Sachet System

Abstract

A sachet system enclosed in a pouch is described, the pouch comprising at least two strips of film material of approximately the same size, one overlaid on the other, sealed together at their edges and further sealed together at least once at a point along at least one axis with a partial seal to form at least two joined substantially planar regions, one of which regions comprises a first compartment, another of which regions comprises a second compartment, and wherein the first compartment is separated from the second compartment by the partial seal. This sachet is described as comprising a burstable portion containing a fluid and located in the first compartment, the partial seal providing a communication path between the first compartment and the second compartment, and wherein the system is capable of being manipulated such that the burstable portion bursts, and arranged such that a fluid contents spilling from the burstable portion is communicated from the first compartment to the second compartment. A wetable material may be provided in the second compartment, whereby the wetable portion is wetted by a said fluid contents. A manufacturing method is also described.

Claims

1. A sachet system enclosed in a pouch, the pouch comprising at least two strips of film material of approximately the same size, one overlaid on the other, sealed together at their edges and further sealed together at least once at a point along at least one axis with a partial seal to form at least two joined substantially planar regions, one of which regions comprises a first compartment, another of which regions comprises a second compartment, and wherein the first compartment is separated from the second compartment by the partial seal, the sachet system comprising a burstable portion containing a fluid and located in the first compartment, the partial seal providing a communication path between the first compartment and the second compartment, and wherein the system is capable of being manipulated such that the burstable portion bursts, and arranged such that a fluid contents spilling from the burstable portion is communicated from the first compartment to the second compartment.

2. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burstable portion comprises a sachet comprising at least two strips of film material of approximately the same size, one overlaid on the other, sealed together at their edges, wherein the seal at one edge is weaker than the seal at the other edges, whereby under manipulation the weaker seal is caused to fail so as to burst the sachet and spill the fluid contents of the sachet.

3. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first compartment comprises two or more burstable sachets.

4. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second compartment is wetted with an active formulation from the first compartment produced by combining the contents of the burstable sachets by simultaneous discharge of the active formulation into the second compartment.

5. A sachet system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fluid contents comprises an active biocide produced by combining two or more separate liquids.

6. A sachet system as claimed in claim 3, wherein a first burstable sachet contains an activator and a second burstable sachet contains a base.

7. A sachet system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the activator is one chosen from the range; benzoyl peroxide, adeptic acid, alkaline hydrogen peroxide.

8. A sachet system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the base is one chosen from the range; polymethyl methacrylate resin, calcium hypochlorite, TEAD.

9. A sachet system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first compartment comprises two or more burstable sachets and wherein one or more of the burstable sachets contains a predetermined volume of fluid.

10. (canceled)

11. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pouch film comprises a plastics material and is transparent.

12. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the burstable portion comprises metal foil sachets.

13. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pouch film seals and sachet film seals are sealed by a heat sealing process.

14. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manipulation of the pouch is configured to be carried out manually.

15. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the manipulation of the pouch is configured to be carried out in an automated manner.

16. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one or more of the pouch and component portions are in a sterile, clean state.

17. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second compartment comprises a wetable material portion, and wherein the wetable portion is configured to be wetted by a said fluid contents.

18. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wetable portion is chosen from the group consisting of wetable fabric material, paper, tissue, gauze, and wet wipe material.

19. A sachet system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a perforated or weakened area of the pouch arranged for ease of opening such that the contents of the sachet may be released, or the wetable material portion may be removed from the pouch for use.

20. A method of manufacture of a sachet system, pouch and at least one burstable portion as claimed claim 1, comprising (i) folding and sealing the burstable sachet, (ii) filling the burstable sachet with components capable of creating an active biocide when mixed and combined and (iii) folding and sealing the master pouch around the burstable sachet.

21. A method of manufacture of a sachet system, pouch and at least one burstable portion as claimed in claim 20, further comprising (iv) folding and sealing a wetable portion with material to be wetted and (v) folding and sealing the master pouch around the burstable sachets and the wetable portion.

22-23. (canceled)

Description

[0035] Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the sachet system and components in place inside the master pouch according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0037] FIG. 2 is a series of instruction images for use of the sachet system of FIG. 1, including a folded conformation and the folding and manipulation of the sachet system; and

[0038] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sachet system and components in place inside the master pouch according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows the sachet system including the burstable sachets and with an empty second compartment for receiving the contents of the burstable sachet portions. FIG. 2 illustrates how the sachet system operates in use. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 1 but includes a wetable material, the wet wipe, in the second compartment, in a dry state ahead of being wetted.

[0040] The planar construction of the sachet system can be seen in FIG. 1 as annotated.

[0041] The pouch 1000 is generally rectangular in shape. It comprises at least two strips of film material of approximately the same size, bounded by edges 2, 4, 6 and 8. One rectangular strip overlaid on the other, along the longitudinal axis. The edges 2, 4, 6 and 8 are sealed together forming a border 10. There is a further seal arranged so as to further seal together the pouch 1000 and to form two joined substantially planar regions S, N, The partial seal 16 is located and orientated substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The region N in a first embodiment is a void and without contents, thus this first compartment 12 is empty. The region S comprises a second compartment 14. The first compartment 12 is separated from the second compartment 14 by the partial seal 16. At least one burstable portion 30 is contained within the compartment 14 in sachet region S. In the illustrated embodiment there are two burstable portions 30, 50. The portions 30, 50 contain fluid that is activated when the fluids contact each other. The portions are of a similar construction to the pouch 1000they have edges. 32, 34, 36, 38 and 52, 54, 56. 58 and are sealed at all edges with a seal 40, 60. The seal 40, 60 has a weaker area of sealing, often with a narrower part of a border, as illustrated. This means that the system 1000 is capable of being manipulated such that the burstable portions 30, 50 burst. The region of the partial seal 16 that remains unsealed provides a communication path between the first compartment 12 and the second compartment 14. As such a fluid contents 42, 62 spilling from the burstable portion 40, 60 is communicated from the first compartment 12 to the second compartment 14, and mix and become activated.

[0042] FIG. 2, images 1 to 6, show how the sachet system of FIG. 1 or FIG. 3 is dispensed in a folded conformation and then used in operation to first to burst the sachets, then to mix the contents of the sachets, move the activated agent, for example, a biocide, adhesive, detergent, enzyme, bio-luminesent or similar such chemical made by combining previously separate solutiions of base and activator to the second empty compartment (or compartment with wet wipe material) and to manipulate and move the sachet system in order to fully wet the second compartment, and any material therein, with the activated solution.

[0043] In use, the steps 1-6 are followed. The construction is such that the seals on sachets 30, 50 are designed to be broken under the force and effort of manipulation by hand. This is illustrated in the drawings in FIG. 2.

[0044] FIG. 3 shows a sachet system similar in construction to that of FIG. 1. Compartment 12 includes a wipe or wetable material. In use the operations described in FIG. 2 are carried out in order to wet and cover the wetable material (or wipe) with the activated solution prepared by mixing the contents of the sachets 30, 50. In the event that there a sachet system 1000 with only one sachet then there may be a component of the activated solution outside the sachets 30 in regions S ready to combine with the contents of 30 when the seal has been breached.

[0045] The steps of the operation are as follows; multiple packs of the sachet system 1000 are stored in a box dispenser from which a user removes a pack. The portion of the pack containing the burstable portions is rolled and manipulated, and force is exerted on it until the seal 40 bursts. Then at operation 4 the portion N of the system with the wetable material or a void is twisted to ensure distribution of the quota of activated solution. Any wetable material is accessed, or the active solution waiting to be used, for dilution for example, by tearing at a weakened portion of the sachet system. This might be an easy tear region, a region of less sealed area, notch or perforations. Once separated the portion to be used is as followsthe wetable material is removed from the portion or 12. The wipe or wetable material 100 is used to wipe over a surface such as a medical deviceall surfaces of the device should be wiped to ensure all areas have been reached with the activated solution.

[0046] Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The body and compartment portions or overall sachet system may be of an alternative shaping and may comprise any suitable material and may be of varying length and thickness. Alternative forms of construction may be considered. The flat faces of the sachets may comprise signage selected from the range of; colourways, company name, hazard warnings, information on use by date, CE regulations, standards and trade terms. There may also be printed on the sachets instructions for use, reminders etc. The number of burstable sachets and the variety and combination of their contents may vary. The number of sachets may vary within the master pouch. Two or more sachets can be added to the master sachet if two or more chemicals are required to be mixed and reacted with each other. In addition in some variations there may be material for use and activation outside the sachets but inside the master pouch. The seals may be made and secured by other methods of sealing other than heat, for example by pressure sealing or adhesive.