Patent Grant
7000769
The invention generally relates to child resistant blister packages. The child-resistant (“CR”) requirement for products packaged in blisters is typically dependent upon the toxicity level of any given product. Currently, the more toxic the drug, the more difficult the opening feature is made to gain access to the product in order to pass Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) protocol requirements. In cases where a single tablet or capsule is considered harmful to a 25 lbs. child, there are very few, if any, options available that are considered “user friendly”. The existing options that pass official protocol testing require multiple steps that can be physically challenging and/or require an implement i.e.; scissors to open. Thus, there is a need in the art for a child-resistant blister package that addresses problems associated with the above-mentioned existing options.
This invention substantially minimizes or prevents children from gaining access in accordance with the above protocol limits while at the same time is capable of opening similarly to a non-CR push through blister design.
More particularly, the invention provides a child resistant blister package. The child resistant blister package comprises a film having a surface wherein a plurality of cavities are formed therein containing at least one medicament; a cover sheet which overlies the cavities and is attached to the film; and a wall structure raised above the surface of the film which extends throughout the film forming an interior region such that the plurality of cavities are enclosed within the interior region.
Most children gain access to blister packaged products by biting through the clear blister material. In accordance with the present invention, the presence of the wall structure substantially minimizes or eliminates the probability of a child from gaining access to a blister by penetrating the blister with his or her teeth.
The present invention will now be described in reference to the embodiments set forth herein, including, without limitation, those described in the drawings. It should be appreciated that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
All publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein, whether supra or infra, are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
It must be noted that, as used in the specification and appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
In one aspect, the invention provides a child resistant blister package. The child resistant blister package comprises a film having a surface wherein a plurality of cavities are formed therein containing at least one medicament; a cover sheet which overlies the cavities and is attached to the film; and a wall structure raised above the surface of the film which extends throughout the film forming an interior region such that the plurality of cavities are enclosed within the interior region.
Various materials may be used in forming the film of the present invention. Examples materials include various materials formed from polymers that may include, without limitation, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, and combinations thereof. The blisters are formed by employing known techniques, such as application of vacuum.
The cover sheet may include various materials, non-limiting embodiments including cellulose, polymer, metal, as well as combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the cover sheet includes a metallic foil layer secured to the film and enclosing the opening of the blisters. The cover sheet is rupturable upon manual compression of a blister containing medicament by a patient which releases the medicament. If employed, a metallic foil preferably comprises aluminum. In one embodiment, a first layer, formed from any of the materials set forth herein, is preferably backed by a second layer, preferably containing paperboard, such that the cover sheet is preferably present as a laminate. The cover sheet may be attached to the film using a technique which is accepted in the art.
The blisters in the package of the invention may be present in numerous configurations. As an example, in one embodiment, the package may include at least one ordered arrangement (i.e., row or column) of blisters. In one embodiment, the package may include at least or two rows or columns of blisters. In one embodiment, the package may include four rows or columns of blisters.
Examples of embodiments of materials employed in blister packages and methods of making the same are set forth in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,905,479; 3,912,082; 3,924,747; 3,835,995; 3,912,081; 3,924,746; 3,809,220; 3,809,221; 3,811,564; 3,872,970; 3,899,080; 3,921,805; and 3,941,248.
The term “medicament”, as used herein, is meant to mean and include any substance (i.e., compound or composition of matter) which, when administered to an organism (human or animal) induces a desired pharmacologic and/or physiologic effect by local and/or systemic action. The term therefore encompasses substances traditionally regarded as actives, drugs and bioactive agents, as well as biopharmaceuticals (e.g., peptides, hormones, nucleic acids, gene constructs, etc.) typically employed to treat a number of conditions which is defined broadly to encompass diseases, disorders, infections, and the like. Exemplary medicaments include, without limitation, antibiotics, antivirals, H2-receptor antagonists, 5HT1 agonists, 5HT3 antagonists, COX2-inhibitors, medicaments used in treating psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety, bipolar condition, tranquilizers, medicaments used in treating metabolic conditions, anticancer medicaments, medicaments used in treating neurological conditions such as epilepsy and Parkinsons Disease, medicaments used in treating cardiovascular conditions, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicaments, medicaments used in treating Central Nervous System conditions, and medicaments employed in treating hepatitis.
Antivirals are particularly preferred. Examples of medicaments that are effective for the treatment of viral and viral associated conditions are (1-alpha, 2-beta, 3-alpha)-9-[2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclobutyl]guanine [(−)BHCG, SQ-34514, lobucavir], 9-[(2R,3R,4S)-3,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2-oxetanosyl]adenine(oxetanocin-G), acyclic nucleosides, for example acyclovir, valaciclovir, famciclovir, ganciclovir, and penciclovir, acyclic nucleoside phosphonates, for example (S)-1-(3-hydroxy-2-phosphonyl-methoxypropyl)cytosine (HPMPC), [[[2-(6-amino-9H-purin-9-yl)ethoxy]methyl]phosphinylidene]bis(oxymethylene)-2,2-dimethylpropanoic acid (bis-POM PMEA, adefovir dipivoxil), [[(1R)-2-(6-amino-9H-purin-9-yl)-1-methylethoxy]methyl]phosphonic acid(tenofovir), and (R)-[[2-(6-Amino-9H-purin-9-yl)-1-methylethoxy]methyl]phosphonic acid bis-(isopropoxy carbonyloxymethyl)ester (bis-POC-PMPA), ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors, for example 2-acetylpyridine 5-[(2-chloroanilino)thiocarbonyl)thiocarbonohydrazone and hydroxyurea, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, for example 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT, zidovudine), 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine (ddC, zalcitabine), 2′,3′-dideoxyadenosine, 2′,3′-dideoxyinosine (ddI, didanosine), 2′,3′-didehydrothymidine (d4T, stavudine), (−)-beta-D-2,6-diaminopurine dioxolane (DAPD), 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymidine-5′-H-phosphophonate (phosphonovir), 2′-deoxy-5-iodo-uridine(idoxuridine), (−)-cis-1-(2-hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolane 5-yl)-cytosine(lamivudine), cis-1-(2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-5-yl)-5-fluorocytosine(FTC), 3′-deoxy-3′-fluorothymidine, 5-chloro-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-fluorouridine, (−)-cis-4-[2-amino-6-(cyclopropylamino)-9H-purin-9-yl]-2-cyclopentene-1-methanol(abacavir), 9-[4-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)but-1-yl]-guanine(H2G), ABT-606 (2HM-H2G) and ribavirin, protease inhibitors, for example indinavir, ritonavir, nelfinavir, amprenavir, saquinavir, (R)-N-tert-butyl-3-[(2S,3S)-2-hydroxy-3-N-[(R)-2-N-(isoquinolin-5-yloxyacetyl)amino-3-methylthio-propanoyl]amino-4-phenylbutanoyl]-5,5-dimethyl-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxamide (KNI-272), 4R-(4alpha,5alpha,6beta)]-1,3-bis[(3-aminophenyl)methyl]hexahydro-5,6-dihydroxy-4,7-bis(phenylmethyl)-2H-1,3-diazepin-2-one dimethanesulfonate(mozenavir), 3-[1-[3-[2-(5-trifluoromethylpyridinyl)-sulfonylamino]phenyl]propyl]-4-hydroxy-6alpha-phenethyl-6beta-propyl-5,6-dihydro-2-pyranone(tipranavir), N′-[2(S)-Hydroxy-3(S)-[N-(methoxycarbonyl)-I-tert-leucylamino]-4-phenylbutyl-Nalpha-(methoxycarbonyl)-N′-[4-(2-pyridyl)benzyl]-L-tert-leucylhydrazide(BMS-232632), 3-(2(S)-Hydroxy-3(S)-(3-hydroxy-2-methylbenzamido)-4-phenylbutanoyl)-5,5-dimethyl-N-(2-methylbenzyl)thiazolidine-4(R)-carboxamide(AG-1776), N-(2(R)-hydroxy-1(S)-indanyl)-2(R)-phenyl-methyl-4(S)-hydroxy-5-(1-(1-(4-benzo[b]furanylmethyl)-2(S)-N′-(tert-butylcarboxamido)piperazinyl)pentanamide (MK-944A), and (3S)-tetrahydrofuran-3-yl (1S,2R)-[[(4-aminophenyl)sulphonyl)](isobutyl)amino]-1-benzyl-2-(phosphonooxy)propylcarbamate monocalcium salt(fosamprenavir), interferons such as α-interferon, renal excretion inhibitors such as probenecid, nucleoside transport inhibitors such as dipyridamole; pentoxifylline, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), Procysteine, α-trichosanthin, phosphonoformic acid, as well as immunomodulators such as interleukin II or thymosin, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factors, erythropoetin, soluble CD4 and genetically engineered derivatives thereof, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), for example nevirapine (BI-RG-587), alpha-((2-acetyl-5-methylphenyl)amino)-2,6-dichloro-benzeneacetamide (loviride), 1-[3-(isopropylamino)-2-pyridyl]4-[5-(methanesulfonamido)-1H-indol-2-ylcarbonyl]piperazine monomethanesulfonate (delavirdine), (10R, 11S, 12S)-12-Hydroxy-6,6,10,11-tetramethyl-4-propyl-11,12-dihydro-2H, 6H, 10H-benzo(1, 2-b:3, 4-b′:5, 6-b″)tripyran-2-one ((+) calanolide A), (4S)-6-Chloro-4-[1E)-cyclopropylethenyl )-3,4-dihydro-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2(1H)-quinazolinone (DPC-083), (S)-6-chloro-4-(cyclopropylethynyl)-1,4-dihydro4-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-3,1-benzoxazin-2-one(efavirenz, DMP 266), 1-(ethoxymethyl)-5-(1-methylethyl)-6-(phenylmethyl)-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione (MKC-442), and 5-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)thio-4-isopropyl-1-(4-pyridyl)methyl-1H-imidazol-2-ylmethyl carbamate(capravirine), glycoprotein 120 antagonists, for example PRO-2000, PRO-542 and 1,4-bis[3-[(2,4-dichlorophenyl)carbonylamino]-2-oxo-5,8-disodiumsulfanyl]naphthalyl-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl-1,4-dihydrazone (FP-21399), cytokine antagonists, for example reticulose (Product-R), 1,1′-azobis-formamide (ADA), 1,11-(1,4-phenylenebis(methylene))bis-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane octahydrochloride (AMD-3100), integrase inhibitors, for example, S-1360, and fusion inhibitors.
The term medicament also encompasses pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, solvates, and/or hydrates of the pharmaceutically active substances referred to hereinabove. Various combinations of any of the above medicaments may also be employed.
In accordance with the present invention, the medicament is typically employed in an oral pharmaceutical formulation. An oral pharmaceutical formulation typically refers to the combination of at least one medicament and one or more added components or elements, such as an “excipient” or “carrier.” As will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art, the terms “excipient” and “carrier” generally refer to substantially inert materials that are nontoxic and do not interact with other components of the composition in a deleterious manner. Examples of normally employed “excipients,” include pharmaceutical grades of carbohydrates, including monosaccharides, disaccharides, cyclodextrins and polysaccharides (e.g., dextrose, sucrose, lactose, raffinose, mannitol, sorbitol, inositol, dextrins and maltodextrins); starch; cellulose; salts (e.g., sodium or calcium phosphates, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate); citric acid; tartaric acid; glycine; leucine; high molecular weight polyethylene glyols (PEG); pluronics; surfactants; lubricants; stearates and their salts or esters (e.g., magnesium stearate); amino acids; fatty acids; and combinations thereof.
The oral pharmaceutical formulation may be utilized in a variety of unit dosage forms including, without limitation, a tablet, a pill, a capsule, a lozenge, and combinations thereof. The unit dosage forms may encompass hospital unit dosage forms, as well as others.
In one embodiment, a combination of lamivudine, zidovudine, and nevirapine is employed in the blister package. More specifically, it is preferred to employ the above medicaments in a combination regimen wherein a first pharmaceutical formulation includes lamivudine and zidovudine and a second pharmaceutical formulation include nevirapine. In such an embodiment, it is preferred that the first pharmaceutical formulation and the second pharmaceutical formulation be present in unit dosage forms in discrete blisters.
The invention will now be described with respect to the drawings. It should be appreciated that the drawings are merely set forth to illustrate the invention and do not serve to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
As shown, a wall structure 60 is present which is above the film surface 30. In particular, the wall structure 60 is coextensive with the periphery or outer edge of the film 20 (preferably extending parallel or substantially parallel to the film periphery) forming an interior region 25 within the film 20 so as to enclose the cavities 40 therein. As shown, the wall structure 60 rises from the film surface having a first face extending from the film surface proximal to the outer film edge 70 and a second face extending from the film surface distal to the outer film edge 70. A top portion may additionally be present to adjoin the two faces. The wall structure 60 is configured so as to leave a certain surface area (denoted as s) of film between it and the cavities 40. The wall structure 60 may be unitary with the film 20 or may be employed as a separate structure which is positioned on the film 20. Preferably, the wall structure 60 can be formed from a number of materials such as, without limitation, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, as well as combinations thereof. The wall structure 60 may be transparent or opaque. Advantageously, the wall structure 60 is dimensioned and positioned such that the probability of a child accessing medicament in a blister is substantially reduced or eliminated. Preferably, the distance from the outer edge 70 of the blister pack 10 to the edge of wall structure 60 proximal to outer edge 70 (denoted as di) ranges from about 3.175 mm to about 25.4 mm. Preferably, the top height of the wall structure 60 (denoted as h1) ranges from about 3.175 mm to about 12.7 mm. Preferably, the distance from a row or column of cavities 40 to the edge of the wall structure 60 proximal to the row or column of cavities (denoted as d2) ranges from about 3.175 mm to about 12.7 mm.
A cross-sectional side view of the blister pack 10 is illustrated in
As shown in
The blister package 10 according to the present invention may be employed in a variety of capacities. As an example, the blister package 10 can be used as a sample package, i.e., a package which may include, in various non-limiting embodiments, a one-day or two week supply of medicament. Additionally, the blister package 10 may be employed as a compliance package, i.e., a package used for assisting the patient in conforming with his or her prescribed dosage regimen. Embodiments of compliance packages are set forth in
In non-limiting examples as shown in
Notwithstanding the embodiments set forth in the figures herein, it should be appreciated that any number of rows and/or columns may be employed in the blister package of the present invention in addition to these embodiments.
The present invention has been described with respect to the embodiments set forth herein. Nonetheless, it should be noted that such embodiments are merely set forth to illustrate the invention, and do not limit its scope as defined by the claims set forth herein.
This application is filed under 35 U.S.C. §371 as the United States National Phase Application of International Application No. PCT/US04/016124 filed May 20, 2004, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/472,064 filed May 20, 2003.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2004/016124 | 5/20/2004 | WO | 00 | 9/3/2004 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2004/103255 | 12/2/2004 | WO | A |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 60472064 | May 2003 | US |
