GB1563464A

GB1563464A - Device for breaking the tips of pharmaceutical ampoules

Info

Publication number: GB1563464A
Application number: GB5189677A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: PAILLET B
Current assignee: PAILLET B
Priority date: 1976-12-15
Filing date: 1977-12-13
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: DE2755270A1; FR2374026B1; FR2374026A1; BE861820A; ES232698Y; NL7713729A; ES232698U

Description

(54) A DEVICE FOR BREAKING THE TIPS OF PHARMACEUTICAL AMPOULES (71) I, BERNARD PAILLET, a French citizen, of Lieu-dit "Pan-Perdu", Saint Marcel-Bel-Accueil (Isere), France, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a device for opening pharmaceutical ampoules and other like glass containers having one or more pointed tips which must be broken to allow egress of contents.

The traditional means used to cut off the tips of ampoules is a small file which is liable to be lost and whose use is not very convenient; in particular the employment of such a file requires a certain effort on the part of the user, does not permit obtaining of an immediate opening and presents a risk of injury to a person little skilled in its use.

Another means increasingly employed consists of ampoule manufacturers employing a pre-cut, a metal or enamel deposit or any other means creating either a point of weakness or tension in the glass thus per niitting an easier breaking of the ampoule at the desired location, the user only having to rip the end of the ampoule and twist same to cause a breakage and the point of weakness.

However, these ampoules, designated "auto-breaking", do not, in practice, provide a satisfactory result taking into account the conditions of industrial production which prevent the obtaining of a sufficient uniformity in the quality of the glass, in its thickness, and in the area providing the weakness so that it is necessary to employ very variable forces to open these "auto-breaking" ampoules. Consequently, the user can ex penitence difficulties in correctly opening ampoules, and very often this operation generates glass particles with a risk of same falling into the product to be used, or even into a wound.

The principle of using an accessory device for breaking ampoules tips is already known, such a device being constituted by a box provided with an opening into which is introduced the tip of an ampoule to be opened and providing means whereby the tip can be broken off, for example by a twisting movement, the severed part being received in the box. Such a device is however incomplete, being not very efficient or economic, and has not, in practice, been used till now.

The present invention envisages the overcoming of the aforesaid drawbacks by providing, to replace the traditional file or to complete the auto-breaking" ampoule a simple specially adapted device which allows immediate opening of ampoules without effort and risk.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for breaking the tips of pharmaceutical ampoules or the like, comprising a box having an opening into which can be introduced the tip of an ampoule to be opened and having means for breaking the tip, the severed part being received in the box, which means comprises a lever pivoted on the box and provided with a part adapted to exert pressure on the ampoule tip, the length of the lever being selected so that the pressure exerted by the user to rupture the ampoule is reduced.

This arrangement allows opening of an ampoule by a simple pressure of a finger on the lever, the rupture of the ampoule being effected in the box interior wherein the tip and other glass particles are contained. The capacity of the box is chosen so that it can contain all the severed parts of a bath of ampoules of predetermined number. The box may have means permitting its opening and closing to permit removal of the severed parts therefrom thus allowing the box to be used indefinitely.

In a preferred embodiment, the box is provided, below the part of the lever which acts on the ampoule point, with at least one movable flap which closes off the part of the box in which is received the severed parts.

Thus, rupture of the ampoule is effected external of the receiving compartment defined by the box and shutter or shutters thereby avoiding the ampoule to be opened being contacted by glass debris or polluted by liquids from previously-opened ampoules.

In a preferred arrangement, the lever comprises, in addition to the pressureapplying part, at least one other projecting part for exerting a pressure on the shutter or shutters to ensure simultaneous opening thereof with rupture of the ampoule, the shutter or shutters automatically re-closing when the lever returns to its original position. The action of the lever thus opens the receiving compartment so as to ensure receipt of the point and other debris into the box. When the lever has returned to its initial position, the shutter or shutters which are no longer subjected to the pressure of the projecting part or parts return to their original position which can easily be provided for by making the shutter or shutters pivotal and connected to the box spring hinges.

The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 of a third, more elaborate, embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section on the line 44 of Fig. 3.

As shown in Fig. 1, the device according to the invention has the exterior form of a box 1 which is of a general elongated parallelopipedal, cylindrical or other shape and which is of a size enabling it to be fitted into a box for storing ampoules. The box 1 is provided on one of its end sides with an orifice 2, the profile of which corresponds substantially to that of the end of an ampoule 3 to be opened. The interior 4 of the box 1 is closed on its upper side or top by a lever 5 hinged, as at 6 to the box. The interior face of the lever 5 comprises a projecting portion 7.

In order to use the device, the end of an ampoule is pushed into the interior 4 of the box through the orifice 2, which positions the ampoule. Then one pushes on the free end of the lever 5 so as to make it pivot around its hinge 6 in order that the projection 7 breaks the tip of the ampoule 3, the severed portion falling to the bottom of the interior 4 of the box 1. The length of the lever 5 and the position of the projection 7 in relation to the hinge 6 are chosen to ensure a suitable reduction of the force required from the user, for example a division of this force by a coefficient of 5 to 10.

After opening, the ampoule 3 is withdrawn and an optional release-spring 8, acting on the undersurface of the free end of the lever 5, raises the lever and withdraws it from the region previously occupied by the end of the ampoule.

Fig. 2, where the same reference numerals designate the same features of construction, shows a variation in the shape of the lever in which the free end of the lever comprises a flange 9 abutting against a rim 10 of the box 1 so as to limit the travel of the lever 5 upwards.

The device described above can be made of plastics material or other suitable material and of one or a mixture of materials. In the case when the device is made of a plastics material, the lever 5 is formed advantageously by an integral part of the box 1 itself and is connected to the rest of the box by a region of reduced thickness, which forms the hinge 6 and is also able to perform the function of the spring 8. The assembly can, for example, be made by injection moulding.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is more elaborate but operates on the same principle as the preceding embodiments, the same reference numerals still designating the same features of construction. In this embodiment, the shape of the box 1 is modified and the axis of the orifice 2 is inclined in relation to the base of the box 1. This enables the ampoule 3 to be positioned with an oblique orientation facilitating the flow of liquid into a glass 11, shown in chaindashed lines.

In addition, two movable flaps 12 are hinged to the walls of the box 1 along parallel axes 13 situated on either side of the region in which the tip of the ampoule 3 is introduced into the orifice 2. The two flaps 12 contact one another to close the upper side or top of the interior 4 of the box 1.

The lever 5 comprises, on either side of the projection 7, two other longer projections 14 situated facing the two flaps 12.

Thus, when the device is in use, the projections 14 of the lever 5 separate the movable flaps 12 making them pivot about their hinges 13 before the projection 7 breaks the end of the ampoule 3. The severed portion 15 and other debris can then drop to the base of the box interior 4, the flaps 12 separating to permit their passage.

After this operation, the release spring 8, acting on the undersurface of the lever, raises the latter. The return of the lever to its initial position removes the force exerted by the projections 14 on the flaps 12, which can then re-close-the box 1. If the device is made of plastics material, then a biassing force tending to re-close the flaps 12 can, in the same way as that of the lever 5 be obtained by making the hinges 13 of a pdrtion of the box 1 of reduced thickness, the devices being integrally formed advantageously in one injection moulding operation.

It is to be noted that, by the same principle, one can obtain, without addition of another separately made piece, a box 1 with a base 16 hinged as at 17 to permit the evacuation of the severed portions 15 contained within the box's interior 4.

In all the embodiments of the invention described above, the device can be provided with an abrasive member or portion which enables, by friction, twisting, rotation or other movement, the creation or the exacerbation of a weakness in the tip of the ampoule 3 to facilitate its breaking. This abrasive member or portion is advantageously positioned in contact with the tip of the ampoule 3 when the latter is pushed into the orifice 2 of the box 1, and particularly positioned either on the rim of the orifice or on the lever 5. It can be made, more precisely, as a distinct abrasive member such as a file or grinding wheel, or when the device is made of plastics material, of a quantity of abrasive particles such as glass fibres or metal particles which are added at the moment of injection or before injection in the moulding process to make the device at least in part abrasive.The abrasive member or portion creates micro-ruptures or cavities in the surface of the glass before or simultaneous with the force exerted on the ampoule 3, or otherwise creates these microruptures by the rotation of the ampoule 3 in the orifice 2 against the abrasive rim.

The invention is applicable to ordinary ampoules as well as those termed autobreaking, which have already a line of weakness along which they can be broken. The shape of these ampoules can vary as the device can be adapted, and it can be adapted, moreover, for use with ampoules with "two tips" as well as to ampoules with only one tip termed "bottle ampoules".

WHAT I CLAIM IS:- 1. A device for breaking the tips of pharmaceutical ampoules or the like, comprising a box having an opening into which can be introduced the tip of an ampoule to be opened and having means for breaking the tip, the severed part being received in the box, which means comprises a lever pivoted on the box and provided with a part adapted to exert pressure on the ampoule tip, the length of the lever being selected so that the pressure exerted by the user to rupture the ampoule is reduced.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which the lever is integrally formed with the box by a connecting region of reduced thickness to provide for pivotting of the lever.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, in which the box is provided, below the pressure-applying part of the lever with at least one movable flap which closes off the part of the box in which is received the severed parts.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which the lever comprises, in addition to its pressure-applying part, at least one other projecting part adapted to exert a pressure on the or each flap to ensure simultaneous opening thereof with ampoule rupture, the or each flap being self-closing when the lever returns to its original position.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which there are two flaps connected to the wall of the box on opposite sides of the region where an ampoule tip is introduced into the box, the lever having two projecting parts for acting on the flaps and disposed on opposite sides of the pressure applying part thereof.

6. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 in which the lever is provided with a return spring which tends to urge the lever away from the ampoule tip inserted into the box.

7. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, in which the lever and/or the flaps are rendered springy by using a plastics material, pivotting of the flaps, and the lever, being provided for by zones of reduced thickness forming hinges.

8. A device according to claim 7 of unitary construction formed by a single injection moulding operation using plastics material.

9. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, provided with an abrasive member or forming part of the lever with an abrasive area.

10. a device for breaking the points of pharmaceutical ampoules or the like, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. integrally formed advantageously in one injection moulding operation. It is to be noted that, by the same principle, one can obtain, without addition of another separately made piece, a box 1 with a base 16 hinged as at 17 to permit the evacuation of the severed portions 15 contained within the box's interior 4. In all the embodiments of the invention described above, the device can be provided with an abrasive member or portion which enables, by friction, twisting, rotation or other movement, the creation or the exacerbation of a weakness in the tip of the ampoule 3 to facilitate its breaking. This abrasive member or portion is advantageously positioned in contact with the tip of the ampoule 3 when the latter is pushed into the orifice 2 of the box 1, and particularly positioned either on the rim of the orifice or on the lever 5. It can be made, more precisely, as a distinct abrasive member such as a file or grinding wheel, or when the device is made of plastics material, of a quantity of abrasive particles such as glass fibres or metal particles which are added at the moment of injection or before injection in the moulding process to make the device at least in part abrasive.The abrasive member or portion creates micro-ruptures or cavities in the surface of the glass before or simultaneous with the force exerted on the ampoule 3, or otherwise creates these microruptures by the rotation of the ampoule 3 in the orifice 2 against the abrasive rim. The invention is applicable to ordinary ampoules as well as those termed autobreaking, which have already a line of weakness along which they can be broken. The shape of these ampoules can vary as the device can be adapted, and it can be adapted, moreover, for use with ampoules with "two tips" as well as to ampoules with only one tip termed "bottle ampoules". WHAT I CLAIM IS:-

1. A device for breaking the tips of pharmaceutical ampoules or the like, comprising a box having an opening into which can be introduced the tip of an ampoule to be opened and having means for breaking the tip, the severed part being received in the box, which means comprises a lever pivoted on the box and provided with a part adapted to exert pressure on the ampoule tip, the length of the lever being selected so that the pressure exerted by the user to rupture the ampoule is reduced.