Ophthalmic fluid delivery system

• US 20090114742A1
• Filed: 10/06/2008
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Optimyst Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Optimyst Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Collins, James F. JR.
• Application Number:
  US12/287,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20090114742A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 239/338
• 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 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/065 using steam as driving gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/59 Aesthetic features, e.g. distraction means to prevent fears of child patients
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0623 coupled with a vibrating horn
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0646 Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0676 Feeding means

Abstract

An ophthalmic fluid delivery environment that includes a human eye in an open position and an atomizer having a nozzle aimed at the human eye in the open position, wherein a plume of ophthalmic fluid mist is directed by the nozzle so that the mist is received by the human eye in the open position and the received mist has a momentum that is insufficient to trigger to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the human eye that receives the mist.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic fluid delivery environment, comprising:

a human eye in an open position;

an atomizer having a nozzle aimed at the human eye in the open position, wherein a plume of ophthalmic fluid mist is directed by the nozzle so that the mist is received by the human eye in the open position and the received mist has a momentum that is insufficient to trigger to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the human eye that receives the mist.

2. The environment of claim 1, wherein the human eye in an open position is held open without the aid of mechanical aids.

3. The environment of claim 1, wherein the mist contains an amount of ophthalmic medicine and the momentum of the mist is such that substantially all of the amount of ophthalmic medicine received by the human eye is retained by the human eye.

4. The environment according to claim 1, wherein the ophthalmic fluid is selected from the group consisting of mydriatics/cycloplegics, anesthetics, flourescein, flourescein/anesthetic combinations, mydriatic reversal agents, ophthalmic decongestants, ophthalmic lubricants, and glaucoma medications.

5. The environment according to claim 1, wherein the glaucoma medications are selected from the group consisting of prestaglandins, beta blockers, alpha adrenergic agents, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and miotics.

6. The environment according to claim 1, wherein the atomizer discharges the ophthalmic fluid having a velocity of between approximately 4 and 30 centimeters per second.

7. The environment according to claim 1, wherein the atomizer discharges the ophthalmic fluid between approximately 2 and 10 microliters per second.

8. The environment according to claim 1, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid contains an amount of ophthalmic medicine and the momentum of the plume is such that substantially all of the amount of ophthalmic medicine is received and retained by the eye.