The invention relates to the field of containers and dispensers for a variety of compositions.
All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. The following description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
There are countless pharmaceuticals, medicants and other agents that are or may be used by consumers, patients, physicians, heath care workers, paramedics, first responders, military personnel and emergency workers. A variety of storage systems are available in the art for these agents, and may be used by an individual to transport and/or administer a small quantity of the agent. For instance, a small bottle with a pump sprayer and cap might be used to transport a volume of a therapeutic agent that can be sprayed in a person's mouth.
Selection of a storage system for a particular agent may be based on a variety of factors, such as the durability, cost, ease of manufacturing or functionality of the storage system. However, the chemical properties of the agent and the relationship of those properties to the storage system must also be considered. So, too, must one consider the setting in which the storage system will be utilized.
Some agents can be stored in any number of storage systems, because their chemical properties are such that the agents do not substantially degrade within, permeate through, react with or otherwise experience deleterious effects as a result of the storage system; or, more particularly, as a result of a chemical interaction with the materials used to construct the storage system. Other agents are more discriminating. They might become altered, seep out of, interact with or otherwise be affected by the storage system material in such a manner that the agents lose their medicinal efficacy or the like. Thus, particularly in connection with pharmaceutical and medicinal agents, care must be exercised in selecting an appropriate storage system and materials to construct the same.
Regarding the setting in which a storage system may be used, it might not be desirable to use, for example, a storage system constructed of a material that is easily breakable when the system is to be carried by an emergency worker in the field. There, the performance of even routine tasks may compromise the integrity of the storage system. It might become inoperative or shatter and spill its contents.
Storage and delivery systems currently available in the art that enable individuals to conveniently transport small quantities of pharmaceuticals, medicants and other agents are frequently constructed from plastic, rubber and/or similar materials. However, as described above, many agents cannot be stored in such containers without losing efficacy or experiencing other undesirable effects. Moreover, the environment in which such storage and delivery systems may be used necessitates, in some cases, the use of a system that can withstand the exertion of anything from minor jostling to severe blunt force.
There is therefore a need in the art for a storage and delivery system that overcomes the aforementioned challenges.
In one embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus, comprising: a vial to contain an agent; and a dispenser assembly to dispense the agent from the vial, the dispenser assembly mechanically affixed to the vial and including elements that come into contact with the agent irrespective of actuation, wherein the vial and the elements that come into contact with the agent irrespective of actuation consist essentially of materials that are inert or non-reactive with the agent. The apparatus may further include a barrel and cap, within which the vial and dispenser assembly are fitted. The apparatus may further comprise a quantity of an agent. The agent may be a composition to prevent and/or treat and/or reduce the risk of an infection. The agent may contain about 99.99% oxidized water, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl). The barrel may further comprise a series of flanges to retain the vial within the barrel. The series of flanges may be configured to separate from one another to allow the vial to be inserted into the barrel, and thereafter substantially assume an initial shape that retains the vial within the barrel. The barrel may further comprise at least one support element in mechanical contact with the vial. The dispenser assembly may be a pump sprayer. The pump sprayer may further comprise an insert portion extending axially from the portion of the pump sprayer that remains external to the vial, into an interior of the vial. The insert portion may be a unitary item. The vial and the insert portion may each be constructed of materials independently selected from the group consisting of glass, borosilicate glass, PTFE, PFA, chemically-modified PTFE, inert materials and combinations thereof. The apparatus may further comprise a washer positioned between the vial and the dispenser assembly to provide and/or enhance a fluid seal therebetween. The washer may be constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of PTFE, PFA, chemically-modified PTFE, inert materials and combinations thereof. The vial and the dispenser assembly may be affixed to one another with a mechanism selected from the group consisting of screw threading, a snap fitting, a pressure fitting, a heat seal, a chemical adhesive and combinations thereof. The series of flanges may each comprise a locking element configured to mechanically interact with at least one receiving element configured on an interior surface of the cap. The cap may further comprise a tab configured to allow a user to remove the cap from the barrel by dislodging the locking elements from the at least one receiving element. The tab may comprise a forward portion affixed to a side of the cap, a rear portion configured to receive a mechanical force from the user to separate the cap from the barrel, and an intermediate portion therebetween. The angle between the forward portion and an axis of the cap may be from about 0° to about 10°, the angle between the intermediate portion and the axis of the cap may be from about 45° to about 55°, and the angle between the rear portion and the axis of the cap may be from about 0° to about 8°. The rear portion may comprise a surface configured to receive a finger of the user and, upon application of a generally radial force thereupon, dislodge the cap from the barrel.
In another embodiment, the invention includes a method of preventing and/or treating and/or reducing the risk of an infection in a subject in need thereof, comprising: providing an apparatus, comprising a vial containing a composition to prevent and/or treat and/or reduce the risk of an infection, a dispenser assembly to dispense the composition from the vial, the dispenser assembly mechanically affixed to the vial and including elements that come into contact with the composition irrespective of actuation, and a barrel and cap, within which the vial and the dispenser assembly are fitted, wherein the vial and the elements that come into contact with the composition irrespective of actuation consist essentially of materials that are inert or non-reactive with the composition; removing the cap from the barrel; and dispensing the composition onto a surface of the subject to prevent and/or treat and/or reduce the risk of the infection. The composition may contain about 99.99% oxidized water, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl). The barrel may further comprise a series of flanges to retain the vial within the barrel, and the series of flanges may be configured to separate from one another to allow the vial to be inserted into the barrel, and thereafter substantially assume an initial shape that retains the vial within the barrel. The dispenser assembly may be a pump sprayer, comprising an insert portion extending axially from the portion of the pump sprayer that remains external to the vial, into an interior of the vial, and the insert portion may be a unitary item. The vial and the insert portion may each be constructed of materials independently selected from the group consisting of glass, borosilicate glass, PTFE, PFA, chemically-modified PTFE, inert materials and combinations thereof.
Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced figures. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.
One skilled in the art will recognize many methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein, which could be used in the practice of the present invention. Indeed, the present invention is in no way limited to the methods and materials described.
The invention relates to a container and dispenser for a composition. The composition may be a medicant, pharmaceutical product, cosmetic or personal care product (e.g., perfume, repellant, deodorant, antiperspirant, hairspray, sunscreen), household product, cleaner or any liquid, solution, dispersion, gel or other fluid for which it might be beneficial to contain within and/or dispense with a device with components that are substantially inert or non-reactive therewith. As such, those of skill in the art will recognize numerous fluids that may be used in connection with alternate embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, the term “agent” is meant to include any of the aforementioned items, and in various embodiments of the present invention, all or substantially all of the components of the container or dispenser that are in contact with the agent are constructed of an inert or otherwise non-reactive material, with respect to the agent.
As illustrated in
In an embodiment of the present invention, the agent 103 contains a pharmaceutically active ingredient in a carrier. In another embodiment, the agent 103 is a composition to prevent and/or treat and/or reduce the risk of an infection. In another embodiment, the agent 103 is antimicrobial, antiviral, antimycobacterial, antiftungal and/or sporicidal. In another embodiment, the agent 103 is substantially non-irritating to the eyes, ears, mouth, nose, wounds, mucous membranes and/or non-mucous membranes of a human subject. In another embodiment, the agent 103 is substantially alcohol-free. In another embodiment, the agent 103 contains a solution of oxychlorine compounds. In another embodiment, the agent 103 contains about 99.99% oxidized water, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl). In another embodiment, the agent 103 is Microcyn® OTC Wound Care (available from Oculus Innovative Sciences, Inc.). In another embodiment, the agent is among the products described in U.S. patent application publication Nos. 2005/0196462, 2006/0235350, 2006/0241546, 2006/0253060, 2006/0272954, 2007/0173460, 2007/0173755, 2007/0196357 or 2007/0196434, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety as if fully set forth.
The vial 101 illustratively depicted in
In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the vial 101 may be selected from any of a variety of shapes, such as, alone or in combination, cylindrical, rectangular, spheroid or any other desirable geometric configuration. In alternate embodiments, the vial 101 may have a shape that remains consistent or changes in cross-section along its axis, such as circular, elliptical, square, rectangular, rhomboid, trapezoidal, triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, and so on. As noted above, as illustratively depicted in
The vial 101 may be constructed from any suitable material. The material may be selected based upon, among other things, the chemical properties of the agent 103 that is to be contained in the vial 101. Specifically, it may be desirable to select a material that does not have a deleterious impact on the chemical composition, medicinal efficacy, stability or other properties of the agent 103; particularly insofar as the agent 103 is to be stored in the vial 101 for any appreciable amount of time, as may be necessitated by the intended use of the present invention. By way of example, in some embodiments the vial 101 may be constructed from various types of plastic, metal, stainless steel, glass (e.g., borosilicate glass), PTFE, the fluoropolymer PFA (e.g., perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin), the Dyneon™ TFM™ range of chemically-modified PTFE, and any number of other materials that are substantially inert or non-reactive with regard to the agent 103. As will be readily appreciated by those of skill in the art, a variety of different materials may be used to construct the vial 101 and may be desirable based on the selection of various agents 103, and such materials are all contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention and can be readily used in alternate embodiments thereof without undue experimentation.
The dispenser assembly 102 may be selected from any apparatus useful to dispense the agent 103 from the vial 101. Those of skill in the art will recognize numerous such apparatuses, which may include, but are no way limited to, pump sprayers, squeeze tops (e.g., those akin to the end of a conventional tube of toothpaste), aerosol sprayers, eye-droppers and applicator pads. As illustratively depicted in
Certain components of the dispenser assembly 102 may remain in fluid communication with the agent 103, irrespective of device actuation (e.g., during such time as the agent 103 is stored in the vial 101). For instance, in those embodiments of the present invention when the dispenser assembly 102 is a pump sprayer (as depicted in
In another embodiment of the present invention, as depicted in
The flanges 113 may have locking elements 114 on their exterior surface configured to mechanically interact with receiving elements 115 on the interior surface of the cap 111 (
In another embodiment, the cap 111 may include a tab 116, configured to allow a user to easily remove the cap 111 from the barrel 110 by dislodging the locking elements 114 from the receiving elements 115. As illustrated in
A device as described herein is provided, including a glass vial with a pump sprayer, wherein the elements of the pump sprayer that are in direct contact with the agent contained in the device irrespective of device actuation are made from an inert material with respect to the agent. The glass vial includes a volume of an agent containing about 99.99% oxidized water, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl). The glass vial and pump sprayer are fitted within a plastic barrel and cap assembly; the cap includes a tab with a surface configured to receive a user's finger.
A user exerts a generally radial force on the tab surface; thereby releasing the cap from the barrel. The user then sprays a quantity of the agent onto a wound, into his eyes, into his ears, into his mouth and/or onto any additional surfaces of his body after being contacted by a substance believed to contain pathogens. The agent prevents, treats and/or reduces the risk of an infection on the surfaces to which it is applied.
Various embodiments of the invention are described above in the Detailed Description. While these descriptions directly describe the above embodiments, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventors that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as described in the claims below. It is, therefore, evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claims below.