PRESSURE BARRIER DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE

Abstract

A beneficial agent dispensing device comprises a dispenser body comprising a pressure chamber and at least one dispensing port. A flexible primary container stores the beneficial agent contained within the body. The arrangement is such that pressure in the pressure chamber depress the flexible primary container to expel the beneficial agent through the dispensing port. The beneficial agent dispenser can be configured to deliver the beneficial agent intranasally.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to dispensing packages. More specifically, the disclosure relates to intranasal drug delivery devices.

BACKGROUND

Intranasal dispensers, such as those used to administer Narcan®, utilize manual force to create a spray or jet of beneficial agent contained in the device. This results in potential variation in the dispensed flow characteristics depending on how strong and/or how fast the dispenser is operated. This irregularity in the flow characteristics may also result in varying drug absorbance and effectiveness.

Previously known intranasal dispensers use a syringe style form factor (i.e., barrel and piston arrangement). One drawback of such dispensers is that the exposure of the beneficial agent with materials associated with syringes such as silicone and rubber may compromise the beneficial agent’s stability and effectiveness. Glass syringes can also compromise the device’s tolerance to impact.

Accordingly, a need exists for improved intranasal dispensers that address some or all of the issued discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a is an elevational view of an intranasal dispenser according to an exemplary embodiment, and showing the dispenser in a pre activation configuration;

FIG. 1b is a cross-sectional view of the intranasal dispenser as viewed about line 1b-1b in FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2a is an elevational view of the intranasal dispenser in an activated configuration;

FIG. 2b is a cross-sectional view of the intranasal dispenser as viewed about line 2b-2b in FIG. 2a;

FIG. 3a is a perspective view of an intranasal dispenser with having a telescopic body; and

FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the intranasal dispenser of FIG. 3b and showing its cap removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described herein are various embodiments of a beneficial agent dispenser comprising a body and at least one dispensing port. A pressure chamber is located in the body. Beneficial agent is stored in a flexible primary container located within the body. In some embodiments, the primary container may be a blister pack made from at least one of a film and a foil. Pressure in the pressure chamber depresses the primary container causing the beneficial agent to expel through the dispensing port. A pressure source causes the pressure chamber to pressurize. In some embodiments, the pressure source is a relatively small CO₂ cartridge having a rupturable membrane. A rupturable pin may be located in front of the rupturable membrane. The rupturing pin ruptures the rupturable membrane when the two are moved toward each other in a relative motion. A handle associated with an activation mechanism may be used to initiate the relative motion to rupture the CO₂ cartridge and pressurize the pressure chamber.

The primary container may be a flexible or semi-flexible package including, e.g., molded containers, blow molded containers, a sachet, a pouch, a tube, or any combination thereof.

The dispensing port may be configured for a variety of applications including, topical, oral, sub-lingual, ocular, oraticular, and for inhalation. The dispensing port may be of a variety of forms, including, e.g., a jet nozzle, a spray nozzle, or a topical applicator such as a brush or sponge.

Pressure sources other than CO₂ cartridges may be used, including pressure sources wherein pressure results from a chemical reaction.

In some embodiments, the disclosed dispenser includes multiple primary containers containing the same or different beneficial agents. In other embodiments, the primary container comprises multiple compartments that can be manually or automatically merged prior to administration. In some embodiments, a first compartment comprises an active ingredient in dry format and a second compartment comprises a diluent, and the two compartments are merged prior to administration to allow the two substances to reconstitute and form the beneficial agent. The disclosed dispenser may comprise multiple primary containers, with the contents of each being dispensed through a common dispensing port. In some configurations, the disclosed dispenser includes multiple primary containers, the content of each is dispensed from a different dispensing port

FIG. 1a illustrates an intranasal dispenser 100 according to various embodiments described herein. Intranasal dispenser 100 can include a body 111, a cap 113 attached to the body 111 at a proximal end 114, and an activation handle 112. The activation handle 112 communicates with an activation mechanism 102 (FIG. 1b).

FIG. 1b illustrates a cross section view of the intranasal dispenser 100 taken along line 1b-1b shown in FIG. 1a. The dispenser 100 includes a pressure chamber 110 within the body 111. The dispenser 100 further includes a CO₂ cartridge 121, wherein a distal end confronts a rupturing pin 122. The distal end of the cartridge 121 communicates with an activation mechanism 102, which can be manipulated by the handle 112. A piston 125 defines a proximal end of the pressure chamber 110 and is moveable between a pre-activation position (shown in FIG. 1b) and an activated position (shown in FIG. 2b). A first primary container 123 is located in the pressure chamber 110 and is connected to the piston 125. As noted previously, more than one primary container 123 can be located within the body 111, though FIG. 1b shows a single primary container 123. As shown in FIG. 1b, the primary container 123 is a blister pack made of a formed side, a lid, a flat side, and a fitment 124. The formed side and the lid side are peripherally sealed to each other, and each to the fitment 124 to form a sealed compartment. The fitment 124 is accommodated in an opening in the piston 125 in a seal tight fashion via seal 126. A piston seal 128 maintains a sealed connection between the piston 125 and the body 111. Venting windows 127 prevent pressure from building in the proximal end of the body 111. At the proximal end of the dispenser 100, a dispensing port 132 (shown in FIG. 1b in the form of a two-prone nasal applicator) extend from the body 111. A tube 131 runs inside the dispensing port 132 and communicates between the interior of the body 111 and the proximal end of the dispensing port 132. Cap 113 provides at least one of physical protection and aseptic enclosure to the dispensing port 132.

FIG. 2a illustrates the intranasal dispenser 100 in an activated position. To reach this configuration, the handle 112 is rotated away from the body 111 to draw back the activation mechanism 102, then depressed toward the body 111 to cause the activation mechanism 102 to rupture the CO₂ cartridge 121 against the rupturing pin 122 and thereby pressurize the pressure chamber 110. The cap 113 is removed to expose the dispensing port 132.

In FIG. 2b the activation mechanism 102 advances the CO₂ cartridge 121 such that the rupturing pin 122 is penetrated into the cartridge 121, allowing the CO₂ gas to pressurize the pressure chamber 110. The pressure advances the piston 125 toward the proximal end of the dispenser 100, to the activated position, causing the distal end of the tube 131 to penetrate the primary container 123, allowing the pressure to depress the primary container 123 and expel the content of the primary container 123 through the dispensing port 132. The seal 128 shows in the venting window 127, indicating that the device 100 has been actuated.

In some embodiments, a bleed hole opens when the seal 128 reaches the activated position, allowing the gas from the pressure chamber 110 to deplete and reduce the pressure. In some embodiments, a piston return spring (not shown) is disposed in vented chamber 130 (FIG. 1b), and the arrangement is such that after activation, when the pressure in the pressure chamber 110 is depleted under a certain threshold pressure, the spring force overcomes the force applied by the pressure in the pressure chamber 110, causing the piston 125 to retract and detach from the piston seal 128. The bleed hole serves as a timer for the piston dwelling time at the activated position such that faster bleed (e.g. larger bleed hole) will reduce the pressure in the pressure chamber 110 faster and the spring to retract the piston 125 earlier. The movement of the piston 125 from the pre-activation position to the activated position and back provides a tactile sensation to the user of the dispenser 100 from beginning to end. The bleeding of the pressure from the pressure chamber 110 provides the user with an audible sensation of the dispensing process from beginning to end. The ordinarily skilled artisan will recognize that a variety of dispensing devices can be accommodated at the proximal end of the dispensing port, such as a jet nozzle and a spray nozzle.

FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate an intranasal dispenser 300 similar to the intranasal dispenser 100, comprising a telescopic body 301. A tether 304 is attached to the cap 303 on one end and a carabiner 305 on its other end. FIG. 3a illustrates the dispenser 300 when the body is collapsed which may be more convenient for storage. By holding the telescopic body 301 and pulling the tether 304 in the opposite direction of the body 301, the telescopic body extends in an axial direction while the cap 305 is removed to expose the dispensing port 321, as shown in FIG. 3b. The arrangement is such that the proximal end of the telescopic body 301 covers the distal end of the cap, preventing the cap from being removed until the body 301 is extended. At the extended position the handle 312 is allowed to move to the armed position for activation. The tether 304 is printed with information to facilitate user training and operation. The distal portion of the body 301 is color coded to distinguish the dispenser 300 from other dispensers of different medications. In similar fashion, at least one of the tether 304, the cap 303, and the carabiner 305 can be color coded. Moreover, the distal end 302 of the body 301 can have a distinguished shape to help identify the treatment. The dispenser 300 facilitates operation of the dispenser 300 with limited dexterity or when wearing gloves as the extended body 301 provides better gripping of the device, and the tether 304 with the carabiner 305 allows for easier holding and pulling than holding the cap 303 directly. For single hand operation, the carabiner 305 can be attached to a firm object such as a garment, a carrying case or a bag, and the extension of the body 301 is done by merely pulling the telescopic body 301. Details of the treatment can be printed on or attached to at least one of the tether 304, carabiner 305, or the cap 303. The carabiner 305 can be attached to the garment of a subject to indicate that the subject has been treated.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Although the technology has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and materials, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and materials described. Rather, the specific aspects are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Because many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.

Unless otherwise indicated, all number or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc., used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately”. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying rounding techniques. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass and provide support for claims that recite any and all sub-ranges or any and all individual values subsumed therein. For example, a stated range of 1 to 10 should be considered to include and provide support for claims that recite any and all sub-ranges or individual values that are between and/or inclusive of the minimum value of 1 and the maximum value of 10; that is, all sub-ranges beginning with a minimum value of 1 or more and ending with a maximum value of 10 or less (e.g., 5.5 to 10, 2.34 to 3.56, and so forth) or any values from 1 to 10 (e.g., 3, 5.8, 9.9994, and so forth).

Claims

1-21. (canceled)

22. A dispensing device for dispensing a beneficial agent comprising: a pressurized fluid source configured to contain a pressurized fluid,a pressure chamber with an internal volume and comprising a primary container adapted to store a beneficial agent, anda fluid barrier between the internal volume and an ambient environment;wherein a fluid pathway from the primary container is provided responsive to providing a pressurized fluid into the pressure chamber from the pressurized fluid source, andwherein the pressurized fluid source is disposed through the fluid barrier such that an internal end of the pressurized fluid source is exposed to the internal volume and an external end of the pressurized fluid source is exposed to the ambient environment.

23. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein the pressurized fluid source comprises a canister configured to contain a pressurized fluid.

24. The dispensing device of claim 23, wherein the pressurized fluid includes any of liquified carbon dioxide, carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas, and argon gas.

25. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein the internal end of the pressurized fluid source is configured to open to provide the pressurized fluid to the internal volume upon opening.

26. The dispensing device of claim 25, wherein the internal end of the pressurized fluid source is configured to rupture to open.

27. The dispensing device of claim 22, further comprising the primary container comprising a beneficial agent, and wherein the fluid pathway from the primary container is adapted to expel the beneficial agent through a dispensing port.

28. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein the pressurized fluid source is configured to move relative to the fluid barrier from a first position where the internal end is unopened to a second position where the internal end is opened to provide the pressurized fluid to the internal volume.

29. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein the ambient environment includes an activation mechanism confronting the external end and configured to actuate the pressurized fluid source upon actuation.

30. The dispensing device of claim 29, wherein the actuation of the pressurized fluid source brings the internal end into an interaction with a fluid source opening element such that the internal end opens to provide the pressurized fluid to the internal volume.

31. The dispensing device of claim 30, wherein the internal end includes a rupturable membrane, and the fluid source opening element comprises a rupturing pin configured to rupture the rupturable membrane.

32. The dispensing device of claim 29, wherein the activation mechanism is configured to prevent movement of the pressurized fluid source away from the internal volume of the pressure chamber.

33. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein the pressurized fluid source comprises an abutment feature configured to prevent movement of the pressurized fluid source away from the internal volume of the pressure chamber.

34. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein the fluid barrier comprises any of a seal, an o-ring, or a tight fit between the fluid barrier and at least a section of the pressurized fluid source.

35. The dispensing device of claim 22, further comprising a connecting section of the pressurized fluid source connecting the internal end to the external end, wherein the fluid barrier is configured to seal against the connecting section.

36. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein the internal volume contains a dispensing assembly.

37. The dispensing device of claim 36, wherein the dispensing assembly includes piston configured to move when a pressurized fluid is provided to the internal volume.

38. The dispensing device of claim 22, wherein the pressurized fluid source is configured to move in an axial direction relative to the fluid barrier.

39. The dispensing device of claim 22, further comprising a bleed path configured to controllably release the pressurized fluid from the internal volume of the pressure chamber.

40. The dispensing device of claim 39, wherein the fluid barrier is configured to provide the bleed path responsive to the pressurized fluid source providing a pressurized fluid to the internal volume of the pressure chamber.