Disposable Ophthalmic Injection Device

• US 20070293820A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Foster, James, Sanchez, Robert, Dacquay, Bruno, Santos, Cesario
• Granted Patent: US 7,871,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/113
• 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 disposable injection device has a dispensing chamber housing, a plunger, a needle, and a temperature control device. The dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface partially defines a dispensing chamber for receiving 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. The plunger has a plunger interface. The needle is fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber. The temperature control device at least partially surrounds the dispensing chamber housing and alters a temperature of the substance in the dispensing chamber. The substance is injected after the temperature of the substance is altered.

Claims

1. A disposable 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, the plunger having a plunger interface;

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;

wherein the substance is injected after the temperature of the substance is altered.

2. The disposable injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

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

3. The disposable injection device of claim 2 wherein the thermal sensor measures a temperature of the substance.

4. The disposable injection device of claim 2 wherein a temperature of the substance is extrapolated from a temperature measured near the dispensing chamber housing.

5. The disposable injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a pair of tip interface connectors located on an interfacing surface of the disposable injection device.

6. The disposable injection device of claim 5 wherein the pair of interface connectors electrically couples the disposable injection device to a limited reuse assembly.

7. The disposable injection device of claim 5 further comprising:

a fuse electrically connected to the pair of interface connectors.

8. The disposable injection device of claim 7 wherein the fuse is blown thus preventing further use of the disposable injection device.

9. The disposable injection device of claim 5 wherein the temperature control device is electrically coupled to the pair of interface connectors.

10. The disposable injection device of claim 1 wherein the temperature control device is a heater.

11. The disposable injection device of claim 1 wherein the temperature control device is a cooling device.

12. The disposable injection device of claim 5 further comprising:

a thermal sensor electrically coupled to the pair of interface connectors.

13. The disposable injection device of claim 2 wherein the thermal sensor is a thermocouple.

14. The disposable injection device of claim 5 further comprising:

an assembly electrically connected to the pair of electrical connectors, the assembly comprising a memory device.

15. The disposable injection device of claim 14 wherein the memory device has information about a characteristic of the disposable injection device.

16. The disposable injection device of claim 14 wherein the memory device has dosage information.

17. The disposable injection device of claim 14 wherein the memory device has dosage rate information.

18. The disposable injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

an RFID tag located near an interfacing surface of the disposable injection device, the RFID tag having information about a characteristic of the disposable injection device.

19. The disposable injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

an RFID tag located near an interfacing surface of the disposable injection device, the RFID tag having information selected from the group consisting of dosage and delivery rate information.

20. The disposable injection device of claim 1 wherein the plunger is press-fitted onto a rigid shaft and the plunger interface is located on a proximal end of the shaft.

21. The disposable injection device of claim 1 wherein the plunger is over-molded onto a rigid shaft and the plunger interface is located on a proximal end of the shaft.

22. The disposable injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first tab located on an interfacing surface of the disposable injection device, the first tab for securing the disposable injection device to a limited reuse assembly.

23. The disposable injection device of claim 22 further comprising:

a second tab located on the interfacing surface of the disposable injection device, the second tab for securing the disposable injection device to the limited reuse assembly

24. The disposable injection device of claim 23 wherein the first and second tabs have different sizes.

25. The disposable injection device of claim 23 wherein the first and second tabs have different shapes.

26. The disposable injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

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

27. The disposable injection device of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing at least partially enclosing the dispensing chamber housing and the plunger.

28. The disposable injection device of claim 1 wherein the plunger interface has a shape that is designed to align the disposable injection device with a limited reuse assembly.

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

30. The system of claim 1 wherein an initial amount of the substance is preloaded in the dispensing chamber and a dosage of the substance comprising less than the initial amount is delivered by movement of the plunger in the dispensing chamber.

31. A disposable 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, the plunger having a plunger interface;

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

a pair of tip interface connectors located on an interfacing surface of the disposable injection device; and

a housing at least partially enclosing the dispensing chamber housing and the plunger;

wherein the substance is injected after the temperature of the substance is altered.

32. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the pair of interface connectors electrically couples the disposable injection device to a limited reuse assembly.

33. The disposable injection device of claim 31 further comprising:

a fuse electrically connected to the pair of interface connectors.

34. The disposable injection device of claim 33 wherein the fuse is blown thus preventing further use of the disposable injection device.

35. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the temperature control device is electrically coupled to the pair of interface connectors.

36. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the temperature control device is a heater.

37. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the temperature control device is a cooling device.

38. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the thermal sensor is electrically coupled to the pair of interface connectors.

39. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the thermal sensor is a device selected from the group consisting of a thermocouple and thermistor.

40. The disposable injection device of claim 31 further comprising:

an assembly electrically connected to the pair of electrical connectors, the assembly comprising a memory device.

41. The disposable injection device of claim 40 wherein the memory device has information about a characteristic of the disposable injection device.

42. The disposable injection device of claim 40 wherein the memory device has dosage information.

43. The disposable injection device of claim 41 wherein the memory device has dosage rate information.

44. The disposable injection device of claim 31 further comprising:

an RFID tag located near an interfacing surface of the disposable injection device, the RFID tag having information about a characteristic of the disposable injection device.

45. The disposable injection device of claim 31 further comprising:

an RFID tag located near an interfacing surface of the disposable injection device, the RFID tag having information selected from the group consisting of dosage and delivery rate information.

46. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the plunger is press-fitted onto a rigid shaft, and the plunger interface is located on a proximal end of the shaft.

47. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the plunger is over-molded onto a rigid shaft, and the plunger interface is located on a proximal end of the shaft.

48. The disposable injection device of claim 31 further comprising:

first and second tabs located on the interfacing surface of the disposable injection device, the first and second tabs for securing the disposable injection device to a limited reuse assembly.

49. The disposable injection device of claim 31 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

50. The disposable injection device of claim 31 further comprising:

a mechanical linkage interface coupled to the plunger interface; and

an actuator for driving the mechanical linkage interface.