Ophthalmic Injection System and Method Using Piezoelectric Array

1 . An injection system comprising:

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

the tip segment comprising:

a flexible chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance;

a piezoelectric array located near the flexible chamber;

a needle fluidly coupled to the flexible chamber; and

a first housing at least partially enclosing the flexible 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 compress the flexible chamber and dispense the substance from the flexible 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 flexible 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 flexible chamber for receiving a quantity of a substance;

a piezoelectric array located near the flexible chamber;

a needle fluidly coupled to the flexible chamber; and

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 flexible chamber, the piezoelectric array, the power source, the controller;

wherein the piezoelectric array is activated to compress the flexible chamber and dispense the substance from the flexible chamber.

15 . The system of claim 14 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

a heater for heating the substance.

16 . The system of claim 15 wherein the tip segment further comprises:

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

17 . The system of claim 16 further comprising:

an interface connecting the thermal sensor to the controller.

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

19 . The system of claim 17 wherein the controller uses the measured temperature to control the piezoelectric array.

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

21 . The system 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.

25 . A method of delivering a substance into an eye comprising:

receiving a first input indicating that a substance is to be heated;

in response to the first input, heating the substance;

receiving a second input indicating that the substance is to be delivered; and

activating a piezoelectric array to deliver the substance.

26 . The method of claim 25 wherein activating a piezoelectric array to deliver the substance further comprises activating a piezoelectric array to pump the substance from a storage chamber to a dispensing chamber to deliver the substance.

27 . The method of claim 25 wherein activating a piezoelectric array to deliver the substance further comprises activating a piezoelectric array to compress a flexible chamber to deliver the substance

28 . The method of claim 25 further comprising:

providing an indication that the substance has been successfully delivered.

29 . The method of claim 25 further comprising:

determining if the substance has not been properly delivered; and

providing an indication that the substance has not been properly delivered.

30 . The method of claim 25 further comprising:

controlling a heater to control a temperature of the substance.

31 . The method of claim 25 further comprising:

controlling a piezoelectric array to control an amount of the substance delivered.

32 . The method of claim 25 further comprising:

controlling a piezoelectric array to control a rate at which the substance is delivered.

33 . The method of claim 25 further comprising:

recognizing a connection between a tip segment and a limited reuse assembly.