Device for delivering a dose of a mist of an ophthalmic liquid, and pump suitable for use in a device for delivering a mist of an ophthalmic liquid
By using a specially constructed pump 200 and an airflow mixing chamber design, the problem of inconvenience in pumping small amounts of ophthalmic fluid in the prior art has been solved, realizing a fast and accurate miniaturized ophthalmic fluid delivery device.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202180079676.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2020-11-30
- Filing Date
- 2021-06-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-20
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-06-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies are difficult to rapidly and accurately pump very small amounts of ophthalmic fluids, such as ophthalmic medications or saline solutions, and conventional devices are too bulky to be suitable for miniaturization.
The pump 200, with its specific construction, uses a rotary drive to draw in air into the air chamber and pump liquid into the mixing chamber. It utilizes airflow to deliver the liquid in the form of a mist. The miniaturized design of the pumping device allows for integration within a smaller housing.
It enables rapid and precise pumping of small amounts of ophthalmic fluid, such as 6 microliters, and the device is small in size, making it easy to carry and use.
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Figure CN116547027B_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to an improved device for delivering a dose of an ophthalmic liquid, such as an ophthalmic medicament or a saline solution, in the form of a mist, the device comprising a housing having a holding chamber with a discharge opening for holding a single dose of liquid to be delivered, a pump for pumping a dose of liquid to the holding chamber via a dose supply conduit, the pump being connected to a container containing a plurality of doses, and an airflow conduit for supplying an airflow to the holding chamber in order to force the dose delivered by the pump to the holding chamber out through the discharge opening.
[0002] The invention also relates to a pump for pumping very small volumes of liquid, which pump is generally suitable for use in a device for delivering a liquid in the form of a mist, many of the components of which pump can be conveniently formed by injection moulding. BACKGROUND
[0003] The documents WO 15 / 114, 139 and WO 17 / 21, 168 disclose devices of the above-mentioned type. SUMMARY
[0004] There is a need for a device and a pump which allow one or more of the following: pumping very small amounts of an ophthalmic liquid, such as an ophthalmic medicament or a saline solution, the small amounts of ophthalmic liquid corresponding to a single dose as mentioned before, which single dose can for example be of the order of 6 microlitres, convenient and quick activation of the pump, and allowing the pump to be made in small dimensions, so that it can be housed in a device housing which is relatively small in size. The invention claimed herein solves this need in various combinations of features, wherein the ophthalmic liquid is delivered to the user, optionally in the form of a mixture with air in a mixing chamber, via the discharge opening of the device.
[0005] Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] Figure 1a and Figure 1b are perspective views of different configurations of the device of the invention,
[0007] Figure 2a and Figure 2b are Figure 1a and Figure 1b are partial cross-sectional views of the device of
[0008] Figure 3a are perspective views of the pump of the invention and of a substrate on which the pump is mounted in the device of the invention,
[0009] Figure 3b and Figure 3c are perspective views of the pump of the invention mounted on Figure 3aa cross-sectional view of a pump on a substrate of the device, the pump being in different positions during pumping,
[0010] Figure 4a and Figure 4b are a perspective partial cross-sectional view and a complete cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the pump mounted to the substrate,
[0011] Figure 5a and Figure 5b are views similar to those of Figure 3b and Figure 3c and show the pump assembled,
[0012] Figure 6a and Figure 6b are exploded views of the substrate, respectively, seen from below and from above, and
[0013] Figures 7a to 7f are cross-sectional views similar to those of Figure 3b and Figure 3c illustrating the flow of liquid through the pump during priming. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The application will now be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments.
[0015] Figures 1a to 1b perspective views showing different configurations of a device 1 of the application for the continuous delivery of single doses of an ophthalmic liquid, each dose being carried as a small droplet in a flow of carrier gas to the eye of a user. As shown, the device 1 is sized to be held in the hand H of the user.
[0016] As seen in Figure 1b , the device 1 comprises a housing 6 having a front wall 10 and an opposite rear wall 15, and having a drive for making the device 1 ready to deliver a single dose at a time by the user rotating the handle / head 8 of the device 1 about an axis A with the hand H. The head 8 is rotatably mounted to the rear end 3’ of the housing 6 and defines a rear end 4 of the device 1. A release button 9 in the front wall 10 allows the user to effect the delivery of each single dose in a respective flow of carrier gas via a discharge opening 20 formed in a substrate 70 defining a front end 3 of the housing 6. The discharge opening 20 can be formed as a nozzle having an atomizing function.
[0017] As shown, an abutment structure 2 connected to the substrate 70 allows the user to position and hold the device 1 against an area around the eye of the user before pressing the release button 9.
[0018] The device 1 shown has some features in common with the devices disclosed in documents WO 15 / 114, 139 and WO 17 / 21, 168, in particular having inside the housing 6 a container / cartridge of liquid ophthalmic medicament / saline solution connected to a pump, through which each single dose of ophthalmic liquid is driven from the cartridge into a single dose holding chamber. The single dose is then deposited in the single dose holding chamber, waiting for a first gas flow which presses the single dose out of the single dose chamber and into a mixing chamber arranged immediately downstream of the single dose chamber. The single dose entering the mixing chamber is thus mixed with a second gas flow which enters the mixing chamber at the same time, and the confluence of the first gas flow and the second gas flow with the single dose of ophthalmic liquid then exits the mixing chamber at the discharge opening 20. A dose of ophthalmic liquid is thus delivered to the user as a mist at a speed determined, for example, by the pressure of the gas flow.
[0019] The present application is particularly suitable in the case where the volume of the dose of ophthalmic liquid to be dispensed by the treatment personnel is very low, such as approximately 5 to 30 microlitres, such as approximately 6 microlitres, and the volume of the dose holding chamber is preferably the same, or substantially the same, as the volume of the single dose. In conventional dispensers of ophthalmic liquid, one or more drops are usually dispensed, with each drop having a volume of approximately more than 30 microlitres, or even more than 60 microlitres, resulting in over-dispensing.
[0020] Figure 2a and Figure 2b are partial sectional views of the device 1 in two respective configurations, before and after the head 8 has been rotated through 180°, allowing inspection of some components inside the housing 6, including the top portion of the aforesaid container / cartridge, indicated by reference 30, and the two pistons 52 arranged to move back and forth (shown in the figures as upwards and downwards) parallel to the axis A, inside the respective gas chambers 50 closed at one end by the aforesaid base plate 70. The two gas chambers 50 are arranged substantially symmetrically around the cartridge 30 and around the axis A.
[0021] In the context of the present application, the cartridge 30 is preferably a collapsible container which is only open at the discharge opening, and the cartridge 30 is configured with a flexible side wall so that, as the ophthalmic liquid is drawn out of the cartridge 30, the cartridge 30 will collapse without drawing air into the cartridge 30. Alternatively, the cartridge 30 can have a displaceable wall portion so that, as the liquid is drawn out, the internal volume of the cartridge 30 is reduced without drawing air into the cartridge 30. The cartridge 30 can contain, for example, 10 to 1000 doses of ophthalmic liquid.
[0022] Each of the aforesaid gas chambers 50 is defined in part by a cylindrical wall 51, at Figure 2a and Figure 2bThe cylindrical wall 51 shown in cross-section in Fig. 2 is sealed to an annular structure 71 on the base plate 70. The pistons 52 each have a piston head 56 which, together with one of the parts of the base plate 70 and the cylindrical wall 51, delimits the interior of the respective gas chamber 50. Figure 2b Two pistons 52 are shown, which have been moved to their higher, retracted position by the user having rotated the head 8. For this movement, the head 8 comprises a hollow cylindrical shaft 40 which is received in the housing 6 in a rotatable manner through an opening in the rear end 3' and encloses the container 30. The shaft 40, which is part of the aforementioned drive, comprises on its outer surface a pair of oppositely helically extending ridges 41 which define cams acting on a respective cam follower (not shown) arranged on each of the respective non-rotatable piston rods 53 connected to each piston head 56. As will be explained below, the upward movement of the pistons 52 is effected by the user pressing the button 9, which causes the shaft 40 to rotate about the axis A, whereby the cam followers will ride on the ridges 41. Figure 2b As shown in Fig. 2, the two pistons 52 are temporarily held in their fully retracted position by respective tabs (not shown) which in this position releasably engage with the piston rods 53 and are configured to disengage from the piston rods 53 when the user presses the button 9.
[0023] As will be understood, the upward movement of the pistons 52 is effected by rotating the shaft 40 about the axis A, whereby the cam followers will ride on the ridges 41. By this upward movement of the pistons 52, air is simultaneously drawn into the two gas chambers 50 via respective openings 74 formed in the base plate 70. The openings 74 communicate with the outside of the device 1 and each comprises a check valve (not shown).
[0024] The respective springs 58 positioned between the rear end 3' of the housing 6 and the pistons 52 drive the pistons 52 back to their lower position shown in Fig. 2, simultaneously expelling air from the gas chambers 50 via openings 73 formed in the base plate 70 when the user presses the button 9 to release the pistons 52 from their engagement with the aforementioned tabs. See Fig. 3. Figure 3a and Figure 3b The air leaving the gas chambers 50 in this way flows via air flow conduits 76, 77 formed in the base plate 70 at the bottom of the gas chambers 50 towards and into the single dose holding chamber 92. Further details of the base plate 70 are shown in Figs. 5 and 6, from which it is seen how the base plate 70 can preferably be formed by tightly assembling two plates 70', 70" having recesses defining the aforementioned flow conduits 73, 76, 77, as well as other conduits, segments 235' and the required valves. As Figure 6a and Figure 6b will be understood, the air flow conduits 73, 76, 77 are formed by recesses in the base plate 70, which recesses are formed by the assembly of the two plates 70', 70" shown in Figs. 5 and 6. As will be understood, the recesses in the two plates 70', 70" are complementary to each other, and the assembly of the two plates 70', 70" forms the base plate 70. Figure 6bAs shown in the figures, an elastomeric material sealing portion can be co-moulded with one of the plates 70" and consists of a plurality of preferably interconnected elongated objects S and cooperates with the respective ridge S1, Figure 3b As shown in the figures, one of the respective ridges S1 formed in the other one of the plates 70" is shown.
[0025] Preferably, as in the prior art mentioned above, the air expelled from each air chamber 50 defines a first air flow and a second air flow, which serve the aforementioned purpose and flow through respective air flow conduits 77, 78, which can branch off from a primary conduit 76 extending from each air chamber 50, one first flow conduit 77 for the first air flow in connection with the dose holding chamber 92, while the other second conduit 78 is connected with the mixing chamber 21 for the second air flow. As Figure 6a As shown in the figures, the various air flow conduits 76, 77, 78 are preferably formed as recesses in one of the plates 70" and the aforementioned ridge S1 can be formed on the same plate 70" along the length of the various air flow conduits 76, 77, 78 in order to seal the air flow conduits 76, 77, 78 by pressing the sealing material into the corresponding elongated objects S.
[0026] As shown, the dose holding chamber 92 has a discharge opening 93 in communication with the mixing chamber 21, whereby the first air flow can force the liquid contained in the dose holding chamber 92 into the mixing chamber 21 via the discharge opening 93, the discharge opening 93 being positioned at a distal end of the dose holding chamber 92 opposite to its proximal end PE, the first flow conduit opening into the holding chamber 92 at the proximal end PE of the dose holding chamber 92. As in the prior art mentioned above, the second air flow is expelled from the air chamber 50 via the second conduit 78 and is directed into the mixing chamber 21, where it mixes with the liquid expelled from the dose holding chamber 92 via the discharge opening 93. Figure 4b As best seen in the figures, the dose supply conduit 235 for supplying a dose of the ophthalmic liquid to the dose holding chamber 92 has a section 235' which also opens at the proximal end PE of the dose holding chamber 92.
[0027] The device 1 shown differs from the prior art devices disclosed in documents WO 15 / 114, 139 and WO 17 / 21, 168, in particular in that the device 1 shown has a pump 200 of a specific configuration according to the present application. The driver with shaft 40 also implements the stroke of the pump 200 to drive a single dose of the ophthalmic liquid from the container 30 into the single dose chamber 92 via the dose supply conduit when the shaft 40 is rotated. In this way, the head 8 is rotated for sucking air into the air chamber 50 and, secondly, also pumps a single dose of the ophthalmic liquid from the container 30 into the holding chamber 92, whereby a subsequent pressing of the button 9 will deliver this single dose to the user via the discharge opening 20 by a combined air flow acting as a carrier which is expelled from the air chamber 50 under the action of the respective spring 58.
[0028] As will be explained hereafter, the particular configuration of the pump 200 of the application allows to pump very small quantities of drug, i.e. corresponding to the aforementioned single dose, which can for example be of 6 microliters, to facilitate and quickly start the pump 200, and allows the pump 200 to be made in small size, so that it can be housed within a relatively small size housing 8 of the device 1.
[0029] Now turning to Figure 3a , it is shown the pump 200 of the application which has been previously assembled and is in the process of being mounted to the base plate 70 of the device 1. To this end, the base plate 70 comprises a plurality of upstanding resilient fingers 72 which are adapted to snap into a corresponding number of recesses 202 formed in the cylindrical wall 211 of the first portion 210 of the pump 200, wherein the upstanding fluid connector 75 mounted to the base plate 70 is configured to be tightly received within the large diameter portion 234 of the dose supply conduit 235, see Figure 4b , the dose supply conduit 235 is formed in the first portion 210, wherein the dose supply conduit 235 is continued within the fluid connector 75. In the dose supply conduit 235, the pump 200 comprises a normally closed one-way valve, again with reference to Figure 4b , the ball 207 illustrated is biased to a normally closed position, closing a section of the dose supply conduit 235 by the spring 208 held in place by the fluid connector 75. Two opposite guide slits 212 formed in the cylindrical wall 211 are open at one lower end and closed at the opposite end.
[0030] Figure 3b is a cross-sectional view showing the pump 200 mounted to the base plate 70, wherein the spring 150 surrounds the first portion 210, the spring 150 abutting against the base plate 70 on one hand and against the peripheral flange 226 of the second portion 225 of the pump 200 on the other hand. The second portion 225 is displaceable relative to the first portion 210 in the direction P up and down, and thus the second portion 225 is displaceable relative to the base plate 70 in the direction P up and down. The second portion 225 has a peripheral / cylindrical wall 229 which surrounds the first portion 210 when the second portion 225 is in the retracted position; the second portion 225 is biased by the spring towards the higher advanced position shown in Figure 3a and Figure 3b . In Figure 3c , the second portion 225 is shown displaced to the lower retracted position close to the base plate 70 in preparation for the discharge of a single dose of ophthalmic liquid from the pump chamber 216 in the pump 200 via the aforementioned dose supply conduit 235, as will be explained hereafter.
[0031] More particularly, Figure 3b and Figure 3cThe first portion 210 is shown below, comprising a transverse annular top wall 213 near the upper end of the cylindrical wall 211, with an elongated hollow tubular structural member 214 extending centrally upward from the top wall 213. Along the tubular structural member 214, a seat 215 is provided around a lower portion of the elongated tubular structural member 214 on the upper extension 211' of the cylindrical wall 211, configured to tightly secure the neck 35 of the container 30 to the first portion 210, such as by snapping onto the rim of the container 30, with the tubular structural member 214 extending inside the neck 35. The container 30 is held in a fixed position relative to the base plate 70 to the first portion 210 of the pump 200 when secured to the seat 215.
[0032] The tubular structural member 214 has a free distal end 214' distal from the top wall 213, comprising a one-way valve 250, such as a duckbill valve, allowing liquid to flow from the container 30 into the elongated tubular structural member 214 via the distal end 214' of the tubular structural member 214.
[0033] In Figure 3c The tubular structural member 214 defines a pump chamber 216, with the transverse top wall 213 of the first portion 210 having a central opening 217 to the pump chamber 216 at the proximal end 214" of the tubular structural member 214. An annular seal 218, preferably of an elastic material such as rubber, is shown here as being mounted between layers of the top wall 213 around the opening 217.
[0034] The lower end of the aforementioned cylindrical wall 229 of the second portion 225 of the pump 200 has a bridge 228 connected to two opposite portions of the flange 226. When the pump 200 is assembled, the bridge 228 is received at the open ends of the two guide slits 212 in the first portion 210, so that the second portion 225 remains non-rotating relative to the first portion 210 when it is moved up and down along the direction P, with the bridge 228 moving in a respective one of the two guide slits 212 until it moves to the closed ends of the two slits 212.
[0035] A solid elongated pin-shaped pump rod 238, which can have a constant diameter along its length, is connected to the bridge 228 so as to extend into the pump chamber 216 via the opening 217, in sealing engagement with the annular seal 218. The pump rod 238 is arranged to move inside the pump chamber 216 between a retracted position shown in Figure 3c and an advanced position shown in Figure 3b with the free end 130 of the pump rod 238 proximate to the one-way valve 250 in the advanced position.
[0036] An elongated annular fluid flow channel 230 for the ophthalmic liquid is defined between the exterior of the pump rod 238 and the interior of the tubular structural member 214, which ophthalmic liquid is received via the valve 250 and expelled from the pump chamber 216 upon moving the pump rod 238 to the advanced position, i.e. upon moving the second part 225 of the pump 200 to its advanced position. In the case where the rod 228 has a constant diameter, the annular fluid flow channel 230 preferably has a constant inner and outer diameter; the rod 228 can have a polygonal cross section without departing from the application.
[0037] Due to the small size, as the pump chamber 216 is dimensioned to displace a liquid volume of about 6 microliters on each stroke, the lateral support of the rod 238 at the opening 217 is sufficient to make the rod 228 not contact the inner lateral face of the pump chamber 216 when the rod is moving inside the pump chamber 216.
[0038] It will be understood that the spring 150 serves to control the movement of the pump rod 238 inside the pump chamber 216 between its retracted and advanced positions. The cylindrical wall 229 of the displaceable second part 225 of the pump 200 has a structure comprising opposite ribs 227 which serve as cam followers which engage on the inside around the hollow shaft 40 in a similar way to the air piston 52 with a cam (not shown). In this way, the head 8 is rotated: i) to suck liquid into the pump chamber 216 by moving the second part 225 to the position shown in Figure 3c and then finally ii) to allow the spring 150 to drive the second part 225 to its higher position shown in Figure 3b in which the ribs 227 are disengaged from the cam on the inside of the shaft 40, upon completion of the rotation. This latter movement corresponds to a pump stroke, whereby the liquid contained in the pump chamber 216 is expelled via the elongated flow channel 230 defined between the interior of the tubular structural member 214 and the pump rod 238, to flow into the liquid holding chamber 92 via the dose supply conduit 235.
[0039] With the liquid holding chamber 92 now full, the device 1 is ready for drug delivery by directing air from the air chamber 50 to purge the liquid holding chamber 92 by pressing the button 9, as explained above. The liquid holding chamber can then be filled again by rotating the head 8 once more in the manner explained above.
[0040] It will be understood that the valve 207 opens upon expulsion of liquid from the pump chamber 116 and then re-closes by action of the valve spring 208 upon completion of the pump stroke, for example to ensure that then only the pump rod 238 can be moved back to its retracted position in Figure 3cThe retracted position shown indicates that liquid is drawn into pump chamber 216 via one-way valve 250. Using a collapsible container 30, such as a cartridge with an internal flexible and collapsible bag, allows the cartridge to be emptied without requiring any ventilation that could compromise sterility. One-way valve 207 in the dosing supply tubing 235 also functions to prevent upstream contamination, as it acts as a barrier between the liquid in the pump chamber and the surrounding environment.
[0041] Figure 4a This is a partial three-dimensional cross-sectional view showing the pump mounted on the substrate 70, and Figure 4b It is a similar complete cross-sectional view. In Figure 4b The dose supply conduit 235 shown in its complete extension includes a first segment 235”' and two additional segments 235”, 235’, the first segment 235”' being formed in the first portion 210 of the pump 200 and the inlet port of the first segment 235”' being positioned on one side of the opening 217 in the adjacent top wall 213 of the elongated tubular structure 214, and the two additional segments 235”, 235’ being formed in the upright connector 75 and the substrate 70, respectively.
[0042] As will be understood, the volume of pump chamber 216 corresponds to the volume of a single dose, and the volume of pump chamber 216 is also related to the volume of pump rod 238 plus the volume defined by the annular space between the inner surface of the elongated tubular structure 214 and pump rod 238. Typically, with a dose volume of 6 μL, the volume of pump chamber 216 will be designed to be approximately 15 μL to 20 μL.
[0043] Figure 5a and Figure 5b They are respectively with Figure 3b and Figure 3c The view is similar to that shown, and illustrates the assembled pump 200 and a compressed or uncompressed spring 150, which is compressed or uncompressed depending on the position of the second part 225 relative to the first part 210. Pulling the second part 225 away from the first part 210 via the open end of the slit 212 can be prevented by including a locking structure (not shown).
[0044] Figures 7a to 7e The illustration shows the sequence of flow of liquid L, represented by dots, through pump 200 when the user prepares device 1 for the initial delivery of a certain dose of ophthalmic liquid L, i.e., during startup. This is achieved by rotating head 8 a predetermined number of times, providing a total of four strokes of pump 200 in the illustrated example, that is, by moving pump rod 238 twice from its advance position, assuming that device 1 is being delivered to the user. Figure 7a This is achieved by moving the pump rod 238 back to its advance position twice. During this procedure, liquid l is drawn into the pump chamber 216, which is first filled; as...Figure 7d the liquid is forced into the laterally oriented section 235" of the dose supply conduit 235 to flow through the one-way valve 207 into the section 235" to eventually open the one-way valve 207, and then into the final section 235' of the dose supply conduit 235, as shown in Figure 4b the final section 235' opens into the liquid holding chamber 92, to which the pump 200 can be connected. As can be appreciated, as Figure 7b the volume of liquid first drawn into the chamber 216 on the first stroke of the rod 238 towards its retracted position will generally correspond to the volume occupied by the rod 238 inside the chamber 216 in its fully advanced position, and thus to the volume of the liquid holding chamber 92.
Claims
1. A device (1) for delivering a dose of ophthalmic liquid in a mist, the device (1) comprising a housing (6) having: A holding chamber (92) having a discharge opening (93) for holding a dose of liquid to be delivered. A pump (200) for pumping the dose of the liquid to the holding chamber (92) via a dose supply conduit (235), the pump (200) being connected to a container (30) containing a plurality of the doses. Airflow ducts (76, 77) are used to supply airflow to the holding chamber (92) so as to force the dose delivered to the holding chamber (92) by the pump (200) through the discharge opening (93). Its features are, The pump (200) includes: A first part (210) having: a base (213), an elongated tubular structure (214) extending from the base (213), a seat (215) configured to secure the neck (35) of the container (30) to the first part (210), wherein the tubular structure (214) extends inside the neck (35), the tubular structure (214) having a distal end including a one-way valve (250) allowing liquid to flow from the container (30) into the elongated tubular structure (214), the tubular structure (214) defining a pump chamber (216), the base (213) having an opening (217) at the proximal end of the tubular structure (214) leading to the pump chamber (216), a seal (218) surrounding the opening (217), and The second part (225) is movable relative to the first part (210) and includes a pump rod (238) extending through the opening (217) into the pump chamber (216), the pump rod (238) being sealed to the seal (218), the pump rod (238) being movable relative to the first part (210) within the pump chamber (216) between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the free end (130) of the pump rod (238) is closer to the check valve (250) in the extended position, and when the pump rod (238) is moved to the extended position, an elongated flow channel (230) is defined between the pump rod (238) and the interior of the tubular structure (214) for liquid discharged from the pump chamber (216). The dose supply conduit (235) connects the elongated flow channel (230) to the holding chamber (92), and the dose supply conduit (235) includes a one-way valve (207, 208) that allows the liquid to flow to the holding chamber (92).
2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second part (225) has a peripheral wall (229) surrounding the first part (210) at the advance position of the pump rod (238).
3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising another chamber (21) communicating with the holding chamber (92) via the discharge opening (93), and another airflow duct (78) for supplying a second airflow to the other chamber (21), the other chamber (21) having a discharge opening (20) for discharging the forced discharge dose from the device (1) together with the second airflow.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 further includes a spring (150) surrounding the first portion (210), the spring (150) being used to control the movement of the pump rod (238) inside the pump chamber (216) between the retracted position and the advance position.
5. The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the dose supply catheter (235) has a liquid inlet port disposed at the proximal end of the tubular structure (214).
6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein, The liquid inlet port is adjacent to the opening (217), and a section (235''') of the dose supply conduit (235) extends laterally relative to the pump rod (238).
7. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The container (30) is stackable.
8. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising an air chamber (58) connected to the airflow duct (76, 77), a displaceable piston (55) for driving a volume of air out of the air chamber (58), and a driver for controlling the displacement of the piston (55).
9. The device (1) according to claim 8, further comprising a rotatable handle (8), the piston (55) comprising a piston rod (57) and a piston head (56) received in the gas chamber (58), wherein, Rotation of the handle (8) moves the piston (55) to a retracted position for drawing the volume of air into the air chamber (58), and wherein the rotation of the handle (8) controls the movement of the second part (225) relative to the first part (210).
10. A pump (200) for delivering liquid, the pump (200) comprising: A first part (210) having: a base (213), an elongated tubular structure (214) extending from the base (213), a seat (215) configured to secure a neck (35) of a container (30) to the first part (210), wherein the tubular structure (214) extends inside the neck (35), the tubular structure (214) having a distal end including a one-way valve (250) allowing liquid to flow from the container (30) into the elongated tubular structure (214), the tubular structure (214) defining a pump chamber (216), the base (213) having an opening (217) at the proximal end of the tubular structure (214) leading to the pump chamber (216), a seal (218) surrounding the opening (217), and The second part (225) is movable relative to the first part (210) and includes a pump rod (238) extending through the opening (217) into the pump chamber (216), the pump rod (238) being sealed to the seal (218), the pump rod (238) being movable relative to the first part (210) within the pump chamber (216) between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the free end (130) of the pump rod (238) is closer to the check valve (250) in the extended position, and when the pump rod (238) is moved to the extended position, an elongated flow channel (230) is defined between the pump rod (238) and the interior of the tubular structure (214) for liquid discharged from the pump chamber (216). The first part (210) includes a dose supply conduit (235) connected to the elongated flow channel (230) for discharging the liquid discharged from the pump chamber (216).
11. The pump (200) according to claim 10, wherein the liquid is a dose of ophthalmic liquid.
12. The pump (200) according to claim 10, wherein the peripheral wall (229) of the second portion (225) surrounds the first portion (210) when the pump rod (238) is in the advance position.
13. The pump (200) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein a section (235'') of the dose supply conduit (235) includes a normally closed check valve (207, 208).
14. The pump (200) according to any one of claims 10 to 12 further includes a spring (150) surrounding the first portion (210), the spring (150) being used to control the movement of the pump rod (238) within the pump chamber (216) between the retracted position and the advance position.
15. The pump (200) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the dose supply conduit (235) has a liquid inlet port disposed at the proximal end of the tubular structure (214).
16. The pump (200) according to claim 15, wherein, The liquid inlet port is adjacent to the opening (217), and a section (235''') of the dose supply conduit (235) extends laterally relative to the pump rod (238).
Citation Information
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