Ceramic Chamber With Integrated Temperature Control Device For Ophthalmic Medical Device

• US 20100069842A1
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Dos Santos, Cesario, Pinedjian, Raffi
• Application Number:
  US12/443,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20100069842A1
• 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 2205/3368 Temperature
• 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 2205/6027 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 5/20 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

Abstract

A dispensing assembly includes a dispensing chamber housing, a needle with a needle hub, 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 dispensing chamber housing is made of a sintered ceramic. The needle is fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber. The temperature control device is encapsulated in the dispensing chamber housing during a sintering process. The temperature control device is configured to alter a temperature of a substance in the dispensing chamber.

Claims

1. A dispensing assembly comprising:

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

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber; and

a temperature control device integrated with the dispensing chamber housing, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of a substance in the dispensing chamber.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the dispensing chamber housing is made of a sintered ceramic.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the temperature control device is encapsulated by the dispensing chamber housing during a sintering process.

4. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a needle hub fixed to the needle.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the needle hub is affixed to the dispensing chamber housing during a sintering process.

6. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a liner located between the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing and the substance.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the liner is press fit into the dispensing chamber housing.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the substance is preloaded in the liner.

9. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a liner located between the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing and the substance, the liner having a wall portion and a top portion, the wall portion in contact with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, the top portion holding the needle.

10. The assembly of claim 9 further comprising:

a needle hub fixed to the needle, the needle hub held by the top portion of the

liner.

11. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the liner is press fit into the dispensing chamber housing.

12. The assembly of claim 9 wherein the substance is preloaded in the liner.

13. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing at least partially enclosing the dispensing chamber housing.

14. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a thermal sensor in thermal contact with the dispensing chamber housing.

15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

16. A dispensing assembly comprising:

a dispensing chamber housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface partially defining a dispensing chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance, the dispensing chamber housing made of a sintered ceramic;

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a needle hub connected to the needle; and

a temperature control device encapsulated in the dispensing chamber housing, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of a substance in the dispensing chamber;

wherein the temperature control device is encapsulated in the dispensing chamber and the needle hub is affixed to the dispensing chamber housing during a sintering process.

17. A dispensing assembly comprising:

a dispensing chamber housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface partially defining a dispensing chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance, the dispensing chamber housing made of a sintered ceramic;

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a needle hub connected to the needle, the needle hub affixed to the dispensing chamber housing during a sintering process;

a temperature control device encapsulated in the dispensing chamber housing during a sintering process, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of a substance in the dispensing chamber; and

a liner located between the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing and the substance.

18. A dispensing assembly comprising:

a dispensing chamber housing having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface partially defining a dispensing chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance, the dispensing chamber housing made of a sintered ceramic;

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a needle hub connected to the needle;

a temperature control device encapsulated in the dispensing chamber housing during a sintering process, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of a substance in the dispensing chamber; and

a liner located between the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing and the substance, the liner having a wall portion and a top portion, the wall portion in contact with the inner surface of the dispensing chamber housing, the top portion holding the needle hub.