JPH03251249A - Eye dropper tip for administering liquid, especially eye lotion - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To form a drop of a constant size for a liquid to be dispensed even if a bottle is tilted by ending the outer surface of the top with a semispherical part directly connected to the side of a center channel in the periphery of a circular outlet orifice with a small diameter. CONSTITUTION: An outer surface 116 of the top 106 is ended with a semispherical part 112 with a radius R directly connected to the sidewall 117 of a center channel 107 in the periphery of a circular outlet orifice 109 with a smaller diameter D, and the semispherical part can form a drop of a substantially constant size for a given liquid regardless of the inclination of a bottle when a drop is formed. The radius R of the semispherical part 112 determines the falling drop size formed at the tip 100 of an eyedropper. The diameter D of the outlet orifice 109 is, of course, selected enough smaller not to obstruct a spherical effect, whereby a formed drop adheres to the spherical surface of the whole of the periphery of the tested outlet orifice to slide on the surface when the bottle is inclined during dropping so that the drop size is kept constant for a given liquid.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to eye drops of liquids, particularly eye drops, and more particularly to eye drop bottle tips for use in eye drops.

[0002] Older eye drop bottles consisting of a glass tube and acted upon by a flexible sleeve thrust against the tube have a distal end forming the upper part of the combined bottle, the drop dispensing end, which is particularly suitable for ophthalmic liquids. The tip is sometimes glue welded or snapped onto the bottle.

[0003] For engineering background, see the following citation, U.S. Patent No. 4.138.040.
No. 3.897.670, No. 3.788, 52
8 and 3.572.558, European Patent No. 275
．． No. 754, No. 070.111 and JP-A-25
124s+(4) No. 093.493 and German Patent No. 3.318.039
No. 2.446.564, No. 2.949.26
No. 2, No. 2.722.178, No. 2.605.7
No. 04, No. 2.554.038, No. 2.531.
No. 690 and No. 2.006.108.

[0004] In general, a conventional eyedropper tip is a circular symmetrical body that is secured by the bottom end to the bottle with which it is assembled and has a narrow central channel through the top that widens slightly to a calibrated exit orifice with an annular rim. It is made up of.

[0005] A narrow central channel appears to be essential to slow the outlet flow rate sufficiently and create a drip. This should allow the desired amount of liquid to drip independently of the pressure applied by the user to the body of the bottle.

[0006] Manufacturers have long sought ways to control drop size when the bottle is held vertically.

To this end, numerous trials have been conducted to determine the most convenient dimensions for both the central channel and the annular rim around the calibrated exit orifice.

[0007] Liquid flowing along the central channel of the tip wets the side walls of the channel due to surface tension, thereby initiating drop formation at the tip.

Finding the optimum diameter of the orifice first calibrated to control the size and/or weight of the drop (indicating that the smaller the diameter of the orifice, the less liquid will exit the orifice) secondly the calibrated orifice. Find the optimal diameter outside the annular rim around the orifice or the optimal area extending perpendicular to the central axis of the central channel (
Attempts have been made to show that the annular rim is necessary to hold the infusion by surface tension.

This method is described in particular detail in US Pat. No. 4,584,823.

According to the teachings of this reference, a certified small diameter orifice is used in conjunction with a small diameter (or small area) annular rim and the resulting droplet is small in size. To obtain a large drop size it is necessary to increase both the diameter of the calibrated orifice and the diameter of the annular rim.

The reference dimensions given in this reference correspond to a width of the annular edge corresponding to approximately 1/6 of the diameter of the exit orifice.

[0008] Manufacturers have already found that they encounter difficult problems when attempting to dispense small size drops.

[0009] Applicants may use 20μ depending on the type of ophthalmic solution used.
A number of tests were carried out to provide a dropper tip that dispenses a drop of 30 μl or 30 μl, and while the drop size is known, it depends not only on the viscosity and surface tension of the liquid in question, but also on the angle of inclination of the flask at the time of the drop. I found something very different.

The tilt of the bottle therefore appears to be a very important parameter to influence when it is desired to dispense drops of small size.

The test was carried out for liquids with different viscosities and surface tensions by first holding the bottle vertically and then tilting it (45°
and 10°). These tests showed that drop size variation was in fact highly influenced by bottle tilt.

It is clear that conventional eye drop bottles do not overcome this problem, which seems to have gone unrecognized in the past.

[00101 Various attempts have been made to use a cylindrical tip with a 1.2 mm calibrated exit orifice and a 0.3 mm wide annular rim and a 0.5
The tip has a conical end (half angle of the apex is approximately 50°) connected to an annular edge of mm, and a curved end with a large radius of curvature (
(approximately 6 times the diameter of the orifice being calibrated). However, none of these results yielded satisfactory results.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems with a suitable method that allows the formation of a droplet of substantially constant size for the liquid to be dispensed even if the bottle is tipped when forming the droplet. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an eye dropper tip that can be used.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an eyedropper tip that is capable of obtaining a drop of substantially constant size for all conventional ophthalmic solutions, the size of which is variable for different solutions. varies but remains essentially constant for each individual solution.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to design an eyedropper tip whose shape is compatible with manufacturing by molding.

[0014] More particularly, the invention is characterized in that the upper part terminates in a hemisphere that connects directly to the side of the central channel around a circular exit orifice of small diameter, the hemisphere dispensing the infusion. from a circular cylindrical body with a narrow central channel that widens slightly to a calibrated exit orifice at the top, capable of producing a droplet of substantially constant size for the dispensed liquid independent of the inclination angle of the To provide an eyedropper tip of a bottle for dropping a liquid, especially an eyedropper.

[0015] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the radius of the hemisphere is selected as a function of the desired droplet size and is in the range from 2 to 5 mm, particularly preferably the radius of the hemisphere is from 3 to 4 mm.

Also, the diameter of the exit orifice is 0.8 to 1.4 mm.
The diameter of the outlet orifice is advantageously in the range from 1.0 to 1.3 mm.

[0016] An individual variant in which the lower surface of the hemisphere is advantageously connected to a cylindrical surface of the same radius or to a narrow truncated conical surface is such that the side surface of the central channel to which the hemisphere is connected is located close to the outlet orifice. It is preferred that it is itself cylindrical, and more precisely that the sides of the central channel are frustoconical with a small diameter of about 0.2 nm and a large diameter equal to the diameter of the exit orifice, with the cylindrical part of said faces being less than or equal to 1 mm in height. Approximately 0.5mm
It is.

[0017] Finally, the eye dropper tip is preferably made of a plastic material, preferably low density polyethylene. In a variant, the eye dropper tip is made of glass or metal, preferably aluminum.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of specific embodiments, set forth in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows the overall assembly 1 of the prior art. The assembly consists of a bottle 2 carrying an eyedropper tip 3 (the eyedropper tip forms an integral part with the bottle body, ie the assembly is made in one molding operation). The bottom of the tip is provided with an external thread 5 for receiving the closing lid 4 (indicated by dotted lines).

[0020] Figure 2 more clearly shows the shape of the upper part 6 of the eyedropper tip 3.

The inside of this upper part has a narrow central channel in which the axis 20 coincides with the axis of the entire assembly. The bottom of the central channel 7 communicates with the interior space 10 of the bottle, but has an orifice of very small diameter which limits the flow rate to the required, preventing the liquid from being forced out in the form of a jet, especially when the user squeezes the bottle. It has 8. Above the restriction 8 is a narrow truncated conical surface 1 extending all the way to the certified exit orifice 9.
There are 7. On the outside, there is a portion 12 up to where it intersects with the annular edge 11.
A side surface 16 of the upper taper extends perpendicularly to the axis 20 such that an outer surface 16 and an inner surface 17 respectively pass through the outer and inner circumferences of the annular edge.

[0021] As explained above, the prior art is formed with an eyedropper tip 3, the diameter of the outlet orifice 9 and the annular rim 1 as a function of the size and/or weight required for the drop of the liquid to be dispensed.
It teaches selecting an area of 1.

However, the drop size actually appears to depend not only on the viscosity and surface tension of the liquid in question, but also to a much greater extent on the angle of inclination of the bottle at the time of the drop.

[0022] The prior art is also illustrated in variant 3' shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with corresponding items marked with corresponding numbers and "'' symbols.

In this modification, the tip 3' of the eye dropper bottle is attached to the bottom 13' (edge 1
It is made in the form of a separate body which fixes the bottle (in the form of a stopper with 4' on it) to the bottle. This variant also has a frustoconical projection 15' which embodies the bottom of the central channel 7'.

The most striking difference compared to the previous embodiment is that in this case there is a conical end that intersects the slightly conical annular edge 11' (approximately 50° at the 1/2 angle of the apex). It is to be.

Tests carried out on eyedropper tips of this type have not yielded satisfactory results [0023] Another conventional variant is shown in Figures 5 and 6, the items marked with corresponding numbers and the symbol """. has been done.

A slight difference from the variant shown in Figures 3 and 4 is the outer shape of the upper part 6'' of the eyedropper tip 3''. The outer surface 16'' is curved with a large radius of curvature, in this case approximately 6 times the diameter of the exit orifice 9''.

Tests conducted here again did not yield satisfactory results.

As explained above, applicants conducted tests using a cylindrical tip (not shown) with a 1.2 mm calibrated exit orifice and a 0.3 mm wide annular rim, and again the results were was not very good.

[0024] In order to gain a better understanding of the degree of drop volume variation that can be obtained using the above mentioned eyedropper tips, in particular as a function of the tilt of the bottle, the following table It is a compilation of various test results conducted.
Each test was performed with a different ophthalmic solution to cover the range of viscosities and surface tensions commonly encountered. This table shows the standard deviation of the drop volume (μl) obtained for three different bottle tilt angles (vertical bottle, bottle tilted 45° horizontally and bottle tilted 10° horizontally). Each was done 20 times)
Shown with

In the second table tips 1 and 2 correspond substantially (but with different dimensions) to the prior art variants shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;
The tip 3 has a 1.2mm calibrated exit orifice and a 0.2mm calibrated exit orifice.
It corresponds to the cylindrical tip described above with an annular edge of 3 mm width.

Tip test solution droplet F size standard deviation (μm) Vertical 45° bottle Bottle lOo bottle tip 1 0.25% 0.3% 0.6% 0.4% V V 28.3±1.0 18 .9±1,9 27.5±1.5 30.3±3.6 27.3±3.3 29.2±3.5 25.2±2.0 28.9±1.6 42. 0±8.0 37.0±7.0 31.5±2.7 28.3±1.4 31.9±2.1 45.4±369 41.3±4.5 0.25% Tip 20.3% 0.6% 42.7±1.4 30.1±1.4 43.7±1.5 43.9±2.4 37.7±1.2 29.5±1.1 36.4±1.9 44.6±4.5 32.2±2.1 30.3±1.5 31.0±2.5 48.9±5-3 0.25% Tip 30.3 % 0.6 % 26.0±0.6 14.8±1.3 22.8±1.5 24.6±1.8 22.0±066 14.9±0.8 22.7±2 .6 22.5±2,7 24.7±3.0 17.3±], 0 24.2±3.3 31.7±3.6 W = deionized water T = Timoptic (registered trademark) N =Noroxine® GV=Zellite® excipient G T =Zellite®/timolol and % is W/■.

[0025] Figures 7-9 illustrate an eyedropper tip 100 according to the present invention. This tip uses many features such that the corresponding items refer to the same number and 100 as the variations of FIGS. 3-6 described above.

[0026] According to a substantial aspect of the invention, the outer surface 116 of the upper portion 106
terminates in a hemisphere 112 of radius R connected directly to the side wall 117 of the central channel 107 around a circular exit orifice 109 of smaller diameter, which hemisphere dispenses independently of the tilt of the bottle when the drop is formed. Droplets of substantially constant size can be formed for the liquid to be applied.

[0027] Generally, the radius R of the hemispherical portion 112 determines the size of the drop formed and dispensed by the eyedropper tip 100. The diameter of the exit orifice 109 is of course selected to be small enough so as not to interfere with the spherical effect, so that the drop formed thereby adheres to all spherical surfaces around the calibrated exit orifice, and when the bottle is tilted during dripping, it adheres to several spherical surfaces. As a completely original method it can be ensured that the size of the drop by sliding on it remains constant with respect to the liquid being administered.

[0028] In practice, the radius R of the hemisphere 112 is selected to be 2-5 mm, and the diameter of the calibrated exit orifice 109 is 0.8-1.4 mm.

In individual cases of ophthalmic liquids exhibiting viscosity and surface tension commonly encountered, the radius R is preferably 3 to 4 mm,
The diameter is preferably 1 to 1.3 mm.

[0029] Table II below sets forth the results of various tests conducted using eye dropper tips according to the present invention under the same conditions as the tests conducted with the prior art tips summarized in Table 1 above.

1 season Kaihei 3-z5x24t, 1 (11) Tip test bath drop size standard deviation (μl) Vertical 45° bottle Bottle tip of bottle 10' [R = 3.0 0. :(% D=1.3 0.25 % ±1.0 ±2.2 ±1.3 ±3.2 ±2.2 ±2.1 ±1.1 ±2.1 ±2.2 ±2 .1 ±1.6 ±2.5 Tip J 1 (= 3.2 0.3% D=1.3 0.25 % ±2.4 ±3.4 ±1.2 ±3.] ±2. 8 ±1.5 ±1.0 ±4.2 ±2.5 ±17 ±1.5 ±2.4 Tip K R=Cf1 0.3% 1)=1.3 0.25% ±3.7 ±6.0 ±3.1 ±4.3 ±1.6 ±1.7 ±2.8 ±3.2 ±1.9 ±2.0 ±2.9 ±2.7 Tip 14 R=3. 0 r)=1.0 0.3% 0.25 % 'l''f' G V CG■ ±1.8 ±1.8 ±0.6 ±1.5 ±0.9 ±1.0 ± 1.6 ±1.3 ±1.6 ±0.7 ±1.9 ±1.6 ±1.1 ±1.4 ±1.1 W; Deionized water N = Noroxin ′I゛ = Demobutic TGV = Timolol gelrite excipient CGV=C
A I Gelrite excipient, very viscous [0030] Parameters R and D were tested for four types of tips in the above coating TI, and the mentioned tip ■, tip J, tip K and tip tip were as follows: That's right.

Tip I: R=3.0mm, D=1.3mm Tip: R=3.7mm, D=1.3mm Tip: R=4.0mm, D=1.3mm Tip: R=3. 0mm, D=1.0mm [003
1] Comparing Tables ■ and II, it is clear that the hemispherical shape has a very significant effect.

This is a very good eye dropper tip since the drop size is substantially constant for the liquid being administered, especially eye drops, regardless of the tilt of the bottle when forming the drop.

[0032] Furthermore, below the hemispherical part 112 can follow a cylindrical surface 116 of the same radius or more advantageously a narrow truncated conical surface 116 as shown in FIG. Accordingly, it is easy to manufacture by molding.

The shape of the central channel can be adapted to individual applications.

In FIG. 9, the central channel 1070 frustoconical side 11 terminates near the exit orifice 109 in the form of a small cylindrical top 118. By way of example, the height of the cylindrical part 118 is less than 1 mm, preferably less than about 0.5 mm, with the above-mentioned effective parameters R and D (the diameter of the cylindrical part 118 is of course the same as the diameter of the outlet orifice 109 calibrated). equal).

The variant shown in FIG. 10 differs from the previous variant only in the shape of the central channel.

The sides 117' of the central channel 107 widen in a frustoconical manner all the way to the calibrated exit orifice 109.

In both cases a truncated conical side surface 117 or 11 with a smaller diameter d of approximately 0.2 mm in the orifice 108 and a larger diameter equal to the diameter in the outlet orifice 109.
There is a 7′.

[0033] The eye dropper tip of the present invention is preferably made by molding a plastic material. Although several plastics are suitable, it is preferred to use polyethylene or low density polyethylene.

However, glass or metal (e.g. aluminum)
It is also possible to fabricate the tip in this way using

[0034] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but on the other hand encompasses any modification using equipartial means to reproduce the substantial features of the claims.

[0035]

[Brief explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows a bottle carrying a prior art eye dropper tip.

FIG. 2 shows a II-
This is part II.

FIG. 3 shows another prior art eyedropper tip with a conical end made independently of the bottle to which it is subsequently fixed and connected to an annular rim.

FIG. 4 is a related axial portion taken along the line ■v-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows yet another prior art eye dropper tip having a curved end with a large radius of curvature.

FIG. 6 is a relevant axial section taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows an eyedropper tip according to the invention with an upper part terminating in a hemisphere (radius R) connected to the side of the central channel with a circular exit orifice of small diameter (D).

FIG. 8 is a relevant axial section taken along VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged half-section of the eyedropper tip of the present invention, revealing the shape of the upper end of the tip.

FIG. 10 is another fragmentary section of an enlarged half showing a deformation in which the central channel has a frustoconical surface extending all the way through until it connects with the hemisphere (the central channel is joined at the upper end by a short cylindrical section). (Different from Figure 9, which is finished).

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Eye drop bottle 2 Bottle body 3 Eye drop bottle tip 4 Closed lid 5 External thread 6 Upper part of eye drop bottle tip 7 Center channel 8 Orifice 9 Exit orifice 10 Internal space 11 Annular edge 12 Tip part 13' Bottom of eye drop bottle tip 14′ edge 15' Projection 16 Upper outer surface 17 truncated conical surface 20 axes eye drop bottle tip eye drop bottle tip Top of eye dropper tip central channel orifice exit orifice interior space hemisphere Eye drop bottle tip bottom edge protrusion Tip outer surface central channel side wall central channel side wall shaft

【Document name】

drawing

[Figure 6]

[Figure 7]

[Figure 8]

[Figure 10]

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. The outer surface (116) of the upper part (106) has a central channel (109) surrounding a circular exit orifice (109) of small diameter (D).
The hemispherical part (107) is directly connected to the side surface (117) of the
112), the hemisphere is characterized by an upper portion capable of creating a droplet of substantially constant size for the liquid to be dispensed, regardless of the tilt angle when dispensing the droplet. The eye dropper tip of a bottle for dropping liquids, especially eye drops, consists of a circular cylindrical body with a narrow central channel that widens slightly to an exit orifice. 2. Eyedropper tip according to claim 1, wherein the radius (R) of the hemisphere (112) is selected as a function of the desired drop size and lies in the range from 2 to 5 mm. 3. Eyedropper tip according to claim 2, wherein the radius (R) of the hemisphere (112) is preferably between 3 and 4 mm. 4. The exit orifice (109) has a diameter (D) of 0.8 to 1.
Eyedropper tip according to any of claims 1 to 3, which is 4 mm. 5. The diameter (D) of the exit orifice (109) is preferably 1.
Eyedropper tip according to claim 4, having a diameter in the range of 0 to 1.3 mm. [Claim 6] The lower surface of the hemispherical portion (112) is a cylindrical surface (116) with the same radius.
The eyedropper tip according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is connected to the eyedropper tip. 7. The eyedropper tip according to claim 1, wherein the lower surface of the hemispherical portion (112) is connected to a narrow truncated conical surface (116). Claim 8: A central channel (10) to which the hemisphere (112) is connected.
The sides (117, 118) of the outlet orifice (10
Eyedropper tip according to any of the preceding claims, which is itself cylindrical (118) adjacent to 9). 9. The upper cylindrical part (118) of the side surface (107) of the central channel (117) has a height of less than 1 mm, preferably about 0.5 mm.
The eye drop bottle tip according to claim 8. 10. Side faces (117, 107') of the central channel (107, 107').
Eyedropper tip according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the eyedropper tip (117') is frustoconical with a small diameter (d) of approximately 0.2 mm and a large diameter equal to the diameter (D) of the exit orifice (109). 11. Eyedropper tip according to claim 1, made of plastic material, preferably low density polyethylene. 12. Eyedropper tip according to claim 1, made of glass or metal, preferably aluminium.