GB2243782A - Eyebath - Google Patents

Abstract

The eyebath comprises a well 2 for cleansing liquid operatively connected with a reservoir 3 which includes means for transferring said liquid into the well, preferably by virtue of the reservoir being resilient so that squeezing thereof causes the liquid transfer, while relaxation of the squeezing pressure causes the liquid to be returned to the reservoir thereby to irrigate the eye. Liquid passes into the well through inclined channels 15 which direct a liquid stream generally tangentially to the well. An inturned annulus may be provided in the well to increase the vortexing of the solution and retain any particles washed from the eye. A magnetic element may be provided in the floor of the well to trap ferrous particles suspended in the eyewash liquid and the well floor may also have an incised groove for the trapping and retaining of particles. <IMAGE>

Description

MAGNETIC MASSAGING EVEBATH.

The present invention relates to eyebaths, and particularly eyebaths including a magnetic disc. The device is permanently ready for use, may readily be used safely by children and is designed to be carried, for example, by operatives in workshops, etc.

It has long been a problem that persons engaged in handling chemicals are liable to receive splashes of corrosive chemicals in the eye. A delay of only a few seconds may be decisive in deciding whether sight is retained or not.

Even if copious quantities of water are available, tilting the head back and opening the eye tends to drive contaminants to the back of the eye. Whereas water may be available at places of work, solutions formulated to neutralise the likely effects of chemicals being handled are extremely rarely to hand, and even if they are, applying them using a traditional eyebath is time consuming and there is the risk of dirt from the afflicted person's hands contaminating the solution.

Traditionally, eyebaths of plastic or glass are filled with an eyewash, held against the eye, the eyelids are opened and the head is tilted back. The quantity of eyewash applied is strictly limited to the size of the eye bath.

With the head tilted back, contaminants may be washed to the back of the eye. The present invention is intended for use with the head tilted down, so that contaminants are not washed to the back of the eye, and the removal of particles of dust, grit or rust, for example, is assisted by gravity. The quantity of eyewash solution held in the reservoir is generally sufficient to wash both eyes. Since the quantity is so great, the diluting action of the eye wash solution is commensurately increased.

One of the major sources of eye infection and damage is particles of rust and steel, for example, entering the eyes of people working under vehicles. Such particles are highly abrasive to the cornea and may be contaminated or infected. The present invention provides a magnetised element at the bottom of the well of the eye bath so that ferrous particles will adhere to the element and not be recirculated with the eyewash solution back into the eye.

Similarly, there is provided a groove incised in the bottom of the eyebath so that non-ferrous particles may be retained.

Although the eye is one of the strongest organs of the body, it is also extremely sensitive. Many people find it difficult to treat the eye, especially if the eye is irritated. Children, for instance, tend merely to rub the closed eyelid, thereby increasing the irritation. Clearly it is advantageous to have available an easy-to-apply solution which may be applied with the head facing down, and in such a way so that even with heavily swollen eyelids which may be difficult or painful to retract, eyewash solution may be gently applied under sufficient pressure to ensure that the whole eye is irrigated.

Another typical problem is that persons in a coma or who have been injured often cannot retract the eyelids and tilt back the head on demand. To do so might restrict their breathing, for example. It is advantageous to be able to treat such people with the head facing downwards and to be able to irrigate the eye satisfactorily without their active participation.

Accordingly in the present invention, there is provided in one aspect, an eyebath, characterised in that the said eyebath comprises a well in operative connection with a reservoir for cleansing liquid and in that the reservoir connection with a reservoir for cleansing liquid and in that the reservoir includes means for transferring cleansing liquid into the well.

In another embodiment, the invention comprises an eyebath1 characterised in that there is provided a magnetic element in the floor of the well to trap ferrous particles suspended in the eyewash liquid.

In another preferred embodiment, the means for transferring liquid is a channel connecting the well of the eyebath to the reservoir and is characterised in that there is provided at least one, and preferably three channels regularly disposed about a vertical axis which direct a stream of liquid generally tangentially to the well.

In another embodiment, there is provided a casing with a removable lid to prevent the ingress of contaminants, said casing being characterised in that it is so constructed as to provided support for the eyebath and is adapted to retain the eyebath in a predetermined position, ready for immediate use; a portion of the casing being optionally adapted to house a reservoir of eyewash solution.

A further embodiment also includes the provision of at least one groove incised into the floor of the well characterised in that said groove is so incised as to trap and retain particles thrown outward against the wall of the well by the rotational movement of the cleansing liquid, whereby saidparticles fall to the floor of the well when said rotational movement decreases.

In another embodiment. the reservoir is so dimensioned as to contain a greater volume of liquid than the volume of the well, said well being characterised in that it is provided with a pin-hole or notch near the top edge so as to prevent excess pressure being exerted on the eyeball, or the formation of a vacuum when the resilient reservoir is released.

In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided within the well an inturned annulus, characterised in that said annulus is so dimensioned and positioned as to increase the vortex of the solution and its irrigating effect of the eye, whilst also serving to retain any particles washed from the eye within the well, in that they are thrown outwards by centrifugal force and prevented from being washed into the eye by the rim.

The resilient reservoir and that of the casing may be kept ready charged with a suitable eyewash solution, which may be of a general purpose formulation or specially formulated for the kind of task performed by users of the eyebath and the likely damage possibly to be suffered by the eye. The eyebath1 which may be of plastics1 may be furnished with a channel through the floor of the well of the eyebath. The reservoir, for example surgical rubber, may be attached to a downwardly depending extension on the eyebath. Channels may be provided through this extension, inclined in two planes about a common centre around a vertical axis, so that pressure exerted on the reservoir causes the eyewash solution therein to pass into the eyebath.

Gentle pressure occasions a gradual transfer of eyewash solution through the inclined channels to the eyebath; harder pressure causes a vortex as the said solution rotates about the eyebath in a semi-horizontal plane. The amount of squirt directly into the eye. The provision of a small hole or groove near the top edge of the well prevents the build up of excessive presure on the eyeball or the formation of a vacuum when the resilient reservoir is released.

A magnetised element may be provided in the floor of the well of the eyebath. Ferrous particle suspended in the eyewash solution are attracted to, and held on, said element. In the floor of the eyebath, an annular groove may be so incised that particles, especially non-ferrous particles, may be retained therein. Alternate squeezing and release of the reservoir augments the cleansing action of the eyewash solution. Sufficient eyewash solution may be retained in the reservoirs to treat both eyes. The eyebath may readily be applied to the eye with the head tilted downwards.

The invention will now be described, by way of illustration only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows a vertical cross section viewed from the front, Figure 2, a vertical cross section viewed from the side, and Figure 3, a horizontal cross section of the eyebath and extension, viewed from above.

In reference, particularly to Figure 1, a casing (8) made of plastics material, has a detachable lid (1) to prevent the ingress of contaminants. The casing is generally rectangular in shape, and contains a reservoir (9) for eyewash liquid in the lower portion, access to said reservoir being through a plastics plug (10), said plug being provided with a slot or groove so that it may be turned using a coin or screwdriver, for example. Internally, there is provided all inwardly directed annulus which snugly supports the exterior of the well (2).

The eyebath is thus retained inside the casing (8) by the configuration of the casing1 but is easy to extract when needed. The casing also serves to ensure that the eyebath is kept sterile. The casing is provided with rounded corners for ease of carrying, and is constructed of materials that can tolerate sterilisation.

An extension (5) extends downwardly from the floor of the well (2), said extension being provided with tangential channels (15), inclined in two planes and having a common centre about a vertical axis. Pressure on the reservoir causes liquid to transfer into the well (2) from the resilient reservoir (3). The harder the squeezing pressure exerted, the greater the degree of rotation of the cleansing liquid. Squeezing the resilient reservoir (3) also regulates the amount of liquid transferred and the pressure exerted on it. It will be appreciated that alternate squeezing and release of the reservoir will cause any particles suspended in the liquid to pass over the magnetic element, when ferrous particles will be deposited, and over the incised groove (6), where particles whether ferrous or non-ferrous will be retained.Particles tend to be flung out to the side of the well (2) by the rotation of the liquid.

The reservoir (3), is made of a resilient material, such as a surgical rubber, having a desired resilience. When pressed, and released, it will return to its original shape. It is held retained to the extension (5) by a retainer (4).

The whole is easily disassemblable for ease of maintenance and sterilisation.

In use, the detachable lid (1) is removed and the eyebath extracted. The eyebath is held against the eye and the resilient reservoir (3) is squeezed, thereby forcing eyewash solution from the reservoir through the inclined channels (15) into the well (2). Slight pressure on the resilient reservoir (3) causes the cleansing liquid to pass through the inclined channels (15) slowly.

Greater pressure causes the eyewash solution to rotate in a semi-horizontal plane around the well of the eyebath (2). Clearly, the amount of eyewash solution entering the eye is easily controlled by the user. With the eyebath held to the eye, and with the head tilted downwards1 repeated squeezing and release of the resilient reservoir (3) augments the effect of gravity in removing particles and contaminants from the eye. A hole (14) or groove near the top of the well (2) prevents the build up of excessive pressure on the eye and prevents the formation of a vacuum when the resilient reservoir (3) is released. As ferrous particles are washed out of the eye, they are attracted to the magnetic element (7) and retained thereupon. Other particles may be retained in the incised groove (6), incised annularly around the floor of the well.

The invention may be successfully used on persons who have suffered injury, say in motor vehicle accidents. Because it is precharged with eyewash solution, there is no damaging delay in neutralising contaminants and since the invention is so simple to use, children may use it unattended.

Claims (10)

1 An eyebath, comprising a well for a cleansing liquid; characterised in that the well is in operative connection with the reservoir for the cleansing liquid and in that the reservoir includes means for transferring said liquid into the well.

2 An eyebath according to Claim 1; characterised in that the transferring means is provided by a resilient bulb also forming the reservoir, whereby squeezing of the bulb causes the liquid transfer. and in that relaxation of the squeezing pressure causes the liquid to be returned to the reservoir from the well.

3 An eyebath according to Claim 1 or Claim 2; characterised in that a magnetic element is disposed in the eyebath or reservoir to retain ferrous particles.

4 An eyebath according to any preceding Claim; characterised in that an incised groove is disposed annularly about the floor of the well.

5 An eyebath according to any preceding Claim; characterised in that the operative connection is formed by at least one channel which directs a stream of liquid generally tangentially of the well.

6 An eyebath according to any of preceding Claim; characterised in that there are 3 channels regularly disposed about a common vertical axis.

7 An eyebath in accordance with any preceding Claim; characterised in that an outer casing is provided for the support of the eyebath and adapted to retain the eyebath in a predetermined position ready for instant use.

8 An eyebath in accordance with any preceding Claim; characterised in that the well of the eyebath is provided with an inturned annulus1 said annulus being so dimensioned and positioned as to retain particles thrown outwards by centrifugal force in use.

9 A method of irrigating the eye which comprises causing a captive eyewash to flow against the eye by applying a positive pressure to the eyewash,.and subsequently applying a negative pressure to said eyewash to draw contaminants over a filter means to remove them from the eyewash before re-use.

10 An eyebath substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to and/or as illustrated in Figures 1 - 3 of the accompanying drawings.