Claims
- 1. A needleless syringe for administering particles of a therapeutic agent, said syringe comprising:
- (a) an elongate nozzle having an upstream end;
- (b) a capsule chamber interfaced with the upstream end of the nozzle to provide a chamber/nozzle interface, said chamber having an open upstream end and an open downstream end and providing a housing for containing a nonrigid capsule;
- (c) opening means for mechanically piercing a nonrigid capsule when the capsule is arranged in the capsule chamber housing, said opening means arranged at the upstream end of the capsule chamber; and
- (d) energizing means connected to the upstream end of the capsule chamber, wherein said energizing means comprises a source of pressurized gas and can be actuated to provide a gas flow through the capsule chamber and nozzle.
- 2. The syringe of claim 1 further comprising a nonrigid capsule arranged within the capsule chamber housing, wherein said capsule contains particles of a therapeutic agent.
- 3. The syringe of claim 2, wherein the capsule comprises substantially nonrigid gelatin walls and is cylindrical in shape.
- 4. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the capsule chamber is comprised of two portions which can be separated from each other to allow access to the capsule chamber housing.
- 5. The syringe of claim 4 further comprising a barrel portion that encases the capsule chamber and is attached to the upstream end of the elongate nozzle.
- 6. The syringe of claim 5, wherein attachment of the barrel portion to the nozzle resiliently holds the two portions of the capsule chamber together.
- 7. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the opening means comprises a cutting device which projects into the upstream end of the capsule chamber.
- 8. The syringe of claim 6, wherein the opening means comprises a cutting device which projects into the upstream end of the capsule chamber.
- 9. The syringe of claim 8, wherein attachment of the barrel portion to the needle brings the opening means into position to open a capsule when placed within the capsule chamber housing.
- 10. The syringe of claim 1 further comprising a second opening means arranged at the downstream end of the capsule chamber.
- 11. The syringe of claim 2, wherein the capsule comprises a weakened portion which allows a downstream end of said capsule to rupture upon application of gas pressure from the energizing means, thereby initiating a gas flow through the capsule and nozzle.
- 12. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the chamber/nozzle interface is closed by a rupturable membrane.
- 13. The syringe of claim 1, wherein the energizing means comprises a gas container housing pressurized gas.
- 14. The syringe of claim 13 further comprising release means which can be actuated to release a gas flow from the gas container to pass into the capsule chamber.
- 15. The syringe of claim 14, wherein the release means comprises a valve that can be actuated between open and closed positions.
- 16. The syringe of claim 15, wherein the valve is actuated by movement of two parts of the syringe relative to each other.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application Number PCT/GB95/02498, filed Oct. 20, 1995, designating the United States, from which priority is claimed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.365(c) and which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 406 778 A1 |
Jan 1991 |
EPX |
2 360 031 |
Aug 1978 |
FRX |
WO 9204439 |
Mar 1992 |
WOX |
WO 9424263 |
Oct 1994 |
WOX |
WO 9519799 |
Jul 1995 |
WOX |
WO 9612513 |
May 1996 |
WOX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCTGB9502498 |
Oct 1995 |
|