MXPA99003808A

MXPA99003808A - Cooling pouch

Info

Publication number: MXPA99003808A
Application number: MXPA/A/1999/003808A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Garnet Wolsey Henry; Wolsey Althea
Original assignee: Wolsey Althea; Garnet Wolsey Henry
Priority date: 1996-10-23
Filing date: 1999-04-23
Publication date: 2000-09-04

Abstract

A portable flexible cooling pouch for cooling and storing vials containing medication. The pouch comprises opposed web members made of a water permeable material and being connected at the edges thereof. At least one of the web members comprises a plurality of compartments which contain a water-absorbent granular material.

Description

COOLING ENVELOPE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to cooling envelopes, such as envelopes that are normally used to store medicaments, such as vials of insulin or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION People affected by diabetes mellitus ("diabetes") are unable to secrete enough insulin, which results in an excess of sugar in the bloodstream. Diabetics may require a treatment consisting of hypodermic injections of insulin, since the latter helps the body metabolize excess sugar. It is often necessary to store ready-to-use insulin by injection or the like. In order to maintain an insulin preparation in the fresh state, it must be stored at a temperature below normal room temperature. This requires that the insulin be stored in a refrigerator or other cooling device, such as, for example, a cooler. However, people who suffer from diabetes and who require several injections of insulin per day face several disadvantages if they are away from home for a while.

P1267 / 99MX long period of time. WO83 / 04089 discloses a portable carrier envelope containing a removable cooling agent, to be used when insulin is stored. Other portable carrier devices are known for purposes other than the storage of medicines, for example, for transporting food. By way of example, United States Patent No. 4211091, discloses an insulated and foldable bag, to be used as a lunch bag for temporarily storing food products; U.S. Patent No. 4530220 discloses a deformable pouch for use as a cooling medium, the pouch comprises an envelope filled with a gel substance, the entire pouch is intended to be cooled to a temperature less than -10 ° C. C. Japanese Patent Application No. 6178792A discloses a medical isolation device having high cooling, anti-inflammatory and disinfecting effects. This device is normally used after cooling in a refrigerator. However, this device is designed to cool a part of the body and not to transport and / or cool medications. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable cooling envelope that does not require cooling and that does not require P1267 / 99 X contains removable cooling parts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this. invention, a portable envelope for cooling and storing vials and the like is provided, the envelope comprises: (a) a first cloth member of water-permeable material; (b) a second cloth member of water permeable material; (s) a means of articulation connecting an edge of the first cloth member, directly or indirectly, with the second cloth member; (d) a fastening means for securing the rest of the edges of the first fabric member with the rest of the edges of the second fabric member, wherein at least one of the fabric members includes a plurality of compartments containing, each one, a granular water-absorbing material and the articulation means is free of said compartments. Normally, each of the fabric members comprises a plurality of said compartments, each of which contains a granular water-absorbing material. Preferably, each of the fabric members has a quadrilateral shape, such as rectangular. The cloth members preferably P1267 / 99MX are formed integrally from a single fabric, arranged to bend along the joint. The fastening means normally comprises at least a first element comprising a multiplicity of hooks and at least a second complementary element comprising a multiplicity of loops engageable with the hooks of the first element. Both elements, the first and the second are usually in the form of a ribbon. Preferably, the cloth members are arranged to be held together by the fastening means, such that one cloth member extends beyond the free edge of the other of the cloth members, so as to form a collapsible flap on a marginal portion of the other cloth member. This flap preferably has a fastening means on a first face of a cloth member for coupling with the complementary fastening means on the marginal portion of the other cloth member. In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, the articulation means connects an edge of the first cloth member directly with the second cloth member. According to a second embodiment of the invention, the articulation means connects an edge of P1267 / 99MX the first fabric indirectly with the second cloth member. In the second embodiment, preferably there is an intermediate panel connecting the articulation means with the second cloth member. In this embodiment, the envelope can, in some arrangements, take the form of a practically closed box, in which the first cloth member provides closure of a tray or tray constituted by the second fabric, the aforementioned panel and a plurality of edge panels. However, in this embodiment it was devised that the first cloth member, the second cloth member, the intermediate panel and the edge panels can be formed from a single fabric. Preferably, the water-permeable material comprises a durable and flexible textile material, such as a woven fabric. A particularly preferred textile material comprises a mixed polyester / cotton fabric, although other textile materials, such as nylon or acrylic, can also be used. Normally, the water absorbing material is one that has the ability to regenerate after it has dried, preferably after repeated cycles of water absorption and desorption. The water absorbent material preferably comprises a polymeric material, such as an acrylic polymer. This polymer can be an acrylate polymer or P1267 / 99MX crosslinked methacrylate, such as a sodium salt thereof. Particularly it is preferred that the granular material is one that has a transition between the respective hydrated forms at or near room temperature, so that the latent heat absorbed or developed by passing through the transition temperature, helps keep the temperature practically constant for a prolonged period. The compartments containing the water-absorbent material can be formed by sewing an elongated member of double-bottom fabric in seam lines that extend along the length of the cloth member; a plurality of these seam lines is preferably used so as to longitudinally divide the cloth members into a plurality of compartments. At least one additional seam line is preferably provided transverse to the aforementioned seam lines, to control the distribution of the water absorbent material along the length of the respective compartment or compartments. It is preferred that the additional seam line be provided along the hinge means. Preferably, the envelope is flexible.

P1267 / 99 X The present invention further comprises a method for storing a medicine (preferably a vial or the like) which comprises treating the fabric members of an envelope according to the invention with cold water, either before or after of shaping the cloth members to form the envelope, so as to cause the swelling of the water-absorbent material within the compartments thereof and to locate the medicine within the envelope while the compartments contain the water-absorbent material. swollen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of an envelope in accordance with the first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a cross-section along the line AA shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a plan view of an envelope in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Referring to the drawings, a fabric of P1267 / 99MX genre 1 comprises a double front gender panel 2 and a corresponding double rear gender panel 3. The front panel 2 has a series of parallel and longitudinally extending seam lines 11, which (with the corresponding edges of the respective panel) form the respective behaviors 4a, 4b and 4c, each of which contains 5 water-absorbing grains of sodium polyacrylate (see Figure 2). The rear panel 3 also has a series of parallel and longitudinally extending seam lines 12, which (with the corresponding edges of the respective panel) form the respective compartments 6a, 6b and 6c. A strip 7a of a portion of the crochet and loop type fastener of the type commercially available under the name Sailboat, is sewn to the side edge of the front panel 2; a complementary part of the fastener 9a is sewn to a side edge of the back panel 3. An additional strip 7b of a portion of this crochet and loop type fastener is sewn on the opposite side edge of the front panel 2; a complementary part of the fastener 9b is sewn to the corresponding lateral edge of the back panel 3. An additional strip 10 of a portion of this crochet and loop type fastener is sewn to the free end of the front panel 2; a part P1267 / 99 X complementary to the fastener (not shown), is sewn to the corresponding end of the rear panel 3 (on the reverse side thereof). The free end of the front panel 2 to which the strip 10 is sewn, thus forms a flap, which can overlap the corresponding free end of the back panel 3. A crease line 8 is provided between the front panel 2 and the panel rear 3. This fold line is preferably defined by a row of stitches separating compartment 4a from 6a, compartment 4b from 6b, compartment 4c from 6c and compartment 4d from 6d. The front and rear panels 2 and 3 are folded together around the fold line and secured by the various fastening means to form an envelope. The entire fabric can be submerged in cold water, usually for approximately 9.0 seconds; the grains 5 then form a gel-like substance, which can retain or preserve the temperature of the water for about 3 to 4 days. If a lower temperature than cold water is required, it is possible to place the entire fabric in a refrigerator or similar, in order to reduce the temperature. Once the fabric is at the desired temperature, it is folded along the fold line 8, so that the front panel 2 can P1267 / 99MX secure to the rear panel 3 by means of the fastener 7a, 7b, 9a, 9b, to form an envelope. The insulin or other medicine that needs to be stored at a temperature below room temperature can then be stored in the sachet, usually in vials or the like, for a period of, typically, 3 to 4 days. Referring to Figure 3, a envelope 31 of the fabric-type box type comprises a lower panel 32 of double-gender and a corresponding upper panel 33 of double-genre. The lower panel 32 is joined to the upper panel 33 indirectly by an articulation panel 34. The articulation panel 34 is attached to the lower panel 32 along the seam line 35; the articulation panel 34 is also attached to the upper panel 33 along the seam line 36. Three additional vertical wall panels 37, 38 and 39 are attached to the lower panel 32 along the respective seam lines 40. , 41 and 42 to form a box-type structure. The upper panel 33 can be attached to the vertical wall panels 37, 38 and 39 by a slide fastener 43. The lower panel 32 has a series of parallel and longitudinally extending seam lines 44, which (with the corresponding ones) P1267 / 99MX respective panel edges) form the respective compartments 45a, 45b and 45c, each of which contains water-absorbing grains of sodium polyacrylate (corresponding to those described above with reference to Figure 2). The upper panel 33 also has a series of parallel and longitudinally extending seam lines 46, which (with the corresponding edges of the respective panel) form the respective compartments 47a, 47b and 47c. The entire envelope can be submerged in cold water, usually for approximately 90 seconds; the grains 5 then form a gel-like substance, which can retain or preserve the temperature of the water for about 3 to 4 days. If a temperature lower than that of cold water is required, it is possible to place the entire fabric in a refrigerator or similar, in order to reduce the temperature.

EXAMPLE Measurements were made of the temperature inside an empty envelope manufactured in accordance with the present invention. After the envelope was immersed in cold water, temperature measurements were made of the envelope, which was suspended in an incubator, where the air temperature remained close to 37.8 ° C (100 ° F), with a low humidity Relative P1267 / 99MX (15%). The measurements were made at a 10-minute interval for periods of between 24 and 48 hours. The envelope maintained the internal temperature below 30 ° C for periods exceeding 14 hours.

P1267 / 99MX

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property; 1. A flexible and portable envelope for filling and storing vials and the like, the envelope comprises: (a) a double textile fabric member of water permeable material, the fabric member includes a first portion of double bottom fabric interconnected, directly or indirectly, by a joint portion at one edge thereof to a second portion of double bottom fabric, the joint portion lacks the compartments containing the polymeric material; and (b) a fastening means for securing the rest of the edges of the first screen portion to the second screen portion. Wherein at least one of the fabric portions includes a plurality of compartments, of which each contains granupolymeric water-absorbing material, which is capable of alternately absorbing water and desorbing water upon drying, the polymeric material has a transition between the respective hydrated forms at or near room temperature, characterized in that the P1267 / 99 X articulation portion is defined by a row of stitches and the compartments are separated from each other by seams, the seams connect the respective films of the double textile material.
2. An envelope according to claim 1, wherein each of the fabric portions comprises a plurality of compartments.
3. An envelope according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the fabric portions has a quadrilateral shape. An envelope according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fastening means comprises at least a first element comprising a multiplicity of hooks and at least a second complementary element comprising a multiplicity of loops engageable with the hooks. 5. An envelope according to claim 4, wherein the complementary elements are in the form of a tape or strip. An envelope according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cloth members are arranged to be held by the fastening means in such a way that one end of a cloth member extends beyond the free edge of the other of the members of the fabric. fabric members, so as to form a foldable flap over a marginal portion of the other fabric portion. P1267 / 99 X 7. An envelope according to claim 6, wherein the flap has a fastening means on a first side of the fabric portion for coupling with the complementary fastening means in the marginal portion in the other portion of fabric. . An envelope according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the edges are along the longitudinally extending edges of the respective portions of fabric. 9. An envelope according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the textile material comprises a woven fabric. An envelope according to claim 9, wherein the woven fabric comprises a mixed polyester / cotton fabric. 11. An envelope according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the polymeric material comprises an acrylic polymer. 12. An envelope according to claim 11, wherein the acrylic polymer comprises a crosslinked acrylate or methacrylate polymer. An envelope according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the compartments containing the water absorbing material are formed by sewing a double elongated cloth member in the seam lines extending along the length of the fabric portion. P1267 / 99MX 14. An envelope according to claim 13, which includes a plurality of the seam lines for dividing the fabric portions longitudinally into a plurality of compartments. 15. An envelope according to claim 14, wherein at least one additional seam line is provided, transverse to the longitudinal direction. 16. An envelope according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the articulation portion connects an edge of the first portion of fabric directly with the second portion of fabric. 17. An envelope according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the articulation portion connects an edge of the first portion of fabric indirectly with the second portion of fabric. 18. An envelope according to claim 17, wherein an intermediate panel connects the articulation portion with the second portion of fabric. 19. An envelope according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the envelope forms a substantially closed box. An envelope according to claim 19, wherein the second fabric portion provides a closure for a tray cotuted by the first fabric portion, the intermediate panel and a plurality of edge panels. 21. An envelope according to claim 20, wherein the first portion of fabric, the second portion of P1267 / 99MX fabric, intermediate panel and edge panels are formed from a single fabric. 22. A method for storing medicine comprising treating the portions of an envelope fabric according to any of claims 1 to 21 with cold water, to cause the swelling of the water-absorbing material within the compartments and locating the medicine within the over while the compartments contain the swollen water absorbing material. 23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the medicine is contained within a vial. P1267 / 99MX