Fuse Assembly For Single Use Medical Device

• US 20080234625A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Santos, Cesario Dos, Lind, Casey, Dacquay, Bruno
• Application Number:
  US11/688,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20080234625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/19
• 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 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/50 with microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6027 Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• 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 5/20 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 5/3129 Syringe barrels A61M5/3205 and A61M5/50 take precedence
• 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 5/50 having means for preventing re-use, or for indicating if defective, used, tampered with or unsterile retractable needles or needle protectors with means for preventing re-use A61M5/321

Abstract

A disposable injection device includes a dispensing chamber, a plunger, a fuse in series with a light, and a housing. The dispensing chamber has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a cavity for receiving a quantity of a substance. The plunger is engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber, is capable of sliding in the cavity of the dispensing chamber, and is fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber. The housing at least partially encloses the dispensing chamber and the plunger. After the substance has been delivered from the dispensing chamber, the fuse is blown causing the light to go out and disabling the device.

Claims

1. A disposable injection device comprising:

a dispensing chamber having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity for receiving a quantity of a substance;

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

a fuse; and

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

wherein after the substance has been delivered from the dispensing chamber, the fuse is blown disabling the device.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a light in series with the fuse.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a heater in thermal contact with the dispensing chamber, the heater for heating the substance.

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

6. The device of claim 2 wherein the light is a light emitting diode.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller adapted to detect when the substance has been delivered from the dispensing chamber and direct the fuse to be blown.

8. The device of claim 2 further comprising:

a power source for providing a current to the light and the fuse.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a actuator for driving the plunger.

9. The device of claim 9 wherein the power source is a battery.

11. An ophthalmic injection system comprising:

a tip segment and a limited reuse assembly;

the tip segment comprising;

a dispensing chamber having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity for receiving a quantity of a substance;

a plunger engaged with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber, the plunger capable of sliding in the cavity of the dispensing chamber, the plunger fluidly sealed to the inner surface of the dispensing chamber, the plunger having a proximate end and a distal end;

the proximate end having a first mechanical linkage interface;

a fuse; and

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

the limited reuse assembly comprising;

a power source;

a controller for controlling the operation of the system;

a actuator having a shaft;

a second mechanical linkage interface located on an end of the shaft; and

a second housing at least partially enclosing the controller and the actuator;

wherein after the substance has been delivered from the dispensing chamber, the fuse is blown disabling the device.

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising:

a light connected in series with the fuse.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising:

an electrical interface for coupling the heater to the limited reuse assembly.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the controller operates the actuator such that the shaft is moved a calculated distance thereby displacing the plunger and causing a fixed amount of the substance to exit the dispensing chamber.

15. The device of claim 11 further comprising:

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber.

16. The device of claim 11 further comprising:

a heater in thermal contact with the dispensing chamber, the heater for heating the substance.

17. The device of claim 11 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein the light is a light emitting diode.

19. The device of claim 11 wherein the controller is adapted to detect when the substance has been delivered from the dispensing chamber and direct the fuse to be blown.

20. The device of claim 11 wherein the power source is a battery.

21. A method of operating an ophthalmic injection system comprising:

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

determining if a fuse has been blown;

if the fuse has not been blown, indicating that the tip segment is ready to be used; and

after the tip segment has been used, increasing a current to the fuse thus causing the fuse to be blown.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

extinguishing a light after the tip segment has been used.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

detecting that the fuse has been blown; and

preventing the tip segment from being used.

24. A medical device comprising:

a single-use component comprising a fuse connected in series with a light and an interface for receiving electric current, the electric current being provided to the fuse and the light; and

a limited reuse assembly attachable to and removable from the single-use component, the limited reuse assembly comprising a controller for controlling the operation of the single-use component and a power source for providing the electric current to the fuse and the light via the interface;

wherein after the single-use component has been used, the fuse is blown thus disabling the single use component.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the single use component further comprises:

a dispensing chamber having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a cavity for receiving a quantity of a substance;

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

26. A single-use medical device comprising:

a fuse connected in series with a light;

an interface for receiving electric current, the electric current being provided to the fuse and the light;

wherein after the device has been used, the fuse is blown thus disabling the device.