Nebulizer for applying liquids on the surface of the eye or the ocular connective tissue

• US 20040164099A1
• Filed: 12/18/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Company Kg (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Company Kg (C.H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Hochrainer, Dieter, Zierenberg, Bernd, Diestelhorst, Michael, Martin, Isolde
• Application Number:
  US10/739,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20040164099A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/190
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0026 Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0005 Components or details of single units wherein the flow is effected by a pump B05B11/1042
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0044 compensating underpressure by ingress of atmospheric air into the container, i.e. with venting means venting means for deformable containers B05B11/047
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/00444 with provision for filtering or cleaning the air flow drawn into the container
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to atomizers for administering preservative-free liquids to the cornea or conjunctiva of the eye, with special eye adapters for atomizers and the use of atomizers for ophthalmological administration. The atomizers according to the invention are free from propellant gas.

Claims

1. Propellant-free atomizer for administering liquids to the cornea or conjunctiva of the human eye, containing:

a storage vessel for the liquid which is to be applied

a pump attachment on the storage vessel;

a seal on the pump attachment for fitting onto the storage container, for example in the form of a snap-fit, screwed or crimped closure,

a pump channel which is able to pump liquid from the storage container into a pressure chamber;

a valve in the pump channel which is provided between the storage vessel and pressure chamber;

a riser tube which leads from the pressure chamber to a nozzle;

a pressure control valve in the riser tube;

a nozzle for atomising the liquid;

an actuating element by means of which a piston can be actuated which builds up the pressure in the pressure chamber needed for the atomisation;

air inlet points outside the pump tube or riser tube and air inlet passages from outside the pump attachment into the storage container;

oligodynamically effective substances in and/or along the path taken by the liquid in the pump channel and/or riser tube between the storage container and nozzle;

means for sterilising along the path taken by the inflowing air and an adapter according to one of the preceding claims which is formed at the tip of the pump attachment, and

an adapter in the form of a cavity with two openings surrounded by a wall, wherein

one opening surrounds the nozzle in such a way that a jet spray emerging therefrom is conveyed exclusively into the cavity and

the second opening, which is opposite the first, has an outer contour which is such that the opening surrounds the visible part of the eye of a person or animal without directly touching the eye.

2. Atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer contour of the second opening of the adapter is oval in plan view and in cross section takes the form of a concave curved line with a longer end and a shorter end.

3. Atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter is indivisibly attached to the atomizer as an integral part thereof.

4. Atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter is fitted onto the nozzle.

5. Atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the attachment with the nozzle is a pumping system.

6. Atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the means for sterilising along the path taken by the inflowing air are filters for microbiological germs or filters with a germicidal activity.

7. Atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that openings are provided in the side wall of the adapter.

8. Adapter for an atomizer for administering liquid to the cornea or conjunctiva of the human eye according to claim 1.