Pouch container for enteral nutrient

Abstract

To provide a pouch container for an enteral nutrient, having a new structure improved so as to satisfy required characteristics of the pouch container.SOLUTION: A pouch container 10 for an enteral nutrient in which a storage part 20 opening upward is formed between overlapped surfaces of body sheets 22, 22 is such that: the body sheets 22, 22 have lateral seal portions 26, 26 fastened in an overlapped state at both sides in a width direction; pressing force final operation parts 44, 46 for applying opening force to an opening part 12 to the upper side of the storage part 20 by making the lateral seal portions 26, 26 approach each other are provided at both sides in the width direction of the body sheets 22, 22; and the storage part 20 has a narrow part 30 in which a facing distance in the width direction of the lateral seal portions 26, 26 is reduced in a region extending downward from the opening part 12, and a wide part 32 in which a facing distance in the width direction of the lateral seal portions 26, 26 is enlarged at both sides in a region extending further downward from the narrow part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements that is used in medical settings to store and administer enteral nutritional supplements to patients. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In the medical field, enteral nutrition, in which liquid nutrients or medicinal liquids are administered to the stomach, intestines, etc. of a patient through a tube inserted into the nasal cavity, oral cavity, or fistula, has traditionally used specific pouch containers to hold enteral nutrients and administer them to the patient.

[0003] In such a pouch container for enteral nutrition, a sheet made of soft synthetic resin is generally processed into a bag shape, and a storage section for liquid enteral nutrition is formed inside, and an opening is provided on the upper side. The pouch container is placed in a storage bag sealed in a sterile state and supplied to a treatment site. At the treatment site, a medical professional such as a nurse who is in charge of treatment opens the storage bag and takes out the pouch container for enteral nutrition, and then injects the enteral nutrition and, if necessary, a diluent through the opening provided at the top of the container. The enteral nutrition contained in the storage section of the pouch container flows out through an outflow port provided below the pouch container for enteral nutrition to an external duct such as a tube and is administered to a patient. Since the administration of the enteral nutrition to a patient is performed continuously for a predetermined period of time, a hook hole is generally formed in the pouch container for enteral nutrition, and the pouch container for enteral nutrition can be used in a state where it is hung from an IV stand or the like by inserting a hanging hook through the hook hole.

[0004] Due to the special nature of their applications, pouch containers for such enteral nutrients have various requirements and challenges, such as quick, easy and reliable operability, ability to prevent erroneous operation, and prevention of bacterial adhesion.

[0005] In consideration of these problems, JP 2011-78737 A (Patent Document 1) proposes a structure in which a sheet-like opening / closing operating part is fixed to the outer surface of each of the two resin sheets that make up the opening portion, and holes for inserting fingers are provided on the outside of each of the resin sheets, so that the opening portion can be maintained in an open state by opening both fingers inserted into each opening / closing operating part so that they move away from each other. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-78737 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, after the inventors' investigation, it was found that with the conventional structure described in Patent Document 1, it was necessary to keep the fingers of one hand widely spread in order to maintain the shape of the opening formed by the soft resin sheet, and from other perspectives as well, there was still room for improvement in the various issues required for specific uses of conventional pouch containers for enteral nutrients.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a pouch container for enteral nutrients having a novel structure which has been improved so as to satisfy the characteristics required of a pouch container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments for understanding the present invention will be described, but each embodiment described below is described as an example and can be appropriately combined with each other. That is, each embodiment described below can be combined with two or more embodiments, regardless of whether it is described in a form that refers to other embodiments, or a part of the configuration described in a specific embodiment can be extracted and combined with another embodiment. In short, multiple components described in each embodiment can be recognized and adopted independently as much as possible, and can also be adopted in combination with any component described in another embodiment as appropriate. As a result, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various other embodiments can be realized.

[0010] The first aspect is a pouch container for enteral nutrients in which a storage compartment that opens upward is formed between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main sheets, the pair of main sheets having side seal portions that are overlapping and fixed to each other on both sides in the width direction, and a pressing operation portion is provided on both sides in the width direction of the pair of main sheets for applying an opening force to the upward opening of the storage compartment by bringing the side seal portions on both sides in the width direction closer to each other, and the storage compartment has a narrow portion where the opposing widthwise distance between the side seal portions on both sides in the width direction is reduced in a region extending downward from the opening, and a wide portion where the opposing widthwise distance between the side seal portions on both sides in the width direction is increased on both sides in a region extending further downward from the narrow portion.

[0011] According to the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements constructed according to this embodiment, when using the pouch container, the user can hold the opening (pressing operation part) of the pouch container with the fingers of one hand, while pinching and pulling the lower end of the pouch container downward with the fingers of the other hand to perform an expanding operation. The opening part can be opened by the pressing force (opening force) exerted by the pressing operation part. In addition, the upper end part of the container part extending downward from the opening part is provided with a narrow area with the same internal dimensions as the opening part (pressing operation part), so that the open state of the opening part is efficiently transmitted to the wide part below the narrow part. As a result, the pair of main body sheets are separated from each other throughout the entire container part, and the container part can be expanded, and the enteral nutritional supplement can be easily poured into the expanded container part through the opened opening part.

[0012] If the widthwise inner dimension of the container suddenly expands from the opening (pressing operation part) which is narrow to facilitate the pressing operation and container support operation with one hand toward the storage part, the opening shape of the opening part is difficult to be transmitted to the storage part below. Therefore, a region is provided at the upper end part of the storage part where the widthwise inner dimension of the container is as narrow as the opening (pressing operation part). This makes it possible to efficiently transmit the opening shape of the opening part as it is to the upper part of the storage part. And, if not only the opening part but also the upper part of the storage part is made into a bulging shape by separating the pair of main body sheets from each other, such a bulging shape is easily transmitted to the lower part of the storage part, and the entire storage part is easily made into a bulging shape. Also, once the entire storage part is made into a bulging shape, the pressing force applied to the opening part is transmitted, so that it is easy to maintain the bulging shape as a whole.

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

[0014] According to the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements constructed according to this embodiment, the use of a separate reinforcing member facilitates the opening operation and stabilizes the opening shape. The reinforcing member has a deformation rigidity greater than that of the main body sheet, and is capable of maintaining the main body sheet in a curved shape. The reinforcing member is provided so as to extend in the sheet width direction on at least one of the main body sheets.

[0015] In a third aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutrients described in the first or second aspect, a zipper is provided at a connection portion between the opening portion and the storage portion.

[0016] According to the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements constructed according to this embodiment, the enteral nutritional supplement can be poured into the storage section through the opening by opening the zipper, and the enteral nutritional supplement contained in the storage section can be prevented from spilling out by closing the zipper. In addition, the zipper makes it easy to grasp the boundary between the opening and the storage section.

[0017] In a fourth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplement described in any one of the first to third aspects, at least one of the pressing operation parts is an operation hole provided through the side seal part, and the operation hole is located at the lower end of the opening part.

[0018] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, by inserting a finger into the operation hole and applying a pressing force in a direction that brings the side seals closer to each other, it becomes easy to hold and press the opening with one hand regardless of the outer width dimension of the side seals. Also, the operation hole makes it easy to grasp the boundary between the opening and the storage section.

[0019] In a fifth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutrients according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the narrow portion satisfies at least one of the length conditions of 3 cm or more downward from the opening and 1 / 5 or more of the overall vertical length of the storage portion.

[0020] In a pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, the vertical length of the narrow portion is made sufficiently long so that the opening shape of the opening portion is effectively transmitted to the containing section, making it easy to deform the containing section into an expanded state.

[0021] In a sixth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, an expansion portion is provided in which the widthwise opposing distance between the side seal portions on both sides of the pair of main body sheets gradually increases from the bottom to the top at the opening.

[0022] In the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplement constructed according to this embodiment, the opening portion is formed into a funnel shape by the opening force applied from the pressing operation portion, making it easy to pour the enteral nutritional supplement into the storage portion through the opening portion.

[0023] A seventh aspect is a pouch container for enteral nutrients in which a storage section that opens upward is formed between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main sheets, the pair of main sheets having side seal parts that are overlapping and fixed to each other on both sides in the width direction, and a pressing operation part is provided on both sides in the width direction of the pair of main sheets for applying an opening force to the upward opening of the storage section by bringing the side seal parts on both sides in the width direction closer to each other, the pressing operation part being a first operation hole and a second operation hole consisting of through holes formed in the side seal parts on both sides, at least one of the first operation hole and the second operation hole has a flap-shaped cover part that extends into the through hole so as to cover the through hole by leaving the periphery of the through hole partially non-through, and an insertion hole for a hanging hook with a constantly open structure is formed on either side of the first operation hole or the second operation hole.

[0024] With a pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, when the pouch container is used by hanging it from a hanging hook of an IV stand or the like, if a cover portion is provided over the operation hole through which the hanging hook should not be inserted, the hanging hook is less likely to be mistakenly inserted into the operation hole covered by the cover portion, and the pouch container can be properly hung from an IV stand or the like.

[0025] In an eighth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplement described in the seventh aspect, the through hole constituting either the first operating hole or the second operating hole is made to have a constantly open structure without being provided with a cover portion, so that the through hole constitutes the insertion hole for the hanging hook.

[0026] In the pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, the through-hole constituting one of the operation holes can also be used as an insertion hole for a hanging hook, thereby realizing excellent operability with one hand by inserting a finger into the operation hole to apply opening force, and hanging from a hook, with only a small number of holes.

[0027] In a ninth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplement described in the seventh aspect, the first operating hole and the second operating hole are both provided with the covering portion, and in the through hole constituting either the first operating hole or the second operating hole, the covering portion is made smaller than the through hole, and the insertion hole for the hanging hook is constituted by an opening area inside the through hole that is not covered by the covering portion and remains open all the time.

[0028] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, the insertion hole for the hanging hook is formed by the opening area that is always open and is provided inside the through hole that constitutes either the first operation hole or the second operation hole, without providing a special hole. Also, in the through hole having the opening area that constitutes the insertion hole for the hanging hook, the area where the finger should be inserted is covered by the partial covering part, so that it is possible to prevent the hook from being inserted by mistake into the area where the finger should be inserted.

[0029] In a tenth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplement described in the seventh aspect, the cover portion is provided on both the first operating hole and the second operating hole, and an additional through hole of a constantly open structure is formed on the outer periphery of the through hole constituting either the first operating hole or the second operating hole, and the additional through hole constitutes the insertion hole for the hanging hook.

[0030] In a pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements constructed according to this embodiment, both the first operating hole and the second operating hole are covered by the covering portion, so that when a user (such as a medical professional) hangs the pouch container on a hook, the user can be intuitively guided to insert the hook into the hanging hook insertion hole, which is an additional through-hole with a constantly open structure, without accidentally inserting the hook into the operating hole.

[0031] In an eleventh aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements described in any one of the seventh to tenth aspects, the flap-shaped covering portion is formed by leaving the peripheral edges of the through-hole on the inner side in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets.

[0032] In the pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, when the side seals are pressed inward in the width direction with a fingertip inserted into the operation hole to bring them closer together, the part of the flap-shaped cover that is continuous with the main sheet (the periphery of the remaining through hole) is folded and the folded part is pressed by the finger. By pressing the folded part on the inside of the cover in this way, the pressing area becomes larger than when the end face of the side seal that has an opening structure is pressed, and pain can be alleviated by dispersing the force.

[0033] The twelfth aspect is a pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements described in any one of the seventh to eleventh aspects, in which an insertion hole for the suspension 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 nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, the first operation hole on the side where the insertion hole for the hanging hook is formed is not unnecessarily large, and the second operation hole is elongated in the vertical direction, making it easier to insert multiple fingers. As a result, it is possible to encourage the insertion of the thumb into the first operation hole and the insertion of fingers other than the thumb into the second operation hole, and it is also possible to naturally identify the operation state.

[0035] In a thirteenth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutrients described in any one of the seventh to twelfth aspects, a zipper is provided below the opening, and the first operating hole and the second operating hole are provided on either side of the zipper in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets.

[0036] With a pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, the portion reinforced by the zipper can be effectively utilized to more efficiently apply the pressure applied by the fingers through the first and second operating holes to the openings of the pair of main sheets.

[0037] In a fourteenth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements described in any one of the seventh to thirteenth aspects, an expansion portion is provided in which the widthwise opposing distance between the side seal portions on both sides of the pair of main body sheets gradually increases from the bottom to the top at the opening, and the first operating hole and the second operating hole are provided downwardly biased in the up-down direction relative to the opening.

[0038] According to the pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements constructed according to this embodiment, the opening portion is formed into a funnel shape by the opening force applied by the pressing operation portion, so that the enteral nutritional supplement can be easily poured into the storage portion through the opening portion. In the portion that widens upward, the inner width dimension of the opening portion is narrower at the lower portion than at the upper portion. Therefore, the outer areas on both sides of the narrowed lower portion can be used well to ensure the formation space of the operation hole. In addition, by supporting the lower portion of the narrowed opening portion with the fingers, it is also easy to efficiently support the upper portion of the opening portion that widens upward by placing it on the fingers.

[0039] In a fifteenth aspect, in the pouch container for enteral nutrients described in any one of the seventh to fourteenth aspects, a reinforcing member having a greater rigidity than the main body sheet is provided in at least one of the pair of main body sheets at the opening portion, and the first operating hole and the second operating hole are provided in a position at least partially overlapping the reinforcing member in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets or in a position offset downwardly from the reinforcing member.

[0040] With the pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, the opening at the opening portion, particularly at the upper opening end, can be opened large and stably by making good use of the reinforcing member that is opened by the pressing force applied by the first operating part and the second operating part.

[0041] The sixteenth aspect is a pouch container for enteral nutrients in which a storage compartment that opens upward is formed between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main body sheets, the pair of main body sheets having side seal portions that are overlappingly fixed to each other on both sides in the width direction, and a pressing operation portion is provided on both sides in the width direction of the pair of main body sheets for applying an opening force to the upward opening of the storage compartment by bringing the side seal portions on both sides in the width direction closer to each other, the pressing operation portion being a first operation hole and a second operation hole consisting of through holes formed in the side seal portions on both sides, and one of the first operation hole and the second operation hole has an insertion hole for a hanging hook that is smaller than the through hole and extends outward from the outer edge of the through hole.

[0042] According to the pouch container for enteral nutrients constructed according to this embodiment, the hanging hook insertion hole is formed in a shape that expands outward from the outer edge of the through hole that constitutes the operation hole, so that when inserting a hook into the hanging hook insertion hole that is smaller than the through hole that constitutes the operation hole, the operation hole can be used to facilitate the insertion, making it easier to hang the pouch container on the hook. In particular, by making the hanging hook insertion hole too small to insert a finger into, it is possible to make it clear to the user at a glance that it is a hole for inserting a hook. Effect of the Invention

[0043] According to the present invention, it is possible to improve various problems that have been required for conventional pouch containers for enteral nutrients. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pouch container for enteral nutrients according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pouch container shown in FIG. 1, which corresponds to the cross-section II-II of FIG. [Diagram 3] 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining an operation for opening the opening portion of the pouch container shown in FIG. 1, in which (a) shows a state in which the opening portion is closed, and (b) shows a state in which the opening portion is open. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the pouch container shown in FIG. 1 in an open state; [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a pouch container for enteral nutrients according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a pouch container for enteral nutrients according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a pouch container for enteral nutrients according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0046] 1 and 2 show a pouch container 10 for enteral nutrients (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 FIG. 1, and has an openable opening 12 at the top and a port 16 at the bottom as a discharge port to which an external tube 14 can be connected. A liquid such as a nutrient solution is contained inside and the pouch container 10 is used as a nutrient supply bag. For ease of understanding, the pouch container 10 in FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown with a larger dimension in the thickness direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2) than in other directions.

[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 main body sheets 22, 22 are overlapped with each other and fixed to each other in an overlapping state at a peripheral seal section 24. The seal section 24 has side seal sections 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction and a lower seal section 28 on the lower side, and is provided in three directions around the two overlapping front and back main body sheets 22, 22, and the upper part where the seal section 24 is not provided is the opening section 12. Note that, as a means for fixing the front and back main body sheets 22, 22 at the seal section 24, heat welding (heat sealing) is preferable, but for example, adhesion by adhesive or the like can also be used.

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

[0049] An external tube 14 can be connected to the other end of the port section 16 as an external conduit. The external tube 14 can be a conventionally known one, and is not a component of the present invention, so a detailed description will be omitted. However, the external tube 14 is a flexible tube, and is provided with flow path devices such as a chamber (drip tube), a clamp (flow regulator), and a connector (none of which are shown in the figure) as necessary. The external tube 14 is inserted through the nasal cavity, fistula, etc., and reaches the stomach, small intestine, etc. of the patient's body (not shown), and the enteral nutritional agent contained in the container section 20 is administered into the patient's body through the external tube 14.

[0050] The bag body 18 is formed by bonding the front and back main body sheets 22, 22 together at the side seals 26, 26 on both sides and the lower seal 28, and a storage section 20 is formed inside the bag body 18 between the overlapping surfaces of the front and back main body sheets 22, 22. The storage section 20 has an upper portion that is a narrow width portion 30 that is an area extending downward from the opening 12, and a lower portion that is a wide width portion 32 that is an area extending further downward from the narrow width portion 30. In the narrow width portion 30, the opposing distance in the width direction between the side seals 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction is made smaller, and in the wide width portion 32, the opposing distance in the width direction between the side seals 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction is made larger. As a result, the width dimension of the storage section 20 is larger in the wide width portion 32 than in the narrow width portion 30. The inner width dimension of the pouch container 10 at the narrow portion 30 is approximately the same as the inner width dimension of the pouch container 10 at the lower end of the opening portion 12 .

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

[0052] The wide portion 32 is expanded on both sides in the width direction relative to the narrow portion 30. In addition, a transition portion expanded only on one side in the width direction is provided between the narrow portion 30 and the wide portion 32. Therefore, the width direction inner dimension of the pouch container 10 at the transition portion is larger than the width direction inner dimension of the pouch container 10 at the narrow portion 30 and smaller than the width direction inner dimension of the pouch container 10 at the wide portion 32. In the vicinity of the connection portion between the opening portion 12 and the storage portion 20, the width direction inner edges of the side seal portions 26, 26 extend linearly without being inclined in the vertical direction. The non-inclined portions of the width direction inner edges of the side seal portions 26, 26 have different vertical lengths and are offset from each other in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, one side seal portion 26 and the other side seal portion 26 are partially overlapped at the same position in the vertical direction, but one side seal portion 26 may be entirely overlapped at the same position in the vertical direction as the other side seal portion 26, or one side seal portion 26 and the other side seal portion 26 may be at different positions in the vertical direction. Also, one side seal portion 26 and the other side seal portion 26 may have different lengths in the vertical direction, or may have the same length.

[0053] In the portion of the narrow portion 30 that extends downward from near the upper end zipper 42, the inner edges of the side seal portions 26, 26 on both sides extend vertically in a straight line without being inclined and parallel to each other. For this reason, for example, as described below, when the fingers of one hand are inserted into the first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 to open the opening portion 12, and the lower seal portion 28 is pulled downward with the fingers of the other hand, an internal space can be stably formed within the storage portion 20, not only in the opening portion 12 but also in a manner that connects the opening portion 12 downward.

[0054] In particular, in the narrow portion 30 continuing below the opening 12, a cylindrical space is formed between the side seal portions 26, 26 on both sides, extending downward from the upper end of the storage portion 20. In the wide portion 32 located in the lower portion of the storage portion 20, only the approximate center of the lower seal portion 28 is pulled downward, resulting in an approximately inverted cone-shaped space that narrows downward, but the formation of a cylindrical space that extends vertically over the upper portion of the storage portion 20 allows the height of the inverted cone-shaped space to be shortened. As a result, the degree of reduction in the cross-sectional width of the inverted cone-shaped space increases by the amount of the cylindrical space formed, shortening the length of the inverted cone-shaped region, and the storage portion 20 opens widely to near the bottom end.

[0055] At the transitional portion from the narrow portion 30 to the wide portion 32, the widthwise inner edge of the side seal portion 26 is formed into a widened portion 33 that slopes downward and outward in the widthwise direction in a smoothly continuous curved shape (i.e., a shape that has no bending points and is connected to a plurality of curved and straight lines by a common tangent) so as to connect the side seal portions 26, 26 that are located above and below the transitional portion and extend linearly up and down. The upper end of the widened portion 33 smoothly continues to the widthwise inner edge of the side seal portion 26b of the narrow portion 30 that extends vertically, and the lower end smoothly continues to the widthwise inner edge of the side seal portion 26c of the wide portion 32 that extends vertically.

[0056] The widening portion 33a on the side of the first operation hole 44 described later has an upper portion curved in an arc shape that is convex toward the inside in the width direction (the inside side of the storage section 20), and a lower portion curved in an arc shape that is concave toward the inside in the width direction. The radius of curvature of the upper portion is smaller than the radius of curvature of the lower portion. In addition, the length of the lower curved portion that is convex toward the inside is longer than the length of the upper curved portion that is concave toward the inside. In addition, the connection point (inflection point) between the upper curved portion and the lower curved portion is located upward from the center in the vertical direction of the transition portion. In addition, the connection point (inflection point) is set to be biased toward the inside (the inside side of the storage section 20) from the center in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1) of the transition portion.

[0057] The smooth shape of this transition portion (widened portion 33a) prevents concentration of distortion and stress when the bag body 18 is deformed, and a smooth bulging shape is achieved throughout the entire vertical direction of the storage section 20, including the narrow portion 30, the wide portion 32, and their transition portions, while the volume of the storage section 20 can be secured in a space-efficient manner.

[0058] The widening portion 33b on the side of the second operation hole 46 described later is substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line extending in the vertical direction of the pouch container 10 with respect to the widening portion 33a described above. That is, the upper portion is curved in an arc shape that is convex toward the inside in the width direction, and the lower portion is curved in an arc shape that is concave toward the inside in the width direction. However, the widening portion 33b is different from the widening portion 33a in the vertical position and the curvature radius of each part, and the curvature radius of the upper portion and the curvature radius of the lower portion are substantially the same in the widening portion 33b. In the widening portion 33b, the connection point (inflection point) between the curved portion of the upper portion and the curved portion of the lower portion is set at substantially the center. The widening portion 33a on the side of the first operation hole 44 is generally located lower than the widening portion 33b on the side of the second operation hole 46.

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

[0060] 1 shows the width dimension A and the vertical length dimension B of the side seal portion 26 on the side of a second operating hole 46 described later, but the width dimension A of the above-mentioned portion of the side seal portion 26 on the side of a first operating hole 44 described later is also made smaller than the vertical length dimension B. In this embodiment, the ratio (B / A) of the vertical length dimension B to the width dimension A is made larger in the side seal portion 26 on the first operating hole 44 side than in the side seal portion 26 on the second operating hole 46 side.

[0061] As the material of the front and back main body sheets 22, 22 constituting the bag body 18, a conventionally known soft resin sheet material can be appropriately adopted in consideration of resistance to enteral nutrients, etc. That is, the front and back main body sheets 22, 22 are formed from a resin material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, etc., and are preferably transparent flexible resin sheets. The main body sheet 22 may be a single-layer sheet or a multi-layer sheet of two or more layers. In the case of a multi-layer sheet, different properties such as durability, barrier properties, and heat welding properties can be imparted to each layer by forming each layer from a different material. Specifically, for example, a sealant layer for heat welding formed from polyethylene, polypropylene, etc., or a gas barrier layer formed from a synthetic resin film or a synthetic resin film on which a metal or the like is vapor-deposited, etc., can be provided. The front and back main body sheets 22, 22 are preferably formed from the same resin material, but may be formed from different resin materials. In addition, in the bag body 18, the main body sheet 22 may be formed from a single material throughout, or the materials used may differ depending on the part, for example, the constituent parts of the opening portion 12 and the constituent parts of the storage portion 20 may be formed from different materials.

[0062] The opening 12 is provided above the storage section 20, and is formed by fixing the main body sheets 22, 22 at the side seal parts 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction. The opening 12 has an expansion part 34 in which the opposing distance in the width direction between the side seal parts 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction gradually increases from the bottom to the top. In this embodiment, the entire opening 12 is formed by the expansion part 34, but for example, the upper part of the opening 12 may be the expansion part 34, and the opposing distance in the width direction between the side seal parts 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction at the lower part of the opening 12 may be constant. The expansion part 34 may have a width direction edge extending at a substantially constant inclination angle in the vertical direction, or the inclination angle of the width direction edge may change stepwise or continuously in the vertical direction.

[0063] A reinforcing member 36 is superimposed on the overlapping inner surface of the main body sheets 22, 22 at the opening portion 12. The reinforcing member 36 is a longitudinal member, and has a deformation rigidity greater than that of the main body sheet 22 with respect to bending deformation in the overlapping direction of the main body sheets 22, 22. The reinforcing member 36 is preferably elastic with respect to bending deformation that results in a curved shape in the longitudinal direction. The reinforcing member 36 of this embodiment is in the form of a sheet or plate, and has a deformation rigidity greater than that of the main body sheet 22 with respect to bending deformation in the thickness direction, and exerts an elastic restoring force. The reinforcing member 36 is preferably in the form of a pre-curved shape that draws a curve that is convex toward the outside in the thickness direction where it is superimposed on the main body sheet 22. The reinforcing member 36 may be curved with a substantially constant radius of curvature, or the radius of curvature may be gradually changed.

[0064] 1, in this embodiment, the length dimension Lb of the reinforcing member 36 disposed in the opening portion 12 is made larger than the container inner dimension La of the pouch container 10 in the narrow width portion 30. Since the container inner dimension of the pouch container 10 at the connection portion between the opening portion 12 and the storage portion 20, where the zipper 42 described below is provided, is made substantially the same as the container inner dimension La of the pouch container 10 at the narrow width portion 30, the length dimension Lb of the reinforcing member 36 disposed in the opening portion 12 is made larger than the length dimension La of the zipper 42 disposed at the connection portion between the opening portion 12 and the storage portion 20.

[0065] In this embodiment, the reinforcing member 36 has a deformation rigidity greater than at least the main body sheet 22, and more preferably has a deformation rigidity greater than the chuck member constituting the chuck 42. The reinforcing member 36 has flexibility (deformability) due to an external force, and the deformation rigidity of the reinforcing member 36 does not elastically return to its original shape when deformed but has a plastic deformation characteristic, has a shape retention force in a deformed state, and has deformation rigidity in the deformed state.

[0066] The reinforcing member 36 is formed of 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 examples of the resin material that can be used include polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer synthetic resin (ABS resin), nylon resin, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, and hard polyvinyl chloride. 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 superposed on the inner side of the reinforcing member 36 opposite to the side where the reinforcing member 36 is superposed on the main sheet 22. The inner sheet 38 is a sheet having a shape corresponding to the opening 12, and is superposed on the reinforcing member 36, and is superposed on the inner surface of the main sheet 22 at a portion outside the reinforcing member 36. The inner sheet 38 is disposed above a zipper 42 described later, and is welded at its upper end and lower end to the superposed main sheet 22. As a result, a reinforcing member accommodating space 40 extending in the width direction is formed between the superposed surfaces of the main sheet 22 and the inner sheet 38. Both widthwise end portions of the inner sheets 38, 38 are welded together with the main sheet 22, 22 at the side seal portions 26, 26, and the main sheet 22, 22 and the inner sheet 38, 38 are integrated at the side seal portions 26, 26.

[0068] A reinforcing member 36 is disposed between the overlapping surfaces of the main body sheets 22, 22 and the inner sheets 38, 38. Both end portions of the reinforcing member 36 reach the side seal portions 26, 26, and are integrated by being welded to the main body sheet 22 and the inner sheet 38 at the side seal portions 26. An intermediate portion of the reinforcing member 36 located between the side seal portions 26, 26 is disposed in a reinforcing member accommodating space 40. The reinforcing member 36 disposed in the reinforcing member accommodating space 40 may be fixed to at least one of the main body sheet 22 and the inner sheet 38, or may be unfixed to both the main body sheet 22 and the inner sheet 38.

[0069] The reinforcing member 36 is located on the inside of the main body sheet 22 and on the side seal portion 26, and the outer surface of the main body sheet 22 is smoothed. Therefore, compared to when the reinforcing member 36 is located on the outside of the main body sheet 22, fingers are less likely to hit the reinforcing member 36, and even if they do hit, the main body sheet 22 and the reinforcing member 36 are less likely to deform toward either the front or back side.

[0070] The method of bonding the main body sheets 22, 22, the inner sheets 38, 38, and the reinforcing members 36, 36 is not particularly limited, but for example, they are bonded by heat welding. In this case, if the inner sealant layer constituting the inner surface of the inner sheet 38 is formed from a material having a higher melting point than the outer sealant layer constituting the outer surface of the inner sheet 38, it is possible to maintain the opening portion 12 while preventing bonding between the inner sheets 38, 38 while bonding the upper and lower ends of the inner sheets 38, 38 to the main body sheets 22, 22 with the main body sheets 22, 22, the inner sheets 38, 38, and the reinforcing members 36, 36 all overlapping each other.

[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 means of concave-convex fit caused by pressing against each other. In addition, the connection between the opening 12 and the storage section 20 can be opened by applying an external force to release the concave-convex fit of the chuck 42. 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, the pair of side seal sections 26, and the chuck 42. In short, in this embodiment, the area below the chuck 42 provided on the lower side of the opening 12 is the storage section 20. Incidentally, the opening portion 12 in this embodiment is located above the storage section 20 in which the liquid is stored, and extends to the opening edge, and a chuck 42 is disposed near the lower end of the opening portion 12, and the opening portion 12 includes a tapered expansion portion 34 whose widthwise inner dimension expands toward the upper end (opening edge).

[0072] The chuck 42 is composed of a pair of chuck members, each of which includes a pair of tape-shaped base portions that are overlapped and welded to each main body sheet 22, and an engagement portion that is integrally formed protruding from the opposing surface of each base portion and engages with each other in a detachable manner. The reinforcing member 36 of this embodiment has a larger thickness than each base portion in the chuck 42, thereby improving the 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 is closed by elastic concave-convex engagement caused by pressing the engagement portion.

[0073] 1, the engagement portions of the zipper member constituting the zipper 42 are formed on the inner surfaces of the front and rear main body sheets 22, 22 inside the bag body 18, but the engagement portions are shown in solid lines because the main body sheets 22, 22 are made of a transparent material and for the purpose of making the structure easier to understand. The zipper 42 is formed over the entire width of the connection portion between the opening portion 12 and the storage portion 20 so as to be able to seal the connection portion between the opening portion 12 and the storage portion 20. Both end portions of the zipper 42 reach the side seal portions 26, 26 and are integrated with the main body sheets 22, 22 by being heat-sealed at the side seal portions 26, 26.

[0074] The side seal parts 26, 26 located on both sides of the chuck 42 are formed with a first operation hole 44 and a second operation hole 46 as pressing operation parts. The first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 are formed by through holes penetrating the side seal part 26 in the thickness direction. At least a part of the first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 is located at the lower end of the opening part 12, and is provided biased downward in the vertical direction with respect to the opening part 12. The through holes constituting the first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 are arranged in an area where the opposing distance in the width direction of the side seal parts 26, 26 from the lower part of the widening part 34 in the opening part 12 to the narrow part 30 of the storage part 20 is small in the vertical direction. In the region where the widthwise opposing distance between the side seal portions 26, 26 is reduced, the width dimension of the side seal portion 26 is ensured to be large without the side seal portion 26 protruding outward in the widthwise direction, and the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 can be provided in a space-efficient manner by utilizing the large area of ​​the side seal portion 26.

[0075] In this embodiment, the side seal portion 26 on the side where the first operation hole 44 is formed extends further downward than the side seal portion 26 on the side where the second operation hole 46 is formed. The widthwise edge of the expansion portion 34 on the side where the first operation hole 44 is provided extends further downward than the widthwise edge on the side where the second operation hole 46 is provided, and reaches near the lower end of the opening portion 12. In this embodiment, the inclination angles of both widthwise edges of the expansion portion 34 are different from each other, and specifically, the inclination angle α of the widthwise edge on the side where the first operation hole 44 is provided with respect to the up-down direction is smaller than the inclination angle β of the widthwise edge on the side where the second operation hole 46 is provided with respect to the up-down direction. Note that when the inclination angle of the edge of the expansion portion 34 is not constant, the inclination angles α and β can be grasped, for example, by the average value of the inclination angles.

[0076] The first operation hole 44 has an outer edge in the width direction that extends in the vertical direction, and an inner edge in the width direction that is gradually inclined outward in the width direction toward the top, and the width dimension gradually decreases toward the top. The first operation hole 44 is configured as a through hole with a constantly open structure. The lower end of the first operation hole 44 is located outside the width direction of the chuck 42 in the vertical direction, and the upper part is located outside the width direction of the opening portion 12. Therefore, the first operation hole 44 is located above the narrow width portion 30 of the storage section 20.

[0077] The second operation hole 46 has an oval shape that is long in the vertical direction as a whole, with the vertical middle portion extending in the vertical direction with a substantially constant width dimension, and both vertical end portions curved in a substantially semicircular shape that is convex toward the vertical outside. The second operation hole 46 has a vertically long oval shape as a whole, with the vertical middle portion extending linearly positioned outside the width direction of the chuck 42, and extends in the vertical direction from the narrow portion 30 of the storage section 20 beyond the chuck 42 to the bottom of the opening portion 12.

[0078] The second operation hole 46 is covered by a flap-shaped cover portion 48. The cover portion 48 is formed, for example, by leaving a part of the periphery of the through hole non-through when the through hole constituting the second operation hole 46 is formed by punching the side seal portion 26, and is provided so as to extend into the through hole so as to cover the through hole. The cover portion 48 of this embodiment is formed by leaving the periphery of the through hole on the inner side in the width direction of the main body sheet 22, and the inner end in the width direction of the cover portion 48 is continuous with the main body sheet 22. Since the cover portion 48 is separated from the main body sheet 22 in a substantially C-shaped ring shape, it is bent at the end portion connected to the main body sheet 22 on the inner side in the width direction, so that it can tilt in the thickness direction relative to the main body sheet 22. The periphery of the through hole constituting the second operating hole 46 is formed as a folded portion 50 in which both circumferential end portions are folded back in a semicircular shape toward the inner periphery, and when the cover portion 48 is bent and tilted at the connection portion relative to the main body sheet 22, cracks due to stress concentration are avoided at both circumferential ends of the periphery of the through hole.

[0079] In this embodiment, the second operation hole 46 is longer in the vertical direction than the first operation hole 44. Therefore, the user's thumb can be naturally guided to the first operation hole 44, and the remaining fingers can be naturally guided to the second operation hole 46. In addition, the second operation hole 46 is sized to allow 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 to be inserted, and when the fingers are inserted in the operation holes 44, 46 and moved inward in the width direction, the palm and the main body sheets 22, 22 are easily brought into contact. Therefore, the user is likely to grasp the pouch container 10 with the entire hand, and the container 10 can be supported with a sense of stability, and the force applied to the fingers by the edges of the operation holes 44, 46 can be reduced to reduce the burden on the user. In addition, the first operation hole 44 is disposed biased upward in the vertical direction relative to the second operation hole 46. The side seal portion 26 on the first operation hole 44 side is provided below the first operation hole 44 with a tube holding portion 52 for hanging the external tube 14 by, for example, a cut.

[0080] The first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 are both provided at positions offset downward from the reinforcing member 36. However, the first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 may be provided at a position at which they at least partially overlap the reinforcing member 36 in the width direction. That is, the first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 may be formed at the same position as at least a part of the reinforcing member 36, or may be located on an extension of the reinforcing member 36 in the width direction. In short, at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the reinforcing member 36 may be located between the upper end and the lower end of the first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 in the up-down direction.

[0081] With the pouch container 10 thus constructed, when pouring a liquid such as an enteral nutrient into the storage section 20 of the bag body 18, the opening 12 can be opened and held with one hand, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

[0082] 3(a), the user inserts the thumb 54 into the first operation hole 44 of the pouch container 10, and also inserts the index finger 56 and middle finger 58 into the second operation hole 46 of the pouch container 10. Although the second operation hole 46 is covered with a covering portion 48, when the index finger 56 and middle finger 58 are inserted into the second operation hole 46, the covering portion 48 is pushed aside by the fingers 56, 58, and therefore does not impede the insertion of the fingers 56, 58 into the second operation hole 46.

[0083] Next, the user moves the thumb 54 and the index finger 56 and middle finger 58 in a direction shortening the distance between them, thereby bringing the side seal portions 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction closer to each other, 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 acts on the opening portion 12, the main body sheets 22, 22 at the opening portion 12 move in directions away from each other in the overlapping direction, and the opening portion 12 is opened.

[0084] The opening portion 12 is an expansion portion 34 in which the distance between the side seal portions 26, 26 in the width direction gradually increases toward the top, and the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 are arranged biased downward in the up-down direction relative to the expansion portion 34, so that when an opening force is applied between the first operating hole 44 and the second operating hole 46 in a direction that brings the side seal portions 26, 26 on both sides closer together in the width direction, the opening portion 12 tends to open upward in a funnel shape, and the opening portion 12 can be opened wide with one hand.

[0085] The reinforcing member 36 is located at the opening 12 where the container inner dimension in the width direction is larger at the top than at the bottom, and the reinforcing member 36 located at the opening 12 is longer in the width direction at the top than at the bottom. Therefore, when an opening operation force is applied to the pressing operation part and the reinforcing member 36 is curved, the force can be transmitted to the main body sheet 22 more widely at the top, and a force that opens the opening 12 more widely is generated at the top. It is preferable that the length dimension of the reinforcing member 36 is larger than the container inner dimension in the width direction of the main body sheet 22 at the pressing operation part, and that the pressing operation part is located below the reinforcing member 36. It is also preferable that the reinforcing member 36 is located in the middle part (not necessarily in the center in the vertical direction) of the opening 12 except for the top and bottom ends in the vertical direction, and in this 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 zipper 42, and the deformation caused by the opening force is stabilized. In addition, since the first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 are provided on both sides of the width of the zipper 42, the pressing operation force (opening force) in the width direction applied to the first operation hole 44 and the second operation hole 46 acts on the part of the main body sheets 22, 22 reinforced by the zipper 42, and the main body sheets 22, 22 reinforced by the zipper 42 are easily deformed into an appropriate opening shape. In addition, in the pouch container 10 before use, it is preferable that the zipper 42 is in an open state in order to omit the operation of opening the zipper 42. The deformation action force in the opening direction due to the pressing operation force is applied to the pre-opened zipper 42, and the fixed part of the main body sheets 22, 22 to which the zipper 42 is fixed can be easily opened.

[0087] The zipper 42 may be in a closed state beforehand, or, for example, by adjusting the meshing force of the zipper 42 by the shape, size, etc., it is possible to switch the zipper 42 from a closed state to an open state by the action of an opening force. Before use, the pouch container 10 is preferably stored in a bag-shaped sealed 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] In addition, a reinforcing member 36 having a deformation rigidity greater than that of the main sheet 22 is fixed to the opening portion 12. Therefore, the opening portion 12 can be easily maintained in a funnel-shaped open state, and the opening shape can be stabilized. For example, when the lower portion of the opening portion 12 has a shorter widthwise length than the upper portion, the force is not easily transmitted to the wider widthwise side at the upper portion, and the opening tends to be difficult. However, by bending or curving the reinforcing member 36 located at the opening portion 12 before applying the opening operation force, the opening operation force can be applied from the state in which the main sheet 22, 22 is deformed in the opening direction, and the opening stability during the opening operation can be improved. The reinforcing member 36 may be molded in a curved shape in advance, or may be curved by rolling it into a roll.

[0089] By utilizing the stable opening operation achieved by providing the chuck 42 in a pre-open state, a bending operation force is also applied to the reinforcing members 36, 36 arranged above the chuck 42, so that the pressing force from both sides in the width direction by the fingers is indirectly transmitted to the opening portion 12 in which the reinforcing members 36, 36 are arranged, making it possible to stably achieve the operation of opening the opening portion 12 by a pressing operation.

[0090] Both ends of the reinforcing member 36 in the length direction (width direction of the main sheet 22) are fixed to the side seal portion 26 of the main sheet 22. Therefore, it is possible to avoid problems that may occur when the end of the reinforcing member 36 is located in the center of the main sheet 22, such as a large change in bending rigidity of the opening portion 12 at the end of the reinforcing member 36, resulting in bending at that portion and an irregular opening shape, and to realize a smooth opening shape in the circumferential direction at the opening portion 12. In addition, it is possible to avoid problems that may occur when the end of the reinforcing member 36 is located in the opening portion 12 of the main sheet 22, such as a large change in sheet strength at that portion, causing damage to the sheet due to stress concentration associated with deformation, and to realize a thinner and lower strength main sheet 22. In addition, since the side seal portion 26 around the reinforcing member 36 is less likely to bend and deform, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the side seal portion 26 bends and the side of the opening portion 12 is similarly bent, resulting in an unstable opening shape.

[0091] In the pouch container 10 of this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, when the opening portion 12 is opened, the opening shape of the opening portion 12 is transmitted to the storage portion 20, and the sticking of the main body sheets 22, 22 in the storage portion 20 is easily eliminated. That is, if the inner dimension of the pouch container 10 in the width direction is rapidly expanded from the opening portion 12, which is narrowed to facilitate the pressing operation and support of the container with one hand, toward the storage portion 20, it is difficult for the opening shape of the opening portion 12 to be transmitted to the storage portion 20 below. In this way, the opening shape of the opening portion 12 is efficiently transmitted to the upper portion of the storage portion 20, and the enteral nutrient is smoothly poured from the opening portion 12 to the storage portion 20. Furthermore, when the main body sheets 22, 22 are formed in a bulging shape separated from each other in the upper portion of the storage section 20, the lower portion of the storage section 20 is also likely to have a bulging shape, making it possible to form the storage section 20 in a bulging shape over the entire vertical direction. Therefore, the enteral nutrient can be smoothly poured down to the lower portion of the storage section 20, making it easy to fill the storage section 20 with the enteral nutrient from below.

[0092] The narrow portion 30 of the storage section 20 is provided with a sufficient vertical length to satisfy at least one of the conditions of a length of 3 cm or more downward from the opening 12 and a length of 1 / 5 or more of the entire vertical length of the storage section 20. Therefore, the opening shape of the opening 12 is efficiently transmitted to the storage section 20, and the main body sheets 22, 22 in the storage section 20 are prevented from sticking to each other.

[0093] Because the opening operation of the opening portion 12 can be performed with one hand, for example, when the storage section 20 is bent, the bending of the storage section 20 can be eliminated by opening the opening portion 12 with one hand while pulling the lower side of the storage section 20 with the other hand as shown in Fig. 4. By eliminating the bending of the storage section 20 in this manner, the opening shape of the opening portion 12 can be easily transmitted to the lower part of the storage section 20.

[0094] Then, the user pours the enteral nutrient from a cup (not shown) into the open opening 12 into the storage section 20. After the enteral nutrient is poured into the storage section 20, the opening force is released and the portion where the zipper 42 is provided is pressed from the front and back to close the zipper 42 and seal the storage section 20. This makes it possible to prevent the enteral nutrient from leaking from the opening 12 of the pouch container 10 and to reduce the risk of the enteral nutrient in the storage section 20 becoming contaminated by bacteria, etc.

[0095] As the amount of enteral nutritional agent poured into the storage section 20 increases, a larger load acts on the hand gripping the pouch container 10, but the weight of the enteral nutritional agent can be easily supported because the thumb 54 is inserted through the first operation hole 44 and the index finger 56 and middle finger 58 are inserted through the second operation hole 46. In addition, the opening force applied by the user to the opening portion 12 when pouring the enteral nutritional agent is input in a manner in which the opening portion 12 is pinched between the thumb 54 and the index finger 56 and middle finger 58, making it easy to grip the opening portion 12 and support the weight of the enteral nutritional agent while maintaining the opening shape.

[0096] In addition, 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 from the connection part of the opening 12 and the storage part 20 where the zipper 42 is arranged to the narrow part 30 of the storage part 20. This makes it easy for female nurses with small hands to handle, and in situations where complicated operations are necessary, nutrients, medicines, water, etc. are less likely to spill when transferring contents from a container held in one hand to a container held in the other hand, making it easy to administer a specified volume. In addition, when the shape of the opening 12 is such that the container inner dimensions increase toward the top, the deformed shape of the upper part of the opening 12 is difficult to stabilize, but since Lb is larger than La, the deformed shape of the opening 12 can be easily and stably formed with a smooth curved shape in the circumferential direction up to the upper end of the opening 12.

[0097] In Fig. 3, the pouch container 10 is shown being held in the left hand, but it is also possible to hold the pouch container 10 in the right hand and pour the enteral nutrient into the storage section 20 with the left hand, as shown in Fig. 4. If the user is right-handed, holding the pouch container 10 in the left hand as shown in Fig. 3 allows the enteral nutrient to be poured into the storage section 20 with high precision using the dominant hand. Alternatively, holding the pouch container 10 in the right hand as shown in Fig. 4 allows the opening 12 of the pouch container 10 to be more reliably maintained in an open state. Therefore, it is preferable that the front and back of the pouch container 10 are symmetrical.

[0098] The pouch container 10 containing an appropriate amount of enteral nutritional agent in the storage section 20 is hung with the port section 16 facing downwards by inserting a suspension hook of a stand (not shown) through the first operation hole 44. The enteral nutritional agent in the storage section 20 flows out of the port section 16 by gravity and is injected into the patient's body through the external tube 14. In this embodiment, the suspension hook insertion hole penetrating the side seal section 26 is composed of a through hole of a constantly open structure that constitutes the first operation hole 44.

[0099] Since the first operation hole 44, which is also an insertion hole for the hanging hook, is disposed diagonally on the pouch container 10 with respect to the port portion 16, the pouch container 10 containing the enteral nutritional supplement is tilted such that the up-down direction in FIG. 1 is inclined with respect to the vertical up-down direction when hung from the hanging hook, and the port portion 16 extends substantially vertically downward. As a result, the port portion 16 is located at the vertical lower end of the storage portion 20, and the enteral nutritional supplement is discharged from the port portion 16 without remaining in the storage portion 20.

[0100] In this embodiment, the case where the user opens the opening 12 and pours the enteral nutritional supplement before hanging the pouch container 10 on the hanging hook of the stand has been described, but for example, an opening force may be applied to open the opening 12 while the empty pouch container 10 is hanging on the hanging hook, and the enteral nutritional supplement may be poured into the hanging pouch container 10. In this case, instead of inserting the thumb 54 into the first operation hole 44, the thumb 54 can be placed on the hanging hook, and an opening force can be applied between the hanging hook placed on the thumb 54 and the index finger 56 and middle finger 58. In this way, since the pouch container 10 is supported by the stand in advance, an increase in the weight of the pouch container 10 due to the injection of the enteral nutritional supplement is unlikely to be a problem.

[0101] 5 shows a pouch container 60 for enteral nutrients as a second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, the same members and parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0102] The pouch container 60 has a first operation hole 62 and a second operation hole 46 in the side seal portions 26, 26 on both sides. A flap-shaped cover portion 64 is provided in the first operation hole 62, and a flap-shaped cover portion 48 is provided in the second operation hole 46. The cover portion 64 of the first operation hole 62, like the cover portion 48 of the second operation hole 46, is formed by leaving the periphery of the through hole constituting the first operation hole 62 partially non-through on the inner side in the width direction, and spreads into the first operation hole 62 so as to cover the first operation hole 62. The cover portion 64 of the first operation hole 62 is made smaller than the opening area of ​​the first operation hole 62, and partially covers the first operation hole 62.

[0103] The portion of the first operation hole 62 that is not covered by the covering portion 64 is an open region 66 that is left in a constantly open structure. The opening region 66 of the first operation hole 62 constitutes the insertion hole for the suspension hook of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the covering portion 64 is disposed so as to cover the lower portion of the first operation hole 62, and the opening region 66 is provided in the upper portion of the first operation hole 62.

[0104] When pouring the enteral nutritional supplement into the pouch container 60, the user inserts fingers (not shown) into the first operation hole 62 and the second operation hole 46 to apply an opening force to the opening 12, as in the first embodiment. At this time, the flap-shaped cover part 64 covering the first operation hole 62 has an inner end in the width direction that is bent in the thickness direction when pressed by the finger, so that the finger does not get in the way when the finger is inserted into the first operation hole 62. Furthermore, the finger is pressed against the bent part of the cover part 64, so that the contact area is increased and the stress on the finger is dispersed, reducing pain in the finger.

[0105] A hanging hook of a stand (not shown) is inserted into an opening region 66 serving as a hanging hook insertion hole provided above the first operation hole 62. Since the opening region 66 has a structure that is always open, the portion where the hanging hook should be inserted can be easily seen.

[0106] 6 shows a pouch container 70 for enteral nutrients as a third embodiment of the present invention. The pouch container 70 has a first operation hole 72 and a second operation hole 46 formed in the side seal portions 26, 26 on both sides.

[0107] The first operation hole 72 is configured as a through hole having a substantially oval shape, similar to the second operation hole 46. The first operation hole 72 of this embodiment has a vertical length dimension smaller than that of the second operation hole 46, and can encourage the insertion of the thumb (not shown) into the first operation hole 72 and the insertion of fingers other than the thumb (not shown) into the second operation hole 46, thereby making it possible to naturally specify the operation state. However, the vertical length dimension of the first operation hole 72 may be the same as that of the second operation hole 46, or may be larger than that of the second operation hole 46.

[0108] A flap-shaped covering portion 74 is provided on the first operation hole 72, and a flap-shaped covering portion 48 is provided on the second operation hole 46. The covering portion 74 of the first operation hole 72, like the covering portion 48 of the second operation hole 46, is formed by leaving a portion of the periphery of the through hole constituting the first operation hole 72 non-through on the inner side in the width direction, and spreads into the first operation hole 72 so as to cover the first operation hole 72. The covering portion 74 of this embodiment has a shape and size to cover substantially the entire surface of the first operation hole 72.

[0109] An additional through hole 76 is formed in the side seal portion 26 on the side where the first operation hole 72 is formed. The additional through hole 76 is a through hole independent of the first operation hole 72, and is formed to have a constantly open structure penetrating the side seal portion 26. The additional through hole 76 constitutes the insertion hole for the suspension hook of this embodiment. The additional through hole 76 is provided in a portion that is out of the outer periphery of the first operation hole 72, and is disposed above the first operation hole 72 in this embodiment. However, the additional through hole 76 may be disposed, for example, below the first operation hole 72, or may be disposed outside in the width direction. In addition, if the additional through hole 76 is made small enough that it is difficult to insert a finger, erroneous insertion of a finger into the additional through hole 76 during the opening operation of the opening portion 12 is avoided.

[0110] In the pouch container 70 according to this embodiment, the insertion hole for the suspension hook is constituted by an additional through hole 76 that is independent of the first operation hole 72. Therefore, the first operation hole 72 used to apply an opening force and the additional through hole 76 used to hook onto the suspension hook can be provided in the optimal shape and position, respectively.

[0111] In addition, both the first operation hole 72 and the second operation hole 46 are entirely covered by the cover portions 74, 48. Therefore, it is difficult to insert the hanging hook into the first operation hole 72 or the second operation hole 46 by mistake, and the user can be guided to insert the hanging hook into the additional through hole 76.

[0112] The additional through hole 76 does not need to be provided completely independent of the first operation hole 72, and may be connected to each other by, for example, a slit, a cut, etc. In short, it is desirable that the additional through hole 76 is substantially independent of the first operation hole 72 so as to achieve functional separation, but it is not necessary for them to be completely separate and independent structurally.

[0113] 7 shows a pouch container 80 for enteral nutrients 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 side seal portions 26, 26 on both sides. The second operating hole 84 in this embodiment is configured as a through hole having an oval opening similar to the second operating hole 46 in the first embodiment, and no flap-shaped cover portion is provided to cover the second operating hole 84, so that the entire second operating hole 84 is always a through hole.

[0114] A suspension hook insertion hole 86 is formed on the outer edge of the through hole constituting the first operation hole 82. The suspension hook insertion hole 86 is provided in a form that expands toward the outer periphery of the through hole at the upper end of the through hole constituting the first operation hole 82. The suspension hook insertion hole 86 has an opening area in the penetration direction of the first operation hole 82 that is smaller than that of the through hole constituting the first operation hole 82. Note that the first operation hole 82 in this embodiment is not provided with a flap-shaped cover portion, and the entire hole is always open.

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

[0116] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific description. For example, both end portions of the reinforcing member 36 in the above embodiment reach the side seal portions 26, 26, but at least one end of the reinforcing member 36 does not have to reach the side seal portion 26.

[0117] The reinforcing member 36 may be provided with a protrusion that protrudes partially in the width direction (the vertical direction of the main sheet 22), or may have an uneven surface such as a grained surface on the outer or inner surface that is superimposed on the main sheet 22, etc., 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 formed from a single continuous sheet folded back at the bottom side of the lower edge, in which case the lower seal portion 28 at the lower end is not essential. The main body sheets 22, 22 can also be formed from a single continuous sheet folded back at one edge in the sheet width direction. It is also possible to form the main body sheets 22, 22 from a single sheet continuous at both widthwise edges by cutting a cylindrical molded sheet to a predetermined length in the cylindrical length direction and welding the lower side to form the lower seal portion 28.

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

[0120] The upper end side of the opening 12, in particular, may be in the form of a flap such that one or both of the side seal portions 26 in the width direction of the main body sheet 22 are absent and the main body sheets 22, 22 open apart from each other in the overlapping direction. When the upper end side of the opening 12 is in the form of a flap, the opening area can be increased even if a straight cylindrical opening 12 is used, and the upper part of the opening 12 is relatively easy to open even if the reinforcing member 36 is disposed at the same level as or below the zipper 42, or the length of the reinforcing member 36 is made shorter than the sealing portion. It is preferable that the end of the reinforcing member 36 is located above the side seal portion 26 even when the upper end side of the opening 12 is in the form of a flap.

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

[0122] In addition, although the opening operability is inferior, the reinforcing member 36 may not be pre-curved, but may have bands on the front and back so that the user can pull the bands to pre-curve the reinforcing member 36. Alternatively, the reinforcing member 36 may be provided only on the front and a band on the back, and the band may be a ring-shaped body into which the user can insert fingers. 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 providing creases at one or more locations in the length direction. In this case, the creases may be provided at the center of the reinforcing member 36 in the length direction, but are preferably provided at both sides of the reinforcing member 36 that are off the center in the length direction, as shown by the circle surrounded by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1. As a result, when the opening operation force is applied to the pressing operation portion, the opening portion 12 is reliably opened to both ends in the width direction, and the opening area of ​​the opening portion 12 can be stably and large. In addition to or instead of preliminarily forming a deformed state, the above-mentioned folds can be made into easily deformable parts that are easily deformed by the action of an external opening operation force. The easily deformable parts can be realized, for example, by reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the reinforcing member 36 by partially reducing its thickness or vertical dimensions.

[0123] Furthermore, materials other than synthetic resins may be used as the reinforcing member 36, and for example, a wide strip of cardboard may be used as the reinforcing member 36. In this case, a reinforcing member accommodating space 40 may be formed between the main body sheet 22 and the inner sheet 38 or between the main body sheet 22 and the outer layer sheet, and the cardboard may be accommodated inside the space, and the sheets may be joined together around the periphery of the cardboard to prevent the cardboard from shifting position.

[0124] The pouch container 10 before use is provided to a user such as a medical professional as a pouch container product housed in a bag-shaped sealed case in a sterile state, for example. When the pouch container 10 is housed in a sealed case, the external tube 14 connected to the port portion 16 and flow path devices such as a chamber, clamp, and connector 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 the flow path devices may be attached to the pouch container 10 in advance, or may be housed in the sealed case in a state separated from the pouch container 10 as necessary. When housed in the sealed case, the pouch container 10 is folded so as to be curled up in the vertical direction. In addition, the state in which the item is folded into a roll is preferably, for example, a state in which the creases are folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths, etc., into a curved rolled shape, or a state in which the entire item is rolled up and compressed in one radial direction to be crushed into an elliptical or oval shape, but it is acceptable as long as the item is not in a flat unfolded state or folded 180 degrees with curved creases.

[0125] The pouch container 10 thus folded and accommodated in the sealed case is preferably accommodated in a state in which the external tube 14 and the flow path device are at least partially inserted inside the folded state, i.e., the discharge parts of the external tube 14 and the flow path device are wrapped in the rolled pouch container 10. The sealed case is sterilized as necessary after the pouch container 10 is accommodated in the sealed case.

[0126] The sealed case housing the pouch container 10 has a certain amount of space inside, and even if it is made of a soft sheet, it maintains a certain amount of thickness. By utilizing the internal space, the opening 12 of the pouch container 10 is maintained in an open state, even if only slightly. In particular, since the opening 12 is provided with a reinforcing member 36, the opening 12 is maintained in a previously 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 or the like is housed in a sealed case, the opening 12 of the pouch container 10 is already open when the sealed case is opened and taken out in the medical field, so that the opening 12 can be easily, quickly, and stably opened wide by simply pressing the pressing operation parts (first operation hole 44, second operation hole 46) of the side seal parts 26, 26 on both sides in the width direction inward so as to bring them closer to each other with fingers. In addition, since the reinforcing member 36 is located above the zipper 42, the side that is desired to be opened when injecting nutrients into the pouch container 10, that is, the upper side rather than the lower side of the zipper 42, opens wide. Therefore, the pouch container product is suitable for use in medical fields where an emergency is required, and there is no need to insert fingers into the inside of both main body sheets 22, 22 that form the opening 12 in order to open the opening 12, and it is also possible to avoid the risk of bacteria adhesion due to contact of fingers with the inner surface of the opening 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0128] 10 Pouch container (first embodiment) 12 Opening part 14 External tube 16 Port section 18 Bag Body 20 Storage unit 22 Main sheet 24 Seal part 26 Side seal part 28 Lower seal part 30 Narrow part 32 Wide part 33 Widening section 34 Expansion section 36 Reinforcement members 38 Inner sheet 40 Reinforcement member accommodation space 42 Chuck 44 First operation hole (pressing operation part, insertion hole for hanging hook) 46 Second operation hole (pressing operation part) 48 Cover 50 Folded part 52 Tube holder 54 Thumb 56 Index Finger 58 middle finger 60 Pouch container (second embodiment) 62 First operation hole (pressing operation part, insertion hole for hanging hook) 64 Cover 66 Open area 70 Pouch container (third embodiment) 72 First operation hole (pressing operation part) 74 Cover 76 Additional Through Holes 80 Pouch container (fourth embodiment) 82 First operation hole (pressing operation part) 84 Second operation hole (pressing operation part) 86 Hanging hook insertion hole

Claims

1. A pouch container for enteral nutrients, the pouch container having an upwardly opening storage section formed between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main sheets, The pair of main body sheets have side seal portions at both sides in the width direction where they are overlapped and fixed to each other, a pressing operation portion is provided on each of both widthwise sides of the pair of main body sheets, the pressing operation portion applying an opening force to an upward opening portion of the storage portion by bringing the side seal portions on both widthwise sides closer to each other, The pressing operation portion is composed of through holes formed in the side seal portions on both sides, and serves as a first operation hole and a second operation hole into which a finger is inserted, A pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements, wherein either the first operating hole or the second operating hole has an insertion hole for a suspension hook formed in the side seal portion, the insertion hole being smaller than the through hole and extending outward from an upper portion of the outer edge of the through hole.

2. At least one of the first operation hole and the second operation hole is provided with a flap-shaped covering portion extending from a periphery of the through hole into the through hole, 2. The pouch container for enteral nutrients according to claim 1, wherein the cover portion is connected to the side seal portion by leaving an inner side of the through hole in a width direction thereof non-through.

3. A pouch container for enteral nutritional supplements, the pouch container having a storage section that opens upward between the overlapping surfaces of a pair of main body sheets, The pair of main body sheets have side seal portions at both sides in the width direction where they are overlapped and fixed to each other, a pressing operation portion is provided on each of both widthwise sides of the pair of main body sheets, the pressing operation portion applying an opening force to an upward opening portion of the storage portion by bringing the side seal portions on both widthwise sides closer to each other, The pressing operation portion is composed of through holes formed in the side seal portions on both sides, and serves as a first operation hole and a second operation hole into which a finger is inserted, At least one of the first operation hole and the second operation hole is provided with a flap-shaped cover portion that spreads from a periphery of the through hole into the through hole, The cover portion is connected to the side seal portion at an inner side in the width direction of the through hole, the inner side being left non-through.

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