Blink-Detection Liquid Dispensing for Eye Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for dispensing liquids or mists into the eye often require users to hold their eyelids open, leading to discomfort, contamination, and inconsistent application, as they struggle to beat the blink reflex and maintain precise targeting without damaging makeup or contaminating the device.
Innovation Solution
A device that automatically detects a blink and dispenses the liquid during the brief window after the blink, using sensors to determine the eye's open and closed states, allowing for alignment without facial contact and ensuring the liquid enters the eye without touching the eyelid or surrounding areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices force lids open by touching the cheek and eyebrow to spray fluid into the eye, then the fluid can be dispensed into the eye, but the unit becomes large and unwieldy, makeup is smudged, and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical forcing mechanisms (touching cheek and eyebrow to hold lids open) with an optical detection system (infrared sensor) that detects eye closure and triggers automated dispensing. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical lid-holding structures, reducing device size and complexity while maintaining reliable fluid delivery to the eye.
2Productivity
If devices shoot fluid at high speed to beat the blink reflex, then the fluid enters the eye quickly, but the speed and impact induce discomfort in the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of eye closure using an infrared sensor before dispensing. By detecting when the eye is closed and waiting for the appropriate moment in the blink cycle, the system can dispense fluid at a moderate speed that is comfortable for the patient, rather than requiring high-speed injection to beat the blink reflex.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from the infrared sensor that continuously monitors eye state. This feedback allows the control system to timing the dispensing action to occur during the brief window when the eye is open after blinking, enabling comfortable-speed dispensing that synchronizes with the natural blink cycle rather than fighting against it.
3Ease of operation
If users hold eyelids open to fight the blink reflex, then liquid can be applied to the eye, but the experience is uncomfortable and application is inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the patient's own blink reflex as the triggering mechanism. The infrared sensor detects when the patient blinks, and the system automatically dispenses fluid during the subsequent open-eye period. This eliminates the need for the patient to consciously hold lids open, making the procedure comfortable and consistent without requiring user effort or coordination.
4Reliability
If devices touch the face to force lids open, then fluid can be dispensed into the eye, but makeup is damaged and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact methods (touching face to hold lids open) with non-contact optical detection (infrared sensor) and automated timing. The fluid is dispensed without any physical contact with the face, eliminating makeup damage and contamination risks while maintaining reliable fluid delivery to the eye through precise timing with the blink cycle.
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 solution provides a consistent, comfortable, and clean delivery of liquids or mists into the eye, minimizing user effort and preventing contamination, while maintaining the inertial impact at a comfortable level by timing the dispensing with the blink cycle.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor automatically senses a blink and determines when a blink has been completed by detecting changes in the eye's state
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention describes a device for dispensing liquids or mists into the eye, and, more specifically, in some embodiments, a device that dispenses a spray or mist into the eye based upon detection of a blink.