Temperature control device and thermal sensor assembly for medical device

• US 9,782,541 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2007
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcon Research, LLC (Alcon Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alcon Research Limited (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Dos Santos, Cesario, Sanchez, Jr., Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Nathan R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, WENG WAH
• Application Number:
  US12/444,000
• Publication Number:
  US 20100106089A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,662 Days
• Field of Search: 604114, 604 20- 26, 604 28, 604 31, 604294, 604181, 604 613, 604291, 165 46, 433 32, 392304, 392311, 392314
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/0017 implantable in, or in contact with, the eye, e.g. ocular inserts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14268 with a reusable and a disposable component
• 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 5/1413 Modular systems comprising interconnecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14244 adapted to be carried by the patient, e.g. portable on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14526 the piston being actuated by fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14546 Front-loading type injectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14566 with a replaceable reservoir for receiving a piston rod of the pump
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/445 the media being heated in the reservoir, e.g. warming bloodbags

Abstract

A dispensing assembly has a dispensing chamber housing, a temperature control device, a thermal sensor, and an interface. The dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface, an outer surface, and a wall thickness. The inner surface partially defines a dispensing chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance. The temperature control device at least partially surrounds the dispensing chamber housing. The temperature control device alters a temperature of a substance in the dispensing chamber. The temperature control device and the thermal sensor are located on a substrate. The substrate is wrapped around an exterior surface of the dispensing chamber housing. The interface is connected to the temperature control device and the thermal sensor. An interface connector is connected to the interface. The distance between the temperature control device and the thermal sensor is approximately equal to the wall thickness of the dispensing chamber housing.

Claims

1. A dispensing assembly comprising:

a dispensing chamber housing having an inner surface, an outer surface, and a wall thickness;

the inner surface partially defining a dispensing chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance;

an electrical temperature control device located on a flexible substrate and at least partially surrounding the dispensing chamber housing, the electrical temperature control device covering a first area comprising most of a surface area of the substrate, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of a substance in the dispensing chamber; and

a thermal sensor located on a second area of the substrate the second area smaller than the first area;

wherein a distance between the electrical temperature control device and the thermal sensor on the second area of the substrate is approximately equal to the wall thickness of the dispensing chamber housing.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the dispensing chamber housing is generally cylindrical in shape.

3. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

an interface connected to the temperature control device and the thermal sensor; and

an interface connector connected to the interface.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein power is provided to the temperature control device through the interface.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein temperature information passes from the thermal sensor through the interface.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the thermal sensor is a thermistor.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the temperature control device is a heater comprising a resistive element.

8. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a needle fluidly coupled to the dispensing chamber.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the substrate is wrapped around an exterior surface of the dispensing chamber housing.

10. A single piece temperature control assembly comprising:

a flexible substrate;

an electrical temperature control device located on the substrate, the electrical temperature control device covering a first area comprising most of a surface area of the substrate;

a thermal sensor arranged on a second area of the substrate such that a distance between the thermal sensor and the electrical temperature control device on the substrate is approximately equal to a distance between the temperature control device and a substance whose temperature is to be altered by the temperature control device.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further comprising:

an interface connected to the temperature control device and the thermal sensor; and

an interface connector connected to the interface.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the thermal sensor is a thermistor.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein the temperature control device is a heater comprising a resistive element.

14. 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 having a wall thickness;

an electrical temperature control device located on a substrate and at least partially surrounding the dispensing chamber housing, the electrical temperature control device covering a first area comprising most of a surface area of the substrate, the temperature control device for altering a temperature of a substance in the dispensing chamber;

a thermal sensor located on a second area of the substrate;

an interface connected to the temperature control device and the thermal sensor; and

an interface connector connected to the interface;

wherein a distance between the electrical temperature control device and the thermal sensor on the substrate is approximately equal to the wall thickness of the dispensing chamber housing and wherein the substrate is wrapped around an exterior surface of the dispensing chamber housing.

15. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the dispensing chamber housing is generally cylindrical in shape.

16. The assembly of claim 14 wherein power is provided to the temperature control device through the interface.

17. The assembly of claim 14 wherein temperature information passes from the thermal sensor through the interface.

18. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the thermal sensor is a thermistor.

19. The assembly of claim 14 wherein the temperature control device is a heater comprising a resistive element.