Patent Description:
People in many parts of the world perform nasal cleansing (or nasal irrigation) using a neti pots or other products on a routine basis. Nasal cleansing is also incorporated into some forms of yoga practice, such as in Jala neti. Jala neti is a Sanskrit term that refers to cleansing and means "water cleansing". The solution for rinsing the nasal passages can be a saline solution. Some patients use nasal rinsing to reduce allergies, improve breathing, eliminate post-nasal drip or sinus infections, moisten dry nasal passages, avoid catching a cold, or otherwise generally improve one's health. Other uses are possible. Conventional nasal rinse products, however, are bulky and do not fit within purses, backpacks, briefcases, or other personal items that are carried around.

<CIT> describes a container with a wall that is integrated with a cap having a plug that extends sufficiently through a weakened region of the container wall to prevent inadvertent rupture of the cap during shipment.

<CIT> describes a single-use, blow-moulded container for medical or pharmaceutical use.

<CIT> describes a container comprising a contiguous piece having: a hollow body having a neck, which terminates at a mouth, a breakable transition portion being contiguously coupled to the neck and a handle portion coupled to the transition portion at one end and having a closure member at the other end.

<CIT> describes a hermetically sealed container including a dispensing nozzle and a hollow closure with a lobate region removeably secured along a frangible web.

<CIT> describes a hermetically sealed container having a closure connected to the container by a frangible web.

<CIT> describes an instrument comprising a reservoir that terminates in a nozzle that is blunt-conical or in the form of an olive.

<CIT> provides a method for administration of pharmacological solutions into the nasal cavity whereby the patient's head is being bent forward <NUM>-<NUM>° from an upright position as well as a device for use in the administration. The device fits to a nostril at one end and at the other end consists of a container may be prefilled with the solution that is to be administered. The upper part of the device, the olive, that fits in the nostril is conical and has an opening having a diameter is between <NUM>-<NUM> to avoid spraying or jet streaming the contents of the device into the nasal cavity. The opening is unsealed. The diameter of the base of the olive is <NUM>-<NUM> to provide proper tightening of all sizes of nostrils.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a dispensing device, as described in claim <NUM>.

The present disclosure relates to a portable ampoule with a specialized tip and sealer. According to the invention, the portable ampoule for dispensing fluid includes a body configured to contain cleansing solution. A neck is coupled to the body and configured to control the flow of the solution. A tip is coupled to the neck and has an aperture for solution release. A sealing device is coupled to the tip and configured to seal the aperture. The sealing device permanently unseals the aperture upon decoupling from the tip. The tip includes a tapered surface that permits the tip to conform to nostrils of different sizes, the exterior of the tip being tapered outwardly from a wide portion up near the bottom of the tip to a narrow portion near the top of the tip, and the tip being sized to prevent the wide portion from extending all the way into the user's nostril. The bottom diameter of tip is between <NUM> and <NUM> millimeters, and the top diameter of tip is between <NUM> and <NUM> millimeters. The sealing device includes an opener having a twist coupler to facilitate twisting motion for removing the sealing device to unseal the aperture.

Examples useful for understanding the invention may include one or more of the following features. The sealing device may be for a single use such that upon removing the sealing device from the tip, the sealing device is permanently displaced from the tip. The opener may be a planar holding structure to accommodate application of moment or torque to the twist coupler. The opener may include an outer rim to provide torque support and an inner rim to secure the twist coupler to the outer rim. The sealing device may include a sealer and the twist coupler may be coupled to the tip through the sealer.

The body may include a rib structure to facilitate holding or gripping of the body to avoid slipping motion generated when the body is rotated in an opposite direction with respect to the sealing device. The rib structure may be flush or contiguous with edges of the opener. The rib structure may extend from a bottom portion of the tip to a bottom portion of the body, wherein a bottom surface of the opener body aligns with the bottom portion of the tip. The twist coupler includes inner side walls that conform with but do not contact sidewalls of the tip.

The tip may be further configured to attenuate the pressure of solution stored in the body and facilitate dispensing of the solution with sufficient pressure to deliver the solution to nasal tissue without displacing the nasal tissue. The neck may have a diameter smaller than a diameter of the body to facilitate a dispensing speed of the solution. The tip may be conically shaped with a convex curved surface tapered from a surface on which the aperture is formed to a bottom portion of the tip. The bottom portion may include a diameter with sufficient dimension to prevent the tip from extending into a user's nostril. The bottom portion of the tip may include rounded or chamfered edges. The tip may include a tapered surface that conforms to nostrils of different sizes.

<FIG> is a schematic front view of an ampoule <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the ampoule <NUM> includes a body <NUM>, a neck <NUM>, a tip <NUM> and an opener <NUM>. The neck <NUM> connects the body <NUM> to the tip <NUM>. The opener <NUM> allows users to twist open the tip <NUM> at a twist coupler <NUM>. The body <NUM> can be, for example, a container of saline solution or any other fluid suitable for irrigating cavities (e.g. nasal cavities). The ampoule <NUM> can be used, for example, to provide nasal rinsing (or irrigation or nasal lavage), such as to treat allergies, improve breathing, eliminate post-nasal drip or sinus infections, moisten dry nasal passages, etc. In some implementations, the tip <NUM> can attenuate the pressure of fluid stored in the body <NUM>, dispensing fluid at a gentle pressure. The gentle pressure can be sufficient to deliver a flow of fluid to tissue without the pressure being so great as to displace the tissue.

The body <NUM> is a fluid container (e.g. a bottle, can or other container) that securely stores fluid and allows users to apply pressure (e.g. to the container) to expel the stored fluid. For example, the body <NUM> can be made of thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, or any other appropriate materials that allows for deformation in order to pressurize the bottle for fluid release. In some implementations, the ampoule <NUM> can be pressurized for maintaining shape during transportation. The body <NUM> is a cylindrical shape and may be a cylindrical shape of a uniform diameter. In other examples, the diameter can vary along its longitudinal axis, for example, a tapered shape, a curved shape, a diamond shape, or other shapes. The body <NUM> can be a thin-walled structure of uniform thickness and/or variable thickness for functional requirements. For example, to facilitate deformation, some locations on the body <NUM> can be thinner than the rest. As another example, other locations on the body <NUM> can be thicker for structural reinforcement, such as a portion at or near the bottom of the ampoule <NUM>. Grooves or depressions can be included in the body to facilitate gripping by the human hand.

In some implementations, the dimension of the neck <NUM> can be tailored to accommodate an increase output flow velocity of fluid from the body <NUM>. The neck <NUM> can be made of the same material as the body <NUM>, such as thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, etc. In some implementations, the neck <NUM> is a cylindrical shape of a uniform diameter that is significantly smaller than that of the body <NUM> (e.g., the diameter of neck <NUM> is <NUM>% smaller than the maximum diameter of the body <NUM>). Other ratios between the diameter of the neck <NUM> and that of the body <NUM> are also contemplated. In some implementations, a small neck diameter allows the output flow velocity to increase (e.g., because for a given amount of fluid volume that is displaced, the narrower the cross-sectional area of a passage, the higher the flow velocity). The neck <NUM> can also be a thin-walled structure of uniform thickness and/or variable thickness for functional requirements. For example, at the location where the body <NUM> and the tip <NUM> intersects, extra wall thickness can be implemented to enhance structural integrity.

As shown in <FIG>, the tip <NUM> is connected to the neck <NUM>, which is partially encapsulated by the twist coupler <NUM>. An aperture <NUM> is revealed upon removing the twist coupler <NUM>. In some implementations, the tip <NUM> can be conically shaped with a convex curved surface leading from the aperture <NUM> toward the bottom portion <NUM> of the tip <NUM>. In some implementations, the tip <NUM> can be gumdrop- or mushroom-shaped. The tip <NUM> may include rounded edges such as an upper rounded edge and a lower rounded edge. The rounded edges may have a substantially large rounding radius to facilitate manufacturing process and avoid causing discomfort to user during use and/or handling. For example, the upper rounded edge can be of a rounding radius between <NUM> to <NUM>, such as <NUM>. This allows the tip <NUM> to comfortably contact with the user at various insertion angles without excessive friction to cause irritation or discomfort. The lower rounded edge may have a rounding radius between <NUM> to <NUM>, such as <NUM>. This allows the tip <NUM> to be safely completely enclosed by a user's nostril and cause minimum friction and discomfort during removal. This also allows the tip <NUM> to avoid stress concentration during production, transportation and use.

The tip <NUM> includes a tapered surface that permits the tip <NUM> to conform to nostrils of different sizes. Specifically, the exterior of the tip <NUM> is tapered outwardly. The tip <NUM> tapers from a wide portion up (e.g., the portion near the bottom of the tip <NUM>) to a narrow portion (e.g., the portion near the top of the tip <NUM>). The tip <NUM> is sized to prevent the wide portion from extending all the way into a user's nostril. In some implementations, the transition from the end of the wide portion to the neck <NUM> can be rounded or chamfered to avoid any sharp edges. The tip <NUM> can be made of the same material as the body <NUM>, such as thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, or other suitable materials tailored for human use. The tip <NUM> can be a thin-walled structure of approximate uniform thickness.

In some implementations, the twist coupler <NUM> is breakably coupled to the tip <NUM> at the aperture <NUM> and reinforceably affixed to the opener <NUM>. The opener <NUM> can be sized to facilitate the twisting motion for twist opening the twist coupler <NUM>. In some implementations, the twist coupler <NUM> acts as a one-time seal to the tip <NUM> so that upon twist opening the twist coupler <NUM>, the twist coupler <NUM> is permanently displaced from the tip <NUM>. In so doing, the tip <NUM> cannot re-seal the aperture <NUM>, and the ampoule <NUM> can be discarded after one-time use.

In some implementations, the twist coupler <NUM> is a thin-walled structure coupled to the tip <NUM> by, for example, heated compression or any similar techniques, sealingly adhering two adjacent walls that can be broken with a twisting motion when the shear stress exceeds the bonding strength between the two thin walls. The twist coupler <NUM> can be of a donut shape, a tire shape, or any other appropriate shape to encapsulate the aperture <NUM>. The twist coupler <NUM> can be made of the same material as the tip <NUM>, such as thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, and other suitable materials.

In some implementations, the opener <NUM> is integrally and reinforceablly affixed to the twist coupler <NUM>. The opener <NUM> serves as a holding structure for user's fingers to apply a moment/torque to the twist coupler <NUM>. In some implementations, the opener <NUM> is a plane structure of a thickness that defies significant bending deformation under normal use. The opener <NUM> may include an outer rim to provide torque support and an inner rim to secure the twist coupler to the outer rim. For example, the outer rim may be of a thicker thickness than the inner rim so that when a torque is applied to the outer rim, structural deformation is limited by the material strength of the outer rim. The thickness of the outer rim may be between about <NUM> and <NUM>, such as <NUM>. The primary function of the inner rim is to secure the twist coupler <NUM> to the outer rim. As the inner rim deforms under loading, tensile stress can become the major stress within the component to provide a transmitting force to rotate the twist coupler <NUM>. Therefore, the thickness of the inner rim may not require a large thickness, between about <NUM> to <NUM>, such as <NUM>. This also saves production material and reduces portable weight of the ampoule <NUM>.

In some examples useful for understanding the invention, the opener <NUM> is affixed to a cap (not shown) instead of the twist coupler <NUM> for re-useable purposes. The cap may be a screw type cap that has spiral rails to fasten with the ampoule <NUM>. The aperture <NUM> may have an intruding structure coupling with the cap. The material for the cap may be flexible to allow deformation to occur to form a liquid-tight fit. This alternation allows user to protect the ampoule <NUM> before use (e.g., during transportation).

In some implementations, a rib structure <NUM> is included along the longitudinal axis of the body <NUM> and in the plane defined by the opener <NUM>. The rib structure <NUM> allows users to conveniently hold and grip the body <NUM> and avoid a slipping motion in the rotational direction. For example, a user can use three fingers (e.g. a middle finger, a ring finger and a pinky) to grip around the cylindrical portion of the body <NUM> and the other two figures (e.g. a thumb and an index finger) to hold the planar portion of the rib structure <NUM>. This finger hold securely restricts motion of the tip <NUM> (e.g., to restrict the neck <NUM> and the body <NUM> from compliant motions such as rotation along with the opener <NUM>). The user can then use the other hand's two fingers (e.g. a thumb and an index finger) to hold the opener <NUM> by the planar surface (e.g. pressing onto the surface, or to act on the rib portion), and apply a torque/moment to twist the opener <NUM> against the tip <NUM>. Excessive deformation occurs when the torque exceeds a predetermined value so that the deformation can cause the twist coupler <NUM> to break away from the tip <NUM>, revealing the aperture <NUM>. Therefore, the body <NUM> includes an outer rim (i.e. the planar portion of the rib structure <NUM> and the opener <NUM>) to provide torque support and an inner rim (i.e. the material between the tip <NUM> and the opener <NUM>) to secure the twist coupler <NUM> to the outer rim.

As shown in <FIG>, the opener <NUM> and the rib structure <NUM> are separated below the bottom of the tip <NUM>. This allows the tip <NUM> be completely inserted into a user's nostril without obstruction and/or causing discomfort. The rib structure <NUM> may be confined to a contour that avoids contact with a user's nostril when the tip <NUM> is fully inserted. Although the opener <NUM> and the rib structure <NUM> are shown separated near the bottom of the tip <NUM>, other implementations also are contemplated in which the separation gap is placed at different locations, such as the shoulder of the body <NUM> or anywhere between the shoulder of the body <NUM> and the twist coupler <NUM>. These examples, however, are non-limiting. Also, the opener <NUM> can have two steps of thicknesses: an outer rim for major torque support and an inner portion for securing the twist coupler <NUM> to the outer rim. In some implementations, the inner portion of the opener <NUM> can be of the same thickness as the rib structure <NUM>, and does not contact the sidewalls of the tip <NUM>. In the implementation illustrated in <FIG>, the edges of the opener <NUM> are flush with the bottom of the tip <NUM> to facilitate the opening operation. The edges of the opener <NUM> is also flush or contiguous with the rib structure <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

The bottom of the body <NUM> can include a dimension <NUM>. The dimension <NUM> can include the diameter of the body <NUM> and a side extrusion step from the rib structure <NUM>. To enhance portability and miniaturize the ampoule <NUM>, the dimension <NUM> can be between about <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., about <NUM>), and the extrusion portion of the rib structure <NUM> can be, for example, <NUM>. The diameter of the body <NUM> can be of any other values that, given certain length, can contain enough fluid for a one-time treatment, such as rinse, lavage, moisturize, etc. Various dimensions of the ampoule <NUM> also can exist. For example, the overall length <NUM> of the ampoule <NUM> can be between about <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>). The overall length <NUM> can be of any other value that fits within conventional purses, backpacks, briefcases, or other daily carry items.

<FIG> is a schematic top view of the ampoule <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. In some implementations, the body <NUM>, the tip <NUM>, and the twist coupler <NUM> have circular cross section shape at various diameters. For example, the cross section of the twist coupler <NUM> may be a circular shape that has a diameter between about <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>). The maximum cross section of the tip <NUM> may have a diameter between about <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>). The cross section of the body <NUM> may have a diameter between about <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>) as the dimension <NUM>. It can be seen from the top view that the opener <NUM> and the rib structure <NUM> align in the same plane that symmetrically divide the ampoule <NUM>. Although the general cross section of the ampoule <NUM> is circular shape in this example, the cross section may be, in some implementations, a different practical shape that still provides a cylindrical body <NUM>, such as elliptical shape for ease of applying pressure. In other examples useful for understanding the invention, the cross section may be a different practical shape, such as a triangular shape for packaging reasons, a diamond shape for both ease of applying pressure and packaging reasons, and/or a combination of different shapes at different cross section locations.

<FIG> is a schematic side view of the ampoule <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The side view shows additional structures of the ampoule <NUM>. For example, the bottom of the body <NUM> is shaped for reinforcement and easy mold release that includes a concave surface <NUM> in the extrusion direction of the rib structure <NUM>. Also, as shown in <FIG>, the twist coupler <NUM> is attached to the tip <NUM> at a circular tangential portion <NUM> that acts as a plug or sealer for sealing the aperture <NUM>. Further, in the example shown, the outer portion of the opener <NUM> is thicker than the rib structure <NUM>. <FIG> further shows a dimension <NUM> to denote the diameter of the body <NUM>, a dimension <NUM> to denote the thickness of the rib structure <NUM>, a dimension <NUM> to denote the thickness of the opener <NUM>, and a dimension <NUM> to denote the diameter of the twist coupler <NUM>.

The circular tangential portion <NUM> connects the twist coupler <NUM> to the sealing aperture <NUM> by a cross section that has sufficient strength to maintain structural integrity during transportation (i.e. maintain shape under bending and tension loading conditions) and can be severed under shear stress in a twisting motion. In the example shown in <FIG>, the circular tangential portion <NUM> has a low aspect ratio (e.g., height to diameter ratio is very small), allowing for very small moment arm for bending deformation. This shape profile enables resistance against bending failure modes. The circular tangential portion <NUM> is affixed to the opener <NUM> that allows for a large moment arm to be applied by user (at least about twice as large as the sealing cross section diameter). This allows for more material to be in contact at the sealing cross section between the circular tangential portion <NUM> and the aperture <NUM>, better resisting tension or compression deformation.

To expose the aperture <NUM>, a moment is applied to the opener <NUM> that is affixed to the twist coupler <NUM> by circumferential connection. The moment creates a shear stress concentrated at the circular tangential portion <NUM> while the connection between the twist coupler <NUM> and the opener <NUM> is under tension. Such as tearing apart a piece of paper is much easier than pulling apart a piece of paper, the cross section between the aperture <NUM> and the circular tangential portion <NUM> will fail or break before any other locations. This breaks apart the opener <NUM> and the tip <NUM> and exposes the aperture <NUM>. The twist coupler <NUM> may include inner side walls that conform with but do not contact sidewalls of the tip <NUM>.

In some implementations, the circular tangential portion <NUM> may have a donut-shape, a tire shape, or any other low aspect ratio cylindrical shapes that enable separation from the aperture <NUM> with shear stress. In some implementations, the circular tangential portion <NUM> may be of the same cross section shape as the aperture <NUM> and/or the tip <NUM>.

The concave surface <NUM> at the bottom of the body <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> has multiple purposes, such as reinforcing the structural integrity of the body <NUM>, enabling faster manufacturing process, allowing user to recognize the ampoule orientation, etc. In some implementations, the concave surface <NUM> creates a strengthening profile of the bottom of the body <NUM> by increasing the moment of inertia of the structure. This is the similar principle applied to most thin-walled bottles that use the shape instead of materials to achieve certain desired strength. The concave surface <NUM> also creates a strong local structure of the body <NUM> to withstand relatively large external loads. This may facilitate the manufacturing process when the body <NUM> is to be handled by various machines.

Various dimensions of the ampoule <NUM> are possible and illustrated in <FIG>. For example, the diameter <NUM> of the body <NUM> can be in the range between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., about <NUM>). The diameter <NUM> can be of any other values that, given certain length, can contain enough fluid for a one-time treatment. In some implementations, the thickness <NUM> of the rib structure <NUM> can be in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> (e.g., about <NUM>). In some implementations, the thickness <NUM> can be of any other values so that, when loaded to twist open the ampoule <NUM>, the rib structure <NUM> can maintain the original shape without excessive deformation.

In some implementations, the thickness <NUM> of the opener <NUM> can be in the range between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., about <NUM>). In some implementations, the thickness <NUM> can be at least <NUM> thicker than the thickness <NUM>, or of any other values that gives the opener <NUM> enough structure integrity to twist open the coupler <NUM>. In some implementations, the diameter <NUM> of the circular tangential portion <NUM> can be in the range between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., about <NUM>). The diameter <NUM> can be of any other values sufficient to provide a secure seal to the aperture <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view of the ampoule <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, portion of the body <NUM> is shown with a line <NUM> indicating the fill-up line for the fluid contained in the body <NUM>. At about <NUM> fluid volume and about <NUM> body diameter, the line <NUM> can be about <NUM> from the bottom of the body <NUM>. The position of the line <NUM> can change if a different fluid volume is to be filled and the body <NUM> is of a different diameter or size. The length <NUM> of the neck <NUM> can be in the range between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., about <NUM>), and can be of any other values that provides the rib structure <NUM> enough room for holding the ampoule <NUM>.

In some implementations the rib structure <NUM> at the body <NUM> can be flush or contiguous with the rib structure <NUM> at the opener <NUM>. The bottom diameter <NUM> of the tip <NUM> is in the range between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>), while the top diameter <NUM> of the tip <NUM> is in the range between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>). In some implementations, the top diameter <NUM> of the tip <NUM> may be the same value as the diameter <NUM>. In some implementations, the diameter <NUM> of the aperture <NUM> can be in the range between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>). In some implementations, the overall structure can be of a uniform thickness <NUM>, which can be in the range between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>).

As discussed above, the ampoule <NUM> can be made of a thermoplastic polymer, or thermoplastics. Most thermoplastics are high-molecular-weight polymers whose chains associate through weak Van der Waals forces (e.g. polyethylene); stronger dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding (e.g. nylon); or even stacking of aromatic rings (e.g. polystyrene). For example, the ampoule <NUM> can be made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylic, celluloid, cellulose acetate, cyclic olefin copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, fluoroplastics, lonomers, Kydex, liquid crystal polymer, polyoxymethylyne, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polyamide, polyamide-imide, polyaryletherketone, polybutadiene, polybutylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polycaprolactone, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyketone, polyester, polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, polyetherketoneketone, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, chlorinated polyethylene, polyimide, polylactic acid, polymethylpentene, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphthalamide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polysulfone, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, styrene-acrylonitrile, and/or a combination of these, or any other appropriate thermoplastics.

In some implementations, the ampoule <NUM> can be made of a thermosetting polymer, or thermoset. Thermoset is a polymer material that cures irreversibly through heat (generally above <NUM> (<NUM> °F)), through a chemical reaction (two-part epoxy, for example), or irradiation such as electron beam processing. In some instances, the ampoule <NUM> can be made of vulcanized rubber, bakelite, duroplast, melamine resin, phenol formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde, polyester, epoxy, isoprene crosslinked with sulphur, neoprene, trihydroxymehylsilane, and/or a combination of these, or any other appropriate thermosetting polymers.

In some implementations, the ampoule <NUM> can be coated internally with a layer of epoxy resin to prevent reaction between the fluid and the body material. For example, if the ampoule <NUM> is coated with a layer of metal for light isolation or uses a metallic material for construction, then a layer of epoxy resin can provide isolation of the fluid and prevent undesired materials leaching into the liquid or solution contained in the body <NUM>.

In some implementations, the ampoule <NUM> can be transparent overall, or in a portion such that remaining portion of fluid may be monitored. For example, the ampoule <NUM> may be made of a clear thermoplastic polymer, and/or a clear thermosetting polymer.

In some implementations, the ampoule <NUM> can use various materials for the body <NUM>, the neck <NUM> and the tip <NUM>. For example, the body <NUM> can use a thermoplastic polymer while the neck <NUM> and the tip <NUM> can use a thermosetting polymer. A variation of material in different parts of the ampoule <NUM> can improve durability, provide convenience to use, or enhance other characteristics of the ampoule <NUM> such as gripping.

<FIG> is a one schematic view of the ampoule <NUM> before removing the opener <NUM>, and <FIG> is another schematic view of the ampoule <NUM> after removing the opener <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the opener <NUM> and the twist coupler <NUM> are attached to the tip <NUM>. The rib structure <NUM> allows users to conveniently hold and grip the body <NUM> and avoid slipping motion in the rotational direction. Upon removing the opener <NUM>, the aperture <NUM> is revealed.

In some implementations, a user should be in a upright position before using the opened ampoule <NUM>, which is shown in <FIG>. The head of the user can be tilted to one side slightly. After placing the tip <NUM> into one nostril, the user can press gently to dispense a few drops or a small quantity for moisture or squeeze to expel a larger quantity for nasal irrigation. After one use, the whole ampoule <NUM> can be discarded, along with unused solution. The ampoule <NUM> can be used to contain fluid that is a drug-free, preservative-free, sterile nasal saline solution. The solution can sooth and moisturize dry and congested noses for babies, children and adults. In the <NUM> volume implementation shown in <FIG>, the ampoule <NUM> is convenient for home, nursery, playground, school, air travel, hotel room and hospital use. A few drops of saline can moisturize, while squeezing a larger quantity can deliver a gentle low pressure low volume nasal rinse directly into the nostril for stronger results.

<FIG> is a schematic view of a second ampoule example useful for understanding the invention. In this example, the second ampoule <NUM> includes a body <NUM> and a cap <NUM>. The body <NUM> can be a fluid container (e.g. a bottle, can or other container) that securely stores fluid and allows users to apply pressure (e.g. to the container) to expel the stored fluid. For example, the body <NUM> can be made of thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting polymers, or any other appropriate materials that allows for deformation in order to pressurize the bottle for fluid release. In some examples useful for understanding the invention, the ampoule <NUM> can be pressurized for maintaining shape during transportation. In some examples useful for understanding the invention, the body <NUM> is a cylindrical shape of a uniform diameter. In some examples useful for understanding the invention, the diameter can vary along its longitudinal axis, for example, a tapered shape, a curved shape, a diamond shape, or other shapes. The body <NUM> can be a thin-walled structure of uniform thickness and/or variable thickness for functional requirements. For example, to facilitate deformation, some locations on the body <NUM> can be thinner than the rest. As another example, other locations on the body <NUM> can be thicker for structural reinforcement, such as a portion at or near the bottom of the ampoule <NUM>. Grooves or depressions can be included in the body to facilitate gripping by the human hand.

The body <NUM> may include a rib structure <NUM> to facilitate holding or gripping of the body <NUM> to avoid slipping motion. The rib structure <NUM> may be flush or contiguous with edges of the opener <NUM>, or may be only extended to a functional portion around the body <NUM>. The rib structure <NUM> may extend from a bottom portion of the tip to a bottom portion of the body <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the cap <NUM> is a conical needle head structure for securely sealing the ampoule body <NUM> and allowing for reuse. The cap <NUM> includes two structural features besides the needle head shape: a pulling support <NUM> and a sealing support <NUM>. The pulling support <NUM> enables user to apply a tension force to separate the cap <NUM> from the body <NUM>. The pulling support <NUM> may be a sudden increase in diameter of the conical shape of the cap <NUM>. This resulting step structure allows user's fingers to engage with the cap <NUM>. The sealing support <NUM> is an extruding structure near the middle location of the cap <NUM>. The sealing support <NUM> engages with the sealing end <NUM> at the tip of the body <NUM>. The sealing end <NUM> may be a donut, a tire or other inner grooved shape that couples with the sealing support <NUM> under a predetermined stress that seals the aperture of the body <NUM>.

In some examples useful for understanding the invention, the ampoule <NUM> can be made of a thermoplastic polymer, or thermoplastics. Most thermoplastics are high-molecular-weight polymers whose chains associate through weak Van der Waals forces (e.g. polyethylene); stronger dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding (e.g. nylon); or even stacking of aromatic rings (e.g. polystyrene). For example, the ampoule <NUM> can be made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, acrylic, celluloid, cellulose acetate, cyclic olefin copolymer, ethylene-vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol, fluoroplastics, lonomers, Kydex, liquid crystal polymer, polyoxymethylyne, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polyamide, polyamide-imide, polyaryletherketone, polybutadiene, polybutylene, polybutylene terephthalate, polycaprolactone, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyhydroxyalkanoates, polyketone, polyester, polyethylene, polyetheretherketone, polyetherketoneketone, polyetherimide, polyethersulfone, chlorinated polyethylene, polyimide, polylactic acid, polymethylpentene, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphthalamide, polypropylene, polystyrene, polysulfone, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, styrene-acrylonitrile, and/or a combination of these, or any other appropriate thermoplastics.

In some examples useful for understanding the invention, the ampoule <NUM> can be made of a thermosetting polymer, or thermoset. Thermoset is a polymer material that cures irreversibly through heat (generally above <NUM> (<NUM> °F)), through a chemical reaction (two-part epoxy, for example), or irradiation such as electron beam processing. In some instances, the ampoule <NUM> can be made of vulcanized rubber, bakelite, duroplast, melamine resin, phenol formaldehyde, urea formaldehyde, melamine formaldehyde, polyester, epoxy, isoprene crosslinked with sulphur, neoprene, trihydroxymehylsilane, and/or a combination of these, or any other appropriate thermosetting polymers.

In some examples useful for understanding the invention, the ampoule <NUM> can be coated internally with a layer of epoxy resin to prevent reaction between the fluid and the body material. For example, if the ampoule <NUM> is coated with a layer of metal for light isolation or uses a metallic material for construction, then a layer of epoxy resin can provide isolation of the fluid and prevent undesired materials leaching into the liquid or solution contained in the body <NUM>.

In some examples useful for understanding the invention, the ampoule <NUM> can be transparent overall, or in a portion such that remaining portion of fluid may be monitored. For example, the ampoule <NUM> may be made of a clear thermoplastic polymer, and/or a clear thermosetting polymer.

In some examples a useful for understanding the invention, the sealing support <NUM> may be made of a material different from that of the body <NUM>, such as metal, for preferred elastic modulus and reliability. The sealing support <NUM> may be made in a shape that conforms to the inner chamber of the sealing end <NUM>. The shape of the sealing support <NUM> may experience substantial elastic deformation during the coupling and/or decoupling process with the sealing end <NUM>. In some cases, the sealing support <NUM> may be made of a foil of stainless steel forming a donut shape to couple with the sealing end <NUM>.

<FIG> is a schematic cross-sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the second ampoule example that is useful for understanding the invention. This cross-sectional view shows details about the engagement between the cap <NUM> and the body <NUM>. The sealing end <NUM> at the tip of the body <NUM> may have two inner edges that conform to the tapered needle cap <NUM>. The upper edge of the sealing end <NUM> may provide a sealing force closing the cap <NUM> towards the lower edge of the sealing end <NUM>. The cap <NUM> can be a thin-walled structure of approximate uniform thickness. The cap <NUM> may experience substantial elastic deformation during the coupling and/or decoupling process with the body <NUM> at the sealing end <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A dispensing device (<NUM>) for releasing a fluid into a nostril of a human body comprising:
a body (<NUM>), being a cylindrical fluid container extending along a longitudinal axis, which allows users to apply pressure to the container to expel the stored fluid;
a cylindrical neck (<NUM>) extending along said longitudinal axis and coupled to the body (<NUM>);
a tip (<NUM>) coupled to the neck (<NUM>), the tip having an aperture (<NUM>) thereon through which the fluid is released; and
a sealing device coupled to the tip and configured to seal the aperture, where the sealing device permanently unseals the aperture upon decoupling the sealing device from the tip;
wherein the tip (<NUM>) includes a tapered surface that permits the tip to conform to nostrils of different sizes, the exterior of the tip (<NUM>) being tapered outwardly from a wide portion up near the bottom of the tip (<NUM>) to a narrow portion near the top of the tip, and the tip being sized to prevent the wide portion from extending all the way into the user's nostril;
wherein the bottom diameter (<NUM>) of the tip (<NUM>) is between <NUM> and <NUM> millimeters, and the top diameter (<NUM>) of the tip (<NUM>) is between <NUM> and <NUM> millimeters; and
wherein the sealing device includes an opener (<NUM>) having a twist coupler (<NUM>) to facilitate twisting motion for removing the sealing device to unseal the aperture (<NUM>).