Dispensing device for container having fluid to be controllably dispensed into an eye

• US 4,605,398 A
• Filed: 04/20/1984
• Issued: 08/12/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert S. Herrick
• Original Assignee: Robert S. Herrick
• Inventors: Herrick, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rooney, Mark
• Application Number:
  US06/602,358
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 604/300, 604/294, 604/295, 604/298, 604/301, 604/302, 604/176
• US Class Current: 604/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0026 Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye

Abstract

A dispensing device adapted to be attached to a container having a fluid-dispensing opening through which fluid is to be controllably dispensed into an eye of a user wherein the dispensing device includes an attaching member which is adapted to be operatively coupled to the exterior of the container and positioned with the fluid-dispensing opening extending in a predetermined direction therefrom and a support member including a first end which is operatively coupled to the attaching member and a second opposed end which is located in a predetermined direction and which extends beyond the fluid-dispensing opening wherein the second opposed end terminates in a curvilinear, blade-like everting member having an outer ribbed edge which is adapted to be positioned against the outer skin below the lower eyelid and over a portion of the bone structure defining the eye socket of a user wherein the outer ribbed edge is capable of being urged against the bone structure with the skin therebetween to urge the skin in a downward direction from the eye which everts the lower eyelid from the eye of the user enabling drops of fluid to be directed into the eye in the absence of interference from the lower eyelid is shown.

Claims

1. A dispensing device adapted to be attached to a container having a fluid-dispensing opening through which fluid is to be controllably dispensed into an eye of a user comprising

attaching means adapted to be operatively coupled to the exterior of a said container and positioned with said fluid-dispensing opening extending in a predetermined direction therefrom;

and

support guide means including means defining a first end which is operatively coupled to said attaching means and a second opposed eyelid everting end which is located in said predetermined direction and which extends beyond the fluid-dispensing opening, said second opposed eyelid everting end terminating in a curvilinear, blade-like everting member having an outer ribbed edge eye socket bone engaging member having two ribs, one of which is higher than the other, and which is adapted to be positioned against the outer skin and below the lower eyelid and over a portion of the bone structure defining the eye socket of a user wherein the outer ribbed edge is capable of being urged against the bone structure with the skin therebetween to produce movement of the skin relative to the eye socket bone engaging member to evert the lower eyelid when said engaging member is positioned with the higher rib away from the eye and against the eye socket bone, said eyelid everting member urging the skin in a downward direction from the eye which everts the lower eyelid from the eye of a user, enabling drops of fluid to be directed into the eye in the absence of interference from the lower eyelid.

2. The dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said container has a threaded throat portion which terminates in a fluid-dispensing opening and wherein said attachment means includes sidewall means defining a container-receiving opening including a hollowed-out central area having a threaded section which is adapted to be removably threaded onto said threaded throat portion of a said container.

3. The dispensing device of claim 2 wherein said attachment means includes means for defining a fluid-dispensing tip having a selected length for controlling the number of drops of fluid to be dispensed into the eye of a user.

4. The dispensing device of claim 3 wherein said means defining said fluid-dispensing tip further includes means for defining a tapered passageway having two spaced opposed openings, one of which has a larger diameter than the other, said larger diameter opening being adapted to be positioned adjacent the fluid-dispensing opening in a said container so as to receive fluid therefrom and to direct a said fluid into and through said tapered passageway to the other smaller opening for dispensing a controlled number of drops of fluid therefrom.

5. The dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said attachment means and said support guide means are formed into an integral member adapted to be removably attached onto a said container.

6. The dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said means for defining a fluid-dispensing tip form fluid droplets, each having a volume of approximately 10 milliliters.

7. The dispensing device of claim 5 wherein the integral member is formed of plastic.

8. The dispensing device of claim 5 wherein the integral member is adapted to be threaded onto a said container.

9. The dispensing device of claim 8 wherein the depth of the hollowed-out central area is adapted to receive and enclose a fluid-dispensing opening of a said container.

10. In combination,

a container having a fluid-dispensing opening through which fluid is to be controllably dispensed into an eye;

a dispensing device including

an attaching member operatively coupled to the exterior of said container and positioned with said fluid-dispensing opening extending in a predetermined direction therefrom; and

a support guide member including means defining a first end which is operatively coupled to said attaching member and a second opposed eyelid everting end which is located in said predetermined direction and which extends beyond the fluid-dispensing opening, said second opposed eyelid everting end terminating in a curvilinear, blade-like everting member having an outer ribbed edge eye socket bone engaging member having two ribs, one of which is higher than the other, and which is adapted to be positioned against the outer skin and below the lower eyelid and over a portion of the bone structure with the skin therebetween to produce relative movement of the lower eyelid relative to the eye socket bone engaging member to evert the lower eyelid when said engaging member is positioned with the higher rib away from the eye and against the eye socket bone, said eyelid everting member urging the skin in a bone, said eyelid everting member urging the skin in a downward direction from the eye which everts the lower eyelid from the eye of a user, enabling drops of fluid to be directed into the eye in the absence of interference from the lower eyelid.

11. The dispensing device of claim 10 wherein said container has a threaded throat portion which terminates in a fluid-dispensing opening and wherein said attachment member includes sidewall means defining a container-receiving opening including a hollowed-out central area having a threaded section which is adapted to be removably threaded onto said threaded throat portion of said container.

12. The dispensing device of claim 11 wherein said attachment member and said support guide member are formed into an integral member removably attached onto said container.

13. The dispensing device of claim 10 wherein said attachment member includes means for defining a fluid-dispensing tip which forms fluid droplets, each having a volume of approximately 10 milliliters.

14. The dispensing device of claim 11 wherein the integral member is formed of plastic.

15. A self-dispensing device for enabling a user to dispense fluid from a container into an eye wherein the container includes a fluid-dispensing opening and a supporting and guiding member attached thereto for positioning the container in a dispensing position above the eye of a user wherein said supporting and guiding member is characterized by

a user-engaging end which is located in a predetermined distance and direction from the fluid-dispensing opening and which terminates in curvilinear, blade-like everting member having an outer ribbed edge eye socket bone engaging member having two ribs, one of which is higher than the other, and which is adapted to be positioned against the outer skin and below the lower eyelid and over a portion of the bone structure defining the eye socket of a user wherein the outer ribbed edge is capable of being urged against the bone structure with the skin therebetween to produce movement of the skin relative to the eye socket bone engaging member to evert the lower eyelid when said engaging member is positioned with the higher rib away from the eye and against the eye socket bone, said eyelid everting member urging the skin in a downward direction from the eye which everts the lower eyelid from the eye of a user, enabling drops of fluid to be directed into the eye in the absence of interference from the lower eyelid.

16. A controlled dispensing device adapted to be removably attached to a container having a fluid-dispensing opening through which drops of fluid are to be dispensed into an eye of a user, said dispensing device comprising

an elongated housing member having a hollowed-out conetral area extending axially therethrough which terminates at one end thereof in a container-receiving opening which is in axial alignment therewith and which is adapted to receive a said fluid-dispensing opening and to support a said container, said hollowed-out central area terminating at the other end thereof in a fluid-dispensing tip which is in axial alignment with said container-receiving opening, said fluid-dispensing tip having a selected length and a tapered passageway having two spaced opposed openings, one opening of which has a larger diameter than the other, said tapered passageway extending axially therebetween and being positioned with the larger diameter opening of the tapered passageway adjacent said fluid-dispensing opening in a said container so as to receive fluid therefrom and which is adapted to direct a said fluid received therefrom into and through said tapered passage to said other opening for dispensing a controlled number of drops of fluid therefrom;

and

a support guide member having a first end which is operatively coupled to said elongated housing member with said fluid-dispensing tip extending in a predetermined direction therefrom and a second opposed eyelid everting end which terminates in a curvilinear, outer edge ribbed eye socket bone engaging member having two ribs, one of which is higher than the other, to produce movement of the skin relative to the eye socket bone engaging member to evert the lower eyelid when said engaging member is positioned with the higher rib away from the eye and against the eye socket bone, said eyelid everting member being located in said predetermined direction at a distance greater than the selected length of said fluid-dispensing tip, said second opposed end being adapted to be positioned against the outer skin and below the lower eyelid and over a portion of the bone structure defining the eye socket of a user wherein the outer ribbed edge is capable of being urged against the bone structure with the skin therebetween to produce relative movement of the lower eyelid relative to the eye socket bone engaging member to evert the lower eyelid when said engaging member is positioned with the higher rib away from the eye and against the eye socket bone, said eyelid everting member urging the skin in a downward direction which everts the lower eyelid from the eye of a user, enabing drops of fluid to be directed into the eye in the absence of interference from the lower eyelid.

17. The dispensing device of claim 16 wherein said container has a threaded throat portion which terminates in a fluid-dispensing opening and wherein said attachment means includes sidewall means defining a container-receiving opening including a hollowed-out central area having a threaded section which is adapted to be removably threaded onto said threaded throat portion of a said container.

18. The dispensing device of claim 17 wherein said elongated housing member and said support guide member are formed into an integral member adapted to be removably attached onto a said container.

19. The dispensing device of claim 16 wherein said fluid-dispensing tip forms fluid droplets, each having a volume of approximately 10 milliliters.

20. The dispensing device of claim 18 wherein the integral member is formed of plastic.

21. The dispensing device of claim 17 wherein said integral member includes means for defining a threaded member on the exterior surface of said flexible dispensing tip and further comprising

a cap having an elongated hollowed-out cavity formed generally in the shape of said flexible dispensing tip and an opening adapted to pass the flexible dispensing tip therethrough into said elongated hollowed-out cavity and threads formed on the inner portion of said opening which are adapted to mate with the threaded member on said exterior surface of said flexible dispensing tip.

22. The dispensing device of claim 17 wherein said raised ribbed edge includes a central recessed area which terminates on an edge thereof in a raised protruding lip and on the other edge thereof in a lower protruding lip.