Packaging

• US 4,150,744 A
• Filed: 11/23/1977
• Issued: 04/24/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chauvin Pharmaceuticals Limited Bampton Road Harold Hill Romford
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew Pharmaceuticals (Pty) Ltd. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Fennimore, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixson, Jr., William T.
• Application Number:
  US05/854,349
• Time in Patent Office: 517 Days
• Field of Search: 206/484, 206/439, 206/205, 206/210, 206/438, 206/363, 206/63.3, 206/530, 206/484.1, 206/524.8, 229/3.5, 222/107, 222/546, 222/551, 426/107, 426/126
• US Class Current: 206/205
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 1/16 Holders for containers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/008 by squeezing, e.g. using a flexible bottle or a bulb
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/26 Articles or materials wholly enclosed in laminated sheets or wrapper blanks

Abstract

A light-sensitive and oxygen-sensitive liquid such as an adrenalin solution for ophthalmic use is sealed within a polymer vessel provided with a dropper spout, the closed vessel itself being sealed within a light-tight gas-impermeable envelope which is purged with a non-reactive gas or is under vacuum. The envelope is preferably a three-component laminate of nylon aluminum foil and polypropylene.

Claims

1. A packaged medicant comprising (1) an outer hermetically sealed envelope, (2) an inner dispenser bottle, and (3) an inert atmosphere within the envelope within which the dispenser bottle is immersed;

said hermetically sealed envelope comprising a three-ply laminate wherein the outer ply is an abrasive-resistant polymer, an intermediate ply which is aluminum foil, and an inner ply which is a heat-sealable polymer, said three-ply laminate in combination excluding entry of oxygen and light and preventing escape of water vapor and the inert atmosphere;

said inert atmosphere within the envelope being oxygen;

free; and

said dispensing bottle being a translucent polymer and containing a solution of light-sensitive, oxygensensitive medicant and an anti-oxident and comprising a receptacle for holding a predetermined quantity of the liquid medicant provided with a neck defining an opening to the interior of the receptacle, a discharge element comprising a cylindrical part press-fitted into the opening in the neck, a tapered nozzle through which the liquid medicant in the receptacle is adapted to be dispensed in predetermined doses, and an annular, externally-located collar in conjunction with the cylindrical part and the tapered nozzle for seating of the discharge element within the neck, said tapered nozzle terminating in an end opening of a diameter to dispense said predetermined dose and said receptacle having elastically flexible walls such as to enable squeezing the walls to displace a dose through the opening at the end of said tapered nozzle, a closure cap arranged to be releasably applied to the neck over the tapered nozzle and a sealing element interiorly of the cap arranged to become engaged with the opening at the end of the nozzle when the cap is applied to the neck to provide a leaktight barrier between the opening and the interior of the cap.

2. A package according to claim 1 containing a tear notch at one of its marginal edges to enable rupturing the envelope to afford access to the dispenser bottle.

3. A packaged medicant comprising a hermetically sealed envelope filled with an inert atmostphere and containing with the inert atmosphere a squeeze bottle dispenser containing a liquid solution of light-sensitive, oxygen-sensitive medicant and an anti-oxident;

said envelope being comprised of a laminate of three plies, an outer ply of nylon which is abrasive-resistant, an intermediate ply of aluminum foil which is opaque and an inner ply of a heat-sealable polymer, said laminate excluding entry of oxygen and light into the envelope and preventing escape of the inert atmosphere and moisture from the envelope, said inert atmosphere within the envelope being oxygen-free and said squeeze bottle dispenser comprising a translucent body portion for holding a quantity of the solution and a nozzle part containing an end opening for dispensing the liquid medicant from the body part in predetermined doses, said body part having elastically-displaceable wall portions which may be squeezed to cause the liquid medicant to be dispensed in predetermined doses through the nozzle part and a cap applied to the body part over the nozzle part which, by engagement with the open end of the nozzle part, provides a barrier to the atmosphere within the cap around the nozzle.

4. A package according to claim 3 wherein the outer layer is 10-70 g/m², the intermediate layer is 5-50 g/m² and the inner layer is 5-25 g/m².

5. A package according to claim 3 wherein the liquid solution is adrenaline and N-acetyl-cysteine and wherein the oxidative loss is such that after two years storage at least 50% of the N-acetyl-cysteine remains.