Synthetic Resin Ampule with Annular Breakable Portion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional soft-type synthetic resin ampules are prone to deformation and lint-like debris formation when opened, leading to spillage and drug adherence, making them difficult to handle effectively for medical professionals.

Innovation Solution

A synthetic resin ampule body with a tip-side sealing portion, a hollow portion containing a drug, and an annular breakable portion between the tip and hollow portions, featuring a flat plate for grasping and an internal ceiling with an annular smallest diameter portion near the circumferential edge, allowing for easy twisting and breaking without deformation or spillage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If soft-type synthetic resin ampules are used, then safety against breakage and ease of handling are improved, but deformation and lint-like debris formation occur when opened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against breakageVSAvoiddeformation and lint-like debris formation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ampule is divided into distinct sections: a body portion and a head portion separated by a weakened portion. This segmentation allows the head portion to be cleanly separated from the body during opening, preventing deformation and lint formation while maintaining the overall integrity of the soft resin material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The weakened portion has locally reduced wall thickness compared to other parts of the ampule. This localized structural difference creates a predetermined breaking point that opens cleanly without causing deformation or lint-like debris, while the rest of the ampule maintains its full structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If soft-type synthetic resin ampules are used, then safety against breakage is improved, but spillage and drug adherence occur during opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against breakageVSAvoidspillage and drug adherence
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The weakened portion is pre-formed during manufacturing with reduced wall thickness, creating a predetermined breaking point. This preliminary structural preparation ensures that when opening force is applied, the ampule breaks cleanly at the intended location without spillage or drug adherence, rather than breaking unpredictably.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If glass containers are replaced with synthetic resin ampules, then safety against breakage and ease of handling are improved, but opening becomes problematic due to deformation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety against breakageVSAvoidopening operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the ampule into body and head portions with a weakened portion between them, the opening operation becomes straightforward - the head portion can be easily separated from the body by breaking at the predetermined weakened point, avoiding the deformation problems associated with opening intact soft resin containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3769745B1Drug-filled synthetic resin ampule, and synthetic resin ampule body used therein
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 TERUMO KK
  • EP3769745B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3769745B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3769745B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A drug-filled synthetic resin ampule 1 includes an ampule body 2 and a drug 8 filled in the ampule body 2. The ampule body 2 includes a tip-side sealing portion 3, a hollow portion 21, and an annular breakable portion 5 provided between the tip-side sealing portion 3 and the hollow portion 21. The tip-side sealing portion 3 includes a flat plate portion for grasping 32 formed at an upper portion thereof, and an internal ceiling portion 37 exposed to the interior of the hollow portion 21. The breakable portion includes an annular smallest diameter portion 51, and the smallest diameter portion 51 is located near an annular circumferential edge portion 37a of the internal ceiling portion and is located above the annular circumferential edge portion 37a of the internal ceiling portion 37.