WO2012148340A1

WO2012148340A1 - Unit dose dispenser for liquid

Info

Publication number: WO2012148340A1
Application number: PCT/SE2012/000059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Maria BENGTLARS
Original assignee: Unimedic Ab
Priority date: 2011-04-27
Filing date: 2012-04-26
Publication date: 2012-11-01
Also published as: ES2611085T3; SE1100320A1; EP2736819B1; EP2736819A4; EP2736819A1; PL2736819T3; DK2736819T3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dispenser (1) intended to enclose liquid until the content is to be ingested by a person (2) via the mouth (3). The dispenser (1) is comprised of at least one reservoir (4) with at least one inner space (5), in which liquid such as oral preparations are intended to be enclosed, at least one spout (6), including at least one channel (7) through which liquid may be conveyed out from the dispenser (1) and at least one detachable part (8) with which the dispenser (1) may be opened. The dispenser (1) is further comprised of at least one first side (9), at least one second side (10) and a bottom part (11) formed by at least one sheet-shaped material layer (12) which is folded together via at least one fold (13), a folding zone or the like and is joined at its edges. The present invention's uniqueness lies in that its channel (7) is formed adjacent to the folding zone, the fold (13) or similar and that the channel (7) runs along the fold (13) from the vicinity of the detachable part (8) to the vicinity of the bottom part (11) and that the spout (6) is angled in a range between 45 degrees to 90 degrees relative to the dispenser's bottom part (11).

Description

Unit Dose Dispenser for Liquid

Field of the Invention

The present patent application concerns a unit dose dispenser. More specifically, the present patent application regards a unit dose dispenser preferably for liquid pharmaceutical preparations for oral ingestion in accordance with the claims.

Background of the Invention

A vast number of variations of packaging for dispensers are previously known. For example, dispensers (containers, cartons) for liquids and the like have been developed which solve specific problems in each area that the package is used. One of these areas consists of packaging for oral pharmaceutical preparations.

One problem associated with packaging that hold liquid pharmaceutical substances, such as oral preparations, is that they should be able to be ingested by the preparation taker without excessive difficulties. Several problems exist with this. First, the dispenser should be easy to open. For example, it may be difficult for a person with impaired function in their hands, such as a person with arthritis or other conditions such as neurological disease, to open a dispenser. It may be especially difficult to open a dispenser in which a part of the dispenser must be torn away from the rest of the dispenser to enable it to be opened.

For example, the ingestion of a liquid pharmaceutical substance, such as an oral preparation, from a dispenser may be a problem because the shape of the dispenser makes it is difficult to suck out the contents of the dispenser. It may be especially difficult for somebody who is bedridden to empty out a dispenser or for example a person with a disability in the neck that makes it difficult or impossible to bend their head back to empty (suck out) a dispenser. The shape of the dispenser must also be such that the dispenser may easily be emptied of its contents. It is particularly important in connection with the intake of pharmaceutical substances (preparations) that all the contents or substantially all of the contents from a dispenser is taken so that the correct dose is given to the person in need. It should also not be difficult for healthcare workers or the person in need to ensure that all content has actually been emptied from a dispenser for pharmaceutical substances (preparations).

A further problem for the taker of pharmaceutical preparations is to understand how the dispenser should be held and used when the content is to be ingested. Many times it is not obvious to the taker of pharmaceutical preparations how a dispenser is to be used. This creates problems for example, in that the content may run out before it is consumed. An inadequate use of the dispenser may also result in that the taker of the preparation does not get the right dosage of pharmaceutical substances. It should be obviously understandable to the taker of the preparation how to hold the dispenser in the hand during use so that it may be handled and used in the proper manner.

A further problem associated with dispensers of pharmaceutical substances is that they usually have to maintain a high-level of sterility and also ensure the quality of the contents. Maintaining a high-level of sterility with existing technology typically requires robust and durable dispensers, which therefore become difficult to open. It is obvious that there is a great need for dispensers that can better meet today's needs and requirements.

Prior Art

Dispensers that are designed to contain liquid whose liquid is intended to be ingested through a straw and the like are previously known in numerous variants. For example, US3552631 by the applicant Tetrapak describes a variant of tetrahedron dispensers whose contents may or must be ingested through a straw. The straw is connected to the dispenser by a hole that is made in its protective layer of material. The dispenser has the disadvantage that a separate straw is required in order for the contents to be sucked out. A separate straw has the disadvantage that it can easily be lost. The dispenser according to the patent application also has production disadvantages in relation to the dispenser of the present patent application such as the fact that the dispenser according to its patent application contains more parts.

In US5378065 is described a variant of a dispenser for liquid substances. The dispenser is of a single dose type which is intended to be discarded after use. The design differs to a considerable extent from the design of the present patent application. For example, the design according to its description does not include an integrated straw or the like with which the dispenser's contents may be sucked from the dispenser. Furthermore, the design makes it difficult to suck out the contents from the dispenser in its entirety. The variant with the spout in the middle means that the dispenser is crumpled (compacted) during ingestion and this makes it considerably harder or completely prevents the user from fully sucking out

(emptying) all of the contents from the dispenser if an externally added straw is not used. Even US6164042 describes a variant of a dispenser and a method for manufacturing the dispenser. The dispenser according to its description includes a type of spout which is used to convey the contents out from the dispenser. The spout is however positioned in the middle of the dispenser. This design with the spout in the middle of the dispenser causes the dispenser to crumple during use and this in turn greatly hinders or prevents the contents from being completely sucked out of the dispenser in so far that an external straw is not used. Even this dispenser differs greatly from the dispenser of the present patent application. For example, the dispenser according to its description is more difficult to empty of its contents than the design of the present patent application. US5228782 also describes a variant of a dispenser. The dispenser includes an outlet which is comprised of a tear-off opening portion. Even this design differs to a substantial extent from the design of the present patent application. For example, the dispenser is more difficult to empty of its contents than the dispenser in accordance with the present patent application. Even this dispenser has the disadvantage that its spout is easily crumpled if it is used to suck out its contents that contain oral preparations intended to be ingested from the dispenser.

Even US3730337 describes a variant of a dispenser which includes a tear-off opening portion. This design differs to a substantial degree from the dispenser in accordance with the present patent application. The liquid contents of the dispenser, according to US3730337 are for example, not intended to be sucked out from the dispenser. DE2730132 describes a variant of a dispenser which is intended to contain liquid. The dispenser includes at least one enclosing part having an internal space in which liquid is intended to be held. The design differs to a substantial extent from the design in accordance with the present patent application. For example, the design according to its description is flat, which means that it does not have a bottom and thus can not stand on its own. This should be regarded, unlike the design in accordance with the second embodiment of the present patent application which includes a bottom portion, allowing it to stand on its own. The design according to DE2730132 also has the disadvantage that it is necessary to press-out the liquid from the dispenser by using fingers or other means in order to ensure that all the liquid has been emptied from the dispenser. This in turn entails that the user must have both hands free and also have adequate motor and coordination skills in the fingers to be able to empty the container. WO0007540 describes a variant of a dispenser which includes, in relation to the dispenser, an angled spout. This design according to its description differs in a significant manner from the present dispenser's design. For example, it does not include a spout which forms a straight line from the dispenser's bottom part up to the spout's opening. This means that the straw-like suction effect described in the present patent application does not exist. An angled spout without an elongated straw-like design within the container will not attain an adequate suction function. The design also further requires the need to squeeze the liquid out of the dispenser to ensure that all of the liquid is emptied from the dispenser.

Brief Description of the Invention Concept The main purpose of the present invention is to create a dispenser which is simple and cost efficient to use. More specifically, one purpose of the present invention is to create a dispenser with which persons with severe physical disabilities, such as rheumatism, neck problems, blindness, old age and other problems may easily use the dispenser. Another purpose of the present invention is to provide a dispenser which is easy to open for older people or people with for instance rheumatic diseases or neurological disorders such as

Parkinson's. Another purpose of the present invention is to aid people who are bedridden in taking their pharmaceutical preparations in the reclining position without having to sit up. It is a further purpose of the present dispenser to aid a person who can not bend their neck to suck out the contents with ease. Another purpose of the present invention is to create a dispenser which is easy to completely empty of its entire contents allowing for the taker of

pharmaceutical preparations to ingest the correct dose. A still further purpose of the present invention is to create a dispenser which is simple to position correctly in the hand during use. Further, another purpose of the present invention is to create a disposable dispenser which has a low environmental impact. Further, another purpose of the present invention to create a disposable dispenser that is simple and cost effective to produce.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the following detailed description of the present invention, reference and references to the following figures will occur. Each figure is briefly described in the following figure list. Note that the figures are schematic and details may thus be omitted in these. The exemplifying embodiments in the figures are not limiting for the scope of protection of the present patent application. Fig. 1 shows a dispenser being used by a person.

Fig. 2 shows a dispenser in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3A-3C show the material layer of the dispenser in a spread out view.

Fig. 4 shows alternate embodiments of the dispenser's opening device. Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to the figures, a dispenser 1, preferably intended to hold fluid, such as oral preparations, until such time that the fluid is to be ingested by a person 2 (user, taker) via the mouth 3 in accordance with the present patent application. The dispenser 1 includes at least one reservoir 4 (containing part), with at least one inner space 5 in which fluid is intended to be enclosed. Furthermore the dispenser 1 includes at least one spout (conveying member) 6 including at least one channel 7 via which liquid in the inner space 5 may be conveyed out from the dispenser 1. The spout 6 is comprised of at least one detachable part 8 which seals the channel 7 of the spout 6. During removal of the detachable part 8 from the spout 6 the channel 7 is opened so that liquid in the inner space 5 of the reservoir 4 may be conveyed out of the dispenser 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the present dispenser 1 it is preferably intended to be used for enclosing (containing) liquids in the form of different oral preparations (preferably pharmaceutical) for oral ingestion. The oral preparation is preferably intended to be sucked out of the dispenser 1 via the channel 7 of the spout 6 upon ingestion of the preparation. The dispenser 1 is further comprised of at least one first side 9 and at least one second side 10 and a bottom part 11. The dispenser 1 is made of at least one sheet-shaped material layer 12, laminate or the like, which is folded together via at least one fold 13, a folding zone (before it is folded as shown in Fig. 3) or the like. The fold 13 divides the material layer 12 into the first side 9 and the second side 10. The folded material layer 12 is joined in at least one edge 14 or alternatively in several edges. In the edge 14, or edges, the folded material layer 12 is joined by an appropriate joining method. Preferably, the folded material layer 12 may be joined by heat (welding) or similar joining method. In alternative embodiments, other suitable for the purpose joining methods may be used for joining the edges of the material layer 12 to each other. The material of the sheet-shaped material layer 12 may vary greatly within the scope of the present patent application. In one preferred embodiment of the present dispenser, the material used consists of a sheet-shaped laminate comprised of polyester, aluminum and polyethylene in various combinations depending on which content the dispenser will enclose.

The spout 6 is formed during the joining of the folded material layer 12. The spout 6 includes at least one channel 7, duct (passage) or the like. Unique to the present dispenser is that its channel 7 is formed adjacent to the fold 13 along the fold's length from the vicinity of the detachable part 8 to the vicinity of the bottom part 11. By way of this design the fold provides an unexpected stiffening effect upon the spout 6 and the channel 7 making it easier for the preparation taker to suck out the contents of the dispenser 1 without the channel 7 being crumpled together. This design reduces the risk of the user not receiving all or substantially all of the contents of the dispenser 1.

In one preferred embodiment of the present dispenser, it has been found that a near-optimum function is obtained if the width of the channel opening (when the dispenser is flat) is in the range of 10 - 30 % of the length of the base of the dispenser. For example, the width of the channel opening (when the dispenser is in a flat position) may be 15 millimeters and the length of the bottom (base) may then be 70 millimeters. In a non-flattened position, a suitable diameter for the channel opening is between 5 - 15 mm. The length of the spout 6 is preferably at least 15 mm but not more than 30 mm.

The detachable part 8, which normally seals the channel 7 in the spout 6 may, in conjunction with the opening of the dispenser 1, be detached from the spout in several ways. In the preferred embodiment, the detachable part 8 may be bended or torn loose from the spout 6. The detachable part 8 is bended or torn loose from the spout 6 via at least one pre- weakened tear line 15 or the like. It is also conceivable that the detachable part 8 is detached from the spout 6 with other technologies suitable for the purpose, such as for example by clipping, cutting or by another detachment (separation) method suitable for the purpose. The detachable part 8, in alternative embodiments, may also include at least one grip 16 or the like intended for example for a finger or fingers that facilitates detachment.

The spout 6 acts as a connector which upon ingestion of the contents of the dispenser is partially or completely inserted into the person's 2 mouth 3. The ingesting person then ingests (sucks) the contents through the channel 7 which runs along the fold 13 from the vicinity of the bottom part 1 1 to the end of the spout 6. The spout 6 and channel 7 may become a variant of an integrated straw in the dispenser 1 , through which the user 2 may ingest (suck out) the contents out of the dispenser 1. It has unexpectedly been found that the dispenser's 1 contents may be more easily sucked out of the dispenser 1 if the dispenser's 1 spout 6 (straw, pipe) has the present dispenser's specific shape and specific placement. This unexpected technical effect is achieved by at least two different factors. First, the fold 13 acts as a stiffener of the material in the spout 6 and channel 7 and inhibits (reduces the risk of) the dispenser's material layer (forming the inner space and the channel 7 in the dispenser) from being crumpled together in connection with the user 2 sucking out the contents from the dispenser. The fold 13 needs to be straight or essentially straight for the intended technical effect to be achieved. Second, the dispenser's 1 bottom part 11 is flexible in relation to the channel 7 and spout 6 which allows it to crumple during ingestion thereby facilitating the flow of liquid from the inner space 5 into the channel 7 and spout 6 and further into the mouth of the preparation taker. The flexibility of the bottom part 11 in combination with the stiffness of the channel 7 and spout 6 allow for all or essentially all of the contents to be emptied from the dispenser.

The present dispenser's unique feature is that its bottom part 11 includes a bottom plate 17 that is formed by the joining together of one first part 18 and one second part 19. The joining of the first part 18 and the second part 19 may be accomplished by any method suitable for the purpose. The bottom plate 17 allows the dispenser 1 to stand upright on its own without any external support when it is filled with liquid. The bottom plate 17 is the part of the dispenser 1 that is flexible and the dispenser's channel 7 and spout 6 are stiff in relation to the bottom part. This means that the last of the liquid left in the dispenser during ingestion is accumulated in the bottom part 1 1 at the angle formed between the bottom part and the beginning (intake) of the channel 7. The reason for this accumulation is due to the angle formed at the beginning of the channel 7 in relation to the bottom part 1 1 and also the manner in which the dispenser is held in the user's hand as well as the fact that the bottom is flexible making it crumble when the contents are sucked out (ingested). The accumulation of fluid at the angle between the bottom part 11 and the beginning of the channel 7 enables and ensures that all the fluid is also emptied out through the channel 7 and spout 6 and into the mouth of the user and that nothing or essentially nothing is left in the dispenser. The ability to empty the contents of the dispenser completely just by sucking out the liquid without using hands or fingers to squeeze out the liquid and/or turning the dispenser upside down by bending the neck backwards is unique and of great importance for pharmaceutical treatments because precise doses are important for recovery and increases patient safety. The specific technical effect in the preferred embodiment is achieved primarily by the dispenser's spout 6 (pipe, straw or the like) being angled relative to the dispenser's bottom part 11. It has been found that a good emptying effect is obtained if the spout's 6 angle V in relation to the dispenser's 1 bottom part 11 is in the range greater than 45 degrees to less than 90 degrees. A near-optimum emptying effect is obtained if the angle V is in the range of 65 to 75 degrees. In one preferred embodiment, the angle V is 70 degrees. The angle of the spout 6 allows the user to more easily (automatically) understand how the dispenser 1 is to be held in the hand when the contents of the dispenser 1 are to be taken. The user essentially automatically turns the dispenser 1 correctly when using the dispenser 1. In the detailed description of the present invention, design details may have been omitted which are apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such obvious design details are included to the extent necessary so that the proper and full performance of the present invention is achieved.

Even if certain preferred embodiments have been described in detail, variations and modifications within the scope of the invention may become apparent for specialists in the field and all such are regarded as falling within the scope of the following claims.

Advantages of the Invention

A substantially improved dispenser is achieved with the present invention compared with previously known designs of dispensers. The dispenser also has the advantage of being easy to open and easy to understand how to position in the hand of the user, which is a great advantage for people with diminished capacities such as people with rheumatism,

Parkinssons, or the like. The dispenser's design even has the advantage that it crumples together properly when the user ingests (sucks out) the contents of the dispenser, leading to the favorable technical effect that all content or essentially all content may be emptied out from the dispenser. The fact that all content may be easily emptied out of the dispenser also has a significant medical benefit associated with the ingestion of oral pharmaceutical preparations, where it is important that the correct dose actually gets ingested by the user.

It is also an important advantage that elderly, sick and disabled persons may easily ingest (suck out) the contents of the dispenser without the need of an external straw or by having to squeeze out the contents with their fingers or other means. More specifically, is meant that people with severe physical disabilities such as arthritis, neck problems, blindness and people with neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and the elderly population may use the present dispenser without any substantial difficulties.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the people who are bedridden may take pharmaceutical preparations in the reclined position. It is a further advantage of the present invention that people who can not bend their neck backwards may ingest the contents of the dispenser essentially without difficulty. The low- weight of the dispenser's material layer allows for yet another advantage from an environmental standpoint where it is important to reduced emissions from transport and the like.

A yet further advantage of the present invention is that it has a bottom part that allows it to stand upright and on its own when filled with liquid. The present invention's bottom is also flexible in relation to its channel and spout, allowing it to crumble when the contents are sucked out. This facilitates the complete and proper emptying of the dispenser.

Claims

1. Dispenser (1) intended to enclose liquid until the content is to be ingested by a person (2) via the mouth (3), said dispenser (1) being comprised of at least one reservoir (4) with at least one inner space (5), in which liquid such as oral preparations are intended to be enclosed, at least one spout (6), including at least one channel (7) through which liquid may be conveyed out from the dispenser (1) and at least one detachable part (8) with which the dispenser (1) may be opened and that the dispenser (1) is comprised of at least one first side (9), at least one second side (10) and a bottom part (11) formed by at least one sheet-shaped material layer (12) which is folded together via at least one fold (13), a folding zone or the like and is joined at its edges characterized by that the channel (7) is formed adjacent to the folding zone, the fold (13) or similar and that the channel (7) runs along the fold (13) from the vicinity of the detachable part (8) to the vicinity of the bottom part (11) and that the spout (6) is angled in a range between 45 degrees to 90 degrees relative to the dispenser's bottom part (11).

2. Dispenser (1) in accordance with claim 1 characterized by that the liquid consists of an oral preparation.

3. Dispenser (1) in accordance with at least one of the previous claims characterized by that the spout (6) is angled within the interval of 65 to 75 degrees in relation to the dispenser's bottom part (11).

4. Dispenser (1) in accordance with at least one of the previous claims characterized by that the detachable part (8) is intended to be bended or torn off the dispenser via at least one pre-weakened tear line (15).

5. Dispenser (1) in accordance with at least one of the previous claims characterized by that the detachable part (8) includes at least one grip (16).

6. Dispenser (1) in accordance with at least one of the previous claims characterized by that the material layer (12) consists of a sheet-shaped laminate comprised of polyester, aluminum and polyethylene as an individual material or in various combinations with each other.

7. Dispenser (1) in accordance with at least one of the previous claims characterized by that the width of the channels opening, while the dispenser is in a flattened position, lies within an interval of 10 to 30 percent of the width of the base of the dispenser.