IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0314643
(2002-12-09)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Downs Rachlin Martin PLLC
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
9 |
초록
▼
A device (10) for non-gravity presentation of a droplet (16) of a liquid (12). The device includes an applicator (20) for forming the droplet and a squeeze-type bottle (18) that contains the liquid used to form the droplet. The applicator includes an upwardly-facing presentation surface (36) upon wh
A device (10) for non-gravity presentation of a droplet (16) of a liquid (12). The device includes an applicator (20) for forming the droplet and a squeeze-type bottle (18) that contains the liquid used to form the droplet. The applicator includes an upwardly-facing presentation surface (36) upon which the droplet is formed. One or more capillary tubes (38) communicate liquid from inside the bottle to the presentation surface via an uptake tube (40) when a user squeezes the bottle. Each capillary tube has a diameter of no greater than about 0.0787 inch (2 mm). Once the droplet has been formed, the user may tilt the device up to a critical tilt angle αcritical, above which the droplet will fall from the presentation surface. When the device is tilted to a tilt angle α less than or equal to the critical tilt angle, capillary attraction between the droplet and the capillary tube(s) retains the droplet on the presentation surface. The device may be used to deliver a liquid agent to an eye (14) and eliminates the need for the person receiving the agent to tilt his/her head backward. Rather, the person may tilt his/her head forward, and optionally tilt the device to a tilt angle less than or equal to the critical tilt angle, to contact the droplet with the eye.
대표청구항
▼
1. A device for dispensing a droplet of a liquid, comprising:a. a container for containing the liquid; b. an applicator secured to said container and having a presentation surface for presenting the droplet of the liquid, said presentation surface having a tilt angle α relative to a horizontal plane
1. A device for dispensing a droplet of a liquid, comprising:a. a container for containing the liquid; b. an applicator secured to said container and having a presentation surface for presenting the droplet of the liquid, said presentation surface having a tilt angle α relative to a horizontal plane and a critical tilt angle αcritical, such that when said tilt angle is 0°, said presentation surface faces upward; and c. a user-actuated mechanism for conveying the liquid to said presentation surface and forming the droplet on said presentation surface when said tilt angle is any angle from 0° to said critical tilt angle αcritical. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said applicator includes at least one capillary passageway for communicating the liquid to said presentation surface when a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism so as to form the droplet on the presentation surface.3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said applicator includes a plurality of capillary passageways for communicating the liquid to said presentation surface when a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism so as to form the droplet on the presentation surface.4. A device according to claim 2, further comprising a one-way valve in fluid communication with said at least one capillary passageway for inhibiting the droplet from being sucked back into the device.5. A device according to claim 1, wherein the droplet has a predetermined size and the device further comprises a metering apparatus for providing the droplet substantially in the predetermined size.6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said container has a resiliently-deformable sidewall and said metering apparatus includes an internal stop for engaging said resiliently-deformable sidewall when a user squeezes said container.7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said container has a resiliently-deformable sidewall and the device further includes an internal stop contained within said container for engaging said resiliently-deformable sidewall when a user squeezes said container.8. A device according to claim 1, further comprising an uptake tube for communicating the liquid to said at least one capillary tube when a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism.9. A device according to claim 8, wherein said uptake tube includes a central passageway and a one-way valve located within said central passageway for inhibiting the droplet from being sucked back into said reservoir.10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said one-way valve is a duck-bill valve.11. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said container and said applicator has an opening and a one-way valve in fluid communication with said opening for equalizing the pressures inside and outside said container after a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism.12. A device according to claim 11, wherein said one-way valve is a duck-bill valve.13. A device according to claim 11, wherein said container has a resiliently-deformable sidewall and said user-actuated mechanism includes said resiliently-deformable sidewall.14. A device according to claim 1, wherein said container has a resiliently-deformable sidewall and said user-actuated mechanism comprises said resiliently-deformable sidewall.15. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device further comprises a reservoir contained in said container and said reservoir includes a collapsible sidewall.16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said user-actuated mechanism collapses said collapsible sidewall when a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism.17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the droplet has a predetermined size and said presentation surface includes at least one indicia visually indicating the predetermined size.18. A device according to claim 17, wherein said at least one indicia is an annulus formed on said presentation surface.19. An applicator securable to a container for forming a droplet of a liquid and presenting the droplet to a user, the container having an interior containing the liquid, comprising:a. a body having an upper end and being adapted to be secured to the container; b. a presentation surface formed on said upper end on which the droplet is formed when the applicator is in use; and c. at least one capillary tube having a diameter of less than about 2 mm extending through said body for communicating the liquid between the interior of the container and said presentation surface when the applicator is in use. 20. An applicator according to claim 19, wherein said presentation surface is planar.21. An applicator according to claim 19, wherein said presentation surface is concave.22. An applicator according to claim 19, wherein said presentation surface is convex.23. An applicator according to claim 19, wherein a plurality of capillary tubes extend through said body for communicating the liquid between the interior of the container and said presentation surface when the applicator is in use.24. An applicator according to claim 19, wherein said body has a lower end and the applicator further comprises an uptake tube in fluid communication with said at least one capillary tube and engaged with said body at said lower end.25. An applicator according to claim 24, wherein said uptake tube includes a one-way valve for inhibiting the droplet from being sucked from said presentation surface back into the container when the applicator is in use.26. An applicator according to claim 19, wherein the applicator has an exterior with respect to the container when the applicator is secured to the container, said body further including a passageway extending between the exterior and the interior of the container when the applicator is secured to the container for equalizing the pressures inside and outside the container after the droplet has been formed on the presentation surface.27. A system for applying a droplet to an eye, comprising:a. a liquid agent for being applied to an eye; and b. a device for forming a droplet of said liquid agent and presenting said droplet to the eye, comprising: i. a container containing said liquid agent; ii. an applicator secured to said container and having a presentation surface for presenting said droplet of said liquid agent, said presentation surface having a tilt angle α relative to a horizontal plane and a critical tilt angle αcritical, such that when said tilt angle is 0°, said presentation surface faces upward; and iii. a user-actuated mechanism for conveying said liquid agent to said presentation surface and forming said droplet on said presentation surface when said tilt angle is any angle from 0° to said critical tilt angle αcritical. 28. A system according to claim 27, wherein said liquid agent contains a medicament.29. A system according to claim 27, wherein said liquid agent contains a moisturizer.30. A system according to claim 27, wherein said applicator includes at least one capillary passageway for communicating the liquid to said presentation surface when a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism so as to form the droplet on the presentation surface.31. A system according to claim 30, wherein said applicator includes a plurality of capillary passageways for communicating the liquid to said presentation surface when a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism so as to form the droplet on the presentation surface.32. A system according to claim 30, further comprising a one-way valve in fluid communication with said at least one capillary passageway for inhibiting the droplet from being sucked back into the device.33. A system according to claim 27, wherein the droplet has a predetermined size and the device further comprises a metering apparatus for providing the droplet substantially in the predetermined size.34. A system according to claim 33, wherein said container has a resiliently-deformable sidewall and said metering apparatus includes an internal stop for engaging said resiliently-deformable sidewall when a user squeezes said container.35. A system according to claim 27, wherein said container has a resiliently-deformable sidewall and the device further includes an internal stop contained within said container for engaging said resiliently-deformable sidewall when a user squeezes said container.36. A system according to claim 27, further comprising an uptake tube for communicating the liquid to said at least one capillary tube when a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism.37. A system according to claim 36, wherein said uptake tube includes a central passageway and a one-way valve located within said central passageway for inhibiting the droplet from being sucked back into said reservoir.38. A system according to claim 37, wherein said one-way valve is a duck-bill valve.39. A system according to claim 27, wherein at least one of said container and said applicator has an opening and a one-way valve in fluid communication with said opening for equalizing the pressures inside and outside said container after a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism.40. A system according to claim 39, wherein said one-way valve is a duck-bill valve.41. A system according to claim 39, wherein said container has a resiliently-deformable sidewall and said user-actuated mechanism includes said resiliently-deformable sidewall.42. A system according to claim 27, wherein said container has a resiliently-deformable sidewall and said user-actuated mechanism comprises said resiliently-deformable sidewall.43. A system according to claim 27, wherein said device further comprises a reservoir contained in said container and said reservoir includes a collapsible sidewall.44. A system according to claim 43, wherein said user-actuated mechanism collapses said collapsible sidewall when a user actuates said user-actuated mechanism.45. A method of applying a liquid agent to an eye with a device having a presentation surface having a tilt angle α relative to a horizontal plane and a critical tilt angle αcritical, such that when the tilt angle is 0°, the presentation surface faces upward, comprising the steps of:a. forming a droplet of the agent on the presentation surface when said tilt angle is any angle from 0° to said critical tilt angle αcritical; and b. contacting said droplet and the eye with one another when said tilt angle is any angle from 0° to said critical tilt angle αcritical. 46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said eye is contained in a head and the step of contacting said droplet and the eye with one another includes tilting the head forward from an upright position.
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