Method and apparatus for liquid dispensing

• US 9,039,666 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Voss, Leslie A., Morley, Catie A., Hall, Gary S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wiest, Philip R
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEIN, BENJAMIN JACOB
• Application Number:
  US13/632,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20130085460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 604289-290, 604294-300
• US Class Current: 604/290
• 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: A61F 9/0026 Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/005 using ultrasonics spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated

Abstract

This invention provides for a method and a device for dispensing precise quantities of a predetermined volume of medicaments or other liquids onto the eye, via one or more discrete drop(s) generated by the device in a practical and innoxious way to users.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid into an ophthalmic environment comprising:

an emitter configured to emit radiation of a predetermined wavelength in a direction towards an eye;

a sensor configured to detect the wavelength of radiation reflected from the eye, wherein the reflected wavelength will be different based upon whether the eye is in an open state or a closed state;

an automated dispenser configured to dispense 3 to 30 microliters of the liquid towards the eye from a distance of 5 to 45 millimeters based upon receipt of a logic signal from a processor that is in logical communication with at least the sensor and the automated dispenser,

a steerable nozzle dispensing tip in fluid communication with the automated dispenser to jet dispense and in logical connection with the sensor to minimize manual adjustment by a user,

wherein the processor also transmits the logic signal based upon an electrical signal from the sensor indicating whether the eye is in the open state or the closed state to the automated dispenser,

wherein the automated dispenser is further configured to respond to the logic signal within 100 milliseconds of the state determination; and

wherein the reflected wavelength is indicative of a proper alignment of the apparatus with a predetermined ophthalmic region of the eye.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automated dispenser is further configured to dispense the liquid based upon receipt of the logic signal associated with the eye being in the open state and in the proper alignment with the automated dispenser.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic signal coordinates dispensing of the liquid towards the eye in a horizontal trajectory.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter and sensor comprise a camera.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the camera comprises an infrared camera.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the infrared camera further comprises an infrared filter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally including a digital storage storing executable software operative with the processor to cause the processor to be configured to coordinate dispensing of the liquid towards a predetermined ophthalmic region of the eye based upon the wavelength of the reflected radiation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dispensing of the liquid is based upon receipt of a signal indicating the predetermined ophthalmic region is aligned.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a feedback signaling device in electrical communication with the sensor, wherein the feedback signaling device is configured to be activated based upon a signal from the sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feedback signaling device is an audible signaling device emitting audible signals to a user for an alignment.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feedback signaling device is a visual signaling device providing a visual signal to a user for an alignment.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the dispensing of the liquid is further based upon the receipt of a signal indicating the eye is in the open state.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feedback signaling device is a sensory signaling device configured to provide a change for sensory nerves of a user for an alignment.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feedback signaling device comprises a combination of an audible and a visual signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing of the liquid is in predetermined volumes of one or more droplets.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid is at least one of:

a discrete drop, a mist, and a vapor.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a single dose reservoir and a main reservoir, wherein the single dose reservoir is in communication with said main reservoir and may be filled with approximately a single dose of the liquid to be dispensed upon receipt from the logic signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a tubular cutout, wherein the tubular cutout is configured to coaxially align with a line of sight of a user when the apparatus is in the proper alignment with the predetermined ophthalmic region of the eye.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a positioning device, wherein the positioning device includes at least one alignment leg that presses against a face or a forehead of a user to aid in the proper alignment of the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automated dispenser is further configured to dispense a first portion of a desired volume of the liquid in a first dispensing action based on a first eye-open state determination and dispense a remaining portion of a desired volume of the liquid in a second dispensing action based on a second eye-open state determination.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second eye-open state determination follows an eye-closed state determination.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, additionally comprising a pump, wherein the processor is further capable of sending an additional logic signal to the pump based on the first portion of the desired volume of the liquid dispensed during the first dispensing action.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the additional logic signal regulates the pump and adjusts a flow rate of the liquid.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the additional logic signal includes at least one of:

a signal shape, an amplitude, a frequency, a voltage, and a dosing time.