DE2837505A1 - CONTAINER WITH WINDING SEAL - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container with a sealed opening and a method of manufacture a container. In addition, a peelable seal and a method for its production are addressed. Windable Seals, i.e. seals that are produced by heat sealing and in which the Sealed areas without actually destroying or tearing the foils from one another: · Have them separated again can usefully be used as parts of containers or vessels for a wide variety of purposes. In particular, such a closure seal can be used for blood products, including thrombocytes.

It is known in the art to use plastic containers in the packaging sector, in particular because of the low cost and ease of manufacture of such containers or bags. The plastic containers are used for the packaging of frozen food, tobacco, iron parts, of medicines, of blood and blood preparations, of consumer goods, of co-heated cooking bags and for much more found. Various methods are currently used to seal the containers, either before the filling process to maintain its cleanliness or after filling with the intended use Product. The sealing process of the container is carried out in various ways, for example by a seal in which the parts weld together with the application of heat and / or pressure, or by application various adhesives, etc. A disadvantage of the known seals is that the opening of the container is practically impossible without tearing. Furthermore, the arrangement of the parts in the bag is often difficult.

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In addition, resealing - if necessary - is not possible in all cases without additional aids or sealants. There are numerous applications in which a peelable seal on the container is paramount is advantageous. To date, only PVC film can be used to wrap a container with a pull-open Equip sealing. However, the use of PVC film has disadvantages when it comes to packaging deals with foodstuffs or medicines intended for human consumption; This is due to, that is known to migrate various chemicals out of the film into the food or Drug takes place, which harbors dangers if consumed accordingly. In addition, PVC has the guard = part that various additives are necessary to enable a seal. Remain open even Residues on the removed surface, which carry the risk of poisoning.

It is known to produce peelable seals on containers made of plastic material in which only one light pressure is applied during heat sealing. However, such known methods require a high one Precision and precisely controlled heat sealing steps so that this method is not industrially applicable. In addition, such a seal is also leaky and unreliable.

Attempts have also been made to provide flexible plastic containers or bags with a peelable seal provided by using an inert plastic. Such containers are in their application but very temperature dependent, i.e. they cannot be used at low and high temperatures at the same time will.

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The invention is based on the object of eliminating or reducing the disadvantages of the prior art and to show a container of the type described at the outset, which can be pulled open in a reproducible manner Has seal. Furthermore, it is about the production of a container for blood, especially for platelets, how it can be used to advantage for blood reserves.

According to the invention, this is provided by the claims specified characteristics achieved. The invention is based on the idea of a peelable seal on one To realize container that a polyolefin film with oxidized surface at least in the area the seal is used. The polyolefin film can themselves form the container or a part of it. It can be alkine or in combination with other materials, in particular plastic or metal are used.

With particular advantage, a bag-like container for blood or blood preparations is created, the one that can be pulled open Has seal, which consists at least partially of polyolefin film and whose at least one surface is oxidized so that it can be peeled off. Preferably, each access of the container is with a pull-open Seal provided in order to form a protective pocket in this way. At least one of the accesses can also be provided with a seal that can be pressed on.

The term “press-on seal” is understood to mean a seal that is made with little use of force can be released, for example by applying pressure in or on a liquid. With a container

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for blood and blood preparations is the pressable one Sealing preferably of such a strength that pressing on the liquid and / or entrapped The air-filled pouch provides sufficient force to open the seal or to solve.

It has been found by the applicant that polyolefin is then used to produce a peelable seal can be when at least one surface is oxidized. The oxidation can either be achieved by applying a open flame with oxidizing properties, such as a propane flame, or it can be done Corona discharges are used under the conditions set out in the journal Plastics Engineering, February 1977, pages 50 to 52 by R.M. Sonkin "CORONA discharge Treatment of Polyolefin Films "are described and applied before heat sealing. The oxidized surface creates a boundary layer that resists fusion of the films during heat sealing. It understands that the term "heat sealing" as it is present refers to the sealing technique using heat and pressure.

The invention is further described with the aid of various exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are shown in the drawings. It shows:

1 shows a schematic representation of the essential process steps in production a container with a peelable seal,

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Fig. 2 is a view of a polyolefin bag with
a peelable seal,

3 shows a view of a further polyolefin bag with several peelable seals of various types Strength,

Fig. 4 shows the application of the present invention to a container made partly of others
Materials,

5 shows the application of the present invention to a packaging unit for medicaments,

Fig. 6 shows a first embodiment of a bag for a blood bag,

7 is a view of a bag for storing platelets;

8 shows another embodiment of a bag
especially for platelets,

Fig. 9 shows a further embodiment of the bag for Platelets and

Fig. 10 shows a final embodiment of a bag for Platelets.

Fig. 1 reveals a method of how flexible containers with peelable seals can be produced.
Polyolefin film is peeled off from rolls 10, 10 'and oxidized on a surface in that it is a corona agent

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charge by the lamps 12, 12 'are exposed. The treated foils run between two rollers 14, 14 ' and in a multi-stage press 16, in which the sealing is carried out by means of appropriately selected temperatures and pressures are applied. The temperatures and pressures depend on the density of the polyolefin and the duration of the seal. The individual containers are then cut from the roll with a cutting device 18.

Instead of using a corona discharge, the surfaces of the polyolefin films can also be oxidized by using an open flame. Normally, the polyolefin film after the oxidizing treatment, a surface energy of about 3-5 · "10 ~ N / cm. The sealing pressure in the platen press is usually 30 to 100 bar, with a temperature of about 93-260 ⁰ C applies In addition to the use of a multi-stage press, forming rollers can also be used, as has been customary in the production of plastic containers.

It will be understood that the treated polyolefin film can be used with a wide range of applications for a wide variety of containers. 2 shows, for example a propylene bag 30 with a permanent seal 32 along the three edges of the bag and with a peelable one Seal 36 on the fourth side of the bag. By applying a pulling force on the two tongues 38, 38 'of the free ends of the films, the seal 36 can be pulled open, so that the interior of the bag becomes accessible. Such a container is particularly

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suitable if its purity and cleanliness until the bag is filled with the item in question, in particular Food, must be maintained or guaranteed.

Fig. 3 shows a polyethylene container 40 which has a plurality of spaces 44a, 44b, 44c, which through individual seals 46a, 46b, 46c and 46d are formed. Each of the seals 46a, 46b, 46c and 46d has one different peel strength. In addition, the free ends 48 and 48a of the foils are also provided here, which are used to grip the two films in order to be able to release the peelable seals one after the other. The container: 40 is specially designed as a mixing container, when it comes to initially storing and transporting the contents of the individual rooms separately from one another and only to be mixed in the case of application, as is customary, for example, for epoxy cements.

4 shows the use of the peelable seal in a metallic container 50 with a metallic vessel wall 52 and a polyethylene lock 54.

FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the peelable seal 61 for packaging purposes, such as, in particular, medicaments or tablets 62, wherein separate spaces are formed within the container 60, so that the individual spaces are easily accessible when the peelable seal is peeled off one after the other over the corners will. Here, too, the tongues 63 and 63 'serve as ends of the two film webs for gripping and pulling apart of the two slides. The individual rooms can be made of two foils by means of selected heat seals be formed or by the fact that a plurality of film sections are heat-sealed onto a single film will.

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Fig. 6 shows a sterilizable flexible polyethylene bag 70 with holes 71 for either hanging the bag in the upright position, as shown, or in the inverted position. The bag 70 has a first tall and outwardly extending nozzle 77 which is welded to the bag. It's another one similar nozzle 78 is provided, which is used to introduce blood plasma into the bag. A third port 79 serves to supply platelets to the bag. All the nozzles are provided in the upper area of the bag. Along the circumference of the interior 72 extends a permanent weld seal 74. Each of the connecting pieces 77, 78, 79 is provided with a protective pocket, which in turn forms a bag and which has tongues 73 and 73 '. The protective bags are removed from the weld seal 74 and then from the peelable seal over the nozzle Seals formed, which are arranged between the weld seal and the tongues 73, 73 '. the Tongues 73, 73 'are used to grasp the two films and to peel off the peelable seal.

It is advantageous to have a peelable seal on a pouch near the port 78 for the blood plasma and of the connector 79 for the platelets, as shown by the peelable seals 76a, 76a 'and 76b, 76b'. These seals extend close to the tubular stubs 78 and 79, thus creating an air cushion is created, which prevents the occurrence of capillary action when only one of the two nozzles 78 and 79 is used will. After filling, the bag can be closed again below the inlets. So no blood flows into the nozzle 77, this is provided with a pierceable membrane 80.

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Fig. 7 shows a sterilizable flexible pouch made of oxidized polyethylene, which consists of the two polyethylene film sections 113 and 113 '. This bag preferably has holes 111 at the corners for hanging of the bag in the upright or upside-down position. The ends of the bag or interior are again formed by weld seals 114, About which the two film sections 113 and 113 'with each other are connected. Here, too, the bag 110 has a hollow tubular connecting piece 118 which, for example serves to deflate the bag. It is a connecting piece 119, for example for introducing blood plasma provided in the bag. Finally, the bag has a further nozzle 117, which allows the introduction of Platelets may serve. The nozzles 117, 118 and 119 can also be used for the other purpose.

Here, too, each nozzle 117, 118 and 119 has a Protective bag in the form of a closed section 117a, 118a and 119a. Each closed section 117a, 118a and 119a extends over the nozzles and becomes formed on the one hand by the weld seal 114 and on the other hand by the peelable seal 116, the arranged between the weld seal and the tongues or free ends of the two foils 113 and 113 ' is. Here, too, the free ends of the film sections 113, 113 'serve to grasp and open the peelable seal.

The peel strength of the seal depends on many factors including the density of the polyethylene film, the Temperature and pressure applied during sealing. An effective surface treatment through oxidation

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Polyethylene with the help of a corona discharge is present,

-4 if a surface energy of about 3-5 x 10 6 N / cm is applied.

It is also advantageous to additionally arrange a press-on seal 120 below the connector 118, which is used for ventilation. This pressable seal 120 extends diagonally below the start of the nozzle 118 and bridges the corner between the heat seal 114. The function of the seal 120 is to control the reflux in to prevent the neck when the bag has been filled. If the bag is to be emptied, it is merely required to press enough on the bag to create internal pressure and either via the enclosed air and / or the enclosed liquid, so that the pressable The low-strength seal opens and the contents of the bag can escape through the nozzle.

It is advantageous to provide additional peelable seals on protective pouches 118 and 119a, of which one close to the nozzle 118 and the other close to the nozzle 119 as indicated by the sealing portions 116a, 116a 'and 116b' in Fig. 7 are expressed comes. The positioning of these seals close to ports 118 and 119 causes air cushions to be in protective pockets 118 and 119 are created, which are the undesirable Prevent ingress of liquid by capillary action if only one of the ports 118 or 119 is used will. After filling, the bag can be closed again, specifically below the nozzle 118 and 119 so that any backflow is prevented.

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The weld seal 114 on the bottom of the bag 110 can be led to the outside, as shown in FIG. 7, so that it has welded portions 114a, which the Strength of the bag in the area of the lower holes 111 increases.

The connecting piece 117 can again be pierced with a Membrane 122 be equipped to prevent backflow. However, it has been found that the Use of press-open seals is more beneficial because they ensure accidental puncture is prevented.

The cuts 123 and 124 are provided for the purpose of allowing the peelable seals to be peeled independently enable.

Again, the tongues 113, 113 'of the two are used here as well Foil sections for gripping the foils and around the peelable seal of the respective protective pouch 117a, 118a, 119a to solve individually in order to individually connect the individual nozzles 117, 118 and 119 to make accessible.

The nozzle 117, 118 and 119 can be on their outer Have diameters designed in different ways, so that the bag depending on the application can be connected. This applies to the storage of blood products, including components and the frozen storage of red blood cells.

8 shows a further embodiment using the example of a freezer bag for platelets with the interior 132, which is made of oxidized by a folded section

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Polyethylene film and appropriate sealing is formed in the desired manner. The bag contains in turn the drainage nozzle in its upper area 142, which is protected from the interior 132 by a seal 128 that can be pressed on. The inlet port 140 and 141 are provided on the other corner. The inlet port 140 is secured by the press-on seal 128 ' protected. Each port 140, 141 and 142 is from the Protective pouch 140a, 141a and 142a surround that in turn peelable seals 136, 138 and 139 as shown and formed by weld seal 133 which includes the interior 132 in the rest. The seals 135, 136, 138 and 139 are, as shown, slotted so that individual pockets 140a, 141a, 142a for each of the nozzles 140, 141 and 142 are formed. on In this way, each nozzle has its own protective pocket, which is also independent of the neighboring protective pocket can be deducted in each case. The protective pocket 137 is provided to accommodate an identifier, for example a labeling strip or the like. It can also be provided here holes 137a to the bag in an upright position Hang up position. Each of the protective pockets 140a, 141a and 142a is provided with tongues 143 and 143 'which serve to grasp and pull the seal. It is advantageous if the two tongues are of different lengths and if the peelable seal is designed in such a way that it is attacked at points when it is opened, for example on a corner.

9 shows a further embodiment of a freezer bag 140 for platelets with a weld seal 141 along the perimeter of the interior. The bag is here made of two film parts 142, 142 'made of polyethylene sections

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composed. In the upper part of the bag 140 is the nozzle 143 for the platelets. The nozzle 143 is protected by a press-open seal 143 '. The connector 144 is used to supply blood plasma and is also protected by a pressable seal 144 '. It is also a drainage connection 145 with a push-on Seal 148 provided. A peelable seal 146 surrounds and forms each port 143, 145 Protective pockets 143a, 144a, 145a together with the weld seal 141, which extends over the connecting pieces 143, 144, 145. Incisions 147 divide the protective pockets from one another. The seal 146 has a tapered shape, whereby the respective protective pouch can be easily opened without destroying other protective pouches and inlets is. Each of the press-open seals 143 ', 144', 148 underneath the nozzle protects the purity and cleanliness of the bag and prevents backflow into unused ones Trim when the bag has been filled. The push seals 143 ', 144' and 148 are lower Strength so that the seal can be easily broken by squeezing the bag with its contents. Each of the push-open seals 143 ', 144' and 148 has a different strength, so that one seal after another is released in the desired order without the other seals also opening in an undesirable manner at the same time.

The freezer bag for platelets shown in Fig. 10 has an interior 152 and is folded by a Section made of oxidized polyethylene. At the top of the bag is the nozzle 153, the The bag is emptied after filling. The two ports 154 and 155 serve as inlet ports. Everyone who

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Socket 153, 154, 155 is surrounded by a protective pocket 153 ', 154' and 155 ', each of which is attached by the pull-open Seal 156 as shown in the drawing are formed. If required, cuts can also be made here 161a, 161b and 161c can be provided in order to separate protective pockets on the one hand and To form tongues 162, 162 'on the other hand at the free ends. In this way, the nozzle 153 is with a Protective bag surrounded by the weld seal 157 on the one hand and the peelable seal 156 in their responsible part is formed. It is separated from the protective pocket 154 by the incision 161b. Also the The socket 154 is provided with its protective pocket 154 ', which is made up of the welded seal 157 and the pull-open Seal 156 and the incisions 161a and 161b is formed. A pocket 158 may be formed to To receive identification means, additional weld seals 158a and 158b being provided at the free ends can be, as FIG. 10 shows. Further seals 157a and 157b can also be provided, which the Protect ports 154 and 155 from reflux after filling the bag. Seals 157a and 157b can either can be pressed on, peeled off or designed as welded seals, depending on the application and the appropriate purpose Determination of the nozzle. A press-on seal 153a closes off the connection piece 153 at the bottom, so that the connection piece 153 is protected until it is used.

Here, too, the nozzles can be provided with differently designed widenings on their outer circumference, which serve the special connection and application purposes.

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It will be understood that the present invention can be used in conjunction with other blood preservation systems can be used, for example in blood collection, processing, storage and distribution of Whole blood products or blood preparations.

The term "weld-seal" is used in the present application to mean that it is either may consist of a high strength peelable seal or a permanent seal.

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Claims (1)

YOUR SIGN YOUR LETTER OF I NSER SIGN D-3400 QÖTTINQEN, YOUR REF. VOUR LETTER OUR REF. POTTERWEq 6 10.112 / n5 08/11/1978 Pharmachem Corporation, Corporation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, USA, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USA 18018 Container with peelable seal Patent claims: 1. Container with a sealed opening, characterized in that that the opening with a peelable seal (36, 46a, 46b, 46c, 61, 76, 116, 135, 136, 146, 156) is provided, which is a film of a Has polyolefin with at least one side oxidized surface. 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the polyolefin is polyethylene. 3. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the peelable seal (36, 46a, 46b, 46c, 61, 76, 116, 135, 136, 146, 156) film parts (38, 38 '; 48, 48'; 63, 63 '; 73, 73'; 113, 113 '; 143, 143'; 142, 142 '; 162, 162 ') for gripping when pulling up. 909811/0812 4. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists entirely or partially of a flexible film a polyolefin with an oxidized surface that forms a peelable seal (36, 46a, 46b, 46c, 61, 76, 116, 135, 136, 146, 156) has a heat seal, with a substantial Part of the perimeter of the container is sealed by welding is. 5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that it has several peelable seals of different Has peel strength (e.g. 46, 46b, 46c). 6. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an entrance made of a solid polyolefin part and a flexible polyolefin film, wherein at least one of the parts has the oxidized surface and both parts to form the peelable Sealing over the oxidized surface are connected to one another by a heat seal. 7. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it forms a packaging unit made of polyolefin films which have the oxidized surface and which are used to form spaces (44a, 44b, 44c) are sealed together in selected areas, the sealed areas for transferring an object can be pulled up into a single room. 8. A container according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a bag (e.g. 70) for storing blood or Forms blood components and consists of sterilizable, flexibly sealed polyolefin that the bag at least 90981 1/0812 1837505 two nozzles (e.g. 78, 79) with connection to the closed space (e.g. 72) and that each of the two nozzles is completely tightly enclosed by a protective bag (e.g. 76a, 76b) which is part of the bag (70) and by a heat seal including an oxidized one Polyolefin surface is formed so that in this way a peelable seal (e.g. 76) is formed, after the removal of which the connecting pieces are accessible. 9. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one of the nozzles (e.g. 118) with a push-on Seal (e.g. 120) is provided, which can be opened by liquid pressure. 10. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one access in the region of a nozzle for removal the contents of the bag is provided and that this access is completely tightly enclosed by a protective bag, a pressable seal being provided over the lower portion of this access 11. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that he has a pocket (137, 158) for receiving identification means, in particular a labeling strip. 12. Container according to claim 8, characterized in that the peelable seal has a tapered shape to facilitate uniform peeling (FIGS. 9, 10). ί 13.) Process for the production of a bag for blood, in particular for the platelets, with a sterile, flexibly closed polyethylene bag with in §0981 1/0812 its free end area oxidized surface, with at least two nozzles that connect to the bag have and are arranged in the upper edge region of the bag, and with a vent nozzle, which is in the the upper edge area of the bag is sealed, characterized in that each nozzle (e.g. 143, 144, 145) is enclosed in the area of the oxidized surface by a heat seal (e.g. 141) so that the Nozzles can be accessed via the peelable seals (e.g. 146) without opening the perimeter of the bag, and that the discharge nozzle (145) in its lower end region to form a press-open seal (e.g. 148) is heat-sealed to a lesser extent. 14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that that diagonally the bag (e.g. 140) bridging seals (e.g. 143 ', 144', 148) under the nozzle (e.g. 143, 144, 145). 15. Peelable seal, characterized by a heat seal of polyolefin film with included oxidized surface, so that the oxidized surface forms a boundary layer between the polyolefin films. 16. A method for producing a peelable seal on a polyolefin film, characterized in that the Polyolefin film is oxidized at least at the point where the sealing is to take place and that afterwards Pressure and heat (heat sealing) are applied so that the oxygenated surface forms a boundary layer between the polyolefin film and the sealing partner forms. 17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that that the polyolefin film is oxidized by applying a corona discharge. 90981 1/0812