Single finger and dual finger medication delivery devices, systems and kits; and methods of using the same

Abstract

Embodiments described herein generally relate to improved devices, systems, kits, products and methods related to topical medicament application of measured dosages. The kits and devices can single use and / or disposable for example.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 707,765, filed on Sep. 28, 2012, entitled MEDICATION DELIVERY, DOSING AND SAFETY DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND KITS, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD[0002]Embodiments generally relate to devices, systems, kits and methods of delivering or administering a medicament to a recipient in a safe, sanitary, consistent and / or efficacious manner. In particular, some embodiments relate to single and two finger medication application devices, kits, systems and methods related to the same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A number of medications, health products, beauty products, etc. are applied topically to the body of a recipient—either the skin or to some externally accessible organ such as the eye, the mouth, the vagina, the anus, etc. A variety of specialized applicator devices and methods of application are available and utilized for topical application to various parts of the body. Beyond ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Thus, there is a need for a simple, convenient, sanitary way to deliver a precise dose of a topical anal cream or ointment. A method or device for doing this would improve compliance with topical treatment for anal conditions, particularly when the treatment involved required application several times a day. It would also reduce adverse effects of treatment due to systemic absorption of a topical drug, and lack of efficacy due to inadequate or inconsistent dosing. One potential benefit of these improvements may be that a topical drug available by prescription only becomes sufficiently safe and easy to apply that it is approvable for sale over the counter without a prescription. This benefit would give more people with these conditions improved access to timely treatment.

Problems solved by technology

In some cases the topical application may be to “private parts” such as the anal or vaginal region of the body; users may find the application of medication to such regions unpleasant, inconvenient or undesirable, with the potential consequence that their usage of the medication is inconsistent or non-compliant with the prescriber's recommendation.

In other cases topical application with a non-sterile finger or applicator may lead to infection of the area to which the medication is applied.

Other challenges with the topical application of such medications include improper dosing due to too little or too much medication being applied—for example, because of the lack of precision of dipping the finger into a container or in removing medication from a tube.

In some cases the lack of appropriate dosing can be dangerous for the recipient, as in situations where the topical medication is systemically absorbed and has systemic toxicity at blood levels beyond a certain threshold.

Also, the repeated touching of medication by an ungloved finger or non-sterile applicator can result in contamination of the medication.

Medication containers may be of a size inconvenient for portability or non-compliant with airline security restrictions.

In other cases, the medication can be harmful or unpleasant if contacted with the hands or finger of the user while it is being applied, such that medical gloves or another blocking device are necessary.

Unfortunately, the use of gloves, such as latex gloves, can be inconvenient, requiring bringing gloves to work or on travel, and wasteful because an entire new glove must be used and disposed of with each application of the medication.

(The use of plastic wrap or other makeshift barriers to cover the finger is inconvenient and does not ensure sterility or cleanliness of disposal after use.

These and various other facts can result in less compliance with product usage regimes and guidelines.

Suppositories are useful for some of these conditions, but not for all of them, since suppositories do not address the need in some conditions to deliver medication to the perianal skin, and their delivery of medication to the anal mucosa cannot be focused.

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