Drop generating device

• US 10,154,923 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eyenovia Inc.
• Original Assignee: Eyenovia Inc.
• Inventors: Hunter, Charles Eric, Ballou, Jr., Bernard L., Vollrath, Jurgen Klaus, Tew, Arthur H., Brown, Joshua Richard, Leath, James Thornhill, Faulks, Nathan R., Johnson, Bradley G., Clements, J. Sid, Russell, Phillip E., Hebrank, John H., Inachulev, Tsontcho, Packer, Mark, Elliott, Troy, Fierson, Walter M., Lindner, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mensh, Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US14/200,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20140187969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 604294, 604296, 604298
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0079 using mirrors, i.e. for self-examination
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1103 Detecting eye twinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/00 Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand caps with means for protecting the eyes A42B1/018; visors for helmets A42B3/22; retractors A61B17/02; manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; appliances to aid invalids to move about A61H3/00; exercisers for the eyes A61H5/00; eye baths A61H35/02; sunglasses or goggles having the same features as spectacles G02C
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0026 Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/06 Emulsions
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0048 Eye, e.g. artificial tears
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/025 Bubble jet droplet ejection devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0205 Materials having antiseptic or antimicrobial properties, e.g. silver compounds, rubber with sterilising agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0238 the material being a coating or protective layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 : remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 : using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 : using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/36 : related to heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3673 : thermo-electric, e.g. Peltier effect, thermocouples, semi-conductors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 : with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 : by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 : by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 : by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/587 : Lighting arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 : battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 : Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 : Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0646 : Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0661 : Transducer materials
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0676 : Feeding means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 : ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 : relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/17 : delivered via infusion or injection
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 : for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A method of delivering safe, suitable, and repeatable dosages to a subject for topical, oral, nasal, or pulmonary use and a device for droplet ejection includes a fluid delivery system capable of delivering a defined volume of the fluid in the form of droplets having properties that afford adequate and repeatable high percentage deposition upon application. The method and device include a housing, a reservoir disposed within the housing for receiving a volume of fluid, an ejector mechanism configured to eject a stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter greater than 15 microns, the stream of droplets having low entrained airflow such that the stream of droplets deposit on the eye of the subject during use.

Claims

1. A method of delivering fluid to an eye of a subject as an ejected stream of droplets, comprising:

generating the ejected stream of droplets via a droplet generating device, the droplet generating device including an ejector plate, the ejector plate including a plurality of openings formed therein, a fluid delivery area adjacent the ejector plate, and a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the ejector plate, the piezoelectric actuator being coupled to the ejector plate to oscillate the ejector plate;

wherein the ejected stream of droplets is generated by actuating the piezoelectric actuator to oscillate the ejector plate, the droplets being ejected through the plurality of openings in the ejector plate; and

delivering the ejected stream of droplets to the eye of the subject, wherein the ejected stream of droplets have an average ejected droplet diameter of 25 microns to 75 microns and an average initial droplet ejecting velocity of 2 m/s to 20 m/s, the ejected stream of droplets being generated to deliver a dose of fluid to the eye with a duration of delivery of between 25 ms to 200 ms, wherein between 85% to 100% of the droplets are deposited on the eye.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ejected stream of droplets are generated so as to provide the dose of fluid to the eye in more than one pulse of droplet ejection.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pulses are generated with stop times separating the pulses.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the ejected stream of droplets ejected to aid in contact with the eye.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the ejected stream of droplets is charged by tribocharging as the fluid passes through the plurality of openings in the ejector plate thereby charging the droplets.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the ejected stream of droplets is charged by applying a voltage to the ejector plate and charging the droplets by induction.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the ejected stream of droplets is charged by high voltage corona discharge.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the charging of the ejected stream of droplets attracts the droplets to the eye.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ejected stream of droplets are generated to deliver the dose of fluid to the eye between blinks of the eye.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising warming the fluid to a predefined temperature before generating the ejected stream of droplets.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising aligning the droplet generating device so that the ejected stream of droplets are directed toward the eye during delivery of the ejected stream of droplets to the eye.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the aligning is carried out by visual alignment.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the aligning is carried out with the device including an light emitting diode (LED) to help the subject align the device.

14. A piezoelectric actuated droplet generating device for delivering a fluid to a target as an ejected stream of droplets, the device comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir disposed within the housing for receiving a volume of fluid; and

an ejector mechanism comprising an ejector plate coupled to a fluid delivery area of the reservoir, the ejector plate including a plurality of openings formed through its thickness; and

a piezoelectric actuator coupled to the ejector plate, the actuator being operable to oscillate the ejector plate at a frequency to thereby generate the ejected stream of droplets;

wherein the ejector mechanism is configured to eject the ejected stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter greater than 20 microns and an average initial droplet ejecting velocity between 2 m/s and 20 m/s such that at least 85% of the mass of the ejected stream of droplets deposit on a target during use.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the ejector mechanism is configured to eject the ejected stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter in the range of 20 to 100 microns.