Nasal devices

• US 20050235992A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OptiNose, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OptiNose AS (OptiNose, Inc.)
• Inventors: Djupesland, Per Gisle
• Granted Patent: US 8,146,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/204.180
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0065 Inhalators with dosage or measuring devices A61M15/0028 takes precedence; dosage devices incorporated in aerosol cans B65D83/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/009 using medicine packages with incorporated spraying means, e.g. aerosol cans pocket atomiser of the injector type A61M11/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0098 Activated by exhalation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0666 Nasal cannulas or tubing devices for improving normal breathing through the nose A61F5/08; nose filters A62B23/06; outside holding devices A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/20 Valves specially adapted to medical respiratory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/202 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/204 used for inhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/205 used for exhalation control
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder

Abstract

A nasal delivery device (11) for delivering substance to a nasal airway (1) of a subject, comprising: first and second nosepiece units (17, 19), each including a nosepiece (21, 23) for fitting to respective nostrils of a subject; at least one substance supply unit (13, 15) for supplying substance for delivery to the nasal airway (1) of the subject; and a valve unit (35, 37) for selectively fluidly connecting the at least one substance supply unit (13, 15) alternately to respective ones of the nosepiece units (17, 19).

Claims

1. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:

first and second nosepiece units, each including a nosepiece for fitting to respective nostrils of a subject;

at least one substance supply unit for supplying substance for delivery to the nasal airway of the subject; and

a valve unit for selectively fluidly connecting the at least one substance supply unit alternately to respective ones of the nosepiece units.

2. The delivery device of claim 1, further comprising:

a mouthpiece through which the subject in use exhales.

3. The delivery device of claim 1, further comprising:

a gas supply channel for supplying a gas flow for entraining substance supplied by the at least one substance supply unit.

4. The delivery device of claim 3, further comprising a mouthpiece through which the subject in use exhales, and wherein the mouthpiece is fluidly connected to the gas supply channel, whereby the gas flow is an air flow developed by an exhalation breath of the subject.

5. The delivery device of claim 3, further comprising:

a gas supply unit which is fluidly connected to the gas supply channel for delivering a gas flow through the gas supply channel.

6. The delivery device of claim 5, further comprising a mouthpiece through which the subject in use exhales, and wherein the gas supply unit is an exhalation breath actuatable unit which is fluidly connected to the mouthpiece such as to be actuated on exhalation by the subject.

7. The delivery device of claim 3, wherein the valve unit is configured alternately fluidly to connect one of the nosepiece units to the at least one substance supply unit and vent the other of the nosepiece units, such that, where the gas flow is at a driving pressure which is such as to cause the gas flow to flow around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and through the nasal airway, the gas flow delivered through the one nosepiece unit is vented through the other nosepiece unit.

8. The delivery device of claim 7, further comprising:

at least one flow resistor to which the other nosepiece unit is vented.

9. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the flow resistor has a fixed flow resistance for providing a fixed flow resistance to the gas flow.

10. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the flow resistor is a progressive resistor for progressively providing an increasing flow resistance to the gas flow.

11. The delivery device of claim 10, wherein the progressive resistor comprises an expandable member which provides a progressively increasing resistance to the gas flow.

12. The delivery device of claim 1, further comprising:

a control unit for controlling the valve unit such as to provide for alternate delivery of substance through respective ones of the first and second nosepiece units.

13. The delivery device of claim 1, comprising:

a single substance supply unit for supplying substance for delivery alternately to respective ones of the first and second nosepiece units.

14. The delivery device of claim 1, comprising:

first and second substance supply units for supplying substance for delivery to respective ones of the first and second nosepiece units.

15. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the valve unit comprises first and second valves, each being fluidly connected to a respective one of the first and second nosepiece units.

16. A method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising the steps of:

fitting first and second nosepiece units to respective nostrils of a subject; and

delivering substance alternately through respective ones of the nosepiece units.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

exhaling through a mouthpiece during delivery of substance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein substance is delivered in a gas flow.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gas flow is an air flow developed by an exhalation breath of the subject.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the gas flow is a gas flow separate to an exhalation breath of the subject.

21. The method of any of claim 18, wherein substance is delivered alternately to the nosepiece units and the other of the nosepiece units is vented, such that, where the gas flow is at a driving pressure which is such as to cause the gas flow to flow around the posterior margin of the nasal septum and through the nasal airway, the gas flow delivered through the one nosepiece unit is vented through the other nosepiece unit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the gas flow is vented through a flow resistor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the flow resistor has a fixed flow resistance and provides a fixed flow resistance to the gas flow.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the flow resistor is a progressive resistor which provides a progressively increasing flow resistance to the gas flow.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the progressive resistor comprises an expandable member which provides a progressively increasing resistance to the gas flow.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein substance is supplied from a single substance supply unit.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein substance is supplied to the first and second nosepiece units from respective ones of first and second substance supply units.

28. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:

a mouthpiece through which a subject in use exhales;

at least one delivery unit for delivering substance to a nasal airway of the subject on exhalation by the subject; and

a gas supply unit for cycling a pressure in the nasal airway of the subject on exhalation by the subject.

29. The delivery device of claim 28, wherein the gas supply unit is configured to provide an alternating pressure in the nasal airway of the subject.

30. The delivery device of claim 28, wherein the gas supply unit is an exhalation breath actuatable unit which is fluidly connected to the mouthpiece such as to be actuated on exhalation by the subject.

31. A method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising the steps of:

delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject; and

applying a varying pressure in the nasal airway of the subject.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of applying a varying pressure in the nasal airway of the subject comprises the step of:

cycling the pressure in the nasal airway of the subject.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the step of applying a varying pressure in the nasal airway of the subject comprises the step of:

alternating the pressure in the nasal airway of the subject.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising the step of:

exhaling through a mouthpiece during delivery of substance.

35. A nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising:

a mouthpiece through which a subject in use exhales;

at least one delivery unit for delivering substance to a nasal airway of the subject; and

a gas supply unit for alternately delivering and withdrawing a volume of gas through the nasal airway of the subject such as to cause entrained substance to be flushed in alternate directions therethrough.

36. A method of delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject, comprising the steps of:

delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject; and

alternately delivering and withdrawing a volume of gas through the nasal airway of the subject such as to cause entrained substance to be flushed in alternate directions therethrough.

37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of:

exhaling through a mouthpiece during delivery of substance.

38. An interface member for attachment to a nasal delivery device, comprising, as an integral element, at least one nosepiece for fitting to a nostril of a subject and a mouthpiece through which the subject in use exhales, wherein the mouthpiece includes a flexible member which is deflectable on exhalation into the mouthpiece.

39. The interface member of claim 38, comprising first and second nosepieces for fitting to respective nostrils of a subject.

40. The interface member of claim 38, where being a disposable element.

41. The interface member of claim 38, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a tubular section through which the subject in use exhales.

42. The interface member of claim 38, wherein the mouthpiece comprises a cavity into which the subject in use exhales, with a part of the cavity being defined by the flexible member.

43. The interface member of claim 38, wherein the flexible member comprises a resilient member.