ATOMIZER FOR APPLYING LIQUIDS ONTO EYES

• US 20060258993A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• 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
• Granted Patent: US 7,314,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/289
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/00 Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes in general B05B; aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/006 operated by applying mechanical pressure to the liquid to be sprayed or atomised
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/008 by squeezing, e.g. using a flexible bottle or a bulb
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/007 Mechanical counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1001 Piston pumps B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/108 Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1091 being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released B05B11/1092 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7909 Valve body is the weight
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7916 With closing stop

Abstract

The present invention relates to atomizers for administering liquids to the cornea or conjunctiva of the eye, special eye adapters for atomizers and the use of atomizers for ophthalmological administration. The atomizers according to the invention are free from propellant gas and have an energy reservoir for supplying the energy needed for the atomization process.

Claims

1. An atomizer that does not require the use of a propellant for administering liquids to the cornea or conjunctiva of the human or animal eye comprising:

an upper housing part,

a locking mechanism,

a spring housing,

a spring,

a pump housing which is secured in the upper housing part and which comprises at one end a nozzle body with a nozzle or nozzle arrangement,

a hollow plunger with valve body,

a power takeoff flange in which the hollow plunger is secured and which is located in the upper housing part,

a locking mechanism situated in the upper housing part,

a spring housing with a spring contained therein, which is rotatably mounted on the upper housing part by means of a rotary bearing,

a lower housing part which is fitted onto the spring housing in the axial direction,

a storage vessel for the liquid to be administered, and

an adapter in the form of a cavity surrounded by a wall with two openings, 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 from the first, and which 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. The 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. The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter is indivisibly attached to the atomizer as an integral part thereof.

4. The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter is fitted onto a projection close to the nozzle.

5. The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the average particle size in the spray mist produced thereby is between about 1 and about 20 microns.

6. The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the average speed of the particles in the spray mist produced, at a spacing from the nozzle of about 1 to about 5 cm, is no more than about 50 metres per second.

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