Other

Nigel B Kelly

Ben Z Cohen

The current invention discloses a fluid dispenser especially suitable for ophthalmic treatments and delivering of ophthalmic agents such as eye drops. The fluid dispenser incorporates a tube made from compliant materials as the key dosing component. A first point and a second point on the tube may be acted upon by folding the tube or by external elements, making the segment between the first point and the second point a squeezing section that houses a dosing chamber. The squeezing section may be pressed by an anvil or other structures, pressurizing the fluid contained in the dosing chamber so that once the tube is released on one point, the fluid in the dosing chamber is discharged. With each dosing process, a single dose of the fluid is discharged. In addition, the fluid dispenser is capable of delivering a series of doses of the fluid by repeating the dosing process.

Fluid dispenser

Various pump features are provided. In a first aspect of the subject invention, an evaporation-reduction feature is provided, wherein a pump having an actuator with a nozzle is provided with a releasable cap having a first shield located to entrap a fixed volume of air about the nozzle. In a second aspect, a check valve element return feature is provided wherein a valve seat is located along the pump's internal fluid passage with a plurality of delectable spring arms extending therefrom being deflectable in response to movement of a check valve element away from the valve seat. In a third aspect, a complaint shut-off valve feature is provided. In a fourth aspect, a fluid trapping well is provided, wherein fluid may be trapped within the well portion at various angular orientations of the pump to communicate directly with the pump inlet.

Microdispensing pump

An inlet for a pump is provided herein including a first elongated component and a tubular second elongated component disposed coaxially about the first elongated component so as to define a space therebetween. Advantageously, with the subject invention, an inlet for a pump can be provided which can be modularly formed from components. In this manner, the components can be manufactured, e.g., by molding, and assembled with a pump, thereby avoiding the difficulties associated with the manufacture and assembly of dip tubes.

Inlet for pump

Various pump features are provided. In a first aspect, a pump is provided having an actuator with a nozzle and a releasable cap having a first shield located to entrap a fixed volume of air about the nozzle. In a second aspect, a valve seat is located along a pump's internal fluid passage with deflectable spring arms extending therefrom that are-deflectable in response to movement of a check valve element. In a third aspect, a compliant shut-off valve feature is provided, wherein, a first end of a tubular piston is deflectable in response to interferingly engaging the head of the poppet. In a fourth aspect, a pump includes a pump inlet, and a reservoir having a first portion and a second well portion in open fluid communication. Fluid may be trapped within the well portion at various angular orientations of the pump.

Various pump features are provided. In a first aspect, a pump is provided having an actuator with a nozzle and a releasable cap having a first shield located to entrap a fixed volume of air about the nozzle. In a second aspect, a valve seat is located along a pump's internal fluid passage with deflectable spring arms extending therefrom that are deflectable in response to movement of a check valve element. In a third aspect, a compliant shut-off valve feature is provided, wherein, a first end of a tubular piston is deflectable in response to interferingly engaging the head of the poppet. In a fourth aspect, a pump includes a pump inlet, and a reservoir having a first portion and a second well portion in open fluid communication. Fluid may be trapped within the well portion at various angular orientations of the pump.

To overcome shortcomings of the prior art, the subject invention is provided which includes various dropper bottle designs and dropper bottle assemblies including accessories for dropper bottles. With certain aspects of the subject invention, improvements in the administration of eye drops is provided by adding accessories or modifications to conventional dropper bottles, so that doses and/or single drops may be administered in a repeatable and reliable manner. More specifically, certain embodiments use devices () to restrict the amount the dropper bottle () is deformed in administering a dose; other embodiments rely on mechanical reduction of interior volume (without deformation of the dropper bottle ()) to administer a dose, such as with a displaceable piston (); and, yet, a further embodiment provides a valving arrangement () to limit a dose. Features () are also included which aid in the alignment of the dropper bottle's nozzle to the eye, and a feature () is provided for protecting the user's eye from potential damage which can occur if a pointed nozzle () is brought into contact with the eye during alignment. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein may be used singularly or in various combinations.

Dropper bottle and accessories therefor

With the subject invention, a pump may be formed that generally includes a reservoir formed to accommodate at least one fluid dose, and a fluid-collecting chamber in communication with the reservoir. The fluid-collecting chamber is located such that fluid from the reservoir is fed thereinto, preferably gravitationally. A piston is disposed to reversibly slide within at least a dose-control portion of the fluid-collecting chamber, and the piston is configured such that upon sliding within the dose-control portion, the piston seals or substantially seals the dose-control portion from other portions of the fluid collecting chamber. The piston is configured to displace a volume of fluid from the sealed or substantially sealed dose-control portion which is approximately equal to or greater than the volume of one of the doses of the pump. A nozzle is also provided which is located such that the fluid displaced by the piston from the dose-control portion is generally urged towards the nozzle.

Accurate dosing pump and accessories therefor

A pre-compression pump () dispenses microdoses of fluid (F). The pump minimizes pulsing due to pressure fluctuations. The pump is provided with the following to limit pulsing: a low force slow return velocity return spring (); enlarged fluid passage (); elastic bumper (); and, a rachet tooth () bearing against the stem (). Further, a deflectable diaphragm (), a splined () stem (), no dip tube, and an off-center, gravitational low-point pump inlet () assist in printing the pump. The pump includes a stem () with deflectable fingers () to ensure sufficient momentum in pump operation. Detents () and grooves () selectively lock a nozzle cap () in an inoperative position. To ensure cleanliness, nozzle () cleaning is provided, wiping of the nozzle to remove meniscus (M) therefrom, cuts () formed in a shroud () assist in drawing excess fluid from the nozzle, and an empty volume () for collecting fluid run-off from the nozzle. A handle (H) is mounted to the pump providing a grip.

Several different features are provided for use with a pump, particularly a microdispensing pump. In a first aspect of the subject invention, latch fingers are provided which coact with a stop member to yieldingly inhibit movement of an actuator of the pump to ensure sufficient momentum is provided to the pump for actuation. In a second aspect of the invention, an overcap is provided which defines an at least liquid-tight seal with the pump body at locations spaced from a nozzle of the pump to limit ingress of contaminants into the nozzle. In a third aspect, at least one protruding bead is provided in proximity to at least one edge of a label mounted to the pump body to restrict removal thereof. In a fourth aspect, at least one rib is provided in proximity to a dispensing cap to provide lateral stability thereto.

A pre-compression pump () dispenses microdoses of fluid (F). The pump minimizes pulsing due to pressure fluctuations. The pump is provided with the following to limit pulsing: a low force slow return velocity return spring (); enlarged fluid passage (); elastic bumper (); and, a ratchet tooth () bearing against the stem (). Further, a deflectable diaphragm (), a splined () stem (), no dip tube, and an off-center, gravitational low-point pump inlet () assist in priming the pump. The pump includes a stem () with delfectable fingers () to ensure sufficient momentum in pump operation. Detents () and grooves () selectively lock a nozzle cap () in an inoperative position. To ensure cleanliness, nozzle () cleaning is provided, wiping of the nozzle to remove meniscus (M) therefrom, cuts () formed in a shroud () assist in drawing excess fluid from the nozzle, and an empty volume () for collecting fluid run-off from the nozzle. A handle (H) is mounted to the pump providing a grip.

Accessories are provided for preventing the ingress of air into a dispensing pump (P) and to align a discharge aperture of the dispensing pump with a target, such as an eye (E). A dip tube () is disclosed that is sealed with a sealing plug () to serve as a liquid reservoir for the dispensing pump. A pliant dip tube () is also disclosed to which is mounted an anchor () that causes the dip tube () to be responsive to gravitational orientation of a dispensing pump (P). In a third embodiment of the invention, a liquid reservoir () is formed with a recess () that is covered by a semi-permeable membrane (). The semi-permeable membrane restricts flow in and out of the recess () to maintain a supply of liquid (L) about an end () of a dip tube (). In a fourth embodiment, a safety is provided that comprises a safety ball (), a blind aperture () defined in a nozzle cap (), and a conical depression () defined in the dispensing pump (P). The safety ensures that the dispensing pump (P) is only actuated with the discharge aperture () of the dispensing pump (P) being oriented within a predetermined angular range of operation (&#x3b1;, &#x3b2;). In a fifth embodiment, a dispensing pump (P) includes a pump cylinder () that has one end thereof in close proximity to a base () of a liquid reservoir (). A capillary action is created to cause liquid (L) to be drawn into the inlet opening () of the pump cylinder (). Alignment aids () are also disclosed to allow for proper alignment of a discharge aperture () of a dispensing pump (P) with the eye (E) of a user.

Dispensing pump accessories for preventing the ingress of air and for aiding in alignment

Accesories are provided for preventing the ingress of air into a dispensing pump (P) and to align a discharge aperture of the dispensing pump with a target, such as an eye (E). A dispensing pump (P) includes a pump cylinder ( ) that has one end thereof in close proximity to a base ( ) of a liquid reservoir ( ). A capillary action is created to cause liquid (L) to be drawn into the inlet opening ( ) of the pump cylinder ( ).

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Rye, NY, United States of America

Nigel B Kelly