GB2356845A

GB2356845A - Container for disinfectant

Info

Publication number: GB2356845A
Application number: GB0025265A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Tharratt; John L Strauss
Original assignee: FILTREX CORP SA
Current assignee: FILTREX CORP SA
Priority date: 1999-10-15
Filing date: 2000-10-16
Publication date: 2001-06-06
Also published as: GB0025265D0; GB9924464D0

Abstract

A sealed container is formed from a single piece of plastics material and contains a predetermined dose, not greater than 10 ml, of alcohol-containing disinfectant, the total capacity of said container being not greater than 20 ml. The container has an integral closure (9) which may be readily, at least part separated from the remainder of the container to reveal an opening through which the disinfectant may be dispensed. Preferably the dose is 3 ml and not greater than 6 ml. The container may be of poly propylene and may comprise an outlet tube (5) to restrict discharge of the disinfectant. The sealed container and contents may be sterilised, preferably by gamma radiation.

Description

2356845 CONTAINER

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to containers and, in particular, to a container holding disinfectant for use especially in situations where there is little or no access to water.

Such situations might arise, for instance, where medical treatment is to be given away from a hospital or surgery including at the scene of an accident.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disinfectants are widely used in medical treatment to prevent the risk of infection from pathogenic micro-organisms. Over recent years, the need for efficient methods of sterilisation has become ever more apparent due to the fact that antibiotic resistant bacteria have been found outside the hospital ward and are now present in the community at large.

Alcohol based disinfectants are commonly used in modem day products. These are typically distributed in large, multi-dose bottles, usually 250 or 50OmI, which present a number of disadvantages and potential health risks for users. The primary disadvantage is the potential risk of flammability of the liquid disinfectants due to their quantity and possible leakage. Furthermore, the discarded container itself is a potential fire risk. Another major disadvantage is the contamination potential of not only the outer surface of the container, but also the contents. The possibility of ingestion or inhalation of the product is also a potential health risk.

In recent years, another form of portable disinfectant product has appeared in the form of a single use wipe in a sachet or pouch. The wipe is impregnated with alcohol disinfectant. The problem with such a product is the lack of mobility of the liquid within the wipe in that it is difficult to apply sufficient liquid from the wipe to access all the cracks and crevices of the hands. The potential fire hazard of the wipe presents additional safety problems.

There is a need for a container from which a controlled amount of disinfectant can be dispensed, eliminating any possibility of cross contamination, and which can be safely disposed of after use.

STATEMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a scaled container formed from a single piece of plastics material and containing a predetermined dose, not greater than mI, of alcohol-containing disinfectant, the total capacity of said container being not greater than 20 mI, said container having an integral closure which may be readily, at least part separated from the remainder of the container to reveal an opening through which the disinfectant may be dispensed.

Preferably the predetermined dose of alcohol-containing disinfectant is not greater than 6m1 and is most preferably 3 ral.

Preferably the container includes a body portion and a delivery portion extending from said body portion to said opening, the delivery portion being in the form of a narrow tube.

Preferably the tube has an internal cross-sectional area sufficiently small that application of pressure to the body of the container is required to dispense the disinfectant substantially completely from the container.

Preferably the disinfectant comprises a mixture of alcohol and antiseptic solution although either alcohol or antiseptic solution may be used singularly.

Preferably the container and the alcohol are sterilised to protect against the presence of contaminating bacteria in the disinfectant solution. Preferably sterilisation is achieved by means of gamma radiation.

2 Preferably the container is made of polypropylene which will not support flammability when the flame is removed DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying diagram wherein Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Figure 1, a disinfectant container comprises a body portion 1 which is substantially isosceles triangle shaped with a short base. Body portion 1 is suitably sized to hold a 3nil dose of disinfectant whilst leaving substantially one third of the container volume empty. The disinfectant solution comprises a mixture of alcohol and antiseptic solution.

Delivery portion 3 extends from the apex of body portion 1 and comprises a funnel like feature with outlet tube 5 extending from wider portion 7. At that end of outlet tube 5 which is remote from body portion 1, delivery portion 3 is provided with integral cap member 9. Integral cap member 9 comprises a hollow tube 11 with frusta 13 and 15 projecting from either end thereof. Frustum 13 is provided with a base 17, which is formed integrally with said one end of outlet tube 5, and forms a frangible region at which integral cap member 9 can be readily broken off.

The outer most edge of base 17 has a scalloped edge forming a series of indentations 19. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer most edge of base 17 has 4 indentations.

Before use the disinfectant container and its contents are sterilised in order to protect against the presence of contaminating bacteria in the disinfectant solution. In one embodiment of the invention, the disinfectant solution for use with a container of the present invention is comprised solely of alcohol and sterilisation of the container and contents is afforded by gamma radiation in an air balast temperature chamber.

3 In a second embodiment of the invention, the disinfectant solution comprises a mixture of alcohol and antiseptic solution. Antiseptic solution does not withstand gamma radiation and is subsequently added to alcohol held within a container after gamma radiation thereof.

When in use, the seal above outlet tube 5 formed by integral base 17 of frustum 13 is removed by releasing integral cap member 9 from delivery portion 3. There now exists an uninterrupted path for the exit of disinfectant contained within body portion 1 into the external environment.

The container of the present invention provides for precaution against potential leakage because the internal diameter of outlet tube 5 is of sufficiently narrow diameter such than when the unsealed container is turned so that the opening is below the body portion of the container, any egress of the contents of the device is drop-wise unless body portion 1 is squeezed. Accordingly release of the disinfectant solution is at the control of the user and is achieved by turning the container upside down and applying sufficient pressure to squeeze disinfectant solution from body portion 1 and through narrow outlet tube 5.

Since the container of the present invention is specifically adapted for single-use, the potential risk of cross contamination of the contents are eliminated. By keeping the quantity of disinfectant within prescribed doses, effective sterilisation can be achieved whilst minimising flammability risks through eliminating the need to transport large amounts of liquid in multi-dose bottles. Contamination of the outer surfaces of the container by the hands of the container is now irrelevant since the container is discarded after use. The container is made of polypropylene which does not support flammability when a flame is removed. The fire hazard of the discarded container is therefore minimised.

4 --- - 0 0 0 0 . 1.1 ' ' OP 0 Accordingly a container of the present invention is particularly suited to use in emergency vehicles such as ambulances and the like, wherein the hazard of fire is particularly apparent.

Claims

1. A sealed container formed from a single piece of plastics material and containing a predetermined dose, not greater than 10 ml, of alcohol -containing disinfectant, the total capacity of said container being not greater than 20 ml, said container having an integral closure which may be readily, at least part separated from the remainder of the container to reveal an opening through which the disinfectant may be dispensed.

2. A sealed container according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined dose of alcohol -containing disinfectant is not greater than 6nil.

3. A sealed container according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined dose of alcohol-containing disinfectant is 3 ml.

4. A sealed container according to any of the preceding claims wherein said container includes a body portion and a delivery portion extending from said body portion to said opening, the delivery portion being in the form of a narrow tube.

5. A sealed container according to claim 4 wherein the tube has an internal cross sectional area sufficiently small that application of pressure to the body of the container is required to dispense the disinfectant substantially completely from the container.

6. A sealed container according to any of the preceding claims wherein the disinfectant comprises alcohol.

7. A sealed container according to any of the preceding claims wherein the disinfectant comprises a mixture of alcohol and antiseptic solution.

6

8. A sealed container according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the container and the alcohol are sterilised to protect against the presence of contaminating bacteria in the disinfectant solution.

9. A scaled container according to claim 8 wherein sterilisation is achieved by means of gamma radiation.

10. A sealed container according to any of the preceding claims wherein the container is made of polypropylene.

11. Use of a container according to any of the preceding claims.

12. A sealed container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagram.

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