Automated incremental eyedrop delivery system with eyelid retracting legs
First Claim
1. A device for automatically and accurately dispensing eyedrops into the eye of a user from an eyedrop bottle containing an eyedrop solution, the device comprising:
- (a) a bottle holder and retention assembly;
(b) a bi-pedal resilient leg support and positioning assembly;
(c) a movable electromechanical bottle compression assembly comprising;
(i) a DC electric motor having a rotor shaft extending there from; and
(ii) a cylindrical bearing cam fixed to the rotor shaft on an axis off-set from the central axis of the cylindrical bearing, the cylindrical bearing cam comprising an internal cylinder fixed to the rotor shaft and an external cylinder slidingly engaged coaxially around the internal cylinder; and
(d) electronic control circuitry for operational control of the bottle compression assembly;
wherein the cylindrical bearing cam is positioned within the bottle holder and retention assembly so as to alternately come into contact with the eyedrop bottle when the eyedrop bottle is held and retained within the bottle holder and retention assembly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An eyedrop bottle holder with resilient arms formed from an inverted U-shaped band made from resilient injection molded plastic. The top middle portion of the inverted U-shape band includes a centrally located opening through which the top (dispensing portion) of a standard eyedrop bottle containing eyedrop solution may be positioned and held. The right and left arms of the U-shape band each terminate in an outwardly disposed J-shape foot, the underside of which is covered by a soft rubber-like pad. When a user inserts a standard eyedrop bottle into the holder, the dispensing tip of the eyedrop bottle may be positioned in close proximity to the user'"'"'s eye. The user may cause his or her eye lid to remain open by using the fingers of one hand to squeeze the right and left arms of the holder together, then placing the pad of one arm on the upper ridge of the orbital eye socket and the pad of the second arm on the lower ridge of the orbital eye socket. Releasing the arms causes the skin of the user'"'"'s upper and lower eyelids to be spread apart from each other and remain spread during an eyedrop solution dispensing event. The eyedrop bottle is retained within a housing that includes an electromechanical assembly with a rotating cam that pushes on the side of the bottle until a predetermined amount of solution is dispensed. When a set amount of eyedrop solution has been dispensed, the assembly resets itself. An electronic sensor detects the passage of a drop of solution from the bottle and directs a reverse motion to the rotating cam. Tilt sensors assist the user in properly orienting the device for use. An adaptor may be used to accommodate non-standard sized eyedrop bottles.
70 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device for automatically and accurately dispensing eyedrops into the eye of a user from an eyedrop bottle containing an eyedrop solution, the device comprising:
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(a) a bottle holder and retention assembly; (b) a bi-pedal resilient leg support and positioning assembly; (c) a movable electromechanical bottle compression assembly comprising; (i) a DC electric motor having a rotor shaft extending there from; and (ii) a cylindrical bearing cam fixed to the rotor shaft on an axis off-set from the central axis of the cylindrical bearing, the cylindrical bearing cam comprising an internal cylinder fixed to the rotor shaft and an external cylinder slidingly engaged coaxially around the internal cylinder; and (d) electronic control circuitry for operational control of the bottle compression assembly; wherein the cylindrical bearing cam is positioned within the bottle holder and retention assembly so as to alternately come into contact with the eyedrop bottle when the eyedrop bottle is held and retained within the bottle holder and retention assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for dispensing eyedrops into the eye of a user from an eyedrop bottle containing an eyedrop solution comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a bottle of eyedrop solution, the bottle having a side wall and a cap; (b) providing an eyedrop dispensing device having an eyedrop bottle holder, a bi-pedal resilient leg support structure with cushion foot pads, a movable electromechanical bottle compression assembly, and an electronic control circuit; (c) removing the cap of the eyedrop bottle; (d) inserting the eyedrop bottle into the eyedrop bottle holder; (e) grasping the legs of the bi-pedal resilient leg support structure between a thumb and a forefinger; (f) squeezing the legs of the bi-pedal resilient leg support structure together with the thumb and forefinger into a spring-loaded compressed condition; (g) positioning the cushion foot pads of the resilient leg support structure in its compressed condition against the upper and lower rim of the orbital socket about the eye of the user; (h) at least partially releasing the legs of the bi-pedal resilient leg support structure to release the support structure from the spring-loaded compressed condition to spread/hold the eyelids of the user open; (i) confirming an angle of the eyedrop bottle tip to be proper for dispensing a drop of solution into the eye of the user; (j) activating the electronic control circuit to direct motion of the movable electromechanical bottle compression assembly to compress the eyedrop bottle; (k) compressing the eyedrop bottle and dispensing a drop of solution there from; (l) detecting the dispensing of a drop of solution from the eyedrop bottle towards the eye of the user; (m) de-activating the electronic control circuit to direct a reverse motion of the movable electromechanical bottle compression assembly and to thereby remove compression from the eyedrop bottle; and (n) replacing the cap of the eyedrop bottle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A device for automatically and accurately dispensing eyedrops into the eye of a user from an eyedrop bottle containing an eyedrop solution, the device comprising:
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(a) a bottle holder and retention assembly; (b) a bi-pedal resilient leg support and positioning assembly; (c) a movable electromechanical bottle compression assembly; and (d) electronic control circuitry for operational control of the bottle compression assembly the electronic control circuitry comprising; (i) a battery; (ii) an activation switch for directing power from the battery to the movable electromechanical bottle compression assembly and thereby directing a compressive motion by the electromechanical bottle compression assembly; and (iii) a dispensed drop sensing assembly, the detection of a dispensed drop directing a de-compressive motion by the electromechanical bottle compression assembly. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification