COMPUTER CONTROLLED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC PRESSURE SENSING
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a controlled injection of a drug into a selected tissue of a subject by a practitioner, the apparatus comprising:
- a drive unit for supplying a drug at at least one flow rate;
a handpiece for being held by the practitioner, the handpiece being connected to the drive unit for receiving the drug and being adapted for holding an injection needle to be inserted into the selected tissue of the subject by the practitioner, for passing the drug to the selected tissue at an instantaneous and absolute pressure that is at a tip of the needle and that varies as a function of the type of the selected tissue and a placement of the needle in the selected tissue, there being a minimum threshold and absolute pressure which is desired for administering the drug to the selected tissue;
a pressure sensor for sensing or calculating the instantaneous pressure; and
a feedback mechanism for supplying a perceptible signal to the practitioner that indicates when the instantaneous pressure has reached the minimum threshold pressure, for guiding movement by the placement of the needle at least until the minimum threshold pressure has been reached.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for a controlled injection of a drug into a selected tissue of a subject by a practitioner, uses a drive unit for supplying the drug and a handpiece to be held and guided by the practitioner, connected to the drive unit for receiving the drug. The handpiece holds an injection needle to be inserted into the selected tissue by the practitioner for passing the drug to the selected tissue at an instantaneous and absolute pressure that varies as a function of the type of tissue and the placement of the needle. A pressure sensor senses this instantaneous pressure and a feedback mechanism supplies a perceptible audible, visual or other signal to the practitioner that indicates when the instantaneous pressure has reached a minimum desired pressure, the practitioner thus being informed that the correct placement and dosage has been attained.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a controlled injection of a drug into a selected tissue of a subject by a practitioner, the apparatus comprising:
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a drive unit for supplying a drug at at least one flow rate; a handpiece for being held by the practitioner, the handpiece being connected to the drive unit for receiving the drug and being adapted for holding an injection needle to be inserted into the selected tissue of the subject by the practitioner, for passing the drug to the selected tissue at an instantaneous and absolute pressure that is at a tip of the needle and that varies as a function of the type of the selected tissue and a placement of the needle in the selected tissue, there being a minimum threshold and absolute pressure which is desired for administering the drug to the selected tissue; a pressure sensor for sensing or calculating the instantaneous pressure; and a feedback mechanism for supplying a perceptible signal to the practitioner that indicates when the instantaneous pressure has reached the minimum threshold pressure, for guiding movement by the placement of the needle at least until the minimum threshold pressure has been reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for administering a controlled injection of a drug into a selected tissue of a subject by a practitioner, the method comprising:
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supplying a drug to an injection needle at a selected flow rate; using a handpiece held by the practitioner and to which the needle is connected, for inserted the needle into the selected tissue of the subject for passing the drug to the selected tissue at an instantaneous and absolute pressure that is at a tip of the needle and that varies in real-time as a function of the type of the selected tissue and a placement of the needle in the selected tissue, there being a minimum threshold and absolute pressure which is desired for administering the drug to the selected tissue; sensing or calculating the instantaneous pressure on a real-time basis; and supplying a perceptible signal to the practitioner that indicates when the instantaneous pressure has reached the minimum threshold pressure, for guiding movement of the placement of the needle by the practitioner at least until the minimum threshold pressure has been reached. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for a controlled injection of a dental anesthetic into intraligamentary tissue of a subject by a practitioner, the apparatus comprising:
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a drive unit for supplying a dental anesthetic at at least one flow rate; a handpiece for being held by the practitioner, the handpiece being connected to the drive unit for receiving the anesthetic and being adapted for holding an injection needle to be inserted into the intraligamentary tissue of the subject by the practitioner, for passing the anesthetic to the tissue at an instantaneous and absolute pressure that is at a tip of the needle and that is a function of the intraligamentary tissue and a placement of the needle in the intraligamentary tissue, there being a minimum threshold and absolute pressure which is desired for administering the anesthetic to the intraligamentary tissue; a pressure sensor for sensing or calculating the instantaneous pressure; and a feedback mechanism for supplying a perceptible signal to the practitioner that indicates when the instantaneous pressure has reached the minimum threshold pressure, for guiding movement by the placement of the needle at least until the minimum threshold pressure has been reached. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for administering a controlled injection of a dental anesthetic drug into intraligamentary tissue of a subject by a practitioner, the method comprising:
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supplying a dental anesthetic drug to an injection needle at a selected flow rate; using a handpiece held by the practitioner and to which the needle is connected, for inserted the needle into the intraligamentary tissue of the subject for passing the drug to the intraligamentary tissue at an instantaneous and absolute pressure that is at a tip of the needle and that varies in real-time as a function of the intraligamentary tissue and a placement of the needle in the tissue, there being a minimum threshold and absolute pressure which is desired for administering the drug to the intraligamentary tissue; sensing or calculating the instantaneous pressure on a real-time basis; and supplying a perceptible signal to the practitioner that indicates when the instantaneous pressure has reached the minimum threshold pressure, for guiding movement of the placement of the needle by the practitioner at least until the minimum threshold pressure has been reached. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for a controlled injection of a drug into a selected tissue of a subject by a practitioner, the apparatus comprising:
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a drive unit for supplying a drug at at least one flow rate; a handpiece for being held by the practitioner, the handpiece being connected to the drive unit for receiving the drug and being adapted for holding an injection needle to be inserted into the selected tissue of the subject by the practitioner, for passing the drug to the selected tissue at an instantaneous and absolute pressure at a tip of the needle that varies as a function of the compliance of the selected tissue and a placement of the needle in the selected tissue, there being a minimum absolute pressure which is desired for administering the drug to the selected tissue; a pressure sensor for sensing or calculating the instantaneous pressure; and a feedback mechanism for supplying a perceptible signal to the practitioner that indicates when the instantaneous pressure has reached the threshold minimum pressure, for guiding movement by the placement of the needle at least until the minimum pressure has been reached; the pressure sensor for sensing the instantaneous pressure comprising means for determining change in pressure (P2−
P1=Δ
P) over a defined time period, a means for determining a change in volume (V2−
V1=Δ
V) over a defined time period, and a means for determining the compliance of the tissue based on a change in volume to over a change in pressure, the calculated compliance being compared to a defined compliance for a given anatomic location or structure and the practitioner being guided to a specific target tissue based on identification of specific compliance.
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Specification