Abstract: Systemic drug delivery includes boluses of a semi-solid agar gel, each containing active ingredients, packed singly or in co-operating sets in blister packs, or loose in a container. When placed in the mouth the bolus is disrupted, comes apart, and releases the active ingredients. Sialogogues, flavours, and other additives assist in swallowing. Grains of the active ingredients may be encapsulated inside harder gel capsules. Active ingredients include over-the-counter medications and prescription medications. Applications include self-medication particularly in water—free situations such as public transport, medication for children, stroke victims or the aged.

Abstract: A dental hygiene system, incidentally attractive to children, based on a free-flow “toothpaste” composition in the form of a plurality of beads each having substantially impervious walls; each portion or bead including about enough toothpaste for an average cleaning procedure. Bead consistency, flavour, colour, shape, or size, can be varied, for sale as mixtures or as single kinds. A toothbrush having a handle modified with one or more internal cavities (one holding oral hygiene tables; the other holding dental hygiene beads) is included in the system. Preferred bead manufacture involves formation in a mould and selective drying of the bead wall. The novel toothpaste makes a substantial contribution to reduction of environmental waste (no waste tubes) and allows the manufacture and distribution of single-unit kits for oral and especially dental hygiene.

Abstract: Mixing a controlled amount of agar with regular oral, dental or skin hygiene compositions allows manufacture of homogenous, semi-solid single-use lumps or beads (200). Agar or analogous structural gelling agents confer sufficient rigidity and a sufficiently high melting point for storage, yet allow disruption of the bead on the skin or in the mouth without residues. Dental or skin care packs (600) hold sufficient beads and optionally a disposable brush. Blister packs (124) carry cast in-situ beads of one or a variety of active compositions. Shape, color and flavor variations (124C) motivate children towards dental care.

Abstract: A tool for opening a container sealed by a ring-pull seal is described. The hand-operated tool saves overloading a person's hands by gripping the ring-pull or tab, and manipulating the tab in a first direction so that the seal is broken, and then in a second direction so that the tab is laid flat or perhaps removed. For tabs with a large ring, there is a ring engaging means placed in relation to an adjacent sharp tool edge for pressing against the region of the frangible seal in order to initiate breaking of the seal, and a fulcrum or heel on which the tool can be rocked in order to lift the lid away. For beverage containers with smaller tabs the tab itself breaks the seal after being levered by the hand-operated tool.

Abstract: A dental hygiene system, incidentally attractive to children, based on a free-flow “toothpaste” composition in the form of a plurality of beads each having substantially impervious walls; each portion or bead including about enough toothpaste for an average cleaning procedure. Bead consistency, flavour, colour, shape, or size, can be varied, for sale as mixtures or as single kinds. A toothbrush having a handle modified with one or more internal cavities (one holding oral hygiene tables; the other holding dental hygiene beads) is included in the system. Preferred bead manufacture involves formation in a mould and selective drying of the bead wall. The novel toothpaste makes a substantial contribution to reduction of environmental waste (no waste tubes) and allows the manufacture and distribution of single-unit kits for oral and especially dental hygiene.