Plunger tip coupling device for intraocular lens injector
View Patent ↗The present disclosure is directed to devices, systems, and methods directed to mounting a plunger tip to a plunger of an IOL injection device. A plunger tip wrench that is operable to releasably retain a plunger tip may be coupled to a holder extending from an end of the IOL injection device to align the plunger tip with the plunger of the IOL injection device. In some instances, the IOL injection device may include a motor and use a back electromotive force (EMF) of the motor to detect a position of the plunger as it is extended to engage the plunger tip. The plunger tip may be positioned relative to the plunger such that the plunger will engage the plunger tip within the entire range of a negative error position and a positive error position.
1. A method of coupling a plunger tip to a plunger of an IOL injection device, the method comprising:
locating a plunger tip in alignment with the plunger;
extending the plunger from an initial position towards the plunger tip to an engagement position;
coupling the plunger and the plunger tip together; and
retracting the plunger and plunger tip to the initial position,
wherein extending the plunger from an initial position towards the plunger tip to an engagement position comprises actuating a motor of the IOL injection device to extend the plunger from the initial position to the engagement position, and the method further comprising:
detecting a position of the plunger utilizing a back electromotive force (EMF) of the motor, a position of the plunger detected by the back EMF being within a range of a negative error position corresponding to a negative positional error and a positive error position corresponding to a positive positional error.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
releasably retaining the plunger tip within a plunger tip wrench,
wherein locating a plunger tip in alignment with the plunger comprises coupling the plunger tip wrench to a mount of the IOL injection device such that the plunger tip is aligned and in a desired orientation relative to the plunger.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein locating a plunger tip in alignment with the plunger comprises locating an end of the plunger tip at a position corresponding to the negative positional error such that the plunger contacts the plunger tip within the entire range between the negative error position and the positive error position when the plunger is extended from the initial position to the engagement position.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising monitoring the back EMF to detect a fault condition.