SPRAY DISPENSER FOR NASAL DRUGS

Abstract

Spray dispenser for nasal drugs includes a non-pressurized bottle for storing medical fluids in particular of drugs and other sterile fluids, a mounting body mounted to the top of the bottle and an actuating body, wherein the bottle, the mounting body and the actuating body are aligned along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the actuating body is slideably attached to the mounting body along the longitudinal axis and movable between an actuating position and a non-actuating position, wherein the spray dispenser includes an applicator nozzle and an actuating section for moving the actuating body into the actuating position, characterized in that the applicator nozzle has a nozzle axis which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis, the applicator nozzle facing away from the actuating section.

Claims

1. A spray dispenser for nasal drugs comprising a non-pressurized bottle for storing medical fluids, a mounting body mounted between the bottle and an actuating body, wherein the bottle, the mounting body and the actuating body are aligned along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the actuating body is slideably attached to the mounting body along the longitudinal axis and movable between an actuating position and a non-actuating position, wherein the spray dispenser comprises an applicator nozzle and an actuating section for moving the actuating body into the actuating position, wherein the applicator nozzle has a nozzle axis which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis, the applicator nozzle facing away from the actuating section; wherein the dispenser comprises a metering valve and a spray valve actuated by the actuating body, wherein the metering valve is configured to capture a pre-defined dosage of the medical fluids to be dispensed during actuation of the spray dispenser and wherein the spray valve is configured to eject the medical fluids; wherein a cannula is provided the cannula acting as an intake for the medical fluids to be dispensed by the spray dispenser, or a bag is provided for storing the medical fluids, wherein the bag is disposed in an interior of the bottle and wherein a neck of the bag is sealingly connected to a neck of the bottle; wherein the spray valve comprises a piston, which is pressed by a spring into a first position in which a connecting channel is closed; and wherein a pressure of the medical fluid moves the piston into a second position in which the connecting channel connects a dosing room and an outlet of the applicator nozzle.

2. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating body comprises the applicator nozzle and the actuating section or in that a covering body is provided which is mounted on top of the actuating body, wherein the covering body comprises the applicator nozzle and the actuating section.

3. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle axis is inclined to the longitudinal axis in an angle in the range between 30° to 60°.

4. The spray dispenser according claim 2, characterized in that the actuating section is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and is arranged on a top side of the actuating body facing away from the bottle or on a top side of the covering body facing away from the bottle.

5. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating section is configured to be actuated by a single finger.

6. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottle has a volume in the range of 50 ml to about 250 ml.

7. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the applicator nozzle comprises the outlet and an anticontamination element having an antiinfective surface arranged below the outlet of the applicator nozzle.

8. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, comprising a filter and characterized in that the filter is selected from a group consisting of a ring filter and an insert filter.

9. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottle comprises venting holes for air exchange with the interior of the bottle.

10. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a filter or filter matrix is arranged between the bottle and the mounting body.

11. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a filter or filter matrix is arranged between a disk-like intermediate member and the mounting body.

12. The spray dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a filter or filter matrix is arranged between a cannula like valve member and the mounting body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Respective Figures are Showing:

[0023] FIG. 1 a prior art non-pressurized spray dispenser;

[0024] FIG. 2 a prior art pressurized aerosol-type spray dispenser;

[0025] FIG. 3 a cross-section of a first embodiment of a spray dispenser according to the invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 an enlarged view of the top of the cross-section according to FIG. 3;

[0027] FIG. 5 a mounting body of the spray dispenser of FIGS. 3 and 4;

[0028] FIG. 6 an actuating body of the spray dispenser of FIGS. 3 and 4

[0029] FIG. 7 a covering body of the spray dispenser of FIGS. 3 and 4; and

[0030] FIG. 8 an enlarged view of the top of a cross-section according a second embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIG. 9 an enlarged view of the top of a cross-section according to a third embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 10 a cross-section of a fourth embodiment of a spray dispenser according to the invention; and

[0033] FIG. 11 an enlarged view of the top of the cross-section according to FIG. 10.

[0034] FIGS. 12a and 12b are cross-sectional views of a fifth embodiment of a spray dispenser according to the invention;

[0035] FIGS. 13a and 13b are enlarged views of the top of the cross-section acording to FIGS. 12a and 12b, respectively;

[0036] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional views of a sixth embodiment of a spray dispenser according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 is showing a prior art non-pressurized spray dispenser 10. Such a spray dispenser 10 does not comprise a pressurized propellant gas which is needed for so-called aerosol type spray dispensers. The spray dispenser 10 sprays fluid mechanically by use of different valve mechanisms providing for an exact dosage of the respective drugs. Therefore, the spray dispenser 10 comprises a metering valve for capturing a pre-defined dosage of a fluid to be dispensed during actuation of the respective spray dispenser and also comprises a spray valve for ejecting the fluid for example into the nose of a patient. Such spray valves eject the fluid as a spray in the dosage predefined by the metering valve in a previous actuation step wherein the metering valve is again actuated to provide a pre-defined dosage of the fluid.

[0038] Such a prior art spray dispenser 10 or non-pressurized spray dispenser 10 is made for small volumes in the range 5 ml to 15 ml wherein the bottle 12 of such a spray dispenser 10 for nasal drugs is actuated by holding the bottle 12 between the thumb 14 which acts upon a bottom 16 of the bottle 12 and an actuating section 18 which has the form of an annular ring arranged concentrically to the vertical longitudinal axis and to the applicator nozzle with the index finger and the middle finger.

[0039] FIG. 2 is showing another prior art pressurized spray dispenser 26. Such a pressurized spray dispenser 26 has a volume in the range of 50 ml to 200 ml and is usually pressurized having a bottle 28 with a propellant gas and is therefore called aerosol dispenser. Such aerosol dispensers 26 are usually having a circular cylindrical bottle 28 which can be held in the hand between the thumb 14 and the middle finger 24, ring finger 30 and the pinkie finger 32 wherein only the index finger 22 is used for actuation of the spray dispenser 26.

[0040] Nevertheless, such a pressurized spray dispenser 26 does not allow a calibration of the dosage which is possible with a non-pressurized spray dispenser 10 of FIG. 1. Especially in clinical applications involving pediatric use, a predefined and calibrated dosage of the fluid or drug is important when moistening or sanitizing the nasal cavities of a patient in order to avoid a drowning sensation of the patient which can be caused due to excess fluid which can be released into the nasal cavities when using a pressurized spray dispenser 26 or aerosol dispenser 26.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a section of a first embodiment of a spray dispenser 34 according to the invention wherein FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the top of the cross-section according to FIG. 3. The spray dispenser 34 comprises a bottle 36 for storing medical fluids in particular of drugs and other sterile fluids, a mounting body 38 mounted to the top of the bottle 36, an actuating body 40 and a covering body 42 mounted on top of the actuating body 40. The bottle 36, the mounting body 38, the actuating body 40 and the covering body 42 are arranged concentrically to a vertical longitudinal axis 44 of the spray dispenser 34.

[0042] The mounting body 38 is shown in an isolated view in FIG. 5, wherein the actuating body 40 is shown in an isolated view in FIG. 6 and wherein the covering body 42 is shown in an isolated view in FIG. 7. The spray dispenser 34 of FIGS. 3 and 4 will therefore be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

[0043] As described above, the spray dispenser 34 comprises a bottle 36 and a mounting body 38 mounted on top of the bottle 36. For mounting the mounting body 38 to the bottle 36, the bottle 36 which has a circular cylindrical form has a bottleneck 46 which has a protrusion 48 in the form of a ring protruding in the radial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 44. The mounting body 38 has a reception opening 50 for reception of the bottle neck 46 and comprises a protrusion 52 in the form of a ring protruding radially inside towards the longitudinal axis 44. The protrusion 48 and the protrusion 52 correspond to each other such that when the mounting body 38 is mounted on the bottleneck 46 of the bottle 36 and pressed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 44 along the direction of arrow 54, the protrusion 52 engages the protrusion 48 such that the mounting body 38 is fixedly connected to the bottle 36.

[0044] The mounting body 38 also comprises an annular ring 56 protruding in the direction of the longitudinal axis 44 facing away from the reception opening 50. The annular ring 56 has a protrusion 58 in the form of a ring protruding in the radial direction, i.e. perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 44. The annular ring 56 encloses a recess 60.

[0045] The actuating body 40 also comprises a radial outer annular ring 62 which is arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis and having a protrusion 64 in the form of a ring protruding radially inside towards the longitudinal axis 44. The actuating body 40 furthermore has a radial inner annular ring 66 and a radial middle annular ring 68 both arranged concentrically to the longitudinal axis 44 wherein the radial middle annular ring 68 is disposed between the radial inner annular ring 66 and the radial outer annular ring 62. Between the radial outer annular ring 62 and the radial middle annular ring 68, an annular recess 70 is provided which is configured to receive the annular ring 56 of the mounting body 38 when the actuating body 40 is mounted on the mounting body 38. When mounting the actuating body 40 on the mounting body 38 by pressing it in the direction of the longitudinal axis 44 in the direction of the arrow 54, the protrusion 64 engages the protrusion 58 such that the actuating body 40 is slideably attached to the mounting body 38 along the longitudinal axis 44 and movable between a lower actuating position and an upper non-actuating position.

[0046] The spray dispenser 34 comprises a metering valve 72 for capturing a pre-defined dosage of a fluid to be dispensed during actuation of the spray dispenser 34 and also comprises a spray valve 74 for ejecting the fluid for example into the nose of a patient.

[0047] The metering valve 72 comprises a base part 76 mounted between a disk-like intermediate member 78 disposed between the bottle 36 and the mounting body 38 and a recess 80 in the mounting body 38. The base part 76 has a sleeve-like form and extends concentrically to the longitudinal axis 44 wherein a part of the base part 76 extending into the bottle 36 has a cannula 80 which acts as an intake for the fluids or drugs to be dispensed by the spray dispenser 34.

[0048] In the interior of the base part 76 a ball like valve member 82 is disposed which prevents reflux of the fluid pre-dosed by the metering valve 72. Furthermore, a helical spring 84 and a cannula like valve member 86 are arranged in the interior of the base part 76 wherein the valve member 86 is supported by the spring 84 and pretensioned to the top against the direction of the arrow 54. When the actuating body 40 is moved into the actuating position along the longitudinal axis 44 in the direction of arrow 54, the valve member 86 is pressed downwards against the valve member 76 against the force of the spring 84. When the actuating body 40 is moved back into the non-actuating position by the force of the spring 84, a vacuum is generated in dosing-room 88 and a predefined dosage of fluid is sucked into the dosing room 88 through the cannula 80 and a through-hole 90 in the valve member 76.

[0049] Therefore, the subject spray dispenser 34 allows for providing a predefined dosage of a fluid or drug by use of the metering valve 72.

[0050] The actuating body 40 furthermore comprises an annular protrusion 92 for accommodation of the spray valve 74. The protrusion 92 has a central nozzle axis 94 which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 44 in an angle 96 of about 45°. When the actuating body 40 is moved into the actuating position along the longitudinal axis 44 in the direction of arrow 54 and a predefined dosage of fluid has already been sucked into the dosing room 88 through the cannula 80 and the through-hole 90 in the valve member 76 in a previous actuating step, the dosing room 88 is compressed and fluid is sprayed by the spray valve 74.

[0051] In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 to 7, the actuating body 40 is covered by a covering body 42 which comprises an applicator nozzle 98 and an actuating section 100 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7. The actuating section 100 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 44 and is arranged on a top side 102 of the covering body 42 facing away from the bottle 36 and is configured to be actuated by a single finger such as an index finger 22. The actuating section 100 has a corrugation 101 which is configured such that slipping of a finger 22 in case of a wet actuating section 100 can be avoided.

[0052] On the interior, the covering body 42 comprises a circular recess 104 for a part of the spray valve 74 arranged in the applicator nozzle 98 below an outlet opening 106 of the applicator nozzle 98. In the recess 104, an anticontamination element 108 is provided. Such an anticontamination element 108 has an antibacterial effect and therefore any contamination or bacterial residue on the applicator nozzle 98 can be avoided. Providing such an anticontamination element 108 in applicator nozzles 98 of a spray dispenser 34 for nasal drugs is therefore very advantageous because contamination of the applicator nozzle 98 which has to be inserted into a nose of a patient at least partially can be avoided.

[0053] The spray dispenser 34 of FIGS. 3 to 7 is a so-called non-airless spray dispenser 34. In order to avoid the generation of a vacuum in the bottle 36 after actuation, a filter or filter matrix 110 is provided between the valve member 76 and the mounting body 38. The filter matrix 110 prevents the leakage of fluids but is permeable to air such that a vacuum in the bottle 36 can be avoided.

[0054] FIG. 8 shows an enlarged view of the top of a cross-section according a second embodiment of the spray dispenser 34. Like elements are denoted the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 to 7. The spray dispenser 34 of FIG. 8 differs from the spray dispenser 34 of FIGS. 3 to 7 in that a filter 112 is inserted into the disk-like intermediate member 78 which has basically the same purpose as the filter matrix 110 of FIGS. 3 to 7.

[0055] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged view of the top of a cross-section according to a third embodiment of the spray dispenser 34. Like elements are denoted the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 to 8. The spray dispenser 34 of FIG. 9 differs from the spray dispensers of FIGS. 3 to 8 in that no covering body 42 is provided wherein the actuating body 40 comprises the applicator nozzle 98 and the actuating section 100. Since no covering body 42 is provided, the applicator nozzle 98 is a part of a spray valve unit 114 inserted into the actuating body 40 in an angle 96 with respect to the longitudinal axis 44 of about 45°. In the inside of the spray valve unit 114 an antibacterial anticontamination element 108 is arranged below the outlet 106.

[0056] FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of a fourth embodiment of a spray dispenser 34 according to the invention wherein FIG. 11 shows an enlarged view of the top of the cross-section. In contrast to the spray dispensers 34 of FIGS. 3 to 9 which are non-airless spray dispensers 34 and allow the fluid in the bottle 36 to get into contact with air by use of the filters 110, 112, the spray dispenser 34 of FIGS. 10 and 11 is a so-called airless spray dispenser 34. Like elements are denoted the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 to 9.

[0057] The spray dispenser 34 of FIGS. 10 and 11 differs from the spray dispensers of FIGS. 3 to 9 in that the fluid is not directly stored in the bottle 36. The spray dispenser 34 comprises a bag 116 for storing the medical fluids, wherein the bag 116 is disposed in an interior 118 of the bottle 36 and wherein a neck 120 of the bag 116 is sealingly connected to the neck 46 of the bottle 34. The bottle 36 furthermore comprises venting holes 122 for air exchange of the environment with the interior of the bottle 36.

[0058] Such spray dispensers 34 are called airless spray dispensers 34 because the fluid stored in the bag 116 does not get in contact with air of the environment because the bag 116 is collapsed because of the vacuum generated during each actuation step wherein the venting holes 122 are provided for pressure equalization of the bottle 36 such that the flexible bag 116 can be collapsed in the interior 118 of the rigid bottle 36.

[0059] FIGS. 12a and 12b depict in an exemplary embodiment the spray dispenser 34 for nasal drugs. Like elements are denoted the same reference numerals as in FIGS. 3 to 8. FIGS. 13a and 13b depict detailed views of the FIGS. 12a and 12b, respectively. The spray dispenser is arranged at the non-pressurized bottle for storing medical fluids in particular of drugs and other sterile fluids. The mounting body 38 is mounted between the bottle and the actuating body 40. The bottle, the mounting body 38 and the actuating body 40 are aligned along the longitudinal axis 44. The actuating body 40 is slideably attached to the mounting body 38 along the longitudinal axis 44 and movable between an actuating position shown in FIG. 12b and a non-actuating position shown in FIG. 12a. The spray dispenser 34 comprises the applicator nozzle 98 and the actuating section 100 for moving the actuating body 40 into the actuating position. The applicator nozzle 98 has the nozzle axis 94 which is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis 44. The applicator nozzle 98 faces away from the actuating section 100. The spray dispenser 34 comprises the metering valve 72 and the spray valve 74 actuated by the actuating body 40. The spray valve 74 is configured to eject the medical fluids. The metering valve 72 is configured to capture a pre-defined dosage of the medical fluids to be dispensed during actuation of the spray dispenser 34. In FIGS. 12a and 12b, the tolerances of the abutting surfaces of the mounting body 38 and the valve member 86 are such that in an area 790 said surfaces lie against each other in such a way that an air exchange is prevented. Consequently, the air that is exchanged between the inner space of the bottle and the atmosphere is guided via the filter 110 and a channel 720.

[0060] The spray valve 74 comprises a pre-tensioned piston 702 inside a cylinder, wherein the piston 702 is pressed by a compression spring 704 in the direction of the metering valve 72. In a first position shown in FIGS. 12a and 13a, the piston 702 closes an inlet of a connecting channel 706. The connecting channel 706 is arranged between an inner body 708 and an outer body 710 of the spray valve 74. The connecting channel 706 connects the dosing room 88 and the outlet 106 of the spray valve unit 114 if the piston 702 is in a second position.

[0061] The piston 702 comprises a first cylindrical outer diameter arranged towards the spray valve 74. The first cylindrical outer diameter closes the connecting channel 706 in the first position of the piston 702. A second cylindrical outer diameter is arranged facing away from the spray valve 74. The second cylindrical outer diameter is smaller than the first cylindrical outer diameter causing the connecting channel 706 to open, if the piston 702 is moved to its second position.

[0062] By a medium pressure of the pre-defined dosage of the medical fluid, the medium pressure generated by the metering valve 72, the piston 702 is pressed against the spring force of the compression spring 704 and is being moved into the second position shown in FIGS. 12a and 13a. In the second position, the piston 702 moves beyond the inlet of the connecting channel 706, thereby connecting the dosing room 88 with a distal chamber 712 of the spray valve 74. The piston 702 opens the connecting channel 706 when moving in a distal direction towards the second position, so that the medical fluid is dispensed by the spray dispenser through the outlet opening 106. When the medium pressure decreases due to the dispensing of the medical fluid, the spring 704 moves the piston 702 back into the first position. The closing of the connection channel 706 by the piston 702 provides protection against contamination. Furthermore, a back-drop of medical fluid is prevented.

[0063] In other words, the spray valve comprises the piston 102, which is pressed by the spring 704 into the first position in which the connecting channel 706 is closed. Upon generation of the medium pressure of the medical fluid by pressing the actuating section 100 towards the non-pressurized bottle, the piston 702 moves into the second position in which the connecting channel 706 connects the dosing room 88 and the outlet 106 of the applicator nozzle 98.

[0064] In FIGS. 12a and 12b, the filter or filter matrix 110 is arranged between the intermediate member 78, which is formed as a ring-shaped disc, and the mounting body 38. An annular groove 720 of the mounting body 38 connects the filter 110 to an air chamber 722, which is arranged between the mounting body 38 and the actuating body 40. In other words, the filter or filter matrix 110 is arranged between the bottle and the mounting body 38.

[0065] FIG. 14 depicts in an exemplary embodiment the spray dispenser 34 for nasal drugs. In contrast to FIGS. 12a and 12b, the filter 110 is arranged in a radial groove 724 that is provided by the mounting body 38 and the valve member 86. In other words, the filter or filter matrix 110 is arranged between the metering valve 72 and the mounting body 38. In FIG. 14, the tolerances of the abutting surfaces of the mounting body 38 and the valve member 86 are such that in the area 790 said surfaces lie against each other in such a way that an air exchange is enabled. Consequently, the air that is exchanged between the inner space of the bottle and the atmosphere is guided via the filter 110 and a channel between the surfaces of the mounting body 38 and the valve member 86 in the area 790.