EP0129785A2 - Drug container - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Storage device which reminds a patient that he must take a drug, consisting in a drug container with which a signalling device (3) activated according to preset time intervals is associated, which signalling device is designed as an electric clock with audible signal emitter (4) and/or with visual signal indication (21) and is provided with an electrically activatable starting input (16) which, on the first taking of a dose a drug, is supplied with an electric starting pulse along a pulse line (14), characterized in that the drug container is a tablet container (1) in which the tablets (13) are poured, welded or glued between a first foil (12) provided with depressions and a second foil (12') through which a pressure can be applied, and in that the pulse line (14) extends over the area that can be pressed on the second foil to remove the tablet (13), the pressing through of the tablet (13) cutting through the pulse line (14) and thereby setting off the starting pulse.

Description

The invention relates to a device for storing and promptly taking medication, namely a medicament container with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Pharmaceuticals often have to be taken at regular intervals. For example, the regular intake of insulin preparations, for example, is often vital for the recipient. Heart preparations also require regular application. Last but not least, contraceptive pills are also considered, which - to ensure effective protection for the recipient - must be taken in a regular daily cycle.

For certain groups of people, such as adolescents or elderly people either lack the required in accurate revenue Gewissenhafti ^g ness or a loss of memory available, which leaves the patient or recipient forget the regular intake.

From DE-OS 32 04 770 a container for pills, tablets or the like is known which essentially has the shape of a can, the lower part of which can be rotated relative to a cover part provided with a removal opening is arranged. A timer, designed as a microprocessor, with a signaling device is built into the container, which is designed to be programmable and is activated as a function of the rotary movements that are necessary to remove pills. With such a device, it is possible to remind the patient or pill recipient to take the medication.

From DE-OS 29 21 520 a monitoring device is also known which essentially consists of a stationary alarm clock, for example a radio alarm clock, which is intended to control the removal of pills from a foil pack by means of an additional device. The "scanning" of the foil pack takes place electro-optically in that the pill receiving chambers of the foil pack are illuminated by means of a light source and a photosensitive element, so that a registration of the number of pills taken out or an activation of an alarm transmitter connected to the alarm clock is possible. This known device can essentially only be operated in a stationary manner, is complex and expensive and fails particularly when non-transparent film packs are to be scanned.

The invention has for its object to provide a portable, compact device for storing and taking medication for a period of time in such a way that regular intake is vigorously promoted and the signal transmitter contained in the device, activated after settable time intervals, is activated immediately with the withdrawal of the drug dose ) the drug container is linked. This object is achieved by the combination of the characterizing features of patent claim 1. At the core of the invention, it is considered that it is the first time through the invention it is possible to detect the removal of dragees from a film pack with simple means, the signal transmitter being activated only when the dragee is pressed through the film of the film pack. It is therefore not possible to activate or reset the signal transmitter, for example by opening the medicament container and then closing it again.

In the case of particularly high-quality pharmaceuticals, it can make sense to design the signal transmitter as an integral part of the pharmaceutical container, the film being able to serve directly as a carrier for the electronic components, for example an integrated circuit. If the device according to the invention is to be used in connection with cheap medicinal products, it is advisable to attach the electronic signal transmitter to the medicament pack by means of a detachable connection, in which case care must then be taken to ensure that electrical contact is made i between the conductor track sections applied to the film and the signal generator in the connection area is taken care of.

If there are only tablets with the same efficiency and the same duration of action in a pack, one pulse line common to all tablets may be sufficient. However, if different tablets with different effects and in particular different duration of action are contained together in one pack, which must consequently also be taken after different time intervals, it is advantageous to provide the watch with a corresponding number of settable memories and associated start inputs that each for are connected to an impulse line that is only led through the trough of a tablet. It is thus possible to activate even complex time sequences of different times in succession and thus to relieve the patient considerably.

If the set input for entering the memory contents, i.e. H. to enter the reservation times, provided with a lockable cover or the like, the device is secured against adjustment by third parties. It is, for example, within the scope of the invention that only the doctor or pharmacist can set the memory to the taking time and the memory content is thus protected against misuse. It is also within the scope of the invention to switch off the inputs electrically after the programming process, which can be done manually or automatically (e.g. 5 minutes after actuation of the first set input).

Claim 8 ensures that the impulse line is actually severed when a dragee is pressed through. If the claim speaks of wavy or zigzag, then all embodiments are meant, for example also a U-shaped, meandering, spiral-shaped or the like. Laying of the impulse line over the receiving pocket of the dragee container. Experience has shown that the cover films usually break open in the form of a sickle along the edge of the receiving pockets when pressing through dragees. If the "zigzag arrangement" of the impulse line covers these edge areas, then the desired severing effect will certainly be achieved.

With claim 9, the idea of activating any inputs by cutting an impulse line is also transferred to the set inputs. If the setting inputs are provided with setting pulse lines that can be cut through manually or by machine and activated, the pharmacist or doctor can, for example, use a pointed pen or the like to carry out the desired initial activation and determine the first taking time and the taking cycles in which the device applies to the patient the next intake reminds. For this purpose, there are two different types of set inputs, namely the first for entering a first intake time and the second for entering the cycle time.

Due to claim 11, the programming of the set inputs can also be carried out without errors by laypersons. Either a template is placed over the defined or standardized arrangement of the set inputs, which, for example, bears an imprint in accordance with the time intervals to be programmed (intake cycle, for example, 3 hours) and which has a hole arrangement that comes to lie above the set inputs and only allows the set inputs to be separated, which are to be severed for the corresponding period. The severing itself then has to be carried out by a pointed object which is pushed through the holes.

An even simpler type of programming can be carried out using a programming stamp with a perforation pin. The corresponding pin arrangement only cuts through the set inputs that have to be cut through for programming a very specific time period. Other set inputs remain unchanged last. It is essential that there are markings on the film which enable precise guiding or placing of the template and stamp.

Claim 12 is concerned with the sensing electronics circuit, which recognizes the change in state by tearing the pulse line. The sensing electronics circuit should have two flip-flops connected in series on the input side, the outputs of which are each connected to an exclusive-OR gate. By clocking this "two-bit shift register" together, the old output information stored in the upstream flip-flop (input connected to ground through the intact pulse line) is pushed through to the input of the downstream flip-flop, which then in turn represents the old state. At the same time, however, the new input information (input "high", as pulled up with a "pull-up" current source) is read into the upstream flip-flop. The two flip-flops are in different states, to which the downstream exclusive-OR gate reacts, switches through logically and emits a start pulse. If several two-bit shift registers are provided which are to be queried next to one another, the output information of the exclusive-OR gates which are present next to one another must be linked by a simple OR gate.

By claim 13 it is achieved that the entire device manages with small / smallest voltage sources. The query of the line status only needs to take place in short, possibly microsecond-long query times, which are switched, for example, every minute. Such a temporal resolution is usually completely out of the way for taking medication reaching. If, as claim 14 teaches, these, for example, one-minute query cycles of the pulse lines are only switched on after activation of the first set inputs, energy can be saved further. Only the set inputs have to be monitored, for which a minimum of available battery energy is sufficient. As a result, the life of the batteries to be used is reduced to the order of magnitude of the drug lifetimes, so that the device can be used for almost all types of drugs and can be stored together with the batteries used by the pharmaceutical manufacturer, pharmacist and / or doctor without the device suffering damage.

Claim 15 makes it possible to check a very large number of receiving pockets with a far smaller number of inputs. The basic principle here is to connect in parallel each impulse line section, which is guided over a tablet, to a resistor applied to the film in a thick-film process. A digital ohm meter in the form of an analog-digital converter must then be present on the input side, which responds to the change in resistance occurring when a pulse line section is cut and emits a start pulse.

If, according to claim 16, the resistors in such a resistor chain have different values and the digital ohm meter is able to select resistance jumps of different heights and - depending on the amount of the change in resistance - to control different) stored times as intake interval times, it is possible , with such a pre direction of difficult intake cycles with a plurality of different intake times almost without confusion.

Claim 18 provides a further signal source which not only tells the patient that he has to take another pill, but also tells him which of the different types of pills in a packet it is his turn. It could be thought, for example, to design the further signal source as a red light-emitting diode, which clearly indicates to the patient that the red-colored dragees in the package are to be taken. If the additional signal source does not light up, the "other" coated tablets can be taken. Such a device can be particularly useful, for example, if, for example, day and night times require different intake cycles of different tablets. In order not to overwhelm the battery of the device, it can be advantageous to be able to activate the light-emitting diodes - as in a wristwatch - by pressing a button. This means that the patient is first reminded acoustically of taking a new tablet, for example, and then at the push of a button asks which tablet can be removed from the package. It is also within the scope of the invention to use a plurality of differently colored light-emitting diodes or a two-color activatable light-emitting diode. The dragee container is advantageously colored in appropriate colors so that mix-ups of the tablets are almost impossible.

• Fig. 1 einen Drageebehälter mit angesetztem Signalgeber,
• Fig. 2 eine Prinzipschaltskizze mit integriertem Schaltkreis,
• Fig. 3 eine Prinzipschaltskizze der Fühlelektronik,
• Fig. 4 eine Prinzipschaltskizze mit Widerstandsketten,
• Fig. 5 eine Prinzipschaltskizze mit mehreren, mit Widerstandsketten verbundenen Start-Eingängen,
• Fig. 6 eine Prinzipskizze einer auf eine Folie aufgelegten Lochschablone.

The invention is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments in the drawing. Show it:

• 1 is a dragee container with attached signal transmitter,
• 2 shows a basic circuit diagram with an integrated circuit,
• 3 shows a basic circuit diagram of the sensing electronics,
• 4 shows a basic circuit diagram with resistance chains,
• 5 shows a basic circuit diagram with a plurality of start inputs connected with resistor chains,
• Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a perforated template placed on a film.

The device shown in Fig. 1 consists of a drage container 1, on one side edge 2 of which the signal generator 3 is arranged, which is provided as an electrical clock with a signal generator 4 in the form of a "beep loudspeaker" and / or an optical signal generator 21.

The detachable connection between the dragee container 1 formed from two adhesively bonded foils and the signal transmitter 3 is designed as a snap-lock connection 5, in which two retaining lips 7, 8 are provided, which are formed in one piece with the housing 6 of the signal transmitter 3, one between them Form receiving slot 9 for the edge 2 and pressurize the two surfaces 10, 11 of the foils 12 under pressure, which ensures a sufficiently firm fit.

In order to start the signal generator exactly when one of the dragees 13 is removed from the dragee container 1, an impulse line 14 is provided, which is led over the receiving pockets 15 of the dragees 13 and is rit through when the dragees are pushed through the severable film, so that there is a voltage change at the start input 16 connected to the pulse line 14, which activates the electronic timer and reminds the patient of the next dragee after the time preset by the setting device 17.

On the right-hand side of the dragee container 1 shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of further pulse lines 18 are provided with a common pulse line, each of which is guided only via a receiving pocket 15 and is connected to separate further start inputs 19. The electrical connection between the pulse lines 14, 18 and the start inputs 16, 19 can be made via spring contacts which are arranged in the receiving slot 9. Such spring contacts have long been known for contacting printed circuit boards.

The signal generator 3 is provided with a digital time display device 20, on which the time remaining until the medication is taken is displayed.

The circuit example shown in FIG. 2 shows an integrated circuit as a signal generator, which is connected on the input side via start inputs 41 to eight start pulse lines 42. These are - Fig. 2 shows un Different embodiments - zigzag, wave-like or the like guided over the receiving pockets 43 and then connected together to a ground line 44.

On the right-hand side of the integrated circuit 40, two groups of setting inputs 45, 46 are provided, the first setting inputs 45 being provided for entering a first intake time (the patient should take the first pill, for example, in 24 hours), the second setting inputs 46 are for Enter at least one cycle time (the patient should take another pill every 12 hours after taking the first pill).

To operate the set input groups 45, 46, separable areas 47, 48 are also provided in the set pulse lines 49, 50, which can be easily cut with a pin due to thinned film areas 51. Like the start pulse lines, the set pulse lines are connected to the ground line 44 as long as they are intact. If the connection is missing due to severed areas 47, 48, the corresponding input is activated.

An R-C link is also provided as the time base in FIG. 2, but can also be replaced by a watch quartz. A piezo loudspeaker is designated as the signal source at 52, and a battery as the voltage source at 53.

The basic circuit diagram shown in FIG. 3 deals with the part of the electronics which is connected downstream of the inputs 41 and is provided for recognizing the change in state of the pulse lines. The pulse lines are designated by dashed lines at 42. Every entrance is with a pull-up current source 55 which, when the input from the ground line 44 is switched off, energizes the D input of a downstream first flip-flop 56 and reads into the flip-flop 56 when a clock occurs on the clock line 57, so that its Output line 58 reflects the new state "pulse line cut through" and passes it on to the first input 59 of an exclusive-OR gate 60. However, since the old status information (pulse line intact) is still present in a second flip-flop 61 connected downstream of the first flip-flop, its output 62 still reflects the old situation, so that the output lines 58 and 62 show different potentials. The output of the exclusive-OR gate 60 switches through and passes the start pulse on to the downstream time base. If - as provided in FIG. 3 - a plurality of start pulse lines 42 are provided, then several two-bit shift registers, each consisting of two flip-flops 56, 61, are necessary, the state of which is to be compared via separate exclusive-OR gates 63 and in one to collect this downstream common OR gate 65.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is concerned with a switching variant for saving start pulse inputs. For this purpose, it is provided that each pulse line section 70 placed over a receiving pocket 43 has a resistor 71 connected in parallel. The start input 41 is followed by an analog-to-digital converter 70 which, when a change in resistance occurs in the upstream start pulse line, emits a start pulse to the downstream time base.

If one of the pulse line sections 70 connected in series is now severed, an increase in resistance by the value of the associated resistor 71 occurs at input 41.

If the resistors 71 have different values and the analog-digital converter is able to use the different changes in resistance to start different interval times, a device can be created on the basis of the network shown in FIG indicates different intake cycles of different pharmaceuticals.

FIG. 6 shows a perforated template 80 which is laid over the film 12 in the area of the setting inputs 45, 46 and only releases the setting inputs which have to be severed in order to set the printed times.

81 is also a programming stamp that carries perforation pins 82 for cutting through the set inputs 45, 46, which are arranged in a very specific spacing grid. If necessary, the perforated template and programming stamp can have certain color samples that can be specified by the doctor on the prescription. The pharmacist is then able to program the medication container correctly based solely on the color of the perforated template or the stamp.

Claims (19)

1. Device for the storage and timely taking of medicaments, consisting of a medicament container with the following features: - On the drug container, an activated signal generator (3) is arranged after settable time intervals, which is designed as an electrical clock with signal generator (4) and / or with an optical signal display (21) and is provided with an electrically activated start input (16), the an electric start impulse is given when a drug dose is taken for the first time,
characterized by the following features: - The medicament container is a drage container (1) known per se, - in which the dragees (13) are cast, welded or glued side by side in a row between a first film (12) provided with recesses forming the receiving pockets (15) and a second or further film (12 ') which can be pushed through; - A separable pulse line (14) connected to the start input (16) of the watch runs over the area of the second film to be pushed through for removing the dragées (13). 2. Device according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the signal transmitter (3) is an integral part of the medicament container (1, 30) and the film (12) directly serves as a carrier for the electronic components (e.g. integrated circuit 40) or the signal transmitter (3) by means of a detachable connection, preferably Snap-snap connection (holding lips 7, 8; receiving slot 9) is held on the dragee container (1). 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the impulse line (14) is evaporated onto the film (12), printed on (e.g. screen printing method) or injected onto / into the film (12). 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that a common pulse line (14) over several or all of the receiving pockets (15) of the dragee container (1) is passed. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the dragee container (1) contains medications of different strengths and duration of action, the signal transmitter (3) is provided with a corresponding plurality of settable memories and start inputs (19) and each receiving pocket (15) has a pulse line (18) connected to the associated start input. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the signal generator (3) has a time display device (20) for displaying the memory content of the respectively activated and accessed memory. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the setting device (17) for entering the memory contents is provided with a lockable cover or the setting inputs (45, 46) can be switched off electrically after the programming process. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the impulse lines (14) run wave-like, zigzag or the like. Above each receiving pocket (15) of the dragee container (1). 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the setting input (s) (45, 46) can be activated via severable setting pulse lines (49, 50) which are applied to the film (12) of the dragee container (1) in accordance with the pulse lines (14). 10. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that first set inputs (45) for entering a first) intake time and second set inputs (46) for entering the cycle time are provided. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the defined arrangement of the set inputs (45, 0 46) can be covered by a perforated template (80) or a programming stamp (81) with perforation pins (82), which can be placed on the film (12) and marked in its desired position, such that when the perforated template is placed on it (80) only the to go through separating set inputs (45) are exposed under the film holes (83) and can be cut individually or, in the case of the programming stamp (81), the corresponding perforation pin arrangement simultaneously cuts through the set inputs (45, 46). 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the signal generator (3) designed as an integrated circuit (40) has a sensor electronics circuit which acts in particular as a differentiator and is connected on the input side to the pulse lines (14) which, for. B. for each line to form a two-bit shift register has two series-connected flip-flops (56, 61), each of which is connected on the output side to an exclusive-OR gate (60), the output (63) of which is connected to a start input ( 41) of the circuit (40) is connected. 13. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
I characterized
that the state (s) of the pulse lines (14) are saved to save electricity only during short, brief interrogation pulses. 14. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the query of the pulse lines (14) takes place only after activation of at least one of the first set inputs. 15. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that parallel to each pulse line section (70) guided via a receiving pocket (43) there is a resistor (71) applied to the film, similar to the pulse lines, preferably in the thick-film method, and the circuit is a circuit suitable for determining the change in the total resistance (analog-digital converter 72 ) contains, at whose input (73) the common start pulse line (42) is connected. 16. The apparatus of claim 15,
characterized,
that the resistors (71) have different values and the intake interval time is dependent on the value of the increase in resistance that occurs when an associated impulse line section (70) is torn through. 17. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that there are a plurality of start inputs (41) which can be queried by one or more analog-digital converters, possibly in a multiplexing process, which are each connected to a chain of resistors and pulse line sections (70). 18. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that to identify the next type of drage to be taken at least one more connected to another output of the circuit (40), for. B. optical signal source is provided or that the piezo speaker (52) a differently modulated sound or another sound frequency is supplied. 19. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that an additional optical display device is present which can be switched on automatically after a preselectable timeout if no dragee is removed when the signal transmitter is activated and / or the signal transmitter is activated after periodically recurring periods when an additional display device is connected downstream.

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