Method and apparatus for home medication disposal

Method and apparatus for disposal of used home medication which comprises an outer container being sealable and disposable containing an inner water-soluble packet/bag of gelling agent and coloring agent for stabilizing the used medication wherein the outer container comprises a foil-type container having a double sealing mechanism including a first zip lock sealing portion and a second self-sticking sealing portion to insure that the contents are safely sealed prior to disposal in a conventional home solid waste disposal unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to waste disposal and, more particularly, is concerned with a method and apparatus for disposal of used home medication.

Unused and expired medications, including narcotics in solid pill form, liquids or patches, present a disposal problem from both safety and environmental viewpoints. Consumers and medical professionals utilize a wide variety of methods to dispose of medications no longer needed ranging from flushing them down the toilet, to mixing them with kitty litter and throwing them in the trash, to taking them to community centers for disposal.

Conventional methods of assuring convenient, environmentally-friendly disposal of such medications, which merely comprise various containers and mixtures involving additives for the purpose of ensuring that the medications were no longer palatable for human consumption and that they did not enter the water system, are no longer acceptable. While these methods are somewhat effective, they lack certain components needed by the clinical professional working in the patient home. Furthermore, they allow for the user to be exposed to the additives, and they typically allow for unintended subsequent access once medications have been mixed in the container, and they lack certain properties to make them fully unpalatable to a person who would intentionally access the resulting mixture. Also, conventional disposal methods do not address the comprehensive medication disposal system needs of the clinical professional caring for patients in the home as does the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Home medication disposal systems have been described in the related art, however, none of the related art devices disclose the unique features of the present invention.

In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0180936 dated Jul. 16, 2009, Anderson, et al., disclosed a medication disposal system. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0041937 dated Feb. 18, 2010, Gonzales disclosed an apparatus and method for safely disposing of medicines. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0131732 dated May 21, 2009, Day disclosed a composition for disposing of unused medicines. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0258565 dated Oct. 14, 2010, Isaacson, et al., disclosed devices and methods for disposing of medications. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2011/0215021 dated Sep. 8, 2011, Ziemba disclosed a container and method for facilitating disposal of unused pharmaceutical products. In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0076244 dated Mar. 25, 2010, Parrott disclosed a pill catcher. While these medication disposal systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for disposal of home medication which comprises an outer container or pouch being sealable and disposable containing an inner packet/bag of gelling agent and coloring agent wherein the outer pouch comprises a foil-type container having a double sealing mechanism including a zip lock portion and taped portion to insure that the contents are safely sealed prior to disposal in a conventional home solid waste disposal unit. The outer pouch, is a foil-type unit having a protective strip covering an adhesive portion on its upper end so that when the adhesive portion is folded over and sealed back upon itself, the adhesive portion insures that the zip lock portion is also safely and correctly closed. In an alternative embodiment, the outer pouch is secured by folding a separate adhesive strip over the top and both sides of the closed pouch opening to insure that the zip lock portion is properly closed. The inner packet/bag is dissolvable and contains a gelling agent in order to stabilize the medication along with a coloring agent to make the resulting waste product look radically undesirable to ensure that the user does not accidentally consume the used medication.

An object of the present invention is to provide an outer safety package for containment of home medications for disposal in a conventional solid waste disposal unit. A further object of the present invention is to provide an inner packet/bag for placement inside the outer foil unit that will stabilize the used medication and also to color the resulting used medication waste product so that it is not unintentionally consumed by a user. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of identifying and tracking the waste material to assure that the waste material is properly handled and disposed of by the user. A further object of the present invention is to provide a home medication disposal unit which is easily operated by a user in compliance with all appropriate regulations. A further object of the present invention is to provide a home medication disposal system which can be easily and relatively inexpensively manufactured.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

The following discussion describes in detail at least one embodiment of the present invention. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the present invention to the particular embodiments described herein since practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention the reader is directed to the appended claims.FIGS. 1 through 8illustrate the present invention wherein a method and apparatus for home medication disposal is disclosed.

Turning toFIG. 1, therein is shown the present invention10comprising an aluminum foil-coated, or the like, outer container or pouch12having an upper end portion14and lower end portion16wherein the lower portion can be expanded so that the pouch can be self-supporting in an upright standing position as best shown inFIG. 6. Also shown is a zip closure or zip lock strip18portion, which is a first or primary sealing means, having interlocking ridges and groove that forms a water-tight seal when pressed together which is placed near the upper portion14of the outer pouch12for sealing the pouch in an environmentally and aesthetically acceptable manner. Also shown at the upper end portion14of the pouch12is a flap15having an adhesive strip portion20thereon, which is a second or secondary sealing means, having a removable or peel-off protective strip22so that when the protective strip is removed the underlying self-sticking adhesive area is exposed and can then be used to assist in closing and covering the mouth30of the pouch. Also shown inside the outer pouch12is a dissolvable inner bag or packet24which contains a gelling agent and a coloring agent wherein the gelling agent stabilizes the used medication and the coloring agent dyes the used medication so that the used medication cannot be unintentionally consumed by a user. Packet24is dissolvable and allows for containment of the additive and prevents exposure and spillage of its contents until water is added. Also, packet24may contain a taste deterrent additive as well to further ensure no unintended consumption of the waste material. Packet24is made of lightweight, dissolvable paper-like material.

Turning toFIG. 2, therein is shown the present invention10wherein the outer pouch12has been sealed by sealing both the zip lock strip18and by folding over the flap15and adhesive portion20back down upon the outer surface of the upper portion of the outer pouch20so that the mouth30is sealed wherein the protective strip22can then be thrown away. Also shown internal the pouch12is a liquid, e.g., water26which has been poured into the pouch12up to an approximate safe fill level40so that the used medication can be placed inside the pouch12and stabilized and colored by the dissolvable inner packet24. The inner packet24is not visible because it has now been dissolved in the liquid mixture26so that the inner packet is no longer visible.

Turning toFIGS. 3 and 4, therein are shown cross sectional views of the present invention taken fromFIG. 1andFIG. 2as previously described.FIG. 3shows the present invention10wherein the outer pouch12has its lower portion16expanded to expose the bottom layer36so as to form a base28wherein the outer pouch12can be upstanding and self-supporting so that a user does not have to use his/her hands to hold the pouch in an upright position; also, the upper portion14and flap15are shown along with the mouth30of the pouch being open and ready to receive the used medication. Inner bag or packet24is also shown.FIG. 4shows the liquid or gel mixture26inside the outer pouch12and also shows the zip lock strip18sealed and the adhesive strip20on flap15being turned over and folded down upon the outer pouch, as indicated by arrow50, so as to assure that the mouth30of the outer pouch is properly sealed.

Turning toFIG. 5, therein is shown a side view of the present invention10showing the outer pouch12and disclosing other features which have been previously described.

Turning toFIG. 6, therein is shown a used medication container32being used to pour used medication34into the mouth30of the outer pouch12being free-standing on surface38. Other previously disclosed elements are also shown.

Turning toFIG. 7, therein is shown an alternative embodiment of the secondary sealing means of the present invention10wherein the outer pouch12has been sealed by sealing both the zip lock strip18and by securing the mouth30of the outer pouch12by application of a separate self-sticking adhesive security strip42which strip is folded over both front and rear surfaces44,46(not shown seeFIG. 8) of the upper edge48of the pouch so that the mouth30is sealed. Also shown internal the pouch12is a liquid, e.g., water26which has been poured into the pouch12up to an approximate safe fill level so that the used medication can be placed inside the pouch12and stabilized and colored by the dissolvable inner packet24(not shown seeFIG. 1). The inner packet is not visible because it has now been dissolved in the liquid mixture26so that the inner packet is no longer visible.

Turning toFIG. 8, therein are shown cross sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention taken fromFIG. 7as indicated. Therein is shown the liquid or gel mixture26inside the outer pouch12and also shows the zip lock strip18sealed and the separate adhesive security strip42being folded over both front44and rear46surfaces of the upper edge (not easily visible, seeFIG. 7) of the pouch so as to assure that the mouth30(not shown seeFIG. 7) of the outer pouch is properly sealed. The self-sticking adhesive security strip42is shown by arrow50being folded from the rear surface46to the front surface44of the upper edge (not easily visible, seeFIG. 7) of pouch12.

A further description of the operation and use of the present invention10follows and makes reference toFIGS. 1-8. 1) Medication disposal: Carefully open large outer pouch12to remove and briefly set aside small packet/bag24on dry surface. Push hand into pouch12to expand base28,36so pouch will stand on its own. Pour up to one cup medications34into pouch12. Add no more than 1½ cups warm water26into pouch12up to the approximate safe fill level40. Drop small packet/bag24back into pouch12and observe bag and contents24,26,34begin to change in consistency and color as packet24dissolves. Securely close the zip fastener18and do one of the following depending on which embodiment is being used: a) utilize adhesive strip20on top flap15by removing tape backing22above zip fastener and then folding pouch flap over and down while pressing firmly to permanently seal pouch, or, b) apply adhesive security strip42to the top edge48of the pouch. Shake pouch12gently for at least 10 seconds to mix contents as they gel, then immediately discard into household trash. 2) Medication Waste and Destruction Log: Complete top section of form with basic information. Fill in details for each drug inventoried for destruction. Sign and have witness initial where indicated for drugs destroyed. Include in patient file. 3) Prescription Cover-Up Labels: Use cover-up labels provided to place over empty prescription bottles32before safely discarding them in trash.

The contents of the inner packet/bag24comprise a granular superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and a powdered or granular dye. Superabsorbent polymers are prepared from acrylic acid and a crosslinker by solution or suspension polymerization. The packet24may also include a bittering agent which helps to further limit the risk of unintended or intended consumption. Examples of bittering agents for this purpose include ground cayenne or jalapeno peppers.

The inner packet/bag24is made of water-soluble, earth-friendly, non-toxic material that dissolves instantly in water, or can biodegrade gradually depending on the amount of water or moisture exposure. The material is composed of Sodium Caboxy Methyl Cellulose and wood pulp from FSC certified forests. This dissolving material has a paper-like consistency that can vary in thickness and can also be enhanced with custom coatings.