Granted Patent B2

US 12,290,472 · App. 17/692,991 · Granted May 6, 2025

Inventor: Yehuda Ivri (Newport Coast, CA)

Assignee: BAUSCH + LOMB IRELAND LIMITED

A61F9/0026

Abstract

Claims (17)

1. Apparatus for delivering a liquid to an eye of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a) a reservoir assembly; and

b) an actuator assembly;

c) wherein the reservoir assembly includes a reservoir configured to contain the liquid and a check valve, wherein the check valve includes an aperture through which the liquid can be dispensed and a pin member that engages with the aperture to provide a normally closed configuration of the check valve;

d) wherein the actuator assembly includes an actuator configured to provide a mechanical excitation to the reservoir assembly that generates a corresponding hydrodynamic excitation of the liquid;

e) wherein the hydrodynamic excitation of the liquid ejects the liquid through the aperture by elastically deforming the aperture to open the check valve; and

f) wherein the actuator assembly can be connected to and disconnected from the reservoir assembly by a user, whereby the reservoir assembly is disposable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an optical sensor configured to provide a measurement of a frequency of the mechanical excitation.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a mechanical connection between the actuator assembly and the reservoir assembly is provided by a first permanent magnet disposed on the actuator assembly and a second permanent magnet disposed on the reservoir assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a mechanical connection between the actuator assembly and the reservoir assembly is provided by a pin disposed on the actuator assembly configured to engage with a hole disposed on the reservoir assembly.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a mechanical connection between the actuator assembly and the reservoir assembly is provided by a ridge disposed on the actuator assembly configured to engage with a slot disposed on the reservoir assembly.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a vibration motor having an eccentric mechanical load relative to an axis of rotation of the vibration motor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the reservoir assembly is supported by a flexible member, whereby operation of the vibration motor generates the hydrodynamic excitation of the liquid by oscillating the reservoir assembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir includes a vent.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the vent includes a filter configured to ensure that air that enters the reservoir is sterile.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a concave mirror configured to provide an in-focus image of the patient's eye to the patient when the apparatus is positioned properly to deliver the liquid to the eye of the patient.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly further includes one or more components selected from the group consisting of: battery compartments, batteries, wireless communication devices, wired communication ports, and actuation switches.

Assignments (8)

Continuity (6)

References Cited (358)