Patent Grant
11833107
The presently disclosed technology relates to blister packages for product, such as one or more pills, tablets, capsules and the like. Each package has a cover, which can be optionally formed of a thermoformed material, bonded to backing, which can optionally include an aluminum foil component.
Blister packaging is commonly used to package oral solid dose medications, vitamins, probiotics, pills, tablets, capsules, and the like. Prior art packaging includes a thermoformed material, which holds the product, and a foil attached to an open side thereof to enclose the product. Blister packaging or “blister packs” are typically used both by pharmaceutical companies and smaller health care facilities. Blister packs are also manufactured by companies in the business of providing unfilled blister packs for filling by third parties.
It is known to place a desiccant or scavenger extruded film in a blister pack. The size and shape of the desiccant or scavenger extruded film may be called the footprint of the film, and in the prior art is at least slightly less than the opening of the blister containing the product. One such blister package with desiccant film is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,279,736 (Hekal), which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In conventional blister packaging, the desiccant or scavenger capacity of the film is limited by the opening of the blister.
It is known to heat stake desiccant or scavenger extruded film to the lidding foil of a blister pack at the same time that the lidding foil is being sealed to the thermoformed material.
There is a need to increase the desiccant or scavenger capacity of a blister package. There is also a need to accommodate thickness variation of a desiccant or scavenger extruded film or other active agent for heat staking of the desiccant or scavenger extruded film or other active agent to a backing or lidding foil at the same time as the backing or lidding foil is sealed or otherwise attached to a cover.
The above and other needs are addressed by the presently disclosed technology, which includes, in one aspect, a blister pack having a thermoformed cover and a foil backing. The cover can be attached or bonded to the foil backing to form a sealed unit package for containing a product. The cover can have at least one blister cavity with an open side. The foil backing can have a side bonded to the cover. The blister cavity can have a blister or dome portion and a base portion. The base portion can be wider and/or longer than the blister portion.
The blister pack can further include an extruded film. In one embodiment, the extruded film can be adhered to the side of the foil backing bonded to the cover. The extruded film can have a shape approximating the base portion. The extruded film can include a desiccant or oxygen scavenger.
In another aspect, the presently disclosed technology can include a method of making a blister pack. In one embodiment, the method can include attaching or bonding a thermoformed cover to a foil backing to form a sealed unit package. The cover can have at least one blister cavity containing a product. The at least one blister cavity can have an open side. The blister cavity can have a blister or dome portion and a base portion. The base portion can be wider and/or longer than the blister portion.
In one embodiment, the method can include attaching or adhering an extruded film to a side of the foil backing, which is then attached or bonded to the thermoformed cover. In another embodiment, the extruded film is not adhered to the foil backing.
In another aspect, the presently disclosed technology includes a backing and a cover attached to the backing that forms at least one sealed cavity for containing product. The sealed cavity includes a dome portion and a base portion. At least a section of the base portion extends laterally outwardly beyond the dome portion in a first direction. The dome portion extending upwardly beyond an outer peripheral portion of the cover in a second direction. At least one active member is positioned within at least the base portion of the sealed cavity.
In yet another aspect, the presently disclosed technology includes a blister pack including a backing and a cover having at least one blister with a dome portion and a base portion. At least a section of the base portion extends outwardly beyond the dome portion in a first direction. The base portion extends outwardly beyond an outer peripheral portion of the cover in a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. The cover is attached to the backing to form a sealed package for containing product in the dome portion of the blister. At least one active member is positioned within at least the base portion of the blister.
In still a further aspect, the presently disclosed technology includes a blister pack including a backing and a cover attached to the backing. The combined cover and backing form at least one sealed cavity for containing product. The sealed cavity includes a dome portion and a base portion. At least a section of the base portion extends beyond the dome portion in a first direction. The dome portion extends beyond an outer peripheral portion of the cover in a second direction. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. At least one active member is positioned within at least the base portion of the sealed cavity.
Optionally, in any embodiment, the product contained in a blister of a blister pack may include a pill, which is optionally a medicine, a nutritional supplement or a probiotic, for example.
The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the presently disclosed technology, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings, wherein like numerals designate like elements throughout. For the purpose of illustrating the presently disclosed technology, there are shown in the drawings various illustrative embodiments. It should be understood, however, that the presently disclosed technology is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
While systems, devices and methods are described herein by way of examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art recognize that the presently disclosed technology is not limited to the embodiments or drawings described. Rather, the presently disclosed technology covers all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Features of any one embodiment disclosed herein can be omitted or incorporated into another embodiment.
Any headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used herein, the word “may” is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to) rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Unless specifically set forth herein, the terms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element but instead should be read as meaning “at least one.” A first direction D1 and a second direction D2 are shown in certain drawings for reference and clarity only, and are not part of the structure of the presently disclosed technology. The terminology includes the words noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.
Referring now in detail to the various figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout,
The backing 112 can have a first side or surface 112a and an opposing second side or surface 112b. Optionally, at least the first side 112a of the backing 112 being flat or planar. In one embodiment, each of the first and second sides 112a, 112b of the backing 112 are flat or planar, such that each of the first and second sides 112a, 112b extends in a plane, which are at least slightly spaced-apart. In one embodiment, the backing 112 is formed at least in part of foil, such as aluminum foil, and/or of a plastic material. Optionally, the backing 112 can include paperboard.
The cover 114 can have a first side or surface 114a and an opposing second side or surface 114b. Optionally, at least a portion of the first and second sides 114a, 114b of the cover 114 are flat or planar. At least a portion of the second side 114b of the cover 114 can be attached or adhered, such as by thermoforming or cold forming, to the first side 112a of the backing 112 to form a sealed package for containing product(s). The cover 114 can have the same or a different thickness (as measured in the direction of D2) as the backing 112. In one embodiment, the cover 114 is made or formed of a formable web. In one embodiment, the formable web is made from a thermoplastic material, such as a thermoformed film. Optionally, the cover 114 can be formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which can be transparent or opaque. In one embodiment, the cover 114 and/or the backing 112 can be formed on two or more layers.
The cover 114 includes or is formed to have at least one blister, generally designated 118. For example, the cover 114 can include two or more spaced-apart blisters 118. The embodiment shown in
As shown in
In one embodiment, each blister 118 has a blister or dome portion 120 and a base portion 122. The base portion 122 has a different size, shape, configuration and/or footprint than the dome portion 120. Optionally, at least a section of the base portion 122 extends laterally outwardly beyond the dome portion 120 in the first direction D1. For example, in one embodiment, the base portion 122 has a larger footprint than the dome portion 120, such that the base portion 122 surrounds or encircles the entire dome portion 120 (see
Optionally, both the dome portion 120 and the base portion 122 extend outwardly (i.e., upwardly) beyond the first side 114a of the cover 114 and/or away from the backing 112 in the second direction D2. As shown in
In one embodiment, the dome portion 120 is sized, shaped and/or configured to contain product 117 therein, while the base portion 122 is not. In other words, in such an embodiment, the size, shape and/or configuration of the base portion 122 does not permit product(s) 117 to be positioned therein. More particularly, the combined cover 114 attached to the backing 112 forms a cavity therebetween within each blister 118. As shown in
Optionally, as shown in
Optionally, the dome portion 120 has approximately or exactly the same size and/or shape as the blister 18 of the prior art (see
In one embodiment, at least one active member 116 is positioned within at least the base portion 122 of each blister 118. More specifically, as mentioned above, in one embodiment at least one active member 116 can be in both the base portion 122 and the dome portion 120 of the blister 118. In one embodiment, the active member 116 can be in the form of an extruded film, such as a desiccant entrained polymer film or an oxygen scavenger entrained polymer film. Optionally, each active member 116 can be in the form of a rectangular or square piece of film, as shown in
Optionally, the active member 116 is adhered, e.g., using an adhesive, to the first side 112a of the backing 112. For example, the active member 116 can include a first or top side and an opposing second or bottom side. The second side of the active member 116 can contact the first side 112a of the backing 112.
Alternatively, the active member 116 can be heat staked (without an adhesive) to the first side 112a of the backing 112. The process of heat staking film onto a substrate is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 8,142,603, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
As another alternative, the active member 116 is not adhered to the backing 112. In such an embodiment, the active member 116 is loosely placed in the blister 118 after the product 117 is placed in the blister 118. In one embodiment, the active member 116 is approximately 0.3 mm in thickness or height (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the backing 112 shown in
As shown in
Thus, the blister 118 of the presently disclosed technology provides a larger surface area for active material than the blister 18 of the prior art would provide. This, in turn, facilitates greater activity (e.g., moisture absorption in the case of a desiccant film) than would be provided with a surface area of active film limited to the confines of the profile of the prior art blister 18 alone.
In one embodiment, each active material 116 contains a desiccant. This would be an embodiment where moisture absorption is desired. However, where moisture absorption is not desired, the active member 116 can include alternative active agents. For example, in another embodiment, the active member 116 contains a material selected from the group consisting of activated carbon, carbon black, ketcham black and diamond powder. In a further embodiment, an active agent including one or more layers of the active member 116 contains a material such as absorption microspheres, BaTiO3, SrTiO3, SiO2, Al2O3, ZnO, TiO2, MnO, CuO, Sb2O3, silica, calcium oxide and ion exchange resins. In yet another embodiment, the absorbing agent containing layer of the active member 116 contains two or more types of absorbing agents. The suitable absorbing agent is chosen so as to achieve absorption of the desired vapor or gas for the desired end use (e.g. absorption of moisture, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen or other undesired gases or vapors).
The active member 116 (whether desiccant, oxygen scavenger, a releasing material or agent, etc., or combination thereof) is capable of acting on, interacting with or reacting with a selected material (e.g., moisture or oxygen). Examples of such actions or interactions may include absorption, adsorption (sorption, generally) or release of the selected material.
The active member 116 can include an “active agent” in a base material. The active agent (i) can be immiscible with the base material (e.g., polymer) and when mixed and heated with the base polymer and a channeling agent, will not melt, i.e., has a melting point that is higher than the melting point for either the base polymer or the channeling agent, and/or (ii) acts on, interacts or reacts with a selected material. The term “active agent” may include but is not limited to materials that absorb, adsorb or release the selected material(s). Active agents according to the presently disclosed technology may be in the form of particles such as minerals (e.g., molecular sieve or silica gel, in the case of desiccants), but the presently disclosed technology should not be viewed as limited only to particulate active agents. For example, in some embodiments, an oxygen scavenging formulation may be made from a resin which acts as, or as a component of, the active agent.
As used herein, the term “base material” is a component (preferably a polymer) of an entrained active material, other than the active agent, that provides structure for the entrained material.
As used herein, the term “base polymer” is a polymer optionally having a gas transmission rate of a selected material that is substantially lower than, lower than or substantially equivalent to, that of the channeling agent. By way of example, such a transmission rate would be a water vapor transmission rate in embodiments where the selected material is moisture and the active agent is a water absorbing desiccant. The primary function of the base polymer is to provide structure for the entrained polymer. Suitable base polymers may include thermoplastic polymers, e.g., polyolefins such as polypropylene and polyethylene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polybutene, polysiloxane, polycarbonates, polyamides, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methacrylate copolymer, poly(vinyl chloride), polystyrene, polyesters, polyanhydrides, polyacrylonitrile, polysulfones, polyacrylic ester, acrylic, polyurethane and polyacetal, or copolymers or mixtures thereof.
Referring to such a comparison of the base polymer and channeling agent water vapor transmission rate, in one embodiment, the channeling agent has a water vapor transmission rate of at least two times that of the base polymer. In another embodiment, the channeling agent has a water vapor transmission rate of at least five times that of the base polymer. In another embodiment, the channeling agent has a water vapor transmission rate of at least ten times that of the base polymer. In still another embodiment, the channeling agent has a water vapor transmission rate of at least twenty times that of the base polymer. In still another embodiment, the channeling agent has a water vapor transmission rate of at least fifty times that of the base polymer. In still another embodiment, the channeling agent has a water vapor transmission rate of at least one hundred times that of the base polymer.
As used herein, the term “channeling agent” or “channeling agents” is defined as a material that is immiscible with the base polymer and has an affinity to transport a gas phase substance at a faster rate than the base polymer. Optionally, a channeling agent is capable of forming channels through the entrained polymer when formed by mixing the channeling agent with the base polymer. Optionally, such channels are capable of transmitting a selected material through the entrained polymer at a faster rate than in solely the base polymer.
As used herein, the term “channels” or “interconnecting channels” is defined as passages formed of the channeling agent that penetrate through the base polymer and may be interconnected with each other.
As used herein, the term “entrained polymer” is defined as a monolithic material formed of at least a base polymer with an active agent and optionally also a channeling agent entrained or distributed throughout. An entrained polymer thus includes two-phase polymers and three phase polymers. A “mineral loaded polymer” is a type of entrained polymer, wherein the active agent is in the form of minerals, e.g., mineral particles such as molecular sieve or silica gel. The term “entrained material” is used herein to connote a monolithic material comprising an active agent entrained in a base material wherein the base material may or may not be polymeric.
As used herein, the term “monolithic,” “monolithic structure” or “monolithic composition” is defined as a composition or material that does not consist of two or more discrete macroscopic layers or portions. Accordingly, a “monolithic composition” does not include a multi-layer composite.
As used herein, the term “phase” is defined as a portion or component of a monolithic structure or composition that is uniformly distributed throughout, to give the structure or composition it's monolithic characteristics.
As used herein, the term “selected material” is defined as a material that is acted upon, by, or interacts or reacts with an active agent and is capable of being transmitted through the channels of an entrained polymer. For example, in embodiments in which a desiccant is used as an active agent, the selected material may be moisture or a gas that can be absorbed by the desiccant. In embodiments in which a releasing material is used as an active agent, the selected material may be an agent released by the releasing material, such as moisture, fragrance, or an antimicrobial agent (e.g., chlorine dioxide). In embodiments in which an adsorbing material is used as an active agent, the selected material may be certain volatile organic compounds and the adsorbing material may be activated carbon.
As used herein, the term “three phase” is defined as a monolithic composition or structure comprising three or more phases. An example of a three phase composition according to the presently disclosed technology would be an entrained polymer formed of a base polymer, active agent, and channeling agent. Optionally, a three phase composition or structure may include an additional phase, e.g., a colorant.
Entrained polymers may be two phase formulations (i.e., comprising a base polymer and active agent, without a channeling agent) or three phase formulations (i.e., comprising a base polymer, active agent and channeling agent). Entrained polymers are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,911,937, 6,080,350, 6,124,006, 6,130,263, 6,194,079, 6,214,255, 6,486,231, 7,005,459, and U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2016/0039955, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
An entrained material or polymer includes a base material (e.g., polymer) for providing structure, optionally a channeling agent and an active agent. The channeling agent forms microscopic interconnecting channels through the entrained polymer. At least some of the active agent is contained within these channels, such that the channels communicate between the active agent and the exterior of the entrained polymer via microscopic channel openings formed at outer surfaces of the entrained polymer. The active agent can be, for example, any one of a variety of absorbing, adsorbing or releasing materials, as described in further detail below. While a channeling agent is preferred, the invention broadly includes entrained materials that optionally do not include channeling agents, e.g., two phase polymers.
In any embodiment, suitable channeling agents may include a polyglycol such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), glycerin polyamine, polyurethane and polycarboxylic acid including polyacrylic acid or polymethacrylic acid. Alternatively, the channeling agent can be, for example, a water insoluble polymer, such as a propylene oxide polymerisate-monobutyl ether, such as Polyglykol B01/240, produced by CLARIANT. In other embodiments, the channeling agent could be a propylene oxide polymerisate monobutyl ether, such as Polyglykol B01/20, produced by CLARIANT, propylene oxide polymerisate, such as Polyglykol D01/240, produced by CLARIANT, ethylene vinyl acetate, nylon 6, nylon 66, or any combination of the foregoing.
Suitable active agents according to the presently disclosed technology include absorbing materials, such as desiccating compounds. If the active agent is a desiccant, any suitable desiccant for a given application may be used. Typically, physical absorption desiccants are preferred for many applications. These may include molecular sieves, silica gels, clays and starches. Alternatively, the desiccant may be a chemical compound that forms crystals containing water or compounds which react with water to form new compounds.
Optionally, in any embodiment, the active agent may be an oxygen scavenger, e.g., an oxygen scavenging resin formulation.
As shown in
As shown in
A distinguishing features of the embodiment of
More particularly, the base portion 422 includes a sidewall 422a and a slanted or angled top wall 422b, such that the sidewall 422a of the base portion 422 does not extend perpendicularly to the top wall 422b of the base portion 422. In contrast, the top wall 122b of the base portion 122 shown in
Such a shape and/or configuration of the base portion 422 will allow the dome portion 420 and the base portion 422 to flex and/or move at least slightly away (e.g., upward, e.g., in the direction shown by D2 in
The presently disclosed technology, therefore, allows for and/or accommodates variation in thickness (e.g., height) of the active member 416 and does not (or is at least less likely to) tear (or puncture) the backing 412 when the active member 416 is relatively thick. One benefit of such a design is that it allows the blister to accommodate or contain active members of varying thicknesses or sizes. Another benefit of such a design is that it preserves the integrity of the backing. Yet another benefit is that manufacturers of active members are not required or asked to maintain extremely tight tolerances of the active members.
An optional goal of one embodiment of the presently disclosed technology is to use the thinnest active member 416 that provides the desired level of activity (e.g., moisture or oxygen absorption) and to allow the cover 414 and/or the base portion 422 to sufficiently flex to allow the relatively thin active member 416 to push the dome portion 420 and the base portion 422 sufficiently away to accommodate the active member 416 within the blister and not burst or move through the backing 412.
The connection or point of intersection 430 between the sidewall 422a and the top wall 422b can form a point 432 or an acute angle θ. Optionally, the acute angle θ can be approximately 45°, approximately 65°, in the range of 10°-80°, or in the range of approximately 20°-75°.
As shown in
The presently disclosed technology includes methods of making and/or using the blister packs 110, 210. One of the methods includes (i) providing and/or forming a cover 114, 214 having at least one blister 118, 218 with one or more of the features described above, (ii) placing a product 117 in each blister 118, 218, (iii) placing active material 116, 216 in each blister 118, 218, and (iv) attaching or bonding a backing 112, 212 to the cover 114, 214 to form a sealed package around the product 117. As used herein, the term “providing” is broadly defined to include receiving, taking and/or using. When a user wishes to access the product 117, at least a portion of the backing 112, 212 can be separated from the cover 114, 214 or broken through to expose the product 117.
The following exemplary embodiments further describe optional aspects of the presently disclosed technology and are part of this Detailed Description. These exemplary embodiments are set forth in a format substantially akin to claims, although they are not technically claims of the present application. The following exemplary embodiments refer to each other in dependent relationships as “embodiments” instead of “claims.”
While the presently disclosed technology has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the presently disclosed technology is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present presently disclosed technology as defined by the appended claims.
The present application is national phase entry of International Application No. PCT/US2020/012818, filed Jan. 9, 2020, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/790,036 filed Jan. 9, 2019, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2020/012818 | 1/9/2020 | WO |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2020/146556 | 7/16/2020 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220079842 A1 | Mar 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62790036 | Jan 2019 | US |
