Blister package for pharmaceutical treatment card

• US 6,978,894 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Merck & Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sharp Corporation (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.), Merck & Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Mundt, James M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fisher, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/737,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030140A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 206/531, 206/532, 206/534, 206/538, 206/539, 206/461, 206/459.5, 206/232, 424/400, 424/405
• US Class Current: 206/534
• 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: B65D 2575/3227 Cuts or weakening lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/327 and forming several compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0463 formed in a band or a blisterweb, inserted in a dispensing device or container

Abstract

A blister package for a pharmaceutical treatment card suitable, the blister package having a plurality of individual blisters suitable for containing a pre-measured dosage of a pharmaceutical composition in the form of tablets, pills and capsules. In accordance with a pre-determined schedule of administration of the individually sealed blisters may be opened by a method of tearing, peeling and pushing. The blister card package can be characterized as a multiple layer laminate assembly having a plurality of transparent cavities containing composition.

Claims

1. A blister package incorporated into a pharmaceutical treatment card for dispensing a pre-measured dosage of a pharmaceutical composition, the card is characterized as a uniform edge multiple layer laminate assembly comprising proportionally dimensioned first and second sides divided by hinging means, said first and second sides comprising interior and exterior layers, said second side further comprising a blister package affixed between said interior and exterior layers along an edge of the second side opposite the hinging means, said blister package comprising:

(a) a blister layer comprising a plurality of raised blister cavities conforming to the shape of a pharmaceutical composition contained therein;

(b) a lidding layer attached to the blister layer on a side opposite the blister cavities for containing the pharmaceutical composition within the blister cavities;

(c) a peelable backing layer abutting the lidding layer opposite the blister layer;

(d) a plurality of adhesive layers between each of the interior and blister layers, blister and lidding layers, peelable backing and exterior layers, said adhesive layers being suitable for affixing the layers together, except that substantially no adhesive layer is between the lidding and backing layers;

(e) a plurality of first perforation lines being about perpendicular to the hinging means and parallel to one another, said lines extending through the blister, lidding, peelable and adhesive layers, and between each of the blister cavities for separating the individual blister cavities to form quadrants;

(f) a plurality of notch cavities located in the blister layer, each of the notch cavities being adjacent to and associated with each of the blister cavities and located along the first perforation lines, said notch cavities being of equal or less volume to said blister cavities volume, so that a void exists between the notch cavities and the lidding layer at each of the notch cavities;

(g) a continuous second perforation line extending through the blister, lidding, peelable backing, adhesive, interior and exterior layers, and along the uniform edge of the second side opposite the hinging means to form a barrier strip so that a portion of said barrier strip extends through each of the notch cavities, wherein the second perforation line is about perpendicular to and intersects the first perforation line at a notch cavities;

(h) a tab consisting essentially of an area proximal to the notch cavities wherein portions of the lidding layer and backing layers are affixed together by an adhesive;

(i) a barrier strip consisting essentially of a laminate assembly of the interior, exterior, blister, lidding and backing layers adhered together, said barrier strip being an area of the second side of the card parallel and opposite the hinging means, said barrier strip and second side being divided by the second perforation line; and

(j) an area of the interior and exterior layers within the second side of the card proximal to the blister package wherein said layers have been removed to expose the blister cavities and notch cavities, and first and second perforated lines,

wherein each of the blister cavity being opened by a method of tearing away a portion of the barrier strip to expose a portion of each of the notch cavities, clasping the tab in the region of each of the notch cavities, peeling said backing layer away from the lidding layer and towards the composition to expose the lidding layer, and pushing each of the blister towards the composition to cause the composition to rupture the lidding layer thereby exposing the composition.

2. The blister package according to claim 1, wherein the card comprises a paper board suitable for containing printed indicia on the interior and exterior sides.

3. The blister package according to claim 2, wherein the blister layer comprises a transparent polymeric material.

4. The blister package according to claim 3, wherein the lidding layer comprises a metallic foil material.

5. The blister package according to claim 4, wherein the peelable, backing layer comprises a reinforced paper material.

6. The blister package according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive layers comprise a polymeric binder.

7. The blister package according to claim 6, wherein the transparent polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, an olefinic copolymer, and blends thereof.

8. The blister package according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of notch cavities are located in the corners formed by intersections of the first perforation lines and the barrier strip.

9. The blister package according to claim 8, wherein the hinge means comprises a linear crease in the card dividing the first side and the second side thereof and suitable for folding so that first side and second sides are in close proximity to one another and the blister cavities are positioned between the two sides.

10. The blister package according to claim 9, wherein the proportionally dimensioned first and second sides are selected from the group of rectangular, triangular, oval and elliptical shapes.

11. The blister package according to claim 10, wherein the interior and exterior of the second side of the card are removed to expose the blister and backing layers of the blister package surrounding the blister and notch cavities.

12. A blister package incorporated into a pharmaceutical treatment card, the card characterized as a uniform edge, two layer laminate assembly comprising proportionally dimensioned rectangular-shaped first and second sides divided by hinging means, said first and second sides comprising interior and exterior layers, the second side further comprising a blister package affixed between said interior and exterior layers along the outer edge thereof, about parallel and opposite to the hinging means, said blister package comprising:

(a) a blister layer consisting essentially of a plurality of aligned raised blister cavities conforming to the shape of a pharmaceutical composition placed therein selected from the group consisting of pills, tablets and capsules, said aligned cavities being about parallel and adjacent to the outer edge of the second side;

(b) a lidding layer attached to the non-raised, cavities side of the blister layer for encapsulating the pharmaceutical composition therein;

(c) a peelable backing layer abutting the lidding layer opposite the blister layer;

(d) a plurality of adhesive layers between each of the interior and blister layers, blister and lidding layers, and peeable backing and exterior layers, said adhesive layers being suitable for affixing the layers together;

(e) a plurality of first perforation lines being about perpendicular to the hinging means and extending through the blister, lidding, peelable and adhesive layers, and between each of the blister cavities for separating the individual blister cavities to form quadrants;

(f) a plurality of notch cavities located in the blister layer, each notch being adjacent to raised blister cavities, along the first, perforation lines that separate each of the blister cavities, said notch cavities being of equal or less volume than the blister cavities, so that a void exists between the notch cavities and the lidding layer;

(g) a continuous second perforation line extending through the blister, lidding, peelable backing, adhesive, interior and exterior layers, and along the uniform edge of the second side opposite the hinging means to form a barrier strip so that a portion of the barrier strip extends through each of the notch cavities, wherein the second perforation line is about perpendicular to and intersects the first perforation line at notch cavities;

(h) a tab consisting essentially of an area proximal to the notch cavities wherein the lidding and backing layers are affixed together by an adhesive;

(i) a barrier strip consisting essentially of a laminate assembly of the interior, exterior, blister, lidding and backing layers adhered together, said barrier strip being an area of the second side of the card parallel and most opposite the hinging means, said barrier strip and second side being divided by the second perforation line; and

(j) a cut out surface of the interior and exterior layers within the second side of the card proximal to the blister package wherein said layers have been removed to expose the blister and notch cavities, first and second perforated lines,

wherein each of the blister cavities being opened to expose the composition therein by a method characterized by tearing away a portion of the barrier strip to expose each of the notch cavities, peeling the backing layer away from the barrier strip and towards the composition to expose the lidding layer, and pushing the composition from the blister cavities layer through the lidding layer thereby rupturing the lidding layer to expose the composition.

13. The blister package according to claim 12, wherein the card comprises a paper board suitable for containing printed indicia on the interior and exterior sides.

14. The blister package according to claim 13, wherein the blister layer comprises a flexible, transparent polymeric material selected from the group consisting of low density polyethylene, an olefinic copolymer, and blends thereof.

15. The blister package according to claim 14, wherein the lidding layer comprises a aluminum foil material.

16. The blister package according to claim 15, wherein the backing layer comprises a reinforced paper material.

17. The blister package according to claim 16, wherein the adhesive layers comprise a polymeric binder.

18. The blister package according to claim 17, wherein the area of lidding and backing layers aligned with the notch cavity are affixed together by an adhesive layer.

19. The blister package according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of notch cavities are located in the corners formed by the intersecting first perforation lines and the barrier strip.

20. The blister package according to claim 19, wherein the hinge means comprises a plurality of linear creases in the card dividing the first and the second sides thereof, said hinge means being suitable for folding the sides so that first and second sides are in close proximity to one another and the blister cavities are positioned between the two sides.

21. The blister package according to claim 20, wherein the proportionally dimensioned, rectangular-shaped first and second sides are of equal dimension.

22. The blister package according to claim 21, wherein the interior and exterior of the second side of the card are removed to expose the blister and backing layers of the blister package surrounding the blister cavities and notch cavities.

23. The blister package according to claim 22, wherein the pharmaceutical composition is selected from the group consisting of a pill, capsule or tablet.

24. The blister package according to claim 23, wherein the blister cavities of the package are arranged in 1×

4 array.

25. A blister package incorporated into a pharmaceutical treatment card, the card characterized as a uniform edge, two layer laminate assembly comprising proportionally dimensioned rectangular-shaped first and second sides divided by hinging means, said first and second sides comprising interior and exterior layers, the second side further comprising a blister package, wherein the cavities are arranged in a 1×

4, array affixed between said interior and exterior layers along the outer edge thereof, about parallel and opposite to the hinging means, said blister package comprising;

(a) a blister layer consisting essentially of a plurality of aligned raised blister cavities conforming to the shape of a pharmaceutical composition placed therein selected from the group consisting of pills, tablets and capsules, said aligned cavities being about parallel and adjacent to the outer edge of the second side, wherein the blister layer is constructed of a material selected from low density polyethylene and olefinic copolymers;

(b) lidding layer attached to the non-raised, cavities side of the blister layer for encapsulating the pharmaceutical composition therein;

(c) a peelable backing layer abutting the lidding layer opposite the blister layer;

(d) a plurality of adhesive layers between each of the interior and blister layers, blister and lidding layers, and peeable backing and exterior layers, said adhesive layers being suitable for affixing the layers together;

(e) a plurality of first perforation lines being about perpendicular to the hinging means and extending through the blister, lidding, peelable and adhesive layers, and between each of the blister cavities for separating the individual blister cavities to form quadrants;

(f) a plurality of notch cavities located in the blister layer, each notch being adjacent to raised blister cavities, along the first, perforation lines that separate each of the blister cavities, said notch cavities being of equal or less volume than the blister cavities, so that a void exists between the notch cavities and the lidding layer;

(g) a continuous second perforation line extending through the blister, lidding, peelable backing, adhesive, interior and exterior layers, and along the uniform edge of the second side opposite the hinging means to form a barrier strip so that a portion of the barrier strip extends through each of the notch cavities, wherein the second perforation line is about perpendicular to and intersects the first perforation line at notch cavities;

(h) a tab consisting essentially of an area proximal to the notch cavities wherein the lidding and backing layers are affixed together by an adhesive;

(i) a barrier strip consisting essentially of a laminate assembly of the interior, exterior, blister, lidding and backing layers adhered together, said barrier strip being an area of the second side of the card parallel and most opposite the hinging means, said barrier strip and second side being divided by the second perforation line; and

(j) a cut out surface of the interior and exterior layers within the second side of the card proximal to the blister package wherein said layers have been removed to expose the blister and notch cavities, first and second perforated lines.

wherein each of the blister cavities being opened to expose the composition therein by a method characterized by tearing away a portion of the barrir strip to expose each of the notch cavities, peeling the backing layer away from the barrier strip and towards the composition to expose the lidding layer, and pushing the composition from the blister cavities layer through the lidding layer thereby rapturing the lidding layer to expose the composition.

26. The blister package according to claim 25, wherein the olefinic copolymer is selected from ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene-acrylic acid, ethylene-ethyl acrylate polyethylene terephthalate, nylons, and polyesters.