US2368431A - Ampoule - Google Patents

Description

1945 A. E. SMITH 2,368,431

AMFOULE Filed July'l9, 194s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III h an INVENTOR. ARTHUR E SMITH A T TORNEV 19457 A. E. SMITH 2,368,431

AMPOULE Filed July 19, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a4 INVENTOR.

I ARTHUR E. SMITH A T TORNEV Patented Jan. 30, 1945 UNJIITEDQQ STATES PATENTv 1'" OF F ICE AMPDU'LE... ArthurcE; sin-names Angelesrfla lift -ApplicationrJuly 19,.1-943. Serial 495,318 1e Claims'z -(Ol.128%272l This invention. relatesjto an Amprovement. in ampoules.

The general-object-zof the invention: isto provide? an improved ampoule construction-:inc1uding.-a

novels arnpoule and a novels cork enacting with the novelampoule: and-permitting afresh solution to be readily preparedu:

A. more specific: object-10f the .-invention;.i's to provide anovel Y combi-ned-ampoule and cork-with i.

cooperating PaIft'SKSO pelletin'ormally sealedvin the corkmay be readily-- discharged intoqa solvent in the ampoule.

A more specific provide: a' novel ampoulei;

Another obj ect: of the invention is. to provide a novel'cork for; an ampoule; a

arranged -that a medicinal.

object of thev invention is to I A further object of the invention is to provide;

a cork; having 1 novels means incorporated theree with whereby a medicinal preparation. may'ibe sealed in the cork :when the latter is inserted in an ampoule. .2

Otherpb 'ects and the advantages of my invene tion will be apparent tromthe following'descripr tion *takenin connectioniwith the accompanying,

drawings, whereinz'.

Fig 1 is an-extended sectional. .view showinga, I portion" of an ampoule andj a; stopper: embodying A v the features of myinvention; 1

Figr2 is a'fragmentary;

showing.:the stopper: assembled in theampoule forshipmentyx:

centraL: sectional view- Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig; .2 showing the stopper pushed into the :ampoule .andthe fresh. solutionprepared;

Figs l is a central; .zsectionalv view througha: syringe showing my. improved. ampoule -therein;

Fig.5 is afragmentary, showing a;modified construction;

Fig; 6 is a.- sectionztaken on line Fig? is a viewsimilar to Figa-G corkfully'i-nserted in the ampoule; Fig? 8 is aview takenqon line 8-8,-Fig. 7;

showing the central; sectionalxview Fig? 9 is an 1 extended, fragmentary, sectional viewshowing afurther modification;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view showing the further modification with the cork ampoule, and

Fig.- 11 is a fragmentary; sectional view showing zzthe" :cork; pushed I the medicinalzpelletisdischarged;

inserted in the into the ampoule so that Referring: to :the drawings by reference. char-1 acter's,.:-I have nerallyat LI 0. 'lMyiconstruction'inolu-des [an a showncmy :invention; as embodied in z-anzrampoule: construction r-whichc is indicated wall..20 of the.

. l3 so that the such ,.asl p1astic.-. wThiseampoulewhas .a bodyv .12 which. is shown as cept for a portion inner end. in a planar shoulder; pendicular to the. axis. of the. ,ampoule.

which, is. planar and perpendicularto theaxislof the ..sto.pper.

end and with... a. recess, 23

tions, 22 andizil. 'lhestoppe i terial.

end of the .ampoule' to the 'lpositionshown in Fig.

2. In this position the .portion .20 .of the stopper, engages ,the. frustoconical portion J 3 on theam-. poulei, and, theinnen end. of thestopper is come, pressed andsqueezeditogetherso that theinner. sealedas shownin Fig. 2.

particularly.

end of thecavity 23 is My improved construction is adapted ..or use ,in the prep ration otfreshsolu-v tions. such as solutions of anaesthetizing material employed .sby su geonsifludentals ns i a othersto llrQduce local anaesthesia. Inthe preparation of thesesolutions a suitable .vehicle such as distilledwater is placed in a container and a drug in pellet, into contact with the vehicle just prior to the time of the injection so that the solution is fresh,

thereby insuring its potency and the elimination of post operative difliculties.

In using my improved ampoule. construction the operatorttakes the ampoule, "which reaches in .Fig. 2, and he may then push ;upon the end: 26 :of the' ampoule, thus moving?the gportionzzfl .beyond' the. portion planarwall -19 is just :level withor beyondzrthe planar portion 14 on the planar-w 13. This allows the front ;;end.of the stopper-(to expand-so that the cavity-22 is again himin "the condition shown portion cylindrical inside .and out .ex-

i .13 neartoneend. of the .1 am:. poule ,Thisportion .l.3 is frustoaconical andHcon-n verges inwardly; .The portion 1.3 terminates at its which is. per-.

Beyond theshoulder 9 the :outer' stopper. is flIUStDrCOIliQflI. in shape. thelportion 2.0 .is preferably less. abrupt thanithatof the. portion l3 .onithe, .am .v p0ule .-.,which...l.5 engaged .by .the portion. 20, as will .he-.later..describ.ed.., .The. inner..end of ,the... stopperis provided with a central recessZZ-at one i.

at ,theother end.. .A thin integral .diaphra mlz i separates. the. poris preferably made of rubber,. synthetic rubber, .orother suitable ma.-. .a

powder or other form is brought the interior of the ampoule.

opened due to theresiliency of the material and the drug then passes into solution in the vehicle 21 in the main portion of the ampoule.

It will be noted that the portion 20 is longer than the portion l3 so that the inner end of the portion 20 projects beyond the shoulder l4 when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and as a result the extreme inner end of the stopper expands as at 43 and extends over the shoulder and thus forms a lock which tends to prevent outward movement of the stopper from the ampoule. This locking feature is of considerable importance as it prevents loosening of the stopper during shipment and prior to use.

My improved ampoule construction is adapted for use in numerous types of syringes. In Fig. 4 I have shownone type with which it may be used. In this illustration the syringe includes a body having a rear member threaded thereon. The rear member 3| includes telescoping segments 32 and33 within which a. plunger 34 moves. through the end member 3| and has a finger engaging end portion 35 thereon. The inner end of the segment 33 has a head member 3B.thereon. This head member 36 engages the inner end of the ampoule while the plunger at its lower end has a head 31 thereon which engages piston cork 38 which is slidable withinthe ampoule.

' At its forward end the syringe 30 has a front member 39 thereon in which a tube 40 is inv The plunger 34 passes- 3 removably serted. This tube has an open inner end 4| which is shown as slightly sharpened.

After the ampoule is in the condition shown in Fig.3, the operator may place it in the barrel 30, press the rear member 3| thereon and push the ampoule forward in the barrel by inserting the rear member 3|. This willcause the end 4| on the tube 407to pierce the diaphragm 24, thus opening communication between-the tube 40 and A suitable hypodermic needle may be placed on the forward end 42 of the member 39. After the parts are in this position the operator depresses finger member 35 thus moving the plunger and piston cork thereby discharging the contents of the ampoule. 7

Instead of pushing the cork |5 into the ampoule from the position in Fig. 2 to the position in Fig. 3 before the ampoule is put into the syringe the operator may, if he desires, place the ampoule, when the parts are in the position in Fig; 2, in the barreland maythen push the entire ampoule cork forwardly thus forcing the cork l5 into the ampoule and also piercing the diaphragm 34.

In Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, I show a modification of my invention wherein the ampoule 50 is simi lar to the ampoule previously described and includes a frusto-conical portion 5|. The stopper 52 is similar to the stopper |5 except that the skirt 54 at the inner end of the stopper is arranged in a plurality of segments, shown as three in number and designated 55. These segments are out away at the center at 56 and the segments have planar radial walls 51. The construction is such that when the stopper is ar-' ranged in the" ampoule in the. position shown at 55 the segments 51 will come in contact as shown at 58, Fig. 6, and at the same time the outer end of the ity 60 will be out of contact with the vehicle in the ampoule 5U.

cavityfil! in the end of the ampoule will be closed so that a pellet 6| arranged in the cav- The operation of the construction shown in Figs. 5- to 8 is the same as that described previously.

In Figs. 9, 10 and 11 I show a further modification of my invention wherein the ampoule I0 is provided with a frusto-conical member lar to the frusto-conical members previously described. A stopper, indicated at 12, has a central cavity 13 in which a pellet 14 is arranged. The stopper l2 flares slightly at its lower end as at 15 with the diameter of this flared portion slightly greater than the internal diameter 16 of the ampoule '10. The stopper 12 is moved into the ampoule after the pellet 14 is inserted until the r parts are in the position shown in Fig. 10 in. 15

which position the cavity 12 will be sealed at 11. A plastic or gelatinous seal 18 may then be arranged about the ampoule to hold the stopper 12 in place. The front end of the ampoule is provided with a stopper I9 which has a diaphragm therein adapted to be punctured by a member such as the tube 40 previously described.

In the operation of the modification the stopper 12 is pushed into the ampoule as by the plunger 3'! until the cavity 13 is open and the pellet 14 passes into the liquid 8| in the ampoule. The stopper 12 in this type serves as a piston cork and further movement of this stopper 12 will cause the contents of the ampoule to be discharged as will be readily understood.

In the modifications the stopper 52 has a looking portion. 62 similar-to the portion 43 and the stopper 12 has a locking portion 82 similar to the portion 43. These locking portions serve to hold the stoppers in place prior'to use.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have invented a novel ampoule construction which can be economically manufactured, readily loaded and readily used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An ampoule comprising a hollow member having an inwardly converging portion adjacent to one end, and a stopper, said stopper bein made of resilient material and including an inwardly opening cavity at the inner end, said stopper including an inner end portion engaging the converging portion on the ampoule, the normal maximum diameter of thestopper inner end .p0rtion being greater than the minimum diameter of the converging portion of the ampoule whereby the stopper is compressed and the inner end of the cavity is closed.

2. An ampoule comprising a hollow member having an inwardl converging portion, and a stopper, said stopper being made of resilient material and arranged in the ampoule, said stopper including a reduced intermediate portion and an inwardly converging portion beyond the intermediate portion, said stopper having a cavity therein, said cavity being open at its outer end, said stopper converging portion engaging the converging portion on the ampoule, the normal maximum diameter of the stopper converging portion being greater than the minimum diameter of the converging portion of the ampoule adjacent the shoulder, whereby the stopper is compressed by the engagement of the converging portions.

3. An ampoule comprising a hollow. elongated, cylindrical member having an inwardly converging portion, and a stopper made of resilient material and including a reduced portion, said step per including an inwardly converging portion beyond the reduced portion, said stopper having a cavity therein, said cavity being normally open at its outer end, said stopper converging portion enaaeaiesr gagangamine-attendiirgz.beyondaheicomrergingpore tion 'on ithe ampoul'aithe?normalz'rmaximumrnli ameter of therstopperaconverging portioncbeing greaterlthanwthePminirnum:'diaineternof the icon verging iDOFtiOIlT :of -ithez'ainpoulemadjacentwthe shoulder whereby the stopper is compressednb the engagement of thefl convergingizportionsnand1 theiinner; ends of thercavitylz is' clos'edg'ithetrimier endfof the converging'zportion:fonning wbead and. thereby providing aisealrxi.

membera havingi an inwardly *-convergin'g-.-.: portion adjacentxto.ionesoend, :said. convergingriportioin terminating inwardly? in a shouldeii-i andmt stop and ncluding-anrouteri enduarrangedxinsaidion end portioniof the-ampoule, saidzstopperz-xinclud ingza reduced intermediate'portio-niiandianr wardly convergingl portion beyondithe intermedi ate portlong said stopper: having 13x3. cavity; therein saidi-cavity beinglrnormally open' iat its router; end:

mene :o-f athei cjonverging .porti ons: ran d :th e1:- drone-rm end of the cavit is closed.-

endiportion thereofpthe-other.end portionof said amponl e'z-h ailing-I anirinwardl y .convergin'g rportion ampoulethav-ing ancinwardly convergingtportioii saidieonyerging eportiontterminatinginwardlyzin of theiompoulepand aistopperrsaidastopperbeing made oif resilientimaterial andin'cludin'g a= cylin endrpbrtioirzthereotnthetotherendpbrtion: of said? o a plane ShOlllldEIfZI-Wl'ii'CIL-TS perpendicular to the-axis dricalzendipal'tifittingthe other end portion of the-rs.

ampoule;isaidestopper beyond 'the:first cylindrical? 1 portion winoluding::aareducedzportion, said: stopper 1U includingiaminwardlyconverging:portionrbeyond 4. nniampouler'comprisingiazhollow; cylindricaltheriseoondscylindricalzportion;said. stopper hav in'gaa -'cavityotl1erein,=.isaid: cavity being inormally s openiiatwzits'zoutentendand closed: at itsiinner'end by. adiaphragmzzintegraiz'withsthe stopper; said stopper:converginglportion! engaging the lconverging-znortions ton therainpoule', the normalumaxie'vmumrdiametenof the-stopper:iconverginghportion, being greaterathanitheajminimum diameter of the convergingaportion :of the-ampoule adjacent the H the=rengagement 1 of the-inneioendrof theicavityis closed; a

8. 'Anrampoulecomprising: a": hollow;

2 shoulder whereby:.thetstopperis compressed byv ;.the;:converging portions andv elongated, I

cylindrical memberz-havingia' frusto conical', .in-

rwardlyiconvergingz shoulder portion, said;frusto-.

' conical rportionzfterminating inwardlyi in a, planeshouldeizowhich .is perpendicular. to the 'axis .of

the,rampoule,'; =andrza stopper; said stopper being resilient material and-including a 'cylin-' drioa'lnendcpart .fitting the; ampoule, 'said' stopper,

made of beyond thenfirstzz'zcylindricalr portions including a reduced":iportiomosaidi stopper. including: an *giIlwardlycponverging:frustoeconical:portionbeyond 1 i the redncediportion; said=stopper having a cavity said;convergingiportioniterminating in wardlyiina ;;t1herei1r; saidmavityszsbeing lnormally" open at :its--, outer: endiandsclosed at itsninnerend, said stopper frustoconical portion. engaging i the'f-rustoconicakportionlon-theifam'poule, the bnormal maximum shouldergrandtaz portion including .areducedmortionpsaid stopper 40 including aminwardlyifconyergingiportionzbeyond theisecond cylindrical p0rtiomrsaid stopperhaving a cavity therein;isaid icavityl'beinginormal lyfopen at itsrouter:endrandmlos'ed at itsi-inn'er end, said stopper converging portion engaging the converg ing portionlxon:theiampoule, the normal maximum diameter of the stopper converging portion being greater than the minimum diameter of-the converging portion of the ampoule adjacent the shoulder whereby the stopper is compressed by the engagement of the converging portions and the inner end of the cavity is closedv 6. An ampoule comprising a hollow, elongated, cylindrical member having an inwardl converg-- ing shoulder portion,

shoulder and a stopper, said stopper being made of resilient material and including an end part fitting the ampoule, said stopper beyond the first cylindrical portion including a reduced portion, said-stopper including an inwardly converging portion beyond the; reduced portion, said stopper having a cavity portions and the inner end of the cavity is closed. the stopper and ampoule being so proportioned that when the stopper converging portion is at poule, said stopper, beyond having a piston stopper in one dialireterodf tthef: frusto 'conic'al stopper portion the inner: 561161201; ithe-rcavity is closed, said stopper fru'sigoeconic'alcpiortioncterminatinginwardly in a,

shouldernwhichris .Iplanarcand perpendicular to e1 tl'ie axislof theaampoule; the stopper'and' ampoule partstibeingisso proportioned that: when the stopper is moved inwardly so that the stopper shoulder is disposed at least even with the ampoule shoulder the frusto-conical portion on the stopper Will be free to expand to permit the stopper cavity to open and a preparation arranged in said cavity,

9. An ampoule comprising a hollow, elongated, cylindrical member having a piston stopper in one end thereof, the other end of said ampoule having a frusto-conical, inwardly converging shoulder portion, said frusto-conical portion terminating inwardly in a plane shoulder which is perpendicular to the axis of stopper, said stopper being made of resilient material and including an end flange and a cylindrical end part fitting the other end of the amthefirst cylindrical portion, including a second reduced cylindrical portion, said stopper including an inwardly converging frusto-conical portion beyond the second cylindrical portion, said stopper having a cavity therein, said cavity being normally open-at its outer end and closed at its inner end by a diathe ampoule, and a by the engagement of thecornplemental portion and the inner end of thecavity is closed, said,

stopper frusto-conical portion terminating inwardly in a shoulder which is planar and perpendicular to the axis of the ampoule, the stopper and ampoule parts being so proportioned that when the flange on the stopper engages the end of the ampoule the stopper shoulder will be disposed at least even with the ampoule shoulder so that the frusto-conical portion on the stopper will be free to expand to permit the stopper cavity to open and a preparation arranged in said cavity.

10. An ampoule comprising a hollow, elongated, cylindrical member having a frusto-conical, in wardly converging shoulder portion, said frusto conical portion terminating inwardly'in a plane shoulder which is perpendicular tothe axis of the ampoule, and a stopper, said stopper being made of resilient material and including a cylindrical end portion with an external flange thereon, said stopper beyond the first cylindrical portion including a plurality of segmental portions which taper downwardly, said segmental portions having spaced, planar, opposed, radial walls, the' inner faces of said Walls being normally spaced from each other to form a recess, each of said segmental portions having an external tapering flange on the inner end thereof.

11. An ampoule comprising a hollow, elongated, cylindrical member-having a frusto-conical, inwardly converging shoulder portion, said irustoconical portion terminating inwardly in a plane shoulder which is perpendicular to the axisof the ampoule, and a stopper, said stopper being made of resilient material and including a cylindrical outer endpart, said stopper beyond the cylindrical part flaring outwardly, said stopper having a cavity therein, the outer end of said cavity being open, the inner end of said cavity extending beyond the flaring portion.

12'. An ampoule stopper made of resilientmaterial and including a cylindrical end portion, said stopper beyond the eluding a reduced portion, said stopper including an inwardly converging frusto-conical portion first cylindrical portion inbeyond the reduced portion, said stopper having a recess extending inwardly from the front end, said recess being closed at itsouter end by 2. diaphragm integral with the stopper, said stopper frusto-conical portion terminating inwardly in a shoulder.

13. An ampoule stopper made of resilient material and including a cylindrical end portion having an outwardly directed flange, said stopper beyond the first cylindrical portion including a second reduced cylindrical portion, said stopper including an inwardly converging frusto-conical portion beyond the second cylindrical portion, said stopper having a recess extending inwardly from each end, said recesses being closed at their inner ends by a diaphragm integral with the stopper, said stopper frusto-conical portion terminating inwardly in a shoulder which is planar and perpendicular to the axis of the stopper.

14. An ampoule stopper made of resilient material and including a cylindrical end portion, said stopper including a plurality of segmental portions, said segmental portions having spaced, opposed walls, the inner faces of said walls being normally spaced from each other to form a recess,

each of said segmental portions having an external flange thereon.

15. An ampoule stopper made of resilient material and including a cylindrical end portion with an external flange thereon, said stopper beyond the first cylindrical portion including a plurality of segmental portions which taper downwardly, said segmental portions having spaced, planar, opposed, radial walls, the inner faces of said walls being normally spaced from each other to form a recess, .each of said segmental portions having an external flange on the inner end thereof.

16. An ampoule stopper made of resilient material and including acylindrical end part, said stopper beyond the first cylindrical portion flaring outwardly, said stopper having a cavity therein, the outer end of said cavity being open, the inner end of said cavity extending beyond the flaring portion.

ARTHUR E. SMITH.

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