Liquid delivery device and method of use thereof

• US 20040215157A1
• Filed: 05/20/2004
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alain Saurer, Beat Villiger, Christian Peclat, Daniel Siegfried, Emmanuel Gremion, Hans Himbert, Stefan Kaser
• Original Assignee: Alain Saurer, Beat Villiger, Christian Peclat, Daniel Siegfried, Emmanuel Gremion, Hans Himbert, Stefan Kaser
• Inventors: Kaser, Stefan, Saurer, Alain, Peclat, Christian, Villiger, Beat, Himbert, Hans, Siegfried, Daniel, Gremion, Emmanuel
• Application Number:
  US10/850,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/294
• 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: A61H 35/02 for the eyes

Abstract

A device and use method for ejecting a liquid stream towards an eye, the stream moving from a proximal position towards a distal position, the device comprising a) a housing, b) a container for the liquid, c) at least one opening arranged for ejection of the stream and being in fluid communication with the container, d) a pump mechanism operable to deliver at least part of the liquid from the container through the opening to form the stream and e) an eyecup with a contact surface arranged for contact with the eye or its facial surroundings. The eyecup is arranged movable with respect to the opening or housing between at least two positions i) an active position with said eyecup contact surface at a defined safety distance to the opening and ii) a rest position with the eyecup contact surface at a position more proximal than in the active position and a sensor is arranged to allow discrimination between the positions. The pump mechanism may include a pump driver able to store cocked energy for driving the pump mechanism and at least one activation mechanism may be present and operable to initiate the device for the liquid delivery, whereby a driving mechanism is arranged to transform manual or stored energy both i) into cocked energy of the pump driver and ii) into direct or stored energy for operation of the activation mechanism.

Claims

1-44. -44. (Cancelled).

45. A device for ejecting a liquid stream, the stream moving from a proximal position towards a distal position, the device comprising a) a housing, b) a container for the liquid, c) at least one opening arranged for ejection of the stream and being in fluid communication with the container, d) a pump mechanism, including a pump driver able to store cocked energy for driving the pump mechanism, operable to deliver at least part of the liquid from the container through the outlet to form the stream, e) at least one activation mechanism operable to drive an indexing action in which a container is brought into operative relationship with the pump mechanism and to drive a peeling or breaking action in which a temporary seal is removed from the container or broken, and f) a driving mechanism adapted to transform manual or stored energy both i) into cocked energy of the pump driver, and ii) into direct or stored energy for operation of the activation mechanism.

46. The device of claim 45, comprising one or more mechanical springs adapted to store at least part of the cocked energy.

47. The device of claim 45, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a transmission.

48. The device of claim 47, wherein the transmission is adapted to perform gear down from lower to higher force.

49. The device of claim 45, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted to receive manual energy.

50. The device of claim 49, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a transmission.

51. The device of claim 50, wherein the transmission is adapted to perform gear down from lower to higher force.

52. The device of claim 45, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted to receive stored energy.

53. The device of claim 52, wherein the stored energy comprises electrical energy.

54. The device of claim 53, wherein the driving mechanism includes an electric motor.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein the driving mechanism comprises a transmission.

56. The device of claim 55, wherein the transmission is adapted to perform gear down from lower to higher force.

57. The device of claim 53, further comprising an electronic control system.

58. The device of claim 45, wherein the peeling action comprises moving a de-sealing tool through a disc member having a plurality of containers.

59. The device of claim 58, wherein the peeling action includes control of presence of a temporary seal before its removal.

60. The device of claim 45, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted to cock stored energy for driving the activation mechanism.

61. The device of claim 45, wherein the driving mechanism is adapted to drive the cocking and activation mechanism at least partly in sequence.

62. The device of claim 61, wherein the activation mechanism is adapted to drive at least two actions at least partially in sequence.

63. The device of claim 45, wherein the device further comprises an eyecup with a contact surface arranged for contact with the eye or its facial surroundings.

64. A method for operating an ejection device for ejecting a liquid stream, the stream moving from a proximal position towards a distal position, the device comprising a) a housing, b) a container for the liquid, c) at least one opening arranged for ejection of the stream and being in fluid communication with the container, d) a pump mechanism, including a pump driver to store cocked energy for driving the pump mechanism, operable to deliver at least part of the liquid from the container through the outlet to form the stream, and e) at least one activation mechanism operable to drive an indexing action in which a container is brought into operative relationship with the pump mechanism and to drive a peeling or breaking action in which a temporary seal is removed from the container or broken, the method comprising operating a driving mechanism to transform manual or stored energy both i) into cocked energy of the pump driver, and ii) into direct or stored energy for operation of the activation mechanism.