US2153981A - Medicinal container - Google Patents

Description

Apg-il 11, 1939.

P. e. HEINEMAN I MEDICINAL CONTAINER Filed April 3, 1936 INVENTORI I? G. Hezneman BY 4 irron EYs Patented Apr. 11, 1939 I I I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEDICINAL CONTAINER Paul G Heineman, Albany, N. Y., assignor to Winthrop Chemical Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation oi. New York Application April 3, 1936, Serial No. 72,522

1 Claim. (01. 215-47) The object of this invention is a novel type of The elements of this combination which imclosed medicinal container which will enable the part to it the aforementioned functions are illusphysician, or dentist, or veterinarian, to withdraw trated in the accompanying sheet of drawings in from it into a hypodermic syringe, an accurate which amount of its liquid contents, without difficulty Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section, of an air 5 and without risk of microbial contamination of filter;

the liquid from theair. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a stopper in Medicinal containers are usually made of glass accordance with my invention; and they are commonly closed with rubber stop- Figs. 3 and 3a are the same, but illustrating pers or rubber caps. When filling the syringe, the working of the air filter in cooperation with 10 the operator must either remove the stopper or the stopper 6 (Fig. 3); and with a container in cap, or he must puncture it with the hypodermic aspirating the solution into the syringe (Fig. 3a)

needle attached to the syringe. If the closure is Fig. 4 illustrates a combination of the stopper removed, communication with the air cannot be in Fig. 3 with a screw cap container. avoided. If it is not removed, difilculty arises in Figs. 5 and 6 demonstrate two modifications of 15 aspirating the solution into the syringe through a cap as a closure in accordance with my inventhe needle, because during removal of the liquid tion.

a partial vacuum is created in the closed contain- In Fig. 1, the air filter I consists of a tube 2 er. The larger the amount to be withdrawn, the made of a suitable material, such as chromium greater is the suction caused by partial vacuum. plated steel, stainless steel, brass or nickel; also 20 Accuracy of dosage, therefore, is impaired. Bakelite, hard rubber or any similar substance The above disadvantages are particularly nomay be used. The tube 2 is equipped with a ticeable with "multiple dose containers. which in thumb-rest 3 and a beveled aperture 4; in its contrast to now commonly used single dose amcentral'cylinder I it contains a cotton filter 5.

pules hold two or more charges of medicament. The closure may be practically any style of 25 Upon repeated use, the risk of contamination or stopper or cap. Three examples appear in the inconvenient operation through creation of a vacsubsequent illustrations. uum has so far rendered this type of ampule un- Fig. 2 shows a stopper 6, provided with two holes serviceable. My invention is intended to remedy I and 8. The large hole 8 will accommodate the this situation. Production of multiple dose conair filter I; it is closed by the diaphragm 9. A 30 tainers is obviously less expensive in every refine hole I reaches from the top of stopper 6 to spect than that of single dose ampules. the diaphragm II] at the lower end, or the hole is Some practitioners draw air into the sterilized interrupted by a diaphragm II, as in Fig. 3. syringe before puncturing the stopper. This air Figs. 3 and 3a exemplify the working of the air is then injected into the air space of'the container filter I in combination with the stopper 6 and 35 creating internal pressure. The risk of contamithe container l2 in aspirating a solution into the nation during this procedure is obvious. Some syringe I3. In inoperative position, the filter is manufacturers incorporate germicidal compounds inserted into the large hole 8 to such depth as to into the medicinal solutions, in order to destroy barely touch the diaphragm 9 without penetrat- 4 the germs which gain access with the air. Howing it. The small depression I I in Fig. 3 indicates 4 ever,- in order to accomplish real antisepsis, the the location of the fine hole I and serves as a germicide must be present in suificient quantity guide for the needle l5 of a hypodermic syrto be efiective. Such quantities of antiseptics inge '3 maycause irritation to the patient. An ideal A container I2 tightly closed with this stopper medicament should contain no ingredient which 6 is operated by pushing the air filter I down un- 45 is therapeutically unnecessary and which may til the thumb-rest 3 contacts with the surface of bring discomfort to the patient. the stopper. The beveled aperture 4 then' enters My novel type of container is designed to overthe air space in the container I2. The fine hole come these drawbacks. For that purpose itis I guides the needle I5 of the hypodermic syringe closed with a closure provided with an air filter I3 which penetrates the rubber diaphragm In or 50 which permits equalization of pressure between II, and then permits withdrawal of the medicathe mitside and the air space of the container ment.

upon aspiration of the solution into the hypo- Fig. 4 illustrates a combination of the stopper dermic syringe while avoiding the risk of conin Figs. 3 and 3a with a screw-cap container. A

tamination. bottle IS with a screw-thread I! on the neck I8 55 is fitted with the stopper 6 equipped with the air filter l and the needle hole I. A screw-cap i9 can then be attached in such manner as to cover the stopper.

Optional embodiments of a combined air filter and stopper are shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 5 illustrates a rubber cap 20 which may be slipped over the neck of a bottle in obvious manner. Upon using the outfit, the operator moistens the surface of the rubber cap 20 with a 2% phenol solution or any other aqueous germicide, and pushes filter I through the cap near its center.

The germicidal solution preserves sterility and facilitates penetration of the rubber by the filter point. There is no necessity for a needle hole in this type, because the needle punctures the rubber easily in any place.

Fig. 6 shows another style of stopper 2| which in principle is like that of Fig. 5, except that the skirt 2! of the closure member is longer and of lesser diameter.

In regard to the style of bottle, it has been found that a bottle with a. cylindrical neck and without lip is most suitable when rubber caps are used. For solid stoppers any kind of neck is satisfactory. For small quantities of medicament up to one ounce there is nodifilculty in using the medicament to the last drop. For larger amounts than one ounce, a fiat bottle with a neck near one side permits usage of the whole amount of the solutionby tipping the bottle when the amount of medicament contained therein is small.

The tube 2 in. the air filter i is filled with a column 5 of non-absorbent cotton. 'The cotton is preferably of long fiber quality. Being nonabsorbent, accidental contact with thesolution in the container will not interfere with its efiiciency as a filter. When the solution is withdrawn from the bottle in the manner indicated, air filters in -germ-free condition into the air space of the bottle, equalizing pressure.

. It will be noted that the rubber diaphragms l and H or the rubber cap 20 or it may he punctured many times with a hypodermic needle without risk of admitting unfiltered air, and they will close automatically after withdrawal of the needle due to the elasticity of the rubber.

Furthermore, after the air filter is properly placed, it remains in the same position as long as is necessary to use up the whole contents of the container. There is no filing oi necks as with ampules and no exposure whatever to air contamination. Manipulation of my device issimple and safe.

It will be obvious from the above that the thumb-rest 3 of the air filter i may be made of different diameter according to the size of the stopper to which it is fitted.

In practical application, the'container 52 may be shipped with the air filter l in the stopper '3, or the air filter in a separate package, according to the style of the stopper.

A salt in dry form may be placed in the containers and the solvents may be injected through a hypodermic needle connected with a syringe. The air filter works in both directions and relieves the air pressure caused by injection of solvent.

Three series of bacteriological tests were made with these types of closures. These tests have shown that the air, after having been filtered by the device described herein, is actually germfree. The detailed report of these tests is as follows:

EFFICIENCY TESTS WITH RUBBER Srorrsas EQUIPPED WITH Are Frnms First series, Figs 2 and 3 is made in the stopper to reach nearly to the I lower end, thus leaving a diaphragm of rubber of about 2 m/m. thickness. The two stoppers are wrapped in paper and sterilized in an autoclave. After sterilization, the cotton plugs are removed from the bottles and the stoppers are placed in the necks with aseptic precaution.

Varying amounts of the broth are removed dailyon several occasions twice dailyby means of a sterilized Luer syringe. The needle is passed through the fine hole in the rubber stopper. Each amount of broth thus removed is planted in a fermentation tube containing about 30 cubic centimeters of National Institute of Health broth and these fermentation tubes are incubated at 3'7 C. for seven days. The experiment terminated when the contents of the bottles were exhausted. A total of 20 withdrawals were made from the two-ounce bottle, and 10 from the one-ounce bottle. One of the bottles during the term of the experiment was kept at room temperature and the other one at 37 C. in the incubator. Thus contamination of the contents of either bottle would become evident both in the bottles and in the cultures made from the contents.

There was not a single fermentation tube showing contamination. The severity of the test is emphasized when it is considered that solutions for parenteral administration in the majority of cases do not contain substances which are favorable for bacterial growth. On the other hand, the broth of the National Institute of Health is one of the best culture media known;

There was not the slightest air resistance when the broth was drawn up in the syringe. It was proved that air passes readily through the filter when the bottle is placed fiat on a table so that the end of the air filter was submerged. As soon as the syringe piston is moved up, air bubbles rise in the fiuid.

This rubber stopper with the air filter makes possible the withdrawing of the solution without air resistance; it preserves sterility of the solution for an indefinite period of time; and it makes possible the placing of a number of doses in one container without danger of contaminating the solution when a dose is withdrawn.

Second series, see Fig. 3a

This series was made exactly as the first series, excepting that in the first series the needle hole in the stopper was made from the top to'near the bottom, while this second series was made with a stopper having a needle hole from the bottom to the top, leaving a diaphragm of rubber at the top.

The results were as satisfactory as with the first series,

Third series, see Figs. 5 and 6 This third series of tests was made with a ruuber cap instead of a stopper (see Fig. 5). In this case the filter is inserted near the center of the cap. There is no needle hole in the cap. Instead, the cap is punctured by the sterilized needle in any suitable place. The tests were repeated daily up to a time when about one-half of the volume of broth remained in the bottle.

For the last test the bottle is laid on a table at such an angle that the broth covers the aperture of the filter. A needle, attached to a hypodermic syringe is then inserted through the rubber cap and about two cubic centimeters of broth are drawn into the syringe. These two cubic centimeters are planted in fermentation tubes containing National Institute of Health broth. The end of the filter being submerged in the broth, discharges the filtered air into the broth and it is thus possible to watch the air bubbles pass rapidly through the broth.

A fermentation tube is inoculated with the contents of the syringe and the bottle containing the This severe test proves the eificiency of the air filter.

This third series was made before an open window. a

The operation of' my device has above been described with respect to air as a contaminating agent. It is understood that other gaseous media as they may be used in medicinal practice, such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, are within the scope of my invention and are intended to be within the purview of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A medicinal container comprising in combination, a necked bottle and a stopper tightly sealing the same, a system of openings provided in said stopper which consists of channels traversing substantially the entire length of the stopper, and an air filter arranged in one of said channels to disinfect atmospheric air prior to entering thespace oi the container by operation of the system of openings, which filter comprises in combination, a hollow, sharply beveled, tubeelike body, filled in its hollow space with a column of non-absorbent disinfecting cotton.

PAUL G. HEINEMAN.

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