U.S. patent application number 10/340804 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-15 for multiple compartment medical container.
This patent application is currently assigned to OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY, INC.. Invention is credited to Inoue, Fujio, Matsuno, Taro.
Application Number | 20040134802 10/340804 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33313991 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040134802 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Inoue, Fujio ; et
al. |
July 15, 2004 |
Multiple compartment medical container
Abstract
A multiple-chamber medical container comprising a container body
3 having two chambers 10 and 11 for storing medicaments and a
partition seal 20 separating the chamber 10 from the chamber 11,
and an outlet 32 attached to the container body 3 for allowing the
medicaments to be discharged from the chamber 11, the partition
seal 20 being openable so that the chambers 10 and 11 may
communicate with each other at the time of use, wherein the
container body 3 comprises a discharge-control seal 21 separating
the chamber 11 from the outlet 32 and being openable at the time of
use, and the force required to open the partition seal 20 is lower
than that required to open the discharge-control seal 21.
Inventors: |
Inoue, Fujio; (Naruto-shi,
JP) ; Matsuno, Taro; (Chiba-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARMSTRONG, KRATZ, QUINTOS, HANSON & BROOKS, LLP
1725 K STREET, NW
SUITE 1000
WASHINGTON
DC
20006
US
|
Assignee: |
OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY,
INC.
Naruto-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
33313991 |
Appl. No.: |
10/340804 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/219 ;
604/410; 604/416 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 1/10 20130101; A61J
1/2093 20130101; B65D 81/3272 20130101; A61J 1/2024 20150501 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/219 ;
604/410; 604/416 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/08 |
Claims
1. A multiple-chamber medical container comprising: a container
body having multiple chambers for storing medicaments and a
partition seal separating the chambers from each other; and an
outlet attached to the container body for allowing the medicaments
to be discharged from one of the chambers; the partition seal being
openable so that the chambers may communicate with each other at
the time of use; and the container body comprising a
discharge-control seal that separates at least one chamber from the
outlet and is openable at the time of use, wherein the force
required to open the partition seal is lower than that required to
open the discharge-control seal.
2. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 1,
wherein at least an innermost layer of the container body comprises
a film prepared from a mixture of two or more kinds of
thermoplastics having low miscibility with one anther and different
melting points, the peripheral edge portion thereof being
heat-sealed to form the container body in the shape of a bag; the
partition seal and the discharge-control seal being provided by
heat-sealing the surfaces of the film of the container body that
are facing each other; and the discharge-control seal having a
sealing strength which is lower than that of the peripheral edge
portion of the container body and higher than that of the partition
seal.
3. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 2,
wherein at least the innermost layer of the container body
comprises a film prepared from a mixture of polyethylene and
polypropylene or of polyethylene and cyclic olefin resin.
4. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 1,
wherein the partition seal is provided with at least one projecting
part that is projecting toward the chamber.
5. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 1,
wherein the discharge-control seal is formed arcwise around the
outlet.
6. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 1,
wherein the force required to open the discharge-control seal by
pressing a disc having a diameter of 100 mm against the container
body is 5-10 kg higher than that required to open the partition
seal by pressing the disc.
7. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 1,
wherein at least a part of the partition seal has a narrower width
than that of the discharge-control seal.
8. A multiple-chamber medical container comprising: a container
body having multiple chambers for storing medicaments and a
partition seal separating the chambers from each other; and an
outlet attached to the container body for allowing the medicaments
to be discharged from one of the chambers; the partition seal being
openable so that the chambers may communicate with each other at
the time of use; and the container body comprising a
discharge-control seal that separates at least one of the chambers
from the outlet and is openable at the time of use; wherein the
force required to open the partition seal is equal to that required
to open the discharge-control seal.
9. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 8,
wherein the discharge-control seal is formed arcwise around the
outlet.
10. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 1,
wherein the discharge-control seal is formed arcwise around the
outlet in the proximity thereof and the partition seal is formed
arcwise around the discharge-control seal at an interval required
to form the chambers.
11. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 8,
wherein the discharge-control seal is formed arcwise around the
outlet in the proximity thereof and the partition seal is formed
arcwise around the discharge-control seal at an interval required
to provide the chambers.
12. A multiple-chamber medical container comprising: at least one
inner container for storing a medicament that is openable by
increasing the internal pressure thereof; an outer container
containing the inner container and comprising a medicament chamber
for storing a medicament on the outside of the inner container; an
outlet connected to the outer container; and a discharge-control
seal separating the medicament chamber of the outer container from
the outlet; wherein a liquid medicament is contained in at least
the outer or inner container and the force required to open the
discharge-control seal is higher than that required to open the
inner container.
13. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 12,
wherein the force required to open the inner container by pressing
a disc having a diameter of 100 mm is 5-10 kg lower than that
required to open the discharge-control seal by pressing the disc
against the outer container.
14. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 12,
wherein the inner container comprises a belt-shaped seal that is
openable by increasing the internal pressure thereof and at least a
part of the seal has a narrower width than that of the
discharge-control seal.
15. The multiple-chamber medical container according to claim 12,
wherein the discharge-control seal is formed arcwise around the
outlet.
16. A multiple-chamber medical container comprising: multiple inner
containers that are openable by increasing the internal pressure
thereof; an outer container containing the multiple inner
containers; and an outlet connected to the outer container, wherein
a liquid medicament is contained in at least one of the inner
containers.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a medical container having
multiple chambers for individually storing various unstable
medicaments (liquid, powder or solid agents) which will deteriorate
with time if mixed together, wherein the medicaments stored in the
chambers can be mixed together aseptically without generating any
foreign matter by peeling off a partition seal separating the
chambers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Some of the medicaments that are administered to a patient
by intravenous injection are unstable and undesirably deteriorate
with time when they are mixed beforehand. For example, if an amino
acid transfusion solution and a glucose transfusion solution are
mixed and stored, the mixed solution will become brown by the
so-called Maillard reaction. When a fat emulsion is mixed with an
electrolytic solution and stored, the fat component will cause
coagulation. If a phosphoric acid-containing solution and a
calcium-containing solution are mixed, the precipitation of calcium
phosphate will result, causing undesirable changes.
[0003] For the storage of such medicaments, a medical container
having multiple chambers, in which components can be individually
contained prior to being mixed, is often used. FIG. 12 is a plan
view showing an example of such a conventional multiple-chamber
medical container. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view from the line
X-X of FIG. 12.
[0004] The multiple-chamber medical container has chambers 10 and
11 for storing each of two medicaments that should not be mixed or
dissolved beforehand. A weak partition seal 20 is disposed to
separate the chambers 10 and 11, ensuring that the medicaments in
the chambers 10 and 11 can each be isolated and stored safely and
securely until administration. A suspension hole 30 is located on
the upper end of the container, and an outlet 32 on the lower end
of the container to discharge the medicaments from the chamber 11.
A rubber plug (not illustrated) is disposed inside of the outlet
32, thereby stopping the discharge of medicament from the chamber
11 during storage.
[0005] The weak partition seal 20 is formed so as to be openable
when the internal pressures of the chambers 10 and 11 are
increased. At the time of use, force is applied to either of the
chambers 10 or 11 to open the weak partition seal 20, causing the
chambers 10 and 11 to communicate with each other and the
medicaments a and b to quickly mix or dissolve. To administer the
mixed medicament to a patient, the container is hung from a support
post or the like by the suspension hole 30, and a infusion tube is
then inserted into the rubber plug provided at the end of the
container. Thereby, the mixed medicament in the container can be
administered to a patient through the infusion tube.
[0006] In such a multiple-chamber medical container, however, a
medicament in liquid state is often contained in the chamber 11 to
which the outlet 32 is attached. Accordingly, if a infusion tube is
inserted into the rubber plug before opening the weak partition
seal 20, there is a possibility that the medicament will be
discharged from the outlet 32 prior to being mixed.
[0007] The present invention has been accomplished to solve the
problems described above, and an object of the present invention is
to provide a multiple-chamber medical container that assuredly
prevents the discharge of medicaments from the outlet prior to
being mixed.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The first embodiment of the present invention has been
accomplished to solve the above-described problems. The first
embodiment provides a medical container comprising a container body
having multiple chambers for storing medicaments and a partition
seal separating said chambers from each other, and an outlet
attached to the container body for allowing the medicaments to be
discharged from the chamber, wherein the partition seal is openable
so that the chambers can communicate with each other at the time of
use. The container body comprises a discharge-control seal that
separates at least one chamber from the outlet and is openable at
the time of use, and the force required to open the partition seal
is less than that required to open the discharge-control seal.
[0009] According to this constitution, even in case a infusion tube
is accidentally connected to the outlet before opening the
partition seal, the discharge of medicaments from the chamber to
the outlet can be prevented due to the discharge-control seal
disposed therebetween. In addition, since the force required to
open the weak discharge-control seal is higher than that required
to open the weak partition seal, the discharge-control seal can be
opened after the partition seal is opened, thereby discharging only
a mixed medicament from the outlet.
[0010] For example, the above difference between the force required
to open the two seals may be established as follows. When the
partition seal and the discharge-control seal are opened by
pressing a disc having a diameter of 100 mm against the container
body, the amount of force that must be applied to the disc to open
the discharge-control seal may be adjusted to be 5-10 kg higher
than that required to open the partition seal. The establishment of
such a degree of difference can prevent the discharge-control seal
from opening before the partition seal opens.
[0011] In addition, the force required to open the partition seal
can be set to be lower than that required to open the
discharge-control seal by providing at least a part of the
partition seal with a narrower width than that of the
discharge-control seal.
[0012] In the above multiple-chamber medical container, at least
the innermost layer of the container body comprises a film made
from a mixture of two or more kinds of thermoplastics having low
miscibility with one another and different melting points, and the
container body is given the shape of a bag by heat-sealing its
peripheral edge portion. The partition seal and the
discharge-control seal are prepared by heat-sealing the facing
surfaces of the film of the container body. The sealing strength of
the discharge-control seal may be set to be lower than that of the
peripheral edge portion of the container body and higher than that
of the partition seal. Specifically, it is preferable that at least
the innermost layer of the container body comprise a film made from
a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene or of polyethylene and
cyclic olefin resin. When the container body comprises polyethylene
and the like in this way, the seals can be formed by heat-sealing,
therefore facilitating the production of the container.
[0013] The discharge-control seal may be formed arcwise around the
outlet. The seal has a smaller area in this case, with the result
that production time and cost can be reduced. Moreover, creases are
not likely to be produced in a seal with a small area, providing
the advantage that the percent defective can be reduced.
[0014] The partition seal may be provided with at least one
projecting part toward the chamber. Introduction of such a
projecting part leads to an easier opening seal, as the projecting
part starts to be unsealed when only a little force is applied to
the chamber.
[0015] Both of the seals may be shaped in various forms. For
example, the discharge-control seal may be formed arcwise around
the outlet in the proximity thereof, and the partition seal may be
formed arcwise around the discharge-control seal at an interval
required for chamber formation.
[0016] The second embodiment provides a multiple-chamber medical
container comprising a container body having multiple chambers for
storing medicaments and a partition seal separating said chambers
from each other, and an outlet attached to the container body for
allowing the medicaments to be discharged from the chamber, wherein
the partition seal is openable so that the chambers communicate
with each other at the time of use. The container body comprises a
discharge-control seal that separates at least one chamber from the
outlet and is openable at the time of use, and the force required
to open the partition seal is equal to that required to open the
discharge-control seal. The discharge-control seal is not opened
before an opening of the partition seal also in this case, and
similar effect can be obtained as in the above-mentioned first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] The third embodiment of the present invention has been
accomplished to solve the above-described problems and comprises at
least one inner container for storing a medicament that is openable
by increasing the internal pressure thereof, an outer container
comprising the inner container and a medicament chamber for storing
a medicament on the outside of the inner container, an outlet
connected to the outer container, a discharge-control seal
separating the medicament chamber of the outer container from the
outlet, wherein a liquid medicament is contained in at least the
outer or inner container and the force required to open the weak
discharge-control seal is higher than that required to open the
inner container. According to this constitution, similarly to the
first embodiment, a medicament is not discharged from the outlet as
long as the discharge-control seal is not opened, even if a
infusion tube or the like is accidentally inserted into the outlet.
Accordingly, it is ensured that the discharge of medicament before
mixture is prevented.
[0018] For example, the opening strength described above may be
established as follows: the amount of force that must be applied to
open the inner container by pressing with a disc having a diameter
of 100 mm should be 5-10 kg lower than that applied to open the
discharge-control seal by pressing the disc against the outer
container.
[0019] The inner container may comprise a belt-shaped seal that is
openable by increasing the internal pressure, wherein at least a
part of the seal is formed to have the narrower width than that of
the discharge-control seal, ensuring that the force required to
open the discharge-control seal is higher than that required to
open the inner container. The discharge-control seal may be formed
arcwise around the outlet in order to save time and cost for the
production.
[0020] The fourth embodiment of the present invention comprises
multiple inner containers that are openable by increasing the
internal pressure, an outer container comprising the multiple inner
containers, and an outlet connected to the outer container, wherein
a liquid medicament is contained in at least one of the inner
containers. According to this constitution, similarly to the first
embodiment, a medicament is not discharged from the outlet as long
as the inner container is not opened, even if a infusion tube or
the like is accidentally inserted into the outlet. Accordingly, it
is ensured that the discharge of medicament before mixture is
prevented.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of
the multiple-chamber medical container according to the present
invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the multiple-chamber medical
container shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing other example of the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the first
embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a different example of the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the first
embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another example of the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the first
embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a plan view showing further different example of
the multiple-chamber medical container according to the first
embodiment.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the second embodiment of the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 8 illustrates an action of the projecting part in the
weak partition seal of the second embodiment. FIG. 8(a) is an
enlarged view of the projecting part and FIG. 8(b) is a
cross-sectional view from the line B-B of FIG. 8(a).
[0029] FIG. 9 is a plan view showing other example of the
multiple-chamber medical container of the second embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the third embodiment of the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the fourth embodiment of the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the present
invention.
[0032] FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an example of the
conventional multiple-chamber medical container.
[0033] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view from the X-X line of FIG.
12.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0034] Embodiments of the multiple-chamber medical container
according to the present invention will be illustrated below with
reference to the figures. In the following description, the same
number is given to the identical or similar part through the
embodiments.
[0035] (The First Embodiment)
[0036] The first embodiment of the multiple-chamber medical
container according to the present invention will be illustrated in
detail. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the multiple-chamber
medical container according to the first embodiment and FIG. 2 is a
plan view of the multiple-chamber medical container shown in FIG.
1.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, a multiple-chamber medical container 1
comprises a container body 3 formed in the shape of rectangle and
an outlet 32 of medicament which is connected to the container body
3 and has a rubber plug 31 inside thereof. The container body 3 has
a first chamber 10 and a second chamber 11 which are disposed in
order in the longer direction, and the two chambers 10 and 11 are
separated from each other by an openable weak partition seal
(partition seal) 20. The outlet 32 is connected to the second
chamber 11, and the outlet 32 and the second chamber 11 are
separated from each other by an openable weak discharge-control
seal (discharge-control seal) 21. Each of the chambers 10 and 11
contains a medicament a or b respectively, which are undesirable to
be mixed or dissolved together in advance. For example, the
chambers 10 and 11 may contain an amino acid transfusion solution
and a glucose transfusion solution, respectively.
[0038] The container body 3 is formed in the shape of a bag by
carrying out heat-sealing or adhesion of the peripheral edge
portion of two single-layered or multi-layered films. Material of
the films may be selected from various resins used as raw materials
of medical container, such as polyethylene, polypropylene,
polystyrene, and like thermoplastic resins.
[0039] The weak partition seal 20 and the weak discharge-control
seal 21 are formed by heat-sealing of the facing films of container
body 3. The weak discharge-control seal 21 may be disposed parallel
to the weak partition seal 20 as shown in FIG. 1, or may be formed
arcwise around the outlet 32 as shown in FIG. 3. This arcwise
formation of discharge-control seal 21 leads to a smaller area of
the seal, resulting that time and cost for the production thereof
can be reduced. Moreover, a crease is hardly produced in the weak
seal 21 having a small area, and consequently the advantage is
given that the percent defective can be reduced.
[0040] Opening strength required for opening the weak
discharge-control seal 21 should be higher than that for opening
the weak partition seal 20. The "opening strength" is the strength
required for opening a part of the weak seal 20 or 21 so that the
chambers partitioned by the weak seals 20 or 21 can communicate
with each other. The opening strengths can be measured by various
methods. For example, in pressing a disc with a diameter of 100 mm
against portions of the container body having the same capacity,
the amounts of force applied at the time of opening each of the
weak seals can be employed. In this case, it is preferable that the
pressure required for opening the weak partition seal 20 is 5-10 kg
lower than that for the weak discharge-control seal 21.
[0041] Illustrated below is the use of the multiple-chamber medical
container having above-mentioned constitution. In order to
administer a medicament from the container to a patient, pressure
is applied on the first chamber by pressing with a hand or the like
to increase the internal pressure of the chamber 10. Thereby the
weak partition seal 20 is opened so that the first chamber 10 and
the second chamber 11 communicate with each other, and the
medicaments a and b in each chamber 10 and 11 are mixed together.
After a needle from infusion tube (not illustrated) is inserted
into the rubber plug within the outlet 32, the first and second
chambers 10 and 11 are whole pressed to increase the internal
pressure of the communicating chambers 10 and 11, and then the weak
discharge-control seal 21 is opened. In this case, the needle may
be inserted into the plug after opening the weak discharge-control
seal 21. In this manner, the mixed medicament in the container 1 is
administered from the outlet 32 through the infusion tube to a
patient.
[0042] Thus, according to the present embodiment, the weak
discharge-control seal 21 is provided so that the second chamber 11
and the outlet 32 are not directly communicated with each other.
Therefore, even if a needle from infusion tube is accidentally
inserted into the outlet 32 before the weak partition seal 20 is
opened, the medicament b in the second chamber 11 can be prevented
from flowing out of the outlet 32 before mixture. In this case,
users can recognize that the weak discharge-control seal 21 and the
weak partition seal 20 are not opened, because the medicament b
does not discharge from the outlet 32 even if a needle is inserted.
Accordingly, the weak discharge-control seal 21 can induce proper
use, i.e. the weak discharge-control seal 21 should be opened in
the right order after the opening of weak partition seal 20.
[0043] In addition, since the strength required for opening the
weak discharge-control seal 21 is adjusted to be higher than that
required for the weak partition seal 20, the following advantages
can be provided. While the weak discharge-control seal 21 is opened
after the weak partition seal 20 is opened by pressing the first
chamber 10 in the above description, in some cases the second
chamber 11 may be pressed first. In this case, the pressure
increasing in the second chamber 11 acts upon both the weak
partition seal 20 and the weak discharge-control seal 21. However,
since the force required to open the weak discharge-control seal 21
is higher than that required to open the weak partition seal 20 as
mentioned above, the weak partition seal 20 opens first. Therefore,
it is before an opening of the weak discharge-control seal 21 that
both chambers 10 and 11 will communicate with each other to mix the
medicaments. Specifically, opening of the weak discharge-control
seal 21 alone prior to the partition seal 20 can be prevented, and
only the mixed medicament is allowed to be discharged from the
outlet 32.
[0044] In order to control the forces required to open the weak
discharge-control seal 21 and the weak partition seal 20, various
ways as shown below can be used. For example, if the container body
3 is made from polyethylene, the opening strength can be controlled
by adjusting the sealing strength. In order to establish the
difference of sealing strength, for example, heat-sealing time for
the weak discharge-control seal 21 is adjusted to be shorter than
that for a peripheral edge portion 2 of the container body 3 and
longer than that for the weak partition seal 20. Otherwise it is
possible to condition the sealing strength by sealing the weak
discharge-control seal 21 with a pressure lower than that for the
peripheral edge portion 2 of container body 3 and also higher than
that for the weak partition seal 20. In this case, the peripheral
edge portion 2 of container body 3 has the sealing strength higher
than that of the weak partition seal 20, and therefore the
peripheral edge portion 2 of container body 3 is not allowed to
open even after opening of the weak partition seal 20, preventing
that the medicaments leak out from the chambers 10 and 11.
[0045] The above-mentioned sealing strength can be expressed with
peel strength shown in JIS-Z0238. The peel strength indicates the
strength required for peeling off a weak seal having a width of 15
mm, i.e. the strength required for separating heat-sealed surfaces
of two films. Preferably, the peel strength of weak partition seal
20 is adjusted to be 1N/15 mm to 7N/15 mm, and the peel strength of
weak discharge-control seal 21 is to be 0.1N/15 mm to 1N/15 mm
higher than that of weak partition seal 20.
[0046] When at least the innermost layer of the container body
comprises two or more thermoplastics having low miscibility with
one another and different melting point, the difference of sealing
strength can be established more easily. Examples of such plastics
include mixtures of polyethylene and a resin selected from
styrene-based resin, methacrylate ester-based resin, poly
4-methylpentene, polyester, polyamide and polypropylene. Among them
polyethylene and polypropylene are especially preferable because
the safety is confirmed for medical application and the handling
direction in manufacturing is established. The mixing ratio of
polyethylene and polypropylene is not especially limited but
generally selected from the range of 1:9 to 9:1.
[0047] In addition, the force required to open the weak
discharge-control seal 21 can be set to be higher than that
required to open the weak partition seal 20 also by adjusting the
widths of seals 20 and 21. The force required to open the weak
partition seal 20 can be weaken by making at least a part of the
width of weak partition seal 20 narrower than the width of weak
discharge-control seal 21. This makes it possible to establish a
difference of opening strength between the weak seals 20 and 21
while using the sealing time or sealing pressure still same between
the seals 20 and 21. Therefore, time and cost for producing the
container 1 can be reduced. The location where the weak partition
seal 20 is narrowed may be either one or more. In addition, the
width of whole weak partition seal may be narrowed.
[0048] The force required to open the weak discharge-control seal
21 is adjusted to be higher than that required to open the weak
partition seal 20 in the above description, however, these forces
can be equivalent in some cases. When the second chamber 11 is
pressed in this case, the weak partition seal 20 and the weak
discharge-control seal 21 will open almost simultaneously instead
of opening alone prior to the seal 20. Accordingly, it is ensured
that the medicaments in each of the chambers are mixed together
before being administrated to a patient.
[0049] Moreover, if the pressures required for opening the weak
partition seal 20 and for the weak discharge-control seal 21 are
adjusted to be almost equivalent in this way, the weak partition
seal 20 and the weak discharge-control seal 21 can be formed by
sealing under the same conditions, thereby facilitating the
production of the multiple-chamber container 1. Especially in the
case of a multiple-chamber container in which powders are contained
in the second chamber 11 on the side of the outlet 32 and a liquid
medicament in the first chamber 10, the first chamber 10 on the
distant side of the medicament outlet 32 will be pressed.
Consequently, the weak partition seal 20 will be opened and the
liquid medicament and the powders are mixed without fail,
preventing the weak discharge-control seal 21 from opening alone
before an opening of the weak partition seal 20.
[0050] In addition to the linear shape as mentioned above, the weak
partition seal 20 can also be shaped into a curve, for example. In
the example as shown in FIG. 4, the weak discharge-control seal 21
is formed arcwise to surround the outlet 32 and in the outer side
thereof the weak partition seal 20 is formed arcwise almost
concentrically with the weak discharge-control seal 21, locating
the first chamber 10 in the upper part and the second chamber 21 in
the lower part of the container body 3. Such constitutions of the
seals 20 and 21 can also produce effects similar to the
above-described ones.
[0051] In the present embodiment, two chambers 10 and 11 are
arranged side by side in the longer direction of the container body
3. However, they may be disposed alongside in the crossing
direction of the longer direction, for example as shown in FIG. 5.
The figure shows the multiple-chamber medical container 1 where the
weak discharge-control seal 21 in the shape of inverted V is
disposed to surround the outlet 32. The weak partition seal 20,
which is narrower than the weak discharge-control seal 21, is
extending from the apex of the weak discharge-control seal 21 to
the opposite peripheral edge portion 2 in the longer direction of
the container body 3, and forming the first chamber 10 on the left
side and the second chamber 11 on the right side of the container
body 3. As shown in said figure, it is preferable to provide a
guide seal 22 that slopes from the peripheral edge portion 2 on the
side of the container body 3 towards the apex of the weak
discharge-control seal 21 and is broader than the weak
discharge-control seal 21. If such guide seal 22 is provided, all
the medicament contained in the first chamber 10 can be flowed into
the second chamber 11 when the weak partition seal 20 opens.
[0052] In this multiple-chamber medical container 1, the force
required to open the weak discharge-control seal 21 is intensified
by forming the width of the weak discharge-control seal 21 broader
than that of the weak partition seal 20, so that the weak partition
seal 20 will open before the weak discharge-control seal 21. Since
the forces required to open the weak seals 20 and 21 can be
differentiated without making a difference of sealing time or
sealing pressure between the weak seals 20 and 21, time and cost
for producing the container 1 can be reduced. In order to establish
such difference of opening strength between the weak seals, not
only adjusting their widths but also various methods such as
adjusting the sealing time and the like can be employed.
[0053] As described above, in order for the guide seal 22 not to
peel easily, the width of guide seal 22 is formed broader than that
of the weak discharge-control seal 21. However, for example as
shown in FIG. 6, the guide seal 22 may be combined with the
peripheral edge portion 2 by sealing the part surrounded by the
guide seal 22 and by the peripheral edge portion 2 so that the
guide seal 22 can be prevented from opening without fault.
[0054] (The Second Embodiment)
[0055] The second embodiment of the multiple-chamber medical
container according to the present invention will be illustrated
with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the second
embodiment and FIG. 8(a) is a plan view illustrating action of a
projecting part. FIG. 8(b) is a cross-sectional view from the line
B-B of FIG. 8(a).
[0056] The second embodiment is mainly different from the
above-described first embodiment in that the projecting part is
provided for relatively lowering the pressure required for opening
the weak partition seal.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 7, in this multiple-chamber medical
container 1, the weak partition seal 20 and the weak
discharge-control seal 21 have the same width and are sealed under
the same sealing time and the same sealing pressure. The weak
partition seal 20 incorporates a V-shaped projecting part 20a in
its middle, the projecting part 20a enabling the weak partition
seal 20 to open before the weak discharge-control seal 21 as
described below.
[0058] As shown in FIG. 8(a), if the internal pressure of the
second chamber 11 increases, the weak partition seal 20 receives
pressure in the directions as indicated by arrows. As the pressure
acts perpendicularly and equally on the seal 20, total pressure
acting on the area near an apex C of the projecting part 20a is
higher than those on the other areas of the seal 20. In this way,
as shown in FIG. 8(b), this pressure acts in the direction of
separating the films that constitute the container body 3. When
internal pressures of chambers 10 and 11 are increased, the weak
partition seal 20 starts to open from the apex C of the projecting
part 20a. Then the opening quickly progresses under the action of
pressure, and the first chamber 10 and the second chamber 11
communicate with each other and the medicaments a and b are mixed.
Subsequently, if the container body 3 is pressed further, the weak
discharge-control seal 21 is opened so that the mixed medicament
can flow out from the outlet 32.
[0059] Thus, according to the present embodiment, due to the
v-shaped projecting part 20a provided in the weak partition seal
20, even if the weak partition seal 20 and the weak
discharge-control seal 21 have the same width and are sealed under
the same temperature and pressure, the projecting part 20a starts
to open first when pressure is applied to the chambers 10 and 11,
so that it is possible to open the weak partition seal 20 before
the weak discharge-control seal 21 opens. Consequently, the weak
discharge-control seal 21 is not opened until mixing of the
medicaments a and b in the chambers 10 and 11 is surely finished,
therefore the medicament after mixture is allowed to flow out from
the outlet 32.
[0060] Moreover, in the present embodiment, the strength required
for opening of the weak seals 20 and 21 can be adjusted only by
changing the shape of weak partition seal 20. Therefore, sealing of
the weak seals 20 and 21 can be carried out under the same
conditions without changing the sealing time or the like.
Consequently, it is possible to reduce the time and cost for
producing the container 1. Specifically, since the weak partition
seal 10 and the weak discharge-control seal 11 have the same width,
uneven sealing can be prevented and the whole weak seals 10 and the
11 can be sealed uniformly.
[0061] In the present embodiment, the projecting part 20a is
provided in the multiple-chamber medical container 1 wherein
chambers 10 and 11 are disposed side by side in the longer
direction of the container body 3. This projecting part 20a is of
course also applicable in case chambers 10 and 11 are arranged in
the direction crossing the longer direction of the container body
3, as shown in FIG. 9. Moreover, the number of projecting part 20a
is not limited to one, and as shown in FIG. 9 two or more may be
provided or the direction of each apex of V-shape may be
varied.
[0062] The shape of the projecting part is not limited to v-shape
as long as having a convex to which a pressure easily focuses.
[0063] (The Third Embodiment)
[0064] The third embodiment of the multiple-chamber medical
container according to the present invention will be illustrated
with reference to FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the third
embodiment.
[0065] The multiple-chamber medical container according to the
present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a
partition weak seal is not provided and a bag-shaped inner
container storing at least one of the medicaments to be mixed is
equipped inside the container body.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 10, the multiple-chamber medical container
1 comprises the arc-shaped weak discharge-control seal
(discharge-control seal) 21 around the outlet 32, by which the
medicament chamber 12 surrounded by the peripheral edge portion 2
of the container body 4 as an outer container is separated from the
outlet 32. In the medicament chamber 12, the medicament a among two
kinds of medicament to be mixed is directly stored and the inner
container 13 formed in the shape of a bag is contained. The inner
container 13 has a weak seal (seal) 23 formed by adhering the
peripheral edge portions of two layered films together, inside of
which another liquid medicament b is contained. The weak seal 23 is
prepared with lower sealing strength than that of the weak
discharge-control seal 21 in such a manner that it can be opened by
small power. There are various means to provide the inner container
13 openable by such small power. For example, at least a part of
the width of weak seal 23 of the inner container 13 may be
narrowed. Among the two kinds of medicaments a and b, at least one
should be a liquid.
[0067] If the container body 4 is pressed for mixing the
medicaments, the inner container 13 inside thereof is also
pressured and the internal pressure of the inner container 13 will
increase. Thereby the weak seal 23 opens before the weak
discharge-control seal 21, and the liquid medicament b stored in
the inner container 13 diffuses to be mixed with the medicament a
in the medicament chamber 12 of the container body 4. Further
pressure on the container body 4 will open the weak
discharge-control seal 21 and then the mixed medicament is allowed
to be discharged by inserting a needle into the outlet 32.
[0068] Thus, according to the present embodiment, due to the weak
discharge-control seal 21 separating the medicament chamber 12 from
the outlet 32, an unmixed medicament can be prevented from flowing
out even in case the outlet 32 is accidentally opened before mixing
the medicaments. Moreover, since opening strength required for the
weak discharge-control seal 21 is adjusted to be higher than that
for the weak seal 23, the weak seal 23 can be opened before the
weak discharge-control seal 21 opens when the container body 4 is
pressured. Consequently, the seal 23 is already open and the
medicaments are in a state of mixture at the time the weak
discharge-control seal 21 is opened, therefore only the mixed
medicament can be allowed to flow out from the outlet 32.
Furthermore, as it is unnecessary to provide a partition weak seal
similarly to the first and second embodiments, the production step
can be simplified.
[0069] The weak seal 23 is provided in the peripheral edge portion
of the inner container 13 in the present embodiment but not limited
thereto. For example, the weak seal 23 may be provided to cover an
opening prepared only in a part of the inner container 13. In
addition, without providing the weak seal 23 as above the inner
container 13 may be prepared from a film of low strength. In this
case, either part of the inner container 13 can be ruptured by
pressure from the outside, allowing an internal liquid medicament
to flow out into the chamber 12.
[0070] The difference of opening strength between the weak
discharge-control seal 21 and the inner container 13 may be
established, for example as described in the first embodiment: when
the weak discharge-control seal 22 is opened by pressing with a
disc having a diameter of 100 mm, the required amount of force may
be adjusted to be 5-10 kg higher than that required to open the
inner container 13. In case the inner container 13 is provided with
the weak seal 23, a difference of opening strength can be
established using peel strength described in JIS-Z0238. This
difference of peel strength can be established as described above
in the first embodiment.
[0071] One of the methods to establish such difference of opening
strength is to provide the weak seal of the inner container 13 in
the shape of a belt having narrower width than that of the weak
discharge-control seal 21.
[0072] (The Fourth Embodiment)
[0073] The fourth embodiment of the multiple-chamber medical
container according to the present invention will be illustrated
with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing the
multiple-chamber medical container according to the fourth
embodiment.
[0074] The multiple-chamber medical container according to the
present embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a
weak discharge-control seal and a partition weak seal are not
provided and inner containers each storing a medicament to be mixed
are equipped inside the container body.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 11, the multiple-chamber medical container
1 comprises the chamber 14 surrounded by the peripheral edge
portion 2 of the container body 4 as an outer container, the
chamber 4 comprising two bag-shaped inner containers 15 and 16,
each of which stores the medicament a or b to be mixed. Each of the
inner containers 15 and 16 has a weak seal 23 formed by adhering
the peripheral edge portions of two layered films together, in
which the medicament a or b is stored. At least one of the
medicaments a and b should be a liquid. Each of the inner
containers 15 and 16 is provided in the form of rectangle and the
weak seal 23 thereof is sealed with an almost equal sealing
strength.
[0076] If the container body 4 is pressed at the time of mixing
medicaments, the pressure also acts on the inner containers 15 and
16 incorporated therein, then the internal pressures of inner
containers 15 and 16 increases. Thus, weak seals 23 of inner
containers 15 and 16 are opened by pressing the container body 4,
then the medicaments a and b each contained inside of the seals
will diffuse in the chamber 14 to be mixed. Subsequently, the mixed
medicament can be discharged by inserting a needle into the outlet
32.
[0077] Thus, according to the present embodiment, the medicaments a
and b to be mixed are each stored in the inner containers 15 and 16
respectively, which are incorporated in the container body 4.
Therefore, even in case the outlet 32 is accidentally opened before
pressing the container body 4, the medicaments can be prevented
from flowing out. Moreover, since the container 1 is produced by
providing the inner containers 15 and 16 in which the medicaments
are already contained and incorporating them into the container
body 4, it is not necessary to supply the weak partition seal 20
and the weak discharge-control seal 21 as in the first or third
embodiment. Therefore the production process can be simplified.
[0078] In the same way as the third embodiment, the weak seals 23
of inner containers 15 and 16 may be provided to cover an opening
prepared only in a part of the inner containers 15 and 16 or may be
prepared from a film of low strength.
[0079] Each of the above embodiments of the present invention
provides a sealing position as a weak seal prepared by the
heat-sealing of films. However, a sealing portion may be provided,
for example, by preparing a convex portion and a concave portion
respectively on the internal surfaces of facing films, which are
subjected to an elastic deformation to carry out concavo-convex
interdigitation. In this case also, if the internal pressure of the
container increases, the concavo-convex interdigitation will be
disjointed so that the chambers communicate with each other. Each
seal may also have another constitution, as long as it can be
opened by increasing the internal pressure.
[0080] In each embodiment described above, the multiple-chamber
medical container is provided so that two kinds of medicament can
be mixed. However, it does not constitute a limitation and the
multiple-chamber medical container may comprise two or more
chambers or two or more inner containers.
* * * * *