DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD

• US 20170333649A1
• Filed: 12/29/2016
• Published: 11/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OptiNose, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OptiNose AS (OptiNose, Inc.)
• Inventors: Djupesland, Per Gisle
• Granted Patent: US 10,286,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0021 Mouthpieces therefor
• 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 16/0434 Cuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0493 with means for protecting the tube from damage caused by the patient's teeth, e.g. bite block
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/0495 with tongue depressors
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0021 with a proportional output signal, e.g. from a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0027 pressure meter
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/064 Powder
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/30 Vaccines
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/065 Throat; Pharynx

Abstract

A delivery device for and method of delivering substance, in particular a vaccine, to a mucosal surface within the oral cavity of a subject, the device comprising: a mouthpiece unit to be gripped in the mouth of a subject, wherein the mouthpiece unit is configured such that, on exhalation or attempted exhalation by the subject, a pressure is developed in the oral cavity which is such as to close the oropharyngeal velum of the subject; and an oral outlet unit including at least one outlet from which substance is in use delivered to a mucosal surface within the oral cavity of the subject.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A method of delivering a substance to an oral cavity of a subject, the method comprising:

fitting a mouthpiece unit to a mouth of the subject;

causing the subject to exhale through the mouthpiece unit, thereby causing closure of an oropharyngeal velum of the subject; and

delivering the substance from at least one substance outlet of an oral outlet unit into the oral cavity of the subject.

3. The method of claim 2, further including causing the subject to suck a sucker element, wherein the sucker element is configured to fix the position of the at least one substance outlet relative to a hard palate of the subject.

4. The method of claim 2, further including delivering a reflex-inducing fluid to the subject.

5. The method of claim 4, further including delivering the substance and the reflex-inducing fluid at the same time.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the reflex-inducing fluid is air.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the reflex-inducing fluid is water.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the substance is a medicament.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the substance is a vaccine.

10. The method of claim 2, further including delivering the substance to palatine tonsils of the subject.

11. The method of claim 2, further including delivering the substance to a mucosal surface within the oral cavity of the subject.

12. A method of delivering a substance to an oral cavity of a subject, the method comprising:

gripping a mouthpiece unit in a mouth of the subject, wherein the mouthpiece unit includes a mouthpiece and a tongue depressor coupled to the mouthpiece;

inserting the tongue depressor to depress the tongue of the subject, the tongue depressor connected to an oral outlet unit comprising at least one substance outlet;

exhaling through the mouthpiece, the exhalation causing closure of an oropharyngeal velum of the subject; and

delivering the substance from the at least one substance outlet into the oral cavity of the subject.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the substance is a medicament.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the substance is a vaccine.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the tongue depressor is movable relative to the mouthpiece.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the oral outlet unit is positioned to deliver the substance to palatine tonsils of the subject.

17. The method of claim 12, further including delivering a reflex-inducing fluid to the subject.

18. The method of claim 17, further including delivering the substance and the reflex-inducing fluid at the same time.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the reflex-inducing fluid is air.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the reflex-inducing fluid is water.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the substance is a powder.