Multi-chambered containers

Abstract

Multi-chambered containers having individually arranged chambers and methods of using same are provided. In a general embodiment, the present disclosure provides a multi-chambered container including a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber. A first peelable seal separates the first and third chambers. The first peelable seal is independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the first chamber. A second peelable seal separates the second and third chambers. The second peelable seal is independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the second chamber. The first chamber is separated from the second chamber by a permanent seal defining a transverse opening.

1 . A container comprising:
 a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber;   a first peelable seal separating the first and third chambers, the first peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the first chamber; and   a second peelable seal separating the second and third chambers, the second peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the second chamber, wherein the first chamber is separated from the second chamber by a permanent seal defining a transverse opening.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first chamber and second chamber is dimensioned to facilitate one-handed gripping of the chamber to apply the external pressure. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse opening is dimensioned to admit a human hand to apply the external pressure. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the third chamber contains a parenterally administrable base solution. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the third chamber is empty and is sized to contain the entire contents of the first chamber and the second chamber. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is made from a film comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polybutadiene, styrene and hydrocarbon copolymers, polyimides, polyester-polyethers, polyamide-polyethers, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the film comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene homopolymers, ethylene α-olefin copolymers, polyethylene copolymers, polypropylene homopolymers, polypropylene copolymers, styrene and hydrocarbon random copolymers, styrene and hydrocarbon block copolymers, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first peelable seal and the second peelable seal are activated by a force ranging from about 3 N/15 mm to about 30 N/15 mm. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first peelable seal has a first activating force and the second peelable seal has a second activating force, the second peelable seal activating force is greater than the first peelable seal activating force. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 9 , wherein the difference between the first peelable seal activating force and the second peelable seal activating force is greater than about 1 N/15 mm and less than about 5 N/15 mm. 
   
   
       11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first peelable seal and the second peelable seal comprises a shape selected from the group consisting of semicircular, rectangular, trapezoidal, polygonal, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber contain components of a peritoneal dialysis solution. 
   
   
       13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber contain components of a parenteral nutrition solution. 
   
   
       14 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the third chamber. 
   
   
       15 . The container of  claim 14  further comprising a peelable safety seal separating the outlet port from the third chamber, wherein the safety seal has a seal strength selected to impede opening of the safety seal unless at least one of the first and second peelable seals have first been opened. 
   
   
       16 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a tube in fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber. 
   
   
       17 . A multi-chambered container comprising:
 at least two plies of a flexible polymer film defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and a third chamber formed between the plies;   a first peelable seal separating the first and third chambers, the first peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the first chamber; and   a second peelable seal separating the second and third chambers, the second peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the third chamber, wherein the first and third chambers are separated by a permanent seal defining a transverse opening through the plies.   
   
   
       18 . The multi-chambered container of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first chamber and second chamber is dimensioned to facilitate one-handed gripping of the chamber to apply the external pressure. 
   
   
       19 . The multi-chambered container of  claim 17 , wherein the transverse opening is dimensioned to admit a human hand to apply the external pressure. 
   
   
       20 . A multi-chambered container comprising:
 at least two plies of a flexible polymer film defining a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, and a fourth chamber formed between the plies;   a first peelable seal separating the first and fourth chambers, the first peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the first chamber;   a second peelable seal separating the second and fourth chambers, the second peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the second chamber; and   a third peelable seal separating the third and fourth chambers, the third peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the third chamber, wherein the first chamber is separated from the second chamber by a first permanent seal defining a transverse opening through the plies and the second chamber is separated from the third chamber by a second permanent seal defining a transverse opening through the plies.   
   
   
       21 . The multi-chambered container of  claim 20 , wherein at least one of the first chamber, second chambers and the third chamber is dimensioned to facilitate one-handed gripping of the chamber to apply the external pressure. 
   
   
       22 . The multi-chambered container of  claim 20 , wherein the transverse opening is dimensioned to admit a human hand to apply the external pressure. 
   
   
       23 . The multi-chambered container of  claim 20 , wherein the fourth chamber is sized to facilitate mixing of the contents of any combination of the first, second, and third chambers. 
   
   
       24 . The multi-chambered container of  claim 20  further comprising a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the fourth chamber. 
   
   
       25 . The multi-chambered container of  claim 24  further comprising a peelable safety seal separating the outlet port from the fourth chamber, wherein the safety seal has a seal strength selected to impede opening of the safety seal unless at least one of the first, second, and third peelable seals have first been opened. 
   
   
       26 . The multi-chambered container of  claim 20  further comprising a tube in fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber, the second chamber, and the third chamber. 
   
   
       27 . A method of administering a product, the method comprising:
 providing a container comprising:
 a first chamber comprising a first component, a second chamber comprising a second component, and a third chamber, 
 a first peelable seal separating the first and third chambers, the first peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the first chamber, and 
 a second peelable seal separating the second and third chambers, the second peelable seal being independently openable by selective application of external pressure to the second chamber, wherein the first chamber is separated from the second chamber by a permanent seal defining a transverse opening; and 
   compressing at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber to allow the component from the compressed chamber to flow through into the third chamber.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the squeezing is performed by a user's hand squeezing the chamber. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising compressing a remaining chamber to allow the component from the compressed chamber to flow through into the third chamber to form a mixed component. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29  further comprising administering the mixed component through a fluid outlet port in fluid communication with the third chamber.