GB2504489A

GB2504489A - A medication container having a removable information tab

Info

Publication number: GB2504489A
Application number: GB201213527A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Johnathan Gray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-07-30
Filing date: 2012-07-30
Publication date: 2014-02-05
Also published as: GB201213527D0

Abstract

A multi-compartment container 1 for the storage and dispensing of medication 3 has at least two cavities 4 for containing the medication 3, each cavity 4 comprising a base, a sidewall and an opening. The container also has a lid 6 having a main portion and a tab portion 8, the main portion being joined to the tray to cover and seal all of the openings and the tab portion 8 of the lid 6 extending beyond a perimeter of the tray and being movable relative to the main portion such that the tab portion is movable from a first position substantially parallel to the main portion to a second position at an angle to the main portion. The tab portion 8 includes a display surface on which information is printed and the display surface faces in a direction away from the tray 1 when the tab 8 portion is in the second position, and wherein at least a part of each cavity 4 is deformable such that, in use, each cavity 4 can be deformed to urge the medication 3 contained within the cavity 4 through a part of the main portion of the lid 6 covering the opening to dispense the medication 3. A method of making the container is also claimed and the tab may be removable.

Description

Packaging

BACKGROUND

a. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a multi-compartment container for the storage and dispensing of medication and to a method of making such a container.

b. Related Art Often people being cared for within a nursing home require daily, repeat medication, which is typically in the form of tablets, capsules of other pharmaceutical solid dosage forms, taken once or several times a day. The dispensing of this medication requires at least one member of staff to dispense the necessary drugs to each patient, in the correct dosage and at the correct time of day.

Traditionally this task has been completed by a member of staff at the nursing home dispensing the tablets for a patient from a larger stock of medication, for example a bottle of tablets. The required tablets are often placed in a small disposable container and taken to the patient, together with a glass of water. This requires the member of staff at the nursing home to be qualified to dispense medication, and also requires this task to be carried out for all of the patients in the home a number of times a day, for example morning, lunchtime, afternoon and evening. Furthermore, it is necessary to keep a record of what medication each person requires and when medication has been given to that patient, to prevent a patient receiving the wrong medication, receiving two doses of their medication or missing a required dose. This can place a large burden on the staff in terms of time and responsibility.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved means of dispensing repeat medication to patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a multi-compartment container for the storage and dispensing of medication, the container comprising: -a tray having at least two cavities for containing the medication, each cavity comprising a base, a sidewall and an opening; and -a lid having a main portion and a tab portion, the main portion being joined to the tray to cover and seal all of the openings and the tab portion of the lid extending beyond a perimeter of the tray and being movable relative to the main portion such that the tab portion is movable from a first position substantially parallel to the main portion to a second position at an angle to the main portion, wherein the tab portion comprises a display surface on which information is printed and the display surface faces in a direction away from the tray when the tab portion is in the second position, and wherein at least a part of each cavity is deformable such that, in use, each cavity can be deformed to urge the medication contained within the cavity through a part of the main portion of the lid covering the opening to dispense the medication.

The container of the present invention, therefore, provides a means of separating the acts of dispensing individual doses of medication from a bulk supply of medication and giving these doses to patients at the correct time.

In addition to the information printed on the tab portion of the lid it is preferable if information is also printed on at least part of a surface of the main portion. In particular, the main portion preferably comprises display regions within which information is printed, these display regions being coincident with the openings.

To aid in the giving of the correct medication at the right time of day the information printed in the display regions preferably comprises day and time information. This day and time information corresponds to the day and time at which the medication in the associated cavity should be given to the patient.

Preferably the information printed in the display regions comprises a description of the contents of the respective cavity associated with the display region.

So that the tab portion is movable relative to the main portion, from the first position to the second position, the tab portion of the lid is preferably hingedly connected to the main portion.

To enable information to printed easily onto the tab portion of the lid, and in some cases additionally onto the main portion of the lid, the main portion and the tab portion are preferably integrally formed. This also enables the lid to be sealed to the tray in a single operation.

In some embodiments, to enable the medication to be pushed more easily through the main portion of the lid, perforations are formed in the main portion of lid, the location of the perforations being coincident with the openings. As the medication is pushed through the lid by deformation of the cavity, the lid is torn along these perforations. This helps to prevent the seal being broken around neighbouring cavities from which medication has not yet been dispensed.

Preferably the tray is made from a plastics material. Preferably the lid comprises a paper-based material. Typically the lid will be joined to the tray by heat sealing.

In some applications of the present invention it is desirable if the container is able to hold doses of medication for a week, where one, two, three or even four doses of medication are given each day. To this end, the tray preferably comprises an array of between 7 and 28 cavities.

Preferably the information printed on the tab portion comprises identification information, such as identification information relating to a patient, a doctor and/or a pharmacy.

It is advantageous if a line of perforations is formed between the main portion and the tab portion of the lid, such that the tab portion is separable from the main portion along the line of perforations. This line of perforations not only permits the tab portion to be easily separated from the rest of the lid for the purposes of record-keeping and traceability after the medication has been dispensed, but also allows the tab portion to be more easily folded at an angle to the main portion of the lid.

Preferably, in the second position, the tab portion lies substantially perpendicular to the main portion proximate a side of the tray. As such, information printed on the tab portion is visible even when a number of containers are placed in a stack.

Preferably the dimensions of the cavities are suitable for containing two or more pharmaceutical solid dosage forms, such as tablets or capsules.

Also according to the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a multi-compartment container comprising the steps of: -forming a tray having at least two cavities, each cavity comprising a base, a sidewall and an opening, and at least a part of each cavity being deformable by a user of the container; -forming a lid, the lid having a main portion and a tab portion, the tab portion being movable relative to the main portion such that the tab portion is movable from a first position substantially parallel to the main portion to a second position at an angle to the main portion; -printing information on a surface of at least the tab portion of the lid; -sealing the lid to the tray so that the main portion covers and seals all of the openings and the tab portion of the lid extends beyond a perimeter of the tray.

Preferably the tray is made of a plastics material and forming the tray comprises thermoforming. Preferably the tray comprises an array of 7 to 28 cavities.

Typically the step of sealing the lid to the tray comprises heat sealing the lid to the tray. Preferably the lid comprises a paper-based material.

Preferably information is printed on the lid before the lid is sealed to the tray. In some embodiments, the lid is formed from sheet material and information is printed on the sheet material before the lid is cut from the sheet material. In some embodiments the method comprises pre-printing sheet material with information, sealing the sheet material to the tray and, subsequently, cutting the lid out of the sheet material.

The method may further comprise printing information on the main portion of the lid.

Preferably the method further comprises forming perforations in the main portion of the lid, the location of the perforations being coincident with the openings.

Preferably the method further comprises forming a line of perforations between the main portion and the tab portion of the lid, such that the tab portion is separable from the main portion along the line of perforations.

Advantageously the method comprises the step of folding the tab portion into the second position so that the information on the surface of the tab portion faces away from the tray. In preferred embodiments in the second position the tab portion lies substantially perpendicular to the main portion proximate a side of the tray.

Ideally the method comprises filling the cavities with medication before sealing the lid to the tray. Each cavity being filled with a single dose of medication suitable for a particular patient.

The invention further provides a method of dispensing medication using a container according to the invention, the method comprising: -filling each cavity with medication corresponding to a single dose of medication; -printing information on the tab portion and the main portion of the lid, the information on the tab portion comprising information for identifying a patient and the information on the main portion comprising information about the dose of medication within each cavity; -sealing the lid onto the tray; -dispensing the medication from each cavity individually; and -separating the tab portion from the main portion of the lid once medication has been dispensed from all of the cavities of the tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view from above of a multi-compartment tray for containing medication according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view from the side of the multi-compartment tray of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view from above of a lid for sealing the tray of Figure ito form a container according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view from the side of a part of a container of the present invention showing the lid sealed to the tray and showing a tab portion of the lid folded to display information viewable from a side of the tray; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view from the side of a part of a container of the present invention showing cavities of the tray filled with medication in the form of solid dosage forms and showing the medication being dispensed from one cavity by deformation of that cavity; Figure 6 is a plan view from above of a part of a lid, the lid including discrete perforated regions, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 illustrates a view from the front of one embodiment of an apparatus used to form the container of the present invention; Figure 8 illustrates a view from the side of the apparatus of Figure 7 showing a drawer removed and into which a tray of the container is placed before sealing; and Figure 9 illustrates a second embodiment of an apparatus used to form the container of the present invention, the apparatus including a source of sheet material used to form the lid of the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The multi-compartment container 1 of the present invention comprises a tray 2 having at least two cavities 4 and a lid 6 which is sealed to the tray 2 to seal the contents of the tray 2 within each cavity 4. The lid 6 includes a tab portion 8 which extends beyond the perimeter of the tray 2 and which may be folded such that the tab portion 8 lies proximate a side of the tray 2. The tab portion 8 may, therefore, be used to display information that is printed on the tab portion 8 and which is visible from a side of the container 1.

In a preferred application of the invention, the tray 2 is used to store medication 3 in the form of solid dosage forms such as tablets, capsules and the like. In other embodiments the tray 2 may be used to hold other forms of medication for example powder, cream or liquid.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tray 2 comprises an array of cavities 4 which can be used to hold the required dosage of medication 3 for different times of day and for each day of the week. For example the tray may comprise twenty-eight cavities to contain medication to be taken morning, lunchtime, afternoon and evening for seven days. Each cavity 4 contains a single dose of medication 3 for a particular time of day, and each dose may comprise a number of pharmaceutical solid dosage forms, for example three or four tablets and/or capsules.

Each cavity 4 comprises a base 10 and a side wall 12. In this example the bases of the cavities 4 are substantially square and each side wall 12 extends from around the full perimeter of each base 10. The side walls 12 are sloped so that a perimeter of a top edge 14 of each cavity 4 is greater than the perimeter of the base 10, and each cavity is in the shape of a truncated pyramid. This shape of cavity 4 means that the tray 2 is each to fill and it is easy to dispense the medication from the sealed tray 2, as will be described further below.

Although the cavities 4 of this embodiment have a generally square cross-sectional shape, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments the cavities may have a circular or elliptical cross-sectional shape such that the cavities comprise a circular or elliptical opening and base.

The top edges 14 of each cavity 4 define an array of openings 16 in an upper face 18 of the tray 2. The openings 16 are spaced evenly apart over the area of the upper face 18 of the tray 2 such that bridging portions 20 exist between the openings 16 thereby joining or connecting neighbouring cavities 4 around their top edges 14. In this example, a circumferential bridging portion 20a extends fully around the perimeter of the upper face 18 and a plurality of central bridging portions 20b extend between the cavities 4.

The depth of each of the cavities 4 is the same so that the bases 10 all lie in the same plane, thereby permitting the tray 2 to be seated on a surface. The cavities 4 preferably have a depth of about 35 mm and the dimensions of the openings 16 are preferably about 30 x 30 mm.

The tray 2 is preferably made from a plastics material, such as amorphous polyethylene terephthalate (A-PET). However, the tray may be made from any suitable material and may be made from a recycled or compostable material. The thickness of the tray 2 and the material from which it is made should be chosen so that the tray 2 is flexible. In particular the bases 10 and/or side walls 12 of the cavities 4 should be deformable by a person pressing on the underside of a base of a cavity 4, as described further below. However, the tray 2 should be stiff enough to hold its shape to enable the cavities 4 to be filled.

Figure 3 shows a lid 6 designed to cover and seal the tray 2. The lid 6 comprises a main portion 22 and a tab portion 8 integrally formed with the main portion 22.

The dimensions of the main portion 22 are substantially the same as the dimensions of the upper face 18 of the tray 2 so that the main portion 22 extends over and covers all of the openings 16 in the tray 2.

In this example, the upper face 18 of the tray 2 and the main portion 22 of the lid are rectangular, each having two parallel longer edges 26, 28 and two parallel shorter edges 30, 32 respectively. The tab portion 8 extends from one of the shorter edges 32 of the main portion 22. The tab portion 8 extends across substantially the full width of the lid 6 and the length of the tab portion 8 is preferably more than three quarters of the length of the shorter edge 32. The depth of the tab portion 8 is less than the depth of the cavities 4.

In preferred embodiments, a weakened line or a line of perforations 34 is formed between the main portion 22 and the tab portion 8 of the lid 6 to create a fold line 34.

The lid 6 is sealed to the upper face 18 of the tray 2 as shown in part in Figure 4.

The main portion 22 of the lid is preferably sealed to the upper face 18 along each of the bridging portions 20 such that a complete seal is formed around each individual cavity 4. In this example the lid 6 is heat sealed to the tray 2; however, in other embodiments other suitable sealing means may be used.

When the main portion 22 of the lid 6 is sealed to the tray 2, the tab portion 8 extends beyond the perimeter of the tray 2. The tab portion 8 is then able to be folded down, along the fold line 34, to lie along a side of the tray 2. In this example, the tab portion 8 lies along an end side of the tray 2 corresponding to a shorter edge 30 of the tray 2.

The lid 6 will typically be made from paper or cardboard, but in other embodiments may be made from a thin film plastics or metallic foil material.

An upper surface 36 of the lid 6 is printable so that information and/or images can be printed onto the upper surface 36. Preferably a surface 36 of the tab portion 8 is printable, together with discrete display regions 38 of the main portion 22. The display regions 38 correspond in position to the openings 16 in the tray 2 when the lid 6 is sealed to the tray 2. In this way, information may be printed in each of the display regions 38 that lists and corresponds to the contents of the associated cavity 4 located beneath the region 38 when the lid 6 is sealed to the tray 2. The information is preferably printed onto the surface 36 of the lid 6 using an inkjet printer; however, other printing means may be used.

When the container 1 is used to store medication, each of the display regions 38 may be printed with a day, a time of day and the relevant medication, for example, MONDAY, AFTERNOON, ASPIRIN. The tab portion 8 may be printed with information concerning the identification of a patient, for example the patient's name and address, their doctor's name, contact telephone number and a photograph of the patient. Each container 1 is, therefore, unique to an individual patient for a specified time period, depending on the number of cavities 4 in the tray 2.

When the tab portion 8 is folded down over the edge 30 of the tray 2, the surface 36 on which the information is printed on the tab portion 8 faces outwards away from the tray 2 and is, therefore, visible from a side or end of the container 1. As such, this information remains visible when the container 1 is placed in a stack, for example on a shelf or in a trolley. The container 1 of medication belonging to a particular patient can, therefore, be identified and easily removed from the stack without needing to see any information printed on the main portion 22 of the lid 6.

To dispense medication 3 from the container 1 a person selects the correct cavity 4 corresponding to the day and time of day printed in the corresponding display region 38. The base 10 of the cavity 4 is then pushed towards the lid 6 by the finger or thumb of the person. This causes the cavity 4 to deform or collapse and the medication 3 is forced through the part of the lid 6 covering the opening 16, as illustrated in Figure 5. To be able to dispense the medication 3 in this way, the thickness and strength of the lid 6 must be such that the tablets or other dosage forms can be easily pushed though the lid 6, with minimal effort from the person and without breaking the tablet. Additionally, the seals around each cavity 4 between the lid 6 and the tray 2 should be strong enough so that the seal around a neighbouring cavity 4 is not disrupted when medication is dispensed.

To aid in the dispensing of the medication, the main portion 22 of the lid 6 may include lines of perforations or perforated regions 40 located coincident with the openings 16 in the tray 2. These perforations 40, illustrated in Figure 6, mean that the lid 6 tears more easily and in a more controlled way as the medication is pushed through the lid 6. The perforations 40 are particularly advantageous in lids 6 made from paper or cardboard.

The design of the container 1, such that the lid 6 is permanently torn when the medication is dispensed from a cavity 4, has the advantage that the container 1 itself provides an indication and a record that a particular dose of medication has been dispensed. It is clearly seen whether a particular cavity 4, corresponding to a specified period of the day, has been opened and the medication dispensed.

This significantly reduces the likelihood that a person will be given the wrong medication, or will be given an additional dose of medication.

The tab portion 8 may also be designed such that it can be torn from the main portion 22 of the lid 6 to provide a receipt' that can be kept with a patient's medical records for example. In particular, it is envisaged that a part of the printed surface of the tab portion 8 may be signed and dated when the container 1 of medication is first given to a patient. Once all of the medication has been dispensed from the container 1, a part of the tab portion 8 will be signed and dated again. The tab portion 8 will then be removed from the main portion 22 of the lid 6 by tearing along the line of perforations 34 and retained for records and traceability purposes.

In embodiments in which the tab portion 8 is designed to be removed and retained after medication has been dispensed from the container 1, the tab portion 8 may comprise a reinforcing layer (not shown). The reinforcing layer acts to stiffen and strengthen the tab portion 8 so that it is not damaged when it is removed from the main portion 22 of the lid 6 and retained with patient records. The reinforcing layer should not, however, prevent the complete lid 6 being printed with the required information using a standard printer.

Methods of manufacturing the containers 1 will now be described with particular reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9.

A first preferred apparatus 50 and method of forming the containers 1 is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. In this method, a pre-cut and pre-printed lid 6 is heat sealed onto a filled tray 2.

The apparatus 50 comprises a drawer 52 for receiving a pre-formed multi-compartment tray 2. The drawer 52 has a base 54 and side walls 56 defining a central recess 58. A frame 60 extends around a top edge 62 of the side walls 56 and surrounds an aperture 64. The dimensions of the frame 60 and aperture 64 are such that the circumferential bridging portion 20a of the tray 2 is seated on the frame 60 and the cavities 4 extend through the aperture 64 and into the recess 58.

The drawer 52 further comprises supporting walls 65 that span the width and length of the recess 58. These supporting walls 65 are positioned to locate between the cavities 4 of the tray 2. When the tray 2 is lowered into the drawer 52, the central bridging portions 20b of the tray 2 rest along the top edges 67 of the support walls 65.

The frame 60 and supporting walls 65 provide a support for the tray 2 so that the lid 6 may be sealed to the tray 2 along each of the bridging portions 20 as described below.

In other embodiments, the drawer 52 may not include a frame 60 and the depth of the side walls 56 may be less than the depth of the cavities 4 of the tray 2, such that the upper face 18 of the tray 2 is located above the level of the top edge 62 of the side walls 56.

The cavities 4 of the tray 2 may be filled with the required medication before or after the tray 2 is placed in the drawer 52.

The drawer 52 is then located within a housing 53, as shown in Figure 8. When the drawer 52 is correctly located within the housing, the tray 2 is aligned with a sealing means 66 positioned above the housing 53.

A lid 6 for the tray 2 is pre-cut to the correct dimensions and the required information is printed onto the upper surface 36 of the lid 6. The pre-printed lid 6 is then positioned on top of the tray 2 so that the main portion 22 of the lid 6 is aligned with the upper face 18 of the tray 2 and the tab portion 8 extends beyond an edge 30 of the tray 2.

The sealing means 66 is then used to seal the lid 6 to the tray 2. Typically a lower surface 68 of the lid 6 will comprise a heat seal layer and the lid 6 will be heat sealed to the tray 2. In this embodiment the sealing means 66 comprises a sealing head 70 and pneumatic cylinders 72 arranged to drive the sealing head 70 down onto the lid 6 and tray 2. A contact surface 74 of the sealing head 70 is preferably profiled to match the shape of the bridging portions 20 of the tray 2 SO that a seal is formed between the lid 6 and the tray 2 along each of the bridging portions 20 around the openings 16.

Once the lid 6 has been correctly positioned on the tray 2, the sealing head 70 is driven down onto the lid 6 by the operation of the pneumatic cylinders 72. The sealing head 70 is heated and the combination of heat and pressure heat seals the lid 6 to the tray 2. Once a seal has been formed, the sealing head 70 is withdrawn, and the complete container 1 is removed from the drawer 52.

Because the information printed on the main portion 22 of the lid 6 is printed within defined display regions 38 corresponding to the positions of the openings 16, the act of heat sealing the lid 6 to the tray 2 along the bridging portions 20 does not distort or obliterate the printed regions 38.

A second preferred apparatus 80 and method of forming the containers 1 is illustrated in Figure 9. In this method, the lid 6 is cut after it has been sealed to a filled tray 2.

The apparatus 80 comprises a drawer 56 and sealing means 66 substantially the same as those described in relation to the first apparatus 50 and identical features will not be described further. In this embodiment, however, the apparatus 80 additionally includes first and second rollers 82, 84 and an inline printer 86.

A roll of blank sheet material 88 to be used to form lids 6 is located on the first roller 82. When a new container 1 is to be sealed, the sheet material 88 is drawn from the roller 82 through the printer 86, and the printer 86 prints the required information onto the printable surface 36 of the sheet material 88.

The printed sheet material 88 is then advanced from the printer 86 to a space above a tray 2. In order to correctly position the sheet material 88 with respect to the tray 2, the printer 86 preferably prints an eye-mark or similar onto the sheet material 88, and the apparatus 80 further includes a detector 90 that detects the presence of this eye-mark and stops the advancement of the sheet material 88 at the correct moment. In other embodiments the correct positioning of the sheet material 88 with respect to the tray 2 may be accomplished by any other known methods, for example by measuring the length of material 88 that has passed through or across the detector.

Once correctly positioned above the tray 2, the sheet material 88 is heat sealed to the tray 2 by the sealing means 66 as described above. In this embodiment the sealing means 66 also comprises cutting means (not shown) which cuts the lid 6 from the sheet material 88 after it has been sealed to the tray 2. The remaining waste sheet material 92 surrounding the cut-out lid 6 is then advanced and wound onto the second roller 84.

Although in both embodiments of the apparatus 50, 80 described above the sealing means 66 comprised pneumatic cylinders 72, in other embodiments, the sealing means 66 may comprise other drive means for example a cam mechanism to drive the sealing head 70 down onto the lid 6 or sheet material 88.

It is envisaged that the sealing apparatus 50, 80 will be used, in particular, by pharmacies that will fill pre-formed trays 2 with the necessary medication, print the required information to identify the patient and the medication on the lid 6, seal the trays 2, and then send the sealed containers 1 to the nursing home or similar. In this way, the dispensing of the medication is carried out by qualified members of staff within the pharmacy, and the pharmacy is able to maintain a database of patients, medications and dosage regimes, with only the required information being selected from the database to be printed onto the lid 6 of the container 1.

The present invention, therefore, provides a cost effective system for the dispensing of medication to patients that overcomes many of the problems

associated with prior art methods of dispensing.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A multi-compartment container for the storage and dispensing of medication, the container comprising: -a tray having at least two cavities for containing said medication, each cavity comprising a base, a sidewall and an opening; and -a lid having a main portion and a tab portion, the main portion being joined to the tray to cover and seal all of the openings and the tab portion of the lid extending beyond a perimeter of the tray and being movable relative to the main portion such that the tab portion is movable from a first position substantially parallel to the main portion to a second position at an angle to the main portion, wherein the tab portion comprises a display surface on which information is printed and the display surface faces in a direction away from the tray when the tab portion is in the second position, and wherein at least a part of each cavity is deformable such that, in use, each cavity can be deformed to urge said medication contained within the cavity through a part of the main portion of the lid covering the opening to dispense said medication.
2. A multi-compartment container as claimed in Claim 1, wherein information is printed on at least part of a surface of the main portion.
3. A multi-compartment container as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the main portion comprises display regions within which information is printed and the display regions are coincident with the openings.
4. A multi-compartment container as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the information printed in the display regions comprises day and time information.
5. A multi-compartment container as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4, wherein the information printed in the display regions comprises a description of the contents of the respective cavity associated with the display region.
6. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tab portion of the lid is hingedly connected to the main portion.
7. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main portion and the tab portion integrally formed.
8. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are perforations in the main portion of lid, the location of the perforations being coincident with the openings.
9. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tray is made from a plastics material.
10. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid comprises a paper-based material.
11. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tray comprises an array of between 7 and 28 cavities.
12. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the lid is joined to the tray by heat sealing.
13. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the information printed on the tab portion comprises identification information.
14. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a line of perforations between the main portion and the tab portion, such that the tab portion is separable from the main portion along the line of perforations.
15. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein in the second position the tab portion lies substantially perpendicular to the main portion proximate a side of the tray.
16. A multi-compartment container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the dimensions of the cavities are suitable for containing two or more pharmaceutical solid dosage forms.
17. A method of manufacturing a multi-compartment container comprising the steps of: -forming a tray having at least two cavities, each cavity comprising a base, a sidewall and an opening, and at least a part of each cavity being deformable by a user of the container; -forming a lid, the lid having a main portion and a tab portion, the tab portion being movable relative to the main portion such that the tab portion is movable from a first position substantially parallel to the main portion to a second position at an angle to the main portion; -printing information on a surface of at least the tab portion of the lid; -sealing the lid to the tray so that the main portion covers and seals all of the openings and the tab portion of the lid extends beyond a perimeter of the tray.
18. A method as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the tray is made of a plastics material and forming the tray comprises thermoforming.
19. A method as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein the tray comprises an array of 7 to 28 cavities.
20. A method as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 19, wherein sealing the lid to the tray comprises heat sealing the lid to the tray.
21. A method as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 20, wherein information is printed on the lid before the lid is sealed to the tray.

-20 -
22. A method as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 21, wherein the lid is formed from sheet material and information is printed on the sheet material before the lid is cut from the sheet material.
23. A method as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 22, wherein the method further comprises printing information on the main portion of the lid.
24. A method as claimed in any of Claims l7to 23, wherein the method further comprises forming perforations in the main portion of the lid, the location of the perforations being coincident with the openings.
25. A method as claimed in any of Claims l7to 24, wherein the method further comprises forming a line of perforations between the main portion and the tab portion of the lid, such that the tab portion is separable from the main portion along the line of perforations.
26. A method as claimed in any of Claims l7to 25, wherein the lid comprises a paper-based material.
27. A method as claimed in any of Claims l7to 26, wherein the method further comprises the step of folding the tab portion into the second position so that the information on the surface of the tab portion faces away from the tray.
28. A method as claimed in Claim 27, wherein in the second position the tab portion lies substantially perpendicular to the main portion proximate a side of the tray.
29. A method as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 28, wherein the method comprises pre-printing sheet material with information, sealing the sheet material to the tray and, subsequently, cutting the lid out of the sheet material.
30. A method as claimed in any of Claims 17 to 29, wherein the method -21 -comprises tilling the cavities with medication before sealing the lid to the tray.
31. A method of dispensing medication using a container as claimed in any of Claims ito 16, the method comprising: -filling each cavity with medication corresponding to a single dose of medication; -printing information on the tab portion and the main portion ot the lid, the information on the tab portion comprising information tor identifying a patient and the intormation on the main portion comprising intormation about the dose of medication within each cavity; -sealing the lid onto the tray; -dispensing the medication trom each cavity individually; and -separating the tab portion from the main portion ot the lid once medication has been dispensed trom all ot the cavities ot the tray.
32. A multi-compartment container for the storage and dispensing of pharmaceuticals substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
33. A method of manufacturing a multi-compartment container substantially as herein described with reterence to the accompanying drawings.
34. A method of dispensing medication substantially as herein described with reterence to the accompanying drawings.