US 7,597,226 B2 · Disposable ampoule openers

Abstract

A method of opening an ampoule and an ampoule opening device are disclosed. The method in at least one of the embodiments includes providing a structure that includes an elongated housing having a longitudinal housing axis and an inner cavity, an open housing end, a closed housing end, sidewalls disposed between the open housing end and the closed housing end, the sidewalls having an outer housing surface and an inner housing surface forming at least a portion of the inner cavity; and a lid or rotatably flexibly secured to the elongated housing proximate the open housing end; positioning the upper tip portion of the ampoule in the elongated housing such that the upper tip portion is substantially enclosed within the inner cavity of the housing, the lower liquid portion is substantially outside the housing and the longitudinal ampoule axis is substantially parallel to the longitudinal housing axis; pressing the lid against the longitudinal outer surface of the lower liquid portion of the ampoule with a thumb or finger; bending the elongated housing with respect to the ampoule such that the longitudinal housing axis rotates with respect to the longitudinal ampoule axis and the neck portion of the ampoule breaks; and separating the longitudinal outer surface of the lower liquid portion of the ampoule from the lid, after which the lower liquid portion can be secured and the housing containing the upper tip portion of the ampoule disposed of.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A disposable ampoule opener in combination with an ampoule, wherein the ampoule has a lower liquid portion capable of containing liquid and an upper tip portion that is narrower in diameter than the lower liquid portion, the ampoule further having a neck portion disposed between the lower liquid portion and the upper tip portion, and wherein the disposable ampoule opener comprises a plastic elongated housing that includes a first elongated housing section and a second elongated housing section hingedly connected to the first elongated housing section and at least one latch capable of securing the first elongated housing section to the second elongated housing section and defining an inner cavity shaped to receive a portion of the ampoule, wherein the plastic elongated housing includes (a) an open housing end, (b) a closed housing end, (c) sidewalls disposed between the open housing end and the closed housing end, the sidewalls having an outer housing surface and an inner housing surface forming at least a portion of the inner cavity, (d) at least one inner rib circumscribing at least a portion of the inner housing surface proximate the open housing end;

and (e) a lid secured proximate the open housing end, the lid being capable of a closed position and an open position.

(a) includes a first elongated housing section and a second elongated housing section;
(b) is capable of being in an open position or a closed position;
(c) is capable of defining an inner cavity shaped to receive at least the upper tip portion of the ampoule when in the closed position;
(d) has an open housing end and a closed housing end when in the closed position;
(e) has sidewalls disposed between the open housing end and the closed housing end, the sidewalls having an outer housing surface and an inner housing surface that forms at least a portion of the inner cavity;
(f) has at least one inner rib or rib section that fully or partially circumscribes at least a portion of the inner housing surface proximate the open housing end, to clamp the ampoule at the neck portion;
(g) includes a lid secured to at least one of the first or second elongated housing sections proximate the housing end) the lid being capable of being in a closed or an open position.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Disposable ampoule openers

Life of this patent

Disposable ampoule openers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29