GB2417954A

GB2417954A - Ampoule cutter

Info

Publication number: GB2417954A
Application number: GB0420218A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anand Dhondo Deshpande
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-11
Filing date: 2004-09-11
Publication date: 2006-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2024-09-11
Also published as: GB0420218D0; GB2417954B

Abstract

A elongate hand tool for breaking open glass ampoules safely and easily comprises a first sawing end A and second ampoule neck-breaking end B. The two ends are joined together via a central disc 1. Two arms of equal length 2,3 join two semicircular saw blade holders 4,5 to the disc 1. On the opposite side of the disc, there are two arms of unequal length 6,7 whose free ends are shaped into web-like expansions. In use, a glass ampoule is held between the semicircular saw blades. The two arms 2,3 are firmly pressed together so that the blades contact the neck of the ampoule. The ampoule is then rotated along its axis and the glass around the neck of the ampoule is weakened. The ampoule neck is then grasped between the webs of the neck-breaking end B, and the top of the ampoule is snapped off. The broken off piece of the ampoule can safely be disposed of into appropriate container without the need to touch the broken piece with the fingers.

Description

1/ 24 1 7954

AMPOULE CUTTER

This invention relates to an ampoule cutter.

Doctors, nurses and paramedics often have to cut a glass ampoule for drugs to be loaded in syringe before administering to patient. When cutting open the glass ampoule minor accidental injuries to the fingers is a real hazard. This invention makes the cutting the drug ampoule very safe and easy.

See Figure 1. The ampoule cutter has a central disc (no 1). On one side of the disc is ampoule neck sawing end (A) and on the other side is the arnpoule neck-breaking end.

(marked B)

SAWING - END OF THE AMPOULE CUTTER

See Figure 1. This end has two arms (marked 2 and 3) of equal length. These two arms (2 and 3) are attached to the central disc (1) in diametrically opposite positions on the circumference of the disc. Each arm (2 and 3) at their free ends is attached to a semicircular saw blade holder (4 and 5). Each arm is attached to its corresponding saw blade holder at its convex border. The concave edge of each semicircular saw blade holder faces inwards and face each other.

The saw blade holder is (4 and 5) semicircular in shape. The saw blade holder is two layered and has a space (marked 8) between these two semicircular layers (see figure 2). The two semicircular layers of the saw blade holder are joined to each other at their convex or outer edge only (marked 9). The semicircular space between the two layers of the saw blade holders is for housing semicircular shaped cutting saw blade.

SEMICIRCULAR CUTTING SAW BLAI)E See Figure 3. The shape of the semicircular cutting saw blade (marked 10 and 11) is the same as the semicircular saw blade holders mentioned above (4 and 5). The semicircular cutting saw has teeth at its concave edge. The cutting saw blade slides snugly into the space between the two layers of the semicircular saw blade holder.

When each of the semicircular saw blade holder has been fitted with a semicircular cutting saw blade the teeth of the both saw blades face each other but make an incomplete circle of teeth (see figure 1).

The saw blades can be replaced when they become blunt after repeated use. y

THE AMPOULE NECK - BREAKING END

See Figure 1. This part consists of two arms (marked 6 and 7) of unequal length. The arms of unequal length are attached to the central disc (no 1) in diametrically opposite positions at the disc's circular outer edge but in line with the attachment of the two arms (2 and 3) of the sawing end. The two arms of the ampoule neck-breaking end have their free ends shaped into web-shaped expansions. These web-like expansions are curved in such a way that their concave surfaces face each other inwards. These two web-like expansions of the two arms with their concave surfaces facing ach other are for holding the neck of the glass ampoule when breaking it from the body of the ampoule. (see Figure 5) Function 1 Each semicircular saw blade holder (4 and S) is fitted with a semicircular cutting saw blade in the space between the two layers of the saw blade holder. The cutting teeth of the two saw blades face each other.

2 Holding the ampoule (marked 12) in one hand place its neck between the teeth of the two semicircular saw blades. (See Figure 4) 3 With the other hand fingers gently press the two arms of the sawing end (2 and 3), which will bring the teeth of the cutting saw blades in contact with the neck of the glass arnpoule. Hold the neck between the teeth of the saw blades firmly.

4 Rotate the ampoule a few times around its long axis. This will produce a partial thickness cutting of the neck of the glass ampoule by the teeth of the two semicircular saws (marked 13).

Now loosen the hold of the neck of the glass ampoule from the cutting saw teeth.

Remove the sawing end from the neck of the glass ampoule.

6 Now turning the ampoule cutter upside down, place the two web-like expansions of the arms of the neck-breaking end of the ampoule cutter on the neck of the glass a npoule (See Figure S) 7 With gentle pressure and tilting movement on these two web-like expansions of the two unequal length arms the neck of the ampoule can be safely broken off from the body of the ampoule.

8 The drug containing body of the ampoule is in one hand. The broken neck of the ampoule is between the web-like expansions of the arms of the neckbreaking end of the ampoule cutter. The broken neck of the ampoule can be safely disposed in a container without touching it.

Claims

CLAI1\IS 1 The ampoule cutter has a central disc (1) and a glass sawing

end (A) and an ampoule neck-breaking end (B).

2 The ampoule cutter as claimed in claim 1 has a central disc to which two arms of equal length (2, 3) are attached at its outer edge in diametrically opposite positions.

3 The ampoule cutter as claimed in claim I and 2 has two arms (2,3) of equal length whose free ends are each attached to a semicircular saw blade holder (4,5) 4 The ampoule cutter as claimed in claim 1,2,3 has two semicircular saw blade holders (4 and 5) which are two layered with semicircular space between these two layers (marked 8) The ampoule cutter as claimed in claim 1,2,3,4 has two semicircular saw blade holders (4,5) each with two semicircular layers and these two layers are joined to each other at their convex or outer edge only. (marked 9) 6 The ampoule cutter as claimed in claim 1,2,3,4,5 has two semicircular saw blades (10, 11) one fitted in each of the spaces between the two layers of each of the saw blade holders (4,5) 7 The ampoule cutter as claimed in claiml,2,3,4,5,6 has two arms of unequal length (6,7)attached to the central disc (1) at its outer edge in diametrically opposite positions but in line with the attachments of the arms of the sawing end (2,3) 8 The ampoule cutter as claimed in claiml,2,3,4,5,6,7 has two unequal arms as claimed in claim 7 whose free ends are shaped into web-like expansions with their concave surfaces turned inwards and facing each other.

9 The ampoule cutter as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 above is used to saw the neck of the ampoule using the sawing end and to break the neck of the ampoule by using the neck-breaking end of the ampoule cutter.

The ampoule cutter as claimed in claiml,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 above is suitable to cut the ampoule of any size.