Method of administering a partial dose using a segmented pharmaceutical tablet

• US 7,838,031 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2006
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accu-Break Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Accu-Break Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kaplan, Allan S., Solomon, Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, JAKE MINH
• Application Number:
  US11/441,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20070031494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 424/467
• US Class Current: 424/467
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2072 characterised by shape, structure or size; Tablets with holes, special break lines or identification marks; Partially coated tablets; Disintegrating flat shaped forms A61K9/0004, A61K9/0056, A61K9/0065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2086 Layered tablets, e.g. bilayer tablets; Tablets of the type inert core-active coat active cores with a complete drug-free outer coat A61K9/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2095 Tabletting processes; Dosage units made by direct compression of powders or specially processed granules, by eliminating solvents, by melt-extrusion, by injection molding, by 3D printing mechanical aspects A61J3/00

Abstract

A method for providing partial doses of a drug or drugs is disclosed. The method includes breaking of a tablet configured to have an active layer as a first segment and an inactive support layer or substrate as a second segment, or breaking a layered tablet through a first active segment which is deeply or completely scored.

Claims

1. A method of providing a partial dose of a drug or drugs contained in a layered tablet, said method comprising:

a) providing a bi-layer tablet comprising two or more segments wherein a first layer is scored, forming one or more segments comprising a composition containing a drug or drugs, and a second layer forming a segment comprising an inactive or drug-free composition, said second inactive layer or segment providing structural integrity to, and accurate tablet breaking for, the scored tablet;

b) dividing said tablet through said first and second segments to create a tablette comprising the partial dose; and

c) administering to a patient in need of treatment said tablette containing the partial dose of the drug or drugs.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the score is at least about 70% through said first segment.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said score traverses 100% through said first segment.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said tablet is an immediate release dosage form.

5. A method of providing a partial dose of a drug or drugs contained in a layered tablet, said method comprising:

a) providing a bi-layer tablet comprising two or more segments wherein a first layer is scored, forming one or more segments comprising a composition containing a drug or drugs, and a second layer forming a segment comprising an inactive composition or drug-free composition, said second layer or segment providing structural integrity to, and accurate tablet breaking for, the scored tablet;

b) directing or instructing a user of said tablet to divide said tablet through said first and second segments to create a tablette for administration of said tablette to a patient in need of treatment using said partial dose of the drug or drugs.

6. The method of claim 5 in which the score is at least about 70% through said first segment.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said tablet is an immediate release dosage form.