GB2562202A

GB2562202A - Oral rehydration device

Info

Publication number: GB2562202A
Application number: GB1703884.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Charles Brooksbank Andrew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-03-10
Filing date: 2017-03-10
Publication date: 2018-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-10
Also published as: GB201703884D0; GB2562202B

Abstract

An oral rehydration device 10 comprising a handle 12 having a head section 16 at one end. A resiliently deformable container 28 encloses the head section forming a receiving volume for a rehydration fluid. The resiliently deformable container having one or more openings 38 through which the rehydration fluid can pass. A rehydration fluid is provided to patient by immersing the resiliently deformable container in a rehydration fluid and deforming the resiliently deformable container to draw rehydration fluid into the receiving volume through the one or more openings. The resiliently deformable container is the placed into the oral cavity of a person and deformed to release the fluid therein. The head section may be dome shaped and also have a shoulder formed with the dome and a circumferential rim which extends generally in the same plane as the long axis of the handle.

Description

ORAL REHYDRATION DEVICE

Technical Field Of The Invention

This invention relates to an oral rehydration device and its method of use. In particular, this invention relates to an oral rehydration device that can be used to safely and conveniently rehydrate a person, more particularly a person who is medically compromised or is physically or mentally debilitated.

Background

People who are medically compromised or physically or mentally debilitated often require assistance from another person to provide, amongst other things, mouth and oral care for them. Providing mouth care with, for example, a conventional nylon bristle toothbrush can be challenging since people or patients who are medically compromised can often suffer from extreme sensitivity and soreness, excess salivation and ulceration, and other debilitating conditions.

As all toothbrushes are formed with separate bristles which are secured to the head of the toothbrush there is a risk that the bristles can become detached when in use, which leads to a choking hazard for the patient. In order to address this problem various disposable oral care devices have been used for a number of years, and which comprise a handle which supports a foam mouth sponge to help remove plaque and bacterial build-up from the patient’s oral cavity.

There is also a further advantage of these foam-headed devices that can be exploited, in that the absorbent properties of the foam can be used to provide moisture to a patient. In particular, it is known for caregivers to soak the foam mouth sponge in water and use the sponge to then drip water into the oral cavity of the patient. This provides a quick and convenient means of providing moisture and/or rehydrating the patient.

Whilst these oral care devices have proven popular, there is a problem in that the foam head can sometimes become detached from the handle, again presenting a choking hazard. For this reason, such devices have been banned from all NHS establishments in Wales from 2014.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an oral rehydration device and its method of use which overcomes or reduces the drawbacks associated with known products of this type. The present invention provides an oral rehydration device that can be used to safely and conveniently rehydrate a person or patient. It is an object of the present invention to provide an oral rehydration device that can be quickly and intuitively used by a caregiver, and which is simple to use and keep clean with minimal instruction. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an oral rehydration device that is designed for single patient use and/or can be used a number of times with the same patient. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an oral rehydration device that can be filled with water, and subsequently frozen, and which then thaws in the oral cavity of the patient providing a slower trickle, as required. This is particularly useful to provide relief when the patient has a mouth ulcer, abscess, toothache or other medical condition. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an oral rehydration device that is integrally moulded, and which ensures that no parts thereof can become detached or dislodged, and as such minimises choking hazards when in use.

Summary Of The Invention

The present invention is described herein and in the claims.

According to the present invention there is provided an oral rehydration device, comprising: a handle having a head section at one end thereof; and a resiliently deformable container enclosing the head section and thereby forming a receiving volume for a rehydration fluid, the resiliently deformable container having one or more openings through which the rehydration fluid can pass.

An advantage of the present invention is that the rehydration fluid can be drawn into the resiliently deformable container and then dispensed into the oral cavity of a patient in a controlled manner simply by deformation of the resiliently deformable container.

Preferably, the handle is elongate and rigid.

Further preferably, the handle is generally circular in cross section along its long axis.

In use, the handle may be ergonomically shaped.

Preferably, the handle is rounded at the other end thereof.

Further preferably, the head section is moulded separately to the handle and subsequently overmoulded over the one end of the handle.

In use, optimum adhesion between the handle and the head section may be achieved using a twin-shot moulding process.

Preferably, the handle and the head section are integrally moulded.

Further preferably, the head section is a hemispherical dome.

In use, the head section may further comprise: a shoulder formed with the dome; and a circumferential rim which extends generally in the same plane as the long axis of the handle.

Preferably, a series of apertures are disposed around the rim and which are used to secure the resiliently deformable container thereagainst.

Further preferably, the handle and/or head section is formed from a synthetic plastics material and/or a thermoplastic and/or thermoset material.

In use, the resiliently deformable container may be formed from two complementary shaped parts.

Preferably, the two complementary shaped parts are each shaped as a hemispherical dome or saucer- or disc-shaped.

Further preferably, the resiliently deformable container is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer and/or a suitable deformable polymeric material.

In use, the resiliently deformable container may further comprise: a first saucer- or disc-shaped part which seats against and envelops the outer face of dome; and a second saucer- or disc-shaped part which projects outwardly from the circumferential rim of the dome.

Preferably, each of the first and second parts include a semi-circular opening and an abutment shoulder, such that when the first and second parts are brought together, the shoulders abut and sealingly form the resiliently deformable container around the rim and shoulder of the dome and the one end of the handle.

Further preferably, the second part includes one or more apertures which pass through from the outer face thereof to the inner face thereof.

In use, the number of apertures may be two.

Preferably, the device and parts thereof is formed via injection moulding and/or blow moulding and/or vacuum forming and/or rotational moulding and/or compression moulding and/or rim moulding and/or power impression moulding and/or any form of plastics manufacture.

Further preferably, the length of the handle is around 80 mm to around 100 mm.

In use, the diameter of the handle may be around 6 mm to 8 mm.

Preferably, the outer diameter of the resiliently deformable container in the same plane as the circumferential rim is around 28mm to 32 mm.

Further preferably, the outer diameter of the dome of the first and second parts is around 22 mm to around 25 mm, and having a wall thickness of around 1 mm to around 3 mm.

In use, the diameter of the one or more apertures disposed on the second part may be around 0.25 mm to around 1 mm.

Preferably, the head section is formed as an open-ended cylinder, elliptical cylinder, triangular prism, cuboid, pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism or any suitable elongate polyhedral shape.

Also according to the present invention there is provided a method of dispensing a rehydration fluid into the oral cavity of a person, comprising the steps of: providing an oral rehydration device comprising a handle having a head section at one end thereof and a resiliently deformable container enclosing the head section and thereby forming a receiving volume for the rehydration fluid, the resiliently deformable container having one or more openings; immersing the resiliently deformable container into the rehydration fluid; deforming the resiliently deformable container thereby reducing the pressure inside the receiving volume and drawing rehydration fluid up inside the receiving volume through the one or more openings; placing the resiliently deformable container into the oral cavity of a person; and deforming the resiliently deformable container to release the rehydration fluid therein.

Preferably, the step of deforming the resiliently deformable container thereby reducing the pressure inside the receiving volume is achieved by depressing the resiliently deformable container against the head section using thumb or finger pressure.

Further preferably, the method further comprising the step of storing the filled oral rehydration device in a freezer or refrigerator.

In use, the rehydration fluid may be selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: water, flavoured fluids, juices, gels, drinks and the like.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing an oral rehydration device, comprising the steps of: supplying a polymer into a moulding tool which defines a handle and a head section at one end thereof; supplying a thermoplastic elastomer into a moulding tool and forming two complementary shaped deformable pieces each having abutting faces therebetween; and overmoulding the deformable pieces in abutment around the one end of the handle and/or the head section, and thereby forming a receiving volume.

Preferably, the polymer is a food grade polymer.

Further preferably, the polymer is polypropylene.

In use, the moulding tool may include a textured surface which is impressed on the outer surface of the handle and/or head section and/or complementary shaped deformable pieces.

Preferably, the method further comprising a step of admixing an antimicrobial additive with the polymer and/or thermoplastic elastomer.

Further preferably, the antimicrobial additive comprises an active ingredient based on silver ions.

In use, the method further comprising a step of admixing one or more dyes or pigment with the polymer and/or thermoplastic elastomer.

It is believed that an oral rehydration device and its method of use in accordance with the present invention at least addresses the problems outlined above.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations of the present invention are possible and it is intended that the present invention may be used other than as specifically described herein.

Brief Description Of The Dra wings

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

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view from the side and above of an oral rehydration device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view from the side and above of the assembled oral rehydration device of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view from the side and above of a second embodiment of the present invention, and which is configured having an alternatively shaped head.

Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments

The present invention has adopted the approach of providing an oral rehydration device that can be used to safely and conveniently rehydrate a person or patient. Advantageously, the present invention provides an oral rehydration device that can be quickly and intuitively used by a caregiver, and which is simple to use and keep clean with minimal instruction. Further advantageously, the present invention provides an oral rehydration device that is designed for single patient use and/or can be used a number of times with the same patient. Further advantageously, the present invention provides an oral rehydration device that can be filled with water, and subsequently frozen, and which then thaws in the oral cavity of the patient providing a slower trickle, as required. This is particularly useful to provide relief when the patient has a mouth ulcer, abscess, toothache or other medical condition. Further advantageously, the present invention provides an oral rehydration device that is integrally moulded, and which ensures that no parts thereof can become detached or dislodged, and as such minimises choking hazards when in use.

Referring now to the drawings, an oral rehydration device 10 according to the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. Specifically, the device 10 is formed having a generally elongate handle 12 having a proximal, or grip, end 14 and a distal, or head, end 16. The device 10 is specifically designed to assist users, who are caregivers and who carry out care for patients. However, the skilled person will understand that the “user” (that is, the person who grips the handle 12 of the device 10) can also be the same person as the “patient” (that is, the person who wishes to be rehydrated).

The handle 12 is generally circular in cross section and elongate, and the proximal end 14 thereof can be rounded 18 to reduce the risk of injury to the patient or caregiver.

As best shown in Figure 1, positioned at the distal end 16 of the handle 12 is a shaped head piece or open dome 20 which, in a preferred embodiment, is hemispherical in shape. The dome 20 is moulded separately to the handle 12 in an injection moulder (not shown) on a twin-shot operation. The dome 20 is moulded separately and then inserted into the moulding tool (not shown) to meet the distal end 16 of the handle 12 and then overmoulded to seal the parts together. In this way, this two-part moulding effectively forms a single unitary moulding, which thereby acts to prevent the dome 20 becoming detached from the handle 12 when in use. Equally, the skilled person will appreciate that the handle 12 and dome 20 could be moulded as one unitary piece.

The handle 12 and dome 20 of the present invention are formed using injection moulding. In a preferred embodiment, the handle 12 and dome 20 is formed from a food grade copolymer polypropylene, although the skilled person will appreciate that the handle 12 and dome 20 can be formed from a number of synthetic plastics material such as a thermoplastic or thermoset material, or any other suitable first generation plastics material. The above list is in no way intended to be limiting and exhaustive.

Manufacturing some or both of the components of the handle 12 and dome 20 using injection moulding will allow for a relatively thin wall thickness and a generally low product weight and cost, but which provides a high structural rigidity and durability. The device 10 can be supplied in a number of different colours. Multiple colours are envisaged, including mixtures and shades thereof. The manufacture of the handle 12 and dome 20 resists dents and damage in use, and provides an outer surface that can be textured to aid grasping of the handle 12.

In a preferred embodiment, to obtain a textured outer surface finish on the handle 12, the moulding tool includes a low VDI (Vereines Deutscher Ingenieure) textured finish.

The skilled person will appreciate that certain components of the device 10 could be manufactured using other techniques such as blow moulding, vacuum forming, rotational moulding, compression moulding, rim moulding, power impression moulding or any form of plastics manufacture.

As described herein, the handle 12 and dome 20 are rigid, such that they resist deformation when in use. The dome 20 also includes a circumferential rim 22 which extends generally in the same plane as the handle 12 from a shoulder 24 formed in the dome 20. Disposed around the rim 22 are a series of apertures 26 which are used to secure a resiliently deformable container 28 thereagainst, as best shown in Figure 1, and described below.

The resiliently deformable container 28 is formed from two complementary shaped parts or pieces, namely a first saucer- or disc-shaped part 30 which seats against or overlies the outer face of dome 20, and an oppositely positioned second saucer- or disc-shaped part 32 which extends or projects outwardly from the circumferential rim 22 of the dome 22. The first and second parts 30, 32 forming a resiliently deformable container 28 or receiving volume around the distal end 16 of the handle 12.

The first and second parts 30, 32 each include a semi-circular opening 34 and an abutment shoulder 36 such that when the two parts 30, 32 are brought together in the moulding tool (not shown) and sealed, the shoulders 36 abut and form the resiliently deformable container 28 which is sealed around the rim 22 and shoulder 24 of the dome 20 and the distal end 16 of the handle 12. As such, the resiliently deformable container 28 thereby resists detachment from the handle 12 when in use.

The first and second parts 30, 32 are generally identical in size and shape. The only difference is that the second part 32 includes a series of apertures 38 which pass through from the outer face thereof to the inner face thereof. It is through these apertures 38 that the rehydration fluid can be drawn into the resiliently deformable container 28 and subsequently dispensed to the patient, as described below.

The overmoulded resiliently deformable container 28 is formed from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) or any suitable deformable polymeric material known to the skilled person.

In order to diminish the risk of cross infection or the build-up or transfer of germs or bacteria, it is envisaged that an antimicrobial additive, such as silver ions, could be admixed with the thermoplastic elastomer forming the resiliently deformable container 28 and/or the polymer forming the handle 12 and dome 20. Impregnating the oral rehydration device 10 with an antimicrobial additive will prevent against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Legionella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and Pseudomonas. Such antimicrobial additives are also proven effective against a wide range of microbes including bacteria, mould and fungi, even multi-drug resistant bacteria and the H1N1 virus. The above list is in no way intended to be limiting and exhaustive.

In a preferred embodiment, the handle 12 of the device 10 has a length of around 85.5 mm and a diameter of around 6.6 mm to permit ease of use for the caregiver or patient. The diameter of the resiliently deformable container 28 along its long axis, in the same plane as circumferential rim 22 of the dome 20, is around 30.4 mm, and the distance between the outermost radiused faces of the first and second parts 30, 32 of the resiliently deformable container 28 is around 20.0 mm. The outer diameter of the first and second parts 30, 32 is around 23.5 mm, and having a wall thickness around 1.5 mm. The diameter of the apertures 38 is around 1.0 mm. Of course, the device 10 can be scaled up and down accordingly, and the skilled person will appreciate that these sizes will vary accordingly.

Referring again to the drawings, the actual use of the oral rehydration device 10 of the present invention will now be described. The device 10 being used on a patient in need of moisture and/or rehydration via their oral cavity. Providing this type of care can often be a difficult and time-consuming task for a caregiver, as detailed above.

The device 10 of the present invention enables a much quicker and simpler rehydration to be carried out by the caregiver or user. In use, the user simply fills a cup of rehydration fluid, which could be water, and removes a rehydration device 10 out of its individual packaging (not shown). The resiliently deformable container 28 of the rehydration device 10 is then submerged into rehydration fluid, which is typically water, and the second part 32 of the resiliently deformable container 28 momentarily deformed against the inner face of dome 20, and then released, whilst still submerged. This causes the pressure inside the resiliently deformable container 28 to be reduced and which draws rehydration fluid inside the resiliently deformable container 28 through the one or more openings 38. When the second saucer- or disc-shaped part 32 is forced back to its original position by the pressure of the rehydration fluid inside, the resiliently deformable container 28 is then substantially filled. The rehydration fluid cannot escape through the openings 38 as their diameter is too small to overcome the surface tension of the rehydration fluid contained therein, and the filled device 10 can be temporarily stored, or frozen, prior to being placed into the oral cavity of the patient.

To release the rehydration fluid stored in the resiliently deformable container 28, the user inserts the resiliently deformable container 28 into the oral cavity of the patient and depresses or deforms the second part 32 of the resiliently deformable container 28 onto the tongue, teeth, palate, lips or other internal surfaces of the patient’s mouth. This then allows the rehydration fluid to dribble or trickle out of the apertures 38 into the patient’s oral cavity and giving much-needed rehydration. The flow rate is predominately controlled by the amount of force applied against the resiliently deformable container 28 whilst the device 10 is held in position. This process can be repeated on the same patient as many times as is required to rehydrate them.

After use, the device 10 can be cleaned with running water where possible, and then placed on a drying stand, sanitised table or back into the original packaging for use later with the same patient.

The device 10 is intended for single patient use only for around one week, or sooner if the device 10 becomes damaged in any way. The device 10 is packaged in an individual sleeve at source for cleanliness. The skilled person will understand that this is not a MHRA Class 1 medical device, and it is designed for single patient use only.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the device 10. The construction of the second embodiment is very similar to that of the first embodiment and corresponding features have been given the same reference numerals. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the device 10 is configured having a teardrop head shape 40 instead of a hemispherical dome 20. Of course, the first and second parts 30, 32 of the resiliently deformable container 28 (not shown in Figure 3 for reasons of clarity) will be complementary shaped. The advantage of such head shape is that it allows further access and manoeuvrability in the patient’s oral cavity when in use.

Various additions and alternations may be made to the present invention. For example, although particular embodiments refer to implementing the present invention with rehydration fluids such as water, this is in no way intended to be limiting as, in use, the present invention can be implemented with any number of flavoured fluids, gels and drinks.

The invention is not intended to be limited to the details of the embodiments described herein, which are described by way of example only. It will be understood that features described in relation to any particular embodiment can be featured in combination with other embodiments.

It is contemplated by the inventor that various substitutions, alterations, and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Examples of these include the following:

The size and shape of the head piece at the distal end 16 of the handle 12 can be formed from numerous designs. Instead of a hemispherical dome 20 or teardrop shape 40, the head piece can be implemented in any number of ellipsoid and/or rectangular and/or curved geometric shapes, such as an open-ended cylinder, elliptical cylinder, triangular prism, cuboid, pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism or any suitable elongate polyhedral shape. The above list is in no way intended to be limiting and exhaustive.

Claims

1. An oral rehydration device, comprising: a handle having a head section at one end thereof; and a resiliently deformable container enclosing the head section and thereby forming a receiving volume for a rehydration fluid, the resiliently deformable container having one or more openings through which the rehydration fluid can pass.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is elongate and rigid.

3. The device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the handle is generally circular in cross section along its long axis.

4. The device as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein the handle is ergonomically shaped.

5. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the handle is rounded at the other end thereof.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head section is moulded separately to the handle and subsequently overmoulded over the one end of the handle.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the optimum adhesion between the handle and the head section is achieved using a twin-shot moulding process.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle and the head section are integrally moulded.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head section is a hemispherical dome.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the head section further comprises: a shoulder formed with the dome; and a circumferential rim which extends generally in the same plane as the long axis of the handle.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein a series of apertures are disposed around the rim and which are used to secure the resiliently deformable container thereagainst.

12. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the handle and/or head section is formed from a synthetic plastics material and/or a thermoplastic and/or thermoset material.

13. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the resiliently deformable container is formed from two complementary shaped parts.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two complementary shaped parts are each shaped as a hemispherical dome or saucer- or disc-shaped.

15. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the resiliently deformable container is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer and/or a suitable deformable polymeric material.

16. The device as claimed in any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the resiliently deformable container further comprises: a first saucer- or disc-shaped part which seats against and envelops the outer face of dome; and a second saucer- or disc-shaped part which projects outwardly from the circumferential rim of the dome.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein each of the first and second parts include a semi-circular opening and an abutment shoulder, such that when the first and second parts are brought together, the shoulders abut and sealingly form the resiliently deformable container around the rim and shoulder of the dome and the one end of the handle.

18. The device as claimed in claims 16 or 17, wherein the second part includes one or more apertures which pass through from the outer face thereof to the inner face thereof.

19. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the number of apertures is two.

20. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the device and parts thereof is formed via injection moulding and/or blow moulding and/or vacuum forming and/or rotational moulding and/or compression moulding and/or rim moulding and/or power impression moulding and/or any form of plastics manufacture.

21. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the handle is around 80 mm to around 100 mm.

22. The device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the handle is around 6 mm to 8 mm.

23. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the outer diameter of the resiliently deformable container in the same plane as the circumferential rim is around 28mm to 32 mm.

24. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the outer diameter of the dome of the first and second parts is around 22 mm to around 25 mm, and having a wall thickness of around 1 mm to around 3 mm.

25. The device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the diameter of the one or more apertures disposed on the second part is around 0.25 mm to around 1 mm.

26. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the head section is formed as an open-ended cylinder, elliptical cylinder, triangular prism, cuboid, pentagonal prism, hexagonal prism or any suitable elongate polyhedral shape.

27. A method of dispensing a rehydration fluid into the oral cavity of a person, comprising the steps of: providing an oral rehydration device comprising a handle having a head section at one end thereof and a resiliently deformable container enclosing the head section and thereby forming a receiving volume for the rehydration fluid, the resiliently deformable container having one or more openings; immersing the resiliently deformable container into the rehydration fluid; deforming the resiliently deformable container thereby reducing the pressure inside the receiving volume and drawing rehydration fluid up inside the receiving volume through the one or more openings; placing the resiliently deformable container into the oral cavity of a person; and deforming the resiliently deformable container to release the rehydration fluid therein.

28. The method of dispensing a rehydration fluid into the oral cavity of a person as claimed in claim 27, wherein the step of deforming the resiliently deformable container thereby reducing the pressure inside the receiving volume is achieved by depressing the resiliently deformable container against the head section using thumb or finger pressure.

29. The method of dispensing a rehydration fluid into the oral cavity of a person as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the step of storing the filled oral rehydration device in a freezer or refrigerator.

30. The method of dispensing a rehydration fluid into the oral cavity of a person as claimed in any of claims 27 to 29, wherein the rehydration fluid is selected from the group consisting, but not limited to, any one of the following: water, flavoured fluids, juices, gels, drinks and the like.

31. A method of manufacturing an oral rehydration device, comprising the steps of: supplying a polymer into a moulding tool which defines a handle and a head section at one end thereof; supplying a thermoplastic elastomer into a moulding tool and forming two complementary shaped deformable pieces each having abutting faces therebetween; and overmoulding the deformable pieces in abutment around the one end of the handle and/or the head section, and thereby forming a receiving volume.

32. The method of manufacturing an oral rehydration device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the polymer is a food grade polymer.

33. The method of manufacturing an oral rehydration device as claimed in claims 31 or 32, wherein the polymer is polypropylene.

34. The method of manufacturing an oral rehydration device as claimed in any of claims 31 to 33, wherein the moulding tool includes a textured surface which is impressed on the outer surface of the handle and/or head section and/or complementary shaped deformable pieces.

35. The method of manufacturing an oral rehydration device as claimed in any of claims 31 to 34, further comprising a step of admixing an antimicrobial additive with the polymer and/or thermoplastic elastomer.

36. The method of manufacturing an oral rehydration device as claimed in claim 35, wherein the antimicrobial additive comprises an active ingredient based on silver ions.

37. The method of manufacturing an oral rehydration device as claimed in any of claims 31 to 36, further comprising a step of admixing one or more dyes or pigment with the polymer and/or thermoplastic elastomer.