Spray device

• US 20030097117A1
• Filed: 02/11/2002
• Published: 05/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infinite Vision LLC
• Original Assignee: Infinite Vision LLC
• Inventors: Buono, Lawrence M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,802,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/521
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/341 angularly adjustable or angled away from the axis of the injector
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3286 Needle tip design, e.g. for improved penetration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3291 Shafts with additional lateral openings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/31 Apparatus therefor

Abstract

A spray or delivery device is arranged to dispense a dye into the anterior chamber of a human eye or other mammalian eye for the purpose of staining a specific ocular structure or tissue. An ocular structure of particular interest is the anterior lens capsule. The spray device includes a cannula having a distal end arranged for insertion into the anterior chamber of the eye. The cannula preferably has a dispensing orifice located at a side of the cannula offset from the distal end. The orifice preferably dispenses the fluid dye or stain in spray form. In one exemplary embodiment, the cannula has a fin extending radially outward from the cannula. In another exemplary embodiment, the cannula has a flared sleeve surrounding and extending from the orifice. In a method for conducting intra-ocular surgery, said delivery device would dispense a dye in a particular fashion so as to control its application to the intended target tissue, thereby limiting delivery of the dye to undesired surrounding tissue structures.

Claims

1. A spray device arranged to deliver a fluid into an eye, comprising a reservoir arranged to house the fluid to be delivered, a cannula having a distal tip for insertion into the eye, said cannula in fluid communication with said reservoir and having an orifice located inward of said distal tip, and a pressurizer arranged to move the fluid from said reservoir through said orifice to an intra-ocular structure within the eye.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cannula is constructed so as to allow for the control of the direction of the fluid delivery.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the cannula is arranged to deliver the fluid into the anterior chamber of the eye, and the orifice is located a predetermined distance from the distal tip.

4. The device of claim 2, said orifice including a sleeve surrounding and extending from said orifice in a direction desired for the fluid delivery.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said sleeve is flared outward from said orifice.

6. The device of claim 2, said cannula having a distal portion extending from a location inward of said orifice to said distal tip, said device further comprising a fin extending longitudinally around said distal portion.

7. The device of claim 1, said cannula arranged for facilitating controlled dispersion of the fluid.

8. The device of claim 1, said pressurizer including a plunger inserted into said reservoir and arranged to deliver a specified aliquot of the fluid to the anterior chamber.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the fluid is a dye or stain in liquid, aqueous, or gel form.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said orifice is arranged to deliver the fluid towards the anterior lens capsule.

11. The device of claim 1, said reservoir including a cannula hub attached to said cannula.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising an elbow at a bend in said cannula between said cannula hub and said distal tip.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said orifice is structured to deliver the fluid in a spray form.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising the fluid contained in said reservoir that is delivered into the eye.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the fluid contained in said reservoir is indigo carmine.

16. A method for delivering a fluid to an intra-ocular structure with a spray device having the fluid in a reservoir, a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir and having a distal tip and an orifice located inward of the distal tip, and a pressurizer arranged to move the fluid from the reservoir through the orifice, the method comprising:

a) inserting the cannula through an opening of an eye;

b) aligning the orifice over the intra-ocular structure; and

c) spraying the intra-ocular structure with the fluid by moving the fluid from the reservoir through the orifice.

17. A spray device arranged to deliver a fluid into a cavity, comprising a reservoir arranged to house the fluid to be delivered, a cannula having a distal tip for access into the cavity, said cannula in fluid communication with said reservoir and having an orifice located inward of said distal tip, and a pressurizer arranged to move the fluid from said reservoir through said orifice to a tissue within the cavity.

18. The device of claim 17, said orifice including a sleeve surrounding and extending from said orifice in a direction desired for the fluid delivery.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein said sleeve is flared outward from said orifice.

20. The device of claim 17, said cannula having a distal portion extending from a location inward of said orifice to said distal tip, said device further comprising a fin extending longitudinally around said distal portion.