Ocular treatment device

Abstract

A unit container for a treatment fluid comprises a sealed enclosure of which one wall section thereof is formed with at least one opening. The enclosure is pressuriseable to discharge its contents thorough the opening or openings, which is or are of sufficient diameter to enable the generation of a jet and/or discrete droplets of treatment fluid discharged therefrom. The one wall section is typically a flat section of the enclosure wall, and the enclosure is typically a blister pack, with the wall section at a planar base of the blister. However the one wall section may be dome-shaped and formed with at least one opening in the top region of the dome. Containers of the invention may be provided in packages, for example in strip form or in planar arrays. Dispensing devices are described for discharging their content in treatment.

1 . A method of creating a directed jet and/or stream of droplets forming a unit dose of treatment liquid comprising discharging such liquid from a sealed enclosure through an opening in a wall section thereof, the opening having a diameter in the range 20 to 200 μm, by pressurising the enclosure at a rate sufficent to generate a jet and/or stream of droplets with a minimum diameter of 20 μm and sufficient momentum to sustain substantially linear movement over a predetermined distance.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein the enclosure is pressurised by collapse of the wall thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein the wall includes a reinforced region to orient its collapse.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to any preceding claim wherein the enclosure is pressurised by the relative movement of at least one wail thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to any preceding claim wherein the enclosure is a blister pack.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to any preceding claim wherein the liquid is discharged through the opening in a flat section of the enclosure wall.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 5  and  claim 6  wherein the wall section is at a planar base of the blister.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to any preceding claim including the step of removing a cover overlaying said wall section and the opening therein.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to any of  claims 1  to  7  wherein the opening is closed by a membrane, which membrane ruptures upon pressurisation of the enclosure.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to any preceding claim wherein the treatment liquid is an ophthalmic treatment fluid.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to any preceding claim wherein the sealed enclosure is one of a plurality thereof connected by a common supporting substrate, and including the step of locating one of the containers at a dosing station prior to discharging treatment liquid therefrom.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 8  and  claim 11  wherein the step of locating a container at a dosing station is synchronised with the removal of the cover.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to any preceding claim wherein the enclosure is pressurised by compressing the enclosure from the outside and against the wall section thereof.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the enclosure is pressurised by a piston or hammer mechanism for urging towards the wall section of the enclosure an opposite section of the wall.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the enclosure is pressurised by a piezoelectric element.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  wherein the piezoelectric element is a ring transducer disposed around the enclosure.  
     
     
         17 . A method of treatment comprising a method according to any preceding claim wherein the generated jet and/or stream of droplets is directed at a treatment site.