Limited Reuse Assembly For Ophthalmic Injection Device

• US 20070270744A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• 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, Foster, James, Sanchez, Robert, Pinedjian, Raffi, Dacquay, Bruno, Santos, Cesario
• Application Number:
  US11/832,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270744A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8243 by induction
• 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 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• 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 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• 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 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/484 Regulating injection pressure

Abstract

A limited reuse assembly for an ophthalmic medical device has an actuator with a shaft, a power source for providing power to the actuator, a controller for controlling the actuator, a mechanical linkage interface, and a housing. The mechanical linkage interface is coupled to the actuator shaft and has a mating surface on one end. The housing at least partially encloses the power source, the controller, and the actuator. The limited reuse assembly is attachable to and removable from a disposable injection device.

Claims

1. A limited reuse assembly for an ophthalmic hand piece comprising:

an actuator having a shaft;

a power source for providing power to the actuator;

a controller for controlling the actuator;

a mechanical linkage interface coupled to the shaft, the mechanical linkage interface having a mating surface on an end; and

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

wherein the limited reuse assembly is attachable to and removable from a disposable injection device.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of interface connectors located on an interfacing surface of the limited reuse assembly.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the pair of interface connectors provides power to a tip segment.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the pair of interface connectors provides power to a temperature control device.

5. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the pair of interface connectors connects the controller to a thermal sensor.

6. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the pair of interface connectors connects the controller to a memory device.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein data about a condition of a tip segment is transferred through the pair of interface connectors to the controller.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein dosage data is transferred through the pair of interface connectors to the controller.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the dosage data is used to control the actuator.

10. The assembly of claim 6 wherein temperature data is transferred through the pair of interface connectors to the controller.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the temperature data is used to control a temperature control device.

12. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a stall sensor for detecting if the actuator is experiencing a stall condition; and

an interface for connecting the stall sensor to the controller.

13. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a displacement sensor for measuring a distance the actuator shaft travels; and

an interface for connecting the displacement sensor to the controller.

14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the power source is a battery.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator is a stepper motor.

16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator is a spring driven mechanism.

17. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator shaft is rigidly connected to the mechanical linkage interface.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator shaft is coupled to the mechanical linkage interface via a ball and socket joint.

19. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a power source controller for monitoring a condition of the power source.

20. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

electrical contacts located on a bottom surface of the limited reuse assembly, the electrical contacts for interfacing with a charging base.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the electrical contacts are an electronic-type interface.

22. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

an inductive element located near a bottom surface of the limited reuse assembly, the inductive element for interfacing with a charging base.

23. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

an RFID reader located in the housing, the RFID reader adapted to read information from an RFID tag.

24. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller determines a distance to move the actuator shaft and mechanical linkage interface to deliver a dosage of a substance.

25. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller operates the actuator so that the actuator shaft moves at a fixed rate.

26. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the controller operates the actuator so that the actuator shaft moves at a variable rate.

27. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

an indicator located on the housing, the indicator for providing information about a status of the limited reuse assembly.

28. The assembly of claim 27 wherein the indicator is a display.

29. A limited reuse assembly for an ophthalmic hand piece comprising:

an actuator having a shaft;

a power source for providing power to the actuator;

a controller for controlling the actuator;

a mechanical linkage interface coupled to the shaft, the mechanical linkage interface having a mating surface on an end;

a pair of interface connectors located on an interfacing surface of the limited reuse assembly;

a displacement sensor for measuring a distance the actuator shaft travels;

an interface for connecting the displacement sensor to the controller;

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

an indicator located on the housing, the indicator for providing information about a status of the limited reuse assembly.

wherein the controller controls the operation of the actuator such that the actuator drives the actuator shaft to deliver a dosage of a substance into an eye.

30. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the pair of interface connectors provides power to a tip segment.

31. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the pair of interface connectors connects the controller to a thermal sensor.

32. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the pair of interface connectors connects the controller to a memory device.

33. The assembly of claim 32 wherein data about a condition of a tip segment is transferred through the pair of interface connectors to the controller.

34. The assembly of claim 32 wherein dosage data is transferred through the pair of interface connectors to the controller.

35. The assembly of claim 34 wherein the dosage data is used to control the actuator.

36. The assembly of claim 29 wherein temperature data is transferred through the pair of interface connectors to the controller.

37. The assembly of claim 36 wherein the temperature data is used to control a temperature control device.

38. The assembly of claim 29 further comprising:

a stall sensor for detecting if the actuator is experiencing a stall condition; and

an interface for connecting the stall sensor to the controller.

39. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the power source is a battery.

40. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of a stepper motor, a DC motor, a DC motor with a rotary sensor coupled to a linear drive, and a DC motor coupled to a linear drive with a linear sensor.

41. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the actuator is a spring driven mechanism.

42. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the actuator shaft is rigidly connected to the mechanical linkage interface.

43. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the actuator shaft is connected to the mechanical linkage interface via a ball and socket joint.

44. The assembly of claim 29 further comprising:

an RFID reader located in the housing, the RFID reader adapted to read information from an RFID tag.

45. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the controller operates the actuator so that the actuator shaft moves at a fixed rate.

46. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the controller operates the actuator so that the actuator shaft moves at a variable rate.

47. The assembly of claim 29 wherein the indicator is a display.