Device and method for administering liquid to the ear canal

A delivery device for administering liquid to a patient, the device comprising:

• a bottle including a flexible bottle body and a threaded bottle neck;
• a threaded bottle cap screwed onto the bottle neck, the bottle cap including a central opening;
• a valve assembly connected to the bottle cap, the valve assembly including a liquid nozzle that extends out from the bottle cap, a liquid metering valve positioned within the bottle body, and a liquid delivery tube that extends from the liquid nozzle, through the central opening of the bottle cap, through the bottle neck, and to the liquid metering valve, wherein the liquid nozzle includes a central opening that extends through its tip and lateral slits that extend through sides of the liquid nozzle, wherein the liquid metering valve includes a valve body that defines an interior space having a lower valve seat at one end, an upper valve seat at another end, and a buoyant float element being contained within the interior space between the valve seats, the valve body further including a vent hole through which fluid can pass into and out from the bottle body, the valve assembly further including an air vent tube that extends through the central opening of the liquid nozzle and into the liquid delivery tube;
• and
• an ear canal locating element mounted to the liquid nozzle of the valve assembly, the ear canal locating element being configured to receive a tragus of the patient's ear in a manner in which, when the tragus is so received, the liquid nozzle is aligned with the patient's ear canal,
• wherein liquid contained in the bottle body fills the liquid metering valve and the liquid delivery tube when the bottle is inverted to collect a predetermined volume of liquid and wherein the predetermined volume of liquid is ejected from the lateral slits of the liquid nozzle when the bottle body is squeezed to deliver the predetermined volume of liquid to the patient, and
• wherein air from outside of the device can travel through the air vent tube, through the liquid delivery tube, through the liquid metering valve, and into the bottle body after the predetermined volume of liquid has been ejected to equalize pressure within the bottle.