Multiple Thermal Sensors in a Multiple Processor Environment for Temperature Control in a Drug Delivery Device

• US 20100286654A1
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research, LLC (Alcon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Gelvin, Michael LeRoy, Dos Santos, Cesario Pereira
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,511 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/506
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0085 Devices for generating hot or cold treatment fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/44 having means for cooling or heating the devices or media

Abstract

In various embodiments, an ophthalmic injection device may include a dispensing chamber, a first thermal sensor coupled to the dispensing chamber, a temperature control layer coupled to the dispensing chamber, a second thermal sensor coupled to the dispensing chamber, and a first processing device. The first processing device may be configured to receive temperature information from the first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor and control the temperature control layer using the received temperature information. In some embodiments, the first processing device may receive temperature information directly from the second thermal sensor (e.g., in analog form) and may compare the temperature information from the first thermal sensor (e.g., received from the second processing device in digital form) and the second thermal sensor to detect temperature offsets between the two sensors.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic injection device, comprising:

a dispensing chamber;

a first thermal sensor coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a second thermal sensor coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a temperature control layer coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a processing device;

wherein the processing device is configured to receive temperature information from the first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor and wherein the processing device is configured to control the temperature control layer at least partially based on the received temperature information.

2. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the first thermal sensor and second thermal sensor are on a tip segment and wherein the processing device is on a dispensing assembly coupled to the tip segment.

3. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to compare temperature information from the first thermal sensor and temperature information from the second thermal sensor to determine if the temperature information from the first and second thermal sensors are within a predetermined tolerance of each other.

4. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 3,

wherein the temperature information from the first thermal sensor is indicative of a first temperature detected by the first thermal sensor;

wherein the temperature information from the second thermal sensor is indicative of a second temperature detected by the second thermal sensor; and

wherein comparing temperature information from the first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor comprises comparing the first temperature to the second temperature.

5. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 4, wherein the processing device is configured to stop operation of the temperature control layer if the first temperature and the second temperature are not within a predetermined tolerance of each other.

6. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined tolerance is approximately five degrees Celsius and wherein the processing device is configured to stop operation of the temperature control layer if the first temperature is more than five degrees higher than the second temperature or if the second temperature is more than five degrees higher than the first temperature.

7. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor are coupled together through a bridge circuit and wherein a temperature difference between the first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor corresponds to a voltage reading across the bridge circuit indicative of a difference between the first and second thermal sensor readings.

8. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the processing device is a first processing device and wherein the ophthalmic injection device further comprises a second processing device coupled to the first thermal sensor, wherein the second processing device is configured to send a signal indicative of temperature information from the first thermal sensor to the first processing device.

9. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 8, wherein the first processing device is configured to receive temperature information directly from the second thermal sensor.

10. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 8, wherein the second processing device is configured to send the signal indicative of temperature information from the first thermal sensor in a digital form to the first processing device.

11. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 10, wherein the first processing device is configured to receive the temperature information from the second thermal sensor in an analog form.

12. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, further comprising a memory communicatively coupled to the first processing device, wherein the memory is configured to store a number of uses for the tip segment coupled to the dispensing chamber, a temperature set point, a drug delivery speed, a drug density and/or a drug thermal coefficient of expansion.

13. A method of injecting a substance into an eye using an ophthalmic injection device, comprising:

receiving temperature information from a first thermal sensor on a tip segment of the ophthalmic injection device;

receiving temperature information from a second thermal sensor on the tip segment of the ophthalmic injection device;

comparing the temperature information from the first thermal sensor to the temperature information from the second thermal sensor;

directing a temperature control layer on the tip segment to apply heat to a dispensing chamber of an ophthalmic injection device if the temperature information from the first thermal sensor is within a predetermined threshold of temperature information of the second thermal sensor.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor are coupled together through a bridge circuit and wherein receiving temperature information from the first and second thermal sensors and comparing the temperature information comprises receiving a voltage reading across the bridge circuit indicative of a difference between the first and second thermal sensor readings.

15. The method of claim 13,

wherein the temperature information from the first thermal sensor is indicative of a first temperature detected by the first thermal sensor;

wherein the temperature information from the second thermal sensor is indicative of a second temperature detected by the second thermal sensor; and

wherein comparing temperature information from the first thermal sensor and the second thermal sensor comprises comparing the first temperature to the second temperature.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising discontinuing operation of the temperature control layer if the first temperature and the second temperature are not within a predetermined tolerance of each other.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined tolerance is approximately five degrees Celsius and wherein the first processing device is configured to stop operation of the temperature control layer if the first temperature is more than five degrees higher than the second temperature or if the second temperature is more than five degrees higher than the first temperature.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving temperature information from the first thermal sensor comprises receiving the temperature information from a processing device coupled to the first thermal sensor, wherein the processing device is configured to send a signal indicative of the temperature information from the first thermal sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, receiving temperature information from the second thermal sensor comprises receiving temperature information directly from the second thermal sensor.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the processing device is configured to send the signal indicative of temperature information from the first thermal sensor in a digital form.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving temperature information from the second thermal sensor comprises receiving temperature information from the second thermal sensor in an analog form.