Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an instrument for the
delivery of eye medîcation. Although it may be used for other
purposes, such an article may be also termed a medication
5 dispenser.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
REFERENCES, U.S. Patent No.:
2,058,515, Schaaf. Comprises an elegantly designed two part
dispenser.
l(:) 2,080,268, Harris. comprises a multi part dispenser
including a tubular stem.
2,585,264, Mock. comprises a two part threaded eye cup.
2,722,216 Robbins. Utilizes a support straddling the bridge
of the nose.
2,767,711, Ernst. Comprises a eye medicament package
providing a sealing action lip to a cup containing a "liquid
medicament".
2,847,010, Knight. Comprises a single use sealed eyewash
container applicator.
~C) 2,898,911 Taylor. A resilient cup capable of being snapped
onto the shoulder of an eye drop bottle, that dispenses the drop
into the corner of the eye.
2,910,069, Brangaitis. Comprises an emergency eye wash
system.
. . .
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2,920,624, Lerner and Safanoff. Comprises an eye drop
dispenser utilizing a ball and socket outlet.
3,058,966 Routsong. Comprises a bridge shaped member resting
on the bony structures of the cheek and the eyebrow.
3,314,426 Carroll. Comprises an eye shield with a
frictionally engageable means of engaging to a spray dispenser.
3,392,725, Behney. Comprises a vetinary device, with the eye
cup connected to the dispenser via a long tube.
3,409,009 Vasse. Comprises a combination of a cup and an
10 adminstereing cup, with alignable passages.
3,598,121 Lelicoff. Comprises a T shaped support for
distancing the dropper and a cradling means for frictionally
gripping the container.
3,602,217, Felton. Comprises a battery operated dispenser,
and a housing.
3,818,909, Bratton. Comprises a sterile cup attached at
right angles to the container.
3,872,866 Lelicoff. Further refinement of 3,598,121, with a
threaded neck and a curved upright and a transverse eye-lid
~O engaging member.
3,888,251, Harrison. Comprises a multiple part dispenser.
3,945,381, Silver. Comprises a threaded dispenser and a
cover.
4,002,168 Petterson. Comprises a pump and dispensing
~5 orifice.
2asl73s
9,085,750. Bosshold. Attaches to neck of bottle, Has posts
which hold the eyelid apart.
4,111,200, Sbarra. Comprised of a two piece dispenser, with
a threaded neck being movably attached to an eyecup.
4,257,417 Gibilisco. Is comprised of a sliding adjustable
nose-bridge rest.
4,531,944 Bechtle. Complicated housing apparatus, and a
vertical alignment indicator for use with an eye dropper.
4,543,096 Keene. Is described as an eyedrop dispenser, with
l-~ a pivoting and sprung collar.
4,605,398 Herrick. Comprised of a support guide that ends in
an eyelid everting member.
4,629,456; Edwards. Utilizes a target ring.
4,685,906 Murphy. Comprises a tilted ring framing the eye
socket, and a second ring to grip the dispenser with a handle
memer.
4,701,167 Chekan. Comprises a inner and outer confinement
means for aerosol delivery.
4,733,802 Sheldon. Comprises a cone shaped structure, with
~O an openong at the base.
4,792,334. Py. comprises a tubular housing, and an eyelid
everting means.
4,834,727; Cope. Again uses an oval ring and posts and holds
the body of the dispenser behind the annular ring.
~5 4,834,728 McKenna. seems to be a threaded dispenser, .
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4,908,024; Uses light deviation apparatus.
4,909,801; Casey, Paul. Egg shaped dispenser, and threaded
attachment.
4,960,407; Cope. Uses posts, holds the body of dropper,
5 harder to package, .
4,973,322; Pivoting arms hold eyelids open, opening is
offset.
5,007,905; Bauer. Has large collar and threaded connection.
5,030,214; Spector. Complicated, used while erect, has a
lC1 fluid exit.
5,037,406; Smith. Threaded cup.
5,059,188; Goddard. Threaded cup, complicated, has a
sighting means.
5,064,420, Clarke and Keen. comprises a threaded eyelid
opener with a pair of wings.
5,133,702; Py. Complicated, uses several casings, expensive.
3. DEFICIENCIES OF THE PRIOR ART.
Most instruments for the alignment and dispensing of
eye medications are complicated and expensive, comprising often
~C~ of two or more parts. Most recently disclosed are U.S. Patent No.
5,030,219; Spector, which is complicated, used while erect, and
has a fluid exit. U.S. Patent No. 5,133,702, Py, is also
complicated, and uses several casings.
Another common design is the use of posts or wings, either
~5 alone or to support a ring like device. It is clear any device
. ) ,
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,
using arms has the potential for jabbing the eye. Any device
using posts to position a periorbital ring also has the potential
for flexion of these posts, changing the delivery position of the
drop. U.S. Patent No. 5,064,420, Clarke and Keen comprises a
5 threaded eyelid opener with a pair of wings. U.S~ Patent No.
3,058,466 uses a bridge shaped member resting on the bony
structures of the cheek and the eyebrow. French Patent 1,025,304
also uses arms to position the device. U.S. Patent No. 4~960,407
uses such posts, a ring like device, and snaps onto the shoulder
of the bottle.
The most common means of attaching said cups to the
medication bottle is through the use of a threaded collar.
4,733,802 Sheldon comprises a cone shaped structure, uses a
threaded collar, and has an opening at the base. U.S. Patent No.
5,007,905, Bauer has large collar and a threaded connection. U.S.
Patent No. 5,037,406 Smith also uses a threaded cup. U.S. Patent
No. 5,059,188 Goddard also uses a threaded cup, is complicated,
and has a sighting means.
Another common means of attaching the dispenser or cup is to
~O the body of the eye drop bottle, notably U.S. Patent No.
2,898,911 which discloses a resilient eye cup capable of being
snapped onto the shoulder of an eye drop bottle. U.S. Patent No.
4,834,727; Cope. uses an oval ring and posts and holds the body
of the dispenser behind the neck. U.S. Patent No. 4,960,407;
-5 Cope again uses posts, and again holds the body of dropper at the
11) :
~ 2~1739
shoulder of the bottle. The greatest problem with the positioning
of the device at the shoulder is that it increases the size of
the device, and is unsecured.
4. SUMMARY OF INVENTION : :
"INSTRUMENT FOR THE EASY POSITIONING OF EYE MEDICATION"
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive
property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows.
According to the invention, an instrument for the
delivery of eye medication into the eye of a client, is comprised
of a cuplike instrument attached to a sgueeze-type medication
bottle or other container. The said instrument ~roperly aligns
the container and the eye of a patient for the easy delivery of ~-
eye medication whenever required. The bottle has a body defining
a volume for eye drop solution, the body having a base, a
shoulder and a neck region. A nozzle defines an orifice for
delivery of solution from the volume. The device supports the
nozzle relative to an eye of the client requiring treatment, and
includes a cup like device that may be supported at the neck or
distally, including the annular ring, of the dispenser bottle,
~C) and is contoured to conform gently to the facial tissue around
the periorbital area of the clients body.
In the preferred embodiment, the primary object is to
provide an inexpensive, disposable or re-useable, lightweight,
economically packaged, simply produced device that may be easily
~5 temporarily or permanently installed that overcomes the
` 2~8~739
shortcomings of the prior art devices. Features and benefits of
this invention include ease and safety of instilling medication
in the orbital area leaving surgically involved areas
undisturbed. The height and position of the medication delivery
r; system is designed to prevent contact with and contamination from
the eye. Avoids wastage of the medication by accurate
instillation. Provides a physically stable support for those
incapable of the normal effective application of these
medications, either old or young, and assists medication delivery
1l:) in the absence of light or sight. Psychologically gives the user
a sense of security and independence.
In another aspect of this invention, the device may be
reversed and removably fixed onto the delivery system for easy
transportation and storage. In replacing the cap to the delivery
device, this fixedly attaches the instrument to the device,
preventing loss of the device or medication contents.
In another aspect of the invention, the object is that it is
to be made of any material of any color, that may be recycled, or
recyclable.
In another aspect of this invention, the said object is to
provide an improved medication applicator that is utilized as a
holder for medication containers so as to direct the medication
into any portion of the eye desired by the patient.
Further obiects of the invention will appear as the
~5 description proceeds. To the accomplishment of the above and
2~17~,9
related objects, this invention maybe embodied in the form
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called
to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only,
and that changes may be made in the specific construction
illustrated and described within the scope of the appended
claims.
r
:L 3
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SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understo~d and objects
other than those set forth in this application will become
apparent when consideration is given to the following preferred
~'j embodiment and detailed description thereof. Such description
makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of the instant
invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the instant
lC1 invention, attached in this instance to an eye dropper vial.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the instant invention on
end.
:~ :L ~
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`
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT.
Referring to the drawings, similar reference characters
denote similar elements throughout several views.
l is the central aperture.
2 is the external rim.
3 is the body of the instrument.
4 is the medication container.
5 is the annular ring on this type of dispenser. ~ -
In Figure l the embodiment of the invention shown~ the
lC~ instrument comprises a single piece of plastic material that may
or may not be transparent, shaped in a undulating and cuplike
manner, but may also be rounded or conical, and adapted to fit
around the periorbital area of the eye (not shown). The opening l
is not shown, but the cup may be seen to widen to a shown rim 2
that may or may not have a beaded lip for extra comfort.
In Figure 2, the device is viewed from the side, with the
single plane of the device clearly secured by the threads of the
dropper, and in this case, the annular ring also. A spacer (not
shown) may be needed between the annular ring and the threads of
~C~ some other delivery systems. The simplicity of the device is ~ ~-
apparent here.
In Figure 3, shows clearly the configured device on end. the
opening l for the medication container is shown to be round, but
may be of an irregular shape, to engage the threads better. The
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rim 2 is shown to be approximately oval shaped, but may be
circular, rectangular, or any other shape.
Although only a single embodiment of the present
invention has been described and illustrated, the present ~
invention is not limited to the features of this embodiment, but :-
includes all variations and modifications within the scope of the
claims.
1~
