Medical dispenser, a blister card for use in the dispenser and a method of dispensing medical doses

Abstract

A medical dispenser adapted to inform a user of when to take medication, detect when the user accesses the medication and inform the user of his/tiers compliance to a medication schedule. The dispenser may inform the user with differing manners of informing (sound, light, vibration, higher of lower frequency or intensity) depending on the users compliance. Blister cards for use in the dispenser may be coded in order to inform the dispenser of a medication schedule, a desired compliance level, etc. The user may himself code the blister card. The dispenser may hold a blister card or may be adapted for providing medical doses for inhalation or injection.

1 - 102 . (canceled)  
   
   
       103 . A medical dispenser being adapted to removably hold one or more blister cards for each holding a number of medical doses, and to inform a user or patient in relation to the taking of one or more medical doses, wherein: 
 the blister card comprises an indentation, a hole, or a protrusion at each of one or more of a plurality of predetermined positions,    the dispenser having means for detecting an indentation, a hole, or a protrusion at each of the predetermined positions,    means for operating the informing means on the basis of an output from the detecting means, and    wherein the dispenser is adapted to identify, from the positions of the blister card where indentations, holes, or protrusions are detected, one or more of:    a frequency of recommended intake of the medical doses,    recommended points in time of intake of the medical doses, and    a manner of informing the user or operator.    
   
   
       104 . A medical dispenser according to  claim 103 , further comprising means for determining a compliance of the user's or operator's intake of the medical doses based on: 
 a predetermined medication schedule identified by indentations, holes, or protrusions or the lack of indentations, holes, or protrusions at predetermined positions of the blister card and    information relating to points in time when the user or operator gains access to at least one of the doses of medication.    
   
   
       105 . A medical dispenser according to  claim 103 , further comprising means for informing the user or operator to take a dose of the medication and means for determining when it is time to inform the user on the basis of: 
 a predetermined medication schedule identified by indentations, holes, or protrusions or the lack of indentations, holes, or protrusions at predetermined positions of the blister card and    a clocking device.    
   
   
       106 . A medical dispenser according to  claim 103 , further comprising stationary means for introduction into further indentations at other positions of the blister card, the stationary means preventing a blister card not having the further indentations from engaging with the detecting means.  
   
   
       107 . A medical dispenser according to  claim 103 , the dispenser being able to hold the one or more blister card(s) in a manner so that the blister card is curved in a direction at least substantially along a longitudinal direction thereof.  
   
   
       108 . A blister card for use in the dispenser according to  claim 103 , and having a number of blisters for each holding a medical dose, the blister card further comprising an indentation or a protrusion at each of one or more of a plurality of predetermined positions.  
   
   
       109 . A method of operating a dispenser being adapted to removably hold one- or more blister cards for each holding a number of medical doses, the blister card comprises an indentation, a hole, or a protrusion at each of one or more of a plurality of predetermined positions, and to inform a user or patient in relation to the taking of one or more medical doses, the method comprising: 
 detecting, using detecting means of the dispenser, at each of the predetermined positions any indentation, hole or protrusion at that position, and    operating the informing means on the basis of an output from the detecting means,    further comprising the step of identifying, from the positions of the blister card where indentations, holes, or protrusions are detected, one or more of: 
 a frequency of recommended intake of the medical doses,  
 recommended points in time of intake of the medical doses,  
 a manner of informing the user or operator.  
   
   
   
       110 . A method according to  claim 109 , wherein the detecting step comprising, at each of the predetermined positions having a protrusion or if no hole or indentation is present at the position, displacing a displaceable detecting means.  
   
   
       111 . A method according to  claim 109 , further comprising the step of determining a compliance of the user's or operator's intake of the medical doses based on: 
 a predetermined medication schedule identified by indentations, holes, or protrusions or the lack of indentations, holes, or protrusions at predetermined positions of the blister card and    information relating to points in time when the user or operator gains access to at least one of the doses of medication.    
   
   
       112 . A method according to  claim 109 , further comprising the steps of informing the user or operator to take a dose of the medication and of determining when it is time to inform the user on the basis of: 
 a predetermined medication schedule identified by indentations, holes, or protrusions or the lack of indentations, holes, or protrusions at predetermined positions of the blister card and    a clocking device.    
   
   
       113 . A method according to  claim 109 , comprising the step of the dispenser holding the one or more blister card(s) in a manner so that the blister card is curved in a direction at least substantially along a longitudinal direction thereof.