Tip valve for eye drop dispenser

Abstract

The eye dropper includes a nozzle secured to the reservoir. The nozzle includes a sleeve extending around a center and having a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone with corresponding first, second, and third inflation pressures, the first, second, and third zones separated from the center. The second pressure is less than the first inflation pressure, and the third inflation pressure is less than the second inflation pressure. The third inflation pressure may be less than the first inflation pressure. A notch in the sleeve may receive a ridge on the center. The zones may be positioned over a central groove or may extend completely around a cylindrical or frusto-conical center. Multiple instances of the first, second, and third zones may be distributed along the center. The sleeve may be made of a more flexible material than the center.

Description

[Background technology]

[0001] Many eye conditions are treated by applying liquid droplets ("eye drops") directly to the eye. For example, conjunctivitis is treated by directly applying eye drops containing antibiotics. Dry eye or glaucoma are also treated using eye drops. Eye drop dispensers contain multiple doses and must be used repeatedly over many days. Therefore, it is important to reduce the ingress of contaminants into the dispenser. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to nozzles for eye drop dispensers.

[0003] The nozzle for the eye drop dispenser includes a center configured to be secured to the reservoir at a proximal end of the center and having a distal end opposite the proximal end. A sleeve extends around the center and has a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone, where the first zone is located closer to the proximal end than the second zone and the third zone is located closer to the distal end than the second zone. At least a portion of the first zone has a first inflation pressure that separates at least a portion of the first zone from the center to allow fluid to flow between at least a portion of the first zone and the center. At least a portion of the second zone has a second inflation pressure that separates at least a portion of the second zone from the center to allow fluid to flow between at least a portion of the second zone and the center. At least a portion of the third zone has a third inflation pressure that separates at least a portion of the third zone from the center to allow fluid to flow between at least a portion of the second zone and the center. The second inflation pressure is less than the first inflation pressure, and the third inflation pressure is less than the second inflation pressure.

[0004] The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more embodiments.

[0005] The accompanying drawings depict certain aspects of one or more embodiments and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of an exemplary eye drop dispenser, according to certain embodiments. [Figures 2A-2E] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary nozzle of an eye drop dispenser, according to certain embodiments. [Figures 3A-3D] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an exemplary nozzle, according to certain embodiments. [Figures 4A-4E] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another exemplary nozzle, in accordance with certain embodiments. [Figures 5A-5E] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another exemplary nozzle, in accordance with certain embodiments. [Figures 6A-6D] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating another exemplary nozzle, in accordance with certain embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] For ease of understanding, the same reference numerals have been used, whenever possible, to designate identical elements common to the figures, and it is contemplated that elements and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments without further recitation.

[0008] Aspects of the present disclosure provide a nozzle for an eye dropper that reduces or prevents contamination of fluid in a reservoir that is dispensed through the nozzle.

[0009] 1, an eye drop dispenser 100 includes a reservoir 102 that contains a fluid 104 to be deposited as droplets onto a user's eye. The reservoir 102 may be a flexible squeeze bottle or other container shape such that pressure within the reservoir 102 increases in response to pressure applied to the exterior of the reservoir 102. Other types of reservoirs may also be used, such as those that incorporate a pump or other type of mechanism for extracting fluid from the reservoir 102 in controlled amounts.

[0010] The nozzle 106 is connected to the reservoir 102. The nozzle 106 is in fluid communication with the interior of the reservoir 102. The nozzle 106 is pressure-activated in the sense that the nozzle 106 is sealed, preventing fluid flow into or out of the reservoir 102 unless the pressure within the reservoir exceeds a threshold pressure. As discussed extensively below, in response to pressure exceeding the threshold pressure, the fluid 104 is forced through the nozzle 106. In the following description, "proximal" with respect to the nozzle 106 shall be understood to be relatively closer to the reservoir 102, and "distal" with respect to the nozzle 106 shall be understood to be relatively further from the reservoir 102.

[0011] As described in detail below, the fluid in the reservoir 102 may be pressurized by squeezing the reservoir and forcing the fluid out the nozzle 106. In certain embodiments, when squeezing the end of the reservoir, make-up air may be drawn into the reservoir 102 to replace the fluid dispensed through the nozzle. The make-up air is to be provided without causing the fluid 104 to flow back through the nozzle 106 or contaminating the reservoir 102. In other embodiments, make-up air is not supplied to the reservoir 102.

[0012] 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D, nozzle 106 comprises a center 200 and a sleeve 202 extending around center 200. Center 200 defines a longitudinal direction 204a, which may be defined as being substantially parallel to the longest dimension of center 200 and / or parallel to an axis of symmetry or the intersection of two or more planes of symmetry of center 200. Radial direction 204b may be defined as being perpendicular to and intersecting longitudinal direction 204a. Circumferential direction 204c may be defined as a circular movement or curvature around longitudinal direction 204a.

[0013] The shapes of the center 200 and the sleeve 202 are linked because the resistance pressure of the nozzle 106 is proportional to the relative displacement of the sleeve 202 under tension, which is related to the shape, thickness, material, etc. of the sleeve 202. In certain embodiments, the center 200 may be defined as a cylinder (FIG. 2A), a frusto-conical shape with its small end distal to the reservoir 102 (e.g., a truncated cone, FIG. 2B), or a frusto-conical shape with its small end proximal to the reservoir 102 (e.g., an inverted frusto-cone, FIG. 2C). Cylinders and cones are merely exemplary. Other cross-sectional shapes, such as elliptical, oval, triangular, square, octagonal, or other polygonal shapes, may also be used. A single longitudinal groove 206 (FIG. 2D) or two or more longitudinal grooves 206 (FIG. 2E) may extend along the sides of the center 200 in the longitudinal direction 204a. The sleeve 200 may include one or more ridges 208 extending within one or more grooves 206. The grooves 206 may have a concave, arcuate cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 204a. Other shapes are possible, such as non-arcuate shapes, flat areas on an otherwise rounded center 200, or other shapes. The grooves 206 may become smaller as they approach the distal end of the center 200, as in FIG. 2B, or may become larger as they approach the distal end of the center 200, as in FIG. 2C. As will be apparent, the grooves 206 may occupy less than the entire circumference (360°) of the center 200, e.g., each occupying an angular extent of less than 180 degrees around the longitudinal direction 204a.

[0014] The center 200 may be made of a more rigid material than the sleeve 202, while the sleeve 202 is made of a flexible material that will expand in response to pressure within the reservoir 102. Both the center 200 and the sleeve 202 may be made of a plastic material. For example, the sleeve 202 may be made of a flexible elastomer such as silicone, while the center 200 is made of a rigid polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), or other rigid plastic. In other embodiments, a metallic material such as stainless steel or aluminum is used for one or both of the center 200 and the sleeve 202. The surfaces of the center 200 and / or the sleeve 202 that come into contact with the fluid may be treated to control hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity to help prevent contamination from entering the reservoir 102 through the nozzle 106.

[0015] 3A-3D, the nozzle 106 may be embodied as the illustrated nozzle 106a. Figures 3A-3D show a shape that may be rotated about the longitudinal direction 204a to obtain a circular shape. In embodiments including one or more grooves 206 and corresponding ridges 208, the illustrated shape may only lie within the angular range of each groove 206 in the circumferential direction 204c.

[0016] 4A-6D, the sleeve 202 has three zones A, B, and C along the longitudinal direction 204a. Each zone has what is referred to herein as an "expansion pressure," which is the pressure required to separate the portion of the sleeve 202 in that zone from the center 200 sufficient to allow the fluid 104 to pass through that zone A, B, or C. These expansion pressures are referred to herein as P for zones A, B, and C, respectively. A , P B , and P C In nozzle 106a, and possibly other embodiments of nozzles 106 disclosed herein, P A >P B >P C The different inflation pressures PA , P B , and P C can be achieved by using different thicknesses relative to the center 200 and / or sleeve 202 in the radial direction 204b in different zones A, B, C. The thickness of each zone A, B, C is P A , P B , and P C may be defined as the average inflation pressure within a zone, the minimum inflation pressure within a zone, or the inflation pressure at the center point of each zone. Other techniques for achieving different inflation pressures may also be used, such as adding bands of material around sleeve 202, using different materials or combinations of materials for different zones A, B, C, or other techniques.

[0017] Zone B functions as a "living hinge" about which Zone C can pivot (e.g., expand or contract) without substantially affecting Zone A. As will be described in more detail below, the illustrated geometry facilitates blocking fluid flow through Zone A while fluid still flows out of Zones B and C, thereby eliminating the possibility of fluid backflow into reservoir 102.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3B, as the pressure in reservoir 102 increases, Zone A expands until the pressure reaches at least P A Zone B transfers fluid 104 when it reaches zone B. Zone B collects fluid 104 in chamber 300. Chamber 300 may exist in the absence of fluid 104 in zone B, or may result from the expansion of zone B in response to the pressure of fluid 104. As chamber 300 expands to fill with fluid 104, fluid 104 exerts a force on zone B in radial direction 204b that is at least partially transferred to zone C, thereby increasing the contact pressure exerted on zone C (inward pressure exerted on center 200 by sleeve 202) by P C Reduce to less than 。As shown in FIG. 3C, the pressure in chamber 300 increases and the contact pressure in zone C decreases until zone C separates from center 200 and fluid 104 is allowed to flow out of nozzle 106a.

[0019] While fluid 104 is being dispensed from nozzle 106a, the interior geometry of zones A, B, and C is such that there is a section of accelerated fluid flow that causes high fluid shear at the transition between zones A and B, thereby reducing and substantially preventing any flow back upstream into reservoir 102.

[0020] Referring to Figure 3D, the pressure in Zone A is P A When the pressure in the reservoir drops below P, zone A collapses against center 200, stopping the flow of fluid from reservoir 102 and preventing backflow. When this occurs, zones B and C are still at a momentarily high enough pressure to allow fluid flow after zone A collapses, and the pressures in zones B and C, respectively, drop to P. B and P C Fluid 104 continues to flow from the distal end of nozzle 106a until the pressure in zone C drops below 100° C. The living hinge in zone B can be designed such that when zone C closes, zone B continues to dispense fluid 104 through zone AC at a high velocity and shear flow until the moment of closure of zone C, thereby further preventing backflow into zone A, thereby reducing or substantially eliminating the possibility of contamination of fluid 104 in reservoir 102.

[0021] The collapse of zones B and C can result in a high velocity of the ejected fluid 104, which facilitates droplet separation from the end of the nozzle 106a. If the center 200 has a truncated cone shape that narrows with distance from the reservoir, the reduced size of the tip of the nozzle 106a can further facilitate droplet ejection from the nozzle 106a. In other embodiments, an inverted truncated cone (see FIG. 2C) is used to provide a blunt end facing the user's eye. The sleeve 202 extending around the center 200 increases the diameter of the nozzle tip, thereby reducing the risk associated with having a truncated cone center 200 with a small tip facing the eye during use. The distal end of the center 200 can have a hydrophobic surface (e.g., surface texture, surface coating, or nanotechnology) to further facilitate droplet ejection.

[0022] In certain embodiments, additional features may be introduced between the reservoir 102 and the nozzle 106a. For example, a pressure dependent valve on the center 200 and / or sleeve 202 may be provided to allow the pressure in the reservoir 102 to increase by P A The pressure dependent valve may ensure that fluid does not begin to flow from the reservoir 102 until a threshold pressure is exceeded, such as a pressure above 100. The pressure dependent valve may further ensure high shear flow once flow begins. The pressure dependent valve may be implemented as a barb, a detent, another type of valve, or in accordance with any of the embodiments for a nozzle described herein.

[0023] 4A-4E, the nozzle 106 may be implemented as the illustrated nozzle 106b. Figures 4A-4E show a shape that may be rotated about the longitudinal direction 204a to obtain a circular shape. In embodiments including one or more grooves 206 and one or more corresponding ridges 208, the illustrated shape may only lie within the angular range of the groove 206 in the circumferential direction 204c.

[0024] In nozzle 106b, sleeve 202 defines a notch 400, and center 200 defines a ridge 402 located within notch 400. Various cross-sectional shapes may be used for ridge 402, such as a hemispherical ellipse, a triangle, or other more complex shapes. As shown in FIG. 4A, there may be a fillet 404 that defines a gradual transition from the peak of ridge 402 to the reduced diameter of center 200 at the distal end of nozzle 106b.

[0025] The location of the notch 400 and ridge 402 may be reversed; i.e., the center 200 may define the notch 400, but the sleeve 202 may define the inwardly extending ridge 402. The ridge 402 may be located at the transition between Zone A and Zone B. As will be apparent, there may be a gradual change in the thickness of the sleeve 202 between Zones A, B, and C. The diameter of the center 200 may also vary between Zones A, B, and C. Thus, the ridge 402 and notch 400 may be located along the longitudinal direction 204a at the transition between Zone A and Zone B. Stated differently, Zone B may have a point along the longitudinal direction 102A that has a minimum thickness, measured in the radial direction 204b, between the greater thicknesses of Zones A and C. Additionally, the sleeve 202 may have an equivalent thickness throughout this range, decreasing from Zone A to Zone B to Zone C, or alternatively increasing from Zone A to Zone B.

[0026] The notch 400 and ridge 402 may be located 1-5 mm (millimeters) proximal to the point of minimum thickness.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 4A, when a user increases the pressure in reservoir 102, fluid 104 is forced into Zone A. As shown in FIG. 4B, the pressure in Zone A increases until sleeve 202 separates from center 200 sufficiently to separate notches 400 from ridges 402, and fluid begins to flow into Zone B. The constriction between notches 400 and ridges 402 creates high fluid velocity and shear throughout the duration of fluid flow, reducing and preferably preventing backflow. As shown in FIG. 4C, as fluid 104 continues to flow into Zone B, the pressure in Zone B increases, causing Zone B to rise, thereby reducing the contact pressure in Zone A until Zone A separates from center 200 and fluid flows from nozzle 106b.

[0028] 4D, when the pressure within reservoir 102 drops below the pressure required to separate notch 400 and ridge 402, sleeve 202 collapses, pressing notch 400 and ridge 402 together, impeding and substantially preventing further fluid flow from reservoir 102 and preventing backflow. When this occurs, zones B and C are still at a momentarily high enough pressure to allow fluid flow after zone A collapses, and the pressure in zones B and C drops below P B and P C Fluid 104 continues to flow from the distal end of nozzle 106b until the pressure in the nozzle 106b drops below 400. Nozzle 106b may then return to the state shown in FIG. 4A. In the state shown in FIG. 4A, some or all of Zone B and / or some or all of Zone C nest within fillet 404, evacuating substantially all of the fluid in the portion of nozzle 106b distal to notch 400 and creating a tight interface of sufficient tension to prevent contamination ingress. As mentioned above, in this and all other embodiments, material selection or surface treatments for center 200 and sleeve 202 may be used to control the hydrophilicity or hydrophobicity of the surfaces in contact with the dispensed fluid. This may help prevent contamination ingress by causing fluid displacement in the contact areas between center 200 and sleeve 202, particularly in the areas of notch 400 and ridge 402.

[0029] 4E, there may be multiple instances of nozzle 106b arranged in series along longitudinal direction 204a. Thus, moving from proximal to distal, there may be Zone A, Zone B, Zone C, transition region T, and other instances of Zone A, Zone B, and Zone C, as well as zero or more additional instances. While two instances are shown, there may be any number, such as three, four, or more instances. These instances may be identical to one another (within manufacturing tolerances), or the P of an instance may be different from the P of an instance. A , P B , and P C may be intentionally unequal so that the values ​​of one instance are different from those of another instance. There may be multiple instances of any of the embodiments of nozzle 106 described herein. There may be multiple instances of the same embodiment of nozzle 106, or multiple different embodiments of nozzle 106 may be arranged in series. When multiple instances are used, the instances may open sequentially from proximal to distal and collapse sequentially from proximal to distal as well.

[0030] 5A-5E, the nozzle 106 may be implemented as the illustrated nozzle 106c. Figures 5A-5E show a shape that may be rotated about the longitudinal direction 204a to obtain a circular shape. In embodiments including one or more grooves 206 and one or more corresponding ridges 208, the illustrated shape may only lie within the angular range of the groove 206 in the circumferential direction 204c.

[0031] Nozzle 106c may have features of nozzle 106b, except that the sleeve 202 lacks the notch 400 in the sleeve 202 while retaining the ridge 402 on the center 200. In nozzle 106c, fillet 404 may also be retained or omitted. A vertical surface on the distal side of the ridge 402 may have the advantage of increasing local turbulence. As shown in FIGS. 5A-5E, nozzle 106c may operate similarly to nozzle 106b. Notably, as shown in FIG. 5B, high velocities and shear may still exist between the unnotched ridge 402 and the sleeve 202. Without the fillet 404, some fluid 104 may be trapped between the sleeve 202 and the center 200 distal to the ridge 402 following use, as shown in FIG. 5E. Thus, in such embodiments, a purging step may be performed by the user, in which fluid 104 is expelled from nozzle 106c and discarded before applying drops to the user's eye. In some embodiments, notch 400 is omitted while retaining ridge 402 on either center 200 or sleeve 202, as described above with respect to Figures 4A-4D.

[0032] 6A-6D, the nozzle 106 may be implemented as the illustrated nozzle 106d. Figures 5A-5E show shapes that may be rotated about the longitudinal direction 204a to obtain a circular shape. In embodiments including one or more grooves 206 and one or more corresponding ridges 208, the illustrated shape may only lie within the angular range of the groove 206 in the circumferential direction 204c.

[0033] In nozzle 106d, zone C includes flow acceleration feature 600. The acceleration feature may be implemented as one or more sharp points within zone C that meet center 200. For example, flow acceleration feature 600 may have a tip 602 with a radius of curvature less than 1 mm, less than 0.5 mm, or less than 0.2 mm.

[0034] As shown in Figure 6B, the pressure in Zone A is P A6C, for other embodiments, the living hinge in Zone B raises Zone B above the center 200, reducing the contact pressure of Zone C, including the acceleration feature 600, until the contact pressure in Zone C drops below the pressure in chamber 604 and the fluid exits Zone C. The presence of the flow acceleration feature 600 ensures that the fluid 104 exits the chamber 604 at a high velocity, thereby reducing the risk of backflow into the reservoir 102.

[0035] 6D , as the pressure in reservoir 102 decreases, Zone A collapses first. When this occurs, Zones B and C are still momentarily at a high enough pressure to allow fluid flow after Zone A collapses. When the living hinge in Zone B collapses, chamber 604 empties and fluid 104 continues to flow from the distal end of nozzle 106 until the pressure in Zones B and C drops below P and P. Acceleration feature 600 ensures that this continued flow is at a sufficiently high rate and shear to prevent the ingress of contaminants into nozzle 106d.

[0036] The foregoing description is provided to enable those skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments described herein. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments. Accordingly, the claims are not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims.

Claims

1. A nozzle for an eye dropper, comprising: a center configured to be secured to a reservoir at a proximal end of the center and having a distal end opposite the proximal end; a sleeve extending about the center and having a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone, the first zone being disposed closer to the proximal end than the second zone, and the third zone being disposed closer to the distal end than the second zone; Equipped with at least a portion of the first zone has a first inflation pressure that causes the at least a portion of the first zone to separate from the center such that fluid can flow between the at least a portion of the first zone and the center; at least a portion of the second zone has a second inflation pressure that causes the at least a portion of the second zone to separate from the center such that the fluid can flow between the at least a portion of the second zone and the center; at least a portion of the third zone has a third inflation pressure that causes the at least a portion of the third zone to separate from the center such that the fluid can flow between the at least a portion of the third zone and the center; The nozzle, wherein the second inflation pressure is less than the first inflation pressure.

2. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is made of a more flexible material than the center.

3. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the center is a cylinder.

4. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the center has a frustoconical shape.

5. 2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the center has one or more grooves extending at least partially from the distal end to the proximal end, and the first zone, second zone, and third zone are located only above the one or more grooves.

6. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the third inflation pressure is less than the second inflation pressure.

7. 2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the at least a portion of the first zone has a first thickness extending outward from the center, the at least a portion of the second zone has a second thickness extending outward from the center, and the at least a portion of the third zone has a third thickness, the second thickness being less than the first thickness and the third thickness.

8. The nozzle of claim 7 , wherein the third thickness is less than the first thickness.

9. (a) a ridge is formed on the center, and a groove is formed in the sleeve and positioned to receive the ridge; (b) a ridge is formed on the sleeve, and a groove is formed within the center and positioned to receive the ridge; The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is one of:

10. The nozzle of claim 9 , further comprising a fillet extending distally from the ridge, the third zone configured to seat against the fillet.

11. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the third zone includes an acceleration feature.

12. The nozzle of claim 11 , wherein the acceleration feature includes a peak configured to press against the center, the peak having a tip with a radius of curvature of less than 1 mm (millimeter).

13. A nozzle for an eye dropper, comprising: a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone, the second zone being between the first zone and the second zone, the first zone being configured to receive fluid from a reservoir, and the first zone, the second zone, and the third zone being configured to: (a) in response to pressurization of the fluid from the reservoir; (i) the fluid overcomes a first expansion pressure in the first zone, causing the fluid to flow through the first zone; (ii) the fluid overcomes a second expansion pressure in the second zone, causing the fluid to flow into and expand the second zone to form a chamber; (iii) the fluid overcomes a third expansion pressure in the third zone combined with the expansion of the third zone introduced by the expansion of the second zone, causing the fluid to flow through the third zone; (b) in response to a reduction in pressure of the fluid from the reservoir; (iv) the first zone collapses; (v) following (iv), the fluid continues to flow from the second zone and the third zone, thereby reducing backflow into the reservoir; The nozzle is configured to include a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone.

14. 14. The nozzle of claim 13, wherein the nozzle is configured such that (i) occurs after (ii) and (ii) occurs after (iii).

15. The nozzle of claim 13 , wherein the first inflation pressure is greater than the second inflation pressure.

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