Medication disposal system

• US 8,535,711 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2009
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verde Environmental Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Teikoku Pharma USA Incorporated (Teikoku Seiyaku)
• Inventors: Anderson, Carter R., Morris, Russell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hartley, Michael G
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMALA, JAGADISHWAR RAO
• Application Number:
  US12/412,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20090180936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 424/443, 424447-449, 424484-486, 424/760
• US Class Current: 424/449
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/445 Non condensed piperidines, e.g. piperocaine
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/7023 Transdermal patches and similar drug-containing composite devices, e.g. cataplasms galenical aspects of iontophoretic devices A61K9/0009; microneedle arrays A61K9/0021; buccal patches A61K9/006
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 2101/68 Transdermal patches
• CPC Class Codes: B09B 3/0075 Disposal of medical waste casings for used articles, e.g. sharps A61B50/362; sterilisation of refuse A61L11/00; disposal of used needles or syringes A61M5/3205; disintegrating medical waste B02C19/0075

Abstract

The potential for environmental release of unused and expired medications is reduced by the provision of a system and method for combining the unused or expired medication with an amount of activated carbon as part of a disposal procedure.

Claims

1. A disposal system for reducing substance abuse or environmental contamination from unused medications, said system comprising:

(a) a disposable, sealable container that can be opened to receive an amount of unused medication substance therein;

(b) an amount of an active binding agent in said container for treating said medication on contact, said binding agent includes an amount of activated charcoal that prevents later independent extraction of said medication, such that insertion of said medication into said container will cause said medication to contact said binding agent; and

(c) said container including a closure for sealing said container to thereby capture a treated medication.

2. A disposal system as in claim 1 further comprising a suspension substance to suspend said activated carbon to improve contact with said medication.

3. A disposal system as in claim 2 wherein said suspension substance further comprises a gelling agent.

4. A disposal system as in claim 3 wherein said gelling agent comprises hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC).

5. A disposal system as in claim 4 wherein said closure is resealable.

6. A disposal system as in claim 1 wherein said container is impervious to organic vapors.

7. A disposal system as in claim 6 wherein said closure is resealable.

8. A disposal system as in claim 1 wherein said closure is selected from adhesive seals and plastic container zipping reusable closure devices.

9. A disposal system as in claim 1 wherein said container is in the form of a pouch which includes a layer of metal foil.

10. A disposal system as in claim 1 wherein said activated carbon is of a particle size generally between about 8 mesh and about 325 mesh.

11. A disposal system as in claim 1 wherein said closure is resealable.

12. A disposal system as in claim 1 further comprising media to dissolve said unused medications that are in solid form.

13. A disposal system as in claim 12 wherein said media comprises water.

14. A disposal system as in claim 13 wherein the weight of said water is at least three times the weight of said unused medications.

15. A disposal system as in claim 1 further comprising an ingredient selected from the group consisting of antagonist, oxidant and irritant compounds or a combination thereof pre-adsorbed on a portion of said activated carbon.

16. A disposal system as in claim 1 wherein the weight of said activated carbon is at least three times the weight of said unused medications.

17. A disposal system as in claim 1 wherein said sealable container further comprises a tear notch configured to unseal the sealable container and thereby expose an open volume of said sealable container to receive said unused medication substance therein.

18. A disposal system for reducing substance abuse or environmental contamination from unused medications, said system comprising:

(a) a disposable, sealable container in the form of a soft pouch that includes a provision for opening to provide an access for receiving an amount of unused medication therein;

(b) an amount of an active binding agent including an amount of activated carbon in said container for treating said unused medication on contact to inhibit later independent extraction of said medication; and

(c) a closure for sealing said disposable container thereby capturing a treated medication.

19. A disposal system as in claim 18 further comprising an ingredient selected from the group consisting of antagonist, oxidant and irritant compounds or a combination thereof pre-absorbed on a portion of said activated carbon.

20. A disposal system as in claim 18 wherein said activated carbon is of a particle size generally between about 8 mesh and about 325 mesh.

21. A disposal system as in claim 18 further comprising a suspension substance including a gelling agent in said container for suspending said activated carbon.

22. A disposal system as in claim 18 further comprising media to dissolve said unused medications that are in solid form.

23. A disposal system as in claim 18 wherein said closure is resealable.

24. A disposal system as in claim 18 wherein the weight of said activated carbon is at least three times the weight of said unused medications.