Patent Application
20140021276
The field of the invention is dividing a pill by cutting and/or slicing.
The following background discussion includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
Pills and tablets are often a standard form of delivery for many medications and vitamins to users. These pills and tablets can come in different shapes and sizes. For example, pills and tablets could have a round, capsule, oblong, rectangle, or heart shape. Often times, consuming the pill can be problematic due to its size and shape. In addition, it can be difficult to split a pill in half, such as to reduce a dose of a medication.
In an effort to reduce the problems with administering certain pills, various pill cutters are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,243,826 to Darst discusses a pull splitter having a blade guard that retracts when the device is closed. Although the device could include a pill crusher compartment that utilizes a portion of dead space within the device, such compartment is located in a separate portion of the device, adding unnecessary complexity to the device. In addition, the device fails to allow for quick replacement of the blade or crusher.
Another version of a pill splitter is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,118,021 to Fiocchi. The Fiocchi pill splitter is capable of pill splitting and pulverizing. A pill is split by a hinged top with a blade when the cap is moved to a closed position. Although the device can be adapted to be used with a mortar to thereby pulverize a pill, the device also requires a separate compartment for pulverizing the pill and additional equipment, which can be undesirable.
In yet another example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,254 to Engel et al. describes a device that crushes and splits pills. However, like the preceding devices, the Engel device also splits and crushes pills in separate areas of the device.
These and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints, and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.
Thus, there is still a need for simplified devices and methods for crushing and splitting pills in a single area of the device.
The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a pill could be divided by splitting and/or crushing. In contemplated embodiments, a pill splitter and crusher device can be configured to operate on a pill, such as by splitting or crushing the pill. Preferred devices includes a first member rotatably coupled with a second member. The first member can include a pill-receiving cavity and the second member preferably comprises a blade and an anvil. The blade is generally configured to split a pill placed within the pill-receiving cavity.
The anvil is preferably disposed within the device such that the anvil can crush a pill placed within the pill-receiving cavity when desired. In especially preferred embodiments, the anvil can be coupled to the second member, such that the anvil can be repositioned from a crushing first position and a non-crushing second position with respect to the second member. As alluded to above, in the first position, the anvil can be disposed such that it at least partially surrounds or covers the blade, which allows the pill to be crushed using the anvil or a combination of the anvil and blade. In the second position, the anvil is preferably disposed away from the blade, such that a pill placed within the pill-receiving cavity can be split by the blade.
In another aspect of the inventive subject matter, methods are contemplated for preparing medication for consumption by a human or pet, for example, where a pill dividing device is provided. Preferably, the pill dividing device has a first and second member that are rotatably coupled with respect to one another. The first member can include a pill-receiving cavity and the second member can include an anvil and a cutting member such as a blade, which can be used to operate on the pill.
It is contemplated that a user can be instructed to divide the pill by moving the device to a closed position. To allow for the user to choose between splitting and crushing the pill, the anvil can advantageously be configured to reposition from a crushing first position to a non-crushing second position. It is further contemplated that a plurality of pouches could be provided, each having an inside surface area of no more than two in2 (12.9 cm2) that can receive at least one pill. To reduce potential clean-up of the device, by placing the pill within a pouch prior to dividing the pill, a user could be instructed to insert a pouch that contains one or more pills into the pill dividing device to thereby divide the one or more pills.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
The following discussion provides many example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
Generally, a pill splitter and crusher device is disclosed, whereby the pill splitter and crusher device can be used to operate on a pill. In
Preferably, the anvil 111 can be coupled to the second member 107, such that the anvil 111 can be repositioned from a crushing first position, such as that illustrated in
In some contemplated embodiments, the anvil 111 can comprise of a pattern of raised elements on its face. For instance, the anvil's face could be exposed when the anvil 111 is in a crushing first position and covered when the anvil 111 is in the non-crushing second position. Considering the illustrations in
As shown in
The first member 103 and the second member 107 preferably comprise a zinc alloy, but could be composed of anodized aluminum or other metals or metal composites, plastics or other polycarbonates, or any other commercially suitable material(s) or combinations thereof. Although the first and second member 103 and 107 preferably comprise the same shape, it is alternatively contemplated that one or both of the first and second members 103 and 107 could be of different shapes, such as rectangular, circular, and triangular, for example.
In preferred embodiments, the first member 103 can be rotatably coupled to the second member 107. However, it is alternatively contemplated that the first member 103 could be pivotally or slidably coupled to the second member 107. The first and second members could be coupled using male and female hinges, which are preferably made of a metal (e.g., aluminum) or metal composite, although any commercially suitable material could be used. When coupled, the pill splitter and crusher 101 can be opened such as that shown in
The pill-receiving cavity 105 is preferably sized and dimensioned to receive one or more pills, such that the one or more pills can be split, crushed, or otherwise divided when the device 101 is moved to a closed position. To help maintain an orientation and facilitate dividing of the one or more pills within the cavity 105, it is contemplated that the cavity 105 can include a set of protrusions 116 or raised elements. Although the protrusions 116 are shown as a set of parallel raised lines, other patterns of protrusions are contemplated including, for example, a set of intersecting lines or a surface having a higher co-efficient of friction than that of the first member 103. The first member 103 can further include a second set of protrusions 117 that are sized and dimensioned to maintain the one or more pills within the pill-receiving cavity 105. Although the second set of protrusions are shown as including two raised elements, it is contemplated that the set could include a single protrusion or three or more protrusions as needed.
It is further contemplated that the pill-receiving cavity 105 could be lined with a material that is different from that of the first member 103 and/or second member 107. For example, the pill-receiving cavity 105 could comprise an FDA-approved material or some other desired material. Similarly, the anvil 111 and blade 109 could be a part of an inner lining of the first member 107. In such embodiments, the blade 109 and the anvil 111 could be removably and individually coupled to the second member 107 (i.e., the blade and the anvil are replaceable) or the entire inner lining containing the blade 109 and the anvil 111 could be replaced.
In another embodiment, one or both of the pill splitter and crusher 101 can include a magnetic fastener 113 that maintains the pill splitter and crusher 101 while in a closed position. This may be favorable when traveling with the pill splitter and crusher 101. In such embodiment, it is contemplated that the strength of the magnetic fastener 113 should be sufficient enough to maintain the pill splitter and crusher 101 in a closed position, but not strong enough where opening the pill splitter and crusher 101 requires an excessive amount of force. It is contemplated that other closing mechanisms could be used to maintain the pill splitter and crusher 101 in a closed position, such as a fastener or a clicking or locking mechanism.
In further aspects of the inventive subject matter, the first member 103 could comprise of a funnel region 119. Having a funnel region 119 allows a user to funnel out the crushed or split remains of the pill from the pill splitter and crusher 101.
As discussed earlier, the anvil 411 could be used to at partially surround a blade 409 when the anvil is in the crushing position. In such contemplated embodiments, the anvil 411 can advantageously include a slot 415 configured to receive a blade 409 such as shown in
In
In
In
Similar to
In another aspect, a method of preparing medication is illustrated in
It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment in
In another aspect, a method of dividing a pill is shown in
In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities of ingredients, properties such as concentration, reaction conditions, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the invention are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.” Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims.
As used herein, and unless the context dictates otherwise, the term “coupled to” is intended to include both direct coupling (in which two elements that are coupled to each other contact each other) and indirect coupling (in which at least one additional element is located between the two elements). Therefore, the terms “coupled to” and “coupled with” are used synonymously.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
