Pouch containers for enteral nutrition formulas

Abstract

To provide a novel pouch container for enteral nutrition, having a structure improved to satisfy the required characteristics of pouch containers. [Solution] A pouch container 10 for enteral nutrition is provided, in which a receiving section 20 opening upward is formed between the overlapping surfaces of main sheets 22, 22, and the main sheets 22, 22 have lateral sealing sections 26, 26 that are fixed to each other in an overlapping state on both sides in the width direction, and pressing operation sections 44, 46 are provided on both sides in the width direction of the main sheets 22, 22 that apply an opening force to the upward opening 12 of the receiving section 20 by bringing the lateral sealing sections 26, 26 closer together, and the receiving section 20 has a narrow section 30 in which the distance between the lateral sealing sections 26, 26 in the width direction is small in the region extending downward from the opening 12, and a wide section 32 in which the distance between the lateral sealing sections 26, 26 in the width direction is large on both sides in the region extending further downward from the narrow section 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a pouch container for enteral nutritional agents, which is used in a medical field for containing enteral nutritional agents and administering them to patients.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in the medical field, in enteral nutrition methods for administering nutritional solutions or medicinal solutions to the stomach or intestines through tubes inserted into the nasal cavity, oral cavity, or fistula of a patient, a specific pouch container is used to contain enteral nutritional agents and administer them to the patient.

[0003] Such a pouch container for enteral nutritional agents is generally formed by processing a sheet made of a soft synthetic resin into a bag shape, with an accommodation part for a liquid enteral nutritional agent formed inside, and an opening part provided on the upper side. The pouch container is placed in a sterilized and sealed storage bag and supplied to the treatment site. At the treatment site, medical staff such as nurses in charge of treatment open the storage bag and take out the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents, and then inject enteral nutritional agents or dilution solutions as needed through the opening part provided above the container. The enteral nutritional agent contained in the accommodation part of the pouch container flows out through an outflow port provided below the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents into an external pipeline such as a tube and is administered to the patient. Since the administration of enteral nutritional agents to the patient is generally carried out continuously over a predetermined period of time, generally, a hook hole is formed in the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents, and a hanging hook can be inserted into the hook hole so that the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents can be used in a state of being suspended on a drip stand or the like.

[0004] In such a pouch container for enteral nutritional agents, due to the particularity of its use, there are requirements or issues such as prompt operability, easy operability, reliable operability, prevention performance of misoperation, and prevention of attachment of miscellaneous bacteria.

[0005] In view of these problems, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-78737 (Patent Document 1) proposes a structure in which a sheet-like opening and closing operation part is fixed to the outer surface of each of the two resin sheets constituting the opening, and holes for inserting fingers are provided on the outside of both resin sheets, so that the opening can be kept open by opening the two fingers inserted into the opening and closing operation parts so that they are separated from each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2011-78737 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] However, the inventors found that the conventional structure described in Patent Document 1 requires the user to keep their fingers wide open to maintain the shape of the opening made of a soft resin sheet, and from other perspectives as well, there was still room for improvement in conventional pouch containers for enteral nutrition formulas in addressing various issues required for specific applications.

[0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a novel pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements having a new structure that has been improved to satisfy the required characteristics of a pouch container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The following describes preferred embodiments for understanding the present invention, but each embodiment described below is illustrative and can be combined with others as appropriate. That is, each embodiment described below can be combined with two or more other embodiments, regardless of whether it is described in a form that references other embodiments, or some components described in a particular embodiment can be taken and combined with other embodiments. In short, the multiple components described in each embodiment can be recognized and adopted as independently as possible, and can be combined with any component described in another embodiment as appropriate. Thus, the present invention can be realized in various other embodiments, without being limited to the embodiments described below.

[0010] The first embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition, having a receiving portion that opens upward between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main body sheets, wherein the pair of main body sheets have lateral seal portions that are fixed to each other in an overlapping state on both sides in the width direction, and on both sides in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets are provided a pressing operation portion that applies an opening force to the upward opening of the receiving portion by bringing the respective lateral seal portions on both sides in the width direction closer together, and the receiving portion has a narrow portion in the region extending downward from the opening portion in which the distance between the lateral seal portions in the width direction on both sides is small, and a wide portion in the region extending further downward from the narrow portion in which the distance between the lateral seal portions in the width direction on both sides is large.

[0011] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, when using the pouch container, the user can hold the opening (pressure operation part) of the pouch container with the fingers of one hand, while using the fingers of the other hand to pinch the lower end of the pouch container and pull it downwards to perform an expansion operation. Furthermore, the opening can be opened by the pressing force (opening force) applied from the pressure operation part. In addition, by providing a region with the same narrow internal dimensions as the opening (pressure operation part) at the upper end of the storage section that extends downward from the opening, the open state at the opening is efficiently transmitted to the wider section below the narrow section. As a result, the pair of main body sheets are separated throughout the storage section, causing the storage section to expand, and it becomes possible to easily pour the enteral nutrition formula into the expanded storage section through the opened opening.

[0012] If the width of the container suddenly increases from the narrow opening (pressing area) towards the storage area to facilitate one-handed pressing and container support operations, the shape of the opening is not easily transmitted to the storage area below. Therefore, a region is provided at the upper end of the storage area where the width of the container is the same narrow width as the opening (pressing area). This makes it possible to efficiently transmit the shape of the opening to the upper part of the storage area. Furthermore, if the upper part of the storage area, as well as the opening, is made into a bulging shape with a pair of main sheets separated from each other, this bulging shape is easily transmitted to the lower part of the storage area, making it easier to make the entire storage area a bulging shape. Also, once the entire storage area is in a bulging shape, the pressing force applied to the opening is transmitted, making it easy to maintain the bulging shape as a whole.

[0013] A second embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition described in the first embodiment, wherein the opening portion is provided with a reinforcing member having greater rigidity than the main body sheet in at least one of the pair of main body sheets.

[0014] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the use of a separate reinforcing member makes it easier to perform opening operations and maintain the stability of the opening shape. The reinforcing member has greater deformation rigidity than the main sheet, enabling it to hold the main sheet in a curved shape. Furthermore, the reinforcing member is provided on at least one of the main sheets so as to extend in the sheet width direction.

[0015] A third embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements as described in the first or second embodiment, wherein a zipper is provided at the connection between the opening and the storage portion.

[0016] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the enteral nutrition formula can be poured into the storage compartment through the opening by opening the zipper, and spillage of the enteral nutrition formula contained in the storage compartment can be prevented by closing the zipper. In addition, the boundary between the opening and the storage compartment can be easily identified by the zipper.

[0017] The fourth embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements described in any one of the first to third embodiments, wherein at least one of the pressing operation parts is an operation hole provided through the lateral sealing part, and the operation hole is located at the lower end of the opening.

[0018] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, by inserting a finger into the operating hole and applying pressure in a direction that brings the lateral seal portions closer together, it becomes easy to hold and press the opening with one hand, regardless of the widthwise outer dimensions of the lateral seal portions. In addition, the boundary between the opening portion and the storage portion can be easily grasped through the operating hole.

[0019] The fifth embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition described in any one of the first to fourth embodiments, wherein the narrow portion satisfies at least one of the following conditions: a length of 3 cm or more extending downward from the opening, and a length of 1 / 5 or more of the overall vertical length of the storage portion.

[0020] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas with a structure conforming to this embodiment, the vertical length of the narrow portion is sufficiently long, so that the opening shape of the opening portion is effectively transmitted to the storage portion, making it easier to deform the storage portion into an inflated state.

[0021] The sixth embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition described in any one of the first to fifth embodiments, wherein the widthwise distance between the lateral sealing portions on both sides in the widthwise direction of the pair of main body sheets is provided in an expanding portion in the opening that gradually increases from bottom to top.

[0022] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the opening portion becomes funnel-shaped due to the opening force applied from the pressing operation portion, making it easier to pour the enteral nutrition formula into the container through the opening.

[0023] The seventh embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition, having an upwardly opening storage portion formed between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main body sheets, wherein the pair of main body sheets have lateral seal portions that are fixed to each other in an overlapping state on both sides in the width direction, and on both sides in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets are provided a pressing operation portion that applies an opening force to the upwardly opening portion of the storage portion by bringing the respective lateral seal portions on both sides in the width direction closer together, the pressing operation portion is made up of a first operation hole and a second operation hole consisting of through holes formed in the lateral seal portions on both sides, and at least one of the first operation hole and the second operation hole is provided with a flap-shaped covering portion that extends into the through hole so as to cover the through hole by leaving the periphery of the through hole partially non-penetrating, and on either the first operation hole or the second operation hole there is an insertion hole for a hanging hook with a normally open structure that is provided through the lateral seal portion.

[0024] According to the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents structured according to this aspect, when the pouch container is suspended from a hanging hook such as an infusion stand, if a covering portion is provided in the operation hole through which the hanging hook should not be inserted, it is difficult for the hanging hook to be accidentally inserted into the operation hole covered by the covering portion, and the pouch container can be appropriately suspended from an infusion stand or the like.

[0025] The eighth aspect is the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents described in the seventh aspect, wherein the through hole constituting either one of the first operation hole and the second operation hole has a constantly open structure without providing the covering portion, whereby the hanging hook insertion hole is constituted by the through hole.

[0026] According to the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents structured according to this aspect, by using the through hole constituting any one of the operation holes as the hanging hook insertion hole, excellent operability with one hand by inserting a finger into the operation hole to apply an opening force and suspension from the hook can both be realized with a small number of holes.

[0027] The ninth aspect is the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents described in the seventh aspect, wherein the covering portion is provided in both the first operation hole and the second operation hole, and in the through hole constituting either one of the first operation hole and the second operation hole, the covering portion is made smaller than the through hole, and the hanging hook insertion hole is constituted by the opening region that remains in a constantly open state without being covered by the covering portion inside the through hole.

[0028] According to the pouch container for enteral nutritional agents structured according to this aspect, the hanging hook insertion hole is constituted by the opening region in a constantly open state provided inside the through hole constituting either one of the first operation hole and the second operation hole, without providing a special hole. Further, in the through hole having the opening region constituting the hanging hook insertion hole, since the region where a finger should be inserted is covered by a partial covering portion, it is possible to prevent the hook from being accidentally inserted into the region where a finger should be inserted.

[0029] The tenth embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements as described in the seventh embodiment, wherein the covering portion is provided over both the first and second operating holes, and an additional through-hole with a normally open structure is formed on the outer circumference of the through-hole constituting either the first or second operating hole, and the insertion hole for the suspension hook is formed by the additional through-hole.

[0030] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, both the first and second operating holes are covered by a cover, which allows users (healthcare workers, etc.) to intuitively guide the hook to be inserted into the suspension hook insertion hole, which is an additional through-hole with a permanently open structure, rather than accidentally inserting the hook into the operating hole when suspending the pouch container from the hook.

[0031] The eleventh embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements described in any one of the seventh to tenth embodiments, wherein the flap-shaped cover portion is formed by leaving the periphery of the through-holes inward in the width direction of the pair of main sheets.

[0032] In a pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed according to this embodiment, when pressing the lateral seal portions inward in the width direction with a fingertip inserted into the operating hole, the portion of the flap-shaped cover portion that is continuous with the main sheet (the periphery of the remaining through hole) is folded, and this folded portion is pressed by the fingers. By pressing the folded portion on the inside of the cover portion in this way, the pressing area is larger than when pressing the end face of the lateral seal portion which has an open structure, and pain relief can be achieved by distributing the force.

[0033] The twelfth embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition described in any one of the seventh to eleventh embodiments, wherein the insertion hole for the hanging hook is formed on the side of the first operating hole, and the second operating hole is longer in the vertical direction than the first operating hole.

[0034] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the second operating hole can be made longer in the vertical direction without unnecessarily enlarging the first operating hole on the side where the hanging hook insertion hole is formed, making it easier to insert multiple fingers. As a result, it is possible to encourage the insertion of the thumb into the first operating hole and the insertion of fingers other than the thumb into the second operating hole, and it is also possible to naturally identify the operating state.

[0035] The 13th embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition described in any one of embodiments 7 to 12, wherein a zipper is provided on the lower side of the opening, and the first and second operating holes are provided on both sides of the zipper in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets.

[0036] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the portion reinforced by the zipper can be effectively utilized to more efficiently apply the pressing force applied by the fingers through the first and second operating holes to the openings of the pair of main body sheets.

[0037] The 14th embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition described in any one of the 7th to 13th embodiments, wherein the widthwise opposing distance between the lateral seal portions on both sides in the widthwise direction of the pair of main body sheets is provided in an expanding portion that gradually increases from bottom to top in the opening, and the first and second operating holes are provided offset downward in the vertical direction relative to the opening.

[0038] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the opening portion becomes funnel-shaped due to the opening force applied from the pressing operation portion, making it easier to pour the enteral nutrition formula into the container through the opening. In the expanding portion that widens upward, the widthwise inner dimensions of the opening portion are narrower in the lower portion than in the upper portion. Therefore, the areas on both sides of the narrowed lower portion can be cleverly utilized to secure space for forming the operation hole. Furthermore, by supporting the lower portion of the narrowed opening portion with the fingers, it becomes easy to efficiently support the upper portion of the opening that widens upward by resting it on the fingers.

[0039] The 15th embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition described in any one of the 7th to 14th embodiments, wherein the opening portion is provided with a reinforcing member having greater rigidity than the main body sheet in at least one of the pair of main body sheets, and the first and second operating holes are provided in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets at a position that at least partially overlaps the reinforcing member or at a position that is below the reinforcing member.

[0040] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas with a structure conforming to this embodiment, the opening, particularly the upper end of the opening portion, can be made to be opened widely and stably by cleverly utilizing the reinforcing member that is opened by the pressing force applied by the first and second operating portions.

[0041] The sixteenth embodiment is a pouch container for enteral nutrition, having a receiving portion that opens upward between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main body sheets, wherein the pair of main body sheets have lateral seal portions that are fixed to each other in an overlapping state on both sides in the width direction, and on both sides in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets are provided a pressing operation portion that applies an opening force to the upward opening portion of the receiving portion by bringing the respective lateral seal portions on both sides in the width direction closer together, wherein the pressing operation portion is a first operation hole and a second operation hole consisting of through holes formed in the lateral seal portions on both sides, and a smaller insertion hole for a suspension hook is formed in either the first operation hole or the second operation hole in a form that expands outward from the outer edge of the through hole.

[0042] In a pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas constructed according to this embodiment, the insertion hole for the hanging hook is formed in a form that extends outward from the outer edge of the through hole that constitutes the operating hole. Therefore, when inserting the hook into the insertion hole for the hanging hook, which is smaller than the through hole that constitutes the operating hole, it becomes easier to insert the hook by using the operating hole, and the work of hanging the pouch container on the hook becomes easier. In particular, by making the insertion hole for the hanging hook small enough that fingers cannot be inserted, it can be made clear to the user at a glance that it is a hole for inserting a hook. [Effects of the Invention]

[0043] According to the present invention, various problems that have been associated with conventional pouch containers for enteral nutrition formulas can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0044] [Figure 1] Front view showing a pouch container for enteral nutrition as a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pouch container shown in Figure 1, corresponding to the II-II cross-section in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 illustrates the operation of opening the opening of the pouch container shown in Figure 1, where (a) shows the opening in a closed state and (b) shows the opening in an open state. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the pouch container with the opening portion open. [Figure 5] Front view showing a pouch container for enteral nutrition as a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Front view showing a pouch container for enteral nutrition as a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Front view showing a pouch container for enteral nutrition as a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0045] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0046] Figures 1 and 2 show a pouch container 10 for enteral nutrition (hereinafter referred to as "pouch container 10") as a first embodiment of the present invention. This pouch container 10 has a bag structure that is long in the vertical direction in Figure 1, with an openable and closable opening 12 at the top and a port 16 at the bottom that serves as a discharge port to which an external tube 14 can be connected. A liquid substance such as nutritional solution is contained inside and it is used as a nutritional supplement bag. Note that in Figures 2 and 3, the dimensions of the pouch container 10 in the thickness direction (vertical direction in Figure 2) are shown larger than the dimensions in other directions for ease of understanding.

[0047] More specifically, the pouch container 10 has a bag-shaped bag body 18 with an opening 12 at the top, and a storage section 20 is provided inside the bag body 18. The bag body 18 has a structure in which two main sheets 22, 22 are overlapped and fixed together in an overlapping state at a sealing section 24 around the perimeter. The sealing section 24 has lateral sealing sections 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction and a lower sealing section 28 at the bottom, and is provided in three directions around the two overlapping front and back main sheets 22, 22, with the upper part where the sealing section 24 is not provided being the opening 12. As a means of fixing the front and back main sheets 22, 22 at the sealing section 24, heat sealing is preferred, but adhesive bonding, for example, can also be used.

[0048] Furthermore, a port portion 16 is inserted between the overlapping surfaces at the lower left corner of the main body sheets 22, 22, and the port portion 16 is fixed to the main body sheets 22, 22 at the seal portion 24. The port portion 16 is made of a hard material such as synthetic resin, and preferably has greater rigidity than the two main body sheets 22, 22 that constitute the bag body 18. One end of the port portion 16 is connected to the storage portion 20, and the other end is open to the outside.

[0049] An external tube 14, serving as an external conduit, can be connected to the other end of the port section 16. The external tube 14 is a conventionally known type and is not a component of the present invention, so a detailed explanation is omitted. It is a flexible tube, and flow path devices such as a chamber (drip chamber), clamp (flow regulator), and connector (none shown) are provided as needed. The external tube 14 is inserted through the nasal cavity or fistula and reaches the patient's body (not shown), such as the stomach or small intestine, and the enteral nutrition formula contained in the containment section 20 is administered into the patient's body through the external tube 14.

[0050] The bag body 18 is constructed by fastening the front and back main sheets 22, 22 together at the side sealing portions 26, 26 and the lower sealing portion 28 on both sides. Inside the bag body 18, between the overlapping surfaces of the front and back main sheets 22, 22, a storage portion 20 is formed. The storage portion 20 has a narrow portion 30 at the top, which is the area extending downward from the opening portion 12, and a wide portion 32 at the bottom, which is the area extending further downward from the narrow portion 30. In the narrow portion 30, the distance between the side sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction is small, while in the wide portion 32, the distance between the side sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction is large. As a result, the width dimension of the storage portion 20 is larger in the wide portion 32 than in the narrow portion 30. The widthwise internal dimension of the pouch container 10 in the narrow portion 30 is approximately the same as the widthwise internal dimension of the pouch container 10 at the lower end of the opening portion 12.

[0051] In this embodiment, the narrow portion 30 is provided at the upper part of the housing portion 20 as a region that extends linearly in the vertical direction with an internal width that is approximately the same size as the lower end of the opening portion 12 and is approximately constant in the vertical direction. The narrow portion 30 is provided with a length that satisfies at least one of the following conditions: a length of 3 cm or more extending downward from the opening portion 12, and a length of 1 / 5 or more of the overall vertical length of the housing portion 20.

[0052] The wider portion 32 is enlarged on both sides in the width direction relative to the narrower portion 30. Furthermore, a transitional portion is provided between the narrower portion 30 and the wider portion 32, which is enlarged only on one side in the width direction. Therefore, the widthwise inner dimensions of the pouch container 10 in the transitional portion are larger than those in the narrower portion 30, and smaller than those in the wider portion 32. Near the connection between the opening portion 12 and the storage portion 20, the widthwise inner edges of the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 extend linearly and without inclination in the vertical direction. The non-inclined portions of the widthwise inner edges of the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 differ in length and are offset from each other in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, one lateral sealing portion 26 and the other lateral sealing portion 26 are partially in the same position and overlap in the vertical direction. However, the entirety of one lateral sealing portion 26 may be in the same position as the other lateral sealing portion 26 in the vertical direction and overlap, or the two lateral sealing portions 26 may be in different positions in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the two lateral sealing portions 26 may have different lengths in the vertical direction, or they may have the same length.

[0053] In the narrow portion 30, in the portion extending downward from near the upper chuck 42, the widthwise inner edges of the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides are not inclined and are parallel to each other, extending linearly up and down. For this reason, for example, as will be described later, if the fingers of one hand are inserted into the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 to open the opening portion 12, and the lower sealing portion 28 is pulled downward with the fingers of the other hand, an internal space can be stably formed within the housing portion 20, not only in the opening portion 12 but also extending downward from the opening portion 12.

[0054] In particular, in the narrow portion 30 that is continuous below the opening 12, a cylindrical space is formed between the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides, extending downward from the upper end of the housing portion 20. In the wide portion 32 located in the lower part of the housing portion 20, since only the approximate center of the lower sealing portion 28 is pulled downward, a roughly inverted cone-shaped space is formed that narrows downward. However, by forming a cylindrical space that extends vertically over the upper part of the housing portion 20, the height of this inverted cone-shaped space can be shortened. As a result, the reduction in the cross-sectional width of the inverted cone-shaped space is greater by the amount of the cylindrical space that is formed, shortening the length of the region that is inverted cone-shaped, and the housing portion 20 opens up widely, almost to the lower end.

[0055] In the transition section from the narrow section 30 to the wide section 32, the widthwise inner edge of the lateral sealing section 26 is a widening section 33 that slopes downward and outward in the widthwise direction in a smoothly continuous curved shape (i.e., a shape connected to multiple curves and straight lines by a common tangent without having a bend point), connecting the lateral sealing sections 26, 26 that are located above and below the transition section and extend linearly vertically. The upper end of the widening section 33 is smoothly continuous with the widthwise inner edge of the lateral sealing section 26b of the narrow section 30 that extends vertically, and the lower end is smoothly continuous with the widthwise inner edge of the lateral sealing section 26c of the wide section 32 that extends vertically.

[0056] The widened portion 33a on the side of the first operating hole 44, described later, has an arc-shaped curve at the top that is convex inward in the width direction (towards the inside of the housing portion 20), and an arc-shaped curve at the bottom that is concave inward in the width direction. The radius of curvature of the upper portion is smaller than the radius of curvature of the lower portion. The length of the lower arc-shaped curve, which is convex inward, is longer than the length of the upper arc-shaped curve, which is concave inward. The connection point (inflection point) between the upper and lower arc-shaped portions is located offset above the center in the vertical direction of the transition portion. Furthermore, the connection point (inflection point) is set offset inward (towards the inside of the housing portion 20) from the center in the width direction (left and right walking in Figure 1) of the transition portion.

[0057] The smooth shape of this transition section (widening section 33a) prevents strain and stress concentration during deformation of the bag body 18, resulting in a smooth bulge shape throughout the entire vertical direction of the storage section 20, including the narrow section 30, the wide section 32, and their transition section, while also allowing for space-efficient utilization of the storage section 20's volume.

[0058] The widened portion 33b on the second operating hole 46 side, as described later, is approximately symmetrical with respect to the center line extending vertically from the pouch container 10, relative to the widened portion 33a described above. That is, the upper part has an arc-shaped curve that is convex inward in the width direction, and the lower part has an arc-shaped curve that is concave inward in the width direction. However, the widened portion 33b differs from the widened portion 33a in terms of its vertical position and the radius of curvature of each part, with the radius of curvature of the upper and lower parts of the widened portion 33b being approximately the same. In the widened portion 33b, the connection point (inflection point) between the upper curved part and the lower curved part is set approximately in the center. Furthermore, the widened portion 33a on the first operating hole 44 side is located generally lower than the widened portion 33b on the second operating hole 46 side.

[0059] In the lateral seal portion 26, the width dimension A (the width dimension of the inner edge of the lateral seal portion 26) of the portion located in the widened portion 33 is smaller than the vertical length dimension B (the distance from the lower end of the chuck, which is the upper end of the housing portion 20, to the upper end of the widened portion 33) of the portion in the lateral seal portion 26 where the narrow portion 30 and the widened portion 33 are located. Preferably, in the above portion, the vertical length dimension B of the lateral seal portion 26 is 1.5 times or more the width dimension A of the lateral seal portion 26, and more preferably 2 times or more.

[0060] In Figure 1, the width dimension A and vertical length dimension B of the lateral seal portion 26 on the second operation hole 46 side, which will be described later, are shown. However, for the lateral seal portion 26 on the first operation hole 44 side, which will also be described later, the width dimension A in the above-mentioned portion is smaller than the vertical length dimension B. In this embodiment, the ratio of the vertical length dimension B to the width dimension A (B / A) is larger for the lateral seal portion 26 on the first operation hole 44 side than for the lateral seal portion 26 on the second operation hole 46 side.

[0061] The material for the front and back body sheets 22, 22 that constitute the bag body 18 can be any conventionally known soft resin sheet material, taking into consideration resistance to enteral nutrition formulas. Specifically, the front and back body sheets 22, 22 are formed from resin materials such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, and polyvinyl chloride, and are preferably transparent flexible resin sheets. The body sheet 22 may be a single-layer sheet or a multilayer sheet of two or more layers. In the case of a multilayer sheet, different properties such as durability, barrier properties, and heat-sealability can be imparted to each layer by forming each layer from a different material. Specifically, for example, a heat-sealable sealant layer made of polyethylene or polypropylene, or a gas barrier layer made of a synthetic resin film or a synthetic resin film with metal vapor deposition can be provided. It is preferable that the front and back body sheets 22, 22 are formed from the same resin material, but they may be made from different resin materials. Furthermore, in the bag body 18, the main sheet 22 may be formed from a single material throughout, or the forming material may be different for different parts, for example, by forming the components of the opening 12 and the components of the storage section 20 from different materials.

[0062] The opening 12 is located above the housing 20 and is constructed by fixing the main sheets 22, 22 at the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction. The opening 12 is provided with an expanding portion 34 in which the distance between the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction gradually increases from bottom to top. In this embodiment, the entire opening 12 is composed of the expanding portion 34, but for example, the upper part of the opening 12 may be the expanding portion 34, while the distance between the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction remains constant at the lower part of the opening 12. The widthwise edge of the expanding portion 34 may extend at a substantially constant inclination angle in the vertical direction, or the inclination angle of the widthwise edge may change in steps or continuously in the vertical direction.

[0063] Reinforcement members 36 are superimposed on the overlapping inner surfaces of the main sheets 22, 22 in the opening 12. The reinforcement members 36 are longitudinal members, and their deformation rigidity is greater than that of the main sheets 22 in the direction of overlapping the main sheets 22, 22. Preferably, the reinforcement members 36 are elastic with respect to bending deformation that results in a curved shape in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the reinforcement members 36 are in the form of sheets or plates, and their deformation rigidity is greater than that of the main sheets 22 in the direction of bending deformation in the thickness direction, and they also exhibit elastic restoring force. Preferably, the reinforcement members 36 are pre-curved to form a curve that is convex outward in the thickness direction when superimposed on the main sheets 22. The reinforcement members 36 may be curved with a substantially constant radius of curvature, or the radius of curvature may change gradually.

[0064] As can be seen from Figure 1, in this embodiment, the length dimension Lb of the reinforcing member 36 placed in the opening 12 is larger than the internal dimensions La of the pouch container 10 in the narrow portion 30. Since the internal dimensions of the pouch container 10 at the connection portion between the opening 12, where the zipper 42 described later is provided, and the storage portion 20 are approximately the same as the internal dimensions La of the pouch container 10 in the narrow portion 30, the length dimension Lb of the reinforcing member 36 placed in the opening 12 is larger than the length dimension La of the zipper 42 placed at the connection portion between the opening 12 and the storage portion 20.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the reinforcing member 36 has greater deformation rigidity than at least the main sheet 22, and more preferably greater deformation rigidity than the chuck members constituting the chuck 42. The reinforcing member 36 has flexibility (deformability) under external force, and the deformation rigidity of the reinforcing member 36 does not elastically restore to its original shape when deformed, but rather has plastic deformation characteristics, possesses shape-retaining force in the deformed state, and has deformation rigidity under that deformed state.

[0066] The reinforcing member 36 is formed from metal, synthetic resin, or a composite material thereof, and is preferably made of synthetic resin. The resin material of the reinforcing member 36 is not particularly limited, but for example, polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer synthetic resin (ABS resin), nylon resin, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, rigid polyvinyl chloride, etc. can be used. The reinforcing member 36 is not limited to being made of synthetic resin, but by using a non-metallic material such as cardboard or resin, the burden of sorting can be reduced.

[0067] An inner sheet 38 is superimposed on the inner side of the reinforcing member 36, opposite to the side that overlaps with the main sheet 22. The inner sheet 38 is a sheet shaped to correspond to the opening 12, and is superimposed on the reinforcing member 36, as well as on the inner surface of the main sheet 22 in the portion that is not covered by the reinforcing member 36. The inner sheet 38 is positioned above the chuck 42, which will be described later, and is welded to the overlapping main sheet 22 at its upper and lower ends. As a result, a reinforcing member housing space 40 extending in the width direction is formed between the overlapping surfaces of the main sheet 22 and the inner sheet 38. The widthwise ends of the inner sheets 38, 38 are welded together with the main sheets 22, 22 at the lateral sealing portions 26, 26, and the main sheets 22, 22 and the inner sheets 38, 38 are integrated at the lateral sealing portions 26, 26.

[0068] Reinforcement members 36 are positioned between the overlapping surfaces of the main sheets 22, 22 and the inner sheets 38, 38. The ends of the reinforcement members 36 reach the lateral sealing portions 26, 26, where they are welded and integrated with the main sheets 22 and inner sheets 38. The intermediate portion of the reinforcement member 36 located between the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 is positioned in a reinforcement member housing space 40. The reinforcement member 36 positioned in the reinforcement member housing space 40 may be fixed to at least one of the main sheets 22 and inner sheets 38, or it may not be fixed to both the main sheets 22 and inner sheets 38.

[0069] The reinforcing member 36 is located inside the main sheet 22 and on the lateral sealing portion 26, so that the outer surface of the main sheet 22 is smoothed. As a result, compared to when the reinforcing member 36 is located outside the main sheet 22, it is less likely for fingers to come into contact with the reinforcing member 36, and even if contact is made, the main sheet 22 and the reinforcing member 36 are less likely to deform to either the front or back side.

[0070] The method of fixing the main sheets 22,22, the inner sheets 38,38, and the reinforcing members 36,36 is not particularly limited, but for example, they can be fixed by heat welding. In this case, if the inner sealant layer that constitutes the inner surface of the inner sheet 38 is formed of a material with a higher melting point than the outer sealant layer that constitutes the outer surface of the inner sheet 38, then, with the main sheets 22,22, the inner sheets 38,38, and the reinforcing members 36,36 all overlapped, the upper and lower ends of the inner sheets 38,38 can be welded to the main sheets 22,22 while preventing the inner sheets 38,38 from welding to each other, thereby maintaining the opening 12.

[0071] A chuck 42 is provided at the connection between the opening 12 and the storage section 20. The chuck 42 is composed of a pair of members fixed to the overlapping inner surfaces of the front and back main body sheets 22, 22, and seals the connection between the opening 12 and the storage section 20 liquid-tight by interlocking grooves and other mechanisms caused by pressing them against each other. By applying external force to release the interlocking grooves and other mechanisms of the chuck 42, the connection between the opening 12 and the storage section 20 can be opened. In short, the connection between the opening 12 and the storage section 20 can be repeatedly opened and closed by the chuck 42, and when the chuck 42 is closed, the storage section 20 is liquid-tightly sealed from the outside by the lower seal section 28, a pair of lateral seal sections 26, and the chuck 42. In short, in this embodiment, the storage section 20 is located below the chuck 42 provided on the lower side of the opening 12. Incidentally, the opening portion 12 in this embodiment is located above the storage portion 20 in which the liquid is contained and extends to the edge of the opening. A chuck 42 is positioned near the lower end of the opening portion 12, and the opening portion 12 includes a tapered expanding portion 34 that widens in the width direction toward the upper end (edge ​​of the opening).

[0072] The chuck 42 is composed of a pair of chuck members, each comprising, for example, a pair of tape-shaped base portions that are overlapped and welded to each main body sheet 22, and engaging portions that protrude from the opposing surfaces of each base portion and are integrally formed, and engage with each other in a detachable manner. Compared to each base portion of the chuck 42, the reinforcing member 36 of this embodiment has a larger thickness dimension to improve shape retention characteristics. The specific structure of the chuck 42 is not limited, and various known structures can be adopted. The chuck 42 of this embodiment is a resin chuck that closes by elastic interlocking of protrusions and indentations caused by pressing the engaging portions together.

[0073] In Figure 1, the engaging portion of the zipper member constituting the zipper 42 is formed inside the bag body 18 on the inner surfaces of the front and back body sheets 22, 22. However, since the body sheets 22, 22 are made of transparent material and for the purpose of making the structure easier to understand, the engaging portion is shown with a solid line. Furthermore, the zipper 42 is formed along the entire length in the width direction at the connection between the opening 12 and the storage section 20 so that the connection between the opening 12 and the storage section 20 can be sealed. Both ends of the zipper 42 reach the lateral sealing portions 26, 26, and are integrated with the body sheets 22, 22 by heat welding at the lateral sealing portions 26, 26.

[0074] The lateral sealing portions 26, 26 located on both sides of the chuck 42 have a first operating hole 44 and a second operating hole 46 formed therein, which serve as pressing operating portions. The first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 are composed of through holes that penetrate the lateral sealing portion 26 in the thickness direction. At least a portion of the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 are located at the lower end of the opening portion 12 and are offset downward in the vertical direction relative to the opening portion 12. The through holes constituting the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 are arranged in a region where the distance between the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 in the width direction is small, from the lower part of the expanding portion 34 in the opening portion 12 to the narrow portion 30 of the housing portion 20. In areas where the distance between the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 in the width direction is reduced, the width dimension of the lateral sealing portion 26 is ensured to be large without the lateral sealing portion 26 protruding outward in the width direction, and the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 can be space-efficiently provided by utilizing the area of ​​the lateral sealing portion 26 that has a large surface area.

[0075] In this embodiment, the lateral seal portion 26 on the side where the first operation hole 44 is formed extends lower than the lateral seal portion 26 on the side where the second operation hole 46 is formed. The widthwise edge of the expanding portion 34 on the side where the first operation hole 44 is provided extends lower than the widthwise edge on the side where the second operation hole 46 is provided, reaching near the lower end of the opening portion 12. In addition, in this embodiment, the inclination angles of both widthwise edges of the expanding portion 34 are different from each other. Specifically, the inclination angle α of the widthwise edge on the side where the first operation hole 44 is provided is smaller than the inclination angle β of the widthwise edge on the side where the second operation hole 46 is provided. If the inclination angles of the edges of the expanding portion 34 are not constant, the inclination angles α and β can be determined, for example, by the average value of the inclination angles.

[0076] The first operating hole 44 has an outer edge in the width direction that extends vertically, and an inner edge in the width direction that gradually slopes outward in the width direction upward, so that the width dimension gradually decreases towards the top. The first operating hole 44 is composed of a through hole with a normally open structure. The lower end of the first operating hole 44 is located on the outside in the width direction of the chuck 42 in the vertical direction, and the upper part is located on the outside in the width direction of the opening 12. Therefore, the first operating hole 44 is located above the narrow portion 30 of the housing 20.

[0077] The second operating hole 46 has a middle section in the vertical direction that extends vertically with a substantially constant width dimension, and both ends in the vertical direction are curved in a substantially semicircular shape that is convex outwards vertically, giving it an overall elongated oval shape. The linearly extending middle section of the second operating hole 46 is located on the outside in the width direction of the chuck 42, and in the vertical direction it extends from the narrow section 30 of the housing section 20 beyond the chuck 42 to the bottom of the opening section 12.

[0078] The second operating hole 46 is covered by a flap-shaped cover portion 48. The cover portion 48 is formed, for example, when the through hole constituting the second operating hole 46 is formed by punching out the lateral sealing portion 26, leaving a portion of the periphery of the through hole partially non-penetrating, and is provided extending into the through hole to cover it. In this embodiment, the cover portion 48 is formed by leaving the periphery of the through hole in the width direction inward of the main sheet 22, and the inner end of the cover portion 48 in the width direction is continuous with the main sheet 22. Since the cover portion 48 is separated from the main sheet 22 in a roughly C-ring shape, it is made tiltable in the thickness direction relative to the main sheet 22 by bending at the inner end in the width direction that is connected to the main sheet 22. The periphery of the through-hole constituting the second operating hole 46 is a folded portion 50 in which both circumferential ends are folded back in a semicircular shape toward the inner circumference. When the cover portion 48 is bent and tilted at the connection portion with respect to the main sheet 22, cracks due to stress concentration at both circumferential ends of the periphery of the through-hole are avoided.

[0079] In this embodiment, the second operating hole 46 is longer in the vertical direction than the first operating hole 44. This allows the user's thumb to be naturally guided into the first operating hole 44 and the remaining fingers into the second operating hole 46. The second operating hole 46 is sized to accommodate the index finger and middle finger, the index finger, middle finger and ring finger, or the index finger, middle finger, ring finger and little finger. When fingers are inserted into each operating hole 44, 46 and moved inward in the width direction, the palm of the hand and the main sheet 22, 22 come into contact more easily. This makes it easier for the user to grasp the pouch container 10 with their entire hand, allowing them to support the container 10 with stability, and also reduces the force exerted on the fingers by the edges of the operating holes 44, 46, thus reducing the burden on the user. The first operating hole 44 is positioned offset upward in the vertical direction relative to the second operating hole 46. Furthermore, a tube holding portion 52 for hooking the outer tube 14 by, for example, a notch is provided below the first operating hole 44 in the lateral sealing portion 26 on the first operating hole 44 side.

[0080] The first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 are both positioned below the reinforcing member 36. However, the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 may be positioned so as to at least partially overlap the reinforcing member 36 in the width direction. That is, the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 may be formed in the same position as at least a part of the reinforcing member 36, or they may be located on the widthwise extension of the reinforcing member 36. In short, at least one of the upper and lower ends of the reinforcing member 36 may be located between the upper and lower ends of the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 in the vertical direction.

[0081] With this type of pouch container 10, when filling the pouch body 18 with liquid substances such as enteral nutrition formulas into the storage section 20, the opening 12 can be opened and held with one hand, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

[0082] First, as shown in Figure 3(a), the user inserts their thumb 54 into the first operating hole 44 of the pouch container 10, and simultaneously inserts their index finger 56 and middle finger 58 into the second operating hole 46 of the pouch container 10. The second operating hole 46 is covered by a cover portion 48, but when the index finger 56 and middle finger 58 are inserted into the second operating hole 46, the cover portion 48 is pushed aside by the fingers 56 and 58, and therefore does not obstruct the insertion of the fingers 56 and 58 into the second operating hole 46.

[0083] Next, the user moves their fingers in a direction that reduces the distance between their thumb 54 and index finger 56 and middle finger 58, bringing the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction closer together, thereby applying an opening force, which is a pressing force in the width direction, to the opening portion 12 of the pouch container 10. When the opening force is applied to the opening portion 12, the main sheets 22, 22 move in a direction that separates them from each other in the overlapping direction within the opening portion 12, and the opening portion 12 is opened.

[0084] The opening 12 is an expanding section 34 in which the distance between the lateral sealing sections 26, 26 in the width direction gradually increases upward. Since the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 are positioned offset downward in the vertical direction relative to the expanding section 34, when an opening force is applied between the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 in a direction that brings the lateral sealing sections 26, 26 on both sides closer together in the width direction, the opening 12 can easily open upward in a funnel shape, allowing the opening 12 to be opened wide with one hand.

[0085] The reinforcing member 36 is located in the opening 12 where the internal dimensions of the container in the width direction are larger at the top than at the bottom, and the reinforcing member 36 located in the opening 12 is longer in the width direction at the top compared to the bottom. Therefore, when an opening operation force is applied to the pressing operation part and the reinforcing member 36 bends, the force can be transmitted to the main sheet 22 over a wider area at the top, generating a force that opens the opening 12 wider at the top. It is preferable that the length of the reinforcing member 36 is larger than the internal dimensions of the container in the width direction of the main sheet 22 at the pressing operation part, and that the pressing operation part is located below the reinforcing member 36. Furthermore, it is preferable that the reinforcing member 36 be located in the middle part of the opening 12 in the vertical direction, excluding the top and bottom ends (it does not have to be in the center in the vertical direction), in which case the pressing operation part may be located at the bottom end or below the opening 12.

[0086] The connection between the opening 12 and the storage section 20 is reinforced by the chuck 42, which helps to stabilize the deformation caused by the opening force. Furthermore, since the chuck 42 has a first operating hole 44 and a second operating hole 46 on both sides in the width direction, the inward pressing force (opening force) applied to the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 in the width direction acts on the part of the main sheet 22,22 that is reinforced by the chuck 42, making it easier to deform the main sheet 22,22 reinforced by the chuck 42 into the appropriate opening shape. It is desirable that the chuck 42 be left open in the pouch container 10 before use in order to avoid the need to open the chuck 42. When a deformation force in the opening direction is applied to the pre-opened chuck 42 by the pressing force, it becomes easier to open the part of the main sheet 22,22 to which the chuck 42 is attached.

[0087] The zipper 42 may be closed beforehand, and for example, by adjusting the meshing force of the zipper 42 by its shape, size, etc., it is possible to switch the zipper 42 from a closed state to an open state by the action of the opening force. Before use, the pouch container 10 is preferably placed in a sealed bag-like case in a sterile state so that the inner surface of the pouch container 10 is not contaminated even if the zipper 42 is open.

[0088] Furthermore, a reinforcing member 36, which has greater deformation rigidity than the main sheet 22, is fixed to the opening 12. Therefore, it is easier to hold the opening 12 open in a funnel shape, and the opening shape is stabilized. For example, if the opening 12 has a shorter widthwise length at the bottom compared to the top, the force is not easily transmitted to the lateral widthwise side that widens at the top, making it difficult to open. However, by bending or curving the reinforcing member 36 located at the opening 12 before applying the opening operation force, the opening operation force can be applied from a state where the main sheet 22, 22 is deformed in the opening direction, thereby improving the stability of the opening during the opening operation. The reinforcing member 36 may be pre-formed in a curved shape, or it may be shaped to be curved by being rolled up.

[0089] By utilizing the stable opening operation provided by the pre-opened chuck 42, a bending force is also applied to the reinforcing members 36, 36 positioned above the chuck 42. This allows the pressing force from both sides in the width direction by the fingers to be indirectly transmitted to the opening 12 where the reinforcing members 36, 36 are located, making it possible to stably open the opening 12 by pressing.

[0090] Both ends of the reinforcing member 36 in the longitudinal direction (width direction of the main sheet 22) are fixed to the lateral seal portion 26 of the main sheet 22. Therefore, problems such as the bending rigidity of the opening portion 12 changing significantly at the end of the reinforcing member 36, resulting in a bent and irregular opening shape, which can occur when the end of the reinforcing member 36 is located in the central part of the main sheet 22, can be avoided, and a smooth opening shape in the circumferential direction can be achieved in the opening portion 12. Also, problems such as the sheet strength changing significantly at the end of the reinforcing member 36, which can lead to sheet damage due to stress concentration caused by deformation, can be avoided, and it becomes possible to make the main sheet 22 thinner and lower in strength. Furthermore, since the lateral seal portion 26 around the reinforcing member 36 is less prone to bending deformation, it is possible to prevent situations where the lateral seal portion 26 bends, causing the sides of the opening portion 12 to bend similarly and resulting in an unstable opening shape.

[0091] As shown in Figure 4, in this embodiment, when the opening portion 12 of the pouch container 10 is opened, the shape of the opening portion 12 is transmitted to the storage portion 20, making it easier to prevent the main body sheets 22, 22 from sticking to the storage portion 20. In other words, noticing that if the width of the pouch container 10 rapidly increases from the opening portion 12, which is narrow to facilitate one-handed pressing and support of the container, toward the storage portion 20, the shape of the opening portion 12 is not easily transmitted to the storage portion 20 below, a narrow portion 30 is provided in the upper part of the storage portion 20. As a result, the shape of the opening portion 12 is efficiently transmitted to the upper part of the storage portion 20, and the enteral nutrition formula can be smoothly poured from the opening portion 12 to the storage portion 20. Furthermore, if the main sheets 22, 22 in the upper part of the storage section 20 are shaped to bulge apart from each other, the lower part of the storage section 20 is also more likely to bulge, making it possible to give the storage section 20 a bulging shape throughout its entire vertical direction. Therefore, enteral nutrition formula can be smoothly poured into the lower part of the storage section 20, making it easier to fill the storage section 20 with enteral nutrition formula from below.

[0092] The narrow portion 30 of the storage section 20 is provided with a sufficient vertical length that satisfies at least one of the following conditions: a length of 3 cm or more extending downward from the opening 12, and a length of 1 / 5 or more of the overall vertical length of the storage section 20. Therefore, the opening shape of the opening 12 is efficiently transmitted to the storage section 20, preventing the main sheets 22, 22 from sticking to the storage section 20.

[0093] Since the opening of the opening portion 12 can be operated with one hand, for example, if the storage portion 20 is bent, the opening portion 12 can be opened with one hand while the lower part of the storage portion 20 is pulled with the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, to eliminate the bend in the storage portion 20. By eliminating the bend in the storage portion 20 in this way, the opening shape of the opening portion 12 is more easily transmitted to the lower part of the storage portion 20.

[0094] The user then pours the enteral nutrition formula from a cup (not shown) into the storage section 20 through the open opening 12. After injecting the enteral nutrition formula into the storage section 20, the user releases the opening force and closes the zipper 42 by pressing the part where the zipper 42 is located from both sides, thereby sealing the storage section 20. This prevents the enteral nutrition formula from leaking out of the opening 12 of the pouch container 10 and reduces the risk of the enteral nutrition formula in the storage section 20 being contaminated with bacteria or other substances.

[0095] As the amount of enteral nutrition formula injected into the containment section 20 increases, a greater load is applied to the hand holding the pouch container 10. However, since the thumb 54 is inserted through the first operating hole 44 and the index finger 56 and middle finger 58 are inserted through the second operating hole 46, it is easier to support the weight of the enteral nutrition formula. Furthermore, the opening force that the user applies to the opening section 12 when pouring in the enteral nutrition formula is applied by gripping the opening section 12 with the thumb 54, index finger 56, and middle finger 58. This makes it easier to maintain the open shape of the opening section 12 while gripping it and supporting the weight of the enteral nutrition formula.

[0096] Furthermore, the length dimension Lb of the reinforcing member 36 in the opening 12 is made larger than the widthwise inner dimension La of the pouch container 10, which extends from the connection point between the opening 12 where the zipper 42 is located and the storage section 20 to the narrower section 30 of the storage section 20. This makes it easier for female nurses with small hands to handle, and when transferring contents from one container held in one hand to another in situations where complicated operations are required, it is less likely to spill nutritional supplements, medications, water, etc., and it is easier to administer the prescribed volume. In addition, if the shape of the opening 12 is such that the inner dimensions of the container increase towards the top, the deformation shape of the upper part of the opening 12 is difficult to stabilize, but because Lb is larger than La, it is easier to stably form a smooth curved shape in the circumferential direction up to the upper end of the opening 12.

[0097] Figure 3 shows the pouch container 10 being held with the left hand, but it is also possible to hold the pouch container 10 with the right hand and pour the enteral nutrition formula into the container 20 with the left hand, for example, as shown in Figure 4. If the user is right-handed, holding the pouch container 10 with the left hand as shown in Figure 3 allows for high-precision pouring of the enteral nutrition formula into the container 20 using the dominant hand. Alternatively, holding the pouch container 10 with the right hand as shown in Figure 4 allows for more reliable maintenance of the opening 12 of the pouch container 10. Therefore, it is preferable for the pouch container 10 to be symmetrical on both sides.

[0098] The pouch container 10, which contains an appropriate amount of enteral nutrition formula in the storage section 20, is suspended with the port section 16 facing downwards by inserting a suspension hook of a stand (not shown) through the first operating hole 44. The enteral nutrition formula in the storage section 20 then flows out through the port section 16 by gravity and is injected into the patient's body through the external tube 14. In this embodiment, the insertion hole for the suspension hook that penetrates the lateral seal section 26 is made up of a through-hole of the normally open structure that constitutes the first operating hole 44.

[0099] The first operating hole 44, which also serves as a passage for the suspension hook, is positioned diagonally across the pouch container 10 from the port portion 16. As a result, when the pouch container 10 containing the enteral nutrition formula is suspended from the suspension hook, it tilts so that the vertical direction in Figure 1 is inclined relative to the vertical direction, and the port portion 16 extends approximately vertically downward. This positions the port portion 16 at the vertical lower end of the containment portion 20, allowing the enteral nutrition formula to be discharged from the port portion 16 without remaining in the containment portion 20.

[0100] In this embodiment, the user has described opening the opening 12 and pouring in the enteral nutrition formula before suspending the pouch container 10 from the stand's suspension hook. However, for example, the user may suspend an empty pouch container 10 from the suspension hook, apply an opening force to open the opening 12, and then pour the enteral nutrition formula into the suspended pouch container 10. In this case, instead of inserting the thumb 54 into the first operating hole 44, the thumb 54 can be placed against the suspension hook, allowing an opening force to be applied between the suspension hook and the index finger 56 and middle finger 58. With this method, since the pouch container 10 is supported by the stand beforehand, the increase in weight of the pouch container 10 due to the injection of enteral nutrition formula is less likely to be a problem.

[0101] Figure 5 shows a pouch container 60 for enteral nutrition as a second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, components and parts that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the figure, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0102] The pouch container 60 has a first operating hole 62 and a second operating hole 46 in the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides. A flap-shaped cover portion 64 is provided over the first operating hole 62, and a flap-shaped cover portion 48 is provided over the second operating hole 46. The cover portion 64 of the first operating hole 62 is formed in the same way as the cover portion 48 of the second operating hole 46, by leaving a portion of the periphery of the through hole constituting the first operating hole 62 partially non-penetrating in the width direction, and extends into the first operating hole 62 to cover it. The cover portion 64 of the first operating hole 62 is smaller than the opening area of ​​the first operating hole 62 and partially covers the first operating hole 62.

[0103] The portion of the first operating hole 62 that is not covered by the cover portion 64 is designated as an open region 66, which is left open at all times. The opening region 66 of the first operating hole 62 constitutes the insertion hole for the suspension hook in this embodiment. In this embodiment, the cover portion 64 is positioned to cover the lower part of the first operating hole 62, and the opening region 66 is provided at the upper part of the first operating hole 62.

[0104] Then, when the user pours the enteral nutrition formula into the pouch container 60, they insert their fingers (not shown) into the first operating hole 62 and the second operating hole 46, as in the first embodiment, and apply an opening force to the opening portion 12. At this time, the flap-shaped cover portion 64 that covers the first operating hole 62 bends in the thickness direction at its inner end in the width direction when pressed by a finger, so it does not get in the way when inserting a finger into the first operating hole 62. Furthermore, since the finger is pressed against the bent portion of the cover portion 64, the contact area is increased, which distributes the stress on the finger and reduces finger pain.

[0105] The suspension hook of the stand (not shown) is inserted into an opening area 66, which is provided above the first operating hole 62 and serves as a through-hole for the suspension hook. Since the opening area 66 is always open, the part through which the suspension hook should be inserted can be easily seen.

[0106] Figure 6 shows a pouch container 70 for enteral nutrition as a third embodiment of the present invention. The pouch container 70 has a first operating hole 72 and a second operating hole 46 formed in the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides.

[0107] The first operating hole 72 is configured as a substantially oval-shaped through-hole, similar to the second operating hole 46. In this embodiment, the first operating hole 72 has a smaller vertical length than the second operating hole 46, which encourages the insertion of a thumb (not shown) into the first operating hole 72 and the insertion of fingers other than the thumb (not shown) into the second operating hole 46, allowing the operating state to be naturally identified. However, the vertical length of the first operating hole 72 may be the same as that of the second operating hole 46, or it may be larger than that of the second operating hole 46.

[0108] A flap-shaped cover portion 74 is provided over the first operating hole 72, and a flap-shaped cover portion 48 is provided over the second operating hole 46. The cover portion 74 over the first operating hole 72 is formed in the same way as the cover portion 48 over the second operating hole 46, by leaving a portion of the periphery of the through hole constituting the first operating hole 72 partially non-penetrating in the width direction, and extends into the first operating hole 72 to cover it. The cover portion 74 in this embodiment is shaped and sized to cover substantially the entire surface of the first operating hole 72.

[0109] An additional through-hole 76 is formed in the lateral seal portion 26 on the side where the first operating hole 72 is formed. The additional through-hole 76 is a through-hole independent of the first operating hole 72 and is formed in a normally open structure that penetrates the lateral seal portion 26. The additional through-hole 76 constitutes the insertion hole for the suspension hook in this embodiment. The additional through-hole 76 is provided in a portion that is off the outer circumference of the first operating hole 72 and is positioned above the first operating hole 72 in this embodiment. However, the additional through-hole 76 may be positioned below the first operating hole 72, or on the outside in the width direction. Furthermore, if the additional through-hole 76 is made small enough that it is difficult to insert a finger through it, accidental insertion of a finger into the additional through-hole 76 will be avoided when opening the opening portion 12.

[0110] In this embodiment of the pouch container 70, the insertion hole for the suspension hook is configured as an additional through-hole 76 independent of the first operating hole 72. Therefore, the first operating hole 72, which is used to apply an opening force, and the additional through-hole 76, which is used to hook onto the suspension hook, can each be provided in an optimal shape and position.

[0111] Furthermore, both the first operating hole 72 and the second operating hole 46 are covered entirely by the covering portions 74 and 48. Therefore, it is difficult to accidentally insert the suspension hook into the first operating hole 72 or the second operating hole 46, and the user is guided to insert the suspension hook into the additional through hole 76.

[0112] Furthermore, the additional through-hole 76 does not need to be provided completely independently of the first operating hole 72; for example, it may be connected to it by a slit or notch. In short, it is desirable that the additional through-hole 76 be substantially independent of the first operating hole 72 so as to ensure functional separation, but it does not need to be structurally completely separate and independent.

[0113] Figure 7 shows a pouch container 80 for enteral nutrition as a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The pouch container 80 has a first operating hole 82 and a second operating hole 84 formed in the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides. The second operating hole 84 in this embodiment is a through hole having an oval-shaped opening similar to the second operating hole 46 in the first embodiment, and there is no flap-like covering portion that covers the second operating hole 84, so the entire second operating hole 84 is always a through structure.

[0114] A suspension hook insertion hole 86 is formed on the outer edge of the through hole that constitutes the first operating hole 82. The suspension hook insertion hole 86 is provided in a form that expands outward on the outer circumference of the through hole at the upper end of the through hole that constitutes the first operating hole 82. The opening area of ​​the suspension hook insertion hole 86 in the through direction of the first operating hole 82 is smaller than that of the through hole that constitutes the first operating hole 82. In this embodiment, the first operating hole 82 is not provided with a flap-like cover and the entire structure is normally open.

[0115] According to the pouch container 80 for enteral nutritional supplements with a structure according to this embodiment, when inserting a suspension hook of a stand (not shown) into the suspension hook insertion hole 86, the first operating hole 82, which has a larger opening area than the suspension hook insertion hole 86, can be used to facilitate the insertion of the suspension hook into the suspension hook insertion hole 86.

[0116] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited by its specific description. For example, in the above embodiment, the reinforcing member 36 had both ends that reached the lateral sealing portions 26, 26, but at least one end of the reinforcing member 36 does not need to reach the lateral sealing portion 26.

[0117] The reinforcing member 36 can be provided with protrusions that partially protrude in the width direction (the vertical direction of the main sheet 22), or it can be provided with a textured or uneven surface on the outer or inner surface that overlaps with the main sheet 22, thereby improving the adhesive strength and the efficiency of force transmission to the main sheet 22, etc.

[0118] For example, the main body sheets 22,22 can be constructed from a single continuous sheet folded over at the bottom edge, in which case the lower seal portion 28 at the bottom edge is not required. Furthermore, the main body sheets 22,22 can also be constructed from a single continuous sheet folded over at one edge in the sheet width direction. Additionally, by cutting a cylindrical molded sheet to a predetermined length in the length direction of the cylinder and welding the bottom to form the lower seal portion 28, the main body sheets 22,22 can be constructed from a single continuous sheet along both edges in the width direction.

[0119] The opening portion 12 of the pouch container 10 is not limited to having a tapered expanding portion 34 that expands upward, but can also be a straight, cylindrical opening portion 12. Furthermore, the expanding portion 34 of the opening portion 12 is not limited to a tapered shape with both sides inclined in the width direction, but may be tapered with only one side in the width direction inclined, or the like.

[0120] The upper end of the opening 12, in particular, may be flap-shaped, lacking one or both lateral sealing portions 26 in the width direction of the main sheet 22, so that the main sheets 22, 22 open apart from each other in the overlapping direction. When the upper end of the opening 12 is flap-shaped, the opening area can be increased even if a straight, cylindrical opening 12 is used, and even if the reinforcing member 36 is positioned at the same level as or below the chuck 42, or if the length of the reinforcing member 36 is shorter than the sealing portion, the upper part of the opening 12 becomes relatively easy to open. Even when the upper end of the opening 12 is flap-shaped, it is preferable that the end of the reinforcing member 36 is located on the lateral sealing portion 26.

[0121] In the above embodiment, a zipper 42 is used as the sealing part of the pouch container 10 that seals the storage section 20, but it is not limited to this. For example, sealing may be achieved by folding the pouch container 10. Alternatively, an additional reinforcing member may be provided instead of a sealing part, in which case it is preferable to provide an additional reinforcing member with lower rigidity than the reinforcing member 36 shown in the above embodiment.

[0122] Furthermore, although the opening operation is inferior, the reinforcing member 36 may not be pre-curved, and may be provided with strips on the front and back so that the user can pull the strips to set the curve. Alternatively, the reinforcing member 36 may be provided only on the front and a strip on the back, and the strip may be an annular shape into which a finger can be inserted. The reinforcing member 36 may be pre-curved into a bent or curved shape that is convex outward in the thickness direction as a whole by making folds at one or more points in the length direction. In this case, the folds may be provided in the center in the length direction of the reinforcing member 36, but preferably they are provided on both sides of the reinforcing member 36 that are off-center in the length direction, as shown by the dashed circle in Figure 1. This ensures that when an opening operation force is applied to the pressing operation part, the opening portion 12 opens reliably to both ends in the width direction, and a large and stable opening area of ​​the opening portion 12 can be obtained. In addition to or instead of pre-forming the material into a deformed state, the aforementioned fold lines can be made into easily deformable parts that are easily deformed by the action of an external opening force. These easily deformable parts can be created, for example, by reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the reinforcing member 36 by partially thinning its thickness or reducing its vertical dimensions.

[0123] Furthermore, materials other than synthetic resin can be used for the reinforcing member 36. For example, a wide strip of cardboard can be used as the reinforcing member 36. In this case, a reinforcing member housing space 40 is formed between the main sheet 22 and the inner sheet 38 or between the main sheet 22 and the outer layer sheet, and the cardboard is housed inside. It is also preferable that the sheets are joined around the cardboard to prevent it from shifting position.

[0124] Before use, the pouch container 10 is provided to users such as medical professionals as a pouch container product housed in a sealed bag-shaped case in a sterile state. When the pouch container 10 is housed in the sealed case, the external tube 14 connected to the port portion 16, and flow path devices such as chambers, clamps, and connectors attached to the external tube 14 may be housed in the sealed case in addition to the pouch container 10. The external tube 14 and flow path devices may be pre-attached to the pouch container 10, or they may be housed in the sealed case separately from the pouch container 10 as needed. When housed in the sealed case, the pouch container 10 is folded so that it rolls up vertically. The preferred state of being folded into a rounded shape includes, for example, a state where the folds are curved, such as a fold in half, thirds, or quarters, or a state where the entire rolled-up object is compressed and flattened in one radial direction to form an elliptical or oval shape. However, any state other than a flat, unfolded state or a state where the folded object is folded back 180 degrees along a bent crease is acceptable.

[0125] The pouch container 10, folded in this manner, is preferably placed in a sealed case with at least partially the outer tube 14 and flow path device inside the folded part, that is, with the discharge portion of the outer tube 14 and flow path device wrapped in the rolled-up pouch container 10, before being placed in the sealed case. The sealed case is sterilized as necessary after the pouch container 10 is placed inside.

[0126] The sealed case containing the pouch container 10 has a certain amount of space inside, and even though it is made of a soft sheet, it maintains a certain thickness. By utilizing the internal space, the opening 12 of the pouch container 10 is kept in a slightly open state. In particular, a reinforcing member 36 is provided at the opening 12, so that the opening 12 is held in a pre-set open state based on the deformation rigidity of the reinforcing member 36.

[0127] Therefore, in a medical pouch container product in which a pouch container 10 is housed in a sealed case, when the sealed case is opened and the pouch container 10 is removed in a medical setting, the opening portion 12 of the pouch container 10 is already open at the time of removal. As a result, the opening portion 12 can be easily, quickly, and stably opened wide simply by pressing the pressing operation portions (first operation hole 44, second operation hole 46) of the lateral sealing portions 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction inward with one's fingers. Furthermore, because the reinforcing member 36 is located above the zipper 42, the side that is desired to open when injecting nutritional supplements into the pouch container 10, i.e., the side above the zipper 42 rather than below it, opens wide. For this reason, it can be suitably used in medical settings where an emergency is required, and it is not necessary to insert fingers inside the two main body sheets 22, 22 that form the opening portion 12 in order to open the opening portion 12, thus avoiding the risk of bacterial contamination due to contact of fingers with the inner surface of the opening portion 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 10. Pouch container (first embodiment) 12 Opening part 14. External tube 16 Port Section 18 bags (main body) 20 Storage Units 22 Main sheet 24 Seal part 26 Side seal section 28 Lower seal section 30 Narrow part 32 Wide section 33 Widening section 34. Expanding section 36 Reinforcement members 38 Inner sheet 40 Reinforcement member housing space 42 Chuck 44 First operating hole (pressing operation part, insertion hole for suspension hook) 46. ​​Second operating hole (pressing operation part) 48 Covering part 50 Folded part 52 Tube holding section 54 Thumb 56 Index finger 58 middle finger 60 Pouch container (second embodiment) 62 First operating hole (pressing operation part, insertion hole for suspension hook) 64 Covering part 66 Open area 70 Pouch container (third embodiment) 72 First operating hole (pressing operation part) 74 Covering part 76 Additional through holes 80 Pouch container (Fourth embodiment) 82 First operating hole (pressing operation part) 84 Second operating hole (pressing operation part) 86 Through-hole for suspension hook

Claims

[Claim 1] A pouch container for enteral nutrition, having a storage section that opens upward between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main sheets, The pair of main sheets have lateral sealing portions that are fixed to each other in an overlapping state on both sides in the width direction, On both sides of the pair of main sheets in the width direction, there are pressing operation parts that apply an opening force to the opening portion above the housing by bringing the respective lateral sealing portions on both sides in the width direction closer together. The housing section is In the region extending downward from the opening, there is a narrow portion in which the distance between the lateral sealing portions on both sides in the width direction is reduced, In the region extending further downward from the narrow portion, the widthwise distance between the lateral sealing portions on both sides is increased on both sides, resulting in a wider portion. A pouch container for enteral nutrition formulas that has the following features.

Images