Autoclaveable small-volume dropper bottle

1. A terminally sterilizable container comprising:

a polypropylene bottle having a body with a manually squeezable sidewall with a thickness preventing more than about 6% water loss over a period of about 24 months, the bottle having a threaded neck with a neck diameter smaller than a body diameter;

said body having a top rounded shoulder below the neck, a concave bottom with a bottom rounded shoulder subtending said concave bottom and said sidewall, the top and bottom shoulder having radii providing autoclave produced pressure distribution and deformation resistance;

an elongated tip snap fitted to said neck and having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said body and a drop dispensing orifice; and

a threaded cap engaging said threaded neck and having a cap body enclosing said elongated tip and a closed end with a nub sealing the orifice preventing autoclave produce pressure leaks.

2. The container according to claim 1 wherein said top rounded shoulder includes a surface defined by a radius of about 0.15 inches.

3. The container according to claim 2 wherein said bottom rounded shoulder includes a surface define by a radius of about 0.12 inches.

4. The container according to claim 1 wherein said neck includes a peripheral ratchet and said caps includes a plurality of pawls engaging the ratchet.

5. The container according to claim 1 wherein the cap closed end includes a convex inner surface supporting said nub.

6. The container according to claim 1 wherein said bottle has a volume of between about 5 ml and about 6 ml.

7. The container according to claim 6 wherein the side wall therein is between about 0.022 inches and about 0.024 inches.

8. The container according to claim 7 further comprises an autoclavable ophthalmic solution disposed in said polypropylene bottle.

9. A terminally sterilizable container comprising:

a polypropylene bottle having a body with a manually squeezable sidewall with a thickness preventing more than about 6% water loss over a period of about 24 months, the bottle having a threaded neck with a neck diameter smaller than a body diameter;

said body having a top rounded shoulder below the neck, a concave bottom with a bottom rounded shoulder subtending said concave bottom and said sidewall, the top and bottom shoulder having radii providing autoclave produced pressure distribution and deformation resistance;

an elongated tip snap fitted to said neck and having a lumen therethrough in fluid communication with said body and a drop dispensing orifice;

a threaded cap engaging said threaded neck and having a cap body enclosing said elongated tip and a closed end with a nub sealing the orifice preventing autoclave produce pressure leaks; and

an autoclaveable ophthalmic solution disposed in said polypropylene bottle.

10. The container according to claim 9 wherein said top rounded shoulder includes a surface defined by a radius of about 0.15 inches.

11. The container according to claim 10 wherein said bottom rounded shoulder includes a surface defined by a radius of about 0.12 inches.

12. The container according to claim 9 wherein said neck includes a peripheral ratchet and said caps includes a plurality of pawls engaging the ratchet.

13. The container according to claim 9 wherein the cap closed end includes a convex inner surface supporting said nub.

14. The container according to claim 9 wherein said bottle has a volume of between about 5 mL and about 6 mL.

15. The container according to claim 14 wherein the side wall therein is between about 0.022 inches and about 0.024 inches.