Mechanical Linkage Mechanism For Ophthalmic Injection Device

• US 20070270768A1
• 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: Santos, Cesario Dos, Lind, Casey, Foster, James, Dacquay, Bruno
• Application Number:
  US11/752,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/272
• 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 device has a dispensing chamber housing, a plunger, a needle fluidly coupled to a dispensing chamber, a temperature control device, a power source for providing power to the temperature control device, a controller for controlling the temperature control device, and a mechanical linkage mechanism. The interior surface of the dispensing chamber housing partially defines a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance. The plunger is engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, is capable of sliding in the dispensing chamber housing, and is fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing. A plunger shaft is coupled to the plunger. The temperature control device can alter the temperature of the substance contained therein. The mechanical linkage mechanism has at least two pivots and at least two shafts and transfers force from a lever to the plunger.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic injection device comprising:

a dispensing chamber housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface partially defining a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance;

a plunger engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, the plunger capable of sliding in the dispensing chamber housing, the plunger fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing;

a plunger shaft coupled to the plunger;

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a temperature control device at least partially surrounding the dispensing chamber housing, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of the substance in the dispensing chamber;

a power source for providing power to the temperature control device;

a controller for controlling the temperature control device; and

a mechanical linkage mechanism for transferring a force from a lever to the plunger, the mechanical linkage mechanism comprising at least two pivots and at least two shafts.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

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

3. The device of claim 2 further comprising:

an interface connecting the thermal sensor to the controller.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the temperature control device.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein an end of the lever of the mechanical linkage mechanism terminates at a first pivot such that when the force is applied to the lever, the lever rotates about the first pivot.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein a first end of a first shaft terminates at the first pivot and a second end of the first shaft terminates at a coupling such that when the force is applied to the lever, the first shaft rotates about the first pivot.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein a first end of a second shaft terminates at the coupling and a second end of the second shaft terminates at a second pivot, the second pivot connected to the plunger shaft, such that movement of the second shaft results in movement of the plunger shaft.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the temperature control device is a heater.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

an indicator for providing information about a status of the device.

12. An ophthalmic injection device comprising:

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

the tip segment comprising;

a dispensing chamber housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface partially defining a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance;

a plunger engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, the plunger capable of sliding in the dispensing chamber housing, the plunger fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, the plunger having a plunger interface for coupling with a plunger shaft;

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber; and

a temperature control device at least partially surrounding the dispensing chamber housing, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of the substance in the dispensing chamber;

the limited reuse assembly comprising;

a power source for providing power to the temperature control device;

a controller for controlling the temperature control device; and

a mechanical linkage mechanism for transferring a force from a lever to the plunger, the mechanical linkage mechanism comprising at least two pivots and at least two shafts.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

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

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising:

an interface connecting the thermal sensor to the controller.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the temperature control device.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein an end of the lever of the mechanical linkage mechanism terminates at a first pivot such that when the force is applied to the lever, the lever rotates about the first pivot.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein a first end of a first shaft terminates at the first pivot and a second end of the first shaft terminates at a coupling such that when the force is applied to the lever, the first shaft rotates about the first pivot.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein a first end of a second shaft terminates at the coupling and a second end of the second shaft terminates at a second pivot, the second pivot connected to a plunger shaft, such that movement of the second shaft results in movement of the plunger shaft.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein motion is transferred to the plunger from the mechanical linkage mechanism only in a dispensing direction.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

21. The device of claim 12 wherein the temperature control device is a heater.

22. The device of claim 12 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

23. The device of claim 12 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises:

an indicator for providing information about a status of the device.

24. An ophthalmic injection system comprising:

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

the tip segment comprising;

a dispensing chamber housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface partially defining a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance;

a plunger engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, the plunger capable of sliding in the dispensing chamber housing, the plunger fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, the plunger having a plunger interface for coupling with a plunger shaft;

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a temperature control device at least partially surrounding the dispensing chamber housing, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of the substance in the dispensing chamber; and

a mechanical linkage mechanism for transferring a force from a lever to the plunger, the mechanical linkage mechanism comprising at least two pivots and at least two shafts;

the limited reuse assembly comprising;

a power source for providing power to the temperature control device; and

a controller for controlling the temperature control device.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

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

26. The device of claim 24 wherein an end of the lever of the mechanical linkage mechanism terminates at a first pivot such that when the force is applied to the lever, the lever rotates about the first pivot.

27. The device of claim 26 wherein a first end of a first shaft terminates at the first pivot and a second end of the first shaft terminates at a coupling such that when the force is applied to the lever, the first shaft rotates about the first pivot.

28. The device of claim 27 wherein a first end of a second shaft terminates at the coupling and a second end of the second shaft terminates at a second pivot, the second pivot connected to a plunger shaft, such that movement of the second shaft results in movement of the plunger shaft.