Drug dispensing device

Abstract

The present application describes a drug dispensing device. The device is comprised of an armband, a rigid housing, made of polymeric or composite material, with any geometric shape, which separates in two along the longitudinal axis, incorporating therein a capsule containing a concentrated fluid whose geometric shape allows its storage within said housing. The centre of the top of one of the capsule faces contains a valve which, upon being actuated by at least one flexible tab, by pressing the mouth of the user, is expelled from the inside of the capsule, allowing him to suck the concentrated fluid contained therein. In this way, the device allows the user to correct the reference values quickly and effectively and thus regain the sense of physical safety while practicing sports in extreme situations or while practicing activities in water environments.

Claims

1. A drug dispensing device that is waterproof and hands-free comprising: a rigid housing composed of a lower part and an upper part, both parts connected to each other along a longitudinal axis of said rigid housing, forming an inner space delimited by inner faces of said lower and upper parts; the upper part of the rigid housing comprising at least one flexible tab on a top of the upper part, the flexible tab designed for actuation via a user's mouth; a capsule placed inside the rigid housing comprising a valve that is flexible, expellable and retractable; said valve positioned in the centre of the top of the capsule's face which is in contact with the upper part of the rigid housing; wherein the device is configured to expel the valve from the inside of the capsule, becoming external to the boundary of the upper part of the housing, when pressure is applied to the at least one flexible tab which causes it to apply pressure to the capsule.

2. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the rigid housing is composed of polymeric or composite material.

3. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flexible tab comprises a plurality of flexible tabs that are symmetrical to each other.

4. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is composed of polymeric material suitable for food or medical use, flexible, resistant, and impermeable to water and gases.

5. A drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the lower part of the housing and the upper part of the housing comprises a recess which coincides when joining the two parts comprising the housing.

6. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, comprising a thread screw system in the connection between the lower part of the housing and the upper part of the housing.

7. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the lower part of the housing and the upper part of the housing are symmetrical in capacity.

8. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the lower part of the housing comprises two symmetrical bores through which an elastic band passes and slides.

9. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, comprising an armband consisting of an elastic band and a hook and loop fastener band, the first half consisting of the hook side and the second half consisting of the loop side, both resting on a strip.

10. The drug dispensing device according to claim 9, wherein the strap is neoprene.

11. The drug dispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the end of the strip contains a locking part.

12. The drug dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the capsule is replaceable.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For an easier understanding of the technique, drawings are herein attached, which represent preferred embodiments and which, however, are not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in exploded axonometry of the device with all its different components, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 1armband; 2housing; 3capsule; 4tab; 5upper part of the housing; 6recess; 7thread screw system; 8valve; 9lower part of the housing; 10elastic band; 11U-shaped part; 12buckle; 13loop; 14strip; 15hook;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of the housing of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 4tab; 5upper part of the housing; 7thread screw system; 9lower part of the housing; 10elastic band; 11U-shaped part.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of the housing of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 4tab; 5upper part of the housing; 6recess; 7thread screw system; 9lower part of the housing; 10elastic band.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic top view of the housing where a section A-A is indicated, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 3capsule; 4tab; 5upper part of the housing; 6recess; 8valve; 10elastic band.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the cross sections along the housing of the device, assembled as follows:

(7) image a) is a view of the housing along section AA, without the capsule therein;

(8) image b) is a view of the housing along section AA, with the capsule therein;

(9) image c) is a view of the housing along section AA, with the tabs compressing the capsule therein, thus activating the respective valve and releasing its contents, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 3capsule; 4tab; 5upper part of the housing; 8valve; 9lower part of the housing; 10elastic band; 11U-shaped part.

(10) FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the housing of the device wherein the housing is open without a capsule, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 4tab; 5upper part of the housing; 6recess; 7thread screw system; 9lower part of the housing.

(11) FIG. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the housing of the device wherein the housing is fully closed with the capsule therein, with the valve yet to be activated, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 3capsule; 4tab; 5upper part of the housing; 6recess; 7thread screw system; 8valve; 9lower part of the housing;

(12) FIG. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of the capsule to be inserted into the housing with the valve embedded and yet to be activated, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 3capsule; 8valve.

(13) FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of the capsule to be inserted into the housing with the valve facing upwards and activated, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 3capsule; 8valve.

(14) FIG. 10 shows a schematic view in exploded axonometry of the device with all its different components, wherein the reference numbers relate to those of FIG. 1, showing another embodiment of the technology, wherein the reference numbers relate to: 16part in metal or other resistant material. 17lower part of the housing of the drug dispensing device comprising two symmetrical bores through which the elastic band passes and slides.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

(15) Referring to the figures, embodiments of the technology will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present application.

(16) The present application describes a drug dispensing device. This device is light, small and adaptable and can be placed around the user's arm. In this embodiment, around the user's arm, the device is comprised of an armband (1) consisting of a velcro band, the first half consisting of the hook side (15) and the second half consisting of the loop side (13), both resting on a strip (14) which can be made of neoprene so as to allow the diameter to be adjusted to the user's arm by means of a buckle (12) and another part consisting of an elastic band (10).

(17) In alternative, the end of said strip (14) contains a locking part (16) made of metal or other resistant material, slightly wider than it, so as to make it difficult, although not impossible, for the end of this strip to pass through the buckle (12), for safety purposes.

(18) The device is comprised of a rigid housing (2), composed of polymeric or composite material, being preferably spherical, flattened at the poles, which divides into two upper and lower parts along its longitudinal axis of symmetry, the connection between the two being made, for example, by means of a thread screw system (7). In a particular embodiment, said upper and lower parts have the same capacity.

(19) The lower part of the housing (9) and the upper part of the housing (5) contain, perpendicularly to the elastic band, on two opposite sides and symmetrically, a small recess (6) which will have to coincide when joining these two parts composing the housing, in order to ensure due closure for safety purposes. This recess (6) thus ensures that the housing is completely sealed.

(20) The lower part of the housing (9), which is concave and has a semi-spherical flattened shape on its pole, comprises means enabling the elastic band (10) to pass and slide on its outer face, for example symmetrically containing at its base, a U-shaped part (11) so as to enable the coupling of the device to the user's member. Alternatively, the lower part of the housing (9) may comprise two symmetrical bores (17) through which the elastic band (10) passes and slides.

(21) The upper part of the housing (5), which is convex and has a flattened semi-spherical shape on its pole, consists at its top of at least one flexible tab (4) which follows the curvature of the flattened semi-sphere itself. If more than one tab is used, its arrangement may be symmetrical to one another, in which case the end of each tab is rounded and tapers towards the centre of the top of the part without them contacting, allowing access to the valve of the capsule inside the housing (2) when the latter is closed.

(22) The present device also consists of a capsule (3) containing fluid or drug, also preferably of a spherical and flattened shape at the poles, so as to be arranged within the housing. This capsule (3) is composed of a flexible and resistant polymer, suitable for food or medical use, impermeable to water and gases, submersible, and able to undergo high and low temperatures, high and low pressures, but also different levels of humidity.

(23) In the centre of the top of one of the capsule faces, which is in contact with the upper part of the housing, a valve is positioned. This valve is actuated by the pressure of the user's mouth on the capsule itself upon pressure of at least one flexible tab. In this way the valve is expelled from the inside of the capsule, allowing suctioning of the fluid or drug contained therein which, once ingested, enables the user to correct the reference values quickly and effectively.

(24) In a particular embodiment, the capsule (3) is composed of a flexible and resistant polymer, suitable for food or medical use, impermeable to water, humidity and gases, the capsule being able to be submerged to a depth of 30 meters, undergo varying temperatures between 25 C. and 45 C., different pressures, altitudes and humidity levels in order to cover various environments and different atmospheric conditions.

(25) The substance included inside the capsule is a fluid or drug adapted to the needs of the user. As an example, glucose syrup, antihypertensives, among others may be used.

(26) When the capsule (3) is placed inside the housing (2), the face containing the valve (8) must be that in contact with the inside of the upper part of the housing (5), so that the valve (8) is accessible so as to be able to be pressed by the flexible tab (4) and thus release its contents.

(27) In this way, the drug dispensing device allows the adequate correction of the reference values in a very fast and effective way by its user in adverse situations, namely in the practice of activities and sports considered of risk, such as mountaineering, skydiving, hang gliding, paragliding, hockey or jogging and, in particular, water environment activities or sports such as surfing, diving, windsurfing, kite surfing, rowing, bodyboarding, canoeing, rafting, paddle boarding, triathlon, diving or simply sailing, bathing in sea, lake or river water, safely without putting the health or life at risk.

(28) The present technology is of course in no way restricted to the embodiments herein described, and a person of ordinary skill in the art will be capable of providing many modification possibilities thereto without departing from the general idea of the invention as defined in the claims.

(29) All embodiments described above are obviously combinable with each other. The following claims further define preferred embodiments.