SPECIFICATION
^ TITLE OF THE INVENTION: MULTI-CELL CONTAINER
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001]
The present invention relates to a multi-cell container of a type
having a plurality of compartments, which are for storing
separately respective medicines and which are divided by a
partition wall as a separable seal, which is separated and opened
for mixing the medicines between the compartments. The present I
invention is suitable for separate storage of two or more
medicines of powder state, which are required to be mixed just
before use for keeping stability thereof and is, for example,
suitable for storage of polyethylene glycol electrolyte for a
preparation treatment in a colonoscopy.
Background Technology
[0002]
In a colonoscopy, a bowel lavage medicine is used for preparative
treatment. Such a preparative medicine should be in the form of
an aqueous solution for allowing it to be taken by mouth. However,
under the aqueous solution, the medicine is subjected to
degeneration or coloring with time. Therefore, in an actual shape
of product, the medicine of a powder state is tightly stored in
a four side seal bag or a self-support bag functioning also as
a container for solving the medicine to obtain its solution,
which bag is made from soft films. It is, therefore, usual that
the bag is opened just before the use and an aqueous solution
is obtained for the instant use. See, for example, patent
document 1 as far as a container of a soft bag type is concerned,
where an application of water is done for obtaining the aqueous
solution when used.
[0003]
In such bowel lavage medicine, which is essentially under a powder
state and is solved by water just before the use, a type that
includes, in combination, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and
electrolyte has conventionally been known. In this type, a large
I quantity of, at the most, as much as 4 liter is needed, which
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is highly non-desirable for a people of reduced physical strength,
^^ such as an aged person. In view of this, a type of bowel lavage
medicine for realizing a reduced quantity of medicine has
recently been proposed, in which ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is
added to the polyethylene glycol (see patent document 2) . This
ascorbic acid added type is improved in its bowel lavage ability,
so that a reduction of a quantity of medicine to a value between
1 and 2 liter is realized over the large quantity in the prior
art of, at the maximum, as much as 4 liter. In short, the ascorbic
acid added type is advantageous since a reduction of physical
strain is obtained for those who take medicine.
PATENT DOCUMENT 1: Japanese Un-Examined Patent Publication
No.11-285518
PATENT DOCUMENT 2: Publication of Japanese Patent No.4131266
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0004]
In the patent document 2, the ascorbic acid as well as the
polyethylene glycol are under powdered states and are
degenerated and/or colored with time when mixed with each other.
Therefore, a mixing and solving to water are needed just before
use and a container therefor is needed. The patent document 1
discloses a multi-cell container wherein one of medicines is of
powdered state and the other medicine is of liquid state. However,
a container has not yet been proposed, which is capable of
separately storing medicines of powder states and is capable of
mixing the medicines and of providing the aqueous solution when
used. The present invention is motivated under such an existing
state of prior arts.
MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS
[0005]
A multi-cell container according to the present invention
comprises a bag of substantially flat shape made of flexible
(soft) film, a partition wall as a separable seal welding
opposite inner surfaces of the bag and dividing an inner space
of the bag into a plurality of compartments and an inlet-outlet
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port located at a peripheral portion of the bag so as to be opened
it^ to one of the plurality of compartments for introduction and/or
discharge of liquid, wherein medicines only of powder states are
respectively stored in the plurality of compartments. A liquid
is introduced into one of the compartments from the inlet-outlet
port to solve the powdered state medicine and a separation of
the separable seal causes the solution to be introduced into the
rest of the compartment among the plurality of compartments, so
that the powdered state medicine stored therein is solved.
Preferably, the partition wall is arranged so that it faces, at
least partially, a gusseted bottom of the bag. More preferably,
the partition wall comprises a first part extending in a
direction along the bottom of the bag from its side to a middle
location along the width of the bag and a second part extending
in a direction opposite to the bottom of the bag from an end of
the first part to the top side of the bag. Furthermore, one of
the compartments, to which the inlet-outlet port is opened, is
located on one side of the partition wall adjacent the bottom
of the bag while the other compartment with no provision of
inlet-outlet port is located on the side of the partition wall
remote from the bottom of the bag. The partition wall may be formed
with a rounded shape at a corner portion where the first and second
parts are connected with each other. A value of the seal strength
of the partition wall may suitably selected and may be: a value,
which causes the seal to be separated only by a load as generated
by the introduction of the water to one compartment among the
plurality of the compartments; a value, which causes the seal
to be separated by a shaking operation of the bag after the
introduction of the water thereto; or a value, which prevents
the seal to be separated by the introduction of the water to the
bag but allows the seal to be opened by an additional operation
such as a pressing after the water introduction. Finally, the
separable seal constructing the partition wall may have a value
of seal strength in a range between 1 to 5 N/15mm.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0006]
3
In the container according to the present invention, medicines
fl^ of powder states are stored in respective compartments and, from
the inlet-outlet port, liquid such as water is introduced to the
compartment to which the inlet-outlet port is opened, so that
the medicine stored in the compartment is solved to obtain its
water solution. The separable seal as the partition wall I
according to the present invention is weaker than that of a I
conventional double cell container for storing liquid(s).
However, according to the present invention, both of the
compartments are for storing, purely, the powdered state
medicines and, therefore, the weak separable seal as the
partition wall according to the present invention is enough for
preventing the seal from being non-intentionally opened by an
outside force during a handling of the bag such as a product
transfer. However, the weakness of separable seal according to
the present invention allows the partition wall to be separated
(opened) by a force to the sealed portion as generated when water
is introduced for solving the medicine or by an outside force
applied by the water solution in the compartment, to which the
inlet-outlet port is opened, as generated when the bag is merely
shaken. Namely, according to the present invention, a solving
and mixing of the powder state medicine in the partition with
no provision of the inlet-outlet port is taken place without
forcibly applying physical force outwardly. In short, the
present invention makes it possible that the powder state
medicines are positively maintained in the separate respective
compartments during the handling such as a product transfer, on
one hand and, on the other hand, the medicines are easily and
reliably solved and mixed by merely shaking, i.e., without
necessity of any outside pressing when used, thereby preventing
erroneous operation from being occurred, which may otherwise
cause the medicines to be taken without being mixed.
[0007]
By constructing the partition wall from a first part extending
in a direction along the bottom of the bag from its side to a
middle location along the width of the bag and from a second part
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extending in a direction opposite to the bottom of the bag from
w^ an end of the first part to the top side of the bag, it is possible
that the bag folded in half does not cause its folded line to
be crossed by the partition line, which is advantageous in that
the partition wall is prevented from being applied to an
unreasonable outside force during its handling such as I
transportation, which otherwise causes the partition wall to be I
accidentally separated.
[0008]
Although the bag's openability depends on the height of the
partition wall from the gusseted bottom of the bag, it is found
that a value of seal strength of the separable seal as the
partition wall in the range between 1 to 5 N/15mm is desirable
from the view point that an accidental opening of the partition
wall otherwise caused by handling problem during product
transfer is effectively prevented, on one hand and, on the other
hand, a bag is reliably and positively opened by a few number
of shaking strokes, thereby positively preventing an erroneous
operation from being occurred, which otherwise causes the
medicine to be taken without being mixed.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS
[0009]
Figure 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a multi-cell
container in a first embodiment of the present invention in the
state where no medicine is stored.
Figures 2 (a) and (b) are right and left side views, respectively,
of the multi-cell container shown in Fig. 1.
Figure 3 illustrates a top view of multi-cell container shown
in Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is a bottom view of the multi-cell container shown in
Fig. 1.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an inlet-outlet port in a
condition separated from the multi-cell container shown in Fig.
1.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the inlet-outlet port
taken along lines VI—VI of Figure 5.
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Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the inlet-outlet port taken
^^ along lines VII—VII of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a schematic cross sectional view of a folded and
gusseted film, which is subjected to a cutting and welding for
obtaining a bag for the container of Figure 1.
Figures 9 (A) , (B) and (C) are schematic cross sectional views :
of the multi-cell container at its gusseted bottom in which the powdered medicines are stored, the views being taken along lines
A-A, B-B and C-C, respectively, in Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a schematic cross sectional view of the container
in which the powdered medicines are stored, the view being taken
along lines X-X in Figure 1.
Figure 11 is a schematic cross sectional view of the container
as considered that the powdered medicines are stored, the view
being taken along lines XI-XI in Figure 1.
Figure 12 is a graph showing relationship between seal strength
of a separable seal constructing a partition wall of the
container according to the present invention and a number of
shaking stroke for causing the partition wall to be separated
and opened when a value of radius of the rounded corner of the
separable seal is 20mm.
Figure 13 is similar to Figure 12 but shows when a value of radius
of the rounded corner of the separable seal is 30mm.
Figure 14 is a diagram illustrating visually an operating
characteristic of multi-cell container according to the present
invention with respect to seal strength and height of the seal.
Figures 15 (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) and (e) are front view, right side
view, left side view, top view and bottom view, respectively,
of a multi-cell container in another embodiment of the present
invention in the state where no medicine is stored.
Figures 16 (a), (b) , (c), (d) and (e) are front, right side, left
side, top and bottom views, respectively, of a multi-cell
container in another embodiment of the present invention in the
state where no medicine is stored.
Figures 17 (a) , (b) , (c) , (d) and (e) are front, right side, left
side, top and bottom views, respectively, of a multi-cell
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container in another embodiment of the present invention in the
4|^ state where no medicine is stored.
Figures 18 (a), (b) , (c) , (d) and (e) are front, right side, left
side, top and bottom views, respectively, of a multi-cell
container in another embodiment of the present invention in the
state where no medicine is stored.
Figures 19 (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) illustrate front, right
side, left side, top and bottom views, respectively, of a
multi-cell container in another embodiment of the present
invention in the state where no medicine is stored.
Figures 20 (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) illustrate front, right
side, left side, top and bottom views, respectively, of a
multi-cell container in another embodiment of the present
invention in the state where no medicine is stored.
EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMBER
[0010]
10: Bag
10-1, 10-2: Top and Bottom Surface of Bag
lOA: Gusseted Bottom of Bag
12: Peripheral Seal (Strong Seal)
14: Opening
15: Handle
16: Inlet-Outlet Port
16-1: Screw Thread Portion
16-2: Flange Portion
18: Partition Wall (Separable Seal)
18-1: Horizontal Section of Partition Wall
18-2: Vertical Section of Partition Wall
18-3: Corner Section of Partition Wall
20: First Compartment
22: Second Compartment
40: Polyethylene Glycol Powder
42: Ascorbic Acid Powder
110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610: Bag
116, 216, 316, 416, 516, 616: Inlet-Outlet Port
118, 218, 318, 418, 518, 618: Partition Wall
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120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620: First Compartment
ll^ 122, 222, 322, 422, 522, 622: Second Compartment
FORMS FOR PRACTICING THE INVENTION
[0011]
In Figures 1 to 4 illustrating an embodiment of a multi-cell
container according to the present invention in a state where
no medicine is stored, the container includes a soft bag 10 of |
flat shape, which is formed from a polyethylene film by welding
followed by cutting. Note: A rear view of the container is not
shown because it becomes basically symmetrical with respect to
the front view shown by Figure 1.
[0012]
The polyethylene film, which is, in this embodiment, transparent
and which may be colored, is of multi-layered structure of a
thickness in a range between 50 to 200^1. In place of the
polyethylene, a suitable plastic material such as polypropylene
may be used. Along a production line for the bag 10, a sheet of
polyethylene film as fed is folded in half as shown in Figure
8, in which upper and lower faces of the folded sheet ^ are
designated by Si and 32, respectively and an opening along one
side of the sheet is designated by 0, non-separable welding
(strong seal) of the sheet is done along an outer profile of the
bag 10, a separable welding (weak seal) is done for dividing a
space inside the bag into a pair of compartments, and, finally,
a cutting of the sheet to single bag 10 is done. The folded side
of the sheet as fed becomes a bottom of the bag. Namely, the
portion of the sheet corresponding to the bag bottom is, as shown
in Figure 8, inwardly folded so that a gusset G is created. The
value of thickness of the sheet is, at most, 200)0, as described
above, which makes the thickness of the film not to be clearly
visualized as shown in Figures 2 to 4, which is precisely drawn.
In view of this, in Figures 8 to 11, where the detailed
construction of the multi-cell container is explained, the
thickness of the film is shown in an exaggerated manner for the
clarification of the construction of the bag.
[0013]
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As shown in Figure 2, the bag 10 after cut and welded from the
^^ sheet has opposed top and bottom polyethylene film surfaces 10-1
and 10-2. The top and bottom surfaces 10-1 and 10-2 of the bag
correspond to the upper and lower film layers SI and S2 of the
sheet S^ in Figure 8. A reference numeral 12 in Figure 1 denotes
an outer profile portion, i.e., a strong seal portion wherein
the opposed films 10-1 and 10-2 are welded non-separately. The I
outer peripheral portion 12 is constructed by welding the opposed I
surfaces of the polyethylene films 10-1 and 10-2 at a temperature
as high as 200°C so as to obtain non-separable seal at the
peripheral portion 12, which allows the powdered medicines and
its solution to be held tightly. This welded condition of the
top and bottom films at the peripheral portion 12 is illustrated
schematically in Figures 10 and 11. The gusseted portion G of
the blank sheet as shown in Figure 8 becomes the gusseted bottom
lOA of the bag 10 in Figure 9. The gusseted bottom causes the
latter to be widened under the condition where the medicines are
stored, which serves the stability of the bag to be increased.
The innermost portion of the folded or gusseted portion G of the
sheet § corresponds to the portion of the bag 10 designated by
a reference numeral 10-3 in Figure 9. The construction of the
peripheral portion 12 at the bottom lOA of the bag will now be
further explained with reference to Figure 9. At the middle of
the width of the bottom lOA of the bag 10, the outer peripheral
portion (strong seal portion) 12 has the least height as shown
by a portion 12-1 in Figure 9(A) . Located nearer the side of the
bag, the higher is the height of the outer peripheral seal 12
as shown at a portion 12-2 in Figure 9(B). As a result, an arch
shape of the bottom lOA with the least height at the middle (Figure
1) is obtained. At the sides of the bag shown in Figure 9(C),
the bag is constructed by non-separately welded four film layers
at the gusseted portion and by non-separately welded two film
layers at the location above the gusseted portion.
[0014]
As shown in Figure 1, the strongly sealed portion 12 has, at a
side of bag above the bottom lOA of the bag 10, a slightly inwardly
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widened portion 12-4, which is formed with an elongated opening
^^ 14. The opening 14 is for receiving fingers and the portion of
strong seal 12 may serve as a handle. Furthermore, along the
entire inner periphery 14' of the opening 14, the top and bottom
polyethylene films 10-1 and 10-2 are not welded, which makes the
polyethylene films to be locally softer, which is advantageous |
in that the touch is softened when grasping the handle by I
inserting fingers to the opening 14. I
[0015]
An inlet-outlet port 16 is arranged in the peripheral strong seal
12 at a top location of the bag 10 opposite the bottom lOA, The
inlet-outlet port 16 forms essentially a tubular shape opened
at its top and bottom and is for introduction of water for
obtaining a solution of the powder medicines stored in the bag
10 and for discharging the water solution as obtained by solving
the powdered medicines to the water. The inlet-outlet port 16
has rigidity (wall thickness) capable of keeping its tubular
shape and is a non-transparent mold product from the same plastic
material as that of the bag, i.e., polyethylene, so that a desired
welding strength of the port to the bag is obtained. As shown
in a perspective view in Figure 5, inlet-outlet port 16 is formed
with a screw thread portion 16-1 at its upper end for screw
connection with a closure cap (not shown) and a flange portion
16-2 (Figures 2 and 3) at its lower end. As explained above, the
sheet S for cutting therefrom a bag is formed with the opening
0 at the end opposite the gusset G, as shown in Figure 8. The
flange portion 16-2 has an upper expanded part 16-2', which is
located inside the opening 0 when the peripheral strong seal is
formed on the inlet-outlet port 16. Namely, the polyethylene
films 10-1 and 10-2 have upper ends 10-lA and 10-2A (Figure 2),
which are, at their inner surfaces, subjected to non-separable
welding to an upper surface of the flange portion 16-2, so that
a welded part 12-3 to the inlet-outlet port 16 is created in the
peripheral strong seal 12.
[0016]
In Figure 1, a reference numeral 18 denotes a partition wall as
10
a separable seal (weak seal) . The partition wall 18 is
^p constructed by a separable welding of opposed surfaces of the
top and bottom polyethylene films 10-1 and 10-2 in the bag 10
at a predetermined width. Such a welding between the top and
bottom polyethylene films 10-1 and 10-2 in the partition wall
18 is schematically illustrated in Figure 11, A value of the f
welding temperature for obtaining the partition wall 18 is lower |
than that for obtaining the peripheral strong seal 12, so that
the top and bottom polyethylene films 10-1 and 10-2 are separable
at the partition wall 18. Furthermore, a welding condition for
forming the partition wall 18 is determined by a combination of
heating temperature and heating time. The welding condition for
obtaining the partition wall 18 is determined by the welding
temperature and the welding time. The welding temperature is set
to an appropriate value in a range between a softening
temperature and a melting temperature of the low melting
temperature component in the inner most layer. Namely, the same
degree of the seal strength is obtained by increasing seal time
when the temperature is low or by reducing seal time when the
temperature is high. In other words, an optimum welding condition
is obtained by a suitable combination between the welding
temperature and welding time. As far as the pressure at the
welding process is concerned, it was found that there is no
dependency of the welding pressure with respect to the seal
strength. What is needed is to merely keep a pressure value high
enough to cause the innermost layers of the film to keep contact
with each other. In case of the polyethylene films, it was found
that desired seal strength is obtained under a welding condition
that the welding temperature of the partition wall 18 is in a
range between 100-118°C, the sealing time is in a range between
2 to l.Sseconds and the seal pressure of about 7kg/cm^. As shown
in Figure 1, the partition wall 18 extends between positions of
the peripheral seal 12, i.e., from a side portion inside the
handle 15 of the bag 12 to an upper portion of the bag. The
partition wall 18 divides the space inside the bag 10 into first
and second compartments (cells) 20 and 22. The partition wall
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18 is constructed by a substantial horizontal section 18-1 (first
^^ portion of the present invention), which extends from the side
of the peripheral seal 12 along (opposite) the bottom lOA of the
bag and a substantial vertical section 18-2 (second portion of
the present invention) , which is bent midway from the horizontal
portion 18-1 and is connected to the top portion of the peripheral I
seal 12. As result, the first compartment 20 on the side of the I
partition wall 18 adjacent the bag bottom lOA is of a large volume,
which extends totally from the upper side to the bottom side,
of the bag. Contrary to this, the second compartment 22 on the
side of the partition wall 18 remote the bag bottom lOA terminates
at the middle height of the bag, i.e., remote from the bottom
lOA of the bag 10, so that the volume of the second compartment
22 is smaller than that of the first compartment 20. Among the
pair of compartments, the inlet-outlet port 16 is opened to the
first compartment 20, i.e., the inlet-outlet port 16 is not
opened to the second compartment 22. Finally, at a location where
the horizontal part 18-1 and the vertical part 18-2 are connected,
the partition wall 18 is formed with a rounded (R) corner section
18-3.
[0017]
The medicines to be stored by the multi-cell container according
to this embodiment are polyethylene glycol electrolyte
(polyethylene glycol added by electrolyte) added by ascorbic
acid, as bowel lavage medicine (see patent document 2) . Both of
the polyethylene glycol electrolyte and the ascorbic acid are
under powdered states and are colored when mixed with each other.
Therefore, a requirement exists that they should be kept separate
until just before the use. The present invention aims to fulfill
this requirement. Namely, according to this embodiment, the
polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder 40 is stored in the first
compartment 20 of a larger volume while the ascorbic acid powder
42 is stored in the second compartment 22 of smaller volume.
Figures 10 and 11 schematically illustrate the conditions of
storage of the powder medicines in the first and second
compartments 20 and 22, respectively. The bag is shown slightly
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widened, due to the storage the powdered medicines.
^ [0018]
In the multi-cell container for the storage of bowel lavage
medicine as an embodiment of a multi-cell container according
to the present invention, the polyethylene glycol electrolyte
powder 40 and the ascorbic acid powder 42 are stored in the first
and second compartments 20 and 22, respectively and the cap is
mounted tightly to the inlet-outlet port 16 at the screw thread
portion 16-1, so that a finished product for shipping is
completed. For the sake of convenience of handling, the bag 10
of the entire height of, for example, 280mm is folded in double
along the middle height of about 140mm and is stored in a wrapping.
A relatively small force can generate a pressure applied to the
partition wall 18 via the stored contents thereto, as will be
explained later, on one hand. On the other hand, the folded state
of the bag may promote a generation of an outside force as
accidentally applied to the bag by its handling, such as a
transfer. However, it is confirmed that the force applied to the
partition seal 18 during the product transfer is not large enough
to cause the seal 18 to separate because the stored contents are
under powder states both in the compartments 20 and 22. In
addition, the horizontal portion 18-1 of the partition wall 18
located adjacent the two-fold line of the bag during the handling
extends in horizontal direction and does not cross the two-fold
line, which makes it less likely that the partition wall 18 is
accidentally opened during its handling such as a product
transfer.
[0019]
Now, a manner of use of the embodiment of the multi-cell container
is explained. From the port 16 tightly sealed by the cap (not
shown), the latter is turned and removed, and, a desired amount
of distilled water is introduced into the first cell 20 via the
port 16, so that the polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder 40
are solved by the introduced water so as to obtain its water
solution. Then, an opening operation of the partition wall 18
is done for causing the ascorbic acid powder 42 in the second
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cell 22 to be solved by the water solution in the first cell 20.
MB In this opening operation, the introduction of water into the
first compartment 20 causes, itself, an erosion to be initiated
in the partition wall 18, which may force the latter to open.
Such erosion by the introduction of water is, even, enough to
completely open the partition wall 18 when the seal strength of the partition wall 18 is weak. According to the present invention, the first and second compartments 20 and 22 store therein just
powdered medicines and, therefore, it is possible that such weak
setting of the degree of seal strength, that makes the seal to
open just by the introduction of the water, does not cause the
partition wall 18 to be non-intentionally opened if subjected
to any outside force during a handling, such as a product transfer.
However, such a weak setting makes it difficult to determine
whether the separation of the partition wall 18 as occurred is
generated intentionally by the introduction of water into the
first compartment 20 or non-intentionally by handling during
the product transfer. Such a difficulty must be avoided in order
to prevent an erroneous operation from being occurred. In view
of this, in the practice of the present invention, the setting
of the seal strength of the partition wall 18 is such that no
opening occur by a mere introduction of water and an intentional
operation for opening the seal can only make the seal to open.
In order to obtain such intentional opening, the bag 10, to which
first compartment 20 the water introduced has been completed,
may be subjected to shaking in the vertical or horizontal
direction, which causes a liquid pressure to be generated, which
is enough to make the partition wall 18 to open. Namely, a pressing
operation from the outside by an operator's palm is not always
necessary for carrying out the intentional opening operation,
as is the case in a conventional bag where a liquid medicine is
stored in at least one compartment.
[0020]
Now, a result of tests as to the seal strength of the partition
wall 18 will be explained. Multi-layer polyethylene films of
thickness of 145|Jin were subjected to a non-separable welding at
14
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temperature of 200°C along the outer profile of a bag in order
9' to form a peripheral seal 12 (Figure 1) and subjected to a
separable welding at a temperature in a rage of 100 to 118°C at
the width of 10mm in order to form a partition wall 18 having
a horizontal portion 18-1 and a vertical portion 18-2, so that
a bag having a first compartment 20 of a volume of 2500mL as the
maximum amount of water to be filled therein and of a height of |
280mm was created. Furthermore, in order to determine how a value
of radius of the rounded corner 18-3 connecting the horizontal
and the vertical portions 18-1 and 18-2 influences to the seal
separation performance, samples of different values of radius
of the rounded corner portion of 20mm and 30mm were prepared.
In addition, in order to determine a desired value of the seal
strength of the partition wall 18, samples of gradually changed
values of a seal strength were prepared, which is evaluated by
a force (Newton) needed for separation of the seal per width of
the seal of 15mm in conformity of JIS (Japanese Industrial
Standard) Z 0238. The test for the openability was done under
the condition that the first compartment 20 is filled with water.
Furthermore, in order to decide the effect of vertical position
of the horizontal section 18-1 to the openability (separation)
of the seal, samples of three different values of the height H
of the horizontal section 18-1 were prepared. Note: the height
H of the horizontal section 18-1 is defined by volume at a half
height of 140mm with respect to the full height of 280mm of the
bag, which is referred herein as a "half height volume". In the
lowest position of the horizontal section 18-1, the height
H(=H7oo) of horizontal section 18-1 is such that the half height
volume is 700mL. In the middle position of the horizontal section
18-1, the height H(=Hiooo)of horizontal section 18-1 is such that
the half height volume is lOOOmL. Finally, in the highest
position of the horizontal section 18-1, the height H(=Hiooo) of
horizontal section 18-1 is such that the half height volume is
1300mL, i.e., H= H1300. In Figure 1, the partition wall 18, of
which horizontal section 18-1 located at the highest position
of the height H equal to hiaoo, is illustrated. As to the partition
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wall 18, of which horizontal section 18-1 located at the middle
|p height position of the height H equal to h
1000 o^ the lowest I
position of the height H equal to h7oo/ the respective position
of the horizontal section 18-1 of the partition wall 18 is
illustrated only by respective phantom line L' or L". As for an
evaluation of openability, a shaking stroke number test was
conducted. Note: The shaking stroke number test is constructed I
by: introducing, into the first compartment, an amount of water i
of lOOOmL slightly short of the half of the full amount equal
to 2500mL to the first compartment 20; holding, by his or her
right hand, the inlet-outlet port 16, to which the closure cap
is mounted and, by his or her right hand, the bottom lOA at a
location adjacent the second partition 22, and; vertically
shaking the bag at an amplitude of 20cm and counting the number
of shaken strokes until the completion of a separation of the
partition wall 18 at its rounded portion 18-3. The mean value
of stroke numbers for 5 samples is obtained for the evaluation.
Table 1_ illustrates results of stroke number test with respect
to the values of seal strength for the lowest, the middle and
highest positions h7oo, hioco and hisoo, respectively when the radius
of the rounded corner 18-3 is 20mm. Table 2 illustrates the
similar results when the radius of the rounded corner 18-3 is
30mm.
[0021]
Table 1 (20R)
hvoo hiooo hi3oo
Seal Stroke Seal Stroke Seal Stroke
Strength Numbers Strength Numbers Strength Numbers
0.95 0 1.05 0 1.25 1.8
1.87 0 1.78 0 1.8 1.6
2.87 0 2.67 0.8 2.38 4
3.92 1 3.78 1.4 3.02 10
4.69 1.2 4.82 3.2 3.59 8.2
6.14 2.8 7.56 16.8 4.35 14.8
[0022]
Table 2 (30R)
16
hvoo hiooo hi3oo
H ^ Seal Stroke Seal Stroke Seal Stroke
Strength Numbers Strength Numbers Strength Numbers
2.01 0.4 1.87 1.2 1.78 1
2.81 0.8 2.1 0.8 3.3 2.2
3.42 1 3.12 3.6 4.01 6
4.58 1 3.7 3 5.01 14.2 i
6.12 1 4.3 12.8 7.11 100
[0023] I
The test results will now be studied. When the height H of the
horizontal portion 18-1 of the partition wall 18 is hvoo, the top
level of the filled water of quantity of lOOOmL is located
considerably above horizontal section 18-1. In this case, an
opening of the partition wall 18 can be taken place the most easily.
Especially, the seal strength equal to or lower than 3(N) is
enough to cause the seal to be separated even without any shaking
of the bag, i.e., can initiate the seal separation merely by an
introduction of the water of the amount of lOOOmL into the first
compartment 20. In the seal strength of around the value of 4 (N) ,
one or two strokes of the shaking operation are enough for opening.
Namely, the amount of water of lOOOmL is enough to fill the first
compartment 20 at a level fully above the horizontal section 18-1
of the partition wall 18, which allows the shaking action
strongly urges the gusseted bottom lOA to be widened, so that
a separation (opening) of the seal is initiated from the rounded
portion 18-3. A value of seal strength as high as about 6(N) does
not prevent the rounded portion 18-3 from being separated and
a partially non-separated portion is, however, left in the
straight section 18-2 above the rounded corner portion 18-3.
[0024]
When the height of the horizontal section 18-1 of the partition
wall 18 is hiooo, the top level of the filled water of an amount
of lOOOmL is located at just around the horizontal section 18-1.
The force for separating the seal constructing the partition wall
18 for opening the bag 10 as generated by the shaking is lowered
as compared with that is obtained by the height H equal to h7oo-
17
:'••
However, the force is still high and therefore the mere
VP introduction of water to the first compartment 20 may open the
seal without the shaking so long as the seal strength is 2(N)
or less. When a shaking is accompanied, the commencement of the
seal separation at the corner portion 18-3 is possible when the I
seal strength is increased to 7.5(N) while, however, the portion I
of the seal above the corner section is difficult to separate, I
i.e., non-separated portion is left in the straight section 18-2 I
of the partition wall 18. I
[0025]
When the height of the horizontal section 18-1 of the partition
wall 18 is hi3oo/ the top level of the filled water of an amount
of lOOOmL is located fairly below the horizontal section 18-1.
In this case, the force of filled water of amount of lOOOmL for
urging the bag bottom lOA to stretch or to widen is small and
therefore mere introduction of the water cannot cause the seal
to open even when the seal strength is as small as 1(N).
Furthermore, even when the seal strength is merely increased to
value of about 4 (N) , 20 strokes or more of the shaking are needed
to make the seal to open. Such a large number of shaking is likely
to give the user a impression that the bag is difficult to open
prior to the completion of the opening and induces him or her
to execute an additional operation for opening other than mere
shaking, i.e., outside pressing operation.
[0026]
From the table 1, Figure 12 illustrates a relationship between
the seal strength and the shaking stroked number when the radius
R is 20mm while Figure 13 illustrates a relationship between the
seal strength and the shaking stroke number when the radius R
is 30mm. From these results it may clearly concluded that there
exists a general relationship that increased seal strength may
cause the shaking number to increase, i.e., make the seal
difficult to open. As far as the seal height position is concerned,
a lowered seal height may cause the shaking stroke number to be
reduced, i.e., make the seal easy to open. As to the radius R
of the corner portion 18-3, a reduced value of the radius will
18
make the seal to open easily due to a corrosion taken place at
Iv the corner portion. However, no influence to the openability was
found so long as the lowered value of radius R is 20inm or so.
[0027]
A diagram of Figure 14 illustrates, visually, the opening
operation of the embodiment of the multi-cell container
according to present invention, wherein the abscissa is seal
strength (N/15mm) and the ordinate is a height of the straight ^
section 18-1 of the partition wall 18 from the bottom of the bag. I
A middle position along the height of the bag 10 is designated
by hM. An area designated by a, of which seal strength value is
smaller than a value on a boundary line li of a value around IN
is referred as a low seal strength area where the partition wall
may open without any shaking operation. Namely, in the low seal
strength area a., a mere introduction of the water can initiate
the seal to open and, therefore, is inappropriate. This area a
is inappropriate also because there exists a possibility of
non-intentional opening of the partition wall as initiated when
subjected a movement during handling such as transfer. As
explained above, a lower seal height causes the partition to open
more easily and, therefore, a displacement of the boundary line
to the side of a value of seal strength larger than IN as shown
by li' is obtained. In Figure 14, a line I2 indicates a boundary
of a value of seal strength, above which a mere introduction of
water plus shaking of the bag cannot initiate the separation of
the partition wall 18, i.e., an outside pressing of a portion
of the first compartment 20 filled with the water is essential
to make the seal 18 to open. In other words, in an area between
the lines li and I2 designated by b, a separation of the partition
wall 18 can be initiated only by a shaking operation. In other
words, the area b is the most appropriate seal strength zone for
practicing the present invention. The value of the seal strength
along the line I2 is of around 3N at a higher side of the seal
position. However, on the lower side of the seal position, the
partition wall becomes easy to open, so that the boundary seal
19
strength line is displaced to the side of a value larger than
IV 3N, as shown by line I2' and finally of a value larger than a
value of 5N, as shown by line I2". A line I3 illustrates a boundary
line of value of seal strength of around 15N, above which an
outside pressure applied from the outside to a portion of the
first compartment 20 filled by a water solution cannot make the
partition wall 18 to open. Therefore, the area designated by c ;
located between the lines 12 and 13 is the area where a mere
shaking operation is not enough and an outside forced pressing
operation is additionally needed in order to make the seal to
open. Finally, an area d of a value of the seal strength higher
than the value on the line I3 is an area where any opening of
the seal cannot obtained irrespective of an application of
outside pressing force. In view of the above, it is concluded
that a desired range of the seal strength of the separable seal
as the partition wall 18 is between 1 to 5(N) while taking the
effect of the height of its horizontal section 18-1 into the
consideration, which may influence to the opening characteristic
of the partition wall 18.
[0028]
Furthermore, a vibration test and a drop test were done for
checking suitability during the product transfer. The vibration
test is based on the random vibration test stipulated JIS Z 0232
with the vibration time of 60 minutes. An evaluation of the result
of the vibration test was done by visually inspecting whether
or not an opening occurs for 40 bags of each of the values of
seal strength of 0.78, 1.17 and 2.14 N/15mm, respectively. For
the 40 bags for each of values of seal strength subjected to the
test, any bag with seal opened could not found.
In view that all of the bags subjected to the vibration test could
maintain the seal, the same bags were subsequently subjected to
a drop test, which was done by dropping a bag from the height
of 90cm and the dropping is repeated for tree times. For the 40
bags of each of the values of seal strength of 0.78, 1.17 and
2.14 N/15mm, respectively, any bag with seal opened could also
not found. From the result of the vibration test and the drop
20
•
test, it is understood that the minimum value of the steal
V strength as small as 0.78 N/15mm is enough to prevent the seal
from being separated with respect to the load as generated when
subjected to a dropping. This minimum value of the steal strength
of 0.78 N/15mm has a sufficient margin with respect to the minimum
value of 1 N/15mm in the preferable range of seal strength 1 to
5 N/15mm during the opening operation by the shaking or pressing
as explained with reference to Figure 14, which proves a desired
transportation ability of the container according to the present
invention.
[0029]
Figure 15 illustrates another embodiment of a multi-cell
container according to the present invention, having a bag 110
has a peripheral seal 112 (non-separable seal), on which an
inlet-outlet port 116 is mounted and a partition wall 118 as a
separable seal having a horizontal section 118-1 and a vertical
section 118-2. The partition wall 118 separates the space inside
the bag 110 into first and second compartments 120 and 122 as
is similar to the first embodiment. As also similar to the first
embodiment (Figure 9), the bag 110 has a gusseted bottom llOA.
What is different from the first embodiment is in an outer profile
of the peripheral seal 112 and a manner of an arrangement of the
partition wall 118. However, these functions are unchanged.
In this embodiment as well as the following embodiments, rear
views are omitted for simplicity because the rear views different
from the front views only in that the rear views are symmetric
with respect to the front views except for screw portions at the
tops. Note: In the rear view, the screw portion should be
illustrated so that it is rotated 180 degree from that shown in
the front view.
[0030]
Figure 16 illustrates further another embodiment of a multi-cell
container according to the present invention, having a bag 210
has a peripheral seal 212 (non-separable seal), on which an
inlet-outlet port 216 is mounted and a partition wall 218 as a
separable seal having a horizontal section 218-1 and a vertical
21
I.!
section 218-2. The partition wall 218 separates the space inside
9 the bag 210 into first and second compartments 220 and 222 as
is similar to the first embodiment. As also similar to the first
embodiment (Figure 9) , the bag 210 has a gusseted bottom 210A.
What is different from the first embodiment is in an outer profile
of the peripheral seal 212 and a manner of an arrangement of the
partition wall 218. However, these functions are unchanged.
[0031]
Figure 17 to 19 also illustrate further embodiments of a
multi-cell containers according to the present invention, having I
bags 310, 410 and 510, respective have peripheral seals I
(non-separable seals) 312, 412 and 512, respectively on which
inlet-outlet ports 316, 416 and 516 are mounted, respectively
and partition walls 318, 418 and 518 as separable seals,
respectively, each having a horizontal section and a vertical
section. The partition walls 318, 418 and 518 separate the spaces
inside the bags 310, 410 and 510 into first and second
compartments 320, 420 and 520, respectively and 322, 422 and 522,
respectively as is similar to the first embodiment. As also
similar to the first embodiment (Figure 9), the bag 310, 410 and
510 have gusseted bottoms 310A, 410A and 510A, respectively. What
is different from the first embodiment is in outer profiles of
the peripheral seals 312, 412 and 512 and a manner of arrangements
of the partition walls 318, 418 and 518. However, these functions
are unchanged.
[0032]
Figure 20 illustrates still further embodiment of a multi-cell
container according to the present invention, which has a bag
610 and a peripheral seal 612 (non-separable seal), on which an
inlet-outlet port 616 is mounted and a partition wall 618. The
partition wall 618 separates the space inside the bag 610 into
first and second compartments 620 and 622 and the bag 610 is formed
I with gusseted bottom 610A, as is similar to every above
embodiments. However, unlike any one of the previous embodiments,
the partition wall 618 forms an entirely straight seal. The
inlet-outlet port 616 opens to the upper compartment 622 of
22
smaller volume above the partition wall 618 and does not open
^W to the lower compartment 620 of larger volume below the partition
wall 618. A water introduction from the inlet-outlet port 616
is done to the upper small compartment 622 to solve the powder
medicine to obtain its water solution, which is followed by
shaking of the bag, so that the partition wall 618 is separated,
thereby solving the powder medicine in the lower compartment of
a larger volume and completing mixing,
23
•

^ CLAIMS
W 1, A multi-cell container comprising: a bag of substantially flat
shape made of flexible film; a partition wall as a separable seal,
which welds opposite inner surfaces of the bag and which divides
an inner space of the bag into a plurality of compartments and;
an inlet-outlet port located at a periphery of the bag so as to
be opened to one of the plurality of compartments for
introduction and/or discharge of liquid, medicines only of
powder states being respectively stored in the plurality of
compartments, a liquid introduced into said one of the
compartments from the inlet-outlet port solving the powdered
state medicine, a separation of the separable seal causing the
solution to be introduced into the rest of the compartment among
the plurality of compartments, so as to solve the powdered state
medicine stored therein.
2. A multi-cell container according to claim 1, wherein said
partition wall is arranged so that it faces, at least partially,
a gusseted bottom of the bag.
3. A multi-cell container according to claim 2, wherein said
partition wall comprises a first part extending in a direction
along the bottom of the bag from its side to a middle location
along the width of the bag and a second part extending in a
direction opposite to the bottom of the bag from an end of the
first part to the top side of the bag and wherein said one of
the compartments, to which said inlet-outlet port is opened, is
located on one side of the partition wall adjacent the bottom
of the bag while the other compartment with no provision of said
inlet-outlet port is located on the side of the partition wall
remote from the bottom of the bag.
4. A multi-cell container according to claim 3, wherein said
partition further comprises a rounded corner portion at a
location where the first and second portions are connected with
each other.
5. A multi-cell container according to any one of claims 1 to
4, wherein the seal strength of said separable seal is the one,
which allows the seal to be separated only by the shaking
24
^ ^ operation of the bag in the state where the water is introduced
^ ^ into one compartment among said plurality of compartments.
6. A multi-cell container according to any one of claims 1 to
5, wherein said separable seal as the partition wall has a value
of seal strength in a range between 1 to 5 {N/15mm).