# US 2013/0158486 A1 · Ampoule with a seal in two compression states > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158486 A1 - Document ID: US20130158486A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/783,500 - Filed: 2013-03-04 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2007-09-01 - Assignees: Roche Diagnostics International AG - Inventors: Ruedi Zihlmann; Ronny-Patric Horisberger; Daniel Fehlmann - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158486A1 ## CPC - A61M 5/31501: {Means for blocking or restricting the movement of the rod or piston (A61M5/5013 takes precedence)} - A61L 2/06: Hot gas - A61L 2/07: Steam - A61L 2/08: Radiation - A61L 2/081: Gamma radiation - A61L 2/20: Gaseous substances, e.g. vapours - A61L 2/204: Formaldehyde - A61L 2/206: Ethylene oxide - A61M 5/1408: {in parallel, e.g. by manifolds or with sequencing valves} - A61M 5/19: having more than one chamber - A61M 5/3129: {Syringe barrels (A61M5/3205, A61M5/50 take precedence)} - A61M 5/315: Pistons; Piston-rods; Guiding, blocking or restricting the movement of the rod {or piston}; Appliances on the rod for facilitating dosing {; Dosing mechanisms} - A61M 2005/3123: {having air entrapping or venting means, e.g. purging channels in pistons} - A61M 2005/31506: {formed as a single piece, e.g. moulded} - A61M 2005/31508: {provided on the piston-rod} - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) ## Abstract Ampoules for dispensing flowable substances and metering systems incorporating the same are described herein. An ampoule for a flowable substance includes an ampoule body comprising an interior space for receiving the flowable substance and an inner circumferential surface having a guide region and a sealing region. A piston may be disposed in the interior space of the ampoule body such that the piston is slidably displaceable along a direction of displacement. The piston includes at least one sealing element for forming a seal with the inner circumferential surface in a contact zone on the outer circumference of the sealing element. The sealing element has a first compression state when the contact zone is in the guide region and a second compression state when the contact zone is in the sealing region. A second blocking device prevents movement of the contact zone from the sealing region to the guide region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ampoule for a flowable substance comprising: an ampoule body comprising an interior space for receiving the flowable substance and an inner circumferential surface having a guide region and a sealing region, wherein the guide region and the sealing region are positioned along a longitudinal axis of the ampoule body; a piston disposed in the interior space of the ampoule body such that the piston is slidably displaceable along the longitudinal axis of the ampoule body in a direction of displacement, the piston comprising at least one sealing element for forming a seal with the inner circumferential surface of the ampoule body in a contact zone on an outer circumference of the at least one sealing element; and a blocking device which prevents movement of the contact zone from the sealing region to the guide region, wherein: the blocking device comprises an ampoule-body-side stop, a piston-side stop and a sliding surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the piston is a two component injection-moulded part comprising a basic body and the at least one sealing element, wherein the basic body is formed from a thermoplastic material and the at least one sealing element is formed from a thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the ampoule comprises an additional blocking device which prevents removal of the piston from the ampoule body in a direction opposite the direction of displacement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ampoule according to claim 3, wherein the additional blocking device comprises an additional ampoule-body-side stop, a piston-side stop and a sliding surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The ampoule according to claim 4, wherein the sliding surface of the additional blocking device is the sliding surface of the blocking device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The ampoule according to claim 4, wherein the piston-side stop of the additional blocking device is the piston-side stop of the blocking device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The ampoule according to claim 6, wherein the sliding surface of the additional blocking device is the sliding surface of the blocking device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The ampoule according to claim 7, wherein: the piston comprises at least one radially resilient spring arm extending from the piston towards an opening of the ampoule body, the at least one radially resilient spring arm having a catch forming the piston-side stop and the sliding surface; and the ampoule body has a first cutout and a second cutout offset from the first cutout in the direction of displacement, wherein the additional ampoule-body-side stop is formed by a wall of the first cutout, the ampoule body-side stop is formed by a wall of the second cutout, and the catch projects into the first cutout and into the second cutout when the at least one radially resilient spring arm is in an unloaded state. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ampoule according to claim 8, wherein the catch presses against the inner circumferential surface of the ampoule body when the at least one radially resilient spring arm is deformed by the inner circumferential surface of the ampoule body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the inner circumferential surface has a transition region disposed between the guide region and the sealing region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the ampoule body has at least one outlet opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing element comprises at least two contact zones. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the piston comprises a guide element which is offset from the at least one sealing element in a direction of an opening of the ampoule body, wherein the guide element makes contact with the inner circumferential surface of the ampoule body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the piston comprises a coupling device for coupling the piston to an advancing drive of an injection or infusion device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing element and the inner circumferential surface of the ampoule body do not seal with regard to a medium with a sterilizing effect when the contact zone is in the guide region of the inner circumferential surface. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the ampoule comprises a drawing-up device for displacing the piston in a direction opposite the direction of displacement. ### Claim 17 A metering system for a flowable substance comprising an injection or diffusion device for dispensing the flowable substance from an ampoule having an ampoule body, a piston and a blocking device, wherein: the ampoule body comprises an interior space for receiving the flowable substance and an inner circumferential surface having a guide region and a sealing region, wherein the guide region and the sealing region are positioned along a longitudinal axis of the ampoule body and the inner circumferential surface tapers in from the guide region to the sealing region; the piston is disposed in the interior space of the ampoule body such that the piston is slidably displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the ampoule body in a direction of displacement, the piston comprising at least one sealing element for forming a seal with the inner circumferential surface of the ampoule body in a contact zone on an outer circumference of the at least one sealing element, wherein: the blocking device prevents movement of the contact zone from the sealing region to the guide region and comprises an ampoule-body-side stop, a piston-side stop and a sliding surface; and the injection or diffusion device is connectable to the piston of the ampoule to advance the piston in the interior space in the direction of displacement such that the flowable substance is dispensed from the ampoule.