EP-4735351-A1 - CONTACT LENS BLISTER PACKAGE

Abstract

A blister package assembly (1) is disclosed. A seal member (10) affixed to the planar surface region (6) of each base member (4) to form a seal (12) and thereby contain a contact lens and a packaging solution in the cavity (8) of the base member (4). The seal (12) comprises a first seal region (14) extending around the perimeter of the cavity (8) of each base member (4); and one or more second seal region(s) (16), wherein each second seal region (16) connects the first seal regions (14) of a pair of adjacent base members (4). The length of the second seal region (16) is at least a third of the minimum width of the second seal region (16). A method of manufacturing such a blister package, and a sealing head for use in such a method is also disclosed

Inventors

• BURGOS CRUZ, JOSE A.
• SIEVENS FIGUEROA, Lucas
• FRITH, Robin
• ORLIK, Jaroslaw W.
• RIGGS, PAUL DAVID
• WAXMONSKY, Kristin

Assignees

• CooperVision International Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20250325

Claims (20)

1. 1. A blister package assembly comprising: at least two base members, each base member comprising (i) a cavity containing a contact lens in a contact lens packaging solution and (ii) a planar surface region surrounding the cavity; and a seal member affixed to the planar surface region of each base member to form a seal and thereby contain the contact lens and the packaging solution in the cavity; wherein for each pair of adjacent base members, the seal comprises: for each base member, a first seal region extending around the perimeter of the cavity and extending from an inner edge of the seal, the first seal region having a substantially constant width, wherein the width of the first seal region is the minimum perpendicular distance between the inner edge of the seal and an opposing outer edge of the seal around the cavity, the first seal regions of the pair being spaced apart; and at least one second seal region, each second seal region interconnecting the first seal regions of the pair along a first axis; the or each second seal region having a length, being the minimum extent of the second seal region between the first seal regions in a direction parallel to the first axis, and a width, being the extent of the seal in a direction perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the length of the second seal region is at least a third of the minimum width of the second seal region.
2. 2. A blister package assembly according to claim 1, wherein for each pair of adjacent base members a single second seal region extends between the first seal regions of the pair.
3. 3. A blister package assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first axis extends between the first regions where the distance between the outer edges of the first regions is at a minimum.
4. 4. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein each first seal region has substantially the same width as any other first seal region of the assembly; and/or each second seal region has substantially the same minimum width as any other second seal region of the assembly.
5. 5. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein each of the first seal regions has a width of from 1 mm to 2 mm inclusive, for example from 1.3 mm to 1.7 mm inclusive, for example a width of 1.5 mm.
6. 6. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein each of the second seal regions has a minimum width of from 1 mm to 8 mm inclusive, for example from 1 mm to 2 mm inclusive, for example from 3 mm to 4 mm inclusive and/or from 7 mm to 8 mm inclusive.
7. 7. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein each second seal region has a length of at least 2 mm, for example at least 3 mm, for example from 3 mm to 5 mm inclusive, for example 3.5 mm.
8. 8. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein, for each base member, the seal member comprises a pull tab, being a region of the seal member that is not affixed to the base member by the seal, wherein the pull tab is sized and configured to be held between the thumb and forefinger of a user, the base member and the pull tab being configured such that the user pulls the pull tab along a first pull-axis in order to remove the seal member from the base member and wherein the pull-axis is perpendicular to the first axis along which the or each second seal region extends.
9. 9. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein each base member has a first end, being the end of the base member furthest from the centre of the cavity, and the pull tab extends from the edge of the seal closest to the first end towards, for example to, the first end.
10. 10. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein for each pair of adjacent blister packages, the seal member comprises a series of perforations extending perpendicular to the first axis(es) and being equidistant from the first seal regions of the pair.
11. 11. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein each first seal region comprises an arcuate region extending over an angle of at least 180 degrees, for example at least 260 degrees around the centre of the cavity.
12. 12. A blister package assembly according to claim 11, wherein each first seal region is an annulus that is concentric with the cavity.
13. 13. A blister package assembly according to claim 11, wherein each first seal region comprises two straight regions, one straight region being a tangent to the curvature of the first seal region at a first end of the arcuate region and the other straight region being a tangent to the curvature of the first seal region at a second end of the arcuate region, and wherein the two straight regions meet such that the first seal region extends around the perimeter of the cavity.
14. 14. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein each base member is made of a plastics material, for example a thermoplastics material, and/or the seal member comprises a layer of plastics material and a layer of foil.
15. 15. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, wherein the seal member is fused to the base member at the seal.
16. 16. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, comprising at least five base members arranged in a row along the longitudinal axis of the seal member.
17. 17. A blister package assembly according to any previous claim, having a gap between the base members of each pair of adjacent blister packages, for example a gap of from 0.3 mm to 2 mm, for example from 0.5mm to 2mm inclusive.
18. 18. A method of manufacturing a contact lens blister package assembly, the blister package assembly comprising at least two base members, each base member comprising a cavity holding a contact lens and contact lens packaging solution; and a planar surface region surrounding the cavity, the method comprising: affixing a seal member to each base member to form a seal and thereby contain the contact lens and the packaging solution in the cavity, wherein the step of affixing comprises pressing the seal member against the base members using a sealing head having a raised region, wherein heating of the raised region melts the base member to form the seal, the raised region comprising: a plurality of first raised regions, the first raised regions being spaced apart along the sealing head; and one or more second raised regions; each second raised region interconnecting each pair of adjacent first raised regions; and wherein when the sealing head is pressing the seal member against the base member, each first raised region extends around the perimeter of the cavity on one of the base members.
19. 19. A method of manufacturing a contact lens blister package assembly according to claim 18, wherein the first raised regions have a substantially constant width, wherein the width of the first raised region is the minimum perpendicular distance between the inner edge of the raised profile and an opposing outer edge of the raised region profile around the cavity; and wherein each second raised region extends along a first axis between the first raised regions of a pair; each second raised region has a length, being the minimum extent of the second raised region between the first raised regions, and a width, being the extent of the raised region in a direction perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the length of the second raised region is at least a third of the minimum width of the second raised region.
20. 20. A sealing head for use in the manufacture of a blister package assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 17 and/or the method of any one of claims 18 to 19; the sealing head comprises a sealing surface having a raised region corresponding to the shape of the seal.

Description

CONTACT LENS BLISTER PACKAGE [001] The present disclosure concerns blister packages for contact lenses, more particularly, but not exclusively, blister packages having a base member comprising a cavity in which an unworn contact lens is stored in a contact lens packaging solution; and a seal member affixed to the base member to seal the cavity. Background [002] Soft contact lenses, for example hydrogel and silicone hydrogel contact lenses, are stored in a contact lens packaging solution in order to keep them hydrated and in a useable condition. Contact lenses are typically individually packaged in a blister package. Blister packages provide a sterile and secure environment for unused contact lenses, allowing them to be transported and stored safely until such time as they are required by an end user. A conventional blister package comprises a base member made of a plastics material having a cavity formed therein and a seal member that is sealed to that base member to seal the cavity. Blister packages are typically arranged in rows (or strips) with, for example five or more, blister packages connected to each other. Contact lenses are typically packaged in the blister package in a manufacturing process that includes the steps of: placing the contact lens in the cavity of the base member, adding a volume of contact lens packaging solution to the cavity, sealing the cavity with a seal member thereby containing the lens and the solution within the packaging, and then autoclaving the sealed blister package in order to sterilize the contact lens and solution within the blister cavity. WO 2023/007126 (CooperVision International Limited) and WO 2023/233117 (CooperVision International Limited) are examples of contact lens blister packages. [003] It is desirable that blister packages be easy and convenient for a contact lens user to open. At the same time, it is important that the blister packages are sufficiently robust so as to withstand the manufacturing process and/or subsequent handling. It is also increasingly important to consider the environmental impact of blister packages, for example the amount of plastic materials used and/or the recyclability of the packages. [004] The present disclosure seeks to mitigate the above-mentioned problems. Alternatively or additionally, the present disclosure seeks to provide improved blister packages and/or methods of manufacturing such blister packages. Summary [005] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a blister package assembly comprising: at least two base members, each base member comprising (i) a cavity containing a contact lens in a contact lens packaging solution; and (ii) a planar surface region surrounding the cavity; and a seal member affixed to the planar surface region of each base member to form a seal and thereby contain the contact lens and the packaging solution in the cavity; wherein for each pair of adjacent base members, the seal comprises: for each base member, a first seal region extending around the perimeter of the cavity and extending from an inner edge of the seal, the first seal region having a substantially constant width, wherein the width of the first seal region is the minimum perpendicular distance between the inner edge of the seal and an opposing outer edge of the seal around the cavity, the first seal regions of the pair being spaced apart; and one or more second seal region(s), wherein each second seal region connects the first seal regions of the pair along a first axis; each second seal region having a length, being the minimum extent of the second seal region between the first seal regions in a direction parallel to the first axis, and a width, being the extent of the seal in a direction perpendicular to the first axis, and wherein the length of the second seal region is at least a third of the minimum width of the second seal region. [006] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a contact lens blister package assembly, the blister package assembly comprising at least two base members, each base member comprising a cavity holding a contact lens and contact lens packaging solution; and a planar surface region surrounding the cavity, the method comprising: affixing a seal member to each base member to form a seal and thereby contain the contact lens and the packaging solution in the cavity, wherein the step of affixing comprises pressing the seal member against the base members using a sealing head having a raised region, wherein heating of the raised region melts the base member to form the seal, the raised region comprising: a plurality of first raised regions, the first raised regions being spaced apart along the sealing head; and one or more second raised regions; each second raised region connecting each pair of adjacent first raised regions; and wherein when the sealing head is pressing the seal member against the base member, each first raised region surrounds the cavity on one of the