APPLICATOR FOR SUPERFICIAL CORNEAL MEDICAMENTS

摘要

An applicator for applying fluid medicaments to a corneal surface of a patient, after surgery, includes a circular, ring-shaped member. The ring member creates an aperture which extends between parallel planes, with a wall surrounding the aperture as well as upper and lower openings into the aperture. The wall around the aperture is tapered, and there is a hole that extends through the wall. A hollow shaft is connected in fluid communication with the hole in the wall through which a fluid can be injected into the aperture. A bubble of the fluid can then be cradled in the aperture by the wall, and held therein by surface tension across the lower opening of the aperture. An application of the fluid bubble onto the patient's eye requires only contact between the fluid bubble and the eye, with no need for contact between the applicator and the eye.

主权项

1. A fluid medicament applicator which comprises:
an elongated, hollow shaft having a proximal end and a distal end with a lumen extending therebetween, wherein the shaft defines a shaft axis and has a decreasing taper in a distal direction; a ring member connected with the shaft, wherein the ring member surrounds an aperture and defines a ring plane with a central axis centered in the aperture and perpendicular to the ring plane, and wherein the aperture of the ring member is in fluid communication with the lumen of the shaft; and a means connected with the proximal end of the shaft for injecting the fluid medicament into the aperture of the ring member to create a bubble of fluid medicament held therein by surface tension across the aperture, prior to an application of the fluid medicament.