FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to eye drop delivery.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In general the administration of eye drops to a recipient's eyes can be unpleasant. This is particularly true for some children, which can make such a procedure difficult for the parent or other adult performing it. Additionally, it is sometimes difficult to ensure that the tip of the eyedropper device that is used does not inadvertently contact the eyes or the eyelashes of the person receiving the eye drops. This can lead to contamination of the eyedropper device which can facilitate the persistence of an infection or can facilitate the transfer of an infection from one person to another person who later receives eye drops. It would be advantageous to provide a device that at least partially addresses one or more of the problems identified above.

SUMMARY

[0003] In a first aspect, an eye drop delivery device is provided, comprising a funnel having an upper aperture and a lower aperture and a support structure for supporting the funnel above the inner corner of an eye of a recipient.

[0004] In another aspect, a method of delivering eye drops to a recipient is provided, comprising:

a) positioning a funnel having an upper aperture and a lower aperture such that the lower aperture is generally above the inner corner of an eye of the recipient; and

b) positioning an eye drop vessel having an outlet such that the outlet is a selected vertical distance above the lower aperture; and c) releasing at least one eye drop from the outlet of the eye drop vessel into the funnel so that the at least one eye drop leaves the lower aperture of the funnel and reaches the inner corner of the eye.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] The foregoing and other aspects will be more readily appreciated having reference to the drawings, wherein:

[0006] Figure 1 is an example of an eye drop delivery device;

[0007] Figure 2a is a side view of the eye drop delivery device shown in Figure 1 positioned on the face of a recipient and in use delivering eye drops from an eye drop vessel to the recipient;

[0008] Figure 2b is an edge view of the eye drop deliver device shown in Figure 1 positioned on the face of the recipient; and

[0009] Figure 3 is a side view of another example of an eye drop delivery device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Reference is made to Figure 1 , which shows an example of an eye drop delivery device 10. The delivery device 10 shown in Figure 1 includes two funnels 12, including a first funnel 12a, and a second funnel 12b, and a support structure 14. The term 'funnel' is to be interpreted in a non-limiting way in terms of the precise shape of its side wall. It is intended to denote a shape that has a relatively larger aperture at the top (upper aperture 17) and a smaller aperture at the bottom (lower aperture 18) and a generally smooth side wall that is generally free of hang up points between the two apertures 17 and 18 so as to facilitate the flow of a substance (in this case eye drops) to the lower aperture 18. Each funnel 12 is configured to permit the introduction of eye drops 15 into the eyes of a person receiving the eye drops (which may be referred to for succinctness as a recipient), which are shown at 16 (and which are shown individually at 16a and 16b). [0011] Each funnel 12 has an upper aperture 16 and a lower aperture 18. Referring to Figures 2a and 2b, the upper aperture 17 may be sized to permit the funnel 12 to receive the nozzle, shown at 20, from an eyedropper bottle, shown at 22. In some embodiments, the upper aperture 17 may further be sized to limit the entry into the funnel 12 of the remaining portion, shown at 24, of the eyedropper bottle 22 to ensure that the tip or outlet, shown at 26, of the nozzle 20 is kept spaced above the lower aperture 18, by a selected vertical distance. For greater certainty, the remaining portion 24 is the rest of the eyedropper bottle 22 aside from the nozzle 20. By keeping the tip 26 of the nozzle 20 above the lower aperture 18, the eye drop delivery device 10 inhibits the eyes 16 of the recipient from contacting the tip 26 and thereby contaminating eyedropper bottle 22.

[0012] In an embodiment, the funnel 12 may have a height H from the upper aperture 17 to the lower aperture 18 that is selected to be higher than the vertical distance V between the tip 26 and the shoulder, shown at 28 of the eyedropper bottle 22, so as to substantially prevent contact between the eyes 16 of the recipient and the remaining portion 24 of the eyedropper bottle 22.

[0013] In other instances, such as, for example, instances where an eyedropper that has a long nozzle is used, the eye drop delivery device 10 is still advantageous in that it is easier to administer the eye drops into the funnel 12 without inadvertently contacting the eye 16 of the recipient because the funnel 12 blocks direct engagement between the eyedropper and the recipient's eye 16.

[0014] The support structure 14 is positionable on the face 30 of the recipient to support the lower apertures 18 of the funnels 12 at a selected position above the inner corners, shown at 32 of the eyes 16 of the recipient. In some embodiments the lower apertures 18 may be supported so as to be spaced above the inner corners 32 of the eyes 16, while in other embodiments the lower apertures 18 may be supported immediately above the inner corners 32 so that the lower apertures 18 are in contact with the inner corners 32.

[0015] The support structure 14 may be a fixed structure, or, as shown in Figure 2a, it may be adjustable. In particular the support structure 14 may be laterally adjustable so as to accommodate recipients who have different lateral distances between the inner corners 32 of their eyes 16. The support structure 14 shown in Figures 2a and 2b includes a nose engaging structure 34 that is positionable over the nose of the recipient, shown at 36, to anchor the eye drop delivery device 10 laterally on the nose 36 of the recipient. The support structure 14 further includes funnel connectors 38 (shown individually as first funnel connector 38a and second funnel connector 38b) that are connected independently to the first and second funnels 12a and 12b and that are individually adjustably connected to the nose engaging structure 34 to permit independent lateral adjustment of the first funnel 12a relative to the nose engaging structure 34 and of the second funnel 12b relative to the nose engaging structure 34. [0016] In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 2a, each funnel connector 38 is slidable in an aperture 40 in the nose engaging structure 34 and may be retained at any selected position via frictional engagement with the aperture wall, shown at 42. The aperture 40 may be a common aperture that passes through the nose engaging structure 34 and that has no blind ends or internal shoulders. This facilitates cleaning of the nose engaging structure 34 when the funnel connectors 38 are removed from the aperture 40. The aperture 40 and the funnel connectors 38 may have a cross-sectional shape that is configured to prevent the rotational adjustment of the funnel connector 38 about connector axis A. For example, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cross-sectional shape of the aperture 40 and funnel connectors 38 is rectangular. Any other suitable cross-sectional shape to prevent rotational adjustment of the funnel connector 38 may alternatively be used. In other embodiments, however, the cross-sectional shape of the aperture 40 and the funnel connectors 38 may be selected to permit rotational adjustment of the funnel connectors 38 (and thus the funnels 12) about the axis A.

[0017] Instead of providing the aperture 40 in the nose engaging piece 34 and to have the funnel connectors 38 slide within the aperture 40, it is alternatively possible to provide each funnel connector 38 with an aperture so as to receive a projection that is on the nose engaging structure 34.

[0018] It will be noted that the recipient shown in Figures 2a and 2b has only certain features shown, which include the nose 36 and the eyes 16, in order to depict the eye drop deliver device 10 in a way that it is not obscured.

[0019] Reference is made to Figure 3 which provides another example of an eye drop delivery device, shown at 50, which includes the two funnels 12a and 12b and a support structure 51. The support structure 51 includes two funnel connectors 52 (a first funnel connector 52a and a second funnel connector 52b) which are directly slidably connected to one another (e.g. by means of male and female portions 53a and 53b) in order to permit lateral adjustment of the positions of the lower apertures 18 of the funnels 12, and a nose engaging structure 54. In the embodiment shown, the nose engaging structure 54 includes a first portion 54a which is connected to the first funnel connector 52a and a second portion 54b which is connected to the second funnel connector 52b. In this way the nose engaging structure 54 remains centered on the eye drop delivery device 50.

[0020] Instead of any of the support structures 14, 51 described above, any other suitable support structure may be provided for supporting the funnels 12 above the inner corners 32 of the eyes 16 of the recipient. In some embodiments, the support structure may not be adjustable. It will be noted that, due to the valley formed at the inner corners 32 of each eye 16, the lower apertures 18 of the funnels 12 need not be precisely directly above the inner corners 32 in order for the dispensed eye drops to reach them. For example, the eye drops could be dispensed laterally outboard from the inner corner 32 (i.e. further towards the center of the eye 16) and they could roll down into the inner corner therefrom, as long as they are dispensed on the side of the center of the eye 16 that slopes down towards the inner corner 32.

[0021] In an embodiment wherein the support structure 14, 51 is not adjustable, it is optionally possible to provide a plurality of different sizes of eye drop delivery device so as to fit different recipients (e.g. young children, older children, adults with close-set eyes, and adults with medium-and farther-set eyes).

[0022] The eye drop delivery device 10, 50 may be made from a material that resists microbial contamination and that is dishwasher safe so that it can easily be washed in a dishwasher after use to clean it and ready it for the next use. Some polymers and also some metals (e.g. stainless steel) are known to have such properties.

[0023] To use the eye drop delivery device 10, 50, the recipient tips their head back (e.g. by lying down) so that their face 30 faces upwards. The eye drop delivery device 10, 50 is placed on the face 30 of the recipient. In the embodiments shown, this placement would involve placing the nose engaging portion 34, 54 of the support structure 14, 51 on the nose 36 of the recipient. If the support structure 14, 51 is adjustable, it may be adjusted so to position the lower apertures 18 above the inner corners 32 of the eyes 16 of the recipient. While the eye drop delivery device 10, 50 is being positioned on the face 30 of the recipient, the eyes 16 of the recipient may be closed. Thus, the eye drop delivery device 10, 50 may be positioned on the face 30 of the recipient by another person. After the eye drop delivery device 10, 50 is positioned suitably, the person applying the eye drops may insert the nozzle 20 of the eye drop vessel 22 into the upper aperture 17 of one of the funnels 12 and may squeeze the eye drop vessel 22 to release a selected number of eye drops. The eye drops may be guided by the funnel 12 so that they leave the funnel 12 via the lower aperture 18 onto the recipient's eye 16 and roll down, if they are not already there, into the inner corner 32. The same steps are carried out using the eye drop vessel 22 on the other funnel 12. The lower aperture 18 may be configured to be sufficiently large to prevent eye drops from bridging over the aperture 18, thereby ensuring that all or substantially all of the eye drops released into the funnel 12 are dropped onto the eye 16 of the recipient. The eye drop vessel may be an eyedropper bottle, which is a bottle containing eye drops whose upper end has a nozzle, such that the bottle itself is inverted and is squeezed to release eye drops from the tip of the nozzle, as shown in the figures. Alternatively, the eye drop vessel may be an eyedropper which is insertable into a container to take in eye drops via suction and which has a bulb at its top end and a nozzle thereunder, wherein the bulb is squeezed in order to release eye drops from the tip of the nozzle. Alternatively, the eye drop vessel may be any other suitable type of vessel for holding and releasing eye drops.

[0024] The eye drop delivery device 10, 50 may be removed after the eye drops have been administered, and the recipient can open their eyes 16. Opening their eyes 16 permits the eye drops that have accumulated at the inner corners 32 to enter their eyes 16. It will be noted that such a technique permits the recipient to receive eye drops comfortably, without the need for the eye drops to be dropped into the recipient's eyes from some height onto the recipient's cornea, as has been done in the past in an attempt to avoid contact of the eyedropper device with a recipient's eyes.

[0025] While the eye drop delivery device 10, 50 has been shown to include two funnels 12, it is alternatively possible to provide only a single funnel 12 with the device 10, 50, along with the support structure which would permit the device to sit on the recipient's face 30 and which would optionally anchor the device to the recipient's nose 36.

[0026] The device 10, 50 has been shown to be supported on the recipient's face 30 only at the nose 36. It is alternatively possible to provide the device 10, 50 with additional or alternative support elements for supporting the device on the recipient's face 30. For example, the device 10, 50 may include a forehead engaging portion that would assist in stabilizing the device 10, 50 on the recipient's face 30.

[0027] Put another way, a method of delivering eye drops to a recipient is provided, comprising:

[0028] Step a), which entails positioning a funnel (e.g. funnel 12) having an upper aperture (e.g. aperture 17) and a lower aperture (e.g. aperture 8) such that the lower aperture is generally above the inner corner of an eye 16 of the recipient, and step b) which entails releasing at least one eye drop from an eye drop vessel (e.g. eye drop vessel 22) into the funnel so that the at least one eye drop leaves the lower aperture of the funnel and reaches the inner corner 32 of the eye. During step b) the eye of the recipient may be closed.

[0029] Optionally, step a) may includes supporting the funnel on the face 30 of the recipient.

[0030] Optionally, during step a), the funnel 12 is sized so that the outlet from the eye drop vessel 22 is kept at least a selected vertical distance from the lower aperture 18, so that the funnel 12 physically prevents contamination of the eye drop vessel by a recipient's eyelashes, which may extend through the lower aperture 18 if the lower aperture 18 is sufficiently close to the recipient's eye. In some embodiments, it may be preferred to position the funnel 12 with the lower aperture 18 relatively close to a recipient's eye to inhibit splashing of the drops that are released from the lower aperture 18 onto the recipient's eye. This distinguishes such embodiments from prior art in which a funnel is held relatively high above the eye. The selected vertical distance that the outlet of the eye drop vessel 22 is kept above the lower aperture 18 may be selected depending on a number of factors, such as, for example, the upper range lengths of human eyelashes. For example, if a relatively high percentage of human eyelashes are less than 15mm in length, then the selected vertical distance may be 15mm, or it may be less, taking into account the distance that the lower aperture 18 is above the recipient's eye. Furthermore, the method may further entail maintaining a vertical spacing between the outlet from the eye drop vessel 22 and the top of the liquid level of any liquid in the funnel 12, if there is liquid that accumulates in the funnel 12, so as to prevent any contamination of the eye drop vessel 22 by direct or indirect contact of a recipient's eyelashes with any liquid in the funnel 12.

[0031] Optionally the funnel is a first funnel (e.g. funnel 17a) and the eye is a first eye 16a and step a) includes positioning a second funnel (e.g. funnel 17b) having an upper aperture and a lower aperture such that the lower aperture of the second funnel is generally above the inner corner of the second eye 16b of the recipient. Step b) would includes releasing at least one second eye drop into the second funnel so that the at least one second eye drop leaves the lower aperture of the second funnel and reaches the inner corner 32 of the second eye 16b. The first and second funnels may be separate or may be connected together.

[0032] In Figure 2a, the first funnel 12a, the first funnel connecter 38a and the first eye 16a have been shown as being on the left side of the recipient, and the second funnel 12b, the second funnel connecter 38b and the second eye 16b have been shown as being on the right side of the recipient. It is alternatively possible however, for the first funnel 12a, the first funnel connecter 38a and the first eye 16a to be on the right side of the recipient, and for the second funnel 12b, the second funnel connecter 38b and the second eye 16b have been shown as being on the left side of the recipient. [0033] The eye drops being provided to the recipient may be for any of several uses. For example, in some instances, the eye drops may be for the purpose of examining the recipient's eyes (e.g. a diagnostic procedure).

[0034] In another embodiment, the invention is directed to the use of an eye drop delivery device such as the device 10 for eye drop delivery. In a particular embodiment the eye drop deliver device has at least a first funnel that has upper and lower apertures and that is configured to prevent the outlet of an eye drop vessel from coming within a selected vertical distance from the lower aperture (i.e. that is configured to keep the outlet of the eye drop vessel at least a selected vertical distance from the lower aperture).

[0035] While the above description constitutes a plurality of embodiments of the present invention, it will be appreciated that the present invention is susceptible to further modification and change without departing from the fair meaning of the accompanying claims.