EP0224352A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ocular treatment
Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1986-11-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-11-06
Abstract
Abstract A method of administering less than 20µl of a solution of an ophthalmically effective substance to the eye characterised in that the formulation has a viscosity and resistivity which makes it suitable for electrodynamic spraying, and the formulation is supplied to a spray nozzle wherein a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, is applied to the formulation that a sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the spray nozzle to atomise the formulation as a spray of electrically charged droplets. Also liquid solution formulations of opthalmically effective substances for use in the method of the invention; and electrodynamic spraying apparatus, convenient for hand held use, for use in the method of the invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Glyn Booth
- 👤 Raymond Charles Rowe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:24
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B5/00; B05B5/025; A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/0008; B05B5/16; B05B5/1691
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of administering to the eye a formulation comprising an ophthalmically active substance and an ophthalmically acceptable diluent, characterised in that the formulation has a viscosity in the range 10 -3 to 1.0 Pa.s (at 250C) and a resisitivity in the range 10 4 to 1012 ohm cm (at 25°C), and that the formulation is supplied to a spray nozzle wherein a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, is applied to the formulation from a high voltage generator, that sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the nozzle to atomise the formulation as a spray of electrically charged droplets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of administering to the eye a formulation comprising an ophthalmically active substance and an ophthalmically acceptable diluent, characterised in that the formulation has a viscosity in the range 10 -3 to 1.0 Pa.s (at 250C) and a resisitivity in the range 10 4 to 1012 ohm cm (at 25°C), and that the formulation is supplied to a spray nozzle wherein a sufficiently large electrical potential, relative to earth, is applied to the formulation from a high voltage generator, that sufficient electrical gradient is provided at the nozzle to atomise the formulation as a spray of electrically charged droplets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the nozzle is charged with a unit dose of the formulation from an external source for each use.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a unit dose of the formulation is supplied to the nozzle automatically from a reservoir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
A liquid solution formulation, for use in the method claimed in claim 1, comprising an ophthalmically active substance and an ophthalmically acceptable diluent which comprises 50% to 100% by weight of an ophthalmically acceptable diluent and from 0% to 50% by weight of water, and has a viscosity in the range 10 -3 to 1.0 Pa.s at 25°C. and a resistivity in the range 10 4 to 10 1 2 ohm.cm at 25 0 C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A formulation as claimed in claim 4 in which the ophthalmically active substance is a chemotherapeutical agent, a compound to aid ocular examination or a compound to aid surgery.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
A formulation as claimed in claim 5 wherein the ophthalmically active substance is selected from:- (a) anti-inflammtory agents, such as prednisolone and other corticosteroids; (b) antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics, antiseptics, antivirals, fungicides and sulphonamides, for example chloramphenicol, sulphacetamide, gentamycin, nystatin, acyclovir and idoxuridine; (c) automomic drugs, such a p-adrenoceptor antagonists, cycloplegics, miotics, mydriatics and vasoconstrictors, for example timolol, atenolol, pil;ocarpine, atropine, tropicamide, hyoscine, ephedrine, phenylephrine, carbachol, guanethidine and adrenaline; (d) local anaesthetics, such as lignocaine or oxybuprocaine; (e) diaganostics, such as fluorescein; (f) drugs to assist healing of corneal abrasions, such as urogastrone and epidermal growth factor (EGF); (g) durgs of use in diabetic retinopathy, such as aldose reductase inhibitors, for example sorbinil and 3-(4-bromo-2-fluorobenzyl)-4roxo-3H-phthalazin-1-ylacetic acid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
A formulation as claimed in claim 6 in which the amount of water, if any is present, comprises not more than 20% by weight of the total diluent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A formulation as claimed in claim 4 wherein the ophthalmically active organic diluent is selected from dimethylisosorbide, glycerol, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol of average molecular weight up to 600, maize oil and arachis oil, optionally in combination with polyethoxyethylated castor oils, polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene block copolymers, polyoxyethylene sorbitan derivatives, poloxy- ethylene oleyl ethers, castor oil or olive oil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
Electrodynamic spraying apparatus for dispensing a liquid solution formulation as claimed in claim 1, which comprises: (i) at least one spray nozzle having an outlet of sufficiently small cross section to be capable of retaining therein up to 20µl of the formulation by surface tension; (ii) means to supply a measured volume of up to 20µl of the formulation to said nozzle, and (iii) means for applying a potential difference between said spray nozzle and an electrode spaced from said spray nozzle, so that an electrical field of sufficient strength is provided at the outlet of the spray nozzle to draw the formulation away from said outlet as one or more ligaments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the measured volume of the formulation is supplied to the nozzle by a metered valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the measured volume of the formula is supplied by a syringe-pump.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the measured volume of the formula is supplied by drawing into the nozzle the required amount from an external source by means of pipette action.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the measured volume of the formulation is contained in a demountable spray nozzle which is locatable on an appropriate receiving member in the apparatus.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13 wherein the means for causing the liquid to flow through the spray nozzle tip simultaneously activates the high voltage generator of the electrodyanamic spraying apparatus which supplies high voltage to atomise the formulation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14 in which batteries for the high voltage generator are located in the apparatus, which is suitably dimensioned for hand-held usage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 15 which is capable of electrically charging the spray nozzle to a potential of between 1 to 20 kV and which has a field adjusting electrode at earth potential mounted adjacent to the spray nozzle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
190 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprising: a body member 1, sized so as to be capable of being hand held, with a conical receiving member 2 in one wall thereof, the end 3 of which is the outlet of a tube 4 extending centrally through the conical member 2, through the body member 1, and having an inlet 5 in another wall of said body member 1, the inlet 5 accommodating a piston 7, the body member 1 also supporting a field adjusting electrode 10 surrounding the end 3 of the receiving member 2; the body member also accommodating a high voltage generator 12, from which a lead 13 extends outwardly from the aperture in the end of the receiving member 2, and which is adapted to supply a high voltage to the lead 13 when the piston 7 is actuated; and a demountable hollow spray nozzle 15 of generally conical shape, adapted to cooperate with the receiving member 2, and which has a small aperture 17 at the tip capable of holding up to 20µl of a liquid solution formulation, as claimed in claim 4, by surface tension.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, comprising: a body member 30, sized so as to be capable of being hand held, provided with a nozzle 31 in the wall thereof, the end 32 of which is the outlet of a tube 33 extending centrally through the nozzle 31 and through the body member 30 to a syringe 34 forming part of a syringe pump 40 of known type, comprising the syringe 34 and a mini-pump 41, the operation of which also activates a high voltage generator 37, accommodated within the body member 30, from which a lead 38 extends to the aperture 39 of the nozzle 32; the said body member 30 also support a field adjusting electrode in the form of a ring 35 surrounding the end 32 of the nozzle 31.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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