Breakable Two-Compartment Ampoule for Sterile Binary Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packaging solutions for binary compositions, such as pharmaceutical or cosmetic products, are inadequate as they often require external devices for mixing, can compromise sterility, and make it difficult to maintain accurate proportions of components, especially when one component is unstable and must be stored in powder form.
Innovation Solution
A two-compartment packaging device with a breakable tip that allows for the mixing of a powdered substance and a liquid within the device itself, ensuring correct proportions and sterility without external contact, using a mechanism where the cap and ring engage to break the separation wall, allowing communication between compartments without external intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two components are stored in separate bottles, then sterility can be maintained, but mixing becomes complicated and requires additional external devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate storage containers into a single ampoule with two compartments. The first compartment stores the stable component (liquid or powder) and the second compartment stores the unstable component (powder). This merging eliminates the need for external mixing devices while maintaining sterility, as both components are contained within a single sealed unit that can be mixed internally by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where one compartment is positioned inside or adjacent to another compartment within the same ampoule body. The first compartment and second compartment are nested within the same sealed container, allowing both components to be stored separately yet accessed together without external intervention.
2Reliability
If components are stored separately in external containers, then sterility is maintained, but accurate proportioning of components becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By merging both components into a single ampoule with defined compartment volumes, the patent ensures that each compartment contains a predetermined amount of component. This eliminates the need for separate measurement and proportioning operations, guaranteeing accurate ratios while maintaining the sterile sealed environment until mixing is required.
3Ease of manufacture
If components are stored in separate packages, then manufacturing is simplified, but mixing operations become complicated by small dimensions and fragility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate packaging operations into a single ampoule manufacturing process. Both compartments are formed and sealed together in one unit, simplifying manufacturing while enabling easy mixing operations. The user can mix both components by simply inverting or manipulating the single ampoule, avoiding the complexity of handling multiple separate packages.
4Ease of operation
If a breakable tip design is used, then opening is simplified, but accidental percussion may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the breakable tip into two distinct breakable zones: a first breakable zone in the body of the ampoule and a second breakable zone in the cap. This segmentation allows controlled opening in two stages, reducing the risk of accidental activation while maintaining ease of intentional opening. The dual-zone design provides a mechanical safety feature where both zones must be breached for full access.
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has a disposable ampoule including a primary compartment (2) and a secondary compartment (3) defined in a sealed manner by a partition wall (15), where the wall has an opening closed by an obturator (18) that is connected to the wall by a breakable zone. The obturator is connected to an actuating unit to break the breakable zone for unblocking the opening and for permitting communication of the compartments. The actuating unit has a rod (16) rigidly connected to the obturator such that an action on the rod causes rupture on the breakable zone.