DELIVERY DEVICES

• US 20110023869A1
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OptiNose AS (OptiNose, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OptiNose AS (OptiNose, Inc.)
• Inventors: Djupesland, Per Gisle
• Application Number:
  US12/516,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20110023869A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 128/200.14
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/006 operated by applying mechanical pressure to the liquid to be sprayed or atomised
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/06 of the injector type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0008 rotating by airflow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/002 with air flow regulating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0028 using prepacked dosages, one for each application, e.g. capsules to be perforated or broken-up
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0031 by bursting or breaking the package, i.e. without cutting or piercing
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0086 Inhalation chambers
• 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 15/0091 mechanically breath-triggered
• 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 2202/04 Liquids

Abstract

A delivery device for delivering a metered amount of substance (L) in response to exhalation by a user, the delivery device comprising: a mouthpiece (5) through which the user in use exhales; an outlet (45) from which substance Is delivered; and a dispensing unit (35) which is operable to dispense a metered amount of substance through the outlet in response to exhalation by the user through the mouthpiece, wherein the dispensing unit comprises a body member (37) which includes a cavity (39) for containing a metered amount of substance, an outlet nozzle (43) which is fluidly connected to the cavity from which substance is in use delivered, and a dispensing (41) member which is movably disposed in the cavity and configured to be driven through the cavity by a driving pressure created by exhalation of the user, such as to cause substance to be delivered from the outlet nozzle.

Claims

1. A delivery device for delivering a metered amount of substance in response to exhalation by a user, the delivery device comprising:

a mouthpiece through which the user in use exhales;

an outlet from which substance is delivered; and

a dispensing unit which is operable to dispense a metered amount of substance through the outlet in response to exhalation by the user through the mouthpiece, wherein the dispensing unit comprises a body member which includes a cavity for containing a metered amount of substance, an outlet nozzle which is fluidly connected to the cavity from which substance is in use delivered, and a dispensing member which is movably disposed in the cavity and configured to be driven through the cavity by a driving pressure created by exhalation of the user, such as to cause substance to be delivered from the outlet nozzle.

2. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the cavity is an elongate cavity.

3. The delivery device of claim 2, wherein the cavity has a cylindrical section and the dispensing member comprises a ball which is moved along the cavity by the driving pressure created by exhalation of the user.

4. The delivery device of claim 3, wherein the ball sealingly engages with an inner peripheral wall of the cavity.

5. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the cavity and the dispensing member are configured to provide for movement of the dispensing member at a driving pressure of less than about 5 kPa, and optionally less than about 3 kPa.

6. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outlet nozzle provides for an aerosol spray.

7. The delivery device of claim 6, wherein the outlet nozzle provides for a substantially rectilinear flow for a distance of at least about 15 mm, optionally at least about 20 mm, optionally at least about 25 mm and optionally at least about 30 mm from exit of the outlet nozzle.

8. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outlet nozzle provides for a jet.

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

a pressure regulator which is fluidly connected to the dispensing unit, such as to provide for application of a predeterminable driving pressure to the dispensing member.

10. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the mouthpiece and the outlet are fluidly connected, such as to provide for an air flow through the outlet on exhalation by the user through the mouthpiece.

11. The delivery device of claim 10, further comprising:

a housing in which the dispensing unit is disposed and to which the mouthpiece and the nosepiece are fluidly connected, such as to define a fluid communication path therebetween.

12. The delivery device of claim 11, further comprising:

a baffle member which is disposed in the fluid communication path.

13. The delivery device of claim 12, wherein the baffle member includes a first, driving air pressure channel which is fluidly connected to the dispensing unit and at which the driving pressure is created on exhalation by the user to actuate the dispensing unit, and at least one second, entraining air flow channel through which an entraining air flow is delivered for entraining substance as delivered by the dispensing unit, optionally the baffle member includes a plurality of entraining air flow channels.

15. The delivery device of claim 12, wherein the housing includes an inlet chamber upstream of the baffle member which flares outwardly from the mouthpiece.

16. The delivery device of claim 12, wherein the housing includes an outlet chamber downstream of the baffle member, optionally the outlet chamber surrounds the dispensing unit.

18. The delivery device of claim 10, wherein the outlet includes a flow restrictor for providing a flow restriction thereat.

19. The delivery device of claim 18, wherein the flow restrictor tapers inwardly in a flow direction from the mouthpiece to the nosepiece, optionally the flow restrictor has a frusto-conical section.

21. The delivery device of claim 10, further comprising:

a flow regulator which is disposed at the outlet nozzle of the dispensing unit, optionally the flow regulator includes a plurality of flow apertures which are located on an annulus surrounding the outlet nozzle.

23. The delivery device of claim 1, where configured to deliver a liquid.

24. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the outlet is a nosepiece and the delivery device is a nasal delivery device for delivering substance to a nasal airway of a subject.

14. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

25. (canceled)