ampule
/ampoule'æmpu:l/ Cách viết khác : (ampule) /'æmpju:l/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A small sealed glass or plastic container, typically holding a single dose of a liquid medication, especially one for injection: An ampule is a sterile, hermetically sealed vessel designed to preserve the purity and sterility of its contents, most commonly a parenteral drug solution. It is intended to be broken open at a marked neck to access the medication.
Usage
- The nurse carefully snapped the neck of the ampule to draw the vaccine into the syringe.
- Emergency medical kits often contain ampules of epinephrine.
- The medication was supplied in a single-dose ampule to prevent contamination.
Advanced Usage
- Pharmaceutical Packaging: In professional contexts, "ampule" specifically refers to this form of single-use, sterile packaging, distinguishing it from multi-dose vials with rubber stoppers.
- Historical Context: While modern ampules are often made of plastic, the term traditionally and still frequently refers to glass containers.
Variants and Related Words
- Ampoule: An alternative, and often preferred, spelling in British English and medical contexts. The two terms are fully interchangeable (e.g., "a 10ml ampoule of sterile water").
- Vial: A related but distinct container, typically a small glass or plastic bottle with a rubber stopper, which can be used for multiple doses.
Synonyms
- Phial
- Vial (note: not a perfect synonym, as vials are often multi-dose)
Notes on Meaning
The word refers exclusively to the container itself. The substance inside is defined separately (e.g., medicine, serum, solution). Its primary and almost exclusive use is within medical, pharmaceutical, and laboratory settings.
Noun
- a small bottle that contains a drug (especially a sealed sterile container for injection by needle)