Ophthalmic Drug Dispensing Tip

Abstract

A dispensing tip apparatus for an eye drop dispenser to administer topical ophthalmic solutions is described. The apparatus integrates an ophthalmic solution-dispensing tip with an optical gauging assembly. The tip provides continuous visual feedback about it orientation and relationship to the eye. The dispensing tip when attached to any standard topical ophthalmic solution dispensing bottle or reservoir enables the user to view a target, visually align the dispenser tip, and administer an eye drop with precision. There is also a visual feedback by which the dispenser tip is prevented from gaining too close proximity and contacting the eye, thus preventing contamination of the medication and its dispenser. The visual feedback can also contain textual or graphic information that serves as a promotional advertisement.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]According to clinical studies a staggering 37.6% of all self-administered eye drops miss the eye. One way to improve delivery of eye drops is by providing a visual feedback means so that a person dispensing drops can position an eye drop dispenser at an optimal distance and orientation above the eye. To accomplish visual feedback, the eyedropper needs to incorporate features used in other visual range and orientation devices. One such device is a common range finder used by golfers to gauge their distance from the ball to the hole. In golf range finders, the golfer stands near their ball and looks through a lens directly at the flag on its pole. The flags are uniform at a fixed height above the ground. The closer a golfer is to the flag, the larger it appears in the range finder. The range finder has calibrated hash marks within that correspond to a given distance. The golfer by aligning the appropriate hash mark with the image of the flagpole gets d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]This invention seeks to create an integrated dispensing tip and optical gauging means for administering topical ophthalmic drug preparations, which enables the patient to direct an eye drop into the eye with the ease and accuracy, previously only attained by a proficient few. In addition, this particular device may serve to prevent cross-contamination, and ultimately save both the patient and the healthcare system money typically lost to waste.

[0008]More specifically, this invention relates to a dropper tip with an integrated lens and target system which, when coupled with or integral to any standard topical ophthalmic drug dispensing bottle, enables the user to view the target, align the dispenser tip, and administer an eye drop with precision not attained before. To achieve this precision, the target and lens system is calibrated to align the dispensing tip with the optical axis of the eye at a specified distance from the eye. The resulting geometric relationship between the dispensing tip and the eye insures that a dispensed drop will enter the eye. Prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,653 “Targeted eye drop dispenser” which uses visual feedback to align an ophthalmic drug dispenser simply helps place the nozzle along the axis of the eye at an arbitrary distance selected at random by the user. This is only effective if the axis of the eye and the path a dispensed drop falls are the same. The axis and path are only identical when the eye is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the horizon, which can only be easily achieved lying down. Most users dispense eye drops while standing or sitting with the eye rotated about 50 degrees back and will miss often with those types of implementations.

[0009]A similar mechanism is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,206 “Ophthalmic Drug Dispensing System” issued Aug. 3, 1999. The devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,206 couple a discreet optical gauging mechanism to an eye drop dispenser. By combining the dispensing tip and optical gauging features into a single compact tip the device becomes more compact, portable, cheaper, and easier to manufacture.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, this particular device may serve to prevent cross-contamination, and ultimately save both the patient and the healthcare system money typically lost to waste.

Most users dispense eye drops while standing or sitting with the eye rotated about 50 degrees back and will miss often with those types of implementations.

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