GB2418414A

GB2418414A - Dispensing container for thin polymeric films

Info

Publication number: GB2418414A
Application number: GB0421044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mitchell; Martin Snowden; Victoria Cornelius
Original assignee: MEDWAY SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES LT
Current assignee: MEDWAY SCIENCE TECHNOLOGIES LT
Priority date: 2004-09-22
Filing date: 2004-09-22
Publication date: 2006-03-29
Also published as: GB0421044D0

Abstract

A dispensing container for thin polymeric films having at least one active ingredient comprises a box 6 containing a spindle 3 about which a web comprising a polymeric material 1 mounted upon a detachable backing strip 2 is wound, the box further comprising a slot 4 through which the web is dispensed from the container and a backing strip holder 5 which separates the polymeric film from the backing strip such that pulling on the detached backing strip causes the polymeric film to be dispensed. A ratchet mechanism 7, released by a button 9, may be used to prevent unintentional dispensing of the polymeric film. In use, the active ingredient of the thin polymeric film may be a vitamin, breath-freshener, cosmetic or a pharmaceutical product, particularly an orally delivered drug.

Description

! 2418414

Description

Description of related art

Polymeric thin films are currently finding renewed application away from the delivery of low toxicity agents such as vitamins and breathfresheners towards more pharmaceutical applications. With respect to both cosmetic and pharmaceutical active containing films, the needs associated with delivery have yet to be fully addressed.

While tablets and capsules can be delivered in childproof bottles or blisterpacks whereby accidental multiple doses are limited, the problems associated with the delivery of thin films containing actives in a metered way such that multiple doses are not administered, has not been resolved Films that can be considered non-toxic even if taken in large quantities may well be effectively and safely delivered in a simple plastic container where single films may be removed. As the interest in utilising this technology for oral drug delivery increases so does the need for simple, effective and, above all, safe delivery and packaging solutions.

Disclosure of invention

A method for the metered delivery and packaging is proposed for thin polymeric films containing a pharmaceutical, cosmetic or otherwise beneficial agent for oral delivery.

In the present invention the film may be delivered on a backing paper that may or may not be the backing paper onto which it is cast. Ideally the backing paper onto which the films are adhered would have some hydrophobic properties, for example, being modified by a PTFE coating, so the film adheres to the material but can easily be removed when desired. The benefit of the current invention include prevention of contamination by external agents resulting in protection of the product from mechanical damage, an increase in the level of hygiene and is a metered delivery system.

Brief description of drawings

The apparatus described by figures 1 and 2 shall be referred to as a film feed dispenser and is best described as discrete doses, or perforations indicating discrete doses, or has an image that otherwise distinguishes between doses, that is delivered by pulling the backing material, thereby facilitating the delivery. As the film is held in a coil the backing material for one layer provides a top layer of protection for the layer below.

Figures 3 and 4 shall be referred to as a controlled film feed dispenser and is a modification to the film feed dispenser by the ratchet system that prevents more than one dose being delivered. The doses may be marked or otherwise distinguished between as before although the requirement for marked discrete doses is reduced as a result of the monitored delivery system. A ratchet system delivers an individual dose as when the backing material is pulled after the button has been depressed, only a single dose can be delivered. This provides a delivery system for both pre-cut doses on a backing material, or pre-perforated doses that may or may not be held on the backing material.

Best mode of invention Polymeric thin films (1) containing an active that has therapeutic or other beneficial properties held on a hydrophobic backing material (2) is wound round a rotating spindle (3). As the backing material (2) is pulled the spindle (3) unravels the film held on the backing material. If the backing material is passed through the delivery slot (4) then placed through the backing material holder (5) on the outside of the packaging box (6) then the films may be removed simply.

A modified version of this, such that the delivery of the films is controlled involves positioning dose related spikes (7) that are of a suitable distance that the distance between one and the next is the equivalent of a single dosage. A ratchet (8) with a delivery ratchet button (9) is employed to facilitate an easy mechanism for the safe delivery of metered doses that offers some form of child safety at a result of the delivery ratchet button needing to be depressed at the same time as the backing material is pulled.

Claims

Claims 1. A delivery system for thin polymeric films containing at least

one active ingredient housed in an outer box comprising of a rotating spindle held within the box around which a polymeric film is wound held on a backing material that may be passed through a delivery slot and through the backing material holder so that the pulling of the backing paper directly facilitates the delivery of the polymeric film.
2. A delivery system as claimed in Claim 1 characterized in that the spindle has dose related spikes positioned such that the distance between each spike is equivalent to a single dose that is controlled by a ratchet with a delivery ratchet button on the exterior of the outer box so that depressing the delivery ratchet button allows the spindle to turn when the backing material is pulled but upon the delivery ratchet buttons release it catches the spike on the spindle preventing unintentional multiple dosing.
3. A delivery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims where the film has an image imprinted on it indicating a single dose.
4. A delivery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims where the film is not held on a backing material wound around the spindle independently.
5. A delivery system as claimed in Claim 4 where the film is not held in discrete doses but is a continuous film containing markings or other descriptor indicating an individual dose.
6. A delivery system as claimed in Claim 4 and 5 characterized in that the film has perforations separating each dose for an 'easy tear' delivery.
7. A delivery system as claimed Claims 1-3 and Claims 5-6 where the backing material is the material onto which the film has been cast.
8. A delivery system as claimed in Claims 1-3 and Claims 5-7 where the backing material is a thin hydrophobic material for example containing PTFE.
9. A delivery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims where the outer box is made of a lightweight material such as cardboard, plastic or similar product that is rigid enough to protect the internal mechanism.
10. A delivery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims where the rotating spindle is held on a metal, plastic or otherwise light rigid material.
11. A delivery system as claimed in Claim 2 where the delivery ratchet and delivery ratchet button are prepared from a moulded plastic.
12. A delivery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterized in that the top of the film feed dispenser before the dispensing slot is formed of flexible material such that it may be squeezed to exert pressure on the film.
13. A delivery system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the edge of dispensing hole closest to the film has a serrated edge that may be used to 'tear off' the desired dose as measured by the ratchet delivery system.