Ophthalmic device

Details Ophthalmic device Ophthalmic device

1990-02-15

1992-10-13

Rosenbaum, C. Fred

Surgery

Means for introducing or removing material from body for...

Treating material applied to or removed from external...

A61F 900

Patent

active

051547112

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an opthalmic device. It is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with a device whereby a person can readily treat one of their own eyes with a material with reasonable efficiency. The material can be in virtually any material phase (such as a gas, vapor, liquid or powder).
A variety of methods are known for the treatment of eyes which require varying degrees of skill on the part of the user. A skilled practitioner can align the head of a patient and can use a simple dropper to administer the required number of drops of medication swiftly and on a part of the eye which ensures the most effective distribution to the eye. On many occasions it is necessary for patients to undertake self administration of eye treatment such as with drops or ointment. If the patient is a person wanting in self confidence or lacking manipulative skills attempts at self administration can result in ineffective application, if not total wastage, of medication.
For self administration of a liquid an alternative to an eyedropper is an eyebath whereby a liquid medication is carried to the eye so as to immerse at least a part of the eye. Thereafter the eye is opened and closed to provide for the distribution of medicament over the eye surface. This again requires a degree of manipulative skill and freedom of head action on the part of the user. In addition the method of application is necessarily a rather random affair involving the distribution of a relatively large amount of medication over a relatively large area despite a probable need for the medication to act on a relatively small area.
There is a need for an opthalmic device whose use results in the efficient application of medication to a selected area of the eye particularly for cases involving self administration
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an opthalmic device in the form of a cup having a periphery substantially scaphoid in plan for contacting a facial region in the vicinity of an eye; the cup interior being accessible from the exterior of the device by way of at least a first and a second port: the first port providing an inlet for a dispensing unit for material to be supplied to the eye, the second port providing a target for viewing by an eye about which the periphery is disposed.
According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention there is provided an opthalmic device fabricated from material which is substantially opaque or imperfectly transparent and the second port is an aperture whereby an eye with which the device is being used can see a distinct target area illuminated from outside the device.
According to a second preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or the first preferred version thereof there is provided an opthalmic device incorporating a projection located on the device outside the periphery and adapted to form an initial contact point for the device on a facial region in the vicinity of an eye the projection serving to enhance contact with, and displacement of, a displacable surface in the region on which it is located on movement of the device relative to the eye.
According to a third preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or the first and second preferred versions thereof there is provided an opthalmic device wherein a mounting is provided coupled to the remainder of the device by way of a hinge or other link, the mounting being adapted to locate a nozzle or other dispensing outlet of a dispenser retained in or by the mounting at a datum position relative to the mounting, the link enabling the mounting to be moved between: a first, working, position where the mounting, and a dispenser retained by the mounting, is in a dispensing position relative to the rest of the device; and a second, loading, position where the mounting is accessible to enable a dispenser to be secured to, or released from, the mounting so as to enable the mounting to be moved to the first position; the link further providing tha

REFERENCES:
patent: 1966557 (1934-07-01), Michelson
patent: 2669232 (1954-02-01), Borowick
patent: 3446209 (1969-05-01), Macha
patent: 3910618 (1975-10-01), Massenz
patent: 4531944 (1985-07-01), Bechtle
patent: 4543096 (1985-09-01), Keene
patent: 4733802 (1988-03-01), Sheldon
patent: 4740206 (1988-04-01), Allander

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