Medicament carriers and methods of using same

• US 20060144749A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: INRange Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: INRange Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Bossi, Christopher E., Arnold, William S., Caracciolo, Cathy L.
• Application Number:
  US11/366,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20060144749A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/538
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags

Abstract

A blister pack may include a first layer, a second layer and a third layer. The first layer may include a hole. The second layer may include an indentation substantially aligned through the hole when the first and second layers are aligned and a second area surrounding the indentation. The third layer, which is in contact with the second layer, may include a third area that is substantially aligned with the second area when the second and third layers are aligned. The indentation may contain a medicament. The blister pack may include adhesives that secure the second layer to the first layer and the third layer. The second and third areas may be scored, cut and/or perforated. When sufficient force is applied to the third area, a blister, including the second and third areas, may be displaced containing the medicament.

Claims

1. A blister pack, comprising:

a first layer having a hole;

a second layer including an indentation, wherein the indentation contains a medicament, wherein the second layer comprises a second area, wherein the second area surrounds the indentation; and

a third layer in contact with the second layer, wherein the third layer includes a third area;

wherein the second area and the third area each comprise one or more of a scoring, a cutting and a perforation,

whereby when sufficient force is applied to the third area, the second area and third area are displaced from the blister pack to form a blister containing the medicament.

2. The blister pack of claim 1, further comprising:

a first adhesive for securing the first layer to the second layer; and

a second adhesive for securing the second layer to the third layer.

3. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises a first area surrounding the hole, wherein the first area comprises one or more of a scoring, a cutting and a perforation, whereby when sufficient force is applied to the third area, the first area is displaced from the blister pack.

4. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the third layer comprises a foil sheet.

5. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the third layer comprises one or more labels.

6. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the third layer comprises one or more barcodes.

7. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the third area comprises a label pertaining to the medicament.

8. The blister pack of claim 7 wherein the label comprises one of more of the following:

a barcode;

a lot number of the medicament;

an expiration date of the medicament;

a name of the medicament;

a dosage pertaining to the medicament; and

a name of a patient.

9. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the third area comprises one or more of the following:

a barcode;

a lot number of the medicament;

an expiration date of the medicament; and

a name of the medicament;

a dosage pertaining to the medicament; and

a name of a patient.

10. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the second layer comprises a plastic.

11. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the second layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

12. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises cardboard.

13. The blister pack of claim 1 wherein the first layer comprises a plastic.

14. The blister pack of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more guide holes cut from the first layer, the second layer and the third layer.

15. The blister pack of claim 1, wherein each of the first layer, the second layer and the third layer are approximately 9 inches by approximately 6 inches.

16. A method of assembling a blister pack, the method comprising:

placing a first layer in a loading tray of a loading station, wherein the first layer comprises a hole;

placing a second layer on the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises an indentation, wherein the indentation is substantially aligned with the hole when the second layer is placed;

placing a medicament in the indentation;

placing a third layer on the second layer; and

compressing the first layer, the second layer and the third layer in a heat press.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

placing an adhesive on a first side of the first layer,

wherein placing the second layer on the first layer comprises placing the second layer on the first side of the first layer.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

placing an adhesive on the third layer;

wherein placing the third layer on the second layer comprises placing the third layer on the second layer such that the adhesive contacts the second layer.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

printing a first marking on the third layer, wherein the first marking comprises one or more of a barcode, a lot number of the medicament, an expiration date of the medicament, a name of the medicament, a dosage pertaining to the medicament, and a name of a patient.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first marking is printed within the third area.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

printing a second marking on the third layer, wherein the second marking comprises one or more of a barcode, a lot number of the medicament, an expiration date of the medicament, a name of the medicament, a dosage pertaining to the medicament, and a name of a patient, wherein the second marking is not printed within the third area.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

placing a first label on the third layer, wherein the first label contains one or more of a barcode, a lot number of the medicament, an expiration date of the medicament, a name of the medicament, a dosage pertaining to the medicament, and a name of a patient.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the first label is placed within the third area.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

placing a second label on the third layer, wherein the second label contains one or more of a barcode, a lot number of the medicament, an expiration date of the medicament, a name of the medicament, a dosage pertaining to the medicament, and a name of a patient, wherein the second marking is not printed within the third area.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein the second layer comprises a plastic.

26. The method of claim 16 wherein the second layer comprises polyvinyl chloride.

27. The method of claim 16 wherein the first layer comprises cardboard.

28. The method of claim 16 wherein the first layer comprises a plastic.

29. The method of claim 16 wherein an area of the first layer surrounding the hole comprises one or more of a scoring, a cutting and a perforation.

30. The method of claim 16 wherein an area of the second layer surrounding the indentation comprises one or more of a scoring, a cutting and a perforation.

31. The method of claim 16 wherein an area of the third layer comprises one or more of a scoring, a cutting and a perforation.

32. A method of removing a medicament from a blister pack, the method comprising:

selecting a first blister from one or more blisters in a blister pack, wherein the first blister contains a medicament;

applying force to a first side of the first blister to dislodge the first blister from the blister pack; and

removing the medicament from the first blister.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein removing the medicament from the first blister comprises applying force to a second side of the first blister to remove the medicament.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein removing the medicament from the first blister comprises:

removing the first side from the first blister; and

removing the medicament from the first blister.

35. A blister pack, comprising:

a ribbing comprising a plurality of blisters;

whereby when sufficient force is applied to a blister, the blister is displaced from the ribbing;

whereby when one or more blisters have been displaced, the ribbing provides substantially equivalent support to any remaining blisters as the ribbing provided prior to such displacement.

36. The blister pack of claim 35 wherein the ribbing surrounds each blister before a blister is displaced.

37. A backing sheet for a blister pack, the backing sheet comprising:

a foil layer;

a paper layer attached, on a first side, to the foil layer; and

a stiffening layer attached to a second side of the paper layer.

38. The backing sheet of claim 37 wherein the stiffening layer comprises cardboard.

39. The backing sheet of claim 37, wherein each of the foil layer, the paper layer, and the stiffening layer comprises one or more of a scoring, a cutting and a perforation.