BATTERY OPERATED SURGICAL HAND PIECE WITH DISPOSABLE END

• US 20100211044A1
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Manufacturing Limited (Alcon Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hallen, Paul R., Lind, Casey, Dos Santos, Cesario, Dacquay, Bruno
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,790 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 2205/0244 Micromachined materials, e.g. made from silicon wafers, microelectromechanical systems [MEMS] or comprising nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• 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 5/31525 Dosing burettes, pipettes B01L3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/31546 Electrically operated dose setting, e.g. input via touch screen or plus/minus buttons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/01 Motorized syringe

Abstract

The present invention is an ophthalmic injection system with a limited reuse assembly and a tip segment. The tip segment is connectable to and removable from the limited reuse assembly. The tip segment includes a dispensing chamber, a plunger, and a housing. The dispensing chamber holds a quantity of a substance to be injected into an eye. The proximate end of the plunger has a first mechanical linkage interface. The limited reuse assembly of the ophthalmic injection system has a power source, a controller, a motor, a second mechanical linkage interface located on an end of the motor shaft; and a second housing. The first mechanical linkage interface is mateable with the second mechanical linkage interface such that when the tip segment is connected to the limited reuse assembly, the first mechanical linkage interface mates with the second mechanical linkage interface so that motion of the shaft results in motion of the plunger.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic injection system comprising:

a tip segment connectable to and removable from 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; 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 motor 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 motor;

wherein the first mechanical linkage interface is mateable with the second mechanical linkage interface such that when the tip segment is connected to the limited reuse assembly, the first mechanical linkage interface mates with the second mechanical linkage interface so that motion of the shaft results in motion of the plunger.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

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

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

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

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a data interface between the tip segment and the limited reuse assembly, the data interface for transferring information from the tip segment to the limited reuse assembly.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

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

wherein information about the temperature of the heater is transferred from the tip segment to the limited reuse assembly.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the information about the temperature of the heater is used by a controller to control operation of the heater.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein dosage information is transferred from the tip segment to the limited reuse assembly.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the controller uses the dosage information to control the operation of the motor.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the controller operates the motor 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.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a data store located within the first housing.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the data store holds dosage information.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the data store holds information about the type of the tip segment.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the data store is a semiconductor memory device.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the data store is an RFID tag.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the first mechanical linkage and the second mechanical linkage comprise a ball and socket linkage.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a plunger stop mechanism for limiting movement of the plunger.

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

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the controller determines a distance to cause the motor to move the shaft such that movement of the shaft results in the movement of the plunger.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller operates the motor to cause a movement of the plunger in the dispensing chamber such that the substance is delivered at a fixed rate.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller operates the motor to cause a movement of the plunger in the dispensing chamber such that the substance is delivered at a variable rate.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises:

an RFID reader located within the second housing, the RFID reader adapted to read information from the RFID tag.

24. The system of claim 1 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises:

an indicator for indicating a status of the system.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode.

26. The system of claim 1 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises:

an input device located on the second housing.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the input device is a switch.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the input device is a button.

29. The system of claim 1 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises:

a lock mechanism for securing the tip segment to the limited reuse assembly.

30. The system of claim 1 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises a first threaded portion and the tip segment further comprises a second threaded portion such that the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion can be screwed together to secure the tip segment to the limited reuse assembly.

31. The system of claim 1 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

32. The system of claim 1 wherein the limited reuse assembly is a universal limited reuse assembly capable of being connected to and operating two or more different tip segments that perform different functions.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the limited reuse assembly is capable of being connected to and operating a tip segment that performs a cauterizing function.

34. The system of claim 1 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a seal adapted to prevent contamination of the substance.

35. The system of claim 1 wherein the power source is a battery.

36. A disposable drug delivery 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, the plunger having a proximate end and a distal end;

the proximate end having a mechanical linkage interface; and

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

wherein the mechanical linkage is mateable with and separable from a limited reuse assembly adapted to drive the plunger.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber.

38. The system of claim 36 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

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

39. The system of claim 36 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a data store located within the first housing.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein the data store holds dosage information.

41. The system of claim 39 wherein the data store holds information about the type of the tip segment.

42. The system of claim 39 wherein the data store is a semiconductor memory device.

43. The system of claim 36 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

an RFID tag located within the first housing.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the RFID tag has dosage information.

45. The system of claim 43 wherein the RFID tag has information about the type of the tip segment.

46. The system of claim 36 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a plunger stop mechanism for limiting movement of the plunger.

47. The system of claim 36 wherein movement of the plunger in the dispensing chamber determines a dosage of the substance.

48. The system of claim 36 wherein a first amount of the substance is preloaded in the dispensing chamber and a dosage of the substance comprising less than the first amount is delivered by movement of the plunger in the dispensing chamber.

49. The system of claim 36 wherein a rate of movement of the plunger in the dispensing chamber determines a rate of delivery of the substance.

50. The system of claim 36 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

51. The system of claim 36 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a seal adapted to prevent contamination of the substance.

52. An ophthalmic injection system comprising:

a tip segment connectable to and removable from 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; and

a motor connected to the plunger, the motor configured to move the plunger in a direction toward an end of the dispensing chamber;

the limited reuse assembly comprising;

an interface for connecting the tip segment to the limited reuse assembly;

a controller for controlling the operation of the system; and

a power source for providing power to the motor;

wherein when the tip segment is connected to the limited reuse assembly, the controller controls the operation of the motor.

53. The system of claim 52 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber.

54. The system of claim 52 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

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

55. The system of claim 54 wherein the interface is an electrical interface for coupling the heater to the limited reuse assembly.

56. The system of claim 52 wherein the interface is a data interface for transferring information from the tip segment to the limited reuse assembly.

57. The system of claim 52 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a data store located within the first housing.

58. The system of claim 57 wherein the data store holds dosage information.

59. The system of claim 57 wherein the data store holds information about the type of the tip segment.

60. The system of claim 57 wherein the data store is a semiconductor memory device.

61. The system of claim 57 wherein the data store is an RFID tag.

62. The system of claim 52 wherein the motor is a stepper motor.

63. The system of claim 52 wherein a first amount of the substance is preloaded in the dispensing chamber and a dosage of the substance comprising less than the first amount is delivered by a calculated movement of the plunger in the dispensing chamber.

64. The system of claim 63 wherein the controller determines a distance to cause the motor to move the shaft such that the movement of the shaft results in the calculated movement of the plunger.

65. The system of claim 52 wherein a rate of movement of the plunger in the dispensing chamber determines a rate of delivery of the substance.

66. The system of claim 61 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises:

an RFID reader located within the second housing, the RFID reader adapted to read information from the RFID tag.

67. The system of claim 52 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises:

a light emitting diode for indicating a status of the system.

68. The system of claim 52 wherein the limited reuse assembly further comprises a switch.

69. The system of claim 52 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

70. The system of claim 52 wherein the limited reuse assembly is a universal limited reuse assembly capable of being connected to and operating two or more different tip segments that perform different functions.

71. The system of claim 70 wherein the limited reuse assembly is capable of being connected to and operating a tip segment that performs a cauterizing function.

72. The system of claim 52 wherein the power source is a battery.