# US 2008/0097359 A1 · Atomizer for applying liquids onto eyes

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- Number: US 2008/0097359 A1
- Document ID: US20080097359A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/958,619
- Filed: 2007-12-18
- Published: 2008-04-24
- Earliest claimed: 2001-06-29
- Inventors: Dieter Hochrainer; Bernd Zierenberg; Michael Diestelhorst; Isolde Martin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20080097359A1

## CPC

- B05B 11/1091: {being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released (B05B11/1092 takes precedence)}
- A61M 11/00: Sprayers or atomisers specially adapted for therapeutic purposes (in general B05B; {aerosol containers B65D83/14})
- A61M 11/006: {operated by applying mechanical pressure to the liquid to be sprayed or atomised}
- A61M 15/007: {Mechanical counters}
- B05B 11/108: {Means for counting the number of dispensing strokes}
- A61F 9/0026: {Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye}
- A61H 35/02: for the eyes
- A61M 11/008: {by squeezing, e.g. using a flexible bottle or a bulb}
- A61M 2210/0612: Eyes
- B05B 11/1001: {Piston pumps (B05B11/1087, B05B11/1088, B05B11/109 take precedence)}
- Y10T 137/7909: Valve body is the weight
- Y10T 137/7916: With closing stop
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention relates to atomizers for administering liquids to the cornea or conjunctiva of the eye, special eye adapters for atomizers and the use of atomizers for opthalmological administration. The atomizers according to the invention are free from propellant gas and have an energy reservoir for supplying the energy needed for the atomization process.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An atomizer that does not require the use of a propellant for administering liquids to the cornea or conjunctiva of the human or animal eye comprising
an upper housing part,
a locking mechanism,
a spring housing,
a spring,
a pump housing which is secured in the upper housing part and which comprises at one end a nozzle body with a nozzle or nozzle arrangement,
a hollow plunger with valve body,
a power takeoff flange in which the hollow plunger is secured and which is located in the upper housing part,
a locking mechanism situated in the upper housing part,
a spring housing with a spring contained therein, which is rotatably mounted on the upper housing part by means of a rotary bearing,
a lower housing part which is fitted onto the spring housing in the axial direction,
a storage vessel for the liquid to be administered, and
an adapter in the form of a cavity surrounded by a wall with two openings, wherein
one opening surrounds the nozzle in such a way that a jet spray emerging therefrom is conveyed exclusively into the cavity and
the second opening, which is opposite from the first, and which has an outer contour which is such that the opening surrounds the visible part of the eye of a person or animal without directly touching the eye.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer contour of the second opening of the adapter is oval in plan view and in cross section takes the form of a concave curved line with a longer end and a shorter end.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter is indivisibly attached to the atomizer as an integral part thereof.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the adapter is fitted onto a projection close to the nozzle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the average particle size in the spray mist produced thereby is between about 1 and about 20 microns.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that the average speed of the particles in the spray mist produced, at a spacing from the nozzle of about 1 to about 5 cm, is no more than about 50 metres per second.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The atomizer according to claim 1, characterised in that openings in the adaptor are provided in the side wall of the adapter.