Dispensing cup

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved dispensing cup for use with medications, which allows patients to self-administer oral medications (tablets or capsules) without requiring direct (skin) contact with the medication during use. [Solution] The dispensing cup 1 comprises a. a cup body 2, b. an opening 3 for dispensing one or more tablets to a patient, and c. a tablet container 4, wherein the cup body 2 is configured to collect the one or more tablets from the tablet container 4 before dispensing to the patient, so that the removal of the one or more tablets from the tablet container 4 does not require the patient to come into direct contact with the one or more tablets during dispensing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a dispensing cup. The dispensing cup is capable of dispensing a medicament from a medicament container into the cup for dispensing to a patient without the patient having to handle or touch the medicament when orally ingesting it.

Background Art

[0002] Certain products can be potentially harmful to humans due to skin exposure to substances in such products. These substances may be cytotoxic, and humans should avoid contact or other forms of handling of such substances that result in human skin exposure to such substances. Medicaments and pharmaceuticals are designed to provide treatment to patients in the form of treating symptoms, diseases, or disorders. Such pharmaceuticals are tested for safety and efficacy before being approved as medicaments / drugs available to patients. Often, the potential risks of pharmaceuticals are considered in comparison to their potential benefits. As such, certain medicaments / drugs may be approved for the treatment of a particular disorder while at the same time potentially including some safety risk.

[0003] Thus, some medicaments / drugs may be cytotoxic, and patients attempt to minimize skin exposure by touching during oral ingestion (administration) of such medicaments / drugs. Exposure to human skin can be reduced by using (surgical) gloves during handling, and the presence of residues on surfaces potentially touched by such pharmaceuticals can be prevented by covering such surfaces before opening packages containing such pharmaceuticals. Thus, patients may choose to wear safety equipment, such as gloves, cover the work space for opening packages with disposable materials, or do both. These options are cumbersome for patients and increase resistance to following treatment regimens with medicaments / drugs from which patients should benefit.

[0004] What is particularly needed for drug / medicine tablets and capsules is to present drugs / medicines that offer a way to easily handle them while allowing patients to avoid direct contact with one of these drugs / medicines. Currently, patients have to rely on such cumbersome procedures. Therefore, there is a need to provide devices and / or methods that are easy to use and allow patients to dispense and take (administer) drugs / medicines without needing direct contact with the drugs / medicines in tablet or capsule form.

[0005] Furthermore, given the potential risks posed by such drugs, it is often important that children do not have easy access to them. Regulatory authorities, sensitive to these concerns, frequently demand the availability of child-resistant drugs.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need to provide devices and / or methods that are easy to use and allow patients to access medications / drugs without the need for direct contact. Such devices also need to be child-resistant to prevent easy access to such medications / drugs by children. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a solution to the above problem by providing a device that allows patients to easily access any medicine / drug in a tablet or capsule container without requiring them to directly contact the tablets or capsules. The device is a dispensing cup comprising a cup body from which tablets or capsules can be collected from a medicine / drug container (e.g., a tablet or capsule container). Once collected in the cup body, the medicine / drug (tablet or capsule) can be taken orally (administered) through the opening of the dispensing cup. Such a dispensing cup of the present invention allows patients to handle medicines without requiring them to directly contact the medicines. The dispensing cup may have child-resistant features to prevent easy access to medicines by children.

[0008] In one embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing cup comprising a cup body, an opening for dispensing one or more tablets to a patient, and a tablet container or capsule container, wherein the cup body is configured to collect the one or more tablets or capsules from the tablet container or capsule container before dispensing to the patient, thereby providing a dispensing cup in which the removal of the one or more tablets from the tablet container does not require the patient to come into direct contact with the one or more tablets during dispensing.

[0009] In another embodiment, the present invention provides a dispensing cup comprising a cup body, an opening for dispensing one or more tablets to a patient, and a tablet container or capsule container, wherein the cup body is configured to collect the one or more tablets or capsules from the tablet container or capsule container before dispensing to the patient, thereby providing a dispensing cup in which the removal of the one or more tablets from the tablet container does not require the patient to come into direct contact with the one or more tablets during dispensing, and the dispensing cup further provides child-resistant fastening means.

[0010] In yet another embodiment, a method is provided for administering tablets or capsules to a patient without direct contact with the tablets or capsules by using the dispensing cup of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the dispensing cup of the present invention. The dispensing cup is useful for use with a tablet container or capsule container. As shown in Figure 1A, the dispensing cup consists of a cup body, a tablet container or capsule container, and an opening for dispensing tablets or capsules to a patient. Figure 1B shows further details of the dispensing cup. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows a dispensing cup of the present invention that includes a child-resistant feature in the form of a crushable tab. Figures 2A and 2B show two other embodiments of such a dispensing cup having a crushable tab as a child-resistant feature. Figure 2C includes another embodiment in which the child-resistant fastening means includes an additional tab that engages with the rim of the opposing portion of the dispensing cup. Figure 2D shows yet another embodiment in which the opening is covered with a peelable label. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the dispensing cup of the present invention, which includes a cup body, a tablet or capsule container, and a child-resistant function that takes the form of a sliding sleeve covering the opening. [Figure 4]Figure 4 shows a dispensing cup of the present invention that includes an additional sliding sleeve as a child-resistant feature for the dispensing cup. In this alternative embodiment, the sliding sleeve is located between the open cup and the cup lid containing a tablet or capsule container, and in the closed position prevents tablets or capsules from being removed from the container into the open cup. Figure 4A shows the position of the child-restraining means within the dispensing cup, while Figure 4B shows the progression from the closed position (preventing the dispensing of tablets or capsules) to the open position (allowing the dispensing of tablets or capsules) and back to the closed position (allowing dispensing from the open cup to the patient). Figure 4C shows an additional feature of the sliding sleeve embodiment, which includes a tab that secures the sliding sleeve when in the closed position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Certain medications recommend careful handling by the patient when administering or self-administering them, which can increase patient anxiety. Such patients may employ complex methods of removing the medication from its packaging and administering it (oral) while being careful not to touch it. This increased patient anxiety can lead to decreased adherence. However, some medications require special care because they may be cytotoxic and exposure to human skin should be minimized. This invention provides a solution that is easy to use and allows patients to avoid direct skin contact with the medication during administration or self-administration. A dispensing cup, as in this invention, allows patients to avoid direct skin contact with the medication during administration or self-administration. The dispensing cup is easy to use. As a result, the patient's experience while taking the medication is improved, and at the same time, adherence to the treatment plan with such medication can be increased.

[0013] The dispensing cup of the present invention, shown in Figure 1, is easy to use and allows for the dispensing of medication to a patient through the opening (3) of the dispensing cup (1) without the patient having direct contact (skin contact) with the medication / drug. Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention. The dispensing cup (1) is shown, comprising a cup body (2), an opening (3) for dispensing one or more tablets or capsules to a patient, and a tablet or capsule container (4). The cup body (2) is configured to collect the one or more tablets or capsules from the tablet or capsule container (4) before dispensing such medication to a patient. The removal of the one or more tablets or capsules from the tablet or capsule container (4) does not require the patient to have direct contact with the one or more tablets or capsules during dispensing to a patient (and administration or self-administration).

[0014] In the dispensing cup (1) shown in Figure 1, or in another embodiment described in the present invention, the cup body (2) may include an open cup (5) and a cup lid (6), as shown in Figure 1B. In a particular embodiment, the cup lid (6) is configured to receive a tablet container or capsule container (4). Such a configuration allows the dispensing cup (1) of the present invention to receive tablets or capsules pre-packaged in a tablet container (4) or capsule container (4) inside the cup body (2). One or more such pre-packaged tablets or capsules may take the form of any packaging configuration that is compatible with the cup lid (6). An example of one or more such pre-packaged tablets or capsules is a blister pack. Such a blister pack, as a tablet container or capsule container (4) for the one or more tablets or capsules, is received inside the cup lid (6) of the cup body (2). The cup lid (6) receives the tablet or capsule container (4) and, when closed, at least partially covers the open cup (5) of the cup body (2). In this configuration, the closed cup lid (6) leaves the opening (3) for dispensing the one or more tablets or capsules open. Alternatively, the cup lid (6) further includes an opening that, when closed over the open cup (5), leaves the opening (3) for dispensing the one or more tablets or capsules. Using the cup lid (6) to receive pre-packaged tablets or capsules in the tablet or capsule container (4) can significantly simplify the manufacture of the dispensing cup device, since the manufacture of the dispensing cup (1) does not require direct handling of the tablets or capsules.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in Figure 1B, the dispensing cup (1) of the present invention further includes a cover (7). As shown in Figure 1B, the cover (7) encloses the entire upper portion of the cup body (2), thereby covering the cup lid (6), the tablet or capsule container (4), and the opening (3). In this manner, the cover (7) protects one or more tablets or capsules in the tablet or capsule container (4) and covers the opening (3) of the dispensing cup (1). The internal space of the cup body (2) / open cup (5) is also protected from exposure, thereby reducing the accumulation of unwanted substances. Furthermore, the cover (7) prevents children from accessing the tablets or capsules, providing one alternative way to ensure that the dispensing cup (1) includes a child-resistant feature in this manner. Another method of child-resistant feature, without the cover (7), is also discussed below.

[0016] The dispensing cup (1) may be manufactured for single-dose administration of a treatment plan and may include a tablet or capsule container. As such, the dispensing cup (1) of the present invention may incorporate blister packaging of tablets or capsules into a pre-packaging solution for the patient. Such a pre-packaging solution may include one or more doses based on a treatment plan. The dispensing cup of the present invention may be designed for single use or for multiple use (via recycling of the dispensing cup) to receive another pre-packaged tablet or capsule container.

[0017] To reduce packaging waste as a result of the solutions provided by the present invention, one, two or more, or all parts of the dispensing cup (1) of the present invention can be produced from disposable materials. Optionally, such disposable materials are biodegradable materials.

[0018] The distribution cup (1) of the present invention optionally includes connectivity means. Such connectivity means enable interaction with external solutions or communication with external or remote devices. An example of such connectivity means includes the presence of a QR code or similar scannable code (e.g., a barcode) on the distribution cup (1). Such a code enables information to be retrieved from a remote device onto the patient's smart device or available device. Another example includes an RF tag or other wireless element to be present on the distribution cup of the present invention for connection with an external device. Yet another example includes a loyalty card or code to be used by the patient to access information on a remote device.

[0019] In consideration of the potential harm of tablets or capsules to children, in another embodiment, the dispensing cup (1) of the present invention further includes child-resistant restraints. Such child-resistant restraints prevent easy access by children to one or more tablets or capsules. The child-resistant restraints may be part of the cover (7), or in another embodiment, include means for preventing the removal of one or more tablets or capsules from the tablet or capsule container (4) in one form.

[0020] In one such embodiment of the child-resistant securing means for the dispensing cup (1) shown in Figure 2, the child-resistant securing means includes one or more tabs (10) and one or more slits (11) on opposing portions of the dispensing cup, the opposing portions being the open cup (5) (as part of the cup body) and the cover (7) (see Figures 2A and 2B). The one or more tabs (10) engage with the one or more slits (11) on the corresponding opposing portions of the dispensing cup. In the closed or secured position, the tabs (10) are engaged with the slits (11), and an operation is required to release the tabs (10) from the slits (11). In cases where the child-resistant securing means includes two or more such tabs and corresponding slits (11), simultaneous operation is required to release the tabs (10) from the slits (11) in order to open the dispensing cup of the present invention.

[0021] In one embodiment, the child-resistant securing means includes tabs (10) and corresponding slits (11) on opposing portions of the dispensing cup (1), as shown in Figure 2A, one or more tabs (10) are located on the open cup (5) (of the cup body), and the corresponding slits (11) are located on the cover (7). Alternatively, as shown in Figure 2B, one or more tabs (10) are located on the cover (7), and the corresponding slits (11) are located on the open cup (5) (of the cup body). Another embodiment is also possible, which is a combination of the two other embodiments described above. Here, some, but not all, of the one or more tabs (10) are located on the open cup (5) or cup body (2), and the remaining one or more tabs (10) are located on the cover (7), and the corresponding slits (11) are located on opposing portions, on the open cup (5) or cup body (2) or cover (7) of the dispensing cup (1). Alternatively, the one or more tabs (10) engage with the rim (13) of the opposing portion of the dispensing cup (1) rather than with the slit (11) of the opposing portion. For example, in any of the embodiments described herein, as shown in Figure 2C, the child-resistant securing means includes one or more additional tabs (12) to the cup body (2) (or open cup (5)) or cover (7), and the additional tabs engage with the rim (13) of the opposing portion (i.e., the opposing cover (7) or cup body (2) (or open cup (5))). As described above, one or more such tabs (12) that engage with the rim (13) of the opposing portion of the dispensing cup may be the only securing means of the cover (7) to the cup body (2).

[0022] Furthermore, the child-resistant fixing means in another embodiment may include a removable film (14) (peelable label). This film covers the opening (3) of the dispensing cup (1) as shown in FIG. 2D. Such a removable film (14) as the child-resistant fixing means also serves to protect the interior of the cup body (2) from unwanted substances. The removable film (14) may be the only child-resistant fixing means, or may be in combination with any other child-resistant fixing means as described herein.

[0023] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment for child-resistant fixing means, including a sliding sleeve (20). The sliding sleeve (20) covers the entire dispensing cup (1) or only a portion thereof. The sliding sleeve (20) further includes one or more openings (21). These openings engage with one or more tabs (22) of the cup body (2) when in the fixed position. Release of the sliding sleeve (20) requires operating the one or more tabs simultaneously or sequentially.

[0024] In another embodiment, the child-resistant securing means is located between the cup lid (6) and the open cup (5), as shown in Figure 4. In such an embodiment, a sliding sleeve (30) is located between the cup lid (6) and the open cup (5), as shown in Figure 4A, and the sliding sleeve, in the closed configuration, at least partially covers any opening of the tablet or capsule container (4). The sliding sleeve (30) further includes one or more openings (31), which, in the closed configuration, do not align with any opening of the tablet or capsule container (4). In the open configuration, the one or more openings (31) align with any opening of the tablet container (4), and when positioned in this manner, the opening of the tablet or capsule container (4) can release one or more tablets or capsules from the tablet or capsule container (4) into the open cup (5). In one embodiment, the sliding sleeve (30) when misaligned (i.e., in the closed position) merely covers any opening of the tablet or capsule container (4). In another embodiment, the sliding sleeve (30) includes an opening (32) for the opening (3) of the dispensing cup. An example of the opening (32) is shown in Figure 4B. At one position of the sliding sleeve (30), its opening (32) misaligns with and covers the opening (3) of the dispensing cup of the present invention, thereby preventing any (child) access to any tablets or capsules in the open cup (5) of the cup body of the dispensing cup.

[0025] Figure 4B shows the positional relationship in which the sliding sleeve (30) (under the cup lid (6)) moves to a closed position or an open position for discharging one or more tablets or capsules into the opened cup or discharging them from the opened cup to the patient through various different forms. In form (a), the one or more openings (31) of the sliding sleeve (30) are not aligned with any of the openings of the tablet container or capsule container (4). In such a position, it is not possible to discharge the one or more tablets or capsules from the tablet container (4) into the opened cup. In this form (a), the opening (32) (if present) of the sliding sleeve (30) can be aligned with the opening (3). This is because it is not possible to discharge the tablets or capsules into the opened cup. As a result of sliding the sliding sleeve (30) to reach form (b), the opening (31) of the sliding sleeve (30) is aligned with any of the openings of the tablet container or capsule container (4). In such a form, the one or more tablets or capsules can be discharged from the tablet container into the opened cup. The sliding sleeve (30) can cover (or partially cover) the opening (3) and prevent access to one or more tablets or capsules in the opened cup. In form (c), the sliding sleeve (30) slides again and is returned to a position where the one or more openings (31) of the sliding sleeve (30) are not aligned with any of the openings of the tablet container (4). However, the opening (3) is open in this form. This is because the opening (32) is aligned with the opening (3), or the sliding sleeve (30) does not cover or block the opening (3) in this position. And the patient can access the one or more tablets or capsules for administration or self-administration of the drug.

[0026] Similar progression through forms (a) to (c) is shown in Figure 4C. In addition, the sliding sleeve (30) may further include a fixing means (33) for securing the sliding sleeve (30) in the closed form as shown in Figure 4C. The fixing means (33) is optionally one or more buttons or tabs. The buttons or tabs engage with the cup lid (6) of the dispensing cup (1). Figure 4C shows one such example in which the sliding sleeve (30) includes a button that engages with the cup lid (6). When the button (33) is pushed down in the direction (Z) (as shown in Figures 4C(a) and (b)), the sliding sleeve (30) is released from its locked, misaligned position. The patient can then slide the sliding sleeve (30) into the aligned position. In this position, all openings of the sliding sleeve (30) align with the corresponding openings of the tablet or capsule container (4) and / or the openings (3) of the dispensing cup (as shown in Figures 4C(b) and (c)).

[0027] The dispensing cup of the present invention can be used with any pharmaceutical composition. The dispensing cup of the present invention is particularly useful for tablet or capsule dosage forms containing pharmaceutical active ingredients that are potentially harmful and / or cytotoxic to patients upon direct contact with human skin. An example of such pharmaceutical active ingredients is cladribine.

[0028] The present invention further provides a method for administering or self-administering tablets or capsules to a patient without direct contact with the tablets or capsules, using the dispensing cup described herein. Such a method is particularly useful when the tablets or capsules to be administered or self-administered are potentially harmful and / or cytotoxic to direct contact with human skin, for example, in the case of tablets or capsules containing cladribine as the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Claims

1. A dispensing cup (1), a. Cup body (2) and b. An opening (3) for dispensing one or more tablets to the patient, c. Tablet container (4) and Includes, The cup body (2) is configured to collect one or more tablets from the tablet container (4) before dispensing to the patient, so that the removal of one or more tablets from the tablet container (4) does not require the patient to come into direct contact with the one or more tablets during dispensing. Dispensing cup (1).

2. The dispensing cup according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing cup (1) is disposable.

3. The dispensing cup according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tablet container (4) is a blister container for one or more tablets.

4. The dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cup body (2) includes an open cup (5) and a cup lid (6), and the cup lid (6) is configured to receive the tablet container (4).

5. The dispensing cup according to claim 4, wherein when the cup lid (6) is closed, it partially covers the open cup (5) and leaves the opening (3) open to dispense one or more tablets.

6. A dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a cover (7).

7. A dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a child-resistant restraining means is provided to prevent easy access to the aforementioned tablets.

8. The dispensing cup according to claim 7, wherein the child-resistant securing means includes one or more tabs (10) and one or more slits (11) on opposing portions of the dispensing cup, the opposing portions being the cup body (2) or an open cup (5) and the cover (7), and the one or more tabs (10) engage with the one or more slits (11) on the corresponding opposing portions of the dispensing cup.

9. The dispensing cup according to claim 8, wherein the child-resistant securing means includes an additional tab (12) on one opposing portion of the dispensing device, the tab (12) engaging with a rim (13) on the opposing portion of the dispensing cup.

10. The dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the opening (3) is covered with a removable film (14).

11. The dispensing cup according to claim 7, wherein the child-resistant securing means includes a sliding sleeve (20), the sliding sleeve covers one or more of the cup body (2), the opening (3), and the tablet container (3), and further includes one or more tabs (21) on the cup body (2).

12. A dispensing cup according to claim 7, wherein a child-resistant securing means is located between the cup lid (6) and the cup body (2), and the child-resistant securing means includes a sliding sleeve (30), the sliding sleeve (30) in a closed position at least partially covering any opening of the tablet container (4), and the sliding sleeve (30) further includes one or more openings (31), the openings (31) in a closed position not aligned with any opening of the tablet container (4), and in an open position aligned with the opening of the tablet container (4), the openings of the tablet container releasing one or more tablets from the tablet container into the cup body (2) or an open cup (5).

13. The dispensing cup according to claim 12, wherein the sliding sleeve (30) covers the opening (3) in a closed state.

14. The dispensing cup according to claim 12 or 13, further comprising fixing means (33) for fixing the sliding sleeve (30) in a closed position.

15. The dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein one or more of the cup body (2), the tablet container (4), the cup lid (6), and the cover (7) are made of a biodegradable material.

16. A dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a means for connectivity.

17. The dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the tablet contains a pharmaceutical active ingredient, and the pharmaceutical active ingredient is potentially harmful to the patient upon direct contact with human skin.

18. The dispensing cup according to claim 17, wherein the active pharmaceutical ingredient is cladribine.

19. A method of administering a tablet to a patient without direct contact with the tablet, using a dispensing cup according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

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