Peelable seal and container having same

• US 6,663,743 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Jeff, Becker, Michael, Papa, Christopher, Chase, Jim
• Primary Examiner(s): AFTERGUT, JEFFRY H
• Application Number:
  US09/099,188
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 156/273.7, 156/274.4, 156/275.1, 156/308.4, 219/765, 219/769, 604/410, 604/416, 534/77, 531/70, 206/221, 493/189, 493/206, 493/209
• US Class Current: 156/273.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/10 Bag-type containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2024 having peelable seals
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/2093 Containers having several compartments for products to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/04 Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding , i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/76 Making non-permanent or releasable joints
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/53262 Enclosing spouts between the walls of bags, e.g. of medical bags
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2019/00 Use of rubber not provided for in a single one of main groups B29K2007/00 - B29K2011/00, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/083 EVA, i.e. ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/16 EPM, i.e. ethylene-propylene copolymers; EPDM, i.e. ethylene-propylene-diene copolymers; EPT, i.e. ethylene-propylene terpolymers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7148 Blood bags, medical bags

Abstract

A container capable of containing components of a mixture in chambers separated by a peelable seal constructed from a multi-layer film. The multi-layer film has at least one layer of a RF-responsive material and an interior layer of non-RF responsive material. When the layers are subjected to RF energy, the RF-responsive layer heats the interior layers resulting in a bond in the form of a peelable seal between the interior layers. The peelable seal is capable of withstanding external pressures to the container, such as from dropping the container. The seal may be selectively opened to allow mixture of components contained therein.

Claims

1. A method for making a multi-chamber container comprising the steps of:

providing a web of plastic film having a first layer and a second layer adjacent said first layer, said first layer including an alloy of at least two materials, a first one of said materials being a SEBS copolymer having a first melting point temperature and a second one of said materials being an ethylene propylene copolymer having a second melting point temperature, the second melting point temperature being higher than the first melting point temperature, said second layer including ethylene vinyl acetate;

sealing opposing edges of the web of film to create an interior defined, at least in part, by the first layer; and

creating an inner peel seal defining at least two chambers.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of:

applying only sufficient heat to melt the first one of said materials but not the second material.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising the step of filling at least one chamber with a medical solution.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the web of film includes at least three layers.

5. The method of claim 1 including the step of providing the container with at least two ports.

6. The method of claim 1 including the step of filling a first and second chamber with different medical solutions.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the film further comprises a third layer attached to the second layer on a side opposite the first layer.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the third layer is PCCE.