Piezoelectric dispenser with replaceable ampoule

• US 10,583,038 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2016
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bausch + Lomb Ireland Ltd. (Bausch Health Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kedalion Therapeutics, Inc. (Novartis Ag)
• Inventors: Ivri, Yehuda
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Engel, Matthew A
• Application Number:
  US15/094,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20160296367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0043 Non-destructive separation of the package, e.g. peeling

Abstract

Fluid delivery devices and methods are described where the device may comprise a piezoelectric actuator having a piezoelectric chip that is operatively coupled to a drug package under a preloading force. The actuator is configured to generate an acoustic pressure within the drug package to dispense droplets or a continuous stream of an agent from an aperture, e.g., to the corneal surface of the eye. The piezoelectric actuator can be coupled or decoupled from the drug package via a coupling mechanism which enables the quick release and consistent securement of the drug package to the actuator and housing.

Claims

1. A handheld device for emitting a fluid onto a surface of an eye, the device comprising:

a piezoelectric actuator configured to vibrate at a selected frequency;

an ampoule containing;

a fluid reservoir containing the fluid to be dispensed; and

an aperture; and

an attachment mechanism configured to removably couple the ampoule into vibrational conduction with the piezoelectric actuator so that the piezoelectric actuator touches an external surface of the ampoule, wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a clamp, wherein the clamp is a C-clamp;

wherein;

the ampoule is aligned in a predetermined orientation relative to the piezoelectric actuator such that the fluid is emitted through the aperture when the piezoelectric actuator exerts acoustic pulses on the external surface of the ampoule; and

fluid emitted through the aperture can be directed onto the surface of the eye.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid reservoir comprises an ophthalmic composition.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid reservoir has a volume of about 3000 μ

L.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a shut-off valve which is configured to seal the aperture.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid is emitted from the device as a collimated stream.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a blister and an elongated conduit extending from the blister to the aperture.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the ampoule is made of a thermoplastic polymer.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the aperture of the ampoule comprises a single aperture.