Arrangement for and method of administering a pharmaceutical preparation
AssigneeBaker Cummins Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorCharles Hsiao
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multitude of non-tacky coated pellets containing a pharmaceutical preparation is housed within a breakable packet which, when broken, enables ready removal of the pellets for the oral administration of the preparation to a patient. The packet includes a bendable backing sheet and a fracturable covering member between which the pellets are held in a vacuum-sealed environment prior to use. The coating of the pellets also prevents dissolution of the preparation in the mouth to avoid the sensation of bitter medicinal taste.
Claims21
An arrangement for administering a pharmaceutical preparation, comprising:
- a multitude of pellets containing a pharmaceutical preparation and having non-tacky coatings;
- and
- a breakable packet including a backing sheet having opposite major planar surfaces, and a covering member overlying the backing sheet, and extending outwardly of, and having a flange portion sealed to one of said major surfaces, said covering member bounding with the backing sheet a compartment in which the pellets are contained, said covering member including a hollow main portion having a predetermined half-cylindrical cross-section and extending along a longitudinal direction, a neck portion having a half-frusto-conical cross-section less than said predetermined cross-section and tapered walls which converge toward each other along the longitudinal direction to a waist, and a head portion having a half-spherical cross-section and tapered walls which diverge apart along the longitudinal direction away from the waist, said covering member having its smallest dimension, as considered along a transverse direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, at the waist, said packet having across the waist a frangible zone which, when broken, forms the neck portion as a tapered pouring spout through which the pellets are poured from the compartment.
A method of administering an orally active pharmaceutical preparation to a patient, comprising the steps of:
- (a) breaking open a frangible packet having a backing sheet having opposite major planar surfaces, and a covering member overlying the backing sheet, and extending outwardly of, and having a flange portion sealed to one of said major surfaces, said covering member bounding with the backing sheet a compartment, said compartment housing non-tacky coated pellets containing the preparation, said covering member including a hollow main portion having a predetermined half-cylindrical cross-section and extending along a longitudinal direction, a neck portion having a half-frusto-conical cross section less than said predetermined cross-section and tapered wall which converge toward each other along the longitudinal direction to a waist, and a head portion having a half-spherical cross-section and tapered walls which diverge apart along the longitudinal direction away from the waist, said covering member having its smallest dimension, as considered along a transverse direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, at the waist, said breaking open step being performed by breaking the packet across the waist to form the neck portion as a tapered pouring spout;
- and
- (b) pouring the pellets from the tapered pouring spout into a human or animal patient's mouth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.