Abstract:
A device comprising a handle and a bowl shaped so the bowl fits easily into the mouth of a patient. The bowl has prepackaged within a mixture of a gelatin or natural food such as applesauce or pudding and in some embodiments having a medicament mixed with the carrier medium in a medically efficient amount.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     A device comprising a handle and a bowl shaped so the bowl fits easily into the mouth of a patient. The bowl has prepackaged within a carrier medium such as a gelatin, gel, or natural food such as applesauce or pudding. Some embodiments have a medicament mixed with the carrier medium in a medically efficient amount. 
     2. Background and Related Art 
     In nursing homes, schools, prisons, hospitals, hospices and other skilled nursing facilities is often required to administer medicine to a patient who is either not able to self administer or where it would be more beneficial to assure that the medicine be administered by a caregiver. In a typical environment the caregiver verifies the temperature of the medium such as applesauce; a spoon is dipped into the applesauce and a medicine is crushed into the applesauce and then administered to the patient. Problems with this technique are that the medium such as applesauce may become adulterated or cross contaminated as several spoons are dipped into the medium. The temperature can rise over time making the medium less desirable or dangerous if left in a warm environment for too long of a period. In addition, because the medication is ground and added to the carrier, if not all of the carrier medium is consumed, than a less than medically effective amount of medicine could be administered. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention comprises a handle and a bowl which are designed to easily fit into the human mouth. Within the bowl is a medium such as a gel, a gelatin, a pudding, or natural foods such as applesauce. In some embodiments a medically effective amount of medicine has been premixed into the carrier medium before sealing the carrier medium in the bowl of the spoon. A protective seal than covers the top of the bowl and the entire device is pasteurized so that the device can then be packed in a sterile container and will remain sterile until administration. The spoon is constructed of food grade plastic to survive the pasteurization/sterilization process without any detrimental effects. In some embodiments, the handle is shaped with a groove so that a finger may be slid into the groove and under a portion of the film seal to assist in removal of the film seal from the top of the bowl. The top of the bowl of the spoon is designed to have smooth edges that will not damage the human mouth. The spoon can be constructed using a mold press. Once the spoons are molded from food grade plastic they are sanitized, filled with carrier medium and sealed. The entire filled and sealed spoon is then pasteurized and sterilized. They are then immediately packaged into a sanitarily lined container which is then sealed. In use, a caregiver grasps the spoon by the end of the handle and uses a second hand to slide a thumb or finger along a groove molded into the handle to assist in pulling the seal lip back away from the bowl of the spoon. Using the hand that has been holding the handle, the person can then either introduce an effective amount of medicine into the bowl or locate medicine within the handle of the device and place that into the bowl with the carrier and mix it therewith. Some embodiments have a detachable mixing extension which can be removed from the end of the spoon to mix the medicine with the carrier medium found in the bowl or the spoon. The bowl is shaped so that the final portion of the bowl which would enter a patient&#39;s mouth are shallower and tapered to fit more easily and comfortably into the human mouth. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a spoon delivery device having an indentation in the handle, a carrier medium and a seal; 
         FIG. 2  shows an embodiment having a bowl in a sealed condition; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional cut away view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  illustrating the seal on the bowl of the spoon with the carrier and medicine contained therein; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective cut away view of an embodiment which contains a medication shown in a solid form which could also be a gel or a liquid stored within the handle. A medicine container in the handle of the spoon can be used so that the medicine can be kept in the handle of the spoon in cases where mixing the medicine with the carrier would shorten the shelf life or be undesirable for other reasons; 
         FIG. 5  shows the embodiment of  FIG. 4  in a sealed condition; 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross-section of the embodiment of  FIG. 5  with a medicine stored both in the handle and in the bowl; 
         FIG. 7-12  show various embodiments of the spoon from different viewpoints; 
         FIG. 13  shows an embodiment having an oral channel; 
         FIG. 14  shows an embodiment of the spoon having a breakaway stirring device located in the handle of the spoon; 
         FIG. 15  shows the stirring device broken away from the handle of the spoon; 
         FIG. 16  shows an embodiment with a hinged handle; and 
         FIG. 17  depicts an embodiment wherein a squeeze tube is detachably joined to the handle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A description of embodiments of the present invention will now be given with reference to the Figures. It is expected that the present invention may take many other forms and shapes, hence the following disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not limiting, and the scope of the invention should be determined by reference to the appended claims. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a spoon-shaped medication delivery device or spoon  20  is shown having a bowl  22  and a handle  24 . A carrier medium  26  can be a natural food such as applesauce or pudding or a gel or gelatin formulation. It may be desirable to create a carrier medium that is cohesive so it comes off the spoon in one piece to assure that all of the medication is consumed. Gel or gelatins may be required to avoid interaction of a natural food with the medication if stored for a long period of time. A seal  28  covers carrier medium  26  when placed into the bowl  22  and seals across a top or lip  30  of bowl  22 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the device described in  FIG. 1  is shown in its assembled condition. Seal  28  is now adhered to the top  30  of bowl  22  and covers a portion of a groove or indentation  32  formed in handle  24 . Groove  32  allows a thumb or finger of a caregiver or user to be slid into the groove and under seal  28  to easily allow seal  28  to be peeled away from top  30  of bowl  22 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  showing the carrier medium  26  sealed within bowl  22  by seal  28 .  FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of the spoon or medicine delivery device showing a sealed bowl having only carrier medium  22 . In this embodiment medicine or a medication  34  is shown stored in a well  36  formed in the handle  24 . In this embodiment a well seal  38  seals medication  34  within well  36  so that the medication remains in a sterile condition. Just prior to use, in this embodiment seal  38  would be removed medication  34  would be taken out of the handle  24  and broken or ground. Seal  28  would be removed from the bowl  22  and the ground medication would be mixed with the carrier medium  26  held in the bowl  22  and then would be administered to the patient.  FIG. 5  shows the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  in its assembled form having both well seal  38  and the seal over the bowl  28  affixed to the spoon  20 . A tab  40  can be seen extending beyond well  36  so that the user may grasp well seal  38  and easily remove the seal when access to medication  34  is required. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment that has a well  36  located in handle  24  and a well seal  38  within which a medication may be stored. This embodiment also has within the carrier medium  26  a separate medication which can be easily stored without degradation with the carrier medium  26 . In this embodiment, two medications can be administered at the same time even though those two medications may not store well when combined. By storing one medication in well  36  and the second medication premixed with the carrier medium  26  a variety of medications can be administered at the same time which might not be able to be stored in the same location. 
       FIGS. 7 through 12  show an embodiment of the present invention from several viewpoints 
       FIG. 13  shows an embodiment of the invention having a groove  32  which has a generally oval shape which may be preferable in some environments for production storage or for allowing easy release of seal  28 . 
       FIG. 14  shows an embodiment having a bowl  22  and handle  24  with groove  32  but in this embodiment a mixing device  42  is attached to spoon  20 . 
       FIG. 15  shows mixing device  42  having been broken away from handle  24  where it was attached by attachment points  44 . Mixing device  42  is used to combine medication with the carrier medium  26  in bowl  22  prior to administration to a patient. 
       FIG. 16  illustrates an embodiment that has a folding handle  24 .  FIG. 17  illustrates an embodiment that has a tube  46  formed as part of handle  24  and a cap  48  which is capable of removal allowing access to the contents of tube  46 . Tube  46  may either be detachable so that the contents of the tube can be added to the carrier medium  26  in bowl  22  and then stirred and administered or in some embodiments with the folding handle  24  tube  46  is oriented so that its contents can be squirted directly into bowl  22  when in the folded position. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that carrier medium  26  can be comprised of many different ingredients traditional applesauce or other food items can be sealed in bowl  22  but carrier medium  26  can also be created of artificial ingredients forming a gel that provides for a long shelf life and maybe sufficiently flavored so that the taste of some medications can be masked. Bowl  22  because of its more shallow shape allows insertion of the spoon into the mouth of patients who cannot fully open their mouth. The tapered shape of the bowl allows for insertion of the spoon between the lips and parts the lips of a patient. Additionally, handle  24  is designed with a wide surface for a firm grip by caregivers as well as allowing for groove  32  to form a channel in the handle guiding a user&#39;s thumb for easy removal of seal  28 . In some embodiments, the carrier medium  26  has a slurry-like consistency and is preloaded with medication in those instances that will not deleteriously affect the shelf life. In most embodiments the slurry has no lactose or glucose and instead natural sweeteners such as stevia are used. In some of these formulas rice milk is used and in any case the ingredients must be able to undergo pasteurization without breaking down. Since the glue holding the seal  28  to the bowl  22  must also undergo pasteurization, food grade plastics and adhesives are used so that when the entire sealed spoon undergoes a 200 degree hot bath and then is quickly cooled, the entire device will be sterile and is carefully handled so that it is not contaminated as it is being packed into sterile packaging. The medically effective spoon may then be removed and administered to a patient without concern for contamination. By sterilizing each spoon and administering it to one patient, the chance of cross contamination is eliminated. The benefit of having a single serving spoon is that all of the contents are consumed by the patient and therefore all of the medication therein will be consumed. Many carrier mediums  26  because of their gel-like consistency slide out of bowl  22  in one piece and are therefore completely consumed as opposed to a more traditional medium such as applesauce wherein a patient may not consume the entire spoonful and may be require to have the spoon re-administered to completely empty the spoon. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.