Dropwise liquid dispensing system particularly suitable for liquids having low surface tension

• US 5,664,704 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allergan SPA (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allergan Incorporated (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meadows, David L., Kurjan, Katherine C., Branham, Larry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US08/534,288
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 222/131, 222/95, 222/209, 222/420, 222/494, 222/94
• US Class Current: 222/209
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 47/18 for discharging drops; Droppers droppers in general B01L3/00; pipettes connected to container closures B01L3/0282
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0055 Containers or packages provided with a flexible bag or a deformable membrane or diaphragm for expelling the contents

Abstract

A dropwise liquid dispensing system is provided which includes a liquid formulation having a surface tension of less than a specific value. A tip is provided for dispensing of the liquid formulation in a dropwise fashion and an inner bottle, in communication with the tip, contains the liquid formulation, and forces the liquid formulation through the tip when compressed. The inner bottle is configured with a volume for preventing a liquid formulation from flowing out of the bottle through the tip without compression of the inner bottle. An outer bottle is provided and disposed around the inner bottle for compressing the inner bottle. The inner and outer bottles are sized for providing hydraulic advantage in compressing the inner bottle with the hydraulic advantage being manifested by the outer bottle having a greater inner surface area than an outer surface of the inner bottle.

Claims

1. A dropwise liquid dispensing system comprising:

a liquid formulation having a surface tension of less than a specific value;

tip means for dispensing of the liquid formulation in a dropwise fashion;

inner bottle means, in communication with said tip means, for both containing the liquid formulation and forcing the liquid formulation through the tip means upon compression of the inner bottle means;

means, defining a volume of said inner bottle means, for preventing the liquid formulation from flowing out of the inner bottle means through the tip means without compression of the inner bottle means;

means for facilitating compression of the inner bottle means comprising accordion-like folds in the inner bottle means; and

outer bottle means, disposed around said inner bottle means, for compressing the inner bottle means.

2. The dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein the specific value of the liquid formulation surface tension is less than about 25 dynes/cm and the inner bottle means volume is less than about 4 ml.

3. The dispensing system according to claim 2 wherein the liquid formulation comprises perfluorodecalin.

4. The dispensing system according to claim 2 wherein the inner and outer bottle means are sealed together at neck portions thereof and each of the inner and outer bottle means comprises body portions spaced apart from one another.

5. The dispensing system according to claim 2 wherein the liquid formulation is light sensitive and the inner bottle means comprises a light opaque material.

6. The dispensing system according to claim 2 wherein the liquid formulation is oxygen sensitive and an inert gas is provided between the inner and outer bottle means bodies.

7. The dispensing system according to claim 2 wherein a volume between the inner and outer bottle means is filled with air and the dispenser further comprises aperture means, disposed in a wall of the outer bottle, for regulating pressure applied to the inner bottle by compression of the outer bottle means.