Abstract: A protected blister package assembled by a pharmacist for a patient has the correctness of its assembly confirmed by checking the correct correlation of three binary codes respectively appearing on three components of the package. The first component comprises a blister sheet loaded with the prescribed medication doses; the second component comprises a backing sheet sealing the medication doses in the cavities of the package blisters; and the third component comprises a protective card to be folded around the blister package after it has been attached to the card. Prior to assembly of the blister package two of the binary codes are printed on the backing sheet and the third binary code is printed on the card. During assembly of the package a portion of the backing sheet bearing one of its two codes is transferred to a predetermined position on the blister sheet. After assembly of the protected blister package the three binary codes are scanned to confirm that the package has been correctly assembled.

Abstract: A holder (12) for checking non-compliance of a blister package has a pocket (60) into which the blister package is inserted. The front of the pocket is a transparent plate (128). Rectangular openings of wells (133) in the front face of the box (121) are positioned behind the blisters of the blister package. Each well contains light-sensitive elements (134). Non-compliance occurs when a blister of a used blister package is in an unopened condition. The sensing elements (134) detect this by ambient light in the pocket not reaching the elements. An electrical circuit in the box (121) monitors the elements (134) and provides a signal indicating a non-compliance condition if a blister in the returned package is unopened. Information identifying the unopened blister is stored in the circuit. A variable light source can be provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing human error in loading prescribed medications automatically into blisters (18) of a blister sheet. The operator is provided with a manually-operated controller (15) with which the amount and nature of a particular medication dose can be selected. The operator uses the controller (15) to select the required dosage from a chosen container (13). Each container (13) has a first bar code (14) identifying the nature of the doses it contains. A second bar code is pre-printed on a header sheet (4) which is destined to be attached to the blister sheet after its blisters have been loaded. The second bar code contains information identifying the patient and the contents of the various blisters. A comparator (12) responds to a lack of coincidence between the first and second barcode, by flashing the screen to indicate to the operator that an error has been made.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting non-compliance patterns on a series of used blister sheets previously returned by the same patient, reads a code (2) on each blister sheet (1) providing, inter alia, information relating to the position of each blister on the blister sheet. This information is passed by the code reader (4) through a key (15) to an image (5) of the blister sheet appearing on one-half (14) of a split screen (6). The screen (14) displays a picture of a blister sheet with its blister positions marked by dots or rings (8). By means of the key (15), which may take the form of a joystick, an image of a disc (9) can be placed over each of the blister positions where an unopened blisters occurs. The image of the blister sheet together with the discs is then transferred by operation of a key (10) to the second half (11) of the split screen (6) screen where it is superimposed on a slightly offset stack (13) of used blister sheets previously returned by the same patient.

Abstract: A stiff planar sheet-form member is formed with cuts extending through its thickness and framing portions that, when removed, form an array of windows, whereby the panel that remains after removing the portions may be placed against lands on one face of a blister sheet with the windows receiving respective blisters of the blister sheet for stiffening the blister sheet. The cuts extending through the thickness of the sheet-form member also form openings that communicate at opposite respective ends with respective windows.

Abstract: A blister sheet (1) has a generally rectangular blister (2) formed with one pair of longer side walls (7) having parallel steps (8) and a second pair of shorter side wall (9) devoid of steps. The side walls serve to space a front face (5) of the blister from the plane of a rupturable foil backing sheet (4) which retains medication doses (nor shown) inside the blister until they are to be taken. The medication doses are ejected from the cavity of the blister (2) by depressing its front face with finger pressure so that they are forced against the backing sheet (4) with sufficient force to rupture it. During the application of finger pressure to the front face (5) it bows downwardly in its central region as indicated by the broken outline. Simultaneously the end walls (9) tilt inwardly towards one another so that any medication doses lying against them are forced into the central region of the blister from which they can be ejected more easily by the descending front face (5).

Abstract: A device for dislodging tablets from the interior of a blister comprises a cup having a circular side wall which can be comfortably gripped in the hand. The interior of the cup is provided with a central upward projection which extends above the cup side wall and has its free end shaped to rupture easily a foil backing to the blister so that the tablets can be dislodged from the blister by twisting the cup and fall into the cup from which they are readily recovered.