Ampoule with protective sleeve for contamination prevention

Abstract

An apparatus includes and ampoule and a protective sleeve. The ampoule includes a body portion and an openable end portion. The body portion defines an internal cavity for containment of a substance. The openable end portion is configured to be opened by removal of a distal section, which upon removal creates an opening into the internal cavity of the body portion for liberation of the substance from the internal cavity. The protective sleeve is disposed over at least a portion of the openable end portion. The protective sleeve provides a contamination barrier to prevent contamination of an outer surface of the openable end portion covered by the protective sleeve.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an ampoule comprising:
 a body portion which defines an internal cavity for containment of a substance; and 
 an openable end portion coupled to the body portion, wherein the openable end portion is configured to be opened by removal of a distal section, which upon removal creates an opening into the internal cavity of the body portion for liberation of the substance from the internal cavity; and 
   a protective sleeve disposed over at least a portion of the openable end portion, wherein the protective sleeve provides a contamination barrier to prevent contamination of an outer surface of the openable end portion covered by the protective sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the openable end portion of the ampoule is tapered so that the openable end portion is generally narrower near the distal section than at a proximal section adjacent to the body portion of the ampoule. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the protective sleeve is tapered to substantially fit the taper of the openable end portion of the ampoule. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein removal of the distal section of the openable end portion of the ampoule additionally removes the protective sleeve from the proximal section of the openable end portion of the ampoule. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises a closed end to fully encapsulate the openable end portion of the ampoule. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises a deformable material configured to deform to substantially fit a surface feature of the openable end portion covered by the protective sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises a heat shrink material. 
     
     
         8 . A method of using an ampoule comprising:
 grasping the ampoule at approximately a body portion of the ampoule;   grasping an openable end portion of the ampoule at approximately a distal section, the openable end portion at least partially covered by a protective sleeve to prevent contamination of an outer surface of the openable end portion of the ampoule;   breaking a weakness in the openable end portion of the ampoule to separate the distal section from the ampoule; and   removing the distal section of the ampoule, wherein removal of the distal section of the ampoule removes substantially all of the protective sleeve from the ampoule.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the openable end portion of the ampoule has a surface feature to facilitate retention of the protective sleeve until removal of the distal section of the ampoule. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the surface feature comprises a raised collar. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the openable end portion of the ampoule is tapered so that the openable end portion is generally narrower near the distal section than at a proximal section adjacent to the body portion of the ampoule. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the protective sleeve is tapered to substantially fit the taper of the openable end portion of the ampoule. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein breaking the weakness in the openable end of the ampoule comprises twisting the distal section of the ampoule. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises a closed end to fully encapsulate the openable end portion of the ampoule. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises a deformable material that is configured to deform to substantially fit the surface feature of the outer surface of the openable end portion covered by the protective sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the protective sleeve comprises a heat shrink material. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 forming an ampoule, the ampoule comprising:
 a body portion which defines an internal cavity for containment of a substance; and 
 an openable end portion coupled to the body portion, wherein the openable end portion is configured to be opened to create an opening into the internal cavity of the body portion for liberation of the substance from the internal cavity; and 
   disposing a protective sleeve over at least a portion of the openable end portion, wherein the protective sleeve provides a contamination barrier to prevent contamination of an outer surface of the openable end portion covered by the protective sleeve.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein disposing the protective sleeve over at least the portion of the openable end portion comprises sliding the protective sleeve over the openable end portion from a distal end relative to the body portion, the protective sleeve comprising a deformable material. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein disposing the protective sleeve over at least the portion of the openable end portion further comprises treating the protective sleeve to prevent contamination of the outer surface of the openable end portion of the ampoule. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein treating the protective sleeve comprises applying heat to the protective sleeve to shrink the protective sleeve.