WO1998001368A2

WO1998001368A2 - Container for dispensing medicaments

Info

Publication number: WO1998001368A2
Application number: PCT/IL1997/000223
Authority: WO
Inventors: Igal Sharon; Michael Inbar
Original assignee: A.B. Tech. Development
Priority date: 1996-07-03
Filing date: 1997-07-03
Publication date: 1998-01-15
Also published as: IL118783A0; WO1998001368A3; AU3271697A

Abstract

Containers (20) for dispensing unitary medicaments such as pills or capsules is provided. Each container comprises at least one gripping member (36) for releasably holding an end of a matrix (40) containing a plurality of unitary medicaments. The container may be assembled together to form a medicament dispensing assembly.

Description

CONTAINER FOR DISPENSING MEDICAMENTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an assembly for dispensing of pills, tablets or capsules, present initially in a loose form or in a blister pack. The present invention further concerns medicament-holding containers preferably for use in the above assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For many individuals, it is necessary to take medications on a routine basis, typically, several times each day. Numerous containers for pills, tablets or capsules, whether present initially in a loose form, or in a blister pack, arc available for the purpose of providing physical protection for the pills, tablets or capsules. These containers arc characterized bv their adaptation for easy retrieval of medicaments therefrom, and by various arrangements enabling access to the medicamenls in an orderly fashion. Some of the containers for pills, tablets or capsules also contain various alarm systems which purpose is to alert the individual carrying the container to the fact that a predetermined period has elapsed from retrieval of the last medicament and that another should be taken. U.S. Patent No 3,397,770 discloses a rectangular receptacle having two rows of tablet-holding cavities with a cover, slidahly engaged with the receptacle, to cover the tablet-holding cavities in order to keep the tablets in place. The cover also serves to eliminate physical damage to the tablet and contamination from the surroundings U.S. Patent No. 3,504,788 discloses a container for medicinal tablets, present in a blister, which comprises a rigid tray supporting the blister, and further comprising a slip-fit outer sheet. The container is adapted to receive oral contraceptives and is shaped to about the same size and appearance of a small pocket comb.

U.S. Patent No. 2,708,026 is directed to a container for tablets comprising a slidable cover for a box and a plurality of spaced pockets in the bottom wall of the box, for holding the tablets. The pockets are arranged in diagonal rows across the box. This arrangement enables dispensing the tablets one by one upon progressive opening movement of the cover in each direction.

U.S. Patent No. 4,817,81 concerns a tablet container, suitable for tablets present in a blister (such as oral contraceptives), having a cover and a sliding tray with an arrangement of holes which corresponds essentially to the arrangement of the tablets in the blister.

U.S. Patent 4,526,474 describes a device for storing drug doses in a pill, tablet or capsule form, which comprises an alarm which warns the patients, at regular time intervals, to remove a drug dose from a blister pack serving as a drug container. An electronic timer system associated with the blister pack periodically activates a signal which emits a signal, such as an acoustic signal. The system comprises an electrically activated input which receives a starting pulse at the time when the first drug dose is removed from the blister.

Another medicament container comprising an alarm device is disclosed in U.S. 4,858,207. The device comprises a support for a blister of pills containing a plurality of individually dcprcssiblc buttons, each of which is aligned and corresponds exactly to one individual pill present in the packet, so that depression of a button will dispense a single individually packed pill. A timer monitors the time which lapse after any button has been depressed, since an electric link between the button and the timer allows re-starting of the timer after each button has been depressed (for the purpose of retrieval of a single pill). The timer sets an alarm after a predetermined period has elapsed since the last depression if no additional button has been depressed. This alarm device is suitable only for a specific arrangement of pills.

All the above described containers are directed to the dispensing of a single type of medicament, whether in a loose form which may be placed in suitable cavities or pockets of the container, or whether the container is capable of holding a blister packet of tablets.

In many cases, individuals are on a treatment regimen in which they receive a number of different types of medicaments, some of which may be in a blister form and some of which may be in a loose form. Furthermore, in institutions which have to deliver to patients a large number of different kinds of medicaments, such as hospital wards, also need an arrangement allowing the orderly dispensing of different kinds of medicaments. For such purposes, various devices and arrays for dispensing different types of medicines have been devised.

U.S. 4,593,819 discloses a compartmented pill-tray assembly having a molded plastic tray with open-top compartment arranged in a uniform array of columns and rows, a column being provided for each day of the week, and a row being provided for each interval at which the medication is to be taken. The assembly may be received by a case including a rear cover and may be supported by a base for holding the tray.

U.S. Patent No. 5,097,982 discloses a medication dispenser apparatus comprising a plurality of containers for holding different kinds of medications, and an injector which injects a selected medication from its responsive container to a dispensing station which receives the ejected medication. The whole system is programmed to yield controlled ejection of medication according to a preset program taking into consideration the kind of medication, the amount to be administered and the time. Such an apparatus is typically used in a ward of a hospital. U.S. Patent No. 3,563,410 discloses an apparatus for dispensing medications to a number of patients in a ward or wing of a hospital. The apparatus is actually a machine that releases a desired number of pills or capsules of a given type and dispenses the pills into a medication cap. Adjustable selection apparatus is provided for determining and controlling the number of pills or capsules to be released from the given medication reservoir. Audible signals indicate the number of pills or capsules which were dispensed, and these signals are simultaneously provided as a safety measure.

The above systems for dispensing several types of medicaments are usually electronic and very complicated, and thus prone to various faults which cause them to be less than perfectly reliable. Furthermore, such complex systems are quite expensive, even for large hospital wards. Such a complicated and expensive system is of course not applicable in cases where a smaller number of medicaments have to be dispensed, e.g. in the case of home use.

Furthermore, the above systems have a fixed number of medicament reservoirs, which was chosen according to the manufacturer's decision. Such a construction does not allow for flexibility in treatment regimen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides novel containers for holding and dispensing pills, tablets or capsules (to be referred to hereinafter collectively as "unitary medicaments "). The containers may be adapted for engagement with other containers to form a dispensing assembly for dispensing unitary medicaments. The containers may be adapted for holding unitary medica- ents which may be in loose form or packaged in a carrier matrix, e.g. a blister. (The term "lose form " refers to unitary medicaments which are not individually packaged in a blister but are rather sold individually or in bulk.)

The individual containers may be detachably engaged with one another, either directly, e.g. by integral engagement means, or via an adaptor. A modulatory dispensing assembly in accordance with the invention may comprise a different number of assembled containers, according to need. For example, this feature allows an individual who _ -

normally receives a fixed amount of different medications, and who following a change in his health condition requires an additional medication, to add to his regular dispensing assembly consisting of a corresponding fixed amount of containers (each holding a different unitary medicament), an additional container for the additional medication, but this only for a specific period of additional treatment. At the end of the additional treatment period the additional container may be removed. In a hospital ward a dispensing assembly may be prepared consisting of different containers, at least one for each patient requiring medication. The detachable attachment allows to add or detach containers based on a change in the patient population or in the patient's needs. Furthermore, if patients arc removed from one ward to another, or if it is desired to alter the medication distribution pattern, e.g. divide it according to a patient's room, it is possible to reassemble the containers as needed. Several embodiments of storage and dispensing containers are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, the present invention provides a container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a front face for dispensing the unitary medicaments therethrough, at least one gripping member for releasably holding an end of a matrix containing a plurality of unitary medicaments which is reciprocable within the container in a rear- front direction, and having at least one user accessible member attached to or integral with said at least one gripping member for causing the reciprocation.

The matrix containing the plurality of unitary medicaments may be a commercially available blister pack, may be a drawer-like receptacle holding the unitary medicaments, etc.

Typically, the container has at least one slot extending longitudinally in one of the bottom, top or side walls of the container, with the user accessible member being a member having a portion which is accommodated within the slot and which is attached to or integral with the said gripping member. The container may comprise a single gripping member for gripping either a blister pack or a drawer-like receptacle, or may comprise several gripping members, each of which serves for independent gripping of a blister pack or a drawer-like receptacle. In accordance with another embodiment, the present invention provides a container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a front face for dispensing the unitary medicaments therethrough and at least one drawer-like receptacle, holding the unitary medicament, and being slidable within the container in a rear-front orientation between a retracted and an extended position, said drawer-like receptacle having a wall which essentially seals the front face when said receptacle is at its retracted position.

By a further embodiment, the present invention provides a container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a dispensing front face and being compartmentalized by a plurality of dividing walls extending longitudinally in a rear-front direction, each compartment comprising a slot extending longitudinally in one of the bottom, top or side walls of the container, each compartment slidably accommodating a piston for pushing the unitary medicaments within the compartment through said opening, the movement of each piston within the compartment being controlled by a member attached to or together with the piston accommodated within a slot.

By a further embodiment the present invention provides a container for holding unitary medicaments which comprises a front face for dispensing the unitary medicaments therethrough, and having a member holding the unitary medicaments which is held in a pivoting arrangement such that it can rotate between an open state in which it projects out of said front face displaying the unitary medicaments and a closed state wherein the medicinal formulations are within the container.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the container comprises on its top wall a tray portion adapted for holding unitary medicaments in loose form having a skirt for retaining the medicaments within the tray portion. Optionally, a container according to this embodiment comprises also a cover member for covering said tray portion.

According to a further embodiment, the containers are provided with means for engagement with one another to form an assembly of such containers or an assembly with containers such as those mentioned above. Further provided by the invention is a container having a front face for dispensing the unitary medical formulation therethrough, at least one slot extending longitudinally in one of the bottom, top and side walls of the container, the slot being in a rear-front direction; and at least one gripping member slidable within the container between the rear wall and the front face, each of said at least one gripping member, having a gripping unit for releasably holding an end of a matrix containing a plurality of unitary medicaments and having a handle protruding out of said at least one slot. The matrix may be a commercially available blister pack or a drawer-like slot receptacle containing loose unitary medicaments.

Still further provided by the invention is a container for dispensing unitary medicaments, having a front face for dispensing the unitary medical formulation therethrough, and a drawer-like receptacle slidable within the container in a rear-front orientation between a retracted and an extended position, said drawer-like receptacle having a wall which essentially seals the front face when said receptacle is at its retracted position.

Still further provided by the invention is a container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a front face for dispensing the unitary medical formulation therethrough, said containers being compart- mented by a plurality of dividing walls extending longitudinally in the rear- front orientation, each compartment comprising a slot extending longitudinally in one of the bottom, top and side walls of the container the slot being in a rear-front orientation, each compartment slidably holding a movable member capable of pushing the unitary medicaments stacked within the compartment sequentially through said open face, each of said movable members having a handle protruding out of said slot. The container of the present invention is preferably made of a rigid material. At time at least its top wall may be transparent in order to enable visualizing the number of unitary medicaments held within.

A container according to the invention is preferably designed for detachable engagement with other containers to form a dispensing assembly. Alternatively, the container may be fashioned so as to be detachably engaged to another container by means of an adapter.

The present invention also provides a medicament dispensing assembly comprising at least one container of the invention. The modulatory dispensing assembly of the invention may be formed by direct engagement of individual containers to each other in a detachable manner, or by engagement of individual containers to each other by means of an engagement adapter. The adapter may have a hinge portion which enables its folding for convenience carrying. Alternatively, the adapter may take the form of a stand, with engagement members or with receptacles for the individual containers. Such a stand may be rotatable to allow easy access to each container. The adapter may also take the shape of a rack having means for engagement with or receptacles for receiving a plurality of containers. The dispensing assembly of the invention may further comprise a clock and/or timer which may also be detachably engaged to the assembly. The clock or timer may be programmed to give a signal at predetermined periods in order to alert the individual to the fact that another medicament dose is due. The signal may be audible, such as a ring, beep, etc. In order to aid the user in keeping track of the number of unitary medicaments taken, the assembly may further comprise indication means. The indication means may be, for example, a sticker having a plurality of empty cells, and after each dose is taken, the cells are progressively marked by handwriting, by punching a perforated region, or by scratching out a specific scratchable region. The indication means may also be a dial with numbers which is turned to indicate the number of doses taken, or to indicate the number of doses which still have to be taken as the case may be.

Each container of the assembly may also be labeled individually, with the name of the patient (where the assembly in used for dispensing medicaments to a member of needing individuals) and/or with the type of medicament contained therein. The labeling can simply be by way of attaching a different sticker to each container. It is possible also to mark individual containers in a manner recognizable by people with poor eyesight, e.g. by fitting each container with a specific replaceable protruding indicating member having a different distinguishable shape in each container, to allow to distinguish one container from another by feel alone.

Each container may also comprise a cavity for holding an instruction sheet of the medicament as provided by the manufacturer, so that the original cardboard box in which the unitary medicinal formulation was purchased can be disposed.

The containers and the assembly will now be illustrated with reference to some non-limiting specific embodiments described in the text below and in the annexed drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a container for holding and dispensing medicaments contained in a blister, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the container of Fig. 1, with a blister in an extended position and with some rear elements in an exploded view;

Fig. 3 shows a container for holding and dispensing medicaments in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, comprising a drawerlike receptacle for holding the medicaments;

Fig. 4 shows the container of Fig. 3 with the drawer-like receptacle in an extended position and with some rear components in exploded view similarly as in Fig. 2; Figs. 5 and 6 show a container in accordance with the invention with an attached digital clock;

Fig. 7 and 8 show a container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention holding both a blister with unitary medicaments and a drawer- like receptacle;

Fig. 9 shows the container according to the invention with an indicator dial and replaceable indicators for the type of medicaments contained therein, e.g. for use by blind individuals;

Fig. 10 shows an assembly comprising two containers of Fig. 9, each containing a different medicament;

Fig. 11 shows the manner of gripping an end of a blister or the like by the slidable gripping member within the container:

Fig. 11A and 11B are isometric views showing the general manner of attachment of these two gripping members, whereas Figs. 11C-11F are cross sections showing various gripping mechanisms;

Fig. 12 shows a manner of combining two containers into an assembly by dove-tailing engagement member;

Fig. 13 shows another manner of attachment of two containers by an engagement member which has a built-in pivot allowing rotation of the two containers in respect of one another between the positions shown in Figs. 13A and 13B;

Fig. 14 and 15 show embodiments for engagement of the two members; Fig. 16 is another embodiment of an assembly in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 17 shows an assembly in accordance with the invention comprising a rack holding a plurality of medicament-containing containers;

Fig. 18 demonstrates schematically the fact that a container of the invention may be used in a variety of different assemblies; and Fig. 19 shows a medicament holding container according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference is first made to Fig. 1 showing a container generally designated 20 comprising a rectangular box 22 with transparent top wall 24 and side walls 26 and 28 and a bottom and rear walls 30 and 32, respectively. The box further comprises an open front face 34 and a gripping member 36, the latter capable of sliding, within the box between rear wall 32 and front face 34.

Gripping member 36 has a gripping unit 38 adapted to releasably hold to an end of a tablet containing blister 40. Gripping member 36 has a handle 42 protruding from the top wall 24 of the container and accommodated in a longitudinal slot 44. Pushing of handle 42 along the slot moves gripping member 36 between a retracted position shown in Fig. 1 where the blister 40 is contained entirely within container 20 and an extended position shown in Fig. 2 where blister 40 protrudes out of front face 34 allowing removal of one or more tablets therefrom.

Container 20 further comprises a rigid support protrusion 46 integral with the bottom wall 30 which provides a support for easy removal of tablets from the blister back. In use, the tablets to be removed can be positioned above openings 48 in support member 46 and by downward pressure they are released through the opening, while the frame of the support member provides counter-pressure in the other direction. The container further comprises a detachable member 50 shown in exploded view in Fig. 2 which can be used, by one example, to clamp a label 52 which can provide an indication to the type of medicament and/or name of patient and/or the treatment regime. The container also comprises a sticker 54 with a plurality of empty cells for marking each time a tablet is taken to allow the tracking of the medicament intake (few of the cells are shown with markings). The container further has a rear partition wall 56, defining together with rear wall 32 a cavity 58 having an opening 60 in the side wall 28. This cavity is intended to accommodate, if necessary, the manufacturer's instructions sold with the original purchased medicament box. Side wall 26 further comprises protrusions 27 and side wall 28 comprises recessions 29. Protrusions 27 of one container is capable of engaging with recessions 29 of another container, for example, in a dovetail engagement, in order to form together the modulatory assembly of the invention composed of several detachably engaged containers. Reference is now being made to Figs. 3 and 4 showing another embodiment of the invention. The container according to this embodiment, generally designated 70, is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and the reader is referred to these figures for explanations of the different parts. The difference is that rather than a blister as the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the container according to this embodiment comprises a drawer-like receptacle 72 slidable between a retracted position shown in Fig. 3 and an extended position as shown in Fig. 4. Gripping member 74 according to this embodiment with its associated handle 76 may be similar to gripping member 36 of the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. Receptacle 72 has a plurality of compartments 78 each with a bottom wall 80 which can be pushed upwards, as shown schematically by the arrows in Fig. 4, facilitating removal of medicaments contained therein. When in the retracted position, the front wall 82 of receptacle 72 seals the opening of the container and defines its front wall. As will be appreciated, a container in accordance with the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4 is intended particularly for medicaments sold in loose form.

Figs. 5 and 6 show a variation of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In accordance with this embodiment, instead of the removable member (which is identical to member 50 in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2) this embodiment has a digital clock device 84, with _ ^ _

a clock display 86 and control buttons 88. This clock can typically be programmed to provide an indication of the times for a medicament intake and can give an alarm at predetermined intervals.

Figs. 7 and 8 show a container according to another embodiment of the invention. Container 90 according to this embodiment has two gripping members 92 and 94, one for holding the end of a blister 96 and one for holding an end of a drawer-like receptacle 98. In this container, the handles 100 and 102 of gripping members 92 and 94, respectively, protrude sideways through respective slots 104 and 106. As can be seen, each of the gripping members can be independently moved within the container, thus extracting out of the container independently the blister and/or the drawerlike receptacle.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The container 110 of this embodiment has a handle 114 accommodated and movable within the recess 116 at the upper right edge of the container, which recess has at its bottom a longitudinal slot 118. The advantage of such a handle is that it does not protrude off the upper face of the compartment, enabling for example, the container to be carried in a purse and minimizing the possibility of entangling with other objects. The container further has on its top wall a dial 120 having numbers thereon providing an indication of the number of medicaments already consumed or still contained within the container.

The container further has a hole 122 in the top wall at the rear left corner of the box which can accommodate one of a plurality of screw- like members 124. Each of members 124 has a different shaped head, which heads are intended to allow identification by feel alone the type of medicaments contained in the container. This may be very useful for individuals with poor eyesight which in a case of an assembly comprising two or more such containers, as shown in Fig. 10, can have indication by feel alone of type of medicaments contained in each of the containers. Reference is now being made to Fig. 11 , wherein in Fig. 11 A, gripping member 124 is shown, having a gripping unit 126. In this specific example, the gripping member is intended to hold an end 128 of a blister, both units are shown in an exploded view in Fig. 11A and attached to one another in Fig. 11B.

Figs. 11C-11F are cross-sectional views through the gripping unit showing a number of alternative ways of releasably holding an end of a blister. In Fig. 11C, the gripping unit 130 has two retaining blocks 132 and 134 which pressure the end 136 of the blister. In Fig. 11D, gripping unit has two blocks 140 and 142 with juxtaposed serrogating surfaces 144 and 146. Once an end 148 of a blister is inserted between these two faces, it is tightly held thereby, and can be removed only by application of access force to the one required for its insertion.

Gripping unit 150 of the embodiment shown in Fig H E has a narrow space 152 adapted to receive an end of a blister, which is then secured in position by means of a pin 154 which can penetrate through the blister's matrix.

Gripping unit 156 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 11F is in essence similar to that of Fig. 11C with a difference being that rather than having blocks 132 and 134, unit 156 according to this embodiment has two resilient clamping members 158 and 160, holding the end of the blister by pressure therebetween.

The manner of engagement of medicament containers according to the invention to one another to form an assembly in accordance with some embodiments of the invention, is shown in Figs. 12-18. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 12, containers 160 and 162 are engaged to one another by a dove-tailing mechanism utilizing engagement member 164. As can be seen particularly in Fig. 12B, once the engagement member 164 is properly inserted in a manner in which it engages recesses 166 and 168, of containers 162 and 160 respectively, the two containers become engaged with one another to form assembly 170 shown in Fig. 12B. In this assembly, the upper faces of each of the containers is in an opposite orientation to the other.

Recesses 166 and 168 allow for back-to-back direct engagement of two containers or allows engagement to an adapter as will be shown hereinbelow. In addition to recesses 166 and 168, the containers will also have on one side wall protrusions 172 and on the other side wall recesses 174 which are capable of engagement to each other in a similar manner to that specified in connection with protrusions 27 and recesses 29 in Fig. 1. Recesses 174 and protrusions 172 allow for an alternative engagement of the two containers, side-by-sidc, either directly or via an adapter in other assemblies.

Fig. 13 shows an assembly 176 according to another embodiment of the invention comprising two containers 178 and 180 attached to each other via an adapter 181 (shown also separately). Adapter 181 has protrusions 182 and recesses 184 which arc capable of engaging with recesses 186 and protrusions 188 of the two containers, respectively, as explained above. Adapter 181 also comprises a hinge 190, which enables a pivoting movement between a folded position shown in Fig. 13B and an open position shown in Fig. 18A. In the open position of adapter 181, the containers 178 and 180 are in a back-to-back orientation, which is adapted for carrying the assembly 176 by the individual, e.g. in a purse. In the folded position of adapter 181 (Fig. 13B), the containers are in a side-by- side orientation allowing easy removal of the medicaments contained in each container. Figs. 14 an 15 show other embodiments of the assembly of the invention. In Fig. 14, the assembly 192 comprises a prismatic adapter 194, having an open top and bottom faces for engagement with the bottom walls of four containers 196, 198, 200 and 202, so that each wall of the adapter 194 holds a container. The engagement may be a dove-tail type engage- ment similar to the one specified in Fig. 12. Fig. 15 shows assembly 204 comprising two cubic adapters 206 and 208 identical to adapter 194 in Fig. 14 attached to each other, as specified above through one of their walls. The remaining three walls of each adapter can engage with three individual containers. Reference is now made to Fig. 16, showing another embodiment of an assembly 210 of the invention. The adapter 212 in this case is a four walled construction wherein each wall is slightly slanted towards a central void 214.

Adapter 212 is positioned on a stand 218 which enables its rotation and thus easy access to each container on adapter 212. Assembly 210 further comprises collecting drawer 219 positioned at the bottom of tunnel 214. Unitary medicaments released from the open faces 224 and 226 of containers 220 and 222, respectively, fall through opening 214 into drawer 219. Said collecting drawer is slidable to an extended position as shown in the drawings and the collected medicament remover.

Container 220 holds a blister pack of tablets which arc deposited in the opening of tunnel 214 by pressing them through the metal foil. Container 222 holds three stacks of tablets which were initially purchased in loose forms. The tablets are stacked one on top of the other in compartments 228, 230, 232. Each stack of tablets can be sequentially moved by means of a displaceable member within each compartment (not shown) having respective handles 240, 242 and 244, protruding out of slots 246, 248 or 250, respectively. Each displaceable member is independently slidable between a rear and a front position. Progressive advancement of the platform pushes the single tablets out of the compartments into the central void 214.

Fig. 17 shows another assembly of the invention 252 suitable for holding a large number of individual containers, typically for institutional— ized use, e.g. in a hospital ward. The individual containers are engaged by their bottom wall to a graduated rack 254 holding the containers. Fig. 18 shows schematically the modulatory nature of the assembly of the invention. The individual container 256, drawn in the center of the figure is adapted for engagement by its side or back walls, to other containers to form various types of assemblies. For example, the container may be engaged with other such containers, by the aid of a foldable adapter to form assembly 258, as described in Fig. 13, useful for carrying it around. If an individual requires a larger number of medicaments to be administered, the container may form part of an assembly 260, as specified in Fig. 14. For institutions catering for the needs of may individuals, such as hospitals, the container may form a part of a still larger assembly 262, as described in Fig. 17.

Reference is now being made to Fig. 19 showing a container according to an embodiment of the invention. The container generally designated 280 has a top face 282 with a tray portion 284 holding a plurality of pills 286 which are confined within the tray portion by means of circumferential walls 288. Also held on the top face 282 is a timing device 290. The top face is pivotally attached to a lid member 292 adapted to cover and close the tray portion and the timing device 290.

Front face 292 of the container has an opening 294. Pivoting member 296 has a tray portion 298 holding a tablet blister 300, and has an integral panel member 302. The panel member 302 has upward and downward projecting hinges (not shown in the figure) which are integral with end portion 304 of panel 302. The two hinges are received in matching receptacles in the upper wall 282 and bottom wall 306 (also not shown) and by this arrangement, member 296 can pivot in the general direction shown by arrow 308. Pivoting member 296 has retaining shoulders 310 which retain blister 300 from slipping into the container.

In the position shown in Fig. 19, pivoting member 296 is in the open position displaying the blisters. By rotating the member clockwise, the blister comes to lie within the container with the panel 302 sealing opening 292. In the closed position, clamps 312 exert pressure on end portion 314 of panel 302 just thereby retaining pivoting member 296 in the closed position.

Container of the kind shown in Fig. 19 may also be provided with attachment means, similar to those of the afore-described embodiments, for attachment to other containers to form an assembly.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a front face for dispensing the unitary medicaments therethrough, at least one gripping member for releasably holding an end of a matrix containing a plurality of unitary medicaments which is reciprocable within the container in a rear-front direction, and having at least one user accessible member attached to or integral with said at least gripping member for causing the reciprocation.

2. A container according to Claim 1 , wherein the matrix containing a plurality of unitary medicaments is a blister pack.

3. A container according to Claim 1, wherein the matrix containing the plurality of unitary medicaments is a drawer-like receptacle.

4. A container according to Claim 3, wherein the drawer-like receptacle is compartmented.

5. A container according to any one of Claims 1-4 having at least one slot extending longitudinally in one of the bottom, top or side walls of the container, with the user accessible member being attached to or integral with the said gripping member and having a portion accommodated within the slot.

6. A container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a front face for dispensing the unitary medicaments therethrough and at least one drawer-like receptacle holding the unitary medicament, and being slidable within the container in a rear-front orientation between a retracted and an extended position, said drawer-like receptacle having a wall which essentially seals the front face when said receptacle is at its retracted position.

7. A container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a dispensing front face and being compartmentalized by a plurality of dividing walls extending longitudinally in a rear-front direction, each compartment comprising a slot extending longitudinally in one of the bottom, top or side walls of the container, each compartment slidably accommodating a piston for pushing the unitary medicaments within the compartment through said opening, the movement of each piston within the compartment being controlled by a member attached to or together with the piston accommodated within a slot.

8. A container for holding unitary medicaments which comprises a front face for dispensing the unitary medicaments therethrough, and having a member holding the unitary medicaments which is held in a pivoting arrangement such that it can rotate between an open state in which it projects out of said front face displaying the unitary medicaments and a closed state wherein the medicinal formulations arc within the container.

9. A container according to any one of Claims 1 -8, comprising on its top wall a tray portion adapted for holding unitary medicaments in loose form and having a skirt for retaining the medicament within the tray portion.

10. A container according to any one of Claims 1 -9, provided with means for engagement with one another to form a medicament dispensing assembly.

11. A container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a front face for dispensing the unitary medical formulation therethrough, at least one slot extending longitudinally in one of the bottom, top and side walls of the container, the slot being in a rear-front direction; and at least one gripping member slidable within the container between the rear wall and the front face, each of said at least one gripping members having a gripping unit for releasably holding an end of a matrix containing a plurality of unitary medicaments, each of said at least one gripping members having a handle protruding out of said at least one slot.

12. A container according to Claim 11 , wherein the matrix containing a plurality of unitary medicaments is a blister pack.

13. A container according to Claim 11 , wherein the matrix containing plurality of unitary medicaments is a drawer-like receptacle.

14. A container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a front face for dispensing the unitary medical formulation therethrough, and a drawer-like receptacle slidable within the container in a rear-front orientation between a retracted and an extended position, said drawer-like receptacle having a wall which essentially seals the front face when said receptacle is at its retracted position.

15. A container for dispensing unitary medicaments having a front face for dispensing the unitary medical formulation therethrough, said container being compartmented by a plurality of dividing walls extending longitudinally in the rear-front orientation, each compartment comprising a slot extending longitudinally in one of the bottom, top and side walls of the container the slot being in a rear-front orientation, each compartment slidably holding a movable member capable of pushing the unitary medicaments stacked within the compartment sequentially through said open face, each of said movable members having a handle protruding out of said slot.

16. A container according to any one of Claims 1-8, comprising means for detachable engagement with other containers.

17. A medicament dispensing assembly comprising two or more medicament holding containers at least one of which being a container according to any one of Claims 1-16.

18. An assembly according to Claim 17, wherein the containers are in direct detachable engagement with one another.

19. An assembly according to Claim 17, wherein the containers are detachably engaged to one another by means of an engagement adapter.

20. An assembly according to Claim 18 or 19, wherein the engagement is by means of a dove tailing arrangement.

21. An assembly according to any one of Claims 17-20, further comprising a clock and/or a timer device.

22. A container according to any one of Claims 1 -16, comprising means for indicating withdrawals of unitary medicaments.

23. A container according to Claim 22, wherein the indication means comprises a label with a plurality of cells adapted for being individually marked. 24

A container according to Claim 22, wherein the indication means comprises a dial.

25

A container according to any one of Claims 1 -16 com_prisin_{g a} cavity for holding printed instructions_. ^' " ⁸