Bactericidal Dropper Tip for Preservative-Free Ophthalmic Bottles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ophthalmic solution bottles with antimicrobial preservatives can cause eye irritation, and existing solutions for preventing microbial contamination, such as antibacterial filtering membranes, are not effective in preventing contamination after the bottle is opened, limiting the bottle's usage time.

Innovation Solution

A bottle design with a dropper tip made from a material containing bactericidal agents, specifically silver ions, and an antibacterial filtering membrane that allows air to replace expelled liquid, preventing microbial proliferation on the tip's surface and within the bottle, ensuring the liquid remains sterile.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antimicrobial preservative agents are added to the ophthalmic solution, then microbial contamination is prevented, but eye irritation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrobial contamination preventionVSAvoideye irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful antimicrobial preservative agents from the ophthalmic solution while maintaining microbial contamination prevention through alternative means (antibacterial filtering membrane and bactericidal material treatment), thereby eliminating eye irritation caused by these agents

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces an antibacterial filtering membrane and bactericidal material as intermediary protective barriers between the external environment and the ophthalmic solution, preventing microbial contamination without requiring harmful preservatives in the liquid itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an antibacterial filtering membrane is used to prevent contamination, then the liquid content remains protected, but the bottle cannot be used after opening because air enters and causes contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid sterilityVSAvoidusage time after opening

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a copy or replica of the liquid pathway through the dropper tip, treating the tip material itself with bactericidal agents to provide redundant protection against contamination from air that enters during use

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The dropper tip is pre-treated with bactericidal agents before use, establishing protective action in advance against potential contamination from air and external sources that will occur during normal usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the dropper tip is made from material containing bactericidal agents, then bacterial proliferation on the tip surface is prevented, but the complexity of manufacturing increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebacterial proliferation preventionVSAvoiddropper tip manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters of the dropper tip material by incorporating bactericidal agents, transforming a simple plastic component into a functionally enhanced material that provides active protection against bacterial contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design provides enhanced biological safety for the patient by preventing bacterial contamination of the eye and maintaining the sterility of the liquid, allowing for safe use of preservative-free ophthalmic solutions for an extended period without causing eye irritation.

Implementation Method 1

an antibacterial filtering membrane which is interposed in the path of the expelled liquid and of the air entering in compensation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a material containing a bactericidal agent having an effect in antibacterial prevention of a bacterial proliferation on its external surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntibacterial action: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

a receptacle forming a reservoir with an elastic wall which is deformable in a reversible manner when air is let in under pressure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9402765B2Bottle for packaging liquid that is to be dispensed drop by drop, with antibacterial protection

Publication Date: 2016.08.02 LABORATOIRES THEA SAS

AI summary

The present invention relates to a bottle for packaging a liquid to be distributed drop by drop comprising a reservoir the walls of which can be reversibly elastically deformed by letting air into the container, surmounted by a liquid dispensing head comprising a dropper nozzle protruding from the bottle and an anti-bacterial filter membrane, that is partially hydrophilic and partially hydrophobic, interposed across the path of the liquid and the air, at the base of the said nozzle. In the dispensing head, the proposal is to create the nozzle by itself out of a material containing a bactericidal agent that has the effect of preventing any bacterial growth on the surface of the said nozzle on the outside of the antibacterial membrane. A porous core is advantageously positioned inside the duct through which liquid is expelled and air is admitted.