GB2484074A

GB2484074A - A device for dispensing a pill followed by a liquid

Info

Publication number: GB2484074A
Application number: GB1016234.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Chamberlain
Original assignee: PET TECHNOLOGY STORE Ltd
Current assignee: Pet Technology Store Ltd
Priority date: 2010-09-28
Filing date: 2010-09-28
Publication date: 2012-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-28
Also published as: GB201016234D0; GB2484074B

Abstract

A device 100 for dispensing a pill to a pet or animal that promotes swallowing of the pill comprises a channel 140 with a first opening 142 and a second opening 144 and a pair of opposing jaws 110 arranged to retain a pill 200, the jaws extending either side of the first opening of the channel 142. A connecting means 120 provides a seal with the nozzle of a syringe 310 so that the second opening of the channel 144 is in fluid communication with an opening in the nozzle 310. A plunger 150 is slidable within the channel 140 between a non-dispensing configuration in which the plunger prevents fluid communication between the first and second openings of the channel 142,144, and a dispensing configuration in which the plunger 150 projects from the first opening of the channel 142 and a passage 152 provides fluid communication between the first and second openings of the channel 142,144. The plunger 150 and the channel 140 may each have shoulders 146, 158 that abut in the dispensing position to retain the plunger 150 in the channel 140.

Description

Improvements in Pill Dispensers for Pets

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to pill dispensers for pets, more particularly to pill dispensers which promote swallowing of the dispensed pill by the pet.

Background of the Invention

Many pets are reluctant to swallow medication in pill form. Owners routinely add pills to a pet's favourite food to try to encourage the pet to take the pill, but pets are often able to detect the presence of the pill and refuse to swallow it.

It is also known to place the pill in the pet's mouth and massage the throat to encourage the pet to swallow. However, this is often ineffective in pets, such as cats, which produce little saliva, as pills can become lodged in the oesophagus. Some drugs delivered in this way are locally irritant and if they become lodged in the oesophagus too long they can cause local inflammation, ultimately resulting in scarring and stricture of the oesophagus.

This can result in regurgitation when trying to swallow food.

Prior Art

US Patent 6,960,183 discloses a veterinary pill/capsule delivery device comprising a dispensing head attached to the end of a syringe. The syringe includes a push-rod that protrudes into the dispensing head for ejecting the pill/capsule therefrom, plus water release holes near the dispensing head for simultaneously jetting water into the animal's mouth.

US Patent 5,681,279 discloses a pill dispensing syringe comprising a pill dispensing sleeve fixedly attached to a syringe. The pill dispensing sleeve is adapted for holding a pill, and has a cylindrical water injection tube slidably mounted within a bore, the end of the cylindrical water injection tube being fixedly attached to a water injection cylinder having a piston slidably mounted therein.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pill dispensing device having: a channel having a first opening and a second opening; a pair of opposing jaws arranged to retain a pill, the jaws extending either side of the first opening of the channel; connecting means capable of providing a sealing connection with the nozzle of a syringe so that the second opening of the channel is in fluid communication with an opening in the nozzle; and a plunger slidable within the channel, the plunger having a passage extending therethrough and being slidable within the channel between a non-dispensing configuration in which the plunger prevents fluid communication between the first and second openings of the channel, and a dispensing configuration in which the plunger projects from the first opening of the channel and the passage provides fluid communication between the first and second openings of the channel.

In this way, a pharmaceutical pill (i.e. solid-form medicarnent, tablet, capsule, caplet or similar) can be delivered to a pet, followed immediately by a stream of water in order to encourage the pet to swallow. A tasty liquid may be used instead of water to further encourage swallowing. The device of the present invention, unlike known prior art arrangements, can be retro-fitted to standard syringes, thus making the device both flexible and low cost.

Typically, the device will be a consumable (i.e. disposable) item intended to be either single use or used for a limited number of times to cover a course of treatment such as a course of antibiotics. After its intended number of uses the device should be discarded.

The jaws may be adapted to hold a particular shape and size of pill. Thus, the jaws may be differently shaped depending on the type of pill to be dispensed.

Preferably, the device includes a recess extending from a side wall of the channel, the recess providing fluid communication between the passage and the first and second openings of the channel in the dispensing configuration.

The recess may be a localised region of enlarged diameter or width of the channel such as a groove extending into the side wall of the channel, or similar.

The passage preferably has a side wall opening at a side wall of the plunger, whereby the second opening is in fluid communication with the recess in the dispensing configuration and abuts the side wall of the plunger in the non-dispensing configuration. In this way, simple linear movement of the plunger within the channel can achieve movement between the non-dispensing and dispensing configurations. In preferred embodiments the passage has a pill-facing opening at a pill-facing face of the plunger.

The channel may have a shoulder between its first and second openings and the plunger may have a shoulder between its first and second ends, the shoulder of the plunger abutting the shoulder of the channel in the dispensing configuration. The shoulders may be localised regions of reduced or increased diameter or width, or may be steps at a change of diameter or width. The effect of abutting of the shoulders is to ensure retention of the plunger within the channel so that the plunger cannot be ejected and accidentally swallowed by the pet, and so that the device can be reused.

The connecting means preferably comprises a female luer-lock connector.

Thus, accidental ejection of the device from the syringe during use can be avoided.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a pill dispensing kit, including a pill dispensing device according to the first aspect, and a plurality of pills for dispensing to a pet.

Yet another aspect of the present invention is use of the pill dispensing device according to the first aspect to dispense a pill to a pet.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a non-dispensing configuration; Figure 2 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device of Fig.1 in a dispensing configuration; and Figure 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the device of Fig.1.

Detailed Description of the illustrated embodiment

Figs. I to 3 show views of a pill delivery device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. ln Fig. I the device is shown in a non-dispensing configuration. A pill 200 (i.e. solid-form medicament, tablet, capsule, caplet or similar) is held between a pair of opposing jaws 110 at a distal end of the device 100. The jaws 110 (or arms) are made from a generally resilient material so that they are deformable to allow a pill 200 to be inserted between them or ejected from them.

At the proximal end the device 100 has a cup-like female connector 120 sealingly connected to a male (nozzle-type) connector 310 of a syringe 300.

The female connector 120 may conform to known connecting standards such as the luer-lock standard. Syringes are commonly provided with male luer-lock connectors to ensure leak-free connections, so it may be advantageous for the female connector 120 to be a luer-lock connector. Thus, the device may be used with a wide variety of standard syringes without the risk of the device 100 becoming disconnected from the syringe 300 and accidentally swallowed, if the female connector 120 is not a luer-lock connector, or similar, then it may be desirable for the outer dimensions of the female connector 120 to be enlarged to a size suitable to prevent swallowing of the device 100.

The jaws 110 and female connector 120 are connected by a tube 130 with a cylindrical channel, or bore, 140 therein. The channel 140 extends between a first opening 142 between the jaws 110 and a second opening 144 at the female connector 120. When a pill 200 is retained by the jaws 110, as shown in Fig. 1, the first opening 142 is adjacent the pill 200. When the female connector 120 is connected to the syringe 300, the second opening 144 is aligned with the opening of the male part 310, or nozzle, of the syringe 300 so that it is possible for fluid to travel between the syringe 300 and the channel 140. The diameter of the channel 140 is reduced at the first end 142 so that there is a shoulder 146, or step, around the side wall 148 of the channel 140.

Within the channel 140 is a plunger 150, or piston, which has a generally cylindrical shape with a first end part 151 having an outer diameter sized to provide a sealed interface with the first end 142 of the channel 144, and the second end part 153 having an outer diameter sized to provide a sealed interface with the side wall 148 of the channel. In this way, the plunger 150 can slide within the channel 140 while maintaining a fluid-tight seal between itself and the channel 140. The plunger 150 has a shoulder 158, or step, at the junction between the first and second end parts 151, 153. Thus, the plunger 150 cannot move within the channel 140 beyond the point where the shoulder 158 of the plunger 150 abuts the shoulder 142 of the channel, and unwanted removal of the plunger 150 from the channel 140 is prevented.

The plunger 150 has a generally L-shaped passage 152 extending therethrough. The passage 152 extends along the central longitudinal axis of the plunger 150 from a first opening 154 at the pill-facing end of the plunger to a point within the second end part 153 of the plunger (i.e. beyond the shoulder 158) at which point the passage turns through a right angle to a second opening 156 at the plunger 150 side wall. The first end part 151 has a flattened region 155 as shown in Fig. 3, so that the plunger 150 has a truncated cylindrical shape in this region. Similarly, the part of the channel between the first opening 142 and the shoulder 146 has a corresponding truncated cylindrical shape, thus preventing relative rotation of the plunger and channel 140.

The channel 140 has a longitudinal groove 149, or recess, extending radially outwardly from the side wall 148 of the channel 140. The groove is generally U-shaped in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3. The length of the groove 149 is such that, when the device 100 is in the non-dispensing configuration shown in Fig. 1, it extends between the shoulder 146 of the channel and the shoulder 158 of the plunger. Thus, the groove 149 is not in fluid communication with either the first or second openings 142, 144 of the channel 140 when the plunger 150 is in the non-dispensing configuration.

The second opening 156 of the passage 152 abuts the side wall 148 of the channel 140 in this configuration, thus preventing any travel of fluid from the second opening 144 of the channel 140 into the groove 149.

When the plunger 150 is moved to the dispensing configuration shown in Fig. 2, the groove 149 and the passage 152 together provide a fluid communication path between the first and second openings 142, 144 of the channel 140. In this arrangement the second opening 156 of the passageway 152 is aligned with the groove 149 and the syringe-facing end face of the plunger 150 overlaps with the groove 149, thus enabling fluid flow from the syringe 300 through the passage 152 and out through its first opening 154.

In use, a pill 200 is located within the jaws 110 and the plunger 150 arranged in the non-dispensing configuration, as shown in Fig. 1. The plunger 150 is moved by the action of hydrostatic pressure generated by water within the syringe 300. By moving the piston (not shown) of the syringe 300 towards the male connector 310, the hydrostatic pressure within the channel 140 increases, and the plunger 150 is moved towards the jaws 100 (from right to left as shown in Fig. 1) so that it passes through and beyond the first opening 142 of the channel 140 and bears against the pill 200 to eject it from the jaws 110, which deform outwardly to permit the release.

Continued movement of the plunger 150 in the same direction moves the plunger 150 to the dispensing configuration, as shown in Fig. 2. Once the plunger has moved to the limit of its range as a result of abuthng of the shoulders 146, 158 of the channel 140 and plunger 150, the groove 149 provides fluid communication between the syringe 300 (via the second opening 144 of the channel 140) and the passage 152. The hydrostatic pressure built up behind the plunger 150 causes a jet of water to be released from the first opening 154 of the plunger 150, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.

Thus, in use, the device 100 first releases a pill 200 into a pet's mouth and then immediately afterward releases a stream of water, or other fluid, to promote swallowing of the pill 200.

It is to be appreciated that these Figures are for illustration purposes only and other configurations are possible.

The invention has been described by way of several embodiments, with modifications and alternatives, but having read and understood this description further embodiments and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All such embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A pill dispensing device having: a channel having a first opening and a second opening; a pair of opposing jaws adapted to retain a pill, the jaws extending either side of the first opening of the channel; connecting means adapted to provide a sealing connection with the nozzle of a syringe so that the second opening of the channel is in fluid communication with an opening in the nozzle; and a plunger slidable within the channel, the plunger having a passage extending therethrough and being slidable within the channel between a non-dispensing configuration in which the plunger prevents fluid communication between the first and second openings of the channel, and a dispensing configuration in which the plunger projects from the first opening of the channel and the passage provides fluid communication between the first and second openings of the channel.
2. A device according to claim 1, including a recess extending from a side wall of the channel, the recess providing fluid communication between the passage and the first and second openings of the channel in the dispensing configuration.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the passage has a side wall opening at a side wall of the plunger, whereby the second opening is in fluid communication with the recess in the dispensing configuration and abuts the side wall of the plunger in the non-dispensing configuration.
4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the passage has a pill-facing opening at a pill-facing face of the plunger.
5. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the channel has a shoulder between its first and second openings and the plunger has a shoulder between its first and second ends, the shoulder of the plunger abutting the shoulder of the channel in the dispensing configuration.
6. A device according to any of claims I to 5, wherein the connecting means comprises a female luer-lock connector.
7. A pill dispensing kit, including a pill dispensing device according to any of claims 1 to 6, and a plurality of pills for dispensing to a pet.
8. Use of the pill dispensing device according to any of claims I to 6 to dispense a pill to a pet.
9. A pill dispensing device substantially as herein described, with reference to the appended drawings.