WO2003079959A1

WO2003079959A1 - Tablet box

Info

Publication number: WO2003079959A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/002934
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wolfgang Pieper; Christian Neidlinger; Matthias Strobel
Original assignee: Six P. Ag
Priority date: 2002-03-21
Filing date: 2003-03-20
Publication date: 2003-10-02
Also published as: DE10212711A1; AU2003226681A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tablet box for receiving tablets and for extracting the same in a controlled manner. Said box consists of an upper element and a lower element which are interconnected, in addition to means for storing the administration cycle and for extracting the tablets in a controlled manner. According to the invention, a commercially available blister pack (5) can be placed directly in the lower element (3) of a tablet box (1) which can be closed by a lid (2), the means for storing the administration cycle is provided with an alarm display for the extraction of the tablets, a corresponding tablet position (10) is arrived at by means of a pressure element (9) which is arranged in a guiding carriage (8) in the lid (2) of the tablet box (1), and a tablet (6) can be pressed out of the blister pack (5) by means of the pressure element (9), said tablet dropping out of an outlet (13) provided in the tablet box (1).

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

Title: Pill box

description

The invention relates to a tablet box for taking and controlled removal of tablets in the form of pills, coated tablets or similar medications, consisting of an interconnected upper and lower part and means for storing the intake cycle and for controlled removal of the tablets are provided.

It is known that more and more people are dependent on taking tablets regularly, the regularity of taking tablets at predetermined time intervals being of crucial importance. Especially with frequent tablet taking, which is spread over one or more days and takes place at different times, there is a problem that in particular older people and patients, who are often pre-portioned by the nursing staff or other caregivers in small doses and trays, have problems with the order of taking, for example for several days, and handling with many already known tablet doses, in which the tablet compartments are closed by sliders, is often difficult especially for older people and the patients must also be reminded to take the tablets and one Control of the intake must take place.

A large number of tablet cans or pharmaceutical containers in the most varied of forms and with the most varied of manipulations are known in the prior art. For example, DE 95 03 71 1 U1 discloses a tablet can for holding 21 tablet portions, consisting of a lower part with radially arranged compartments and compartments separated from one another and an upper part with an opening which is congruent to one when the upper part is rotated relative to the lower part underlying compartment is. From DE 90 00 991 U1 a mobile tablet can is also known, in which the upper and lower parts can also be rotated relative to one another and the tablet portions are dispensed in a controlled manner over pre-programmed time intervals to the person to be taken or a patient, an acoustic signal signaling them built-in digital clock module to be reminded of the tablet intake.

Another lockable tablet box, the lid of which can be closed with a bayonet lock and which contains a rotating insert for taking tablets and a timer with a digital display field and programming buttons for entering data, is known from DE 89 03 983 U1.

DE 39 10 516 A1 describes a tablet can with a rotatable insert moved by an electric motor, which has a digital timer on the outside for programming the intake times and acoustic signals are triggered to remind the patient of the intake. An automatic device for the regular dispensing of medication is described in DE 100 02 656 A1, in which an optical and acoustic reminder of the intake appointment is made by programming a keypad arranged on the outside of the device. A container for the storage and individual dispensing of dragees accommodated in carriers is known from DE 42 30 452 A1, the container being sleeve-shaped and a sleeve-shaped carrier being axially insertable and locked in it, and in the longitudinal direction a slot or a trained window with identification of different days of the week is arranged.

A significant problem with the known tablet cans or storage containers for tablets is that the tablets of the most varied shapes first have to be removed from their packaging containers, for example the blister packs, and sorted into the individual compartments of the tablet can, which means that a considerable amount of time is required before With the special tablet doses, the programming of the intake times and the start for the intake cycle, for example the days of the week "_____,

PCT / EP03 / 02934

can be taken. This procedure is common for patients cared for by nursing staff. For older, sick, tablet-dependent people, however, this means an additional expenditure of time. When taking several types of tablets, there is also the risk of confusion.

Starting from this prior art, the invention has for its object to provide a tablet box that both eliminates these disadvantages of the prior art, and is inexpensive to manufacture and ensures the greatest possible safety for taking the tablets with simple handling.

This object is achieved in that a commercially available blister pack is inserted directly into a lower part of a tablet box (can) which can be closed with a lid, the intake cycle being stored with an alarm signal for the removal and by means of a in the lid of the tablet box in A guide element arranged on a guide carriage is moved to a corresponding tablet position and a tablet can be pressed out of the blister pack by means of the pressure element and falls out through an outlet opening provided in the tablet box.

It is advantageously provided that the pressure element is designed as a slide switch and is mounted in a longitudinally displaceable manner in a circumferential guide carriage which is arranged around a central part of the cover and which is displaceable in a guide groove.

It is also advantageously provided that the positions of the individual tablets in the blister pack can be moved forwards and backwards by means of the pressure element, the guide carriage engaging with the pressure element in the corresponding position.

A particularly advantageous embodiment is seen in the fact that the tablet box preferably has 21 tablet places.

It is preferably provided that transverse to the by means of a longitudinal movement of the pressure element Movement of the guide carriage pushes the tablet out of the blister pack and the pressure element can be returned to the starting position by means of a spring.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the tablet pressed out of the blister pack falls into a shaft from which it falls out through an inclined position of the tablet box towards the outlet opening.

An advantageous embodiment is seen in the fact that an LCD display arranged on a board and a microchip for the data of the ingestion cycle with the alarm display are provided in the middle part of the lid of the tablet box, the board being attached to the underside of the lid.

A further advantageous embodiment is seen in the fact that the circuit board is in particular welded to the central part of the cover.

A preferred further development is also seen in the fact that the board simultaneously serves as the bottom part of the guide groove.

A preferred embodiment is seen in the fact that the LCD display has displays for the date, day, month, year and time as well as displays for the intake time and the acknowledgment.

Furthermore, it is advantageously provided to arrange the individual displays next to one another or one behind the other on the central part of the cover.

Finally, it can also be advantageous that the alarm display for the intake time and its acknowledgment takes place by means of display symbols.

It is also preferably provided that, in particular in an end region of the cover, an input key and a function key opposite the outlet opening are arranged, the day of the first intake and the intake time being adjustable by means of the function key and the starting process for taking a tablet being carried out by means of the input key.

Furthermore, it is advantageously provided that light-emitting diodes are assigned to the individual tablet locations in order to clearly mark the tablet locations for removal. An advantageous further development is seen in that, by actuating the enter key, the light-emitting diode lights up at the tablet position at which the longitudinally displaceable pressure element engages, with an automatic activation of the next intake time provided in the program following activation of the pressure element with simultaneous alarm termination.

Another preferred embodiment is seen in the fact that the tablet dose is preferably oval.

A preferred variant is seen in the fact that the tablet can is round.

An advantageous further development is seen in the round tablet box in that a round blister pack can be inserted into a lower part of the round tablet box, the lower part can be closed by means of a turntable and the tablet is pressed open by means of a push button arranged on the underside of the lower part and through an outlet opening can be removed in the turntable.

Another advantageous embodiment is seen in the fact that two LCD displays with a battery and a microchip are arranged on the turntable, with the one LCD display showing the date, day, month, year and the other LCD display Time can be displayed.

What is essential about the new tablet box is that the commercially available tablets "_____,

PCT / EP03 / 02934

given blister packs can be inserted directly into the oval or round tablet box and the tablet can be pressed out of the blister pack by means of a pressure element and can be removed via the outlet opening. This has the great advantage that the tablets do not have to be individually sorted into the tablet positions and, in addition to saving time, the tablets can be removed hygienically. Further advantages are achieved by the arrangement of an LCD display, in addition to the setting of the intake cycle with a reminder function, automatic removal is ensured. The design of the tablet box according to the invention has the further advantage that it can be modified in the form of blister packs for a wide variety of tablet arrangements.

Exemplary embodiments of the tablet box according to the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are described in more detail below.

Show it:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a tablet box in an oval embodiment.

2 is a front view of the tablet box;

3 shows a side view of the tablet box;

4 shows a section through the tablet box;

5 shows an arrangement of the displays in the LCD display;

6 is a plan view of a tablet box in a round embodiment;

7 shows a section through the tablet box in front view; Fig. 8 shows a section through a turntable of the tablet box.

The first embodiment of an oval-shaped tablet box 1 shown in different views in FIGS. 1 to 4 consists of an upper part which can be closed together, the lid 2, and a lower part 3 with a support surface 4 for a blister pack 5.

After inserting the usual rectangular blister pack 5 given by the manufacturers with the individual tablets 6 into the lower part 3 and closing with the lid 2, a circumferential guide carriage 8, in which a as Slide switch trained pressure element 9 is mounted, the corresponding position of a tablet 10 according to Figure 1 approached both backwards and forwards in a clockwise direction. The guide carriage 8 with the pressure element 9 then engages in the position corresponding to the tablet position 10. The guide carriage 8 is displaceable in a guide groove 11 according to FIG. The tablet 6 is pressed out of the blister pack 5 in the corresponding position by a longitudinal movement of the pressure element 9 transversely to the guide carriage 8 and falls into a shaft 12 from which it is inclined by the tablet box 1 from an outlet opening 13 provided in the lower part 3 (see FIG. 3 ) falls out. The pressure element 9 is returned to the starting position by means of a spring 14. This embodiment of the tablet box 1 is preferably used to hold a blister pack 5 with twenty-one (21) tablets.

In the case of blister packs, for example for birth control pills, in which the pills are arranged differently in the blister pack, other positions tailored to the blister pack can be achieved by changing the guideway, for example the slide 8 can be pushed around the corner. In the middle part 7 of the lid 2 of the tablet box 1 there is an LCD display 15 with a battery and a microchip for the data of the ingestion cycle and an alarm display. The date, ie day, month, year and time are displayed on the LCD display 15, the individual displays being arranged one behind the other or side by side as required. In addition to displaying the date, there is also a display Symbol 16 is provided, which indicates an acknowledgment of the intake and a display symbol 17 whether the intake time has been entered.

The middle part 7 with the LCD display 15 is fastened to a circuit board 18 which is arranged, preferably welded, on an underside 19 of the cover 2. The board 18 also serves as a base part for the guide groove 11.

The day of the first intake and the daily intake time are set by means of a function key 20, preferably provided on the corner area of the lid 2, the date, day, month, year and time being displayed continuously on the LCD display 15 and by means of the display symbol 17 it is indicated whether the intake time has been entered and with the display symbol 16 the acknowledgment. In addition, a signal tone or a melody reminds you to take the pill for the corresponding intake cycle.

Each tablet location 10 arranged in the middle part 7 is assigned a light-emitting diode (not shown in more detail). By pressing an enter key 21 provided in particular in the corner area of the cover 2, a light-emitting diode lights up for a short time at the tablet location 10 intended for removal, for example starting after a starting position 22. After the pressure element 9 in the guide carriage 8 has been pushed clockwise to the corresponding position, the tablet 6 is pressed out of the blister pack 5 by pressing the pressure element 9 and at the same time the alarm is deleted, the acknowledgment is displayed and the corresponding next input time in the program is activated. For this purpose, a tone generator (not shown in detail) is provided in the lower part 3, preferably opposite the function key 20 and the input key 21, contact being made via a spring 14.

Figures 6 to 8 show a second embodiment of a tablet box in a round embodiment, for example especially for birth control pills. This round embodiment of the tablet box also consists of a lower part 23 with a lockable Turntable 24 and a common support surface 25. The round blister packs 26 specified by the manufacturer, for example with twenty-one (21) pills, are inserted into the lower part 23 according to FIG. After a slide switch 27 according to FIG. 6 has been pushed clockwise into the corresponding position, a pill is pressed out of the blister pack 26 by pressing a pushbutton 28 and can be removed from the outlet opening 29 via a shaft.

Two LCD displays 30 and 31 with a battery and a microchip are arranged on the turntable 24. The date is displayed on the LCD display 30, i.e. Day, month, year and with the LCD display 31 the display of the time, the individual displays being arranged one below the other or side by side as required. By means of a function key 32, as in the first exemplary embodiment, the day of the first intake and the daily intake time are set, and by pressing an input key 33, the withdrawal process for the pill is triggered.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment, but rather variable in the context of the disclosure with regard to the size, the height and the diameter of the tablet box and the design of the display indications and the guidance and the output of the individual tablets.

All new individual and combination features disclosed in the description and / or drawing are regarded as essential to the invention.

References directory

Tablet box 2 lids

Lower part 4 contact surface

Pack of 6 tablets

Middle part 8 guide slides

Printing element 10 tablet space

Guide groove 12 shaft

Exit opening 14 spring

LCD display 16 acknowledgment display

Display for the consumption time 18 board

Bottom of cover 2 20 function key

Enter 22 start position

Lower part around 24 turntables

Support surface 26 blister pack

Slide switch 28 push button

Outlet opening 30 LCD display

LCD display 32 function key

return key

Claims

claims

1. tablet box for taking and controlled removal of tablets in the form of pills, dragees or similar drugs, consisting of an interconnected upper and lower part and means for storing the intake cycle and for controlled removal of the tablets are provided, characterized in that a Commercially available blister pack (5) is inserted directly into a lower part (3) of a tablet box (1) which can be closed with a lid (2), the intake cycle being stored with an alarm signal for the removal and by means of a in the lid (2) Appropriate tablet element (10) is moved to the tablet box (1) in a guide carriage (8) and a tablet (6) can be pressed out of the blister pack (5) by means of the pressure element (9) and by a 1) provided outlet opening (13) falls out.

2. Tablet box according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure element (9) is designed as a slide switch and is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable in a circumferential guide carriage (8) which is arranged around a central part (7) of the cover (2) and which is in a guide groove (11). is movable.

3. Tablet box according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that by means of the pressure element (9) the positions of the individual tablets (6) in the blister pack (5) can be moved forward and backward, the guide carriage (8) with the pressure element (9 ) engages in the corresponding position.

4. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the tablet box (1) preferably has 21 tablets place (10).

5. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that by means of a longitudinal movement of the pressure element (9) transverse to the movement of the guide Slide (8) the tablet (6) is pressed out of the blister pack (5) and the pressure element (9) can be returned to the starting position by means of a spring (14).

6. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tablet (6) pressed out of the blister pack (5) falls into a shaft (12) from which it is inclined by the tablet box (1) to the outlet opening ( 13) falls out.

7. tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the central part (7) of the lid (2) of the tablet box (1) on a circuit board (18) arranged LCD display (15) and a microchip for the data of the ingestion cycle with the alarm indicator are provided, the circuit board (18) being fastened to the underside (19) of the cover (2).

8. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the board (18) with the central part (7) of the lid (2) is in particular welded.

9. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the board (18) serves as the bottom part of the guide groove (11).

10. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the LCD display (15) for the date: day, month, year and for the intake time (17) and a display for the receipt (16).

1 1. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the individual displays (15) side by side or one behind the other on the central part (7) of the lid (2) are arranged.

12. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the alarm for the intake time (17) and its acknowledgment (16) is carried out by means of display symbols.

13. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that in particular in an end region of the lid (2), the outlet opening (13) opposite an input key (21) and a function key (22) are arranged, by means of the function key (22) the day of the first intake and the intake time are adjustable and the start process (22) for tablet removal is carried out by means of the enter key (21).

14. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that light-emitting diodes are assigned to the individual tablet positions (10).

15. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that by actuating the enter key (21), the light-emitting diode lights up at the tablet position (10), at which the pressure element (9) snaps in a longitudinally displaceable manner, after actuation of the pressure element (9) If the alarm is ended at the same time, the next time of taking scheduled in the program is activated automatically.

16. Tablet box according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the tablet box (can) (1) is preferably oval.

17. Tablet box according to claim 1, characterized in that the tablet box (can) (1) is round.

18. A tablet box according to claim 17, characterized in that a round blister pack (26) can be inserted into a lower part (23) of the round tablet box (1), the lower part (23) being closable by means of a turntable (24) and the tablet (6) by means of a push button (28) arranged on the underside of the lower part (23) and can be removed through an outlet opening (29) in the turntable (24).

9. tablet box according to claim 17 and 18, characterized in that on the turntable (24) two LCD displays (30,31) are arranged with a battery and a microchip, with the LCD display (30) displaying the date : Day, month, year and the time can be shown on the LCD display (31).