Illuminated intra-oral delivery device

Abstract

A medical syringe with a light source mounted on a distal end of the syringe to provide illumination of an injection site, a battery pack receiver configured to receive a battery pack with magnetic attraction a proximal end of the syringe, and a control circuit that is configured to illuminate the light source when the control circuit detects movement of the syringe and disconnects the battery from the light source either after a fixed period of time or after motion of the syringe ceases. Ideally the light source is a disc-shaped array of LED lights. The syringe is constructed of materials that can be sterilized.

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a syringe having a barrel with a proximal end and a distal end;   a plunger mounted in the barrel and longitudinally slidable through the proximal end of the barrel;   a light source mounted on the distal end of the barrel;   a battery pack receiver on the proximal end of the barrel and configured to be electrically coupled to the light source;   a control circuit electrically coupled to the battery pack receiver and the light source and configured to electrically couple the battery pack receiver and the light for a period of time of selectable duration.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit includes a timer to control illumination of the light source for the selectable period of time. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the control circuit includes a motion detector to detect motion of the syringe and to illuminate the light source in response to detecting motion of the syringe. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the battery pack is configured to cooperate with the battery pack receiver to form a handle at the proximal end of the barrel. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the barrel has a longitudinal axis and the light source comprises a ring array of LEDs arranged on the barrel to illuminate an injection site when the barrel longitudinal axis is oriented straight forward at an angle to the injection site in the range of 70 degrees to 90 degrees to prevent reflection of light back to a user's eyes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit is configured to electrically couple the battery pack receiver to the light source for a period of time that is selectable in duration and electrical coupling is activated in response to manual activation of a timer. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , comprising a manual on-off switch configured to override the control circuit and electrically couple and uncouple the battery pack from the light source. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit is configured to respond to voice commands to electrically couple and uncouple the battery pack from the light source. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the light source is configured to reflect or emit light into the barrel to illuminate a carpule associated with the barrel and facilitate visual inspection of an amount of medication in the carpule. 
     
     
         10 . A kit, comprising:
 a syringe having a barrel with a proximal end and a distal end;   a plunger mounted in the barrel and longitudinally slidable through the proximal end of the barrel;   a light source mounted on the distal end of the barrel;   a battery pack receiver on the proximal end of the barrel and configured to be electrically coupled to the light source;   a control circuit electrically coupled to the battery pack receiver and the light source and configured to electrically couple the battery pack receiver and the light for a fixed period of time that is selectable in duration.   
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 10  wherein the light source is removably attached to the syringe. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 10  wherein the barrel has a longitudinal axis and the light source comprises a ring array of LEDs arranged on the barrel to illuminate an injection site when the barrel longitudinal axis is oriented straight forward at an angle to the injection site in the range of 70 degrees to 90 degrees to prevent reflection of light back to a user's eyes. 
     
     
         13 . A syringe, comprising:
 a barrel with a proximal end and a distal end;   a light source at the distal end of the barrel, the light source comprising a disc-shaped array of lights;   a battery pack receiver removably coupled to the light source and configured to form all or a portion of a hilt of the syringe; and   a control circuit electrically coupled to the battery pack receiver and the light source and configured to electrically couple the battery pack receiver to the light source for a selectable duration of time.   
     
     
         14 . The syringe of  claim 13  wherein the barrel has a longitudinal axis and the light source comprises a ring array of LEDs arranged on the barrel to illuminate an injection site when the barrel longitudinal axis is oriented straight forward at an angle to the injection site in the range of 70 degrees to 90 degrees to prevent reflection of light back to a user's eyes. 
     
     
         15 . The syringe of  claim 13  wherein the control circuit is configured to detect motion of the syringe and to electrically couple the battery pack receiver to the light source for a period of time in response to detecting motion of the syringe and then electrically uncouple the battery pack receiver from the light source in response to expiration of the period of time. 
     
     
         16 . The syringe of  claim 15  comprising a manually operable on-off switch in the control circuit configured to override the motion detection and enable manual control of operation of the light source. 
     
     
         17 . A syringe, comprising:
 a barrel with a proximal end and a distal end;   a plurality of optical fibers configured to provide light at the distal end of the barrel;   a light source optically coupled to the plurality of optical fibers;   a battery pack receiver electrically coupled to the light source;   a control circuit electrically coupled to the battery pack receiver and the light source and configured to electrically coupled to the battery pack receiver and the light source and configured to electrically couple the battery pack receiver to the light source for a selectable duration of time.   
     
     
         18 . The syringe of  claim 17  comprising a battery pack configured to be received within the battery pack receiver and held in place by magnetic attraction, the battery pack and the battery pack receiver configured to form all or a portion of a hilt of the syringe. 
     
     
         19 . The syringe of  claim 17  wherein the control circuit includes a motion detector configured to detect motion of the syringe and to electrically couple the battery pack receiver to the light source for a period of time in response to detecting motion of the syringe and then electrically uncouple the battery pack receiver from the light source in response to expiration of the period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The syringe of  claim 19  comprising a manually operable on-off switch in the control circuit configured to override the motion detection and enable manual control of operation of the light source.