CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES

**Definition:** This place covers:

Apparatus, devices, or methods specially adapted for changing or fashioning bulk medicines, or their essential constituents, into pharmaceutical products having specific physical forms designed to either:

facilitate their accurate dispensing to, or proper usage by, humans (e.g., tablets of specified dosage),

enhance their desirability so as to improve their likelihood of being consumed or used (e.g., candy coated tablets, impregnated food, lubricated suppositories),

improve their ability to, or make them physically able to, be consumed or used (e.g., encapsulated fish oil, ointments), or

increase their effectiveness.

Apparatus, devices, or methods specially adapted for administering medications or pharmaceutical products to humans through their oral cavity.

Receptacles that are not designed to be ingestible and are specially adapted for holding or containing medicines or pharmaceutical products prior to their usage or consumption by humans.

Receptacles specially adapted to hold, contain, or transport pharmaceutical, surgical, or therapy related materials other than medicines or pharmaceutical products (e.g., containers for storing blood).

Hollow flexible conduits specially adapted, or solely intended, for the purpose of providing nutriments in fluid or fluent forms to humans by insertion of the conduits into an orifice of their bodies (e.g., enteral feeding using functioning gastrointestinal tract).

Containers specially adapted for holding water or nutriments in fluid or fluent forms (e.g., feeding bottles) that is withdrawn by the sucking of infants, young children, or other humans (e.g., patients, disabled persons) on orally engaged portions or subcomponents of the containers.

The orally engaged subcomponents per se of the containers of the preceding paragraph (e.g., compressible rubber teats for feeding bottles) which are specially adapted for infants, young children, or other humans to suck upon to withdraw water or nutriments in fluid or fluent forms from the containers.

Other types of apparatus or devices specially adapted for orally administering only nutriments in fluid or fluent forms to infants, patients or disabled persons.

Devices that are not designed to be ingestible and are specially adapted, or solely intended, for either:

soothing, calming, or relaxing infants or young children by relieving a physical craving (e.g., oral pacifier) or

allowing infants or young children to relieve minor irritations or inflammations themselves though usage of the devices (e.g., teething devices for gum irritation).

Devices or receptacle specially adapted, or solely intended, for receiving spittle, phlegm, or other forms of naturally occurring oral discharge from humans.

Devices specially adapted to prevent irritation of the teat portion of the mammary gland of humans from abrasive or rubbing contact.

Specially adapted subcomponents or steps for the above types of apparatus, containers, devices or methods of the preceding paragraphs that are not provided for in another subclass.

Auxiliary appliances or accessories specially adapted for use with the apparatus, containers, or devices of the preceding paragraphs to facilitate either:

the proper dispensation or usage of medications or pharmaceutical products (e.g., medication reminders, pill counters) or

the taking of food orally by humans.

**Limiting references (this place does not cover):** - Infusion devices -> A61M5/14 - Syringe ampoules or cartridges -> A61M5/28 - Time release microcapsules for introduction of media into body and other devices for introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body -> A61M31/00 - Time release medication patches for application to human bodies -> A61M35/00 - Tubes, tube connectors, valves or tube couplings specially adapted for medical use -> A61M39/00

**Glossary:** - Disabled person: A human being that is unable to do a certain basic physical task (e.g., walking) without assistance due to a physical or mental impairment/condition. - Medicine, Medication: Chemical or biological substance intended to be used for the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, alleviation, or prevention of diseases, disorders, injuries, or any other abnormal physical or mental state in humans. - Patient: Human being awaiting or undergoing any form of (a) medical care (e.g., testing) or treatment by medical staff (e.g., doctors, dentists, midwives, chiropractors) or (b) physical tending (e.g., feeding) by care providers (e.g., hospice or nursing home staff) due to impairment. - Pharmaceutical product: Man made or natural medicines specially adapted by manufactures or pharmacies into forms that facilitate their internal or external usage by humans.