U.S. patent application number 11/375188 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-13 for multi-chamber container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Baylor College of Medicine. Invention is credited to Toshiya Okahisa.
Application Number | 20070209951 11/375188 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38134138 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070209951 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okahisa; Toshiya |
September 13, 2007 |
Multi-chamber container
Abstract
A multi-chamber container of the present invention is divided
into a plurality of filling chambers 11, 12 by a seal 13, and has a
container body 1 with the chambers 11, 12 filled with respective
solutions, and a cover 2 that covers at least one of the chambers
11, 12 of the container body 1. The cover 2 includes a pair of
rigid members 21 that sandwich the seal portion 13 from the
outside, and seal portions 22 provided to close the rigid members
21. In this multi-chamber container, the cover 2 is held when the
filling chambers 11, 12 are not opened in therebetween, while being
dropped easily when the filling chambers 11, 12 are opened in
therebetween and the thickness of the seal portion 13
increases.
Inventors: |
Okahisa; Toshiya; (Houston,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAUD-DUFFY GROUP LLP
306 INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD
SUITE 206
MIDDLETOWN
CT
06457
US
|
Assignee: |
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston
TX
|
Family ID: |
38134138 |
Appl. No.: |
11/375188 |
Filed: |
March 13, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 1/10 20130101; A61J
1/2093 20130101; A61J 1/2024 20150501; A61J 1/2034 20150501 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/219 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/08 20060101
B65D025/08 |
Claims
1. A multi-chamber container which accommodates a plurality of
solutions and is divided into a plurality of filling chambers by an
opening preventing portion, comprising: a container body with the
chambers filled with the solutions respectively; and a covering
member that covers at least one of the filling chambers of the
container body, wherein the covering member has a pair of rigid
members that sandwich the opening preventing portion from the
outside, and seal portions provided to close the pair of rigid
members.
2. The multi-chamber container according to claim 1, wherein one of
the filling chambers is covered with the covering member when the
filling chambers are not opened in therebetween, and the covering
member drops when the filling chambers are opened in therebetween
and a thickness of the opening preventing portion increases.
3. The multi-chamber container according to claim 1, wherein the
pair of rigid members are plates.
4. The multi-chamber container according to claim 1, wherein the
container body has a cock at its one end, and a hole at the other
end to hang the container body.
5. The multi-chamber container according to claim 4, wherein the
covering member covers at least the one end.
6. The multi-chamber container according to claim 4, wherein the
covering member covers at least the other end.
7. The multi-chamber container according to claim 1, wherein
lengths of the rigid members are shorter than a width of the
covering member.
8. The multi-chamber container according to claim 1, wherein
lengths of the rigid members are longer than a width of the
covering member.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-chamber container,
and more particularly, to a multi-chamber container which
accommodates two or more solutions to enable the solutions to be
mixed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventionally, in the case of mixing two or more solutions,
in order to prevent the solutions from deteriorating with time due
to the interaction, the solutions have been mixed and adjusted
immediately before administration in medical fields. However, such
mixing of solutions immediately before administration has defects
such as contamination with microorganisms and/or intrusion of a
foreign substance, insufficient mixing, inability of prompt
administration and the like. Therefore, such a multi-chamber
container is currently being developed that the container is
provided with barrier which separates the solutions, such as a seal
which can be peeled by application of pressure, and that each of a
plurality of chambers partitioned by the barrier is filled with a
respective unmixed solution. In this multi-chamber container, the
barrier is released immediately before administration to mix the
solutions.
[0003] As a method of releasing the barrier to mix solutions in
such a multi-chamber container, there are a method of pressing a
filling chamber by hand or the like to decrease the volume of the
chamber, and thereby releasing the barrier by pressure of the
solution inside the chamber to mix the solutions, another method of
providing an injection plug extending from a filling chamber to
another filling chamber through the barrier, and opening the
injection plug to mix the solutions, and the like.
[0004] In such mixing methods, opening operation (pressing or
opening of the plug) is necessary independently of mounting
operation in mounting the container to a predetermined device to
administer. A possibility thereby arises that solutions are
administered without performing the opening operation. Further, it
is difficult to confirm that the barrier is released and the
solutions are mixed, making it difficult to find that the opening
operation is not performed. Furthermore, in a type of opening a
plug to mix solutions, the opened plug is left in the chamber,
resulting in a problem of intrusion of the foreign substance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
multi-chamber container that prevents an occurrence of forgetting
to mix solutions while enabling intrusion of a foreign substance to
be prevented.
[0006] A multi-chamber container of the invention is a
multi-chamber container which accommodates a plurality of
solutions, is divided into a plurality of filling chambers by an
opening preventing portion, and has a container body with the
filling chambers filled with the solutions respectively, and a
covering member that covers at least one of the filling chambers of
the container body, where the covering member has a pair of rigid
members that sandwich the opening preventing portion from the
outside, and seal portions provided to close the pair of rigid
members.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a multi-chamber container
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the multi-chamber container shown
in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a cover attaching portion
of the multi-chamber container shown in FIG. 1;
[0010] FIGS. 4A to 4C are views showing an aspect where a cover is
attached to the multi-chamber container according to the embodiment
of the invention;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a front view showing another example of the
multi-chamber container according to the embodiment of the
invention; and
[0012] FIG. 6 is a front view showing still another example of the
multi-chamber container according to the embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] An embodiment of the present invention will specifically be
described below with reference to accompanying drawings.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a multi-chamber container
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
side view of the multi-chamber container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is
an enlarged view of a cover attaching portion of the multi-chamber
container shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] The multi-chamber container as shown in FIG. 1 has a
container body 1. The container body 1 has a plurality of (two in
this embodiment) filling chambers 11, 12. A seal portion 13 is
provided between the filling chambers 11, 12 to prevent opening of
communication of solutions respectively filled in the filling
chambers 11, 12. Accordingly, the container body 1 is divided into
two filling chambers 11, 12 by the seal portion 13.
[0016] The seal portion 13 has sufficient pressure resistance to a
pressure in the normal direction (direction of the arrow A) to the
sheet. In other words, the pressure from the direction of the arrow
A is dispersed over the entire container body 1, and the seal
portion 13 is thereby not peeled. Meanwhile, the seal portion 13
has a property of easily peeling against the force in the vertical
direction (direction of the arrow B) of the sheet. By using such a
seal portion 13 as an opening preventing portion, when the pressure
in the direction of the arrow B is applied to the seal portion 13
by applying the pressure to at least one of the filling chambers
11, 12, the seal portion 13 is peeled to open the communication
between the filling chambers 11, 12, and the solutions filled into
the chambers 11, 12 are mixed.
[0017] The container body 1 has a hole 14 to be hanged in a stand
during administration of the solutions at its one end (upper
position in the figure). Further, the container body 1 has a cock
15 at the other end (lower position in the figure). The cock 15 is
sealed by a rubber stopper until a hollow needle is inserted.
[0018] In addition, generally used materials may be used as a
material for the container body 1.
[0019] The multi-chamber container as shown in FIG. 1 has a cover 2
that covers at least one of the filling chambers 11, 12 (the
chamber 12 in FIG. 1). The cover 2 is only required to cover at
least an end portion (for example, the cock 15 or hole 14). The
cover 2 includes a pair of rigid members 21 that sandwich the seal
portion 13 from the outside, and seal portions 22 provided to close
the pair of rigid members 21. As the cover 2, a film, sheet and the
like may be used which are formed of paper, plastic or the
like.
[0020] The rigid members 21 have sufficient rigidity to hold the
seal portion 13 from the outside to enable the cover 2 to be
attached to the container body 1. As the rigid members 21, plates
and the like may be used which can pinch the seal portion 13 (thin
portion of the container body 1) along the seal portion 13. It is
preferable that the rigid members 21 are light in weight as
possible. Accordingly, as a material for the rigid members, for
example, paper, plastic and the like may be used. The rigid members
21 are attached to the internal side of the cover 2 by adhesive or
the like to come into contact with the seal portion 13. Further, as
in an aspect as shown in FIG. 1, since the cover 2 is closed by the
seal portions 22, the length L of the rigid member 21 is set
shorter than the width D of the cover 2.
[0021] The seal portions 22 are provided in regions outside the
rigid members 21 in the cover 2. The seal portions 22 have adhesion
of the extent to which the seal portions 22 peel by an increase in
thickness of the seal portion 13 when the seal portion 13 peels to
cause the filling chambers 11, 12 to be opened in therebetween and
increases its thickness. In other words, the adhesion and shape of
the seal portions 22, and positions of the seal portions 22 in the
cover 2 are set so as to hold the cover when the filling chambers
11, 12 are not opened in therebetween, while causing the cover 2 to
easily drop when the filling chambers 11, 12 are opened in
therebetween and the thickness of the seal portion 13
increases.
[0022] The seal portions 22 may be formed of a double-faced tape,
the cover 2 may be melted to form the seal portions 22, or engaging
portions may be provided at contact portions (end portions) of the
cover 2 and engaged to form the seal portions 22.
[0023] In the case of attaching the cover 2 to the container body
1, prepared first is the cover 2 (for example, film or sheet) as
shown in FIG. 4A. Rigid members 21 (for example, plates) are
respectively attached to both end portions on one surface of the
cover 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the cover 2 is bent so that the
rigid members 21 are opposed to each other. In this state, the bent
cover 2 is put on the container body 1 so as to cover one (the
chamber 12) of the filling chambers of the container body 1 so that
positions of the rigid members 21 are in accordance with the
position of the seal portion 13. Next, as shown in FIG. 4C, regions
outside the rigid members 21 are sealed to form the seal portions
22.
[0024] Thus, the aforementioned multi-chamber container is
configured so that the filling chamber 12 is covered with the cover
2 when the filling chambers 11, 12 are not opened in therebetween,
and that the cover 2 drops when the filling chambers 11, 12 are
opened in therebetween and the seal portion 13 increases its
thickness. Therefore, when the filling chambers 11, 12 are not
opened in therebetween, the cock 15 of the container body 1 is
covered with the cover 2. Hence, in this state, since the cock 15
is covered with the cover 2, it is logically not possible to inject
a hollow needle into the cock 15 to use the container. In other
words, the container cannot be used with the filling chambers 11,
12 not opened in therebetween. It is thus possible to reliably
avoid an occurrence of forgetting to mix the solutions. Further,
according to this configuration, it is possible to prevent
intrusion of a foreign substance.
[0025] In an aspect as shown in FIG. 1, the case is described that
side portions of the cover 2 are opened as shown in FIG. 4C.
However, in the present invention, the cover 2 may be configured so
that the side portions of the cover 2 are closed by perforations to
be torn off, and the perforations are torn to cause the cover 2 to
drop when the thickness of the seal portion 13 increases with the
filling chambers 11, 12 opened in therebetween. In this case, the
seal portions 22 may be provided or not provided.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a front view showing another example of the
multi-chamber container according to this embodiment of the present
invention. In the multi-chamber container as shown in FIG. 5, the
filling chamber 11 is covered with the cover 2. A configuration of
the cover 2 is the same as that in the multi-chamber container as
shown in FIG. 1.
[0027] The multi-chamber container as shown in FIG. 5 is configured
so that the filling chamber 11 is covered with the cover 2 when the
filling chambers 11, 12 are not opened in therebetween, and that
the cover 2 drops when the filling chambers 11, 12 are opened in
therebetween and the seal portion 13 increases its thickness.
Therefore, when the filling chambers 11, 12 are not opened in
therebetween, the hole 14 of the container body 1 is covered with
the cover 2. Hence, in this state, since the hole 14 is covered
with the cover 2, the container cannot be hung in a stand logically
nor cannot be used. In other words, the container cannot be used
with the filling chambers 11, 12 not opened in therebetween. It is
thus possible to reliably avoid an occurrence of forgetting to mix
the solutions. Further, according to this configuration, it is
possible to prevent intrusion of a foreign substance.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a front view showing still another example of the
multi-chamber container according to this embodiment of the present
invention.
[0029] In the multi-chamber containers as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
5, the cover 2 is sealed to form the seal portions 22. In the
multi-chamber container as shown in FIG. 6, the rigid members 21
are sealed to form the seal portions 22. Accordingly, in an aspect
as shown in FIG. 6, since the cover 2 is closed by the rigid
members 21, the length L of the rigid members 21 is set longer than
the width D of the cover 2. In addition, the rigid members 21 are
the same as those in the multi-chamber containers as shown in FIG.
1 and FIG. 5.
[0030] The multi-chamber container as shown in FIG. 6 is configured
so that the filling chamber 12 is covered with the cover 2 when the
filling chambers 11, 12 are not opened in therebetween, and that
the cover 2 drops when the filling chambers 11, 12 are opened in
therebetween and the seal portion 13 increases its thickness.
Therefore, when the filling chambers 11, 12 are not opened in
therebetween, the cock 15 of the container body 1 is covered with
the cover 2. Hence, in this state, since the cock 15 is covered
with the cover 2, it is logically not possible to inject a hollow
needle into the cock 15 to use the container. In other words, the
container cannot be used with the filling chambers 11, 12 not
opened in therebetween. It is thus possible to reliably avoid an
occurrence of forgetting to mix the solutions. Further, according
to this configuration, it is possible to prevent intrusion of a
foreign substance.
[0031] In the multi-chamber container as shown in FIG. 6, the
filling chamber 12 is covered with the cover 2. However, the
filling chamber 11 may be covered with the cover 2 as in the
multi-chamber container as shown in FIG. 5, using the same cover 2
as shown in FIG. 6.
[0032] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned
embodiment, and is capable of being carried into practice with
various modifications thereof. For example, although the
above-mentioned embodiment describes the case of two filling
chambers, the present invention is applicable to cases of three or
more filling chambers. Further, although the above-mentioned
embodiment describes the case of filling solutions into filling
chambers, the present invention is applicable to cases of filling
powdery substances into filling chambers. Further, materials,
sizes, shapes and the like in the above-mentioned embodiment are of
examples, and the invention is not limited thereto. Moreover, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present
invention may be carried into practice with various modifications
thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.
* * * * *