SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING THERAPEUTIC AGENTS

• US 20100305505A1
• Filed: 05/26/2010
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cook Medical Technologies, LLC (Cook Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bryce, Lyndsey, Bruggemann, Martin, Ducharme, Richard W., Sugg, David E., Skelton, Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 8,118,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00522 Sprayers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/02 operated by air or other gas pressure applied to the liquid or other product to be sprayed or atomised sprayers for horticulture A01G, A01H; killing insects A01M; air humidifying by nozzles F24F6/14, F24F6/18; cooling by spraying F28B, F28C
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8225 using incorporated gas cartridges for the driving gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/00 Devices for introducing or retaining media, e.g. remedies, in cavities of the body A61M25/00 takes precedence ; introducing or retaining ophthalmic products into the ocular cavities A61F9/0008
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/155 pressurised by gas introduced into the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2053 Media being expelled from injector by pressurised fluid or vacuum for infusion A61M5/145, A61M5/155

Abstract

The present embodiments provide systems and methods suitable for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site. The systems generally comprise a container for holding a therapeutic agent, and a pressure source configured to be placed in selective fluid communication with at least a portion of a reservoir of the container. In one embodiment, fluid from the pressure source is directed through a first region of the container in a direction towards a second region of the container. The fluid then is at least partially redirected to urge the therapeutic agent in a direction from the second region of the container towards the first region of the container and subsequently towards the target site. In alternative embodiments, the fluid from the pressure source may be directed through the second region of the container in a direction towards the first region of the container.

Claims

1. A system suitable for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target site, the system comprising:

a container for holding the therapeutic agent, wherein the container comprises first and second regions and has a reservoir containing the therapeutic agent; and

a pressure source having pressurized fluid, the pressure source in selective fluid communication with at least a portion of the reservoir of the container,

wherein fluid from the pressure source is directed through the first region of the container in a direction towards the second region of the container, and

wherein the fluid is at least partially redirected to urge the therapeutic agent in a direction from the second region of the container towards the first region of the container and subsequently towards the target site.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, during use, the first region of the container is disposed vertically above the second region of the container.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cap secured to the first region of the container, the cap having an inlet port and an outlet port, wherein the fluid from the pressure source is directed through the inlet port of the cap, and wherein the fluid is redirected within the container to urge the therapeutic agent through the outlet port of the cap.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an inlet tube disposed within the container, the inlet tube having a first end positioned near the first region of the container and a second end positioned near the second region of the container, wherein the fluid from the pressure source flows through the inlet tube in the direction from the first region to the second region and into the reservoir of the container.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the second end of the inlet tube comprises at least a 90 degree curvature to redirect fluid flow in a direction from the second region of the container towards the first region of the container.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising a u-shaped tube coupled to the second end of the inlet tube, wherein the u-shaped tube is configured to redirect fluid flow in a direction from the second region of the container towards the first region of the container.

7. The system of claim 4 further comprising an outlet tube disposed within the container, the outlet tube having first and second ends, wherein fluid exiting the second end of the inlet tube urges the therapeutic agent into the second end of the outlet tube and towards the first end of the outlet tube.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the second end of the outlet tube is spaced away from the second end of the inlet tube.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a flow assembly having an inlet, and outlet, and at least one opening disposed therebetween, wherein the inlet of the flow assembly is coupled to the second end of the inlet tube, the outlet of the flow assembly is coupled to the second end of the inlet tube, and the at least one opening is sized to received the therapeutic agent when fluid passes between the inlet and the outlet of the flow assembly.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a platform positioned within the container, the platform forming a substantially fluid tight seal with an inner surface of the container, wherein the therapeutic agent is retained above the platform.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

an inlet tube disposed within the container, the inlet tube having first and second ends, wherein the fluid from the pressure source is directed in a first direction through the inlet tube and through a first opening in the platform; and

wherein the fluid is redirected to flow in a second direction through a second opening in the platform and into the reservoir of the container.

12. The system of claim 11 further comprising an outlet tube disposed within the container, the outlet tube having first and second ends, wherein fluid exiting the second opening of the platform urges the therapeutic agent into the second end of the outlet tube and towards the first end of the outlet tube.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a pressure regulator valve disposed between the pressure source and the container.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a powder.

15. A method suitable for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to a target site, the method comprising:

providing a container having first and second regions, wherein the container holds a therapeutic agent; and

selectively directing fluid from a pressure source through the first region of the container in a direction towards the second region of the container,

redirecting the fluid from the second region towards the first region to urge the therapeutic agent in a direction from the second region of the container towards the first region of the container and subsequently towards the target site.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

directing the fluid from the pressure source through an inlet port of a cap secured to the first region of the container; and

redirecting the fluid to urge the therapeutic agent through an outlet port of the cap.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing an inlet tube disposed within the container, the inlet tube having a first end positioned near the first region of the container and a second end positioned near the second region of the container, wherein the fluid from the pressure source flows through the inlet tube and into a reservoir of the container.

18. A system suitable for delivering at least one therapeutic agent to a target site, the system comprising:

a container for holding a therapeutic agent, the container having first and second regions;

a pressure source configured to be placed in selective fluid communication with at least a portion of a reservoir of the container;

a housing configured to securely retain the container and the pressure source, wherein the housing is adapted to be held in a user'"'"'s hand;

a first actuator coupled to the housing and configured to release a pressurized fluid from the pressure source; and

a second actuator coupled to the housing and configured to selectively permit fluid flow through at least a portion of the container.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising an orientation device for indicating a vertical orientation of the container when held in the user'"'"'s hand.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein fluid from the pressure source is directed through the second region of the container, through at least a portion of the reservoir, and through the first region of the container.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the first and second actuators are both provided on the handle portion of the housing.