Dispensing package for unit dosage

A method of packaging a unit dosage for administration into a body cavity, comprising the steps of

• encapsulating the unit dosage in the center of a packet comprising a pair of confronting leaves of frangible material,
• positioning the dosage between the leaves at the center part of the packet and sealing the leaves around the periphery of the packet, to form a sealed packet which seals the unit dosage from exposure to conditions which might cause degradation of the dosage, and anchoring said packet on an annular ring having a central opening larger in size than the cross section of said dosage, with the dosage in registry with the opening,
• providing an elongated tubular injector having a head end and a tail end with a longitudinal bore extending between said ends with a cross section not substantially larger than as said central opening, and a plunger mounted for longitudinal displacement within said bore,
• said plunger having a nose portion having a cross section corresponding to the cross section of the bore, and with a beveled edge at one side of the plunger, and operable to slide within said bore and said opening,
• said plunger having an operator projecting out of said bore, and
• mounting said packet in said injector adjacent the head end remote from said tail end, and registering the dosage in the packet and said central opening in alignment with said bore,
• whereby upon positioning the head end of the injector in the body cavity receiving the dosage, the unit dosage may be dispensed by using the operator to displace the nose of the plunger through said packet and through the opening of said annular ring, and whereby further said beveled edge at one side of the plunger first penetrates the frangible material at said one side to provide a dispensing opening in the packet for the unit dosage and then the nose expresses the unit dosage out from between the leaves of the packet and through the opening of said ring and then through the head end of the injector into the body cavity receiving the dosage.

A unit dosage adapted to be administered by placement into a body cavity, comprising

• a packet comprising a pair of confronting leaves of frangible material, a unit dosage positioned between the leaves at the center part of the packet and means sealing the leaves together around the periphery of the packet, to form a packet which seals the unit dosage from exposure to conditions which might cause degradation of the dosage,
• an elongated tubular injector having a head end and a tail end with a longitudinal bore extending between said ends,
• a plunger mounted for longitudinal displacement within said bore, said plunger having a nose portion with a beveled edge at one side of the plunger and having across section operable to slide within said bore, and a tail portion projecting out of said bore, said beveled edge having a contour extending along the periphery of the nose cross section, and
• an annular ring mounting said packet in said injector adjacent the head end with the dosage in alignment with said bore and supporting said packet in said injector, said annular ring having a central opening corresponding in size with the cross section of said nose and having a contour conforming to the contour of said beveled edge,
• the bore at the head end of the injector being open to permit communication of the bore of the injector with the cavity receiving the dosage,
• whereby upon displacing the nose of the plunger through said packet and through the opening of said annular ring, said beveled edge at one side of the plunger first penetrates the frangible material at said one side to provide a dispensing opening in the packet for the unit dosage and the nose then expresses the unit dosage out from between the leaves of the packet and through the opening of said ring and then through the head end of the injector into the body cavity receiving the dosage.