Two-Stepped Blister Cup with Active Material Strip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional blister packs for medical products require additional space and complex manufacturing processes due to the need for active material inserts, which can be difficult to handle and ensure the integrity of the medical products.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a two-stepped blister cup design where a strip of active material is placed in the first recess above the medical product, and the cover film is sealed to both the blister cup and the active material strip, minimizing space usage and ensuring the active material adheres to the cover film when the product is removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inserts made of active material are placed in chambers connected to the blister cup, then the integrity of the medical product is ensured, but the blister packs require more space and the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of medical productVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the active material insert and the blister cup into a single integrated structure. The active material is applied directly onto the blister cup surface, eliminating the need for separate inserts and chambers. This merging reduces manufacturing steps while maintaining the protective function against moisture and oxygen.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The blister cup serves multiple functions: it holds the medical product, provides structural support, and acts as the container for the active material. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, simplifying the overall structure and manufacturing process while ensuring product integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If inserts made of active material are placed in chambers connected to the blister cup, then the integrity of the medical product is ensured, but the blister packs take up more space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of medical productVSAvoidblister pack volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The active material is integrated directly onto the blister cup surface rather than being placed in separate inserts within chambers. This eliminates the additional volume required for separate insert structures and chambers, reducing the overall blister pack size while maintaining protective functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the active material from separate insert components and applies it directly to the blister cup surface. This extraction of the active material from its traditional separate housing eliminates the need for additional space-consuming chambers and insert structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If inserts made of active material are placed in chambers connected to the blister cup, then the integrity of the medical product is ensured, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintegrity of medical productVSAvoidease of production
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The manufacturing process merges the application of active material with the blister cup formation into a single integrated step. The active material is applied directly onto the blister cup surface during or immediately after cup formation, eliminating separate steps for inserting and sealing inserts, thereby simplifying manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The active material is applied to the blister cup surface in advance, before the sealing process. This preliminary application allows the active material to be positioned correctly without requiring complex positioning mechanisms during sealing, simplifying the overall manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration results in blister packs that are compact, easy to produce, and ensure the integrity of the medical products by maintaining the active material's functionality while minimizing space requirements and handling complexity.

Implementation Method 1

the active material preferably has an absorption function for absorbing at least one substance or a release function for releasing at least one substance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3599176B1Blister package and method for making blister packages for medical products
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 UHLMANN PAC SYST
  • EP3599176B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3599176B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3599176B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The method for manufacturing blister packs (2) for medical products (4), in particular tablets, capsules or coated tablets, comprises the following steps: forming blister cups (8) in a base film (6), each blister cup (8) having a form with at least two levels, comprising a first recess (16) and a lower second recess (18); filling the second recesses (18) of the blister cups (8) with the medical products (4); placing a strip (14) of active material into the first recess (16) of each blister cup (8) above the medical product (4), the strip (14) of active material resting on at least one support surface (20) of the first recess (16) which is arranged next to the second recess (18);Simultaneous sealing of a top film (12) to ribs (10) of the bottom film (6) arranged around the blister cups (8) and to the strips (14) of active material, thereby forming a sealed blister web; and die-cutting of individual blister packs (2) from the blister web.