Methods for Ameliorating Pain and Devices for Delivering a Medicament

• US 20100030188A1
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tian Xia
• Original Assignee: Tian Xia
• Inventors: Xia, Tian
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/514
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/085 Fixing means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/0468 non-physiological
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/048 Anaesthetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/06 Packaging for specific medical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 23/02 Local anaesthetics

Abstract

A method for delivering medicament such as for ameliorating pain in a patient includes introducing an injector through a nasal passage of the patient into a region substantially medial and/or posterior and/or inferior to a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the patient; and delivering a medicament from the injector superiorly and/or laterally and/or anteriorly towards the SPG. A device for delivering a medicament to a patient in need thereof includes (a) an injector containing a first end configured to remain outside a nasal passage of the patient and a second end configured for entry into the nasal passage of the patient; and (b) an introducer configured for engagement with a nostril of the patient and containing a passageway configured for slidably receiving the injector. The injector is moveable between a storage position preceding the engagement and an engaging position pursuant to the engagement.

Claims

1. A method for ameliorating pain in a patient comprising:

introducing an injector through a nasal passage of the patient into a region substantially medial and/or posterior and/or inferior to a sphenopalatine ganglion of the patient; and

delivering a medicament from the injector superiorly and/or laterally and/or anteriorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the region is substantially medial and inferior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the region is substantially medial, inferior, and posterior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the medicament is delivered laterally and superiorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein the medicament is delivered laterally, superiorly, and anteriorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein the region is substantially medial, inferior, and posterior to the sphenopalatine ganglion, and wherein the medicament is delivered laterally, superiorly, and anteriorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein the pain comprises a headache, a facial ache or a combination thereof.

8. The invention of claim 1 wherein the injector comprises a first end configured to remain outside the nasal passage and a second end configured for entry into the nasal passage.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein the medicament is delivered from the second end of the injector.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the second end comprises one or a plurality of apertures through which medicament is sprayed towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein the medicament comprises an anesthetic.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the anesthetic is selected from the group consisting of benzocaine, tetracaine, ropivacaine, lidocaine, water, saline, and combinations thereof.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the water and the saline have a temperature of less than about 10°

C.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein the temperature is less than about 5°

C.

15. The invention of claim 11 wherein the anesthetic comprises benzocaine, tetracaine, and ropivacaine.

16. The invention of claim 15 wherein the anesthetic comprises about 14% benzocaine, about 2% tetracaine, and about 1% ropivacaine by weight based on total weight of the anesthetic.

17. The invention of claim 1 wherein the injector is slidably received in an introducer, and wherein the introducing of the injector comprises:

engaging the introducer with a nostril of the patient, such that a portion of the patient'"'"'s nose is lifted upon engagement with the introducer; and

sliding the injector from a storage position to an engaging position after the introducer is engaged with the nostril, wherein the engaging position of the injector is situated medial and/or posterior and/or inferior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein the engaging position of the injector is situated medial and inferior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.

19. The invention of claim 17 wherein the engaging position of the injector is situated medial, inferior, and posterior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.

20. A device for delivering a medicament to a patient in need thereof comprising:

an injector comprising a first end configured to remain outside a nasal passage of the patient and a second end configured for entry into the nasal passage of the patient; and

an introducer configured for engagement with a nostril of the patient and comprising a passageway configured for receiving the injector.

21. The invention of claim 20 wherein:

the injector is moveable between a storage position preceding the engagement and an engaging position pursuant to the engagement; and

wherein the engaging position is situated medial and/or posterior and/or inferior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.

22. The invention of claim 21 wherein the engaging position is situated medial and inferior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.

23. The invention of claim 21 wherein the engaging position is situated medial, inferior, and posterior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.

24. The invention of claim 21 wherein the second end of the injector comprises one or a plurality of apertures configured for dispersing a medicament superiorly and/or laterally and/or anteriorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

25. The invention of claim 24 wherein the medicament is dispersed laterally and superiorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

26. The invention of claim 24 wherein the medicament is dispersed laterally, superiorly, and anteriorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

27. The invention of claim 24 wherein the engaging position is situated medial, inferior, and posterior to the sphenopalatine ganglion, and wherein the medicament is dispersed laterally, superiorly, and anteriorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

28. The invention of claim 21 wherein the injector comprises a channel extending from the first end to the second end and configured for receiving a medicament.

29. The invention of claim 28 further comprising a port in communication with the first end of the injector, wherein the port is configured to receive a syringe containing a medicament.

30. The invention of claim 28 further comprising a container in communication with the first end of the injector, wherein the container is configured for containing a medicament.

31. The invention of claim 30 wherein the container is squeezable, such that medicament in the container is advanced into the channel by squeezing.

32. The invention of claim 30 wherein the container is pressurized.

33. The invention of claim 21 wherein the introducer comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the first portion is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second portion.

34. The invention of claim 33 wherein the first portion is contoured such that it is configured to be complementary in shape to an interior of the nostril.

35. The invention of claim 34 wherein the second portion comprises a rounded convex portion and a substantially flat underside.

36. The invention of claim 21 further comprising a handle connected to the introducer.

37. The invention of claim 36 wherein the handle comprises a track configured to receive the passageway of the introducer.

38. The invention of claim 37 wherein the handle is configured for movement towards the patient'"'"'s face, such that posterior movement of the handle moves the introducer into engagement with the nostril of the patient.

39. The invention of claim 21 wherein the injector is configured for engagement with a left-side nostril of the patient.

40. The invention of claim 39 wherein the introducer is configured for engagement with a left-side nostril of the patient.

41. The invention of claim 21 wherein the injector is configured for engagement with a right-side nostril of the patient.

42. The invention of claim 41 wherein the introducer is configured for engagement with a right-side nostril of the patient.

43. The invention of claim 21 wherein by the engagement of the introducer with the nostril, a horizontal pathway is provided that is substantially parallel to a floor of the patient'"'"'s nose to a position medial to the patient'"'"'s inferior turbinate.

44. The invention of claim 21 wherein the introducer is configured to be supported by a bottom of the patient'"'"'s nasal cavity.

45. A method for using the device of claim 21 to deliver the medicament to the patient comprising:

engaging the introducer with the nostril of the patient;

sliding the injector to the engaging position; and

spraying the medicament towards the sphenopalatine ganglion through a nozzle on the second end of the injector.

46. A method for ameliorating pain in a patient comprising:

delivering a medicament superiorly and/or laterally and/or anteriorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion using the device of claim 21.

47. The invention of claim 46 wherein the medicament is delivered laterally and superiorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

48. The invention of claim 46 wherein the medicament is delivered laterally, superiorly, and anteriorly towards the sphenopalatine ganglion.

49. The invention of claim 46 wherein the patient suffers from a condition selected from the group consisting of sphenopalatine neuralgia, trigeminal neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia, migraine, migraine with aural headache, migraine without aura headache, tension headache, cluster headache, chronic cluster headache, paroxysmal hemicranias, superior laryngeal neuralgia, facial pain, atypical facial pain, herpes zoster opthalmicus, vasomotor rhinitis, major depression, fibromyalgia, and combinations thereof.

50. The invention of claim 46 wherein the method results in increased permeability of the medicament through the blood-brain barrier.

51. The invention of claim 46 wherein the pain comprises a headache, a facial ache or a combination thereof.

52. A device for delivering a medicament to a patient in need thereof comprising:

an injector comprising a first end configured to remain outside a nasal passage of the patient, a second end configured for entry into the nasal passage of the patient, and a channel extending from the first end to the second end and configured for receiving a medicament, wherein the second end of the injector comprises one or a plurality of apertures configured for dispersing a medicament superiorly, laterally, and anteriorly towards a sphenopalatine ganglion;

an introducer configured for engagement with a nostril of the patient and comprising a passageway configured for slidably receiving the injector, a first portion contoured such that it is configured to be complementary in shape to an interior of the nostril, and a second portion comprising a rounded convex portion and a substantially flat underside, wherein a cross-sectional area of the first portion is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second portion; and

a handle connected to the introducer and comprising a track configured to receive the passageway of the introducer;

wherein the handle is configured for movement towards the patient'"'"'s face, such that posterior movement of the handle moves the introducer into engagement with the nostril of the patient;

wherein the injector is moveable between a storage position preceding the engagement and an engaging position pursuant to the engagement; and

wherein the engaging position is situated medial, posterior, and inferior to the sphenopalatine ganglion.