Capsule with internal diaphragm for improved bioavailability

Abstract

A multi-compartment capsule may include a body, a diaphragm between, which seals off the body and provides a first compartment to hold an ingredient, and a cap applied to the body whereby a space between the inner portion of the cap and the diaphragm defines a second compartment for holding an oil. A two-compartment capsule may include a body, a diaphragm between, which seals off the body and provides a first compartment to hold an oil, and a cap applied to the body whereby a space between the inner portion of the cap and the diaphragm defines a second compartment for holding an ingredient. The ingredient may have increased bioavailability after exposure to the oil. This disclosure also provides particular formulations for use in such a capsule.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A multi-compartment capsule comprising:
 a body comprising an open end, a closed end, and inner surface, and an outer surface;   a diaphragm having a bottom and one or more peripheral sidewalls extending from the bottom, wherein the one or more peripheral sidewalls contact the body to form a first liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the closed end of the body; and   a cap contacting the body at the open end to form a second liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the cap,   wherein (i) a first of the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment contains an oil, and (ii) a second of the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment contains an oil-soluble ingredient, and   wherein the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment are configured to simultaneously release the oil and the oil-soluble ingredient during digestion of the multi-compartment capsule.   
     
     
         24 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more peripheral sidewalls contact the body to form a hermetic seal between the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment. 
     
     
         25 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 23 , wherein the oil-soluble ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a powder, a granule, a semi-solid, a beadlet, a microbead, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         26 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 23 , wherein the oil comprises an omega-3 oil comprising an eicosapentaenoic acid and the oil-soluble ingredient comprises a statin. 
     
     
         27 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 23 , wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of a cannabis oil and hemp oil, and
 wherein the oil-soluble ingredient comprises an herbal extract.   
     
     
         28 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 23 , wherein the one or more peripheral sidewalls contact the inner surface of the body to form the first liquid-tight compartment. 
     
     
         29 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 23 , wherein the cap contacts the outer surface of the body to form the second liquid-tight compartment. 
     
     
         30 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 23 , wherein at least a portion of the body and at least a portion of the cap comprise substantially the same material and substantially the same thickness. 
     
     
         31 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 23 , wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of omega-3 oil, red palm oil, fish oil, krill oil, walnut oil, saw palmetto oil, castor oil, garlic oil, flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, cannabis oil, argan oil, coconut oil, peppermint oil, evening primrose oil, oregano oil, emu oil, cod liver oil, algae oil, grape seed oil, rose oil, clove oil, vitamin E oil, blueberry seed oil, raspberry seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, hemp oil, alpha-linolenic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, ginger oil, lavender oil, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         32 . A multi-compartment capsule comprising:
 a body comprising an open end, a closed end, and inner surface, and an outer surface;   a diaphragm having a bottom and one or more peripheral sidewalls extending from the bottom, wherein the one or more peripheral sidewalls contact the body to form a first liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the closed end of the body; and   a cap contacting the body at the open end to form a second liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the cap,   wherein (i) a first of the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment contains an oil, and (ii) a second of the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment contains an oil-suspendable ingredient, and   wherein the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment are configured to simultaneously release the oil and the oil-suspendable ingredient during digestion of the multi-compartment capsule.   
     
     
         33 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more peripheral sidewalls contact the body to form a hermetic seal between the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment. 
     
     
         34 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 32 , wherein the oil-suspendable ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a powder, a granule, a semi-solid, a beadlet, a microbead, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 32 , wherein the one or more peripheral sidewalls contact the inner surface of the body to form the first liquid-tight compartment. 
     
     
         36 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 32 , wherein the cap contacts the outer surface of the body to form the second liquid-tight compartment. 
     
     
         37 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the body and at least a portion of the cap comprise substantially the same material and substantially the same thickness. 
     
     
         38 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 32 , wherein the oil is selected from the group consisting of omega-3 oil, red palm oil, fish oil, krill oil, walnut oil, saw palmetto oil, castor oil, garlic oil, flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, cannabis oil, argan oil, coconut oil, peppermint oil, evening primrose oil, oregano oil, emu oil, cod liver oil, algae oil, grape seed oil, rose oil, clove oil, vitamin E oil, blueberry seed oil, raspberry seed oil, pumpkin seed oil, hemp oil, alpha-linolenic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, ginger oil, lavender oil, and combinations thereof 
     
     
         39 . A method of manufacturing a multi-compartment capsule, the method comprising:
 providing a body comprising an open end, a closed end, and inner surface, and an outer surface;   inserting an oil within the body such that the oil is adjacent the closed end;   inserting a diaphragm within the body, wherein the diaphragm comprises a bottom and one or more peripheral sidewalls extending from the bottom that contact the body to form a first liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the closed end of the body, wherein the oil is contained with the first liquid-tight compartment;   inserting an oil-soluble ingredient within the diaphragm such that the oil-soluble ingredient is adjacent the bottom;   mounting a cap on the body at the open end to form a second liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the cap, wherein the oil-soluble ingredient is contained with the second liquid-tight compartment,   wherein the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment are configured to simultaneously release the oil and the oil-soluble ingredient during digestion of the multi-compartment capsule.   
     
     
         40 . A method of manufacturing a multi-compartment capsule, the method comprising:
 providing a body comprising an open end, a closed end, and inner surface, and an outer surface;   inserting an oil within the body such that the oil is adjacent the closed end;   inserting a diaphragm within the body, wherein the diaphragm comprises a bottom and one or more peripheral sidewalls extending from the bottom that contact the body to form a first liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the closed end of the body, wherein the oil is contained with the first liquid-tight compartment;   inserting an oil-suspendable ingredient within the diaphragm such that the oil-suspendable ingredient is adjacent the bottom;   mounting a cap on the body at the open end to form a second liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the cap, wherein the oil-suspendable ingredient is contained with the second liquid-tight compartment,   wherein the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment are configured to simultaneously release the oil and the oil-suspendable ingredient during digestion of the multi-compartment capsule.   
     
     
         41 . A multi-compartment capsule comprising:
 a body comprising an open end, a closed end, and inner surface, and an outer surface;   a diaphragm having a bottom and one or more peripheral sidewalls extending from the bottom, wherein the one or more peripheral sidewalls contact the body to form a first liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the closed end of the body; and   a cap contacting the body at the open end to form a second liquid-tight compartment between the diaphragm and the cap,   wherein (i) a first of the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment contains a primary ingredient, and (ii) a second of the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment contains a secondary ingredient, and   wherein the first liquid-tight compartment and the second liquid-tight compartment are configured to simultaneously release the primary ingredient and the secondary ingredient during digestion of the multi-compartment capsule.   
     
     
         42 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 41 , wherein the secondary ingredient improves bioavailability of the primary ingredient when simultaneously released during digestion of the multi-compartment capsule. 
     
     
         43 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 42 , wherein the secondary ingredient increases absorption of the primary ingredient during or after digestion of the multi-compartment capsule. 
     
     
         44 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 41 , wherein the primary ingredient comprises curcumin and the secondary ingredient comprises piper or a component thereof. 
     
     
         45 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 44 , wherein the secondary ingredient comprises piper betle leaf. 
     
     
         46 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 41 , wherein the primary ingredient is selected from the group consisting of zinc and copper, and
 wherein the secondary ingredient comprises vitamin C.   
     
     
         47 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 41 , wherein the primary ingredient is selected from the group consisting of vitamin D3, and
 wherein the secondary ingredient comprises magnesium.   
     
     
         48 . The multi-compartment capsule of  claim 41 , wherein each of the primary ingredient and the secondary ingredient is selected from the group consisting of an oil, a liquid, a powder, a granule, a semi-solid, a gel, a beadlet, a microbead, and a combination thereof.