The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 11, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 07, 2000
Brian Hague, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Steve Shoemaker, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Cephalon, Inc., West Chester, PA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for the reusable interim storage of partially consumed medicated oral dosage forms and methods for employing such an apparatus in order to use medicated oral dosage forms in the safest possible manner. The apparatus of the present invention in its broadest terms comprises (1) a container sized to hold a medicated oral dosage form, (2) means for allowing a medicated oral dosage form easy access into the container but substantially preventing the medicated oral dosage form from passing out of the container, and (3) a child resistant means for allowing an adult to remove a medicated oral dosage form from within the container despite the one-way access means. The preferred embodiment comprises an opaque container having one opening, a child resistant closure with an aperture there through that extends over said opening, and a plastic slitted membrane covering said aperture. The method of the present invention comprises providing a patient with the apparatus of the present invention, administering to the patient a medicated oral dosage form, and when the patient has received sufficient medication, inserting the partially consumed medicated oral dosage form into the apparatus via the one-way access means.