Unit dose packaging system with reusable electronics component

Abstract

Described herein is an apparatus and method for attaching a removable and reusable electronics component to a to a slide card that can be preprinted with electrical traces for the purpose of collecting data on pill expression. A removable and reusable electronics component can be coupled with a slide card incorporating preprinted electrical traces, using a hub like plastic seating component attached to and through the slide card.

1 . A unit dose package comprising:
 a bottom panel and a top panel, the bottom panel including at least one area of weakness, the top panel including at least one unit dose cut out area, one of the top panel and bottom panel having an electronics receiving cut out area formed therein, the electronics receiving cut out area being adapted to mechanically receive an electronics component   a blister pack comprised of at least one sealed dose of medication, the blister pack being positioned atop the bottom panel such that each dose of medication has a respective area of weakness associated therewith; and   an electrical trace element having at least first and second ends positioned away from at least one area of weakness, the electrical trace element being positioned relative to the at least one area of weakness such that, when a given dose of medication is expressed, the electrical trace element is broken for the corresponding area of weakness corresponding to the given expressed dose of medication, the electronics receiving cut out area being positioned proximate to the at least first and second ends of the electrical trace element,   wherein the top panel substantially covers and is adhered to the bottom panel so as to secure the blister pack between the top and bottom panel such that the sealed doses protrude through the unit dose cut out areas and the at least first and second ends of the electrical trace element are exposed through the electronics receiving cut out area.   
   
   
       2 . The unit dose package of  claim 1 , wherein the blister pack further comprises a nonconductive substrate, and the electrical trace element is disposed directly on the nonconductive substrate. 
   
   
       3 . The unit dose package of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical trace element is disposed on a trace element carrier, and the trace element carrier is positioned between the bottom panel and the blister pack. 
   
   
       4 . The unit dose package of  claim 3 , wherein the trace element carrier is an adhesive member, the adhesive member being attached to at least one of the bottom panel and the blister pack. 
   
   
       5 . The unit dose package of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical trace element is disposed on the bottom panel. 
   
   
       6 . The unit dose package of  claim 1 , wherein the at least first and second ends of the electrical trace elements are associated with the one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the electronics receiving cut out area being formed in the other of the top panel and the bottom panel. 
   
   
       7 . The unit dose package of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top panel and the back panel comprises a first mechanical alignment mechanism, the electronics component comprising a second mechanical alignment mechanism, the first mechanical alignment mechanism being configured for aligningly connecting with the respective second mechanical alignment mechanism. 
   
   
       8 . The unit dose package of  claim 7 , wherein the first mechanical alignment mechanism includes one of a slot and a mating protrusion and the second mechanical alignment mechanism includes the other of the slot and the mating protrusion. 
   
   
       9 . The unit dose package of  claim 7 , wherein the first mechanical alignment mechanism and the second mechanical alignment mechanism together are configured for forming a snap-fit. 
   
   
       10 . The unit dose package of  claim 1 , wherein the top panel and the bottom panel are one of separate and integral, relative to one another. 
   
   
       11 . The unit dose package of  claim 1 , wherein the unit dose package is one of an insert and a stand-alone unit. 
   
   
       12 . The unit dose package of  claim 11 , wherein the unit dose package is an insert, the insert being configured for slide insertion into a sleeve. 
   
   
       13 . A package for holding medication, comprising:
 a panel including at least one area of weakness formed therein;   a blister pack comprised of at least one dose of medication, the blister pack being positioned relative to the panel such that each dose of medication has a respective area of weakness associated therewith; and   an electrical trace element associated with at least one of the panel and the blister pack, the electrical trace element including at least first and second ends positioned away from the at least one area of weakness, the electrical trace element being positioned relative to the at least one area of weakness such that, when a given dose of medication is expressed, the electrical trace element is broken for a respective area of weakness corresponding to the given expressed dose of medication,   wherein the panel includes a receiving region adapted to mechanically receive an electronics component, wherein the receiving region is positioned proximate to the at least first and second ends of the electrical trace element.   
   
   
       14 . The unit dose package of  claim 13 , wherein the blister pack further comprises a nonconductive substrate, and the electrical trace element is disposed directly on the nonconductive substrate. 
   
   
       15 . The unit dose package of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical trace element is disposed on a trace element carrier, and the trace element carrier is positioned between the bottom panel and the blister pack. 
   
   
       16 . The unit dose package of  claim 15 , wherein the trace element carrier is an adhesive member, the adhesive member being attached to at least one of the bottom panel and the blister pack. 
   
   
       17 . The unit dose package of  claim 13 , wherein the electrical trace element is disposed on the bottom panel. 
   
   
       18 . The unit dose package of  claim 13 , wherein the receiving region is formed in the bottom panel. 
   
   
       19 . The unit dose package of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the top panel and the back panel comprises a first mechanical alignment mechanism, the electronics component comprising a second mechanical alignment mechanism, the first mechanical alignment mechanism being configured for aligningly connecting with the respective second mechanical alignment mechanism. 
   
   
       20 . The unit dose package of  claim 19 , wherein the first mechanical alignment mechanism includes one of a slot and a mating protrusion and the second mechanical alignment mechanism includes the other of the slot and the mating protrusion. 
   
   
       21 . The unit dose package of  claim 19 , wherein the first mechanical alignment mechanism and the second mechanical alignment mechanism together are configured for forming a snap-fit. 
   
   
       22 . The unit dose package of  claim 13 , wherein the unit dose package is one of an insert and a stand-alone unit. 
   
   
       23 . The unit dose package of  claim 22 , wherein the unit dose package is an insert, the insert being configured for slide insertion into a sleeve. 
   
   
       24 . The unit dose package of  claim 22 , wherein the unit dose package is a stand-alone unit in the form a wallet card. 
   
   
       25 . A unit dose package system, comprising:
 a package for holding medication, comprising:
 a panel including at least one area of weakness formed therein, the panel further defining a receiving region therein; 
 a blister pack comprised of at least one dose of medication, the blister pack being positioned relative to the panel such that each dose of medication has a respective area of weakness associated therewith; and 
 an electrical trace element associated with at least one of the panel and the blister pack, the electrical trace element including at least first and second 
 ends positioned away from the at least one area of weakness, the electrical trace element being positioned relative to the at least one area of weakness such that, when a given dose of medication is expressed, the electrical trace element is broken for a respective area of weakness corresponding to the given expressed dose of medication, the receiving region is positioned proximate to the at least first and second ends of the electrical trace element; and 
   an electronics component mechanically received relative to the receiving region of the panel, the electronics component being releasably, electronically attached relative to the at least first and second ends of the electrical trace element.   
   
   
       26 . The unit dose package system of  claim 25 , wherein the electronics component is releasably attached via a slide clip mechanism. 
   
   
       27 . The unit dose package of  claim 25 , wherein the panel comprises a first mechanical alignment mechanism, the electronics component comprising a second mechanical alignment mechanism, the first mechanical alignment mechanism aligningly connecting with the respective second mechanical alignment mechanism. 
   
   
       28 . The unit dose package of  claim 27 , wherein the first mechanical alignment mechanism includes one of a slot and a mating protrusion and the second mechanical alignment mechanism includes the other of the slot and the mating protrusion. 
   
   
       29 . The unit dose package of  claim 27 , wherein the first mechanical alignment mechanism and the second mechanical alignment mechanism together are configured for forming a snap-fit. 
   
   
       30 . A package for holding medication, comprising:
 a slide card including at least one area of weakness formed therein, the panel including a receiving region adapted to mechanically receive an electronics component;   a blister pack comprised of at least one dose of medication, the blister pack being positioned relative to the slide card such that each dose of medication has a respective area of weakness associated therewith; and   an electrical trace element associated with at least one of the slide card and the blister pack, the electrical trace element including at least first and second ends positioned away from the at least one area of weakness, the electrical trace element being positioned relative to the at least one area of weakness such that, when a given dose of medication is expressed, the electrical trace element is broken for a respective area of weakness corresponding to the given expressed dose of medication, the receiving region being positioned proximate to the at least first and second ends of the electrical trace element; and   a sleeve which houses the slide card.   
   
   
       31 . The package of  claim 30 , wherein the slide card further comprises a locking mechanism, wherein the sleeve further comprises a reciprocal locking mechanism, and wherein the locking mechanism and the reciprocal locking mechanism cooperate to lock the card within the sleeve. 
   
   
       32 . The package of  claim 31 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a release located proximate the reciprocal locking mechanism, wherein the release, when activated, enables the slide card to be moved substantially outside of the sleeve. 
   
   
       33 . The package of  claim 30 , wherein the package is child resistant compliant. 
   
   
       34 . The package of  claim 30 , further comprising an electronics component, the electronics component being mechanically received relative to the receiving region of the slide card, the electronics component being releasably attached relative to the at least first and second ends of the electrical trace element.