 JAC
Crushable Glass Ampoule
Glass Ampoule History
The hermetically sealed glass ampoule, which was originally
used to store sterile solutions, was developed in the early 1890s
by a French pharmacist, Stanislaus Limousin. The glass container
had a long tapered neck, which was sealed with an open flame
after the ampoule was filled. Although there have been many different
variations of the ampoule over the years, the original concept
has not changed. The JAC crushable glass ampoule offers all of
the advantages that make glass the indispensable package for
many applications.
Not only will JAC’s glass ampoules extend product
shelf life , they are also ideal whenever tamper resistant packaging
is a must, when the formulation is sensitive to environmental exposure,
or when the application calls for a two part system where the materials
need to be mixed immediately prior to use.
In addition, the contents of JAC glass ampoules can
be activated and dispensed in a variety of ways. JAC glass ampoules
are literally everywhere, often unbeknownst to the user. With a
simple press or squeeze, the user activates the glass ampoule without
even realizing that the package contains an ampoule.
To read about an actual application of JAC ampoule
technology, click
here.
Some of the current uses for James Alexander’s
glass ampoule-based activation systems include retail store antitheft
devices, sobriety and controlled substance test kits, rear view
mirror replacement kits, antiseptic swabs, and pest control packages.
Other applications for JAC ampoules include:
• Topical applications-
application of product to the skin- Topical Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics,
and health and beauty aids
• Dropper
tip assemblies- dispensing
of liquids in dropper form- Microbiological reagents, fixatives
and solvents
• Inhalation- as with Attractants,
Deodorizers, respirator fit test products and pharmaceuticals
• Tandem applications- where
two substances are mixed immediately prior to use- Medical device
test reagents, chemiluminescent light sticks, and topical pharmaceuticals
Glass Composition
James Alexander's crushable glass ampoule can be made of
USP (United States Pharmacopeia) type I or type III glass. USP
type I glass is a borosilicate glass composed principally of
silicon dioxide and boric oxide, with low levels of the non-network
forming oxides. It is a chemically resistant glass exhibiting
low leachability and a low thermal coefficient of expansion.
USP type III glass is commonly called "soda lime" glass.
It is composed of relatively high proportions of sodium oxide and
calcium oxide. Soda lime glass melts at a lower temperature, which
makes it easier to mold into various shapes. This glass is less
chemically resistant than USP type I glass and is typically used
in applications where a slight variation in the pH will not affect
the contents of the ampoule.
Glass Dimensions
JAC's crushable glass ampoules come in a variety of diameters
to meet varied packaging needs. Standard diameters are 7.0 mm and
8.0 mm. All diameters have tolerances of +/- 0.25 mm. The length
of a sealed glass ampoule can be varied from approximately 30
mm (1.2 inches) to more than 100 mm (3.9 inches). Tolerances
for sealed ampoule length are typically +/- 1.5 mm.
Custom diameters and sizes are available for customers
with nonstandard needs. When designing packages requiring glass
ampoules, James Alexander recommends that customers attempt to utilize
standard diameters in order to minimize lead times and cost.
Powder Filling
James Alexander has also developed the capability of filling
crushable ampoules with powders, with reproducible fill volumes
as low as 50 milligrams. Powder ampoules are ideal for diagnostic
test kits and a variety of other applications. Since ampoule quality
and fill volume reproducibility are highly dependent on the characteristics
and consistency of the particular powder or crystal, a small pre-production
sample run is highly recommended.
Further Packaging Options
Here are just some of the innovative ways JAC can package
crushable ampoules:
• In JAC single
or tandem ampoule swabs. The ampoules may contain a liquid or
a powder.
• In JAC single or tandem dropper
tip assemblies. This package is ideal for diagnostic applications.
• JAC can also supply ampoules
in bulk for those clients with in-house manufacturing capabilities.
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