Method and apparatus for orally dispensing liquid medication

• US 4,493,348 A
• Filed: 01/05/1983
• Issued: 01/15/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pur/Acc Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pur/Acc Corporation
• Inventors: Lemmons, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/455,877
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 285/237, 285/DIG. 2, 141/1-12, 141/18-27, 141/285-310, 141/382-386, 141/311 R, 141/98, 215/11 C, 215/41, 215/73, 215/99, 222/542, 222/543, 222/548, 604/82, 604/91, 604/89, 604/56, 604/407, 604/416, 604/236, 604/238, 604/242, 604/54, 604/77, 604/78
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2037 having valve means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2096 Combination of a vial and a syringe for transferring or mixing their contents
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0053 Syringes, pipettes or oral dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/901 Cap closures

Abstract

A container housing liquid medication is provided together with a syringe and a coupling member for use in orally administering the medication to a patient. The coupling member is fastened to the container and includes a head member projecting upwardly to receive an inner tip of the syringe barrel. The liquid medication is dispensed from the container into a barrel of the syringe through a bore of the head member when a plunger is moved within the syringe barrel. After a predetermined amount of medication is received by the syringe barrel, the syringe barrel is removed from the head member and the predetermined amount of medication is administered orally to the patient. A cap member attached to the coupling member by means of a strap closes off the bore so that no medication escapes from the container when the syringe is disconnected from the head member. In one particular embodiment, a valve means is connected to the coupling member to permit selective communication between the container and the syringe barrel.

Claims

1. A method for providing orally to a patient a predetermined amount of liquid medication, comprising the steps of:

providing a container having a neck with a threaded outer wall, said container housing liquid medication to be received into the mouth of the patient;

providing an integral one-piece coupling member having a bore inner surace defining a bore, said coupling member including a skirt having an inner wall comprising threads;

using said threads of said inner wall of said coupling member to sealingly engage said coupling member to said outer wall of said container;

providing a syringe including a barrel and a plunger, said barrel having a tip extending from an end of said barrel;

joining said coupling member with said syringe barrel tip by inserting said tip of said syringe barrel into said bore;

maintaining said skirt and said bore inner surface in their same positions relative to each other;

moving said plunger to cause said liquid medication to be received into said tip and then into said syringe barrel;

obtaining a predetermined amount of said liquid medication in said syringe barrel;

discontinuing the obtaining of said liquid medication from said container; and

transferring said predetermined amount of liquid medication into the mouth of the patient.

2. A coupling device for coupling a container holding liquid medication to be received orally by a patient, said container including a neck having a threaded outer wall and an opening formed through said neck with a syringe including a barrel and a plunger, said plunger slidably disposed within said barrel, said barrel including a tip, said tip having an outer peripheral surface, a predetermined amount of said liquid medication being transferred from said container to said syringe and said liquid medication being received in the mouth of a patient, said device comprising:

a skirt having an inner side wall comprising threads, said threaded inner side wall fixedly and sealingly engaging said threaded outer wall of said neck;

a top surface integrally joined to said skirt and having a bore with an inner bore surface arranged to sealingly receive said outer peripheral surface of said syringe tip, said skirt, said top surface, and said bore inner surface being an integral, one-piece member wherein no relative movement occurs between said inner bore surface and said skirt; and

a cap member, connected to said skirt or said top surface, said cap member having means for sealing said bore to prevent the escape of said liquid medication therefrom.

3. A method for orally providing a patient with a desired amount of liquid medication, comprising the steps of:

providing a container having a neck with a threaded outer wall, said container housing liquid medication to be taken orally by the patient;

providing an integral one-piece coupling device having a bore, said coupling device including a skirt having an inner wall comprising threads;

matingly engaging said skirt and said neck using said threads of said inner wall and said threaded outer wall;

providing a valve member in said bore, said valve member being resiliently movable in a longitudinal direction between a first position wherein said valve member is in an open state and a second position wherein said valve member is in a closed state;

providing a syringe including a barrel and a plunger, said barrel having a tip extending from an end of said barrel;

inserting said tip of said syringe barrel into said bore;

contacting said valve member using said syringe barrel tip;

causing said valve member to move to its first position by moving said valve member in the longitudinal direction;

moving said plunger relative to said syringe barrel to cause said liquid medication to be received into said tip and then into said syringe barrel;

obtaining a desired amount of said liquid medication in said syringe barrel;

discontinuing the obtaining of said liquid medication into said syringe barrel; and

transferring said desired amount of liquid medication into the mouth of the patient.

4. A combination liquid containing, coupling, and dispensing apparatus for providing a predetermined amount of liquid medication for dispensing orally to a patient, comprising:

a container for holding liquid medication, said container including a neck having a threaded outer wall and an opening formed through said neck;

a coupling member having a threaded inner side wall and a top wall, said threaded inner side wall matingly surrounding said threaded outer wall of said neck to provide sealing engagement therebetween;

a head member, provided at said top wall of said coupling member and having a bore therethrough, said head member having a first portion and a second portion with said first portion having an inner lip protruding inwardly into said bore;

a resiliently movable valve member positioned within said bore of said first portion of said head member for sealing engagement with said inner lip of said first portion of said head member; and

a syringe including a barrel and a plunger, said plunger slidably disposed within said barrel, said barrel including a tip member extending from a first end thereof, said tip member being inserted into said bore of said second portion of said head member and sealingly engaging said second portion of said head member wherein said tip member contacts and moves said valve member in a longitudinal direction to cause disengagement of said valve member from said inner lip of said first portion of said head member.

5. A combination, as claimed in claim 4, further including:

locking means operatively associated with said coupling member to restrict access to the liquid medication.