Dispensing package for unit dosage
First Claim
1. A method of administering a unit dosage into a body cavity, comprising the steps ofencapsulating the unit dosage in the center of a packet comprising a pair of confronting leaves of frangible material,positioning the dosage between the leaves at the center part of the packet and sealing the leaves around the periphery of the packet, to form a sealed packet which seals the unit dosage from exposure to conditions which might cause degradation of the dosage,providing an elongated tubular injector having a head end and a tail end with a longitudinal bore extending from end to end with a cross section larger than said dosage, and a plunger mounted for longitudinal displacement within said bore,said plunger having a nose portion having a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the bore, and with a beveled edge at one side of the plunger with a contour along the periphery of said nose cross section, and operable to slide within said bore,said plunger having a tail portion projecting out of said bore at the tail end of the injector,mounting said packet in said injector adjacent the head end remote from said tail end, and registering the dosage in the packet in alignment with said bore, and supporting said packet in said injector with an annular ring having a central opening corresponding in size with the cross section of said nose, said central opening having a contour conforming to the contour of said beveled edge,positioning the head end of the injector in the body cavity receiving the dosage, anddispensing said unit dosage by using the tail to displace the nose of the plunger through said packet and through the opening of said annular ring, whereby said beveled edge at one side of the plunger first penetrates the frangible material at said one side to provide a dispensing opening in the packet for the unit dosage and then the nose expresses the unit dosage out from between the leaves of the packet and through the opening of said ring and then through the head end of the injector into the body cavity receiving the dosage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A unit dosage, packaged for direct administration into a body cavity, is encapsulated in a packet between a pair of leaves of foil. The leaves are sealed to each other about their peripheries. The packet is packaged with a tubular injector having a longitudinal bore extending from the head end of the injector to the tail end. The packet is positioned in the bore adjacent the head end by a annular support member having a central opening in registry with the bore. A plunger is mounted in the bore and has a head adapted to slide in the bore and a tail projecting out of the tail end of the tubular injector, and the tail end of the plunger is used to displace the head of the plunger through the packet, through the opening in the annular support, and beyond the head end of the tubular injector. The head of the plunger is provided with a beveled surface along one side.
55 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of administering a unit dosage into a body cavity, comprising the steps of
encapsulating the unit dosage in the center of a packet comprising a pair of confronting leaves of frangible material, positioning the dosage between the leaves at the center part of the packet and sealing the leaves around the periphery of the packet, to form a sealed packet which seals the unit dosage from exposure to conditions which might cause degradation of the dosage, providing an elongated tubular injector having a head end and a tail end with a longitudinal bore extending from end to end with a cross section larger than said dosage, and a plunger mounted for longitudinal displacement within said bore, said plunger having a nose portion having a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the bore, and with a beveled edge at one side of the plunger with a contour along the periphery of said nose cross section, and operable to slide within said bore, said plunger having a tail portion projecting out of said bore at the tail end of the injector, mounting said packet in said injector adjacent the head end remote from said tail end, and registering the dosage in the packet in alignment with said bore, and supporting said packet in said injector with an annular ring having a central opening corresponding in size with the cross section of said nose, said central opening having a contour conforming to the contour of said beveled edge, positioning the head end of the injector in the body cavity receiving the dosage, and dispensing said unit dosage by using the tail to displace the nose of the plunger through said packet and through the opening of said annular ring, whereby said beveled edge at one side of the plunger first penetrates the frangible material at said one side to provide a dispensing opening in the packet for the unit dosage and then the nose expresses the unit dosage out from between the leaves of the packet and through the opening of said ring and then through the head end of the injector into the body cavity receiving the dosage.
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6. A method of packaging a unit dosage for administration into a body cavity, comprising the steps of
encapsulating the unit dosage in the center of a packet comprising a pair of confronting leaves of frangible material, positioning the dosage between the leaves at the center part of the packet and sealing the leaves around the periphery of the packet, to form a sealed packet which seals the unit dosage from exposure to conditions which might cause degradation of the dosage, and anchoring said packet on an annular ring having a central opening larger in size than the cross section of said dosage, with the dosage in registry with the opening, providing an elongated tubular injector having a head end and a tail end with a longitudinal bore extending between said ends with a cross section not substantially larger than as said central opening, and a plunger mounted for longitudinal displacement within said bore, said plunger having a nose portion having a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the bore, and with a beveled edge at one side of the plunger, and operable to slide within said bore and said opening, said plunger having an operator projecting out of said bore, and mounting said packet in said injector adjacent the head end remote from said tail end, and registering the dosage in the packet and said central opening in alignment with said bore, whereby upon positioning the head end of the injector in the body cavity receiving the dosage, the unit dosage may be dispensed by using the operator to displace the nose of the plunger through said packet and through the opening of said annular ring, and whereby further said beveled edge at one side of the plunger first penetrates the frangible material at said one side to provide a dispensing opening in the packet for the unit dosage and then the nose expresses the unit dosage out from between the leaves of the packet and through the opening of said ring and then through the head end of the injector into the body cavity receiving the dosage.
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9. A unit dosage adapted to be administered by placement into a body cavity, comprising
a packet comprising a pair of confronting leaves of frangible material, a unit dosage positioned between the leaves at the center part of the packet and means sealing the leaves together around the periphery of the packet, to form a packet which seals the unit dosage from exposure to conditions which might cause degradation of the dosage, an elongated tubular injector having a head end and a tail end with a longitudinal bore extending between said ends, a plunger mounted for longitudinal displacement within said bore, said plunger having a nose portion with a beveled edge at one side of the plunger and having across section operable to slide within said bore, and a tail portion projecting out of said bore, said beveled edge having a contour extending along the periphery of the nose cross section, and an annular ring mounting said packet in said injector adjacent the head end with the dosage in alignment with said bore and supporting said packet in said injector, said annular ring having a central opening corresponding in size with the cross section of said nose and having a contour conforming to the contour of said beveled edge, the bore at the head end of the injector being open to permit communication of the bore of the injector with the cavity receiving the dosage, whereby upon displacing the nose of the plunger through said packet and through the opening of said annular ring, said beveled edge at one side of the plunger first penetrates the frangible material at said one side to provide a dispensing opening in the packet for the unit dosage and the nose then expresses the unit dosage out from between the leaves of the packet and through the opening of said ring and then through the head end of the injector into the body cavity receiving the dosage.
Specification