WO2016128730A1

WO2016128730A1 - Container

Info

Publication number: WO2016128730A1
Application number: PCT/GB2016/050300
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Appleby; Jimi Simpson
Original assignee: Marsoftware Limited
Priority date: 2015-02-09
Filing date: 2016-02-09
Publication date: 2016-08-18
Also published as: GB201502065D0

Abstract

Herein disclosed are embodiments relating a blank for use in the manufacture of a blister pack, the blank comprising: perforations arranged in a pattern to effectively distribute stresses by the perforations when the blank is under tension by rollers and/or subjected to flex, a method for manufacturing a blister pack comprising the disclosed blank and a blister pack comprising the disclosed blank and/or manufactured using the disclosed method.

Description

CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a container suitable for holding objects and/or liquids, for example but not limited, to a pill container.

As used herein the term "pill" means a small object including a medicinal substance, the object intended to be taken orally by a patient. Included in definition of the term "pill" is vitamins, minerals and/or any other medicament or substance to be ingested by an individual. It includes tablets formed by moulding of the substance alone or with a carrier and capsules having powdered substance within a soluble shell, tablets and capsules being the two most common form of pill. Although exemplified herein is a pill container, it will be appreciated that the container need not contain or be designed to contain a pill(s). Instead, it will be appreciated that the container described herein may be designed so as to be suitable to contain any object and/or liquid.

Where the container is a pill container, there may be certain additional advantages. For example, there are regulatory requirements as regards the keeping of medication administration records, referred to below as "MAR data". Currently these are kept as manually written records, either physically written on paper records or electronically written to storage media.

For patients on complex medication regimes - several pills a day and different pills at different times of day - it is well known for the pills to be dispensed by a pharmacy into trays often having an array of 28 compartments arrayed as four compartments per day and seven days worth of four daily compartments. Although exemplified herein are containers often having 28 compartments, it will be appreciated that any number and/or array or arrangement of compartments may be provided.

For longevity of the pills, in particular to ensure against deterioration from damp, the compartments are generally sealed with an impermeable film adhered to lands around and between the compartments in the tray, the latter is conveniently a vacuum/pressure formed moulding. Once the pills have been dispensed into the compartments - also referred to as populating the tray - the film is sealed on.

A card identifying the intended day and part of the day at which the pills should be taken can be added to the sealed tray. Indeed, this card can be added before the tray is populated. In some embodiments, the card can incorporate the compartment sealing film and adhesive for adhering to both sides of the lands between the compartments.

In one exemplary embodiment, a card may be provided having double the number of apertures as compartments in the tray. In this example, the compartments of the tray extend through one array of apertures in one piece or section of the card. A fold in this piece of card is provided to another piece or section of the card, having another array of apertures which are brought into register with the compartments, on folding of the card. A third piece of the card may optionally be folded over the compartments. The entire populated assembly is referred herein as a pill box; however, it will be appreciated that this assembly need not contain pills. Further, it will be appreciated that although in this exemplary embodiment the tray is separate from the card, in some exemplary embodiments, the tray may be integrated therewith. Further, it will also be appreciated that although in this example the card comprises three sections configured so as to be folded in respect of each other, the card need not comprise three sections. Indeed, the card may comprise any number of sections. In other embodiments, the sections referred to herein may be distinct and preferably may be configured such that they are alignable and/or attachable.

The maximum efficacy of medical therapy is reliant on the patient taking the therapy according to specific instructions. Non-adherence occurs when patients do not take their medicine appropriately or at all. Non-adherence is a serious problem worldwide as it can result in serious deterioration of the medical condition and has avoidable and costly complications.

Smart pack technologies are available that enable adherence monitoring. It has been proposed to provide electric circuit tracks on the compartment closure and sealing film, together with a connection tail. The arrangement was to include a respective circuit for each compartment and intended to allow interrogation of the integrity of each compartment's circuit, whereby opening of the compartment and implied taking of the pills by the patient could be recorded.

In our GB patent application No. 13001 12.8 ("our earlier application"), the subject matter of which is incorporated herein, we disclosed a sheet for a pill container including a tray having an array of compartments and a film for sealing the compartments, the sheet having :

• an array of apertures complementary to the compartments array in the tray,

• each aperture having an openable tab across the aperture, the tab being tearable to allow pill (s) to pass through the aperture,

• a pattern of electrically conductive lines on the sheet to and from the tabs, each tab having a tab-crossing section of line whose electrical continuity is broken when the tab is torn open and

• a series of contacts on the sheet, the contacts and the lines being so arranged that a unique circuit is provided for each aperture and from its one contact to another via the tab's tab-line crossing section, whereby there is electrical continuity between the two contacts whilst the tab remains intact, the circuit being opened when the tab is torn.

We have now adopted the following definition, namely as used herein a "MARS pill pack and tag" means:

• a tray having an array of pill compartments

• a film for sealing the compartments

• a card adhered to the film and having:

• an array of apertures complementary to the compartments array in the tray,

• each aperture having an openable tab across the aperture, the tab being tearable to allow pill(s) to pass through the aperture,

• a pattern of electrically conductive lines on the card to and from the tabs, each tab having a tab-crossing section of line whose electrical continuity is broken when the tab is torn open and

• a series of contacts on the card, the contacts and the l ines being so arranged that a unique circuit is provided for each aperture, from one contact to another via a respective tab-crossing section, whereby there is electrical continuity between the two contacts whilst the tab remains intact, the circuit being broken when the tab is torn, and

• a tag having complementary contacts connected to the card contacts, the tag being for recording circuit opening on tab opening for taking of a pill by a patient.

The sheet for our earlier application was in effect for a card for a MARS pill pack and tag. It will be appreciated that although defined herein as a "MARS pill pack and tag" it will be appreciated that any container configured as described herein may be provided with the advantages described herein and therefore, the subject matter described herein should not be construed as limited to this exemplary preferred embodiment, namely a pill pack and/or a MARS system.

For production of such a card, we have sought to improve coherence of the conductive lines across the openable tabs. Where the lines are of printed conductive ink, they can fracture at perforations in the card at which the tabs are frangible for opening on pill compartments. We have sought to improve the robustness of the pull-tabs during manufacture. Alternative perforation patterns, as opposed to conventional pull-tab perforations (i.e. where the tab is perforated using a single line of perforations in one direction (for example horizontally)), are proposed. The perforations provide layout patterns to effectively distribute stresses induced by the press manufacture when pulled along under tension and/or around a large number of circular rollers that flex the card in different directions.

A recent clinical study using blister packaging smart technology highlighted the problem of unintentional breakage of nearby conductive circuits and the need for design refinements. Field trials carried out by us also highlighted this problem as there was a tendency for adjacent conventional pull-tabs to potentially destroy each other due to the card face delaminating. As such, for production of such a card, we have sought to avoid the problem of the card face delaminating. The proposed line extending between the edges of one tab to an adjacent tab provide a fracture tendency if a pull-tab does not pull away correctly.

According to a first aspect and/or embodiment there is provided a card (for a MARS pill pack and tag), the card having:

• openable tabs wherein the openable tabs are initially connected to the card at perforations generally arrayed in one direction and at least some neighbouring perforations having ends spaced transversally of the direction of array.

Preferably, the perforations are provided at the top and bottom portions of the openable tab. The openable tab may be formed with cut-outs either side of the tab. The perforations maybe provided along a region having a central axis or direction. Preferably, a T-shaped perforation and two linear perforations are provided. The linear perforations may be substantially parallel to the central axis, extend to the cut-outs, and are out of alignment with the head of the T perforation. The length of the head may vary depending on the extent of the overlap with the linear perforations that is required. Indeed, the T may be of a conventional shape with the stem being longer than the head or the length ratio between the stem and head maybe reversed. The linear perforations may further extend at an angle or curve towards the stem of the T perforation. A V-shaped perforation, as opposed to a T-shape perforation, may be provided. Alternatively, the perforations may extend oblique to the axis and the length, pitch and orientation of these perforations may vary. In some embodiments, the perforations may be arranged in a manner such that they are offset from the central axis.

The tabs can be rendered tearable by means of perforated portion(s) at adjacent parts of the card. A common feature of all the perforations may be that the conductive tab-crossing line section for the aperture crosses the tearable, partially cut or perforated portion whereby on tearing the line's continuity is broken.

Alternatively, the conductive line layer can be applied directly to the lands of the tray to close the compartments of the tray. Alternatively, a separate tray compartment closure layer can be provided, to which the conductive line layer is adhered on closure of the pack.

The conductive line layer can be of paper, that is a thin material produced by pressing together moist fibres, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets. Alternatively the conductive line layer can be a film of homogeneous polymeric material. Again it can be envisaged that the conductive line layer could be a metallic foil or a metalised film, with insulation between the metal and the conductive lines.

The conductive lines could be produced by sophisticated means such as deposition and partial etching of metal. However, they are preferably provided by high speed flexographic printing and drying of conductive inks.

According to a second additional/alternative aspect or embodiment, there is provided a card

(for a MARS pill pack and tag), the card having:

• openable tabs wherein the openable tabs are:

• formed with cut-outs either side of the tab;

• connected to the card at perforations;

• at least one partially or fully cut line(s) between adjacent tabs with one end of the line extending to or close to one cut-out and the other end of the line extending to or close to the other cut-out of the adjacent tab.

In this aspect/embodiment, where a full cut line is provided it can be foil depth through the card, but intermittent as in a perforation. Where a partial cut line is provided it can be of partial depth, either continuous or intermittent. Preferably, the partial or full cut line is generally substantially parallel with the array direction and has ends which curve to or close to each cutout to form an elongated s-shape line between adjacent tabs. It may be envisaged that the ends do not curve towards the cut-outs and only a vertical line parallel to the array direction is provided.

Preferably, the perforations are generally substantially arrayed in one direction and at least some neighbouring perforations have ends spaced substantially transversally of the direction of array. To help understanding of aspects and/or embodiments described herein and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an inside surface view of a card for a pill pack in accordance with one embodiment;

Figure 2 is a top view of the card of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is an outside surface view of the card of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pill tray for the card of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 is a conductive lines and perforations layout on the outside surface of a central piece of the card of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 is a scrap view of the card of Figure 5 showing the direction of the array;

Figure 7 is the tearable tab as shown in Figure 5 before the conductive lines have been printed;

Figures 8 - 16 are alternative tearable tabs for the card of Figure 5 (before the conductive lines have been printed);

Figure 1 7 is an inside surface view of a card for a pill pack in accordance with a second aspect of the invention; and

Figure 1 8 is a view of the card with pull tab cuts and circuit overlaid of a central piece of the card of Figure 1 , according to an additional or alternative aspect or embodiment.

It will also be appreciated that although features from each of the aspects/embodiments may be identified by different reference numerals in the figures and throughout the description, similar features including the properties and functionality attributed thereto, from one aspect/embodiment may be interchangeable with those of another embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, a card 1 , for example suitable for a pill pack and/or other container, has three pieces 2,3,4 connected by a single fold 5 between pieces 2 and3 and a double fold 6,7 between pieces 3 and 4. The inner face 8 of card in this embodiment is preferably coated with adhesive covered with a release paper 9. Although in this embodiment the card comprises three pieces or sections, it will be appreciated that any number of sections (including the singular) can be provided. Additionally and/or alternatively, although in this embodiment the pieces 2,3,4 are folded, it will be appreciated they need not be and in fact any other suitable arrangement can be provided; for example, the pieces can be separate but adapted so as to align, for example so as each lay substantially flush in respect of each other. It will also be appreciated that the inner face of the card need not comprise adhesive, but adhesive or other fastening means may be separated provided. The card piece 2 in this embodiment has an array of 28 apertures 1 0 for the 28 compartments 1 1 of a vacuum formed (or other known manufacture method for producing a tray) tray 12. Its adhesive adheres to the underside of lands 13 between and around the outer edges of the compartments 1 1 . For use, the release paper 9 is peeled from the piece 2 and, the tray 12 is adhered in place and populated with pills (not shown). As mentioned previously, the card may by provided with any number of apertures (including the singular), preferably corresponding to compartments provided on a respective tray. Further, it will be appreciated that the tray and/or compartments may be integrated with the card.

A closure film 15 is preferably adhered across a complementary array of 28 apertures 16 in the card piece 3 and optionally has adhesive applied to its release paper side. On population in this embodiment, the card piece 3 is folded onto the tray, with the film coming into adherence with the lands of the tray. Thus, the pills are contained. It will be appreciated that the card piece 3 may be provided with any number of apertures (including the singular), preferably corresponding to apertures of card piece 2. It will also be appreciate that the closure film 1 5 may be integral with or separate from card piece 3.

The outer face 18 of the card in this embodiment has printing 19, typically high-speed flexo- graphic printing, including an indication of the time of day and days of intended opening of each compartment and taking of the pills. It will be appreciated that the outer face need not comprise printing. In alternative embodiments, a sticker or other means may be provided to provide contextual information regarding the container.

The apertures 16 in the second, central card piece 3 are preferably initially not complete. They are crossed by respective tabs 21 . These are cut completely from the Y-axis lands 22 between the apertures at their sides, leaving broad V shaped cut-outs 23. However, they remain connected at their top and bottom portions 24 to the X-axis lands 25. Perforations 26 are provided for ease of tearing of the tabs 21 from the card piece. Conveniently, this may be done by supporting the card from below at the lands and pushing the relevant compartment down, rupturing the film sheet at the compartment and tearing the tab, with the pills being ejected into a hand below; for example, by using the thumb and a finger in a pinching and pulling motion.

The perforations 26 are generally arrayed substantially in one direction (line X-X showing the direction of array 28) with at least some neighbouring perforations having ends spaced substantially transversally of the direction of array. In the preferred embodiment, the perforations 26 are provided at one or both of the top and bottom portions 24 substantially to the lands 25 which extend substantially parallel to this x axis. They are provided along a region having a central axis 20 or direction 28 (line X-X showing the array direction 28).

In the exemplary embodiment of Figures 1 to 1 1 , a T-shaped perforation 44 and two perforations 45 may be provided. Preferably, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the perforations 45 are preferably out of alignment with the heads 55 and extend substantially to the cut-outs 23. Providing these perforations and alignment advantageously assists in effectively distributing stresses induced by the press manufacture when pulled along under tension and/or around a large number of circular rollers that flex the card in different directions. As shown in Figures 7 to 9 the two perforations 45 may be provided to be substantially parallel to the axis 28. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 10 and 1 1 the perforation ends 48 distal from the cut outs 23, may curve or angle towards the stem of the T. As shown in Figure 7, the head of the T can be substantially longer, in this example three times longer, than the stem. Indeed, as in Figure 9 the stem can be as short as sixth of the length of the head. Figure 8 shows an intermediate ratio of stem to head length. Figures 1 0 and 1 1 show inverse ratios with the stem being longer than the head (as in a more conventional T). As shown in Figure 8, the head of the T may be of a length to overlap the perforations 45 or as shown in Figures 1 ,9, 10 and 1 1 the head of the T may be of a length to not overlap the perforations 45. It will be appreciated that the length of the head will determine the extent of overlap with the perforations 45.

As shown in Figure 12, the T-shaped perforation may be replaced with a V-shaped perforation 50. In this figure, the perforations 45 are shown to curve toward the bottom of the V and the head (or top) of the V is in alignment with the perforations. It will be appreciated that the perforations 45 may be of a form as described above for Figures 7 to 1 1 and that the head (or top) of the V may be out of alignment with the perforations 45. Indeed, the V arms may be of a length so as to overlap with the perforations 45. It will be appreciated that the length and angle of the arms will determine the extent of overlap with the perforations 45. Although not depicted, it is foreseen that the perforation may be U- shaped and/or the T-/V- shaped perforation may comprise curved sections.

As shown in Figures 13 to 15, perforations 52 and 53 may be provided. Perforations 52 may extend substantially oblique to the axis 28 and perforations 53 are provided substantially parallel to the axis 28 and extend to the cut-outs 23. As shown in Figure 15 the perforations 52,53 are of a length, pitch and orientation such as not to overlap. The pitch being the distance between each perforation. Indeed, as shown in Figures 13 to 15, it will be appreciated that whether the perforations overlap is a function of their length, pitch and orientations with regard to the direction.

As shown in Figure 16, the tabs 21 may comprise only one broad V-shaped cut-out 57 with perforations 54 provided along the axis 28 and having a perforation extending to the cut-out 57. The perforations 54 are formed of two arms whereby one arm 58 is provided parallel to the axis 28 and one arm 59 extends from the parallel arm at a substantially oblique angle to the axis.

In an additional or alternative optional embodiment, as depicted in inter alia Figure 1 , the middle sheet piece 3 has a large rectangular aperture 31 with an up-standing wide tongue 32. The first sheet piece 2 preferably has a corresponding aperture 43. The sheet piece 4 in this embodiment has no such aperture. Printed onto the outer face 18, optionally by high-speed flexo-graphic printing, may be a series of conductive lines 33 with a linear series of contacts 34 extending onto the tongue 32. The conductive lines may be over printed with background colour 35, typically white, onto which the graphic printing 19 is printed.

The layout of the conductive lines may be arranged such that a common contact 36 leads to common lines 37, extending via branches 38 to one or other of the perforated top and bottom portions 24 of each tab. At these portions and indeed the opposite perforated portions the conductive printing is extended to the width of the portions whereby cutting of the perforations does not interrupt electrical conductivity. On each tab, between the wide portions at the perforations, a tab-crossing line section 39 is provided. Preferably, the line has wide ends 40 on either, but more preferably both, end of tab-crossing line section 39 to increase conduction prior to tearing of the tab's perforations. Unique lines 41 for each tab extend away from the latter to unique ones of the contacts. The arrangement is that from each tab's unique contact, there is a continuous circuit to the common contact across the tab. Breaking of the circuit, as in breaking of the tab to take the contents of the container, for example pills in its compartment, breaks the circuit. This can be detected by a tag, for example the "MARS tag", connected to the contacts. It will be appreciated that the tag may be integral with or separate from the card.

The card may be made using the following exemplary steps:

1 . Printed onto the outer face 1 8 as depicted at Figure 5, optionally by high-speed f lexo- graphic printing, is a series of conductive lines 33 with a linear series of contacts 42 extending onto the tongue 32. The conductive lines are preferably over printed with background colour, typically white, onto which further optional graphic printing 19 may be provided. For example, the outer face 18 of the card may have printing, optionally by high-speed flexo-graphic printing, including an indication of the time of day and days of intended opening of each compartment and taking of the pills;

2. The card may be punched, with the punchings 10 and/or 16, the perforations 26 and/or the apertures 31 ;

3. Adhesive may be printed and/or provided by other means on the side shown in

Figure 1 of the middle piece 3 of card;

4. A compartment closure foil (not shown) may be applied to the middle piece of card in the region thereof, to cover substantially each of the tabs of the array such that it is aligned with the compartments of the tray, i.e. with the punchings 10, so as to provide a moisture proof seal of the tray, which is particularly preferable when the forming a pill box;

5. Adhesive may be screen-printed and/or provided by other means on to card piece 2 and the compartment closure foil (not shown) for adhering to opposite sides of the lands in the tray between the compartments;

6. A release paper 9 may be applied over the adhesive applied in step 3;

7. The card is cut to size, including punching the conductive line paper in register with the aperture 31 and forming the fold lines 5, 6 and/or 7.

It will be appreciated that the card may be made by any number of the above steps in combination with other alternative known steps. It will also be appreciated that the order of the steps indicated above is exemplary and therefore should not be construed to be limiting. In an additional or alternative embodiment, the conductive lines, with a linear series of contacts extending onto the tongue, can be printed on the inner face 8 of card 1 (not shown).

Figure 6 also shows that the combination of circuit and cut provides an advantageous design tolerance for misalignment typically experienced during manufacture. Not wishing to be bound by theory (and subject to the overall specifications of the card), it is believed that typically a tolerance of around +/-1 mm is achievable with this design.

In accordance with an additional or alternative aspect or embodiment as shown in Figures 17 and 1 8, the card have partially or fully cut lines 129 between adjacent tabs 128 whereby each line is formed of a partial or full depth cut parallel to the array direction (i.e. formed in the X- axis lands 125) with one end of the line 130 curving to one cut-out 127 and the other end of the line 131 curving to the other cut-out 127 of the adjacent tab 128 to form an elongated S-shape line. Where a full cut line is provided it can be full depth through the card, but intermittent as in a perforation. Where a partially cut line is provided, it can be of partial depth, either continuous or intermittent. In a further embodiment, the ends do not curve towards the cut-outs and only a vertical line parallel to the array direction is provided (linear cut not shown). The proposed lines provide a fracture tendency if a pull-tab does not pull away correctly.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiments. For instance, a further compartment closing layer may be incorporated between the tray and the conductive line paper. It can also be envisaged that the conductive line paper could be applied to the other side of the card piece 3, with the conductive lines over printed with graphic printing.

It should be particularly noted that the invention is not limited to screen printing of the conductive ink lines. Other forms of printing or indeed other means of applying the lines are possible.

The invention can be further described with respect to the following consistory clauses:

1 . A blister pack comprised of a substantially planar substrate provided with a plurality of at least partially closed compartments, each of the at least partially closed compartments comprising an openable tab formed with a conductive element and perforations, wherein each tab is defined at least in part by perforated regions that are, in use, rupturable to open the tab to access the compartment;

each conductive line being connectable to a detection is circuit and is arranged to break responsive to the tab being opened, wherein optionally each conductive line can be provided on either side and/or both sides of the planar substrate and/or on (inner) laminates provided thereon.

It will be appreciated that were the conductive tracks/circuit are printed on either side of the card (or substrate/blank) or both, the inner laminates the conductive circuit there is a reduced risk of exposure to delamination or a tearing effect. 2. The blister pack of claim 1 , wherein first and second substantially opposed perforated regions defining portions of the periphery of an openable tab are each defined by a plurality of discontinuous perforations.

3. The blister pack of claim 2, wherein the plurality of discontinuous perforations making up a perforated region extend in a direction between substantially opposed cut outs, said cut outs defining the remaining portions of the periphery of the openable tab.

4. The blister pack of claim 3, wherein at least one discontinuous perforation extending between opposed cut outs is offset from another one of said discontinuous perforations on a line defining the direction between proposed cut outs.

5. The blister pack of claim 4, wherein a perforated region is defined by: a. a first substantially linear perforation extending from a first cut out in the direction of the opposed cut out

b. a second substantially linear perforation extending from the opposed cut out in the direction of the first cut out; and

c. at least one further perforation formed in the shape of a "T" and arranged

substantially between the first and second substanitally linear perforations.

6. The blister pack of claim 5, wherein the end of a substantially linear perforation extending between opposed cutouts that is not intersecting the cut out tends inwardly of the tab.

7. The blister pack of claim 5, wherein the T-shaped linear perforation is arranged such that it's head is arranged outwardly of the tab and its stem is arranged inwardly of the tab.

8. The blister pack of claim 5 or 6, wherein the T-shaped perforation is replaced by a V shaped perforation.

9. The blister pack of claim 8, wherein the apex of the V-shaped perforation is arranged inwardly of the tab.

10. The blister pack of claim 2, wherein one or more of said perforated regions is formed of a plurality of perforated lines extending in the direction between the cut outs, and wherein at least a portion of two or more individual perforated lines making up the extent of the plurality of perforated lines is angled obliquely with respect to the direction of a line between the cut outs.

1 1 . The blister pack of claim 1 0, wherein two or more individual perforated lines making up the linear perforated lines making up extent of the plurality of perforated lines are linear and arranged obliquely with respect to the direction of a line between the cut outs.

12. The blister pack of any preceding claim, wherein a conductive line is routed onto the tab via the perforated regions.

13. The blister pack of claim 12, wherein a portion of the conductive line at least partially surrounds a discontinuous perforation making up the perforated region. 14. The blister pack according to claim 13, the discontinuous perforation surrounded by the portion of the conductive line is V-shaped or T-shaped.

15. The blister pack according to claim 14 therein the stem of the T or the apex of the V points inwardly of the tab defined in part by the perforated regions.

16. The blister pack according to claim wherein the perforated regions defining each openable tab extend in directions selected to reduce mechanical vulnerability during production on rollers and/or presses.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that while the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and, where appropriate, other modes of performing the invention, the invention should not be limited to specific apparatus configurations or method steps disclosed in this description of the preferred embodiment. It is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention has a broad range of applications, and that the embodiments may take a wide range of modifications without departing from the inventive concept as defined in the appended claims.

In particular, it will be understood that the benefits and advantages described above may relate to one embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. The embodiments are not limited to those that solve any or all of the stated problems or those that have any or all of the stated benefits and advantages. Additionally, any reference to 'an' item refers to one or more of those items. The term 'comprising' is used herein to mean including the method or elements identified, but that such method steps or elements do not comprise an exclusive list and an apparatus may contain additional steps, operations or elements. Furthermore, the blocks, elements and operations are themselves not impliedly closed.

Furthermore, the steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. Additionally, individual method steps may be deleted from any of the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with aspects of any of the other examples described to form further examples without losing the effect sought.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated that various modifications, alterations and/or combinations of features disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1 . A blank for use in the manufacture of a blister pack, the blank comprising : perforations arranged in a pattern to effectively distribute stresses by the perforations when the blank is under tension by rollers and/or subjected to flex.

2. The blank of claim 1 , further comprising openable tabs, wherein the openable tabs are initially connected to the blank at perforations arrayed in one direction and at least some neighbouring perforations having ends spaced transversally of the direction of array.

3. The blank of claim 2, wherein the perforations are provided at the top and bottom portions of the openable tabs.

4. The blank of claim 2 or 3, wherein the openable tab is formed with cut-outs either side of the tab, and preferably where the perforations extend substantially the length between the cutouts in a discontinuous and/or offset manner.

5. The blank of any preceding claim, wherein the perforations are provided along a region having a central axis or direction.

6. The blank of claim 5, wherein the perforations are arranged to have a T-shaped perforation and two linear perforations.

7. The blank of claim 6, wherein the linear perforations are parallel to the central axis, extend to the cut-outs and are out of alignment with the head of the T perforation.

8. The blank of claim 7, wherein the length of the head will vary depending on a predefined extent of the overlap with the linear perforations.

9. The blank of any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the T-shaped perforations comprise a stem longer than the head.

10. The blank of any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the T-shaped perforations comprise a head longer than the stem.

1 1 . The blank of any of claims 6 to 1 0, wherein the linear perforations may further extend at an angle or curve towards the stem of the T perforation.

12. The blank of claim 5, wherein the perforations are arranged to have a V-shaped perforation and two linear perforations.

13. The blank of claim 12, wherein the perforations may extend oblique to the central axis.

14. The blank of claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the length, pitch and orientation of these perforations are predefined and/or may be varied.

15. The blank of any of claims 2 to 14, wherein the tabs can be rendered tearable by means of perforated portion(s) at adjacent parts of the blank.

16. A blank for use in the manufacture of a blister pack, the blank comprising openable tabs wherein the openable tabs are formed with cut-outs either side of the tab; connected to the blank at perforations; wherein at least one partially or fully cut line(s) between adjacent tabs with one end of the line extending to or close to one cut-out and the other end of the line extending to or close to the other cut-out of the adjacent tab

17. The blank of claim 16, where a full cut line comprises an intermittent line cut at foil depth through the blank, for example a perforation.

18. The blank of claim 17, wherein a partial cut line is line of partial depth, cut either continuously or intermittently.

19. The blank of any of claims 1 6 to 1 8, wherein the perforations are substantially arrayed in one direction and at least some neighbouring perforations have ends spaced substantially transversally of the direction of array.

20. The blank of any of claims 16 to 1 9, wherein the partial or full cut line is generally substantially parallel with the array direction and has ends which curve to or close to each cut-out to form an elongated s-shape line between adjacent tabs.

21 . The blank of any of claims 16 to 1 9, wherein the partial or full cut line is generally substantially parallel with the array direction and has ends which do not curve towards the cutouts to provide a vertical line substantially parallel to the array direction.

22. A method for manufacturing a blister pack comprising the blank of any of claims 1 to 21 .

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising a step of printing onto a face of the blank a series of conductive lines with a linear series of contacts extending onto a tongue, for example by high-speed flexo-graphic printing, deposition or partial etching of metal.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising over printing the conductive lines with background colour, for example white.

25. The method of any of claims 22 to 24, wherein the conductive line layer can be applied directly to the lands of the tray to close the compartments of the tray.

26. The method of any of claims 22 to 25, further comprising providing a separate tray compartment closure layer and adhering the conductive line layer thereto on closure of the blister pack.

27. The method of any of claims 22 to 26, further comprising printing an indication of the time of day and days of intended opening of each compartment, for example by high-speed flexo- graphic printing.

28. The method of any of claims 22 to 27, further comprising punching the blank with apertures and perforations.

29. The method of any of claims 22 to 28, further comprising printing an adhesive onto the blank.

30. The method of any of claims 22 to 29, further comprising applying a compartment closure foil onto the blank.

31 . The method of any of claims 22 to 30, further comprising applying a release paper to the blank.

32. The method of any of claims 22 to 31 , further comprising cutting the blank to size and mechanically manipulating the blank to receive and adhere to a tray.

33. A blister pack comprising the blank of any of claims 1 to 21 and/or manufactured using the method of any of claims 22 to 32.

34. The blister pack of claim 33, further comprising a tray having an array of compartments, wherein the blank comprises an array of apertures substantially complementary to the compartments array in the tray.

35 The blister pack of claim 34, wherein the blank comprises twice the number of apertures as compartments in the tray, such that in use the compartments of the tray extend through one array of apertures in one piece or section of the card and with mechanical manipulation a second array of apertures on the blank are brought into register with the compartments, for example on folding of the blank.

36. The blister pack of claim 35, wherein the blank comprises a pattern of electrically conductive lines to and from the tabs, each tab having a tab-crossing section of line whose electrical continuity is broken when the tab is torn open.

37. The blister pack of claim 36, wherein the electrically conductive lines are provided on a conductive line layer on the blank.

38. The blister pack of claim 37, wherein the conductive line layer comprises paper or any thin material produced by pressing together moist fibres, for example cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets.

39. The blister pack of claim 38, wherein the conductive line layer comprises a film of homogeneous polymeric material.

40. The blister pack of claim 39, wherein the conductive line layer comprises a metallic foil or a metalised film, preferably with insulation between the metal and the conductive lines.

41 . The blister pack of any of claims 33 to 40, further comprising a tag having complementary contacts connected to the contacts, the tag configure to record circuit opening on tab opening for taking of a pill by a patient. The blister pack of any of claims 33 to 41 , wherein the blister pack is a pill pack.