Abstract:
A system for facilitating preparation of medication doses comprising a container of for receiving a quantity of medication, the container having color bands extending circumferentially therearound to facilitate preparing medication doses, each color band corresponding to a predetermined dosage of medication.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority based on provisional patent application serial number 60/783,111 filed Mar. 16, 2006, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This invention relates to systems for preparing doses of medication, and more particularly to systems comprising containers having color bands thereon for facilitating the measurement of fluid medications. 
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many devices and methods for preparing doses of fluid medications are known in the art. For example, it is common when preparing and measuring doses of fluid medications for children to use a syringe to withdraw the fluid from a medicine bottle and then displace the fluid into a child&#39;s mouth. Often an adapter is used to firmly and securely engage the syringe with the bottle. 
         [0004]    Another device used in the prior art for preparing and measuring doses of medication for children is a tubular container having one closed end for measuring doses and a spoon at the other end for facilitating the displacement of the dose into the child&#39;s mouth. Other devices for facilitating the preparation of doses of medication such as measuring cups and medicine droppers are well known in the art. 
         [0005]    Common to the prior art discussed above are devices comprised of a substantially translucent materials that allow users to see the level of the fluid as it is received in the device. Numeric markings are provided on the translucent material to indicate levels of volume in units of measurement. When preparing doses of medication the user of the device compares the level of fluid in the device to the markings thereon to determine whether the appropriate amount of fluid has been received within the device. Oftentimes the numeric markings are difficult to read or the comparison is difficult to make, especially under low light conditions, or if the medication does not comprise a distinctive color, or if the user of the device has poor eyesight. 
         [0006]    The present invention addresses the problem of accurately reading markings on devices used in preparing doses of medication. In accordance with its broader aspects, the invention comprises the application of color bands extending circumferentially around medication receiving containers, wherein each band comprises a different color corresponding to a particular unit of measurement. Once the user learns the correlation between the colors and the units of measurement they represent the color bands allow the user to much more easily and accurately prepare doses of medication comprising specified amounts. The invention includes the use of a key that illustrates the correspondence between predetermined colors and corresponding units of measurement. 
         [0007]    The widths of the color bands are uniform for a given device, but can be uniformly thin or wide. The purpose of the color bands is to allow the user to more easily compare the amount of medication received within the container to the color representing a specified amount. 
         [0008]    Another embodiment of the invention comprises the application of markings on a container which indicates the amount of medication appropriate for a human being of a given weight. In addition, there is provided a key that correlates amounts of medication to weights of human beings. For example, the key may show that a human being of 50 pounds requires 2 milliliters of a particular medication. The use of weight related markings assists the user in measuring doses of medication because they are easier to read and understand than volumetric units. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrating the system in use; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a side view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the invention; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 7A through 7F , inclusive, comprise side views illustrating a sixth embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a seventh embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    Referring to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of a system  10  for facilitating preparation of medication doses comprising a first embodiment of the invention. In particular, there is shown a syringe  12  comprising a substantially tubular container  14  for receiving a fluid medication through a nozzle  16  and a plunger  18  for drawing the fluid medication into the container  14 . A plurality of color bands  20  extend circumferentially around the container  14 . The color bands  20  enable the user of the syringe  12  in determining the amount of fluid that has been drawn into the container  14 . 
         [0019]    Also shown in  FIG. 1  is a bottle  22  from which the fluid medication is drawn and an adapter  24  that is used to securely engage the syringe  12  with the bottle  22 .  FIG. 2  illustrates this engagement. A key  26  may be provided for correlating the colors  28  comprising the color bands  20  with particular volumetric measurements  30 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second embodiment of the invention wherein the substantially tubular container  14  comprising the syringe  12  is used to receive a fluid medication. In this embodiment color bands are not used. Instead, marked along the substantially tubular container  14  are designations of weight  32  in appropriate units of measurement. The designations of weight  32  correspond to an amount of medication that is appropriate for a human being of a given weight. For example, it may be appropriate for a human being that weighs  35  pounds to have a dose of medication equal to two milliliters. 
         [0021]    A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . An otherwise conventional fluid medication delivery cup  34  is provided with a plurality of color bands  36 . Each of the color bands  36  comprises a different color, and each of the color bands  36  represents a different unit of volumetric measurement. The cup  34  may be provided with a key which correlates each specific color comprising the color bands  36  to a specific unit of volumetric measurement. 
         [0022]    A medication delivery device  38  comprising a fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  Figure 5 . The medication delivery device  38  comprises a tubular medication receiving container  40  having a plurality of color bands  42  applied thereto. Each of the color bands  42  comprises a different color, and each of the color bands  42  correlates to a different unit of volumetric measurement. The end of the device  38  remote from the color bands  42  comprises a spoon  44 . 
         [0023]    In the use of the medication delivery device  38  a fluid medication is introduced into the tubular container  40  until the level thereof aligns with a selected color band  42  thereby indicating that the required amount of fluid medication has been received in the tubular container  40 . Thereafter the medication delivery device is pivoted out of the vertical orientation illustrated in  FIG. 5  and into a substantially horizontal orientation whereby the medication from the tubular container  40  flows into the spoon  44 . The spoon  44  is then utilized to deliver the fluid medication into the mouth of a patient. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 6  there is shown a measuring cup  50  comprising a fifth embodiment of the invention. The measuring cup  50  is provided with three major color bands  52  each denominating a major unit of volumetric measurement such as 1 cup, 250 milliliters, etc. The measuring cup  50  is further provided with a plurality of minor color bands  54  each denominating a fractional component of the volumetric measurement indicated by the major color bands  52 . For example, the minor color bands  54  may be used to indicate ¼, ⅓, ½, ⅔, and ¾ cup measurements. The minor bands  54  may likewise be used to denominate appropriate subdivisions of major volumetric units expressed in metric terms. The use of measuring cups incorporating the fourth embodiment of the invention greatly simplifies accurate volumetric measurement of fluid medications and other fluids in that it eliminates the need for reading and comprehending numeric symbols. 
         [0025]    A set of measuring cups  60  comprising a sixth embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-7F , inclusive. In accordance with the invention each of the measuring cups comprising the set  60  thereof is denominated by a different color. For example, the measuring cups comprising the set  60  may be manufactured from a selected plastic material having the various colors defining the set of measuring cups  60  infused therein such that each measuring cup is comprised entirely of a plastic material characterized by a selected color. Alternatively, the measuring cups comprising the set  60  may be differentiated one from another by the colorization of a particular component thereof, for example, the handle. The measuring cups comprising the set  60  may also be differentiated one from another by providing a color band similar to the color bands illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  hereof and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith which extends around a predetermined component of the measuring cup. 
         [0026]    A feature of the invention comprises the fact that the colors utilized to differentiate the measuring cups comprising the set  60  are identical to those utilized to differentiate the various volumetric measurements comprising the measuring cup  50  shown in  FIG. 6  and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Thus, the coloration of the measuring cup shown in  FIG. 7A  corresponds to the coloring of the lowermost major color band  52  of the measuring cup  50 . The coloration of the measuring cup shown in  FIG. 7B  corresponds to the coloration of the minor color band  54  situated directly beneath the lowermost major color band  52  of the measuring cup  50 , etc. The coordination of the coloring scheme of the measuring cups comprising the set  60  with the coloring scheme comprising the measuring cup  50  facilitates accurate measurement of fluid materials whether for the dispensing of medications or otherwise. 
         [0027]      FIG. 8  depicts a seventh embodiment of the invention. An otherwise conventional medicine bottle  62  is provided with a dose indicator  64  comprising a predetermined color. The amount of the prescribed dose corresponding to the predetermined color of the dose indicator  64  may be indicated thereon as shown. 
         [0028]    The seventh embodiment of the invention further comprises a medication dispensing spoon  66 . The medication dispensing spoon  66  is characterized by the same predetermined color comprising the dosage indicator  64  of the medicine bottle  62 . Thus, the proper medication dispensing spoon for use in dispensing the medicine contained in the medication bottle  62  is easily recognized and selected by simply coordinating the color of the dose indicator  64  with the color of the medication dispensing spoon  66 . 
         [0029]    Although all of the containers shown in the drawings are circular in cross-section the present invention is not limited to any particular container shape. Containers utilized in the practice of the invention can be oval or elliptical in cross-section. Likewise, containers utilized in the practice of the invention can having cross-sections that are triangular, rectangular, or comprise any number of side walls depending upon the requirements of particular applications of the invention. Containers utilized in the practice of the invention can also have cross-sectional configurations which are irregular in shape in that they combine one or more linear portions with one or more curvilinear portions. 
         [0030]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.