Patent Publication Number: US-9844490-B2

Title: Device and method for administering medicine

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation application that claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/648,627 filed Oct. 10, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/546,015 filed Oct. 11, 2011; the disclosures of both are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Technical Field 
     The disclosure generally relates to devices and methods for administering medicine. Specifically, the disclosure relates to a device for forming a recess in an edible carrier wherein medicine is placed in the recess and the edible carrier combined with the medicine are delivered to the person who needs the medicine. The device is used to help adults and children who have difficulties swallowing pills and capsules 
     2. Background Information 
     Many adults and children have difficulties swallowing pills and capsules. This problem is of special concern in nursing homes and other health care facilities where a limited number of professionals have the responsibility to administer medicine to a large number of people. A single patient may need to take multiple prescriptions each day at different times. In this setting, repeated small delays in administering each item of medicine combine to significantly reduce the efficiency of the facility. Some patients with dry mouths or dry throats can generate a large delay in medicine delivery. Just a few large delays each day creates a significant impact on the efficiency of the facility. In an exemplary nursing facility of 100 residents taking medicine three times per day, a five minute delay in 50 percent of the medicine deliveries consumes over twelve hours of nursing time per day. This cost of medicine deliver is enlarged as more and more ailments are treated through prescriptions and when the nurse administering the medicine must ensure the resident has taken the medicine. The same costs are seen in hospitals. These industries thus desire an efficient mechanism and method for administering medicine to patients who have difficulties with swallowing pills in the traditional manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The disclosure provides a plurality of different devices and different methods for administering medicine to a recipient. 
     In general, the device includes a housing that supports an edible carrier. An element is disposed within the edible carrier for forming a recess within the edible carrier when the element and edible carrier are separated. The method includes the steps of forming the recess within the edible carrier, placing medicine within the recess, and administering the edible carrier and medicine combination to the recipient. The method includes the steps of either adding the medicine to the edible carrier when the edible carrier is held within the housing or after the edible carrier is removed from the housing. 
     One exemplary configuration of the disclosure provides a housing that includes a base that holds the edible carrier and a cover that is releasably connected to the base. A probe element extends through the cover into the edible carrier. The portion of the probe element disposed within the base is substantially surrounded by the edible carrier. The edible carrier may be an edible gelatinous substance made from gelatin, water, and optionally sweetener, flavoring, and/or coloring. The user twists the probe element about its longitudinal axis to break any connection between the edible carrier and the probe element. The user may then pull the probe element straight out of the housing along the longitudinal axis of the probe element to define a recess in the edible carrier. The user then removes the cover and adds the medicine into the recess such that the medicine is substantially encapsulated by the material of the edible carrier. The user then squeezes the edible carrier from the base into a spoon or the recipient&#39;s hand wherein it can be placed on the user&#39;s tongue and then swallowed. The opening of the recess in the edible carrier should be directed towards the front of the recipient&#39;s mouth when the edible carrier is placed on the tongue. The edible carrier may be configured to have a pleasant taste and provides lubrication for the medicine. 
     Another exemplary configuration of the disclosure provides a housing that includes at least first and second portions that surround an edible carrier. A probe element is connected to the second portion of the housing such that when the second portion of the housing is removed from the first portion of the housing, the probe element is pulled from the edible carrier to define a recess within the edible carrier. The user may then insert medicine into the recess and administer the edible carrier to the recipient. 
     A further exemplary configuration of the disclosure provides a housing in the form of a spoon such that the housing itself may be used to administer the edible carrier and medicine to the recipient. The housing may thus include an elongated handle. The handle may include a recess or slot that helps the user load the medicine into the edible carrier. 
     The disclosure provides a housing member for the edible carrier that is deformable or crushable to assist the user in removing the edible carrier from the housing. The housing may be coated with a release layer that helps the edible carrier release from the housing. 
     The disclosure also provides a housing that carries the element such that the recess is formed in the edible carrier when the edible carrier is removed from the housing. 
     The disclosure provides a housing having a removable portion that is connected to an element that forms a recess within an edible carrier when the removable portion is removed from the housing. The removable portion may be a lid, a container half, or a peelable seal. 
     The edible carrier may be a traditional gelatin dessert composition. Alternatively, the edible carrier may be configured to be stable at room temperature for long periods of time. The edible carrier may be provided in different colors and favors. The edible carrier may be provided in different edible compositions. 
     The disclosure provides that a plurality of the devices may be connected and provided to the users in sheets, trays or rolls. The individual devices may be numbered with times, dates, names, room numbers, patient identification numbers, or consecutive numbering such that the user may conveniently use the devices with a plurality of recipients or so that a single recipient may track when the medicine has been taken. For example, the connected devices may be provided in an array of seven by three wherein the recipient needs to take medicine three times per day each day of the week. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a first exemplary configuration of the device for administering medicine to a recipient. 
         FIG. 2  is a side sectional view of the device of  FIG. 1  wherein the probe element has been removed from the housing to form the recess in the edible carrier. 
         FIG. 3  shows the edible carrier placed on a spoon. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of a second exemplary configuration of the device for administering medicine to a recipient. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view showing one portion of the housing being removed from another portion of the housing. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of one portion of the housing supporting the edible carrier after the recess has been formed in the edible carrier. 
         FIG. 7  shows how the edible carrier may be squeezed to open the recess so that the medicine may be inserted. 
         FIG. 8  depicts the edible carrier and medicine placed in a spoon for administering to the patient. 
         FIG. 9  is a side section view of a third exemplary configuration of the device. 
         FIG. 10  is a side section view of a sealing arrangement for the third exemplary configuration of the device. 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the configuration of  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of a series of devices connected together. Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification. The unnumbered views depict useful aspects of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     The exemplary device configurations depicted in the accompanying drawings are generally indicated by the reference numeral  10 . Each device  10  is used to provide an edible carrier  12  that is used to administer medicine to a recipient. The medicine  20  used with edible carrier  12  is a single or a plurality of dry pills, a single or a plurality of caplets, a single or a plurality of capsules, a single or a plurality of gel tabs, a powdered dose, or essentially any other form of medicine that may be placed in another carrier. The disclosure also provides methods for administering medicine to the recipient by using edible carrier  12  and methods of using device  10 . 
     Each configuration of device  10  includes a housing  14  that supports edible carrier  12  in a manner that allows edible carrier  12  to be readily removed from housing  14 . Housing  14  is provided in different shapes and sizes including a spoon-shaped housing and a pocket-shaped housing. At least a portion of an element  16  is disposed within edible carrier  12  for forming a recess  18  within edible carrier  12  when element  16  and edible carrier  12  are separated. The method includes the steps of forming a recess  18  within edible carrier  12 , placing medicine  20  within recess  18 , and administering edible carrier  12  and medicine  20  combination to the recipient. The method includes the steps of either adding medicine  20  to edible carrier  12  when edible carrier  12  is held within or on housing  14  or after edible carrier  12  is removed from housing  14 . 
     Edible carrier  12  is formed from an edible material that is easy to swallow and has a self-supporting body capable of defining recess  18  and maintaining its shape about medicine  20  for long enough for medicine  20  to be swallowed by the recipient. Edible carrier  12  may be provided in the form of an edible gelatinous dessert substance made from gelatin, water, and optionally sweetener, flavoring, and/or coloring. Edible carrier  12  may be formed a variety of the products sold by Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC under the Federally-registered trademark JELL-O®. Edible carrier  12  may be a traditional gelatin-based dessert composition. The amount of water used to form carrier  12  partially controls the density of the carrier. Edible carrier  12  may be configured to be stable at room temperature for long periods of time. Edible carrier  12  may be provided in different colors and favors. Edible carrier  12  also may be provided in compositions that are not gelatin-based such as an edible polymer-based substance. Edible carrier  12  may be configured to have a pleasant taste and provides lubrication for assisting the recipient in swallowing medicine  20 . 
     A first exemplary configuration of the device and method is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  wherein device  10  includes housing  14  that defines a cup-shaped base  30  that holds edible carrier  12  and a cover  32  that is releasably connected to base  30 . Cup-shaped base  30  may be formed from a thin plastic material and may be vacuum formed. In this form, base  30  is deformable such that the user can crush or pinch base  30  to squeeze or push edible carrier  12  from base  30 . The inner surface of base  30  may be coated with a material that helps edible carrier  12  slide from base  30 . 
     Cover  32  may be secured to base with an adhesive. Cover  32  may be a plastic, a coated paper, or a foil. Probe element  16  extends through cover  32  into edible carrier  12 . A portion of probe element  16  extends outwardly from cover  32  so that the user may grasp and twist probe element  16  about its longitudinal axis to break any connection between the material of edible carrier  12  and probe  16 . The user may then pull probe element  16  straight out of housing  14  through cover  32  along the longitudinal axis of probe element  16  to define recess  18  in edible carrier  12  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . The user then adds medicine to recess  18  either before or after cover  32  is removed. In this condition, medicine  20  is substantially encapsulated by the material of edible carrier  12 . The user then squeezes edible carrier  12  from base  30  or pushes the bottom of base  30  to eject edible carrier  12  into a spoon ( FIG. 3 ) or the recipient&#39;s hand wherein it can be placed on the user&#39;s tongue and then swallowed. The opening of recess  18  defined by edible carrier  12  should be directed towards the front of the recipient&#39;s mouth when edible carrier  12  is placed on the tongue. 
     Another exemplary configuration of device  10  is depicted in  FIGS. 4-8  wherein housing  14  includes at least first  50  and second  52  portions that surround edible carrier  12 . Probe element  16  is connected to second portion  52  of housing  14  such that when second portion  52  of housing  14  is moved with respect to first portion  50 , probe element  16  is pulled from edible carrier  12  to define recess  18  within edible carrier  12 . The user may then insert medicine  20  into recess  18  and administer edible carrier  12  to the recipient. Second portion  52  may be pivoted with respect to first portion  50  as depicted in  FIG. 5 . Second portion  52  also may be slid or rotated with respect to first portion  50  to move probe  16  to form recess  18 . Housing  14  may be formed from a release-coated thin plastic material that is readily deformable so that the user may eject edible carrier  12  from housing  14  with little effort.  FIG. 7  shows how one may squeeze edible carrier  12  to open recess  18  to accept medicine  20 .  FIG. 8  shows the edible carrier  12  removed from first portion  50  into a spoon for delivery to the person taking the medicine. Again, the opening of recess  18  is to be positioned so that it faces the front of the mouth when delivered to the person. 
     A further exemplary configuration of device  10  is depicted in  FIG. 9  wherein housing  14  is provided in the form of an integrated spoon such that a portion of the housing  14  itself may be used to administer edible carrier  12  and medicine  20  to the recipient. In this configuration, housing  14  is in the form of a spoon  70  with edible carrier  12  carried by the head  72  of the spoon  70 . Housing  14  includes an elongated handle  74  provided with ridges  76  for gripping. Probe element  16  extends from edible carrier  12  and may be aligned with housing  14  such as the handle  74 . In the exemplary configuration, handle  74  supports probe element  16  that extends from edible carrier  12 . This portion of probe element  16  is seated in a groove  78  defined by handle  74  and probe element  16  may be slid back and forth within this groove  78 . A seal  80  is disposed over edible carrier  12  and at least a portion of probe element  16  to protect edible carrier  12  until it is used. Seal  80  can be disposed just over the top of edible carrier  12  or disposed entirely around edible carrier  12  and spoon head  72 . Seal  80  is made from any of a variety of known sealing materials such as a plastic, a foil, or a treated or coated paper. 
     Probe element  16  is used to form the recess in edible carrier  12  as described above. The user twists or pivots probe  16  back and forth and pulls probe element  16  back along handle groove  78  or tilts it up away from handle  74  and pulls it out of edible carrier  12 . Once probe element  16  is removed, medicine  20  is placed in grove  78  and pushed into the recess defined in edible carrier  12 . The end of probe element  16  may be used to push the medicine into edible carrier  12 . Groove  78  helps position medicine  20  for loading into edible carrier  12 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  depict a configuration wherein the spoon is sealed within a secondary seal  84  that protects the entire device  10  during storage and shipping. Seals  84  may be joined to form a roll or an array of devices  10  as shown in  FIG. 12  wherein a roll is configured for a week. Information  86  is provided on the end of the roll and each device is labeled with a day of the week. 
       FIG. 11  depicts an alternative seal for the spoon head  72  wherein a tab  88  is defined by weakened areas of seal  80 . Tab  88  is pulled back to provide a grip that allows the remainder of seal  80  to be removed from the spoon. The weakened areas extend from one edge to another edge of seal  80  so that seal  80  is peeled all the way across edible carrier  12  before it is used to pull the remaining portion of seal  80  off of housing  14 . Tab  88  may be used with the sealing configurations of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     Another configuration of housing  14  includes one wherein probe  16  is not detached from housing  14 . In this example, probe  16  is disposed in edible carrier  12  until carrier  12  is removed from housing  14 . When removed from housing  14 , carrier  12  is slid off of probe  16  to form recess  18 . 
     Another configuration for each of these embodiments is wherein probe  16  is hollow to allow the material that forms edible carrier  12  to be introduced to housing through probe  16 . 
     A plurality of the devices  10  may be connected together to form a strip or array of devices  10  (shown for example in  FIG. 12 ). These may be rolled for convenience. The individual devices  10  may be numbered with times, dates, names, room numbers, patient identification numbers, or consecutive numbering such that the user may conveniently use devices  10  with a plurality of recipients or so that a single recipient may track when the medicine has been taken. For example, devices  10  may be provided in an array of seven by three wherein the recipient needs to take medicine three times per day each day of the week. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the descriptions and illustrations are examples and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the words “comprise” and “include” as well as variations of those words, such as “comprises,” “includes,” “comprising,” and “including” are not intended to exclude additives, components, integers, or steps.