Drug dispensing device with flexible push rod

• US 8,357,114 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2007
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
• Original Assignee: AcelRx Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
• Inventors: Poutiatine, Andrew I., Rampersaud, Charles, Schreck, Thomas, Kolosi, William, Retailleau, Sascha
• Primary Examiner(s): Sirmons, Kevin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/650,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20070186923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: 604/59, 604/57, 221/15, 221/232, 700/231
• US Class Current: 604/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0038 Straws
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0053 Syringes, pipettes or oral dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0076 Medicament distribution means with pill counting devices A61J7/02; with time indication A61J7/04; containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/02 Pill counting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0418 with electronic history memory
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0445 for preventing drug dispensing during a predetermined time period
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/276 preventing unwanted use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/609 Biometric patient identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 : Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/007 : Injectors for solid bodies, e.g. suppositories
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/0418 : the articles being substantially flat and stacked one upon the other and the dispensing-closing device sliding the article to be dispensed along the flat side of the next article
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/02 : Details
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 : in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 : for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 : delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 : associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00

Abstract

Drug storage and dispensing devices for dispensing a drug dosage form are disclosed. Devices having a housing defining a nonlinear passageway and a flexible push rod to move within the nonlinear passageway are disclosed. Devices having a flexible push rod coupled to a rotation actuating member at at an end portion thereof are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sublingual administration of a drug-containing tablet, comprising:

a housing defining a delivery passage through which the tablet can be passed, the delivery passage having an S-shape, a distal end portion of the housing defining an exit port; and

a push rod, at least a portion of the push rod being disposed in the delivery passage, the push rod being movable within the delivery passage between a first position in which an end portion of the push rod is disposed within the delivery passage and a second position in which the end portion is extended from the exit port, at least a portion of the push rod being sufficiently flexible to assume the S-shape of the delivery passage as the push rod is moved from the first position to the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a seal disposed over the exit port, the end portion of the push rod is configured to extend through the seal when the push rod is in the second position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a hydrophilic material disposed to minimize saliva influx into the delivery passage.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the push rod is configured to advance the tablet through the exit port when the push rod is moved from its first position to its second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end portion of the push rod is configured to engage the tablet and move the tablet through the S shape of the delivery passage.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the proboscis being housing is curved to facilitate positioning at least the distal end portion of the housing beneath a tongue of a patient for sublingual administration of the tablet, the curved portion of the housing defining the shape of the delivery passage.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the end portion of the push rod is a first end portion, the apparatus further comprising:

a hub coupled to a second end portion of the push rod such that rotation of the hub moves the push rod from the first position to the second position.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a hub coupled to the housing, the hub configured to be rotated by a motor to move the push rod from the first position to the second position.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the tablet includes a dosage of sufentanil.

10. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing defining a nonlinear passage and an exit port;

a seal disposed to cover the exit port;

a shaft, at least a portion of the shaft being disposed in the nonlinear passage and being flexible such that a first end portion of the shaft can be moved within the nonlinear passage, the first end portion of the shaft configured to move a tablet through at least a portion of the nonlinear passage to the exit port, the first end portion of the shaft configured to push the tablet through the seal; and

a rotary actuator coupled to a second end portion of the shaft, the rotary actuator configured to rotate the second end portion of the shaft to move the first end portion of the shaft from a first position to a second position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first end portion of the shaft is configured to be retracted into the nonlinear passage after pushing the tablet through the seal.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing being removably couplable to a tablet delivery device, the tablet delivery device configured to produce an indication of the status of the assembly of the housing and the tablet delivery device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the nonlinear passage defined by the housing is S-shaped, the flexible portion of the shaft being moveable within the S-shaped portion of the nonlinear passage.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

a hydrophilic material disposed to minimize saliva influx into the passage.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the rotary actuator is a hub disposed at least partially within the housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the rotary actuator is a hub disposed at least partially within the housing, the hub configured to be driven by a motor.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the housing is curved to facilitate positioning of at least a portion of the housing beneath a tongue of a patient.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the tablet includes a dosage of sufentanil.

19. An apparatus for sublingual administration of a drug-containing tablet, comprising:

a housing defining a delivery passage through which the tablet can be passed, the delivery passage having a nonlinear shape, a distal end portion of the housing defining an exit port;

a seal disposed to cover the exit port;

a flexible delivery member, at least a first end portion of the delivery member being movably disposed within the delivery passage such that the first end portion can be moved through the nonlinear shape of the delivery passage, the first end portion of the delivery member configured to move the tablet through at least a portion of the delivery passage to the exit port, the first end portion of the delivery member configured to push the tablet through the seal when the first end portion of the delivery member is moved within the delivery passage; and

a hub coupled to a second end portion of the delivery member such that rotation of the hub moves the first end portion of the delivery member within the delivery passage.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the delivery passage has an S-shape and the delivery member is sufficiently flexible to assume the S-shape of the delivery passage.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a shroud defining a cavity, the seal is disposed in the cavity defined by the shroud.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least a portion of the housing is curved to facilitate positioning at least the distal end portion of the housing beneath a tongue of a patient for sublingual administration of the tablet.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the hub is configured to be rotated by a motor to move the delivery member between a first position and a second position.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the hub is disposed at least partially within the housing, the hub configured to be driven by a motor.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the tablet includes a dosage of sufentanil.

26. An apparatus for administration of a drug-containing tablet, comprising:

a housing defining a delivery passage through which the tablet can be passed, the delivery passage having a first curved portion and a second curved portion, the first curved portion being curved about a first axis, the second curved portion being curved about a second axis, a portion of the delivery passage being disposed between the first axis and the second axis, a distal end portion of the housing defining an exit port; and

a push rod, at least a portion of the push rod being disposed within the delivery passage, the push rod being movable within the delivery passage between a first position in which an end portion of the push rod is disposed within the delivery passage and a second position in which the end portion is extended from the exit port, the push rod configured to advance the tablet through the exit port upon movement from the first position to the second position, at least a portion of the push rod being sufficiently flexible to assume the shape of the first curved portion and the second curved portion when the push rod is moved from the first position to the second position.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a seal disposed about the exit port, the end portion of the push rod being configured to extend through the seal when the push rod is in the second position.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a hydrophilic material disposed to minimize saliva influx into the delivery passage.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the end portion of the push rod is configured to engage the tablet and move the tablet through the first curved portion of the delivery passage and the second curved portion of the delivery passage.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the housing is removably couplable to a tablet delivery device, the tablet delivery device configured to produce an indication of the status of the assembly of the housing and the tablet delivery device.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the end portion of the push rod is a first end portion, the apparatus further comprising:

a hub coupled to a second end portion of the push rod such that rotation of the hub moves the push rod from the first position to the second position.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

a hub coupled to the housing, the hub configured to be rotated by a motor to move the push rod from the first position to the second position.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the tablet includes a dosage of sufentanil.