JP2006167000A - Eye drop device and nozzle tip - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an eye dropper capable of handling an extremely small amount of a chemical solution, instilling an appropriate amount of the chemical solution, and using an expensive chemical solution without waste.
A container having an inlet / outlet and having a variable volume, an eyedropper including a valve provided in the middle of the inlet / outlet, and a controller for controlling the volume of the container and the valve. The valve is opened, the volume of the container is increased by a small amount, the valve is closed, the volume of the container is decreased to a predetermined amount to increase the internal pressure of the container, and the valve is opened. An eye drop device which discharges the medium in the container from the entrance / exit.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an ophthalmic apparatus or the like capable of instilling a small amount of a chemical into a desired part of an eyeball.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an eyedropper is known in which a chemical solution is stored in a container, and the container is compressed with a finger to drop a desired amount of the chemical solution onto the eyeball. As an example, a drop of ophthalmic solution quantification unit is connected to the ophthalmic solution discharge port, and a pressure is applied to the ophthalmic solution in such a manner that one drop of the ophthalmic solution quantification unit is ejected linearly from the ophthalmic solution discharge port. There is known an eye dropper provided with a pressure application function to be applied and a discharge operation initial pressure control function for controlling the discharge operation initial pressure of the ophthalmic solution. There is also a device that dispenses a small amount of liquid droplets by providing a pump associated with a container of a substance to be dispensed. (See Patent Document 2)
JP, 2003-319999, A Eyedropper (1st page, 1 figure) [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-134021 Apparatus for dispensing a small amount of liquid droplets (first page, FIG. 1)

  In recent years, treatment methods for treatment have been performed by giving a very small amount of expensive medicinal solution to a specific part of the eyeball. However, conventional eye drops can handle a drop of medicinal solution. Even if it is possible, it is not possible to handle a very small amount of chemical solution, and it is necessary to prepare a certain amount of chemical solution in the container of the eyedropper. It is desired to solve the disadvantage that the remaining chemical solution is wasted.

  In order to solve the above problems, the eye drop apparatus and the eye drop method of the present invention employ the following means and procedures.

(1) An ophthalmic apparatus including a container having an inlet / outlet and having a variable volume, an eyedropper having a valve provided in the middle of the inlet / outlet, and a controller for controlling the volume of the container and the opening / closing of the valve. The controller opens the valve, increases the volume of the container by a small amount, closes the valve, decreases the volume of the container to a predetermined amount, and increases the internal pressure of the container, An ophthalmic apparatus, wherein the valve is opened and the medium in the container is discharged from the inlet / outlet.
(2) The eyedropper according to (1), wherein a small amount (about 100 nL or less) of liquid is sucked from the entrance / exit by increasing the volume of the container by a small amount.
(3) The eyedropper according to (1), wherein a detachable nozzle tip is coupled to the inlet / outlet, and a minute amount of liquid is sucked.

  (4) A valve is provided in the middle of the inlet / outlet of the container having an inlet / outlet, the volume of which is variable, the valve is opened, the volume of the container is increased by a small amount, and a small amount of liquid is sucked from the inlet / outlet. A step in which the valve is closed and the volume of the container is reduced to a predetermined amount to increase the internal pressure of the container; and the valve is opened and the sucked liquid is discharged from the inlet / outlet. Instillation method.

  (5) A syringe, a piston, an electromagnetic valve, a pipe, a nozzle tip, and a piston drive unit, the electromagnetic valve is provided between the syringe and the pipe, the nozzle tip is coupled to the pipe, and the syringe The eye dropper characterized in that the piston drive unit controls the volume of the container formed by the piston.

(6) A syringe, a piston, an electromagnetic valve, a pipe, a nozzle chip, and a piston drive unit, the electromagnetic valve is provided between the syringe and the pipe, the nozzle chip is coupled to the pipe, and the syringe An eyedropper that controls the volume of a container formed by the piston by the piston driving unit, and when the electromagnetic valve is in an open state, the piston driving unit pulls out the piston and fills the syringe with air. In addition, the piston driving unit pulls out the piston a minute distance and sucks a small amount of chemical into the tip of the nozzle tip, and then the piston driving unit pushes the piston in the closed state of the solenoid valve. , Compress the air in the syringe, and then discharge the minute amount of the chemical solution from the nozzle tip when the solenoid valve is open. Ophthalmic machine and performs the operation.
(7) The eyedropper according to any one of (5) and (6), wherein the pipe is omitted and the solenoid valve and the nozzle tip are coupled.
(8) The eye dropper according to any one of (5) and (6), wherein the nozzle tip is detachable.

  (9) A syringe, a piston, an electromagnetic valve, a pipe, a nozzle tip, and a piston drive unit, the electromagnetic valve is provided between the syringe and the pipe, the nozzle tip is coupled to the pipe, and the syringe An instillation method in which the piston drive unit controls the volume of the container formed by the piston, the step of pulling out the piston and filling the syringe with air, with the electromagnetic valve open. Pulling out a minute distance and sucking a small amount of chemical at the tip of the nozzle tip, keeping the electromagnetic valve closed, pressing the piston and compressing air in the syringe, and An instillation method comprising the step of opening the minute amount of the chemical solution from the nozzle tip in an open state.

According to the present invention, it is possible to handle an extremely small amount of a chemical solution, for example, it is possible to use an expensive chemical solution without waste.

Hereinafter, embodiments of an eye drop apparatus and an eye drop method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, since the component which attached | subjected the same code | symbol in embodiment performs the same operation | movement, description may be abbreviate | omitted again.
(Embodiment 1)

  First, a basic configuration of the eye drop device of the present invention will be described. The eye drop device of the present invention includes an eye dropper and a controller. The eye dropper of the present invention includes a container having an entrance and a variable volume, and a valve provided in the middle of the entrance. Container volume and valves are controlled by a controller. The controller can increase the volume of the container by a small amount by opening the valve. With the valve closed, the volume of the container can be reduced to a predetermined amount to increase the internal pressure of the container. The valve can be opened to discharge the medium in the container from the inlet / outlet. A specific example will be described next.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a specific configuration of the eyedropper and the eyedropper apparatus of the present invention. The eye drop device of the present invention includes an eye drop device 1, a control unit 2, and an operation unit such as a foot controller 3. The eyedropper 1 includes a substrate 10, a piston driving unit 11, a syringe 12, a piston 13, a solenoid valve 14, a pipe 15, and a nozzle tip 16. The piston drive unit 11 includes a pulse motor 111, a drive shaft 112, and a spring 113.

  The syringe 12 is fixed to a vertical portion of the U-shaped substrate 10. A piston 13 is inserted in the syringe and is movable in the axial direction of the syringe 12. The syringe 12 and the piston 13 are variable capacity containers having an inlet / outlet through which air can be sucked and discharged with a structure like a small syringe or injector. A spring fixing shaft 114 is provided on the shaft of the piston 13, and a spring 113 is attached to the spring fixing shaft 114, and the spring 113 is pulled so as to pull out the piston 13 to the outside of the syringe 12. . The pulse motor 111 is fixed to the vertical portion of the other side of the substrate 10 (the direction opposite to the direction where the syringe 12 is fixed). One end of the spring 113 is also fixed on a mounting plate (vertical portion of the substrate 10 in FIG. 1). Due to the rotation of the pulse motor 111, the motor shaft, which is the drive shaft 112, is movable in the left-right direction on the drawing. One end of the drive shaft 112 is in contact with the shaft of the piston 13. When the drive shaft 112 moves in the right direction in the figure, the piston 13 moves in the air discharge direction against the pulling force of the spring 113. When the drive shaft 112 moves to the left, the piston 13 is pulled by the spring 113 and moves in the air suction direction.

  The right tip portion of the syringe 12 has a thin tube shape, and one port of the electromagnetic valve 14 is connected thereto. A pipe 15 is connected to the other port of the electromagnetic valve 14. The tip of the pipe 15 has a conical shape so that the nozzle tip 16 can be fitted. The nozzle tip 16 is provided with a hole having a fine diameter. The solenoid valve 14 is provided with a valve for blocking the air flow on the syringe 12 side and the pipe 15 side, and this valve is opened and closed by an electrical signal supplied from the control unit 2. When the electromagnetic valve 14 is open, the inside of the syringe 12, the inside of the electromagnetic valve 14, the inside of the pipe 15, and the inside of the nozzle tip 16 are connected to the outside, and air can flow. External air can be sucked into the syringe 12 by pulling the piston 13 in the direction of pulling it out of the syringe 12. When the electromagnetic valve 14 is closed, the air inside the syringe 12 is blocked from the outside. When the piston 13 is inserted into the syringe 12 when the electromagnetic valve 14 is in the closed state, the air in the syringe 12 is compressed.

  An example of the structure of the pulse motor 111 is shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. In FIG. 3A, the pulse motor 111 includes a motor shaft 30, a rotor 31, a stator 32, and a housing 33. The rotor 31 and the stator 32 have the same structure as a known pulse motor or stepping motor. The housing 33 is provided with two bearings. One bearing is a thrust bearing, and the shaft is freely movable in the axial direction. The other bearing is a screw bearing 34. As shown in the enlarged view, the motor shaft 30 is male threaded and is inserted into a female threaded hole provided in the bearing portion of the housing 33. . When the rotor 31 rotates clockwise as viewed from the screw bearing 34, the motor shaft 30 moves in the direction of the thrust bearing 30. When the rotor 31 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the screw bearing 34, the motor shaft 30 moves in the direction of the screw bearing 34. That is, the rotational motion of the rotor 31 can be converted into the linear motion of the motor shaft 30. Since the rotor 31 also moves with the movement of the motor shaft 30, the thickness of the rotor 31 in the motor shaft direction is made smaller than the length of the stator 32 in the motor shaft direction so that the rotor 31 comes out in the magnetic field of the stator 32. Do not hit the housing. The length of the male thread portion cut into the motor shaft 30 may be a length obtained by adding a slight margin to the maximum movement distance required for the piston 13.

  Due to the pulling force of the spring 113, the end of the shaft of the piston 13 is in contact with the motor shaft 30 which is the drive shaft 112. Therefore, when the pulse motor 111 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction toward the piston 13. The piston 13 moves in the direction of being pulled out of the syringe 12. When the pulse motor 111 is rotated in the clockwise direction toward the piston 13, the piston 13 is pushed into the syringe 12.

  In the present invention, by controlling the position and moving direction of the piston 13 and the opening and closing of the electromagnetic valve 14, a minute sample 17 of the chemical solution is sucked into the nozzle tip 16 from the container containing the chemical solution 18, and the sample 17 is drawn into the nozzle tip. 16 is discharged toward the local eyeball position of the patient. The operation of the eye drop device and the eye drop method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, a new nozzle tip 16 is fitted into the tip of the pipe 15. As shown in FIG. 2A, the pulse motor 111 is rotated counterclockwise, the piston 13 is pulled out from the syringe 12, and the piston 13 is moved to a predetermined position P1. At this time, the electromagnetic valve 14 is left open. The syringe 12 is filled with normal pressure air.

  Next, in FIG. 2 (B), the tip of the nozzle chip 16 is immersed in the chemical solution in the chemical solution 18 container, the pulse motor 111 is rotated slightly counterclockwise, and the piston 13 is pulled out slightly to the predetermined position P2. The electromagnetic valve 14 remains open. A chemical solution having a volume corresponding to the product of the circular area in the cross section of the syringe 12 and the movement distance (P1 to P2) of the piston 13 is sucked into the tip of the nozzle tip 16 as a sample 17.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (C), the electromagnetic valve 14 is closed, the pulse motor 111 is rotated clockwise, and the piston 13 is pushed inward of the syringe 12 until reaching a predetermined position P3. Since the solenoid valve 14 is in a closed state, the air in the syringe 12 is compressed to a high pressure.

  Next, the eye dropper 1 is moved so that the tip of the nozzle tip 16 is positioned on the affected part of the eyeball, and the electromagnetic valve 14 is opened as shown in FIG. The compressed air in the syringe 12 is discharged through the electromagnetic valve 14, the pipe 15, and the nozzle tip 16, and the sample 17 at the tip of the nozzle tip 16 is discharged. A very small sample 17 is prescribed at the desired location on the patient's eye.

  The foot controller 3 and the control unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 perform a series of controls on the piston 13 and the electromagnetic valve 14 described in FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure for controlling the pulse motor 111 and the electromagnetic valve 14 performed by the control unit 2. In (S101), the control described in FIG. 2 (A) is performed, in (S102), the control described in FIG. 2 (B) is performed, and in (S103), the solenoid valve 14 described in FIG. 2 (C). In step S104, the opening of the electromagnetic valve 14 described with reference to FIG. 2D is controlled. For example, every time the foot controller 3 is pressed with a foot, each step of the above procedure may be advanced. In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the process ends when the power is turned off or the process ends.

  The pulse motor 111 can determine the rotation angle based on the phase and the number of pulses of a plurality of pulse signals to be supplied, and can be rotated about 0.5 degrees by one pulse. Therefore, it is easy to set the position of the piston 13 accurately. In the pulse motor 111 having the structure shown in FIG. 3A, the rotational movement of the rotor 31 can be converted into the minute movement of the motor shaft 30 by the screw bearing 34, so that the resolution of the position of the piston 13 can be set finely. The control unit 2 supplies the pulse motor 111 with a control signal having a polarity and the number of pulses corresponding to the positions (P3-P1), (P1-P2), and (P2-P3).

Since the amount of suction and the discharge pressure to the eyeball may be changed depending on the chemical solution, it is preferable that the control unit 2 can change and set the number of pulses in each procedure. For this purpose, an input operation unit using a knob or a numeric keypad for setting the suction amount and the discharge pressure may be provided in the control unit 2 so that the number of pulses can be changed. A plurality of types of nozzle tips 16 may be prepared, selected, and used so that the inner diameter of the nozzle tip 16 can also be changed according to the viscosity of the chemical solution 18, the mixed substance, the suction amount, and the like.
The eyedropper 1 can be made as large as a thick pen or fountain pen by using a small pulse motor 111, a syringe 12, a solenoid valve 14 and the like. For example, an ophthalmologist can easily use it at a treatment site. I can do it.

  The coupling between the syringe 12 and the electromagnetic valve 14 may be direct or indirect. In an indirect case, it couple | bonds via a linear or curved pipe, However, It remains unchanged that the syringe 12 and the solenoid valve 14 are couple | bonded. The coupling between the solenoid valve 14 and the pipe 15 may be direct or indirect. In the case of indirect, it may be coupled via a straight or curved pipe. FIG. 5B shows an example in which the syringe 12 and the electromagnetic valve 14 and the electromagnetic valve 14 and the pipe 15 are indirectly coupled by the curved pipe 19. The pipe 15 itself may be curved. The pipe 15 functions as an attachment portion into which the nozzle tip 16 is fitted. When one port of the electromagnetic valve 14 is an attachment portion for the nozzle tip 16, the pipe 15 can be omitted.

In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the syringe 12 and the piston 13 form a container having a variable internal volume, the pipe 15 and the nozzle tip 16 form an inlet / outlet of the container, and an electromagnetic valve 14 is provided in the middle of the inlet / outlet. Also good. In FIG. 5B as well, it can be seen that the syringe 12 forms a container, the pipe 19, the pipe 15 and the nozzle tip 16 form the inlet / outlet of the container, and the electromagnetic valve 14 is provided in the middle of the inlet / outlet. . Further, the nozzle tip 16 may be viewed as a part of the entrance / exit, or may be viewed as a separate part.
(Embodiment 2)

In the first embodiment, the pulse motor 111 having the screw bearing 34 is used, but another general motor may be used as the motor. In FIG. 3B, a pinion 36 is provided on the motor shaft of a normal pulse motor 111 a, and the rotation operation is converted into a linear operation by the rack 37, so that the rack 37 also serves as the axis of the piston 13. The structure of the other parts may be the same as in FIG. In this case, the spring 113 that pulls the shaft of the piston 13 may not be provided.
Various motors such as a linear motor and an ultrasonic motor may be used in addition to the rotating motor.
(Embodiment 3)
Next, another embodiment of the eye drop device of the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, another container is used.

  FIG. 5A is an example of such an embodiment. Instead of the syringe 12, a container 51 having a variable volume is used. The container 51 is provided with an air inlet / outlet port and is connected to the electromagnetic valve 14. The container 51 is made of a slightly hard rubber or a flexible plastic material. When the container 51 is sandwiched and pressed by the pressure plate 52, the volume of the container 51 decreases, but if the container 51 is not pressed, the container 51 is restored to its original shape. When the electromagnetic valve 14 is closed and the container 51 is pressed by the compression plate 52, the internal pressure increases due to the decrease in volume. If the container 51 has a slightly flat or elliptical bag shape and is sandwiched between two pressure plates 52, it is easy to significantly reduce the internal volume of the container 52.

When the electromagnetic valve 14 is opened, the pressure plate 52 is held down slightly, the nozzle chip 16 is immersed in the chemical solution 18, and the pressure of the pressure plate 52 is removed, the volume of the container 52 is restored, and a small amount of chemical solution is removed. The sample 17 can be sucked to the tip of the nozzle tip 16. Thereafter, the electromagnetic valve 14 is closed, the pressure plate 52 is pressed, the volume of the container 51 is reduced to about half of the original volume, and then the electromagnetic valve 14 is opened to discharge the minute sample 17 at about 2 atm. it can. The movement of the position of the pressure plate 52 can be realized by a drive mechanism such as a pulse motor and a gear.
(Embodiment 4)

The syringe 12 and the piston 13 described in FIG. The shaft of the piston 13 is formed in a pipe shape and is fixed to the vertical portion of the base 0 instead of the syringe 12. The pipe of the shaft of the piston 13 is connected to the electromagnetic valve 14. The syringe 12 is put on the piston 13 and pressed by the motor shaft of the pulse motor 111. The syringe 12 is pulled to the opposite side to the piston 13 by the same structure as the spring 113.
(Other embodiments and supplements)

  According to the eye drop device of the present invention, a small amount of liquid can be sucked and discharged. For example, it is possible to handle a small amount of liquid such as 100 nL to 20 μL. In addition, a discharge distance of about 5 mm to 50 mm can be realized.

  The syringe may have a structure similar to a syringe as described above. Metal, plastic, etc. can be applied to the material of the syringe 12. The syringe 12 has an inner diameter of 1.5 mm and a maximum movement distance of about 2 mm of the piston 13 as an example, but is not limited thereto. Needless to say, since the air is compressed, the piston 13 and the syringe 12 preferably have a highly confidential structure.

  The nozzle tip 16 is preferably a disposable tip that can be easily replaced from the standpoint of hygiene and safety to avoid mixing of chemicals. An inner diameter of the hole of the nozzle tip 16 is about 0.4 mm and a conical shape having a length of about 35 mm is easy to handle, but is not limited to this size. Needless to say, it is preferable to use a sterilized chip. Therefore, the nozzle chips 16 for replacement can be stored in sealed bags one by one and can be disposable after use.

  As already described, it is preferable that the pressure of the compressed air in the syringe 12 can be changed by the inner diameter of the nozzle, the amount of the liquid, the viscosity of the liquid, the mixed substance, and the like. As an example, it is possible to realize an eye drop device that discharges 1 μl of a chemical solution at 4 atmospheres.

  The eye drop device according to the present invention can be used for dispensing work in which various solutions are divided and supplied in minute amounts.

The block diagram of the eye drop apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention The figure which shows the operation | movement of the eye drop apparatus and eye drop procedure by one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows embodiment of the pulse motor used by this invention The figure which shows the control procedure of the eye drop method of this invention The block diagram of the principal part of the eye drop apparatus by other one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Eyedropper 2 Control part 3 Foot controller 10 Board | substrate 11 Piston drive part 111 Pulse motor 112 Drive shaft 113 Spring 12 Syringe 13 Piston 14 Electromagnetic valve 15 Pipe 16 Nozzle tip 17 Sample 18 Chemical solution 51 Container 52 Compression plate

Claims (11)

An eye dropper having a container having an entrance and exit and having a variable volume and a valve provided in the middle of the entrance and exit;
An eye drop device comprising a controller for controlling the volume of the container and the opening and closing of the valve,
The controller opens the valve to increase the volume of the container;
With the valve closed, the volume of the container is reduced to a predetermined amount to increase the internal pressure of the container,
An ophthalmic apparatus, wherein the valve is opened and a chemical solution, which is a medium in the container, is discharged from the inlet / outlet. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the liquid medicine is sucked from the entrance / exit by increasing the volume of the container. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a detachable nozzle tip is coupled to the doorway to suck the chemical solution. Syringe, piston, solenoid valve, pipe, nozzle tip, and piston drive unit,
Instillation characterized in that the solenoid valve is provided between the syringe and the pipe, the nozzle tip is coupled to the pipe, and the volume of a container formed by the syringe and the piston is controlled by the piston driving unit. apparatus. When the solenoid valve is in an open state, the piston driving unit pulls out the piston and fills the syringe with air, and then the piston driving unit pulls out the piston a predetermined distance and puts a chemical solution at the tip of the nozzle tip. Next, when the solenoid valve is in a closed state, the piston drive unit pushes the piston to compress the air in the syringe, and then, when the solenoid valve is in an open state, The eye drop device according to claim 4, wherein an operation of discharging from the nozzle tip is performed. The ophthalmic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pipe is omitted and the electromagnetic valve and the nozzle tip are combined. The eye drop device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the nozzle tip is detachable. The ophthalmic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the chemical liquid discharged from the entrance / exit is a small amount of chemical liquid of about 100 nL to about 20 μL. An eye dropper constituting the eye drop device according to claim 1. The controller which comprises the eye drop apparatus in any one of Claims 1-8. The nozzle chip which comprises the eye drop apparatus in any one of Claims 3-8.

Images