U.S. patent application number 11/563901 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for system for facilitating preparation of medication doses.
Invention is credited to Kenneth D. Ferrara.
Application Number | 20070214692 11/563901 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38516254 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070214692 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ferrara; Kenneth D. |
September 20, 2007 |
SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING PREPARATION OF MEDICATION DOSES
Abstract
A system for facilitating preparation of medication doses
comprising a container of for receiving a quantity of medication,
the container having color bands extending circumferentially
therearound to facilitate preparing medication doses, each color
band corresponding to a predetermined dosage of medication.
Inventors: |
Ferrara; Kenneth D.;
(Dallas, TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael A. O'Neil;Michael A. O'Neil, P.C.
Suite 820, 5949 Sherry Lane
Dallas
TX
75225
US
|
Family ID: |
38516254 |
Appl. No.: |
11/563901 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60783111 |
Mar 16, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
40/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 1/1418 20150501;
A61J 1/2096 20130101; A61M 2205/6081 20130101; A61J 7/0053
20130101; G09F 3/00 20130101; G01F 11/027 20130101; A61J 2200/76
20130101; A61J 7/0023 20130101; A61J 7/0046 20130101; A61J 1/2055
20150501; G01F 19/00 20130101; A61J 2205/20 20130101; A61J 1/18
20130101; G01F 19/002 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
40/324 |
International
Class: |
G09F 3/00 20060101
G09F003/00 |
Claims
1. A system for facilitating preparation of medication doses,
comprising: providing a container for receiving a quantity of fluid
medication; the container comprising opposed ends and at least one
sidewall extending between the ends, the two ends and the sidewall
defining a predetermined volume; identifying intervals along the
length of the container each corresponding to a predetermined
volumetric quantity; extending a color band about the sidewall at
each identified interval thereof; each color band comprising a
different predetermined color; each color band corresponding to a
predetermined medication dosage.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority based on provisional patent
application serial number 60/783,111 filed Mar. 16, 2006, the
entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This invention relates to systems for preparing doses of
medication, and more particularly to systems comprising containers
having color bands thereon for facilitating the measurement of
fluid medications.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Many devices and methods for preparing doses of fluid
medications are known in the art. For example, it is common when
preparing and measuring doses of fluid medications for children to
use a syringe to withdraw the fluid from a medicine bottle and then
displace the fluid into a child's mouth. Often an adapter is used
to firmly and securely engage the syringe with the bottle.
[0004] Another device used in the prior art for preparing and
measuring doses of medication for children is a tubular container
having one closed end for measuring doses and a spoon at the other
end for facilitating the displacement of the dose into the child's
mouth. Other devices for facilitating the preparation of doses of
medication such as measuring cups and medicine droppers are well
known in the art.
[0005] Common to the prior art discussed above are devices
comprised of a substantially translucent materials that allow users
to see the level of the fluid as it is received in the device.
Numeric markings are provided on the translucent material to
indicate levels of volume in units of measurement. When preparing
doses of medication the user of the device compares the level of
fluid in the device to the markings thereon to determine whether
the appropriate amount of fluid has been received within the
device. Oftentimes the numeric markings are difficult to read or
the comparison is difficult to make, especially under low light
conditions, or if the medication does not comprise a distinctive
color, or if the user of the device has poor eyesight.
[0006] The present invention addresses the problem of accurately
reading markings on devices used in preparing doses of medication.
In accordance with its broader aspects, the invention comprises the
application of color bands extending circumferentially around
medication receiving containers, wherein each band comprises a
different color corresponding to a particular unit of measurement.
Once the user learns the correlation between the colors and the
units of measurement they represent the color bands allow the user
to much more easily and accurately prepare doses of medication
comprising specified amounts. The invention includes the use of a
key that illustrates the correspondence between predetermined
colors and corresponding units of measurement.
[0007] The widths of the color bands are uniform for a given
device, but can be uniformly thin or wide. The purpose of the color
bands is to allow the user to more easily compare the amount of
medication received within the container to the color representing
a specified amount.
[0008] Another embodiment of the invention comprises the
application of markings on a container which indicates the amount
of medication appropriate for a human being of a given weight. In
addition, there is provided a key that correlates amounts of
medication to weights of human beings. For example, the key may
show that a human being of 50 pounds requires 2 milliliters of a
particular medication. The use of weight related markings assists
the user in measuring doses of medication because they are easier
to read and understand than volumetric units.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A more complete understanding of the present invention may
be had by reference to the following Detailed Description when
taken in connection with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment
of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1
illustrating the system in use;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a second
embodiment of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a third embodiment
of the invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fourth
embodiment of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating a fifth embodiment of the
invention;
[0016] FIGS. 7A through 7F, inclusive, comprise side views
illustrating a sixth embodiment of the invention; and
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a seventh
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1,
there is shown a perspective view of a system 10 for facilitating
preparation of medication doses comprising a first embodiment of
the invention. In particular, there is shown a syringe 12
comprising a substantially tubular container 14 for receiving a
fluid medication through a nozzle 16 and a plunger 18 for drawing
the fluid medication into the container 14. A plurality of color
bands 20 extend circumferentially around the container 14. The
color bands 20 enable the user of the syringe 12 in determining the
amount of fluid that has been drawn into the container 14.
[0019] Also shown in FIG. 1 is a bottle 22 from which the fluid
medication is drawn and an adapter 24 that is used to securely
engage the syringe 12 with the bottle 22. FIG. 2 illustrates this
engagement. A key 26 may be provided for correlating the colors 28
comprising the color bands 20 with particular volumetric
measurements 30.
[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention
wherein the substantially tubular container 14 comprising the
syringe 12 is used to receive a fluid medication. In this
embodiment color bands are not used. Instead, marked along the
substantially tubular container 14 are designations of weight 32 in
appropriate units of measurement. The designations of weight 32
correspond to an amount of medication that is appropriate for a
human being of a given weight. For example, it may be appropriate
for a human being that weighs 35 pounds to have a dose of
medication equal to two milliliters.
[0021] A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.
4. An otherwise conventional fluid medication delivery cup 34 is
provided with a plurality of color bands 36. Each of the color
bands 36 comprises a different color, and each of the color bands
36 represents a different unit of volumetric measurement. The cup
34 may be provided with a key which correlates each specific color
comprising the color bands 36 to a specific unit of volumetric
measurement.
[0022] A medication delivery device 38 comprising a fourth
embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 5. The
medication delivery device 38 comprises a tubular medication
receiving container 40 having a plurality of color bands 42 applied
thereto. Each of the color bands 42 comprises a different color,
and each of the color bands 42 correlates to a different unit of
volumetric measurement. The end of the device 38 remote from the
color bands 42 comprises a spoon 44.
[0023] In the use of the medication delivery device 38 a fluid
medication is introduced into the tubular container 40 until the
level thereof aligns with a selected color band 42 thereby
indicating that the required amount of fluid medication has been
received in the tubular container 40. Thereafter the medication
delivery device is pivoted out of the vertical orientation
illustrated in FIG. 5 and into a substantially horizontal
orientation whereby the medication from the tubular container 40
flows into the spoon 44. The spoon 44 is then utilized to deliver
the fluid medication into the mouth of a patient.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown a measuring cup 50
comprising a fifth embodiment of the invention. The measuring cup
50 is provided with three major color bands 52 each denominating a
major unit of volumetric measurement such as 1 cup, 250
milliliters, etc. The measuring cup 50 is further provided with a
plurality of minor color bands 54 each denominating a fractional
component of the volumetric measurement indicated by the major
color bands 52. For example, the minor color bands 54 may be used
to indicate 1/4, 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, and 3/4 cup measurements. The minor
bands 54 may likewise be used to denominate appropriate
subdivisions of major volumetric units expressed in metric terms.
The use of measuring cups incorporating the fourth embodiment of
the invention greatly simplifies accurate volumetric measurement of
fluid medications and other fluids in that it eliminates the need
for reading and comprehending numeric symbols.
[0025] A set of measuring cups 60 comprising a sixth embodiment of
the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7F, inclusive. In
accordance with the invention each of the measuring cups comprising
the set 60 thereof is denominated by a different color. For
example, the measuring cups comprising the set 60 may be
manufactured from a selected plastic material having the various
colors defining the set of measuring cups 60 infused therein such
that each measuring cup is comprised entirely of a plastic material
characterized by a selected color. Alternatively, the measuring
cups comprising the set 60 may be differentiated one from another
by the colorization of a particular component thereof, for example,
the handle. The measuring cups comprising the set 60 may also be
differentiated one from another by providing a color band similar
to the color bands illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 hereof and described
hereinabove in conjunction therewith which extends around a
predetermined component of the measuring cup.
[0026] A feature of the invention comprises the fact that the
colors utilized to differentiate the measuring cups comprising the
set 60 are identical to those utilized to differentiate the various
volumetric measurements comprising the measuring cup 50 shown in
FIG. 6 and described hereinabove in conjunction therewith. Thus,
the coloration of the measuring cup shown in FIG. 7A corresponds to
the coloring of the lowermost major color band 52 of the measuring
cup 50. The coloration of the measuring cup shown in FIG. 7B
corresponds to the coloration of the minor color band 54 situated
directly beneath the lowermost major color band 52 of the measuring
cup 50, etc. The coordination of the coloring scheme of the
measuring cups comprising the set 60 with the coloring scheme
comprising the measuring cup 50 facilitates accurate measurement of
fluid materials whether for the dispensing of medications or
otherwise.
[0027] FIG. 8 depicts a seventh embodiment of the invention. An
otherwise conventional medicine bottle 62 is provided with a dose
indicator 64 comprising a predetermined color. The amount of the
prescribed dose corresponding to the predetermined color of the
dose indicator 64 may be indicated thereon as shown.
[0028] The seventh embodiment of the invention further comprises a
medication dispensing spoon 66. The medication dispensing spoon 66
is characterized by the same predetermined color comprising the
dosage indicator 64 of the medicine bottle 62. Thus, the proper
medication dispensing spoon for use in dispensing the medicine
contained in the medication bottle 62 is easily recognized and
selected by simply coordinating the color of the dose indicator 64
with the color of the medication dispensing spoon 66.
[0029] Although all of the containers shown in the drawings are
circular in cross-section the present invention is not limited to
any particular container shape. Containers utilized in the practice
of the invention can be oval or elliptical in cross-section.
Likewise, containers utilized in the practice of the invention can
having cross-sections that are triangular, rectangular, or comprise
any number of side walls depending upon the requirements of
particular applications of the invention. Containers utilized in
the practice of the invention can also have cross-sectional
configurations which are irregular in shape in that they combine
one or more linear portions with one or more curvilinear
portions.
[0030] Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings and described in the
foregoing Detailed Description, it will be understood that the
invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is
capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and
substitutions of parts and elements without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
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