Dispensing aid for administering medications to infants

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispensing device for administering medication(s) to infants, in particular a plastic insert that is used with a baby nipple and bottle so that the medication is held separate from the food until mixed with formula or breast milk and administered through the nipple with the first portion of an infants feeding. The device may comprise a coned shaped insert that provides a liquid tight seal along the perimeter of contact of the insert and nipple. The insert may comprise an upper and lower chamber so that the medication is contained in the upper chamber and the formula or breast milk is contained in the lower chamber. Furthermore, the insert may comprise an inlet port and an outlet port so that formula or breast milk can flow from the lower chamber into the upper chamber for mixing and administering.

1 . A liquid medication dispenser including a standard feeding bottle and nipple adapted to deliver a mixture of a palatable beverage and a liquid medication, comprising: an insert in contact with the nipple achieving a liquid-tight seal between the insert and the nipple and forming an upper chamber substantially within the nipple and a lower chamber substantially within the bottle, the insert having a port allowing fluid communication between the upper chamber and lower chamber.  
   
   
       2 . The liquid medication dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the port comprises a cylindrical member elongated along an axis running from an inlet proximate to the lower chamber to an outlet proximate to the upper chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The liquid medication dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the port comprises a conical member elongated along an axis running from an inlet proximate to the lower chamber to an outlet proximate to the upper chamber.  
   
   
       4 . The liquid medication dispenser of  claim 3  wherein the inlet is larger than the outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The liquid medication dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the port comprises an elongated tubular member extending into the upper chamber thereby forming a medication reservoir within the upper chamber.  
   
   
       6 . The liquid medication dispenser of  claim 5  wherein the medication reservoir has a volume of at least one teaspoon.  
   
   
       7 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein the insert is made from a class of polymers in the poly olefin family.  
   
   
       8 . The insert of  claim 1  wherein the insert is made from the class of polymers in the thermoplastic elastomer family.  
   
   
       9 . An insert adapted to allow a standard feeding bottle and nipple to be used as a liquid medication dispenser by forming an upper chamber substantially within the nipple for holding liquid medication and a lower chamber substantially within the bottle for holding a beverage, the insert comprising: a circular sealing ridge having an outer diameter substantially equal to an inner diameter of the nipple; and and a port disposed radially inward from the sealing ridge.  
   
   
       10 . The insert of  claim 9  wherein the port comprises a cylindrical member elongated along an axis running from an inlet proximate to the lower chamber to an outlet proximate to the upper chamber.  
   
   
       11 . The insert of  claim 9  wherein the port comprises a conical member elongated along an axis running from an inlet proximate to the lower chamber to an outlet proximate to the upper chamber.  
   
   
       12 . The insert of  claim 11  wherein the inlet is larger than the outlet.  
   
   
       13 . The liquid medication dispenser of  claim 9  wherein the port comprises an elongated tubular member extending into the upper chamber thereby forming a medication reservoir within the upper chamber.  
   
   
       14 . The liquid medication dispenser of  claim 13  wherein the medication reservoir has a volume of at least one teaspoon.  
   
   
       15 . The insert of  claim 9  further comprising a seating rim integral with the sealing ridge and extending radially outward from the sealing ridge.  
   
   
       16 . The insert of  claim 9  wherein the insert is made from a class of polymers in the poly olefin family.  
   
   
       17 . The insert of  claim 9  wherein the insert is made from the class of polymers in the thermoplastic elastomer family.