GB2345908A - Tool for opening glass ampoules - Google Patents

Abstract

A hand tool for opening glass ampoules comprises a rigid tube or rod 10 with a cylindrical or conical recess 11 at one or both ends into which the head of an ampoule can be inserted providing adequate leverage for breaking the head off the ampoule. The tool may have a pocket clip 13.

Description

TOOL FOR OPENING GLASS AMPOULES This invention relates to tools for the opening of sealed glass ampoules employed as safe containers for medicines used principally for injection.

The use of glass ampoules for the above purpose arises out of the great security of the medicine within from bacterial or other foreign substance penetration since the glass ampoules are sealed after filling with medicine by flame melting the glass head of the ampoules thereby providing a solid glass sterile enclosed container which is tamper proof and which can be opened only by breaking the glass.

The present difficulty which arises with opening glass ampoules comes from their very small size which gives very limited leverage to the fingers and sometimes leads to Repetitive Strain Injury when many ampoules are opened by individual nurses or medical practitioners per day. A further difficulty arises out of the glass ampoules occasionally breaking at a place other than at the narrow neck which results in shards of broken glass cutting the fingers of the medical user concerned.

According to the present invention there is provided a tool which gives the user adequate leverage for the action of breaking the glass neck of glass ampoules and which also ensures that the stress of the action of breaking off the head of the ampoule is focused at its narrow neck. A further advantage of the present invention is that the broken off head of the ampoule remains inside the tool at the time when the breaking action takes place and thus protects the fingers if sharp shards of broken glass are produced.

The essential technical features of the present invention comprise a handle with a hollow cylindrical or conical recess feature at one or each end which is used to enclose the head of the glass ampoule prior to breaking the head from the ampoule. The handle may be of a suitably narrow width and incorporate a pocket clip so that it may conveniently fit into a pocket and thus be secured in clothing when not in use.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows the shape of a typical sealed glass ampoule in side elevation.

Figure 2 shows a view of a cylindrical example of the tool incorporating a pocket clip.

Figure 3 shows a section through the axis of a cylindrical example of the tool revealing a hollow cylindrical recess feature at each end to enclose different sizes of heads of glass ampoules. This figure also illustrates with arrows the action used to break the head off a glass ampoule.

Figure 4 shows a section through the axis of a cylindrical example of the tool revealing a continuous hollow recess throughout the tool making it in the form of a tube or section of pipe.

Referring to the drawing the tool comprises a handle 10 and recesses 11 which are used to enclose the head of a glass ampoule before breaking it off.

The drawing also shows the optional pocket clip 13.

Claims (4)

1. CLAIMS 1 A hand tool for opening glass ampoules comprising a handle with a recess at one or both ends of such a size to enclose the head of a glass ampoule and provide additional leverage to break the head off a glass ampoule.
2. 2 A hand tool as claimed in Claim 1 which may be so formed that the recess at both ends may be continuous so that the tool is in the form of a tube.
3. 3 A hand tool as claimed in Claim 1 which may incorporate a pocket clip so that it may be conveniently secured in the clothing of the user.
4. 4 A hand tool as claimed in Claim 1 which may be made of metal or plastic or any other convenient material.