Flexible medical container packaging

• US 5,896,989 A
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bracco Diagnostics Incorporated (Bracco SPA)
• Original Assignee: Bracco Research SA
• Inventors: Ropiak, Irene K., Niedospial, John J. Jr., Robinson, Michelle L.
• Primary Examiner(s): FIDEI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US09/027,325
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 604/403, 604/408, 604/410, 206/438, 383/106
• US Class Current: 206/438
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/1462 Containers with provisions for hanging, e.g. integral adaptations of the container accessories for hanging the container A61M5/1414
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin

Abstract

Flexible medical container containing a light-sensitive medical fluid packaged in an overwrap having UV rays barrier properties to prevent degradation of the light-sensitive fluid but allowing observation of the content of the medical fluid and identifying inscription printed on the medical container.

Claims

1. A flexible medical container containing a light-sensitive medical fluid therein packaged in an overwrap to prevent degradation of said light-sensitive medical fluid wherein:

(a) said medical container comprises;

first and second transparent polymeric sheets superimposed and sealed together at their periphery defining an interior reservoir, said container having an inside wall an outside wall, a top portion and a bottom portion;

an access port located at the bottom center portion sealed between said first and second polymeric sheets removably covered with a cap, said access port is designed for allowing filling of the medical container with a medical fluid and access thereto by a needle or spike access for delivery of the medical fluid to a patient;

(b) said overwrap comprises;

first and second polymeric sheets having an inside wall and an outside wall superimposed and sealed together at their periphery hermetically sealing said medical container, wherein of from about 70% to about 90% of said first or said second polymeric sheet is opaque preventing penetration of UV rays into the content of said medical container and wherein of from about 10% to about 30% of said first or said second polymeric sheet is transparent.

2. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of polyvinylidene chloride sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene or polyvinylacetate.

3. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of polyvinyl chloride.

4. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of a polyethylene layer sandwiched between polyester outer layers sealed together by a propylene copolymer.

5. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of polycyclohexanedimethylcyclohexane dicarboxylate.

6. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of ethyl vinyl acetate.

7. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets constituting said opaque portion of said overwrap are made of a laminate comprising polyethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, aluminum foil and polyvinylacetate.

8. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets constituting said opaque portion of said overwrap are made of a laminate comprising polyvinyl chloride and aluminum foil.

9. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets constituting said opaque portion of said overwrap are made of a laminate comprising polyester, polypropylene and aluminum foil.

10. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets constituting said opaque portion of said overwrap are made of a laminate comprising polycyclohexanedimethylcyclohexane dicarboxylate and aluminum foil.

11. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets constituting said opaque portion of said overwrap are made of a laminate comprising ethyl vinyl acetate and aluminum foil.

12. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 1 wherein the inside wall of said overwrap is treated with silicone dioxide to prevent fogging by condensation.

13. The flexible medical container packaged in an overwrap of claim 1 wherein the inside walls of said overwrap are spaced from the outside walls of said medical container to allow for slight cushioning movement of said medical container within said overwrap.

14. The flexible medical container packaged in an overwrap of claim 1 wherein said medical container is sealed to said overwrap at least at two contact points to prevent excessive sliding movement of said medical container in said overwrap.

22. The flexible medical container of claim 1 wherein:

said first and second polymeric sheets superimposed and sealed together at their periphery form an interior reservoir having a configuration selected from the group consisting of square, round, oval, hexagonal, octagonal and rectangular; and

said first and second polymeric sheets superimposed and sealed together at their periphery hermetically sealing said medical container having a configuration selected from the group consisting of square, round, oval, hexagonal, octagonal and rectangular.

15. A flexible medical container containing a light-sensitive medical fluid therein packaged in an overwrap to prevent degradation of said light-sensitive medical fluid wherein:

(a) said medical container comprises;

first and second transparent polymeric sheets superimposed and sealed together at their periphery defining an interior reservoir, said container having an inside wall, an outside wall, a top portion and a bottom portion;

an access port located at the bottom center portion sealed between said first and second polymeric sheets removably covered with a cap, said access port is designed for allowing filling of the medical container with a medical fluid and access thereto by a needle or spike access for delivery of the medical fluid to a patient;

(b) said overwrap comprises;

first and second transparent UV rays barrier polymeric sheets having an inside wall and an outside wall superimposed and sealed together at their periphery hermetically sealing said medical container preventing penetration of UV rays into the content of said medical container.

16. The flexible medical container packaged in an overwrap of claim 15 wherein said overwrap is made of a transparent, UV rays absorbent material selected from the group consisting of:

copolyester elastomers, ethylene methacrylate, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, low density polyethylene, nylon/polypropylene, polyester, polyolefin, polypropylene, polyethylene and polyvinylchloride, containing a U blocking or UV absorbing agent.

17. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 15 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of polyvinylidene chloride sandwiched between two layers of polyethylene or polyvinylacetate.

18. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 15 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of polyvinyl chloride.

19. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 15 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of a polyethylene layer sandwiched between polyester outer layers sealed together by a propylene copolymer.

20. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 15 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of polycyclohexanedimethylcyclohexane dicarboxylate.

21. The flexible medical container, packaged in an overwrap, of claim 15 wherein said first and second polymeric sheets are made of ethyl vinyl acetate.

23. The flexible medical container of claim 15 wherein:

said first and second polymeric sheets superimposed and sealed together at their periphery form an interior reservoir having a configuration selected from the group consisting of square, round, oval, hexagonal, octagonal and rectangular; and

said first and second polymeric sheets superimposed and sealed together at their periphery hermetically sealing said medical container having a configuration selected from the group consisting of square, round, oval, hexagonal, octagonal and rectangular.