Drop generating device

• US 8,684,980 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eyenovia Inc.
• Original Assignee: Corinthian Ophthalmic Inc.
• Inventors: Hunter, Charles Eric, Ballou, Bernard L. Jr., Vollrath, Jurgen Klaus, Tew, Arthur H., Brown, Joshua Richard, Leath, James Thornhill, Faulks, Nathan R., Johnson, Bradley G., Clements, J. Sid, Russell, Phillip E., Hebrank, John H., Inachulev, Tsontcho, Packer, Mark, Elliott, Troy, Fierson, Walter M., Lindner, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mensh, Andrew J
• Application Number:
  US13/184,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20120143152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 604/294, 604/296, 604/298
• US Class Current: 604/298
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/025 Bubble jet droplet ejection devices
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0646 Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/0676 Feeding means
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method of delivering safe, suitable, and repeatable dosages to a subject for topical, oral, nasal, or pulmonary use and a device for droplet ejection includes a fluid delivery system capable of delivering a defined volume of the fluid in the form of droplets having properties that afford adequate and repeatable high percentage deposition upon application. The method and device include a housing, a reservoir disposed within the housing for receiving a volume of fluid, an ejector mechanism configured to eject a stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter greater than 15 microns, the stream of droplets having low entrained airflow such that the stream of droplets deposit on the eye of the subject during use.

Claims

1. A piezoelectric actuated droplet generating device for delivering a fluid to a target as an ejected stream of droplets, the device comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir disposed within the housing for receiving a volume of fluid;

an ejector mechanism comprising an ejector plate having a first surface coupled to a fluid delivery area of the reservoir, the ejector plate including a plurality of openings formed through its thickness; and

a piezoelectric actuator coupled to a second surface of the ejector plate, the actuator being operable to oscillate the ejector plate at a frequency to thereby generate an ejected stream of droplets;

wherein the ejector mechanism is configured to generate an ejected stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter greater than 20 microns and an average initial droplet ejecting velocity between 0.5 m/s and 10 m/s, the stream of droplets having low entrained airflow such that at least about 75% of the mass of the ejected stream of droplets deposit on a target during use.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the target is an eye of a subject.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least about 80% of the mass of the ejected droplets deposit on the target.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the ejector mechanism is configured to eject a stream of droplets having an average ejected droplet diameter in the range of 20 to 100 microns.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator extends around a peripheral region of the ejector plate.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the openings are disposed in a center region of the ejector plate that is uncovered by the actuator.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises a feature selected from the group consisting of a collapsible wall that collapses as the volume of fluid decreases and a wicking reservoir.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a protective coating over at least a portion of the ejector plate or the actuator.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the ejector plate comprises a reflective coating.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising a cover which may be sealed against the ejector plate when the device is not in use.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the cover is comprised of polypropylene, polyethylene, high density polyethylene or teflon.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an opening to expose the openings of the ejector plate, and further includes a cover configured to cover or uncover the openings of the ejector plate.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the cover is coupled to an activation trigger which activates the ejector plate.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one diagnostic feature, wherein the diagnostic feature comprises a light emitter and a wave detector, and wherein the light emitter directs waves toward the droplets and the detector detects portions of the light reflected or refracted off of said droplets.

15. A piezoelectric droplet generating device for delivering a volume of ophthalmic fluid to an eye of a subject as an ejected stream of droplets, the device comprising:

a housing;

a reservoir disposed within the housing for receiving a volume of ophthalmic fluid;

an ejector plate being in fluid communication with the reservoir, the ejector plate including a plurality of openings formed through its thickness;

a piezoelectric actuator coupled to a surface of the ejector plate, the actuator being operable to oscillate the ejector plate at a frequency and generate an ejected stream of droplets;

wherein the droplets in the directed stream have an average ejecting diameter in the range of 20-100 microns and an average ejecting velocity in the range of 2-5 m/s, the stream of droplets having low entrained airflow such that at least about 75% of the mass of the ejected stream of droplets deposit on a target during use.