Nurse develops device that makes using eyedrops easier

Terri Ohlinger, a nurse and case manager at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center’s eye center, noticed that many of her patients with dexterity issues couldn’t squeeze small eyedrop bottles or position the drops over their eyes. To solve these difficulties, she partnered with engineering students of the University of Cincinnati and designed a brand new device, the ‘DropEase’.

The DropEase provides a stable platform for self-administering eye drops and is suited for patients with medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or arthritis, which cause weak or shaky hands. It has a handle that is easy to squeeze, while also allowing users to set a metered dosage to get the correct amount of medication in every application. The device also features an aiming channel to help direct the drops into the eye. On the other hand, the equipment could also be used to apply medication drops to the ear canals.

The team behind the invention designed two versions: a hand-held device, but also one with an applicator that can be worn like eyeglasses, which removes the need for the user to hold the bottle up. Ohlinger and her colleagues worked closely with local Veterans to test the prototypes and received positive feedback.

Ohlinger has applied for a patent with the help of VA’s Technology Transfer Program. The rights to commercialize the DropEase are being made available to medical device manufacturers who would license the patent and take it to market.

This story was adapted from: https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/101006/new-device-invented-by-va-nurse-make... and
https://techlinkcenter.org/news/va-nurse-invents-eye-drop-applicator-to-...

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