Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/4891—Coated capsules; Multilayered drug free capsule shells
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0053—Mouth and digestive tract, i.e. intraoral and peroral administration
  • A61K9/0056—Mouth soluble or dispersible forms; Suckable, eatable, chewable coherent forms; Forms rapidly disintegrating in the mouth; Lozenges; Lollipops; Bite capsules; Baked products; Baits or other oral forms for animals
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/4808—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate characterised by the form of the capsule or the structure of the filling; Capsules containing small tablets; Capsules with outer layer for immediate drug release
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/48—Preparations in capsules, e.g. of gelatin, of chocolate
  • A61K9/4816—Wall or shell material
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
  • Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
  • Y10T428/1303—Paper containing [e.g., paperboard, cardboard, fiberboard, etc.]

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a consumable container, and in particular to a container for human or animal consumption by oral means, the content of which is intended to be absorbed into the bloodstream of the consumer through the capillaries of the mouth.
• Absorption into the bloodstream through the capillaries of the mouth confers certain advantages over absorption through the lining of the gut. For example, absorption through the capillaries of the mouth can be more rapid and more efficient. Furthermore, absorption in the mouth can enable safe transmission to the bloodstream of medicaments that are liable to be damaged, or perhaps even destroyed by gastric juices.
• Absorption through the gut involves an absorbed substance passing through the various organs of the digestive system before the substance reaches the bloodstream. Much of the potency of an active ingredient in the substance can be lost during this process. Absorption through the mouth, on the other hand, provides a more direct route to the bloodstream and this can help preserve the potency of an active ingredient.
• the salt may be compressed into a pill or may be left in its powdered form and encapsulated.
• the pill or capsule is swallowed by the consumer and the medicament converted back to its original form by the digestive system.
• a significant disadvantage of this approach is the reduction in the potency of the medicament that normally arises from the process of converting the medicament to a salt and converting the salt back to the medicament.
• a consequence of the reduction in potency can be an increase in the strength or quantity of the medicament. The increase in strength or quantity can cause damage, , or perhaps even increase the damage caused to the digestive system of the consumer.
• the inventors have realised that there is a need for a consumable container that is more inclined to release its contents in the mouth of a consumer.
• a consumable container comprising an outer shell defining a closed cavity and a closed inner container inside the outer shell, in which the outer shell comprises a tight fibrous substance that is liable to rupture upon being placed in the mouth of a human or animal subject.
• the tight fibrous substance consists of tightly packed fibres that lie for the most part in line with the surface of the outer shell. Therefore, the outer shell is more liable to be ruptured by a force applied in a direction that is generally perpendicular to the surface of the outer shell. Thus, the outer shell has sufficient rigidity and strength for storage and handling purposes, but is less capable of withstanding forces that may be applied to the capsule on being placed in the mouth.
• the tight fibrous substance may comprise a paper, such as rice or maize paper. Alternatively or in addition, the tight fibrous substance may comprise a mixture of gum arabica and wood fibres .
• the outer shell may be (at least in part) softened by a liquid. More specifically, water may cause the outer shell to (at least in part) disintegrate. Saliva in the mouth of a consumer can cause the disintegration of the outer shell of a consumable container according to such embodiments .
• the inner container may be substantially liquid impermeable .
• a consumable container according to such embodiments is suited to the encapsulation of liquid or moisture-containing substances. Many substances degrade on exposure to air.
• the consumable container may provide a substantially airtight seal for its contents. More specifically, the consumable container may be substantially impermeable to an oxidising gas . The airtight seal or impermeable barrier might be provided by the inner container.
• the consumable container may be substantially opaque.
• the contents of the consumable container can be shielded from the harmful effects of sunlight.
• the inner container may comprise an ester of monohydric alcohols of the higher homologues. More specifically, the inner container may comprise beeswax.
• a consumable container according to such embodiments has the desirable properties discussed above of providing a substantially airtight seal and of preventing liquid or moisture-containing substances from affecting the integrity of the outer shell .
• esters of monohydric alcohols of the higher homologues such as beeswax, tend to undergo plastic deformation upon being placed in the mouth, thereby releasing the contents. Plastic deformation can be caused by salivation, movement of the tongue and like masticatory actions. According to certain embodiments plastic deformation might, for example, be brought about within 0.5 to 60 seconds after being placed in the mouth.
• the consumable container may include a substantially indigestible component.
• the presence of the indigestible component in the consumable container can discourage a consumer from swallowing the container.
• the inner container may comprise one or more of a plastics material, paraffin wax and bakelite.
• the inner container may be provided with a coating of a wax, such as beeswax.
• a coating of wax can provide an airtight and moisture proof seal around the inner container.
• the substantially indigestible component may be of a fibrous material, such as cotton wool.
• the cotton wool might, for example, be used to absorb the contents of the consumable container.
• the indigestible component can discourage the consumer from swallowing the consumable container.
• the inner container may comprise one or more of a plastics material, paraffin wax and bakelite.
• the substantially indigestible component may be a fibrous material such as cotton wool .
• the presence of the indigestible component provides for greater freedom in design of a consumable container than for a consumable container according to the first aspect of the invention.
• the ease and rapidity of break up of the outer shell is less of a desirable property.
• the outer container may comprise a cereal, such as wheat flour, or a starch obtained from, e.g. potatoes or rice.
• the inner container of the invention may have one of several forms .
• the outer surface area of the inner container may be coextensive with the inner surface area of the outer shell, whereby the inner container lines the outer shell .
• the inner container may be a membrane formed on the inside of the outer shell.
• the outer surface area of the inner container may be substantially less than the inner surface area of the outer shell.
• the inner container may be a pouch provided loosely inside the outer shell .
• the inner container may comprise a plurality of chambers.
• a plurality of inner containers may be contained within the outer shell and each inner container may have a chamber.
• a different substance may be contained within each of the plurality of chambers. More specifically, upon consumption of a consumable container constituted according to such embodiments, the disposition of the chambers within the outer shell may be such that the contents of at least two chambers are released substantially simultaneously. Alternatively or in addition, the disposition of the chambers within the outer shell may be such that the contents of the plurality of chambers are released in a predetermined sequence. The period of time for release of contents from a chamber after being placed in the mouth may be controlled by providing an inner container with a predetermined solubility.
• any one or more of a liquid, paste or solid such as a pill or powder may be provided in the inner container.
• a substance may be one or more of a medicament, a food supplement, a cosmetic, or a confectionary product.
• the substance might be mixed with a vector to ensure its stability.
• the substance may comprise royal jelly.
• the substance may comprise honey.
• Figure 1 shows a consumable container being an embodiment of the present invention
• Figure 2 is a flow chart representation of a method of manufacture of the consumable container of Figure 1.
• a consumable container 100 comprises an outer shell 110, which defines a closed cavity, and a closed inner container 120, which is provided as a membrane on the inner surface of the outer shell .
• the inner container has three chambers, which are formed by providing two separators 130 inside the inner container.
• a substance e.g. honey containing royal jelly, can be provided in one of the chambers and a different substance, such as Ginseng, Pollen or Ginko Biloba, in each of the other two chambers.
• a loose fibre ball 140 (constituting an indigestible component) is provided in the central chamber.
• a fibre ball can be provided in any one or more of the chambers.
• the loose fibre ball 140 is made of an indigestible material such as cotton wool . After the outer shell and inner container have broken up in the mouth of a consumer, the loose fibre ball 140 discourages the consumer from swallowing the residue.
• the loose fibre ball might, for example, be positioned under the tongue to bring the contents close to the large blood vessels located there.
• the consumable container 100 is saucer shaped, being circular when viewed from above and elongate when viewed from the side.
• the diameter of the consumable container is typically in the range of 10mm to 100mm and the height typically in the range of 3mm to 20mm.
• a fibrous substance made from the like of rice or maize, is formed into a paste and passed through rollers to form a thin sheet about 0.5mm to 1mm thick.
• the sheet is cut to provide two sheets of the same size.
• One of the sheets is laid on an open mould, which has a given number of cavities, with each cavity being used to form an individual consumable container.
• the mould cavities are shaped to provide the separators 130 shown in Figure 1.
• a vacuum is applied to the underside of the sheet to cause the sheet to line the cavities.
• the mould is heated to dry the sheet and then allowed to cool rapidly 210.
• the second un-moulded sheet is heated and allowed to cool rapidly to form the upper sheet 220.
• One or more layers of an impermeable substance such as beeswax or a micro-thin plastics material, are sprayed onto the upper surface of the moulded sheet and onto one of the surfaces of the upper sheet until the required thickness of impermeable substance has been deposited.
• the impermeable substance is then allowed to dry 230.
• the cavities in the moulded sheet are filled with the desired substance, e.g. honey containing royal jelly, and a loose fibre ball placed in the central cavity 240.
• the upper sheet is placed over the moulded sheet, with the impermeable substance towards the cavities, to enclose the contents of the cavities between upper and moulded sheets.
• the upper and moulded sheets are pressed together and a seal formed around each cavity with an appropriate tool, such as an ultrasonic welder or heat gun 250.
• the sealed upper and moulded sheets are cut around each cavity to form individual consumable containers 260.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
• Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Bioinformatics & Cheminformatics (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Nutrition Science (AREA)
• Physiology (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Medicinal Preparation (AREA)
• Coloring Foods And Improving Nutritive Qualities (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Jellies, Jams, And Syrups (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Material From Animals Or Micro-Organisms (AREA)
• Wrappers (AREA)
• Confectionery (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

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• 2001
  • 2001-07-20 US US10/344,715 patent/US20040022972A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-20 WO PCT/GB2001/003269 patent/WO2002015887A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2001-07-20 EP EP01949776A patent/EP1309318A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-07-20 AU AU2001270891A patent/AU2001270891A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-07-20 CN CNB018159184A patent/CN1251670C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-07-20 JP JP2002520809A patent/JP2004513080A/ja active Pending

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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