Container for a medicinal liquid

Abstract

Foil bags are used as a primary packaging for liquids, the bags permitting the liquid to be taken therefrom without the application of a considerable amount of force. A container is provided for a medicinal liquid, the container being gas-tight and liquid-tight so that it is storable over many months. The container includes a collapsible foil bag on which a flange, which is stable in respect of shape, is disposed. The flange is designed for fitting onto a discharge connection member. The container can be disposed in a casing which is stable in respect of shape. The medicinal liquid does not come into contact with air and is protected from the effect of light. The medicinal liquid may be dispensed from the foil bag in many partial quantities over a prolonged period of time, with a respective partial amount thereof being converted into an aerosol by means of an atomizer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container for a medicinal liquid, the container being gas-tight and liquid-tight, comprising: 
 a foil bag closed at both ends and which is deformable at a differential pressure below 300 hPa (300 mbar);    a flange sealingly disposed on said foil bag, wherein said flange is in the form of a releasable connecting element for fitting the container on to a discharge connection member;    at least one welded seam for closing at least one end of said foil bag, wherein said welded seam extends substantially transversely with respect to an axis of said foil bag;    a sealing location in said flange; and    a discharge location for the liquid in the region of said flange.    
     
     
         2 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said foil bag is deformable at a differential pressure below 150 hPa (150 mbar).  
     
     
         3 . A container according to  claim 1 , where said foil bag is deformable at a differential pressure below 80 hPa (80 mbar).  
     
     
         4 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said foil bag is closed at both ends by said welded seam, and wherein said flange is sealingly mounted to said foil bag.  
     
     
         5 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said foil bag is sealingly closed at a first end by said welded seam and is sealingly closed at a second end by said flange.  
     
     
         6 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said flange is a rotationally symmetrical flange, and wherein the size of said rotationally symmetrical flange is adapted to the size of said foil bag such that said flange closes said foil bag at an end thereof.  
     
     
         7 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said flange which comprises a guide passage.  
     
     
         8 . A container according to  claim 7  wherein said flange comprises a press fit within said guide passage.  
     
     
         9 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said flange comprises a thermoplastic material.  
     
     
         10 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said welded seam is of a U-shaped or V-shaped configuration and extends substantially transversely with respect to and axis of said foil bag and extends partially in the direction of the axis of said foil bag.  
     
     
         11 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said welded seam is of a T-shaped configuration.  
     
     
         12 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said sealing location is in the form of a ring of elastic material, which is disposed in a groove.  
     
     
         13 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said discharge location is in the form of a perforation location.  
     
     
         14 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said discharge location is provided with a pierceable membrane.  
     
     
         15 . A container according to  claim 14  wherein said flange comprises a guide passage, and wherein said pierceable membrane is disposed at the end of or within said guide passage.  
     
     
         16 . A container according to  claim 14 , wherein said pierceable membrane is part of said foil bag.  
     
     
         17 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said discharge location is sealed with a scaling foil.  
     
     
         18 . A container according to  claim 1  wherein said foil bag is made from material selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following: a foil of plastic material, a foil of metal, a foil of metal alloy, a composite foil of plastic material, a composite foil of metal, a plastic foil with a layer of metal, a plastic foil with a layer of glass, and a plastic foil with a layer of ceramic.  
     
     
         19 . A container according to  claim 18 , wherein said metal alloy is selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following: aluminum, gold and copper.  
     
     
         20 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said foil bag comprises an inner foil of plastic material and an outer foil of metal.  
     
     
         21 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said foil bag comprises two foils of different plastic materials.  
     
     
         22 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said foil bag comprises: 
 an inner foil made of a copolymer;    a diffusion-tight central layer; and    an outer foil of plastic material, wherein the melting temperature of said plastic material is higher than the melting temperature of said inner foil.    
     
     
         23 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein said copolymer is a polyethylene copolymer of ethylene-acrylic acid.  
     
     
         24 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein said diffusion-tight central layer is made from a material selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following: a foil made of metal, a foil made of plastic material, metal, glass and ceramic.  
     
     
         25 . A container according to  claim 22 , wherein said outer foil is made of polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         26 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said foil bag comprises a plastic foil of a thickness of between 20 μm and 100 μm.  
     
     
         27 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said foil bag comprises a composite foil having an inner layer of plastic material of a thickness of between 20 μm and 100 μm and an outer layer of metal of a thickness of between 8 μm and 20 μm.  
     
     
         28 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein said foil bag comprises a composite foil having 
 an inner foil of plastic material of a thickness of between 20 μm and 100 μm,    a central foil of metal of a thickness of between 8 μm and 20 μm, and    an outer foil of plastic material of a thickness of between 10 μm and 40 μm.    
     
     
         29 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has a filling volume of 0.5 ml to 5 ml.  
     
     
         30 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has a filling volume of 1 ml to 4 ml.  
     
     
         31 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has a filling volume of 1 ml to 3 ml.  
     
     
         32 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container has a filling volume of 2 ml to 4 ml.  
     
     
         33 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is disposed in a casing made of metal or plastic material, and wherein said casing is connected to said flange.  
     
     
         34 . A container according to  claim 33 , wherein said casing has a diameter within a range of 10 mm to 30 mm.  
     
     
         35 . A container according to  claim 33 , wherein said casing has a diameter within a range of 12 mm to 17 mm.  
     
     
         36 . A container according to  claim 33 , wherein said casing has an overall length within a range of 20 mm to 60 mm.  
     
     
         37 . A container according to  claim 33 , wherein said casing has an overall length within a range of 30 mm to 50 mm.  
     
     
         38 . A container according to  claim 33 , wherein said casing is closed substantially all around its periphery and has an opening formed therein.  
     
     
         39 . A container according to  claim 33 , wherein said casing is closed substantially all around its periphery and has a gap at the location where said casing is connected to said flange.  
     
     
         40 . A container according to  claim 33 , wherein said casing is in the form of a basket having a plurality of openings  
     
     
         41 . A container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to be fit into a discharge device having a connecting portion, and wherein said connecting portion comprises a releasable, positively locking, push-in snap connection between said connecting portion in said discharge device and said flange of the container.  
     
     
         42 . A container according to  claim 41 , wherein said snap connection comprises snap noses and snap hooks, and wherein said flange has a peripherally extending groove into which said snap noses of said snap hooks engage when the container is fit into said connecting portion.  
     
     
         43 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is used as packaging for a medicinal liquid, whereby the medicinal liquid is taken in a plurality of partial quantities from said foil bag.  
     
     
         44 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is used as packaging for a medicinal liquid, whereby the medicinal liquid is taken in a dosage of 10 μl to 50 μl.  
     
     
         45 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is used as packaging for a medicinal liquid, whereby the medicinal liquid is taken in a dosage of 15 μl to 20 μl.  
     
     
         46 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is used as a cartridge containing an inhalable medicament preparation in a propellant gas-free atomizer.  
     
     
         47 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is used as a cartridge containing an inhalable medicament preparation which is present in the form of a solution in ethanol, water, or a mixture thereof.  
     
     
         48 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is used as a cartridge containing an inhalable medicament preparation with at least one active substance selected from the group consisting of one or more of the following: Berotec (fenoterol-hydrobromide; 1-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[[1-( 4- hydroxybenzyl) -ethyl]-amino]-ethanol-hydrobromide), Atrovent (ipratropium bromide), Berodual (combination of fenoterol-hydrobromide and ipratropium-bromide), Salbutamol (or Albuterol), Combivent, Oxivent (oxitropium bromide), Ba 679 (tiotropium bromide), BEA 2108 (di-(2-thienyl)-glycol acid tropenol ester), Flunisolid, Budesonid, Beclomethason.  
     
     
         49 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is used with a medicament preparation for the treatment of ailments by means of inhalable active substances.