Container with constrained quality maintenance agent

Abstract

A container ( 63 ) having a quality maintenance additive ( 25, 31, 33, 41, 45, 65 ) which maintains the quality of a quantity of liquid ( 11, 14 ) or other flowable substance held in the container. The quality maintenance additive is associated with the container so that the quality maintenance additive remains with the container when the liquid or other flowable substance is emptied from the container.

1 . A container for holding and maintaining quality of a flowable substance, the container comprising an enclosure for containing the flowable substance and a quality maintenance additive active to maintain the quality of the flowable substance, the quality maintenance additive being disposed relative to the enclosure so that the quality maintenance additive contacts the flowable substance when held in the enclosure, the quality maintenance additive being capable of acting on the flowable substance to maintain a quality characteristic of the flowable substance when held in the enclosure, the quality maintenance additive being associated with the enclosure so that it remains with the enclosure when the flowable substance is removed from the enclosure. 
   
   
       2 . A container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the enclosure constrains the quality maintenance additive from leaving the enclosure. 
   
   
       3 . A container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the quality maintenance additive is part of a composition of material forming the enclosure. 
   
   
       4 . A container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the enclosure includes at least one surface disposed for contact with flowable substance held in the container, the quality maintenance additive being disposed on said one surface. 
   
   
       5 . A container as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the quality maintenance additive disposed on said one surface is chemically bonded to the enclosure. 
   
   
       6 . A container as set forth in  claim 4  further comprising another material disposed on said one surface of the enclosure, the quality maintenance additive being in composition with said other material. 
   
   
       7 . A container as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said one surface of the enclosure is etched prior to depositing said other material thereon. 
   
   
       8 . A container as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said other material is a lubricant. 
   
   
       9 . A container as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the quality maintenance additive is formed as a piece separate from the enclosure. 
   
   
       10 . A container as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the quality maintenance additive piece is disposed in the enclosure, the enclosure including an outlet sized for preventing the quality maintenance additive piece from leaving the enclosure. 
   
   
       11 . A container as set forth in  claim 10  in combination with flowable substance contained in the enclosure, the quality maintenance additive piece being at least partially immersed in the flowable substance. 
   
   
       12 . A container as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the quality maintenance additive piece is attached to the enclosure in a position for contact with flowable substance contained in the enclosure. 
   
   
       13 . A container as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the quality maintenance additive piece is a film laminated to the enclosure. 
   
   
       14 . A container as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the quality maintenance additive piece comprises a filter adapted to receive the flowable substance therethrough upon removal of the flowable substance from the enclosure. 
   
   
       15 . A container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the quality maintenance additive is capable of remediating a quality characteristic of the flowable substance. 
   
   
       16 . A container as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the quality maintenance additive is selected from at least once of an antimicrobial, an antioxidant, a chelating agent or a buffering agent. 
   
   
       17 . A container as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the quality maintenance additive is a chelating agent. 
   
   
       18 . A container as set forth in  claim 17  in combination with the flowable substance, and wherein the flowable substance comprises a contrast media. 
   
   
       19 . A container as set forth in  claim 18  wherein the chelating agent piece is floated in the contrast media. 
   
   
       20 . Packaged contrast media comprising:
 a quantity of imaging contrast media;   a container containing the quantity of the contrast media therein;   a quality maintenance agent in contact with the quantity of contrast media for maintaining the quality of the contrast media, the quality maintenance agent being configured to remain with the container and not being carried by the contrast media upon removal of the contrast media from the said container.   
   
   
       21 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 20  wherein, the container is selected from a vial, a bottle, a syringe, a bag or a pharmacy bulk package. 
   
   
       22 . Packaged contrast media comprising:
 a quantity of imaging contrast media;   a syringe barrel containing the quantity of the contrast media therein;   a plunger head received in the barrel generally adjacent to one end of the barrel;   a chelating agent element in contact with the quantity of contrast media in the barrel for capturing free metal ions in the contrast media, the chelating agent being configured to remain with the syringe and not be carried by the contrast media upon ejection of the contrast media from the barrel.   
   
   
       23 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 22  wherein the chelating agent is associated with at least one of the barrel and the plunger head. 
   
   
       24 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 23  wherein the chelating agent comprises a layer of material attached to one of the barrel and the plunger head. 
   
   
       25 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the layer of material includes a lubricant. 
   
   
       26 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 24  wherein the layer of material is a film laminated to at least one of the barrel and plunger head. 
   
   
       27 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 23  wherein the contrast agent is incorporated into material forming at least one of the barrel and the plunger head. 
   
   
       28 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 23  further comprising a piece made from material including a chelating agent, the piece being mounted on one of the barrel and the plunger head. 
   
   
       29 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 22  further comprising a piece made from material including a chelating agent. 
   
   
       30 . Packaged contrast media as set forth in  claim 29  wherein the chelating agent component comprises a filter arranged to receive contrast media therethrough upon ejection of the contrast media from the barrel. 
   
   
       31 . A method of forming a package of a quantity of flowable substance, the method comprising:
 associating a quality maintenance additive with a container;   providing a quantity of flowable substance;   loading the quantity of flowable substance into the container, the quality maintenance additive being adapted to maintain the quality of the quantity of flowable substance, the association of the quality maintenance additive being such that the quality maintenance additive remains with the container when the flowable substance is emptied therefrom.   
   
   
       32 . A method as set forth in  claim 31  wherein the step of associating a quality maintenance additive comprises formulating material with a quality maintenance additive and forming the container from the material. 
   
   
       33 . A method as set forth in  claim 31  further comprising the step of depositing a substance including the quality maintenance additive onto a surface of the container which will be exposed to the quantity of flowable substance loaded therein. 
   
   
       34 . A method as set forth in  claim 33  further comprising the step of etching the surface of the enclosure prior to depositing the substance including the quality maintenance additive thereon. 
   
   
       35 . A method as set forth in  claim 34  wherein the step of depositing the substance comprises one of spraying the substance onto the container surface, vapor depositing the substance onto the container surface, and laminating a film including the quality maintenance additive onto the container surface. 
   
   
       36 . A method as set forth in  claim 31  further comprising forming a piece including the quality maintenance additive separately from the container and operatively connecting the piece to the container. 
   
   
       37 . A method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein the step of associating the quality maintenance additive with the container comprises fixing the piece to the container. 
   
   
       38 . A method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein the piece is floated in the quantity of flowable substance. 
   
   
       39 . A method as set forth in  claim 36  wherein the piece rests on the bottom of the container. 
   
   
       40 . A container for holding and maintaining quality of a flowable medical substance for use in medical diagnostics and/or treatment, the container comprising an enclosure for containing the flowable medical substance and a quality maintenance additive active to maintain the quality of the flowable medical substance, the quality maintenance additive being disposed relative to the enclosure so that the quality maintenance additive contacts the flowable medical substance when held in the enclosure, the quality maintenance additive being capable of acting on the flowable medical substance to maintain a quality characteristic of the flowable medical substance when held in the enclosure, the quality maintenance additive being associated with the enclosure so that it remains with the enclosure when the flowable medical substance is removed from the enclosure.