Device and method for opening an ampoule

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9556010-B2
Application number	US-201314389902-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2013
Priority date	Apr 3, 2012
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A device for opening an ampoule includes an ampoule holder configured to hold a body of the ampoule along a central longitudinal axis, a head holder configured to hold a head of the ampoule, and a guide engaged with the head holder and configured to direct the head holder from a first position on the central longitudinal axis to a second position offset from the central longitudinal axis when the ampoule holder is advanced in a first direction along the central longitudinal axis from an initial position. A method for opening an ampoule includes moving the ampoule in a first direction along a central longitudinal axis, directing the head of the ampoule laterally and/or obliquely away from the central longitudinal axis to break the head of the ampoule from the body of the ampoule when the ampoule is moved in the first direction, removing material from the body of the ampoule, and removing liquid from the head of the ampoule.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for opening an ampoule containing a volume of a liquid, the ampoule including a body and a head, the device comprising:
an ampoule holder configured and dimensioned to hold the body of the ampoule along a central longitudinal axis;
a head holder configured and dimensioned to hold the head of the ampoule; and
a guide engaged with the head holder and configured to direct the head holder to translate along the guide from an initial position on the central longitudinal axis to a secondary position offset from the central longitudinal axis when the ampoule holder is advanced in a first direction along the central longitudinal axis from a first position.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a housing defining an interior space for containing the head holder and the guide, the housing including a first end in sliding engagement with the ampoule holder and a second end proximate an outlet in fluid communication with the interior space.

3. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a biasing element disposed between the ampoule holder and the housing, the biasing element configured to apply a force to the ampoule holder in a second direction opposite the first direction.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the biasing element is configured to return the ampoule holder substantially to the first position.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the guide defines a path for the head holder from the initial position to the secondary position, at least a portion of the path extending laterally and/or obliquely from the central longitudinal axis.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to break the head of the ampoule from the body of the ampoule when the head holder is directed from the initial position to the secondary position by the guide.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the head holder includes a pivot, and wherein the head holder is configured to rotate about the pivot when the head holder is directed from the initial position to the secondary position by the guide.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the guide includes a groove and wherein head holder includes a guide pin retained within the groove, the groove defining a path for the guide pin from the initial position to the secondary position.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the groove extends laterally and/or obliquely relative to the central longitudinal axis.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the head holder rotates about the guide pin when the head holder is directed from the initial position to the secondary position by the guide.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the guide includes a rigid plane disposed at an oblique angle relative to the central longitudinal axis.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the head holder is configured to abut against and translate along the rigid plane when the ampoule holder is advanced in the first direction along the central longitudinal axis from the first position.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the head holder is configured to invert the head of the ampoule when the head holder is directed from the initial position to the secondary position and the head holder is configured to retain the head when the head is inverted.

14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the guide is separate from the head holder.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the guide is separate from the housing.

16. The device of claim 14 , wherein the guide is configured such that, when the head holder translates along the guide, an entirety of the head holder translates away from ampoule holder.

17. The device of claim 14 , wherein the device includes a housing having a wall disposed about an interior space, and the guide and head holder are disposed within the interior space.

18. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a seal disposed between the ampoule holder and the housing, the seal configured to substantially prevent passage of vapor or liquid between the ampoule holder and the housing.

19. The device of claim 2 , further comprising a filter disposed between the interior space and the outlet, the filter having a pore size sufficient to allow passage of the liquid from the interior space to the outlet and to prevent passage of ampoule fragments from the interior space to the outlet.

20. The device of claim 2 , wherein the device is configured such that advancement of the ampoule holder in the first direction along the central longitudinal axis creates a pressure increase within the interior space.

21. The device of claim 4 , wherein returning the ampoule holder substantially to the initial position creates a pressure decrease within the interior space.

22. The device of claim 21 , wherein the pressure decrease is sufficient to draw liquid from the ampoule to the interior space.

23. A manually-operated device for breaking an ampoule comprising:
an ampoule containing a liquid, the ampoule including a body and a head disposed about a central longitudinal axis;
a housing having a wall disposed about an interior space;
an ampoule holder in sliding engagement with the housing and secured to the body of the ampoule, the ampoule holder movable relative to the housing;
a head holder pivotably secured to the housing and secured to the head of the ampoule within the interior space, the head holder configured to transition from an initial position on the central longitudinal axis to a secondary position offset from the central longitudinal axis to break the head of the ampoule from the body of the ampoule; and
a guide engaged with the head holder and configured to direct the head holder to translate along the guide from the initial position to the secondary position when the ampoule holder is advanced along the central longitudinal axis from a first position by manual pressure.

24. The device of claim 23 , further comprising a biasing element disposed between the ampoule holder and the housing, the biasing element configured to bias the ampoule holder toward the first position when the manual pressure is released.

25. The device of claim 23 , wherein the guide includes a groove and wherein the head holder includes a guide pin retained within the groove, the groove defining a path for the guide pin from the initial position to the secondary position.

26. The device of claim 25 , wherein at least a portion of the groove extends laterally and/or obliquely relative to the central longitudinal axis.

27. The device of claim 25 , wherein the head holder is configured to rotate at least 90 degrees about the guide pin when the head holder is directed from the initial position to the secondary position by the guide.

28. The device of claim 23 , wherein the guide includes a rigid plane disposed at an oblique angle relative to the central longitudinal axis.

29. The device of claim 28 , wherein the head holder is configured to abut against and translate along the rigid plane when the ampoule holder is advanced in the first direction along the central longitudinal axis from the first position.

30. The device of claim 23 , wherein the head holder includes a pivot, and the head holder is configured to rotate about the pivot when the head holder is directed from the initial position to the secondary position by the guide.

31. The device of claim 23 , wherein the head holder i

Assignees

• Depuy Synthes Products Inc

Inventors

• Oberli Joel
• Rieseweber Gunnar
• Roth Christian

Classifications

• Y10T225/30

  Breaking or tearing apparatus · CPC title

• B67B7/92 Primary

  by breaking, e.g. for ampoules · CPC title

• A61J1/06

  Ampoules or carpules (syringe ampoules or carpules A61M5/28) · CPC title

• A61B17/8833

  Osteosynthesis tools specially adapted for handling bone cement or fluid fillers; Means for supplying bone cement or fluid fillers to introducing tools, e.g. cartridge handling means · CPC title

• B65D1/09

  Ampoules · CPC title