EP0972507A1 - Lid foil with conductor tracks - Google Patents

Abstract

A lid film (10) for a medicine packaging, with conductors which allow it to be connected to a calculator, comprises numerous depressions (2) which can be filled with the medicines, and at least one conductor (3) located over each one. The total electrical resistance for one or more intact conductors is 100 - 100000 Ohms.

Description

Cover film with conductor tracks for connectable to a computer Pharmaceutical packaging, the pharmaceutical packaging comprising a plurality of Contains depressions that are filled with filling material and at least one conductor track every depression lies.

This well-known drug container represents a drug packaging that the professional also known as a blister pack.

The conductor tracks are in the cover film of such pharmaceutical containers as impulse lines appropriate. Pharmaceutical packaging of this type, i.e. Blister packs in general continuously produced in large numbers on packaging machines. It is in the Rule a plastic monofilm or plastic composite film through depths with depressions or well. The content to be packaged, such as coated tablets or tablets, Capsules, ampoules and the like are filled into the wells and the cover film is then sealed. The blister packs are usually produced continuously from ribbon-shaped foils and only after filling the content and covers, cut to size and, if necessary, in one Bottled packaging.

From EP-B 0 129 785 or EP-A 0 796 605 it is a device for Storage and to remind a patient of the need to take medication, consisting of a pharmaceutical packaging and a signal transmitter, known. When a drug dose is withdrawn, the signal generator is switched on via an impulse line Start pulse supplied. The impulse line is cast in a push-through second film and the dragees in the drug packaging are in one with troughs provided first film and the push-through second film or the Conductor tracks are applied to a label, which in turn covers the packaging.

It has been found to be disadvantageous that the impulses caused by the interruption of a Conductor are generated when the content is removed from the packaging Computer or signal generator can not be reliably recognized.

The object of the present invention is to propose a cover film with conductor tracks, which does not have the disadvantages described and to describe conductor tracks which convey a reliably recognizable signal to the computer.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the total electrical resistance at one or more intact conductor tracks, from 100 to 100,000 Ω (ohms) between the measuring points defined by the sampling points of the computer.

The minimum total electrical resistance is expediently 200 Ω (ohms), preferably 2000 Ω (ohms), particularly preferably 10,000 Ω (ohms) and in particular 20,000 Ω (ohms).

The maximum total electrical resistance is expediently 80,000 Ω (ohms), preferably 70,000 Ω (ohms), particularly preferably 60,000 Ω (ohms) and in particular 50,000 Ω (Ohm).

The total electrical resistance can be caused by the conductor track alone or by the Conductor and at least one additional resistance can be achieved.

The scanning points on the computer represent the interface between the cover film and the conductor tracks and the contacts of the computer that act on the conductor tracks.

The conductor tracks are applied to a carrier material. The carrier material can Cover film for closing the bottom part or a label to fix on the Be lid material. A carrier film, for example, can be used as the carrier material for the label a plastic film of high brittleness, such as a polyolefin film, a polyethylene film or a polyvinyl chloride film can be used. For example, brittleness by adding fillers, e.g. Talk, mica, etc. can be achieved. Other Plastic films can be films containing acrylonitrile styrene.

For example, papers or semi-cardboard can also be used as carrier materials.

Other carrier materials are metal foils or metal foils that are on one or both sides further layers, such as layers of lacquer or plastic films and the like, are coated.

As a further material for protecting the conductor tracks, the substrates mentioned can be used Foils and papers are used. These protective materials can be used on the Base material covering the conductor tracks can be defined. They are advantageous Labels, for reasons of variety, from the same materials for each Carrier material and protective material built up.

The material for protecting the conductor tracks can also be sprayed on in the form of a protective lacquer, sprayed, rolled or painted protective layer or it can be vapor-deposited, vacuum-vapor-deposited or sputtered layers.

The conductor tracks can be made from an electrically conductive film or from wires or a electrically conductive paint or powder coating or a vapor-deposited or in Vacuum evaporated electrically conductive layer. The electrically conductive paint can contain electrically conductive substances and paint carriers, solvents, etc. The Electrically conductive lacquer can also be solvent-free. The electrical conductivity in Varnishing can be achieved by inorganic compounds such as metals or semimetals, e.g. Metal powder or dust, especially platelet-shaped nickel, silver-coated platelet-shaped nickel, nickel, iron, copper, silver powder, etc. or by Carbon, for example in the form of carbon black, coke and preferably graphite or through Oxide mixtures can be achieved.

Preferred as conductor tracks in the context of the present invention are conductor tracks containing an SnO ₂ / Sb ₂ O ₃ hydroxide mixture on a mica substrate. The SnO ₂ / Sb ₂ O ₃ hydroxide mixture advantageously has a layer thickness on the mica particles of 8 to 20, advantageously 16 to 20 nanometers. The SnO ₂ / Sb ₂ O ₃ hydroxide mixture on the mica particles is a conductive pigment. The ratio Sn / Sb is expediently 95: 5 to 75:25, a ratio of 85:15 being preferred. The grain size of the mica can be, for example, from 10 to 100 μm and the grain size of the mica is expediently less than 15 μm. So that the desired conductor tracks can be produced from the electrically conductive pigment, the electrically conductive pigment must be appropriately brought into the form of a lacquer. A lacquer can contain the electrically conductive pigment, for example the SnO ₂ / Sb ₂ O ₃ hydroxide mixture on the mica substrate, and a binder. Melamine resins, acrylic melamine resins, polyurethane paints, nitrocellulose paints, acrylic nitrocellulose paints, etc., are used as binders in such paints. The proportion of binder in the lacquer can be, for example, from 10 to 60% by weight and advantageously from 10 to 25% by weight. Correspondingly, the proportion of electrically conductive pigment can be 40 to 90% by weight and advantageously 75 to 90% by weight in the lacquer. In addition to the electrically conductive pigment, a filler such as TiO _{2 can be used} , for example, in a grain size equal to or smaller than 15 μm and in a ratio of electrically conductive pigment to filler of 1: 1, or fillers in the form of porous spherical particles a grain size of greater than 30 µm and known under the brand name LiChrospher from Merck, in a ratio of 1: 1 of electrically conductive pigment to filler.

Varnishes for producing conductor tracks can be brushed onto the substrate by brush on, spray on, etc., if necessary with a template or by printing on Offset, gravure, letterpress or screen printing etc. take place. Further methods for generating Conductor tracks on the carrier material are electrostatic processes, processes according to Decal principle, photochemical reproduction processes or photochemical printing processes, such as by applying a full-surface lacquer film, fixing the conductor pattern and remove the paint surfaces that are not required. Other methods of generation of conductor tracks, is the generation of layers by vapor deposition, for example in vacuum (chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, sputtering). The structuring of vapor-deposited electrically conductive layers can, for example, by a Local application of a layer prior to the vapor deposition process, either prevents the adhesion of the electrically conductive layer or the condensation of the steam. As liable or anti-condensation layers are e.g. Silicone oils in Vacuum applied. A vapor-deposited layer can also be masked after vapor deposition and then structured using etching processes. Structuring is also through local evaporation of the layer possible using laser or electron beams. A Another form of structuring of the vapor-deposited electrically conductive layer lies in one Process according to which a solvent-soluble lacquer before the vapor deposition process applied to the carrier by, for example, a gravure, screen or high-pressure process becomes. After the coated support has been evaporated, the paint is removed by a solvent replaced again. Inevitably, the varnish also evaporates Layers replaced. The evaporated remains on the unpainted areas of the carrier surface Layer and thus the desired conductor pattern back.

In addition to the desired pattern of the conductor track or the conductor tracks on the label, you can Detection and distance marks or circuits for the mechanical application of the Labels are provided on the blister pack. In addition to the conductor tracks circuits are also applied to the carrier material, which can be evaluated by the computer Contain information such as about the contents of the pack, the composition, the dosage of the product, the intake cycle, the expiry date, etc.

The conductor tracks can be run in series or in parallel over the depressions and Correspondingly, a conductor track can be placed over all depressions or one conductor track can be created over one of several series of wells or each well can be covered by a single conductor track and each conductor track has its own Connection to the computer. These conductor tracks can receive their information via a connection to the computer.

The computer can a due to the information of an interrupted trace Time interval program specified by the computer or triggered by a circuit on the label start by showing the correct time to take the next tablet and show the taking times according to the program. It can also Withdrawal time can be registered by the computer and based on this the Calculator determine the next due time and via a signal generator specify. The time of withdrawal can be specified by various control commands, like a display with time indication, by colored light-emitting diodes, acoustically by one Warning tone and the like. Or by a combination of the control commands.

If each depression is covered by a conductor track, the computer can determine whether the package is still unopened or due to being partially interrupted by medication Conductor tracks calculate the medication level and with the appropriate intake interval Continue.

The conductor tracks can be brought together in at least one place on the pharmaceutical packaging, i.e. bundled, and arranged so that the computer there on the drug packaging get in touch with the computer connections. This place can also be called the sampling point of the computer. The conductor tracks can also be used with the Seal the pharmaceutical packaging flush on at least one side or can protrude at least one side of the pharmaceutical packaging and on this side the Conductors merged, i.e. bundled, and arranged so that the Computer there to be fixed on the pharmaceutical packaging and / or on the label can and the conductor tracks and the computer connections can come into contact.

Existing conductor tracks can also be used on cover material for closing or covering a bottom part can be used for the packaging of small parts. For example Small parts of a technical nature can be accommodated in blister packs and the Blister packs can be covered by a cover material with conductor tracks. By the removal of individual small parts, the track in the label is interrupted and it can e.g. a security system against unauthorized removal can be activated or the impulse can be fed to a computer for inventory control or the like.

FIGS. 1 and 2 explain the present invention in more detail by way of example. Figure 1 shows a Top view of a pharmaceutical packaging. Figure 2 shows the top view of a further arrangement of conductor tracks on a cover film.

FIG. 1 shows the top view of a pharmaceutical packaging, such as a blister pack 1, with its depressions 2. A computer 5 is by means of a slide-in connection or by means of a clamp, snap, snap or other contact connection with the blister pack 1 connected. By means of a slide 4, for example, the clamp connection are activated and the conductor tracks 3 ending on the side edge 9 of the blister pack 1 are connected to mating contacts on the computer. The resistance of everyone Conductor according to the present invention is measured between the measuring points that are defined by the sampling points of a computer. The sampling points are therefore included In the present example on the side edge 9. The computer 5 contains a clock function and represents a memory for the ongoing changes in the measured total resistance. The computer 5 has, for example, a time display 6 and - as a signal generator - e.g. a Display of the time of the next medication intake and / or a sound generator on. The reminder process for the patient can be recognized by light-emitting diodes 7 made or visually enhanced. The computer and therefore the signal generator is reusable and can be reset to zero, for example, by pressing 8 become. The conductor tracks 3 are applied to the cover material 10. On the side edge 9 the connections to the computer 5 are available. The conductor tracks 3, which on the Lid material 10 are attached, lie precisely over the depressions 2 of the blister pack 1. Each depression 2 is covered by a conductor track 3. This can be done when Taking medication and thus breaking the conductor track 3, an impulse to the computer 5 be sent, respectively. the computer 5 can each due to emitted pulses one, several or all conductor tracks at the same time recognize that the Drug withdrawal has occurred or is due or overdue. The computer 5 is like this designed that the contacts along the side edge 9 of the blister pack 1 removed can be.

FIG. 2 shows the top view of a blister pack 1 connectable computers not shown. The blister pack 1 is closed with a cover film 10. The depressions 2 are indicated in a circle. There is one over each recess 2 Conductor 3 arranged. The connections are on a side edge 9 of the cover material 10 11 available for the sampling points of the computer. The conductor track 3 can for example be applied by a printing technique. Therefore, the conductor track 3 can the entire cover film 10 have the same thickness. To the electrical according to the invention To achieve total resistances, the conductor tracks 3 are bundled into common wide sections 13 and split into narrow conductor sections 14. The narrow ones Conductor sections 14 cover the depressions 2 as the conductor track 3. The resistance in the wide conductor sections 13 is measured by the resistance of a narrow conductor section 14 small. To increase or decrease the resistance of a narrow conductor section 14 control, the narrow conductor section 14 can be extended by a loop shape. The narrow conductor sections 14 have a high resistance and when Breaking through a narrow conductor section 14 when removing a tablet a recess 2, by piercing the cover film 10, there is a high Change in resistance, respectively. Impulse sent to the computer via the connections 11 (not shown) and is reliably recognized by the computer.

Claims (3)

Cover film (10) with conductor tracks (3) for pharmaceutical packaging (1) which can be connected to a computer (5), the pharmaceutical packaging (1) containing a plurality of depressions (2) which are filled with filling material and at least one conductor path (3) every depression lies
characterized in that
the total electrical resistance, in the case of one or more intact conductor tracks (3), is from 100 to 100,000 Ω (ohms), measured between the measuring points which are defined by the scanning points of the computer (5). Cover film according to claim 1, characterized in that the minimum electrical Total resistance 200 Ω (ohms), preferably 2000 Ω (ohms), particularly preferred 10,000 Ω (ohms) and in particular 20,000 Ω (ohms). Cover film according to claim 1, characterized in that the maximum electrical Total resistance 80,000 Ω (ohms), preferably 70,000 Ω (ohms), particularly preferred Is 60,000 Ω (ohms) and in particular 50,000 Ω (ohms).

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