U.S. patent application number 10/525055 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for device for dispensing tablet-or capsule-shaped medicaments in desired doses.
Invention is credited to Reijo Varis.
Application Number | 20060151517 10/525055 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8564461 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060151517 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Varis; Reijo |
July 13, 2006 |
Device for dispensing tablet-or capsule-shaped medicaments in
desired doses
Abstract
The device comprises a collar-shaped cassette body (1),
including a central opening (2) surrounded by an open-top annular
space which is divided by partitions (4) for dosage containers (3).
The dosage containers (3) are concealed by a cover (11), rotatable
relative to the cassette body (1) and provided adjacent to its
circular rim with a dispensing aperture (13), which is coincidabe
with any dosage container (3) by rotating the cover (11). The cover
(11) includes a central recess (12) or a collar ring, which is fit
to be embedded in the body's central opening (2). The cover (11) is
provided with a window (14), through which is visible a dispensing
time for at least one dose, which is printed on a dispensing
schedule placed in the body's central opening. Cooperation between
the body (1) and the cover (11) enables facilitating both
dispensing of doses from the dosage containers and loading of
medicaments into the dosage containers.
Inventors: |
Varis; Reijo; (Helsinki,
FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KLAUBER & JACKSON
411 HACKENSACK AVENUE
HACKENSACK
NJ
07601
US
|
Family ID: |
8564461 |
Appl. No.: |
10/525055 |
Filed: |
August 15, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
August 15, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI03/00605 |
371 Date: |
February 18, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
221/48 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 83/0454 20130101;
B65D 2583/0409 20130101; A61J 7/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
221/048 |
International
Class: |
A47K 10/24 20060101
A47K010/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 21, 2002 |
FI |
20021509 |
Claims
1. A device for dispensing tablet- or capsule-shaped medicaments in
desired doses, the device comprising a collar-shaped cassette body
(1), including a central opening (2) surrounded by an open-top
annular space which is divided by partitions (4) for dosage
containers (3), and a cover (11), concealing the dosage containers,
rotatable relative to the cassette body (1), and provided adjacent
to its circular rim with a dispensing aperture (13) which is
coincidable with any dosage container (3) by rotating the cover
(11), the cover (11) further including a central recess (12) or a
collar ring, which is fit to be embedded in the body's central
opening (2), and the body is provided with a knurling (6), having a
pitch which is matched to that of the dosage containers (3), and
the cover (11) is provided with pawls (16) set for cooperation with
the knurling (6), which provide a retaining response against
rotation of the cover (11) once the cover's aperture (13) is in
coincidence with a given dosage container (3), characterized in
that the recess (12) or the collar ring of the cover (11) is
provided with a window (14), through which is visible a dispensing
time for at least one dose which is printed on a dispensing
schedule placed in the body's central opening (2), and that the
pawls (16) are designed for allowing rotation of the cover (11) in
either direction, and that said retaining response is more powerful
in the cover's rotating direction backward in the dispensing
schedule than in its rotating direction forward in the dispensing
schedule.
2. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the knurling (6) is
located on the circular rim of the central opening (2) and the
pawls (16) comprise flexible tabs present on the outer rim of the
cover's recess (12) or collar ring.
3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body's top edge has
its outer rim provided with a circular hem (8) and the cover (11)
has its rim provided with inwardly directed lugs (18), the circular
hem (8) being provided, at a pitch complementary thereto, with
discontinuities (9) which, in just one rotary position of the cover
(11), establish passages for the lugs (18) which, by rotating the
cover (11), are engageable behind the circular hem (8) for
retaining the cover (11) in contact with the body (1) in all other
positions except said rotary position allowing a passage of the
lugs (18).
4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein between the first and
last dosage containers (3) lies a solid-top and open-bottom
compartment (10, 10a), which occupies a space matching the dosage
containers' pitch, and that, in the rotary position allowing a
passage of the lugs (18), the cover's dispensing aperture falls
alongside the closed compartment (10, 10a).
5. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cover has its outer
rim provided with a knurling (17) for a finger grip which
facilitates rotation of the cover.
6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the dispensing schedule
(2) is removable and replaceable.
7. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the body's top edge has
its outer rim provided with a circular hem (8) and the cover (11)
has its rim provided with inwardly directed lugs (18), the circular
hem (8) being provided, at a pitch complementary thereto, with
discontinuities (9) which, in just one rotary position of the cover
(11), establish passages for the lugs (18) which, by rotating the
cover (11), are engageable behind the circular hem (8) for
retaining the cover (11) in contact with the body (1) in all other
positions except said rotary position allowing a passage of the
lugs (18).
8. A device as set forth in claim 7, wherein between the first and
last dosage containers (3) lies a solid-top and open-bottom
compartment (10, 10a), which occupies a space matching the dosage
containers' pitch, and that, in the rotary position allowing a
passage of the lugs (18), the cover's dispensing aperture falls
alongside the closed compartment (10, 10a).
9. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the cover has its outer
rim provided with a knurling (17) for a finger grip which
facilitates rotation of the cover.
10. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the cover has its
outer rim provided with a knurling (17) for a finger grip which
facilitates rotation of the cover.
11. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the cover has its
outer rim provided with a knurling (17) for a finger grip which
facilitates rotation of the cover.
12. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the cover has its
outer rim provided with a knurling (17) for a finger grip which
facilitates rotation of the cover.
13. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the cover has its
outer rim provided with a knurling (17) for a finger grip which
facilitates rotation of the cover.
14. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
15. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
16. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
17. A device as set forth in claim 5 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
18. A device as set forth in claim 7 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
19. A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
20. A device as set forth in claim 9 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
21. A device as set forth in claim 10 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
22. A device as set forth in claim 11 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
23. A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
24. A device as set forth in claim 13 wherein the dispensing
schedule (2) is removable and replaceable.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a device for dispensing tablet- or
capsule-shaped medicaments in desired doses, the device comprising
a collar-shaped cassette body, including a central opening
surrounded by an open-top annular space which is divided by
partitions for dosage containers, and a cover, concealing the
dosage containers, rotatable relative to the cassette body, and
provided adjacent to its circular rim with a dispensing aperture
which is coincidable with any dosage container by rotating the
cover.
[0002] This type of dispenser for medicaments is prior known from
the Applicant's patent application WO 02/17850. It is an object of
this invention is a further development of such dosage dispensing
cassette to enable its use more effectively than before also as a
manually operated dosage dispensing device, which is independent of
the automated dispenser and has its features further improved in
terms of both dispensing doses from dosage containers and loading
doses into the containers.
[0003] This object is achieved on the basis of the characterizing
features set forth in the appended claim 1. The dependent claims
disclose preferred structural solutions for the invention.
[0004] One exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0005] FIG. 1 shows a collar-shaped cassette body for a device of
the invention in perspective views from above (bottom figure) and
from below (top figure), and
[0006] FIG. 2 shows a cover for a device of the invention as seen
from above (bottom figure) and from below (top figure).
[0007] FIG. 3 shows an example of a dispensing schedule, which is
printed on a separate and replaceable substrate.
[0008] The device comprises a collar-shaped cassette body 1,
including a central opening 2 surrounded by an open-top annular
space which is divided by partitions 4 for dosage containers 3. In
the illustrated case the number of dosage containers 3 is 28,
corresponding to 2.times.7 days a week.
[0009] A cover 11 concealing the dosage containers 3 is adapted to
be rotatable with respect to the cassette body 1. The cover 11 has
its circular rim provided with a knurling 17, which provided a
finger grip for making it easier to rotate the cover 11. In the
proximity of the cover's 11 circular rim is provided a dispensing
aperture 13, which is coincidable with any dosage container 3 by
turning the cover 11.
[0010] The body 1 has the outer rim of its top edge provided with a
circular hem 8 and the cover has its rim provided with inwardly
directed lugs 18, the circular hem 8 being provided, at a pitch
complementary thereto, with discontinuities 9 which, in just one
rotary position of the cover 11, establish passages for the lugs
18. When the cover 11 has been placed in position, in said rotary
position, the lugs 18 are engageable behind the circular hem 8 by
rotating the cover 11. Thus, the cover 11 will be retained in
contact with the body 1 in all other rotary positions of the cover
11 except in the rotary position allowing a passage of the lugs 18.
In the illustrated case, this rotary position allowing an
attachment and detachment of the cover is selected in such a way
that the cover's dispensing aperture 13 falls alongside a
compartment 10 present between the dosage containers 3. The
compartment 10 has a closed top and an open bottom, and a space
occupied thereby is equal to that occupied by each dosage container
3, i.e. matching to the pitch of the dosage containers 3.
[0011] The cover 11 is provided with a recess 12 or a collar ring
complementary to its annular wall 15, which is fit to be embedded
in the body's 1 central opening 2 as the cover is set in position.
The recess 12 is provided with a window 14, through which is
visible a dispensing time for at least one dose, which is printed
on a dispensing schedule 20 fitted in the body's central opening 2.
Thus, the replaceable dispensing schedule 20 (FIG. 3) is insertable
from below in the body's central opening 2 to make it bear against
a collar flange 5 present at the top rim of the opening 2.
Alongside the collar flange 5 are provided protrusions 7 at an
appropriate pitch, which enable holding the dispensing schedule in
place. The body 1 has its central opening 2 provided with a groove
19 for receiving a bracket 21, which protrudes from the dispensing
schedule's circumference and retains the dispensing schedule 20 at
a correct angle of rotation. The substrate, on which the discoidal
dispensing schedule is printed, may consist of thin cardboard or
plastics or paper, backed up by a clear plastic cover. Such a
replaceable substrate can be printed, not only with a dispensing
schedule, but also with names of medicaments for individual
medication dosage. The exemplary case of FIG. 3 shows a dispensing
schedule for a medicament to be administered 2 times a day.
[0012] The outer rim is divided with a colour code 22 complementary
to a container pitch or to a multiple of the container pitch. A rim
23 is marked with days of the week. The same day of the week can be
in coincidence with several successive containers. A rim 24 carries
a numeral designation, which indicates which number of the daily
doses is at hand.
[0013] The body's central opening 2 has its rim, in the present
case the collar flange's 5 inner rim, provided with a knurling 6,
having a pitch which is matched to that of the dosage containers 3.
The cover's recess 12 has its outer rim provided, or there are, in
contact with the collar flange complementary to the wall 15 of the
recess 12, pawls 16 set for cooperation with the knurling 6, which
provide a retaining response against rotation of the cover once the
cover's aperture 13 is in coincidence with a given dosage container
3. This facilitates positioning the aperture 13 in alignment with
the dosage container 3 as the cover 11 is rotated. Reference was
made above to a rotary position allowing a passage of the lugs 18.
In this rotary position, which enables positioning and removal of
the cover, the dispensing aperture 13 falls preferably alongside
the closed compartment 10 in coincidence with the first dosage
container 3.
[0014] If the cover's recess 12 is replaced by just a collar flange
surrounding its wall 15, it is nevertheless preferred that the
dispensing schedule be concealed over other sections except the one
in line with the window 14 revealing a certain dosage area. In
other words, the cover's 11 central area, except for the window 14,
is essentially non-transparent, regardless whether the question is
about the bottom of the recess 12 or the top part of the collar
flange, which is flush with the rest of the cover surface. In the
present case, a formation 14a in the middle of the window 14
indicates a dose to be dispensed and a schedule therefor. The
window is sufficiently wide in either direction for also revealing
one dose forward and one dose backward, i.e. the next dose and the
dose already taken. The pawls 16 are shaped and designed to allow
rotation of the cover in two directions and to make a resistance to
rotation backward in the dispensing schedule more powerful than
what is encountered when progressing forward in the dispensing
schedule. In the illustrated case the pawls 16 consist of pliable
tabs. Each tab includes adjoining faces which, depending on the
rotating direction of the cover, have a different angle of
incidence with ridges of the knurling 6, whereby, when the cover is
rotated backward, the tabs 16 are forced to deflect (give way)
faster than during a forward rotation of the cover. The possibility
of turning the cover also backward in the dispensing schedule
serves in correcting the errors occurring in loading, without
having to rotate the cover all the way around. As far as dispensing
doses is concerned, the same applies also to accidentally skipping
over a dose to be administered. Since the resistance to rotation is
lower forward in the dispensing schedule, the correct rotating
direction is easy to detect on the basis of a rotating response
alone.
[0015] The inventive device can be operated manually as such, both
for facilitating the loading of medicaments into dosage containers
and as an easy-to-use dosage dispenser. However, the same device is
also adaptable to the automated system disclosed in the application
WO 02/17850.
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