JP6281966B1 - Eye drop device - Google Patents

Abstract

An eye drop device that accurately ejects an appropriate amount of drug solution to a drug solution administration portion of an eyeball and that can be easily handled by a user.
An arrangement unit in which a container containing a chemical solution is arranged, an injection mechanism that injects the chemical solution in a horizontal direction, a control unit that outputs a drive signal to the injection mechanism, the arrangement unit, the injection mechanism, and the An ophthalmic apparatus comprising a housing for accommodating a control unit therein, wherein the housing is configured to be in close contact with an operation switch for operating the control unit and an orbital lip of the subject. And a cylindrical portion having a cylindrical tip edge portion and a chemical solution injection port formed at the center of the cylindrical tip edge portion, and the tip edge portion of the cylindrical portion has the eye open. When the eyeball is closely in contact with the orbital lip of the eye, the tip edge of the cylindrical portion holds the upper and lower eyelids of the subject to suppress closing of the eye, and the liquid medicine injection port is a liquid medicine for the eyeball. An ophthalmic device characterized by being positioned so as to face the administration part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an eye drop device for administering a liquid to the eye.

  Many ophthalmic medical conditions can be effectively treated by administering a drug solution to the eye. Examples of such chemical solutions include β-blockers for glaucoma treatment, or prostaglandin preparations, antibiotics for treatment of corneal infection, and artificial tears for treatment of dry eye (dry eye). In order to obtain a desired therapeutic effect by administering a drug solution to the eye, it is necessary to administer the drug solution regularly and regularly.

  Many of the therapeutic agents used in the ophthalmic field are liquid drug solutions. Therefore, the conventional eye drop uses a method in which the chemical solution is dropped from the nozzle provided at the tip of the container containing the chemical solution toward the eyeball surface. However, this method has a problem in that the patient neglects instillation due to the complexity of the operation associated with dripping the face upward. In addition, this method has a problem in that the chemical solution cannot be administered in the same amount each time because the chemical solution is pressurized and the chemical solution is pushed out and dropped from the container by the pressure. Furthermore, since the pressure applied to the container varies from patient to patient, it is difficult to administer a predetermined amount of the drug solution, and there is a difference in the dose of about 30-50 μl per drop with a commercially available drug solution in a container. It also has the problem of coming out. As described above, in the administration of drug solutions in the ophthalmic field, it is difficult to administer the same amount of drug solution for each patient as in oral administration.

  Further, for example, although a glaucoma drug solution is expensive, it is effective even when about 20 μl is dropped. However, as described above, there is a problem that an excessive amount of drug solution is administered by the conventional method of dropping a drug solution. . In addition, an over-administered drug solution is absorbed into the body through the nasolacrimal duct without being held on the surface of the eyeball, causing an inappropriate physiological phenomenon, or a drug solution overflowing from the eye causes a physical malfunction. For example, when a prostaglandin preparation is used, there is a problem that black pigmentation occurs around the eye due to a chemical solution overflowing from the eye.

  Living creatures with eyelids have a habit of closing the eyelids reflexively when an object suddenly approaches the eye due to a reaction called eyelid reflex. Since the eyelid reflex causes the eyelid to close in response to the drug solution dropped onto the eyeball, there is a problem that the drug solution cannot be accurately administered to the eyeball.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem of the method of administering the drug solution dropwise, there is a method of controlling the administration of the drug solution using an apparatus.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a small device that can be easily used by a patient as an apparatus for administering eye drops to an eyeball. However, although Patent Document 1 discloses a liquid container having a supply nozzle, a dosing chamber, and a mechanism related to liquid discharge, it teaches that the amount of liquid discharged from an operating mechanism is controlled and adjusted for each use. Absent.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 disclose spectacle-type devices having a chemical liquid administration section in a frame portion. Patent Document 2 discloses a sensor that detects opening and closing of a bag, but since it is a glasses type, adjustment of the device is required for each user. On the other hand, the invention described in Patent Document 3 includes an eye alignment device that detects whether the eye is at the administration position, but requires various and large-scale devices such as a controller and a computing device and can be used easily. is not.

  Patent Document 4 discloses an ophthalmic spray supply device. The ophthalmic spray supply device administers an extremely small amount of ophthalmic drug by an ultrasonic mesh atomizing mechanism and deposits it on the surface of the eyeball. Patent Document 5 also discloses a spray device that administers fluid in the form of mist or spray. Although these devices can administer very small amounts of eye drops, they are not only administered to the surface of the eyeball due to the atomization of the eye drops, but may adhere to the skin around the eyes.

JP 2006-305347 A Patent No. 4006280 JP 2005-21701 A Japanese Patent No. 5145514 Patent No. 5960840

  As described above, in the conventional eye drop device, problems still remain with respect to the design related to the injection of the chemical liquid and the design related to the structure that is easy for the user to use. Therefore, there is a need for an eye drop device that is easy for the user to use and that accurately injects a chemical solution.

  Therefore, the eye drop device of the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides an eye drop device that can easily handle an appropriate amount of a drug solution by accurately injecting it into a drug solution administration part of an eyeball.

The invention according to claim 1
An arrangement part in which a container containing a chemical solution is arranged;
An injection mechanism that is connected to the container and injects the chemical in the container in a horizontal direction;
A control unit for outputting a drive signal for driving the injection mechanism to the injection mechanism;
An eye drop device comprising a housing that houses the arrangement unit, the injection mechanism, and the control unit,
The housing includes an operation switch for operating the control unit;
A cylindrical part having a cylindrical tip edge part to be brought into close contact with the orbital lip of the subject ;
A nozzle having a through-hole and a chemical injection port at the center of the cylindrical tip edge ,
When the distal edge of the cylindrical portion is brought into close contact with the orbital lip of the subject whose eyes are open, the distal edge of the tubular portion holds the upper and lower eyelids of the subject. Is closed, and the drug solution injection port is positioned to face the drug solution administration part of the eyeball,
The drive signal is a pulse signal;
By operating the operation switch, a pulse signal whose pulse width and / or pulse interval is adjusted is output from the control unit,
The injection mechanism is a piezoelectric micropump that can instantaneously inject the required minimum amount by a single drive by adjusting the pulse width and / or pulse interval,
The nozzle is connected to a discharge port of the piezoelectric micropump,
The length of the through hole is 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm,
The diameter of the chemical injection port is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm,
The present invention relates to an eye drop device characterized by being able to always administer a predetermined amount of a medical solution for treatment.

The invention according to claim 2
The ophthalmic device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection mechanism is provided with a plurality of the operation switches, and outputs a pulse signal having a different pulse width according to an operation of each of the operation switches .

The invention according to claim 3
It includes a chemical liquid supply pipe for supplying a chemical liquid to the injection mechanism from the container, according to claim 1 or 3, wherein said chemical liquid supply pipe is attachable removable independently of the container and the injection mechanism It is related with the eye drop apparatus.

The invention according to claim 4
The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an antibacterial shutter that opens and closes the chemical liquid ejection port is provided.

The invention according to claim 5
It has removable cap by the chemical injection port, wherein the cap is a cap for moisturizing containing an antimicrobial agent, regarding ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

The invention according to claim 6
Wherein the subject is an animal, to ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

An injection mechanism for injecting a chemical solution in the horizontal direction, a control unit for outputting a drive signal for driving the injection mechanism to the injection mechanism, and a tip edge of the cylindrical portion pressing the upper and lower eyelids of the subject to close the eyes The eye drop device is characterized in that the medical solution injection port is positioned so as to face the medical solution administration portion of the eyeball, and the user who is the subject needs to face upward when administering the chemical solution to the eyeball. Therefore, the drug solution can be accurately administered to the administration part of the eyeball.
In addition, according to the eye drop device that outputs a pulse signal whose pulse width and pulse interval are adjusted, it is possible to administer an appropriate amount (always set amount) of a medical solution for treatment without providing various and large-scale devices. Therefore, the user can easily handle the eye drop device of the present invention.
Furthermore, according to the eye drop device in which the chemical solution supply pipe can be attached and detached, or provided with an antibacterial cap or shutter, it can be prevented from being contaminated with bacteria, and sterility can be ensured. it can.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows an example of the eye drop apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the use condition of an eye drop apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between a piezoelectric micro pump, a nozzle, an antibacterial shutter, a disposable tube, and an eye drop bottle. It is a figure which shows an example of the front-end | tip edge part of an eye drop apparatus, and a moisture retention cap. It is a figure which shows the pulse signal output to a piezoelectric element from a drive circuit.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an example of an eye drop device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a usage state of the eye drop device. The X direction is the forward direction, the Y direction is the left-right direction, and the Z direction is the vertical direction.

  The eye drop device (100) includes a substantially T-shaped housing (10) in a side view. And although mentioned later for details, the arrangement | positioning part (20) by which an eye drop bottle (container) (21) is arrange | positioned in the predetermined position in a housing | casing (10), a pump unit (injection mechanism) (30), A drive circuit (control unit) (41), a control circuit (control unit) (42), and a button battery (power source) (50) for supplying power to the drive circuit (41) and the control circuit (42) are arranged. ing. In the present embodiment, a commercially available product can be used as the eye drop bottle (21). For example, a product containing a chemical solution such as a β-blocker or a prostaglandin preparation is used.

<Shape (10) Shape (External Configuration)>
The casing (10) includes a cylindrical horizontal portion (11) having a central axis in the X direction and a cylindrical vertical portion (12) extending downward (Z direction) from the central portion of the cylindrical horizontal portion (11). ). The cylindrical vertical portion (12) is grasped with one hand as shown in FIG. 2, and is operated with a finger to output an input signal to the control circuit (42) or the like at a predetermined position on the outer periphery thereof. An operation switch (12a) to be operated is formed.

  The cylindrical horizontal portion (11) includes a front side portion (cylindrical portion) (13) having an annular tip frame (tip end portion) (13a) and a rear side portion (14). The ring-shaped tip frame (13a) is slightly larger than the size of the human eye and is made of rubber or the like, and is brought into close contact with the human eye by being pressed along the orbital lip of the human eye. The injection port (31) is configured to come to a position facing the drug solution administration part of the human eyeball.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the circular moisturizing cap (13b) can be attached to and detached from the annular tip frame (13a) by a human. Examples of the material of the moisturizing cap (13b) include polyurethane and rubber, and preferably contains an antibacterial agent such as benzalkonium chloride.

  With such a shape of the housing (10), the user removes the moisturizing cap (13b) from the distal end frame (13a), and then grips the cylindrical vertical portion (12) with one hand and moves forward (X The tip frame (13a) is brought into intimate contact with the orbital lip with the direction facing. At this time, when the user closes the tip frame (13a) to the orbital lip with the eyes open, the upper eyelid and the lower eyelid are pressed by the tip frame (13a) and the eyes are prevented from being closed. be able to.

<Internal configuration of housing 10>
The arrangement portion (20) is formed in the rear side portion (14), and a circular lid (14a) can be attached to and detached from the rear end portion of the rear side portion (14). Thereby, the lid (14a) is removed, and the eye drop bottle (21) is arranged on the arrangement part (20).

The pump unit (30) includes a piezoelectric micro pump (30a) and a nozzle (30b), and is installed in the front side portion (13).
Examples of the piezoelectric micro pump (30a) include a piezoelectric diaphragm type metal micro pump manufactured by Kikuchi Manufacturing Co., Ltd. The piezoelectric micro pump (30a) has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped case of 10 mm × 11 mm × 2.7 mm, and the case has a discharge port (31a) and a suction port (31b) having an outer diameter of 1.2 mm and an inner diameter of 0.7 mm. And are formed. In the case of the piezoelectric micropump (30a), the piezoelectric element (for example, lead zirconate titanate) connected to the drive circuit (41) via the cable (43), the discharge port (31a), and the suction port A liquid chamber connected to the mouth (31b).
The nozzle (30b) is arranged so that the central axis is in the X direction (horizontal direction), and a through hole (flow path) is formed in the center. Examples of the shape of the nozzle (30b) include a quadrangular prism, a cylinder, a substantially quadrangular prism, and a substantially cone. The inlet (31c) of the through hole is connected to the discharge port (31a) of the piezoelectric micro pump (30a), and the outlet of the through hole becomes the chemical solution injection port (31). The chemical injection port (31) is disposed so as to be located at the center of the annular tip frame (13a). The length of the through-hole is 1.0 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less from the viewpoint of accurately administering the drug solution to the administration part of the eyeball, and the diameter of the drug solution ejection port accurately administers the drug solution to the administration part of the eyeball It is preferable that it is 0.1 mm or more and 0.3 mm or less from a viewpoint to do.

  On the other hand, a distal end portion of a circular disposable tube (chemical solution supply tube) (22) is detachably disposed at the suction port (31b) of the piezoelectric micropump (30a), and the distal end of the disposable tube (22). The part is arranged in the eye drop bottle (21). FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship among the piezoelectric micro pump (30a), the nozzle (30b), the disposable tube (22), and the eye drop bottle (21). The diameter of the disposable tube (22) is preferably 1.0 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less. However, the suction port (31b) of the piezoelectric micropump (30a) may be directly connected to the eye drop bottle (21) without using the disposable tube (22).

  And as shown in FIG. 3, the circular antimicrobial shutter (32) is installed ahead of the circular chemical | medical solution injection port (31). Thereby, when the antibacterial shutter (32) is opened, the chemical liquid ejection port (31) is released, and when the antibacterial shutter (32) is closed, the chemical liquid ejection port (31) is blocked. The antibacterial shutter can be opened and closed by a driving mechanism (not shown). Examples of the material of the antibacterial shutter (32) include polyurethane, rubber, and the like, and preferably contains an antibacterial agent such as benzalkonium chloride.

  According to such a pump unit (30), when a drive signal is output from the drive circuit (41) to the piezoelectric element, the antibacterial shutter (32) is opened and the piezoelectric element is operated, so that the eye drop bottle (21 ) Is sucked into the disposable tube (22), and the chemical liquid is ejected from the chemical liquid ejection port (31) in the -X direction (horizontal direction).

  The control circuit (42) is installed in the cylindrical vertical portion (12), and outputs a control signal to the drive circuit (41) based on an input operation by the user with the operation switch (12a). For example, when the user presses the operation switch (12a), the control circuit (42) outputs a control signal indicating that the operation switch (12a) has been pressed to the drive circuit (41). A plurality of operation switches (12a) may be formed, and the control circuit (42) may output a control signal indicating which operation switch (12a) is pressed to the drive circuit (41). . Thereby, for example, when the first operation switch (12a) for administering the drug solution to the eyes of the “child” is pressed, a pulse signal composed of one pulse having the first pulse width A is output. The control signal is output to the drive circuit (41). On the other hand, when the second operation switch (12a) for administering the drug solution to the “adult” eye is pressed, a control for outputting a pulse signal composed of one pulse having the second pulse width B is performed. The signal is output to the drive circuit (41). That is, a control signal for outputting a pulse signal composed of pulses having different pulse widths A and B depending on the administration target “child” and “adult” can be output to the drive circuit (41).

The drive circuit (41) includes a programmable pulse generator, a pulse amplifier, and the like, and is installed in the cylindrical vertical portion (12). Based on the control signal input from the control circuit (42), A pulse signal composed of a set number of pulses having a preset pulse width as a drive signal is output to the piezoelectric element of the pump unit (30). For example, when a control signal for outputting a pulse signal composed of one pulse having the first pulse width A is inputted, the pulse signal composed of one pulse having the first pulse width A is converted into a pump unit. Output to the piezoelectric element (30). At this time, even if the state in which the operation switch (12a) is pressed is maintained, only one pulse having the first pulse width A is output by one press.
On the other hand, when a control signal for outputting a pulse signal composed of one pulse having the second pulse width B is inputted, the pulse signal composed of one pulse having the second pulse width B is converted into a pump unit. Output to the piezoelectric element (30). At this time, even if the state where the operation switch (12a) is pressed is maintained, only one pulse having the second pulse width B is output by one press.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a pulse signal output from the drive circuit to the piezoelectric element. In this way, in order to output a pulse signal composed of one pulse having the first pulse width A to the piezoelectric element of the pump unit (30), a position corresponding to one pulse having the first pulse width A is provided. By deforming the piezoelectric element by the fixed amount A ′, it is possible to instantaneously eject the chemical solution of the set amount A ″ corresponding to the predetermined amount A ′ from the chemical solution ejection port (31). When a pulse signal composed of one pulse having the second pulse width B is output, the piezoelectric element is deformed by a predetermined amount B ′, and a set amount B ″ of the chemical solution is ejected.

As described above, according to the eye drop device (100) according to the embodiment, it is not necessary for the user as the subject to face upward when administering the medicinal solution to the eyeball, and the medicinal solution is accurately administered to the administration portion of the eyeball. can do.
In addition, according to the eye drop device (100) that outputs a pulse signal in which the pulse widths A and B are adjusted, an appropriate amount (always set amount) A ′ of a medical solution for treatment is provided without providing various and large-scale devices. Since ', B''can be administered, the user can easily handle the eye drop device (100) of the present invention.
Furthermore, according to the eye drop device (100) in which the disposable tube (22) can be attached and removed, or provided with the moisturizing cap (13b) and the antibacterial shutter (32), the chemical solution is contaminated with bacteria. Can be prevented, and sterility can be ensured.

<Second embodiment>
In the eye drop device (100) described above, the control circuit (42) is configured to output a control signal for outputting a pulse signal composed of one pulse to the drive circuit (41). For example, a control signal for outputting a pulse signal composed of pulses such as these may be output to the drive circuit.

<Third embodiment>
In the eye drop device (100) described above, the user holds the cylindrical vertical part (12) with one hand, and closes the distal end frame (13a) to the orbital lip in a state of facing the front direction (X direction). The configuration may be such that the cylindrical vertical portion (12) is held with one hand, and the distal end frame (13a) is brought into close contact with the orbital lip of the animal.

<Fourth embodiment>
In the eye drop device (100) described above, the distal end frame (13a) is further divided into two upper and lower half frame portions, and when the eyelid is brought into close contact with the orbital lip, the 2 A configuration may be adopted in which the frames are divided and moved independently in the upward and downward directions to forcibly open the eyelids.

  The eye drop device according to the present invention is useful as an eye drop device for administering a liquid to the eye.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Case 11 Cylindrical horizontal part 12 Cylindrical vertical part 12a Operation switch 13 Front side part (tubular part)
13a Annular tip frame (tip edge)
13b Moisturizing cap 14 Rear side (tubular part)
14a Lid 20 Arrangement part 21 Eye drops bottle 22 Disposable tube (medical solution supply tube)
30 Pump unit (injection mechanism)
30a Piezoelectric micropump 30b Nozzle 31 Chemical solution injection port 31a Discharge port 31b Suction port 31c Through-hole inlet 32 Antibacterial shutter 41 Drive circuit (control unit)
42 Control circuit (control unit)
43 Cable 50 Power supply 100 Eye drop device

Claims (6)

An arrangement part in which a container containing a chemical solution is arranged;
An injection mechanism that is connected to the container and injects the chemical in the container in a horizontal direction;
A control unit for outputting a drive signal for driving the injection mechanism to the injection mechanism;
An eye drop device comprising a housing that houses the arrangement unit, the injection mechanism, and the control unit,
The housing includes an operation switch for operating the control unit;
A cylindrical part having a cylindrical tip edge part to be brought into close contact with the orbital lip of the subject ;
A nozzle having a through-hole and a chemical injection port at the center of the cylindrical tip edge ,
When the distal edge of the cylindrical portion is brought into close contact with the orbital lip of the subject whose eyes are open, the distal edge of the tubular portion holds the upper and lower eyelids of the subject. Is closed, and the drug solution injection port is positioned to face the drug solution administration part of the eyeball,
The drive signal is a pulse signal;
By operating the operation switch, a pulse signal whose pulse width and / or pulse interval is adjusted is output from the control unit,
The injection mechanism is a piezoelectric micropump that can instantaneously inject the required minimum amount by a single drive by adjusting the pulse width and / or pulse interval,
The nozzle is connected to a discharge port of the piezoelectric micropump,
The length of the through hole is 1.0 mm to 3.0 mm,
The diameter of the chemical injection port is 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm,
An eye drop device characterized by being capable of always administering a predetermined amount of a medical solution for treatment.   The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the operation switches are provided, and a pulse signal having a different pulse width is output by operating each of the operation switches.   The chemical solution supply pipe for supplying a chemical solution from the container to the injection mechanism is provided, and the chemical solution supply pipe can be attached and detached independently of the container and the injection mechanism. Eye drop device.   The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an antibacterial shutter that opens and closes the chemical liquid ejection port.   The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the eye drop device has a cap detachable at the chemical solution injection port, and the cap is a moisturizing cap containing an antibacterial agent.   The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subject is an animal.

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