Insertable Dispensing Capsule

This invention relates generally to gelatin capsule medications and more particularly to method of treating gelatin capsules so that the capsule may be used for insertion through body orifices so as to apply medicinal material to areas to be treated.

At the present time, there is no convenient and sanitary method for applying certain medicaments to human and animal bodies. A typical example of such a medicament are suppositories. Suppositories liquefy in response to body temperature and as a result oftentimes become softened prior to insertion through the rectal orifice. In addition, the suppository is objectionable to some people because there is no sanitary way to apply the suppositories. Further, when the receiver of the suppository is a small squirming child, the problems are only compounded. The speed with which suppositories perform their desired function is not great. A suppository in liquid form would be faster acting and more desirable, however, there is no present applicator for applying such liquid medicaments.

Other examples of medicaments which are inserted through body orifices are preparations for the treatment of hemorrhoids, certain preparations used for contraceptive purposes, drugs and the like used for the treatment of internal disorders of the rectum and vaginal areas, etc. Generally, a separate applicator is used in these instances. The medicament is applied to the applicator which is then inserted through the body orifice to the area to be treated. Often a lubricant must be applied to the outside of the applicator. A plunger or the like ejects the medicament from the applicator and the applicator is then removed and must be cleaned for sanitation purposes. At the end of the required treatment, the problem arises of how to dispose of the applicator. It is quite difficult to apply the exact amount of medicament required to the applicator. Hence, the person may be receiving too much or too little of the medicament.

The use of gelatin capsules has become quite popular in recent years. One advantage of gelatin capsules is that a predetermined or measured dose of medicament may be placed in the capsule. The medicament may be either a liquid or a gel-like substance. Such capsules are commercially available from R. P. Scherer Corp. and Parke Davis. To date, however, there has been no way to utilize the gelatin capsules for application of medicaments which must be inserted through body orifices. The gelatin capsules are generally too soft to overcome the resistance of the body orifice. If the capsule is made sufficiently hard so as to overcome the resistance of the body orifice, then the capsule is too hard to be able to squeeze the medicament out of the capsule.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method for treating gelatin capsules to make them usable for insertion through body orifices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gelatin capsule having a sufficiently hardened portion to be inserted through a body orifice yet having a sufficiently softened portion which may be squeezed to eject the medicament therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide a gelatin capsule having means for puncturing the hardened portion of the capsule so that the medicament is exhausted through said punctures.

This invention provides a method for treating gelatin capsules so that the capsule has a hardened portion and a soft portion. The hardened portion is insertable through a body orifice so that medicament may be exhausted therefrom to an area to be treated upon the application of pressure to the softened portion. Means are provided to puncture the hardened portion of the capsule so that the medicament may exit therefrom.

Other details, uses, and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the following description of the exemplary embodiments thereof presented in the accompanying drawings proceeds.

The accompanying drawings show present exemplary embodiments of the method of this invention and the product in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a gelatin capsule;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the hardening step;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the softening step;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the finished capsule;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the elongated end illustrating one means for puncturing the end;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating another means for puncturing the elongated portion;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view illustrating a further means for forming an exit from the hardened portion; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view of another means for providing an exit from the hardened end.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1 of the drawings, which illustrates one exemplary embodiment of a typical gelatin capsule, which is designated generally by the reference numeral 20. The capsule 20 is of a uniform thickness and hardness throughout. It can be seen that the capsule 20 comprises an elongated narrow stem or applicator portion 22 and an enlarged substantially rounded or bulb portion 24. The capsule 20 is formed with the medicament therein. Hence, to remove the medicament, it is necessary to puncture the applicator end 22 and apply pressure to the bulb end 24. The capsule 20 in the present condition, however, is not sufficiently rigid to be inserted through a body orifice. In order to prepare the capsule 20 for such use, the applicator portion 22 must be hardened.

Referring to FIG. 2, the applicator end 22 and a portion of the bulb end 24 are inserted in a tank or the like 26 containing a hardening agent 28. The agent 28 may be a hard gelatin, epoxy glue such as an epoxy type resin or any agent which will provide a hardening of the elongated portion 22. Any desired degree of hardening may be accomplished through multiple coatings of the hardening agent. After each coat is applied, the coat is allowed to dry. The added thickness of the hardening agent is illustrated in the cutaway portion of FIG. 3 and designated with the number 30.

When the desired hardness of the elongated portion 22 has been obtained, the capsule 20 is inverted and the bulb end 24 is inserted in a container or the like 32 having a softening agent 34 therein. A typical softening agent which has been used is polyvinyl acetate. The capsule 20 is inserted a sufficient amount so that the softening agent reacts with the entire bulb portion plus a short amount of the hardened applicator portion. This will insure that the hardened covering 30 has made a good adhesion and sealing with the gelatin capsule 20.

The end product is shown in FIG. 4 and designated generally as 36. The capsule 36 has an end portion 38 which has been treated with the hardening agent only and is sufficiently rigid or stiffened to overcome the resistance of a body orifice through which it is to be inserted. That portion of the capsule 36 designated as 40' has been initially hardened and then treated with the softening agent to insure that the hardening coating 30 adheres to the base gelatin capsule with a good seal. The bulb portion 42 has been treated with the softening agent and is sufficiently pliable so that pressure from the fingertips to the bulb portion 42 will cause the medicament to be forced out of an aperture formed in the applicator portion 38.

It should be noted that the hardening agent may be applied by other means than dipping or bathing in the agent. As an example, the hardening agent could be sprayed on to provide the desired hardening. In some instances, the gelatin capsule 20 is initially sufficiently hard to overcome resistance by a body orifice. In these cases, the hardening step of FIG. 2 is not needed and only the softening step of FIG. 3 is required.

To provide for the puncturing of the hardened end 38, a rivet 40 (FIG. 5) having an enlarged end 42 is inserted through a tab 44. The rivet 40 is then inserted through the end 38 and once again through the tab 44. The end 43 of rivet 40 is slightly upset to prevent the inadvertent removal of the rivet 40 from the applicator end 38. When it is desired to use the capsule 36, the end portion 46 of tab 44 is pulled so as to free end 43 of the rivet 40. The rivet 40 is then removed from the applicator end 38 by pulling on the tab 44.

Another example of a means to puncture the applicator end 38 is shown in FIG. 6 wherein a spring snap 48 having sharp portions 50 and 52 is utilized. The snap 48 is inserted over the end of applicator 38 and an inward pressure is applied on the snap 48 causing points 50 and 52 to puncture the hardened applicator end.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, a metal tab 54 is substantially flattened over the end of the hardened applicator end 38. The metal tab 54 may be twisted so as to tear off the end of applicator 38. This method is least desirable since the tearing process will very often leave a rough or jagged edge which in most cases is not desirable.

In FIG. 8, the applicator end 38 has been prepunctured by any suitable means leaving an aperture 56 therein. Any suitable tape or the like 58 is applied over the aperture 56. The tape or the like 58 may be removed to uncover the aperture 56 when it is desired to use the capsule.

In use, the medicament will also serve as a lubricant. The slight pressure applied on the bulb portion 42 during the insertion of the capsule 36 will cause a small amount of the medicament to exit through the apertures in the applicator end 38. This medicament then, will act as a lubricant. After insertion of the capsule 36, pressure is applied to the bulb portion 42 and the medicament is forced out through the apertures in the end portion 38. The end portion 38 is of a length sufficient to reach the area to be treated so that the medicament is properly placed. Once the capsule has been used, it is then thrown away or may be flushed down a commode for disposal.

While a present exemplary method and exemplary embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be recognized that this invention may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced by those skilled in the art.