EP1015335B1 - Multi-chamber dispensing container for storing at least two substances - Google Patents

Abstract

A multi-chamber dispensing container for storing at least two substances in an impervious and sterile environment. The container has a tubular body, with a bottom end and an end having an opening. At least one means of occlusion having a continuous outer edge is disposed in an oblique position inside the body between the ends prior to activation of the container. The means of occlusion seals the body imperviously and divides it into two chambers, each containing a substance. The container further has a means for dispensing the substances contained in the body, these means being disposed near the end presenting the opening and sealing this end imperviously. The means of occlusion has two different areas, one of which is partially tearable under the effect of activating pressure from the fingers, the other being designed so as to not tear under the effect of the pressure. This second area maintains the means of occlusion in place within the body after activation.

Description

The present invention relates to a container multi-chamber distributor, for the storage of at least two substances that must be stored in a way separate, the extemporaneous mixture of these, and the distribution of the mixture of these substances. The current invention will be more particularly described with respect to a two-chamber dropper bottle containing sterile during storage, for example, a powder lyophilized in a first chamber, and a liquid in a second chamber, these two substances then being mixed extemporaneously in the container, and the mixture then being dispensed.

there is already known a multi-chamber dispenser container of the type mentioned above, described by the international patent application published under the number WO-A-91/00094. This application generally describes the use of a multi-chamber dispenser container for storing and, in an extemporaneous manner, dispensing a mixture of two liquids, in this case a solution of papaverine sulfate, and a basic solution such as bicarbonate of welded. The separation of the two solutions is necessary in order to prevent the precipitation of papaverine H ⁺ during its storage. The two solutions are stored in a container body in the form of a rubber tube, having an opening end and a bottom end, in two chambers separated by a plastic disc. This disc is arranged perpendicular to the container body, and is larger in diameter than the internal diameter of the container body. Thus the disc is held in place by the elastic grip of the container body on the peripheral edge thereof. Dispensing means are also provided in the vicinity of the opening end of the container body, sealingly closing said opening, and take the form of an injection needle. Before activation, that is to say during storage, the two liquids are therefore separated in a sealed manner by the disc. The activation of the dispensing container is done by a movement of the disc driven by the pressure of the hand and thumb in an alternating movement on the body of the container. The disc is thus caused to fall into the bottom of the tube, and the two solutions can mix. The mixture is then distributed by injection into the body through the needle.

• la pression nécessaire pour déplacer le disque afin de pouvoir mélanger les deux substances est importante du fait que le diamètre de celui-ci est plus important que le diamètre interne du corps de récipient, le disque étant par ailleurs retenu positivement dans le corps par le biais d'une rainure annulaire prévue sur la paroi interne dudit corps de récipient ;
• une fois dégagé, le disque peut se déplacer librement dans le corps tubulaire, et lors de la distribution du mélange par injection, le corps est inversé, ce qui amène le disque à bloquer au moins partiellement la sortie du mélange par l'aiguille.

However, such a container has the following drawbacks:

• the pressure necessary to move the disc in order to be able to mix the two substances is important because the diameter of the latter is greater than the internal diameter of the container body, the disc being moreover positively retained in the body through an annular groove provided on the inner wall of said container body;
• once released, the disc can move freely in the tubular body, and during the distribution of the mixture by injection, the body is inverted, which causes the disc to at least partially block the outlet of the mixture by the needle.

The disadvantages mentioned above posed a problem with finding a container distributor similar to that described above but easier to operate, and requiring pressure small digital, to facilitate its activation for example by the elderly, and at the same time avoid that, once the container is activated, the separating disc does not block the exit of the product to be distributed.

The present invention proposes to solve this problem in providing a dispenser container multi-chamber for sealed storage, before activation, and distribution in the mixed state, after activation, at least two substances, including a liquid and a lyophilized powder, said container comprising a body of substantially tubular container, of a material elastically deformable, having one end of bottom, and an opening end, and at least one means occlusion with a continuous peripheral edge, arranged inside the container body, between the bottom end and the opening end, closing said body sealingly along its said edge peripheral, and separating said body into at least two chambers, for the two substances respectively, the container further comprising dispensing means substances in a mixed state, arranged in the vicinity of the opening end, and closing it so waterproof. The dispensing container according to the present invention is more particularly characterized in that before activation of the container, the occlusion means is arranged obliquely in the body substantially tubular, and includes at least a first zone partially tearable device under the effect of transverse finger activation pressure, and at least a second peripheral zone, different from the first zone, tearproof under the effect of said pressure activation, keeping the occlusion device in place in the tubular body after activation.

This solution has the advantage that the user pressure is reduced to a minimum, because it is possible to activate the medium occlusion, and therefore mix the substances contained in the different rooms, by a simple light finger pressure on the container body. Through elsewhere, the tear-proof zones allow by means occlusion of letting substances pass through a room to the other, while avoiding that the means of occlusion block the exit of the mixture during its distribution by the means of distribution.

According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, the occlusion means can be constituted by the same material as that of the substantially tubular body.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first peripheral zone of the occlusion means can be present as part of the peripheral edge, reduced thickness compared to the central thickness said means of occlusion.

Advantageously, the second peripheral zone of the occlusion means may comprise two bridges of material, constituting between them an axis of rotation for said means occlusion, during activation of the container, said axis of rotation being arranged perpendicular to the direction of the transverse activation pressure of fingers.

Preferably, the means of occlusion can be present substantially in the form of a disc.

Preferably, the body substantially tubular has, on its outer surface, a gripping recess for a finger above the means occlusion, and a gripping recess for a finger below said occlusion means.

In addition, the container can advantageously have a removable activation blocking sleeve substantially tubular container body, of a material not elastically deformable, which surrounds said body at less at the level of the means of occlusion.

Preferably the distribution means are integrated into or mounted on the container body, and are constituted by a nose of substantially frustoconical shape fitted with a dropper.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention the container may include a cap protection of distribution means, removable, comprising at least one elastic gripping element with the container body and / or with the distribution means, and a plug member of said means distribution, arranged inside the cap.

• la Figure 1 représente une vue en perspective partiellement arrachée d'un récipient distributeur selon un mode d'exécution préféré de la présente invention ;
• la Figure 2 représente une vue en coupe du récipient de la Figure 1 lors du stockage d'une poudre lyophilisée et un liquide stériles ;
• la Figure 3 représente une vue en coupe du récipient de la Figure 1 lors de l'activation et la libération du moyen d'occlusion ;
• la Figure 4 représente une vue en coupe du récipient de la Figure 1 après activation et libération du moyen d'occlusion, et mélange des substances ;
• la Figure 5 représente une vue en coupe selon la ligne V-V de la Figure 4, montrant la position du moyen d'occlusion après activation et mélange des substances.

The present invention will be better understood from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given only by way of illustration, and with useful reference to the appended drawing, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a partially cutaway perspective view of a dispensing container according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the container of Figure 1 during storage of a lyophilized powder and a sterile liquid;
• Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the container of Figure 1 during activation and release of the occlusion means;
• Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the container of Figure 1 after activation and release of the occlusion means, and mixing of the substances;
• 5 shows a sectional view along line VV of Figure 4, showing the position of the occlusion means after activation and mixing of the substances.

In accordance with Figures 1 to 4 a container distributor 1 multi-room according to an embodiment preferred of the invention comprises a container body substantially tubular 4 of a deformable material elastically, therefore relatively flexible, for example in low density polyethylene or polypropylene. The body 4 has a bottom end 5, closed for example by a plug Sa, and an opening end 6, as well as a occlusion means 7, which separates the body 4 in two chambers 9,10 in a sealed manner. In order to facilitate the container taken by the user, as well as the direction of activation pressure, body 4 can have, on its outer surface, a recess 16 of gripping for a finger above the occlusion means 7, and a gripping recess 17 for a finger below said occlusion means 7.

In this preferred embodiment, the chamber 9 contains a liquid 2, and the chamber 10 a powder 3, by freeze-dried example, but it is understood that both substances can also be combinations, for example of two or more liquids, or two powders, or that the chamber 10 contains a liquid 2 and the chamber 9 contains a powder 3. The container 1 comprises moreover means 11 for distributing substances 2,3 in the mixed state, arranged near the end opening 6, and sealingly closing it, and which will be described in more detail below.

In accordance with Figures 1 and 2, the means occlusion 7 has a continuous peripheral edge 8, disposed inside the container body 4, between the bottom end 5 and the opening end 6, closing the body 4 tightly along its edge peripheral 8. Thus, before activation of the means occlusion by the user, the two substances do not cannot come into contact with each other, and are actually stored tightly. This allows store in the same container for a long time substances in a separate state that are relatively unstable when they come into contact with one the other, which is the case for example of several drugs. Always before activation of container 1, the occlusion means 7 is arranged obliquely in the body 4, and includes a first peripheral zone 12 partially tearable under pressure transverse activation of the fingers, and a second zone 13 peripheral, different from the first zone 12, tearproof under the effect of the activation pressure, now the occlusion means 7 in place in the body 4 tubular after activation.

Preferably, but not necessarily, the means occlusion 7 is made of the same material as that of the substantially tubular body, so for example in low density polyethylene or polypropylene. In the case of the preferred embodiment according to the figures, the means occlusion occurs substantially in the form of a disc, for example circular or elliptical, but this shape can of course vary depending on the shape circumferential of the container body 4, and can by example be polygonal.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated by figures, the first peripheral zone 12 of the disk 7 is present in the form of a part of the peripheral edge 8, thickness reduced compared to the central thickness of the disk 7, and the second peripheral zone 13 comprises two material bridges, for example thicker than the thickness of the disc 7, constituting between them an axis of rotation 15 for this one, when activating the container 1. As shown in Figure 5, which is a sectional view along line V-V of Figure 4, the axis of rotation 15 is arranged perpendicular to the direction transverse activation pressure of the fingers, so as to force the rotation of the disc to take place in the direction of the activation force.

Furthermore, the container includes means for distribution 11, in particular integrated into or mounted on the body 4, for example by irreversible latching and waterproof or by welding or molding in one piece. In the mode of execution the means of distribution are constituted by a nose 19 of substantially frustoconical shape fitted with a dropper 20, fitted at its end proximal, i.e. at the tip opening 6 of body 4, of an annular flange 24 fixed for example by welding to the body 4 along the perimeter of this last. The distribution means 11 can be also covered by a cap 21, comprising at its inside a plug 23, adapted to receive and seal the dropper 20 of the nose 19, and gripping elements elastic 22 with the body 4 of container 1 and / or with the distribution means 11. These elastic gripping elements can be formed, for example, by teeth elastics that snap reversibly onto and around the annular flange 24 means for distribution 11.

To prevent accidental activation of the container, this may further include a sleeve 18 removable body activation lock 4, in one elastically non-deformable material, which surrounds said body 4 at least at the level of the occlusion means 7. In this case, the sleeve 18 is preferably made of a more rigid as that constituting the body 4, for example in high density polyethylene or polypropylene, so that resist pressure from the fingers or the hand on the container. As illustrated in Figure 1, this sleeve 18 covers, starting from the bottom end 5, the gripping recesses 16,17 and the body 4 up to disc level 7, effectively preventing any inadvertent activation by the user.

The operation of the dispensing container 1 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. Before activation, the sleeve 18 is in place, as well as the cap 21 (see figure 2). The sleeve 18 is then removed from below, exposing the body 4 of the container, and the gripping recesses 16,17. A pressure light activation is exerted on the recesses by the fingers of the user, which causes tearing of the peripheral zone 12 at this pressure, the disc 7 held by the bridges 13 entering in rotation from so as to create an opening on either side of the axis 15, allowing the substances to be mixed (cf. Figures 3 and 4), either by shaking the container, or by repeatedly pressing again with your fingers on the container body. Then the cap is removed, and the mixture can be dispensed by means of distribution 11 formed by the nose 19 and the count drop 20. After dispensing the mixture, the cap can be snapped onto the distribution means 11, until further use.

Claims (9)

1. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) for the tight storage, before activation, and the dispensing in the mixed state, after activation, of at least two substances (2, 3), in particular a liquid and a lyophilized powder, said container comprising a substantially tubular container body (4), made of an elastically deformable material, presenting a bottom end (5), and an end (6) having an opening, and at least one occlusion means (7) presenting a continuous peripheral edge (8), disposed inside the container body (4), between the bottom end (5) and the end (6) having an opening, closing said body (4) hermetically along its said peripheral edge (8), and dividing said body (4) into at least two chambers (9, 10), for the two substances (2, 3) respectively, the container (1) further comprising means (11) for dispensing the substances (2, 3) in the mixed state, disposed in the vicinity of the end (6) having an opening, and hermetically closing same, characterized in that, before activation of the container (1), the occlusion means (7) is disposed obliquely in the substantially tubular body (4), and comprises at least a first peripheral area (12) partially tearable under the effect of a transverse activating pressure from the fingers, and at least a second peripheral area (13), different from the first area (12), non-tearable under the effect of said activating pressure, maintaining the occlusion means (7) in place in the tubular body (4) after activation.
2. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the occlusion means (7) is constituted by the same material as that of the substantially tubular body.
3. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized in that the first peripheral area (12) of the occlusion means (7) is in the form of a part of the peripheral edge (8), of thickness reduced with respect to the central thickness of said occlusion means (7).
4. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second peripheral area (13) of the occlusion means (7) comprises two bridges of material, constituting therebetween an axis of rotation (15) for said occlusion means (7), during activation of the container (1), said axis of rotation (15) being disposed perpendicularly to the direction of the transverse activating pressure of the fingers.
5. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the occlusion means (7) is substantially in the shape of a disc.
6. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the substantially tubular body (4) comprises, on its outer surface, a recess (16) for a finger to grip above the occlusion means (7), and a recess (17) for a finger to grip below said occlusion means (7).
7. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a removable sleeve (18) for blocking activation of the substantially tubular container body (4), made of a material which is not elastically deformable, which surrounds said body (4) at least at the level of the occlusion means (7).
8. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the dispensing means (11) are integrated in or mounted on the body (4) of the container (1), and are constituted by a nose (19) of substantially truncated shape provided with a dropper (20).
9. Multi-chamber dispensing container (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises a removable cap (21) for protecting the dispensing means, comprising at least one element (22) for elastic hold with the body (4) of the container (1) and/or with the dispensing means (11), and an element forming stopper (23) for said dispensing means (11), disposed inside the cap (21).

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