US5690618A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic syringe
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-02-22
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Granted: 1997-11-25
•
Expires: 2015-02-22
Abstract
Abstract An electronic syringe for use in administering anesthetic and the like injections or for aspirating fluids. The electronic syringe is particularly well suited in dental applications where a precise level of hand control is required. The syringe housing is a compact, pen-style arrangement that may be gripped between the middle and index fingers of the practitioner's hand which allowing for thumb-free operation. Motorized, optionally cordless, operation with speed control and data collection is also provided such that an injection can be preformed on a patient in a steady, painless, non-intimidating manner. When connected to a processing device, the data collection feature is capable of updating a patient database with the mount of anesthetic and the like injected for record keeping purposes.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark Timothy Smith
- 👤 James William Ellis
- 👤 Gerald Peter Keogh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/178; A61M5/31; A61M5/315; A61M5/31525; A61M5/20; A61M5/3129; A61M5/31533; A61M5/31545; A61M5/31546; A61M5/31565; A61M5/31576; A61M2005/31588; A61M2205/00; A61M2205/59; A61M2205/82; A61M2205/8237; A61M2209/00; A61M2209/08; A61M2209/084; A61M2209/086; A61M5/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
An electronic syringe comprising: a pen-style elongate housing comprising a needle and electronic control means at opposite ends thereof; an ampoule receiving first portion disposed in the housing adjacent the needle; drive means in electrical communication with the electronic control means; a plunger disposed between the first portion and the drive means, the drive means actuating the plunger through the first portion; and switch means located on the pen-style elongate housing between said opposite ends for actuating the drive means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An electronic syringe comprising: a pen-style elongate housing comprising a needle and electronic control means at opposite ends thereof; an ampoule receiving first portion disposed in the housing adjacent the needle; drive means in electrical communication with the electronic control means; a plunger disposed between the first portion and the drive means, the drive means actuating the plunger through the first portion; and switch means located on the pen-style elongate housing between said opposite ends for actuating the drive means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 1, further comprising a power means coupleable to said electronic control means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 2, wherein said electronic control means comprises a rechargeable battery disposed within said electronic syringe, and wherein said power means comprises a battery charger detachably coupleable to said battery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 2, wherein said power means communicates with said electronic syringe via an umbilical cord.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic syringe according to claims 1 or 2, further comprising a base member upon which said syringe may be mounted.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises an electric motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 6, wherein said electric motor comprises a DC stepper motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 1, wherein said drive means further comprises a lead screw and a lead nut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 8, wherein said lead screw and said lead nut in combination provide a backlash, said backlash providing self aspiration of said ampoule.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An electronic device according to claim 1, said electronic control means further comprises a flow rate selector switch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control means further comprises a reset switch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 1, wherein said electronic control means further comprises a reverse switch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A syringe according to claim 1, wherein said switch means is disposed on said housing adjacent the ampoule receiving portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electronic syringe comprising: a generally elongate housing comprising a needle and electronic control means at opposite ends thereof; an ampoule receiving first portion disposed in the housing adjacent the needle; drive means in electrical communication with the electronic control means; a plunger disposed between the first portion and the drive means, the drive means actuating the plunger through the first portion; and switch means located on the housing between said opposite ends for actuating the drive means, wherein said electronic control means further comprises a feedback sensor mounted to said drive means which provides a signal representative of a measurement of volume injected and aspirated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electronic syringe comprising: a generally elongate housing comprising a needle and electronic control means at opposite ends thereof; an ampoule receiving first portion disposed in the housing adjacent the needle; drive means in electrical communication with the electronic control means; a plunger disposed between the first portion and the drive means, the drive means actuating the plunger through the first portion; and switch means located on the housing between said opposite ends for actuating the drive means, wherein said electronic control means further comprises a feedback sensor mounted to said drive means which provides a signal representative of a measurement of volume injected and aspirated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 14, wherein said feedback sensor comprises a potentiometer strip and a wiper contact.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An electronic syringe according to claims 14 or 15, wherein said signal representative of said measurement is stored in said electronic control means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 16, wherein said electronic control means converts said signal representative of said measurement of volume injected and aspirated, to a digital signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 17, wherein said electronic control means further comprises a communication means for communicating said digital signal to a processing device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 18, wherein said communication means comprises an asynchronous communications adapter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
A syringe according to claim 18, further comprising the processing device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 20, wherein said processing device maintains a patient database and updates said database with said digital signal representing volume injected and aspirated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 20 wherein said processing device comprises a computer.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electronic syringe comprising: an elongate tubular housing having a first end adapted to hold a needle and a second end disposed opposite said first end along a longitudinal axis of said elongate tubular housing; an electrical drive unit disposed at said second end, said electrical drive unit comprising a a motor disposed along the longitudinal axis of said elongate tubular housing; an ampoule receiving portion disposed in said housing between said first end and said electrical drive unit; and a switch disposed on said elongate tubular housing, for activating said electrical drive unit.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
94 words
An electronic syringe comprising: an elongate tubular housing having a first end adapted to hold a needle and a second end disposed opposite said first end along a longitudinal axis of said elongate tubular housing; an electrical drive unit disposed at said second end, said electrical drive unit comprising a a motor disposed along the longitudinal axis of said elongate tubular housing; an ampoule receiving portion disposed in said housing between said first end and said electrical drive unit; and a switch disposed on said elongate tubular housing, for activating said electrical drive unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A syringe according to claim 23 wherein said electrical drive unit includes an electrical control unit disposed on said longitudinal axis and in electrical communication with said switch and said motor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A syringe according to claim 23 wherein said switch comprises a first on/off finger pressure switch disposed adjacent said first end.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A syringe according to claim 25, wherein said first switch is activated by finger pressure applied in a direction toward said longitudinal axis.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
A syringe according to claim 25, further comprising another on/off finger pressure switch spaced apart from said first switch in a direction toward said second end.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
A syringe according to claim 23 wherein said electrical drive unit comprises a battery compartment disposed adjacent said second end, an electrical control unit disposed adjacent said battery compartment, and a motor disposed between said electrical control unit and ampoule receiving portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
19 words
A syringe according to claim 23, wherein said switch is disposed on said housing adjacent the ampoule receiving portion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 23, wherein said electrical drive unit includes a battery compartment disposed along the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
25 words
An electronic syringe according to claim 23, wherein said electrical drive unit includes an electrical cable disposed along the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-24 | 2001-05-26 | 2001-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-24 | 2005-05-26 | 2005-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-24 | 2009-05-26 | 2009-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |