U.S. patent application number 12/653551 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-17 for sachet and strip of sachets for packaging a biological liquid substance, such as animal semen.
This patent application is currently assigned to IMV TECHNOLOGIES. Invention is credited to Pascal Lacointe.
Application Number | 20100150480 12/653551 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40941844 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100150480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lacointe; Pascal |
June 17, 2010 |
Sachet and strip of sachets for packaging a biological liquid
substance, such as animal semen
Abstract
Sachet and strip of sachets for packaging a biological liquid
substance, such as animal semen. The sachet is formed by two
coupled and welded films of supple plastic material, delimiting a
reception pouch of the substance, which has at one of its ends an
opening for filling the empty sachet by means of a hollow
cylindrical needle. These films have a pair of welding lines which
form tabs starting out from said opening and axially and
symmetrically penetrating the internal space of the sachet by
converging towards the interior of the latter, their free ends
being spaced apart by a value "e" which is substantially equal to
.pi.d/2, "d" being the value of the diameter of said needle, thus
preventing the foam produced during filling from exiting the bag as
the needle is withdrawn (F). Artificial insemination in
breeding.
Inventors: |
Lacointe; Pascal; (Saint
Gregoire, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG,;KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK
600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST
WESTFIELD
NJ
07090
US
|
Assignee: |
IMV TECHNOLOGIES
L'Aigle
FR
|
Family ID: |
40941844 |
Appl. No.: |
12/653551 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
383/121 ; 141/85;
383/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61D 19/022
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/121 ; 141/85;
383/36 |
International
Class: |
B65D 30/10 20060101
B65D030/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 15, 2008 |
FR |
08 58587 |
Claims
1. A packaging sachet for a biological liquid substance, such as
animal semen, formed by two coupled and welded films of flexible
plastic material, delimiting a reception pouch of the substance,
which has at one of its ends an opening for filling the empty
sachet by means of a hollow cylindrical needle, characterised in
that said films have a pair of welding lines which form tabs
starting out from said opening and axially and symmetrically
penetrating the internal space of the sachet by converging to the
interior of the latter, their free ends being spaced apart by a
value "e" which is substantially equal to .pi.d/2, "d" being the
value of the diameter of said needle, such that said needle passes
between said tabs for said filling, the latter ensuring that the
needle is scraped when it is withdrawn.
2. The sachet as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the two
welding lines converge by forming an angle at the apex whereof the
value a is between 20 and 60.degree., advantageously close to
45.degree..
3. The sachet as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that its
filling opening has, turned to the exterior of the sachet, an
orifice zone of constant width "a", substantially larger than said
spread value "e" of the free ends of the welding lines.
4. The sachet as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said
orifice zone is delimited on either side by a welded area each
traversed by an orifice in which a retaining finger can engage
during filling of the sachet.
5. The sachet as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the two
welding lines have a reinforced end, for example in the form of a
bead.
6. The sachet as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the end
opposite the sachet (1) is fitted with an integrated canula, to be
utilised for emptying out the sachet.
7. A strip of sachets formed by juxtaposition of sachets (1), as
claimed in claim 1, which are adjacent to one another and separated
by a pre-cut-out line.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority from French Patent
Application No. FR 08 58587, filed in the French Patent Office on
Dec. 15, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a sachet for packaging a
biological liquid substance, such as animal semen.
[0003] It also relates to a strip formed by juxtaposition of such
sachets.
[0004] In the field of animal artificial insemination, pigs in
particular, it is familiar to package semen--boar in this
case--into sterile sachets.
[0005] These sachets are formed by two coupled and welded films of
flexible plastic material, generally by thermo-welding, delimiting
a reception pouch of the substance.
[0006] The sachets are filled on a machine specially adapted to
this usage, in which the strip of sachets files past gradually.
[0007] The sachets are suspended in a vertical position such that
their filling opening is facing up.
[0008] The preferred dose of substance is delivered by means of a
hollow needle, via a flexible feed conduit, one end of which is
connected to a container containing the substance and the other to
the hollow needle; the conduit is equipped with a peristaltic pump
which ensures precise distribution of the doses.
[0009] At the time of filling, the strip of sachets is stopped, and
the needle, which is also vertical, penetrates the opening of the
sachet to be filled and descends inside the pouch, to around
mid-height thereof, or even lower; the dose of substance is
injected into the sachet via the lower end of the needle, then the
needle is withdrawn via vertical movement from bottom to top, after
which the opening zone is sealed by thermo welding.
[0010] The operation is then repeated on the following sachet.
[0011] Later, when insemination takes place, the substance is
repelled from the sachet and fed to the insemination probe, either
via this same opening, after opening of the welded zone, or by
means of a canula arranged at the end opposite the sachet, for
example in keeping with the teachings of document EP-B-1 317
224.
[0012] When it is porcine semen, the substance is composed of boar
sperm mixed with a diluent containing preservatives such as sugars,
citrates and albumin, which cause the substance to foam.
[0013] The formation of foam at the time of filling is promoted by
the relatively high rate of the substance as it leaves the needle,
with a strong rate being necessary for filling the sachets to be
completed at an appropriate rate (generally approximately 2 seconds
per sachet).
[0014] This foam has a tendency to adhere to the needle and go with
it as it is withdrawn in the opening zone where welding must be
done, or even beyond this zone.
[0015] A fraction of the semen is therefore withdrawn from the
sachet, which is not satisfactory for dosage precision.
[0016] Also, the presence of this foam in the opening zone
compromises the quality of the welding and consequently the tight
seal of the now-filled sachet.
[0017] Finally, the possible presence of semen outside the sachet
is a possible cause of unwanted transfer of spermatozoids from one
sachet to another within a batch of filled sachets stored side by
side; the liquid leaving the sachet also risks altering the
marking, by dilution of ink, this which can especially cause
difficulties for reading identifying labels.
[0018] Document WO 94/22731 discloses a sachet structure for
packaging a liquid material, which comprises sealing means arranged
such that, even if the sachet is full and not connected to a
discharge conduit, there is no risk of loss of liquid through its
discharge opening. Also, WO 02/32469 relates to a sachet for
packaging liquid material, and more precisely a technique for
inactivating pathogenic agents in fluids such as blood.
[0019] According to this technique, the sachet is filled by means
of one or more openings, optionally pre-connected to tubing and
this opening is then sealed so as to constitute a tight joint
around said opening.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The aim of the present invention is to resolve the
difficulties indicated above by preventing the formed foam from
accompanying the injection needle as it is withdrawn from the
filling opening of the sachet.
[0021] The invention therefore relates to a sachet for packaging a
biological liquid substance, such as animal semen, formed by two
coupled and welded films of flexible plastic material, delimiting a
reception pouch of the substance, which has at one of its ends an
opening for filling the empty sachet by means of a hollow
cylindrical needle.
[0022] According to the invention, these films have a pair of
mutual welding lines which form tabs starting out from said opening
and axially and symmetrically penetrating the internal space of the
sachet by converging towards the interior of the latter, their free
ends being moved apart from one another. They have a value "e"
which is substantially equal to .pi.d/2, "d" being the value of the
diameter of said needle, introduced into the sachet for
filling.
[0023] In this way, the needle passes between the tabs for filling
of the sachet, and the latter ensure scraping of the needle when it
is being withdrawn.
[0024] Due to this arrangement it is understood that when the
needle passes between the two tabs and penetrates the sachet by
axial translation movement, from top to bottom, this zone deforms
and matches the circular contour of the needle; in fact, the
circumference of the zone, when deployed to be "rounded", is equal
to 2e, or .pi.d, corresponding to the circumference of the
needle.
[0025] When on completion of filling, the needle is withdrawn by an
axial translation movement, this time from bottom to top, the
periphery of this circular and narrowed zone retains the foam which
adheres to the cylindrical wall of the needle and orients it
laterally to the exterior with a scraping effect; the foam thus
remains imprisoned in the sachet, below the welding lines formed by
tabs.
[0026] The two welding lines preferably converge by forming an
angle at the apex of which the value .alpha. is between 20 and
60.degree., advantageously close to 45.degree., which causes
particularly efficacious scraping and cleaning of the needle.
[0027] According to other possible, though non-limiting,
advantageous characteristics of the invention:
[0028] the filling opening of the sachet has, turned to the
exterior of the sachet, an orifice zone of constant width "a",
substantially larger than said spread value "e" of the free ends of
the welding lines;
[0029] this orifice zone is delimited on either side by a welded
area each traversed by an orifice in which a retaining finger can
engage during filling of the sachet;
[0030] the two welding lines have a reinforced end, for example
formed by a bead;
[0031] the end opposite the sachet is fitted with an integrated
canula, to be used for emptying out the sachet.
[0032] Another aim of the invention is a strip of sachets formed by
juxtaposition of sachets having the preceding characteristics,
which are adjacent to one another and separated by a pre-cut-out
line.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will
emerge hereinbelow from the description of a preferred embodiment
of the invention. This description is given in reference to the
attached diagrams, in which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a frontal view of a sachet according to the
invention, made up of a strip of identical sachets;
[0035] FIG. 2 is a partial view of FIG. 1, illustrating withdrawal
of the needle on completion of the sachet filling operation;
[0036] FIG. 3 is a similar view after blocking of the filling
opening;
[0037] FIG. 4 is a partial view of a variant of the sachet;
[0038] FIG. 5 is a similar view to FIG. 3, showing a different
blocking method.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] The sachet 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is designed to contain
boar semen, for later artificial insemination of a sow.
[0040] As is well known, it is made from two thin and supple
(flexible) films of thermo-weld plastic material, superposed then
welded to one another, forming a strip B.
[0041] Each sachet has a general rectangular elongated form,
whereof the large axis of symmetry is designated X-X'. Its contour
is delimited by two lateral welded borders 10, a first closed end
zone 11 (bottom), also welded, and a second end zone comprising two
welded zones 12a, 12b separated by an opening 4 for filling.
[0042] This plastic material is preferably transparent or
translucid and constituted for example by polyethylene, polyamide
or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
[0043] The two films are preferably constituted by two distinct
sheets. However, one and the same sheet, which is folded back on
itself, can be used.
[0044] Each sheet can be mono-layer or multi-layer
[0045] The sachet 1 is separated from the two adjacent sachets 1A
and 1B by pre-cut lines 100A, respectively 100B, connecting end
perforations 101-102, as is well known.
[0046] In the zones 12a and 12b, orifices 3, 3' are pierced which
serve to receive driving fingers and retaining fingers of the
sachets, in suspended position, in the filling machine.
[0047] According to a known arrangement, one 3' of these orifices
has an oblong form, being formed by two circular holes partially
overlapping.
[0048] In the bottom zone 11, an emptying canula 2 is integrated,
of axis X-X', integrated into the sachet, for example in keeping
with the teachings of document EP-B-1 317 224.
[0049] The longitudinal edges of the strip, outside the zones
12a-12b and the filling opening 4 are disassembled (not welded) and
can therefore be freely moved away from one another.
[0050] The opening 4 has a principal portion 6 conventionally
designated as "orifice", delimited by the edges vis-a-vis the
welded parts 12a and 12b, edges which are parallel to the axis X-X'
and spaced at a distance "a". These edges are prolonged inside the
sachet by welding lines 7, formed by rectilinear tabs. The latter
are inclined symmetrically relative to the median axis X-X' so as
to converge towards the interior of the sachet, forming a "V" with
cut-off point.
[0051] They form an angle at the apex .alpha. whereof the value is
advantageously approximately 45.degree..
[0052] Their free ends are distant by a value "e" substantially
less than "a".
[0053] This value "e" is adapted to the diameter "d" of the hollow
needle used for filling, such that when the needle axially
traverses the opening 6, it pushes back the plastic film zones
about this narrowed passage, referenced 70 in FIG. 1, obliging it
to take on a circular form of corresponding diameter. For this, the
value "e" is substantially equal to 1/2 .pi.d.
[0054] During the filling operation of the sachet, the latter is
suspended in the filling machine on retaining fingers R and R'
which are engaged in the above orifices 3 and 3', as illustrated in
FIG. 2.
[0055] The width "a" of the orifice zone 6 is notably larger than
the diameter "d" of the needle 8.
[0056] Therefore, during the axial descent of the needle 8,
according to X-X', in the orifice 6, the latter pushes back the
portions of opposite film and easily causes this zone to move away,
in spite of the tension due to the presence of the retaining
fingers R and R'.
[0057] Any risk of piercing or tearing of the sachet at this level
is practically eliminated.
[0058] Continuing this descending movement, its end portion is
guided gently and progressively by the tabs 7, passes through the
"rounded" zone 70 without notable play, then penetrates inside the
sachet.
[0059] It generally descends as far as mid-height of the sachet, or
even lower, after which the dose of semen--referenced S--is
injected inside the sachet, swelling it by giving it the form of a
pouch, and generating foam at the same time.
[0060] On completion of filling, the needle 8 is withdrawn via an
axial translation movement from bottom to top, symbolised by the
arrow F in FIG. 2.
[0061] The reference M designates foam adhering to the wall of the
needle 8. The ends of the tabs 7, such as supple lips, as well as
the edges of plastic film to the right of the narrowed passage 70
scrape this wall and hold back the foam M by deflecting it
laterally under the oblique welding lines 7, as indicated by arrows
G. The foam therefore remains trapped inside the sachet, without
fouling the orifice 6, as per the desired aim.
[0062] The filling opening is then blocked tightly, in good
conditions, by a thermo-welding line 9.
[0063] In the variant illustrated in FIG. 4, the tabs 7 each have
end flaring formed by a bead 71.
[0064] The presence of the beads 71 reinforces the end of the tabs
by limiting the risks of incipient breakage at this level when the
sachet is subjected to high mechanical constraints, especially by
torsion, in view of its emptying out during insemination (via the
canula 2).
[0065] The variant 5 illustrates another possible mode of sealing
the sachet after filling.
[0066] In this variant, the interior of the opening 6, as well as
the portion situated above and between the tabs 7, are sealed by a
thermo-welded area 9'. But this sealing is partial only, retaining
a non-welded central passage 91.
[0067] Towards the exterior, this passage opens via a V-profiled
zone 90.
[0068] This passage is in turn sealed by a peelable area 9''.
[0069] Because of this arrangement the filling opening 4 can also
be utilised for emptying out, which is useful especially for
sachets with closed bottom, such as described for example in
document FR-A-2 667 504.
[0070] After opening of the peelable portion, the passage 91 uses
an emptying out conduit and the centring cone portion 90 for
placing the insemination probe.
[0071] The configuration of the filling opening and the presence of
the tabs make for use of a needle with a straight end
(perpendicular to the axis of the needle), simply slightly
chamfered and blunted.
[0072] In general, conventional sachets utilise a bevel-cut needle
end facilitating its introduction into the sachet, but which risks
pouring a small quantity of substance retained in the needle after
it is withdrawn from the bag.
[0073] The following dimensions are given purely by way of
indicative example:
internal contour of the sachet: 190 mm.times.60 mm a=20 mm e=8 mm
d=5 mm
[0074] Although the invention herein has been described with
reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that
these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and
applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *