Ophthalmic fluid delivery device and method of operation

• US 20070119968A1
• Filed: 01/26/2007
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Francis Collins III
• Original Assignee: Optimyst Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, James, Jobin, Michael, Tee, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 8,012,136 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/102.100
• 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: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/041 using heaters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/044 with electrodes immersed in the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/065 using steam as driving gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/04 Liquids
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3386 Low level detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/59 Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes

Abstract

The present invention provides an ophthalmic fluid delivery device adapted to deliver an ophthalmic fluid in the form of a mist to an ocular region of a patient. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device comprises a nozzle defining an aperture through which the ophthalmic fluid can flow and at least one shutter positioned proximate to the aperture of the nozzle. The shutter is mounted for movement with respect to the aperture of the nozzle between an open position permitting flow of the ophthalmic fluid through the aperture of the nozzle and a closed position at least partially covering the aperture. A shutter actuator is positioned proximate to the shutter. The shutter actuator is mounted for movement with respect to the nozzle, and the shutter actuator is coupled to the shutter such that the movement of the shutter actuator moves the shutter between the open position and the closed position.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic fluid delivery device adapted to deliver an ophthalmic fluid in the form of a mist to an ocular region of a patient, the ophthalmic fluid delivery device comprising:

a nozzle defining an aperture through which the ophthalmic fluid can flow;

at least one shutter positioned proximate to said aperture of said nozzle, said shutter being mounted for movement with respect to said aperture of said nozzle between an open position permitting flow of the ophthalmic fluid through said aperture of said nozzle and a closed position at least partially covering said aperture; and

a shutter actuator positioned proximate to the shutter, said shutter actuator being mounted for movement with respect to said nozzle, and said shutter actuator being coupled to said shutter such that said movement of said shutter actuator moves said shutter between said open position and said closed position.

2. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 1, said shutter being mounted for movement with respect to said aperture of said nozzle between said open position and a closed position substantially completely covering said aperture of said nozzle.

3. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 1 comprising plural shutters positioned proximate to said aperture of said nozzle, at least one of said shutters being mounted for movement with respect to said aperture of said nozzle between said open position and said closed position.

4. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 3, each of said shutters being mounted for movement with respect to said aperture of said nozzle, said shutters in said closed position cooperating to at least partially impede the flow of said ophthalmic fluid through said aperture of said nozzle.

5. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 1, said aperture of said nozzle being oriented along a nozzle axis, and said shutter actuator being mounted for rotational movement about said nozzle axis such that rotation of said shutter actuator moves said shutter between said open position and said closed position.

6. A method of delivering an ophthalmic fluid using an ophthalmic fluid delivery device comprising the steps of:

a) moving at least one shutter with respect to an aperture of a nozzle of the ophthalmic fluid delivery device from a closed position at least partially covering the aperture toward an open position permitting flow of the ophthalmic fluid through the aperture; and

b) discharging ophthalmic fluid through the aperture of the nozzle of the ophthalmic fluid delivery device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said moving step comprises moving plural shutters with respect to the aperture of the nozzle.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein said moving step comprises moving a shutter actuator.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said moving step comprises rotating the shutter actuator with respect to the nozzle.

10. An ophthalmic fluid delivery device adapted to deliver an ophthalmic fluid in the form of a mist to an ocular region of a patient, the ophthalmic fluid delivery device comprising:

a nozzle assembly configured to deliver the ophthalmic fluid to the ocular region of the patient generally along a nozzle axis; and

a handle assembly coupled to said nozzle assembly and configured to be gripped by a hand of the patient or another user of the ophthalmic fluid delivery device, said handle assembly being oriented generally along a handle axis;

said nozzle axis and said handle axis together defining an angle greater than 90 degrees such that the ophthalmic fluid is delivered to the ocular region of the patient along said nozzle axis that is obtuse with respect to said handle axis.

11. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 10, said nozzle axis and said handle axis together defining an angle from about 105 degrees to about 125 degrees.

12. A method of delivering an ophthalmic fluid from an ophthalmic fluid delivery device having a handle axis and a discharge axis, the method comprising the steps of:

a) orienting the discharge axis between about 105 degrees and about 125 degrees from the handle axis; and

b) discharging the ophthalmic fluid along the discharge axis.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said orienting step comprises orienting the discharge axis between about zero degrees and about 10 degrees from a horizontal axis.

14. An ophthalmic fluid delivery device adapted to deliver an ophthalmic fluid in the form of a mist to an ocular region of a patient from a reservoir containing the ophthalmic fluid, the ophthalmic fluid delivery device comprising:

a body defining a cavity sized to accommodate the reservoir;

a nozzle assembly coupled to said body proximate said cavity, said nozzle assembly being configured to deliver the ophthalmic fluid from the reservoir and toward the ocular region of the patient; and

an aperture defined by said body adjacent said cavity defined by said body, said aperture being positioned to permit visualization of the reservoir from outside said body when the reservoir is positioned within said cavity of said body.

15. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 14, said body having a door movable to an open position to facilitate access to said cavity.

16. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 15, said door being slidably movable with respect to said cavity.

17. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 15, said door being removable from said body.

18. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 15, said aperture being defined by said door.

19. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 14, said aperture comprising a substantially translucent window.

20. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 14, further comprising a reservoir accommodated in said cavity of said housing.

21. A method of preparing an ophthalmic fluid delivery device to deliver an ophthalmic fluid comprising the steps of:

a) inserting a reservoir containing the ophthalmic fluid into a cavity defined by the delivery device; and

b) visualizing a label on the reservoir through an aperture defined by said delivery device.

22. The method according to claim 21, said visualizing step comprising visualizing the label through a substantially translucent window.

23. An ophthalmic fluid delivery device adapted to deliver an ophthalmic fluid in the form of a mist to an ocular region of a patient from a reservoir containing the ophthalmic fluid, the reservoir defining a reservoir surface contour unique to the ophthalmic fluid, the ophthalmic fluid delivery device comprising a keyed contour positioned to receive the reservoir surface contour to permit insertion of said reservoir in a predetermined alignment and to prevent insertion of said reservoir in an alignment other than said predetermined alignment.

24. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 23, said housing surface contour being concave.

25. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 23, said housing surface contour extending toward a central region of said cavity.

26. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 23, said ophthalmic fluid delivery device being adapted to deliver the ophthalmic fluid along a delivery axis, said keyed contour being oriented to permit insertion of said reservoir into said cavity in a predetermined alignment substantially parallel to said delivery axis.

27. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 23, said cavity defined by said housing being substantially cylindrical, said housing surface contour extending along a length of said cavity.

28. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 23, further comprising a reservoir accommodated in said cavity of said housing.

29. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 23, further comprising the reservoir inserted into the device in the predetermined alignment.

30. The ophthalmic fluid delivery device according to claim 29, wherein the reservoir comprises a label that is oriented to be visualized when the reservoir is inserted into the device.

31. A method of preparing an ophthalmic fluid delivery device to deliver an ophthalmic fluid comprising the steps of:

a) selecting a reservoir containing the ophthalmic fluid from among a group of reservoirs containing a group of ophthalmic fluids; and

b) inserting the reservoir into a cavity of the delivery device such that a contour on the reservoir aligns with a contour of the cavity, thereby maintaining the reservoir in a predetermined alignment and preventing an alignment other than the predetermined alignment.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said selecting step comprises rejecting a reservoir having a contour that does not align with the contour of the cavity.

33. A method of preparing an ophthalmic fluid delivery device to deliver an ophthalmic fluid comprising the steps of:

switching the device from an “

off”

position to an “

on”

position; and

performing at least one of the following steps;

a) opening an aperture of the ophthalmic fluid delivery device to permit flow of ophthalmic fluid therethrough;

b) opening a venturi passage defined by the ophthalmic fluid delivery device to permit flow of air through the aperture with the ophthalmic fluid;

or

c) activating an indicator to indicate that the ophthalmic fluid delivery device is ready to deliver the ophthalmic fluid.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein said steps (a) through (c) are all performed.

35. The method according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said steps (a) through (c) are performed substantially simultaneously with said switching step.

36. An ophthalmic fluid delivery device adapted to deliver an ophthalmic fluid in the form of a mist to an ocular region of a patient, the ophthalmic fluid delivery device comprising a transducer configured to advance the ophthalmic fluid toward the ocular region of the patient, said transducer defining a lumen for the flow of the ophthalmic fluid having an aspect ratio of between about 22 and about 26.