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[0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of a previously filed utility application, Ser. No. 09/491,496 filed on Jan. 25, 2000.
[0002] 1. Technical Field
[0003] This invention relates to an apparatus for protecting and dispensing items such as medication in solid, powder or liquid form, and more particularly, to an apparatus which can be used by a person to safely carry such items while protecting the items from damage or exposure and allowing the person to immediately and easily access those items.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] “Blister packs” or “soft packs” are sometimes used to carry items, such as specific dosage medication in pill or powder form, in readily accessible, individually sealed and sterile compartments. Individual compartments making up the blister pack may be opened exclusively of any other compartments in the pack. Typically, these compartments are opened by pushing the contents of the compartment through a frangible membrane sealing the compartment, or by peeling back a covering forming part of the compartment.
[0006] The frangible membrane used to seal the individual compartments of blister packs must be made weak enough that the contents of the compartment may be forced through the frangible wall or membrane without being damaged. However, the unfortunate result of this construction is that weak membranes are subject to tearing or rupturing. For example, if a blister pack is carried in a user's pocket along with a set of keys or other hard items, it is not uncommon for damage to the membranes sealing one or more compartments to occur. Damage to a compartment typically exposes the contents of that compartment to environmental conditions such as moisture or contamination that can render the contents unusable.
[0007] The frangible membrane used to seal a compartment may be made strong enough to minimize the possibility of inadvertent tearing or rupturing. However, while increased strength may appear desirable, the usefulness of such a configuration is limited in that forcing the contents of the compartment through the membrane can become increasingly difficult as the strength of the membrane is increased. Further, the structural integrity of the contents of the compartment must be considered when increasing the strength of the membrane. For example, nitroglycerin pills, often carried by a person suffering from angina pectoris, are very soft, having a consistency similar to compacted powdered sugar. Attempting to force such pills through even a very weak membrane will tend to pulverize the pills, with the result that the medication is difficult or impossible to ingest.
[0008] Further, it is often desirable to place liquids or powders within a compartment of a blister pack. It is difficult to force such compositions through a frangible membrane. Making a membrane weak enough to allow its use with liquids or powders often creates a configuration that is extremely susceptible to damage by tearing and/or rupturing.
[0009] Blister pack configurations having coverings that may be peeled back to expose the contents of a compartment in the pack also have problems. For example, it is not uncommon for an area of the covering to tear away in such a manner as to expose more than one compartment. Where it is not desired to open or expose more than one compartment at a time, the contents of any additional fully or partially opened compartments may be exposed to moisture or other contaminants that render those contents unusable.
[0010] Further, a common problem associated with peelable coverings is that such coverings tend to give way suddenly as the surface area to which they are attached decreases while they are being peeled back. In such cases, the contents of the compartment enclosed by the cover may be flung out of the compartment as the cover suddenly gives way. This may result in damage or contamination of the contents, thereby rendering the contents unusable. In addition, such configurations are not suitable for use in containing liquids or powders, as the possibility of spillage is dramatically increased.
[0011] Various solutions have been devised in an attempt to address some of the problems described above. For example, some blister packs have sharp external prongs designed to pierce a cover or seal, then to pierce the skin against which such blister packs are pressed. These blister packs have been designed to deliver intracutaneous injections of liquid medication that coats the prongs. Such configurations are not capable of delivering powdered or solid medications or other items.
[0012] Other designs use cumbersome or complicated external cutter devices designed to cut the covering of a compartment in a blister pack. For example, some blister packs have external cutters that must be pressed through a frangible covering, rotated to cut or tear the covering, then pulled back or removed to expose the contents of the compartment. Such devices can be complicated and expensive to manufacture. Further, such devices may be difficult to operate, especially where they are designed to provide “child resistance,” and/or where the user has trembling or unsteady hands, or is otherwise impaired.
[0013] Still other blister pack designs use sharpened prongs within the compartments of the pack to pierce a frangible covering to allow mixing of a binary compound contained within sub-compartments. However, simply piercing the covering in one or more places does not provide an adequate opening to allow the contents of a compartment to be quickly and completely evacuated or removed from the compartment. Often, especially with powders and liquids, a portion of the contents remains in the compartment and is lost because the prongs do not create a sufficient path for complete egress of the contents. Consequently, use of such designs requires either increasing the volume of the liquid or powder to account for the loss, or simply ignoring the issue altogether.
[0014] Still other solutions, such as requiring the blister pack to be placed within separate mechanisms having cutters designed to open one or more compartments, have been suggested. Such devices tend to be relatively expensive and complicated, especially where they must also function as a medication dispenser for liquid and/or powder medications.
[0015] Accordingly, there is a need for a device that reduces or eliminates the problems described above with respect to the use of current blister pack type containers, while simultaneously accentuating the strengths associated with such containers. In particular, this device should ensure that a blister pack type container could be sealed with a membrane or covering of sufficient strength to prevent inadvertent tearing or rupturing. To ensure that the contents of a compartment within the container are protected during removal, the device should ensure the contents of the compartment would not be directly forced through the membrane or covering in order to open the compartment, or that the covering be manually peeled back to expose the contents of the compartment. Further, the device should ensure that blister pack type container will work equally well with solids, powders, soft or semi-solid items, or liquids without requiring external cutters or opening devices. In addition, the device should ensure that, upon opening, the blister pack type container would provide an open path for complete evacuation of liquids and powders. The device should ensure the blister pack type containers would be extremely easy to open, even where the user was in an impaired state, or had unsteady or shaking hands. Finally, the device should be simple and inexpensive to manufacture.
[0016] To overcome the limitations in the related art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present application, the present invention is embodied in a protective surround in combination with an “internal ejector punch.” The internal ejector punch is either integral to an upper membrane of the protective surround, or is simply disposed within a dome or bubble of a conventional blister-pack type device. For example, in the case of a protective surround such as a blister pack, the internal ejector punch provides the capability to safely protect items within the blister pack such as medication in solid, soft or semi-solid, powder, or liquid form, while allowing such items to be easily and rapidly dispensed from the blister pack by a user. Further, the internal ejector punch is designed to be substantially stronger than the relatively soft blister-pack type container, thereby providing the added benefit of protecting items stored within the internal ejector punch in a manner that would not be possible using only a conventional blister-pack type container.
[0017] In general, the present invention is embodied in an “internal ejector punch” defining a central open ended void or chamber within which items that are to be dispensed are disposed. In one embodiment, this internal ejector punch is placed within a dome or blister of a conventional “blister pack” type container that is defined by a flexible upper membrane including at least one depressing dome extending from the top surface of the upper membrane, and a lower membrane which is sealed to the bottom of the upper membrane, thereby defining one or more storage compartments within the container. Alternately, the internal ejector punch is integral to the upper surface of the dome or blister. One advantage of providing an internal ejector punch which is separate from either membrane is that such an internal ejector punch can simply be placed into existing blister pack type container designs without the need to redesign such containers, or even retool the machinery used to fabricate such containers.
[0018] In either embodiment, items to be dispensed from within the container are stored within the central void or chamber of the internal ejector punch which serves the dual purpose of protecting those items and providing a mechanism for the easy and safe removal of the items from within the individual compartments of the container. Specifically, in either embodiment, the lower membrane of the container serves to seal items such as pills, powders, or liquids within the central void of the internal ejector punch between the pill pack's upper and lower membranes, while the internal ejector punch serves to cut open the lower membrane to allow for the safe and easy extraction of the items from within the container when a sufficient downward force is applied to the dome or blister defining the upper surface of the compartments.
[0019] Specifically, as noted above, the internal ejector punch resides within the compartment defined by the depressing dome of the upper membrane, and is sealed into the compartment by the lower membrane. Further, also as noted above, the internal ejector punch is either separate from either membrane, or integral to the upper membrane, while the medication or other items to be dispensed reside with the void defined by the internal ejector punch. A cutting portion of the internal ejector punch along the open end of the internal ejector punch is oriented approximately perpendicular to the upper and lower membranes, with the cutting portion of each internal ejector punch being arrayed within a corresponding compartment so as to cut through the lower membrane as described below. Pills, powders, liquids or other items are sealed within the void or chamber of the internal ejector punch between the upper and lower membranes of the pill pack or blister pack type container. Note that as is common with such pill pack or blister pack type containers, the containers may include individual storage compartments, or storage compartments arranged in rows and/or columns, or any other desired arrangement in order to provide a desired amount of storage.
[0020] The lower membrane is of sufficient strength to prevent inadvertent tearing or rupturing of the membrane, even when carried in a relatively hostile environment, such as with metal keys in a user's pocket. However, the internal ejector punch is capable of cutting through this membrane by simply depressing the dome thereby providing an open path for rapid and complete evacuation of the chamber contents.
[0021] In operation, a user depresses the depressing dome or blister of a particular compartment within the container which forces the cutter portion of the internal ejector punch through the lower membrane of that compartment, thereby opening the lower membrane and allowing the easy and complete release of the contents from the open end of the internal ejector punch within the compartment. Unlike more complicated devices which require manipulation of external cutter devices, or carefully peeling back a membrane, a user having unsteady or shaking hands would be able to depress the dome to open the compartment thereby releasing the contents of the open ended void or chamber of the internal ejector punch.
[0022] Further, in one embodiment, because the volume of the chamber decreases as the dome is depressed, the internal pressure within the chamber increases prior to cutting the lower membrane. This increased pressure serves to propel the contents out of the open ended void or chamber of the internal ejector punch as the lower membrane is cut. This feature is especially useful in dispensing powders and liquids.
[0023] For example, in one embodiment, the internal ejector punch is used in a blister pack comprising individual doses of medication within individual domes of the blister pack. As the dome is depressed, the cutter portion of the internal ejector punch cuts the lower membrane, and the increased pressure within the chamber propels the medication within the chamber out where a user has immediate access to the dose of medication. Note that in alternate embodiments, the cutting portion of the internal ejector punch includes a serrated edge to allow for easier cutting of the lower membrane. Further, in alternate embodiments, the cutting portion of the internal ejector punch is notched, or otherwise discontinuous along its circumference so as to ensure that at least a portion of the lower membrane remains attached after being cut. This embodiment is useful for ensuring that the portion of the lower membrane that is cut by the cutter is not completely cut loose from the blister pack type container during use.
[0024] In addition, because there are no moving parts, simply an internal ejector punch which is either disposed within blisters or domes of a conventional blister pack or the like, or integral to the upper membrane of the blister pack or other protective surround, the internal ejector punch can be easily and inexpensively fabricated by methods such as injection molding using a thermoplastic-type compound. Note that with conventional blister pack type containers, the lower membrane is typically inexpensively and easily fabricated from any suitable material such as, for example, metal foil or plastic. The upper and lower membranes of such conventional blister pack type containers are preferably bonded together, using conventional techniques, to hermetically seal the contents of at least one chamber.
[0025] Finally, note that in alternate embodiments, the internal ejector punch is injection molded or otherwise fabricated in any desired shape, so as to securely protect the contents which are disposed within the internal ejector punch while providing a cutter for cutting through the protective surround or membrane used to seal both the internal ejector punch and the item or items disposed within. As noted above, the cutting of the lower membrane by the cutter on the open end of the void or chamber of the internal ejector punch provides for immediate access to the item or items disposed within the internal ejector punch. Again, this cutting is achieved by simply pushing or depressing the dome or blister covering the internal ejector punch, thereby forcing the cutter portion of the internal ejector punch through the lower membrane or protective surround, thus opening the lower membrane or protective surround and releasing the contents of the open ended void or chamber of the internal ejector punch to the user.
[0026] The foregoing and still further features and advantages of the present invention as well as a more complete understanding thereof will be made apparent from a study of the following detailed description of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.
[0027] The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. The specific features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
[0028]
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
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[0038]
[0039] In the following description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific example in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0040] 1.0 Overview:
[0041] The present invention is embodied in a protective surround in combination with an “internal ejector punch.” The internal ejector punch is either integral to an upper membrane of the protective surround, or is simply disposed within a dome or bubble of a conventional blister-pack type device. For example, in the case of a protective surround such as a blister pack, the internal ejector punch provides the capability to safely protect items within the blister pack such as medication in solid, soft or semi-solid, powder, or liquid form, while allowing such items to be easily and rapidly dispensed from the blister pack by a user. Further, the internal ejector punch is designed to be substantially stronger than the relatively soft blister-pack type container, thereby providing the added benefit of protecting items stored within the internal ejector punch in a manner that would not be possible using only a conventional blister-pack type container.
[0042] In general, the present invention is embodied in an “internal ejector punch” defining a central open ended void or chamber within which items that are to be dispensed are disposed. In one embodiment, this internal ejector punch is placed within a dome or blister of a conventional “blister pack” type container that is defined by a flexible upper membrane including at least one depressing dome extending from the top surface of the upper membrane, and a lower membrane which is sealed to the bottom of the upper membrane, thereby defining one or more storage compartments within the container. Alternately, the internal ejector punch is integral to the upper surface of the dome or blister. One advantage of providing an internal ejector punch which is separate from either membrane is that such an internal ejector punch can simply be placed into existing blister pack type container designs without the need to redesign such containers, or even retool the machinery used to fabricate such containers.
[0043] In either embodiment, items to be dispensed from within the container are stored within the central void or chamber of the internal ejector punch which serves the dual purpose of protecting those items and providing a mechanism for the easy and safe removal of the items from within the individual compartments of the container. Specifically, in either embodiment, the lower membrane of the container serves to seal items such as pills, powders, or liquids within the central void of the internal ejector punch between the pill pack's upper and lower membranes, while the internal ejector punch serves to cut open the lower membrane to allow for the safe and easy extraction of the items from within the container when a sufficient downward force is applied to the dome or blister defining the upper surface of the compartments.
[0044] Specifically, as noted above, the internal ejector punch resides within the compartment defined by the depressing dome of the upper membrane, and is sealed into the compartment by the lower membrane. Further, also as noted above, the internal ejector punch is either separate from either membrane, or integral to the upper membrane, while the medication or other items to be dispensed reside with the void defined by the internal ejector punch. A cutting portion of the internal ejector punch along the open end of the internal ejector punch is oriented approximately perpendicular to the upper and lower membranes, with the cutting portion of each internal ejector punch being arrayed within a corresponding compartment so as to cut through the lower membrane as described below. Pills, powders, liquids or other items are sealed within the void or chamber of the internal ejector punch between the upper and lower membranes of the pill pack or blister pack type container. Note that as is common with such pill pack or blister pack type containers, the containers may include individual storage compartments, or storage compartments arranged in rows and/or columns, or any other desired arrangement in order to provide a desired amount of storage.
[0045] The lower membrane is of sufficient strength to prevent inadvertent tearing or rupturing of the membrane, even when carried in a relatively hostile environment, such as with metal keys in a user's pocket. However, the internal ejector punch is capable of cutting through this membrane by simply depressing the dome thereby providing an open path for rapid and complete evacuation of the chamber contents.
[0046] In operation, a user depresses the depressing dome or blister of a particular compartment within the container which forces the cutter portion of the internal ejector punch through the lower membrane of that compartment, thereby opening the lower membrane and allowing the easy and complete release of the contents from the open end of the internal ejector punch within the compartment. Unlike more complicated devices which require manipulation of external cutter devices, or carefully peeling back a membrane, a user having unsteady or shaking hands would be able to depress the dome to open the compartment thereby releasing the contents of the open ended void or chamber of the internal ejector punch.
[0047] Further, in one embodiment, because the volume of the chamber decreases as the dome is depressed, the internal pressure within the chamber increases prior to cutting the lower membrane. This increased pressure serves to propel the contents out of the open ended void or chamber of the internal ejector punch as the lower membrane is cut. This feature is especially useful in dispensing powders and liquids.
[0048] For example, in one embodiment, the internal ejector punch is used in a blister pack comprising individual doses of medication within individual domes of the blister pack. As the dome is depressed, the cutter portion of the internal ejector punch cuts the lower membrane, and the increased pressure within the chamber propels the medication within the chamber out where a user has immediate access to the dose of medication. Note that in alternate embodiments, the cutting portion of the internal ejector punch includes a serrated edge to allow for easier cutting of the lower membrane. Further, in alternate embodiments, the cutting portion of the internal ejector punch is notched, or otherwise discontinuous along its circumference so as to ensure that at least a portion of the lower membrane remains attached after being cut. This embodiment is useful for ensuring that the portion of the lower membrane that is cut by the cutter is not completely cut loose from the blister pack type storage container during use.
[0049] In addition, because there are no moving parts, simply an internal ejector punch which is either disposed within blisters or domes of a conventional blister pack or the like, or integral to the upper membrane of the blister pack or other protective surround, the internal ejector punch can be easily and inexpensively fabricated by methods such as injection molding using a thermoplastic-type compound. Note that with conventional blister pack type containers, the lower membrane is typically inexpensively and easily fabricated from any suitable material such as, for example, metal foil or plastic. The upper and lower membranes of such conventional blister pack type containers are preferably bonded together, using conventional techniques, to hermetically seal the contents of at least one chamber.
[0050] Finally, note that in alternate embodiments, the internal ejector punch is injection molded or otherwise fabricated in any desired shape, so as to securely protect the contents which are disposed within the internal ejector punch while providing a cutter for cutting through the protective surround or membrane used to seal both the internal ejector punch and the item or items disposed within. As noted above, the cutting of the lower membrane by the cutter on the open end of the void or chamber of the internal ejector punch provides for immediate access to the item or items disposed within the internal ejector punch. Again, this cutting is achieved by simply pushing or depressing the dome or blister covering the internal ejector punch, thereby forcing the cutter portion of the internal ejector punch through the lower membrane or protective surround, thus opening the lower membrane or protective surround and releasing the contents of the open ended void or chamber of the internal ejector punch to the user.
[0051] An internal ejector punch as described herein is preferably fabricated of a thermoplastic compound, but may be fabricated of any suitably flexible material that will not react chemically with the contents stored within the internal ejector punch. Further, because the material of the blister pack type container in which the internal ejector punch is disposed is preferably non-permeable to air and/or moisture, such containers provide a hermetically sealed storage environment.
[0052]
[0053] 2.0 Components:
[0054]
[0055]
[0056] In an alternate embodiment, the internal ejector punch
[0057] The upper membrane
[0058] The material of the upper membrane
[0059] In general, the internal ejector punch
[0060] As noted above, in one embodiment, the internal ejector punch
[0061] Note that in alternate embodiments, the internal ejector punch
[0062] Regardless of the cross sectional shape of the internal ejector punch
[0063]
[0064] As shown in
[0065] Alternately, as illustrated by
[0066] As shown in
[0067] The dispensing chamber
[0068] The lower membrane
[0069] The lower membrane
[0070] 3.0 Operation:
[0071]
[0072] Similarly,
[0073] In either embodiment, unlike with more complicated devices which require manipulation of external cutter devices, or carefully peeling back a membrane or seal, a user having unsteady or shaking hands would typically be able to depress the dome
[0074] Because the lower membrane
[0075] Further, as shown in
[0076] 4.0 Additional Embodiments:
[0077] As discussed above, with reference to
[0078] As should be appreciated by those skill in the art, the general shape of this internal ejector punch
[0079] In a related embodiment, the internal ejector punch
[0080] In this embodiment, the internal ejector multi-punch
[0081] Clearly, this embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown. For example, any number of punches, in any desired configuration and shape, can be fabricated into a single internal ejector multi-punch
[0082] The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, the internal ejector punch may be scaled to any desirable size or shape and placed within a suitably sized blister pack type container to carry larger or smaller items such as, for example, electronic components or food items. Further, the shape of the dome may be varied without adversely affecting its utility. For example, the dome may be hemispherical, cubical, or any other shape capable of containing internal ejector punch and the dispensable items. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.