Ophthalmic treatment solution delivery devices and delivery augmentation methods
First Claim
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1. A sponge device for use in preparation of the epithelium of an eye prior to application of an ophthalmic solution, comprising:
- a handle having an end portion; and
a head secured to the end portion of the handle, the head being formed entirely from a single absorbent, fast wicking sponge material;
wherein the head is configured to expand from a first configuration having a circular disk shape or part circular disk shape with opposite flat surfaces when dry to a second configuration different from the first configuration and having a spherical or part spherical shape when wetted, at least the second configuration having no sharp edges and comprising an epithelial tissue preparation surface configured for rubbing across the surface of an eye.
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Abstract
A first sponge device for use to manipulate and prepare the surface of the epithelium of an eye prior to application of an ophthalmic solution has a handle and a sponge head secured to the handle. The head is made of an absorbent, wicking sponge material and has a non-sharp, tissue preparation surface of predetermined shape for rubbing across the surface of the epithelium layer in order to manipulate the tissue. After the surface is prepared, a second, holding sponge is placed over the eye to act as a reservoir and to hold ophthalmic solution against the eye surface.
200 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A sponge device for use in preparation of the epithelium of an eye prior to application of an ophthalmic solution, comprising:
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a handle having an end portion; and a head secured to the end portion of the handle, the head being formed entirely from a single absorbent, fast wicking sponge material; wherein the head is configured to expand from a first configuration having a circular disk shape or part circular disk shape with opposite flat surfaces when dry to a second configuration different from the first configuration and having a spherical or part spherical shape when wetted, at least the second configuration having no sharp edges and comprising an epithelial tissue preparation surface configured for rubbing across the surface of an eye. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A delivery system for delivery of ophthalmic solutions to the eye, comprising:
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a first, eye surface preparation sponge device comprising a handle and a head secured to the handle, wherein the head is formed entirely from a single absorbent, fast-wicking sponge material and is configured to expand from a first configuration having a first shape and dimensions when dry into a second configuration having a second shape and dimensions different from the first configuration when wetted, at least the second configuration being generally rounded with no sharp edges and comprising an epithelial tissue preparation surface of predetermined shape configured for rubbing across the surface of the epithelium of an eye to prepare the surface for penetration by ophthalmic solutions; and a second, loading sponge device of absorbent, fast-wicking sponge material comprising a disk-shaped sponge having a continuous circular periphery with no indents, opposite flat faces and no opening, a predetermined diameter and a thickness less than the diameter, wherein the disk-shaped sponge has increased flexibility when wetted and loaded with an ophthalmic solution and is configured to cover at least the corneal portion of the eye with no portion of the underlying cornea exposed and to adopt the curvature of the underlying eye surface when wetted with the ophthalmic solution and centrally placed over the eye for loading of ophthalmic solution into the eye after preparation of the eye surface with the first sponge device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification