GB2393898A - A disposable medicine cup - Google Patents

Abstract

A disposable medicine cup may be used to measure fluids or medicine and dispensing tablets. The cup may have lines that go around the circumference of the cup allowing the volume of the fluids/medicine to be visually measured and has a capacity of up to 100mls. Preferably the cup is made from a clear disposable plastic. The disposable medicine cup reduces cross infection and allows accurate measurement of drugs.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD: 2393898

This idea relates to a disposible medicine cup. (The Medi-cup).

(For use on wards in hospitals). (Fig 2) BACKGROUND

A medicine tot is a well known plastic tot used in hospital settings i.e. wards. The tot measured upto 60 mls of medicine or liquid and is used for dispensing tablets. Down the side of the tot there are numbers 5 - 10 - 20 and so on upto 60 mls. This allows medicines to be measured in units of 5 mls on wards. (Fig 1) Medicine tots. However are used for several patients contributing to the risk of cross infection between patients. Because of the cost and the fact that they are made of plastic means that they are not disposable.

After each drug round the tots are collected up and washed in the clinic room on the ward.

This task is quite time consuming to nursing staff on the wards. Also space is very limited to dry the the tots.

It has been argued by infection control staff that tots be washed in the kitchen area. However most wards share a kitchen further adding to the risk of cross infection. Also nurses would be taken away from the clinical area upto 4 times a day to wash and dry tots in the kitchen! The tots are difficult to clean particularly if some sticky medicines have been used.

Once the tot has been washed several times the plastic becomes more cloudy making the numbers difficult to see to accuratly measure some medicines. Also after a few times of being washed the tot becomes a little distorted so it could be argued that the tot is not an accurate measuring tot.

If tots are not dried properly then it is a common site to see on wards where tablets begin to dissolve in the tot before being taken by the patient. This could potentially be harmful to the patient as some tablets have a special coating on them so that they are absorbed in different parts of the gut.

Due to the size of the conventional plastic tot (only measuring 60 mls) effervensent tablets can not be put in the tot because once the water is added to the tablet it foams over the tot therefore losing some of the drug. So then a separate glass is used.

Some patients with for example arthritis find the tots difficult to hold due to the size (there isn't a lot to hold onto and get a grip!) Patients that have undergone for example bowel surgery will have their fluid intake strictly monitored post operatively as to prevent complications. Usually the plan of care is: 30 mls per hour for a few days (of H2O) increased upto 60 mls per hour (of H2O) Increased to 90 mls and eventually free fluids.

The conventional tot is OK for measuring 30 mls but the tot is very full when measuring 60 mls. When the patient increased to 90 mls the patient or staffwill guess at i/' cups.

KEY Fig 1. The conventional tot made of plastic Fig 2. The disposable medicine cup.

The medi-cup.

The cup to be made out of a clear disposable material.

The medicine cup will hold a capacity upto lOOmls of liquid.

(a) The lines will go all around the cup for easier more visual measuring of drugs

Claims (1)

1. CLAIMS:

   I To reduce the risk of cross infection between patients in hospital 2 To allow more accurate measurement of drugs 3 To save nursing time 4 To have capacity upto 100 nils so that effervescent tablets can be dissolved in it. Thus allowing accurate amount of water being added to the tablet and it not foaming over the sides 5 Suitable for all patients to handle.