Applicator for semisolid medications

Details Applicator for semisolid medications Applicator for semisolid medications

1994-10-26

1996-07-02

Rosenbaum, C. Fred

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material introduced into or removed from body...

604218, 604 60, A61M 5315

Patent

active

055317030

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to portable dispensing devices and, more particularly, is directed to a prefilled applicator for dispensing semisolid medication into body cavities.
The use of vaginal applicators to dispense medication is known in the art. For example, Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc. of Memphis, Tenn. supplies an empty vaginal applicator with containers of its antifungal vaginal cream sold under its registered trademark "GYNE-LOTRIMIN". Specifically, the vaginal applicator includes an elongated small diameter cylindrical barrel and a plunger rod having one end thereof slidably fitted through one end of the barrel. The opposite end of the barrel has internal threads thereat.
In use, with the plunger rod retracted to its maximum extent, a tube of the vaginal cream is threaded into the threaded open end of the barrel and the opposite end of the tube is squeezed, forcing the cream into the barrel. Then, the tube is unscrewed from the barrel. The open end of the filled applicator is then inserted into the vagina as deeply as it will go comfortably. The plunger rod is then depressed until it stops. However, this procedure requires the user to fill the applicator prior to each use, which may become burdensome and messy. Further, since the user must fill the barrel herself, it is possible that she may not always supply the correct amount of cream into the barrel.
In this regard, single use, prefilled vaginal applicators have been sold, for example, by Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp. of Raritan, N.J. (also known as Advanced Care Products and related to Johnson & Johnson) under the trademark "CONCEPTROL", and by Columbia Laboratories, Inc. of Miami, Fla. under the trademark "REPLENS". The Ortho Pharmaceutical Corp. vaginal applicator is used for dispensing a contraceptive gel, while the Columbia Laboratories, Inc. vaginal applicator is used for dispensing a moisture replenisher.
These two applicators are virtually identical in construction, and include a barrel or applicator body, a twist off cap and a rubber plunger contained entirely inside of the barrel at all times. The barrel has a large diameter cylindrical section which tapers down to a small diameter cylindrical section through a smooth sloped transition section. The free end of the small diameter cylindrical section has internal threads thereat.
The twist off cap is formed by a cylindrical body with an open end and a closed end. There are ridges extending on the exterior surface of the cylindrical body in the longitudinal direction thereof, in order to aid the user in gripping the cap. In addition, at the closed end, there is an internal cylindrical boss extending inwardly of the cylindrical body. The outer diameter of the post is also provided with threads.
The inner diameter of the cylindrical body of the cap is larger than the outer diameter of the small diameter cylindrical section of the barrel so as to fit thereover, and the outer diameter of the boss is less than the inner diameter of the small diameter cylindrical section so as to fit therein. In such case, the external threads of the boss are threadedly engaged with the inner threads of the small diameter cylindrical section of the barrel, in order to removably secure the cap on the small diameter cylindrical section.
A cream, gel or the like is deposited in the small diameter cylindrical section, the transition section and a portion of the large diameter cylindrical section of the barrel. Thus, when the small diameter cylindrical section is positioned within the vagina, the plunger, which is positioned in the distal or free end of the large diameter cylindrical section is pushed toward the small diameter cylindrical section so as to push the cream, gel or the like into the vagina.
The rubber plunger includes a small diameter portion, a large diameter portion connected therewith at an annular shoulder, and a conical portion connected to the opposite end of the large diameter portion, the conical portion terminating in a rounded end. In add

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