AMPOULE
An ampoule comprises a self-contained body that defines a storage chamber, and that includes a port with a valve reconfigurable to allow recovery of fluid from the chamber via the port. The chamber is in part defined by structure that is operable or replaceable by a plunger element moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port.
This application claims priority from Australian Application No. 2013900918, filed Mar. 15, 2013, incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a novel ampoule that has particularly useful application in the storage and supply of small volumes of liquid reagents, for example less than 10 ml or in many applications less than 5 ml. The invention is particularly useful for liquid volumes in the range 0.1 to 1.0 ml.
BACKGROUNDAmpoules are widely used to contain and supply fluids, typically liquids, requiring protection from air or contaminants. They are usually glass and are hermetically sealed after filling by heating the glass to melt and thereby close the opening. In chemical analysis processes, ampoules are commonly employed to supply liquids such as reagents and standards.
At the point of use, the normal approach to extracting the contents of the ampoule is to break open the ampoule. The breaking process typically involves a skilled operator undertaking a sequence of events to remove the top of the glass container without a) damaging himself or herself and, b) damaging or contaminating the liquid contained inside. The liquid is then removed from the container by a skilled operator using a manually operated syringe for immediate use. Because the top of the ampoule has been broken away, there is usually no readily available reliable method of resealing the container so quite often a portion of the contents must be aliquoted into a series of tubes to be stored under the appropriate conditions or discarded.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved ampoule that at least in part addresses one or more of these challenges associated with conventional glass ampoules.
Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn broad terms, the invention provides an ampoule that has one or both of a valved port and an arrangement for engaging the ampoule with a precision driving mechanism that facilitates the dispensing of the contents.
In a first aspect, the invention provides an ampoule comprising a self-contained body that defines a storage chamber, e.g. for storage of a known amount of fluid, and that includes a port with a valve reconfigurable to allow recovery of fluid from the chamber via the port, wherein said chamber is in part defined by structure that is operable or replaceable by a plunger element moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port.
In one or more embodiments, the valve is reconfigurable by being selectively and reversibly operable to open the port. In this case, there may be a latch device on the valve that must be disengaged to allow operation of the valve.
Preferably, the latch device is a removable element that physically blocks operation of the valve and requires substantial finger force for its removal from its valve blocking position, preferably removal by complete separation from the ampoule body and/or the valve.
In one or more embodiments, the valve is reconfigurable by comprising a web with a break line about a hinge portion at which the web hinges back behind a needle employed to separate the web at the break line.
Advantageously, the ampoule further includes a formation for engaging the body to a precision drive tool having a driving mechanism that is thereafter operable to move the plunger element to dispense fluid via the port.
Advantageously, in either aspect of the invention, the port includes a hollow needle. The needle may be relatively slidable between a first position in which the interior of the needle is sealingly closed from the chamber and a second position in which the interior of the needle is in communication with the ampoule chamber. The ampoule body may include an integral segment or a sealingly mounted insert that defines a passage in which the needle is sealingly slidable between the aforementioned first and second positions. The needle may include one or more lateral holes which provide the aforesaid communication between the ampoule chamber and the needle interior in the second position of the needle.
Conveniently, the needle is provided with a hub element at least partly external to said segment or insert by which the needle may be manipulated. The latch device when in situ may be conveniently disposed between the hub element and an external surface of the ampoule body segment or insert.
Preferably, the valve is configured to allow the needle to be flushed clean when in its first position, not in communication with the ampoule chamber. For this purpose, the ampoule body segment or insert may have a lateral port for admitting flushing fluid and one or more second lateral holes by which the interior of the hollow needle communicates with the flushing fluid port in the first position of the needle.
In an advantageous configuration, the ampoule body includes a generally tubular barrel, advantageously of glass or other inert material, with a uniform cylindrical interior wall which bounds said chamber and along which the plunger element is sealingly slidable. The valved port is then conveniently provided in an insert sealingly engaged with an end of the barrel or integrally in an end of the barrel. In a preferred embodiment, the needle extends and is slidable co-axially with the barrel.
In a second aspect, the invention provides an ampoule comprising a self-contained body that defines a hermetically sealable chamber for storage of a known amount of a fluid, and that includes a port with a valve selectively operable to open the port to allow recovery of fluid from the chamber via the port, wherein the ampoule further includes a plunger element relatively moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port, and a latch device on the valve that must be disengaged to allow operation of the valve.
In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an ampoule comprising a self-contained body that defines a chamber for storage of a known amount of fluid, and that includes a port to allow recovery of fluid from the chamber via the port, wherein the ampoule further includes a plunger element relatively moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port, and a formation on the body for engaging the body to a precision drive tool having a driving mechanism that is thereafter operable to move the plunger element to dispense fluid via the port.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispensing system comprising a precision drive tool with a driving mechanism and an engagement head, and an ampoule according to the invention engageable with the tool so that the driving mechanism is thereafter operable to move the plunger element of the ampoule to dispense fluid from the ampoule.
In each aspect, the ampoule may be a filled ampoule in which the chamber contains a volume of fluid and the port is sealingly closed. Alternatively or additionally, the chamber may contain a known amount of a solid, which can be dissolved in a known amount of fluid.
As used herein, except where the context requires otherwise, the term “comprise” and variations of the term, such as “comprising”, “comprises” and “comprised”, are not intended to exclude further additives, components, integers or steps.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The ampoule 10 illustrated in
For many typical applications, chamber 14 has a volume in the range 0.1 to 10 ml, for example 0.1 to 5 ml. In general, the invention is especially useful for chamber volumes in the range 0.1 to 1.0 ml, but is not confined in its application to any particular volume.
Insert 18 includes an axially disposed port 22 with a valve 25 that is selectively reconfigurable to open the port to allow recovery of fluid from chamber 14 via port 22. As will be explained further subsequently, plunger element 20 is moveable in chamber 14 to dispense fluid via the port. Plunger element 20 may typically be PTFE.
Valve 25 has a latch device 30 that physically blocks operation of the valve and must be disengaged to allow such operation.
At the rear end of barrel 16 there is an external formation 15, including an annular groove or channel 15a, for engaging the ampoule body to an engagement head of a precision drive tool with a driving mechanism that is thereafter operable to move the plunger element 20 to dispense fluid from chamber 14. In this case, formation 15 is formed integrally on the barrel but in other arrangements (for example, the embodiment of
Insert 18, which is typically machined PTFE or moulded polypropylene, is generally cylindrical and of T-shaped configuration, having a domed head 40 with an outer peripheral surface 42 that matches the outer surface of barrel 16, and a co-axial spigot 44 that extends into and firmly engages internal surface 17 of barrel 16. An orthogonal annular shoulder 46 between the two parts of the insert engages the end of the barrel: this interface, the main peripheral interface for spigot 44 and an undercut groove 48 adjacent shoulder 46 are filled with a suitable adhesive to ensure a hermetic seal.
The port 22 includes a hollow needle 50, typically of stainless steel or other suitable material, with an over-moulded PET or PTFE hub 52 forming part of valve 25. The needle 50 and hub 52 are respectively received into an axial bore 54 of the insert and an external counterbore 55. Bore 54 is also shallow counterbored 56 at its inner end where it opens into chamber 14.
Needle 50 is open at its outer end 53 and closed at is inner end 51. A pair of spaced lateral holes 60,62 communicate the interior bore 49 of the needle with its outer surface. Hole 60 is displaced slightly back from inner end 51 whole hole 62 is displaced further back but forwardly of the inner end of hub 52.
Hub 52 has an integral peripheral annular rib 58 displaced from its inner end which registers with either of two matching axially spaced grooves 59a,59b on the wall of counterbore cavity 55 to define two axially spaced positions of the valve. Between the two grooves 59a,59b counterbore cavity 55 is open to the external surface of the insert by way of a port 70 for admitting flushing fluid to cavity 55 for the purpose, as will be explained, of flushing out and cleaning the needle 50.
The valve 25 is latched or locked in an outer position, in which rib 58 engages groove 59b, by latch device 30, which in this embodiment comprises a retaining clip snap-fastened between the end face of ampoule body insert 18 and an annular shoulder 53 on hub 52. In this position, lateral hole 60 in needle 50 is sealed closed by being midway along bore 54 while lateral hole 62 is open to cavity 55.
This is the state in which the ampoule is delivered to the end user. When he or she wishes to access the contents of the ampoule, the end user employs finger force (preferably a substantial finger force is required) to snap off clip 30 and so separate it from the ampoule, whereby further finger manipulation is employed to push hub 52 inwardly to the other position of the valve in which rib 58 engages groove 59a (and in which the end of hub 52 is adjacent the inner end wall of cavity 55. (
The next step is to move plunger element 20 to dispense fluid from chamber 14 through the needle 50. This is conveniently achieved by engaging ampoule body 16 via its rear formation 15 with a suitable precision drive tool. Such a tool is the hand-held eVol® tool available from SGE Analytical Science Pty Ltd of Ringwood, Victoria, Australia. A hand-held precision drive tool 100 is illustrated in
In a case where the whole contents of the ampoule is not required or not otherwise to be dispensed, the ampoule can be resealed closed by drawing valve hub 52 out to move the valve to its outer position in which rib 58 engages groove 59b. Chamber 14 is again isolated, but the interior bore 54 of the needle 50 can be rinsed and cleaned to guard against contamination of subsequent dispensed volumes by admitting flushing fluid to the needle bore via port 70, cavity 55 and lateral needle hole 62.
The ampoule is again locked or latched closed and sealed by reapplying snap-on latch clip 30. The tool is disengaged from barrel 16 and plunger element 20 which remains at the position to which it has been driven. In a subsequent dispending operation, the tool will typically be capable of identifying that position (by measuring the travel of the driving mechanism before it encounters resistance) and thereby identifying the residual available volume of liquid. Once the ampoule is empty, or no longer contains a useful volume of liquid, it will typically be discarded.
When initially made, an ampoule 10 will typically have plunger element 20 at the inner end of the barrel abutting insert 18. The ampoule may be filled, for example, by opening the valve while the needle is attached to a suitable filling machine that delivers a precisely measured quantity of fluid along the needle to chamber 14, pushing back plunger element 18 as it does so. The valve is closed and latch clip 30 snapped into position: the ampoule is then ready to transport its contents to the end-user. Other suitable filling protocols may of course be employed.
In variations of the above described embodiment, there may be no valve. In a still simpler construction, the insert or segment 18 may be omitted and the needle may be supported in an axial passage in the end of the barrel. In these cases, the filled ampoule may be supplied with a removable end-cap, cover, stopper or other closure closing over and sealing the outer end of the needle whereby the port is sealingly closed.
An ampoule 110 according to a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
Insert 118 includes an axially disposed port 122 with a valve 125 that is reconfigurable to open the port to allow recovery of fluid from chamber 114 via port 122. As with the first embodiment, plunger element 120 is movable in chamber 114 to dispense fluid via the port. In this case, however, plunger element 120 is fitted with an O-ring 120a that provides the sliding sealing contact with barrel wall 117: a suitable O-ring material is a perfluoro elastomer (FFKM). The embodiment of
At the rear end of barrel 116 there is an external formation 115, including an annular groove or channel 115a, for engaging the ampoule body to a precision drive tool with a driving mechanism that is thereafter operable to move the plunger element 120 to dispense fluid from chamber 114. In this case, formation 115 is provided on a separate tubular element 107 attached and adhered to the main body of the barrel but still part of the barrel.
Insert 118, which is typically machined PTFE or moulded polypropylene, is generally cylindrical and of T shaped configuration, having a domed head 140 with an outer peripheral surface 142 that matches the outer surface of barrel 116, and a co-axial spigot 144 that extends into and firmly engages internal surface 117 of barrel 116. An orthogonal annular shoulder 146 between the two parts of the insert engages the end of the barrel: this interface, the main peripheral interface for spigot 144 and an undercut groove 148 adjacent shoulder 146 are filled with a suitable adhesive to ensure a hermetic seal.
The most substantive difference between the second embodiment and the earlier described embodiment illustrated in
A suitably adapted hollow needle 150 (
When intact, web 180 (
As with the first embodiment, the next step is to move plunger element 120 to dispense fluid from chamber 114 through needle 50, for example, by engaging ampoule body 116 via its rear formation 115 with a suitable precision drive tool in the manner earlier described.
The hinging back of separated seal web 180 ensures that it does not block or partially occlude the open end of needle 150 and is not left floating within the ampoule. This embodiment has advantages over the first described embodiment in the simpler valving structure but in this case the ampoule cannot be resealed closed. Once the fluid has been recovered from the ampoule, in whole or in part, the ampoule 110 will typically be discarded.
A further embodiment 210 of the invention is illustrated in
In particular applications, the utility of embodiments of the invention arises because the analyte is present at a known concentration and once opened and the plunger tip installed the ampoule can be used as a precision syringe dispensing a known volume of a known concentration. In other applications, the chamber of the ampoule may contain a known amount of a solid, which for example can be dissolved in an known amount of fluid. The solid might have been freeze dried from a known amount.
Claims
1. An ampoule comprising a self-contained body that defines a storage chamber, and that includes a port with a valve reconfigurable to allow recovery of fluid from the chamber via the port, wherein said chamber is in part defined by structure that is operable or replaceable by a plunger element moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port.
2. An ampoule according to claim 1 wherein said valve is reconfigurable by being selectively and reversibly operable to open the port.
3. An ampoule according to claim 2 further including a latch device on the valve that must be disengaged to allow operation of the valve.
4. An ampoule according to claim 3 wherein the latch device is a removable element that physically blocks operation of the valve and requires substantial finger force for its removal from its valve blocking position.
5. An ampoule according to claim 4 wherein said removal requires removal by complete separation from the ampoule body and/or the valve.
6. An ampoule according to claim 1 wherein said valve is reconfigurable by comprising a web with a break line about a hinge portion at which the web hinges back behind a needle employed to separate the web at the break line.
7. An ampoule according to claim 6 further including a hollow needle that is relatively slidable between a first position in which the interior of the needle is sealingly closed from the chamber and a second position in which the interior of the needle has separated the web at the break line and is in communication with the chamber.
8. An ampoule according to claim 6 wherein said structure comprises a plunger element mounted within said chamber and sealingly moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port.
9. An ampoule according to claim 6 wherein said structure includes an end cap and seal element removeably engaged with an end of the body, being replaceable with said plunger element.
10. An ampoule according to claim 2 further including a hollow needle that is relatively slidable between a first position in which the interior of the needle is sealingly closed from the chamber and a second position in which the interior of the needle is in communication with the chamber.
11. An ampoule according to claim 10 wherein the needle includes one or more lateral holes that provide the aforesaid communication between the chamber and the needle interior in the second position of the needle.
12. An ampoule according to claim 10 wherein the valve is configured to allow the needle to be flushed clean when in its first position, not in communication with the chamber.
13. An ampoule according to claim 2 wherein said structure comprises a plunger element mounted within said chamber and sealingly moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port.
14. An ampoule according to claim 2 wherein said structure includes an end cap and seal element removeably engaged with an end of the body, being replaceable with said plunger element.
15. An ampoule comprising a self-contained body that defines a hermetically sealable chamber for storage of a known amount of a fluid, and that includes a port with a valve selectively operable to open the port to allow recovery of fluid from the chamber via the port, wherein the ampoule further includes a plunger element relatively moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port, and a latch device on the valve that must be disengaged to allow operation of the valve.
16. An ampoule comprising a self-contained body that defines a chamber for storage of a known amount of fluid, and that includes a port to allow recovery of fluid from the chamber via the port, wherein the ampoule further includes a plunger element relatively moveable in the chamber to dispense fluid via the port, and a formation on the body for engaging the body to a precision drive tool having a driving mechanism that is thereafter operable to move the plunger element to dispense fluid via the port.
17. A dispensing system comprising a precision drive tool with a driving mechanism and an engagement head, and an ampoule according to claim 1 engageable with the tool so that the driving mechanism is thereafter operable to move the plunger element of the ampoule to dispense fluid from the ampoule.
18. A dispensing system according to claim 17, wherein the ampoule is a filled ampoule in which the chamber contains a volume of fluid and the port is sealingly closed.
19. A dispensing system according to claim 17, in which said chamber contains a known amount of a solid, which can be dissolved in a known amount of fluid.
20. An ampoule according to claim 1, wherein the ampoule is a filled ampoule in which the chamber contains a volume of fluid and the port is sealingly closed.
21. An ampoule according to claim 1, in which said chamber contains a known amount of a solid, which can be dissolved in a known amount of fluid.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 14, 2014
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Inventors: Mark David Wardle (Ringwood), Glenn Clivaz (Ringwood)
Application Number: 14/213,304
International Classification: B65D 83/00 (20060101);