FR2868046A1 - Liquid container and dispenser has hydrophile and hydrophobe filtration membranes inside neck or container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container/dispenser (1), e.g. for an eye lotion, consisting of a container (3) with a dispenser (5) that fits in its neck (9) and has a nozzle (11) with an air inlet and liquid outlet (23), having at least one hydrophobe (45) and one hydrophile (46) microfiltration membrane for the liquid and the incoming air located one above the other inside the container neck, is new. A container/dispenser (1), e.g. for an eye lotion, consisting of a container (3) with a dispenser (5) that fits in its neck (9) and has a nozzle (11) with an air inlet and liquid outlet (23), having at least one hydrophobe (45) and one hydrophile (46) microfiltration membrane for the liquid and the incoming air located one above the other inside the container neck, is new. The nozzle has at least one air inlet passage (29) that communications with the inside of the container through the hydrophobe membrane, and an outlet channel for the liquid that communications with the inside of the container via the hydrophile membrane and is separate from the air inlet passage.

Description

2868046 1

  The present invention relates to a liquid conditioning and dispensing assembly of the type comprising: - a container for containing the liquid, the container having a neck extending along a longitudinal axis, and - a dispensing device for dispensing the liquid, liquid, the dispensing device being disposed in the neck and comprising: an air inlet and liquid outlet nozzle, and at least one liquophilic microfiltering membrane for filtering the outgoing liquid and at least one microfiltering membrane liquophobic for filter the incoming air.

  The invention applies in particular, but not exclusively, to the distribution of eye drops.

  The sterility of such liquids must be guaranteed.

  For a long time, this sterility has been ensured by adding preservatives to eye drops. Thus, contaminants from outside, such as bacteria, could enter the container containing the eye drops, without affecting the sterility thereof.

  However, it turned out that many people have allergies to these preservatives.

  To overcome this drawback, GB-2 021 429 and, for example, EP-401 022 have proposed assemblies of the aforementioned type. In such assemblies, the liquophilic and liquophobic membranes are arranged next to each other in the same plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container neck. During the distribution of the liquid, it traverses longitudinally the liquophilic membrane.

  This membrane retains contaminants that could have penetrated inside the container. The distributed eye drops are sterile.

  The air sucked inside the container following the distribution of the liquid is filtered by the liquophobic membrane to prevent the entry of contaminants into the container.

  Such sets prevent the use of preservatives.

  EP-401 022 also teaches that, in order to prevent the formation of a liquid jet, and thus to guarantee the obtaining of a dropwise distribution, the active surface of the liquophilic membrane, that is to say the surface crossed by the liquid must be weak. However, the use of a liquophile membrane of low active surface requires to apply significant forces on the container to distribute the liquid. This solution is therefore not satisfactory to guarantee the obtaining of a drip distribution.

  In any event, the use of liquophile membranes with larger active surfaces would lead, with the configuration of EP-401 022, to wide distribution devices and bulky packaging and distribution assemblies.

  An object of the invention is to solve this problem by providing an assembly of the aforementioned type which allows to have relatively large filter active surfaces while maintaining a small footprint.

  For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an assembly of the abovementioned type, characterized in that the liquophilic membrane and the liquophobic membrane are arranged one above the other along the longitudinal axis of the neck of the flask. .

  According to particular embodiments, the assembly may comprise one or more of the following characteristics taken separately or in any technically possible combination: the endpiece comprises at least one air inlet passage, communicating with the interior of the container via the liquophobic membrane, and a liquid outlet passage communicating with the interior of the container via the liquophilic membrane and separated from the air inlet passage; the dispensing device comprises: at least one first filter element delimiting an air passage opening in which the liquophobic membrane is disposed and at least one liquid passage opening, and at least one second filter element delimiting an opening. and at least one liquid passage opening in which the hydrophilic membrane is disposed, the first filter element and the second wire element. In the first filter element, the surface of the air passage opening is greater than the surface of the liquid passage opening, and in the second filter element the surface the liquid passage opening is greater than the surface of the air passage opening, the dispensing device comprises, between the liquophilic membrane and the liquophobic membrane, at least one liquid-flow channeling member; as well as incoming air, - the pipe member comprises: - an air passage duct which communicates with the air passage openings of the first and second filter elements, and - a passage duct of liquid which communicates with the liquid passage openings of the first and second filter elements, - the air passage and liquid passage ducts are separated by a wall inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis, - the membrane liquophobe is disposed under the liquophilic membrane, and - the dispensing device comprises more liquophilic membranes than liquophobic membrane (s).

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will follow, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, in exploded perspective of 2 is a partial diagrammatic view in longitudinal section of the dispensing device of the assembly of FIG. 1, and FIG. similar to FIG. 2, taken along a plane 25 of section different from that of FIG.

  FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an assembly 1 for conditioning and dispensing an eye drop in the form of an aqueous solution.

  This set 1 comprises a container 3 and a device 5 for dispensing the eye drops.

  The container 3 is in the example shown a plastic bottle. This bottle 3 contains the eye drops which has not been shown in the figures.

  The container 3 comprises a body 7 extended by an upper neck 9 which extends along a longitudinal axis L vertical.

  Conventionally, the walls of the body 7 are deformable elastically under the action of a transverse force to cause a decrease in the internal volume of the body 7 and thus allow the expulsion of the eye drops through the neck 9. The container 3 can resting on a bearing surface via the bottom 10 of the body 7.

  Conventionally also, the neck 9 is provided with external reliefs such as threads, allowing the connection to a closure cap not shown.

  This cap, which will be removed before use of the assembly 1 and placed on the neck 9 after use, may for example include tamperproof means to ensure, during the first use, that the assembly 1 n ' has not been used before.

  The dispensing device 5 comprises a nozzle 11 of air inlet and liquid outlet and a filter block 13. The tip 11 is inserted into the neck 9 and the filter block 13 is itself arranged inside. of the tip 11.

  The tip 11 comprises a lower end 15, an intermediate collar 17 and an upper dropper tip 19.

  A longitudinal passage 21 of liquid outlet through the tip 19 from one side.

  As illustrated by Figures 2 and 3, the passage 21 opens out of the tip 19 through an upper or downstream orifice 23. The passage 21 de-mouth through a lower or upstream opening 25 in the housing 27 provided in the lower end 15 of the nozzle 11 to receive the filter block 13. The pas-sage 21 has a shape diverging from upstream to downstream, that is to say from bottom to top.

  As illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 3, an air intake passage 29 is formed in the tip 19. This air inlet passage 29 is offset laterally with respect to the liquid outlet passage 21 which is substantially centered. on the longitudinal axis L. The air inlet passage 29 opens out of the nozzle 11 by an upper opening 31 and opens into the housing 27 of the lower end 15 of the nozzle 11 by a lower orifice 33.

  The filter block 13 comprises three filter elements 34, 35 and 36 and two members 37 and 38 for channeling the incoming air and the exiting liquid, stacked one on the other along the longitudinal axis L. More precisely the filter block 13 comprises from bottom to top: - a first filter element 34, - a first pipe element 37, - a second filter element 35, - a second pipe element 38, and - a third filter element 36.

  The filter elements 34, 35 and 36 have similar shapes. More specifically, they each have a disc shape comprising an outer circular edge 39 and two straight internal ribs 40 which extend along the ropes of the edge 39. The edge 39 and the ribs 40 define a main opening 41 and two auxiliary openings 43. The auxiliary apertures 43 have disk sector shapes and the main aperture 41 occupies the remainder of the disk defined internally by the circular edge 39.

  A microfiltration membrane is disposed in the main opening 41. Such a microfiltering membrane preferably has pores smaller than 0.2 m in size. The membrane extends transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis L. The surface of the main opening 41 and therefore of the active surface of the microfilter membrane is, for example, approximately 20 mm 2.

  The surfaces of the auxiliary openings 43 are, for example, approximately 1 mm 2.

  Each filter element 34, 35, 36 has for example been made by overmolding a plastic material intended to constitute the edge 39 and the ribs 40 on the microfilter membrane.

  The microfilter membrane 45 of the first filter element 34 is a hydrophobic membrane, and the microfilter membranes 46 of the two other filter elements 35 and 36 are hydrophilic membranes.

  The channeling members 37 and 38 have similar shapes.

  More specifically, they each have a generally cylindrical hollow shape internally comprising a main wall 47 inclined relative to the longitudinal axis L, a vertical auxiliary wall 49 and a cylindrical outer wall 51.

  The auxiliary wall 49 delimits with the cylindrical outer wall 51 a lateral and vertical duct 53 of the same section as the auxiliary openings 43 of the filter elements 34 to 36.

  As illustrated more particularly by FIGS. 2 and 3, each inclined wall 47 delimits with the cylindrical outer wall 51 and the auxiliary wall 49: a lower duct 55 that converges upwards to pass from a cross section corresponding to that of a main opening 41 with a cross section corresponding to that of an auxiliary opening 43, and - an upper duct 57 diverging upwards to pass from a cross section corresponding to that of an auxiliary opening 43 to a cross section corresponding to that of a main opening 41.

  The three filter elements 34 to 36 and the two pipe members 37 and 38 are sealed to each other, for example by ultrasonic welding or by friction or snap-fastening.

  As illustrated in Figure 1, the filter elements 34 to 36 on the one hand, and the pipe members 37 and 38 on the other hand, are offset angularly relative to each other by 90.

  Thus, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, a first opening 43 to the first filter element 34 communicates with the lateral duct 53 of the first duct member 37, then with a first auxiliary opening 43 of the second filter element 35 and then with the passage upper 57 of the second pipe member 38, and finally with the main opening 41 of the third filter element 36, thereby defining a first passage 59 of liquid filtering.

  Similarly, a second liquid filtering passage 61 defined in the filter block 13 is partially visible in FIG. 2. This second filter passage passes through the second auxiliary opening 43 of the first filter element 34, the upper passage 57 of the second pipe member 37, the main opening 41 of the second filter element 35, the lower passage 55 of the second pipe member 37 and finally a first auxiliary opening of the third filter element 36.

  Finally, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, an air filter passage 63 is delimited in the block 13 and passes successively through the second auxiliary opening 43 of the third filtering element 36, the lateral conduit 53 of the second channeling member 38, the second auxiliary opening 43 of the second filter element 35, the lower duct 55 of the first duct member 37, then the main opening 41 of the first filter element 34.

  The filtration unit 13 is received in the housing 27 in a sealed manner. This sealing can be provided by simple interference or welding on the lower end 15 of the nozzle 11.

  The air filter passage 63 communicates directly with the lower orifice 33 of the air inlet passage 29. The upstream orifice 25 of the liquid outlet passage 21 is arranged facing the membrane 46 of the third element filter 36 and slightly spaced longitudinally thereof.

  In the dispensing device 5, the nozzle 11 and the filter block 13 are thus assembled to one another.

  The device 5 has also been assembled to the bottle 3 by inserting the lower part 15 of the endpiece 11 into the neck 9, the collar 17 resting on the edge of the neck 9. The connection between the endpiece 11 and the bottle 3 is also airtight. This sealing can be provided by simple interference or welding of the flange 17 on the neck 9 for example by ultrasound or friction.

  In addition, a bacteriostatic agent is optionally present on the outer surfaces of the assembly 1, for example by means of elements attached to the bottle 3.

  Typically, such an agent may contain a silver-based compound to kill microorganisms.

  To use the set 1, proceed as follows.

  After having previously removed the closure cap not shown, the assembly 1 is returned and the side walls of the body 7 of the bottle 3 are pressed so as to increase the pressure inside the latter, which tends to expel the eye drops out of the body 7 through the neck 9.

  The eye drops then flows into the filter block 13 through the liquid filter passages 59 and 61, as shown by the arrows 69 and 71 in FIG. 2. These two streams of eye drops are then filtered, one by the membrane 46 of the upper filter element 36 and the other by the filter membrane 46 of the intermediate filter element.

  These two flows meet upstream of the passage 21 and are then expelled simultaneously outside the drop point 19 through the passage 21.

  Note that the hydrophobic lower membrane 45 prevents the entry of eye drops in the passage 63 of air filtering.

  The hydrophilic membranes 46 thus ensure the distribution of a sterile lyre-neck by retaining in the container 3 the bacteria and other contaminating agents that it could contain.

  In addition, because of the divergent shape of the liquid outlet passage 21 and the small diameter of the upstream orifice 25, the risk of a longitudinal jet of eye drops occurring at the outlet of the drop point 19 is reduced.

  When the pressure exerted on the side walls of the body 7 of the bottle 3 is released, the body 7 resumes its initial shape by creating a depression through the membranes 45 and 46.

  The upper and intermediate membranes 46 being hydrophilic and being wetted with eye drops, they prevent the passage of air.

  On the other hand, the entry of air into the vial 3 can be effected via the passages 29 and 63, passing through the hydrophobic lower membrane 45. This is indicated by the arrow 73 in FIG.

  The hydrophobic membrane 45 thus prevents the entry of contaminating agents into the bottle 3.

  When the assembly is returned so that it resumes its position shown in FIG. 1, with the dispensing device 5 facing upwards, the eye drops that could be on the hydrophilic membranes 46 are returned to the container because the inclination of the walls 47 and the absence of retention zone.

  The assembly 1 thus makes it possible to package and dispense a sterile eye drop without the use of a preservative in the eye drops is necessary.

  Due to the use of separate passages 21 and 29 for the air inlet and the liquid outlet, liquid having passed through the hydrophilic membranes 46 can not accumulate on the hydrophobic membrane 45 by preventing its return to the inside the container 3, as is the case in dispensing devices comprising a single passage of air inlet and liquid outlet. However, certain variants of the invention may include a single pass.

  The use of microfiltration membranes 45 and 46 arranged one above the other along the longitudinal axis L makes it possible to benefit from relatively large hydrophilic and hydrophobic filtering active surfaces, while maintaining a small footprint.

  This reduced bulk allows in particular to equip without modification bottles 3 and 11 traditional tips of filter blocks 13.

  In the example described above, the active filtering surface of the liquid is all the more important that it is twice that used to filter the incoming air, thanks to the presence of two filter elements 35 and 36 provided with hydrophilic membranes 46. Thus, it is not necessary to apply significant forces on the container 3 in order to distribute the eye drops.

  Alternatively, the dispensing device 5 may comprise as many hydrophilic membrane (s) 46 as hydrophobic membrane (s) 45. In particular, the dispensing device 5 may comprise only a hydrophilic membrane 46 and a hydrophobic membrane 46.

  In certain embodiments, the overall hydrophilic active surface obtained by the membrane or the hydrophilic membranes may be greater than 50 mm 2 and possibly greater than 100 mm 2. In this case, the number of filter elements may be greater than that described above. However, in other variants, this overall hydrophilic surface may be less than these values.

  Thus, the use of superimposed microfiltration membranes makes it possible, either at constant bulk, to have larger filtering surfaces or, with constant filtering active surfaces, to reduce the bulk.

  The use, as in the previous case, of filter elements 34 to 36 of similar shape makes it possible to increase the standardization and thus to reduce costs.

  Although the invention is particularly intended for the distribution of pharmaceutical products, it can be used in general in all areas requiring the distribution of sterile liquids.

  Thus, the membranes 45 and 46 may be more generally respectively liquophilic and liquophobic membranes.

Claims (10)

  A liquid conditioning and dispensing assembly (1), of the type comprising: - a container (3) for containing the liquid, the container (3) having a neck (9) extending along a longitudinal axis (L), and - a device (5) for dispensing liquid, the dispensing device (5) being arranged in the neck (9) and comprising: a nozzle (11) for the entry of air and liquid outlet, and at least one liquophilic microfiltering membrane (46) for filtering the outgoing liquid and at least one microfibrtering liquophobic membrane (45) for filtering the incoming air, characterized in that the liquophilic membrane (46) and the liquophobic membrane (45) are arranged one above the other along the longitudinal axis (L) of the neck (9) of the vial.   2. The assembly of claim 1, characterized in that the tip (11) comprises at least one passage (29) of air inlet, communicating with the interior of the container (3) via the membrane liquophobe (45), and a liquid outlet passage (21) communicating with the interior of the container (3) via the liquophilic membrane (46) and separated from the air inlet passage (29) .   3. The assembly of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dispensing device (5) comprises: - at least one first filter element (34) defining an opening (41) for air passage in which the liquophobic membrane ( 45) is disposed and at least one liquid passage opening (41), and - at least one second filter element (35, 36) delimiting an air passage opening (43) and at least one opening (41) of liquid passage in which the hydrophilic membrane (46) is disposed.   4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the first filter element (34) and the second filter element (35, 36) have similar shapes.   5. An assembly according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that, in the first filter element (34), the surface of the opening (41) of air passage is greater than the surface of the opening (43) fluid passage, and in that in the second filter element (35, 36), the surface of the opening (41) of pas-wise liquid is greater than the surface of the opening (43) passage air.   6. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing device (5) comprises, between the liquophilic membrane (46) and the liquophobic membrane (45), at least one member (37, 38) of pipe outgoing liquid and incoming air.   7. An assembly according to claims 5 and 6 taken together, characterized in that the channel member (37, 38) comprises: - an air duct (55) which communicates with the openings (41, 43) of air passage of the first and second filter elements (34, 35), and - a liquid passage conduit (57) which communicates with the liquid passage openings of the first and second filter elements (34, 35).   8. An assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the air passage ducts (55) and liquid passage (57) are separated by a wall (47) inclined relative to the longitudinal axis (L).   9. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the liquophobic membrane (45) is disposed under the liquophilic membrane (46).   10. Assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing device (5) comprises more liquophilic membranes (46) than membrane (s) liquophobic (s) (45).