# US 9,039,666 B2 · Method and apparatus for liquid dispensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,666 B2 - Document ID: US9039666B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/632,912 - Filed: 2012-10-01 - Published: 2013-04-04 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-21 - Assignees: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. - Applicants: Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. - Inventors: Leslie A. Voss; Catie A. Morley; Gary S. Hall - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039666B2 ## CPC - A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)} - A61F 9/0008: {Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein (putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00)} - A61F 9/0026: {Ophthalmic product dispenser attachments to facilitate positioning near the eye} - A61M 11/007: {Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers} - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated - 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) ## Abstract This invention provides for a method and a device for dispensing precise quantities of a predetermined volume of medicaments or other liquids onto the eye, via one or more discrete drop(s) generated by the device in a practical and innoxious way to users. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for dispensing a liquid into an ophthalmic environment comprising: an emitter configured to emit radiation of a predetermined wavelength in a direction towards an eye; a sensor configured to detect the wavelength of radiation reflected from the eye, wherein the reflected wavelength will be different based upon whether the eye is in an open state or a closed state; an automated dispenser configured to dispense 3 to 30 microliters of the liquid towards the eye from a distance of 5 to 45 millimeters based upon receipt of a logic signal from a processor that is in logical communication with at least the sensor and the automated dispenser, a steerable nozzle dispensing tip in fluid communication with the automated dispenser to jet dispense and in logical connection with the sensor to minimize manual adjustment by a user, wherein the processor also transmits the logic signal based upon an electrical signal from the sensor indicating whether the eye is in the open state or the closed state to the automated dispenser, wherein the automated dispenser is further configured to respond to the logic signal within 100 milliseconds of the state determination; and wherein the reflected wavelength is indicative of a proper alignment of the apparatus with a predetermined ophthalmic region of the eye. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automated dispenser is further configured to dispense the liquid based upon receipt of the logic signal associated with the eye being in the open state and in the proper alignment with the automated dispenser. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the logic signal coordinates dispensing of the liquid towards the eye in a horizontal trajectory. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the emitter and sensor comprise a camera. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the camera comprises an infrared camera. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the infrared camera further comprises an infrared filter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, additionally including a digital storage storing executable software operative with the processor to cause the processor to be configured to coordinate dispensing of the liquid towards a predetermined ophthalmic region of the eye based upon the wavelength of the reflected radiation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the dispensing of the liquid is based upon receipt of a signal indicating the predetermined ophthalmic region is aligned. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a feedback signaling device in electrical communication with the sensor, wherein the feedback signaling device is configured to be activated based upon a signal from the sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feedback signaling device is an audible signaling device emitting audible signals to a user for an alignment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feedback signaling device is a visual signaling device providing a visual signal to a user for an alignment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the dispensing of the liquid is further based upon the receipt of a signal indicating the eye is in the open state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feedback signaling device is a sensory signaling device configured to provide a change for sensory nerves of a user for an alignment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the feedback signaling device comprises a combination of an audible and a visual signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispensing of the liquid is in predetermined volumes of one or more droplets. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the liquid is at least one of: a discrete drop, a mist, and a vapor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a single dose reservoir and a main reservoir, wherein the single dose reservoir is in communication with said main reservoir and may be filled with approximately a single dose of the liquid to be dispensed upon receipt from the logic signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a tubular cutout, wherein the tubular cutout is configured to coaxially align with a line of sight of a user when the apparatus is in the proper alignment with the predetermined ophthalmic region of the eye. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a positioning device, wherein the positioning device includes at least one alignment leg that presses against a face or a forehead of a user to aid in the proper alignment of the apparatus. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the automated dispenser is further configured to dispense a first portion of a desired volume of the liquid in a first dispensing action based on a first eye-open state determination and dispense a remaining portion of a desired volume of the liquid in a second dispensing action based on a second eye-open state determination. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the second eye-open state determination follows an eye-closed state determination. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, additionally comprising a pump, wherein the processor is further capable of sending an additional logic signal to the pump based on the first portion of the desired volume of the liquid dispensed during the first dispensing action. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the additional logic signal regulates the pump and adjusts a flow rate of the liquid. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the additional logic signal includes at least one of: a signal shape, an amplitude, a frequency, a voltage, and a dosing time.