Surgery – Instruments – Oral pacifier
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-01
2001-08-07
Ref, David O (Department: 3731)
Surgery
Instruments
Oral pacifier
C215S011100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270519
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nipple for use with a medicine dispensing bottle, and more particularly, to a nipple including a medicine tube disposed therein which permits medicine, vitamins, or other fluids to be dispensed into an infant's mouth separately or simultaneously with other liquid contained in the bottle.
It is well known in the art that many pharmaceuticals and drugs are provided in liquid form for ease of oral administration to patients such as infants. However, such oral medications generally have an unpleasant or bitter taste which is objectionable to infants. Consequently, many infants will spit the medication out, making it difficult to determine whether the correct dosage has been administered.
Various modified oral compositions as well as devices have been proposed in the prior art to overcome the taste problems associated with conventional dosage forms. For example, Burchett et al, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,383,906 and 5,487,750, and 5,824,012 teach a nursing bottle in which a syringe is mounted within the bottle for dispensing medication. However, there is open communication through the annular space between the nipple and the interior of the bottle. This could allow the medication to become mixed with the liquid in the bottle, leading to unwanted dilution of the medication in the bottle and inaccurate dosing.
Liu et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,964 teaches a nursing bottle which includes an outer bottle with a detachable nipple and an inner bottle disposed inside the outer bottle. The bottle includes a switch which allows fluid in either bottle to flow into the nipple or to let fluids from both bottles flow into the nipple simultaneously. However, the nipple does not provide an isolated pathway for the medication and there is no control over the rate of drug delivery. Further, the switch is comprised of three separate parts which may become lost or broken during use.
A more effective system is found in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,122, which discloses a medicine dispensing bottle which comprises a traditional nursing bottle having an internal receptacle which accommodates a syringe for dispensing medicine. The bottle allows regulated dispensing of medicine along with other liquids commonly ingested by an infant, such as milk or juice, through separate holes in the nipple attached to the bottle. The medicine and liquid can enter the infant's mouth simultaneously, thereby effectively masking the taste of the medicine while obtaining accurate dosing of the medicine. However, the nipple disclosed in my earlier patent is especially designed for use in that system, is not readily interchangeable with other dispensing devices such as those of Burchett et al and Liu, is somewhat difficult and expensive to manufacture, and otherwise could be improved upon.
Accordingly, there is still a need in the art for a simpler means for dispensing medicine and liquid simultaneously to an infant which effectively masks the taste of the medicine while providing an accurate dosage of medicine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets that need by providing an improved nipple for use with a liquid and medicine dispensing bottle which includes a medicine tube disposed therein which allows medication and other liquids such as formula, juice, or water to be dispensed separately or simultaneously with the medicine. By “separately or simultaneously”, it is meant that the medication can be dispensed from the bottle without other liquids, that other liquids such as formula, juice or water can be dispensed from the bottle without the medicine, and that medicine and other liquids can be dispensed simultaneous from the bottle. By medicine dispensing bottle, it is meant any bottle or device designed for the delivery of fluids.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a nipple is provided which is adapted for use with a medicine dispensing bottle and which permits liquid and medicine to be dispensed into an infant's mouth separately or simultaneously. The nipple includes a body portion, an open end having an annular flange for attachment to a bottle, and a discharge end for dispensing fluid. The discharge end includes at least one opening, and preferably, two openings for the medicine and liquid to flow through. The nipple is preferably comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of silicone resin, thermoplastics, rubber, latex, or elastomers.
The nipple further includes a medicine tube disposed in the body portion which is in communication with one of the discharge openings. In a preferred embodiment, the medicine tube is attached to the body portion by one or more webbed membranes which support the tube within the nipple and prevents it from becoming dislodged or torn from the nipple during repeated attachment to and removal from a bottle. The one or more webbed membranes may be attached to the medicine tube at various points along the length of the tube and, in one embodiment, a webbed membrane is tapered inward toward the open end of the nipple.
The medicine tube is disposed within the nipple such that when the nipple is attached to a dispensing bottle, the liquid and medicine are completely isolated from each other and are not mixed together or diluted prior to dispensing, eliminating the problem of dilution and contamination.
In one embodiment of the invention, the medicine tube is disposed within the center of the body portion of the nipple. In an alternative embodiment, the medicine tube is disposed on one side of the body portion of the nipple. The medicine tube may vary in length, diameter, thickness and shape. For example, in one embodiment, the medicine tube extends from the open end of the nipple to the discharge end. In another embodiment, the medicine tube is disposed within the discharge end of the nipple. In yet another embodiment, the medicine tube extends beyond the open portion of the nipple.
The nipple may be essentially hollow, or alternatively, the discharge end of the nipple may be totally or partially filled in with silicone or other suitable materials. In this embodiment, the filled portion includes one or more openings therein which allow fluids to flow through.
The design of the nipple may vary depending on the desired end use. For example, where the nipple is used for nutritional purposes, it is preferred that the nipple include two discharge openings for dispensing medicine and/or liquid nutrition. In most other embodiments, the nipple preferably has two or more discharge openings, one opening which allows medicine to flow through and one or more openings which allow other fluids from the bottle to flow through.
In another embodiment of the invention, the discharge end of the nipple is angled or may have any exterior shape or size. In yet another alternative embodiment of the invention, the nipple may include an integral collar extending from the annular flange such that the nipple may be easily attached to a dispensing bottle.
The nipple of the present invention is easy to manufacture as a one-piece unit including the body portion, medicine tube and webbed membrane. The nipple allows medicine and other liquids to be easily dispensed from a medicine dispensing bottle without any mixing or dilution of the medication prior to dispensing.
Accordingly, it is a feature of the invention to provide a nipple for use with a medicine dispensing bottle which allows medicine and other liquids to be dispensed separately or simultaneously. This, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 377830 (1997-02-01), Lai
patent: D. 397216 (1998-08-01), Armand
patent: 3718140 (1973-02-01), Yamauchi
patent: 5101991 (1992-04-01), Morifuji et al.
patent: 5244122 (1993-09-01), Botts
patent: 5353964 (1994-10-01), Liu et al.
patent: 5383906 (1995-01-01), Burchett et al.
patent: 5433343 (1995-07-01), Meshberg
patent: 5437381 (1995-08-01), Herrmann
patent: 5462203 (1995-10-01
Killworth, Gottman, Hagan & Schaeff, L.L.P
Pedia Med Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Ref David O
Truong Kevin
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