US 4,417,679 A · Ampule opener

Abstract

An opener for an ampule having a head and a body to prevent contamination of material in an ampule from particles formed when the ampule is opened comprises at least one opening mechanism including a head holder and an annular flexible jacket situated around an end of the head holder to extend outwardly therefrom. The head holder includes a hole with a cylindrical opening at one end for receiving at least a part of the head of the ampule, and an outlet communicating with the hole. The inner diameter of the flexible jacket is almost the same as the outer diameter of the body of the ampule to be opened. The outlet of the head holder is connected to a vacuum source to inspire air through the hole. Therefore, the head and the body of the ampule are respectively located in the hole and the flexible jacket, and then the body is bent, so that the particles formed by thereby snapping apart the ampule are inspired with air into the vacuum source.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An ampule opener for an ampule having a head and a body, the ampule opener being adapted to prevent contamination of material in the ampule by particles formed in snap-opening the ampule, comprising

a holder for the ampule head having a cylindrical opening at one end, a hole extending inwardly from the cylindrical opening for receiving therein at least a part of the head of the ampule, and an outlet communicating with the hole, said outlet being adapted to be connected to a vacuum source to inspire air through said opening, and
an annular flexible jacket situated around the end of the head holder to extend outwardly therefrom, said flexible jacket having an inner diameter almost the same as the outer diameter of the body of the ampule to be opened, so that when the ampule is positioned so that the head and the body are respectively located in the hole and the flexible jacket and then the body of the ampule is bent together with the flexible jacket to snap the head from the ampule, the particles formed by the snapping off of the ampule will be inspired into the vacuum source, thereby not contaminating the material in the ampule.

An apparatus for opening an ampule having a head and a body without contaminating material in the ampule by particles formed in snap-opening, comprising:

at least one opening mechanism including a holder for the ampule head having a hole with a cylindrical opening at one end thereof for receiving therein at least a part of the head of the ampule and an outlet communicating with said hole, and an annular flexible jacket situated around the end of the head holder to extend outwardly therefrom, said flexible jacket having almost the same diameter as that of the body of the ampule to be opened,
vacuum means connected to said outlet of said head holder to inspire air through the cylindrical opening so that when the head and the body of the ampule are respectively located in the hole and the flexible jacket and then the body of the ampule is bent together with the flexible jacket, the particles formed by snapping apart of the ampule are inspired with the air into the vacuum means, and actuating means to effect communication of the opening mechanism with the vacuum means when the ampule is positioned in the opening mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ampule opener

Life of this patent

Ampule opener

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16