Mixing pan and mat

This invention relates to a mixing pan and a mat, together useable to reduce the likelihood of self-inflicted harm caused by intravenous drug using addicts.

It is generally accepted that a major health risk is associated with intravenous drug use. In particular, a risk exists because the cleanliness of the equipment used is often poor. In an effort to reduce self-inflicted harm, it has become common practice to provide sterile kits for users, including syringes and other equipment.

One common method of enabling use of drugs in solid or powered form is to first dissolve the solid or powder in liquid and then inject the liquid. A solution is heated in a metal pan or spoon and aspirated into a syringe before injection. Unfortunately drug users sometimes cannot find a suitable working space in which to prepare for injection so, for example, they may have to prepare in a toilet or the like using their lap to balance the pan and ingredients. The drawing of the solution into a syringe is a two handed operation and it is awkward to keep the pan steady. The pan is small and difficult to handle when the user has limited dexterity or is otherwise affected. Spillages often occur, particularly when the user is anxious to prepare. Then, the temptation of the user is to scoop-up any spilled solution, or solid, and carry on regardless of any contamination.

It is just one object of embodiments of this invention to provide equipment which assists drug users to overcome difficulties with existing equipment.

The present invention provides a drug mixing pan and a complementary mat, the pan and mat having means for preventing or substantially preventing their relative movement.

In one embodiment the mat is magnetic or magnetisable and the pan is likewise, respectively, magnetisable or magnetic. In this way the user can position the pan on the mat with less risk of spilling the pan's contents.

Preferably the pan is formed from sheet metal or other heat-proof material having a ferrous content sufficient for it to be magnetisable, for example a high ferrous grade stainless steel. Conveniently, the pan may have a flat underside to increase the area making contact with the mat. The pan may also have a handle including at least one portion, ideally folded, that, in use, makes contact with the mat to provide further stability. Further, the pan may include a dished portion and stepped area in the dished portion for providing an indication of a recommended fill level. Preferably the mat is magnetic. More preferably the mat is a mixture of vinyl polymer and magnetisable particles, for example barium ferrite powder.

The underside of the mat may be non-slip by virtue of the mechanical properties of the underside such as ridges or a roughened surface, and/or may be non-slip by virtue of the material properties such as tackiness or friction, and/or by virtue of adhesive properties, to inhibit slipping of the mat on a surface on which it is placed, e.g. a textile or skin.

The non-slip surface may be a coating or layer adhered to the mat, for example a polymer such as polyester with a high plasticiser content adhered to the vinyl mat by means of a contact adhesive.

Alternatively, relative movement can be prevented, for example, by the mat having a recess in which the pan can rest snugly. Alternatively still, the pan could be held by suction to the mat for example by means of a suction pad affixed to ^" the underside or handle of the pan. The pan may have an adhesive part on its underside or handle for being stuck to the mat.

According to another aspect the invention provides a substantially sterile kit for self injection, the kit including a mat and pan as described in any one of the paragraphs above.

The invention extends to any novel features described herein or any novel combination of features described herein, whether or not those features are described in that combination.

The invention can be put into effect in many different ways, specific examples only being described below with reference to the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a mat and pan combination according to the invention; and

Figure 2 shows a kit for self injecting.

Referring to Fig 1 and Fig 2, a mat 12 and a pan 14 will in practice usually be provided as a sterile pair 10 in a self injecting kit 30 (Fig 2) comprising other sterile elements such as a syringe, a swab and liquid. The mat 12 has an upper surface 13 which has harm reduction messages

16 printed or otherwise formed on it. The mat is formed from a flexible vinyl material which is impregnated with barium ferrite particles and magnetised. The mat has an underside 18 which, in this instance has a non-slip surface in the form of a roughed surface to prevent slipping. Alternatively, or in addition the

underside 18 can be coated with unpolymerised rubber or the like to provide a slightly tacky surface which will further aid its anti-slip properties, or can have a peel-off layer which exposes an adhesive. The flexibility of the vinyl mat enhances it versatility because the mat can conform to an irregular shape on which it rests, and can be carried in a pocket in comfort, for reuse.

The pan is pressed and cut from sheet stainless steel. The steel has sufficient ferrous content to be magnetised by the mat when in close proximity. The magnetic attraction, and stability of the pan, is further enhanced by the close proximity of a flat base 22 of the bowl to the mat 12 in use. The pan has a dished portion 20 which can hold a solution to be injected. The pan further includes a stepped circumferential portion 21 in the dished portion 20 which can provide an indication of the correct fill level.

The pan has a handle 24 which extends from the dished portion 20. The handle has two folded tabs 26 only one of which is visible. The ends 28 of the tabs 26 are approximately in the same plane as the flat base 22, which further enhances the stability of the pan 14 on the mat 12.

The pan 14 can be removed from the kit 30 and used to dissolve a drug and heat the solution prior to aspiration into a syringe. When preparation of the syringe is carried out, the pan 14 containing the solution to the correct level is placed on the mat, allowing two free hands to draw the solution into a syringe, via a filter. The mat 12 and pan 14 can be placed on any, not necessarily flat, surface for the drawing operation. The steadiness of the pan 14 held to mat 12, reduces the chances of spillage and allows a user to leave behind in the pan any unwanted additives in the prepared solution. The mat affords a relatively clean

and flat surface on which to work and rest the syringe etc, if such a surface is not otherwise available.

It will be apparent to the skilled addressee that many variants, modifications and alternatives could be usefully employed without departing from the scope of the invention. For example equivalent materials to those mentioned could be used. The pan may be held to the mat in other ways besides magnetism. For example the mat could have a recess in which the pan can rest snugly. Alternatively the pan could be held by suction to the mat for example by means of a suction pad affixed to the handle of the pan. The pan may have an adhesive part on its handle for being stuck to the mat.