An ophthalmic dispenser has a rigid housing defining a fluid-receiving chamber, a flexible bladder receivable within the fluid-receiving chamber, a pump coupled in fluid communication with the fluid-receiving chamber, and a nozzle having a valve defining an annular, axially-extending valve seat, an
An ophthalmic dispenser has a rigid housing defining a fluid-receiving chamber, a flexible bladder receivable within the fluid-receiving chamber, a pump coupled in fluid communication with the fluid-receiving chamber, and a nozzle having a valve defining an annular, axially-extending valve seat, an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication between the valve seat and the pump, and a flexible valve cover extending about the valve seat and forming an annular, axially-extending interface therebetween. The valve interface is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture, and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) an open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to pumped fluid flowing through the outlet aperture at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of pressurized fluid therebetween. A spring is drivingly connected to the housing and moves at least one of the pump and housing relative to the other to actuate the pump. The rigid housing is mountable within a cartridge which, in turn, is mountable within a dispenser housing including an eyelid depressor and a trigger for simultaneously actuating the eyelid depressor and pump.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. An ophthalmic dispenser comprising: a housing; a trigger coupled to the housing; a self contained cartridge disposable within the housing and comprising: a body defining a fluid reservoir; a pump coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir and defining a compression cha
What is claimed is: 1. An ophthalmic dispenser comprising: a housing; a trigger coupled to the housing; a self contained cartridge disposable within the housing and comprising: a body defining a fluid reservoir; a pump coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir and defining a compression chamber, the pump being movable between (i) a first actuated position, and (ii) a rest position; a nozzle comprising a valve including an annular, axially-extending valve seat, an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication between the valve seat and the compression chamber, and a flexible valve cover extending about the valve seat and forming an annular, axially-extending interface therebetween, wherein the interface is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture, and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) an open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to fluid flowing through the outlet aperture at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of pressurized fluid therebetween; and an actuator coupled to the cartridge and drivingly connected between the trigger and the pump, the actuator having a spring formed integrally therewith, wherein in a first phase of actuation, the trigger is manually engaged to cause the actuator to actuate the pump from the rest position to the first actuated position, and in a second phase of actuation, the trigger is released to cause the pump to return to the rest position, whereby during actuation, the pump pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber and, in turn, dispenses a metered dosage of fluid through the valve and into a user's eye. 2. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the pump includes a slide defining an axially-elongated passageway and a piston slidably received within the axially-elongated passageway, wherein the slide defines within the axially-elongated passageway a compression zone, a first portion formed between the compression zone and the reservoir, and a second portion located on an opposite side of the compression zone relative to the first portion, wherein the first portion is defined by a first radius and the compression zone is defined by a second radius that is less than the first radius, and at least one of the piston and slide is movable relative to the other between (i) the first actuated position with the tip of the piston received within the first portion of the slide, and the compression zone coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir for receiving fluid therefrom, and (ii) the rest position with a tip of the piston received within the second portion of the slide, and the spring is drivingly connected to at least one of the piston and slide for moving at least one of the piston and slide relative to the other. 3. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the pump defines an elongated axis, and the actuator defines a path of movement transverse to the elongated axis of the pump. 4. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein the actuator includes a lever arm drivingly connected between the trigger and at least one of the piston and slide for moving at least one of the piston and slide from the rest position to the first actuated position in response to movement of the trigger. 5. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 4, wherein the spring is formed integral with the lever arm. 6. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 5, wherein the spring is defined by a curvilinear end portion of the lever arm that engages the body for moving the body and, in turn, at least one of the piston and slide from the first actuated position to the rest position. 7. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein one of the piston tip and the compression zone of the slide is softer than the other, and the piston tip and compression zone form an interference fit to thereby form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. 8. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 1, wherein the volume of the compression chamber is approximately equal to the volume of the metered dosage of fluid dispensed through the valve. 9. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein in the rest position the piston tip is located in the second portion of the slide and the outlet aperture is coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir to reduce the pressure between the outlet aperture and the compression zone and allow closure of the valve. 10. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 2, wherein at least one of the piston and the slide is movable relative to the other between (i) the rest position with the piston tip located in the second portion of the slide; (ii) the first actuated position with the piston tip located in the first portion of the slide and the compression zone coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir for receiving fluid therefrom; (iii) a second actuated position with the piston tip located in the compression zone, a fluid tight seal formed between the piston tip and compression zone to pressurize the fluid in the compression zone to a pressure greater than the valve opening pressure and, in turn, cause the pressurized fluid to open the valve and dispense through the valve; and (iv) the rest position with the piston tip located in the second portion of the slide and the outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir to reduce the pressure between the outlet aperture and the compression zone and allow closure of the valve. 11. An ophthalmic dispenser comprising: a body defining a fluid reservoir; a pump coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir and including a slide defining an axially-elongated passageway and a piston slidably received within the axially-elongated passageway, wherein the slide defines within the axially-elongated passageway a compression zone, a first portion formed between the compression zone and the reservoir, and a second portion located on an opposite side of the compression zone relative to the first portion, wherein the first portion is defined by a first radius and the compression zone is defined by a second radius that is less than the first radius, and at least one of the piston and slide is movable relative to the other between (i) a first actuated position with the tip of the piston received within the first portion of the slide, and the compression zone coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir for receiving fluid therefrom, and (ii) a rest position with a tip of the piston received within the second portion of the slide; a nozzle comprising a valve including an annular, axially-extending valve seat, an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication between the valve seat and the compression zone, and a flexible valve cover extending about the valve seat and forming an annular, axially-extending interface therebetween, wherein the interface is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture, and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) an open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to fluid flowing through the outlet aperture at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of pressurized fluid therebetween, wherein the nozzle defines a stop surface that contacts the piston tip in the rest position, and the surfaces of the piston tip and stop surface cooperate to define substantially zero volume within the second portion of the slide when the piston tip is in the rest position; and a manually engageable actuator drivingly connected to at least one of the piston and slide, wherein the actuator is manually engageable to drive at least one of the piston and the slide from the first actuated position to the rest position to pressurize fluid in the compression zone and, in turn, dispense a metered dosage of fluid through the valve and into a user's eye. 12. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 11, wherein the stop surface defines a first morphology, and the piston tip defines a second morphology substantially conforming to the first morphology. 13. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 12, wherein the nozzle defines a single, angularly extending outlet aperture. 14. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 13, further comprising an eyelid depressor for engaging the facial tissue adjacent to an eye and lowering the eyelid to expose the ocular cul-de-sac upon delivering a metered dosage thereto, and wherein the outlet aperture of the nozzle is aligned with the eyelid depressor for delivering the metered dosage to the exposed ocular cul-de-sac. 15. An ophthalmic dispenser for dispensing a fluid, the dispenser comprising: a housing; a trigger coupled to the housing; an eyelid depressor operatively coupled to the trigger and engageable with facial tissue adjacent to a user's eye for moving the tissue and, in turn, lowering the adjacent eyelid; and a self contained cartridge disposable within the housing and comprising: a vial, the vial including an interior, variable volume, fluid receiving chamber defined therein; a pump in fluid communication with the fluid receiving chamber for pumping a fluid received therein from the dispenser, the pump defining a compression chamber and being engageable movable between (i) a first actuated position, and (ii) a rest position; a nozzle disposed in fluid communication with the pump for allowing the passage of the pumped fluid therethrough, the nozzle comprising a valve seat and a flexible valve cover extending about the valve seat and forming an annular, axially-extending interface therebetween, wherein the interface is connectable in fluid communication with the compression chamber, and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) an open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to fluid flowing from the compression chamber at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of pressurized fluid therebetween; a casing that retains the nozzle, the pump, and the vial arranged in that order along a longitudinal axis moving in a direction toward a posterior end of the dispenser, the casing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving the nozzle; and an actuator coupled to the casing and responsive to the trigger, the actuator defining a spring formed integrally therewith and being operatively coupled to at least one of the pump and the vial, wherein in a first phase of actuation, the trigger is manually engaged to cause the actuator to actuate the pump from the rest position to the first actuated position, and in a second phase of actuation, the trigger is released to cause the pump to return to the rest position, whereby during actuation, the actuator pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber and, in turn, dispenses a metered dosage of fluid through the valve and into a user's eye. 16. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 15, wherein the cartridge includes two main portions that are integrally formed and joined to one another to form the casing. 17. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 15, wherein the actuator has a first end and a second end, the first end being pivotably mounted to the casing, the second end being operatively coupled to the pump, the actuator further having a pivot disposed between the first end and the second end. 18. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 15, wherein the casing further has a longitudinally extending portion having an inner surface that is substantially conformal with a longitudinally extending portion of the vial. 19. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 15, wherein the vial, pump and the nozzle form part of a fluid storage and delivery system, the fluid storage and delivery system having an outer envelope defining a shape, and wherein the casing has an outer envelope defining a shape that is substantially the same as the shape defined by the outer envelope of the fluid storage and delivery system. 20. An ophthalmic dispenser for dispensing a fluid, the dispenser comprising: a housing; a trigger coupled to the housing; an eyelid depressor operatively coupled to the trigger and engageable with facial tissue adjacent to a user's eye for moving the tissue and, in turn, lowering the adjacent eyelid; and a self contained replaceable cartridge disposable within the housing and having: a posterior portion including a vial, the vial including an interior fluid receiving chamber defined therein; a pump in fluid communication with the fluid receiving chamber for pumping an ophthalmic fluid received therein from the dispenser, the pump defining a compression chamber and being movable between (i) a first actuated position, and (ii) a rest position; a nozzle disposed in fluid communication with the pump for allowing the passage of the pumped fluid therethrough, the nozzle comprising a valve including a valve seat and a flexible valve cover extending about the valve seat and forming an annular, axially-extending interface therebetween, wherein the interface is connectable in fluid communication with the compression chamber, and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) an open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to fluid flowing from the compression chamber at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of pressurized fluid therebetween; a casing that retains the nozzle, the pump, and the posterior portion arranged in that order along a longitudinal axis moving in a direction toward a posterior end of the dispenser, the casing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving the nozzle; and an actuator operatively coupled to the trigger, pump and eyelid depressor, wherein in a first phase of actuation, the trigger is manually engaged to cause the actuator to actuate the pump from the rest position to the first actuated position, and to move the eyelid depressor to, in turn, lower an adjacent eyelid, whereby during actuation, the actuator pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber and, in turn, dispenses a metered dosage of fluid through the valve and into a user's eye, and in a second phase of actuation, the trigger is released to cause the pump to return to the rest position. 21. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 20, wherein the cartridge has two main portions that are integrally formed and joined to one another to form the casing. 22. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 21, wherein the casing further has a longitudinally extending portion having an inner surface that is substantially conformal with a longitudinally extending portion of the vial. 23. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 20, wherein the vial, pump and the nozzle form part of a fluid storage and delivery system, the fluid storage and delivery system having an outer envelope defining a shape, and wherein the casing has an outer envelope defining a shape that is substantially the same as the shape defined by the outer envelope of the fluid storage and delivery system. 24. An ophthalmic dispenser for dispensing a fluid, the dispenser comprising: a housing; a trigger coupled to the housing; a cartridge disposable within the housing and having: a vial, the vial including an interior fluid receiving chamber defined therein; a pump in fluid communication with the fluid receiving chamber and defining a compression chamber, for pumping an ophthalmic fluid received therein from the dispenser; a nozzle disposed in fluid communication with the pump for allowing the passage of the pumped fluid therethrough; a spring portion disposed posterior to said interior fluid receiving chamber defined therein; a casing that retains the nozzle, the pump, and the vial arranged in that order along a longitudinal axis moving in a direction toward a posterior end of the dispenser, the casing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving the nozzle; and an actuator formed integral with the spring and operatively coupled to the pump and to the trigger, wherein in a first phase of actuation, the trigger is manually engaged to cause the actuator to move the pump along the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the posterior end of the casing thereby applying force to the interior fluid receiving chamber and compressing the spring, and in a second phase of actuation, the trigger is released and the compressed spring applies a force to help propel the pump in a direction toward the anterior end of the casing. 25. An ophthalmic dispenser for dispensing a fluid, the dispenser comprising: a housing; a trigger coupled to the housing; a self contained replaceable cartridge disposable within the housing and having: a vial, the vial including an interior fluid receiving chamber defined therein; a pump in fluid communication with the fluid receiving chamber and defining a compression chamber for pumping an ophthalmic fluid received therein from the dispenser; a nozzle disposed in fluid communication with the pump for allowing the passage of the pumped fluid therethrough, the nozzle comprising a valve including a valve seat and a flexible valve cover extending about the valve seat and forming an annular, axially-extending interface therebetween, wherein the interface is connectable in fluid communication with the compression chamber, and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) an open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to fluid flowing from the compression chamber at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of pressurized fluid therebetween; a casing that retains the nozzle, the pump, and the vial, the casing having an anterior wall with an aperture for receiving the nozzle; and an actuator being operatively coupled to the trigger and the pump and having a spring formed integral therewith, wherein in a first phase of actuation, the trigger is manually engaged to cause the actuator to actuate the pump from the rest position to the first actuated position, and in a second phase of actuation, the trigger is released to cause the pump to return to the rest position, whereby during actuation, the actuator pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber and, in turn, dispenses a metered dosage of fluid through the valve and into a user's eye. 26. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 25, wherein the cartridge has two main portions that are integrally fanned and joined to one another to form the casing. 27. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 26, wherein the casing further has a longitudinally extending portion having an inner surface that is substantially conformal with a longitudinally extending portion of the vial. 28. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 25, wherein the vial, pump and the nozzle form part of a fluid storage and delivery system, the fluid storage and delivery system having an outer envelope defining a shape, and wherein the casing has an outer envelope defining a shape that is substantially the same as the shape defined by the outer envelope of the fluid storage and delivery system. 29. An ophthalmic dispenser comprising: a housing; a trigger coupled to the housing; a self contained cartridge disposable within the housing and comprising: first means for forming a fluid reservoir; a pump coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir and including a passageway and second means for pumping fluid within the passageway, wherein the pump defines within the passageway a compression chamber, the pump being engageable between (i) a first actuated position and (ii) a rest position; a nozzle comprising a valve including an annular, axially-extending valve seat, an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication between the valve seat and the compression chamber, and a flexible valve cover extending about the valve seat and forming an annular, axially-extending interface therebetween, wherein the interface is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture, and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) an open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to fluid flowing through the outlet aperture at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of pressurized fluid therebetween; and an actuator coupled to the cartridge and drivingly connected between the trigger and the pump, the actuator having a spring formed integrally therewith, wherein in a first phase of actuation, the trigger is manually engaged to cause the actuator to actuate the pump from the rest position to the first actuated position, and in a second phase of actuation, the trigger is released to cause the pump to return to the rest position, whereby during actuation, the pump pressurizes fluid in the compression chamber to dispense fluid through the valve and into a user's eye. 30. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 29, further comprising third means for biasing at least one of the second means and axially-elongated passageway relative to the other. 31. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 30, wherein the pump defines an elongated axis, and the actuator defines a path of movement transverse to the elongated axis of the pump. 32. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 30, wherein the third means is defined by a flexible, curvilinear portion of the actuator engaging the first means for moving the first means and, in turn, at least one of the second means and axially-elongated passageway relative to the other. 33. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 30, wherein the third means is formed by the actuator. 34. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 29, wherein the actuator includes a lever arm drivingly connected to at least one of the first means and the pump, wherein the lever arm is engageable by the trigger for moving at least one of the second means and axially-elongated passageway relative to the other. 35. An ophthalmic dispenser as defined in claim 29, further comprising an eyelid depressor engageable with facial tissue adjacent to user's eye for moving the tissue and, in turn, lowering the adjacent eyelid, and wherein the actuator is drivingly connected to both the eyelid depressor and at least one of the first means and the pump for substantially simultaneously actuating the eyelid depressor and the pump. 36. An ophthalmic dispenser comprising: first means for forming a fluid reservoir; a pump coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir and including an axially-elongated passageway and second means for pumping fluid within the axially-elongated passageway, wherein the pump defines within the axially-elongated passageway a compression zone, a first portion formed between the compression zone and the reservoir, and a second portion located on an opposite side of the compression zone relative to the first portion, wherein the first portion is defined by a first dimension and the compression zone is defined by a second dimension that is less than the first dimension, and at least one of the second means and axially-elongated passageway is movable relative to the other between (i) a first actuated position wherein the second means is received within the first portion of the axially-elongated passageway, and the compression zone is coupled in fluid communication with the reservoir for receiving fluid therefrom, and (ii) a rest position wherein the second means is received within the second portion of the axially-elongated passageway: a nozzle comprising a valve including an annular, axially-extending valve seat, an outlet aperture coupled in fluid communication between the valve seat and the compression zone, and a flexible valve cover extending about the valve seat and forming an annular, axially-extending interface therebetween, wherein the interface is connectable in fluid communication with the outlet aperture, and at least part of the valve cover is movable between (i) a normally closed position with the valve cover engaging the valve seat to close the interface and form a fluid-tight seal therebetween, and (ii) an open position with at least part of the valve cover spaced away from the valve seat in response to fluid flowing through the outlet aperture at a pressure greater than a valve opening pressure to allow the passage of pressurized fluid therebetween; and a manually engageable actuator including a trigger, and a lever arm drivingly connected to at least one of the first means and the pump, wherein the lever arm is engageable by the trigger for moving at least one of the second means and the axially-elongated passageway from the first actuated position to the rest position and, in turn, pressurizing fluid in the compression zone to dispense fluid through the valve and into a user's eye. wherein the lever arm defines at least one of (1) a flexible, curvilinear body that is flexibly movable radially and axially with movement of the trigger, and (2) a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a living hinge flexibly connecting the first and second arm portions to each other and permitting radial and axial movement of the first and second arm portions with movement of the trigger.
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