GB1574559A - Sterile pack - Google Patents

Description

(54) A STERILE PACK (71) We, PHARMAX LIMITED, a British Company, of Bourne Road, Bexley, Kent, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a sterile pack primarily for use in administering a predetermined volume of liquid medicament.

BACKGROUND ART It is known to produce a pack which holds a plastics container within which is a measured volume of a liquid medicament to be administered in the form of drops to a patient. For example, such devices are known for administering eye drops. Such containers may take the form of a bulbous part, which holds a liquid medicament, from which a neck extends to an integral flat cap, between the neck and cap there being awaisted portion.

After the container has been removed from its wrapping, the cap is twisted by hand in relation to the bulbous part so that the cap breaks away at the waisted portion thus revealing a bore through the neck of the container enabling the medicament to be dispensed by squeezing the bulbous part of the container.

Such containers are filled and sealed under sterile conditions. The integral cap is moulded simultaneously with the neck and bulbous portion of the container and with the base of the bulbous portion open After the bulbous portion has been charged with the desired quantity of medicament, then the base of the bulbous portion is sealed by heat or other means, such as ultrasonically, under sterile conditions.

It is the main obiect of this invention to provide a pack including a container of liquid medicament which will enable the medicament to be administered parenterally.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES According to the present invention there is provided a sterile medical pack, comprising a liquid container having a neck with a member closing a bore in the neck and a needle assembly comprising an adapter carrying an hypodermic needle, characterised in that the liquid container and needle assembly are enclosed with a sealed outer wrapper under sterile conditions as protection from microbiological contamination prior to use of the contents of the pack and on breaking the sealed outer wrapper and removal of the contents, the neck and adapter are connectable on separation of the closure member and the liquid container so that the needle forms an extension of the neck.

An advantage of a sterile pack according to the invention is that the container holding the liquid medicament may be housed within the same sterile pack as the hypodermic needle so that any person administering the medicament is enabled, on breaking the sterile wrapper, to locate the hypodermic needle on the end of the container and administer the medicament parenterally.

FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS In order to illustrate the invention one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying .drawing in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic plan view ofa pack constructed in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a liquid medicament container with a needle assembly attached thereto, FIGURE 3 is a side view of Figure 2, and FIGURE 4 is a view of the needle assembly taken along the line Iv-IV of Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Referring first to Figure 1, a sterile medical pack comprises an outer wrapper 1 preferably of transparent and flexible plastics material and formed of two layers of meterial heat sealed around its marginal portion with a tear slit 3 to enable the pack to be readily opened by tearing along an extension of the line 3. Alternatively the pack may be sealed in such a manner as to form a "peel open" pack.

Within the wrapper is a liquid container 4 known per sue holding a predetermined volume representing a unit dose of a liquid medicament, the container including a bulbous portion 5 leading to a neck 6 and having an integral cap 7 separated from the neck 6 by a waisted portion 8. The container 4 is made of plastics material so that, when the medicament is administered, the cap 5 can be twisted in relation of the neck 6 by hand and thus become detached revealing a bore within the neck 6 leading to the interior of the bulbous portion 5.

Also within the wrapper 1 is a needle assembly 9 shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3. Within the wrapper the needle assembly is retained within a sheath 10 so as to protect the hypodermic needle 11.

The needle 11 is attached to an adapter 12 which forms part of the needle assembly and which has a bore therethrough leading to the needle 11.

The sterile pack is designed so that, after the medicament has been administered, the entire pack may be thrown away. The pack is formed under sterile conditions and the container and the needle assembly are maintained under sterile conditions and free from microbiological contamination until immediately prior to use. When the person intending to use the pack requires to gain access to the contents, the wrapper is broken along the line 3 and its contents removed.

Although the invention has been described above in relation to a sterile pack including a container holding liquid, it is to be appreciated that the container may be empty when in the wrapping and used for taking liquid samples, for example, samples of blood. For this purpose, the bulbous portion 5 of the container may contain a substance in crystal or other form which will preserve the blood drawn into the container. If the pack is to be used for this purpose, an additional cap or plug may be provided within the pack so as to seal the bore in the neck of the container after the blood has been drawn into the container. Alternatively, the sheath used to protect the needle may be used for this purpose.

A pack in accordance with the invention may be used by any person authorised to administer, for example, a physician, medical practitioner or any other p ;rson.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A sterile medical pack, comprising a liquid container having a neck with a member closing a bore in the neck and a needle assembly comprising an adapter carrying a hypodermic needle, characterised in that the liquid container and needle assembly are enclosed within a sealed outer wrapper under sterile conditions as protection from microbiological contamination prior to use of the contents of the pack and on breaking the sealed outer wrapper and removal of the contents, the neck and adapter are connectable on separation of the closure member and the liquid container so that the needle forms an extension of the neck.

2. A sterile medical pack as claimed in Claim 1, in which the liquid container has a predetermined volume of liquid medicament therein.

3. A sterile medical pack as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, further characterised in that the adapter is a hollow member having the hypodermic needle extending from one end and an open other end which receives the neck of the liquid container.

4. A sterile medical pack substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of transparent and flexible plastics material and formed of two layers of meterial heat sealed around its marginal portion with a tear slit 3 to enable the pack to be readily opened by tearing along an extension of the line 3. Alternatively the pack may be sealed in such a manner as to form a "peel open" pack. Within the wrapper is a liquid container 4 known per sue holding a predetermined volume representing a unit dose of a liquid medicament, the container including a bulbous portion 5 leading to a neck 6 and having an integral cap 7 separated from the neck 6 by a waisted portion 8. The container 4 is made of plastics material so that, when the medicament is administered, the cap 5 can be twisted in relation of the neck 6 by hand and thus become detached revealing a bore within the neck 6 leading to the interior of the bulbous portion 5. Also within the wrapper 1 is a needle assembly 9 shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3. Within the wrapper the needle assembly is retained within a sheath 10 so as to protect the hypodermic needle 11. The needle 11 is attached to an adapter 12 which forms part of the needle assembly and which has a bore therethrough leading to the needle 11. The sterile pack is designed so that, after the medicament has been administered, the entire pack may be thrown away. The pack is formed under sterile conditions and the container and the needle assembly are maintained under sterile conditions and free from microbiological contamination until immediately prior to use. When the person intending to use the pack requires to gain access to the contents, the wrapper is broken along the line 3 and its contents removed. Although the invention has been described above in relation to a sterile pack including a container holding liquid, it is to be appreciated that the container may be empty when in the wrapping and used for taking liquid samples, for example, samples of blood. For this purpose, the bulbous portion 5 of the container may contain a substance in crystal or other form which will preserve the blood drawn into the container. If the pack is to be used for this purpose, an additional cap or plug may be provided within the pack so as to seal the bore in the neck of the container after the blood has been drawn into the container. Alternatively, the sheath used to protect the needle may be used for this purpose. A pack in accordance with the invention may be used by any person authorised to administer, for example, a physician, medical practitioner or any other p ;rson. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A sterile medical pack, comprising a liquid container having a neck with a member closing a bore in the neck and a needle assembly comprising an adapter carrying a hypodermic needle, characterised in that the liquid container and needle assembly are enclosed within a sealed outer wrapper under sterile conditions as protection from microbiological contamination prior to use of the contents of the pack and on breaking the sealed outer wrapper and removal of the contents, the neck and adapter are connectable on separation of the closure member and the liquid container so that the needle forms an extension of the neck.

2. A sterile medical pack as claimed in Claim 1, in which the liquid container has a predetermined volume of liquid medicament therein.

3. A sterile medical pack as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, further characterised in that the adapter is a hollow member having the hypodermic needle extending from one end and an open other end which receives the neck of the liquid container.

4. A sterile medical pack substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.