Pill pouch

Abstract

A pill pouch is disclosed. The pill pouch can include a receptacle to contain a pill. The receptacle can have an opening to receive the pill therein. The receptacle can be defined at least in part by a flexible side to facilitate breaking or crushing of the pill inside the receptacle. The pill pouch can also include an access feature associated with the receptacle to facilitate removal of the pill from the receptacle after the pill has been broken and/or crushed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pill pouch, comprising:
 a receptacle to contain a pill, the receptacle having an opening to receive the pill therein, wherein the receptacle is defined at least in part by a flexible side to facilitate breaking or crushing of the pill inside the receptacle; and   an access feature associated with the receptacle to facilitate removal of the pill from the receptacle after the pill has been at least one of broken and crushed.   
     
     
         2 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises a rectangular configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle comprises an angle greater than 90 degrees between adjacent edges to facilitate removal of the pill from the receptacle by guiding the pill toward the access feature. 
     
     
         4 . The pill pouch of  claim 3 , wherein the receptacle comprises a second angle greater than 90 degrees between second adjacent edges, such that edges associated with the first and second angles intersect the access feature. 
     
     
         5 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the access feature and the opening are disposed at opposite ends of the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the access feature is oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the access feature extends through the receptacle and the opening. 
     
     
         7 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the access feature is oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the access feature extends parallel to the flexible side. 
     
     
         8 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , further comprising a second flexible side opposite the first flexible side. 
     
     
         9 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing mechanism operable to alternately seal the opening and provide access to the receptacle through the opening, the sealing mechanism having a groove and ridge configured to releasably interlock with one another. 
     
     
         10 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the access feature comprises a luer connector. 
     
     
         11 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the access feature comprises a hole, a port, a slit, a breakable membrane, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The pill pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the access feature is configured to facilitate removal of the pill from the receptacle using an extraction instrument. 
     
     
         13 . The pill pouch of  claim 12 , wherein the extraction instrument comprises a syringe, a tube, a nozzle, a hypodermic needle, a hollow needle, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A pill pouch, comprising:
 a receptacle to contain a pill, the receptacle having an opening to receive the pill therein, wherein the receptacle is defined at least in part by a flexible side to facilitate breaking or crushing of the pill inside the receptacle;   a sealing mechanism operable to alternately seal the opening and provide access to the receptacle through the opening, the sealing mechanism having a groove and ridge configured to releasably interlock with one another; and   an access feature comprising a luer connector associated with the receptacle to facilitate removal of the pill from the receptacle after the pill has been at least one of broken and crushed, wherein the access feature is oriented such that a longitudinal axis of the access feature extends parallel to the flexible side.   
     
     
         15 . The pill pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the access feature further comprises a human interface portion to facilitate grasping by a user to facilitate manipulation of the pill pouch when breaking or crushing the pill. 
     
     
         16 . The pill pouch of  claim 14 , wherein the extraction instrument comprises a syringe. 
     
     
         17 . A pill pouch system, comprising:
 a pill pouch including
 a receptacle to contain a pill, the receptacle having an opening to receive the pill therein, and 
 an access feature comprising a luer connector to facilitate removal of the pill from the receptacle after the pill has been at least one of broken and crushed; and 
   an extraction instrument coupleable to the access feature to remove the pill from the receptacle.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the extraction instrument comprises a syringe. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the extraction instrument comprises a tube, a nozzle, a hypodermic needle, a hollow needle, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the pill pouch further comprises a sealing mechanism operable to alternately seal the opening and provide access to the receptacle through the opening, the sealing mechanism having a groove and ridge configured to releasably interlock with one another.