Abstract:
A pump-type dispenser for dispensing predetermined doses of medicament in droplets or in spray form to the nasal area incorporates a rigid vial for medicament, an expandable pouch located within the rigid vial, a nasal screen, a one-way actuation mechanism, a one-way valve mechanism in the nozzle area and a spring element, both the valve mechanism and the spring element being formed as integral portions of the pump body. The nasal screen aligns the dispenser nozzle with the nasal passage and also allows the user to discreetly hide the nasal area from public view. The one-way valve mechanism in the nozzle area ensures a one-way movement of medicament from the dispenser, thereby preserving substantially perfect sterility of the medicament in the dispenser regardless of the environment surrounding the dispenser, without requiring the use of preservatives. The one-way actuation mechanism enables the user to load and dispense a uniform quantity of medicament with a uniform actuation force and speed via a single continuous motion of the actuation mechanism upon application of a very small force on the actuation trigger mechanism by the user. By preventing the pump mechanism from being left in a loaded state for a prolonged period of time, the one-way actuation mechanism prevents the spring element from experiencing the “fatigue” phenomenon. The rigid vial/expandable-pouch combination facilitates improved long term use, as well as uniformity of dosage independent of the pump orientation.
Abstract:
A nozzle mechanism for generating an aerosol-type liquid discharge is provided, which nozzle mechanism ensures one-way movement of liquid during discharge and also has a substantially zero "dead volume" at the tip of the nozzle. The nozzle mechanism includes a flexible nozzle portion with an outlet and a fluid channel, a rigid shaft received within the flexible nozzle portion, and a rigid housing surrounding the flexible nozzle portion and exposing the outlet. The rigid shaft interfaces the outlet to form a first normally-closed, one-way valve, as well as to define a swirling chamber for collecting the liquid which has been channeled from the liquid reservoir, prior to being discharged via the outlet. The outlet has a tubular wall with thickness that decreases along the elongated axis of symmetry for the outlet toward the tip of the outlet. The fluid channel is circumferentially positioned within the flexible nozzle portion to create swirling action of the liquid delivered to said swirling chamber. Once the pressure on the swirling liquid reaches a threshold pressure sufficient to radially deform the portion of the outlet forming the first normally-closed valve, the liquid in the swirling chamber is discharged through the outlet. The nozzle mechanism is coupled to a flexible body portion which has a substantially tubular shape and a wall thickness which decreases from the bottom of the body portion toward the flexible nozzle portion. The rigid shaft received within the flexible nozzle portions extends down into the flexible body portion so that a second portion of the rigid shaft interfaces the flexible body portion to form a second normally-closed, one-way valve in the fluid communication path between the liquid reservoir and the swirling chamber.
Abstract:
A medicament-dispensing system includes a cartridge for housing and actuating an accordion-like vial-dispenser for dispensing a calibrated amount of medicament by means of a single actuation motion which sequentially loads the vial-dispenser and dispenses the loaded medicament. The vial-dispenser has a front bellows portion, a rear bellows portion, an internal piston mechanism, a medicament storage chamber and a dosage cavity. The cartridge has a trigger mechanism which acts in concert with a notched lever and a wedge-shaped arm internally located in the cartridge to sequentially load the dosage cavity with medicament and discharge it. Depression of the trigger mechanism simultaneously extends, by means of the notched lever, the front bellows portion and compresses the rear bellows portion to load the dosage cavity with medicament. Once the notched lever has extended the front bellows portion a predetermined distance, the notched lever is disengaged from the front bellows portion by the wedge-shaped arm extending from the rear wall of the housing, thereby releasing the front and rear bellows portions, along with the internal piston mechanism, to return to original position and force the medicament from the dosage cavity via a nozzle of the vial-dispenser.
Abstract:
A pump for delivering a fluid contained in an elastic phial includes a pump body and a movable piston fitted inside the pump body. The front end of the pump body is located on a fluid-outlet side, and the front end includes an outlet orifice (11) sealed off by an elastic membrane (24). The outlet orifice is connected to a pump duct (18) inside the pump body, and the pump duct 18 is in turn connected to a fluid-inlet orifice (15). An end (2) of the movable piston is hermetically fitted within the pump duct (18) with slight friction, and the displacement of the end (2) of the piston relative to the portion of the pump body between the inlet orifice (15) and the a stop position (16) near the outlet orifice (11) determines the quantity of fluid expelled from the pump body. The inlet orifice allows a predetermined quantity of fluid to be trapped at the end of the pump duct (18) before being expelled through the outlet orifice (11). With the exception of the front end of the pump body, the pump body and the movable piston are totally enveloped by the elastic phial.
Abstract:
A prosthesis for implanting in an eye has a lens member and a double interface member which is coupled to the periphery of the lens member. The double interface member is comprised of a more superficial branch and a deeper branch which project out from the lens member. The double interface member has a plurality of pores for permitting the ingrowth of tissue to anchor the prosthesis to the eye. The double interface member also has an anatomical structure into which eye tissue is inserted, so as to become an immediate anchor to the eye and an immediate barrier to external pathogens.
Abstract:
An ocular self-treatment apparatus and self-treatment method for simplifying and improving the ease of ocular self-treatment. The apparatus is formed of a frame to be worn by the patient. The frame supports one or two light deviation apparatus. These apparatus deviate the visual access of the patient. The frame also supports one or two dispensers of ocular treatment material. A patient rotates his eye upwards and the light deviation apparatus allows him to observe the lower ocular area. The patient can then evert his lower eyelid and apply ocular treatment material to the cul-de-suc of the conjunctiva.
Abstract:
A valve comprises a shell, a flexible valve member sealingly mounted within the shell, and a valve body mounted atop the flexible valve member within the shell. The flexible member is moveable between closed and open positions to allow the flow of fluid therethrough. The valve is engageable with a filling device having flow ports and a surrounding closure. The closure and/or the shaft is movable between (i) a first position wherein the closure closes the port(s), and (ii) a second position opening the port(s). Alternatively, the valve may comprise a portion of a female connector and the filling device may comprise a portion of a male connector to form an aseptic fluid connector for the aseptic transfer of fluid therethrough.
Abstract:
A device and method for aseptically storing and dispensing a liquid. The device has container forming a variable-volume storage chamber, and a one-way valve coupled in fluid communication with the storage chamber and having an elastic valve member forming a normally closed valve opening. The valve member is movable between a normally closed position, and an open position with at least a segment of the elastic valve member spaced radially away from the closed position to allow the passage of fluid from the storage chamber through the valve opening. The liquid is maintained hermetically sealed in the storage chamber with respect to ambient atmosphere throughout dispensing multiple portions of the liquid from the storage chamber through the one-way valve.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a uniquely configured medicament vial assembly which includes a storage vial, a stopper member and a securing ring. The vial assembly is configured to improve healthcare worker safety by providing a shielded gripping location to aid in the reduction of accidental needle sticks. The storage vial has a body portion which defines an interior chamber for storing a predetermined medicament and a neck portion through which medicament is received into and withdrawn from the interior chamber. The stopper member is inserted into the mouth of the vial and establishes a first seal. The securing ring is engaged with the mouth of the vial and adapted and configured for retaining the stopper member within the vial mouth and effectuating a second seal. The securing ring is formed from a thermoplastic and/or elastic material. Preferably, the securing ring is formed by molding the thermoplastic and/or elastic material over a portion of the storage vial and stopper member when engaged within the vial mouth.