Abstract
An inhalation therapy device includes an atomizer for atomizing a drug which is advantageously present in the form of a fluid into an atomization chamber so that an aerosol or mist is provided in the atomization chamber. The patient or user can inhale the aerosol produced by the atomizer from the atomization chamber via a mouthpiece. The ampoule is inserted into an ampoule holder holding the fluid-containing ampoule. The inhalation therapy device also includes an opening unit for opening the fluid-containing ampoule. The ampoule holder advantageously includes a first part, disposed displaceably in relation to the opening unit, thereby allowing an ampoule present in the ampoule holder to be displaced in the direction of the opening unit.
Claims
1. Inhalation therapy device comprising: a body having a nebuliser device, a nebuliser chamber into which a fluid is to be nebulised by the nebuliser device, and an opening means; a lid, an ampoule holder for retaining an ampoule containing the fluid to be nebulised and to be opened by the opening means, the ampoule holder comprising at least one part configured to be displaced relative to the lid in response to the lid closing on the body wherein the ampoule holder is arranged in the lid so that the ampoule is moved in a direction of the opening means and is opened by the opening means in response to closing of the lid on the body, such that the opening means opens the ampoule disposed in the ampoule holder so that substantially all the fluid contained in the ampoule reaches the nebuliser device, wherein the ampoule holder has a first end and a second end, wherein the opening means and the nebuliser device are located at the first end of the ampoule holder and wherein the opening means has a conduit through which the fluid from the ampoule reaches the nebuliser device.
2. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the opening means and the ampoule holder are displaceable in relation to one another along a substantially straight, circular or helical path.
3. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the opening means has a cutter designed to cut, when displacement of the ampoule occurs, into a wall area of the ampoule that is intended for opening.
4. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the opening means is integrally connected with the conduit.
5. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the inhalation therapy device has a sealing device for sealing the ampoule against the opening means.
6. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the opening means is configured to seal an opening of the ampoule to the opening means.
7. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the inhalation therapy device comprises a squeezing means which is designed to create a positive pressure in the ampoule to squeezedly hold the ampoule in a displaced position.
8. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 7, wherein the ampoule holder comprises the squeezing means and the squeezing means is formed such that it squeezes the ampoule during opening.
9. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the ampoule holder has a first part designed such that it engages with the ampoule only when displacement of the first part relative to the lid occurs and a second part designed to hold the ampoule.
10. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 9, wherein the first part of the ampoule holder and the second part of the ampoule holder are formed so as to be moveable in relation to one another so that the first part of the ampoule holder acting on a first part of the ampoule and the second part of the ampoule holder acting on a second part of the ampoule move, when displacement of the first part relative to the lid occurs, the first part and the second part of the ampoule in relation to one another such that a negative pressure or a positive pressure develops in the ampoule.
11. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, further comprising the ampoule, wherein the ampoule has a first area designed for opening by the opening means and a second area designed for holding by the ampoule holder.
12. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 11, wherein the ampoule comprises a sealing surface designed to seal the ampoule against the opening means or the conduit.
13. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 11, wherein the first area of the ampoule is arranged so as to be moveable in relation to the second area of the ampoule.
14. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 11, wherein the first area of the ampoule is connected with the second area of the ampoule by a resilient element or bellows.
15. Inhalation therapy device according to claim 1, wherein the nebuliser device comprises a membrane nebuliser.
16. Inhalation therapy device comprising: a body having a nebuliser device, a nebuliser chamber into which a fluid is to be nebulised by the nebuliser device, and a needle, a lid, an ampoule holder for retaining an ampoule containing the fluid to be nebulised and to be opened by the needle, the ampoule holder comprising at least one part configured to be displaced relative to the lid in response to the lid closing on the body wherein the ampoule holder is arranged in the lid so that the ampoule is moved in a direction of the needle and is opened by the needle in response to closing of the lid on the body, such that the needle opens the ampoule disposed in the ampoule holder so that substantially all the fluid contained in the ampoule reaches the nebuliser device, wherein the ampoule holder has a first end and a second end, wherein the needle and the nebuliser device are located at the first end of the ampoule holder and wherein the needle has a conduit through which the fluid from the ampoule reaches the nebuliser device.
17. Inhalation therapy device comprising: a body having a nebuliser device, a nebuliser chamber into which a fluid is to be nebulised by the nebuliser device, and an opening means, a lid, an ampoule holder for holding an ampoule containing the fluid to be nebulised and to be opened by the opening means, wherein the ampoule holder is arranged in the lid and wherein the ampoule holder moves relative to the lid to move the ampoule in a direction of the opening means and the opening means opens the ampoule in response to closing of the lid on the body, such that the opening means opens the ampoule disposed in the ampoule holder so that substantially all the fluid contained in the ampoule reaches the nebuliser device, wherein the ampoule holder has a first end and a second end, wherein the opening means and the nebuliser device are located at the first end of the ampoule holder and wherein the opening means has a conduit through which the fluid from the ampoule reaches the nebuliser device.
Description
(1) The present invention will now be described by means of advantageous embodiments and with reference to the following figures. The invention is not, however, restricted to the specific embodiments shown in the figures.
(2) FIG. 1 shows an inhalation therapy device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(3) FIG. 2 shows an opening process of an ampoule by an opening means at various stages.
(4) FIG. 3 shows various embodiments of ampoules with regard to design of ampoule body and opening area.
(5) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the inhalation therapy device for opening the ampoule with the opening means.
(6) FIG. 5 shows various embodiments of the seal of an ampoule against the opening means.
(7) FIG. 6 shows squeezing of an ampoule according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(8) FIG. 7 shows the negative pressure build-up inside an ampoule according to an embodiment of the present invention.
(9) FIG. 8 shows the negative pressure build-up inside an ampoule according to another embodiment of the present invention.
(10) FIG. 9 shows various embodiments of an ampoule for generation of a negative pressure in the ampoule.
(11) FIG. 1 shows an advantageous embodiment of an inhalation therapy device 1 according to the present invention. The inhalation therapy device 1 comprises a nebuliser device 2, which nebulises a medicament advantageously provided in the form of a fluid 8 into a nebuliser chamber 12 such that an aerosol or mist 21 is provided in the nebuliser chamber 12. The patient or user can inhale the aerosol 21 generated by the nebuliser device 2 from the nebuliser chamber 12 via a mouthpiece 13. Valves in the form of inhalation or exhalation valves possibly required in the inhalation therapy device have not been included in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity.
(12) In the embodiment shown herein, the fluid 8 is provided in an ampoule 100 which, according to the invention, is closed before insertion into the inhalation therapy device. The ampoule 100 is inserted into an ampoule holder 3 which retains the fluid-containing ampoule 100. The inhalation therapy device 1 furthermore comprises an opening means 4 which serves to open the fluid-containing ampoule 100. The ampoule holder 3 advantageously comprises a first part 31 arranged so as to be displaceable in relation to the opening means 4 such that an ampoule 100 disposed in the ampoule holder can be moved in the direction of the opening means. The opening means is configured such that it opens the ampoule 100 when the one part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is displaced. FIG. 1 shows that the one part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 moves inside the inhalation therapy device 1, however it is also conceivable for the opening means 4 to move inside the inhalation therapy device and for the one part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 to be stationary. As shown in FIG. 1, the inhalation therapy device 1 includes a body 10 having nebuliser device 2, nebuliser chamber 12 into which fluid 8 is to be nebulised by the nebuliser device 2, and opening means 4.
(13) The ampoule holder 3 with its one moveable part 31 is advantageously disposed in a lid 5 of the inhalation therapy device in order to retain therein the ampoule 100 with the fluid 8 disposed therein. According to the invention, the patient or user inserts the ampoule 100 into the ampoule holder 3 in the still sealed state when the lid 5 is removed from the inhalation therapy device 1. The one part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is then in a first position in which it advantageously holds the ampoule 100 such that it is still positioned at a distance from the opening means 4 when the lid 5 is placed on the inhalation therapy device. The one part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is designed such that it moves the ampoule 100 in the direction of the opening means 4 when the lid 5 is closed by means of a pushing, turning or screwing movement, thereby causing the ampoule 100 to be opened by the opening means 4.
(14) The opening means 4 advantageously comprises a cutter 42 for this purpose, which cuts into a wall area 130 of the ampoule 100 when the ampoule 100 is moved by the part 31 of the ampoule holder 3. The lid 5 of the inhalation therapy device is advantageously guided during these movements by a suitable device such that the ampoule 100 is advantageously no longer able to tilt in relation to the opening means 4. Once the ampoule 100 has been moved in the direction of the opening means 4 by the one part 31 of the ampoule holder 3, the cutter 42 cuts into a wall area 130 of the ampoule 100 when further displacement takes place such that the ampoule is opened at this moment. The cutter 42 of the opening means 4 is advantageously designed and arranged such that it does not completely separate the wall area 130 of the ampoule 100, but at least part of the wall area 130 of the ampoule 100 remains as a connection to the ampoule 100 so that this wall area 130 does not unintentionally reach the area of the inhalation therapy device 1.
(15) The cutter 42 is advantageously disposed on an edge of the opening means 4 in such a manner that in one plane, the cutter 42 is disposed perpendicular to the axial direction or angled thereto. The cutter 42 can be smooth, corrugated or serrated in order to better open or cut into the wall area 130 of the ampoule.
(16) The opening means 4 is advantageously configured as a needle which can pierce the provided areas of an appropriately designed ampoule 100 such that a fluid 8 disposed in the ampoule 100 can reach the nebuliser device.
(17) The inhalation therapy device is advantageously provided with a supply means 6, via which a fluid 8 disposed in the ampoule 100 can reach the nebuliser device 2 from said ampoule 100 so that it can be nebulised thereby.
(18) Although FIG. 1 shows a nebuliser device of the membrane nebuliser type, a nebuliser of the compressed air/nozzle nebuliser type or the ultrasound nebuliser type or other known types of nebuliser can also be used, which can also make use of the subject matter of the present invention.
(19) The opening means 4 advantageously comprises a conduit 41 that extends at least partly in a longitudinal direction and via which the fluid 8 from the ampoule 100 can reach the nebuliser device 2 or the supply means 6. It can be achieved in this manner that the fluid can reach the nebuliser device 2 via the conduit 41 extending in the interior of the opening means 4 without loss due to leakage. However, it is alternatively also conceivable to design the opening means 4 such that it does not have an explicit conduit 41 extending in its interior, but rather such that the fluid can reach the nebuliser device 2 along other areas exposed by the opening means 4, for example grooves or slots which can be provided on the outside of the opening means 4.
(20) FIG. 2 shows details of the opening process of the ampoule 100 according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention.
(21) FIG. 2a thereby shows the wall area 130 of the fluid-containing ampoule 100, which is intended for opening, before this area comes together with the opening means 4. In this embodiment, the opening means 4 comprises a cutter 42 which is formed at the end of a conduit 41 via which the fluid 8 disposed in the ampoule 100 reaches the nebuliser device as shown in FIG. 1. The wall area 130 of the ampoule 100 that is intended for opening advantageously has at least one predetermined breaking point 131, at which the ampoule 100 is specifically opened.
(22) FIG. 2b shows a position of the fluid-containing ampoule 100 just after it has come into contact with the opening means 4. The cutter 42 of the opening means 4 has thereby already slightly cut into or broken open the wall area 130 of the ampoule 100 at the predetermined breaking point 131, however not yet so far that a fluid 8 disposed in the ampoule 100 can arrive in the opening channel or conduit 41 of the opening means 4. Both the wall area 130 of the ampoule 100 and the ampoule 100 itself, however also the opening means 4, are advantageously designed such that the opening means 4 tightly seals for the time being the already opened area of the ampoule 100 so that no fluid 8 can accidentally escape. The wall area 130 advantageously does not expose the channel or conduit 41 until the ampoule 100 is almost completely opened and sealed.
(23) FIG. 2c shows a more advanced opening of the ampoule 100, in which the wall area 130 has already been cut to a greater extent, however is still in such a position that it closes off the conduit 41 of the opening means 4 so that no fluid 8 from the ampoule 100 can escape into the conduit 41 of the opening means 4. The ampoule advantageously forms a seal in against the opening means 4 at a sealing surface 143 provided for this purpose.
(24) FIG. 2d shows the ampoule 100 disposed on the opening means 4 in an already completely opened state so that the fluid 8 disposed in the ampoule 100 can reach the inhalation therapy device via the conduit 41. The wall section 130 of the ampoule 100 is thereby completely opened, however advantageously not separated from the ampoule 100. The surface 143 of the ampoule provided for sealing thereby forms a seal at the opening means 4 such that the fluid can only escape from the ampoule 100 via the conduit 41, however not between the opening means 4 and the ampoule 100. A ventilation channel may be provided for easier flow of the fluid out of the ampoule 100, which, for example, guides displaced air out of the conduit 41 and into the ampoule, thus aiding the exit of the fluid from the ampoule 100.
(25) FIG. 3 shows various embodiments of an ampoule which differ with regard to the opening area 130 and the area which is accommodated in the ampoule holder 3 and at which the ampoule 100 is retained in the ampoule holder 3. Positioning and retention are important so that the ampoule 100 can be opened precisely in a defined movement process such that it forms a seal with the opening means 4.
(26) FIG. 3a shows an ampoule 100 filled with a fluid 8 and having a first area 110 that is designed so as to open upon displacement in the direction of the opening means 4, advantageously in a wall area 130 of the ampoule, such that a fluid 8 disposed in the ampoule 100 reaches the inhalation therapy device. The ampoule 100 furthermore comprises a second area 120 which is configured such that following insertion, a part 32 of the ampoule holder 3 grips this and retains the ampoule. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, the ampoule 100 is designed such that it is retained securely by the ampoule holder 3 by means of clamping. The ampoule 100 can be filled completely with a fluid 8 such that there is no further gas space in the ampoule 100.
(27) FIG. 3b shows an ampoule 100 that is only partly filled with a fluid 8 and additionally still has a gas space 180. This allows the amount of medicament to be dosed precisely without deviating from a standard ampoule size.
(28) The ampoule 100 shown in FIG. 3b comprises an indentation or recess 121 in the holding area 120 of the ampoule 100, which enables the ampoule to be retained securely by engaging in an ampoule holder 3 equipped with suitably designed projections, without the ampoule 100 unintentionally slipping out of the ampoule holder 3. The indentation or recess can be a circumferential channel or a recess that is restricted to peripheral segments. The wall area 130 of the ampoule 100 comprising predetermined breaking points 131 at which the ampoule is specifically opened, is disposed in an area 110 of the ampoule. Advantageously disposed close to this opening wall area 130 is a sealing surface 143 which is designed such that the ampoule 100 forms a seal at the opening means 4 such that no fluid 8 can escape from the ampoule 100.
(29) FIG. 3c shows an ampoule similar to the one shown in FIG. 3b, however instead of an indentation 121, the ampoule 100 shown in FIG. 3c has a circumferential bead 122 or a bead provided only in certain areas. This bead 122 has essentially the same purpose as the recess 121, however the bead can also easily prevent the ampoule from being inserted further into the ampoule holder 3 than intended.
(30) FIG. 3d shows an ampoule having an area 111 which can be squeezed such that when the ampoule 100 is squeezed, a positive pressure is generated in the ampoule 100. Since the fluid 8 filled in the ampoule is generally incompressible, the pressure in the gas space 180 of the ampoule increases upon squeezing.
(31) FIG. 4 shows embodiments of an inhalation therapy device in which the ampoule 100 in an ampoule holder 3 is moved on a substantially straight path in the direction of the opening means 4. For this purpose, the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is, for example, provided, as shown in FIG. 4, with helically running grooves 35 in which engage pins 34 that are located in a second part 32 of the ampoule holder. Only one of these pins 34 is visible in FIG. 4. When the second part 32 of the ampoule holder is twisted in relation to the first part 31, the pins 34 in collaboration with grooves 35 cause the first part to move as depicted in FIG. 4 with the double arrow. To support this movement and to prevent the first part 31 from also twisting, rods 33 are provided in the shown embodiment, which are arranged so as to be moveable in channels 33a of the first part 31. In this way, the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 moves in a straight line and shifts the ampoule 100 held in this first part in the direction of the opening means 4. It must be noted that in this case of a straight movement, the opening means 4 advantageously comprises a cutter 42 that is angled in relation to the direction of movement, so that the opening process as shown in connection with FIG. 2 occurs.
(32) According to a further embodiment shown in FIG. 4b, the opening means 4 comprises a cutter 42 which is arranged perpendicular to the direction of movement and which surrounds an orifice 41 in a plane running substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the opening means 4. In order to form the cutter 42, the upper area of the wall of the opening means 4 advantageously slopes inward, as shown in FIG. 4b, or outward in a cone shape. In this case, the ampoule 100 in the ampoule holder 3 is also moved in a straight line towards the opening means 4, however a circular movement is superposed so that the opening means 4 can cut into and seal the correspondingly provided area of the ampoule. The simultaneous linear and rotational movement can be achieved by a corresponding design of the parts of the ampoule holder. Furthermore, the cutter 42 is advantageously corrugated or serrated in this embodiment according to FIG. 4.
(33) FIG. 5 shows various forms of the sealing of the ampoule 100 against the opening means 4.
(34) FIG. 5a shows an embodiment in which the ampoule 100 directly abuts an outer surface, preferably the side surface, of the opening means 4. By means of an appropriate design of the ampoule 100 and the opening means 4, sealing of the ampoule at the opening means 4 can thus be achieved without additional sealing elements or sealing materials having to be provided. An advantageous material combination is thereby an opening means made of a hard material and an ampoule made of a softer material so that the softer material of the ampoule can adapt to the hard material of the opening means 4 in order to ensure a sufficient seal of the ampoule against the inhalation therapy device.
(35) FIG. 5b shows an embodiment having a cone-shaped extension of the opening means 4 so that when the opening means 4 is inserted in the ampoule 100, the forces on the inner ampoule-side sealing surface 143 of the ampoule 100 increase and the seal is thus improved. The conical part of the opening means 4, as the device-side sealing surface 43 of the opening means 4, is pressed against the ampoule-side sealing surface 143 of the ampoule 100 and an improved seal of the ampoule opening against the opening means 4 is achieved.
(36) FIG. 5c shows an embodiment in which a separate sealing element 44, which can be provided, for example, on the inhalation therapy device, seals the opening means 4 against an ampoule 100. Both the ampoule-side sealing surface 143 of the ampoule 100 and the device-side sealing surface 43 of the inhalation therapy device thereby engage on the sealing element 44.
(37) FIG. 5d shows a sealing element 44, for example an O-ring, which is embedded in a recess in order to securely position the sealing element. The device-side sealing surface 43 of the inhalation therapy device is located in this recess. Both the device-side sealing surface 43 of the inhalation therapy device, more specifically of the opening means, and the ampoule-side sealing surface 143 of the ampoule end at the sealing element 44 so as to form a seal. In addition to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5c and 5d, the sealing element 44 can also be glued to the inhalation therapy device so that the sealing element cannot be lost. The sealing element 44 can alternatively also be provided on the ampoule so as to give configurations which are geometrically similar to those in FIGS. 5c and 5d. Owing to the use of a separate sealing element 44, sealing can also be achieved even if fit-sealing as in FIG. 5a or compression-sealing as in FIG. 5b is not possible, for example in the case of a glass ampoule.
(38) FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the present invention in which the ampoule is provided with a squeezing means 11. The squeezing means 11 squeezes an ampoule correspondingly provided with a squeezing area 111 such that a positive pressure develops in the ampoule. The ampoule 100 advantageously has a gas space 180 for this purpose. The squeezing of the ampoule 100 by the squeezing device 11 generates a positive pressure in the gas space 180, which can then escape via the opening means 4 when the ampoule is opened. When the ampoule 100 is subsequently sealed against the opening means 4, the interior of the ampoule is sealed in relation to the opening means such that when squeezing is stopped, a negative pressure develops in the gas space 180 which is under normal pressure after venting. In this way it can be achieved that a negative pressure prevails in the ampoule 100. As stated above, the formation of droplets on the membrane of a membrane nebuliser can be prevented in this manner. A negative pressure that is advantageous for nebulisation is thus generated in the ampoule with the squeezing means 11, which, upon insertion of the ampoule, first squeezes the ampoule and which, after elimination of the resulting positive pressure in the ampoule and sealing of the ampoule, stops squeezing again.
(39) FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of an inhalation therapy device with an ampoule holder 3 and a correspondingly designed ampoule 100 which allows generation of a negative pressure in the gas space 180 of the ampoule 100. According to this embodiment, the risk of fluid loss is reduced. The first area 110 of the ampoule 100 and the second area 120 of the ampoule are arranged so as to be moveable in relation to one another such that in a hermetically sealed ampoule 100, a negative pressure can be generated in the gas space 180 of the ampoule upon movement of the first area 110 of the ampoule 100 in relation to the second area 120 of the ampoule 100. The first area of the ampoule 100 and second area of the ampoule 120 are advantageously connected with one another by a resilient element 150.
(40) According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the second part 32 of the ampoule holder 3 holds the ampoule at the second area 120 of the ampoule 100. As FIGS. 7a and 7b show, the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is formed so as to be movable in relation to the second part 32 of the ampoule holder 3. The first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is designed so that it acts on the first area 110 of the ampoule 100 so that a movement of the first part 31 leads to a movement of the first area 110 of the ampoule in relation to the second area 120 of the ampoule. The two areas of the ampoule 100 are thereby moved in relation to each other, which is possible owing to the resilient element 150. Upon movement of the first area 110 of the ampoule 100, the opening means 4 opens the ampoule 100 as shown in FIG. 7b.
(41) For engagement of the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3, the first area 110 of the ampoule 100 is advantageously formed as a collar 160 as shown in FIG. 7. The collar 160 advantageously has a diameter which is greater, at least at one point, than the diameter of the ampoule body, as indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 7. In this way, the ampoule 100 can be inserted in the ampoule holder 3 shown in FIG. 7 so that the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 can engage on this collar 160 in order to move the first area 110 of the ampoule 100 in relation to the second area 120 of the ampoule 100. The function of the collar can be assumed by corresponding webs or other projections.
(42) FIG. 7a shows the ampoule 100 inserted in the ampoule holder 3, the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 being in a position in which it does not yet engage on the first area 110 of the ampoule 100. In this state, the ampoule, in particular the first area 110 of the ampoule 100, is still at a distance from the opening means 4. When the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is moved, the first part 31 engages on the first area 110 of the ampoule 100 and moves this in relation to the second area 120 of the ampoule 100. Since the second part 32 of the ampoule holder 3 retains the second area 120 of the ampoule 100, the movement causes an enlargement of ampoule volume so that a negative pressure develops in the ampoule 100. The resilient part 150 connecting the first area 110 with the second area 120 is thus stretched.
(43) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is displaceable, according to the invention, in relation to the opening means 4.
(44) FIG. 8 shows a further embodiment of an inhalation therapy device comprising an ampoule holder 3 and a correspondingly designed ampoule 100 which allows the generation of a negative pressure in the gas space 180 of the ampoule 100 and reduces the risk of fluid loss.
(45) FIG. 8a shows the ampoule 100 inserted in the ampoule holder 3. In this state, the ampoule, in particular the first area 110 of the ampoule 100, is still at a distance from the opening means 4. According to the invention, the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 is arranged also in this embodiment so as to be displaceable in relation to the opening means 4 such that upon displacement of the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3, the opening means 4 opens the ampoule 100 in the ampoule holder 3. On transition from the position shown in FIG. 8a to the position shown in FIG. 8b, the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 according to this embodiment is moved together with the ampoule holder 3 with which it is firmly connected. During this movement, the opening means 4 opens the ampoule 100.
(46) According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c, the second part 32 of the ampoule holder 3 retains the ampoule 100 at the second area 120 of the ampoule 100. The second part 32 of the ampoule holder 3 is formed so as to be displaceable in relation to the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3. The second part 32 of the ampoule holder 3 is designed so that it engages on the second area 120 of the ampoule 100 such that a movement of the second part 32 leads to a movement of the second area 120 of the ampoule in relation to the first area 110 of the ampoule. As a result, the two areas of the ampoule 100 are moved in relation to each other, which is possible owing to the resilient element 150. If the second part 32 of the ampoule holder 3 is moved, the first part 31 engages on the first area 110 of the ampoule 100 and on movement of the second area 120 in relation to the first area 110 of the ampoule 100, holds this in the position on the opening means 4. FIG. 8c shows the position of the second part 32 of the ampoule holder 3 with the engaged second area 120 of the ampoule 100 after movement of the second part 32 and the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 in relation to one another. Since the first part 31 of the ampoule holder 3 retains the first area 110 of the ampoule 100, the movement causes an enlargement of the ampoule volume so that a negative pressure develops in the ampoule 100. The resilient part 150 connecting the first area 110 with the second area 120 is hereby extended.
(47) FIG. 9 shows two embodiments of an ampoule 100 with a resilient area 150, each in the state at rest and in the extended or stretched state.
(48) FIG. 9a shows an ampoule 100, the first area 110 of which is connected with a second area 120 by bellows 151. FIG. 9b shows the ampoule of FIG. 9a in a state in which the first area 110 of the ampoule 100 has been moved in relation to the second area 120 of the ampoule 100. As can be seen from a comparison of FIGS. 9a and 9b, the bellows 151 are extended.
(49) FIG. 9c shows an ampoule 100 in which the resilient area 150 connecting the first area 110 of the ampoule 100 with the second area 120 of the ampoule 100, consists of a stretchable material. This area 150 changes in length on movement of the first area 110 in relation to the second area 120, as shown in FIG. 9d.
(50) FIGS. 7 and 9 show an integral design of the ampoule 100 in one material. However, areas 110, 120 and 150 of the ampoule can also be made of different materials, in particular plastics. The areas, which have different degrees of rigidity and resilience, can nevertheless be formed as a single unit for example by joining them together by way of the moulding of rigid and resilient materials together.
