Patent US4002168A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4002168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of, and dispenser for introducing an opthalmic product into the occular cavity
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-04-24
•
Granted: 1977-01-11
•
Expires: 1995-04-24
Abstract
Abstract A dispenser suitable for storing and dispensing an opthalmic product and a method of dispensing the product into an occular cavity while maintaining the dispensing orifice of the dispenser free from contact with the occular cavity is described. The dispenser comprises a container with a cavity for containing a product to be dispensed, pump means, product dispensing valve means, and pressure equalizing valve means. A positioning/guard fixedly secured to the container cooperates therewith to positively position and anthroprometically locate the dispensing orifice relative to the occular cavity. The product is dispensed into the eye without loss of product due to inadvertent closing or blinking of the eye as a result of fear of a sharp object and also places the product properly for most effective results.
Inventors
- 👤 Tor Petterson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 18:39
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D47/00; B65D47/04; B65D47/06; B65D47/18; A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/0008; A61F9/0026; A61M; A61M11/00; A61M11/006; A61M11/008; A61M15/00; A61M15/08; B65D23/00; B65D23/003; B65D51/00; B65D51/24; B65D51/242; A61M2210/00; A61M2210/06; A61M2210/0612
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
The method of introducing an ophthalmic product from a dispenser into an occular cavity whereby blinking is substantially eliminated and the dispensing orifice of the dispenser does not contact said occular cavity, said dispenser comprising a container having wall means defining a cavity for containing a product to be dispensed, a dispensing orifice positioned in said wall means and in fluid communication with said cavity, and pump means constructed and arranged with said cavity to develop sufficient internal pressure within said cavity to dispense product from said cavity through said orifice, and a generally ring-shaped positioning/guard means fixedly secured to said container means and generally encircling said dispensing orifice, said positioning/guard means being angularly displaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, said method including the steps of positively positioning the generally ring-shaped positioning/guard means of the dispenser around the occular cavity thereby anthroprometically locating the dispensing orifice relative to said occular cavity while maintaining the dispensing orifice free from interference with the normal line of sight and activating the pump means of said dispenser to dispense an effective amount of ophthalmic product into said occular cavity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
The method of introducing an ophthalmic product from a dispenser into an occular cavity whereby blinking is substantially eliminated and the dispensing orifice of the dispenser does not contact said occular cavity, said dispenser comprising a container having wall means defining a cavity for containing a product to be dispensed, a dispensing orifice positioned in said wall means and in fluid communication with said cavity, and pump means constructed and arranged with said cavity to develop sufficient internal pressure within said cavity to dispense product from said cavity through said orifice, and a generally ring-shaped positioning/guard means fixedly secured to said container means and generally encircling said dispensing orifice, said positioning/guard means being angularly displaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, said method including the steps of positively positioning the generally ring-shaped positioning/guard means of the dispenser around the occular cavity thereby anthroprometically locating the dispensing orifice relative to said occular cavity while maintaining the dispensing orifice free from interference with the normal line of sight and activating the pump means of said dispenser to dispense an effective amount of ophthalmic product into said occular cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein a prescribed concentration of ophthalmic product is introduced into a specific area of the occular cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
10 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the product is metered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the pumping action activates a pressure-responsive dispensing valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
Method according to claim 1 wherein the angle of the positioning/guard means to the dispenser axis is from between 0° and about 90°.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
150 words
A dispenser suitable for introducing an ophthalmic product into the occular cavity comprising -- a. container means comprising 1. wall means defining a cavity for containment of the product to be dispensed; 2. a dispensing orifice positioned in said wall means and in fluid communication with said cavity; and 3. a pump means constructed and arranged with said cavity to develop sufficient internal pressure within said cavity to dispense product from said cavity through said orifice; and b. a generally ring-shaped positioning/guard means fixedly secured to said container means and generally encircling said dispensing orifice wherein said positioning/guard means is angularly displaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the container means such that when said positioning/guard means is placed around the occular cavity said dispensing orifice can be anthroprometically located relative to the occular cavity while avoiding contact with said occular cavity and interference with the normal line of sight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
150 words
A dispenser suitable for introducing an ophthalmic product into the occular cavity comprising -- a. container means comprising 1. wall means defining a cavity for containment of the product to be dispensed; 2. a dispensing orifice positioned in said wall means and in fluid communication with said cavity; and 3. a pump means constructed and arranged with said cavity to develop sufficient internal pressure within said cavity to dispense product from said cavity through said orifice; and b. a generally ring-shaped positioning/guard means fixedly secured to said container means and generally encircling said dispensing orifice wherein said positioning/guard means is angularly displaced relative to the longitudinal axis of the container means such that when said positioning/guard means is placed around the occular cavity said dispensing orifice can be anthroprometically located relative to the occular cavity while avoiding contact with said occular cavity and interference with the normal line of sight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said container is provided with a pressure-responsive product dispensing valve means in fluid communication with said cavity and responsive to temporary pressure increases within said cavity, and a pressure equalizing one-way valve means in fluid communication with said cavity means, responsive to pressure differentials between said cavity and atmosphere.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dispenser according to claim 7 wherein said pressure equalizing one-way valve means is provided with means for filtering air prior to the air entering said cavity means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the valve means is a duckbill valve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the valve means is a substantially non-wettable microporous material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A dispenser according to claim 8 wherein the filter means is a microporous substance capable of filtering out contaminants in the air from between 0.5 and 20 microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the pump means comprises a flexible wall of the cavity means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the generally ring-shaped positioning/guard means comprises a generally ring-shaped element which is not continuous.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the dispensing orifice means is provided with a metering means such that from between about .01 and about 1 gram of said product is dispensed into the occular cavity with each pumping of said pumping means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein said pump means comprises an elastomer disk in the wall of said cavity means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the angle of the positioning/guard means to the axis of the container is from between about 0° and about 90°.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A dispenser according to claim 6 wherein the angle of the positioning/guard means to the axis of the container is from between about 60° and about 75°.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A dispenser according to claim 6 provided with an overcap means for maintaining said dispenser orifice free from contaminants during storage and shipment.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2754821A
Cited
US2722216A
Cited
US2898911A
Cited
US3279466A
Cited
GB1208686A
Cited
US3872866A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-01-11 | 1980-07-12 | 1981-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-01-11 | 1984-07-12 | 1985-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-01-11 | 1988-07-12 | 1989-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |