Veterans Administration ophthalmologist invents device to help with eye drops

(Image credit: AdobeStock/Maksymiv Iurii)

Julie Schallhorn, MD, MS, an ophthalmologist at the San Francisco VA, noticed a common struggle among her patients, especially those with limited hand strength and dexterity: applying eye drops was challenging.

Schallhorn also is an associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of California San Francisco.

Many people can relate to this difficulty, particularly when using preservative-free eye drops in single-dose vials. Squeezing out a tiny drop while maintaining precise positioning over the eye is tricky, and even a slight misalignment can cause the drop to miss, running down the cheek and wasting medication. For individuals with conditions like Parkinson’s, the task is even more daunting. This difficulty often leads to early discontinuation of treatment, which can result in more serious issues down the road.¹

“It is difficult to see patients who are suffering and are not served by the current options,” explained Shallhorn. “This was the major motivation for me!”

Drawing on her bioengineering background, Schallhorn developed a device to simplify eye drop administration. Her prototype, crafted from a single piece of plastic, features a hammer-shaped handle that releases a precise drop of fluid. A stabilizing bar rests on the patient’s cheekbone, ensuring consistent positioning. Since the cheekbone remains a uniform distance from the eye across adults of all genders and ethnicities, Schallhorn was confident her device would work universally.

For Schallhorn, the next step was finding a path to bring her prototype to market, which she found through the Veterans Engineering Health Innovations Center (VEHICLE) at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. VEHICLE, part of the Technology Transfer Assistance Program (TTAP), focuses on solutions for Veterans with disabilities. There, Schallhorn collaborated with Stephanie Nogan Bailey, program manager and specialist in clinical research protocols and device development, who has a deep understanding of the daily challenges faced by Veterans with movement disorders.¹

Together, they designed a refined second prototype featuring an ambidextrous, contoured grip and a wider, more stable area for cheekbone support. They also created a front-loading, secure vial holder and built the device with non-slip material to ensure steady, precise delivery of eye drops.

Meanwhile, the Office of Research and Development's (ORD) Technology Transfer Program (TTP) supported patenting and marketing. TTP developed a plan that identified the device’s potential audience, including the growing number of people with Parkinson's disease and the expanding aging population.

With TTP’s market insights and VEHICLE’s design expertise, Schallhorn filed for a patent. TTP then negotiated a licensing and intellectual property agreement, allowing the device to be licensed to RAIN Eye Drops, an online company offering preservative-free eye drops. The new dispenser will be included with each RAIN Eye Drops subscription, expanding access to this essential tool.¹

“The ability to connect VA researchers and clinicians with top notch biomedical engineers in TTP’s TTAP helps the VA innovators translate their dreams into real world products that help Veterans and the population at large,” said Dr. John Kaplan, TTP director.

TTP has the vital mission of bringing to market inventions created within the VA that could benefit Veterans and all Americans. Since 2020, TTP’s group of engineers have facilitated the introduction of more than 380 VA inventions into the market. The process begins with an idea by a VA physician, researcher, or staff person. Anyone within VA can develop a concept, and TTP is there to partner with the inventor to help create high-level, functional prototypes; perform design and cost analyses; construct technical drawings; and design history files.¹

“The overall process of development was quite smooth with the innovation lab, and working with the Tech Transfer office made it quite easy,” said Schallhorn. She also encouraged other VA researchers, clinicians, and staff with invention ideas to reach out to TTP as well. “Pursue it! Patients with conditions that are not met by the current treatments need and deserve innovative solutions.”

Originally created to form a pipeline of invention disclosures and medical ideas, TTAP started in the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System in 2018 through the vision of Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Rory Cooper, Pittsburgh Human Engineering Laboratories director. TTAP became the program it is today in 2021 with the establishment of two additional sites in Cleveland and Minneapolis.¹

Reference:

1. VA ophthalmologist invents device to help with eye drops. Va.gov. Published October 28, 2024. Accessed October 29, 2024. https://www.research.va.gov/currents/1024-VA-ophthalmologist-invents-device-to-help-with-eye-drops.cfm