JP2014094223A - Medical cap - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cap including an elastomer plug, not causing cracks on the surface of the elastomer plug, and not causing any obstacle to manufacturing.SOLUTION: A medical cap includes: an outer plug 1 having a side wall 13; an inner plug 2 having a flexible cylindrical wall 21 and fitted in the side wall 13; an elastomer plug 3, the side surface 30a of which is fused to the whole inner peripheral surface 21d of the cylindrical wall 21; and a pressing cylinder 4 for applying pressure to at least the upper end part of the elastomer plug 3 through the cylindrical wall 21 and holding the pressure.

Description

  The present invention relates to a cap, and more particularly, to a medical cap used for a mouth portion of an infusion container or a chemical container.

  Conventionally, a cap in which a substantially cylindrical thermoplastic elastomer plug is enclosed has been used in the mouth portion of a drug solution container or an infusion container used in the medical field. The solution inside can be taken out (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-131433 A

  Conventional caps are manufactured by press-fitting an elastomer plug into the outer plug to prevent leakage of the liquid when the needle is inserted into the elastomer plug. Since the thermoplastic elastomer has high adhesiveness, there is a problem that the elastomer plugs stick to each other and are fixed when they are aligned and transported to fit the elastomer plug into the outer plug.

  Further, when the elastomeric plug is fitted into the outer plug, the slipperiness of the elastomeric plug is poor, so that it does not fit smoothly into the outer plug, resulting in problems such as poor fitting. In particular, this problem is prominent when the elastomer plug is press-fitted into the outer plug.

  In order to solve such problems, if the outer plug and the elastomer plug are molded integrally, the shrinkage rate between the resin used for the outer plug and the thermoplastic elastomer is different, so that the surface of the elastomer plug is cracked. When the needle or the like is pierced, the cracks may expand and liquid leakage may occur.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cap in which an elastomer plug is sealed without causing problems such as cracks on the surface of the elastomer plug and causing no trouble in production.

  The present invention relates to an outer plug having a side wall, an inner plug having a flexible cylindrical wall and fitted into the side wall, and an elastomer having a side surface fused to the entire inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall. A cap comprising: a stopper; and a pressing cylinder that applies pressure to at least an upper end portion of the elastomer stopper through the cylinder wall.

  Further, the present invention is a cap characterized in that the inner plug and the side wall of the outer plug are fitted so as to sandwich the pressing cylinder. The present invention is the cap characterized in that the pressing cylinder is formed integrally with the inner peripheral surface of the side wall of the outer plug. Further, the present invention is the cap characterized in that the pressing cylinder applies pressure to the entire elastomer plug through the cylindrical wall of the inner cylinder. Further, the present invention is the cap characterized in that the pressing cylinder is a cylindrical body whose vertical section is an inverted triangle.

  In the present invention, since the side surface of the elastomer plug is covered with the cylindrical wall of the inner plug, when the elastomer plug and the inner plug are fitted into the outer plug, the slipperiness is good and the fitting is not poor. There is no problem that the elastomer plugs stick to each other or stick when they are aligned and conveyed on the line. Further, the cylinder wall can be deformed in accordance with the shrinkage of the elastomer plug, and the cylinder wall on the surface side of the elastomer plug, which is particularly susceptible to cracking, is more easily deformed, so that the elastomer plug does not crack.

  Furthermore, in the present invention, since the pressure cylinder can be held in a state where pressure is applied to at least the upper end portion of the elastomer plug, liquid leakage occurs when the needle is inserted into the elastomer plug or after the needle is removed. Can be prevented.

It is a top view of a 1st embodiment and a 2nd embodiment of the present invention. It is a partial cross section front view of the inner plug in 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment of this invention, (A) side is a front view, (B) side is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. is there. It is a top view which shows the elastomer stopper in 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial cross section front view which shows the elastomer stopper in 1st Embodiment of this invention, and 2nd Embodiment, (A) side is a front view, (B) side is sectional drawing in the BB line of FIG. It is. It is a figure which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention, and is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. It is a figure which shows the outer stopper in 1st Embodiment of this invention, and is sectional drawing in the AA of FIG. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure equivalent to FIG. It is a figure which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure equivalent to FIG. It is a figure which shows 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure equivalent to FIG. It is a figure which shows 4th Embodiment of this invention, and is a figure equivalent to FIG.

  A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The cap C includes an outer plug 1, an inner plug 2, an elastomer plug 3, and a pressing cylinder 4A.

  The outer plug 1 includes a pull-top type sealing film portion 10 formed of a pull-top 10a and a sealing film portion 10b, a top wall 12 that is continuous with a thin-walled portion 11 on a lower surface peripheral portion 10c of the sealing film portion 10b, and a peripheral edge of the top wall 12 It is comprised from the flange part 14 which follows the substantially cylindrical side wall 13 extended below the part 12a, and the lower end 13a of the side wall 13. As shown in FIG.

  The top wall 12 is formed with a planned opening portion 12b that is normally closed by the sealing film portion 10b and is opened by pulling the pull top 10a when used, and the side wall 13 is thicker than the cylindrical wall 21 of the inner plug 2. Formed. The planned opening portion 12 b is formed in the same shape as the inclined step portion 32 of the elastomer plug 3. Further, the flange portion 14 is provided to be fused with a flange provided in a container (not shown) and to fix the cap C to the container.

  The inner plug 2 is made of a synthetic resin that is more slidable than a thermoplastic elastomer, and includes a substantially annular base 20 and a cylindrical wall 21 that stands on the base 20. The base 20 has a fitting convex portion 20a formed on the outer peripheral surface, and a step portion 20b formed on the inner peripheral surface side. The fitting convex portion 20 a is formed to fit the fitting concave portion 40 of the pressing cylinder 4 </ b> A and fix the inner plug 2 to the pressing cylinder 4 when the inner plug 2 is fitted into the outer plug 1.

  The cylindrical wall 21 is formed with a thickness sufficient to have flexibility and an easily flexible portion. In the present invention, the term “flexible” refers to having flexibility that is at least high enough to be deformed following the shrinkage of the thermoplastic elastomer.

  In the present embodiment, the cylindrical wall 21 is formed so that the upper end 21a side is thinner than the lower end 21b side, that is, an easily flexible portion is formed on the upper end 21a side. In addition, the outer peripheral surface 21c and the inner peripheral surface 21d of the cylindrical wall 21 are both inclined, the vertical cross section is substantially trapezoidal, and the outer peripheral surface of the upper end 21a is provided so that the inner cylinder 2 can be easily fitted by the pressing cylinder 4A. It is chamfered.

  The elastomer plug 3 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer. After the inner plug 2 is inserted into a molding die in advance, the molten thermoplastic elastomer is injected onto the stepped portion 20b of the inner plug 2 and into the cylindrical wall 21 after injection filling. It is molded by cooling (insert molding method).

  For this reason, the side surface 30 a of the main body 30 of the elastomer plug 3 is fused to the inner peripheral surface 21 d of the cylindrical wall 21 over substantially the entire surface. Therefore, the side surface 30 a of the main body 30 is covered with the cylindrical wall 21 of the inner plug 2. A substantially truncated cone-shaped inclined step portion 32 is formed on the upper surface 30b inward from the peripheral edge portion 30c of the main body 30, and the inclined step portion 32 is fitted into the planned opening portion 12b when the cap C is assembled.

  On the upper surface of the inclined step portion 32, a needle piercing surface 31 for a user to pierce an injection needle (not shown) and the like and a plurality of substantially hemispherical concave portions 33 are formed. The concave portion 33 is formed so as to be a guideline for the user to stab the injection needle and the like, and is formed shallower than the height of the inclined step portion 32. The inclined step 32 is not necessarily formed, and the needle piercing surface 31 may be provided on the upper surface 30 b of the main body 30.

  The pressing cylinder 4A is a cylinder that is formed concentrically with the outer cylinder 1 and whose outer peripheral surface is formed integrally with the entire inner peripheral surface 13b of the side wall 13 of the outer cylinder 1, and the upper end thereof is The top wall 12 is formed integrally. The inner peripheral surface of the pressing cylinder 4A serves as a pressing portion for applying pressure to and holding the elastomer plug 4 as described later.

A fitting recess 40 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower end. The inner diameter R ₁ of the pressing cylinder 4A is throughout smaller diameter become like than the outer diameter R ₂ of the inner plug 2 before being fitted into the pressing cylinder 4A, i.e., formed as a R 1 _{<R 2} Has been. In the present embodiment, the inner peripheral surface 4 a of the pressing cylinder 4 </ b> A is inclined in accordance with the inclination of the outer peripheral surface 21 c of the cylindrical wall 21 of the inner plug 2.

The cap C of this embodiment is manufactured as follows.
(1) The inner plug 2 is formed by an existing molding method such as injection molding so that the cylindrical wall 21 is thinner at the upper end 21a side than at the lower end 21b side, that is, partially flexible. At the same time, it is molded to a thickness that is flexible enough.

  (2) The inner plug 2 is inserted into a molding die (not shown), and after the molten thermoplastic elastomer is injected and filled into the cylindrical wall 21 of the inner plug 2, the elastomer plug 3 and the inner plug 2 are cooled. Mold in one piece. At this time, the side surface 30 a of the elastomer plug 3 is fused to the inner peripheral surface 21 d of the cylindrical wall 21.

  (3) The inner plug 2 and the elastomer plug 3 are annealed to remove internal stress. The annealing process can be performed by known means and conditions.

  At this time, since the cylindrical wall 21 of the inner plug 2 is formed to be thick enough to have flexibility, the cylindrical wall 21 may also be deformed in response to the shrinkage of the elastomer plug 3 during cooling. In particular, the cylindrical wall 21 is easily flexible on the upper surface 30b side of the elastomer plug 3, which is prone to problems such as cracks, that is, the upper end 21a side thereof. It can follow and deform. Therefore, problems such as cracks do not occur in the elastomer plug 3.

  Further, since the side surface 30a of the elastomer plug 3 is covered with the inner plug 2 and is not exposed, the elastomer plugs 3 stick to each other or adhere to each other when they are aligned and transported to fit into the outer plug 1. There is no problem.

  (4) The inner plug 2 and the elastomer plug 3 are fitted in the side wall 13 of the separately molded outer plug 1 and press-fitted into the pressing cylinder 4A. The fitting recess 40 and the inner plug of the pressing cylinder 4A 2 fitting convex parts 20a are fitted.

  At this time, since the side surface 30a of the elastomer plug 3 is covered with the inner plug 2, the outer peripheral surface 21c of the cylindrical wall 21 of the inner plug 2 having good slipperiness is slid on the inner peripheral surface of the pressing cylinder 4A. The stopper 2 and the elastomer stopper 3 can be stored in predetermined positions in the outer stopper 1. Therefore, this embodiment does not cause poor fitting.

Further, the elastomer plug 3 having an outer diameter R ₃ before being fitted has an outer diameter because the inner diameter R ₁ of the pressing cylinder 4A is smaller than the outer diameter R ₂ of the cylinder wall 21 of the inner plug 2. and thus it is held in a state of being compressed to R _4. In the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the outer plug first sidewall 13 are formed to be approximately equal to the outer diameter R ₂ of the cylindrical wall 21, an amount corresponding elastomer plug 3 of the thickness L ₁ of the pressure cylinder 4A is compressed Will be.

  Thereafter, the cap C is attached by fusing the flange portion 14 of the outer plug 1 to a container (not shown) containing the content liquid. Then, it is sterilized by means such as heating.

  At this time, since the elastomer plug 3 is compressed in a state in which pressure is applied from the pressing cylinder 4A through the cylinder wall 21 of the inner plug 2, a medical worker or the like uses a cap for using the content liquid. When the injection needle or the like is inserted into the C elastomer stopper, the elastomer stopper 3 and the injection needle or the like are brought into close contact with each other, and the content liquid is prevented from leaking from the gap. Further, when the injection needle or the like is removed, the injection hole is blocked, so that leakage of the content liquid is prevented.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, 7 and 8. The difference from the first embodiment is that the vertical cross section is formed in the pressing cylinder 4B having a substantially inverted triangular shape, and the pressing cylinder 4B is formed integrally with the upper end portion of the inner peripheral surface 13b of the side wall 13 of the outer cylinder 1. . 7 and 8, the members denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 6 have the same names and functions.

In the present embodiment, the pressing cylinder 4B is formed so as to be vertical section is substantially inverted triangular shape, an inner diameter R ₁ has a diameter progressively upwardly. In this embodiment, instead of forming the fitting recess 40, a fitting recess 15 having the same function as the fitting recess 40 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the lower end of the side wall 13 of the outer plug 1.

  For this reason, in this embodiment, the upper end portion of the elastomer plug 3 can be further compressed as compared with the first embodiment, and the inner plug 2 and the elastomer plug 3 are press-fitted into the side wall 13 of the outer plug 1 and fitted. Can be fitted easily (with less resistance).

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, In the range which does not change the summary of invention, it can change suitably. For example, like the pressing cylinder 4C of the third embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 9, the outer cylinder 1 and the pressing cylinder 4 can be formed as separate bodies without being formed integrally. In this case, the cap 1 is manufactured by fitting the inner plug 2 and the elastomer plug 3 after fitting the pressing cylinder 4 </ b> C into the outer cylinder 1.

  Further, as in the fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 10, a seal-type sealing film portion 16 can be used instead of the pull-top sealing film portion 10.

  In the present invention, the pressing cylinder is not limited to the one in which the pressing portion as in the above embodiment is formed over substantially the entire circumference, for example, the one in which the pressing portion is formed over the substantially half circumference, It is a concept that includes a part in which the pressing part is partially formed, such as one in which a plurality of pressing parts are intermittently arranged in a circumferential shape.

C cap 1 outer plug 10 pull-top type sealing film part 10a pull-top 10b sealing film part 10c lower surface peripheral part 11 thin wall part 12 top wall 12a peripheral part 12b planned opening part 13 side wall 13a lower end 13b inner peripheral surface 14 flange part 15 fitting concave part 16 Seal type sealing film part 2 Inner plug 20 Base 20a Fitting convex part 20b Step part 21 Cylindrical wall 21a Upper end 21b Lower end 21c Outer peripheral face 21d Inner peripheral face 3 Elastomer plug 30 Main body 30a Side face 30b Upper face 31 Needle piercing face 32 Inclined step part 33 Concave part 4 Pressing cylinder 4a Inner peripheral surface 40 Fitting concave part

Claims (6)

An outer plug having a side wall;
An inner plug that has a flexible cylindrical wall and is fitted into the side wall;
An elastomer plug having a side surface fused to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall;
And a pressing cylinder that applies pressure to at least an upper end portion of the elastomer plug through the cylinder wall and holds the pressure.   The cap according to claim 1, wherein the pressing cylinder is formed so that an inner diameter thereof is smaller than an outer diameter of a cylindrical wall of the inner plug before being fitted into the side wall.   The cap according to claim 2, wherein the inner plug and the side wall of the outer plug are fitted so as to sandwich the pressing cylinder.   The cap according to claim 3, wherein the pressing cylinder is formed integrally with an inner peripheral surface of a side wall of the outer plug.   The cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pressing cylinder applies pressure to the entire elastomer plug through a cylindrical wall of the inner cylinder.   The cap according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the pressing cylinder is a cylinder having an inverted triangular vertical cross section.

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