Device for drug distribution and method of using thereof

Abstract

A medicament dispensing device comprises (a) at least one container adapted for accommodating and dispensing at least one elongate packagible elongate blister pack carrying a plurality of blisters containing the medicament; (b) transporting means adapted for transporting the blister pack toward opening of the container; (c) dispensing means adapted for releasing a fragment of the blister pack bearing a predetermined number of the blisters from the container through the opening to a patient; and (d) controlling means adapted for identifying the patient before dispensing the blister to the patient, activating the dispensing means, recording actions of dispensing. The substrate is foldable and configured to be folded within the container. In the folded configuration, non-foldable portions bearing the blisters face each other.

1 . An elongate continuous blister pack comprising:
 a plurality of blisters, each blister accommodating a medicament dose;   at least three non-folded portions containing said blisters, said non-folded portions packaged for distribution as layers in a stack in a multiply folded configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The blister pack of  claim 1 , wherein said non-folded portions include a plurality of blister-occupied positions in which a blister is disposed; and at least one blister-empty position; wherein, in said multiply folded configuration a blister-empty position in a non folded portion is a blister-occupied position in facing non-folded portion so that a distance between facing non-folding portions is substantially the height of a blister. 
     
     
         3 . The blister pack according to  claim 1 , adapted for cutting off a fragment of said blister pack carrying a predetermined number of said medicament doses within intact blisters of said blisters. 
     
     
         4 . The blister pack of  claim 1 , wherein said blister pack is manufactured for said multiply folded configuration having a predetermined shape. 
     
     
         5 . The blister pack of  claim 1 , wherein said multiply folded configuration is distributed in a container. 
     
     
         6 . The blister pack according to  claim 1 , adapted for transporting thereof by means a cogwheel along a guide member; said blister pack having at least one line of perforations; said line is directed in parallel to said blister pack; said perforations are adapted for engaging with cogs of said cogwheel so that said blister pack is linearly transported along said guide member. 
     
     
         7 . The blister pack according to  claim 1 , wherein said blister pack includes at least four non-folded portions containing said blisters and said stack includes at least three layers. 
     
     
         8 . The blister pack according to  claim 1 , wherein said blister pack includes at least twelve non-folded portions containing said blisters and said stack includes at least six layers. 
     
     
         9 . The blister pack according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said non-folded portions contain at least one of said blisters and at least one of said blister occupied positions and at least one of said blister empty positions. 
     
     
         10 . The blister pack according to  claim 3 , wherein said predetermined number is one. 
     
     
         11 . A method of dispensing a medication; said method comprising:
 manufacturing at least one elongate continuous blister pack having a plurality of blisters in a plurality of non-folded portions of the blister pack, each blister accommodating a medicament dose;   folding said blister pack into a multiply folded configuration of at least three of the non-folded portions stacked in at least two layers, and   loading said blister pack in said multiply folded configuration into a container.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 releasing a fragment of said blister pack, said fragment bearing a predetermined number of said doses.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said releasing is performed in intact blisters. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said releasing is to a patient via a dispenser, said dispenser including a processor and a memory and the method further comprising:
 said processor performing at least one action selected from the group consisting of identifying said patient, controlling said releasing according to a treatment protocol recorded in a memory, informing said patient about a clinical trial protocol, monitoring patient compliance with a clinical trial protocol, monitoring patient compliance with a treatment program, recording actions of dispensing, and transmitting obtained records to a clearing house.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least one blister pack includes a plurality of blister packs, each said blister pack including a different medicament and further comprising:
 dispensing said different medicaments concurrently and/or consecutively according to a treatment protocol.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising at least one action selected form the group consisting of said processor broadcasting a notification message to take a corresponding dose of said medicament according to said protocol; receiving said message by a mobile device carried by said patient; receiving said message by a bracelet carried by said patient; or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said identifying said patient is performed using a RFID technology. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein said predetermined number is one. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 transporting said blister pack toward a slot is said container.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said transporting includes transporting said blister pack linearly along a guide member via cogs of a cogwheel, said cogs fitting into perforations located on said blister pack. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said container includes a knife controlled by said processor and further comprising:
 cutting off with said knife said fragment of said blister pack carrying said predetermined number of said medicine doses and said blisters in an intact state.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said folding is into said stack of least four of the non-folded portions in at least three layers. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said folding is into said stack of least twelve of the non-folded portions in at least six layers.