# US 5,707,353 A · Oral administration of beneficial agents > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,707,353 A - Document ID: US5707353A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/576,728 - Filed: 1995-12-21 - Granted: 1998-01-13 - Earliest claimed: 1995-12-21 - Assignees: Abbott Laboratories - Inventors: Terrence Bruce Mazer; Joseph Edward Walton; Ronita Kay Geckle; Carl Joseph Piontek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5707353A ## CPC - A61J 9/006: {having elongated tubes, e.g. for drinking from bottle in upright position} - A47G 21/183: {with means for changing the flavour of the liquid} - A61J 7/00: Devices for administering medicines orally, e.g. spoons (calibrated capacity measures for fluids or fluent solid material G01F19/00; weighing spoons G01G19/56); Pill counting devices; Arrangements for time indication or reminder for taking medicine - A61J 7/0038: {Straws} - A61J 7/0046: {Cups, bottles or bags} - A61J 9/00: Feeding-bottles in general - A61J: CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE - A47G: HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT (book-ends A47B5/00; knives B26B) ## Abstract Apparatus for adding a beneficial agent to a liquid for drinking during oral administration includes a support structure extending transversely across an imperforate walled zone such as the upper end or neck of a bottle or vessel, or of a funnel-like adapter attached to the top of the vessel, with a retention pocket with liquid penetrable walls held by the support structure and comprising at least one beneficial agent secured therein whereby the beneficial agent is taken up in the liquid for drinking during or just prior to oral administration. The beneficial agent may be in either or both of controlled release dosage form or non-controlled release dosage form and may be one or more of nutrients, medicaments, probiotics, electrolytes, rehydration solutions and diagnostic agents, to which a flavoring agent may be added. In the novel method a support structure with a retention pocket comprising at least one beneficial agent is provided in a bottle or vessel with the support structure extending transversely of the neck or top of the bottle or vessel or a drinking tube extending thereinto. The bottle or vessel is provided with a liquid for drinking selected from a liquid nutritional product, a beverage or water and the liquid is contacted with the beneficial agent during or just before oral administration thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for adding a useful amount of at least one beneficial agent to a liquid, said apparatus comprising: a spout structure, said spout structure constructed to be mounted on a container containing a liquid, said spout structure defining an outlet port, said outlet port being the sole outlet through which a liquid contained in the container can exit the container to which said spout structure is mounted, said spout structure defining a first liquid flow path therethrough; a support structure extending transversely of said first liquid flow path defined by said spout structure, said support structure defining a retention pocket having liquid penetrable walls, said support structure defining a second liquid flow path through said liquid penetrable walls and through said retention pocket, said first and second liquid flow paths in fluid communication with one another; and at least one beneficial agent secured by said retention pocket in fluid communication with said second liquid flow path, said at least one beneficial agent comprising a probiotic; and said at least one beneficial agent being in a form adapted to be taken up in a liquid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the at least one beneficial agent is in the form of a granulated solid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which the at least one beneficial agent is in the form of a dissolvable tablet. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least one beneficial agent is contained in an osmotic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least one beneficial agent is contained in controlled release form in a molecular sieving structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least one beneficial agent further comprise a beneficial agent selected from a group consisting of: nutrients, medicaments, electrolytes, rehydration solutions, diagnostic agents, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which said spout structure comprises a drinking straw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which said at least one beneficial agent further comprises a beneficial agent selected from a group consisting of: glutamine, hydrolysates, amino acids, polyamines, pyruvates, proteins, carbohydrates, oligosaccharides, phytochemicals, soluble fibers, lactoferrin, marine oils, structured lipids, fats, vitamins, minerals, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 in which a flavoring agent is positioned along with the at least one beneficial agent. ### Claim 10 A method of modifying a liquid comprising the steps of: providing a liquid in a vessel from which the liquid is to be administered; providing a spout structure, said spout structure constructed to be mounted on said vessel, said spout structure defining an outlet port, said outlet port being the sole outlet through which said liquid can exit said vessel when said spout structure is mounted on said vessel, said spout structure defining a first liquid flow path therethrough, said spout structure comprising a support structure extending transversely of said first liquid flow path defined by said spout structure, said support structure defining a retention pocket having liquid penetrable walls, said support structure defining a second liquid flow path through said liquid penetrable walls and through said retention pocket, said first and second liquid flow paths in fluid communication with one another, at least one beneficial agent secured in said retention pocket in fluid communication with said second liquid flow path, said at least one beneficial agent comprising a probiotic; placing said spout structure on said vessel such that said outlet port is the sole outlet through which said liquid can exit said vessel; and passing said liquid through said first and second liquid flow paths and through said outlet port. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 in which a flavoring agent is provided in the retention pocket in addition to the at least one beneficial agent. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said spout structure comprises a drinking straw.