Patent

US Patent 12,648,892 B2, Eyewash Formulation

United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) · Assignee: Lebrun Labs

Overview

Lebrun Labs holds US Patent 12,648,892 B2 covering a novel eyewash formulation engineered to minimize ocular irritation during emergency eye flushing. Traditional eyewash solutions, including plain water and standard saline, can themselves cause ocular irritation when used to flush the eye after chemical exposure, potentially compounding the injury. This patented formulation addresses that problem by incorporating components that buffer the ocular surface, reduce inflammatory response, and maintain compatibility with the eye's natural chemistry throughout the flushing process. The invention has direct commercial applications in workplace emergency eyewash stations, first-aid eyewash products, and ophthalmic irrigation solutions.

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to eyewash formulations designed to minimize ocular irritation during and after emergency eye flushing procedures. Conventional eyewash solutions, including isotonic saline and water, can cause secondary irritation to the ocular surface due to osmolarity mismatch, pH incompatibility, or the absence of protective components present in natural tear fluid. The disclosed formulation incorporates a combination of buffering agents, osmolytes, and ocular-surface-compatible excipients selected to maintain physiological compatibility with the corneal epithelium and conjunctiva during extended flushing. The formulation is designed to be used in emergency eyewash stations, portable eyewash units, and first-aid eyewash products. Claims cover the formulation composition, methods of preparation, and methods of use for emergency ocular irrigation. The invention provides improved ocular surface protection compared to conventional eyewash solutions while maintaining the flushing efficacy required for emergency decontamination.

Key Claims

  • Novel eyewash formulation composition with defined buffering and osmolyte components
  • Formulation optimized for physiological compatibility with the corneal epithelium and conjunctiva
  • Method of preparing the eyewash formulation
  • Method of use for emergency ocular irrigation and decontamination
  • Application to emergency eyewash stations, portable eyewash units, and first-aid products

Relevance to Lebrun Labs Services

This patent represents Lebrun Labs' proprietary intellectual property in the eyewash and ophthalmic formulation space, and it creates a direct commercial opportunity for licensing partners and manufacturers. Companies developing emergency eyewash products, workplace safety solutions, or ophthalmic irrigation devices can license this technology to differentiate their products with a scientifically validated, patent-protected formulation. Lebrun Labs also offers contract testing services that are directly relevant to eyewash product development: our OptiSafe™ Eye Irritation Test and IVD EIT can be used to characterize the ocular safety profile of eyewash formulations, supporting both product development and regulatory submissions. If you are interested in licensing discussions or in using our testing services to support eyewash product development, contact our team.

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R21EY033713. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.