Teething gel applicator with cutter, and burstable ampule and method of making the same

• US 6,361,552 B1
• Filed: 09/27/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Badalamenti
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Badalamenti
• Inventors: Sedlack, Mark A., Badalamenti, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, TAN-UYEN THI
• Application Number:
  US09/406,218
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 606/235, 424/433, 424/436, 424/453, 604/218, 604/58-64, 604/411, 604/414, 604/415, 206/528, 206/532, 206/530, 206/539, 206/219, 206/222, 206/538, 206/469, 534/71, 222/541
• US Class Current: 606/235
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/05 for collecting, storing or administering blood, plasma or medical fluids multiple bags systems for separating or storing blood components A61M1/0209; Infusion or perfusion containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/00 Baby-comforters; Teething rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/02 Teething rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/1011 Emitting sound, e.g. having rattles or music boxes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0053 Syringes, pipettes or oral dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15

Abstract

A teething gel system and a burstable ampule for use therewith. The teething gel system includes a teether with a chewing portion defining a plurality of depressions for holding gel. A gel spreader is provided for movement across the teether so that gel is deposited into the depressions. The gel spreader includes a housing sized to receive the ampule. A cutter is disposed in the housing and is adapted to burst the ampule when the ampule is inserted into the housing. The ampule includes an inner sleeve formed of rigid material and an outer sleeve formed of frangible material.

Claims

1. A burstable ampule for holding an amount of medication, said burstable ampule comprising:

an inner sleeve with a closed end, said inner sleeve being composed of a rigid material;

an outer sleeve disposed over the inner sleeve and having an end wall spaced from the closed end of the inner sleeve so as to form a pocket therebetween, said outer sleeve being composed of a frangible material, said pocket containing the medication, said inner sleeve having an open end, said outer sleeve having a closed end, said inner sleeve closed end being proximal said outer sleeve closed end, said inner sleeve open end being distal said outer sleeve closed end, said inner sleeve being more rigid than said outer sleeve.

2. The burstable ampule of claim 1, wherein the closed end of the inner sleeve has a concave depression formed therein, and wherein the end wall of the outer sleeve is convex.

3. The burstable ampule of claim 1, wherein the rigid material is polyethylene, and wherein the frangible material is polyethylene.

4. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein the closed end of the inner sleeve has a concave depression formed therein.

5. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said rigid material of said inner sleeve is plastic.

6. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said rigid material of said inner sleeve is hard plastic.

7. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said inner sleeve open end is mounted on a backing strip.

8. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said ampule is generally bullet-shaped.

9. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said medication comprises an anesthetic.

10. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said outer sleeve end wall is plastic adapted to be burst by cutters.

11. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said inner sleeve is polyethylene.

12. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said inner sleeve open end has a flange extending therefrom.

13. A burstable ampule according to claim 12, wherein said flange has a backing strip attached thereto.

14. A burstable ampule according to claim 7, wherein said backing strip is metal foil.

15. A burstable ampule according to claim 4, wherein said concave depression forms a nest adapted to receive cutters.

16. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said outer sleeve end wall is metal foil adapted to be burst by cutters.

17. A burstable ampule according to claim 10, wherein said outer sleeve end wall is polyethylene.

18. A burstable ampule according to claim 7, wherein said ampule is releasably secured to said backing strip.

19. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said medication is sealed between said inner and outer sleeves.

20. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said medication is teething gel.

21. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said outer sleeve closed end is free from holes.

22. A burstable ampule according to claim 1, wherein said inner sleeve is sealed to said outer sleeve such that a top vertical portion of said inner sleeve is adapted to remain stationary with respect to an adjacent top vertical portion of said outer sleeve during discharge of said medication from said pocket.