Delivery Devices

• US 20170203061A1
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Published: 07/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OptiNose AS (OptiNose, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: OptiNose AS (OptiNose, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Martin Joseph, Kay, Stuart Brian William, Pocock, Andrew Gordon, Djupesland, Per Gisle
• Application Number:
  US15/246,691
• Publication Number:
  US 20170203061A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/007 Syringe-type or piston-type sprayers or atomisers
• 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 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0018 with exhalation check valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0038 Cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/004 with fixed piercing or cutting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0041 with movable piercing or cutting means
• 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 2205/8281 spring operated

Abstract

A breath-actuated delivery device includes a mouthpiece through which a subject in use exhales, an air channel which is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece, and a flexible diaphragm which is disposed in the air channel. The diaphragm provides for at least a restricted air flow through the air channel until a predeterminable actuation pressure is developed in the mouthpiece, and, on generation of the predeterminable actuation pressure in the mouthpiece, provides for an air flow through the air channel.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A delivery device, comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet, an outlet, and a release valve, the release valve operable to permit an exhalation flow through the housing when a pressure in the housing is above a predetermined pressure and to prohibit the exhalation flow through the housing when the pressure in the housing is below the predetermined pressure;

a mouthpiece fluidly connected to the inlet of the housing, the mouthpiece configured for a subject to exhale through;

a nosepiece fluidly connected to the outlet of the housing; and

a delivery unit disposed within the housing and actuatable to deliver a substance from a container unit through the nosepiece in response to application of a delivery force to the delivery unit.

9. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the release valve is a flap valve.

10. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the release valve is a flexible diaphragm.

11. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the housing comprises one or more apertures.

12. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the exhalation flow acts to close a velum of the subject and drive an air flow through a nasal cavity of the subject, with the air flow passing into a first nasal passage of the subject and out of a second nasal passage of the subject, thereby achieving a bi-directional air flow.

13. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the substance is delivered through the nosepiece and into a nasal cavity of the subject by the exhalation flow.

14. The delivery device of claim 8, wherein the container unit contains a dose of the substance.

15. The delivery device of claim 8, further comprising a loading unit configured to selectively apply the delivery force, the loading unit including a drive member operative to transmit the delivery force, a biasing element for loading the drive member with the delivery force, a restraining member for restraining the drive member in a loaded position, and a loading member operative to load the biasing element to provide the delivery force.

16. The delivery device of claim 15, wherein the restraining member comprises a tether configured to be selectively cut by a cutter element to release the restraining member.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the substance is a liquid.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the substance is a powder.

19. A method of delivering a substance to a subject, the method comprising:

fitting a mouthpiece to a mouth of the subject, the mouthpiece fluidly connected to an inlet of a housing;

fitting a nosepiece to a first nostril of the subject, the nosepiece fluidly connected to an outlet of the housing;

causing the subject to exhale through the mouthpiece;

the exhalation generating an exhalation flow through the housing via a release valve operable to permit the exhalation flow through the housing when a pressure in the housing is above a predetermined pressure and to prohibit the exhalation flow through the housing when the pressure in the housing is below the predetermined pressure;

applying a delivery force to a delivery unit via a loading unit within the housing; and

delivering the substance from the delivery unit, through the nosepiece, and into a nasal cavity of the subject.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the substance is delivered through the nosepiece and into a nasal cavity of the subject by the exhalation flow.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the exhalation flow acts to close a velum of the subject and drive an air flow through the nasal cavity of the subject, with the air flow passing into a first nasal passage of the subject and out of a second nasal passage of the subject, thereby achieving a bi-directional air flow.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the release valve is a flexible diaphragm, the method further comprising deflecting the flexible diaphragm when a pressure in the housing exceeds the predetermined pressure.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising causing the subject to grip the mouthpiece between the teeth of the subject.

24. The method of claim 19, further comprising latching the loading unit in a loaded position.

25. The method of claim 19, the delivery unit comprising a container unit containing a dose of the substance.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the substance is a liquid.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the substance is a powder.