Abstract:
Embodiments of a holder for a blister sheet used to manage prescription pills are described herein. The holder solves the problem of limited space in filled blisters of a blister sheet during visual verification of the contents thereof by including a frame to receive the sheet in such a way that at least some of the blisters are positioned in close proximity to verification receptacles also provided on the holder to temporarily receive part of the blisters&#39; content.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to pills management. 
         [0002]    More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a blister sheet holder for the verification of the blister sheet&#39;s content. 
         [0003]    It is known in the art of pills management and distribution to use container-defining sheet also called blister sheet. Such sheet includes cavities, arranged in line and columns, that represent moments in days and that can be filled with prescription pills for subsequent ordinate distribution to a user. The blister sheet is then sealed by a sheet that is inscribed with information pertaining to the pills in each cavity. The sealed blister sheet is such that, during distribution of the pills, each cavity can be conveniently detach. 
         [0004]    In order to facilitate the filling and sealing operations by the professional, the blister sheet is mounted in a support or holder that is essentially provided to add stability to the blister sheet during these operations. 
         [0005]    Examples of conventional blister sheet and support thereof are described in Canadian Patent No. 2,207,045, issued to Dispill Inc. in Jun. 1, 2009 and titled “Kit and Process for the Manufacture of a Set of Individual Pill Containers”. 
         [0006]    In most jurisdictions, it is legally required that the pharmacist checks the content of the ampoules/blisters to ensure the adequacy of their filling. The conventional supports for blister sheets are not adapted to this duty of the professional pharmacists work. 
         [0007]    Indeed, when a great number of pills are inserted in a single cavity, the professional has a hard time identifying and counting the pills therein. The professional checking the prescription in such a filled cavity is often forced to play hide and seek with the pills. This may lead to misidentification of pills and most of the time to a waste of time. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    An object of illustrated embodiments of a blister sheet holder is to provide means to improve the verification of the prescription pills contents in a blister sheet prior to its sealing. 
         [0009]    Another object is to provide means to support a blister sheet and to ease the verification of its contents. 
         [0010]    More specifically, the problem of limited space in filled blisters of a blister sheet during visually verifying the contents thereof is solved by using a holder to receive the sheet in such a way that at least some of the blisters are positioned in close proximity to verification receptacles provided on the holder to temporarily receive part of the blisters&#39; content. 
         [0011]    In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, there is provided a blister sheet holder comprising: 
         [0012]    a frame adapted for receiving a blister sheet; and 
         [0013]    at least one verification receptacle adapted to receive part of a content of at least one blister of the blister sheet; the at least one verification receptacle being mounted to the frame in such a way as to be positioned in close proximity to the least one blister when the blister sheet is received in the frame. 
         [0014]    The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one”, but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more”, “at least one”, and “one or more than one”. Similarly, the word “another” may mean at least a second or more. 
         [0015]    As used in this specification and claim(s), the words “comprising” (and any form of comprising, such as “comprise” and “comprises”), “having” (and any form of having, such as “have” and “has”), “including” (and any form of including, such as “include” and “includes”) or “containing” (and any form of containing, such as “contain” and “contains”), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements. 
         [0016]    The expression “blister sheet” is to be construed herein as a plurality of small containers assembled into a sheet, without restriction as to the material of the sheet or of the containers or how such a sheet is intended to be sealed or closed. The “blisters” should be construed herein as the containers included on the blister sheet. 
         [0017]    The expression “receptacle” is to be construed herein to include a device, etching, engraving or groove portions of an object, or else, that is capable of receiving and holding one or more small objects, such as without restrictions medication pills. 
         [0018]    Other objects, advantages and features will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    In the appended drawings: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a blister sheet holder according to a first embodiment, the holder being illustrated with its trestle deployed; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view of the blister sheet holder from  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are side elevations of the blister sheet holder from  FIG. 1 , showing respectively deployed and folded positions of the trestle; 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the blister sheet holder from  FIG. 1 , further showing therein an embodiment of a blister sheet filled with prescription pills; 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 5 , further illustrating the use of the receptacles to better distinguish a blister&#39;s content during verification thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    A holder  10  for a blister sheet  12  according to a first illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 2 . According to the illustrated embodiment, the blister sheet  12  is of the type used for receiving and distributing prescription pills  14 . 
         [0026]    The holder  10  comprises a frame  16 , two series of receptacles  18  integrally formed in the frame  16  and a foldable trestle  20  pivotably mounted to the frame  16  thereunder. 
         [0027]    The frame  16  is generally rectangular in shape and defines a working surface  21  on the side thereof that includes the openings of the receptacles  18 . The working surface  21  of the frame  16  includes top  22 , bottom  24  and side portions  26  together defining a generally rectangular blister-sheet receiving opening  28  therebetween. 
         [0028]    The configuration and size of the frame  16  is adapted to receive and support the blister sheet  12 . More specifically, the inner portion of the frame  16  includes a downwardly extending serrated flange  30 . The flange  30  is configured to receive the blister sheet  12  in a complementary way. 
         [0029]    The flange  30  is provided with ridges  32 . The gap  34  between two of the ridges  32  defines a blister receiving portion. According to the illustrated embodiment, the blister sheet  12  includes a matrix of seven (7) rows by four (4) columns of blisters  34  and  34 ′. The flange  30  includes ridges  32  on all its sides that are numbered and configured to complement the blisters  34  and  34 ′. The frame  30  can of course be modified to accommodate a blister sheet having another configuration (not shown). 
         [0030]    Depending for example on the configuration of the blister sheet  12 , the ridges  32  and/or flange  30  can be omitted. In such a case, the peripheral edge of the frame  16  around the blister-sheet receiving opening  28  provides sufficient contact with the blister sheet to restrict its movement therein. 
         [0031]    However, it has been found that providing ridges  32  that define blister-receiving portions and that are configured to receive the blisters  34 - 34 ′ in a snugly-fit manner greatly improves the stability of the sheet  12  in the holder  10 . 
         [0032]    The top edge  36  of the flange  30  is recessed with regards to the side portions  26  of the frame  16  and with top and bottom portions  22  and  24  so as to define a shoulder  38  that is configured to circumscribe the peripheral edge  42  of a blister-sheet  12  when it is received in the opening  28 . The top edge  36  and shoulder  38  further contribute to stabilizing a blister sheet  12  mounted in the opening  28 . 
         [0033]    It has been found that an opening  28  that is circumscribed by i) a flange  30  that is complimentary to the blister arrangement of the blister sheet  12  and ii) a peripheral recess  36  around the flange to receive the peripheral portion of the blister sheet flange  37  yields a blister-sheet receiving opening  28  that both circumscribes and stabilizes the sheet  12  in the holder  10 . This has been found advantageous when a sealing sheet (not shown) is fixed onto the blister sheet  12  to seal the blisters&#39; openings. 
         [0034]    The top portion  22  of the frame  16  includes an elongated groove  44  adjacent the top portion of the shoulder  38 . The groove  44  is configured and sized to complement the top edge of the blister sheet  12 . According to the illustrated embodiment, the top edge of the blister sheet  12  is defined by a tab  46  that extends throughout the width of the sheet  12  and that ends with two hooks  48 . 
         [0035]    In the present, the expressions “top” and “bottom” are used with reference to the frame  16  to help distinguish between the portion further away from the user during normal use of the holder  10  (“top”) and the portion nearest the user (“bottom”). 
         [0036]    Each side portion  26  of the frame  16  includes a series of oval-shaped recesses that define the receptacles  18 . The receptacles  18  are positioned in two columns, one on each side  26  of the frame  16 . The number and positions of the receptacles  18  within a column is such that each receptacle  18  is registered with a corresponding row of blisters  34 - 34 ′ on the sheet  12 . 
         [0037]    Each recess  18  has a depth that increases from a first side  50  of the recess  18  adjacent the shoulder  38  towards the opposite side  52  of the recess. More specifically, the first side  50  is generally leveled with the upper portion of the shoulder  38  so as to be generally leveled with the top surface or flange  37  of a sheet  12  mounted in the opening  38 . A peripheral ridge  54  is provided all around each receptacle  18  except on the first side  50  thereof. The advantageous configuration of the receptacles  18  will be further explained hereinbelow with reference to the operation of the holder  10 . 
         [0038]    Returning to the configuration of the working surface  21 , the configuration and size of the top portion  22  of the frame  16  can be adapted to the size of the sheet (not shown) used to seal the blister sheet. More specifically, the top portion  22  is dimensioned to support an overdimensioned portion of the sealing sheet at the top thereof. Such an overdimensioned portion is used to add information pertaining to the blister sheet contents. 
         [0039]    The bottom portion  24  of the working surface  21  includes a second groove  56  for receiving and storing a pill sorting tool  58 . The bottom portion  24  further includes a recessed portion  60  contiguous to the groove  56  to ease manual access to the tool  58  in the groove  56 . 
         [0040]    The bottom portion  24  is recessed relative to the side portions  26  so as to yield a shoulder  62  that extends over the width of the frame  16 . The shoulder  62  allows minimizing inadvertent intrusion of the tool  58  when it is moved in or out of the groove  56 . 
         [0041]    Turning now to  FIGS. 2-4 , the trestle  20  will now be described in more detail. 
         [0042]    The trestle  20  is in the form of an elongated C-shaped member that includes a rod  64  having a rectangular section for resting on a surface (not shown) and two connecting arms  66  that integrally extend from the rod perpendicularly therefrom. The distal ends of the arms  66  are provided with pivot pins  68  that allow detachably mounting the arms  66  in holes  69  provided under the frame  16  so as to allow pivotal movements of the arms relative to the frame  16 . The holes  69  are located in fins  71  that extends from the flange  30  adjacent the flange  30  under the top portion  22  of the frame  16 . The trestle  66  is therefore pivotally mounted to the frame  16  for movement between folded and deployed positions relative to the frame  16 . 
         [0043]    As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , which illustrates the deployed position of the trestle  20 , each of its arms  66  includes a notch  70  that abuts onto the flange  30  and blocks the pivoting movement of the trestle  20  in its deployed position. The arms  66  then define an angle of about seventy (70) degrees with the frame  16 . This tilts the frame  16  to about ten (10) degrees. Such tilting of the frame  16  by raising its top portion  22  has been found to ease the filling and then content verification of the blisters  34 - 34 ′. Moreover, tilting the arms  66  towards the flange  30  improves the stability of the holder  10  during its use. 
         [0044]    The arms  66  of the trestle  20  are configured and sized so as to become an extension of the flange  30  under the top portion  22  of the frame  16  when the trestle  20  is tilted to its folded position (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0045]    A holder according to another embodiment can be configured so that the trestle tilts the frame to a different angle than the one illustrated. According to still another embodiment, the trestle  20  is omitted. According to this last embodiment, the flange  30  or other portions or members under the frame  16  can be provided to raise the top portion of the frame relative the bottom portion thereof. 
         [0046]      FIG. 5  illustrates the holder  10  with a blister sheet  12  mounted thereinto. As mentioned hereinabove, the frame  16  can be modified to receive a blister sheet having a different configuration (not shown) then the one illustrated. 
         [0047]    As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the receptacles  18  are filled with a certain number of pills  14  that can have different colors, sizes and shapes, as determined for example by a prescription. The illustrated embodiment of a blister sheet  12  is configured with seven (7) rows, one for each day of the week, and four (4) column, each for a different moment in day, such as morning, lunch, dinner and night. 
         [0048]    As is often the case for an elder, the morning and night prescriptions usually include an important number of pills  14  or bigger pills compared to other moments of the day. Using for example the tool  58 , the pharmacist or another authorized professional (both not shown), can transfer part of a blister  34 ′ from a first or last column of the blister sheet  12  into the receptacle  18  which is adjacent thereof (see arrows  72 ). This is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . As a person skilled in the art would appreciate, the verification process becomes easier in such a blister  34 ′ that has been relieved of part of its content. Part of a blister  34  from the middle of the sheet  12  can also be transferred into one of the receptacles  18  during the verification step. 
         [0049]    The risk of losing one of the pills  14  during the transfer from a blister  34 ′ into the adjacent receptacle  18  is minimized by the close proximity of the receptacles  18  to adjacent blisters and by the side of the receptacle  18  adjacent the blisters being generally leveled with the blisters flange  37 . Also, the transfer back of pills from a receptacle  18  to an adjacent blister  34 ′ is facilitated by the receptacle inner surface being smooth, i.e. free of any edge. 
         [0050]    Since filling and sealing blisters are believed to be well-known in the art, those steps in the managing of a prescription will not be described herein in more detail for concision purposes. 
         [0051]    According to the illustrated embodiment, the frame  16  is one-piece and results from a moulded process. Since such moulding processes are believed to be well-known in the art, they will not be described herein in more detail for concision purposes. The holder  10  can be made of a polymeric material such as polypropylene, abs (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene), polystyrene plastic or of another material or combination of materials that provides rigidity to the frame  16 . 
         [0052]    The receptacles  18  are not limited to be integral to the frame  16 . Also, the frame  16  can be assembled from parts and/or the receptacles  18  can be attached to the frame  16 . According to another embodiment, the receptacles are removably mounted to the frame. 
         [0053]    It is to be noted that other modifications could be made to the holder  10  described hereinabove, for example:
       the blister sheet receiving portion  28  of the frame  16  is not limited to the rectangular shape and is generally configured to complement the peripheral shape of the blister sheets so as to prevent movement of the blister sheet relative to the frame;   the receptacles are not limited to the illustrated oval shape. They can be round, rectangular, teardrop shaped, irregular, etc.;   the receptacles are also not limited to having a smooth surface therein;   the number, dimensions, and positions of the receptacles  18  are not limited to the illustrated embodiment. For example, the frame  16  can be modified to include verification receptacles above and below the blister-sheet receiving opening  28 . In the case of receptacles being provided above the blister-sheet receiving opening, such receptacles can be provided above the groove  44 ;   the holder is not limited to receiving a blister-sheet intended to receive pills therein. More generally, it can be used for receiving a blister-sheet that receives other small objects or matter whose number and/or nature require a verification.       
 
         [0059]    It is to be understood that the holder for blister sheets is not limited in its application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The holder is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the holder for blister sheets has been described hereinabove by way of illustrative embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit, scope and nature of the subject invention.