US2815024A - Ampule - Google Patents

Description

Dec 3, 1957 H. R. `JOHNSON 2,815,024

AMPULE Filed Aug. so, 1955 FI G. I` I4 A 7 'o United Sttes Patent AMPULE Howard R. Johnson, Collingswood, N. J., assignor to Howard Johnson Electrostatics & Electronics, Inc., Pound, Va., a corporation of Virginia Application August 30, 1955, Serial No. 531,369

2 Claims. (Cl. 12S-272) t This invention relates to ampules and has for its principal object the provision of an ampule for use with a plunger-type hypodermic syringe in which the medicine 1s discharged parallel to the axis of the plunger.

A further object of the invention is to provide a disposable ampule containing a single treatment of any desired medication, the quantity usually being a cubic centlmeter.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an ampule which can be used repeatedly with medication from a large container connected to the ampule by tubing, .for example, but using a fresh disposable tip for each inlection.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a prepackaged or disposable ampule.

Figure 2 is a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a central vertical section through a modified ampule intended for automatic refilling and discharge.

The ampule comprises a head and an integral extension 11, the latter having therein a medication chamber 12 in which slides a piston 14 which may be attached to the plunger of the syringe (not shown) and for this purpose the piston carries a threaded stem 15 for insertion in the threaded end of the plunger. Since this piston may at times be the plunger of the syringe, as for example when the rod 40 is of less diameter than the piston 14, it is convenient to form the piston of rubber and to provide annular grooves 16 in its periphery. The extension 11 is preferably reduced in outer diameter at its rear end, as at 17, to iit within an annular guide against which the shoulder 18 strikes.

The head 10, as best seen in Figure 2, is cylindrical, but is cut away on an arc 20 at the rear to provide room for a sterilizer (not shown). Within the head there is a conical recess 22 communicating with an opening 23 leading to the rear face 24 of the cut-away portion. A slanting bore 25 leads from the forward circular base of the chamber 12 to a point such as 26 in the conical surface of the recess. As the filled ampule is sold, the recess 26 and the bore 25 are closed by a plastic or rubber plug 27 which fits tightly into the tapered recess to prevent the medication in chamber 12 and bore 25 from becoming ICC contaminated. At the time of injection, the plug 27 is removed and is replaced by a small, disposable tip 48.

Referring now to Figure 3, the extension 11 in both forms is identical but the head 10a in the modification is enlarged as at 30 to provide for communication with a large receptacle, not shown. The entry 32 is controlled by a ball 33 held against its seat by spring 34. its cage 35 is screwed into the ampule by -rneans of a knurled flange 36 and plastic tubing such as 38 is placed over the projecting sleeve or nipple 39 of the cage 35.

It is also necessary in this moditication to close the bore 25 as the piston 14 attached to plunger 40 is Withdrawn or moved away from entry 32. For this purpose I provide an outlet valve consisting of a ball 42 closing the seat formed by a slight enlargement such as 44 of the bore 25, the enlargement being preferably coaxial with the chamber. The ball 42 is held to its seat by a spring 4S seated in a recess in plug 46. The amp'ule body is preferably made of nylon, as this material is transparent and readily withstands the repeated sterilization necessary.

The operation of the device is as follows: With the chamber 12 filled with the medication, the piston 40 is moved towards the discharge end of the chamber. This action seats the ball 33 rmly but pushes ball 42 olf its seat so the medication flows through bore 25 and to a disposable tip 48 snugly tting the conical recess 22. On the reverse movement of the piston or plunger the ball 42 is pressed rmly against its seat but ball 33 moves downwardly and medication from the large container passes into the chamber through entry 32. The disposable tip 48 may now be replaced and the device is again ready for use.

What I claim is:

l. An ampule comprising a cylindrical head having an opening in its rear face and a recess in its front face communicating with said opening and adapted to receive a disposable tip through which medication is discharged, and also having a bore extending from the recess to a point proximate the axis of the head, a coaxial integral hollow cylindrical extension forming a chamber for holding a medication, said chamber at its closed end communicating with said bore, a removable plug sealing the recess and closing the opening, and a piston near the free open end of the chamber forming a stopper to close the chamber, the axis of the recess being farther from the axis of the ampule than the outer radius of the extension and the bore extending from the axis of the chamber t0 a conical surface of the recess.

2. The ampule of claim 1 in which the rear annular face of the head is cut away in an arc and the opening is a straight bore coaxial With the recess and at right angles to the rear cut-away face of the head.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bessesen Apr. 17, 1917

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