MEDICATION CARRIER AND INSERT THEREFOR

Abstract: A medication carrier (10) having a front (11) and rear (12) panel includes four vertical columns (11a,b,c,d) of apertures in the front panel (11) and a plurality of dispensing apertures (12a,b,c,d) in the rear panel (12) aligning with the front panel apertures (11a,b,c,d). An insert (18) with corresponding open based pockets (20) carrying medication which can be seen through the walls of the pockets, is detachably sealed across the open bases of the pockets (20) with a frangible membrane (23) and the insert (18) engages between the front (11) and rear (12) panels with the pockets (20) extending through the apertures in the front panel (11). The areas of each vertical column of apertures in the panel and hence the volume of the corresponding pockets (20) of the insert (18) vary according to the average amount of medication taken at various time periods for which each vertical column is designated. This allows a standard sized carrier to be used for dispensing varying amounts of medication of various sizes thus reducing the need for larger carriers. Pictorial and written indicia of the various times that the medication should be taken, reduces the risk of the wrong amount and/or type of medication being taken by the patient.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improvements in medication carriers and inserts therefore. Conventionally, the carrier consists of two sheets of substantially rigid plastic hinged together along one longtitudinal edge thereof. The front panel is provided with a plurality of substantially rectangular cutouts to receive corresponding pockets formed in the insert which is also of plastic but of a much thinner material and which is provided with a corresponding number of depressions when viewed from the rear surface thereof, to receive the medication in the form of pills or capsules. A relatively thin sheet of foil or other sealing material is then adhesively secured to the back of the insert covering the open bases of the recesses and sealing the medication in place and the insert material, where it is displaced to form the pockets or recesses, engages through the apertures within the front panel of the carrier so that the medication for various times of the day and various days of the week etc. is clearly visible in these projecting pockets, it being understood of course that the insert is usually made of clear plastic. Normally, all of the pockets are of the same size and the carrier and insert may be designed to carry the medication for one week, two weeks, 28 days or the like. The three free edges of the carrier are normally detachably secured together by well known press stud means or the like and corresponding dispensing apertures in the back panel permit the relatively thin pocket of the insert to be pushed downwardly from the front panel thus breaking the foil and ejecting the medication through the aperture in the back panel. However, as is well known, a regime of medication often requires a different quantity of pills, caplets, capsules or the like at different times of the day. For example, often the majority of various types of medication is required first thing in the morning with perhaps lighter quantities at lunch time, sometimes slightly more at supper time and again a further increase at bed time and because of the size of the pills, caplets, or capsules of certain medications are relatively large, forming the pockets of the same size as is conventional, often presents difficulties in engaging the required dosage in a standard sized pocket and although larger pockets may be found, this would necessitate an increase in the overall size of both the carrier and the insert which is not only expensive but undesirable due to the inconvenience which would result in handling, storage and the like. Alternatively, the sizes may be required to have the largest volume or size at bed time, slightly less at breakfast time and the lunch time and supper time sizes substantially the same but smaller than the breakfast time size. The essence of this invention, which is specified in Claim 1, is therefore to provide pockets of various sizes in order to accommodate the varying quantities of medication normally required during a day. In addition, various visual or pictorial indicia may be utilized for ease of identification. Figure 1 is a front elevation of the carrier of the present invention. Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the carrier of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a rear side elevation of the insert. Figure 4 is a side view of the insert. Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the preferred embodiment. Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the preferred embodiment. In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10 shows a carrier having a front panel 11 formed of relatively rigid plastic and having a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures formed therethrough and in the present embodiment, it will be noted that there are four columns 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D of seven apertures each although of course it will be appreciated that more or less apertures may be provided if desired. For example, a larger carrier may be provided to carry prepackaged medication for a greater number of days or a smaller carrier for a lesser number of days. A larger rectangular aperture 12 may be provided above the columns of apertures to carry information relative to the patient, doctor or the like and a plurality of recesses 13 may be formed along the upper edge 14 which, in conjunction with the rear panel, enables the carriers may hung on convenient hooks or the like as will hereinafter be described. The rear panel 12 of the carrier, is similar to the front panel and is provided with a similar number of columns of rectangular apertures 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D having the same size and configuration as the front panel and this rear panel is hinged along one vertical edge 16 to a corresponding vertical edge 17 of the front panel, preferably, by means of a living hinge (shown in phantom at 28) so that the two panels can be folded open to receive an insert collectively designated 18 whereupon the panels may be folded closed and detachably secured by plastic snap fasteners or the like 19 along the other opposite edges 16A and 17A. The apertures 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D in the rear, panel 12 correspond to the apertures 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D in the front panel 11, and are in registration therewith when the two panels are in a closed position. The insert collectively designated 18 is made of transparent plastic and of a thinner material than the carrier and may be stamped out to provide a plurality of pockets 20 matching the apertures in columns 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D in the front panel into which the pockets engage when the insert is placed between the two panels of the carrier and the carrier is closed. Alternatively, the pockets may be of transparent plastic upon a substrate of cardboard or the like. These pockets 20, when first formed in the plastic sheet 18 are open based as at 21 so that medication in the form of pills, capsules or the like 22 may be placed therein whereupon a thin sheet of foil or the like, indicated in phantom by reference character 23 in Figure 4, is adhesively or otherwise secured over the rear side 25 of the insert thus sealing medication within the individual pockets 20. However, as the various types and quantities of medication often vary throughout the four general periods of the day in which medication is taken, the individual columns 26A, 26B, 26C and 26D contain pockets 20 of different sizes as do the panels 10 and 12 of the carrier (11A, 11B, 11C, 11D and 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D). As an example, when medication is required first thing in the morning before breakfast, at lunch time, at supper time (tea time) and at bed time, different types and/or quantities of medication are often required with the greatest number and amount being required at breakfast time in column 26A, a minimum amount at lunch time in column 26B, slightly more at supper or tea time in column 26C and slightly more again before bed time in column 26D. Present day medication often being relatively large, the pockets in column 26A (and corresponding apertures in panels 11 and 12 of carrier 10), are the largest and may extend approximately 32 m/m in length and 17 m/m in height. The pockets in column 26B may be, for example, 25 m/m wide and 17 m/m high, the pockets in column 26C may be 27 m/m wide and 17 m/m high and the pockets in column 26D may be 30 m/m wide and 17 m/m high. These four different sizes are represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The apertures in the carrier panels 11 and 12 are of similar dimensions to the pockets in the insert and the spacing between the apertures (and pockets) is sufficient so that a standard overall dimension or sized carrier and insert may be utilized. In operation, the medication for each period and each day is placed in the various pockets 20 of the insert whereupon the foil sheet 23 is secured on the back of sheet to temporarily close the pockets. The insert is then engaged between the panels of the carrier with the pockets 20 protruding upwardly through the apertures within the front panel and being maintained in place by the snap engagement of the rear panel with the corresponding edges of the front panel. When medication is required, the relatively thin plastic forming the insert enables the relevant pocket to be pushed downwardly through the corresponding aperture in columns 11A, 11B, 11C or 11D of the front panel thus breaking the frangible foil cover of that particular pocket thereby ejecting the medication through the corresponding aperture in columns 12A, 12B, 12C or 12D in the rear panel and into a small container (not shown) for presentation to the patient. The various apertures in the columns may be marked by the day of the week vertically and by the times of medication horizontally so that a glance will show the, exact status of the dispensing of medication at any one time, the major advantage of the present invention being the different sizes of the pockets for different periods during the day at which medication should be given and the pictorial identification 27 for each time period. Reference to Figures 5 and 6 are similar to Figures 1 and 3 but show the preferred embodiment. In this embodiment, the four vertical columns 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D are shown having different areas. 11D is shown with the largest area, (E.G. 32 m/m × 17 m/m) 11A with the second largest area (E.G. 30 m/m × 17 m/m) and the intermediate apertures 11B and 11C are substantially similar in area and have the third largest area (E.G. 27 m/m × 17 m/m). Figure 3 shows the front view of the insert 18 but with the pockets 26A, 26B, 26C and 26D also varying in volume corresponding with the apertures 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D through which they extend when the insert in engaged between the front and rear panels as hereinbefore described. Here again, the volume of pocket 26D is the largest, pocket 26A is the second largest and pockets 26B and 26C are similar and are the third largest. Also to be noted are the written and pictorial indicia situated above each vertical column of apertures in the front panel 10 of Figure 5. Over the first vertical column on the left hand side is the word "Morning" surmounted by the pictorial representation of a rising sun preferably on a yellow background. The second vertical column from the left, is indicated as "Noon" and shows the sun substantially in the center of the rectangle preferably upon a blue background. The third column from the left is marked either "Supper" or "Tea Time" depending upon the country in which the carriers are being used. This shows a setting sun on the right hand side of the rectangle and preferably with an orange background. The fourth and final column from the left is marked "Bed Time" and shows a crescent moon and a plurality of stars in white preferable upon a black background. The areas of the rectangles in which the pictorial indicia are shown, are substantially similar to the areas of the apertures in the columns above and below which the pictorial indicia is placed. Against each horizontal column of apertures and preferably on the left hand side of the front panel, there is provided further indicia preferably in the form of a rectangle with an arrowhead indicating the horizontal column and marked successively Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It will therefore be appreciated that both pictorial and written indicia indicate the capsule of pocket of medication which should be taken at each particular time period and it will be appreciated that depression of the flexible transparent material forming the pocket, through the relevant aperture in the front panel, breaks the membrane on the rear side of the insert thus ejecting the medication through the corresponding apertures in the rear panel into a cup or other receptacle. The different sizes of the pockets enables varying quantities and sizes of medication for the various time periods to be incorporated in a standard sized carrier. The upper edge 19A may be provided with slotted apertures 15 registering with the recesses 13 in the front panel thus enabling the carriers to be suspended from the carrier holders or the like.

Claims: A medication dispensing carrier (10), said carrier comprising in combination a substantially rectangular front panel (11) and a substantially rectangular rear panel (10A) hingedly connected together along one corresponding mutual edge (16,17) thereof for detachably opening and detachably closing the panels, said front panel having a plurality of apertures (11A, 11B,11C,11D) through said front panel to receive corresponding pockets (22) formed in an insert (18) and sealingly containing medicaments, said rear panel having a plurality of medication dispensing apertures (12A,12B,12C,12D) formed therethrough, corresponding to the apertures on the front panel means (19) to detachably secure said panels together with the apertures in said front panel being in substantial alignment with said dispensing apertures of said rear panel characterized in that said plurality of apertures are arranged in seven horizontal rows and four vertical columns, and in that said front panel has an information display aperture (12) and carries first indicia indicating the days of the week vertically spaced adjacent one side edge of said front panel, the indicia being in alignment with the respective horizontal rows of apertures, second indicia indicating the times of day that medication should be taken, said further indicia being horizontally spaced adjacent the uppermost or lowermost horizontal row of apertures in said front panel and aligned with the respective vertical columns of apertures, the area of each aperture (11A, 11D) in the outermost vertical columns being greater than the area of each aperture in the two centre columns such that the aperture area varies with the average quantity and size of medication required at the respective corresponding times of day. The carrier according to Claim 1 in which said second indicia includes a pictorial representation (27) of a time period. The carrier according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the second indicia indicate a morning time period, a noon time period, a bed time period and a period in between said noon and said bed time periods, said apertures for the morning period having the largest area, the apertures for the bed time period having the second largest area, the apertures for the noon period having the third largest area and the area of the apertures of the intermediate period having the fourth largest area. The carrier according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the second indicia include a morning time period, a noon time period, a bed time period and a period intermediate said noon and bed time periods, said apertures for the bed time period having the largest area, said apertures for the morning period having the second largest area, and said apertures for said other two periods having a substantially similar area to one another and having the third largest area. The carrier according to any one of the preceding claims which includes an insert (18) for said carrier, said insert being substantially rectangular and having a plurality of rows of open based pockets (20) formed therein arranged in seven horizontal rows and four vertical columns (26A,26B,26C,26D) the volume of each pocket (26A,26D) in the outermost vertical columns of pockets being greater than the volume of each pocket (26B,26D) in the two centre columns such that the volume varies with the average quantity and size of medication required at the respective corresponding times of day, said insert being situated between said front and back panels (11,12) of said carrier with said pockets extending through respective ones of the apertures (11A,11B,11C,11D) in said front panel (11) and frangible means (23) detachably sealing the open bases (21) of said pockets to selectively retain medication therein, depression of said pockets through the apertures of said front panel breaking the frangible means detachably securing the open bases of said pockets thereby ejecting the medication contained in said pockets through the dispensing apertures (12A,12B,12C,12D) in said rear panel. The invention according to Claim 5 in which the second indicia indicate a morning time period, a noon time period, and bed time period and a period intermediate said noon and bed time periods, said pockets (20) for said morning time period having the largest volume, said pockets for the bed time periods having the second largest volume, said pockets for said noon time period having the third largest volume and said pockets for said intermediate time periods having the fourth largest volume. The invention according to Claim 5 in which the second indicia indicate a morning time period, a noon time period, a bed time period and a period intermediate said noon and bed time periods, said pockets (20) for said bed time periods having the largest volume, said pockets for said morning periods having the second largest volume, said pockets for the other two time periods being substantially similar in volume and having the smallest volume. A medication dispensing insert (18) for use with an apertured carrier (10) according to claim 1, said insert comprising a substantially rectangular and planar sheet and having in seven horizontal rows and twenty eight open based pockets (20) formed therein four vertical columns (26A, 26B, 26C, 26D) and frangible means (23) detachably sealing the open bases (21) of said pockets to selectively retain medication therein, depression of said pockets breaking the frangible means datachably securing the open bases of said pockets thereby ejecting the medication contained in said pockets, through said broken frangible means, the volume of each pocket in the outermost vertical columns in said insert being greater than the volume of each pocket in the two centre columns such that the pocket volume varies with the average quantity of medication required at various times of the day.

Inventors: WEBSTER, JOHN
Applicants: MANREX LIMITED
Application year: 1987
Main classification: A61J1
IPC codes: A61J7