Blister package

Abstract

Blister packages are provided which are formed from multilayered films having a lid-stock film which is heat sealed directly to a fluoropolymer film. A polymeric base layer is adhered to a fluoropolymer layer via a first intermediate adhesive tie layer; a support layer is adhered to the fluoropolymer layer via a second intermediate adhesive tie layer; and a metallic foil layer is adhered to the support layer via a third intermediate adhesive tie layer. The blister has a greatly improved moisture barrier over blister packages of the prior art.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A multilayered film which comprises: 
 a) a polymeric base layer;    b) a fluoropolymer layer adhered to said polymeric base layer via a first intermediate adhesive tie layer;    c) a support layer adhered to said fluoropolymer layer via a second intermediate adhesive tie layer; and    d) a metallic foil layer adhered to said support layer via a third intermediate adhesive tie layer.    
     
     
         2 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said polymeric base layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins, cyclic olefin copolymers, polyesters, poly(vinyl chloride), poly vinylidene chloride, polystyrene, acrylics and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said polymeric base layer comprises poly(vinyl chloride).  
     
     
         4 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said fluoropolymer layer comprises a polychlorotrifluoroethylene homopolymer or copolymer.  
     
     
         5 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said support layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethanes and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said support layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         7 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said metallic foil comprises an aluminum foil.  
     
     
         8 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said first intermediate adhesive  5  tie layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, an epoxy, a polyester, an acrylic, an anhydride modified polyolefin and blends thereof.  
     
     
         9 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said second intermediate adhesive tie layer comprises a blend of (1) an olefin-containing polymer selected from the group consisting of at least one functionalized polyolefin; at least one copolymer of ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, acrylates, and alkyl acrylates; and blends thereof and (2) a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer.  
     
     
         10 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  further comprising a paper adhered to said foil layer via an intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
     
     
         11 . The multilayered film of  claim 1  wherein said film has a moisture transmission rate of less than about 0.05 gm/100 in 2 /day per mil thickness of said fluoropolymer layer.  
     
     
         12 . A multilayered film which comprises: 
 a) a polymeric base layer;    b) a fluoropolymer layer having a first surface adhered to said polymeric base layer; and    c) a metallic foil layer adjacent to a second surface of said fluoropolymer layer.    
     
     
         13 . The multilayered film of  claim 12  wherein said fluoropolymer film comprises a polychlorotrifluoroethylene homopolymer or copolymer.  
     
     
         14 . The multilayered film of  claim 13  wherein said metallic foil is laminated, directly or indirectly, to said second surface of said fluoropolymer layer.  
     
     
         15 . The multilayered film of  claim 14  including a support layer adhered to said second surface of said fluoropolymer film, with said metallic foil being adhered to said support layer.  
     
     
         16 . The multilayered film of  claim 15  wherein said support layer is adhered to said metallic foil by an intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
     
     
         17 . The multilayered film of  claim 16  wherein said polymeric base layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins, cyclic olefin copolymers, polyesters, poly(vinyl chloride), polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, acrylics and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The multilayered film of  claim 17  wherein said support layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, nylons, polyesters, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethanes and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The multilayered film of  claim 18  wherein said polymeric base layer comprises poly(vinyl chloride).  
     
     
         20 . The multilayered film of  claim 19  wherein said support layer is adhered to said second surface of said fluoropolymer layer by an intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
     
     
         21 . The multilayered film of  claim 22  wherein said fluoropolymer layer is adhered polymeric base layer is adhered to said polymeric base layer via an intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
     
     
         22 . The multilayered film of  claim 21  wherein said support layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         23 . The multilayered film of  claim 21  wherein said support layer comprises a polyamide.  
     
     
         24 . The multilayered film of  claim 21  wherein said metallic foil comprises an aluminum foil.  
     
     
         25 . The multilayered film of  claim 13  wherein said polymeric base layer comprises poly(vinyl chloride).  
     
     
         26 . The multilayered film of  claim 25  wherein said metallic foil layer comprises an aluminum foil.  
     
     
         27 . A package formed from the multilayered film of  claim 12 .  
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 27  wherein said polymeric base layer and said fluoropolymer layer are in the form of a blister and said metallic foil layer forms a lid for said blister.  
     
     
         29 . A package formed from the multilayered film of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         30 . A pharmaceutical package comprising: 
 a) a shaped blister container which is formed from a multilayered film comprising: 
 i. a polymeric base layer; and  
 ii. a fluoropolymer layer adhered to the polymeric base layer via a first intermediate adhesive tie layer;  
   b) a pharmaceutical product contained within the shaped blister container; and    c) a lid sealed onto a surface of the container, which lid comprises: 
 i. a support layer adhered to the fluoropolymer layer via a second intermediate adhesive tie layer; and  
 ii. a metallic foil layer on the support layer via a third intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
   
     
     
         31 . The pharmaceutical package of  claim 30  wherein said pharmaceutical product comprises a tablet or a capsule.  
     
     
         32 . The pharmaceutical package of  claim 30  wherein said fluoropolymer comprises a polychlorotrifluoroethylene homopolymer or copolymer.  
     
     
         33 . The pharmaceutical package of  claim 32  wherein said base layer comprises poly(vinyl chloride).  
     
     
         34 . A package comprising: 
 a) a shaped container which is formed from a multilayered film comprising: 
 i. a polymeric base layer; and  
 ii. a fluoropolymer layer adhered to the polymeric base layer via a first intermediate adhesive tie layer;  
   b) a product contained within the shaped container; and    c) a lid sealed onto a surface of the container, which lid comprises: 
 i. a support layer adhered to the fluoropolymer layer via a second intermediate adhesive tie layer; and  
 ii. a metallic foil layer on the support layer via a third intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
   
     
     
         35 . A pharmaceutical package comprising: 
 a) a shaped blister container which is formed from a multilayered film comprising: 
 i. a polymeric base layer; and  
 ii. a fluoropolymer layer having a first surface adhered to said polymeric base layer;  
   b) a pharmaceutical product contained within said shaped blister container; and    c) a lid sealed onto a surface of the container, said lid being adjacent to a second surface of said fluoropolymer layer.    
     
     
         36 . The package of  claim 35  wherein said lid comprises a metallic foil layer.  
     
     
         37 . The package of  claim 36  wherein said fluoropolymer film comprises a polychlorotrifluoroethylene homopolymer or copolymer.  
     
     
         38 . The package of  claim 37  wherein said lid comprises a support layer adhered to said second surface of said fluoropolymer film, with said metallic foil layer being adhered to said support surface.  
     
     
         39 . The package of  claim 38  wherein said base layer comprises poly(vinyl chloride).  
     
     
         40 . The package of  claim 38  wherein said support layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         41 . The package of  claim 39  wherein said metallic foil layer comprises an aluminum foil.  
     
     
         42 . The package of  claim 41  wherein said support layer is adhered to said second surface of said fluoropolymer film by an intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
     
     
         43 . The package of  claim 42  wherein said fluoropolymer layer is adhered to said polymeric base layer by an intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
     
     
         44 . The package of  claim 43  wherein said support layer is adhered to said metallic foil layer by an intermediate adhesive tie layer.  
     
     
         45 . A process for forming a pharmaceutical package comprising: 
 a) forming a multilayered film for holding a pharmaceutical product by: 
 i) forming a polymeric base layer;  
 ii) applying a fluoropolymer layer onto said polymeric base layer, which layers are attached via a first intermediate adhesive tie layer; and  
 iii) molding said film into a shaped blister container, which container has an outer surface, an inner surface, and a cavity;  
   b) placing a pharmaceutical product into said cavity; and    c) heat sealing a lid onto the outer surface of said container, which lid comprises: 
 i. a support layer adhered to said fluoropolymer layer via a second intermediate adhesive tie layer; and  
 ii. a metallic foil layer adhered to said support layer.  
   
     
     
         46 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said pharmaceutical product comprises a tablet or a capsule.  
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said base layer and said fluoropolymer layer are coextruded.  
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said base layer and said fluoropolymer layer are laminated together.  
     
     
         49 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said molding comprises thermoforming.  
     
     
         50 . The process of  claim 45  further comprising adhering a paper to said foil layer via an intermediate adhesive layer.  
     
     
         51 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said fluoropolymer layer comprises a polychlorotrifluoroethylene homopolymer or copolymer.  
     
     
         52 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said the polymeric base layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyamides, polyolefins, cyclic olefin copolymers, polyesters, poly(vinyl chloride), polyvinylidene chloride, polystyrene, acrylics and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         53 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said support layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride), polyvinylidene chloride, polyurethanes and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         54 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said support layer comprises polyethylene terephthalate.  
     
     
         55 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said metallic foil comprises an aluminum foil.  
     
     
         56 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said first intermediate adhesive tie layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane, an epoxy, a polyester, an acrylic, an anhydride modified polyolefin and blends thereof.  
     
     
         57 . The process of  claim 45  wherein said second intermediate adhesive tie layer comprises a blend of (1) an olefin-containing polymer selected from the group consisting of at least one functionalized polyolefin; at least one copolymer of ethylene and at least one comonomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, alkyl acrylic acid, acrylates, and alkyl acrylates; and blends thereof and (2) a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer.  
     
     
         58 . A process for forming a package comprising: 
 a) forming a multilayered film for holding a product by: 
 i) forming a polymeric base layer;  
 ii) applying a fluoropolymer layer onto said polymeric base layer, which layers are attached via a first intermediate adhesive tie layer; and  
 iii) molding said film into a shaped container, which container has an outer surface, an inner surface, and a cavity;  
   b) placing a product into the cavity; and    c) heat sealing a lid onto the outer surface of the container, which lid comprises: 
 i. a support layer adhered to said fluoropolymer layer via a second intermediate adhesive tie layer; and  
 ii. a metallic foil layer adhered to said support layer.