Patent Application
20090179053
This invention relates to carriers for medication, and more particularly to medication carriers worn on the leg, ankle, arm or wrist of an individual, typically a highly allergic individual or a person responsible for the care of an allergic individual such as a child.
A large number of individuals are highly allergic to foods and/or insect stings. Estimates are that about 11 million Americans suffer from food allergies alone, 2 million of which may be considered life-threatening, and many scientists agree the numbers are climbing. By some estimates, the number of peanut allergies doubled between 1997 and 2002 in children under 5. Other significant allergens present in common foods include dairy products, eggs and shellfish.
Epinephrine is generally used to treat an allergic patient. Epinephrine quickly relieves bronchial swelling, constricts blood vessels and acts to relieve swelling, thus allowing the patient to function until further treatment can be obtained.
Epinephrine is generally delivered via an auto-injector, e.g., a device commercially available under the trade name “EpiPen.” The auto-injector has a spring-activated needle that delivers a dose of epinephrine. Generally, the device is housed in an exterior case or shell to protect the pen from accidental discharge and damage.
However, epinephrine must be delivered very quickly after the onset of a reaction. Ensuring that allergy sufferers have the appropriate dosage of epinephrine with them at all times is the key to saving lives. Because exposure to allergic triggers can not be predicted, individuals who are subject to anaphylactic reactions must generally carry epinephrine auto-injectors at all times, or in the case of allergic children, adults supervising such children must carry an auto-injector. Typically, such auto-injectors are carried in totes that may be clipped or looped onto to a user's belt or backpack. Alternate carries include pouches that are also typically carried around the user's waist. However, many users, particularly physically active people and children, do not like carrying totes, either around their waists or clipped onto their belts or backpacks.
Accordingly, there is a great need for an improved medication carrier that may be comfortably carried by a user.
Therefore, in accordance with the present invention a medication carrier to be worn on the leg, ankle, arm or wrist of an individual is provided. Particularly, in its preferred embodiment, the carrier comprises a continuous sleeve of stretchable, breathable and washable material with a vertical, column-like pocket constructed on the exterior portion thereof for carrying one or more auto-injectors. Preferably, the column includes a fastener at the top, such as a snap, button or hook-and-loop fastener, which securely holds the medication, such as an EpiPen auto-injector, in the pocket. The pocket may be divided into separate columns. Alternately, multiple columns may be attached on the sleeve. Preferably, the carrier includes an elastic portion with a sticky material, such as silicon, inlaying the inner lining of the upper band, at the top of the sleeve to further prevent slippage. Accordingly, when worn by the user, the invention provides a comfortable method of carrying medication, such as an auto-injector.
Although the present invention was discussed in terms of certain preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to such embodiments. A person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and combinations of the features set forth above can be utilized without departing from the present invention as set forth in the claims. Thus, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the preceding description but should be ascertained by reference to claims that follow.
