U.S. patent number RE28,873 [Application Number 05/469,414] was granted by the patent office on 1976-06-22 for scleral lens with attached tube.
Invention is credited to Loran B. Morgan.
United States Patent |
RE28,873 |
Morgan |
June 22, 1976 |
Scleral lens with attached tube
Abstract
Means for scientifically supervised use when treating severe
injuries and infections of the human eye. It enables a doctor or
his nurse to administer a regulable but constant instillation of an
antibiotic solution, chemotherapeutic agents, steroids or like
solutions to the corneal area of the eyeball. A molded shield is
conformingly superimposed on the eyeball and embodies a centralized
concavo-convex corneal lens surrounded by a rim-like annulus which
resides conformingly atop the sclera. Flexible tubing delivers the
solution from a solution feeding bottle to the annulus in a manner
that the eyeball is continuously lavaged while the over-all shield
"floats" atop the constantly existing film of fluid.
Inventors: |
Morgan; Loran B. (Torrington,
WY) |
Family
ID: |
27042757 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/469,414 |
Filed: |
May 13, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
867198 |
Oct 17, 1969 |
03664340 |
May 23, 1972 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/298; 604/302;
604/301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
9/0017 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
9/00 (20060101); A61M 007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/249,248,227,260 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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435,542 |
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Mar 1912 |
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FR |
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692,146 |
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Oct 1930 |
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FR |
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332,341 |
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Jan 1921 |
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DD |
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125,795 |
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May 1919 |
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UK |
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923,977 |
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Apr 1963 |
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UK |
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Primary Examiner: Yasko; John D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Sheridan, Ross & Fields
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows:
1. Means for scientifically supervised use when the user is called
upon to administer a manually controlled but a constant
instillation of an antibiotic, chemotherapeutic agent, steroid or a
like medicated solution to and for confining the same to the
corneal area of a patient's eyeball comprising: a one piece
precision-molded cup-like eye shield designed and adapted to be
conformingly fitted upon exterior surface portions of a patient's
eyeball between said surface and the coacting eyelids, said shield
embodying a centralized concavo-convex lens which is registrable
with and is adapted to conformingly span the cornea of the eyeball,
and also embodying an annular concave rim portion marginally
encompassing said lens and adapted to conformingly overlie the
sclera of said eyeball, a prescribed length of flexible tubing
having one end communicatively connected to an intake orifice
provided in a predetermined portion of said shield and its opposite
end free for coordinating communication with a discharge end of a
second length of tubing which is adapted to supply a medicated
solution from a suitable source of supply, said free end being
provided with an adapter, said adapter comprising a rigid hollow
needle-like stem open at its ends, one open end being fitted
communicatively into the bore of said free end, the other open end
having a communicating socket member, said socket member being
designed and adapted to receive the aforementioned discharge end.
.Iadd. 2. Apparatus for administering a continuously flowing supply
of a liquid medicated solution to at least the corneal portion of a
patient's eyeball, comprising:
a cup-like eye shield having a concave inner face of predetermined
size and shape to overlie the frontal portion of the eyeball and
having a smooth peripheral margin adapted to initially engage
corresponding marginal portions of the eyeball;
the outer surface of the shield being adapted to contact the inner
surfaces of the eyelids and maintain them separated from the
eyeball;
the shield being provided with an inlet port extending therethrough
to define a flow path for entry of liquid between the shield and
the eyeball;
a length of flexible tubing having one end connected with the inlet
port and an opposite end free for connection to the discharge end
of a second length of tubing which is adapted to supply a medicated
liquid from a suitable source of supply;
said free end being provided with an adapter; and
said adapter comprising a rigid hollow needle-like stem open at its
ends, one open end being fitted communicatively into the bore of
said free end, the other open end having a communicating socket
member, said socket member being designed and adapted to receive
the aforementioned discharge end. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 3. A method of
administering a continuously flowing supply of a liquid medicated
solution to at least the corneal portion of a patient's eyeball,
comprising:
providing a cup-like eye shield having only an inlet port
therethrough and otherwise being imperforate and having a concave
inner face with a smooth peripheral margin;
positioning the shield between the eyeball and the eyelids with the
inner face overlying the frontal portion of the eyeball and with at
least the margin releasably engaging corresponding marginal
portions of the eyeball and with the outer face in contact with the
inner surfaces of the eyelids to maintain them out of engagement
with the eyeball;
transmitting medicated liquid through the inlet port to the inner
face of the shield and the eyeball; and
continuously applying hydraulic pressure to the liquid over a
prolonged period of time at a pressure level sufficient to force
the margin out of contact with the eyeball and maintain a
continuous flow of liquid over substantially the entire surface of
the eyeball and out between the
eyeball and the margin of the shield. .Iaddend..Iadd. 4. A method
as claimed in claim 3, further including:
placing the patient in a generally prone attitude facing upward so
that the liquid flows more uniformly over the eyeball;
providing a reservoir containing the medicated liquid;
connecting the reservoir to the inlet port with a length of tubing;
and
supporting the reservoir at a level above the patient sufficient to
produce by gravity the amount of hydraulic pressure necessary to
initiate and maintain the flow of liquid between the eyeball and
the shield and out between the eyeball and the peripheral margin of
the shield. .Iaddend.
Description
This invention relates to special purpose eye shields and
applicators such as are scientifically designed and expressly
adapted for supervised use and has to do, more particularly, with
means which enables the doctor or trained nurse to achieve the
results desired while pursuing the procedures followed in the
currently accepted practices of treating severe injuries and
troublesome eye infections.
One of the two most widely accepted modes of treatment involves
fitting of a flush scleral lens in a manner to promote
epithelization and to relieve pain which is attributable to passage
of the eyelids over an ulcerated cornea. The other accepted
procedure is the constant instillation of antibiotic,
chemotherapeutic agents, steroids and the like by perforating the
lower eyelid and inserting the discharge end of a prerequisite
polyethylene solution delivering tube. The herein disclosed concept
invokes the use of a molded cup-like eye shield of conformable
configuration and which has an attached flexible polyethylene tube
or hose which achieves the combined therapy but without surgical
procedures. Continuous medication is carried out with the aid of a
suitably constructed and suspended and controlled solution bottle
and tube carried thereby and communicatively connectible to the
aforementioned tube.
Briefly the over-all concept has to do with the tube-equipped eye
shield, the suspended solution containing bottle, and the
clip-controlled tube which leads from the gravity feeding end of
the bottle to the intake end of the first-named tube. The eye
shield is of one piece precision-molded plastic or equivalent
material. This shield is of cup-like form and is conformably
designed and adapted to fit upon the selected surface of the
patient's eyeball between said surface and the overlying eyelids.
More explicitly, the shield embodies an endless annular rim portion
which is superimposed upon and coordinates with the sclera and
centralized apical portion providing a corneal lens. The remote
controllable source of supply of the prescribed medicated solution
is preferably in the form of a somewhat conventional type valved
fluid containing gravity feeding suspended bottle. Elongated
flexible tubing of requisite length, cross-section and material and
preferably sectional has an intake end communicatively joined to
the discharge end of the bottle and with its other end
communicatively joined to the rim portion of the shield whereby the
eyeball can be continuously lavaged while the over-all shield is
caused to float on the constantly existing film of fluid between
the eyeball and shield.
To the ends desired and in carrying out the preferred embodiment of
the invention the tubing embodies a first length of plastic tubing
carried by and forming a companion integral part of the eye shield.
In addition, there is a second length of tubing which is carried by
the source of supply, that is, the aforementioned bottle. Then,
too, coupling and adapter means is carried by the free intake end
of the first length of tubing and has a socket member for separable
telescoping connection of the free discharge end of the second
length of tubing.
Persons conversant with the field of invention are aware that eye
shields of one type or another for medicament and solution applying
and irrigating eye treatments are not broadly new. For background
purposes and as generally exemplary of the state of the art to
which the invention relates, the reader may refer to the eye
treating appliance in a U.S. Patent issued to Charles A. Behney,
No. 3,302,646 which provides treatment and protection for an
inflamed eye but which lacks the control of the medication in that
an amount of the medicament is contained within the lens when it is
placed upon the eyeball. In fact, the Behney invention involves the
application of ointment to the eye and a pocket containing the
ointment in a confined state. The present invention by contrast has
to do with a continuous drip of completely scientifically
controlled medication confined to the corneal area of the eyeball.
This dose may be increased, decreased, varied by the hour or
stopped at any time. In addition a substantial amount of comfort is
given to the patient by the fact that the eyeball is being
continuously lavaged and the lens actually assumes a floating state
on the eye rather than being confined directly to and contacting
the eyeball. Considerable advantage is attached to the face that
the lens floats upon the cornea and is not tightly sealed in its
given position. Then, too, one of the main features of the present
invention is the use of the same for sterilizing the eye as a step
previous to surgery. It follows that the instant invention well
serves the specific purposes for which it has been devised and
successfully used.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing the over-all combination,
that is the suspended solution containing and controlling bottle at
the left, the eye shield in usable position at the right and the
tube means with one tube connected to and leading from the bottle
and the other tube connected to the eye shield and with adjacent
ends of the tubes coupled together.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately on the
plane of the section line 2--2 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction
of the indicating arrows.
And FIG. 3 is a view in perspective emphasizing the construction of
the eye shield and specially constructed tube means which is
operatively connected thereto.
With reference to FIG. 1 the aforementioned source of supply
comprises an appropriately constructed and gauged solution
containing bottle 4 which has a supporting bail 6 suspended from
the ceiling or other support means as at 8. The lower funneling end
10 is provided with valve means 12 to which an end portion 14 of
the delivery hole or tubing 16 is connected. The numeral 18
designates the usual clip which is employed at will for permitting
the flow or cutting the flow off in a generally well known manner.
The discharge end of this hose or tubing is denoted at 20.
The essence of the invention has to do, broadly stated, with the
insertable and removable precision molded cup-shaped applicator or
eye shield 22. This component comprises a one piece unit which is
characterized by a concavo-convex cornea lens 24 of requisite
diameter and convexity. This lens is encompassed or surrounded by
an endless concavo-convex part which is here referred to as a
comformable rim 26. The rim is provided on one side with an opening
28 for the attached delivery end 30 of the polyethylene tubing 32.
This tubing or tube is of requisite length and cross-section and
has its intake end 34 fitted over one end of a rigid needle-like
tube 36 which constitutes an adapter 38. The needle-like member
itself is denoted at 40 and has its upper end joined as at 42 to
the lower end of an elongated cup-like coupling member 44 having an
appropriate adapter socket 46 for the insertable and removable
communicating end 20 of the aforementioned supply tube 16.
It will be evident to the reader that the shield 22 is actually
similar to a contact lens molded to fit the eyeball but floating on
it by reason of the constant application of fluid or other
medication through the tube means and accordingly unlike either a
plain fountain or cup type applicator such as is used in prior art
irrigating appliances. It follows that the floating effect is
stressed in that there is no direct actual contact of the shield or
lens means 22 with the eyeball.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention.
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