DE202022002735U1 - Stackable blister card for a patient's weekly medication needs and packaging unit for medication with such a blister card - Google Patents

Abstract

Stackable blister card (2) having a longitudinal and a transverse direction for a patient's weekly medication requirement for taking the medication in an ordered sequence, comprising a matrix-shaped arrangement of trough-shaped depressions (4) (wells) for receiving the respective weekday (longitudinal direction ) and time of day (transverse direction), the wells (4) along their outer edges having elongated, rounded thickenings (bulges) (6) and rounded corners and mutually in both the longitudinal and transverse direction without a reinforcing grid structure by perforations (10 ) are connected, so that all the wells (4) can be separated individually without leaving any residue from the matrix-like arrangement by cutting through the perforations (10); and a peripheral frame formed from four individual straps (12, 14) connected to one another, on which stiffening elements, unstacking aids (22) and melting heads (18) for attaching a cover card (28) are attached.

Description

field of invention

The present invention relates generally to a patient medication blister card for taking the medication in an organized form. In particular, the invention relates to such a blister card that is stackable.

In addition, the invention relates to a packaging unit for medicines with such a blister card.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing such a packaging unit.

Background of the Invention/Prior Art

Such blister cards are intended to help patients who regularly have to take several different medications, on the one hand not to forget to take important medication and on the other hand to have a reliable overview of which medications have already been taken to prevent harmful overmedication to avoid. Such cards are used in particular when medication is to be taken according to a specific medication plan, especially when several different medications are to be taken by a patient. The corresponding medicines are then sorted into the compartments of a blister card in such a way that the medicines to be taken at the same time are placed in the same compartment, the medicines being in particular in the form of tablets, coated tablets or capsules.

Blister cards can be used in the private sector as well as in hospitals or nursing homes. The individual compartments of the card are usually arranged in a regular two-dimensional grid, which typically extends in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction of the blister card perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. In this way, rows that extend, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the card can be assigned to the days of the week on which the medication is to be taken. The rows of compartments, which extend in the transverse direction of the blister card, can then be assigned to specific times of the day at which the medication is to be taken. In this way, a spatial division of the blister card can be achieved that corresponds to a typical medication plan.

Various blister cards of the type described are known from the prior art. For example, from the EP 2 435 009 B1 a blister card for blistering medicines is known, the blister card having a plurality of compartments for holding the medicines, the compartments having edge areas, the edge areas of individual adjacent compartments being connected to one another by connecting areas in such a way that a connected blister card results, in which the individual Compartments are arranged in a regular two-dimensional grid, which extends in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blister card, the compartments being separable from one another by severing the connecting areas. After separating the individual compartments, a lattice structure with openings remains, which must be disposed of as waste.

The DE 20 2005 020 811 U1 discloses a packaging unit for a patient's weekly medication needs, consisting of trough-shaped compartments that are arranged in a matrix (days of the week×time of day) and are covered by a blister film. Furthermore, on the packaging unit, pivotable wings are attached on the longitudinal side, which at least partially have a perforation for easier removal of the medication and are at least partially printed with medication information for the patient to take. In this embodiment of a packaging unit, too, lattice structures remain after the separation of individual rows from the matrix, which have to be disposed of as waste. In addition, only complete rows can be removed from the matrix and not individual compartments.

Finally describes the DE 10 2020 126 301 U1 a blister card for blistering medicines, the blister card having a plurality of compartments for holding medicines, the compartments having edge areas, the edge areas of individual adjacent compartments being connected to one another by connecting areas in such a way that a connected blister card results, in which the individual compartments are arranged in a regular two-dimensional grid, which extends in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blister card, the compartments being separable from one another by severing the connecting areas. The disadvantage here is a lack of stability of the arrangement.

Previously described in the prior art or commercially available blister cards have the disadvantage that in the manufacture and the use generates a lot of waste. In addition, many blister cards have a lack of or insufficient stability, which makes them difficult to handle for elderly and inexperienced patients. Furthermore, most prior art blister cards have sharp edges on the medication wells that can injure the user's lips.

Summary of the Invention

The invention is therefore based on the object of further developing a blister card of the generic type in such a way that the disadvantages of the prior art described are avoided.

In addition, the invention is based on the further object of providing a packaging unit for medicaments with such a blister card that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

Finally, another object of the invention is to provide a method for producing such a packaging unit.

These and other objects are achieved by the blister card according to claim 1 and the packaging unit according to claim 14. Further advantageous configurations are listed in the dependent claims.

character list

• 1 eine erfindungsgemäße Blisterkarte in Draufsicht;
• 2 eine Ansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Blisterkarte von unten;
• 3 eine Seitenansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Blisterkarte; und
• 4 eine Verpackungseinheit aus einer erfindungsgemäßen Blisterkarte mit Siegelfolie und Deckkarte.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In it shows

• 1 a blister card according to the invention in plan view;
• 2 a view of the blister card according to the invention from below;
• 3 a side view of the blister card according to the invention; and
• 4 a packaging unit from a blister card according to the invention with sealing film and cover card.

Detailed description of the invention

A stackable blister card with a longitudinal and a transverse direction is claimed for a patient's weekly medication requirement for taking the medication in an ordered sequence, comprising a matrix-like arrangement of trough-shaped indentations (wells) for receiving the respective weekday (longitudinal direction) and time of day (Transverse direction) ordered medicines, the wells along their outer edges have elongated, rounded thickenings (bulges) and rounded corners and are connected to one another both in the longitudinal and transverse direction by perforations without a reinforcing grid structure, so that all wells can be removed individually without leaving any residue matrix-like arrangement can be separated out by cutting through the perforations; and a peripheral frame formed from four interconnected individual straps, on which stiffening elements and melting heads for attaching a cover card are attached. In addition, a packaging unit for medicines with such a blister card and a method for producing such a packaging unit are claimed.

1 shows a blister card 2 according to the invention in plan view. The blister card has a longitudinal (x-direction) and a transverse (y-direction) direction. It comprises a matrix-like arrangement of trough-like depressions (cups) 4 for accommodating medication, for example in the form of capsules, tablets or coated tablets. The number of wells 4 is preferably seven in the longitudinal direction and preferably five in the transverse direction, with the longitudinal direction of the blister card representing the days of the week (Monday to Sunday) and the transverse direction representing the times of day and possibly the type of administration (fasting, morning, midday, evening, at night). corresponds to which or how the corresponding medication should be taken by the patient. There is of course also the possibility, for example, of providing only four wells 4 in the transverse direction, if, for example, the “sober” form of administration is to be omitted. An arrangement with 5 x 1 wells is also possible.

The cups 4 have elongated, rounded thickenings (bulges) 6 along their outer edges, which are intended to simplify attachment to the patient's lips and to prevent cut injuries. Likewise, the corners 8 of the cups 4 are rounded so that there are no sharp edges, in order to avoid even the smallest of injuries and irritations in the patient's mouth in this way.

All cups 4 are connected to one another without an additional reinforcing lattice structure or separating webs, but only by small connecting pieces, so-called perforations 10 with a length of less than 1 millimeter, as a result of which individual cups can be separated out easily and without leaving any residue. Each perforation 10 preferably has only two contact points with the respective cup 4 per cup flank or cup side.

The blister card 2 is surrounded by a peripheral frame consisting of four individual flaps 12, 14 connected to one another. Are on the individual tabs 12 in the longitudinal direction (x-direction). Stiffening elements 22 arranged in the form of elevations that prevent buckling of the blister card 2 at the perforation lines 10 that separate the wells 4 inside the blister card 2 and thus give the blister card 2 stability. Furthermore, the individual tabs 12 have stacking aids 16 which are used to stack the blister cards 2 on top of one another and which ensure that blister cards 2 stacked on top of one another have a defined distance or gap from one another. This gap can then later be used to separate the blister cards 2 . The stacking aids 16 thus support the handling of the blister cards 2 in an automatic blister packaging system. The blister cards 2 are designed in such a way that they can be unstacked, for example via augers within the automatic blistering system. A tongue of sheet metal moves into the gap between two stacked blister cards 2. The upper blister card 2 remains on the tongue, while the lower blister card 2 is guided downwards via the screw. Of course, other unstacking processes known to those skilled in the art are also possible. The stack height of the unfilled blister cards 2 is at least 100.

The material of the blister card 2 preferably consists of a thin PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or PLA (polylactic acid - polylactic acid) film (blends are also possible here, i.e., for example PLA with certain additives that are added to the plastic to improve its properties to improve or adapt).

The wells 4 of the blister card 2 can have different sizes depending on the amount of medication to be filled in (cf. also 2 ). For example, it makes sense to provide two smaller bowls for administering medication "sober" and "at night", two medium-sized bowls for "noon" and "evening" and the largest bowl for administering medication in the morning, as this is usually the time is the largest drug intake. The size of the wells for the "sober" and "at night" medication administration is, for example, 33 mm x 33 mm, the size for the "noon" and "evening" medication administration is, for example, 33 mm x 40 mm and the size for the "medication administration" in the morning” 33 mm x 47.5 mm. The smallest bowl 4 must be able to hold a tablet with a length of 22 mm. The clear width of the cups 4 is preferably 23 mm and the border of the cups 4 has a preferred width of 3 mm.

Preferably, the blister card 2 (and thus also the wells 4) consists of a thermoformed, transparent material, which is selected in such a way that an inspection, either with the human eye or by machine, reveals the original size of the parts inside, i.e. the capsules, tablets or dragees according to a doctor's prescription. Furthermore, the material is processed in such a way that there is no distortion in the size of the parts inside. It must not be warped unevenly during the deep-drawing process, so that the tablets and dosage forms are not displayed differently from their usual size and remain identifiable through image processing, non-destructive post-control by the worker or nursing staff.

The dimensions of the beads 6 along the outer edges of the cups 4 are chosen to be wide enough that a sealing film 26 (see below) can be applied without detaching it from the bead 6 . Depending on the cup size, the entire adhesive surface is preferably between 306 and 394 mm ² . The label is applied with an adhesive with a strength of preferably 9 to 14 N/25mm.

The individual straps 14 on the end faces of the frame in the transverse direction (y-direction) have cylindrical elevations (melting heads) 18, which are used to attach a pre-punched cover card 28 (cf. description below and 4 ) serve by melting to the melting heads 18. The individual tabs 14 are three-dimensional and in this way increase the stability of the tab itself and thus of the entire blister card 2.

The individual flaps 12, 14 are connected to one another by perforations, similar to the individual wells 4, and in this way contribute to the stability of the blister card 2. They can be easily separated before the patient uses the blister card 2 .

Furthermore, information in the form of watermarks can be introduced in areas 20 on the individual tabs 14 during the deep-drawing process of the blister card 2, representing, for example, a company logo or a recycling symbol.

The entire blister card 2 is manufactured according to the so-called "poka-yoke principle" (German: "avoid unfortunate mistakes") in order to avoid incorrect loading within an automatic blistering system (cf. above). The Japanese expression Poka Yoke refers to a principle consisting of several elements, which includes technical precautions or devices for the immediate detection and prevention of errors. As an error-avoiding principle, poka-yoke is similar to the biochemical “lock and key” principle, which has an error-minimising effect, for example when duplicating genetic information. To implement the poka-yoke principle, the individual tabs 12 have different indentations 24 on their opposite sides (cf. 1 ), which prevents the blister cards 2 from being inserted the wrong way around in an automatic blister system (asymmetrical design).

3 shows a side view of the blister card 2 according to the invention, in which the stacking aids 16 and the melting heads 18 can be clearly seen.

To produce a packaging unit for holding medicines with a blister card 2, as described above, the blister card 2 is covered with a sealing film 26 (label) and then covered with a so-called cover card 28 (cf. 4 ). The production of the packaging unit is described below by way of example; corresponding modifications and adaptations of the production process are of course known to the person skilled in the art.

First, the stacked blister cards 2 are placed in a destacker and the sealing film 26 on a roll is placed in a sealing film printer. The cover cards 28 to be processed are then placed as a stack in a cover card printer and all components are introduced into an automation system. Then a single blister card 2 is unstacked from the stack into a carrier and transported with the carrier to the position at which the filling process with the medicaments takes place. A filling order is available for each patient for filling, which contains the prescribed medication as well as the individual days and times of administration. The medicines are automatically filled into blister card 2 according to this medication plan. The filled blister card 2 is then transported to the sealing unit, in which a sealing film 26 is unrolled from the roll, printed with patient-specific information inside the printer and then transported from the printer to the blister card 2 using a vacuum gripper, where it is glued to the blister card 2. The cover card 28 is then printed with patient-specific data and a medication plan and placed on the blister card 2 sealed with the sealing film 26 and the melting heads 18 are melted using heating cartridges, whereby the cover card 28 is firmly connected to the sealed blister card 2.

The thickness of the sealing foil 26 is preferably 140 μm so that it does not tear and provides stability for the entire product. The sealing film 26 can be printed in such a way that information about the day of the week, time of administration, a list of all tablets and dosage forms and other patient-specific information is visible above each well 4 of the blister card 2 . The sealing film 26 completely covers all wells 4 of the blister card 2, only the individual flaps 12, 14, which serve, among other things, to stabilize the blister card 2, are not covered by the sealing film 26, since otherwise the melting heads 18 for melting the cover card 28 would be covered. In addition, a tolerance of the film in the longitudinal and transverse directions can be provided.

The sealing foil 26 has micro-perforations which run in a criss-cross pattern between all wells 4 in order to make it easier to separate out an individual well 4 . The perforation of the sealing film 26 has a tear-off edge as a predetermined breaking edge, at which the sealing film can be torn, so that lateral tearing (crosswise tearing) of the sealing film is prevented.

The sealing film 26 itself consists of a composite material consisting, for example, of a polypropylene (PP) film, a pressure-sensitive adhesive (e.g. Permanent 958 from VPF), an adhesive neutralizer for areas where no pressure-sensitive adhesive is desired, and a piece of paper (e.g .inkjet paper white matte); This composite material offers flawless tearing behavior, so that the sealing film 26 does not tear laterally when a cup 4 is removed or when the label is detached from the cup 4 .

The pressure-sensitive adhesive used must have sufficient adhesion so that the sealing film 26 does not become detached when it is handled with a vacuum gripper and the blister card 2 is transported in an automatic listing system. In addition, the adhesive of the sealing foil 26 is selected in such a way that it is ensured that an individual cup 4 can be opened in order to remove or add a tablet or other oral dosage form at a so-called rework workstation.

An adhesive coating (not shown) is applied at least partially to the edge of the cups 4 on the side of the sealing film 26 facing the cups 4 . The adhesive coating is applied only to certain intended areas, or it is neutralized in non-intended areas, with neutralized areas having minimal to no adhesion. This ensures that capsules, tablets or dragees do not come into contact with the adhesive coating. The adhesive coating remains on the sealing film 26 without leaving any residue when it is pulled off, which prevents adhesive residues from sticking to the wells 4, to which small parts or the capsules, tablets or dragees themselves could stick. As already mentioned, each of the individual tabs 14 has two fusion heads 18 designed as elevations in the deep-drawn body, which are used for attaching a cover card 28 consisting of a verse with four holes consists of a piece of paper or another material, e.g. a plastic, on both sides of which information about the patient, the date and/or facility in which the patient is at the time the sealed medication is being taken, and information, e.g. in the form of a Table for all drugs located in the wells 4, such as size, color and name, are applied.

The sealing foil 26 can be printed borderless, whereby the color and printing method can be chosen so that the ink dries on the sealing foil 26 within a short time (e.g. within six seconds) and the printed text does not smudge after this time.

The sealing foil 26 can also be provided with colored bands in order to be able to better recognize the times of the day when the product is to be taken. Furthermore, the sealing film 26 has three defined print marks (position marks) and a DMC code for storing and reading patient data. The position markers can be used to identify the position of the sealing film on the blister card 2 by means of image processing within an automation system. This ensures that the sealing film has no x-y shift or twist to the blister card 2 and thus the wells 4 are correctly sealed and no tablets are lost during transport and handling.

The sealing film 26 preferably protrudes beyond the edge of the individual flaps 14 of the blister card 2 and can be automatically folded down in an automatic blistering system at a double fold with embossing (not shown); patient data, company logos or but also the name of the hospital or the ward in the clinic must be printed. The folded tab also serves to identify the blister card 2 specific to the patient in question, for example if it is standing upright in a box that has been delivered, without having to remove each individual blister card 2 from the box.

Furthermore, the sealing foil 26 can be provided with so-called grip tabs (not shown), which simplify the removal of the foil from an isolated cup 4 and thus facilitate the handling of the foil.

After the blister card 2 has been sealed using the sealing film 26, a cover card 28 that can be printed on both sides (see above) is melted on the four melting heads 18, which are attached to the individual tabs 14, which together with the individual tabs 12 are located around the frame of the blister card 2. The cover card 28 preferably has the dimensions 260 mm×205 mm, has a printable area of approx. 245 mm×188.5 mm and has a preferred weight of 160 g/m ² . Like the sealing foil, the cover card covers all wells 4 of the blister card 2 completely. The cover card 28 can be opened at two of the four melting heads in the manner of a cover, so that any information on the inside of the cover card 28 can also be seen.

In an advantageous embodiment of the packaging unit according to the invention, this can be placed in an additional, UV-absorbing blister shell (not shown) if a patient is to receive light-sensitive medication. The blister shell is preferably provided with a UV-absorbing additive and also has a simple lattice structure on the inside in order to hold the packaging unit in position in the blister shell. Such a system consisting of a packaging unit and a UV-absorbing blister shell makes it easier for patients to handle light-sensitive medicines.

reference list

2

blister card

4

bowls

6

bead

8th

rounded edges

10

perforations

12

single tab

14

single tab

16

stacking aids

18

melting heads

20

Watermark area

22

stiffening elements

24

notches

26

sealing film

28

deck card

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 2435009 B1 [0006]
• DE 202005020811 U1 [0007]
• DE 102020126301 U1 [0008]

Claims (20)

Stackable blister card (2) having a longitudinal and a transverse direction for a patient's weekly medication requirement for taking the medication in an ordered sequence, comprising a matrix-shaped arrangement of trough-shaped depressions (4) (wells) for receiving the respective weekday (longitudinal direction ) and time of day (transverse direction), the wells (4) along their outer edges having elongated, rounded thickenings (bulges) (6) and rounded corners and mutually in both the longitudinal and transverse direction without a reinforcing grid structure by perforations (10 ) are connected, so that all the wells (4) can be separated individually without leaving any residue from the matrix-like arrangement by cutting through the perforations (10); and a peripheral frame formed from four individual straps (12, 14) connected to one another, on which stiffening elements, unstacking aids (22) and melting heads (18) for attaching a cover card (28) are attached. Blister card after claim 1 , characterized in that each perforation (10) has two contact points per cup side with the respective cup. Blister card after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the matrix-like arrangement preferably has seven wells (4) in the longitudinal direction and preferably five wells (4) in the transverse direction. Blister card after one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the blister card (2) is deep-drawn from a transparent, uniformly deep-drawn material, for example a thin PET or PLA film. Blister card after one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the cups (4) have different sizes. Blister card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has stacking aids (16) on the individual tabs (12). Blister card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the corners of the cups (4) are rounded. Blister card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cups (4) have beads (6) along their outer edges. Blister card after claim 8 , characterized in that labels can be applied to the beads (6). Blister card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual tabs (12, 14) are connected to one another and to the cups (4) on the outer edges of the blister card (2) by perforations (10). Blister card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual tabs (12) are provided with stiffening elements (22) in the form of elevations in the area of the perforations (10) of the cups (4). Blister card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral frame formed from the individual tabs (12, 14) can be separated before the patient uses the blister card (2). Blister card according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that additional information in the form of watermarks can be applied in areas (20) of the individual tabs 14 on the front side of the frame (y-direction). Packaging unit for holding medication, comprising a blister card according to one of Claims 1 until 13 , a sealing film (26) arranged above it and a cover card (28). packaging unit Claim 14 , characterized in that the sealing film (26) has perforations (10) arranged in a cross shape between the wells (4). packaging unit Claim 14 or 15 , characterized in that the sealing foil (26) additionally has grip tabs which facilitate the removal of the sealing foil from an isolated cup (4). Packing unit according to one of Claims 14 until 16 , further comprising a UV-absorbing blister shell for the protection of light-sensitive medicines. packaging unit Claim 17 , characterized in that the blister shell is provided with a UV-absorbing additive. packaging unit Claim 17 or 18 , characterized in that the blister shell is designed as a reusable product. System consisting of a packaging unit according to one of Claims 14 until 19 and one provided with a UV absorbing additive A blister tray for holding light-sensitive medicines.

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