Damaging machine and method of cleavage site for cutting glass for medical product

Abstract

To provide a method for processing a medical glass product by which generation of particles is minimized, when cutting in a producing process of a medical glass product.SOLUTION: A cutting site damage device 1000 of a medical glass product according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a laser light source 200 that bursts an ultrafast laser beam; a beam profile forming unit 500 that forms the ultrafast laser beam so as to have a plurality of focal lengths and has an elongated form profile; a beam irradiation unit 600 that is configured to irradiate the ultrafast laser beam so that a formed profile of the ultrafast laser beam is formed inside the glass of the medical glassware, thereby, causing an inside damage to be formed by internal defects due to bulk deformation inside the glass of the medical glassware; and a rotary unit 700 for rotating the medical glass product at a predetermined speed of rotation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for damaging a cutting portion of a medical glass product, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for damaging a cutting portion of a medical glass product, such as an ampule or a glass tube for a medical device, which uses glass as a material, by using an ultrafast laser to minimize the generation of glass fragments. [Background technology]

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for damaging the cutting site of a medical glass product, such as a glass ampoule for storing an injection solution or a nutritional supplement, or a medical glass tube.

[0003] Medical glass products such as glass ampoules for storing injections or nutritional supplements are manufactured in a form that allows the contents such as injections and nutritional supplements to enter the human body, so they must be manufactured in such a way that they can be opened completely aseptically and dust-free during the process of breaking to separate the glass container or tube when used. Therefore, the manufacturing process requires meticulous care and considerable attention.

[0004] However, in the conventional manufacturing process of medical glass products, there was always a possibility that foreign objects such as glass fragments could get into the ampule. For example, OPC ampoules, which are used as containers for injections or nutritional supplements, were designed to minimize the generation of glass fragments, but even when used normally, fine glass fragments are generated when the user cuts them with force by hand.

[0005] For example, referring to FIG. 8 which illustrates a prior art injection or nutritional supplement ampoule 20, the prior art injection or nutritional supplement ampoule 20 includes a cutting direction indicator 23, a cutting assist notch 22 and a bottle neck portion 24.

[0006] In this case, a conventional injection or nutritional supplement ampoule 20 has a cutting-assist notch 22 formed at the cutting portion of the neck (bottleneck portion 24) of the ampoule by a diamond blade rotating at high speed. Then, to facilitate cutting, the bottleneck portion has a smaller diameter than the surrounding area, and the user cuts the ampoule by hand by applying pressure to the portion indicated on the cutting direction indicator 23. The ampoule is then bent and opened starting from the cutting-assist notch 22, allowing the injection or nutritional supplement inside the ampoule to be used.

[0007] 9(a) and 9(b) are high-speed photographs of the cut portion of a glass ampule with a cutting-assist notch 22 formed by a conventional technique when a user manually opens the glass ampule. In FIG. 9(a), glass dust is seen scattering even though the glass ampule is opened normally. Also, in FIG. 9(b), large glass fragments are seen to be generated.

[0008] In this case, when a user (e.g., a nurse) cuts the cutting portion of the ampoule to inject or drink the injection solution or nutritional supplement contained in the OPC ampoule, fine glass powder generated when the cutting-assist notch was formed may enter the ampoule.

[0009] In order to solve the problem of fine glass dust being generated when cutting-assist notches are machined using a diamond blade, a method of creating a fine gap using a laser (JP Patent Publication No. 11-71124) has been devised. However, this method also has the disadvantage that large glass fragments may be generated if the user applies force in the wrong direction, since it only creates a groove in a certain area of ​​the glass surface of the ampule.

[0010] Therefore, when not used correctly (for example, when the user applies force in a direction different from that displayed on the cutting direction display unit 23), the generation of glass fragments can increase significantly. That is, the OPC ampoule 20 is designed to provide directionality when the glass is cut so that fragments are not generated, but if force is applied in a different direction rather than in the indicated direction, even more glass fragments will be generated.

[0011] Such glass fragments and glass powder can cause serious damage to the human body if they enter it, so people who use injections tend not to use the entire injection, but only use the part of the injection where the glass powder will settle.

[0012] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a method for manufacturing medical glass products that can prevent the waste of such medical drugs or nutritional supplements and remove glass fragments and dust that are harmful to the human body, thereby eliminating the possibility of foreign matter entering the ampule and providing a completely dust-free medical glass manufacturing process. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 11-71124 Summary of the Invention

[0014] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a completely dust-free damaging process for medical glass products by eliminating the source of foreign matter entering into ampoules during the manufacturing process of medical glass products.

[0015] Therefore, the present invention provides a method for processing medical glass products that minimizes particle generation during cutting.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an ampoule for injection or nutritional supplement, which is manufactured as described above and generates almost no particles no matter in what direction the ampoule for injection or nutritional supplement is cut, even if the cutting direction is not indicated on the ampoule, and to provide an ampoule for injection.

[0017] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing an ampoule for injection or nutritional supplement, which does not require the bother of fabricating a bottleneck when manufacturing an ampoule for injection or nutritional supplement, and which significantly reduces the process time and defects required for manufacturing a bottleneck.

[0018] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an apparatus for damaging a cut site of a medical glass product according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a laser light source that bursts an ultrafast laser beam; a beam profile forming unit that shapes the ultrafast laser beam so that it has a plurality of focal lengths and has an elongated profile; a beam irradiation unit that irradiates the shaped ultrafast laser beam so that the profile is formed inside the glass of the medical glass product, thereby forming inside damage formed by internal defects due to bulk deformation inside the glass of the medical glass product; and a rotation unit that rotates the medical glass product at a predetermined rotation speed.

[0019] In this case, the device for damaging the cut portion of the medical glass product may further include a control unit that controls the predetermined rotation speed and the burst speed of the laser beam so that a plurality of inside damages are formed in the cut portion of the medical glass product.

[0020] The inside damage may be formed in the thickness direction of the glass along the circumference of the medical glass product.

[0021] The medical glass product may include any one of an ampule for injection or nutritional supplement, a blood collection tube, a syringe, a cartridge, a glass medicine bottle, and a glass tube for a medical device.

[0022] Therefore, according to the present invention, a method for processing medical glass products in which generation of particles during cutting is minimized can be provided.

[0023] Meanwhile, in the case of the injection ampule according to the embodiment of the present invention, cutting errors during use of the ampule can be reduced. That is, even if the cutting direction is not indicated on the ampule, there is almost no generation of particles no matter what direction it is cut in, so cutting errors during use of the ampule can be significantly reduced.

[0024] In addition, since there is no need to add a process to manufacture the bottleneck when manufacturing the injection ampule, the process time required for manufacturing the bottleneck and defects are significantly reduced.

[0025] The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and various other effects are included in the present specification. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a device for damaging a cut site of a medical glass product according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram (part 1) for explaining a laser beam having multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of an axicon lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a second diagram for explaining a laser beam having multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of an axicon lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 3 is a diagram (part 3) for explaining a laser beam having multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of an axicon lens according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the thickness direction of the glass of an ampoule of a medical glass product according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a medical glass product manufactured according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a medical glass product manufactured according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 shows an ampoule for injection or nutritional supplement according to the prior art. [Figure 9a] 1 is a high-speed photograph of an ampoule produced by a conventional technique when it is opened. [Figure 9b] 1 is a high-speed photograph of an ampoule produced by a conventional technique when it is opened. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The following merely illustrates the principles of the invention. Thus, those skilled in the art can invent various devices that embody the principles of the invention and are within the concept and scope of the invention, even though they are not explicitly described or illustrated herein. Furthermore, all conditional terms and examples listed in this specification are expressly intended in principle only for the purpose of making the concept of the invention understandable, and should be understood as not being limiting to the examples and conditions specifically listed in this specification.

[0028] In addition, in the following description, ordinal expressions such as "1", "2", etc. are intended to describe objects which are equal and independent of each other, and the order should not be understood as having any meaning of main / sub or master / slave.

[0029] The above-mentioned objects, features and advantages will become more apparent through the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which will enable those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains to easily implement the technical ideas of the invention.

[0030] The features of the various embodiments of the present invention may be partially or fully combined or combined with each other, and various technical interlocking and driving are possible, as will be fully understood by those skilled in the art, and each embodiment may be implemented independently of each other, or may be implemented together in a related relationship.

[0031] Various embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a cutting portion damaging device 1000 of a medical glass product according to an embodiment of the present invention. According to Fig. 1, the cutting portion damaging device of a glass product may include a control unit 100, a laser light source 200, an energy control module 300, a beam expander 400, a beam profile forming unit 500, a beam irradiation unit 600, a rotation unit 700, and a distance adjustment unit 800. Here, the medical glass product refers to a medical glass product having a cut surface processed with glass, including a tube-shaped part, such as an injection or nutrition supplement ampule, a blood collection tube, a syringe, a cartridge, a glass medicine bottle, etc., and in which glass fragments or glass dust should not enter.

[0033] Materials used for glass products include soda lime, quartz, borosilicate glass, etc. In particular, borosilicate glass is preferred for medical glass containers.

[0034] The control unit 100 can control the energy of the laser beam 150, the distance between the workpiece (medical glass product) 10 and the beam irradiation unit 500, and the rotation speed of the rotation unit 700. In addition, the control unit 100 can adjust the magnification by controlling the distance between the first condenser lens 630 and the second condenser lens 650. In addition, the control unit 100 can control the number of bursts of the laser beam 150 according to the rotation speed of the rotation unit 700.

[0035] The laser light source 200 is a light source that generates and irradiates the ultrafast laser beam 150 .

[0036] In addition, the energy control module 300 and the beam expansion unit 400 are configured to adjust the amount of energy and the size of the laser beam reaching the workpiece 10. In this case, an optical mechanism such as a plurality of mirrors 410 may be further provided to allow the laser beam generated by the laser light source to reach the beam profile forming unit 500 and the beam irradiation unit 600.

[0037] The beam profile forming unit 500 is a component for forming a laser beam profile having a plurality of focal lengths by self-diffraction of an axicon lens, and preferably uses an axicon lens.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 2, a laser beam having multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of the axicon lens is generally formed through the interference of the laser beam passing through a cone-shaped lens, for example, the axicon lens 500. At this time, the wavefront of the laser beam is formed by the diffraction of the Gaussian beam passing through the axicon lens. The interference fringes are composed of a central core having a long length and a micron diameter, and several rings having relatively low intensity surrounding the core. That is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the beam profile forming unit 500 shapes the ultrafast laser beam to have multiple focal lengths and a high aspect ratio profile with an elongated shape.

[0039] In this case, the laser beam is partially absorbed while passing through the glass of the workpiece 10 and transfers energy to the constituent molecules of the glass, and at this time, the absorbed energy density is high and plasma is instantaneously formed inside the glass of the workpiece 10. Referring to Figure 3, the above-mentioned plasma forms internal defects due to bulk deformation with a high aspect ratio inside the glass of the workpiece 10. In this specification, the internal defects formed by the laser beam are referred to as damage, the processing that forms the damage is referred to as damage processing, and the structure that forms the damage and assists in cutting the medical glass product is referred to as inside damage (see Figures 3 and 6) 15.

[0040] In the embodiment of the present invention, a structure that replaces the cutting-assist notch using a diamond blade in the prior art is formed by using a process of continuously forming damage by a laser beam. Furthermore, a method and an apparatus for cutting medical glass products by forming inside damage are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0041] In this case, the central core radius (r) of the laser beam that has multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of the axicon lens can be expressed by the following equation (the part shown in Figure 2 is the diameter, denoted by 2r):

[0042]

number

[0043] Here, θ is the angle between the two diffracted wave vectors formed by the axicon lens (see FIG. 2). Such angle is determined by the axicon parameters (e.g., the axicon parameters include the apex angle and the optical refractive index of the axicon lens). Furthermore, the length (L) of the laser beam that has multiple focal lengths due to the self-diffraction of the axicon lens, which is called the depth of focus from a geometrical point of view, can be calculated by the following Equation 2:

[0044]

number

[0045] where w is the diameter of the laser beam 150 incident on the axicon lens.

[0046] In this case, the shape of the laser beam, which has multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of the axicon lens, is designed to create elongated and uniform inside damage along the thickness of the glass. Here, "elongated" means a shape in which the length (L) of the inside damage processed in the glass of the workpiece 10 is much larger than the radius (R) of the inside damage, or the length (L) of the inside damage is 10 times or more the radius (R) of the inside damage.

[0047] The beam irradiation unit 600 may include optical mechanisms 630 and 650 for making the laser beam modified to have an elongated profile by the beam profile modification unit 500 enter the glass portion of the workpiece 10, a coaxial CCD camera 610 for checking whether the beam is accurately entered, and an episcopic illumination 620. In this case, beam splitters 640 and 660 may be included to align the coaxial CCD camera 610 and the episcopic illumination 620 with the laser beam 160.

[0048] In this case, the beam irradiation unit 600 includes a first condenser lens 630, a second condenser lens 650, and a magnification adjustment device (see FIG. 4) 635, and can control the laser beam to form locally concentrated energy inside the glass material of the workpiece 10. Therefore, the deformed laser beam 160 is imaged through the first condenser lens 630 and the second condenser lens 650 to cause bulk deformation at a reduced ratio.

[0049] The wavelength of the laser beam used in this embodiment is in the range of 1030 to 1070 nm, and the focal position is set so that the starting point of the laser beam having a plurality of focal lengths due to self-diffraction of the axicon lens can be formed inside the glass product in the thickness direction of the glass from the glass surface of the workpiece.

[0050] Meanwhile, the rotating unit 700 is configured to rotate the workpiece 10 to form inside damage 15 in the thickness direction of the glass along the circumference of the workpiece 10. In this case, the thickness direction of the glass means a direction perpendicular to the glass surface of the workpiece 10 (see direction A in FIG. 5). In this case, the control unit 100 determines the interval between inside damages according to the rotation speed and the burst time of the laser beam. In addition, the control unit 100 can control the energy of the laser beam provided in the thickness direction of the glass by controlling the burst numbers. The burst number means the number of pulses included in one burst.

[0051] Meanwhile, the distance adjusting unit 800 adjusts the distance between the workpiece 10 and the beam irradiating unit 600 so that the laser beam, which has multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of the axicon lens, can be accurately imaged inside the glass of the workpiece 10.

[0052] 6(a) to 6(c) are diagrams for explaining inside damage formed in the circumferential direction while the workpiece 10 is rotated by the rotating part 700. FIG.

[0053] FIG. 6(a) is a diagram showing a portion of the workpiece 10, FIG. 6(b) is a diagram showing a cross section of portion B-B' of FIG. 6(a), and FIG. 6(c) is a photograph showing an actual implementation of inside damage 15 of FIG. 6(b).

[0054] As shown in Figures 6(b) and 6(c), inside damage 15 is formed in the thickness direction of the glass along the circumferential surface of the cut portion of the workpiece 10, for example, an injection ampoule, by the laser beam having multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of the axicon lens formed by the beam profile forming unit 500.

[0055] 7(a) and 7(b) are diagrams for explaining embodiments and effects according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0056] In Fig. 7(a) and Fig. 7(b), inside damage with a diameter of 2 to 4 µm was formed while rotating an injection ampoule as the workpiece 10. The length (L) of the laser beam, which has multiple focal lengths due to self-diffraction of the axicon lens, was processed to approximately the thickness of the glass. In this case, the circumference of the ampoule was about 4 mm, the laser used had a wavelength of 1030 nm to 1070 nm, and the pulse energy was embodied as 80 uJ or more. Then, an ultrafast laser beam was burst at a speed of 1000 Khz or more.

[0057] When processed under the above conditions, as shown in Figures 7(a) and 7(b), the cut surface of the injection ampoule was reproduced in a form similar to that of a polished surface (2-3 μm), and no modification or cracks were observed on the cross section.

[0058] Therefore, according to the present invention, a source of foreign matter entering into ampoules during the manufacturing process of medical glass products is eliminated, thereby providing a completely dust-free medical glass product manufacturing process.

[0059] In addition, the present invention provides a method for processing medical glass products that minimizes particle generation during cutting.

[0060] Meanwhile, in the case of the injection ampule according to the embodiment of the present invention, cutting errors during use of the ampule can be reduced. That is, even if the cutting direction is not indicated on the ampule, there is almost no generation of particles no matter what direction it is cut in, so cutting errors during use of the ampule can be significantly reduced.

[0061] In addition, since there is no need to add a process to manufacture the bottleneck when manufacturing the injection ampule, the process time required for manufacturing the bottleneck and defects are significantly reduced.

[0062] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are for illustration purposes, not for limiting the technical idea of ​​the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative and not limiting in all respects. The scope of protection of the present invention should be interpreted according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 100 Control section 200 Laser Light Source 300 Energy Control Module 400 Beam Extension 500 Beam profile forming section 600 Beam irradiation unit 630, 650 First and second focusing lenses 700 Rotating Part 800 Distance adjustment section

Claims

1. A laser light source that bursts an ultrafast laser beam having a wavelength of 1030 nm to 1070 nm; a beam profile forming unit for forming the ultrafast laser beam to have a plurality of focal lengths and to have an elongated profile; a beam irradiation unit that irradiates the shaped ultrafast laser beam so that a profile of the shaped ultrafast laser beam is formed inside the glass of the medical glass product, thereby forming inside damage formed by internal defects due to bulk deformation only inside the glass of the medical glass product; A rotating part that rotates the medical glass product at a predetermined rotation speed so that a plurality of inside damages are formed along the circumference of the medical glass product; and a control unit for controlling the predetermined rotation speed and the burst number of the laser beam so that a plurality of inside damages are formed in a portion of the medical glass product to be cut; The control unit is controlling the number of bursts of the laser beam in accordance with the rotation speed of the rotating part; Controlling the distance between the medical glass product and the beam irradiation unit and the rotation speed. A cutting site damaging device for medical glass products.

2. The inside damage is formed in the thickness direction of the glass along the circumference of the medical glass product. The device for damaging a cut site of a medical glass product according to claim 1.

3. The beam irradiation unit and the rotation unit are intended for the medical glass product, which is any one of an ampule for injection or nutritional supplement, a blood collection tube, a syringe, a cartridge, a glass medicine bottle, and a glass tube for a medical device. The device for damaging a cut site of a medical glass product according to claim 1.

4. The beam irradiation unit includes a first condenser lens, a second condenser lens, and a magnification adjustment device. The control unit adjusts the magnification by controlling a distance between the first condenser lens and the second condenser lens. The device for damaging a cut site of a medical glass product according to claim 1.

5. Bursting an ultrafast laser beam having a wavelength between 1030 nm and 1070 nm; shaping the ultrafast laser beam to have multiple focal lengths and to have an elongated profile; A step of irradiating the shaped ultrafast laser beam so as to form a profile inside the glass of the medical glass product, so that inside damage formed by internal defects due to bulk deformation is formed only inside the glass of the medical glass product; rotating the medical glassware at a predetermined rotational speed; and controlling the predetermined rotation speed and the number of bursts of the laser beam so that a plurality of inside damages are formed in a portion of the medical glass product to be cut; In the step of controlling, controlling the number of bursts of the laser beam in accordance with the rotation speed; Controlling the distance between the medical glass product and a beam irradiation unit that irradiates the laser beam and the rotation speed. A method for damaging the cut site of medical glass products.

6. The inside damage is formed in the thickness direction of the glass along the circumference of the medical glass product. The method for damaging a cut site of a medical glass product according to claim 5.

7. The medical glass product is any one of an ampule for injection or nutritional supplement, a blood collection tube, a syringe, a cartridge, a glass medicine bottle, and a glass tube for medical equipment. The method for damaging a cut site of a medical glass product according to claim 5.

8. In the step of controlling, the magnification is adjusted by controlling the distance between the first condenser lens and the second condenser lens. The method for damaging a cut site of a medical glass product according to claim 5.

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