Daria Ann Fremstad

US Patent:

54724368, Dec 5, 1995

Filed:

Jul 26, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/280843

Inventors:

Daria A. Fremstad - Pendergrass GA

International Classification:

A61M 3500

US Classification:

604294

Abstract:

A device for delivering an anesthetic to the eye, comprising a thin, porous, substantially planar annular body. The inner diameter of the device is slightly greater than the diameter of the limbus or corneal-scleral junction of the eye, and the outer diameter, slightly smaller than the arcuate distance between the upper and lower conjunctival sacs. The device is made of a flexible material such as methylcellulose-based filter paper, thus, it is able to flex to conform to the shape of the eyeball. The device is positioned in the eye with the inner edge circumscribing the limbus and the outer edge extending into the conjunctival sacs. A liquid such as a topical anesthetic, antibiotic, and so forth is added to the body by means of an eye dropper or other suitable means. The liquid spreads rapidly and uniformly throughout the body and diffuses into the eye. If desired, a plurality of equally-spaced radial slits may be formed in the body to enable it to conform to the shape of the eye.