Medicine storage

Abstract

The storage device stores medicine by having slots 114a, 114b, 114c in a top 140 of a body, each slot receiving blister packets containing pills or tablets. The slots are wider at a top 118 than a bot

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a system or device for storing medicine. The medicine for storage is generally in the form of blister packets of tablets. Medication is provided to a user in boxes containing one or more blister packets having a multiplicity of tablets contained therein. To access tablets the blister packets must be removed from the boxes that they are supplied in and then the blister packets must be stored. The present system or device provides a means for storing the blister packets whilst making access convenient and tidy. The present invention also relates to a kit of parts comprising the system or device for storing medication. BACKGROUND

[0002] We are in an age where medication is commonplace. Most individuals will have a range of medications stored within their homes, ranging from standard household items such as painkillers or allergy tablets to people requiring multiple medications on a daily basis.

[0003] The prevalence of medication within the household is largely due to the improvements in medical science and the ability for medication to address common conditions that occur as one ages. Therefore, it is generally the case that an aging population relies upon ever increasing amounts of medication. However, the requirement to take multiple tablets daily presents a difficulty to many individuals, in particular the elderly. Tablets require daily administration, sometimes at specific times of the day or multiple times in a single day. Manipulation and storage of the tablets presents a daily struggle, especially to people with low dexterity in their hands.

[0004] It is usual for patients to receive pills and / or capsules from pharmacies and dispensaries in separate small cardboard boxes, each containing foil blister packs giving four weeks’ supply. There may be one, two or four foil blisters in each box according to the size of foil blister packet. It is common for patients, particularly elderly ones, to have difficulty in keeping track of the foil lister packets and maintain an orderly consumption regime when several different medications are involved.

[0005] A patient requiring once or twice daily medication for a prolonged period of time can receive several boxes of medication at a time from a pharmacist. The number of boxes scales with the number of different medications. Therefore, patients can find themselves with 10s of boxes of medication which requires storage. In addition, the stock of medications requires daily interaction to access the medication. Patients who need to take several pills more than once daily over a long term soon find that organizing their stock of pills and doses can become untidy and confusing.

[0006] There are several products on the market to aid a patient taking multiple pills. Historically, users have relied upon a simple pillbox. The pillbox would be filled with all of the pills that a user would need to take in a single day. The single pillbox has been expanded upon to provide pillboxes with multiple compartments, for example a compartment for each day with the compartment being labelled with a day of the week.

[0007] Pillboxes, whether single day or multiple day versions, have the downside that they require a patient to accurately fill the compartment(s) each day, week or more frequently. Errors can occur when a patient is adding multiple pills to a pillbox having multiple compartments. Too many pills could be added to a single compartment, or a compartment could be missed. Once pills have been removed from a blister pack the pills can be very difficult to identify, making such errors difficult to locate and even harder to rectify.

[0008] If a user is filling a pillbox for a week or longer, it can require removing a large number of pills from blister packs in one sitting. Removing a large number of pills from blister packs in a single sitting can be difficult for certain users, for example users with lower dexterity in their hands or other medical conditions that affect their hands, such as arthritis.

[0009] Pill boxes can also become unhygienic through prolonged use. Regular handling and infrequent cleaning can lead to the build-up of dirt and germs on the surface of the pillbox which can transfer to the pills contained in the pillbox. The possibility of pills being contaminated with potentially harmful germs can present a serious health risk to users who are likely to already have serious medical conditions.

[0010] In a similar manner, removal of pills from their blister packets can present a potentially negative environment for the pills to be stored in and could have a detrimental effect on the medication contained within the pill. Blister packs for pills are carefully engineered to control the environment that the pill is stored in to ensure that the pill and the medication contained therein does not degrade. The blister pack can control various factors, such as oxygen content, moisture content and exposure to other elements. By removing pills from their blister pack, the pill can be exposed to an atmosphere that can lead to degradation of the medicine over time.

[0011] Consequently, there is the need for a pill storage solution that solves the problems listed above.

[0012] Pharmacies have presented an alternative to the pillbox that aims to solve some of the above-mentioned problems. A single use dosette box is a large form compartment having a blister or compartment per day or two per day for morning and evening. Each compartment is labelled to allow identification of when to open the blister and take the medication contained therein. A pharmacist fills each compartment with an individual’s medication. The dosette box is then permanently sealed by a layer of frangible material so that pills can only be accessed by puncturing the frangible material to remove the medication contained in the compartment. This can avoid the hygiene issues discussed above but would not address any potential degradation of the medication.

[0013] These single use dosette boxes are also highly labour intensive, requiring a pharmacist to manually remove all medication from the supplied blister packs and place the medication in the correct blister. Furthermore, in the same way as discussed above, validation of the contents of a blister can be very difficult. Most medication does not provide any identifying marks on the pill or tablet itself. Therefore, beyond verifying the correct number of pills it can be difficult to verify the pills being taken. This can be a significant concern for individuals who might be on medications that have adverse interactions with other medication.

[0014] Therefore, a method for assisting users to track and identify the medication that they are taking is required.

[0015] Boxes of medication can be stored relatively easily. They can be stacked and ordered in a suitable space. However, foils, when taken out of the boxes, are challenging to store; they do not stack. The blisters, containing the pill or tablet, protruding from the foils can be different sizes and shapes. The foils can bend after manipulation to remove a pill, making stacking even more challenging. In short, the foils present a particular problem to organise and control. There is currently no solution on the market aimed to aid the order and storage of the foils.

[0016] The present invention provides a system for individuals to effectively manage the foils supplied within the boxes provided by a pharmacy / dispensary. The present invention provides a dedicated location for foils of differing sizes to be effectively presented in a correct order. The present invention departs from the usual methods discussed above which require individual pills to be taken from foil packs and transferred into multiple daily organizer boxes holding up to a month’s worth of doses. This reduces the potential for degradation of the medication, avoids the potential for a medication to be placed in a potentially unhygienic environment, and enables direct confirmation of the medication being taken because foils are generally labelled with the name of the medication.

[0017] This system uses a device to overcome the problems discussed above. Blister packets are contained in the supplied boxes until a blister packet is required. A blister pack is removed from a box and held in a station in an ordered manner prior to the removal of individual pills to be built into the correct dose. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0018] In accordance with the present invention there is provided a device for storing medicine blister packets, the device comprises a body having a base, a top opposing the base, a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a first side and a second side opposing the first side; wherein the body comprises a multiplicity of slots, the multiplicity of slots being spaced along a length of the body and each of the multiplicity of slots being configured to hold a blister packet; each of the slots comprises an opening in the top of the body, the opening having an opening top at the top of the body and an opening bottom within the body; and each of the slots comprise two opposing sloped sides, such that the opening top is wider than the opening bottom; wherein the opposing sloped sides have a convex profile.

[0019] The sloped sides having a convex profile has the benefit of accommodating a range of medicinal blister packets of differing thickness and providing a more secure fit of the blister packets. When straight sloped sides were investigated, blister packets of differing sizes were not securely retained within the slot openings. However, when a convex curvature was applied to the sloped sides, a greater range of blister pack thickness was accommodated and the blister packs were retained more securely, whilst still being easy to remove.

[0020] The skilled person will appreciate that the body has a width and a length. The width of the body extends from the first side of the body to the second side of the body. The length of the body extends from the first end to the second end.

[0021] The multiplicity of slots are arranged along a length of the body from the first end to the second end.

[0022] In certain embodiments the multiplicity of slots extend across the width of the body from the first side to the second side. The multiplicity of slots are open at the first side and the second side of the body. Thus, in certain embodiments, the slots comprise a first side opening and a second side opening, in addition to the opening top. Consequently, in embodiments, the slots provide openings on three sides of the body, the top of the body the first side and the second side.

[0023] As will be recognised by the skilled person, in certain embodiments, the slots are configured to hold a blister packet placed within the opening, where the blister packet is inserted into the slot by a thin edge of the blister packet first. The blister packet may be placed into the opening with the long edge first or the short edge first. The opening may fully enclose the blister packet. However, the present invention contemplates the situation where the blister packet extends out of the slot, extending from the slot from one or more of the opening top, the first side opening or the second side opening. As such, in certain embodiments the device may be narrower than the longest edge of a blister packet. The blister packet would be a blister packet to be used in the device.

[0024] Blister packets are various sizes. They differ in the length and width. They also differ in depth, which is ordinarily defined by the size of the tablet or pill contained in the blister. A blister packet can also vary in the spacing between blisters. Given the difference in size of blister packets, it is possible that blister packets may be fully enclosed by the slots and / or that blister packets may extend out of the slots. The present invention is able to securely hold all of the various sizes due to the convex profile of the sloped sides of the slots.

[0025] In certain embodiments, the opening bottom may comprise a gap between the end of the opposing sloped sides or the opening bottom may be a point at which the opposing sloped sides meet. Where the opposing sloped sides meet at the opening bottom, for example, the slots appear as a “V-shape” with curved sides. In alternative embodiments, the opening bottom comprises a gap between the opposing sloped sides. The gap between the opposing sloped sides of the slot may take any configuration, for example the gap can take the form of a flat surface or a curved surface (convex or concave). When the gap is a curved surface the gap may take the form of a cylindrical cut out along the width of the opening bottom (for example a drill hole). Specifically, the bottom of the opposing sloped sides may intersect with the cylindrical cut-out such that the cylindrical cut out becomes part of the opening.

[0026] The opening bottom comprising a gap, in particular a curved gap, such as the cylindrical cut-out, has the advantage that nearly-empty blister packets are prevented from jamming in the slot, if the blister packet has been pushed into a slot too hard.

[0027] The opening bottom gap may be from 0 mm (for example, where the opposing sloped sides meet at the opening bottom) to 3 mm from the end of one opposing sloped side to the other. Optionally, the opening bottom gap may be from 1 mm to 2.5 mm.

[0028] In certain embodiments the device has no moving parts. The device benefits from a simplicity in form and function. This aids in the use of the device, particularly for elderly users or users with low dexterity, such as arthritis sufferers or individuals with other debilitating conditions.

[0029] The first and second ends are at opposing ends of the body.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the device is configured such that the first end and the second end are distinguishable from one another. Thus, when in use the device is capable of being orientated such that a known end is pointing to the user. In certain embodiments, the first end and the second end are distinguishable from one another. The first end and the second end may be configured to provide an indication of the time of day. For example, the first end may be configured to indicate the morning, and the second end may be configured to indicate the afternoon and / or evening. The benefit of this configuration is that, when in use, the device can be loaded with blister packets so that the blister packets at one end of the device are indicated as being for administration in the morning and blister packets at the other end of the device are for the afternoon.

[0031] The first end and second end of the device can be configured to be unique from one another by a structural difference between the first end and the second end, for example a slope, groove or some other structural element. Alternatively, the first end and second end can be differently labelled with a label, such as with “morning” and “afternoon” or “am” and “pm”, optionally coupled with a similar indicator in braille.

[0032] In certain embodiments, the device may further comprise one, two or three removable dividers, the dividers being adapted to allow a visual or physical division of the device into more than one groups of slots, optionally 2, 3 or 4 groups of slots. Thus, the invention contemplates the use of 1,2, or 3 dividers. The dividers may be adapted to fit within a slot or in between two slots. The dividers may be removably attachable to the device. The dividers may be adapted to be retained within a slot (for example, in a similar manner to the blister packets) or the dividers may be adapted to attach to the body of the device. For example, the dividers may be a sheet of material that fits in one of the multiplicity of slots or the divider may be a structure that engages with one or more holes in the body of the device. In certain embodiments the divider may be a sheet of the same material as the body or a wire hoop adapted to be inserted into two holes within the body, wherein the holes are in between two slots.

[0033] The dividers allow for the slots to be segregated to further distinguish between medications that need to be taken at particular times of the day.

[0034] In certain embodiments, the device is sized to be able to be picked up and rotated. Rotation of the device enables the opposing end of the device to be directed towards a user. This allows a user to dispense medication from blister packets that are required for a different time of day. In certain embodiments the device is sized to be sufficiently stable such that it is not easily knocked over.

[0035] The device may be formed of a single piece or the device may be formed of one or more modules.

[0036] In certain embodiments the device may further comprise a receptacle, for example a pot or bowl, for placement of pill / tablets as they are removed from the blister packets. In this way, a full dose of all tablets can be prepared for the appropriate time of day. The receptacle can be integral to the device or removably attached to the device. The receptacle can be attached by means of a friction attachment or a magnet or a push-fit.

[0037] In certain embodiments the device comprises from 5 to 20 slots. In alternative embodiments, the device comprises from 10 to 16 slots.

[0038] In certain embodiments, the device has a height of from 20 to 70 mm, from 30 to 60 mm, from 40 to 60 mm or from 40 to 50 mm. In certain embodiments the device has a height of 45mm. The height is the distance from the bottom of the body to the top of the body.

[0039] In certain embodiments, the device has a width of from 20 to 70 mm, from 30 to 60 mm, from 30 to 50 mm or from 35 to 45 mm. In certain embodiments, the device has a width 40 mm. The width is the distance from the first side to the second side.

[0040] In certain embodiments, each of the multiplicity of slots are separated by a distance of from 20 to 50 mm, from 25 to 40 mm, from 25 to 35 mm or from 30 to 35 mm between the opening bottom. In certain embodiments, each of the multiplicity of slots are separated by a distance of 32 mm between the opening bottom. This distance is referred to as the pitch between two slots. Where the opening bottom has a gap between the opposing sloping sides, the distance between each of the multiplicity of slots is measured from the same point of the opening bottom to the same point of the opening bottom on an adjacent slot.

[0041] In certain embodiments, the opening top is from 2 to 20 mm, from 2 to 15 mm, from 5 to 15 mm or from 5 to 10 mm from a top of one of the slot’s sloped sides to the other. In certain embodiments, the opening top is 8 mm from a top of one of the slot’s sloped sides to the other. In certain embodiments, the opening top is 8 mm from a top of one of the slot’s sloped sides to the other. This measurement is parallel to the length of the body.

[0042] The convex surface of the slot’s sloped sides can be sized in any way contemplated by the skilled person. However, in certain embodiments the convex surface has a curvature corresponding to a circle with radius of about 300 mm. This can be measured by overlaying a circle on top of the curvature of the sloped sides.

[0043] The body of the device can be formed of any suitable material. In certain embodiments, the body is formed of wood, a plastics material, metal or another suitable material. The body may be formed of a recycled material. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Embodiments of the invention are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the device for storing medicinal blister packets of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the device. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a device of the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a device showing an example of a divider. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The terms medicine blister packet, blister packet, foil and foil blister packet are used interchangeably to describe the packaging the foil coated plastic blisters that many medicinal products are supplied in. Boxes of medicine are often supplied with a multiplicity of the blister packets contained in the box.

[0046] The features of specific embodiments of the present invention are shown in the accompanying Figures. Various features and elements or the embodiments shown in the Figures could be modified or changed, whilst still providing the benefits of the present invention, as defined by the claims.

[0047] Figure 1 shows a side view of a device of the present invention. The device 100 has a base 102 and a top 104. The device also has a first end 106 and a second end 108. The first end 106 and the second end 108 are opposite to one another on the body 110 of the device 100. The first end 106 and the second end 108 can be parallel to one another or, as shown in Figure 1, the ends can be at different angles. This enables the first end 106 and second end 108 to be distinguished from one another. The body 110 also comprises a first side 112 and second side (not shown).

[0048] The device 100 comprises a multiplicity of slots 114a, 114b, 114c. The slots 114a, 114b, 114c are spaced along the entire length of the top 104 of the device 100. The length of the device refers to the distance between the first end 106 and the second end 108. The multiplicity of slots 114a, 114b, 114c comprise an opening 116. The opening has an opening top 118 and an opening bottom 120. The opening bottom 120 is located within the body 112 of the device 100.

[0049] In the embodiment of Figure 1, the multiplicity of slots 114a, 114b, 114c comprise an opening, wherein the opening is open on three sides. Embodiments of the present invention are contemplated where the opening is open solely on the top 104 of device 100. In such embodiments, the device 100 would only comprise an opening top 118. As shown in Figure 1, the slots 114a, 114b, 114c are open on the first side 112, second side (not shown) and the top 104 of the body 110. As such, the multiplicity of slots have an opening top 118 and a first side opening 122 on the first side of device 100 and a second side opening (not shown) on the second side of the device 100.

[0050] Figure 2 provides a perspective view of a portion of device 100 to better show the different parts of the opening 116. Opening 116 has an opening top 118 and an opening bottom 120. As shown in the Figures, the opening top 118 is wider than the opening bottom 120.

[0051] In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 the opening 116 also has first side opening 122 and a second side opening 124. The presence of the first side opening 122 and the second side opening 124 allows the device 100 to accommodate blister packets of different sizes. There is no standard size of blister packet for medication across the industry. Therefore, the presence of opening on three sides of each slot 114a, 114b, 114c allows the device to fit any and all sizes of blister packet.

[0052] Blister packets also have different depths. The blister of a blister packet contains the pill or tablet of the medication. The blister can be of varying different sizes in all dimensions. Pills / tablets can be wide and relatively flat such that they extend across the surface of a blister pack but do not protrude to a great depth away from the surface of the blister packet. Alternatively, there are pills / tablets that are relatively deep and protrude a relatively larger distance from the surface of the blister packet.

[0053] This difference in depth between different medications and corresponding blister packets, presents a unique difficulty for a device for holding blister packets. The present invention is able to accommodate a broad range of blister packet depth by virtue of the opposing sloped sides of each slot. Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b of each slot have a curved profile. The curvature of the opposing sloped sides is convex. Thus, the curvature of the opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b projects the surface of the opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b into the opening relative to a straight line path that the opposing sloped sides would have taken from the opening top to the opening bottom. Such a straight line is represented in Figure 1 by dotted line 126. Dotted line 126 does not represent an element of the invention. The dotted line has simply been added to aid representation of the convex curvature of the opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b.

[0054] The curvature of the opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b allows for the blister packets to be firmly retained within the device yet allowing for easy removal.

[0055] The opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b may, in certain embodiments, meet at the opening bottom 120. Alternatively, the opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b may terminate at the opening bottom 120 with a gap between them. Figure 1, shows the situation where the opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b are co-terminus at the opening bottom. Figure 2 shows an opening bottom 120 with a slight gap between the opposing sloped sides 124a, 124b.

[0056] The device 100 has a first end 106 and a second end 108 at opposite ends of the body 110. The first end 106 and the second end 108 are adapted to be distinguished from one another. Figure 1 shows the first end 106 having an upright orientation, oriented perpendicular to the bottom 102. The second end 108 is angled towards the opposing first end 106 such that the second end 108 is not perpendicular to the bottom 102. The ability for a user to distinguish between the first end and the second end allows a user to store blister packets for medication required in the morning, for example, and the evening, for example, at the different ends of the device 100. In this way, a user can determine when they should be taking their medication from the appropriate blister packets.

[0057] In embodiments, the first end 106 and the second end 108 are distinguishable by a physical characteristic, such as that shown in Figure 1. In alternative embodiments, the first end and second end may be physically identical but a label, writing, colour, or other system is used to distinguish the first end from the second end.

[0058] When a user has retrieved the required pills from one end, for example the end denoting the morning pills, the device can be rotated to show the other end. In this case the, afternoon / evening pills will be directed towards the user.

[0059] The device aims to provide a solution to a user requiring a large number of different medications. The user can conveniently store a single blister pack from a box containing multiple blister packs. The box of remaining blister packs for each medication can then be conveniently stored in a cupboard or other storage space out of the way. In this way a user does not need to repeatedly remove and reinsert a blister packet into a cardboard box to retain a tidy medicine supply. Such removal and reinsertion can be challenging for the elderly or users with limited mobility in their hands. The device provides the user with the convenience that they only need to access the stored boxes when a blister packet stored within the device has been emptied.

[0060] Figure 4 shows an example of a divider contemplated by the second invention. Device 100 comprises a metal hoop 402 projecting from the top of the body 110. Hoop 402 could be constructed of any suitable material. Hoop 402 is attached to the device 100 via holes 404 in the body 110 of device 100.

[0061] Figure 4 also shows the situation where the opening bottom 120 has a curved gap between the opposing sloped sides of the slot. In the case of Figure 4, the curved gap is a cylindrical cut out 406 (for example a drill hole). As shown in the figure, the opposing sloped sides of the slot meet the cylindrical cut-out so that the cylindrical cut out forms part of the opening 116.

[0062] Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

[0063] Features, integers, or characteristics, described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

[0064] The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A device for storing medicine blister packets, the device comprises a body having a base, a top opposing the base, a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a first side and a second side opposing the first side;whereinthe body comprises a multiplicity of slots, the multiplicity of slots being spaced along a length of the body and each of the multiplicity of slots being configured to hold a blister packet;each of the slots comprises an opening in the top of the body, the opening having an opening top at the top of the body and an opening bottom within the body; andeach of the slots comprise two opposing sloped sides, such that the opening top is wider than the opening bottom;wherein the opposing sloped sides have a convex profile.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the multiplicity of slots extend across the width of the body from the first side to the second side.

3. The device of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the multiplicity of slots further comprise a first side opening and a second side opening.

4. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the multiplicity of slots are configured to hold a blister packet inserted into the slot by a thin edge of the blister packet.

5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the device is narrower than a longest edge of a blister packet.

6. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the opening bottom may comprise a gap between the end of the opposing sloped sides or the opening bottom may be a point at which the opposing sloped sides meet.

7. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the first end and the second end are adapted to be distinguishable from one another.

8. The device of any preceding claim, further comprising one, two or three removable dividers.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the dividers are adapted to fit within a slot or in between two slots.

10. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the device is sized to be able to be picked up and rotated.

11. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the device is formed of a single piece or formed of one or more modules.5 12. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the device further comprises areceptacle13. The device of claim 12, wherein the receptacle is integral to the device or removably attached to the device

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