Abstract:
A pill splitter for cutting pills and tablets of multiple sizes into uniform dosage portions for treating humans or animals comprising a housing, a rotatable pill cassette with multiple pill cavities disposed to hold pills of different sizes, a cover with access ports for removing cut pill portion, and a retractable blade for smoothly cutting pill units with minimal shattering or residue. A method of splitting pills is also provided.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention relates to pill splitters and methods of use. In particular, the invention relates to pill splitters that are used to split pills of varying shapes and sizes. The invention further relates to methods of splitting pills that reduce shattering or fragmentation of the pills. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Healthcare professionals may prescribe dosages of medications that require splitting of solid pill or tablet doses, typically in halves. Splitting may be used to divide higher doses of the pill so that the patient may divide one tablet into two doses, or a halved tabled into quarters, etc., thus saving money. Alternatively, a low dose of a medication typically available in a higher dose may also be prescribed. Pill splitting is often used with common medications for treatment of chronic conditions in humans and animals. A very large demographic of consumers are required to take prescription pills for all kinds of reasons. As the global population continues to live longer in both the industrial and emerging countries of the world, the volume of usage of prescription pills will continue to increase. 
         [0003]    While some drugs, such as extended release formulations, may not be appropriate for splitting, many tablet doses can be divided for effective therapeutic use. Certain prescription medications may be indicated as approved for splitting in the accompanying prescribing information, or recommended as such by healthcare providers or dispensing pharmacists. Pill splitting is typically not done at pharmacies where drugs are dispensed, but is left to the patient consumer. As a result, there is a need among consumers for devices and methods to efficiently split tablets. 
         [0004]    Pills intended for splitting, such as aspirin, may commonly be scored in the middle to provide a breakage line along which the pill may be more easily severed while providing dosage uniformity. Some tablets are excessively hard, which causes the halves to fly apart when the pill is cut. Some pills are not molded in a uniform shape, for example in a diamond shape, which makes it difficult to accurately locate a center line along which the pill can be cut to provide two uniform doses. 
         [0005]    Certain problems exist that are common to all pill cutters currently on the market. Many include a V-shaped pill holder arrangement that holds pills of various sizes according to their alignment with the dimensions of the V-configuration. With pill cutters having a single receptacle designed to hold many pill sizes, i.e. “one size fits all,” the pill is not held securely in place, resulting in uneven cutting. Additionally such cutters cause many pills to break and/or leave residue. There is therefore a need for a pill cutter that secures multiple sizes of pills for cutting, and which cuts these pills accurately and evenly with minimal breakage, shattering or residue. 
         [0006]    Examples of prior art tablet cutters include U.S. Pat. No. 8,590,164, which discloses a tablet cutter with a V-shaped pill holder arrangement for receiving tablets. The pill holder feature includes a slidable feature that includes arms that slide to hold the tablet in place over a slide track through which a blade is passed. U.S. Pat. No. 8,474,674 discloses a tablet cutter with a protected cutting edge, in that a guard slides over the cutting edge when the pill cutter is in an open position, and pulls back to expose the cutting edge when the pill cutter is closed. The tablet holder assembly disclosed by this patent is a V-shaped structure with a narrow end, an open end and centering guides for positioning tablets. V-shaped tablet holder arrangements do not allow for precise and secure accommodation of tablets of varying sizes. U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,471 discloses a tablet cutter formed by a cutting edge mounted on the bottom of a hollow column, in which the hollow column is capped by a transparent plate that prevents the cut halves of the tablet from jumping out of the column and also allows for viewing of the tablet cutting (score) line to align the cutting edge. U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,319 provides a device for cutting multiple tablets at one time that includes multiple blades and tablet nests with beds of different shapes and sizes. In this regard, when a selected tablet nest is inserted into the cutter, the blades facilitate cutting of multiple tablets of the same configuration and size at the same time. 
         [0007]    There remains a need for a pill and tablet cutter for consumer use that provides easy selection of the pill size and shape without replacement of any part of the apparatus, and which also provides safe cutting of individual doses for the user&#39;s consumption. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention comprises an apparatus for splitting multiple sizes of pills or tablets, or pill portions, which comprises a cover, an angled or curved edge blade for low-impact slicing of pills that is sheathed for user safety, and a housing that comprises a rotatable disc or cassette having formed therein a number of pill cavities of different shapes and sizes. The housing and cassette form a locking assembly that locks the cassette in place and holds it securely after the desired pill cavity has been positioned beneath the cutting blade. As used herein, the term “pill” should be understood, according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration definitions, to encompass pills, which are small, round solid dosage forms containing a medicinal agent(s) intended for oral administration, as well as tablets, which are solid dosage forms (any shape) containing medicinal substances with or without suitable diluents, of any conventional sizes. 
         [0009]    The invention further comprises a pill cutter apparatus that cuts pills of various sizes by providing multiple sizes of pill cavities which can be dissected with a cutting blade. The pill cavities hold the cut halves of the pill and prevent the pieces from flying out of the container or from being projected against the internal walls of the pill cutter. In this manner, the invention minimizes breakage and shattering of the pill halves before they are consumed by the user. 
         [0010]    In another aspect, the invention provides a method for evenly splitting pill units into uniform doses that comprises mounting a disc cassette element on a spindle in the base of a pill cutter of the invention: selecting a pill cavity of the disc that corresponds to the size and shape of a pill to be split; rotating the pill cavity to a position beneath and perpendicular to the cutting blade edge; locking the disc in place on the spindle and closing the cover to unsheathe and engage the blade with the center of the pill, and cutting the pill unit into two uniform dosage portions. 
         [0011]    The invention further provides a method for evenly and accurately splitting multiple sizes and shapes of pills. 
         [0012]    In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of treating humans by dispensing uniform, reduced doses of therapeutic medications. 
         [0013]    In another aspect, the invention provides a method of treating animals by dispensing uniform, reduced doses of therapeutic veterinary medications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pill cutter in an open position and showing a rotatable pill cassette according to the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a pill cutter of the invention with the cover in closed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a top planar view of a pill cutter according to the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a planar view of the underside of an embodiment showing the housing support rib. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a pill cutter according to an embodiment of the invention showing the cooperation of the rotatable pill cassette and the base of the pill cutter. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the rotatable pill cassette and locking feature of the base according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  are transverse sectional views of a pill cutter of the invention in the open and closed positions, respectively, while  FIG. 7C  provides a perspective transverse sectional view. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C  are perspective views of the top and underside of portions of a pill cassette according to the invention. 
           [0022]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  are photographs showing the results of cutting pill units of common drug medicaments with a pill splitter according to the invention, as compared to using a commercially available conventional pill cutter. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    The invention comprises a pill cutter that incorporates a rotatable pill cassette equipped with pill cavities of different shapes and sizes. The cassette itself may be molded as a single structure with one or two sides, or it may be formed as two parts that may be assembled, disassembled and/or reassembled cooperatively to provide cassettes with different pill cavity sizes and shapes as well as cavity arrangements. When mounted on the housing of the pill splitter, the pill cassette functions to receive and secure a single pill unit and hold it in alignment with the cutting plane of a blade edge which, when activated by pressure, severs the pill into equal and uniform dosage portions. Many pill cutters currently on the market have a “V” shaped or similar area in the base where the pill is placed. In this area is an opening through which a razor blade passes and cuts the pill. Additionally, these cutters move the blade in such a manner so as to “chop” the pill. This universal sizing of the V-shaped pill holder assembly results in pills being cut unevenly, and the chopping effect of the blade leaves residue, or even breaks the pill in many pieces. The present invention provides an improvement over such pill cutters by providing means to receive and contain individual pills according to their size and shape. The more precise selection of size and shape minimizes their movement so that the pieces do not go flying when it is cut. As a result, the pill portions are not subject to shattering from impact with internal surfaces of a pill cutter. The invention also provides an improvement over pill cutters having a single pill size receptacle in that the rotatable pill cassette of the invention can be rotated to select different pill sizes without requiring an alternate cutter or substitute parts. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , in certain preferred embodiments a pill splitter  100  of the present invention comprises a housing  200 , a cover  300 , a retractable blade  400  and a rotatable pill cassette  500  with multiple pill  503  cavities having multiple different shapes and sizes. The housing  200  includes a housing deck  204  which is integrally formed with housing rear supports  211  and a housing front wall  201 . Hinges  101 , which are attached to the exterior of the rear housing supports  211 , are each comprised of a slot  212  in housing hinge tab  210  that is configured to receive peg  103  of the corresponding cover hinge tab  102 . 
         [0025]    The cover  300  may be formed of an opaque or transparent material, such as a clear acrylic or polycarbonate material. Preferably, the cover is molded as a cover upper wall  301  and cover side walls  302 , with ridges  308 ,  309  that define openings for finger access to retrieve cut pill portions ( FIG. 3 ). A center ridge portion forms a blade housing  303  that has formed therein an internal slot that provides a track for backward or forward movement of the blade  400 . A peg  306  disposed between and positioned within cam slots  305  enable the upward and downward movement of these guards in relation to the blade. The blade housing  303  also forms a grip for opening the pill cutter. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cover  300  is attached to the housing  200  via engagement of cover hinge tabs  102  with the slot  212  of corresponding housing hinge tabs  210 , for example as a male-female peg and slot closure (elements  103 ,  212 ). As shown in the embodiments of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , slots  310 ,  311  are features that allow for thermoplastic molding but are not required for functionality in the cover upper wall of the housing  200  that provides stabilization for the blade  400 . 
         [0026]    As seen in  FIG. 3 , the access ports  312 ,  313  are formed as depressions within the cover over a selected pill cavity  503  that capture and contain the cut pill portions, allowing them to be manually removed. The access ports also prevent the pill portions from being projected out of the pill cutter as the pill is severed. The contents of the access ports can be viewed and accessed while the cover  301  is closed. 
         [0027]    According to  FIG. 4 , the housing  200  is stabilized by a housing support rib  207  that is located along and parallel with the vertical axis of the pill splitter. The rib  207  is preferably integrally formed, e.g. by molding, with the housing. This rib strengthens the housing and prevents twisting or deformation of the housing in response to the cutting pressure of the blade. The rib  207  is further stabilized by perpendicularly placed lateral ribs  208 , which provide further support at approximately the center of the housing support rib  207 . The housing front wall  201  provides additional structural support and containment for the rotatable pill cassette  500 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view that illustrates assembly and operation of the pill splitter parts. As seen in  FIG. 5  (and  FIG. 1 ), a metallic blade  400  is sheathed between retractable blade guards  304 . These blade guards are slidably attached to blade slot walls  202  of the housing and move in relation to the slot walls  202  by means of keys  307  (posts) that slide in slots  203  on the inner surface of the blade slot walls  202  so as to guide the blade guards  304  up and down. Hinge pegs  103  move by rotating or sliding in the slots  212  of hinge tabs  210 , in cooperation with the vertical movement of the keys  307  to open the cover  300  (see  FIG. 6 ). In operation, the cover preferably opens to an angular range of between 60 and 75 degrees, preferably between 60 to 65 degrees. The cover is stopped at the desired angle by the maximum engagement of the keys with the slots  203 . As seen in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , the blade  400  is retracted between the oppositely positioned, reciprocal and retractable blade guards  304  (also shown in  FIG. 5 ) when the pill cutter is open. By means of the keys  307 , the blade guards  304  move upward as the cover is opened, thereby occluding the edge of the blade  400 . As the cover is closed, the guards  304  are moved downward to expose the blade edge for cutting. The retractable operation of the blade provides a safety feature for the user, as the blade is fully sheathed while the cover of the pill cutter is open. 
         [0029]    The blade  400  is a retractable blade with a graduated bevel edge  402 . The blade is disposed within the housing. While conventional pill cutter blades are of an approximate thickness of .0015 inch or more, the blade used in the invention is preferably less than .0014 inch, preferably about .0012 inch thick. The blade edge  402  is, in a preferred embodiment, curved. The curved shape enables the blade to contact the pill from the outside surface, which is usually curved, and thus operates by slicing the pill rather than chopping it, as is achieved by conventional pill cutter blades. This slicing action reduces shattering, breakage and generation of residue. In certain embodiments, the blade may be molded into the cover  200 . A preferred material for the blade is stainless steel or a similar corrosion or wear resistant material. In various embodiments, the curved blade edge may have a very large radius, which increases the linearity of the edge at an angle. This provides an angle of engagement of the blade with the pill surface that is not observed in conventional pill cutters. It should be understood that in certain modifications, however, the blade may also be linear, provided that the cutting angle is retained, along with the bevel and/or reduced thickness. The blade may be embedded during the molding process. A plurality of holes  401  in the blade (according to the embodiment of  FIGS. 7A, 7B ) receive the plastic melt during the mold-in process, which aids in creating a strong bond between the metal blade and the plastic cover. As shown in the perspective view of  FIG. 7C , the blade is co-planar with the vertical and horizontal medians of the apparatus  100 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 8A  shows an exemplary embodiment of an assembled pill cassette  500 . The cassette is in this embodiment disc-shaped and configured like a wheel, with pill cavities  503  (either  503   a  or  503   b  relative to the top and bottom cassette portions, respectively) of selected sizes and shapes on one side, and additional cavity shapes of varying size on the other side. The cassette may be of any other three-dimensional shape, provided that it is rotatable and can be mounted on the pill splitter housing. As represented by  FIGS. 8B and 80C , a first portion, for example an upper half (top side)  505  and a second portion, for example a lower half (under side)  507  of the cassette  500  may be separately formed or molded and then assembled, for example by friction fit, gluing or other locking mechanism. 
         [0031]    An exemplary, preferred locking mechanism includes slots  501 , locking tabs  504 , as well as an alignment locking slot  509  on one side, for example on the lower half  507 , which engages with an alignment key  510  and ridges  506  formed by the undersides of pill cutting slots  508  to firmly lock the two portions of the pill cassette together. The locked portions of the cassette thus fit securely together and do not move in relation to each other. It should be understood that the configuration of each portion may be assembled in reverse, i.e. the portions designated as top and bottom portion herein may be reversed for assembly and mounting on the housing of the pill cutter  100 . 
         [0032]    Further, by example, one (upper) portion  505  of the cassette may hold pills up to approximately 0.9 inches in length and up to approximately 0.5 inches in maximum width. In this respect, according to  FIG. 8A , six sizes from the smallest commonly prescribed pill to the largest are provided in small increments. This embodiment combines circular and oval shaped or cylindrical shapes to make pill cavities  503   a  on one side, so that the cavity may be used to hold either an oblong, oval or round pill unit, providing the unit is of corresponding width. This exemplary embodiment uses this method of combining shapes to make the best use of the circular area of the cassette to provide pill cavities for or as many oval, cylindrical and round shaped pills as possible.  FIG. 8B  shows the opposedly formed underside portion  507  of the pill cassette, which includes additional pill cavities  503   b  of different shapes and sizes. As an example, these cavities may be shaped and sized to hold ellipsoidal pills up to approximately 0.9 inches long. Various sizes of ellipsoidal pills are held in place in the cavities  503   b . All other features of the cavities  503   b  of this side serve the same purpose as the pill cavities  503   a  on the top side of the pill cassette. In the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 8A-C , the two smallest cavity positions have separate oval and circular cavities for easier use. The pill cavities are preferably arranged in a staggered fashion on either side of the cassette. In this way, shallow pill cavities on one side are juxtaposed against deeper cavities on the alternate side so as to keep the overall height of the disc as small as possible and to maintain the stability of the separate, interlocked cassette portions. Additionally, spacing between the pill cavities is carefully arranged to allow placement of the locking tabs  504  which hold the upper and lower sides of the cassette together and in turn secure the cassette to the housing. 
         [0033]    As further shown in  FIGS. 8A-C , each pill cavity  503  is bisected by a cutting slot  508  that provides for passage of the blade through the cavity to cut the pill. When properly mounted on the housing  200 , the slot  508  aligns with the blade. A cylindrical or tubular protrusion or boss forms a cassette mount  205  on the base of the housing  200  ( FIG. 5 ). The mount  205  is positioned perpendicular to the base and to the plane of the horizontal plane of the pill cassette  500 . A key stop  209  on the outer circumference of the cassette mount  205  forces alignment of the pill cassette with blade housing  303 . In this respect, one or more locking slots  501  are disposed around the inner circumference of the mounting hole  502 , each of which may, as selected, engage with the key stop  209  to lock the pill cassette in place. Additionally, locking tabs  504  engage with the ridges  506  formed on upper and lower cassette portions by the undersides of cutting slots  508 , and an alignment key  510  further cooperates with an alignment locking slot on the upper cassette portion  505 . These locking features together hold the two halves of the pill cassette together securely for mounting on the housing of the pill splitter. This alignment securely holds the pill cassette and pill cavity in place beneath the pill splitter blade. 
       EXAMPLE 1 
       [0034]    In the comparative evaluation of a multi-size pill splitter according to the invention, a selected number of medicament tablets were cut into halves using the invention (Device A) and a pill cutter device having a V-shaped pill holder assembly sold by Apothecary Products, LLC, Burnsville, Minn. (Device B). Representative results are shown in Table 1, below, and in  FIGS. 9A and 9B .  FIG. 9A  includes visible observations for cut samples of (1) diphenhydramine, (2) oxycodone and (3) ibuprofen, respectively. Illustrated in  FIG. 9B  are additional results for cutting samples of a generic cold mucus medication that were also cut using the invention and the comparator Device B. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Pill Cutter 
                   
                 Original Size (pre-cut) - 
                   
               
               
                 Device 
                 Drug Tablet 
                 Cut Size 
                 Results 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Device A 
                 Diphenhydramine (1) 
                 4 whole tablets to halves 
                 4 of 4 tablets split; no 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 residue or breakage 
               
               
                   
                 Oxycodone (2) 
                 7 whole tablets to halves 
                 6 of 7 tablets split; no 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 breakage, no residue 
               
               
                   
                 Ibuprofen (3) 
                 5 whole tablets to halves 
                 5 of 5 tablets split, no 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 residue or breakage 
               
               
                   
                 Generic cold mucus 
                 3 whole tablets to halves 
                 3 of 3 tablets split, no 
               
               
                   
                 medication 
                   
                 residue or breakage. 
               
               
                 Device B 
                 Diphenhydramine (1) 
                 4 whole tablets to halves 
                 1 of 4 tablets showed 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 significant breakage, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 residue 
               
               
                   
                 Oxycodone (2) 
                 7 whole tablets to halves 
                 2 of 7 tablets split without 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 residue; 5 tablets broke 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 into multiple fragments 
               
               
                   
                 Ibuprofen (3) 
                 5 whole tablets to halves 
                 3 of 5 tablets split without 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 visible residue; residue 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 observed for 2 tablets 
               
               
                   
                 Generic cold mucus 
                 3 whole tablets to halves 
                 3 of 3 tablets showed 
               
               
                   
                 medication 
                   
                 extensive fragmentation 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and visible residue. 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       EXAMPLE 2 
       [0035]    A multi-size pill splitter according to the invention (Device A) was used to split pill halves of oxycodone, a prescription narcotic medication, into quarters. Half portions of pills of the same drug were also split, for comparison, using the pill cutter with a V-shaped pill holder assembly used in Example 1 (Device B), and a pill cutter/crusher device (Device C), both sold by Apothecary Products, LLC, Burnsville, Minn. The results observed after cutting the samples are reported in Table 2, below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Pill 
                 Number of 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Cutter Type 
                 Samples Cut 
                 Results After Quartering 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Device A 
                 7 
                 7 cuts, no residue 
               
               
                   
                 Device B 
                 2 
                 2 unsuccessful cuts; large, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 residue 
               
               
                   
                 Device C 
                 4 
                 3 successful cuts; 1 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 unsuccessful cut, large residue 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0036]    In a method of use, the user opens the pill cutter and chooses a pill cavity in the pill cassette that matches the size and shape of the pill unit to be cut. In this regard, the pill unit may also be a pill half or other portion to be further divided. The pill unit is placed in the pill cavity. The cassette is then mounted on the housing by sliding the mounting hole  502  over key stop  209  of the cassette mount  205  on the housing. This forces alignment of the selected pill cavity  503  with the blade  400 . 
         [0037]    The foregoing described invention may be used to split prescription pills having a nominal diameter between 0.2 and 0.5 inches, and nominal length between 0.25 and 0.9 inches. However, it is recognized that a number of alternative standard pill sizes and shapes are available, and the pill cassette and pill cutter of the assembly may be adapted to such products as well. Accordingly, varied dimensions, materials, and manufacturing techniques may be applied to configure pill splitters according to the invention that conform to such pills. Preferably, the dimensions, materials, and manufacturing techniques herein include other suitable characteristics, such as strength, durability, light weight, temperature-resistance, chemical inertness, oxidation resistance, or other beneficial characteristics understood by one skilled in the art. 
         [0038]    The foregoing description of specific embodiments is not intended to be limiting on the scope of this disclosure, but rather to be illustrative of the broad concepts embodied by this invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention contemplates the various embodiments of the invention herein described as well as equivalents thereof. Those or ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate that the scope of this invention should be measured by the attached claims as well as by the embodiments herein described. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0039]    A very large demographic of consumers is required to take prescription or non-prescription drugs in pill form for all kinds of reasons. Pill usage is expected to increase as the global population continues to live longer in both the industrial and emerging countries of the world, and accordingly, the need for modified dosages will continue to increase. The invention satisfies this demand by providing a pill splitter and methods that cut pills into uniform dosages with greater accuracy and reduced breakage. The invention is intended for use with solid dose forms that can be split without reduced or negative therapeutic effect, and not for capsules, or pills or tablets of timed release medications.