Ophthalmic drug delivery system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye, the ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
- a body having a proximal end and a distal end;
a reservoir connected to the body, wherein the reservoir 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;
propulsion means for transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the reservoir 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, without being subject to a dynamic force generated by a mechanical device of the ophthalmic fluid atomizer that is physically separate from the propulsion means, from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye;
a processor electronically connected to the propulsion means, wherein the processor controls operation of the propulsion means;
an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the propulsion means; and
an adjustable dosage adjuster, physically separate from the activation switch, operatively coupled to the processor and configured to adjust discharge duration of the ophthalmic fluid from the propulsion means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid atomizer is disclosed. The fluid atomizer comprises a body having a proximal end and a distal end. A removable reservoir containing a fluid disposed therein is connected to the body. A discharge plate is disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough. An ultrasonic oscillator is disposed in the body for transmitting the fluid from the reservoir to the discharge plate and through the plurality of openings, wherein transmission of the fluid through the plurality of openings atomizes the fluid.
399 Citations
70 Claims
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1. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to 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 reservoir connected to the body, wherein the reservoir 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; propulsion means for transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the reservoir 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, without being subject to a dynamic force generated by a mechanical device of the ophthalmic fluid atomizer that is physically separate from the propulsion means, from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; a processor electronically connected to the propulsion means, wherein the processor controls operation of the propulsion means; an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the propulsion means; and an adjustable dosage adjuster, physically separate from the activation switch, operatively coupled to the processor and configured to adjust discharge duration of the ophthalmic fluid from the propulsion means. - 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)
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26. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer configured to 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 reservoir connected to the body, wherein the reservoir 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; propulsion means for transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the reservoir to the discharge plate, wherein transmission of the ophthalmic fluid through the plurality of openings atomizes the ophthalmic fluid and generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels, without being subject to a dynamic force generated by a mechanical device of the ophthalmic fluid atomizer that is physically separate from the propulsion means, from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; a processor electronically connected to the propulsion means, wherein the processor controls operation of the propulsion means; and an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor and configured to operate the propulsion means for a predetermined period of time, said predetermined period of time having a duration which is independent of operation of the activation switch. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An ophthalmic fluid misting device adapted to deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye comprising:
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a) a body having a proximal end and a distal end; b) a prime mover coupled to the body; c) a discharge plate coupled to the distal end of the body; d) a targeting device mounted on the body for spacing the discharge plate a predetermined distance from the eye; e) a prefilled medication reservoir releasably coupled to the proximal end of the body, the medication reservoir comprising; i) a vent having a vent covering comprising a liquid impermeable/gas permeable material, ii) a seal operable between a closed position prior to coupling the reservoir to the body and an open position when the reservoir is coupled to the body, and iii) a sterile ophthalmic fluid disposed within the reservoir; f) a processor operatively coupled to the prime mover for regulating operation of the prime mover; g) an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor such that a single operation of the activation switch activates the prime mover for a predetermined period of time; and h) an adjustable dosage adjuster, physically separate from the activation switch, operatively coupled to the processor to operate the prime mover for the predetermined period of time regardless of a duration of the operation of the activation switch, wherein during the predetermined period of time the prime mover and the discharge plate have a structure that generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid in mist form along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels, without being subject to a dynamic force generated by a mechanical device of the ophthalmic fluid misting device that is physically separate from the prime mover,—
from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An ophthalmic fluid misting device adapted to deliver an ophthalmic fluid to an eye comprising:
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a) a body and a reservoir connected to the body, wherein the reservoir contains an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein; b) a mover of the ophthalmic fluid coupled to the body; c) a processor operatively coupled to the mover for regulating operation of the mover; d) an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor such that a single operation of the activation switch activates the mover for a predetermined period of time; e) an adjustable dosage adjuster, physically separate from the activation switch, operatively coupled to the processor to operate the mover for the predetermined period of time regardless of a duration of the operation of the activation switch, wherein during the predetermined period of time the mover has a structure that generates a plume of ophthalmic fluid in mist form along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger to at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye, and f) an output device electronically coupled to the processor, wherein the output device is adapted to receive information from the processor. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
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a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a reservoir connected to the body, wherein the reservoir 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; an ultrasonic generator located in the body for transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the reservoir to the discharge plate, wherein the discharge plate and the ultrasonic generator have a structure for generating a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels, without being subject to a dynamic force generated by a mechanical device of the ophthalmic fluid atomizer that is physically separate from the ultrasonic generator, from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; the ultrasonic generator disposed between the proximal and distal ends and in fluid communication with the reservoir and the discharge plate; a processor electronically connected to the ultrasonic generator, wherein the processor controls operation of the ultrasonic generator; an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the ultrasonic generator; an adjustable dosage adjuster, physically separate from the activation switch, operatively coupled to the processor, and configured to adjust discharge duration of the ophthalmic fluid from the device; and a flow controller operatively coupled to the processor to adjust flow rate of the ophthalmic fluid from the ultrasonic generator. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
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a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a reservoir engaging surface disposed at the distal end for receiving a reservoir containing an ophthalmic fluid disposed therein; a discharge plate disposed at the distal end, wherein the discharge plate includes a plurality of openings extending therethrough; an ultrasonic generator located in the body for transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the reservoir to the discharge plate, wherein the discharge plate and the ultrasonic generator have a structure for generating a plume of ophthalmic fluid along a direction directly toward the eye, wherein the plume of ophthalmic fluid travels, without being subject to a dynamic force generated by a mechanical device of the ophthalmic fluid atomizer that is physically separate from the ultrasonic generator, from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; the ultrasonic generator disposed between the proximal and distal ends and in fluid communication with the discharge plate; a processor electronically connected to the ultrasonic generator, wherein the processor controls operation of the ultrasonic generator; an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the ultrasonic generator; and an adjustable dosage adjuster, physically separate from the activation switch, operatively coupled to the processor, and configured to adjust discharge duration of the ophthalmic fluid from the device. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. An ophthalmic fluid atomizer comprising:
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a body having a proximal end and a distal end; a reservoir connected to the body, wherein the reservoir 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; propulsion means for transmitting the ophthalmic fluid from the reservoir 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, without being subject to a dynamic force generated by a mechanical device of the ophthalmic fluid atomizer that is physically separate from the propulsion means, unassisted from the discharge plate to the eye and at the eye has a momentum that has a magnitude that is insufficient to trigger at least one of an ocular blink reflex and a lacrimation reflex of the eye; a processor electronically connected to the propulsion means, wherein the processor controls operation of the propulsion means; an activation switch operatively coupled to the processor to activate the propulsion means; and means for adjusting the flow rate of ophthalmic fluid from the propulsion means. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification