The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for modifying the shape of a hollow structure. The method may comprise steps of providing a hollow structure having a cross-section with first and second diameters defining a first aspect ratio; heating at least a part of the hollow structure to at least its glass transition temperature, forming a malleable hollow structure; maintaining a positive pressure inside the malleable hollow structure to form a pressurized hollow structure; and pressing against a first side and an opposed second side of a heated part of the pressurized hollow structure, forming a hollow tabular structure having first and second opposed generally flat faces and a second aspect ratio greater than the first aspect ratio.

A device for manufacturing SiO.sub.2TiO.sub.2 based glass by growing a glass ingot upon a target by a direct method. The device includes the target, comprising a thermal storage portion that accumulates heat by being preheated, and a heat insulating portion that suppresses conduction of heat from the thermal storage portion in a direction opposite to the glass ingot.

A tube filter for smoking a smokable substance that includes a receiving section having a receiving chamber dimensioned to receive the substance, a smoke section having a smoke chamber to output smoke produced while the substance is ignited, wherein the smoke section has a first open end into the smoke chamber and the receiving section has a second open end into the receiving chamber that is opposite to the first end, and first, second, and third indentations that are disposed between the two chambers, wherein a portion of the first indentation and a first portion of the second indentation are disposed within a first cross-section of the filter and a portion of the third indentation and a second portion of the second indentation are disposed within a second cross-section of the filter, and the third indentation is entirely disposed above the first indentation along the center longitudinal axis.

A tube filter for smoking a smokable substance that includes a receiving section having a receiving chamber dimensioned to receive the substance, a smoke section having a smoke chamber to output smoke produced while the substance is ignited, wherein the smoke section has a first open end into the smoke chamber and the receiving section has a second open end into the receiving chamber that is opposite to the first end, and first, second, and third indentations that are disposed between the two chambers, wherein a portion of the first indentation and a first portion of the second indentation are disposed within a first cross-section of the filter and a portion of the third indentation and a second portion of the second indentation are disposed within a second cross-section of the filter, and the third indentation is entirely disposed above the first indentation along the center longitudinal axis.

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and a method of manufacturing the vial, the method of manufacturing including providing a glass vial, the glass vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular portion having a hollow interior, the first end portion being open and the second end portion being closed; applying heat to a section of the tubular portion to heat the section of the tubular portion; applying a pressure around the heated section of the tubular portion to collapse the section of the tubular portion into the hollow interior of the tubular portion; pressing the first end portion and the second end portion together until an exterior surface of the tubular portion surrounding the collapsed section is level with a remaining exterior surface of the tubular portion; and forming an opening in the second end portion.

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and a method of manufacturing the vial, the method of manufacturing including providing a glass vial, the glass vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular portion having a hollow interior, the first end portion being open and the second end portion being closed; applying heat to a section of the tubular portion to heat the section of the tubular portion; applying a pressure around the heated section of the tubular portion to collapse the section of the tubular portion into the hollow interior of the tubular portion; pressing the first end portion and the second end portion together until an exterior surface of the tubular portion surrounding the collapsed section is level with a remaining exterior surface of the tubular portion; and forming an opening in the second end portion.

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and a method of manufacturing the vial, the method of manufacturing including providing a glass vial, the glass vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular portion having a hollow interior, the first end portion being open and the second end portion being closed; applying heat to a section of the tubular portion to heat the section of the tubular portion; applying a pressure around the heated section of the tubular portion to collapse the section of the tubular portion into the hollow interior of the tubular portion; pressing the first end portion and the second end portion together until an exterior surface of the tubular portion surrounding the collapsed section is level with a remaining exterior surface of the tubular portion; and forming an opening in the second end portion.

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and a method of manufacturing the vial, the method of manufacturing including providing a glass vial, the glass vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular portion having a hollow interior, the first end portion being open and the second end portion being closed; applying heat to a section of the tubular portion to heat the section of the tubular portion; applying a pressure around the heated section of the tubular portion to collapse the section of the tubular portion into the hollow interior of the tubular portion; pressing the first end portion and the second end portion together until an exterior surface of the tubular portion surrounding the collapsed section is level with a remaining exterior surface of the tubular portion; and forming an opening in the second end portion.

A vial for packing a substance to be smoked from the vial and a method of manufacturing the vial, the method of manufacturing including providing a glass vial, the glass vial having a first end portion and a second end portion connected by a tubular portion having a hollow interior, the first end portion being open and the second end portion being closed; applying heat to a section of the tubular portion to heat the section of the tubular portion; applying a pressure around the heated section of the tubular portion to collapse the section of the tubular portion into the hollow interior of the tubular portion; pressing the first end portion and the second end portion together until an exterior surface of the tubular portion surrounding the collapsed section is level with a remaining exterior surface of the tubular portion; and forming an opening in the second end portion.

A molding tool, a method, and an apparatus for hot forming of glass are provided that provide glass products used for pharmaceutical packaging. The molding tool includes a forming mandrel for reshaping at least a portion of a heated region of a glass precursor. The mandrel has a temperature-stable core material and an alloying element. The core material is made of precious metals, in particular of platinum group elements, and the further alloying element is made of one of tungsten, zirconium, rhodium, molybdenum, and rhenium.