Abstract:
A method and apparatus for maximizing fluid retrieval from a fluid container when using a fluid retrieval device. A medical container is provided which includes a container body to hold a volume of medicinal fluid, and a container nozzle coupled to the container body. The nozzle has an opening to permit passage of a fluid retrieval device into the container body. The container includes a fluid pooling structure that guides the volume of medicinal fluid towards a target pooling region in response to a gravitational force, thereby optimizing the fluid retrieval therefrom.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates in general to fluid containers, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for facilitating complete retrieval of medicinal fluids from a medicinal container.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Children who become ill or otherwise require medication are often medicated orally. Babies and toddlers are not capable of receiving medicines in the form of a pill, and are generally subjected to medicinal products in a liquid form that can be taken orally. Because most medicinal remedies are administered to babies and toddlers in this fashion, and because children of these ages often require medications such as antibiotics, aspirin, cough and cold medicine, etc., parents and other caretakers of the children are regularly having to administer these fluid medications. Along with children, the elderly, infirm, physically disabled, etc. are also candidates for drug administration via oral ingestion.  
           [0003]    One problem with administering such medicines is that babies and small children do not take liquid medicines from a spoon very well. Babies cannot form their mouth around a spoon, and toddlers, even if capable of receiving medications via spoon, are often uncooperative. These problems generally lead to spillage, or otherwise result in an inadequate dosage of administered medicine.  
           [0004]    One solution to this problem is to use a syringe to draw fluid medicine from a medicine bottle, and administer the medicine with the syringe. The syringe typically has a blunt end that can be safely inserted into the child&#39;s mouth. Once the syringe is filled, the syringe plunger is depressed to expel the fluid into the child&#39;s mouth. This allows the medicine to be more accurately released into the child&#39;s mouth, as a result of the ability to position the medicinal release point in the child&#39;s mouth and direct the fluid into the mouth. Further, there is a greatly enhanced ability to control the speed and quantity of fluid release.  
           [0005]    However, when the fluid level in the medicine container decreases, it becomes increasingly difficult to draw fluid into the syringe. This can be a result of the syringe having insufficient length to reach the bottom of the container. However, even where the syringe is of sufficient length to reach the bottom of the container, the fact that the remaining fluid is distributed over the entire bottom area of the container makes it difficult to draw the remaining portion of the medicine into the syringe. For example, as the syringe plunger is pulled to draw in fluid, it creates suction at the fluid entry point. The suction that is generated may pull some fluid into the syringe, but also pulls air into the syringe when the fluid level has decreased to a certain point. In order to fill the syringe, it may need to be iteratively tipped upside-down to release any captured air, and an attempt to draw in additional fluid must then be made. Further, in order to draw in the last portions of the fluid, the end of the syringe must be positioned proximate the bottom structure of the container, making fluid suction difficult as a result of the syringe end being positioned against the bottom of the container.  
           [0006]    Alternatively, in an attempt to draw in any remaining fluid, the container can be tipped to a side to try to pool the medicine between the edge and the bottom of the container. This also has disadvantages. For example, if the diameter of the syringe is close to the diameter of the container opening, there is relatively little, if any, ability to insert the syringe at an angle with respect to the opening of the medicine container, since the rigidity of the medicine container causes the syringe to be positioned in line with the container channel opening. Even where the diameter of the syringe is less than the diameter of the container opening, there is only a limited angle to which the syringe can be inserted into the container.  
           [0007]    The medicine could be poured from the medicinal container into another container, such as a small bowl or small medicine cup. In this way, the medicinal syringe is uninhibited by the medicinal container itself, and can draw in the medicine. However, it is very inconvenient to have to pour the medicine into another container, especially where any excess that was poured must be poured back into the medicinal container or discarded. If poured back into the medicine container, this creates yet another inconvenience, and causes waste of the medicine as portions of the medicine cling to the walls of the bowl or medicine cup. Further, it may be difficult to pour the unused medicine back into the container, and may require a funnel or other means of pouring the fluid into the small container opening. The alternative is to discard any remaining, unused portion of the medicine that was poured from the container into the bowl or cup, but it is clearly an undesirable action to waste costly medicines, particularly where the medicine is a prescription drug and only a limited amount is prescribed to the patient.  
           [0008]    It can be seen that there is a need for a method and apparatus that facilitates substantially complete removal of the medicinal fluids from a medicine container when used in connection with a retrieval device, such as a syringe or other suction device. It would be desirable to avoid the aforementioned and other problems associated with conventional containers and techniques to minimize waste and provide ease of use. The present invention provides a solution to the aforementioned and other problems of the prior art, and offers additional advantages over current medicinal delivery devices and techniques.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses an apparatus and method for maximizing fluid retrieval from a fluid container when using a fluid retrieval device.  
           [0010]    A medical container is provided in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The container includes a container body to hold a volume of medicinal fluid, and a container nozzle coupled to the container body. The nozzle has an opening to permit passage of a fluid retrieval device into the container body. The container further includes a fluid pooling structure that guides the volume of medicinal fluid towards a target pooling region in response to a gravitational force.  
           [0011]    Various more specific embodiments of the invention set forth particular fluid pooling structures, which may take on a variety of forms, including a conical form, an inclined planar form, a V-shape, and the like. Other more particular embodiments include a grating at the target pooling region to facilitating fluid retrieval between a fluid receiving end of the fluid retrieval device and the target pooling region.  
           [0012]    Still other specific embodiments include a coupling mechanism on the container nozzle and on the fluid retrieval device to allow the fluid retrieval device to be coupled to the container. This may be beneficial as a capping technique for storage and transport of the container, and also to provide the proper positioning of a fluid receiving end of the fluid retrieval device proximate the target pooling region.  
           [0013]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a medicinal fluid dispensing system is provided. The system includes a medicinal container that has a container body to hold the medicinal fluid. A container nozzle is coupled to the container body and has an opening therein. A fluid pooling structure is arranged to direct the medicinal fluid to a target pooling region in response to gravity. The system also includes a fluid retrieval device configured to pass through the opening in the nozzle, where the container nozzle is configured to direct the fluid retrieval device towards the target pooling region to retrieve the medicinal fluid pooled at the target pooling region. In more specific embodiments, the fluid retrieval device includes a syringe, a dropper, or other device capable of drawing in the medicinal fluid.  
           [0014]    In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for maximizing fluid extraction from a container. Directional access is provided in the container for passage of a fluid retrieval device therethrough. The fluid converges to a fluid collection area having decreased volumetric dimensions as compared to the container dimensions. The longitudinal axis of the container access is substantially aligned with the fluid collection area. A fluid retrieval device inserted into the container via the directional access is directed to the fluid collection area, as governed by the container access and aligned fluid collection area, thereby maximizing fluid extraction quantity from the container.  
           [0015]    In still another embodiment of the invention, another method for maximizing fluid extraction from a medicinal container is provided. A fluid retrieval device is inserted into a medicinal container nozzle at an angle defined by the medicinal container nozzle. The fluid retrieval device is directed along its longitudinal axis until reaching an inner wall of the container. An angle of the medicinal container itself is adjusted to pool the fluid proximate an end of the fluid retrieval device. The fluid is retrieved by suctioning the fluid proximate the pooled fluid.  
           [0016]    These and various other advantages and features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to accompanying descriptive matter, in which there are illustrated and described specific examples of an apparatus in accordance with the invention.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 generally illustrates one embodiment of a fluid container in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a fluid container and fluid retrieval device in accordance with the invention is inserted into the medicinal container;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the invention wherein the fluid retrieval device is a dropper device;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention where the fluid retrieval device is a syringe-type device including a threaded structure to secure the syringe to the medicinal bottle;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a bottom portion of a medicinal container in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate embodiment of fluid pooling structures in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 8 and 10 illustrate the meeting of a fluid retrieval device with the target pooling region, where a shallow fluid grate is provided to facilitate retrieval of the fluids when the tip of the fluid retrieval device is in juxtaposition with the target pooling region;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 illustrates the dilemma posed where no fluid grate is provided to facilitate retrieval of the fluids when the tip of the fluid retrieval device is in juxtaposition with the target pooling region;  
         [0025]    FIGS.  11 - 15  illustrate various example embodiments of grates that can be used in connection with the target pooling regions of the present invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 16 illustrates one embodiment where no grate is necessary at the target pooling region;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of a fluid retrieval device which works in connection with a pooling structure, while also serving as a removable cover to the container;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate various embodiments of a dropper device in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein a fluid container and fluid retrieval device in accordance with the invention is inserted into the medicinal container at a predetermined angle to appropriately reach the target pooling region;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of a method for retrieving fluid from a container having an angled nozzle; and  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 22 is a flow diagram generally illustrating a method for maximizing the removal of fluids from a medicinal fluid container in accordance with the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    In the following description of the exemplary embodiment, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, as structural and operational changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0033]    The present invention is generally directed to medicinal container that facilitates fluid retrieval therefrom, particularly when used in connection with a fluid retrieval device capable of drawing in the medicinal fluid from the medicinal container. The medicinal bottle or container includes an opening from which a fluid retrieval device may be inserted, and further includes a fluid pooling structure substantially aligned with the container opening such that the fluid retrieval rod is directed through the opening substantially to the fluid pooling structure. In this manner, fluid may be withdrawn from medicinal containers with relative ease through the use of a fluid retrieval device/rod.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 1 generally illustrates one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a container  10  is provided for the storage and transport of fluids, such as liquid medicines. The container  10  may be any desired shape, and in the illustrated embodiment is generally the shape of a cylinder with an opening or nozzle  12 . The container is constructed of a substantially watertight material that prevents absorption or leakage of the fluid contained therein. The medicinal container  10  includes a fluid pooling structure  14  that facilitates the pooling of the medicinal fluid proximate the structure  14  when placed or held in a position where gravitational force tends to direct the fluid towards the structure  14 . A fluid retrieval device  20 ,  0 which in the illustrated embodiment is a blunt-tip syringe, may enter the medicinal container  10  through the nozzle  12  to reach the fluid  16 . When the fluid is at a high level in the container  10 , the precise depth at which the fluid retrieval device is inserted into the container is of relatively little significance. However, when the fluid  16  level is at a low level in the container  10 , traditional medicinal bottles distributed the little remaining fluid over a large service area at the relatively flat bottom of the medicinal container. Tipping such a traditional medicinal bottle to its side to allow a syringe to draw fluid from a point between a side wall and a bottom wall is typically ineffective, due to the physical dimensions of the nozzle  12  that directs the fluid retrieval device  20  such that it is unable to reach a point between the side wall and the bottom wall of the medicinal container. This is largely due to the relative rigidity of the fluid retrieval device  20 . In the present invention, the fluid pooling structure  14  is designed such that the apex of a concave or conical structure, or more generally the center of the fluid pooling structure  14  depending on its shape, is substantially in line with a longitudinal axis  11  substantially through the center of the nozzle  12 .  
         [0035]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the medicinal container  10  and fluid retrieval device  20  shown in connection with FIG. 1 are shown in FIG. 2, with the fluid retrieval device  20  illustrated in its inserted position into the medicinal container  10 . In this position, and due to the alignment of the longitudinal axis of the nozzle  12  with the center of the fluid pooling structure  14 , the open tip  22  of the fluid retrieval device  20  is positioned such that the amount of fluid that may be drawn from the medicinal container  10  is maximized. The fluid retrieval device  20  includes an outer shell  24 , inner plunger  26  having a rubber (or other elastomeric substance/material) ring  28  that snugly conforms within the inner diameter of the outer shell  24  sufficiently to create a vacuum when the inner plunger  26  is drawn out of the outer shell  24 . Creation of this vacuum effect causes the fluid  16  to be drawn into the fluid retrieval device  20  via the open tip  22  into the vacuum chamber  30  created between the open tip  22  and the substantially air tight ring  28 . As can be seen from FIG. 2, substantially all the fluid in the medicinal container  10  may be removed using a fluid retrieval device  20  where the longitudinal axis of the medicinal bottle nozzle  12  is directed in a line towards the pooling point or trough created by the pooling structure  14 .  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the invention wherein the fluid retrieval device is a dropper device  40 . Such dropper devices are, of themselves, known in the art. In connection with the present invention, the dropper device  40  includes an open end tip  42 , a substantially longitudinal body  44 , and a bulb  46 . Squeezing or otherwise depressing the bulb  46  forces the air inside the bulb  46  out of the dropper  40  through the open end tip  42 . Releasing the bulb  46  then creates a vacuum within the dropper  40  to draw the fluids via the open end tip  42  into the vacuum chamber which is at least partially comprised of the longitudinal body  44 . Insertion of a dropper  40  into a medicinal container  10  having a fluid pooling structure  14  in accordance with the present invention allows substantially all of the fluid stored in the container  10  to be withdrawn when the dropper has a length sufficient to reach the bottom of the fluid pooling structure  14 .  
         [0037]    It should also be recognized that other fluid retrieval devices other than a syringe-type device or dropper-type device may be used. For example, other devices using electronic suction mechanisms rather than manual suction mechanisms may be used. It is known to use motors to create vacuum effects, which can in turn be used to create the requisite suction to draw out the medicinal fluid from the medicinal container.  
         [0038]    Optionally, the dropper  40  may include a threaded structure  50  positioned at an appropriate point on the dropper  40  such that the longitudinal body  44  fits within the medicinal container  10  when the threaded structure  50  is threaded onto a threaded nozzle  12 . Other fastening mechanisms other than threads may also be used to attach the dropper  40  to the medicinal body  10  in accordance with the present invention. In any event, a fastening structure such as the threaded structure  50  allows the dropper  40  to also act as a cover or cap for the medicinal bottle  10  during periods of storage and transport.  
         [0039]    In one particularly beneficial embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal body  44  has a length “L” such that when the threaded structure  50  is threaded onto the nozzle  12 , the open end tip  42  is positioned proximate a pooling point or trough of the pooling structure  14 . This pooling point or trough is a physical structure of the pooling structure  14  to which the fluid in the medicinal container is ultimately directed by gravity. In other words, as the fluid level decreases in the container  10 , the remaining fluid in the container is directed to the pooling point, trough, or other pooling structure, examples of which are described in greater detail below. In this embodiment, the structure  50  serves as a cover, and when medicine is to be drawn, the bulb  46  can be squeezed before the “cover” is even removed, and when removed, the dropper  40  will contain a medicine dose.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention where the fluid retrieval device  20  is a syringe-type device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, but also includes a threaded structure  60  to secure the syringe to the medicinal bottle  10  during periods of non-use (e.g., storage, transport, etc.). Similar to the operation described in FIG. 3 in connection with the dropper  40 , the syringe  20  shown in FIG. 4 can be threaded or otherwise connected to the medicinal bottle  10  via the structure  60  which is attached to the outer shell  24  of the syringe  20 . The threaded structure  60  can then be threaded onto the threaded nozzle  12 . Other fastening mechanisms other than threads can be used as well, as long as the structure  60  cooperates with the nozzle  12  to removably secure the structure  60  to the nozzle  12 . As discussed previously, no securing mechanism  60  is necessary for purposes of the present invention, and the structure  60  represents one particular embodiment of the invention.  
         [0041]    As shown in the examples of FIGS.  1 - 4 , the medicinal bottle includes a pooling structure  14 . In the examples of FIGS.  1 - 4 , the pooling structure  14  is contained within the medicinal container  10 . For example, the medicinal container  10  may include a bottom portion  18  as shown in FIG. 4. This bottom portion  18  and side walls  19  may, in this embodiment, form the exterior surface of the medicinal container  10 . In such an embodiment, the pooling structure  14  is implemented within the container  10 , such as by implementing a cone, trough, or other pooling structure  14  which defines the actual fluid boundary. The container bottom  18  in this example is thus a structural bottom to serve another purpose, such as to facilitate a stable base when the container  10  is set down on a surface.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a bottom portion of a medicinal container  10  in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the cylindrical external portion of the container  10  includes only the side walls  19  and includes no container bottom  18  as was described in connection with FIG. 4. In the example of FIG. 5, the pooling structure  14  comprises the fluid boundary, and the circumference of the cylindrical ring forming the container side wall  19  provides the base to set the container  10  on a flat surface. Thus, in this embodiment, the pooling structure  14  also forms the bottom surface of the medicinal container  10 , as compared to a pooling structure  14  that is essentially a “false bottom” in addition to a bottom surface  18  as was illustrated in FIG. 4.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of a fluid pooling structure in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, the pooling structure is represented by a substantially conical structure  70 . The conical structure  70  includes a pooling point  72  and the fluid directing surface  74 . The fluid directing surface  74  need not be uniform, but rather need only be such that it sufficiently tends to direct the fluid towards the pooling point  72  via gravity. When positioned such that gravity will direct fluid in a medicinal container  10  along the fluid directing surface  74  generally towards the pooling point  72 , a fluid retrieval device generally directed towards the pooling point  72  substantially along an axis represented by dashed lines  76  will allow the fluid retrieval device to withdraw substantially all of the fluid from the medicinal container that is directed to the pooling point  72 . It should be noted that the pooling “point”  72  need not be an actual cone point, but rather may be represented by a small planar surface, such that the conical structure  70  more closely resembles a cone with the point sliced off. In other words, the “point”  72  need not be well defined to come to a precise point, but rather may be a small planar platform to which the fluid directing surface  74  directs the fluid.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of a fluid pooling structure in accordance with the present invention. In this example embodiment, the pooling structure is represented by a V-shape or “trough” structure  80 . In this embodiment, the area at which pooling occurs is not directed to a physical point, but rather towards a small physical line or trough  82 . The trough  82  includes one or more fluid directing surface is  84 , such that gravity will direct fluid in a medicinal container  10  along the fluid directing surface(s)  84  generally towards the trough  82 . Again, the fluid directing surface(s)  84  need not be uniform or symmetric, but rather need only be arranged such that they sufficiently tend to direct the fluid towards the pooling trough  82  by way of gravity. In this embodiment, a fluid retrieval device inserted into the medicinal container  10  is generally directed along a path represented by dashed line  86  towards the trough  82 , but is allowed some play in the exact position along trough  82 . The trough  82  itself need not necessarily be planar as depicted in the example of FIG. 7, but rather the fluid directing surfaces  84  may simply meet to form a V-shape that forms the trough  82 . Further, the trough may be a concave structure or other shape, as long as the fluid tends to be directed thereto by the fluid directing surfaces(s)  84 .  
         [0045]    The examples of FIGS. 6 and 7 are exemplary embodiments of the invention, and the invention is not, nor is intended to be, limited thereto. For example, other structures directing the fluid to a smaller point than that created by the bottom of a traditional container are contemplated within the scope and spirit of the present invention. For example, a partially conical surface may be used, leading to a longitudinally cylindrical structure in which the end or tip of a fluid retrieval device may enter to withdraw fluid. Other physical shapes that use gravity to direct the fluid to an area substantially in line with a longitudinal axis through the nozzle of a container are within the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0046]    Fluid retrieval devices, such as the syringe  20  shown in FIG. 8, may include an open blunt tip  22  in which the fluid  16  may be drawn into the vacuum chamber  30 . The pooling structure  14  directs the fluid  16  to a relatively small area in order to allow substantially all of the fluid to be drawn into the fluid retrieval device  20 . In one embodiment of the invention, a shallow fluid grate  100  is provided at the pooling point or trough associated with the pooling structure  14 . In this embodiment, the grate  100  prevents the tip  22  from pressing flat against a flat surface which could make it difficult for the fluid  16  to be drawn into the vacuum chamber  30 . For example, if a plastic, flat end syringe were pushed against a flat surface containing fluid as shown in FIG. 9, the tip  22  and a bottom portion  110  essentially form a seal, making it difficult to draw the fluid  16  in through the tip. The grate  100  prevents this problem from occurring. Referring again to FIG. 8, fluid may enter fluid vias  102  of the shallow fluid grate  100 . The grate segments  104  provide the platform on which the tip  22  will be positioned, but a small amount of fluid and/or air can enter the vias  102 . In this manner, when fluid is withdrawn from the container  10 , the tip  22  will not form a seal with a flat bottom surface of the pooling structure  14 . This embodiment assumes that the distance between grate segments  104  are narrower than the opening of the tip  22 . In this embodiment, substantially all of the fluid is retrieved from the container, although a insignificantly small amount may be unretrievable from the vias  102 .  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 10 illustrates a top view of a grate embodiment represented in FIG. 8. This embodiment is represented as an inverted trapezoid which directs fluid to a small grate  120 . However, as described earlier, the directing surfaces may be conical and direct fluid to a point, small platform, or other shaped surface. The particular shape is not of particular relevance to the invention. For purposes of illustration, FIGS. 8 and 10- 15  are depicted as rectangular, but again, could be any shape.  
         [0048]    FIGS.  11 - 15  illustrate additional examples of grates, such as those described in connection with FIG. 8. The grate of FIG. 11 includes walls  130  and gaps  132  to allow fluid to enter the grate easily. The grate of FIG. 12 includes segments  134  at substantially right angles, forming substantially rectangular or square vias  136 . The grates of FIGS. 13, 14 and  15  include wavy segments  138 , non-perpendicular cross-hatching  140 , and substantially parallel segments  142  respectively. These grates are illustrated for purposes of example only, and the invention is not limited thereto. Any grating structure or pattern allowing fluid to enter the grate, while keeping a fluid retaining device substantially atop the grate, may be implemented in accordance with the invention. Even random segments could be used, as long as fluid can enter the vias resulting from the segments, and the tip  22  is held substantially atop the grate structure. Further, the pooling structure may also be made so that no grate is necessary, such as a point or trough that is distinct enough such that a tip  22  of a fluid retrieval device cannot form a suction seal due to the point or vertex  144 , as depicted in FIG. 16. The invention also contemplates pooling structures without any grating, or without any prevention from forming a suction seal between the fluid retrieval device and the bottom of the pooling structure.  
         [0049]    The fluid retrieval devices may be associated with the medicinal container such that it serves as a removable cover to the medicinal bottle. Such examples were previously described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of a fluid retrieval device which works in connection with a pooling structure  14 , while also serving as a removable cover. In the example embodiment of FIG. 17, a dropper  200  serves as a removable cover to the medicinal bottle, while being appropriately positioned to allow collection of substantially all fluids from the container  10  when desired. In this example, an air-filled retractable bulb  202  is positioned proximate a fastening structure  204 , such as a threading structure. When the structure  204  is fastened to the nozzle  12 , the longitudinal body  206  is positioned such that the open-end tip  208  is positioned proximate the vertex of the pooling structure  14 . Pressing the member  210  atop the bulb  202  causes the bulb  202  to contract and push out air from the bulb  202 , assuming the bulb  202  is made of a flexible resilient material such as rubber or other elastomeric material. Pressing the member  210  causes air to escape from the open-end tip  208 , consequently creating a vacuum within the body  206 , upon release of the member  210  and resulting suction caused by the bulb  202  returning to it&#39;s original shape. In this manner, medicinal fluid may be drawn into the fluid retrieval device  200  while it is also serving as a cover to the medicinal container  10 . Once the medicinal fluid has been drawn in, the fluid retrieval device  200  may be unthreaded from the nozzle  12 , and the medicine may be administered.  
         [0050]    FIGS.  18 - 19  illustrate other embodiments of a portion of a dropper  200  depicted in FIG. 17. The dropper of FIG. 18 does not include the member  210  shown in FIG. 17. Instead, the user depresses the resilient/elastomeric material  202  directly to release air from the dropper, which ultimately creates the vacuum effect upon it&#39;s release. FIG. 19 illustrates a dropper with a member  210 , but illustrates that other particular shapes of the member  210  are contemplated by the invention.  
         [0051]    Also, as previously indicated, other manners of fastening the structure  204  to the container  10  nozzle  12  are clearly within the scope of the invention. The particular fastening mechanism employed is not of particular significance to the invention. For example, while the use of threads are used for illustrative purposes, any other fastening mechanism may be used, including clamps, snaps, non-permanent adhesives, Velcro, or other fastening means.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of an apparatus according to the principles of the present invention. The container  10  may be any desired shape, and in the illustrated embodiment is generally the shape of a cylinder with an opening or nozzle  12  at one end. In this example, the opening/nozzle is provided at an acute angle φ from the longitudinal axis traveling through approximately the center of the container cylinder body. The medicinal container  10  includes a fluid pooling structure  14  that facilitates the pooling of the medicinal fluid via gravitational force such that the fluid retrieval device  20  may collect the fluid. The fluid retrieval device  20 , a blunt-tip syringe in the instant example, enters the medicinal container  10  through the angled nozzle  12  to reach the fluid  16 . When the fluid is that a high level in the container  10 , the precise depth at which the fluid retrieval device is inserted into the container is of relatively little significance. However, when the fluid  16  level is at a low level in the container  10 , traditional medicinal bottles distribute the little remaining fluid over a large service area at the bottom of the medicinal container. The example embodiment of FIG. 20 utilizes a pooling structure  14  to direct the fluid to an area substantially along a longitudinal axis of the fluid retrieval device  20 . In this example, the container  10  can be placed on a horizontal surface, and the fluid pooling structure  14  tends to direct the fluid to a location where the end tip  22  of the fluid retrieval device can easily access and collect substantially all of the fluid in the container  10 . The fluid pooling structure  14  may include a variety of types of directional structures to direct the medicinal fluid towards the target pooling region, including a single planar surface, multiple planar surfaces, a non-uniform surface that, as a whole, is directed towards the targeted pooling region, etc.  
         [0053]    In another embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface  18  serves as the pooling structure  14 , and the container  10  is tipped at an angle such that the fluid retrieval device  20  moves through the angle φ towards a vertical position. The angled nozzle  12  allows the end tip  22  of the device  20  to be positioned proximate the structural boundary  21  between the cylindrical side wall  19  and the bottom surface  18  of the container  10 . In such a case, the additional fluid pooling structure  14  is not required, and the side wall  19  and bottom surface  18  form the fluid pooling structure. However, the nozzle  12  must be angled to facilitate entry of the device  20  such that the end tip  22  may be positioned substantially proximate the structural boundary  21 , and the container  10  can then be rotated such that the device  20  moves towards a vertical position to pool the fluid between the side wall  19  and bottom surface  18 .  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 21 is a flow diagram of a method for retrieving fluid from a container having an angled nozzle, such as the container depicted in FIG. 20. The fluid retrieval device is inserted  250  into the medicinal container nozzle at an angle defined by the medicinal container nozzle. For example, referring briefly to FIG. 20, the angle defined by the medicinal container nozzle is angle φ with respect to a vertical line. The fluid retrieval device, such as a syringe or dropper, is directed substantially along its longitudinal axis through the nozzle until it is proximate the inner wall of the container, as illustrated at block  252 . Because of the angle φ , the fluid retrieval device will be substantially directed towards a “corner” of the medicinal container. The medicinal container is tipped  254  at an angle to pool the fluids proximate the tip or end of the fluid retrieval device. In one particular embodiment, the optimal angle at which the container is tipped is approximately the same as the angle φ at which the nozzle is angled with respect to the container, however the container is tipped in the reverse direction from the angle of the nozzle. For example, if the nozzle is tipped an angle φ to guide the fluid retrieval device to the “corner” of the medicinal bottle, the container is optimally tipped at an approximate angle −φ such that the fluid retrieval device tends to become more vertical. In this fashion, the fluids can be drawn out  256  using the fluid retrieval device, while pooling the fluids proximate an intersection of the bottom and side of the medicinal container.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 22 is a flow diagram generally illustrating one method for maximizing the removal of fluids from a medicinal fluid container in accordance with the present invention. An opening is provided  260  for access by a fluid retrieval device to the fluid in a medicinal container. The fluid in the medicinal container is directed  262  to a fluid collection area facilitated by the structure of the medicinal container. The longitudinal axis of the medicinal container opening is aligned  264  with the fluid collection area to facilitate substantially complete collection of the fluid.  
         [0056]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. For example, fluids other than medicinal fluids that are extracted from a container using a suction or siphon device can equally benefit from the teachings of the present invention. For example, the fluid may be a food item for a baby or toddler, such as fruit juice, rather than a medicine. Other fluids requiring administering small amounts where a dropper or syringe is useful will also benefit from the invention, such as vanilla, angostura bitters, and other cooking liquids. Fluids also encompass non-liquid substances such as powders or other substances having fluid characteristics. A wide variety of fluids may be used in connection with the apparatus and method described herein. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not with the particular embodiments set forth in this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.