Dispenser

• US 20040153033A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Glaxo Group Limited (Glaxosmithkline Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mazzoni, Paolo
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/192
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0025 with caps
• 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 15/0036 hollow piercing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/08 Inhaling devices inserted into the nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2033 Spring-loaded one-shot injectors with or without automatic needle insertion multishot dosing syringes A61M5/31525, needle insertion only A61M5/3287
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2429 by telescoping of ampoules or carpules with the syringe body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/2459 upon internal pressure increase, e.g. pierced or burst A61M5/2429 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/0027 Means for neutralising the actuation of the sprayer pump locking means B05B11/1059; Means for preventing access to the sprayer actuation means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/02 Membranes or pistons acting on the contents inside the container, e.g. follower pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1091 being first hold in a loaded state by locking means or the like, then released B05B11/1092 takes precedence

Abstract

The application describes a dispensing apparatus (1) for dispensing a unit dose of a pharmaceutical substance, in particular for intranasal administration. The nozzel unit (3) has a safety cap (48) thereon and the cap has legs (51) which can locate within the actuating device. Upon mounting of the nozzle unit on the actuating device, the legs on the safety cap push down a ram (8) in the device against the action of a spring (10), until the head (23) of the ram engages over a shoulder. The ram is released only by both depression of a button (34) on the device and by relative movement of two parts of the device. That relative movement is blocked by a wing (53) on the safety cap so that actuation cannot occur until after removal of the cap. Force on the button moves the two parts together and depresses the button, so that the ram is released and is forced by the spring to move a cylinder relative to a piston (71), thereby discharging the contents of the cylinder through the nozzle opening.

Claims

1. A device for dispensing a pharmaceutical substance comprising a disposable unit including a dose of the pharmaceutical substance, the unit having a protective cap;

a body member on which the unit can be removably mounted, the body member including an actuation member for dispensing the pharmaceutical substance from the unit, the actuation member being movable between a retracted position and an advanced position in which the pharmaceutical substance is dispensed; and

wherein the protective cap has at least one surface which can operatively engage the body member so that on mounting of the unit on the body member the actuation member is moved from the advanced to the retracted position.

2. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the said surface is on at least one depending leg of the protective cap.

3. A dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the said surface is at the end of the or each dependent leg of the protective cap.

4. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the said surface contacts the actuation member upon mounting of the protective cap on the body member.

5. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the protective cap has a blocking part which blocks movement of the actuation member from the retracted position to the advanced position, until removal of the cap.

6. A dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein the body member is formed in two parts, one part being slidably movable within the other and wherein the device is actuated at least partly by the sliding movement of the two parts, the said blocking part of the protective cap blocking the sliding movements of the two parts.

7. A dispensing device according to claim 6, wherein the blocking part is a protruding wing of the protective cap.

8. A dispensing device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body member includes a first blocking member which can hold the actuation member in the advanced position, the said surface of the protective cap acting on the said blocking member to release the actuation member which in turn is movable under a resilient force to the retracted position.

9. A dispensing device according to claim 8, wherein the body member includes a second blocking member which can hold the actuation member in its retracted position, the second blocking member releasing the actuation member upon removal of the protective cap.

10. A dispensing device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the or each blocking member is a spring which has an open position which releases the actuation member and a closed position which blocks the actuation member.

11. A dispensing device according to claim 10, wherein the spring has two arms which can be moved apart by the legs of the protective cap.

12. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the actuation member includes an indicating part which is visible on the outside of the body member, the indicating part thus indicating the position of the actuation member.

13. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the body member has at the end on which the disposable unit is mounted laterally extending shoulders, the shoulders receiving depending wings of the disposable unit.

14. A dispensing device according to any preceding claim, wherein the disposable unit includes a nozzle member for insertion in a user'"'"'s nasal cavity and wherein the body member is generally cylindrical with the disposal unit mounted at one end and with the actuation member being movable along the axis of the cylinder between its advanced and retracted positions.