Abstract:
A capsular design is disclosed for self-administered delivery of a pre-determined amount of liquid medication. The capsular design can be constructed as having either a single piece or two piece capsular wall construction where a portion of the liquid medication contained within can be administered sublingually and the remaining portion can be subsequently swallowed for gastro-intestinal absorption.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Ser. No. 14/450,650 filed Aug. 4, 2014 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 14/291,927 filed May 30, 2014 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,865,209, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Oral delivery of medications is one of the most frequent techniques utilized for delivering medication to the body. One of the most popular delivery mechanisms is the capsule. The background of U.S. Pat. No. 8,361,497 issued to Miller provides a detailed description into the history and present techniques for capsule manufacture and is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Capsules containing medication for oral intake are usually swallowed for delivery of the medication to the stomach, where the capsule dissolves within 20 to 30 minutes and the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream. 
     A two piece capsule design is typically used for delivering medication in a solid form such as a fine powder or pellets. One or both portions of this capsule design are made of a material which quickly becomes mollified when coming in contact with liquid, such as water or gastric juice. 
     Nitroglycerin is a unique medication, one of the best and most efficient medications in the medical arsenal for the last 100 years. Nitroglycerin works therapeutically within one to two minutes to relieve angina and it is most specific for this life threatening condition. It is specifically used in treatment of the episodes of coronary insufficiency and angina, acute episodes, as well as for prevention of their recurrence. It is so specific, that if nitroglycerin does not effectively treat chest pain within a few minutes, the chest pain is either non-cardiac altogether, or manifests an acute coronary event, requiring immediate hospitalization. 
     Soft tablets containing nitroglycerin have also been developed for sublingual use and having rapid absorption into the blood stream. However, soft tablets are only effective when the patient does not have a dry mouth condition. Insufficient saliva in the mouth can be caused by Shogren&#39;s syndrome, calculi in salivary glands, dentures, the taking of certain medications such as Clonidine, breathing thru the mouth, or general dehydration. Any of these conditions can result in nitroglycerin not being absorbed as quickly as needed and which could lead to chest pain requiring immediate hospitalization. Further, nitroglycerin in tablet form is more often associated with severe headaches and syncope. 
     To avoid problems associated with use of nitroglycerin in a soft tablet form for sublingual use, nitroglycerin lingual spray was introduced as an efficient alternative. 
     Nitroglycerin lingual spray is effective and most commonly used outside of a hospital environment for self-administration. Typically, self-administration is via a multi-dose pump-spray container, filled with enough nitroglycerin for up to 200 doses in one container. Pump spray containers are not designed to regulate the number of doses a patient can self-administer in a short period of time and therefore the risk of an overdose is present most common when the patient is in panic due to pain and discomfort and in response administers more than the maximally allowed single volume/dose. This can lead to severe hypotension or syncope. Other problems with lingual spray include: 
     a) the pumpspray dose per spray may reduce as the quantity within the container is emptied. This can result in unpredictable or inadequate volumes of medication per spray dose being delivered which in turn can compel the patient to increase the doses resulting in overmedication frequently provoked hypotension and syncope. 
     b) the pumpspray is applied lingually rather than sublingually because a pump-spray is a bottle held between the index finger and the thumb of the user, positioned parallel to the curled up tongue. It is almost impossible to push the hand with the pump-spray into the mouth and orient the direction of the spray. 
     c) personal hygiene. The lingual pumpspray may routinely be used among different patients in a hospital setting (emergency room or cath lab), one or more out of the patients may cough or sneeze at the time of use, and transfer droplets of saliva and potential infection with it, from patient to patient; 
     d) the cost of a pumpspray can be expensive vs the price of a single dose. An individual may buy a pump-spray, containing 60 or 200 doses, and use the pumpspray only occasionally. 
     Another delivery method is capsular delivery wherein liquid medication such as nitroglycerin is swallowed and absorbed in the gastro-intestinal tract. While eventually being delivered into the bloodstream, this method is not as effective for acute conditions since absorption takes much longer than lingual or sublingual administration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Liquid Medication in Capsule Form for Sublingual Delivery. 
     Described herein is a capsular design used for self-administration of medication in medical emergencies whereby a portion of the total volume of liquid medication contained in a capsule can be applied to the sublingual area of a human and the remaining medication in the capsule can thereafter be swallowed for absorption in the gastro-intestinal tract. The therapeutic amount of liquid medication addressed by my invention has a volume of at least 0.2 ml and less than 1 ml and more preferably, less than 0.5 ml. 
     Accordingly, my invention describes a device containing a therapeutic liquid medication in a single volume limited dose partially delivered sublingually and partially delivered to the gastro-intestinal tract. 
     Described below are improved capsular embodiments capable of delivering a portion of the medication contained therein sublingually and the remaining portion for ingestion in the gastro-intestinal tract. The capsular embodiments described below include single piece and two piece structures. One critical feature of my capsular design is that the capsular wall, particularly along the longitudinal axis, in response to a sufficient force applied to the exterior wall such as that applied by a person&#39;s thumb and forefinger, will sufficiently deform or collapse for discharging an amount of medication for sublingual absorption. 
     A benefit to my capsular designs is the ability to deliver a maximal allowable amount of a liquid medication for a single use; partially under the tongue and the remaining liquid medication in the capsule to the stomach and intestines. The combination of absorption sublingually followed by absorption within stomach and/or intestines allows rapid absorption as well as a more prolonged duration of absorption of the medication to the blood stream. 
     Medication contemplated for use by my invention includes concentrated liquid medication forms such as Nifedipine and Nitroglycerin. The capsule may be provided in a sealed package which requires the capsule to be pushed through a thin film backing for additional protection. This type of package is commonly available. Because the medication contemplated by my invention is liquid, it is necessary to carefully select the material that will comprise the capsule wall so the liquid medication contained within cannot react and dissolve or mollify the capsule wall. 
     The intended purpose of my invention is to deliver a portion of the therapeutic amount sublingually which will alleviate the patient&#39;s acute condition in as short a time as one minute and thereafter ingest the remaining portion of the therapeutic amount which will provide a more prolonged duration of the medication in the human&#39;s bloodstream. 
     It is to be understood that my invention will work only with those medications which are liquid and in a concentrated form in which the therapeutic amount can be a small volume as described earlier for retention in a capsule until use. A container having liquid medication in excess of 1 ml discharged completely into the mouth would tend to be comingled with a human&#39;s saliva and swallowed defeating the purpose of my invention which is to deposit no more than a few drops (i.e. preferably no more than 0.5 ml) of medication underneath the tongue for sublingual absorption and then the portion remaining in the capsule swallowed to achieve a longer lasting effect. Since sublingual absorption results in medication entering the bloodstream almost instantaneously, sublingual absorption in combination with gastro-intestinal absorption which takes about 20-30 minutes should result in a longer lasting therapeutic effect. 
     In one embodiment of my two piece capsule design, the capsule comprises a base and cap. Preferably, this embodiment includes a pair of contralateral apertures on opposing sides of each capsule half, i.e. one aperture on the cap and the other on the base, where the assembled capsule has a first position in which the aperture pair are offset from each other. The base and cap are rotatable relative to each other and can be rotated to a second position where the apertures are aligned forming an opening for a portion of the medication located within the capsule to be discharged for sublingual delivery. With respect to the sidewall of the base and cap, one has an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the other. The sidewalls overlap each other by a short length, approximately 1.5 mm-5 mm as is well known by those having skill in the art. This overlap of sidewalls is defined as an overlap area. 
     The cross-sectional area of the holes is collectively of sufficient size for discharge of the medication approximately 1 mm in diameter. The holes on both the cap and base are located in the overlap area. 
     Once the opening is formed, the capsule can be squeezed to discharge a portion of the therapeutic amount of medication. The discharge portion will most likely be no more than a few drops which will be a quantity sufficient to maintain in the sublingual area under the tongue. The capsule can thereafter be swallowed which will result in the remainder of the therapeutic amount left within the capsule to be absorbed in the stomach and/or intestines. 
     An alternative embodiment to the two-part capsule design can have the liquid medication stored in one half of the capsule having a capsule wall made of a material which will not mollify while the other half of the capsule, initially vacant of liquid, is constructed of a material capable of being mollified and further having a discharge aperture at its end. A pair of semi-circular discs initially positioned to completely isolate the liquid present in one half from entering the vacant half of the capsule are present. As with the earlier two-part embodiment, the capsule is rotatable so that one disc can be rotated relative to the other and create an opening through which the liquid can travel into the vacant portion. Subsequent pressure applied to the outer wall of the capsule will cause a portion of the liquid medication to be forced out the discharge aperture for sublingual delivery. The capsule can thereafter be ingested for gastro-intestinal absorption. 
     Rather than use of a capsule having separate cap and base portions, a single-piece or uniform cap structure could also be utilized. In a preferred structure, the capsule would have a sufficiently thin sidewall to be collapsible in response to an inward force applied by a thumb and forefinger grasping the capsule. The capsule would further incorporate a closed opening. The closed opening could involve any number of designs such as a nipple; or include a removable obstruction where an aperture is initially sealed using a removable plug or adhesive strip. Once the obstruction is removed, the forefinger and thumb of a single hand would grasp the capsule, position the closed opening above the sublingual area of a human&#39;s mouth and apply pressure to the capsule sidewall causing a portion of the therapeutic medication within the capsule to discharge onto the sublingual area. Another design incorporates a thinner wall section located at the end of the capsule to act as a rupture disc which, in response to external force applied to the capsule body would fail and permit a portion of the liquid medication to be discharged. 
     Another design is a single-piece capsule having a teardrop shape with a discharge opening formed at the narrow portion and further having a removable plug or adhesive strip preventing discharge until removed. Alternatively, the exterior wall is thinner towards the narrower end of the teardrop which, when in a non-burst condition, the therapeutic liquid medication is contained within and, when a sufficient pressure is applied to the exterior wall near the rounded end distal from the narrower end, the thinner portion of the exterior wall will burst forming an aperture for discharge of a portion of said liquid therapeutic medication for sublingual application. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the teardrop capsule is designed to be “squeeze and pop” for delivery of a pre-determined amount of liquid nitroglycerin for sublingual delivery in a single volume-dose. Use of my capsule will enable the patient to obtain relief of chest pain without the undesirable effects commonly associated with administration of nitroglycerin tablets and multiple use lingual pump-sprays. 
     My tear drop capsule is designed to be a functional improvement. Its conical shape will allow application by the thumb and forefinger of the required force to burst the capsule, creating a hole for the medication inside to exit. With the forces confluent towards the gradually thinning down capsular wall thickness, from the bottom towards its apex, it is easy to pop open the apical tip and allow the capsular liquid content to be squeezed under the tongue immediately. It is important for nitroglycerin to be administered easily since some users may suffer from hand arthritis. 
     The tear drop capsule is held by the user with the apex directed into the sublingual area, with the tongue curled up. Pressure is applied to the body of the capsule by the thumb and index finger of the person, suffering with angina, to pop the tip open and express the liquid NTG under the tongue. 
     For a nipple design outlet from the capsule, the nipple would be located at one end having an enlarged capsule wall thickness with through and through fissures as tributaries confluent towards the apex of the nipple. The liquid medication travels via small passages connecting pockets or miniature lakes where liquid can accumulate. A portion of the liquid medication can be discharged when pressure is applied with the thumb and forefinger to the body of the capsule as illustrated in  FIG. 6   c.    
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a capsule made according to my invention in a closed position. 
         FIG. 1   b  is a perspective view of a capsule made according to my invention rotated toward an open position. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the capsule illustrated in  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b.    
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of how the medication is delivered from the capsule to the sub-lingual area. 
         FIG. 4   a  is a first alternative embodiment with the aperture located on one end of the capsule. 
         FIG. 4   b  is a second alternative embodiment with the aperture located on one end of the capsule. 
         FIG. 4   c  is a third alternative embodiment with the aperture located on one end of the capsule. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the capsule being grasped by the thumb and forefinger of one hand. 
         FIG. 6   a  is a fourth alternative embodiment that uses a nipple-type orifice. 
         FIG. 6   b  is an interior view of the capsule illustrated in  FIG. 6  shown in a condition before liquid medication is discharged. 
         FIG. 6   c  is an interior view of the capsule illustrated in  FIG. 6  shown in a condition as liquid medication is being discharged. 
         FIG. 7   a  is a fifth alternative embodiment with the aperture located on the narrow end of the tear-drop shaped capsule. 
         FIG. 7   b  is a sixth alternative embodiment with the aperture located on the narrow end of the tear-drop shaped capsule. 
         FIG. 7   c  is a seventh alternative embodiment with the aperture located on the narrow end of the tear-drop shaped capsule. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the tear-dropped shaped capsule being grasped by the thumb and forefinger of one hand. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The figures provided herein are not drawn to scale and are provided for representational and instructional purposes. 
       FIG. 1   a  illustrates an enlarged view of a capsule  10  made according to my invention in a closed position. Referring to the exploded view of  FIG. 2 , capsule  10  consists of two halves, a base  12  and a cap  14 , which overlap each other by approximately 2-4 mm Base and cap can each be described as an open mid-segment cylinder each having a slightly different circumferential diameter from the other. A de minimis annular region exists when base  12  and cap  14  are fitted together as shown in  FIG. 1   a  to prevent leakage of the liquid medication contained within capsule  10 . Base  12  has orifice  18  extending from its open end and further includes a pair of spaced apart circumferential ridges S in parallel relation. Cap  14  has orifice  16  extending from its open end and further includes a pair of spaced apart circumferential grooves G in parallel relation. When base  12  and cap  14  are fitted together, as shown in  FIG. 1   a , a respective ridge S will be slidably fitted in a respective groove G to act as a seal. Orifices  16  and  18  are originally in a closed position, preferably contra lateral to one another. Capsule  10  is filled with a therapeutic amount of liquid medication (not shown). 
     When a medical emergency occurs requiring the medication to be administered, capsule  10  is rotated from its first position illustrated in  FIG. 1   a  to a second position in which orifaces  16  and  18  are aligned to form opening A.  FIG. 1   b  illustrates the rotation of base  12  and cap  14  toward the second position. 
     A portion of the therapeutic amount of medication  30  is discharged from capsule  10  by applying squeezing the capsule as represented in  FIG. 3 . Medication is deposited onto the sublingual area of the mouth M. The medication remaining within capsule  10  is swallowed for absorption by the stomach and/or intestines. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4   a ,  4   b  and  4   c , three single piece capsular wall structures are presented which illustrate variations of a removable obstruction. Each structure utilizes at least one aperture for the discharge of liquid medication.  FIG. 4   a  illustrates a capsule  40  having a removable adhesive strip  42  which covers aperture A 2 .  FIG. 4   b  illustrates a capsule  50  having a removable plug  52  which is positioned within aperture A 2  and held in position by frictional engagement with the surrounding capsular wall.  FIG. 4   c  illustrates a capsule  60  having a rupture disc  62 ; essentially a reduced wall area integral with the surrounding capsular wall which will rupture upon sufficient pressure applied to the capsule sidewall thus creating aperture A 2 . 
     A portion of the therapeutic amount of medication  30  is discharged from capsule  40 ,  50 , or  60  by applying force to the outer wall as shown in  FIG. 5 . Medication is deposited onto the sublingual area of the mouth M. The medication remaining within capsule  40 ,  50 , or  60  is swallowed for ingestion in the stomach and/or intestines. 
       FIGS. 6   a ,  6   b  and  6   c  illustrate a fourth alternative single piece capsular wall construction  70  which has a sidewall  71  and a nipple  72  having orifice A 3  for discharge of liquid medication  30 . Orifice A 3  presented in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  is originally a slit in the capsule wall at one end and does not open until pressure is applied to the capsule body as shown in  FIG. 6   c  whereby the pressure within capsule  70  causes orifice A 3  to open. When pressure is applied as shown by arrows  71 , pressure builds within capsule  70  and causes the slit to rupture creating orifice A 3 . Referring to  FIG. 6   b , capsule  70  has an interior which is partially filled with liquid medication  30 . Also contained within the capsule interior is at least one pathway preferably having a plurality of interconnected channels  74  operatively connected to aperture A 3  for discharge of a portion of the liquid medication. Channels  74  are initially in a collapsed or semi-folded condition which prevents liquid flow. Inlet ports  76  are provided for entry of the medication into channels  74  and pockets. Upon capsule  70  being pinched as illustrated in  FIG. 6   c , pressure builds within the interior of capsule  70  which causes a portion of liquid medication  30  to begin flowing through channels  74  and the pockets and exit at orifice A 3 . The user would take capsule  70  and pinch along sidewall  71  as shown in  FIG. 6   c  to apply a sufficient pressure force upon the sidewall of the capsule as illustrated by the arrows and discharge the portion of liquid medication for placement under the tongue for sublingual delivery. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7   a ,  7   b  and  7   c , three single piece capsular wall structures in the general shape of a tear-drop are presented which illustrate variations of a removable obstruction. Each structure utilizes at least one aperture for the discharge of liquid medication.  FIG. 7   a  illustrates a capsule  80  having a removable adhesive strip  82  which covers aperture A 2 .  FIG. 7   b  illustrates a capsule  90  having a removable plug  92  which is positioned within aperture A 2  and held in position by frictional engagement with the surrounding capsular wall.  FIG. 7   c  illustrates a capsule  100  having a thinner exterior wall about the narrow end of capsule  100 ; essentially a reduced wall area integral with the surrounding capsular wall which will burst upon sufficient pressure applied to the capsule sidewall thus creating aperture A 2 .  FIG. 8  is representative of the sublingual delivery of a portion of the therapeutic medication M after aperture A 2  is open.