Method and device for organizing and coordinating the combined use of topical aerosols for the treatment of respiratory disorders

• US 5,941,241 A
• Filed: 05/12/1997
• Issued: 08/24/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pharmaceutical Design, LLC
• Original Assignee: Allan M. Weinstein, Robert E. Weinstein
• Inventors: Weinstein, Robert E., Weinstein, Allan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEISS JR, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/855,893
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.14, 128/200.23, 128/205.21, 128/203.12, 128/205.23, 206/732, 206/534, 206/538, 206/539, 206/562, 206/563, 206/564, 40/310
• US Class Current: 128/200.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 17/00 First-aid kits
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/00 Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes capsules or the like for oral use A61J3/07; specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments A61B50/30; containers for radioactive substances G21F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/828 Medicinal content

Abstract

A method and device for organizing, storing, instructing, and coordinating the combined use of aerosol medications for the treatment of disorders including respiratory tract disorders for the purpose of reducing medication error and increasing therapeutic compliance.

Claims

1. A prepackaged therapeutic device for reducing medication error and enhancing therapeutic compliance of combined topical treatments, comprising:

(a) at least two topical multi-dosage aerosol medications;

(b) instructions for coordination of the at least two medications for use together as a single therapeutic regimen, said coordinating instructions including frequency of dosing and number of applications at each time of dosing for said at least two medications;

(c) a unifying container structured to provide specific placements for said aerosol medications and said coordinating instructions and having a surface; and

(d) indicia on at least one of the surface of said container and the aerosol medications for distinguishing said medications.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one spacer device which when used in conjunction with an aerosol medication enhances delivery of the medication to the bronchial tree of a user.

3. The device of claim 1 for treatment of respiratory disorders wherein the aerosols are directed to respiratory mucosa.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the topical aerosol medications are selected from the group consisting of corticosteroids, decongestants, antihistamines, cell stabilizers, broncho-dilating adrenergic agonists, and anticholinergic agents.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the medications order of utilization is indicated by their placement within the container.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the instructions can be altered yet maintained within the unifying container.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the unifying container further comprises a frame for insertion of instruction sheets.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the coordinating instructions further comprises an erasable pad or a pad with multiple blank tear-off sheets.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the device to measure the effectiveness is a peak flow meter or a spirometer which measures other parameters of airway patency.

11. The device of claim 2 further comprising a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

12. The device of claim 11 wherein the device to measure the effectiveness is a peak flow meter.

13. The prepackaged therapeutic device of claim 1, wherein the coordinating instructions are located on a surface of the container.

14. A prepackaged, medicament dispensing container for combined topical treatments, comprising:

(a) at least two topical multi-dosage aerosol medications;

(b) indicia on at least one of a surface of said container and the aerosol medications for distinguishing the medications; and

(c) instructions for coordination of the medications for use together as a single therapeutic regimen, said instructions including frequency of dosing and number of applications at each time of dosing.

15. The container of claim 14 further comprising at least one spacer device which when used in conjunction with an aerosol medication enhances delivery of the medication to the bronchial tree of a user.

16. The container of claim 14 for treatment of respiratory disorders wherein the aerosols are directed to respiratory mucosa.

17. The container of claim 14 wherein the topical aerosol medications are selected from the group consisting of corticosteroids, decongestants, antihistamines, cell stabilizers, broncho-dilating adrenergic agonists, and anticholinergic agents.

18. The container of claim 14 wherein the medications order of utilization is indicated by their placement within the container.

19. The container of claim 14 wherein the instructions can be altered yet maintained within the unifying container.

20. The container of claim 14 further comprising a frame for insertion of instruction sheets.

21. The container of claim 14 wherein the coordinating instructions further comprises an erasable pad or a pad with multiple blank tear-off sheets.

22. The container of claim 14 further comprising a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

23. The container of claim 15 further comprising a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

24. The prepackaged medicament dispensing container of claim 14, wherein the coordinating instructions are located on a surface of the container.

25. A method of reducing medication error and enhancing therapeutic compliance of combined topical treatments, comprising the step of:

utilizing a combined aerosols therapeutic regimen contained within a unified device, comprising;

(a) at least two topical multi-dosage aerosol medications;

(b) instructions for coordination of the at least two medications for use together as a single therapeutic regimen, said coordinating instructions including frequency of dosing and number of applications at each time of dosing for said at least two medications;

(c) a unifying container structured to provide specific placements for said aerosol medications and said coordinating instructions and having a surface; and

(d) indicia on at least one of the surface of said unifying container and the aerosol medications for distinguishing said medications.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the unified device further comprises at least one spacer device which when used in conjunction with an aerosol medication enhances delivery of the medication to the bronchial tree of a user.

27. The method of claim 25 for treatment of respiratory disorders wherein the aerosols are directed to respiratory mucosa.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the topical aerosol medications are selected from the group consisting of corticosteroids, decongestants, antihistamines, cell stabilizers, broncho-dilating adrenergic agonists, and anticholinergic agents.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the medications order of utilization is indicated by their placement within the container.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the instructions can be altered yet maintained within the unifying container.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the unified device further comprises a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

32. The method of claim 26 wherein the unified device further comprises a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medication.

33. A method of reducing medication error and enhancing therapeutic compliance of combined topical treatments, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a unified device comprising;

at least two topical multi-dosage aerosol medications;

instructions for coordination of the at least two medications for use together as a single therapeutic regimen, said coordinating instructions including frequency of dosing and number of applications at each time of dosing for said at least two medications;

a unifying container structured to provide specific placements for said aerosol medications and said coordinating instructions and having a surface; and

indicia on at least one of the surface of said container and the aerosol medications for distinguishing said medications;

(b) reviewing the coordinating instructions for coordination of aerosol medications used together as a single therapeutic regimen;

(c) reviewing the indicia for distinguishing the medications;

(d) selecting the appropriate aerosol medications as indicated by the indicia and the coordinating instructions; and

(e) utilizing the medications as instructed by the coordinating instructions.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the unified device further comprises at least one spacer device which when used in conjunction with an aerosol medication enhances delivery of the medication to the bronchial tree of a user.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the unified device further comprises a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

36. The method of claim 33 wherein the unified device further comprises at least one spacer device and a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

37. A prepackaged unitary dispenser for organizing, storing, instructing, and dispensing topical medicament regimens and enhancing patient compliance, comprising:

(a) at least two aerosol medication containing enclosures, each enclosure enclosing one of at least two expertly selected aerosol medications;

(b) respective indicia for distinguishing the enclosed medications, said indicia being on at least one of the enclosed medications and on a surface of the unitary dispenser; and

(c) expertly formulated instructions for coordination of the medications used together as a single therapeutic regimen, said coordinating instructions including frequency of dosing and number of applications at each time of a dosing and coordinating the use of said at least two aerosol mediation enclosures as a regimen.

38. The unitary dispenser of claim 37 further comprising at least one spacer device enclosure which when used in conjunction with an aerosol medication enhances delivery of the medication to the bronchial tree of a user.

39. The unitary dispenser of claim 37 further comprising an enclosure for a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

40. The unitary dispenser of claim 38 further comprising an enclosure for a device to measure the effectiveness on airway patency of using the medications.

41. The prepackaged unitary dispenser of claim 37 wherein, the coordinating instructions are located on a surface of the container.