JP2004148052A - Eyedropper and eyedropper adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

An eyedropper and an adapter for an eyedropper that allow an ophthalmic solution to be injected into eyes without turning the face upward.
An eyedropper adapter has a body, and an eyedropper is mounted in a mounting hole of the body. The body 16 is provided with a spouting section 20 for spouting eye drops from the spout 18. The ejection unit 20 includes a liquid passage 22 through which the ophthalmic solution is transferred, a pressure increasing unit 24 that increases the pressure in the liquid passage 22 by a pressing operation with a finger, a one-way valve 26 disposed in the liquid passage 22, and the like. It is composed of The pressure increasing section 24 includes an expansion / contraction section 28 and a communication path 1610 connecting the expansion / contraction section 28 and the liquid path 22.
[Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an eyedropper (eyedropper container) and an adapter for an eyedropper (eyedropper container).
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional eye dropper, an eye drop is injected into an eye by turning a face upward and dropping a drop of the eye drop from above.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there is a problem that it is not easy to inject eye drops into the eyes of elderly people or physically disabled people who cannot turn their faces upward.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an eyedropper and an adapter for an eyedropper that enable an ophthalmic solution to be injected into eyes without turning the face upward. It is in.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an eyedropper including a container for accommodating an ophthalmic solution, and an ejection unit for ejecting the ophthalmic solution, wherein the ejection unit includes a liquid passage through which the ophthalmic solution is transferred. A pressure-raising unit that increases the pressure in the liquid path by a pressing operation with a finger, and a one-way valve disposed in the liquid path, and one end of the liquid path in the longitudinal direction is inside the container. The other end of the liquid path in the longitudinal direction is formed as a spout through which the ophthalmic solution is spouted, and the pressure increasing portion is configured so that the liquid between the communication port and the spout in the liquid path is formed. The one-way valve is provided between the communication port and the liquid path part, and the one-way valve is provided in the liquid path from the communication port of the ophthalmic solution to the ejection port direction. Is configured to allow only the movement of In ophthalmic solution is characterized in that it is configured to be ejected from the ejection port.
Further, the present invention is an eyedropper adapter to be attached to a droplet outlet of an eyedropper, wherein the adapter has a body attached to the droplet outlet, and the body squirts the eyedrop. A spouting section, the spouting section includes a liquid path through which the ophthalmic solution is transferred, a pressure increasing section that increases the pressure in the liquid path by a pressing operation with a finger, and a liquid passage provided in the liquid path. A directional valve, and one end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid path is formed as a communication port communicating with the droplet lower port, and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid path is formed as a spout through which the ophthalmic solution is jetted. The pressure-raising portion communicates with the liquid passage portion between the communication port and the ejection port in the liquid passage, and the one-way valve is provided between the communication port and the liquid passage portion, The one-way valve is a spout from the communication port of the ophthalmic solution in the liquid path. Is configured to permit only the movement of the direction, eye drop by pressing the pressure rise portion is characterized in that it is configured to be ejected from the ejection port.
[0005]
According to the present invention, since the ophthalmic solution is ejected by pressing the pressure increasing portion, the ophthalmic solution can be injected into the eye regardless of whether the face is directed forward or downward.
[0006]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of an eyedropper adapter according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1A is a plan view of an eyedropper adapter mounted on an eyedropper, and FIG. 1B is a front view thereof.
The eyedropper adapter 12 is attached to the eyedropper 14.
The eyedropper 14 is made of a synthetic resin. As shown in FIG. 10, the eyedropper 14 has a cylindrical container 1402 for storing eye drops, and a bulge formed at an end in the longitudinal direction of the container 1402. The container 1402 is formed so as to be deformed inward by a pressing operation with a finger and to return to its original shape by elasticity when the pressing operation is released.
The swelling portion 1404 is provided with a male screw 1406 for mounting a cap (not shown), and a leading end of the swelling portion 1406 has an opening for dropping a drop of eye drops 1408.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 1, the eyedropper adapter 12 has a body 16, and the body 16 is formed of a hard synthetic resin.
The body 16 is provided with a spout 20 for spouting the ophthalmic solution from the spout 18. The spout 20 is provided with a liquid path 22 through which the ophthalmic solution is transferred and a liquid path 22 in the liquid path 22 by a pressing operation with a finger. It is configured to include a pressure increasing portion 24 for increasing pressure, a one-way valve 26 disposed in the liquid passage 22 and the like.
[0008]
2A is a plan view of the body, and FIG. 2B is a front view of the body.
At one end in the longitudinal direction of the body 16, there is provided a mounting hole 1602 which is mounted on the droplet lower port 1408 of the eyedropper 14, and a female screw which can be screwed into the male screw 1406 of the eyedropper 14 in the mounting hole 1602. 1604 is formed.
A small-diameter portion 1606 having a size corresponding to the outer diameter of the droplet lower port 1408 of the eyedropper 14 is formed at the back of the mounting hole 1602.
The fluid passage 22 extends coaxially with the small diameter portion 1606 from the deep portion of the small diameter portion 1606 to the inside of the body 16, and the fluid passage 22 opens at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the body 16. I have.
In addition, communication passages 1610 are formed from both opposing side surfaces of the body 16 so as to intersect at right angles with the 22 liquid passages near the small diameter portion 1606.
Further, a male screw 1612 is formed at the other end in the longitudinal direction of the body 16, and a head 1614 shown in FIG. 5 is attached by being screwed to the male screw 1612, and the jet port 18 is attached to the head 1614. The passage 1616 is provided at an end of the formed passage 1616, and communicates with the liquid passage 22. The head 1614 is made of, for example, stainless steel, and a cap (not shown) is attached to the head 1614 when not in use. Note that the head 1614 may be formed integrally with the body 16.
In the present embodiment, the liquid passage 22 is formed with a diameter of 1.5 mm, the communication passage 1610 is formed with a diameter of 0.5 mm, and the passage 1616 is formed with a diameter of 0.3 mm. That is, the communication path 1610 is formed as a small-diameter hole having a diameter of 1/3 or less of the liquid path 22 so that the ophthalmic solution is hard to enter, and the passage 1616 is formed so that the ophthalmic liquid is ejected linearly against gravity. It is formed as a small-diameter hole having a diameter of 1/5 or less of 22.
[0009]
3 and 4 are cross-sectional views of the pressure-increasing portion and the one-way valve portion. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the ophthalmic solution in the eyedropper is being injected into the fluid path, and FIG. The state is shown.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the one-way valve 26 is disposed at the back of the small diameter portion 1606.
The one-way valve 26 includes a ring-shaped washer 2602, a valve element 2604, and a ring-shaped washer 2606.
As shown in FIG. 6, the washer 2602 is formed of a rigid material such as stainless steel.
As shown in FIG. 8, the washer 2606 is formed of, for example, rubber having elasticity.
The hole diameter of the washer 2606 is formed smaller than the hole diameter of the washer 2602.
By setting the outer diameter of the washer 2606 to be slightly larger than the inner diameter of the small-diameter portion 1606, the axial movement of the one-way valve 26 is fixed. Means for fixing the axial movement of the one-way valve 26, such as providing a large-diameter portion and inserting the one-way valve 26 into the large-diameter portion to fix the axial movement of the one-way valve 26. May be provided.
[0010]
The valve body 2604 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is formed in a shape in which one side of a disk is cut off as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and the center of the washer 2602 is formed in the center. A piece 2604A having a width smaller than the hole diameter and larger than the hole diameter of the washer 2606 is formed through the slits 2604B on both sides, and the piece 2604A is provided with its upper portion serving as a fulcrum in the thickness direction of the valve body 2604. It is formed to be swingable.
A one-way valve 26 is formed by incorporating a washer 2602, a valve element 2604, and a washer 2606 in the deep portion of the small diameter portion 1606, and the one-way valve 26 is, as shown in FIG. 2604A swings into the hole of the washer 2602 due to the pressure of the above, allows the eye drops to move from the liquid drop lower port 1408 to the liquid path 22, and as shown in FIG. Alternatively, the piece 2604 </ b> A closes the hole of the washer 2606 due to the pressure in the liquid channel 22, and prevents the eye drops from moving from the liquid channel 22 to the droplet lower port 1408 side.
In the present embodiment, the “liquid path” in the claims is composed of the liquid path 22 and the small diameter portion 1606, and the “communication port” in the claims is equivalent to the small diameter section 1606. are doing.
[0011]
The pressure increasing section 24 is composed of the communication path 1610 and the expanding / contracting section 28.
The expansion / contraction portion 28 has a thin plate member 2802 protruding in a hemispherical shape attached to both side surfaces of the body 16 via washers 30 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B with screws 32 (see FIG. 1). 9A, reference numeral 3002 indicates an insertion hole for the screw 32, and reference numeral 1620 indicates an internal screw screwed into the screw 32 in FIG.
The plate member 2802 is formed of an elastic member such as rubber or the like, and is disposed such that the opening of the communication path 1610 is located inside the hemispherical portion.
[0012]
Next, a method of using the eyedropper adapter 12 will be described.
The eyedropper 14 is mounted in the mounting hole 1602 of the body 16 via the male screw 1404 and the female screw 1604.
In this mounted state, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the distal end portion of the eyedropper 14 having the droplet outlet 1408 elastically contacts the end surface of the washer 2606.
Next, the container 1402 of the eyedropper 14 is pinched.
Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the ophthalmic solution in the container 1402 swings the piece 2604A in the hole of the washer 2602, and reaches the liquid path 22 through the holes of the washers 2606 and 2602. In this case, the ophthalmic solution is injected up to the liquid passage 22 before the communication passage 1610. When the picking of the container 1402 is released, the piece 2604A returns elastically, and closes the hole of the washer 2606.
[0013]
Next, as shown in FIG. 4, both enlarging / reducing portions 28 are pinched by fingers. That is, the expanding and contracting portions 28 on both sides are pressed.
By this pressing operation, the expansion / contraction section 28 is elastically deformed inward, and the air in the expansion / contraction section 28 is pressure-fed from the communication path 1610 to the liquid path 22, and the pressure in the liquid path 22 is increased.
Due to the rapid rise in the pressure in the liquid passage 22, the state in which the hole of the washer 2606 by the piece 2604A is closed is maintained, while the ophthalmic solution in the liquid passage 22 is spouted as if water is spouted from a water gun. From 18, a very thin line is ejected linearly on the extension of the passage 1616.
Therefore, since the ophthalmic solution is spouted linearly against the gravity, the spout 18 is directed toward the eyes even when the user faces the face forward or face down. The ophthalmic solution can be reliably injected into the eye by a simple operation such as pinching the portion 28 with a finger.
In addition, since the eye drops stored in the liquid passage 22 between the communication path 1610 and the ejection port 18 are ejected by pinching the two enlargement / reduction portions 28, the volume of the enlargement / reduction portion 28 is appropriately set. Alternatively, by appropriately setting the volume of the liquid passage 22 between the communication passage 1610 and the ejection port 18, the amount of the ophthalmic solution ejected when the two expansion / contraction portions 28 are pinched can be easily adjusted to a desired amount. Can be set to
[0014]
If the body 16 is made of a transparent material, for example, a transparent synthetic resin, the accommodation state of the ophthalmic solution in the liquid passage 22 can be visually recognized from the outside, which is advantageous in improving the usability of the eyedropper. .
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the ophthalmic solution is ejected linearly by the pressing operation of the enlargement / reduction unit 28 has been described, but the ophthalmic solution is atomized by changing the shape of the ejection port 18 (passage 1616). It may be made to eject.
Further, the communication path 1610 is provided with a one-way valve that allows movement of air from the expansion / contraction section 28 toward the liquid path 22 and prevents movement of air and liquid from the liquid path 22 toward the expansion / contraction section 28, The eye drops may be prevented from entering the communication passage 1610. In this case, a hole may be formed in the portion of the expanding / contracting portion 28 that can be pinched by a finger so that the expanding / contracting portion 28 can be instantaneously elastically restored when the pinching operation is released.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the eyedropper adapter 12 has been described, but the present invention is of course also applicable to the eyedropper. In this case, the eyedropper may be provided with a spouting part 20 which is a main part of the eyedropper adapter 12, and more specifically, the eyedropper includes a liquid passage 22, a pressure increasing part 24, and a one-way valve. 26 may be provided.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, according to the eyedropper and the eyedropper adapter of the present invention, it is possible to reliably inject eye drops into the eyes without turning the face upward, and elderly people who cannot face the face upward. In addition, it is possible to easily inject eye drops into eyes even for persons with physical disabilities.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1A is a plan view of an eyedropper adapter attached to an eyedropper, and FIG. 1B is a front view thereof.
2A is a plan view of a body, and FIG. 2B is a front view of the body.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure increasing portion and a one-way valve portion, in a state where an eye drop in an eye dropper is being injected into a fluid path.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a pressure increasing portion and a one-way valve portion, showing a state in which an expansion / contraction portion is pinched.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a head.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a washer.
7A is a front view of a valve body, and FIG. 7B is a side view of the valve body.
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a washer.
9A is a front view of a washer, and FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the washer.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an eyedropper.
[Explanation of symbols]
12 Adapter for eyedropper 14 Eyedropper 16 Body 18 Spout port 22 Liquid path 24 Pressure rising section 26 One-way valve

Claims (4)

An eyedropper including a container for accommodating ophthalmic solution, and an ejection unit for ejecting the ophthalmic solution,
The spouting section has a liquid path through which the ophthalmic solution is transferred, a pressure increasing section that increases the pressure in the liquid path by a pressing operation with a finger, and a one-way valve disposed in the liquid path,
One end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid path is formed as a communication port communicating with the inside of the container, and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid path is formed as a spout from which the ophthalmic solution is spouted,
The pressure increasing portion communicates with the liquid passage portion between the communication port and the ejection port in the liquid passage,
The one-way valve is provided between the communication port and the liquid path location,
The one-way valve is configured to allow only the movement of the ophthalmic solution from the communication port toward the ejection port in the liquid path,
Ophthalmic solution is configured to be ejected from the ejection port by pressing the pressure increasing portion,
An eye dropper characterized by the following. An eyedropper adapter to be attached to a droplet lower end of the eyedropper,
The adapter has a body attached to the droplet outlet,
The body is provided with an ejection unit that ejects the ophthalmic solution,
The spouting section has a liquid path through which the ophthalmic solution is transferred, a pressure increasing section that increases the pressure in the liquid path by a pressing operation with a finger, and a one-way valve disposed in the liquid path,
One end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid path is formed as a communication port that communicates with the droplet lower port, and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the liquid path is formed as a spout from which the ophthalmic solution is ejected,
The pressure increasing portion communicates with the liquid passage portion between the communication port and the ejection port in the liquid passage,
The one-way valve is provided between the communication port and the liquid path location,
The one-way valve is configured to allow only the movement of the ophthalmic solution from the communication port toward the ejection port in the liquid path,
Ophthalmic solution is configured to be ejected from the ejection port by pressing the pressure increasing portion,
An eyedropper adapter, characterized in that: The pressure increasing section has an expanding / contracting section whose volume is reduced by a pressing operation with a finger and whose volume returns to its original state when the pressing operation by the finger is released, and a communication path communicating with the expanding / contracting section and communicating with the liquid path. The eyedropper according to claim 1 or the adapter for an eyedropper according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ophthalmic adapter according to claim 2, wherein the body is formed of a transparent material.

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