The device of the present invention enables a person to apply liquid solutions to an eye, such as eye drops, using only one hand.

The present invention also relates to a liquid dispenser and a kit that can be used easily by anyone for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eyes of a patient. In addition, there is also disclosed a method for applying liquid material to the eye utilizing the kit or flask of the invention.

Background Art At present, there are basically two ways of applying eye solutions to the eyes of a patient: the first one consists in pulling the lower eyelid with the forefinger of one hand and trying to apply the eye-drop to the bottom of the lower conjunctival sac with the other hand (Figure 1). The second way consist in pulling the lower eyelid by holding it with one's thumb and forefinger like nippers and trying to apply the eye-drop to the bottom of the lower conjunctival sac with the other hand (Figure 2). These procedures have the disadvantage of having to use both hands. For many people, the main problem is that it is difficult to calculate the approximation distance of the eye-drop flask from the bottom of the lower conjunctival sac, and so they often apply drops out of the

eye, thus impairing the therapeutic effect and increasing waste of eye-drop and the costs of the treatment.

Brazilian utility model patent application n° MU7902795-4 discloses a device which is attached to a flask, the device comprising a sliding cover having an anatomic shape that fits against the ocular region in such a manner that the application of liquid materials can be facilitated.

Nevertheless, the device described in MU7902795-4 does not enable the correct application of liquid materials such as eye drops to the eyes of a patient. Liquid eye solutions should preferably be applied to the lower conjunctival sac of the eyes of a patient. However, such correct application is not achieved by this prior art device, since the eye-drop solution falls directly onto the ocular globe. In addition, this device is not practical as it requires the use of two hands: one hand holds the flask and the other hand slides the cover toward the ocular region.

The appropriate point in the eye for applying eye drops is the medial part of the bottom of the lower conjunctival sac. Most people find it difficult to apply eye drops in the right place; they rest the flask spout against the conjunctiva, thus contaminating the contents; tremble a lot ; and/or apply the eye drops out of the eye, increasing the waste thereof. These problems create difficulties for adhesion to the treatment, and may even cause blindness in patients with glaucoma and severe dry eye.

Object of the invention The object of the present invention is to provide: a device for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye; a liquid dispenser for use in the device; a liquid dispenser for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye; a method for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye using the device; and a method for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye using the liquid dispenser, all of which overcome the above mentioned problems in the state of the art.

Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the present invention, a device for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye comprises:

a liquid dispenser receiving means, which is adapted to receive a liquid dispenser, the dispenser having a liquid dispensing region; a support means, which is adapted to abut against an eyelid ; and a connecting means, for connecting the support means to the liquid dispenser receiving means so that, when a liquid dispenser is received in the liquid dispenser receiving means, the liquid dispensing region is held proximate the support means.

For preference, the support means is capable of everting an eyelid, is shaped to conform anatomically thereto, and is integral to the connecting means which is in turn integral to the liquid dispenser receiving means.

Preferably, the support means comprises protuberances adapted to facilitate eversion of an eyelid, and these protuberances are made of a substantially resilient material, such as rubber, silicone, soft plastic or the like.

For further preference, the entire support means is made of a substantially resilient material, such as those listed above, but not exclusive thereto.

More preferably still, the liquid dispenser receiving means comprises attachment means for attaching a liquid dispenser thereto. The attachment means comprising a snap-fitting, an elastic means, or any other means for attaching a liquid dispenser thereto, and the liquid dispenser receiving means being capable of adjustment to receive liquid dispensers of varying proportions.

For still further preference the liquid dispenser receiving means further comprises an alert means, which can be any one or more of an electronic sound alarm, a luminous device or a vibratory device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a liquid dispenser for use in the device described above, wherein the liquid dispensing region comprises a spout, which is so shaped as to substantially avoid adherence of liquid drops thereto, by having a beveled exit aperture directed substantially towards the support means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a liquid dispenser for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye comprises : a liquid containment means, having a liquid dispensing region; a support means, adapted to abut against an eyelid ; and

a connecting means, for connecting the support means to the liquid containment means such that the liquid dispensing region is held proximate the support means.

For preference, the support means is capable of everting an eyelid, is shaped to conform anatomically thereto, and is integral to the connecting means which is in turn integral to the liquid containment means.

Preferably, the support means comprises protuberances adapted to facilitate eversion of an eyelid, and these protuberances are made of a substantially resilient material, such as rubber, silicone, soft plastic or the like.

For further preference, the entire support means is made of a substantially resilient material, such as those listed above, but not exclusive thereto.

More preferably still, the liquid dispensing region of the containment means comprises a spout, which is so shaped as to substantially avoid adherence of liquid drops thereto, by having a beveled exit aperture directed substantially towards the support means.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye, using a device according to the first aspect of the present invention described above, comprises the steps of: abutting the support means against an eyelid ; everting the eyelid by moving the support means in a direction opposite to that of the eyelid closing direction; and applying the liquid material to the eye.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a method for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye using a liquid dispenser according to the third aspect of the present invention described above, comprises the steps of: abutting the support means against an eyelid ; everting the eyelid by moving the support means in a direction opposite to that of the eyelid closing direction; and applying the liquid material to the eye.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a first prior art procedure for applying liquid material to the eyes of a patient; Figure 2 shows a second prior art procedure for applying liquid material to the eyes of a patient; Figure 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye, having an eye-drop flask with a cap attached thereto; Figure 4 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye, having an eye-drop flask without a cap attached thereto; Figure 5 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4;.

Figure 6 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye, as illustrated in figures 3 and 4;.

Figure 7 is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention showing the application of liquid material to the eye; Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention showing the application of liquid material to the eye; Figure 9 shows a conventional flask of eyewash and the like known in the state of the art; Figure 10 shows the conventional shape of the spout of eye-drop flasks known in the state of the art, Figure 11 shows the preferred configuration of the spout of the flask of the present invention, wherein said spout has a beveled edge turned downwards; Figure 12 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the flask of the present invention with a cap attached thereto ; Figure 13 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the flask of the present invention without a cap attached thereto ; Figure 14 shows an oblique perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the flask of the present invention; and

Figure 15 is a rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the flask of the present invention showing the application of liquid material to the eye.

Detailed description of the invention While the manufacture and use of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not therefore limit the scope of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 merely illustrate prior art procedures for applying liquid material to human eyes. These methods were previously explained in the Background section.

Figures 3 to 6 illustrate a preferred embodiment of the device 20 of the present invention for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye. Device 20 is preferably made of resistant plastic and is composed of: a liquid dispenser receiving portion, comprising a body 21, a base 22, and a holding band 23; a connecting portion, or arm, 24 extending from body 21 and a support portion 25, formed on the distal end of connecting portion 24.

Support portion 25 is anatomically shaped so as to follow the lower eyelid edge and comprises protuberances 28 to facilitate eversion of the lower eyelid.

Preferably protuberances 28 are made of a resilient material, such as rubber, silicon, soft plastic, or any other soft material capable of providing a conformable, comfortable contact and engagement with the lower eyelid, and support portion 25 may also be made of the same or a different resilient material.

Device 20 may also be provided with a length-regulating means 26 and an alert means 27. Length-regulating means is intended to provide the option for inserting liquid dispensers 30 of varying sizes into the liquid dispenser receiving portion in order to attach firmly liquid dispenser, or flask, 30 to body 21. Alert means 27 can be a luminous device, a vibratory device or a sound device. In the preferred embodiment of the present application, alert device 27 is an electronic sound alarm, which will sound at the time at which the eye drops, or

the eye drops, or the like, have to be applied to the patient.

As can be seen from these figures, a liquid dispenser such as a flask of eye drops or any other liquid material can be attached to the device 20 thereby forming a kit 10. Liquid dispenser 30 can be attached to the device by several fixing means, such as holding band 23, a seal (not shown), Velcro (D (not shown), elastic bands (not shown), a snap fitting mechanism (not shown), etc. Using any of these means, body 31 of liquid dispenser 30 may be fixed into device 20, and liquid dispenser cap 33 may be easily removed. As can be seen from the figures, when liquid dispenser 30 is fitted into device 20, spout 32 thereof is held at an appropriate position and distance from the lower eyelid edge 12 of the patient, for an adequate application of the liquid contained therein to the central part of the bottom of the lower conjunctival sac 13. It is clear that device 20 may be adapted to the various shapes and sizes of liquid dispensers 30 that exist on the market, and that the device could also be adapted for use on an upper eyelid, should the need arise.

Figures 7 and 8 show the procedure for application of liquid material to an eye utilizing the kit illustrated in figures 3 to 6. The method of application comprises the steps of: abutting support portion 25 of device 20 to a lower eyelid edge of a human or animal patient; tilting or moving device 20 in a direction opposite to that of the eyelid closing direction so as to evert the eyelid ; inclining the patient's head backwards; directing the patient's look upward and applying the liquid material to the eye of the patient.

Figures 9 and 10 show a conventional flask 50 of liquid material such as eyewash, eye drops, physiologic serum and the like, known in the state of the art. As can be seen from figure 10, drops exiting from the spout 51 tend to pour out along the lower external surface of the spout 51.

Turning now to figures 11 to 14, the preferred embodiment of liquid dispenser, or flask, 60 of the present invention comprises: a liquid container body 61, that is capable of containing liquid material ; a neck portion 66, extending from container body 61; a liquid dispensing region formed by a fluid exit aperture, or spout, 62 at the distal end of neck 66, fluid exit aperture 62 being hermetically salable by a cap 63; wherein and said liquid dispenser 60 further comprises a connecting portion, or arm, 64 extending from container body 61, along neck portion 66, toward fluid exit aperture 62, and a support

portion 65, formed on the distal end of connecting portion 64. Support portion 65 is anatomically shaped so as to follow the lower eyelid edge 12 of a patient, and comprises protuberances 68 to facilitate eversion of the lower eyelid.

Liquid dispenser 60 is preferably made from an injection molded plastic material in which container body 61, neck 66, fluid exit aperture 62, connecting portion 64, and support portion 65 are formed as a single piece, or as two halves which may be welded together.

In order to facilitate self-application of the eye-drop or other liquid for use in the eye, support portion 65 is shaped in the form of lower orbital edge 7 of the eyelid, as shown in figure 15,. which enables one to support liquid dispenser 60 on lower orbital edge 7 of the eye with one hand (providing firmness to the procedure), to slightly evert the lower eyelid 8, and then to incline one's head backwards and direct the look upwards, so that the eye drops may be applied to the central part of the bottom of the lower conjunctival sac 13 by making a slight pressure with one's forefinger or middle finger on the flask body. In many cases, the gravity generated by the mere inclination of the flask already enables one to apply the eye drops, and the procedure is even more facilitated if it is carried out in the front of a mirror.

Figure 15 shows the procedure for applying liquid material to the eye utilizing the liquid dispenser illustrated in figures 12 to 14, comprising the steps of abutting support portion 65 of liquid dispenser 60 against a lower- eyelid edge of a patient, tilting or moving liquid dispenser 60 in a direction opposite to that of the eyelid closing direction so as to evert the eyelid, inclining the patient's head backwards, directing the patient's look upwards and applying the liquid material to the eye of the patient.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, liquid dispenser fluid exit aperture 62 has a special inclined bevel-edge design so as to prevent the liquid exiting there from from running down the spout, as happens with the spouts of liquid dispensers or flasks that are at present on the market (shown in figure 10). As shown in figure 11, the drops tend to adhere to the upper part of the bevel edge, thereby facilitating the application of the liquid material to the eye.

The design and shape of device 20 and liquid dispenser 60 having means for facilitating the application of liquid material to the eye may be

changed, provided that the original underlying idea of the present invention is maintained.

For the purpose of the present invention, it should be understood that the liquid material can be any liquid material that can be applied to human eyes. For instance, the liquid may be water, any medicinal or cleaning solutions such as eye drops, physiologic serum, eyewash, etc.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated for the purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes in the device, flask, kit and method of the invention presented herein may be made by those skilled in the art, such changes being embodied within the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined in the following claims.