Package with enclosure for dispensing doses of a medicament

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide for a package for dispensing a single medicinal unit dose. The package may include an enclosure, an access opening in the enclosure for retrieving a unit dose from the enclosure, and at least one medicament holder for holding the unit dose, such that the unit dose removed from the medicament holder falls into and is captured by the enclosure, for later retrieval through the access opening.

1 . A package for dispensing a single medicinal unit dose, the package comprising:
 a wall structure defining an enclosure;   an access opening in the enclosure for retrieving a unit dose from the enclosure; and   at least one medicament holder for holding the unit dose, the at least one medicament holder being mounted to the wall structure such that the unit dose removed from the medicament holder falls into and is captured by the enclosure, for later retrieval through the access opening.   
     
     
         2 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein each the medicament holder comprises a blister for holding the unit dose. 
     
     
         3 . A package according to  claim 2 , further comprising a rupturable backing provided on an inner surface of the blister for retaining the unit dose in each the blister. 
     
     
         4 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of blisters mounted to the wall structure. 
     
     
         5 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one medicament holder is integrally formed with the wall structure. 
     
     
         6 . A package according to  claim 5 , wherein each the medicament holder includes a blister for holding the unit dose, the blister being formed by a deformable portion of the wall structure, and further comprising a rupturable backing provided on an inner surface of the wall structure in association with each the blister for retaining the unit dose in the blister. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure includes at least one entry opening, and the at least one medicament holder is permanently secured to the wall structure in association with the at least one entry opening. 
     
     
         9 . A package according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one medicament holder includes a blister for holding the unit dose and a rupturable backing provided on an inner surface of the blister for retaining the unit dose in the blister, the blister and rupturable backing being permanently secured to the wall structure for passing the unit dose from the blister through one the entry opening into the enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . A package according to  claim 9 , further comprising an insert comprising a plurality of the blisters therein, with the rupturable backing provided on an inner surface of the insert, the insert being permanently secured to the wall structure for passing the unit dose from the blister through one the entry opening into the enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure includes at least one entry opening, and the at least one medicament holder is removably secured to the wall structure. 
     
     
         13 . A package according to  claim 12 , wherein the wall structure further includes at least one guide for guiding and mounting the at least one medicament holder such that each medicament holder is positioned in covering relation to one the entry opening. 
     
     
         14 . A package according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one medicament holder includes an insert comprising a plurality of the blisters therein, with the rupturable backing provided on an inner surface of the insert, the insert being removably mounted to the wall structure by the at least one guide for passing the unit dose from each the blister through one the entry opening into the enclosure. 
     
     
         15 . A package according to  claim 14 , wherein the insert includes a card insert, and the at least one guide includes parallel, spaced apart, L-shaped walls on an outer surface of the wall structure for slidably receiving the card insert to mount the card insert to the wall enclosure. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein the wall structure includes:
 a clam shell package comprising a center section and first and second hinged side sections hingedly secured to opposite sides of the center section, the first side section comprising at least one medicament holder therein, and   a container comprising entry openings and mounted in the second side section, such that when the clam shell package is closed, each the medicament holder is positioned in covering relation to one the entry opening, the container comprising the access opening.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A package according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one the medicament holder includes a deformable front wall which can be depressed by a person's finger and a deformable rear wall for retaining the unit dose in the medicament holder, the deformable rear wall comprising an inwardly turned section which locks the unit dose in the medicament holder and which is turned outwardly upon deformation of the deformable front wall in order to release the unit dose through the deformable rear wall. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A pharmaceutical product comprising at least one medicament holder and a package for dispensing a single medicinal unit dose, the package comprising:
 a wall structure defining an enclosure;   an access opening in the enclosure for retrieving a unit dose from the enclosure; and   at least one medicament holder for holding the unit dose, the at least one medicament holder being mounted to the wall structure such that the unit dose removed from the medicament holder falls into and is captured by the enclosure, for later retrieval through the access opening.   
     
     
         23 . A pharmaceutical product according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least one medicament holder comprising at least one pharmaceutical dosage form. 
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A pharmaceutical kit, comprising the package of  claim 1  and a plurality of medicament holders which comprises a plurality of pharmaceutical dosage forms. 
     
     
         27 . A blank for forming a package for dispensing a single medicinal unit dose, the blank comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels connected together for forming an enclosure with at least a closed bottom, and   at least one blister for holding a unit dose incorporated into at least one of the wall panels of the enclosure, such that when the wall panels are connected together to form the enclosure, a unit dose removed from one the blister falls into and is captured by the enclosure, for later retrieval.   
     
     
         28 . A blank according to  claim 27 , further comprising a rupturable backing provided on an inner surface of the wall panel to each the blister for retaining a unit dose in each the blister. 
     
     
         29 - 39 . (canceled)