Method of dry dye delivery for staining the eye

Abstract

A device and method for staining the eye of a patient in need of the same includes the introduction, onto the surface of the eye, of a dry powder form at a dye suitable for staining the eye. The dry powder form of the dye is introduced onto the surface of the eye without the use of a substrate at or near the eye's surface.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A method of delivering a predetermined amount of a dry powder form of an agent to the eye of a patient in need thereof, the method comprising the step of introducing onto the surface of the eye a predetermined amount of a dry powder form of an agent, wherein the dry powder form of the agent is introduced onto the surface of the eye without use of a physical substrate at or near the surface of the eye. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount is from about 0.001 mg to about 1 mg. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dry powder form of the dye agent is introduced onto the eye by force of gravity. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dry powder form of the agent is introduced onto the eye using a device adapted for delivery of small, measured amounts of a dry powder onto a surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , where the device utilizes compressed gas for delivery of the dry powder. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 providing a delivery device comprising a sealed container, an actuator, the dry powder form of the agent within the sealed container, and a propellant under pressure within the sealed container, wherein a user of the delivery device engages the actuator to dispense the dry powder form of the agent from the delivery device.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the actuator is metered such that a single engagement of the actuator dispenses the predetermined amount of the dry powder form of the agent from the delivery device. 
     
     
         9 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of staining the eye of a patient in need thereof, the method comprising the step of introducing onto the surface of the eye a dry powder form of a dye for staining the eye, wherein the dry powder form of the dye is introduced onto the surface of the eye without use of a physical substrate at or near the surface of the eye. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein a predetermined amount of the dry powder form of the dye is applied to the surface of the eye. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , where the predetermined amount of the dry powder form of the dye is from about 0.001 mg to about 1 mg. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the dye is selected from the group consisting of fluorescein, lissamine green, rose bengal, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the dry powder form of the dye is introduced onto the eye by force of gravity. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the dry powder form of the dye is introduced onto the eye using a device adapted for delivery of small, measured amounts of a dry powder onto a surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , where the device utilizes compressed gas for delivery of the dry powder. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of:
 providing a delivery device comprising a sealed container, an actuator, the dry powder form of the dye within the sealed container, and a propellant under pressure within the sealed container, wherein a user of the delivery device engages the actuator to dispense the dry powder form of the dye from the delivery device.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the actuator is metered such that a single engagement of the actuator dispenses a predetermined amount of the dry powder form of the dye from the delivery device.