OPHTHALMIC FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to safely deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye, the ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
- a body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a container connected to the body, wherein the container contains an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein;
a discharge plate disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough;
a wick extending from the container to the discharge plate and transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the container to the discharge plate via capillary action, wherein transmission of the ophthalmic fluid across the discharge plate generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum subliminal to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye;
a processor that controls vibration of the discharge plate which causes an aerosol mist to form;
an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the processor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ophthalmic fluid atomizer including a body having a proximal end and a distal end and a container connected to the body, wherein the container contains an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein. The atomizer further including a discharge plate disposed at the distal end and a wick extending from the container to the discharge plate and transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the container to the discharge plate via capillary action. Transmission of the ophthalmic fluid across the discharge plate generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum subliminal to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye. The atomizer further includes a processor that controls vibration of the discharge plate which causes an aerosol mist to form and an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the transmission of the ophthalmic fluid from the discharge plate.
310 Citations
62 Claims
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1. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to safely deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye, the ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
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a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a container connected to the body, wherein the container contains an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein; a discharge plate disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough; a wick extending from the container to the discharge plate and transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the container to the discharge plate via capillary action, wherein transmission of the ophthalmic fluid across the discharge plate generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum subliminal to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; a processor that controls vibration of the discharge plate which causes an aerosol mist to form; an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the processor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to safely deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye, the ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
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a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a medule system releasably connected to the body, the medule system comprising; a container containing an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein and defining a first opening; and a wick that is inserted into the opening and extending into the container so as to contact the ophthalmic fluid. a discharge plate disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough; wherein the wick extends from the container to the discharge plate and transmits the ophthalmic fluid from the container to the discharge plate via capillary action, wherein transmission of the ophthalmic fluid across the discharge plate generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum subliminal to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A medule system, comprising:
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a container containing an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein and defining a first opening; a plug inserted into the first opening, the plug defining a second opening; and a wick that is inserted into the first opening and the second opening and extending into the container so as to contact the ophthalmic fluid. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to safely deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye, the ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
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a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a container connected to the body, wherein the container contains an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein; a discharge plate disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough; a prime mover extending from the container to the discharge plate and transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the container to the discharge plate, wherein transmission of the ophthalmic fluid across the discharge plate generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum subliminal to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; a glowing alignment device surrounding the discharge plate; a processor that controls vibration of the discharge plate which cause an aerosol mist to form; an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the processor. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to safely deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye, the ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
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a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a container connected to the body, wherein the container contains an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein and the container comprises indicia indicative of the identity of the ophthalmic fluid; a discharge plate disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough; a prime mover extending from the container to the discharge plate and transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the container to the discharge plate, wherein transmission of the ophthalmic fluid across the discharge plate generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum subliminal to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; a cap that covers the discharge plate and the prime mover, wherein a portion of the cap is transparent and positioned so that a user can see the indicia through the portion of the cap. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to safely deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye, the ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
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a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a container connected to the body, wherein the container contains an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein; a discharge plate disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough; a prime mover extending from the container to the discharge plate and transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the container to the discharge plate, wherein transmission of the ophthalmic fluid across the discharge plate generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum subliminal to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; a closure element that moves from a first position to a second position, wherein the closure element at the first position prevents the plume from reaching the eye and the closure element at the second position allows the plume to reach the eye. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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Specification