Means and method for dispensing substances

A dispensing means for accurate, uniform, and reliable unit dose dispensing of ophthalmic substances including solids, liquids, and semi-solids, comprising:

• a forward member having a bore extending between front and back opposite ends;
• a disposable, replaceable, removable unit dose tip means having a bore extending therethrough for containing a pre-loaded unit dose substance, the unit dose tip means including a proximal end and an outwardly extending non-enclosed distal end with the unit dose being held therebetween;
• securing means for mounting the proximal end of the tip means to the front end of the forward member, the tip means extending to said non-enclosed distal end for application of the unit dose to a user's eye, the tip means then being disposable;
• and
• a rearward member including a plunger means having a forward end which is translateably movable within the bore of the forward member and within the bore of the tip means to dispel the pre-loaded substance upon movement of the forward member with respect to the rearward member when the tip means is secured to the forward member, but without extending out of the distal end of the tip means.

A means for accurate and safe single unit dosage dispensing of ophthalmic substances including solids, liquids, and semi-solids, and gels comprising:

• a disposable replaceable tip means having a capillary-type bore extending therethrough pre-loaded with the single unit dosage of the substance, the tip means including a proximal end and an outwardly extending non-enclosed distal end with the unit dosage of the substance being held in the capillary-type bore of the tip means;
• an annular flange at the proximal end of the tip means surrounding and extending generally radially outwardly from the capillary-type bore of the tip means, the tip means extending to said non-enclosed distal end for application of the unit dose to a user's eye, the tip means then being dispensable;
• and
• a dispenser body means having a front end including a receiving means for releasably securing the annular flange of the tip means.

A method for accurate and safe single unit dosage dispensing of ophthalmic medications and substances including solids, liquids, semi-solids, and gels comprising:

• pre-loading a pre-measured single unit dosage of substance in a disposable tip having a capillary-type bore therethrough, the tip having a proximal end and an non-enclosed distal end;
• detachably securing the proximal end of the disposable tip to a dispensing means having a forward member which includes a bore therethrough, and a rearward member having a plunger which is slidably movable within the bore of the forward member, the tip extending to said non-enclosed distal end;
• using the distal end of the tip to dispense the single unit dosage to a user's eye;
• moving the forward member with respect to the rearward member so that the plunger moves through the bore of the forward member and the bore of the tip means to dispel the substance from the bore of the tip means;
• precluding the plunger from moving outside the distal end of the tip to protect the user's eye during dispensing of the single unit dosage;
• and
• removing the tip means after dispensing the single unit dosage to enable another disposable tip means to be secured to the dispensing means for another single unit dosage application of the substance.

A dispensing means for substances including solids, liquids, and semi-solids, comprising:

• a forward member having a bore extending between front and back opposite ends;
• a removable tip means having a bore extending therethrough for containing a pre-loaded substance;
• securing means for mounting the tip means to the front end of the forward member, the securing means comprising an annular flange means on the tip means and receiving means positioned at the front end of the forward member for releaseably securing at least a portion of the annular flange means to the forward member, the receiving means comprising a recess in the front end of the forward member of slightly larger inside diameter than the outside diameter of the annular flange means, and including retaining means to releasably secure the annular flange to the recess;
• a stop means for preventing rotation of the tip means relative to the bore of the tip means when secured to the forward section;
• and
• a rearward member including a plunger means having a forward end which is translateably movable within the bore of the forward member and within the bore of the tip means to dispel the pre-loaded substance upon movement of the forward member with respect to the rearward member, when the tip means is secured to the forward member.