Apparatus, kit and related methods for administering substances

Abstract

An apparatus, kit and related methods for orally administering a substance such as a medicine. The apparatus includes a straw with a barrier device movable in a direction of sucking. The apparatus is configured so that movement of the barrier device in a direction against the direction of sucking is limited.

1 . An apparatus for use in orally administering a substance, said apparatus comprising: 
 a drinking straw having two orifices and a barrier device, said barrier device being substantially impermeable to the substance to be administered, and being permeable to air and a conveying liquid and being movable in a direction of sucking, wherein at least part of an outer surface of the barrier device is configured such that movement of the barrier device contrary to the direction of sucking is substantially prevented.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device is moveable only in the direction of sucking.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the outer surface of the barrier device has a sawtooth arrangement oriented counter to the direction of sucking.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the outer surface of the barrier device has a sharkskin configuration.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the outer surface of the barrier device has a scale configuration.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the entire outer surface of the barrier device is configured such that movement of the barrier device contrary to the direction of sucking is substantially prevented.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the circumference of the outer surface of the barrier device is configured such that movement of the barrier device contrary to the direction of sucking is substantially prevented.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device is moveable in the drinking straw substantially up to one of the two orifices of the drinking straw.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein movement of the barrier device is limited to part of a length of the drinking straw.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the drinking straw comprises at least one limit stop to limit the movement of the barrier device.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier device has a substantially cylindrical shape.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the barrier device is a plug.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance to be administered is arranged between the barrier device and one of the two orifices of the drinking straw.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance to be administered is a solid.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance to be administered is insoluble in the conveying liquid.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance to be administered is multiparticulate.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance to be administered is tabletted.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the substance to be administered is at least partially soluble in the conveying liquid.  
   
   
       19 . A kit for administering a substance, said kit comprising: 
 an apparatus according to  claim 1  and a physiologically acceptable conveying liquid.    
   
   
       20 . The kit of  claim 19 , further comprising a substance to be administered.  
   
   
       21 . The kit of  claim 19 , wherein said conveying liquid is an aqueous liquid.  
   
   
       22 . A method of administering a substance comprising: 
 providing a drinking straw having two orifices and a barrier device, said barrier device being substantially impermeable to the substance to be administered, and being permeable to air and a conveying liquid and being movable in a direction of sucking, wherein at least part of an outer surface of the barrier device is configured such that movement of the barrier device contrary to the direction of sucking is substantially prevented;    providing a substance to be administered and a conveying liquid and    administering said substance to be administered.