Influenza vaccines are administered using solid biodegradable microneedles. The microneedles are fabricated from the influenza vaccine in combination with solid excipient(s) and, after penetrating the skin, they dissolve in situ and release the vaccine to the immune system. The influenza vaccine is (i) a purified influenza virus surface antigen vaccine, rather than a live vaccine or a whole-virus or split inactivated vaccine (ii) an influenza vaccine prepared from viruses grown in cell culture, not eggs, (iii) a monovalent influenza vaccine e.g. for immunizing against a pandemic strain, (iv) a bivalent vaccine, (v) a tetravalent or >4-valent vaccine, (vi) a mercury-free vaccine, or (vii) a gelatin-free vaccine.

The invention relates to trans-epithelial frictionally abrasive tissue sampling devices for performing biopsies and methods of inducing an immune response against a pathogen, wherein epithelial cells containing the pathogen are disrupted with the frictionally abrasive tissue sampling device to introduce the pathogen into the bloodstream of a patient.

Disclosed are applicators and methods injecting of a liquid anesthetic into a dental patient with no or minimal pain. In accordance with one embodiment the applicator is for intraligamentary injection and includes an elongated, thin member having an open distal free formed of a resilient and somewhat conformable material suitable for producing a substantially fluid-tight interface with the anatomic structures at the gingival sulcus to inject the anesthetic therein. In another embodiment the applicator includes a flexible skirt surrounding a sharpened cannula, with the cannula being movable with respect to the skirt. The skirt is arranged to receive the anesthetic to anesthetize the gum, whereupon the cannula can then pierce the gum to inject the anesthetic into the underlying anatomic structure.

A method and device for delivering one or more solutions onto a container of animals, such as poultry hatchings, that is being transported along a conveyor line. The method and device are capable of delivering highly viscous gels, having viscosities in the range of 5000 to 10,000 centipoise, and also of delivering multiple solutions to a single container of hatchlings.

Disclosed are applicators and methods injecting of a liquid anesthetic into a dental patient with no or minimal pain. In accordance with one embodiment the applicator is for intraligamentary injection and includes an elongated, thin member having an open distal free formed of a resilient and somewhat conformable material suitable for producing a substantially fluid-tight interface with the anatomic structures at the gingival sulcus to inject the anesthetic therein. In another embodiment the applicator includes a flexible skirt surrounding a sharpened cannula, with the cannula being movable with respect to the skirt. The skirt is arranged to receive the anesthetic to anesthetize the gum, whereupon the cannula can then pierce the gum to inject the anesthetic into the underlying anatomic structure.

The invention relates to trans-epithelial frictionally abrasive tissue sampling devices for performing biopsies and methods of inducing an immune response against a pathogen, wherein epithelial cells containing the pathogen are disrupted with the frictionally abrasive tissue sampling device to introduce the pathogen into the bloodstream of a patient.

A mounting arrangement for a drug-delivery device is proposed, the mounting arrangement comprising: a plug element with a longitudinal axis (L) and a housing part having a recess with a side wall which is adapted to receive the plug element. At least one of the plug element or the side wall of the recess are provided with a protrusion for fixing the plug element in a given position relative to the housing part by a force-fit engagement. Furthermore, a coupling assembly is proposed, the coupling assembly comprising the plug element and the housing part being mechanically coupled to each other.

A mounting arrangement for a drug-delivery device is proposed, the mounting arrangement comprising: a plug element with a longitudinal axis (L) and a housing part having a recess with a side wall which is adapted to receive the plug element. At least one of the plug element or the side wall of the recess are provided with a protrusion for fixing the plug element in a given position relative to the housing part by a force-fit engagement. Furthermore, a coupling assembly is proposed, the coupling assembly comprising the plug element and the housing part being mechanically coupled to each other.

Disclosed are applicators and methods for injecting a liquid, such as anesthetic, into a patient with no or minimal pain. The applicator includes a coupling and a blade rotatably mounted on the coupling. The coupling is arranged to receive a cartridge in which a cannula is mounted such that the cannula extends through a proximal channel of the coupling and into a distal channel of the blade. The coupling is further arranged to secure the applicator to a source of liquid such that the liquid can be selectively introduced into and through the cannula into the tissue of the patient. The blade is thin enough for atraumatic insertion into a gingival sulcus of the patient.

The present invention provides a method for delivering a substance to the nasal cavity of a subject in which drawing air from a mouthpiece triggers release of a substance to a subject's nasal cavities. The device comprises a container for containing the substance in fluid communication with a nosepiece, a valve with an active configuration and an inactive configuration, and a trigger mechanism to reconfigure the valve from its inactive configuration to its active configuration and vice versa. Drawing air from the mouthpiece, e.g., when the subject takes in air by mouth, activates the trigger mechanism, thereby reconfiguring the valve from its inactive configuration to its active configuration for a predetermined period of time and delivering the substance from the device to a nasal cavity of the subject.