Background Art Generally, a wounded body part is disinfected using an antiseptic solution such as alcohol, Betadine, etc. , so as to prevent secondary infection.

The antiseptic solution is used in such a way that a swab or sterile cotton is soaked in the antiseptic solution and then rubbed against the wounded body part.

The swab is usually made by fixing cotton to a stick made of wood or plastic. In the conventional art, since antiseptic solution must be separately prepared in a bottle, annoyance arises from separately storing the swab and antiseptic solution. Also, when disinfecting a wounded body part, since the swab must be soaked in the antiseptic solution after opening the bottle which contains the antiseptic solution, inconvenience and time increase. Further, due to the fact that a number of swabs are simultaneously accommodated in a vinyl bag, in the course of taking the swabs one by one out of the vinyl bag, bacteria or dust is likely to attach to the cotton of the swabs, leading to unsanitary conditions.

Moreover, even in the case of sterile cotton, since it is placed by tweezers on a portion of the skin where hypodermic injection was implemented and pressed against the portion of the skin by the fingers of a patient, unsanitary conditions will arise.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an ampoule set which contains a dose of a medicine or the like for disinfection of a wounded body part or hypodermic injection, in such a way as to ensure sterile conditions and render user convenience.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided an ampoule set made of a material such as soft synthetic resin and including a removable cap and a body element which are detachably coupled with each other, wherein the removable cap is formed with a medicine part which contains a medicine for disinfection of a wounded body part or hypodermic injection, and the body element is provided with medicine supplying means having a predetermined length for supplying the medicine to a desired portion of the human body, the medicine part being held separated from the medicine supplying means by a sealing film serving as a covering layer.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a ninth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 10 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a tenth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with an eleventh embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 12 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a twelfth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 13 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 14 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 15 is a sectional view illustrating a construction of an ampoule set in accordance with a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 16a and 16b are sectional views illustrating constructions of ampoule sets in accordance with a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the

drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

Figs. 1 through 13 illustrate embodiments in which medicine supplying means are realized in the shape of a swab, and Figs. 14 through 16 illustrate embodiments in which medicine supplying means are realized in the shape of a syringe.

<Embodiment 1> An ampoule set 1 according to this embodiment of the present invention comprises a body element 2 and a pair of removable caps 10. The removable caps 10 are detachably coupled to both ends of the body element 2, respectively, in such a way as to be symmetrized with each other. To this end, a proximal end of each removable cap 10 is formed with a projection 10a and each end of the body element 2 is defined with an engagement groove 2a in which the projection 10a can be engaged. The removable cap 10 has a medicine part 15 which is formed adjacent to a distal end of the removable cap 10. A liquid medicine such as antiseptic solution, mercurochrome and the like is received in the medicine part 15. One end of the medicine part 15 is closed by a sealing film 14 which serves as a thin covering layer. A stick of a swab 3 is integrally formed with each end of the body element 2 in a manner such that the swab 3 is separated from the medicine part 15 of the removable cap 10 by a predetermined distance.

A plug 12 is fitted into the distal end of each removable cap 10 after the medicine is received in the medicine part 15. Then, an O-ring 11 is fitted around the distal end of each removable cap 10 to maintain airtightness between the removable cap 10 and the plug 12. The removable cap 10 has, over a predetermined section of a sidewall thereof, a bellows part 13 which can be expanded and contracted as desired.

When using the ampoule set 1 constructed as described above, by pushing the plug 12 toward the body element 2, the sealing film 14, which is made of a soft material and heat-fused to an inner surface of the removable cap 10, is brought into contact with the swab 3 and then ruptured. As a

consequence, the medicine received in the medicine part 15 is soaked into a sterile cotton 3'which is fixed to the stick of the swab 3.

In this state, after removing the cap 10 from the body element 2, a user can immediately disinfect a wounded body part by applying antiseptic solution soaked into the sterile cotton 3'of the swab 3 to the wounded body part.

Therefore, since the ampoule set according to the present invention can be instantly used as occasion demands in a state wherein a liquid medicine and a swab or syringe are kept separately from each other in the ampoule set, sterile conditions are ensured and user convenience is rendered. Further, due to the fact that the pair of swabs are respectively provided at both ends of the body element to be symmetrized with each other, the ampoule set can be used two times.

<Embodiment 2> In a second embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 2, the removable cap 10 is detachably coupled to the end of the body element 2 by a retainer ring 17 which is press-fitted around the proximal end of the removable cap 10, and a thumbtack 16 is provided in the medicine part 15. Thus, when the removable cap 10 is pushed toward the body element 2, as the thumbtack 16 is brought into contact with the sealing film 14, the thumbtack 16 ruptures the sealing film 14, whereby soaking of the medicine into the sterile cotton can be easily implemented.

Accordingly, in this preferred embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of the sealing film 14 not to be ruptured by the sterile cotton 3'of the swab 3 in the first embodiment.

<Embodiment 3> In a third embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 3, the removable cap 10 has a closed distal end so that a separate plug for closing the distal end of the removable cap 10 is not needed. Hence, with the liquid medicine received in the medicine part 15, since the medicine part 15 is closed

only by the sealing film 14, airtightness of the medicine part 15 can be improved.

<Embodiment 4> In a fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 4, the distal end of the removable cap 10 in which the medicine part 15 is formed is separated from the removable cap 10 to serve as a separated cap 20. The separated cap 20 is detachably coupled to the removable cap 10. After the medicine is received in the medicine part 15, the sealing film 14 is adhered to an opened end of the separated cap 20 by heat fusion, etc. Due to this separated configuration of the separated cap 20, it is possible to manufacture the medicine part 15 in an easy manner when compared to the configuration shown in Fig. 3.

<Embodiment 5> In a fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 5, when constructing the ampoule set as in the fourth embodiment, an O-ring 21 is fitted around the sealing film 14 which closes the opened end of the separated cap 20 and then is folded to be placed on a circumferential outer surface of the separated cap 20.

In this state, because the sealing film 14 is airtightly fixed with respect to the separated cap 20 by the elastic force of the O-ring 21, leakage of the liquid medicine is prevented. Therefore, the ampoule set according to the present invention can be stored for a lengthy period of time, and it is not necessary to heat-fuse the sealing film 14 to the separated cap 20.

<Embodiment 6> In a sixth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 6, when constructing the ampoule set as in the fourth embodiment, a thumbtack 16 is provided in the medicine part 15 of the separated cap 20. Consequently, as in the case of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 2, when the separated cap 20 is pushed toward the body element 2, the sealing film 14 can be easily ruptured by

the thumbtack 16.

<Embodiment 7> In a seventh embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 7, differently from the above-described embodiments in which the sealing films 14 are fixed with respect to the removable caps 10 to delimit the medicine part 15, the medicine part 15 comprises a film container 24 made of a suitable material such as vinyl. Therefore, in this embodiment, after preparing the film container 24 separately from the removable cap 10 in a state wherein the liquid medicine is received in the film container 24, the film container 24 is inserted into the distal end of the removable cap 10 to be fixedly maintained therein. In this way, productivity of the ampoule set according to the present invention can be improved.

<Embodiment 8> In an eighth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 8, the distal end of the removable cap 10 is defined with an accommodating space 10'in a manner such that the film container 24 constituting the medicine part 15 which receives the liquid medicine can be accommodated in the accommodating space 10'.

In this configuration, if the user presses the distal end of the removable cap 10, as the film container 24 is ruptured by a pressure, the liquid medicine flows out of the medicine part 15 and is soaked into the sterile cotton 3'of the swab 3.

Also, in this embodiment, a knob 2'is affixed to a rear end of the body element 2, whereby disinfection of a wounded body part can be sanitarily implemented.

<Embodiment 9> In a ninth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 9, the

medicine part 15 is accommodated in the swab 3, and. the stick of the swab 3 is formed, over a pre-selected section of a sidewall thereof, with a saw-toothed and perforated portion 25 capable of rupturing the medicine part 15 for ensuring outflow of the medicine contained in the medicine part 15 into the sterile cotton 3'of the swab 3.

When using the ampoule set, in a state wherein the swab 3 is covered by the removable cap 10 made of a flexible material, as the user grasps the sterile cotton 3'against the stick of the swab 3, the medicine part 15 is ruptured by the saw-toothed and perforated portion 25 and thereby the liquid medicine is soaked into the sterile cotton 3'of the swab 3. Thereafter, by removing the cap 10 from the swab 3, the user can apply the liquid medicine to a wounded body part.

<Embodiment 10> In a tenth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 10, the swab is replaced with a stick 3 which does not have a sterile cotton and is made of a transparent resinous material capable of transmitting light. Further, the body element 2 includes a battery part 30 in which a battery is received, a light emitting part 31 which is supplied with power from the battery part 30 and emits light, and a switching part 32 which controls power supply from the battery part 30 to the light emitting part 31.

Also, in order to minimize power consumption of the battery and prevent the medicine part 15 from being unintentionally ruptured due to erroneous handling of the removable cap 10, the ampoule set is protected by a safety capsule 33.

The ampoule set according to this embodiment of the present invention can be effectively used when implementing disinfection in a dark place or for a wounded body part which cannot be reached by light. That is to say, when using the ampoule set, halves of the safety capsule 33 are pulled in opposite directions to be disassembled from each other. Then, by contracting the bellows part, the sealing film 14 is ruptured by the thumbtack 16, and the liquid medicine is

transferred to the stick 3. Thereafter, the cap 10 is removed, and, by pressing the switching part 32, the light emitted from the light emitting part 31 transmits the stick 3, whereby the wounded body part can be treated while being illuminated.

<Embodiment 1 1> In an eleventh embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 11, a variation of the tenth embodiment is rendered. Namely, in this embodiment, the sterile cotton 3'is fixed to the stick of the swab 3 in a manner such that the sterile cotton 3'is partially surrounded by the stick of the swab 3.

As a consequence, although traveling of light is interrupted by the sterile cotton 3', a portion of the light is transmitted to a distal end of the stick, whereby it is possible to use the ampoules set in a dark place.

<Embodiment 12> In a twelfth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 12, the stick 3 is supported by the body element 2 rather than being formed integrally with the body element 2, in a manner such that the stick 3 can be moved through the body element 2 in a lengthwise direction thereof. In this embodiment, the bellows part 13 for adjusting a length of the removable cap 10 is not needed.

Thus, differently from the aforementioned embodiments in which the plug 12 is pushed toward the body element 2 when using the ampoule set, in the present embodiment, after unscrewing the removable cap 10 which is threadedly coupled to the body element 2, by pushing the stick 3 in a direction, the stick 3 ruptures the sealing film 14, and thereby the liquid medicine is transferred to the stick 3.

<Embodiment 13> In a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 13, the ampoule set is used for bloodletting. A movable rod 40 is inserted in the swab 3 having the stick to which the sterile cotton 3'is fixed. A bloodletting needle 41

is stuck into a distal end of the movable rod 40. The body element 2 is. provided with a leaf spring 43 for projecting the bloodletting needle 41 out of the distal end of the swab 3 and an elastic member 42 for biasing the bloodletting needle 41 in a direction in which it is returned to its initial retracted position. The leaf spring 43 is arranged at a rear end of the body element 2, and the elastic member 42 is wound around the movable rod 40 to elastically support the movable rod 40. In this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member 42 comprises a coil spring.

The unexplained reference numeral 44 designates a spring cap which is threadedly coupled to the body element 2 to adjust a distance through which the leaf spring 43 can be pressed.

The ampoule set constructed as mentioned above can be effectively used when checking a blood sugar level of a diabetic, having a stomach upset or having a dislocated joint. Initially, the user presses the distal end of the removable cap 10 in which the film container 24 constituting the medicine part 15 is accommodated, so that the film container 24 is ruptured by a pressure, and the liquid medicine flows out of the medicine part 15 and is soaked into the sterile cotton 3'of the swab 3. Selectively, the leaf spring 43 is pressed so that the movable rod 40 is moved forward through the swab 3 to allow the bloodletting needle 41 to rupture the film container 24. Then, the cap 10 is removed, and disinfection of a desired pain spot is implemented using the sterile cotton 3'.

Next, in a state wherein the swab 3 is positioned on the desired pain spot, by momentarily pressing the leaf spring 43, the movable rod 40 is moved forward again, and the bloodletting needle 41 pricks the desired pain spot, for example, on the finger, to allow blood to run out. Thereafter, it is possible to disinfect again the pain spot using the sterile cotton 3'.

In this embodiment, the bloodletting needle 41 is normally received in the swab 3 and, when the leaf spring 43 is pressed, momentarily projects out of the distal end of the swab 3 to prick the desired pain spot on the finger. Then, the bloodletting needle 41 is returned to its initial retracted position by elastic

force of the coil spring while the swab 3 is positioned on the pain spot.

Accordingly, since the bloodletting needle 41 cannot be viewed from the outside while performing a bloodletting procedure, it is possible to relieve the possible stress of a patient.

Figs. 14 through 16 illustrate embodiments in which the medicine supplying means are realized in the shape of a syringe for application of a medical adhesive or hypodermic injection of a medicine.

<Embodiment 14> In a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 14, the removable cap 10 which has the bellows part 13 on the sidewall thereof is threadedly coupled to the body element 2, and a syringe 53 is assembled integrally with the body element 2. The medicine part 15 which contains the medical adhesive or medicine is defined in the syringe 53.

In this state, if the user pushes the plug 12 toward the body element 2, as the removable cap 10 is contracted, the thumbtack 12 creates a hole through a distal end of the medicine part 15 which is formed integrally with the syringe 53.

Then, by unscrewing and removing the cap 10, the medical adhesive contained in the medicine part 15 can be applied through the hole to a desired portion of the human body.

<Embodiment 15> In a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 15, in order to ensure that application of the medical adhesive by the syringe 53 is easily performed, a plunger 50 is provided to a rear end of the syringe 53, and a guide part 51 for guiding the movement of the thumbtack 16 is formed in the removable cap 10. In the case that the medicine is reused depending upon its type, the distal end of the syringe 53 is inserted into the guide part 51 to allow the guide part 51 to serve as a closure member for preventing intrusion of bacteria. Also, for the sake of the user's safety, the ampoule set is protected by the safety capsule

33.

<Embodiment 16> In a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention shown in Fig. 16a, the syringe 53 having the plunger 50 is assembled to the body element 2. The syringe 53 has the conventional configuration and is used for drawing and injecting the medicine. For example, in the medicine part 15 which is formed integrally with the syringe 53, there can be received an antidote which is carried when conducting chemical, biological and radiological warfare, with the sealing film 14 airtightly closing the medicine part 15.

In this construction, when using the ampoule set, the safety capsule 3 is initially removed, and the plug 12 is pushed toward the body element 2. Then, as the bellows part 13 is contracted, the distal end of the syringe 53 passes through the sealing film 14 into the medicine part 15. In this state, by pulling the plunger 50 backward, the antidote is drawn into the syringe 53. Then, the cap 10 is removed and the medicine is injected into the desired portion of the human body.

On the other hand, as a variation of this embodiment, the distal end of the removable cap 10 in which the medicine part 15 is formed is separated from the removable cap 10 to serve as the separated cap 20. Therefore, it is to be readily understood that the medicine part 15 can be attached to and detached from the removable cap 10 as desired.

As described above, in the ampoule set according to the present invention, since intrusion of a foreign material into the ampoule set is prevented due to the presence of the removable cap 10 and a dose of a liquid medicine is contained in the ampoule set, sterile conditions are ensured and user convenience is rendered.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing

from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed, in the accompanying claims.

For example, while a liquid medicine such as antiseptic solution and mercurochrome used in treatment of a conventional external wound may be used as the medicine contained in the medicine part 15, a person skilled in the art will readily recognize that the medicine may comprise a variety of items such as ointment unguent, cream, powdered antidote, etc. which are used for military purposes.

In particular, the ampoule set according to the present invention provides advantages when it is necessary to implement disinfection or hypodermic injection in the open air or upon performing rescue operations, due to the fact that the medicine and the swab or syringe are integrally equipped with each other.

Further, the removable cap 10 may be coupled with the body element 2 through a diversity of ways including screwing, engagement between projections, etc.

Industrial Applicability As apparent from the above description, the ampoule set according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, provides advantages in that, since the ampoule set can be carried and stored in a simple manner and easily used for disinfection or treatment of a wounded body part or for hypodermic injection, sterile conditions are ensured and user convenience is rendered.

Further, as a dose of a medicine or the like and a swab or a syringe are held separated from each other in the ampoule set, it is possible to sanitarily conduct disinfection of a wounded body part or hypodermic injection, whereby secondary infection can be avoided.