Handling: hand and hoist-line implements – Contact lens applicator
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-02
2004-05-25
Kramer, Dean J. (Department: 3652)
Handling: hand and hoist-line implements
Contact lens applicator
C206S005100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06739636
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ocular treatment apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus for storing and applying contact lenses to a person's eye.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Many patients who require optical correction for visual acuity wear eye-glasses because they either cannot, or do not desire to apply contact lenses to their eyes. Among those who are able to apply contact lenses to their eyes without assistance, it is believed that approximately 25% of these patients have terminated use of contact lenses because of complications arising from a lack of aseptic conditions and/or because of frustrations or difficulties arising from the need to clean and store the contact lenses, and transport with themselves the necessary containers and cleaning solutions to maintain the contact lenses. For example, the containers for holding contact lenses need to be carefully cleaned and are difficult, and in many cases, impossible to adequately clean. In addition, these persons typically require a mirror to apply the contact lenses, and because they have difficulty viewing themselves within the mirror without eyeglasses, they have further difficulty applying the contact lenses to their eyes without assistance.
Many ocular complications relating to contact lenses are due to infections and/or toxic reactions arising from incomplete rinsing of the contact lenses with cleaning solutions or otherwise inadequate cleaning or not maintaining the sterile conditions of the lenses prior to application to the eyes. A certain number of such complications are due to the preservatives contained within the cleaning solutions. For example, it has been widely demonstrated that certain preservatives are aggressive, irritating and/or damaging to the superficial layers of the cornea of the eye.
There are numerous events that must be carried out to properly apply contact lenses to a person's eyes, including: forcing the upper and lower eyelids in a wide-open position so that the contact lens (typically about 14.5 mm in outer diameter) can fit through the opening between the eyelids; adequately cleaning the finger(s) used to handle and apply the contact lens; making sure the contact lens is properly oriented with the correct side (or concave side) facing the eye; making sure the contact lens is in a state of equilibrium on the finger at the time of application; and applying the contact lens onto the cornea of the eye without irritating the cornea or otherwise causing the eye to blink during application. The sensitivity of the cornea is among the highest of the human tissues, and therefore if the eyelids are not maintained in the proper position during application of the contact lens, the maneuver fails.
In view of the above, several attempts have been made to aid a person when applying a contact lens. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,919,696 to Rinaldy shows an instrument for applying a contact lens. The instrument has a cup member
11
with a rim
13
. A bracket
14
supports a lens supporting element
20
which is slidably mounted within the cup member
11
. In use, the lens supporting element
20
is retracted and retains the lens by surface tension. The rim
13
is manually deformed and placed against the eyelids so that upon relaxing the rim
13
, the eyelids are retained open. Subsequently, the lens supporting element
20
is depressed to place the contact lens on the eye and the instrument is removed.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,910,618 to Massenz provides a contact lens applicator having a cup
11
connected to an irrigation bottle
23
by a tube
14
. The tube
14
slides within the cup
11
and communicates fluid into the cup
11
from the irrigation bottle
23
. The end of the tube within the cup
11
has a lens seat
19
for receiving a contact lens. The distal end of the cup
11
is a rim
12
. Both the rim
12
and the cup are made of rubber. In operation, the rim
12
is squeezed to bring the outer edges together. The rim
12
is applied to the eyelid. Upon relief of the compression, the cup
11
, being resilient, resumes shape keeping the eye widely exposed. Then, the tube
14
is moved toward the eye to place a contact lens thereon and the irrigation bottle
23
provides fluid as desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,297 to Quinn illustrates a device for inserting and removing a contact lens
32
. A stand
11
supports the device upright on a flat surface. A storage chamber
15
is in fluid communication with a float chamber
14
. An applicator eyepiece
16
mounts on top of the float chamber
14
and defines an aperture. A rod member
20
extends through the aperture and receives a contact lens on its top. The height of the rod member
20
is determined by the fluid level within the float chamber
14
. Actuation of a flexible portion of the storage chamber
15
varies the fluid level within the float chamber
14
and, thus, the height of the rod member
20
. To apply a contact lens, the fingers of one hand are used to hold the eye open over the eyepiece
16
. The free hand actuates the storage chamber
15
to raise the rod member
20
to place the contact lens on the eye.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,494 to Reinson et al. shows a contact lens applicator
25
which also stores a plurality of contact lens. The container portion
10
includes multiple portions
10
which are identical and interlocking. Each portion
10
contains a single contact lens disposed in a liquid. The lens is supported on a deformable projection made of five legs
20
. The portions
10
have a cover surface
16
and sidewalls with inner threads
13
and outer threads
14
. The inner threads
13
and outer threads
14
of adjacent portions
10
threadably engage such that the adjacent portion
10
defines the cover for the next adjacent portion
10
. A base
12
upon which the contact lens rests completes the portions
10
.
There are problems associated with each of these prior art inventions such as contamination from fingers or the device itself, a significant skill level being required to insert a lens, no self-contained storage means, and no means to engage and retain the eyelids open simultaneously with the insertion of the lens. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a contact lens applicator and cartridge used in connection therewith that overcomes many of these or other problems, drawbacks and/or disadvantages associated with applying and storing contact lenses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a contact lens applicator comprising a housing assembly including a hollow, elongated housing and at least one trigger pivotally mounted on the housing. A first eyelid depressor or like means for depressing an eyelid is movably mounted on one end of the housing, and is drivingly coupled to the trigger for moving the first eyelid depressor upon depressing or otherwise actuating the trigger. Preferably, a second eyelid depressor or like means for depressing another eyelid is movably mounted on the same end of the housing, and is spaced apart from the first eyelid depressor for engaging the facial tissue adjacent to the other eyelid. The second eyelid depressor is drivingly coupled to the trigger for moving the second eyelid depressor upon depressing or otherwise actuating the trigger. In the currently preferred embodiments of the present invention, the eyelid depressors may take the form of rollers rotatably mounted on the housing or cantilevers pivotally mounted on the housing. A pair of wing-shaped members project outwardly from opposite sides of the eyelid depressors relative to each other, and each defines a support surface for contacting the facial tissue surrounding a person's eye to, in turn, facilitate locating the applicator over the eye and applying a contact lens thereto. Preferably, the wing-shaped members define the shape of a typical eyecup for comfortably engaging the facial tissue surrounding the eye. A pusher is slidably mounted within the housing, and is drivingly connected to the trigger for moving the pusher within the housing upon depress
Kramer Dean J.
McCarter & English LLP
Medical Instill Technologies Inc.
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