Multi-lumen syringes for intraocular injections

Claims

1. A multi-lumen syringe for intraocular injection, comprising a first lumen, a second lumen, a needle configured to be fluidly connected to the first lumen and to the second lumen, a first piston configured to reciprocate in the first lumen, a second piston configured to reciprocate in the second lumen, and a needle sheath positioned around the needle; wherein the needle comprises one or more cutting elements and is configured to cut substances in the eye that come into contact with the cutting elements prior to their removal from the subject's eye; wherein the multi-lumen syringe is configured to allow the first piston to be pushed only when an indication is given that the second piston is in an extended configuration, and / or to allow the second piston to be pushed only when an indication is given that the first piston is in an extended configuration, thereby ensuring the extraction of intraocular fluid prior to injection.

2. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 1, wherein the needle sheath comprises a plurality of proximity / contact / pressure based actuators at the distal edge of the needle sheath; wherein the syringe is configured to be switchable between at least two configurations: a first configuration in which at least one of the actuators is not actuated and each tip of the needle is located near and secured relative to the distal edge; and a second configuration in which n actuators are actuated and the needle is capable of being extended beyond the distal edge.

3. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 2, wherein the plane defined by the distal edge of the needle sheath is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the needle, thus ensuring that when all or substantially all of the distal edge contacts the surface of the eye so as to actuate the n actuators, the possibility of inserting the needle perpendicular to the surface of the eye is ensured.

4. The multi-lumen syringe of claim 3, wherein the syringe is configured to automatically switch back from the second configuration to the first configuration, thereby ensuring that fluids cannot be introduced or withdrawn after the needle has been inserted if the syringe is tilted such that the distal edge no longer contacts completely or substantially completely the surface of the eye.

5. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 2, wherein the actuators are push buttons, and in the second configuration, the push buttons are pressed beyond a threshold value.

6. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 2, wherein at least one pair of actuators of the n actuators are arranged oppositely or substantially oppositely at the distal edge.

7. The multi-lumen syringe of claim 3, wherein the actuators are contact / pressure based actuators and the actuators are arranged on the distal edge such that when the distal edge is placed on the eye of a subject, the syringe cannot be switched from the first configuration to the second configuration unless all or substantially all of the distal edge is in contact with the eye.

8. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 1, wherein the needle is retractable and wherein the needle sheath is stationary.

9. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 1, wherein the needle sheath is retractable and / or compressible, and wherein the needle is stationary.

10. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 1, wherein the first piston and the second piston are operatively connected in such a way that pushing or pulling the first piston causes a counter-movement of the second piston, and / or pushing or pulling the second piston causes a counter-movement of the first piston.

11. The multi-lumen syringe of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism configured to allow the first piston to be pushed only when an indication is given that the second piston is in the extended configuration, and / or to allow the second piston to be pushed only when an indication is given that the first piston is in the extended configuration, thereby ensuring the extraction of intraocular fluid prior to injection.

12. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 1, in which the first piston is designed in such a way that it is prevented from being pushed and / or pulled out with an excess of the threshold pushing speed of the first piston and / or the threshold pulling speed of the first piston.

13. The multi-lumen syringe of claim 1, further comprising at least one substance that facilitates rapid analysis of the intraocular fluid by interaction of the substance with the intraocular fluid.

14. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 13, wherein said at least one substance is located in the lumen(s) or sub-lumen(s) of the syringe.

15. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 13, wherein the rapid assay comprises an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

16. A multi-lumen syringe according to claim 13, wherein the rapid assay comprises a colorable chemical reaction between a chemical indicator and an intraocular substance.

17. A method of introducing a fluid into the eye of a subject and / or removing an intraocular substance from the eye of a subject, comprising: using a multi-lumen syringe comprising a first lumen, a second lumen, a needle fluidly connected to the lumens and comprising one or more cutting elements, a first piston and a second piston; bringing the eye into contact with the far tip of the syringe; inserting a needle into the eye and using one or more cutting elements to cut substances in the eye and facilitate the removal of fluid from the eye; pulling the first plunger of the syringe to extract fluid from the eye into the first lumen; when the first plunger is indicated to be withdrawn, pushing the second plunger of the syringe to introduce fluid from the second lumen into the eye.

18. The method according to claim 17, according to which the pulling of the first piston and the pushing of the second piston are performed simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising using at least one substance contained in the syringe to perform a rapid analysis of the intraocular fluid by reacting said substance with the intraocular fluid.