SYRINGE

• US 20070121230A1
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Klein Medical Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Klein Medical Ltd.
• Inventors: Klein, Kees
• Granted Patent: US 8,512,279 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/886
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3306 Optical measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3313 used specific wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3389 Continuous level detection A61M2205/3393 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6081 Colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/02 Equipment for testing the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1412 Burettes, measuring cylinders for laboratory use B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31 Details
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/01 Arrangements or apparatus for facilitating the optical investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/11 Filling or emptying of cuvettes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2201/068 Optics, miscellaneous

Abstract

The present invention relates to a syringe (1) for use in spectroscopy to identify drugs within the syringe (8). The syringe comprises a optical window section (8) either integral with or attached to the syringe (1). The optical window section (8) has predetermined physical and optical properties that allows radiation to pass through in a known manner to facilitate spectroscopy.

Claims

1. A liquid delivery device adapted to deliver a liquid drug to a patient or animal comprising:

a reservoir adapted to contain liquid drug to be delivered, the reservoir having an outlet through which liquid drug may be dispensed,

a liquid dispensing which causes a movement of the liquid drug from the reservoir to and out of the outlet,

wherein the reservoir comprises an optical window section having predetermined optical and physical properties that allows radiation to pass therethrough in a known manner into the interior of the reservoir and that allows radiation affected by the content of the reservoir to pass through as the affected radiation leaves the interior of the reservoir.

2. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined optical properties comprise optical density and clarity.

3. A liquid delivery device according to claim 2 wherein the predetermined physical properties comprise the thickness and slope and curvature of the reservoir wall in the optical window section.

4. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the optical window section is provided adjacent to the outlet.

5. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the optical window section comprises the outlet.

6. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the reservoir is substantially cylindrical and the optical window section caps the reservoir and comprises the outlet.

7. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the optical window section is formed separately from the remainder of the reservoir and is attached and sealed thereto in a separate process.

8. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the optical window section is formed as part of the reservoir in a single process.

9. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the optical window section is formed from a material which is different from the material from which the remainder of the reservoir is formed.

10. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the optical window section comprises a transition portion between the reservoir and the outlet wherein the outlet has a smaller diameter than the diameter of the reservoir and wherein the optical window is provided in the transition portion.

11. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 wherein the optical window section comprises at least one planar panel that is at least partially transparent to radiation.

12. A liquid delivery device according to claim 11 wherein the optical window section comprises at least four planar panels that are at least partially transparent to radiation.

13. A liquid delivery device according to claim 11 wherein the device is adapted to engage in a docking station, the docking station comprising a receptacle adapted to receive the optical window section wherein the at least one planar panel is adapted to be received in the receptacle against a corresponding wall of the receptacle, the corresponding wall preventing rotation of the optical window section received within the receptacle.

14. A liquid delivery device according to claim 13 wherein the docking station comprises an optical input for transmitting incident radiation to at least one of the planar panels of the optical window section received in the receptacle, and an optical output for transmitting radiation received from at least one of the planar panels of the optical window section received in the receptacle.

15. A liquid delivery device according claim 13 wherein the optical window section comprises a protrusion for engaging with a corresponding recess in the receptacle to prevent rotation of the optical window section when received in the receptacle.

16. A liquid delivery device according to claim 1 further comprising optically readable markings on the liquid dispenser and an optical reader with one or more optical detectors arranged to detect the optically readable markings, wherein the optical reader comprises a processor that receives one or more signals from the one or more optical detectors and generates position data indicating a position of the liquid dispenser relative to the reservoir.

17. A liquid delivery device according to claim 16 wherein the processor generates quantity data indicating a quantity of the liquid drug in the reservoir.

18. A liquid delivery device according to claim 16 wherein optical reader comprises a transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit the quantity data or position data to a system.

19. A liquid delivery device according to claim 16 wherein the optical reader further comprises an energy storage device for powering the optical reader, the energy storage device coupled to an inductive device, the inductive device adapted to inductively couple to an inductive recharging device to receive energy for recharging the energy storage device.

20. A liquid delivery device adapted to deliver a liquid drug to a patient or animal comprising:

a reservoir adapted to contain liquid drug to be delivered, the reservoir having an outlet through which liquid drug may be dispensed,

a liquid dispenser that causes a movement of the liquid drug from the reservoir to and out of the outlet, and

an optical window section having predetermined optical and physical properties that allows radiation to pass therethrough in a known manner into an interior of the optical window section, and that allows radiation affected by a content of the reservoir to pass through as the affected radiation leaves the interior of the window,

wherein the optical window section is attached to the reservoir such that the interior of the optical window section is in fluid communication with the reservoir via the outlet, such that liquid within the reservoir can be expelled into the interior of the optical window section.

21. A liquid delivery device according to claim 20 wherein the predetermined optical properties comprise optical density and clarity.

22. A liquid delivery device according to claim 20 wherein the physical properties comprise the thickness and slope and curvature of a reservoir wall in the optical window section.

23. A liquid delivery device according to claim 20 wherein the optical window section is formed from a material which is different from the material from which the reservoir is formed.

24. A liquid delivery device according to claim 20 wherein the optical window section comprises at least one planar panel that is at least partially transparent to radiation.

25. A liquid delivery device according to claim 24 wherein the optical window section comprises at least four planar panels that are at least partially transparent to radiation.

26. A liquid delivery device according to claim 23 wherein the device is adapted to engage in a docking station, the docking station comprising a receptacle adapted to receive the optical window section wherein the at least one planar panel is adapted to be received in the receptacle against a corresponding wall of the receptacle, the corresponding wall preventing rotation of the optical window section received within the receptacle.

27. A liquid delivery device according to claim 26 wherein the docking station comprises an optical input for transmitting incident radiation to at least one of the planar panels of the optical window section received in the receptacle, and an optical output for transmitting radiation received from at least one of the planar panels of the optical window section received in the receptacle.

28. A liquid delivery device according to claim 26 wherein the optical window section comprises a protrusion for engaging with a corresponding recess in the receptacle to prevent rotation of the optical window when received in the receptacle.

29. A liquid delivery device according to claim 20 further comprising optically readable markings on the liquid dispenser and an optical reader with at least one optical detector arranged to detect the optically readable markings, wherein the optical reader comprises a processor that receives one or more signals from the one or more optical detectors and generates position data indicating the position of the liquid dispenser relative to the reservoir.

30. A liquid delivery device according to claim 29 wherein the processor generates quantity data indicating a quantity of the liquid drug in the reservoir.

31. A liquid delivery device according to claim 29 wherein the optical reader comprises a transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit the quantity data or position data to a system.

32. A liquid delivery device according to claim 29 wherein the optical reader further comprises an energy storage device for powering the optical reader, the energy storage device coupled to an inductive device, the inductive device adapted to inductively couple to an inductive recharging device to receive energy for recharging the energy storage device.

33. An optical window section for attachment to a liquid delivery device wherein the optical window section has predetermined optical and physical properties that allows radiation to pass therethrough in a known manner into an interior of the optical window section and that allows radiation affected by a content of the optical window section to pass through as the affected radiation leaves the interior of the window.

34. A liquid delivery device adapted to deliver a liquid drug to a patient or animal comprising:

a reservoir adapted to contain liquid drug to be delivered, the reservoir having an outlet through which liquid drug may be dispensed,

a liquid dispenser which causes a movement of the liquid drug from the reservoir to and out of the outlet, and

an optical window section coupled to the reservoir, the optical window section having predetermined optical and physical properties that allows radiation to pass therethrough in a known manner into an interior of the optical window section and that allows radiation affected by a content of the reservoir to pass through as the affected radiation leaves the interior of the optical window section,

wherein the optical window section comprises at least one planar panel that is at least partially transparent to radiation.

35. A liquid delivery device according to claim 34 wherein the optical window section comprises at least four planar panels that are at least partially transparent to radiation.

36. A liquid delivery device according to claim 34 wherein the device is adapted to engage in a docking station, the docking station comprising a receptacle adapted to receive the optical window section wherein the at least one planar panel is adapted to be received in the receptacle against a corresponding wall of the receptacle, the corresponding wall preventing rotation of the optical window section received within the receptacle.

37. A liquid delivery device according to claim 36 wherein the docking station comprises an optical input for transmitting incident radiation to at least one of the planar panels of the optical window section received in the receptacle, and an optical output for transmitting radiation received from at least one of the planar panels of an optical window section received in a receptacle.

38. A liquid delivery device according to claim 36 wherein the optical window section comprises a protrusion for engaging with a corresponding recess in the receptacle to prevent rotation of the optical window when received in the receptacle.

39. A liquid delivery device according to claim 34 further comprising optically readable markings on the liquid dispenser and an optical reader with at least one optical detector for detecting the optically readable markings, wherein the optical reader comprises a processor that receives one or more signals from the one or more optical detectors and generates position data indicating a position of the liquid dispenser relative to the reservoir.

40. A liquid delivery device according to claim 39 wherein the processor generates quantity data indicating a quantity of the liquid drug in the reservoir.

41. A liquid delivery device according to claim 39 wherein the optical reader comprises a transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit the quantity data or position data to a system.

42. A liquid delivery device according to claim 39 wherein the optical reader further comprises an energy storage device coupled to an inductive device, the inductive device adapted to inductively couple to an inductive recharging device to receive energy for recharging the energy storage device.

43. A docking station adapted to receive a liquid delivery device adapted to deliver a liquid drug to a patient or animal, the liquid delivery device comprising:

a reservoir adapted to contain the liquid drug to be delivered, the reservoir having an outlet through which liquid drug may be dispensed,

a liquid dispenser which causes a movement of the liquid drug from the reservoir to and out of the outlet, and

an optical window section having predetermined optical and physical properties that allows radiation to pass therethrough in a known manner into an interior of the optical window section and that allows radiation affected by a content of the optical window section to pass through as the affected radiation leaves the interior of the optical window section,

wherein the optical window section comprises at least one planar panel, and

wherein the docking station comprises;

a receptacle adapted to receive the optical window section of a liquid delivery device wherein the at least one planar panel of the optical window section is adapted to be received in the receptacle against a corresponding wall of the receptacle, the corresponding wall preventing rotation of the optical window section received within the receptacle.

44. A spectroscopic liquid analysis system comprising:

a liquid delivery device having a reservoir adapted to contain a liquid drug to be delivered and an outlet through which the liquid drug may be dispensed, and a liquid dispenser which causes movement of the liquid from the reservoir to and out of the outlet,

a radiation source that generates radiation that is then directed at a content of the reservoir, and

a spectroscopic analyser configured to receive radiation affected by the content of the reservoir and to provide an indication of the composition of the content of the reservoir based upon a spectrum of the received radiation.

45. A system according to claim 44 wherein the reservoir comprises an optical window section having predetermined optical and physical properties that allows radiation to pass therethrough in a known manner into an interior of the reservoir and that allows radiation affected by a content of the reservoir to pass through as the affected radiation leaves the interior of the reservoir.

46. A system according to claim 44 wherein the liquid delivery device comprises an optical window section coupled to the reservoir having predetermined optical and physical properties that allows radiation to pass therethrough in a known manner into an interior of the optical window section and that allows radiation affected by a content of the optical window section to pass through as the affected radiation leaves the interior of the optical window section.

47. A system according to claim 45 wherein the liquid delivery device comprises a syringe.

48. A system according to claim 47 further comprising a docking station adapted to receive the reservoir in the vicinity of the optical window section.

49. A system according to claim 48 wherein the reservoir is substantially cylindrical and the docking station comprises a substantially cylindrical sleeve having a larger internal diameter than the external diameter of the reservoir.

50. A system according to claim 49 wherein one opening in the sleeve is smaller than the external diameter of the reservoir.

51. A system according to claim 46 wherein the radiation source transmits radiation through an optical window in the docking station aligned in use with the optical window section of the reservoir.

52. A system according to claim 46 wherein the radiation source transmits radiation directly at the optical window section of the reservoir without first passing through the docking station.

53. A system according to claim 45 further comprising a docking station wherein the docking station comprises a receptacle adapted to receive an optical window section of the liquid delivery device wherein the optical window section is formed from at least one planar panel that is at least partially transparent to radiation and wherein the at least one planar panel of the optical window section is adapted to be received in the receptacle against a corresponding wall of the receptacle, the corresponding wall preventing rotation of the optical window section.

54. A system according to claim 53 wherein the radiation source produces electromagnetic radiation which is transmitted to the docking station via an optical fibre and electromagnetic radiation affected by the contents of the reservoir is transmitted to the spectroscopic analyser by a further optical fibre.

55. A system according to claim 54 wherein the optical fibres are terminated on the docking station and are directed at the optical window section.

56. A system according to claim 44 wherein the reservoir is manufactured from a non-metallic material and has provided thereon at least two separated conductive sections, and a further comprising means for obtaining an indication of the capacitance or inductive coupling between the two conductive sections that thereby provide an indication of the amount of liquid in the reservoir.

57. A system according to claim 44 further comprising optically readable markings on the liquid dispenser and an optical reader with at least one optical detector for detecting the optically readable markings, wherein the optical reader comprises a processor that receives one or more signals from the one or more optical detectors and generates position data indicating a position of the liquid dispenser relative to the reservoir.

58. A system according to claim 57 wherein the processor generates quantity data indicating a quantity of liquid in the reservoir.

59. A system according to claim 57 wherein the optical reader comprises a transmitter adapted to wirelessly transmit the quantity data or position data to a system.

60. A liquid delivery device according to claim 57 wherein the optical reader further comprises an energy storage device coupled to an inductive device, the inductive device adapted to inductively couple to an inductive recharging device to receive energy for recharging the energy storage device.