Delivery devices

• US 9,452,272 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OptiNose, Inc.
• Original Assignee: OptiNose AS (OptiNose, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Martin Joseph, Djupesland, Per Gisle, Kay, Stuart Brian William, Pocock, Andrew Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Zalukaeva, Tatyana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stuart, Colin W
• Application Number:
  US13/473,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 128/203.15, 128/200.14, 128/203.12, 128/203.18, 128/203.14, 128/203.13, 128/203.19, 128/203.21, 128/203.23
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A delivery device comprising:

a mouthpiece adapted for a subject to exhale through;

an air channel which is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece;

a flexible diaphragm which is disposed in the air channel, the diaphragm restricting air flow through the air channel until pressure in the mouthpiece equals or exceeds a predetermined actuation pressure; and

a rupturing element for rupturing the diaphragm when the pressure in the mouthpiece equals or exceeds the predetermined actuation pressure.

2. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm at least partially closes the air channel until the predetermined actuation pressure is developed in the mouthpiece.

3. The delivery device of claim 2, wherein the diaphragm closes the air channel until the predetermined actuation pressure is developed in the mouthpiece.

4. The delivery device of claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is a resilient element.

5. The delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a nosepiece configured to fit in a nostril of the subject through which a substance is delivered to a nasal airway of the subject.

6. The delivery device of claim 5, wherein the nosepiece is in fluid communication with the air channel, and an air flow, when delivered through the air channel, acts to entrain the substance.

7. The delivery device of claim 1, in which the mouthpiece is configured to be gripped in a mouth of the subject.

8. The delivery device of claim 7, in which the mouthpiece is configured to be gripped by the subject'"'"'s teeth.

9. A delivery device comprising:

a mouthpiece adapted for a subject to exhale through;

a channel which is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece;

a delivery unit;

a flexible diaphragm which is disposed in the channel, the diaphragm restricting gas flow through, the channel until pressure in the mouthpiece equals or exceeds a predetermined actuation pressure; and

a rupturing element for rupturing the diaphragm when the pressure in the mouthpiece equals or exceeds the predetermined actuation pressure.

10. The delivery device of claim 9, in which the delivery unit is configured to deliver a metered dose of a substance.

11. The delivery device of claim 10, where the substance is a liquid.

12. The delivery device of claim 10, where the substance is a powder.

13. A delivery device comprising:

a nosepiece;

a mouthpiece adapted for a subject to exhale through;

a channel which is disposed downstream of the mouthpiece and upstream of the nosepiece;

a delivery unit;

a flexible diaphragm which is disposed in the channel, the diaphragm restricting gas flow through the channel until pressure in the mouthpiece equals or exceeds a predetermined actuation pressure; and

a rupturing element for rupturing the diaphragm when the pressure in the mouthpiece equals or exceeds the predetermined actuation pressure.

14. The delivery device of claim 13, wherein the delivery unit is configured to deliver a metered dose of a substance.

15. The delivery device of claim 14, in which the substance is a liquid.

16. The delivery device of claim 14, in which the substance is a powder.

17. The delivery device of claim 13, further comprising a housing.

18. The delivery device of claim 13, in which the mouthpiece is proximate to an inlet of the channel.