Method of treating a water soluble capsule

Abstract

Abstract A gelatin capsule is formed with an elongated portion and a bulb portion with a medicinal material therein for supply to a body through inserting the elongated portion in a body orifice. The elongated portion is treated with a hardening agent which withdraws water and/or glycerin from the elongated portion of the capsule so that the elongated portion has sufficient rigidity for insertion within the body orifice. The hardening agent can be a polymer of a glycol, which is preferably polyethylene glycol, an inorganic drying agent such as silica gel or phosphorus pentoxide, an alcohol, or a ketone, such as acetone, for example. When a polymer of a glycol is utilized as the hardening agent, the polymer of a glycol can remain on the elongated portion to function as a lubricant when the elongated portion is inserted in the body orifice. Furthermore, the polymer of a glycol can include an anesthetic for deadening the nerves around the body orifice. To prevent the polymer of a glycol from flowing to the bulb portion to harden it when the polymer of a glycol remains on the elongated portion, the viscosity of the polymer of a glycol is preferably selected so that it will not flow at room temperature although the coating of the polymer of a glycol could be coated with paraffin or a mechanical barrier to prevent this or the bulb portion could be coated with paraffin to prevent the polymer of a glycol from affecting the soft bulb portion or a mechanical barrier could be provided between the elongated and bulb portions.

Inventors

• 👤 Akira Fujii

Bibliographic Details