablets can be dispensed from the cartridge when it is to be used. At the same time, the cartridge must allow tablets to be dispensed from it when in use.

There is thus a need for a simple locking mechanism which secures the cartridge during transport, but which allows the cartridge to be easily opened for use when intended to.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the above, an object of the teachings herein is to solve or at least reduce the above stated problems.

According to a first aspect, a clip for a tablet cartridge is provided. The tablet cartridge comprising a tablet compartment member and a socket. The tablet

compartment member being configured to be rotatably attached to the socket so that the tablet compartment member is rotatable in relation to the socket. The clip is configured to engage with the tablet compartment member and with the socket so that rotational movement between the tablet compartment member and the socket is prevented.

In one embodiment, wherein the tablet compartment member further comprises a ridge pattern on the cover sheet, the clip may comprise a ridge connecting member configured to engage with the ridge pattern. The ridge connecting member may comprise a groove for engaging with the ridge pattern.

In one embodiment, wherein the ridge pattern has an engagement ridge for each tablet compartment of the tablet compartment member, the ridge connecting member may be configured to abut against two adjacent engagement ridges.

The groove may fit a part of the ridge pattern between the two adjacent engagement ridges.

The clip may comprise an outer wall connecting member configured to engage with the outer wall of the socket.

The outer wall connecting member may comprise an adhesive for engaging with the outer wall.

The socket may further comprise a protrusion, and the outer wall connecting member may be configured to engage with the protrusion.

The socket protrusion may be on the outer wall of the socket or on the socket base plate.

The outer wall connecting member may comprise a slot or an opening corresponding in size and shape to the protrusion of the socket, so that when the clip engages with the socket, the protrusion is inserted into the opening.

The socket may further comprise a slot or an opening, and the outer wall connecting member may comprise a protrusion configured to engage with the slot or opening.

The clip may comprise a handle for removal of the clip from the tablet cartridge.

The handle may be arranged so as to prevent the dispenser to be used while the clip is attached to the tablet cartridge.

The handle may be sized so that the dispenser cannot be closed while the clip is connected to the tablet cartridge.

The handle may be arranged to extend out from the outer wall of the socket and thereby preventing a door of the dispenser to be closed.

The clip may be configured to be arranged on the tablet cartridge so that when the tablet cartridge is arranged in the dispenser, the clip faces an opening of the dispenser such that the clip can be removed before use of the dispenser.

According to a second aspect, a tablet cartridge kit is provided. The tablet cartridge kit comprises a tablet compartment member, a socket and the clip according to the first aspect. The tablet compartment member is configured to be rotatably attached to the socket so that the tablet compartment member is rotatable in relation to the socket. The clip is configured to engage with the tablet compartment member and with the socket so that rotational movement between the tablet compartment member and the socket is prevented.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, as well as from the drawings. It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combination of features.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their general meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to“a, an, the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless stated otherwise. As used herein, the term “comprising” and variations of that term are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Brief Description of the Drawings

By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs la and lb are perspective views of a tablet dispenser.

Figs 2a and 2b are perspective blown-up views of a tablet cartridge.

Fig. 3a is a perspective view of a clip.

Fig. 3b is a top view of the clip of Fig. 3a, and Fig. 3c is a front view of the clip of Fig. 3a.

Figs 4a to 4c are cross-sectional view of the clip of Fig. 3a.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a tablet cartridge with a protrusion.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the tablet cartridge of Fig. 5 with a clip.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention relates to a clip for a tablet cartridge. The tablet cartridge may e.g. be any of the tablet cartridges disclosed in patent application SE 1750728-6, filed on June 8, 2017 or in patent application SE 1851148-5, filed on September 26, 2018.

The tablet cartridge is configured to be used with a tablet dispenser, e.g. as also disclosed in the above mentioned patent applications. An example dispenser is illustrated in Figs la and lb. The tablet dispenser 10 comprises a body 11 having a base 1 la for resting on the underlying foundation in use. The body 11 comprises a tablet drop channel 12 extending in a direction at an angle b relative a base plane formed by the base 1 la. In normal use the base plane is aligned with a horizontal top surface of e.g. a table or desk, whereby the tablet drop channel 12 extends along a direction having a component in along the vertical axis of said plane. The body 11 further comprises a support structure 13 for accommodating at least two tablet cartridges 15 arranged one above the other in relation to the base 1 la. Each tablet cartridge is provided with an opening 158 (as best seen in Fig. 2a) allowing a tablet stored in a tablet compartment of said tablet cartridge 15 to be released into the tablet drop channel 12 by means of gravitational force. To this end, each tablet cartridge 15 is inclined at an angle a relative the base plane. Hence, both the drop channel 12 and the tablet cartridge 15 are respectively arranged at an angle relative the base plane.

With reference to Figs 2a and 2b, an example of the tablet cartridge, which the clip is configured to be used with, will now be described. The inventive clip to be used with the tablet cartridge will be described thereafter.

The tablet cartridge 15 comprises a compartment member 151 having a cover sheet 152 on which an inner wall 153 is arranged. A number of flanges 154 are arranged on the cover sheet 152 between the inner wall 153 and an outer boundary 200 of the cover sheet 152. Hence the flanges 154 extend from the inner wall 153, or adjacent the inner wall 153, towards the outer boundary 200 of the cover sheet 152. Moreover, each tablet cartridge 15 further comprises an associated socket 155 for detachably receiving the tablet compartment member 151 before use. The socket 155 comprises a socket base plate 156 and an outer wall 157 extending at least partly along an outer boundary of the socket base plate 156. The opening 158 may be provided in the outer wall 157 at one part thereof. The outer wall 157 may have an inner diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of the cover sheet 152, thereby allowing the socket 155 to embrace the tablet compartment member 151 upon assembly. When assembled, a tablet

compartment for holding at least one tablet is formed between two adjacent flanges 154, the inner wall 153, the cover sheet 152, the outer wall 157, and socket base plate 156. Since the compartment member 151 comprises a number of flanges 154, several tablet compartments are formed upon assembly in the space between the compartment member 151 and the respective socket 155.

The number of flanges 154, and thereby also the number of tablet compartments, can be any suitable number. The socket base plate 156 comprises means 159 for detachably attaching the inner wall 153 of the associated compartment member 151 to the socket 155. In this way the compartment member 151 when assembled is allowed to rotate in relation to the socket 155 such as to allow for rotary alignment of each respective tablet compartment and the opening 158.

The cover sheet 152 may comprise a cylindrical ridge pattern 41 provided at a side opposite that of the inner wall 153 and flanges 154. The cylindrical ridge pattern 41 may have one engagement ridge 411 for each tablet compartment. Hence, in this case, the number of engagement ridges 411 are equal to the number of tablet compartments. The engagement ridges 411 may be arranged to receive a force, e.g. from a spring loaded telescoping pushing member in the dispenser, so as to rotate the compartment member 151 in relation to its associated socket 155, thereby aligning the opening 158 with the tablet compartment being next in order of the tablet cartridge.

The tablet cartridge may be pre-filled with tablets, e.g. at a pharmacist’s, and then transported to a user, where it may be inserted into the tablet dispenser. Each tablet cartridge 15 may be pre-filled by placing a tablet in the associated spaces between two flanges 154 of the compartment member 151, i.e. in the tablet compartments, and upon completion, gently pressing the associated socket 151 over the compartment member 151 whereby the tablet cartridge is assembled. A means of identification, e.g. a QR code, ID tag, label, etc. indicating the type of tablets in the tablet cartridge may be provided on the exterior side of the outer wall 157. Such a means for identification may be read before using the tablet dispenser, such that the tablet dispenser knows the type of medication stored in each tablet cartridge. The means for identification, e.g. the QR code, may contain information such as patient ID, drug ID, amount of tablets, start/end date for medication, cartridge serial number.

During transport to the user, it is important that tablets are kept safe inside the tablet cartridge and do not fall out.

In some cases, not all tablet compartments are filled with tablets. For example if a 10 day prescription of 1 tablet a day has been prescribed by a doctor, but the tablet cartridge 15 is configured with tablet compartments to hold 14 tablets, there will be 4 empty tablet compartments. In these cases it may be important that it is known which tablet compartments contain tablets, so that the dispenser 10 does not try to dispense tablets from any empty tablet compartments. The tablet cartridge 15, in which the tablet compartment member 151 is configured to rotate inside the socket 155 so as to align the tablet compartments with an opening 158 in the socket one by one, must therefore be secured in some way so that the tablet compartments do not rotate in relation to the opening 158 in the socket 155.

In the following sections, example embodiments of the clip will be described with reference to the drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

With reference to Figs 3a to 3c, embodiments of the clip will now be described.

The clip 70 is configured to engage with the tablet compartment member 151 and with the socket 155 so that rotational movement between the tablet compartment member 151 and the socket 155 is prevented. Thereby, the tablet cartridge 15 is secured so that the tablet compartment member 151 does not rotate in the socket 155.

In one embodiment of the clip 70, configured to be used with a tablet compartment member which has a ridge pattern 41 on the cover sheet 152, the clip 70 comprises a ridge connecting member 71 configured to engage with the ridge pattern 41. For this purpose, the ridge connecting member 71 may comprise a groove 72 for engaging with the ridge pattern 41. The ridge connecting member 71 may be configured such that the groove 72 embraces part of the ridge pattern 41, thereby locking the tablet cartridge.

If the ridge pattern 41 of the cover sheet has an engagement ridge 411 for each tablet compartment of the tablet compartment member 151, the ridge connecting member 71 of the clip may be configured to abut against two adjacent engagement ridges 411. This gives further stability to the securing mechanism of the clip 70.

The groove 72 may be configured to fit a part of the ridge pattern 41 between the two adjacent engagement ridges 411. This will further add to the stability and ensures that the clip 70 does not easily come off the tablet compartment member 151.

The clip 70 may further comprise an outer wall connecting member 80 configured to engage with the outer wall 157 of the socket 155.

The outer wall connecting member 80 may comprise an adhesive for engaging with the outer wall 157.

Alternatively, if the clip 70 is to be used with a tablet cartridge in which the socket has a protrusion, the outer wall connecting member 80 may be configured to engage with the protrusion. An example of a protrusion in the socket 155 is illustrated in Fig. 5. The protrusion 83 may e.g. be a rim on the outer side of the outer wall 157 of the socket 155. The protrusion 83 may extend in a direction running from top to bottom of the socket 155. The protrusion may alternatively run on the outer side of the outer wall, in a lengthwise direction along the outer wall 157. Alternatively, the protrusion 83 may be arranged on the outer side of the socket base plate 156 (the socket base plate 156 is best seen in Fig. 2a). Of course, other shapes of the protrusion 83 is also possible and is to be considered to fall within the scope of this disclosure. For instance, the protrusion 83 may have a spherical cross-section or a rectangular cross-section to name a few. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the protrusion 83 may be provided with a snap- lock feature for further securing the clip 70 to the tablet cartridge 15.

The outer wall connecting member 80 may comprise a slot 81 or an opening corresponding in size and shape to the protrusion 83 of the socket 155, so that when the clip 70 engages with the socket 155, the protrusion 83 is inserted into the opening 81. Fig. 6 illustrates a cartridge having a protrusion 83 on the socket 155, and a clip 70 with a slot 81 for receiving the protrusion 83. This secures the clip 70 to the socket 155, so that the socket cannot rotate in relation to the clip 70.

In one embodiment the slot 81 is an elongated opening in the outer wall connecting member 80. The slot 81 may extend in the lengthwise direction of the outer wall connecting member 80.

In one embodiment, the slot 81 is a groove in the outer wall connecting member 80. The groove is on the side of the outer wall connecting member 80 which is configured to face the socket 155 when attached to a tablet cartridge 15.

The above described slot 81 or opening may, instead of the protrusion 83, be formed on the socket 155. If so, the protrusion 83 may instead be formed on the outer wall connecting member 80 of the clip 70, such that the outer wall connecting member 80 comprises the protrusion 83 for engagement with the slot 81 or opening of the socket 155.

The clip may further comprise a handle 90 for easy removal of the clip 70 from the tablet cartridge 15. The handle 90 may extend out from the outer wall connecting member 80 in a direction which is opposite the side of the outer wall connecting member 80 which is configured to engage with the outer wall of the socket 155. In one embodiment, the handle 90 extends in a direction perpendicular to the outer wall connecting member 80.

There is a risk that the person who fills the dispenser 10 with pre-filled cartridges 15 forgets to remove the clips 70 from the tablet cartridges 15 after inserting the tablet cartridges 15 into the dispenser 10. If this happens, the dispenser 10 will not be able to rotate the tablet compartment members 151 to align the tablet compartments with the openings 158 in the respective sockets 155. Thereby, the tablets cannot be dispensed from the tablet compartments. To eliminate or reduce this risk, the handle 90 may be arranged so as to prevent the dispenser 10 to be used while the clip 70 is attached to the tablet cartridge 15. The handle 90 may e.g. be sized so that the dispenser 10 cannot be closed while the clip 70 is connected to the tablet cartridge 15. The person who fills the dispenser 10 will then immediately realize the mistake and remove the clips 70. The handle 90 may e.g. be arranged to extend out from the outer wall 157 of the socket 155 and thereby preventing a door of the dispenser 10 to be closed.

To ensure easy removal of the clip 70 after insertion of the tablet cartridge 15 into the dispenser 10, the clip 70 may be configured to be arranged on the tablet cartridge 15 so that, when the tablet cartridge 15 is arranged in the dispenser 10, the clip 70 faces an opening of the dispenser 10 such that the clip 70 can be removed before use of the dispenser 10.

Further illustrated in Fig. 3b is that the outer wall connecting member 80 preferably has a shape that corresponds to that of the tablet cartridge, or more specifically to that of the socket 155. The clip 70 is thus slightly curved in the widthwise direction, so that it follows the curvature of the socket. This is beneficial as it improves the stability of the clip 70 when it is attached to the cartridge, as the contact surface between the two is increased. The side of the outer wall connecting member 80 facing in the direction, or the entire outer wall connecting member 80, of the clip 70, is hence preferably curved. With reference to Figs 3a to 3c and 4a to 4c, which are cross-section views of

Fig. 3a, embodiments of the clip 70 will now be further described.

The clip 70 has a ridge connecting member 71, an outer wall connecting member 80 and a handle 90. The ridge connecting member 71 is connected to the outer wall connecting member 80 at an end of the outer wall connecting member 80, and extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the outer wall connecting member 80. The handle 90 is connected to the outer wall connecting member 80 at an end opposite that of the ridge connecting member 71. The handle 90 extends in a direction parallel to, but opposite that of the ridge connecting member 71.

The ridge connecting member 71 may in the shaped of a wall extending perpendicularly out from the wall connecting member. The extending wall is formed with a straight groove. The groove extends at an angle to the wall connecting member, such that one end of the groove is further away from the wall connecting member that the other end of the groove. The angle corresponds to the angle at which ridges of the ridge pattern are arranged on the tablet compartment member, and is shaped to embrace the ridge pattern.

The outer wall connecting member 80 may be in the shape of a curved wall.

The curvature of the wall has a radius corresponding to the radius of the outer wall of the socket.

The outer wall connecting member may further have a slot or an opening, as described above.

The clip may be made in one contiguous piece.

The clip may have essentially the same material thickness along all parts thereof.

The clip may be made from any material which allows the clip to be semi- rigid, i.e. rigid enough to stay on the cartridge when in use, but flexible enough so that it can be snapped onto an off the tablet cartridge. Suitable materials are e.g. metal or PP (polypropylene), PLA or elastomers.

In alternative embodiments, the clip 70 may further comprise a socket embracing member, which extends from the outer wall connecting member 80, opposite the handle 90. The socket embracing member is configured to engage with the socket base plate 156.

The inventors of the clip 70 as disclosed herein has found that the clip 70 is advantageous for use when pre-filling the tablet cartridges 15. While filling the tablet cartridges 15 with tablets, the tablet compartment member 151 is placed on a filling base. The filling base has an aperture for receiving the clip 70, such that when the tablet compartment member 151 is placed on the filling base, the ridge connecting member 71 of the clip 70 engages with the ridge pattern 41 of the tablet compartment member 151. The tablet compartment member 151 is then filled with tablets as prescribed. After that the socket 155 is attached to the tablet compartment member, whereby the outer wall connecting member 80 engages with the socket 155 and effectively secures the tablet cartridge 15 so that it is locked and the tablet compartment member 151 cannot rotate in relation to the socket 155. Thereby, the respective tablet compartments of the tablet compartment member 151 remains arranged, in relation to the socket 155, in the same position as while filling the tablet cartridge 15 until the clip 70 is removed from the tablet cartridge 15. Preferably, the clip 70 is allowed to stay on the tablet cartridge 15 until the tablet cartridge 15 has been securely inserted into the tablet dispenser 10. Previously, the inventors used adhesive tape to secure the tablet cartridge 15, by applying the tape around the pre-filled cartridge 15 onto the cover sheet 152 of the tablet compartment member 151 and wrapping the tape around the outer wall 157 and the base plate 156 of the socket 155. To accomplish this, the pre-filled cartridge 15 had to be taken away from the filling base before applying the tape. When lifting the pre- filled cartridge 15 there is a risk that the tablet compartments rotate in relation to the socket 155, whereby tablets may fall out or the wrong tablet compartment is next in turn to be aligned with the opening 158 in the socket. The adhesive tape is also difficult to remove after insertion of the cartridge 15 into the tablet dispenser 10. Further, the adhesive tape may leave adhesive residue on the tablet cartridge 15.

It will be appreciated that the invention has been illustrated with reference to exemplary embodiments, and that the invention may be varied in many different ways within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A clip (70) for a tablet cartridge (15) comprising a tablet compartment member (151) and a socket (155), the tablet compartment member (151) being configured to be rotatably attached to the socket (155) so that the tablet compartment member (151) is rotatable in relation to the socket (155) when assembled, wherein the clip (70) is configured to removably engage with the tablet compartment member and with the socket, so that rotational movement between the tablet compartment member and the socket is prevented, wherein the tablet compartment member (151) has a cover sheet (152) with a ridge pattern (41) on its outside, and wherein the clip (70) comprises a ridge connecting member (71) configured to engage with the ridge pattern (41).

2. The clip according to claim 1, wherein the ridge connecting member comprises a groove (72) for engaging with the ridge pattern (41).

3. The clip according to claim 2, wherein tablet compartments are formed in the space between the compartment member (151) and the socket (155) when assembled, the ridge pattern (41) having an engagement ridge (411) for each tablet compartment of the tablet compartment member (151), wherein the ridge connecting member (71) is configured such that the groove (72) embraces part of the ridge pattern (41) between two adjacent engagement ridges (411), and to abut against said two adjacent engagement ridges (411).

4. The clip according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the groove (72) fits a part of the ridge pattern (41) between the two adjacent engagement ridges (411).

5. The clip according to any previous claims, wherein the clip (70) comprises an outer wall connecting member (80) configured to engage with an outer wall (157) of the socket (155).

6. The clip according to claim 5, wherein the outer wall connecting member (80) comprises an adhesive for engaging with the outer wall (157) of the socket (155).

7. The clip according to claim 5, wherein the outer wall connecting member (80) is configured to engage with a protrusion (83) of the socket (155).

8. The clip according to claim 7, wherein the outer wall connecting member (80) comprises a slot (81) or an opening corresponding in size and shape to the protrusion (83) of the socket (155), so that when the clip (70) engages with the socket, the protrusion is inserted into the opening.

9. The clip according to claim 5, wherein the socket (155) further comprises a slot (81) or an opening, and the outer wall connecting member (80) comprises a protrusion (83) configured to engage with the slot (81) or opening.

10. The clip according to any previous claims, wherein the clip (70) comprises a handle (90) for removal of the clip (70) from the tablet cartridge (15).

11. The clip according to claim 10, wherein the handle (90) is arranged to extend out from the outer wall (157) of the socket (155).

12. A tablet cartridge kit comprising a tablet compartment member (151), a socket (155) and the clip (70) according to any previous claims, wherein the tablet compartment member (151) is configured to be rotatably attached to the socket (155) so that the tablet compartment member is rotatable in relation to the socket, and wherein the clip (70) is configured to engage with the tablet compartment member (151) and with the socket (155) so that rotational movement between the tablet compartment member and the socket is prevented.