Innovative medication packaging system

Abstract

The product is a medication packaging system, primarily designed for use in long-term care facilities, with a unique method of organizing and releasing pills that promotes correct medication administration, a natural wrist action, time savings, individual identification of medications, organization and quick release of patient medications according to time pass, and it meets requirements for compliance packaging in long-term care settings. It takes into consideration the differing needs of the pharmacy filling the prescriptions and, the caregiver administering the medications to the patient. The main design of the package consists of three parts: a plastic front with bubbles to encase pills, perforations used for the release of the pills, and channels to separate and assist in the release of the pills; a cardboard backing that is coated with food-grade glue; and a label. The system is designed with key characteristics that are common to current systems in use (such as package size and glue that can be used in existing heat seal machines) so that conversion to the new system can be easy and cost effective for the pharmacy and the end user. However, the unique features (the perforated front release system, individual pill bubbles organized in rows and separated by channels, and solid backing) set this medication packaging system apart from other systems and offer significant improvements over prior art.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A package for containing and dispensing medicines in pill form, comprising: 
 a cardboard backing member;    a plasticized cover attached to one side of said cardboard backing member, said cover having a plurality of bubbles arranged in elongate rows therein for containing pills; and    a series of perforations and elongate channels in said cover to provide for individual release of each of the pills from the bubbles in the cover.    
     
     
         2 . A package as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said cardboard backing member is non-perforated.  
     
     
         3 . A package as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the bubbles are arranged for the release of multiple pills at one time.  
     
     
         4 . A package as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said row of bubbles has a tab at an end thereof to provide for easy access to the pills.