Ocular self-treatment apparatus and method

• US 4,908,024 A
• Filed: 05/04/1988
• Issued: 03/13/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maej, LLC, Medinstill Development, LLC
• Original Assignee: Daniel Py
• Inventors: Py, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, C. Fred
• Application Number:
  US07/188,331
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 604/289, 604/290, 604/294-303, 351/158, 351/223
• US Class Current: 604/300
• 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

Abstract

An ocular self-treatment apparatus and self-treatment method for simplifying and improving the ease of ocular self-treatment. The apparatus is formed of a frame to be worn by the patient. The frame supports one or two light deviation apparatus. These apparatus deviate the visual access of the patient. The frame also supports one or two dispensers of ocular treatment material. A patient rotates his eye upwards and the light deviation apparatus allows him to observe the lower ocular area. The patient can then evert his lower eyelid and apply ocular treatment material to the cul-de-suc of the conjunctiva.

Claims

1. A device for the self-administration of ocular treatment material, comprising:

a frame, deviation means for deviating the visual axis including at least one prism positioned on the frame so that a user would rotate his eye upwards when using the device, and dispenser means for storing and dispensing ocular treatment material to the eye area, supported by the frame.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes bridge means for resting the device on and steadying the device with a nose.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame includes ear hook means for resting the device on and steadying the device with an ear.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser means includes pump means for causing the flow of ocular treatment material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser means includes a pressurized canister.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispenser means includes an adjustable nozzle.

7. The device of claim 1, said device further including light means coupled to said frame for illuminating the region of the eye area upon which it is desired to apply ocular treatment material.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the prism is positioned on the frame and the frame is constructed so that when a user peers upwards, through the prism, into a mirror, a user will observe the area below the cornea and a user'"'"'s eye will thereby be rotated sufficiently upwards so that the inferior conjunctival cul-de-sac can be exposed.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein

the frame includes bridge means for resting the device on and steadying the device with a nose, and ear hook means for resting the device on and steadying the device with at least one ear, the ear hook means being coupled to the bridge means.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein

the ear hook means includes two temple rods, each of the temple rods being coupled on one end to the bridge means, and each of the temple rods defining on its other end an ear hook for supporting the respective temple rod on an ear for supporting and steadying the frame with the ears.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein

the deviation means for deviating the visual axis includes two prisms, each prism being mounted to the frame on either side of the bridge means, such that when the ear hook means is supported on the ears and the bridge means is supported on the nose, each prism is positioned respectively in front of an eye so that when a user peers upwardly, through a respective prism, into a mirror, the user will observe the area below the respective cornea and the user'"'"'s eye will thereby be rotated sufficiently upwards so that the inferior conjunctival cul-de-sac can be exposed for receiving ocular treatment material from the device.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein

the dispenser means includes at least one dispenser for holding ocular treatment material and having a nozzle for dispensing ocular treatment material, the dispenser being mounted to the frame and positioned such that when the ear hook means is supported on the ears and the bridge means is supported on the nose, the dispenser is located adjacent to an eye for dispensing ocular treatment material through the nozzle and into the eye.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein

the dispenser means includes two dispensers, each dispenser being mounted to the frame and positioned so that when the ear hook means is supported on the ears and the bridge means is supported on the nose, each dispenser is located adjacent to a respective eye for dispensing ocular treatment material through its nozzle and into the eye.

14. An ocular self-treatment device, comprising:

a prism constructed and angled so that if a user looks upwards, through the prism, into a mirror, the user will observe the eye region below the cornea and dispenser means coupled to the prism, the dispenser means for dispensing eye treatment material.

15. The ocular treatment device of claim 14, wherein the dispenser means includes a pressurized canister.

16. The ocular treatment device of claim 14, wherein the dispenser means includes a micro pump.

17. The ocular treatment device of claim 14, further including lighting means, coupled to the prism for illuminating the lower eye region.

19. The method for the self-administration of ocular treatment material of claim 15, wherein a reservoir for storing and dispensing ocular treatment material, is coupled to the prism.

18. A method for the self-administration of ocular treatment material, comprising:

peering upwards through a prism, the prism constructed so that when a user peers upwards through the prism into a mirror, the user can observe the eye region below the cornea;

everting the lower eyelid to expose the ocular cul-de-sac; and

applying eye treatment material to the ocular cul-de-sac.

20. An ocular self-treatment method, comprising:

rotating an eyeball upwards, deviating the line of sight of the eyeball with a light deviation means, wherein the light deviation means includes a prism, everting the lower eyelid of the eyeball to expose the conjunctival cul-de-sac and applying ocular treatment material to the conjunctival cul-de-sac.

21. The ocular self-treatment method of claim 20, wherein the light deviation means further includes a mirror.

22. The ocular self-treatment method of claim 20, wherein the ocular treatment material is applied from a pressurized canister.

23. The ocular self-treatment method of claim 20, wherein in the ocular treatment material is applied from a pump.