Hand held combination pill crushing and dispensing device
US5478311A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 23, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 23, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S241/27
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A pill crushing/dispensing device includes a plunger having a handle at one end and an abraded surface at the other, and a barrel/spoon unit which has an opposing abraded surface in its bottom interior so that a pill is crushed between the abraded surfaces as the plunger is advanced into the barrel. After the pill is crushed between the abraded surfaces, the plunger is removed and a fluid added to create a suspension of pill crushings which may then be orally administered by tipping the barrel/spoon unit to a generally horizontal position so that the fluid flows into the spoon unit which may then itself be inserted into a patient's mouth. In alternative embodiments, a central air passageway extends the length of the plunger unit to facilitate the flow of air to and from an air pocket between the abraded surfaces to facilitate the easy movement of the plunger within the closed barrel. A cap may be used to selectively seal the passageway. In an alternative construction, the plunger may be hollow to contain additional pills for later administration, and a cap provided to seal the hollow interior of the plunger and retain the pills therein.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.