Reminder system for taking medication

• US 4,974,729 A
• Filed: 04/17/1989
• Issued: 12/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Original Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
• Inventors: Steinnagel, Kent P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ACKUN, JACOB K
• Application Number:
  US07/342,765
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 206/534, 206/531, 206/532, 206/459, 206/820, 206/529, 206/530, 206/534.1, 206/534.2, 116/306, 116/308, 116/324
• US Class Current: 206/531
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/035 Blister-type containers blisters in general B65D75/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/04 Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine, e.g. programmed dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/82 Separable, striplike plural articles

Abstract

A calendar type dispenser is provided in association with a separable indicia means, the combination comprising a reminder system for reminding users when a particular dosage of medicament must be taken. The medicament container comprises a blister pack dispenser wherein a plurality of blisters are linearly arranged, in one or more groups, each group having a predetermined number of blisters. Each group has associated therewith a means for retaining a separable overlying planar sheet member provided with a plurality of apertures corresponding to the number of blisters in a selected group. Suitable indicia are marked on the sheet member in associating with each aperture thereof thereby identifying the particular dosage in each blister with the time when it should be taken.

Claims

1. A reminder system for providing an indication of when a dose of medication should be taken, comprising:

a planar medication holder for holding a plurality of unit doses of medication, said holder having a front surface and a rear surface;

frangible means retaining said unit doses of medication to said holder;

a planar indicia means adapted to be retained adjacent said front surface of said holder, said indicia means comprising a planar sheet member provided with a plurality of apertures adapted to overlay said holder so that said unit doses of medication retained thereby are accessible through said apertures, said plurality of apertures being at least equal in number and identical in spatial orientation to said unit doses of medication, said indicia means provided with a plurality of visible indicia each of which is associated with one of said unit doses when said indicia means is attached to said holder;

means for separably retaining said indicia means adjacent said holder, said means comprising a pair of tabs extending away from each other at opposing sides of said planar sheet member and retaining means associated with each planar medication holder for receiving said pair of tabs and retaining same.

2. A reminder system for providing an indication of when a dose of medication should be taken, comprising:

a plurality of planar medication holders each for holding a plurality of unit doses of medication, said planar medication holders being removably attached to each other;

frangible means retaining said unit doses of medication to said holders;

at least one indicia means, a separate indicia means removably attachable to a selected one of said planar medication holders and comprising a planar sheet member adapted to be retained adjacent said selected planar medication holder, said planar sheet member provided with a plurality of apertures adapted to overlay said selected planar medication holder so that said unit doses of medication retained thereby are accessible through said apertures, said plurality of apertures being at least equal in number and identical in spatial orientation to said unit doses of medication, said indicia means provided with a plurality of visible indicia each of which is in proximity to an associated one of said unit doses when said indicia means is attached to said selected one of said holders;

means for separably retaining a selected one of said indicia means adjacent any one of said planar medication holders, said means comprising a pair of tabs extending away from each other at opposing sides of said planar sheet member and retaining means associated with each planar medication holder for receiving said pair of tabs and retaining same.