Automated incremental eyedrop delivery system with eyelid retracting legs

Abstract

An eyedrop bottle holder with resilient arms formed from an inverted U-shaped band made from resilient injection molded plastic. The top middle portion of the inverted U-shape band includes a centrally located opening through which the top (dispensing portion) of a standard eyedrop bottle containing eyedrop solution may be positioned and held. The right and left arms of the U-shape band each terminate in an outwardly disposed J-shape foot, the underside of which is covered by a soft rubber-like pad. When a user inserts a standard eyedrop bottle into the holder, the dispensing tip of the eyedrop bottle may be positioned in close proximity to the user's eye. The user may cause his or her eye lid to remain open by using the fingers of one hand to squeeze the right and left arms of the holder together, then placing the pad of one arm on the upper ridge of the orbital eye socket and the pad of the second arm on the lower ridge of the orbital eye socket. Releasing the arms causes the skin of the user's upper and lower eyelids to be spread apart from each other and remain spread during an eyedrop solution dispensing event. The eyedrop bottle is retained within a housing that includes an electromechanical assembly with a rotating cam that pushes on the side of the bottle until a predetermined amount of solution is dispensed. When a set amount of eyedrop solution has been dispensed, the assembly resets itself. An electronic sensor detects the passage of a drop of solution from the bottle and directs a reverse motion to the rotating cam. Tilt sensors assist the user in properly orienting the device for use. An adaptor may be used to accommodate non-standard sized eyedrop bottles.