Ophthalmic injection device using piezoelectric array

• US 7,674,243 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Inventors: Lind, Casey, Dacquay, Bruno, Martin, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi; Nicholas D
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLICK, JASON E
• Application Number:
  US11/751,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20070270748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 604/131
• US Class Current: 604/131
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0008 Introducing ophthalmic products into the ocular cavity or retaining products therein putting in contact lenses A61F9/0061; introducing or retaining media in cavities of the body in general A61M31/00
• 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 2205/0294 Piezoelectric materials
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8262 connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/0612 Eyes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14224 Diaphragm type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1452 pressurised by means of pistons
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• 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 5/31511 Piston or piston-rod constructions, e.g. connection of piston with piston-rod A61M5/5066 takes precedence
• 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: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/484 Regulating injection pressure

Abstract

An ophthalmic injection device has a dispensing chamber, a storage chamber, a piezoelectric array, a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber, a power source for providing power to the piezoelectric array, and a controller for controlling the power source. A dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a dispensing chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance. The storage chamber is located near the dispensing chamber housing. The piezoelectric array is located between the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber housing. A housing at least partially encloses the dispensing chamber housing, the storage chamber, the piezoelectric array, the power source, and the controller. The piezoelectric array is activated to pump the substance from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber.

Claims

1. An injection system comprising:

a tip segment attachable to and removable from a limited reuse assembly;

the tip segment comprising;

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

a storage chamber located near the dispensing chamber housing;

a piezoelectric array located between the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber housing, the piezoelectric array fluidly coupled to the plurality of perforations;

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber; and

a first housing at least partially enclosing the dispensing chamber housing, the storage chamber, and the piezoelectric array;

the limited reuse assembly comprising;

a power source for providing power to the piezoelectric array;

a controller for controlling the power source; and

a second housing at least partially enclosing the power source and the controller;

wherein the piezoelectric array is activated to pump the substance from the storage chamber, through the plurality of perforations, to the dispensing chamber.

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

a heater for heating the substance.

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

a thermal sensor located near the storage chamber, the thermal sensor for measuring a temperature.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising:

an interface connecting the thermal sensor to the controller.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the heater.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the piezoelectric array.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller controls the piezoelectric array to control an amount of the substance that is delivered.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller controls the piezoelectric array to control a rate at which the substance is delivered.

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

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

a tip interface connector located on an interfacing surface of the tip segment; and

a limited reuse assembly interface connector located on an interfacing surface of the limited reuse assembly, the limited reuse assembly interface connector attachable to the tip segment interface connector.

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

a luer for securing the needle to the dispensing chamber housing.

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

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

an indicator located on the second housing, the indicator for providing information about a status of substance delivery.

14. An injection device comprising:

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

a storage chamber located near the dispensing chamber housing;

a piezoelectric array located between the storage chamber and the dispensing chamber housing, the piezoelectric array fluidly coupled to the plurality of perforations;

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber;

a power source for providing power to the piezoelectric array;

a controller for controlling the power source; and

a housing at least partially enclosing the power source, the controller, the dispensing chamber housing, the storage chamber, and the piezoelectric array;

wherein the piezoelectric array is activated to pump the substance from the storage chamber, through the plurality of perforations, to the dispensing chamber.

15. The device of claim 14 further comprising:

a heater for heating the substance.

16. The device of claim 15 further comprising:

a thermal sensor located near the storage chamber, the thermal sensor for measuring a temperature.

17. The device of claim 16 further comprising:

an interface connecting the thermal sensor to the controller.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the heater.

19. The device of claim 16 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the piezoelectric array.

20. The device of claim 14 wherein the controller controls the piezoelectric array to control an amount of the substance that is delivered.

21. The device of claim 14 wherein the controller controls the piezoelectric array to control a rate at which the substance is delivered.

22. The device of claim 14 wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.

23. The device of claim 14 wherein the substance is a drug for treating a condition of the eye.

24. The device of claim 14 wherein the device further comprises:

an indicator located on the housing, the indicator for providing information about a status of substance delivery.