Abstract:
An emergency medication storage and integrated single use device for providing oral dissolving medications strips in a convenient transparent transfer environment. A thin card size dispenser holds a single medicated strip in user access orientation positioned for direct card insertion to the user&#39;s mouth assuring proper dispensing of the medication in an emergency situation.

Description:
This is a continuation in part application of Ser. No. 12/313,284, filed Nov. 19, 2008 now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     This device relates to medical dispensing devices that are carried to provide a single dose of medication in an oral form. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Prior art devices of this type have been directed to a variety of medication transportation cases and dispensing modalities. 
     Such devices can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,889,236, 6,808,514 and U.S. Patent Publications 2002/0066690 and 2007/0235350. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 4,889,236 a card style medication package can be seen having a plurality of medication dosage on a blister pack configuration with date indicia associated with prescribed administration instructions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,514 is directed to an emergency medical dispensing card having a housing with a removable dispensing carriage for injection or alternately oral dispensing of desired medication. 
     U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0066690 shows a flat pill case having a hinged lid covering a core with multiple number of pill pads each holding an individual pill for ease of extraction and use. 
     Publication 2007/0235350 discloses a wallet size medicament dispenser in which a carrying case the size of a credit card is disclosed having medications positioned between oppositely disposed two panel configuration forming the case for removal and use. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A self-contained emergency medical single dose dispensing device that provides for an on demand medication dispensing of orally applied medication in emergency situations. An easily transportable and accessible medication card having a strip of medicated water soluble dissolvable film suspended thereon by for maximum patient contact in oral applications by insertion of the card into the mouth of the user. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the medication dispensing device of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a medical dispensing device. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a dissolvable medication film strip of the medical dispensing device. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view on lines  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternate form of the invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view thereof. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view thereof showing partial removal of safety wrap cover for use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, a medical dispensing device  10  of the invention can be seen having a main body portion  11  and a removable closure cap portion  12 . The main body portion  11  is of an overall flat generally rectangular shape having parallel side end edges  13  and  14  in parallel spaced top and bottom edges  15  and  16 . As noted, it is of a flat configuration emulating a classic credit card in general dimensions is well known within the art. 
     A medication dispensing area  17  is defined on the main body portion  11  inwardly of the end edge  13  by a pair of parallel spaced tab elements  18  and  19  each with effacing tapered surfaces  18 A and  19 A transitioning to corresponding opposing edge surfaces  20  and  21  forming a user engageable access depression depending notch at  22  therebetween within the main body member portion  11 . 
     Closure end cap portion  12  is defined as having parallel spaced upper and lower surfaces  23  and  24  with interconnecting spaced parallel walls  25 A and  25 B and interconnecting end wall  26  with an access opening defined thereby. 
     The access opening is of an interior dimension greater than that of the corresponding transverse dimension of the main body portion  11  so as to be registerable thereover as illustrated in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. 
     Registration retainment elements  28  may be provided on the interior surface of the end closure cap  12  that impart a frictional engagement with corresponding engagement elements  29  on the tab elements  19  and  20  retaining the end cap  12  in place thereover for storage, storage and transportation prior to emergency use. The corresponding engagement elements  28  and  29  also act as spacers for the cap  12  over the dispensing opening  22  as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     A medication dispensing medium  30  for the dispensing device  10  is of a dissolvable thin flexible sheet medication absorbable transfer thermoplastic film strip  31  which is commonly used for a variety of over the counter oral aids such as breath fresheners and the like as is well known within the art. Such films  31  typically to be placed under the tongue, not shown, so that it will dissolve in seconds releasing the entrained medication such as aspirin for a quick assimilation into the patient&#39;s bloodstream. Such fast acting properties are well suited for medications needed in life threatening situations such as in heart attacks with aspirin or nitroglycerin, for example. 
     The dissolvable medication film strip  31  is secured on the upper surface of the main body portion  11  overlying the hereinbefore described dispensing opening  22  therein. This placement allows for maximum upper and lower surface areas  31 A and  31 B of the strip  31  to be exposed simultaneously to the moisture in a user&#39;s mouth (not shown) upon placement of the medical dispensing device  10  therein during emergency use. 
     In user venue, the medical dispensing device  10  has the closure cap  12  positioned in place over the dispensing opening  22  and suspended film strip  31  securing and protecting the aforedescribed film strip prior to required use. 
     In an emergency the user (not shown) retrieves the medical dispensing device  10 , pulls the cap  12  off and inserts the device opening end first under their tongue. As noted, this placement fully exposes the suspended medicated film strip  31  for rapid almost simultaneous dissolving releasing the medication directly for rapid absorption into the patient&#39;s bloodstream. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6-8  of the drawings, an alternate form of the invention can be seen wherein a medical dispensing device  33  has a primary base member  34  with a medication support and dispensing portion  35 . The base member  34  is of an overall flat generally rectangular shape having parallel sides  36  and oppositely disposed end edges  37  with flat top and bottom surfaces  38  and  39  respectively thereon. 
     The medical dispensing portion  35  has parallel spaced longitudinally extending medication support arms  40  defining a medication support opening at  41  therebetween. A medication dispensing medium  30 ′ of the dispensing device  34  is of a dissolvable thin flexible sheet of medication absorbable transfer thermoplastic film strip  42  that dissolves upon contact with moisture releasing the medication entrained therein as is well known and understood within the art. 
     The film strip  42  is secured to respective portions of said arms  40  so as to overlie the opening  41  suspended between the arms  40 . Once inserted into the mouth of the user (not shown) the film strip  42  will fully dissolve thereby dispensing the complete medication dose into the mouth of the user. After use, the device  33  is removed and discarded. 
     A thin flexible moisture resistant wrap  43  is removably attached overlying the dispensing portion  35  as best seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7  of the drawings, wrapping around the ends  36  of the arms  40  completely sealing over the dispensing portion  35 , opening  41  and the suspended medication dispensing medium  30 ′ as hereinbefore described. 
     The wrap  43  has an engagement tab  44  extending from one end thereof to allow ease of user engagement and removal as illustrated in progress in  FIG. 7  of the drawings for emergency use. 
     It will be evident from the above description that the one time emergency use medical dispensing devices  10  and  33  will provide for a safe, simple and rapid means of dispensing a single dose of potentially life saving medication for a patient which can be quickly and easily accessed and self-administered for rapid dispersion into the patient&#39;s bloodstream and the therapeutic effect of the medication can be achieved. 
     It will thus be seen that a new and useful emergency single dose medication dispensing device has been illustrated and described and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention.