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EP 0 263 695 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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30.12.1992 Bulletin 1992/53 |
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Date of filing: 07.10.1987 |
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Medication carrier and insert therefor
Medikationstablett und zugehöriger Einsatz
Plateau de médication et insert correspondant
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Designated Contracting States: |
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BE GB LU NL |
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Priority: |
08.10.1986 GB 8624188
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Date of publication of application: |
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13.04.1988 Bulletin 1988/15 |
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Proprietor: Manrex Limited |
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Winnipeg
Manitoba (CA) |
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Inventor: |
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- Webster, John
Winnipeg, Manitoba (CA)
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Representative: Frost, Dennis Thomas et al |
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Withers & Rogers
4 Dyers Buildings
Holborn GB-London EC1N 2JT GB-London EC1N 2JT (GB) |
| (56) |
References cited: :
WO-A-85/02828 FR-A- 1 558 465
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DE-A- 2 905 739 US-A- 4 664 262
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
|
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to new and useful improvements in medication carriers and
inserts therefore.
[0002] Conventionally, the carrier consists of two sheets of substantially rigid plastic
hinged together along one longtitudinal edge thereof. The front panel is provided
with a plurality of substantially rectangular cutouts to receive corresponding pockets
formed in the insert which is also of plastic but of a much thinner material and which
is provided with a corresponding number of depressions when viewed from the rear surface
thereof, to receive the medication in the form of pills or capsules. A relatively
thin sheet of foil or other sealing material is then adhesively secured to the back
of the insert covering the open bases of the recesses and sealing the medication in
place and the insert material, where it is displaced to form the pockets or recesses,
engages through the apertures within the front panel of the carrier so that the medication
for various times of the day and various days of the week etc. is clearly visible
in these projecting pockets, it being understood of course that the insert is usually
made of clear plastic.
[0003] Normally, all of the pockets are of the same size and the carrier and insert may
be designed to carry the medication for one week, two weeks, 28 days or the like.
[0004] The three free edges of the carrier are normally detachably secured together by well
known press stud means or the like and corresponding dispensing apertures in the back
panel permit the relatively thin pocket of the insert to be pushed downwardly from
the front panel thus breaking the foil and ejecting the medication through the aperture
in the back panel.
[0005] However, as is well known, a regime of medication often requires a different quantity
of pills, caplets, capsules or the like at different times of the day. For example,
often the majority of various types of medication is required first thing in the morning
with perhaps lighter quantities at lunch time, sometimes slightly more at supper time
and again a further increase at bed time and because of the size of the pills, caplets,
or capsules of certain medications are relatively large, forming the pockets of the
same size as is conventional, often presents difficulties in engaging the required
dosage in a standard sized pocket and although larger pockets may be found, this would
necessitate an increase in the overall size of both the carrier and the insert which
is not only expensive but undesirable due to the inconvenience which would result
in handling, storage and the like. Alternatively, the sizes may be required to have
the largest volume or size at bed time, slightly less at breakfast time and the lunch
time and supper time sizes substantially the same but smaller than the breakfast time
size.
[0006] The essence of this invention, which is specified in Claim 1, is therefore to provide
pockets of various sizes in order to accommodate the varying quantities of medication
normally required during a day. In addition, various visual or pictorial indicia may
be utilized for ease of identification.
[0007] Figure 1 is a front elevation of the carrier of the present invention.
[0008] Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the carrier of Figure 1.
[0009] Figure 3 is a rear side elevation of the insert.
[0010] Figure 4 is a side view of the insert.
[0011] Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating the preferred embodiment.
[0012] Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating the preferred embodiment.
[0013] In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10
shows a carrier having a front panel 11 formed of relatively rigid plastic and having
a plurality of substantially rectangular apertures formed therethrough and in the
present embodiment, it will be noted that there are four columns 11A, 11B, 11C and
11D of seven apertures each although of course it will be appreciated that more or
less apertures may be provided if desired.
[0015] For example, a larger carrier may be provided to carry prepackaged medication for
a greater number of days or a smaller carrier for a lesser number of days.
[0016] A larger rectangular aperture 12 may be provided above the columns of apertures to
carry information relative to the patient, doctor or the like and a plurality of recesses
13 may be formed along the upper edge 14 which, in conjunction with the rear panel,
enables the carriers may hung on convenient hooks or the like as will hereinafter
be described.
[0017] The rear panel 12 of the carrier, is similar to the front panel and is provided with
a similar number of columns of rectangular apertures 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D having
the same size and configuration as the front panel and this rear panel is hinged along
one vertical edge 16 to a corresponding vertical edge 17 of the front panel, preferably,
by means of a living hinge (shown in phantom at 28) so that the two panels can be
folded open to receive an insert collectively designated 18 whereupon the panels may
be folded closed and detachably secured by plastic snap fasteners or the like 19 along
the other opposite edges 16A and 17A.
[0018] The apertures 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D in the rear, panel 12 correspond to the apertures
11A, 11B, 11C and 11D in the front panel 11, and are in registration therewith when
the two panels are in a closed position.
[0019] The insert collectively designated 18 is made of transparent plastic and of a thinner
material than the carrier and may be stamped out to provide a plurality of pockets
20 matching the apertures in columns 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D in the front panel into
which the pockets engage when the insert is placed between the two panels of the carrier
and the carrier is closed. Alternatively, the pockets may be of transparent plastic
upon a substrate of cardboard or the like.
[0020] These pockets 20, when first formed in the plastic sheet 18 are open based as at
21 so that medication in the form of pills, capsules or the like 22 may be placed
therein whereupon a thin sheet of foil or the like, indicated in phantom by reference
character 23 in Figure 4, is adhesively or otherwise secured over the rear side 25
of the insert thus sealing medication within the individual pockets 20.
[0021] However, as the various types and quantities of medication often vary throughout
the four general periods of the day in which medication is taken, the individual columns
26A, 26B, 26C and 26D contain pockets 20 of different sizes as do the panels 10 and
12 of the carrier (11A, 11B, 11C, 11D and 12A, 12B, 12C, 12D).
[0022] As an example, when medication is required first thing in the morning before breakfast,
at lunch time, at supper time (tea time) and at bed time, different types and/or quantities
of medication are often required with the greatest number and amount being required
at breakfast time in column 26A, a minimum amount at lunch time in column 26B, slightly
more at supper or tea time in column 26C and slightly more again before bed time in
column 26D.
[0023] Present day medication often being relatively large, the pockets in column 26A (and
corresponding apertures in panels 11 and 12 of carrier 10), are the largest and may
extend approximately 32 m/m in length and 17 m/m in height.
[0024] The pockets in column 26B may be, for example, 25 m/m wide and 17 m/m high, the pockets
in column 26C may be 27 m/m wide and 17 m/m high and the pockets in column 26D may
be 30 m/m wide and 17 m/m high. These four different sizes are represented in Figures
1, 2 and 3.
[0025] The apertures in the carrier panels 11 and 12 are of similar dimensions to the pockets
in the insert and the spacing between the apertures (and pockets) is sufficient so
that a standard overall dimension or sized carrier and insert may be utilized.
[0026] In operation, the medication for each period and each day is placed in the various
pockets 20 of the insert whereupon the foil sheet 23 is secured on the back of sheet
to temporarily close the pockets. The insert is then engaged between the panels of
the carrier with the pockets 20 protruding upwardly through the apertures within the
front panel and being maintained in place by the snap engagement of the rear panel
with the corresponding edges of the front panel.
[0027] When medication is required, the relatively thin plastic forming the insert enables
the relevant pocket to be pushed downwardly through the corresponding aperture in
columns 11A, 11B, 11C or 11D of the front panel thus breaking the frangible foil cover
of that particular pocket thereby ejecting the medication through the corresponding
aperture in columns 12A, 12B, 12C or 12D in the rear panel and into a small container
(not shown) for presentation to the patient.
[0028] The various apertures in the columns may be marked by the day of the week vertically
and by the times of medication horizontally so that a glance will show the, exact
status of the dispensing of medication at any one time, the major advantage of the
present invention being the different sizes of the pockets for different periods during
the day at which medication should be given and the pictorial identification 27 for
each time period.
[0029] Reference to Figures 5 and 6 are similar to Figures 1 and 3 but show the preferred
embodiment. In this embodiment, the four vertical columns 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D are
shown having different areas.
[0030] 11D is shown with the largest area, (E.G. 32 m/m × 17 m/m) 11A with the second largest
area (E.G. 30 m/m × 17 m/m) and the intermediate apertures 11B and 11C are substantially
similar in area and have the third largest area (E.G. 27 m/m × 17 m/m).
[0031] Figure 3 shows the front view of the insert 18 but with the pockets 26A, 26B, 26C
and 26D also varying in volume corresponding with the apertures 11A, 11B, 11C and
11D through which they extend when the insert in engaged between the front and rear
panels as hereinbefore described.
[0032] Here again, the volume of pocket 26D is the largest, pocket 26A is the second largest
and pockets 26B and 26C are similar and are the third largest.
[0033] Also to be noted are the written and pictorial indicia situated above each vertical
column of apertures in the front panel 10 of Figure 5. Over the first vertical column
on the left hand side is the word "Morning" surmounted by the pictorial representation
of a rising sun preferably on a yellow background.
[0034] The second vertical column from the left, is indicated as "Noon" and shows the sun
substantially in the center of the rectangle preferably upon a blue background.
[0035] The third column from the left is marked either "Supper" or "Tea Time" depending
upon the country in which the carriers are being used. This shows a setting sun on
the right hand side of the rectangle and preferably with an orange background.
[0036] The fourth and final column from the left is marked "Bed Time" and shows a crescent
moon and a plurality of stars in white preferable upon a black background.
[0037] The areas of the rectangles in which the pictorial indicia are shown, are substantially
similar to the areas of the apertures in the columns above and below which the pictorial
indicia is placed.
[0038] Against each horizontal column of apertures and preferably on the left hand side
of the front panel, there is provided further indicia preferably in the form of a
rectangle with an arrowhead indicating the horizontal column and marked successively
Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
[0039] It will therefore be appreciated that both pictorial and written indicia indicate
the capsule of pocket of medication which should be taken at each particular time
period and it will be appreciated that depression of the flexible transparent material
forming the pocket, through the relevant aperture in the front panel, breaks the membrane
on the rear side of the insert thus ejecting the medication through the corresponding
apertures in the rear panel into a cup or other receptacle.
[0040] The different sizes of the pockets enables varying quantities and sizes of medication
for the various time periods to be incorporated in a standard sized carrier.
[0041] The upper edge 19A may be provided with slotted apertures 15 registering with the
recesses 13 in the front panel thus enabling the carriers to be suspended from the
carrier holders or the like.
1. A medication dispensing carrier (10), said carrier comprising in combination a substantially
rectangular front panel (11) and a substantially rectangular rear panel (10A) hingedly
connected together along one corresponding mutual edge (16,17) thereof for detachably
opening and detachably closing the panels, said front panel having a plurality of
apertures (11A, 11B,11C,11D) through said front panel to receive corresponding pockets
(22) formed in an insert (18) and sealingly containing medicaments, said rear panel
having a plurality of medication dispensing apertures (12A,12B,12C,12D) formed therethrough,
corresponding to the apertures on the front panel means (19) to detachably secure
said panels together with the apertures in said front panel being in substantial alignment
with said dispensing apertures of said rear panel characterized in that said plurality
of apertures are arranged in seven horizontal rows and four vertical columns, and
in that said front panel has an information display aperture (12) and carries first
indicia indicating the days of the week vertically spaced adjacent one side edge of
said front panel, the indicia being in alignment with the respective horizontal rows
of apertures, second indicia indicating the times of day that medication should be
taken, said further indicia being horizontally spaced adjacent the uppermost or lowermost
horizontal row of apertures in said front panel and aligned with the respective vertical
columns of apertures, the area of each aperture (11A, 11D) in the outermost vertical
columns being greater than the area of each aperture in the two centre columns such
that the aperture area varies with the average quantity and size of medication required
at the respective corresponding times of day.
2. The carrier according to Claim 1 in which said second indicia includes a pictorial
representation (27) of a time period.
3. The carrier according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the second indicia indicate a morning
time period, a noon time period, a bed time period and a period in between said noon
and said bed time periods, said apertures for the morning period having the largest
area, the apertures for the bed time period having the second largest area, the apertures
for the noon period having the third largest area and the area of the apertures of
the intermediate period having the fourth largest area.
4. The carrier according to Claim 1 or 2 in which the second indicia include a morning
time period, a noon time period, a bed time period and a period intermediate said
noon and bed time periods, said apertures for the bed time period having the largest
area, said apertures for the morning period having the second largest area, and said
apertures for said other two periods having a substantially similar area to one another
and having the third largest area.
5. The carrier according to any one of the preceding claims which includes an insert
(18) for said carrier, said insert being substantially rectangular and having a plurality
of rows of open based pockets (20) formed therein arranged in seven horizontal rows
and four vertical columns (26A,26B,26C,26D) the volume of each pocket (26A,26D) in
the outermost vertical columns of pockets being greater than the volume of each pocket
(26B,26D) in the two centre columns such that the volume varies with the average quantity
and size of medication required at the respective corresponding times of day, said
insert being situated between said front and back panels (11,12) of said carrier with
said pockets extending through respective ones of the apertures (11A,11B,11C,11D)
in said front panel (11) and frangible means (23) detachably sealing the open bases
(21) of said pockets to selectively retain medication therein, depression of said
pockets through the apertures of said front panel breaking the frangible means detachably
securing the open bases of said pockets thereby ejecting the medication contained
in said pockets through the dispensing apertures (12A,12B,12C,12D) in said rear panel.
6. The invention according to Claim 5 in which the second indicia indicate a morning
time period, a noon time period, and bed time period and a period intermediate said
noon and bed time periods, said pockets (20) for said morning time period having the
largest volume, said pockets for the bed time periods having the second largest volume,
said pockets for said noon time period having the third largest volume and said pockets
for said intermediate time periods having the fourth largest volume.
7. The invention according to Claim 5 in which the second indicia indicate a morning
time period, a noon time period, a bed time period and a period intermediate said
noon and bed time periods, said pockets (20) for said bed time periods having the
largest volume, said pockets for said morning periods having the second largest volume,
said pockets for the other two time periods being substantially similar in volume
and having the smallest volume.
8. A medication dispensing insert (18) for use with an apertured carrier (10) according
to claim 1, said insert comprising a substantially rectangular and planar sheet and
having in seven horizontal rows and twenty eight open based pockets (20) formed therein
four vertical columns (26A, 26B, 26C, 26D) and frangible means (23) detachably sealing
the open bases (21) of said pockets to selectively retain medication therein, depression
of said pockets breaking the frangible means datachably securing the open bases of
said pockets thereby ejecting the medication contained in said pockets, through said
broken frangible means, the volume of each pocket in the outermost vertical columns
in said insert being greater than the volume of each pocket in the two centre columns
such that the pocket volume varies with the average quantity of medication required
at various times of the day.
1. Medikamentierungs-Träger (10) mit einer im wesentlichen rechteckigen vorderen Tafel
(11) und einer rechteckigen rückwärtigen Tafel (10a), die längs einer gemeinsamen
Kante (16, 17) gelenkig miteinander verbunden sind zum lösbaren Öffnen und Schließen
der Tafeln gegeneinander, die vordere Tafel hat eine Vielzahl von Öffnungen (11a,
11b, 11c, 11d) durch die Tafel hindurch,
in der rückwärtigen Tafel (10a) sind eine Vielzahl von durchgehenden Medikamentenausgabeöffnungen
(12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) geformt, entsprechend den öffnungen in der vorderen Tafel, mit
Mitteln (19) zum lösbaren Verbinden der beiden Tafeln miteinander, wobei die Öffnungen
in der vorderen Tafel im wesentlichen ausgerichtet sind mit den Ausgabeöffnungen der
rückwärtigen Tafel, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß
diese Vielzahl von Öffnungen angeordnet sind in sieben horizontalen Reihen und vier
vertikalen Spalten
und daß die vordere Tafel eine Informations-Display-Öffnung (12) hat
und erste Indizes für die Wochentage vertikal untereinander längs eines Randes der
vorderen Tafel trägt,
die Indizes sind ausgerichtet mit den entsprechenden horizontalen Reihen von Öffnungen,
zweite Indizes zeigen die Tageszeit an, zu der ein Medikament bzw. Medikamente eingenommen
werden sollten,
die besagten weiteren Indizes sind horizontal beabstandet gegenüber der obersten und
untersten horizontalen Reihe von Öffnungen in der vorderen Tafel und ausgerichtet
mit entsprechenden vertikalen Spalten von Öffnungen,
die Fläche jeder Öffnung (11a, 11d) in der äußersten vertikalen Spalten ist größer
als die Fläche jeder Öffnung in den beiden mittleren Spalten, derart daß die Flächen
variieren mit der durchschnittlichen Menge und Große der zu den entsprechenden Tageszeiten
erforderlichen Medikamente.
2. Der Träger gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die besagten zweiten Indizes je ein Piktogramm
(27) der Tageszeit einschließen.
3. Träger gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, in welchem die zweiten Indizes anzeigen eine Morgen-Zeitspanne,
eine Mittags-Zeitspanne, eine Zubettgeh-Zeitspanne und eine Zeitspanne zwischen der
Mittags-Zeit und Zubettgeh-Zeit, die besagten Öffnungen für die Morgen-Zeit haben
die größte Fläche, die Öffnungen für die Zubettgeh-Zeit haben die zweitgrößte Fläche,
die Öffnungen für die Mittags-Zeit haben die drittgrößte Fläche und die Öffnungen
für die Zwischen-Zeit haben die viertgrößte Fläche.
4. Träger nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die zweiten Indizes einschließen eine Morgen-Zeit,
eine Mittags-Zeit, eine Bett-Zeit und eine Zwischen-Zeit zwischen der Mittags-Zeit
und der Zubett-Zeit, die Öffnungen für die Bett-Zeit haben die größte Fläche, die
Öffnungen für die Morgen-Zeit haben die zweitgrößte Fläche und die Öffnungen für die
anderen beiden Zeitspannen haben eine im wesentlichen einander gleiche Fläche und
haben die drittgrößte Fläche.
5. Träger nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, mit einem Einsatz (18) für den Träger,
der Einsatz ist im wesentlichen rechteckig und hat eine Vielzahl von Reihen von offenen
Taschen geformt darin, angeordnet in sieben horizontalen Reihen und vier vertikalen
Spalten (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d), das Volumen jeder Tasche (26a, 26d) in den beiden äußersten
vertikalen Spalten von Taschen ist größer als das Volumen jeder Tasche (26b, 26d)
in den beiden mittleren Spalten, so daß das Volumen sich ändert mit der durchschnittlichen
Menge und Größe von zu entsprechenden Tageszeiten erforderlichen Medikamenten,
der besagte Einsatz ist vorgesehen zwischen der vorderen und der rückwärtigen Tafel
(11, 12) des Trägers, wobei sich die Taschen durch die entsprechenden Öffnungen (11a,
11b, 11c, 11d) in der vorderen Tafel (11) hindurch erstrecken und brechbare Mittel
(23) lösbar die offene Basis (21) jeder Tasche abdichten zur selektiven Aufnahme von
Medikamenten bzw. Medikamentierung darin, Depression (Druck) auf die Taschen durch
die Öffnungen der vorderen Tafel bricht die brechbaren Mittel, welche die offenen
Basen der besagten Taschen lösbar sichern, wobei die in dem besagten Taschen enthaltenen
Medikamente durch die Ausgabeöffnungen (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) der rückwärtigen Tafel
hindurch ausgegeben werden.
6. Die Erfindung gemäß Anspruch 5, wobei die zweiten Indizes anzeigen eine Morgen-Zeit,
eine Mittags-Zeit, eine Bett-Zeit und eine Zwischen-Zeit zwischen Mittags-Zeit und
Bett-Zeit, die besagten Taschen (20) für die Morgen-Zeit haben das größte Volumen,
die Taschen für die Bett-Zeit haben das zweitgrößte Volumen, die Taschen für die Mittags-Zeit
haben das drittgrößte Volumen und die Taschen für die Zwischenzeit haben das viertgrößte
Volumen.
7. Die Erfindung nach Anspruch 5, wobei die zweiten Indizes anzeigen eine Morgen-Zeit,
eine Mittags-Zeit, eine Bett-Zeit und eine Zeit zwischen der besagten Morgen-Zeit
und der Bett-Zeit, die Taschen (20) für die Bett-Zeit haben das größte Volumen, die
Taschen für die Morgen-Zeit haben das zweitgrößte Volumen, die Taschen für die anderen
beiden Zeiten sind im wesentlichen ähnlich oder gleich im Volumen und haben das kleinste
Volumen.
8. Medikamentierungsausgabe-Einsatz (18) zur Verwendung mit einem mit Öffnungen versehenen
Träger (10) gemäß Anspruch 1, der besagte Einsatz umfaßt einen im wesentlichen rechteckigen,
ebenen Boden und hat in sieben horizontalen Reihen achtundzwanzig Taschen (20) mit
offener Basis darin gebildet vier vertikale (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) Reihen und Brech-Mittel
(23) lösbar abdichtend die offenen Basen (21) der Taschen zum wahlweisen Einschließen
von Medikamentationen darin, durch Druck auf je eine Tasche brechen die Sollbruchstellen
der öffenbaren Basis je einer Tasche und geben dabei die in der Tasche enthaltenen
Medikamente aus, das Volumen jeder Tasche in den äußersten vertikalen Spalten des
Einsatzes ist größer als das Volumen in jeder Tasche in den zwei mittleren Spalten,
so daß das Taschenvolumen sich ändert mit der durchschnittlichen Menge an zu verschiedenen
Zeiten des Tages erforderlichen Medikamenten.
1. Plateau de distribution de médication (10), ledit plateau comprenant en combinaison
un panneau avant (11) pratiquement rectangulaire et un panneau arrière (10A) pratiquement
rectangulaire qui sont articulés ensemble le long d'un bord mutuel correspondant (16,17)
de façon à ouvrir et fermer les panneaux de façon détachable, ledit panneau avant
présentant une série d'ouvertures (11A,11B,11C,11D) qui le traversent pour recevoir
des poches correspondantes (22) formées dans un élément à insérer (18) et qui contiennent
de façon étanche des médicaments, ledit panneau arrière présentant une série d'ouvertures
(12A, 12B,12C,12D) de distribution de médicaments qui le traversent et qui correspondent
aux ouvertures du panneau avant, un moyen (19) pour fixer ensemble de façon détachable
desdits panneaux de façon que les ouvertures du panneau avant soient pratiquement
alignées avec les ouvertures de distribution du panneau arrière, caractérisé en ce
que les ouvertures de ladite série sont disposées en sept rangées horizontales et
en quatre colonnes verticales et en ce que ledit panneau avant présente une ouverture
(12) de présentation d'informations et porte de premiers indices qui indiquent les
jours de la semaine et sont verticalement écartés les uns des autres en étant proches
d'un des bords latéraux du panneau avant, ces indices étant alignés avec les rangées
horizontales correspondantes d'ouvertures, de seconds indices indiquant les heures
du jour où la médication doit être prise, cesdits indices supplémentaires étant écartés
horizontalement les uns des autres en étant proches de la rangée horizontale supérieure
ou inférieure d'ouvertures ménagées dans le panneau avant et étant alignés avec les
colonnes verticales respectives d'ouvertures, la surface de chaque ouverture (11A,11D)
ménagée dans les colonnes verticales extérieures étant supérieure à celle de chaque
ouverture des deux colonnes centrales de telle façon que la surface de l'ouverture
varie avec la quantité moyenne et la taille moyenne des médications nécessaires aux
moments respectifs correspondants de la journée.
2. Plateau selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit second indice comprend une représentation
par dessin (27) du moment correspondant.
3. Plateau selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, dans lequel les seconds indices
indiquent un moment de la matinée, un moment de l'heure de midi, un moment du coucher
et un moment situé entre le moment de l'heure de midi et le moment du coucher, lesdites
ouvertures correspondant au moment de la matinée présentant la plus grande surface,
les ouvertures correspondant au moment du coucher présentant la seconde plus grande
surface, les ouvertures correspondant au moment de l'heure de midi présentant la troisième
plus grande surface et les ouvertures correspondant au moment intermédiaire présentant
la quatrième plus grande surface.
4. Plateau selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel le second indice comprend l'indication
d'un moment de la matinée, d'un moment de l'heure de midi, d'un moment du coucher
et d'un moment entre les moments de l'heure du midi et du coucher, lesdites ouvertures
correspondant au moment du coucher présentant la plus grande surface, lesdites ouvertures
correspondant au moment de la matinée présentant la seconde plus grande surface, et
les ouvertures correspondant aux deux autres moments présentant des surfaces pratiquement
similaires l'une à l'autre et qui sont les troisièmes plus grandes surfaces.
5. Plateau selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes qui comprend un élément
à insérer (18), ledit élément à insérer étant pratiquement rectangulaire et présentant
une série de rangées de poches ouvertes à leur base (20) qui y sont formées et qui
sont disposées en sept rangées horizontales et en quatre colonnes verticales (26A,26B,26C,26D),
le volume de chaque poche (26A,26D) des colonnes verticales extérieures de poches
étant supérieur à celui de chaque poche (26B,26C) des deux colonnes centrales de façon
que ce volume varie avec la quantité moyenne et la taille moyenne des médications
nécessaires aux moments respectifs correspondants de la journée, ledit élément à insérer
étant disposé entre lesdits panneaux avant et de dos (11,12) du plateau avec lesdites
poches qui traversent les ouvertures respectives (11A,11B,11C,11D) dudit panneau avant
(11), et des moyens cassables (23) ferment de façon détachable la base ouverte (21)
desdites poches pour retenir sélectivement en elles les médications, une compression
desdites poches à travers les ouvertures dudit panneau avant rompant les moyens cassables
qui ferment de façon détachable les bases ouvertures des poches en éjectant ainsi,
à travers les ouvertures de distribution (12A,12B,12C,12D) du panneau arrière, la
médication contenue dans lesdites poches.
6. Invention selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle les seconds indices indiquent un
moment de la matinée, un moment de l'heure de midi, un moment du coucher, et un moment
intermédiaire entre le moment de l'heure de midi et le moment du coucher, lesdites
poches (20) correspondant au moment de la matinée présentant le plus grand volume,
les poches correspondant au moment du coucher présentant le second plus grand volume,
les poches correspondant au moment de l'heure de midi présentant le troisième plus
grand volume et les poches correspondant au moment intermédiaire présentant le quatrième
plus grand volume.
7. Invention selon la revendication 5, dans laquelle les second indices indiquent un
moment de la matinée, un moment de l'heure de midi, un moment du coucher et un moment
intermédiaire entre le moment de l'heure de midi et le moment du coucher, lesdites
poches (20) correspondant au moment du coucher présentant le plus grand volume, les
poches correspondant au moment de la matinée présentant le second plus grand volume,
et les poches correspondant aux deux autres moments ayant un volume pratiquement similaire
qui est le plus petit volume.
8. Elément à insérer (18) pour la distribution de médications, destiné à être utilisé
avec un plateau ajouré (10) selon la revendication 1, ledit élément à insérer comprenant
une feuille pratiquement plane et rectangulaire dans laquelle sont formées, en sept
rangées horizontales et quatre colonnes verticales, vingt-huit poches ouvertes à leur
base, et des moyens cassables (23) qui ferment de façon détachable la base ouverte
(21) desdites poches pour retenir sélectivment la médidation à l'intérieur de celles-ci,
une compression desdites poches rompant les moyens cassables de fermeture de la base
ouverte des poches en éjectant, à travers lesdits moyens cassables rompus, la médication
contenue dans lesdites poches, le volume de chaque poche des colonnes verticales extérieures
dudit élément à insérer étant supérieur à celui de chaque poche des deux colonnes
centrales, de façon à faire varier le volume de la poche avec la quantité moyenne
de médication nécessaire à différents moments de la journée.