Patent GB-861466-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to containers for biological liquids
IPC: A61J1/00
Filed: 1957-06-14
Abstract: 861,466. Containers for biological liquids and methods of sterilizing them. BRAUN, B., [trading as BRAUN, B. [Firm of]] June 14, 1957 [June 15, 1956; Dec. 14, 1956], No. 18923/57. Classes 81 (1) and 81 (2). In a container for biological liquids, serums or transfusion solutions made of synthetic plastic materials sterilizable by heat, the container consisting, for instance, of high-molecular polyethylene, has the form of a cylindrical ampoule which is made with walls so thin that they are flexible and transparent and remain so, and the ampoule has at one end a suspension eye and at the other end a hose-type extension and the ends of the ampoule are stiffened for example by reinforcing ribs, and the container is free from weld seams in all its parts. As shown in Fig. 1, the container has a seamless flexible thin-walled body portion a formed of the synthetic plastic and preferably having a cylindrical crosssectional shape and is provided with a suspension lug o, and a neck communicating with the interior of the container, having a nipple of tubular shape being firmly connected with the main body portion by means of the reinforcing ribs r and is provided with a rubber stopper d, secured by a flange closure e. Alternately, the neck c may be sealed by an internal plug or by a screw closure. The container is dipped into thermoplastic or a 3-5% solution of the paraffin in an organic solution to which also fungistatic or fungicidal substances, such as p-chloro-m-cresol, p-chloro-xylenol, chinosols, Raluben, hexa-chlorophene and similar compounds may also be added to form a protective coating. The container filled with biological liquid is heat-sterilized, e.g. with super-heated steam, for several hours under slight pressure, inserted in a mould F having a wall of cylindrical shape a<SP>1</SP> and a perforated bottom c<SP>1</SP> corresponding to the bottom of the container and having a hole d<SP>1</SP> in its centre to receive the suspension lug o of the container, e<SP>1</SP> is the foot of the mould F which is constructed in such a way that a number of moulds can be placed in suitable baskets or the like. In order to prevent the penetration of non-sterile air into the container during the cooling after the sterilization an airfilter i<SP>1</SP> of 3-5 cms. of length, preferably made of silicone-tube and having a wadding filter g<SP>1</SP> of about 2 cms. of length, is placed on the neck c of the container. After the sterilization and cooling the container is removed from and placed in a rotating cylinder having the same shape as the sterilizing mould F, heated air of about 200 to 300 C. being concentrically blown during rotation on to the container neck c below the air filter i<SP>1</SP> until the neck of the container softens, which is then hermetically sealed. The container may be filled by hanging by the lug o and cutting the neck c above the point of heat sealing or above the closure, such as the closure d of Fig. 1, the neck c being then connected to a suitable infusion device, e.g. inserted over the connection nipple of a dropping glass. Specification 713,419 is referred to.