Eye drop dosage device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an eye drop dispensing device 1, optionally containing one or more active ingredients, the device comprising a dispensing head 4 with an eye drop supply duct 5, the supply duct having an open metering end 40, and a dispensing surface 41 adjacent the dispensing end, the dispensing surface 41 extending below the dispensing end 40 on at least one side thereof, the dispensing end being arranged to supply eye drops to the dispensing surface.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of devices for dispensing eye drops, optionally having one or more active ingredients. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, the majority of devices for dispensing eye drops are designed such that the patient user must tilt their head back and hold the eye drop dispensing device so that the delivery end of the dispensing device is approximately above the patient's target eye. Once the dispensing device is in this position, the patient typically squeezes the body of a vial associated with the dispensing device in order to cause the eye drops to fall into the target eye. This usually leads to unsuccessful dispensing of the aqueous eye drop solution, either too much of the aqueous eye drop solution being applied to the target eye in terms of the prescribed dosage, or the eye drops not reaching the target eye, not to mention the inconvenience of performing the eye drop procedure for the patient, even if the patient calls a third party to perform the procedure. To date, there is no eye drop dispensing device on the market that allows the patient to apply the eye drops to the eye without tilting their head back. Although dispensing aids exist, their designs also require the patient to tilt their head back to apply the drops to the eye when they are used in conjunction with existing eye drop dispensing devices.

[0003] To overcome some of these drawbacks, document US Patent No. 6,869,421 describes an eye drop dispensing device for dispensing eye drops without gravity. For this purpose, the dispensing device of this document has a dispensing surface, at the bottom of which opens a series of capillary tubes for dispensing aqueous eye drop solution from a vial, forming droplets on the dispensing surface and maintaining the droplets in position until a predetermined dispensing inclination angle is reached, starting from the inclination angle at which the droplets deposit or fall on the target eye surface of the patient. Dispensing is performed by tilting the patient's head. However, this operation is also awkward for the patient. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent No. 6,869,421 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to make available an eye-drop dispensing device that does not have the aforementioned drawbacks, and in particular which enables eye drops to be dispensed according to the prescribed dosage without the patient having to tilt their head back and raise their arm above their head. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To this end, the present invention provides a device for dispensing eye drops, optionally having one or more active ingredients, the device comprising a dispensing head having a supply passage for an aqueous eye drop solution, the supply passage having an open outlet end, and a dispensing surface proximal to the outlet end, the dispensing surface extending below the outlet end on at least one side of the outlet end, such that when the device is in a vertical position, the dispensing head is at the top and the outlet end is arranged to produce the eye drops towards the dispensing surface, thereby enabling the patient to apply the eye drops into their eyes without having to tilt their head back.

[0007] Advantageously, but optionally, the device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops has at least one of the following technical features: The delivery end is asymmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis of the device. The delivery end has an opening that slopes toward the dosing surface. · Sloped openings must have sloped surfaces. The supply channel has a distal portion that is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the device, and the delivery end is located in the angled distal portion. The supply channel includes an adsorption buffer surface positioned at a proximal end thereof and adapted to hold the droplets and to measure the droplets. The supply channel has means forming a delivery pump. The means forming the delivery pump comprises a peristaltic pump. The supply line must be equipped with an antibacterial filter. - The supply line must be equipped with a check valve. · The dosing surface shall have a dosing rim opposite the delivery end. The dispensing surface has a flat base in the form of an oval or a portion of a sphere. The dosing surface must be hydrophobic.

[0008] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description of an embodiment of the invention. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops; FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a partial three-dimensional view of the dispensing device of FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the dispensing device of FIG. 1; [Figure 4a] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops. [Figure 4b] FIG. 2 shows a three-dimensional view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of the dispensing device of FIG. 1 in the form of a single-dose vial. [Figure 6] FIG. 4C is a three-dimensional view of an alternative embodiment of the dispensing device of FIGS. 4a and 4b. [Figure 7a] 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of one of three alternative embodiments of the device of FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b or FIG. 6. [Figure 7b] 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of one of three alternative embodiments of the device of FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b or FIG. 6. [Figure 7c] 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of one of three alternative embodiments of the device of FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b or FIG. 6. [Figure 8a] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the dispensing device of FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b or FIG. 6. [Figure 8b] FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of a fourth alternative embodiment of the dispensing device of FIG. 4a, FIG. 4b or FIG. 6. [Figure 9a] FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops. [Figure 9b] FIG. 9b is a detailed cross-sectional view of the head of the dispensing device of FIG. 9a. [Figure 9c] FIG. 9b is a detailed cross-sectional view of the head of the dispensing device of FIG. 9a. [Figure 10] FIG. 7c is a partial cross-sectional view of a practical embodiment of the device of FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 7b is a partial cross-sectional view of a practical embodiment of the device of FIG. 7a. [Figure 12] 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of a device for dispensing eye drops according to the invention; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] For greater clarity, identical or similar elements will be identified by the same reference symbols in all the drawings.

[0011] It is noted at the outset that throughout the description, "device for dispensing eye drops" is understood to mean any type of device designed for this purpose, such as single-dose or multi-dose vials, heads or caps intended to cooperate with independent vials, etc.

[0012] Furthermore, the following description of the various elements and features of an embodiment of a device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops will be given with said device in a vertical upright position, i.e. as shown in the drawings, in a vertical position with the dispensing head facing upwards, thus allowing the patient to apply eye drops into the eye without tilting their head backwards.

[0013] With reference to figures 1 to 3, a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops is described. Here, the device 1 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops comprises a flexible vial 2, a head support 3 and a dispensing head 4 in a vertical position with the dispensing head at the top. The vial 2, the head support 3 and the head 4 are made integrally as a single part. Here, the head support has a thread that can cooperate with a complementary thread of a protective cap for the head 4. The head 4 has, at its upper part, an open delivery end 40 associated with a dosing surface 41 when according to the drawing. The dosing surface 41 is located adjacent to the delivery end 40 such that the dosing surface 41 extends laterally or transversely to the delivery end 40. On the other hand, the dosing surface 41 extends below the delivery end 40 with respect to the drawing (i.e. with the device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops in a vertical position and with the dosing head at the top). In other words, the dispensing end 40 extends above or protrudes from the dispensing surface 41. Preferably, the dispensing surface 41 is generally concave and has an outer dispensing rim 42 (see Figures 10 to 12) opposite the dispensing end 40. In an alternative embodiment, the dispensing surface 41 is attached to the dispensing head 4, in particular as a separate part from said dispensing head.

[0014] The dosing head 4 comprises a supply channel 5, the distal end of which is a delivery end 40. On the opposite side, the proximal end of the supply channel 5 opens into the vial 2 and has an outwardly flared shape. The dosing end 40 has an opening 403 bounded by border edges 401, 402, which are generally inclined towards the dosing surface 41, and which have a top edge 401 and a diametrically opposite bottom edge 402. The bottom edge 402 adjoins the dosing surface 41. The opening 403 is therefore inclined towards the dosing surface 41. In addition, this gives the delivery end 40 an asymmetric shape relative to the longitudinal axis of the device 1 according to the invention for dosing eye drops.

[0015] Now, with reference to Fig. 5, an alternative embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops described above is described. Whereas the device 1 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops is a multi-dose version, an alternative embodiment of the device 130 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops illustrated in Fig. 5 is a single-dose version. Overall, the device 130 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops is integral and comprises, as before, a flexible vial 2 surmounted by a dispensing head 134 in a vertical position, with the dispensing head at the top. The dispensing head 134 comprises at its upper part a delivery end 40, which corresponds to the distal end of the supply channel and extends above a dispensing surface 141 surrounding said delivery end 40. The supply channel of the dispensing head 134 has an outwardly flared shape at its proximal part and forms a junction with the vial 2. The device 130 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops further comprises a handling tab 131, known per se, positioned below the vial 2.

[0016] The use of the device 1, 130 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops as described above will now be briefly described. In a first step, the user turns the device 1, 130 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops upside down in order to bring the aqueous eye drop solution into contact with the flared shape of the proximal end of the supply channel 5. This flared shape forms an adsorption buffer surface for the predetermined amount of aqueous eye drop solution. The device 1, 130 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops is then placed again in a vertical position, and a drop of a finite calibrated volume remains adsorbed on the adsorption buffer surface of the proximal end of the supply channel 5. The user then presses on the wall of the flexible vial 2 until the eye drops appear as a drop at the delivery end 40, which then slides over the dosing surface 41, 141 on which they were left. This operation is performed with the device 1, 130 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops in a vertical position and with the dosing head 4, 134 at the top. While maintaining this vertical position of the device 1, 130 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops, the user keeps their / her head straight and brings the device to the cheek below the target eye to be treated, positioning the dispensing rim of the dispensing surface 41, 141 on the edge of the lower eyelid of the target eye. When the outer rim of the dispensing surface 41, 141 contacts the edge of the lower eyelid, the eye drops present on the dispensing surface 41, 141 "slide" by capillary action into the conjunctival fornix of the target eye. The eye drops are, so to speak, sucked up by the fluid in the conjunctival fornix.

[0017] A second embodiment of the device 100 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops will now be described with reference to figures 4a and 4b. It should be noted that figure 4b illustrates the device 100 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops from figure 4 with the eye drops lying on the dispensing surface 41. The device 100 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops is of generally rectangular cross section, here in the form of a plug intended to be fixed to a vial containing an aqueous eye drop solution, which may be flexible or rigid. Thus, in a vertical position, with a dosing head at the top, the device 100 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops comprises a head support 103 of rectangular cross section, on which rests a dosing head 104, itself of rectangular cross section smaller than the head support 103. The device 100 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops comprises, at the top of the dispensing head 104, a dispensing surface 41 adjacent to a delivery end 40 which extends above said dispensing surface 41. As before, the delivery end 40 has an opening which is inclined towards the dispensing surface 41. In addition, the inclined opening comprises a generally concave inclined surface at the bottom of which a supply channel 410 opens.

[0018] In a variant embodiment, the overall cross section of the device 100 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops is circular or oval. This oval shape is shown in Figure 6, where a device 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops comprises a head support 113 and a dispensing head 114 with an oval cross section.

[0019] With reference to Figure 7a, the device 100 or 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops from the above Figures 4a, 4b and 6 is explained in more detail. The dispensing head 104, 114 comprises a supply channel 410, the distal end of which has a delivery end 40. On the opposite side, the proximal end of the supply channel opens into the vial 2 at face 115.

[0020] The delivery end 40, which in this case is substantially cone-shaped, comprises an opening 403 bounded by border edges 401, 402, as already explained for the first embodiment of the device 1 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops. Here too, this border edge is generally inclined towards the dispensing surface 41, the border edge having a top edge 401 and a diametrically opposite bottom edge 402. The bottom edge 402 adjoins the dispensing surface 41. The opening 403 is therefore inclined towards the dispensing surface 41. In addition, this gives the delivery end 40 an asymmetric shape with respect to the longitudinal axis of the device 1 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops.

[0021] For this part, the proximal end has a concave adsorption buffer surface 415, at the bottom of which the supply channel 410 opens. Here, the adsorption buffer surface 415 is frustoconical. In general, the adsorption buffer surface 415 has a suitable concave shape, such as flared, ovoid, prismatic, etc. This adsorption buffer surface 415 has a shape and dimensions such that it retains by surface tension a predetermined amount of aqueous eye drop solution corresponding to the eye drop to be delivered into the patient's eye by the device 100, 110 for dispensing eye drops according to the invention. Meanwhile, a surface covering of the adsorption buffer surface 415 may also be provided for this purpose. The surface covering may have a surface condition with a specific suitable roughness, may be covered by a grid or otherwise be covered by a layer of a hydrophilic material compatible with medical applications that facilitates the retention of the eye drop in the volume bounded by the adsorption buffer surface 415.

[0022] Figure 11 shows a practical embodiment of the device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops just described with reference to figure 7a. In figure 11 the protective cap C is shown.

[0023] As shown above, the dispensing surface 41 is generally concave and has an outer dispensing rim 42 opposite the delivery end 40. The dispensing surface 41 may have a flat bottom as shown, or is otherwise rounded in the form of an oval or a portion of a sphere.

[0024] During use, a patient or person using the device 100, 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops places the device 100, 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops in a head-to-tail joint position, then places the dispensing head 104, 114 at the bottom, so that the aqueous solution of eye drops contained in the vial 2 covers the surface 115 and the adsorption buffer surface 415 is covered by said aqueous solution of eye drops. The user or patient then returns the device 100, 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops to a vertical position with the dispensing head 104, 114 at the top. In this position, the aqueous solution of eye drops falls back to the bottom of the vial and a predetermined amount of the aqueous solution of eye drops is held by the adsorption buffer surface 415. A volume of air is thus located in the vial between the remaining aqueous solution of eye drops and said predetermined amount of the aqueous solution of eye drops held by the adsorption buffer surface 415. The user or patient then squeezes the vial 2. The pressure created in the vial 2 then pushes the amount of aqueous eye drop solution from the suction buffer surface 415 into the supply channel 410 and towards the delivery end 40, where the eye drop G then appears as droplets and slides over the dosing surface 41. While maintaining the vertical position of the device 100, 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops with the dosing head at the top, the user, keeping their / her head upright, brings the device to the cheek below the target eye to be treated and positions the dosing rim 42 of the dosing surface 41 at the edge of the lower eyelid of the target eye. When the outer rim of the dosing surface 41 contacts the edge of the lower eyelid, the eye drop G present on the dosing surface 41 "slides" into the conjunctival fornix of the target eye by capillary action. The eye drop G is, so to speak, sucked up by the fluid in the conjunctival fornix.

[0025] In an alternative embodiment, a rigid vial 2 may be provided having segmented flexible surfaces to facilitate controlled release of the eye drops from the adsorbent buffer surface 415 via the feed channel 410 until the eye drops slide out of the delivery end 40.

[0026] In a first alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 7 b , the supply line 410 is provided with a germicidal or antibacterial filter 411 .

[0027] In a second alternative embodiment shown in Figure 7c, the supply line comprises a check valve 412. In addition, the head support 103, 113 comprises a conduit 116 for air intake into the vial 2. This air intake conduit 116 comprises a check valve 413, upstream of which a bactericidal or antibacterial filter is positioned.

[0028] FIG. 10 shows a practical implementation of this second alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops.

[0029] With reference to figure 12, another alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention for dispensing eye drops is described. This alternative differs from the embodiment described above in that the supply tube 410 is very short. In fact, the length of this supply tube 410 is of the order of the thickness of the dispensing head at the delivery end 40, the surface 115 and the suction buffer surface 415 being located as close as possible to said delivery end 40. This makes it possible to obtain a dispensing head that is optimized in terms of the volume of material used for its manufacture and the number of components.

[0030] In a third variant shown in Figures 8a and 8b, the device 100, 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops comprises, at the level of the head support 103, a drawer 109 which slides perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device 100, 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops between an open dispensing position shown in Figure 8a and a closed position shown in Figure 8b. In an alternative embodiment, the drawer 109 pivots about an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the device 100, 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops. The drawer 109 comprises a face 115 and an adsorption buffer face 415 with a flange 416. The supply channel comprises a symmetrical flange 414. In the open dispensing position, the volume bounded by the adsorption buffer face 415 is fluidly connected with the supply channel 410 for the discharge of eye drops towards the dispensing face 41. The adsorption buffer face 415 is disconnected from the vial 2. In the closed position of the drawer 109, the adsorption buffer surface 415 is displaced so as to be isolated from the supply channel 410 and fluidly connected with the vial 2. In this position, the flange 414 of the supply channel closes the upper part of the adsorption buffer surface 415 and the flange 416 closes the supply channel 410. In this closed position, by turning the device 100, 110 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops upside down, the volume bounded by the adsorption buffer surface 415 is filled with a predetermined amount of aqueous eye drop solution. The method of use is the same, mutating appropriate details.

[0031] In an alternative embodiment (not shown) to all of the previously described embodiments, the supply channel comprises a distal portion that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the device, and the dispensing end is located in the inclined distal portion.

[0032] 9a to 9c, a third embodiment of a device 120 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops is now described. This embodiment differs from the second embodiment described above by the presence of means forming a delivery pump 20, 30. This device 120 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops comprises a vial 2 with a reservoir bag of an aqueous eye drop solution directly fluidly connected to the pump forming means 20, 30 via a flexible supply channel 410b.

[0033] The device 120 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops comprises, at the level of the dispensing head 104, 114, a delivery wheel 30 which allows the use of a roller 21. In a variant embodiment, the wheel 30 can be located on the head support 103, 113 of the device 120 according to the invention for dispensing eye drops. The roller 21 comprises an eccentric 22 which collapses a flexible tube 23 which extends a supply channel towards a delivery end 40 which overhangs the dispensing surface 41. The roller 21 is driven in rotation by the wheel 30 and is mounted so as to be rotatable about its axis in a circular cylindrical housing 25. In addition, the roller 21 comprises a kind of flat edge 24 upstream of the eccentric 22, the roller 21 rotating in a clockwise direction in Figs. 9a to 9c. This assembly works like a peristaltic pump.

[0034] The presence of the flat edge 24 enables the pump to dispense an amount of aqueous ophthalmic solution that is expelled through the delivery end 40 towards the dosing surface 41. In effect, in the closed, unused position shown in Fig. 9c, the roller 21 completely collapses the flexible tube 23, isolating the supply channel 410b from the opening of the delivery end 40. In the operative position, as partially shown in Fig. 9b, the eccentric 22 pushes an amount of aqueous ophthalmic solution determined by the flat edge 24 along the flexible conduit 23 towards the delivery end 40.

[0035] In use, when the user generates the eye drops to be applied to the dosing surface 41 via the wheel 30, the procedure is similar to that already described above for the embodiment of the device according to the invention for dosing eye drops. Such a structure of the eye drop dosing implement described above and shown in figures 1 to 12 makes it possible to dispense and dispense single doses of eye drops. Existing devices of this type do not provide such safety when dispensing single doses of dispensed drops.

[0036] In all of the embodiments, the dispensing surface 41, 141 is concave like a spoon or flat and is bounded by a dispensing rim 42 opposite the delivery end 40. In general, the dispensing surface 41, 141 has a shape that facilitates capillary transport of eye drops present on said dispensing surface 41, 141 into the conjunctival fornix of the target eye while not leaving an aqueous residue on the dispensing surface 41, 141. To achieve this purpose, the dispensing surface 41, 141 may be covered with or made of a hydrophobic material.

[0037] Of course, many modifications can be made to the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. 1. A device (1; 100; 110; 120; 130) for dispensing eye drops, optionally having one or more active ingredients, comprising a dosing head (4; 104; 114; 134) having a supply channel (5; 410; 410b) for an aqueous eye drop solution, said supply channel having an open outlet end (40), and a dosing surface (41; 141) proximal to said outlet end, characterized in that when the device is in a vertical position with the dosing head facing upwards, the dosing surface extends below the outlet end on at least one side of the outlet end, and the outlet end is arranged to produce the eye drops (G) towards the dosing surface.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the delivery end is asymmetrical relative to a longitudinal axis of the device.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the delivery end has an opening that is angled toward the dispensing surface.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the angled opening has an angled surface.

5. The device of claim 2 , wherein the supply passage has a distal portion that is angled relative to a longitudinal axis of the device, and the delivery end is located in the angled distal portion.

6. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the supply channel comprises an adsorption buffer surface (415) positioned at a proximal end thereof and arranged to hold a droplet and to measure the droplet.

7. 7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply channel comprises means forming a delivery pump (20; 30).

8. 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the means forming a delivery pump comprise a peristaltic pump.

9. 9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply line comprises a check valve (412).

10. 10. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply channel is provided with an antibacterial and / or bactericidal filter (411).

11. 11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the dosing surface comprises a dosing rim (42) opposite the delivery end.

12. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the dispensing surface has a flat bottom in the form of an oval or a portion of a sphere.

13. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the dosing surface is hydrophobic.

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