JP2014502236A - Liquid packaging material, its use and method of supplying liquid to a fluidic assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention relates to a packaging material (1), in particular a blister packaging material, having at least one cavity (2) for receiving a liquid (3) and an integrated opening device (7). This packaging material can be used as a liquid reservoir that can be coupled to the fluidic assembly (11). The packaging material is opened or opened by partially deforming the packaging material.

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging material, in particular a blister packaging material, provided with at least one cavity for containing a liquid according to the premise of claim 1. The invention further relates to the use of a blister packaging cavity as a reservoir for liquid and a method of supplying liquid from the packaging to the fluidic assembly.

  The present invention relates to the introduction of liquids into packaging materials, in particular blister packaging materials. The liquid is introduced into a cavity in the packaging material. The cavity is in particular formed by a blister. Accordingly, the following description relates to blister packs or blisters that contain liquids, but the invention is not limited thereto and is preferably applicable to other liquid packaging materials.

  Filling one or more cavities with substances, solids or liquids is known, for example, in the field of so-called visual packaging or blister packs. Blister packs are used in various sectors and industries and comprise at least one cavity into which the contents to be packed into the cavity are introduced. In general, the contents of the cavity are visible from the outside. However, the blister pack may cover or enclose the contents or liquid contained therein in an airtight or concealed state.

  A typical blister pack usually consists of two films that may be composed of several layers of dissimilar or similar materials. The film is generally made of plastic and / or metal, such as aluminum, and other materials, such as paper, can theoretically be used or additionally used. The two films are in particular a base layer or base film (support) and a cover layer or cover film (cover).

  The base film or support may be provided with one or more liquid containing wells or depressions into which liquids, in particular pharmaceutical preparations, are introduced. In this case, the cover film or cover is placed on and fixed to or attached to the base film or support, for example at the edge or connecting area, especially in the surface area where it abuts in a flat relationship. It is preferably performed by an adhesive, heat sealing, welding or the like.

  DE-A 10 343 668 (A1) discloses a particularly leak-proof blister pack for drugs, but does not describe in detail the opening or opening of the blister pack.

  German utility model No. 202007003050 (U1) discloses a blister pack for liquid active substances. In this case, the active substance is considered to be released into the environment by diffusion. However, this is precisely what the packaging of the present invention tries to prevent.

  The present invention relates in particular to a blister packaging that is attached to a fluidic assembly, preferably a medical cartridge (e.g. a so-called biosensor), in particular for blister packaging that contains a reagent or a number of reagents. It is believed that the liquid introduced into the cavity initiates or enables certain analytical reactions within the cartridge. The opening of the cavity should be able to be carried out easily and / or in a defined manner if necessary.

German Patent Application Publication No. 10343668 (A1) Specification German utility model No. 202007003050 (U1) specification

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a packaging material with a cavity for containing liquid, in particular a blister packaging material, the use of such packaging material and the supply of liquid to a fluidic assembly while the packaging material or cavity It is to provide a method that enables or supports a simple and / or defined opening.

  Such a problem is solved by the packaging material of claim 1, the use of claim 12 or the method of claim 13. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

  According to the proposed example, the packaging material has an opening device or in particular a packaging material cover, which is incorporated into the packaging material and opens the cavity. The opening device is in particular formed in or by the support of the packaging material. This allows for simple and / or economical production and allows simple and / or defined opening of the packaging material or the liquid-filled cavity.

  According to the proposed example, a packaging material or blister packaging material having an integral opening device as described above is connected to a fluidic assembly for receiving liquid after the packaging material or cavity has opened the packaging material or cavity. In the meantime, it is used as a reservoir for liquids, especially test solutions, cleaning solutions, reaction solutions, solvents, etc. This allows liquid to be supplied to the fluidic assembly in an extremely easy and inexpensive manner. A fluidic assembly is in particular a microfluidic test instrument for detecting at least one analyte, for example in a biological sample, such as blood or blood components.

  According to the proposed example, a fluidic assembly in which the liquid is configured as described above in particular from the packaging material by actuating the opening device and thereby at least partially deforming the packaging material to open the packaging material or cavity. Supplied to a solid. Furthermore, the packaging material or cavity may be deformed (additionally and / or in a second step) in order to discharge liquid from the packaging material and / or to supply liquid to the fluidic assembly, particularly under pressure. In this way, a very simple and / or defined opening is possible, making the opening particularly automatic and / or possible using punches or other tools that deform the packaging material in order to open the packaging material. You can also.

  Other advantages, features, characteristics and aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments made with reference to the appended claims and drawings.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the packaging material of proposal object. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the packaging material provided with the related fluidic assembly.

  In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar parts, and corresponding or equivalent characteristics and advantages are obtained even when the related description is not repeated.

  FIG. 1 shows in a schematic cross section a proposed packaging material 1 with at least one cavity 2 for receiving a liquid 3.

  The packaging material 1 preferably encloses the liquid 3 at least substantially in a fluid-tight and / or gas-tight state.

  The packaging material 1 is embodied in particular as a blister pack. The cavity 2 is formed in particular by a blister or blister pack of the packaging material 1.

  The liquid 3 is particularly preferably a test liquid, a cleaning liquid, a reaction liquid, a solvent or the like used in a microfluidic system for determining an analyte or a value and / or particularly preferably testing a biological sample or the like.

  The packaging material 1 has a support 4 and an associated cover 5.

  The support 4 is in particular an at least substantially flat or flat element and / or a flat material and / or a base layer or a base film or the like.

  The support 4 can be relatively hard or soft and / or deformable in at least some areas. Preferably, the support body 4 has a relatively high rigidity or strength in its main direction or spreading plane or preferably in the flat side or main spreading plane E of the flat packaging material 1.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the support 4 is preferably harder or rigid in structure than the cover 5 and / or sufficiently hard to at least substantially or primarily determine the degree of deformation of the packaging material 1.

  The cover 5 is preferably at least substantially flat or flat and / or a smooth element or flat material and / or cover, particularly preferably for covering the associated support 4 in a flat relationship. Layer or cover film.

  Preferably, the support 4 and / or the cover 5 is embodied as a film and / or made of a film, plastic, metal and / or in particular a composite material comprising plastic and / or metal.

  The support 4 and the cover 5 may theoretically be made of the same kind of material. However, in the illustrated embodiment, the support 4 and the cover 5 are preferably made of dissimilar materials.

  The cover 5 is preferably of a flexible and / or deformable structure, in particular by, for example, tearing open, pushing, drilling etc., particularly preferably for removing or dispensing the liquid 3. It can be opened. Alternatively or additionally, the support 4 may be releasable in a corresponding manner.

  At least one cavity 2 containing the liquid 3 is formed between the support 4 and the cover 5. Particularly preferably, a large number of cavities 2 are formed.

  In particular, the packaging material 1 or the support 4 and / or the cover 5 is particularly preferably composed of a strip of continuous material or the like. In this case, the continuous material may be divided or separated into individual packages 1 having at least one cavity 2 each containing the liquid 3 before introduction of the liquid 3 or preferably after introduction, if necessary. The following description is based on the assumption that a continuous material or wrapping material 1 is optionally of different sizes and / or has several such cavities 2 that contain different liquids 3. It is detailed about only 2 preferable structures.

  In order to form the cavity 2, the recesses or recesses are preferably formed only in the support 4 and / or the cover 5, respectively, preferably only in the support 4 as shown in FIG. 1 in the illustrated embodiment. The The depression or recess is in particular in the form of a well. The depressions or recesses are made in particular by thermoforming and / or deep drawing in this case of the support 4.

  According to the illustrated embodiment, after the liquid 3 is partially introduced into the recess or recess provided in the support 4 or into the cavity 2, the packaging material 1 or the cavity 2 is closed or sealed (sealed). To do this, the cover 5 rests on the top of the support 4 in the connection area 6 and is at least partly attached thereto. The connection region 6 is formed particularly in the vicinity of the surface region that contacts the support 4 and the cover 5 in a flat relationship. The connection region 6 is located particularly laterally and / or adjacent in the circumferential direction to the cavity 2. For example, the connecting region may surround the cavity 2 in an annular form.

  In the case of a connection region 6 or a plurality of cavities, the plurality of connection regions 6 are preferably in the plane E and / or the main spreading plane E and / or on the flat side of the packaging material 1, the support 4 and / or the cover 5. It is provided on the part. In particular, the connecting region 6 surrounds the cavity 2 in question circumferentially and / or annularly.

  The connection between the support 4 and the cover 5 is preferably done by heat sealing, welding, gluing and / or any other suitable method.

  The support 4 and the cover 5 are connected or connectable to each other in a continuous annular and / or circumferential manner at least substantially fluid tight, in particular at least substantially gas tight.

  FIG. 1 shows a packaging material 1 to be proposed in a filled state. The cavity 2 (blister) is filled with the liquid 3 and sealed (sealed).

  According to the proposed example, the packaging material 1 is incorporated in the packaging material 1 and has an opening device 7 that opens the packaging material 1 or the cavity 2 or the cover 5. The opening device 7 is preferably formed integrally with the packaging material 1 or the support 4 and / or formed in or by the support 4 as illustrated in FIG. .

  The opening device 7 preferably has or is formed by a part 8 projecting into the cavity 2 or projecting towards the cover 5.

  Particularly preferably, the opening device 7 or part 8 is made by thermoforming or deep drawing the support 4 or the material forming the support 4. Alternatively or additionally, the opening device 7 or the protruding part 8 may be formed by additional elements, material pieces etc. and / or thickened parts, in particular fixedly connected to the support 4. In particular, the opening device 7 or the part 8 is provided, for example, by reinforcing structures (not shown), such as ribs and / or thickening of the material, by strengthening the material, by inserts, by additional layers and / or by additional layers. Alternatively, other parts or regions of the support 4 may be reinforced by another kind or a modifying material.

  The part 8 or its end region or free end is particularly preferably of conical and / or pointed form and / or is directed towards the cover 4 or the main spreading plane E.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the opening device 7 is preferably arranged at some distance from the actual cavity 2, in particular in a channel 9 etc. which is particularly preferably located laterally adjacent to the cavity 2. Or formed. The channel 9 is also formed in particular by the packaging material 1, particularly preferably by a corresponding depression or recess in the support 4. The channel 9 is preferably fluidly coupled directly to the cavity 2 even when the packaging material 1 is closed or the cover 5 is closed. Particularly preferably, the opening device 7 is formed in the vicinity of one end of the channel 9 in the illustrated embodiment.

  Preferably, the channel wall spaced from the cover 5 or another wall portion of the support 4 or channel 9 spaced from the cover 5 comprises an opening device 7 or a protruding portion 8. However, other design means or configurations can also be employed.

  The packaging material 1 or the opening device 7 is preferably defined in particular by the packaging material 1 being a support 4 or a cover 5, in this case by means of at least a partial deformation or depression of the support 4 or the wall of the channel 9 or the protruding part 8. Or an area adjacent to the opening device 7. More specifically, the opening device 7 or the protruding portion 8 opens the cover 5 by pressing, in particular, tearing or cutting, opening, drilling or the like. The opening of the cover 5 takes place in particular in the area immediately adjacent to or opposite to the opening device 7 or the protruding part 8.

  To assist in opening, the cover 5 may be provided with at least one “predetermined break point” in the open area, for example by appropriate weakening of the material.

  Alternatively or additionally, in order to aid opening, the support 4 is embodied such that it can be deformed particularly easily or with relatively little or weak force in the vicinity of the opening device 7, in particular around the protruding part 8. It is good to be done. This can be achieved, for example, by corresponding weakening of the material and / or shaping of the support 4 in this region. Such shaping may include, for example, a form such as a corresponding flexible corrugated portion provided around the protruding portion 8.

  Preferably, the wrapping material 1 or the opening device 8 is in this case in particular a corrugated shape that allows a particularly easy deformation of the wrapping material 1 or in this case the support 4 in order to facilitate the deformation or operation of the opening device 7. It has a deformation area formed by the structure 10, so that, in particular, the protruding part 8 can be pressed against the cover 5 relatively easily in order to open the packaging material 1.

  FIG. 2 shows the proposed packaging material 1 with an associated fluidic assembly 11 in schematic cross section, but this is not to scale. In particular, the packaging material 1 is connected to the fluidic assembly 11 in a fixed or unreleasable manner. In particular, the packaging material is connected or connectable to the fluidic assembly 11 in a fluid-tight and / or gas-tight manner, so that the liquid 3 is particularly preferably after the packaging material 1 or the cavity 2 is opened, The fluid can be sent from the cavity 2 to the fluidic assembly 11.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the packaging material 1, in particular its flat side or cover 5, is attached or assembled to the fluidic assembly 10, for example by gluing, heat sealing, welding or the like. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, this view shows that the sealed packaging material 1 or cavity 2 is supported by a fluidic assembly 11 in particular by a sealing or adhesive layer 13, for example a double-sided adhesive strip. 12 schematically shows a state in which it is attached to 12. However, different connections and / or different design means may also be employed.

  The packaging material 1 or cavity 2 preferably covers at least partially the drain 14 of the fluidic assembly 11, in particular in its open area, ie in the area openable by the opening device 7. It is comprised so that. The drain 14 is formed by, for example, a depression, a channel or the like provided in the support portion 12 in particular. The channel 15 and other microfluidic structures of the fluidic assembly 11 may be located adjacent to the drain 14. Particularly preferably, the drain 14 and / or the channel 15 form part of the microfluidic structure of the fluidic assembly 11. The term “microfluidic” in this case preferably means a volume of less than 1 ml.

  The fluidic assembly 11 or microfluidic structure may further comprise, for example, a biological sample, such as a test region (not shown) for blood, blood components, etc.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the cavity 2 or the blister formed thereby in the packaging material 1 or blister packaging material preferably contains the liquid 3 after the packaging material 1 or cavity has opened the packaging material 1 or cavity 2. Therefore, it is used as a reservoir for the liquid 3 while being attached to the fluidic assembly 11. However, in theory, the proposed packaging material 1 can be used for other purposes.

  In order to open the cavity 2 or dispense the liquid 3, the packaging material 1 is opened by the opening device 7, in particular by actuation of the opening device 7.

  In order to open the cavity 2 or the cover 7 or actuate the opening device 7, the packaging material 1 or the support 4 in the illustrated embodiment is particularly preferably deformed in the vicinity of the channel 9 or the opening device 7, so that In particular, the opening device 7 or the protruding part 8 opens the cover 5 by tearing open the cover 5, drilling, cutting, etc. This deformation, preferably only a partial deformation, of the packaging material 1 or the support 4 is preferably carried out using a tool such as the punch 16 as shown in FIG.

  In order to open the cover 5 or the cover film, the cover 5 or the cover film is pushed by the opening device 7 or part 8, for example into the recess located below this, for example into the drain 14, thereby causing local deformation and overstress. In the end, the cover 5 or the cover film is torn in this region, thereby opening the cavity 2, in this case opening towards the fluidic assembly 11 via the channel 9.

  After opening the packaging 1 or the cover 5, the liquid 3 can flow out of the cavity 2 and flow into the fluidic assembly 11 or the drain 14 of the assembly 11 or the microfluidic system. This outflow of liquid 3 can be carried out or supported by gravity, capillary force, suction, compression, decompression, overpressure, etc.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the deformation of the cavity 2 is preferably further performed after the opening of the packaging material 1 or the cover 5, in particular in a second step, the purpose of which is to place the liquid 3 under pressure and / or liquid 3. Is discharged from the packaging material 1 or the cavity 2 and transported to the fluidic assembly 11. This deformation of the cavity 2 can be carried out, for example, using a tool, for example the punch 17 shown, or in another suitable manner, possibly further by manual deformation with a finger or the like.

  The opening of the packaging material 1 necessary for this purpose or the operation of the opening device 7 or the deformation of the packaging material 1 or the support 4 (partial deformation) and on the other hand the liquid 3 under pressure and / or the liquid 3 The deformation of the cavities 2 for discharge from the cavities 2 can be carried out independently of each other, but can also be linked to each other as indicated by the broken lines connecting the two punches 16, 17. For this purpose, it is possible, for example, to form the punches 16 and 17 with a shared tool or the like and / or to control or move them in a correspondingly correlated state.

  The opening of the packaging material 1 or the cavity 2 by the opening device 7 can also be carried out by the fluidic assembly 11 if necessary, for example by a drive device for the punch 16 associated with the assembly 11. The same applies to the deformation of the cavity 2 where the liquid 3 can be put under pressure and / or the liquid 3 can be pumped out of the cavity 2 and fed into the fluidic assembly 11.

  In addition, depending on the configuration and requirements, the packaging material 1 can be opened, for example, by the corresponding deformation of the instrument 1 or the support 4 or the activation of the opening device 7 and / or when the cavity 2 is deformed, for example ambient air. A venting device (not shown) may be further provided to allow the air to flow into the cavity 2 through corresponding openings in the support 4 or cover 5. Ventilation can also be effected through the fluidic assembly 11 if necessary and by an opening made by the opening device 7 if desired. For this purpose, the opening device 7 can for example create a correspondingly shaped or sufficiently large opening provided in the cover 5 or some other part of the packaging 1 and / or optionally for example many A plurality of openings can be made by the protruding portion 8.

  A particular advantage of the combination of the proposed packaging material 1 and fluidic assembly 11 is that this combination makes it very easy to make this kind of connection, for example by mounting on a flat side, resulting in a fluid tightness. And preferably a gas-tight bond or a bond sealed from ambient air on the one hand formed by or contained in the fluidic assembly 11 or the fluidic assembly 11 in the fluidic assembly 11 It can be generated between the system or the drain 14 or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packaging material 2 Cavity 3 Liquid 4 Support body 5 Cover 6 Connection area | region 7 Opening device 8 Part 9 Channel 10 Structure 11 Fluidic assembly 12 Support part 13 Adhesive layer 14 Drain 15 Channel 16 Punch 17 Punch E Plane

Claims (16)

A packaging material (1) comprising at least one cavity (2) containing a liquid (3), in particular a blister packaging material,
The packaging material (1) has a support (4) and a cover (5), and the cavity (2) is formed between the support (4) and the cover (5). In packaging materials,
The packaging material (1) is a packaging material having an opening device (7) that is incorporated in the packaging material (1) and opens the cavity (2) or the cover (5).   The packaging material according to claim 1, wherein the opening device (7) is formed in or by the support (4).   The wrapping material (1) or the opening device (7) includes the support (4) or the cover (4) for the wrapping material or the opening device particularly for a predetermined region or a region adjacent to the opening device (7). The packaging material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the packaging material is embodied to be opened by at least partial deformation or depression of 5).   The opening device (7) has a part (8) projecting into the cavity (2) or projecting towards the cover (5), or formed by this part. The packaging material as described in any one of these.   5. Packaging material according to claim 4, wherein the part (8) is conical and / or pointed.   The wrapping material (1) has a channel (9) fluidly coupled to the cavity (2), and the opening device (7) is disposed within the channel (9) or within the channel (9) The packaging material as described in any one of Claims 1-5 currently formed in.   The support (4) and the cover (5) are connected or connected to each other in the connection region (6) in an annular and / or circumferential direction at least substantially fluid tight. The packaging material according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is possible.   The packaging material according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the support (4) and the cover (5) are connected or connectable to each other by adhesion, heat sealing or welding.   The packaging material according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the support (4) is partially deep drawn or thermoformed to form the cavity (2).   The packaging material according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cover (5) has at least a substantially flat and / or smooth shape.   A fluidic assembly (11) is connected to the packaging material (1), in particular in a fluid-tight and / or gas-tight state, so that a liquid (3) is drawn from the cavity (2) into the fluidic assembly ( The packaging material according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which can be supplied to 11).   The said liquid (3) is a packaging material as described in any one of Claims 1-10 containing a test | inspection liquid, a washing | cleaning liquid, a reaction liquid, or a solvent especially.   Use of a cavity (2) in a blister packaging (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 as a reservoir for a liquid (3), in particular a test liquid, a cleaning liquid, a reaction liquid or a solvent. The packaging material (1) or the cavity (2) is connected to a fluidic assembly (11) for receiving a liquid (3) after the packaging material (1) or the cavity (2) is opened; use.   It is a method of supplying liquid (3) from the packaging material (1) as described in any one of Claims 1-11, Comprising: The said packaging material is open | released and the liquid (3) is said fluidic assembly (11). ) For deforming said packaging material (1) for supply.   14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the packaging material (1) is deformed by a punch (16), thereby opening the packaging material (1).   15. A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the liquid (3) is placed under pressure by deformation of the wrapping material (1) or the cavity (2) and thereby carried to the fluidic assembly (11).

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