Ophthalmic Injection Method

• US 20080021438A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Dacquay, Bruno, Santos, Cesario, Foster, James, Sanchez, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,815,603 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/521
• 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 method of delivering a substance into an eye includes recognizing a connection between a tip segment and a limited reuse assembly; receiving dosage information from the tip segment; activating a temperature control device to alter a temperature of a substance to be delivered into an eye; receiving temperature information from a thermal sensor; using the temperature information to control the temperature control device; receiving an input indicating that the substance is to be delivered; and based on the dosage information, controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance.

Claims

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

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

receiving dosage information from the tip segment;

activating a temperature control device to alter a temperature of a substance to be delivered into an eye;

receiving temperature information from a thermal sensor;

using the temperature information to control the temperature control device;

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

based on the dosage information, controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an indication that the substance has been successfully delivered.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving dosage information from the tip segment further comprises:

reading the dosage information from an RFID tag.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a type of tip segment connected to the limited reuse assembly.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving dosage rate information from the tip segment.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

based on the dosage rate information, controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance further comprises:

calculating a distance that an actuator must displace an actuator shaft to deliver a proper dosage.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance further comprises:

calculating a rate at which an actuator must move an actuator shaft to deliver a proper dosage.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein activating a temperature control device to alter a temperature of a substance to be delivered into an eye occurs when the limited reuse assembly and tip segment are located on a charging base, and further comprises the charging base providing power to the limited reuse assembly, the provided power used to activate the temperature control device.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

recognizing that the tip segment and limited reuse assembly have been placed on a charging base; and

wherein activating a temperature control device to alter a temperature of a substance to be delivered into an eye occurs while the tip segment and limited reuse assembly are located on the charging base.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance further comprises:

moving an actuator shaft to a homed position; and

moving the actuator shaft so that a mechanical linkage interface contacts a plunger interface.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance further comprises:

moving an actuator shaft to a homed position;

before injecting the substance into the eye, moving the actuator shaft so that a mechanical linkage interface contacts a plunger interface; and

after the substance has reached the proper temperature, activating the actuator to move the plunger to deliver the substance into the eye.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving data from a displacement sensor indicating a distance that an actuator shaft has moved.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing an indication of the dosage delivered based on the distance.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving data from a stall sensor indicating that an actuator has stalled.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

providing an indication of a stall condition.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing an indication of the amount of substance that has been successfully delivered.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

preventing reuse of the tip segment.

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

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

identifying a type of tip segment connected to the limited reuse assembly;

receiving dosage information from the tip segment;

activating a temperature control device to alter a temperature of a substance to be delivered into an eye;

receiving temperature information from a thermal sensor;

using the temperature information to control the temperature control device;

moving an actuator shaft to a homed position;

before the substance is injected into an eye, moving the actuator shaft so that a mechanical linkage interface contacts a plunger interface;

receiving an input indicating that the substance is to be delivered;

after the substance has reached the proper temperature, using the dosage information to control the actuator to move the plunger to deliver the substance into an eye;

receiving data from a displacement sensor indicating a distance that an actuator shaft has moved; and

providing an indication of the dosage delivered based on the distance.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

providing an indication that the substance has been successfully delivered.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein receiving dosage information from the tip segment further comprises:

reading the dosage information from an RFID tag.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving dosage rate information from the tip segment.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

based on the dosage rate information, controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance further comprises:

calculating a distance that an actuator must displace an actuator shaft to deliver a proper dosage.

25. The method of claim 19 wherein controlling an actuator to move a plunger to deliver the substance further comprises:

calculating a rate at which an actuator must move an actuator shaft to deliver a proper dosage.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein activating a temperature control device to alter a temperature of a substance to be delivered into an eye occurs when the limited reuse assembly and tip segment are located in a charging base.

27. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

recognizing that the tip segment and limited reuse assembly have been placed on a charging base; and

wherein activating a temperature control device to alter a temperature of a substance to be delivered into an eye occurs while the tip segment and limited reuse assembly are located on the charging base, and further comprises the charging base providing power to the limited reuse assembly, the provided power used to activate the temperature control device

28. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving data from a stall sensor indicating that an actuator has stalled.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

providing an indication of a stall condition.

30. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

providing an indication of the amount of substance has been successfully delivered.

31. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

preventing reuse of the tip segment.