Multi-layer heat assembly for a drug delivery device

• US 8,372,036 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2010
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcon Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Dos Santos, Cesario Pereira
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Jr., Bradley G
• Application Number:
  US12/774,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20100286632A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: 604112-114, 604/21, 604/294, 604/181, 392/304, 392/308, 392/311, 392/314, 433/32, 606 27- 28
• US Class Current: 604/113
• 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 to hold a substance (e.g., a drug) to be injected into an eye, a thermal feedback layer with at least one thermal sensor, and a temperature control layer to apply or remove heat from the dispensing chamber. In some embodiments, the thermal feedback layer and the temperature control layer may be coupled to each other and/or coupled to the dispensing chamber. In some embodiments, at least one of the thermal sensors may be secured between the temperature control layer and the dispensing chamber using a thermal adhesive.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic injection device, comprising:

a dispensing chamber configured to hold a substance to be injected into an eye;

a thermal feedback layer comprising at least one thermal sensor;

a temperature control layer configured to apply or remove heat from the dispensing chamber;

wherein the thermal feedback layer and the temperature control layer are coupled to the dispensing chamber, wherein each of the thermal feedback layer and the temperature control layer are flexible and configured to at least partially wrap around the dispensing chamber; and

wherein the thermal feedback layer has a form factor that includes a thermal sensor on a first tab and a microprocessor on a second tab connected to the first tab.

2. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the thermal feedback layer and the temperature control layer have an identical form factor.

3. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the temperature control layer comprises resistive traces on a third tab oriented to overlap the first tab of the thermal feedback layer when the thermal feedback layer and the temperature control layer are coupled to the dispensing chamber.

4. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 3, wherein the temperature control layer does not have a tab corresponding to the second tab of the thermal feedback layer.

5. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the thermal feedback layer comprises traces made of copper, silver, or gold and the thermal feedback layer comprises traces made of inconel.

6. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the thermal feedback layer and the temperature control layer are configured to be bonded together to form one assembly that is configured to be wrapped at least partially around the dispensing chamber.

7. The ophthalmic injection device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing chamber comprises a first end face, a second end face, and a side face coupling the first end face and the second end face, and wherein at least one of the thermal feedback layer and the temperature control layer are configured to cover more than 50 percent of the side face.