Eyedrop dispenser

Description

DOMAINE TECHNIQUE DE L'INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to the field of devices for delivering a drop of eye drops, comprising or not one or more active ingredients. ETAT DE LA TECHNIQUE ANTERIEURE

[0002] Currently, most eye drop delivery devices are designed so that the patient must tilt their head back and tilt the device so that its dispensing tip is positioned directly above the intended eye. Once in this position, the patient typically presses on the bottle attached to the delivery device to dispense a drop of eye drops into the eye. This often results in incorrect dispensing of the eye drops according to the prescribed dosage: too much eye drop is applied to the intended eye, or the drop misses the target eye. Furthermore, this procedure is inconvenient for the patient, even when assisted by someone else.Currently, there is no eye drop delivery device on the market that allows a patient to instill a drop of eye drops without tilting their head back. While delivery aids exist, their designs also require the patient to tilt their head back to instill a drop when used in conjunction with existing single-drop delivery devices.

[0003] To address some of these drawbacks, US patent 6,869,421 describes a device for delivering eye drops using a non-gravitational presentation method. This device features a presentation surface at the bottom of which a series of capillary tubes open. These tubes draw the eye drops from the bottle, form the drop at the presentation surface, and hold it in place until a predetermined dispensing angle is reached. From this angle, the drop is deposited or falls onto the surface of the patient's targeted eye. Dispensing is achieved by tilting the patient's head. However, this action remains somewhat awkward for the patient.

[0004] A device for delivering a drop of eye drops comprising a delivery head, an eye drop delivery conduit and a delivery surface in the vicinity of the dispensing end is known from US patent 2005 / 288640. EXPOSE DE L'INVENTION

[0005] One object of the invention is to provide a device for delivering a drop of eye drops which does not have the aforementioned disadvantages, in particular which allows the delivery of a drop of eye drops according to the prescribed dosage and this without the patient having to tilt their head back and raise their arm above their head.

[0006] To this end, the invention provides a device for delivering an eye drop, comprising or not one or more active ingredients, comprising a delivery head having an eye drop delivery channel, the delivery channel having an open dispensing end, and a delivery surface in the vicinity of the dispensing end, the delivery surface extending on at least one side and below the dispensing end, the device being in a vertical position, the delivery head at the top, the dispensing end being arranged so as to generate the eye drop towards the delivery surface, and thus to allow the patient to put the eye drop in an eye without having to tilt their head back.

[0007] Advantageously, but optionally, the eye drop delivery device according to the invention has at least one of the following technical characteristics: The dispensing end is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device; the dispensing end has an opening inclined towards the delivery surface; the inclined opening has an inclined surface; the supply conduit has a distal portion inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device, the dispensing end being positioned on the inclined distal portion; the supply conduit includes a catch buffer surface located at the proximal end arranged to allow retention and calibration of a drop; the supply conduit includes means forming a dispensing pump; the means forming a dispensing pump include a peristaltic-type pump; the supply conduit includes an antibacterial filter; the supply conduit includes a non-return valve; the delivery surface includes a delivery rim opposite the dispensing end;The delivery surface has a flat base, is part ovoid or part spherical; and, the delivery surface is hydrophobic. BREVE DESCRIPTION DES FIGURES

[0008] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention. See the attached drawings: [ Fig.1 ] is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a device for delivering a drop of eye drops according to the invention; [ Fig.2 ] is a partial three-dimensional view of the delivery device of the figure 1 ; Fig.3 ] is a partial cross-sectional view of the delivery device of the figure 1 ; Fig.4a ] And [ Fig.4b ] are three-dimensional views of a second embodiment of a device for delivering a drop of eye drops according to the invention; [ Fig.5 ] is a three-dimensional view of a variant embodiment of the device for delivering the figure 1 in the form of a single-dose vial; [ Fig.6 ] is a three-dimensional view of a variant embodiment of the device for delivering the figures 4a And 4b ; Fig.7a ] And [ Fig.7b ] And [ Fig.7c ] are partial cross-sectional views of three variant embodiments of the device figures 4a , 4b Or 6 ; Fig.8a ] And [ Fig.8b ] are partial cross-sectional views of a fourth variant embodiment of the delivery device figures 4a And 4b Or 6 ; Fig.9a ] is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a device for delivering an eye drop according to the invention; [ Fig.9b ] And [ Fig.9c ] are detailed cross-sectional views of the head of the delivery device figure 9a ; Fig.10 ] is a partial cross-sectional view of an actual implementation of the device of the figure 7c ; Fig.11 ] is a partial cross-sectional view of a practical implementation of the device of the figure 7a ; And, [ Fig.12 ] is a partial cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the eye drop delivery device according to the invention.

[0009] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference symbols across all figures. DESCRIPTION DETAILLEE D'UN MODE DE REALISATION

[0010] As a preliminary remark, in the entire description we mean by "device for delivering a drop of eye drops" any type of device designed for this purpose: single or multi-dose bottles, heads or caps intended to cooperate with independent bottles, etc.

[0011] On the other hand, the following description of the various elements and characteristics of embodiments of a device for delivering an eye drop according to the invention is carried out with said device in a vertical standing position: that is to say said device in a vertical position, with the delivery head at the top, as illustrated in the figures, and thus allowing the patient to put an eye drop in an eye without tilting their head back.

[0012] With reference to figures 1 à 3 We will describe a first embodiment of a device for delivering a drop of eye drops 1 according to the invention. The device for delivering a drop of eye drops 1 according to the invention comprises, in a vertical position, with a delivery head at the top, a flexible bottle 2, a head support 3, and a delivery head 4. The bottle 2, the head support 3, and the head 4 are a single unit formed from one another. The head support has a thread for engaging with a complementary thread of a protective cap for the head 4. The head 4 has at its apex, as shown in the figures, a dispensing nozzle 40 with an associated delivery surface 41. The delivery surface 41 is positioned adjacent to the delivery nozzle 40 such that the delivery surface 41 extends to the side or laterally with respect to the delivery nozzle 40.On the other hand, the delivery surface 41 extends below the dispensing end 40, as shown in the figures (i.e., the eye drop dispensing device according to the invention being in a vertical position, with a dispensing head at the top). In other words, the dispensing end 40 extends above, or protrudes from, the delivery surface 41. Preferably, the delivery surface 41 is substantially concave and has a dispensing rim 42 (see figures). figures 10 à 12 ), exterior, opposite the distribution end 40. In an alternative embodiment, the delivery surface 41 is attached to the delivery head 4, in particular as a separate part of said delivery head.

[0013] The delivery head 4 comprises a supply conduit 5, the distal end of which is the dispensing tip 40. Conversely, a proximal end of the supply conduit 5 opens into the bottle 2 and is flared. The dispensing tip 40 has an opening 403 delimited by a border 401, 402. This border is generally inclined towards the dispensing surface 41, the border having a diametrically opposed upper edge 401 and lower edge 402. The lower edge 402 is adjacent to the dispensing surface 41. Thus, the opening 403 is inclined towards the dispensing surface 41. Moreover, this gives the dispensing tip 40 an asymmetrical shape with respect to a longitudinal axis of the eye drop dispensing device 1 according to the invention.

[0014] With reference to the figure 5 We will describe an alternative embodiment of the eye drop delivery device 1 according to the invention described above. The eye drop delivery device 1 according to the invention is a multi-dose version, whereas the alternative embodiment of the eye drop delivery device 130 according to the invention of the figure 5 is a single-dose or monodose version of eye drops. Overall, the eye drop delivery device 130 according to the invention is a single unit and comprises, as before, in a vertical position, with a delivery head at the top, a flexible bottle 2 surmounted by a delivery head 134. The delivery head 134 includes, at its apex, a dispensing end 40, which corresponds to the distal end of the delivery channel, and extends above a delivery surface 141 that surrounds said delivery end 40. The delivery channel of the delivery head 134 is, in its proximal part, flared and connects to the bottle 2. The eye drop delivery device 130 according to the invention further comprises a dispensing tab 131, known per se, located under the bottle 2.

[0015] We will now briefly describe one use of the eye drop delivery devices 1 and 130 according to the invention described above. First, the user inverts the eye drop delivery device 1, 130 according to the invention to allow the eye drops to come into contact with the flared shape at the proximal end of the delivery tube 5, this flared shape forming a buffer surface for a predetermined quantity of eye drops. The eye drop delivery device 1, 130 according to the invention is then placed back in an upright position, and a drop of finite and calibrated volume remains attached to the buffer surface at the proximal end of the delivery tube 5.The user then presses on the sides of the flexible bottle 2 until the drop of eye drops is dispensed from the dispensing nozzle 40. The drop then slides down the delivery surface 41, 141 where it remains. This operation is performed with the eye drop dispensing device 1, 131 according to the invention in a vertical position, with the dispensing head 4, 134 at the top. Maintaining this vertical position of the eye drop dispensing device 1, 131 according to the invention, the user, keeping their head upright, brings the device close to the cheek below the eye to be treated, positioning the dispensing edge of the delivery surface 41, 141 against the edge of the lower eyelid of the targeted eye.Once the outer edge of the delivery surface 41,141 is in contact with the edge of the lower eyelid, the eye drop present on the delivery surface 41,141 "slides" into the conjunctival sac of the targeted eye by capillarity: the eye drop is as if sucked by the fluid present in the conjunctival sac.

[0016] Now, with reference to figures 4a And 4b We will describe a second embodiment of a device for delivering a drop of eye drops 100 according to the invention. It should be noted that the figure 4b represents the device for delivering one drop of eye drops 100 according to the invention of the figure 4a with a drop of eye drops present on the delivery surface 41. The device for delivering a drop of eye drops 100 according to the invention has a generally rectangular cross-section and is in the form, here, of a cap intended to be attached to a bottle containing eye drops, which may be flexible or rigid. Thus, the device for delivering a drop of eye drops 100 according to the invention comprises, in a vertical position, with a delivery head at the top, a rectangular head support 103, surmounted by a delivery head 104, itself rectangular in cross-section, smaller than that of the head support 103. At the top of the delivery head 104, the device for delivering a drop of eye drops 100 according to the invention comprises a delivery surface 41 adjacent to a distribution end 40 which extends projecting above said delivery surface 41.As before, the distribution end 40 has an opening inclined towards the delivery surface 41. In addition, the inclined opening has an inclined surface, substantially concave in shape, at the bottom of which the supply conduit 410 opens.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the overall cross-section of the device for delivering one drop of eye drops according to the invention is circular or oval in shape. The oval shape is illustrated in the figure 6 where the device for delivering a drop of eye drops 110 according to the invention comprises a head support 113 and a delivery head 114 of oval cross-section.

[0018] With reference to the figure 7a , we will describe in more detail the device for delivering a drop of eye drops 100 or 110 according to the invention of the preceding figures 4a, 4b and 6. The delivery head 104,114 comprises a supply conduit 410 whose distal end comprises the distribution end 40. On the opposite side, the proximal end of the supply conduit opens into the bottle 2 at the level of a surface 115.

[0019] The dispensing tip 40, here substantially cone-shaped, has an opening 403 delimited by a rim 401, 402, as already described for the first embodiment of the eye drop delivery device 1 according to the invention. Again, this rim is, here, generally inclined towards the delivery surface 41, the rim having a diametrically opposed upper edge 401 and lower edge 402. The lower edge 402 is adjacent to the delivery surface 41. Thus, the opening 403 is inclined towards the delivery surface 41. Moreover, this gives the dispensing tip 40 an asymmetrical shape with respect to a longitudinal axis of the eye drop delivery device 1 according to the invention.

[0020] The proximal end comprises a concave-shaped retention buffer 415, into the bottom of which the supply conduit 410 opens. Here, the retention buffer 415 is frustoconical in shape. Generally, the retention buffer 415 has a suitable concave shape: flared, ovoid portion, prism, etc. This retention buffer 415 is shaped and dimensioned to retain, by surface tension, a predetermined quantity of eye drops corresponding to the drop of eye drops to be dispensed into a patient's eye by the eye drop delivery device 100, 110 according to the invention.On the other hand, a surface coating of the 415 adhesion buffer surface can also be provided for this purpose: the latter can have a surface condition with a certain suitable roughness, be covered with a grid, or with a layer of hydrophilic material compatible with medical use which makes it easier to retain the eye drop in a volume delimited by the 415 adhesion buffer surface.

[0021] In figure 11 , is illustrated an actual implementation of the device for delivering a drop of eye drops according to the invention which has just been described with reference to the figure 7a On this figure 11 , a protective cap C was shown.

[0022] As previously stated, the delivery surface 41 is substantially concave in shape and has an external delivery rim 42 opposite the distribution end 40. The delivery surface 41 may have a flat bottom as illustrated, or be rounded in the shape of a portion of an ovoid or a sphere.

[0023] During use, the patient or user of the eye drop delivery device 100, 110 according to the invention places said eye drop delivery device 100, 110 according to the invention in an upside-down position: with the delivery head 104, 114 at the bottom, the eye drops contained in the bottle 2 cover the surface 115 and the adhesion buffer surface 415 is covered by said eye drops. Then, the user or patient returns the eye drop delivery device 100, 110 according to the invention to an upright position, with the delivery head 104, 114 positioned at the top. In this position, the eye drops fall back to the bottom of the bottle and a predetermined quantity of eye drops is retained by the adhering buffer surface 415. Therefore, a volume of air is in the bottle positioned between the remaining eye drops and the said predetermined quantity of eye drops retained by the adhering buffer surface 415.Next, the user or patient presses on the bottle 2, the pressure that builds up in the bottle 2 then pushes the predetermined quantity of eye drops from the adhering buffer surface 415 into the supply channel 410 towards the distribution end 40 where the eye drop G will then bead and slide onto the delivery surface 41. Keeping the vertical position of the eye drop delivery device 100,110 according to the invention, with the delivery head at the top, the user, keeping their head straight, brings it close to the cheek located under the eye targeted for treatment by positioning the delivery rim 42 of the delivery surface 41 against the edge of the lower eyelid of the targeted eye.Once the outer edge of the delivery surface 41 is in contact with the edge of the lower eyelid, the eye drop G present on the delivery surface 41 "slides" into the conjunctival sac of the targeted eye by capillarity: the eye drop G is as if sucked by the fluid present in the conjunctival sac.

[0024] As an alternative embodiment, it may be provided that the bottle 2 is rigid with a delimited flexible surface so as to easily control an ejection of the eye drop from the adhering buffer surface 415 to its sliding from the distribution end 40, via the supply conduit 410.

[0025] In a first variant of the implementation illustrated at the figure 7b , the supply duct 410 includes a bactericidal or antibacterial filter 411.

[0026] In a second variant of the embodiment illustrated at the figure 7c The supply conduit includes a non-return valve 412. In addition, the head support 103,113 includes an air inlet conduit 116 into the bottle 2. This air inlet conduit 116 is equipped with a non-return valve 413 upstream of which is a bactericidal or antibacterial filter.

[0027] There figure 10 illustrates an effective realization of this second variant of the device for delivering a drop of eye drops according to the invention.

[0028] With reference to the figure 12 We will now describe another embodiment of a device for delivering an eye drop according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the previously described embodiments in that the supply tube 410 is very short. Indeed, the length of this supply tube 410 is approximately equal to the thickness of the delivery head at the dispensing end 40, with the surface 115 and the adhesion buffer surface 415 positioned as close as possible to said dispensing end 40. This results in a delivery head that is optimized in terms of material volume and the number of components used in its manufacture.

[0029] In a third variant illustrated in figures 8a et 8b The eye drop delivery device 100,110 according to the invention comprises, at the level of the head support 103, a drawer 109 sliding perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the eye drop delivery device 100,110 according to the invention between an open delivery position illustrated in figure 8a and a closed position illustrated in figure 8b In an alternative embodiment, the drawer 109 pivots about an axis of rotation parallel to a longitudinal axis of the eye drop dispensing device 100, 110 according to the invention. The drawer 109 comprises the surface 115 and the retention buffer surface 415 equipped with a flange 416. The supply conduit has a symmetrical flange 414. In the open dispensing position, the volume delimited by the retention buffer surface 415 is in fluidic connection with the supply conduit 410 for ejection of an eye drop towards the dispensing surface 41. The 415 attachment buffer surface is cut off from the bottle 2. In the closed position of the drawer 109, the 415 attachment buffer surface is moved so as to be isolated from the supply conduit 410 and to be in fluidic connection with the bottle 2. In this position the flange 414 of the supply conduit blocks the top of the 415 attachment buffer surface and the flange 416 blocks the supply conduit 410.In this closed position, by inverting the eye drop delivery device 100, 110 according to the invention, the volume delimited by the adhesion buffer surface 415 is filled with a predetermined quantity of eye drops. The use is also... mutatis mutandis The same.

[0030] As an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) of all the modes previously described, the supply conduit has a distal portion inclined relative to a longitudinal axis of the device, the distribution end being positioned on the inclined distal portion.

[0031] Now, referring to figures 9a à 9c We will now describe a third embodiment of a device for delivering a drop of eye drops 120 according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment previously described by the presence of means forming a dispensing pump 20, 30. This device for delivering a drop of eye drops 120 according to the invention comprises a bottle 2 including an eye drop reservoir bag directly fluidically connected to the pump means 20, 30 via a flexible supply line 410b.

[0032] At the distribution head 104,114, the device for delivering a drop of eye drops 120 according to the invention includes a distribution wheel 30 for implementing a roller 21. In an alternative embodiment, the wheel 30 can be positioned at the level of the head support 103,113 of the device for delivering a drop of eye drops 120 according to the invention. The roller 21 has an eccentric 22 which compresses a flexible tube 23 extending the supply conduit towards the distribution end 40, which overhangs the delivery surface 41. The roller 21, driven in rotation by the wheel 30, is mounted to rotate freely about its axis in a cylindrical housing of revolution 25. In addition, the roller 21 has a kind of flat 24 upstream of the eccentric 22, the roller 21 rotating clockwise on the figures 9a à 9c The whole system functions like a peristaltic pump.

[0033] The presence of the flat surface 24 allows for precise dosing of the eye drops that the pump will eject through the dispensing end 40 to the delivery surface 41. Indeed, in the closed, non-use position, illustrated in the figure 9c The roller 21 completely crushes the flexible tube 23, isolating the supply conduit 410b from the opening of the distribution end 40. In the operating position, as partly illustrated in the figure 9b , the eccentric 22 pushes the quantity of eye drops defined by the flat 24 along the flexible conduit 23 towards the distribution end 40.

[0034] In use, once the user has generated the eye drop to be administered onto the dispensing surface 41 via the dial 30, the operating procedure is similar to that previously described for embodiments of the eye drop dispensing device according to the invention. Such a structure of an eye drop dispensing device as just described, and illustrated by the figures 1 à 12 This device ensures the delivery of a single drop of eye drops. Existing devices of this type do not offer such precision in delivering a single drop.

[0035] In all embodiments, the delivery surface 41,141 is concave, spoon-shaped, or flat and is delimited opposite the dispensing end 40 by a dispensing rim 42. Generally, the delivery surface 41,141 is shaped to facilitate capillary transfer of the eye drop, which is present on said delivery surface 41,141, into the conjunctival sac of the target eye, while not leaving aqueous residue on the delivery surface 41,141. To this end, the delivery surface 41,141 may be coated or made of a hydrophobic material.

[0036] Of course, it is possible to make many modifications to the invention without going out of its scope.

Claims

1. A device (1; 100; 110; 120; 130) for dispensing an eyedrop, optionally having one or more active principles, comprising a dispensing head (4; 104; 114; 134) having a supply conduit (5; 410; 410b) for the eyedrop solution, the supply conduit having an open delivery end (40), and a dispensing surface (41; 141) in proximity to the delivery end, characterized in that, with the device in a vertical position with the dispensing head upward, the dispensing surface extends on at least one side of and below the delivery end, the delivery end being arranged to generate the eyedrop (G) of eyedrop solution toward the dispensing surface.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the delivery end is asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the delivery end has an opening inclined toward the dispensing surface.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the inclined opening has an inclined surface.

5. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the supply conduit has a distal portion inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the device, the delivery end being positioned on the inclined distal portion.

6. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the supply conduit comprises an attachment buffer surface (415) situated at the proximal end and arranged so as to permit retention of a drop and to calibrate the drop.

7. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the supply conduit has means forming a delivery pump (20; 30).

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the means forming a delivery pump comprises a peristaltic pump.

9. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the supply conduit comprises a non-return valve (412).

10. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the supply conduit comprises an antibacterial and / or bactericidal filter (411).

11. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the dispensing surface comprises a dispensing rim (42) opposite the delivery end.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the dispensing surface has a flat bottom, in the form of an ovoid portion or a portion of a sphere.

13. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the dispensing surface is hydrophobic.