Ophthalmic Injection System and Method Using Piezoelectric Array

• US 20070268340A1
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Lind, Casey, Dacquay, Bruno, Martin, Mike
• Application Number:
  US11/751,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268340A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/68
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/20 Automatic syringes, e.g. with automatically actuated piston rod, with automatic needle injection, filling automatically A61M5/142 , A61M5/46 take precedence; hypodermic projectiles F42B12/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31546 Electrically operated dose setting, e.g. input via touch screen or plus/minus buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/484 Regulating injection pressure

Abstract

An ophthalmic injection system has a tip segment attachable to and removable from limited reuse assembly. The tip segment includes a flexible chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance, a piezoelectric array located near the flexible chamber, a needle fluidly coupled to the flexible chamber, and a first housing at least partially enclosing the flexible chamber and the piezoelectric array. The limited reuse assembly includes a power source for providing power to the piezoelectric array, a controller for controlling the power source, and a second housing at least partially enclosing the power source and the controller. The piezoelectric array is activated to compress the flexible chamber and dispense the substance from the flexible chamber.

Claims

1. An injection system comprising:

a tip segment attachable to and removable from a limited reuse assembly;

the tip segment comprising;

a flexible chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance;

a piezoelectric array located near the flexible chamber;

a needle fluidly coupled to the flexible chamber; and

a first housing at least partially enclosing the flexible chamber and the piezoelectric array;

the limited reuse assembly comprising;

a power source for providing power to the piezoelectric array;

a controller for controlling the power source; and

a second housing at least partially enclosing the power source and the controller;

wherein the piezoelectric array is activated to compress the flexible chamber and dispense the substance from the flexible chamber.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a heater for heating the substance.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a thermal sensor located near the flexible chamber, the thermal sensor for measuring a temperature.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

an interface connecting the thermal sensor to the controller.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the heater.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the piezoelectric array.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller controls the piezoelectric array to control an amount of the substance that is delivered.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller controls the piezoelectric array to control a rate at which the substance is delivered.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a tip interface connector located on an interfacing surface of the tip segment; and

a limited reuse assembly interface connector located on an interfacing surface of the limited reuse assembly, the limited reuse assembly interface connector attachable to the tip segment interface connector.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a luer for securing the needle to the dispensing chamber housing.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises:

an indicator located on the second housing, the indicator for providing information about a status of substance delivery.

14. An injection device comprising:

a flexible chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance;

a piezoelectric array located near the flexible chamber;

a needle fluidly coupled to the flexible chamber; and

a power source for providing power to the piezoelectric array;

a controller for controlling the power source; and

a housing at least partially enclosing the flexible chamber, the piezoelectric array, the power source, the controller;

wherein the piezoelectric array is activated to compress the flexible chamber and dispense the substance from the flexible chamber.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a heater for heating the substance.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a thermal sensor located near the flexible chamber, the thermal sensor for measuring a temperature.

17. The system of claim 16 further comprising:

an interface connecting the thermal sensor to the controller.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the heater.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the piezoelectric array.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the controller controls the piezoelectric array to control an amount of the substance that is delivered.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the controller controls the piezoelectric array to control a rate at which the substance is delivered.

22. The device of claim 14 wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

23. The device of claim 14 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

24. The device of claim 14 wherein the device further comprises:

an indicator located on the housing, the indicator for providing information about a status of substance delivery.

25. A method of delivering a substance into an eye comprising:

receiving a first input indicating that a substance is to be heated;

in response to the first input, heating the substance;

receiving a second input indicating that the substance is to be delivered; and

activating a piezoelectric array to deliver the substance.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein activating a piezoelectric array to deliver the substance further comprises activating a piezoelectric array to pump the substance from a storage chamber to a dispensing chamber to deliver the substance.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein activating a piezoelectric array to deliver the substance further comprises activating a piezoelectric array to compress a flexible chamber to deliver the substance

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

providing an indication that the substance has been successfully delivered.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

determining if the substance has not been properly delivered; and

providing an indication that the substance has not been properly delivered.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

controlling a heater to control a temperature of the substance.

31. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

controlling a piezoelectric array to control an amount of the substance delivered.

32. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

controlling a piezoelectric array to control a rate at which the substance is delivered.

33. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

recognizing a connection between a tip segment and a limited reuse assembly.