DISPENSER

Abstract

A liquid dispenser (1) for medical uses wherein a first membrane body (10) is shaped symmetrically with respect to a first frontal median plane (M) and to a second sagittal median plane (N) intersected in a central axis (A) and is delimited at the top by a dome (12); a second body (20) being carried by the first body (10) inside the dome (12) in a position concentric to the axis (A); the second body (20) having a hollow lower portion (22) concentric with the axis (A) and an upper portion (28) provided with a central duct (280) and with at least one first lateral duct (282) (284) (282′) (284′) (282″) (284″) ending in the dome (12), respectively, with a central nozzle (2800) (2800′) (2800″) and at least one first lateral nozzle (2820) (2840) (2820) (2840′) (2820″) (2840″).

Claims

1. A liquid dispenser (1) for medical uses wherein a first membrane body (10) is shaped symmetrically with respect to a first front median plane (M) and to a second sagittal median plane (N) intersected in a central axis (A) and is delimited at the top by a dome (12); an extension of said first body (10) according to said second sagittal median plane (N) being greater than an extension of said first body (10) according to said first front median plane (M); a second body (20) being carried by said first body (10) inside said dome (12) in a concentric position to said axis (A); said second body (20) having a lower hollow portion (22) concentric with said axis (A) and an upper portion (28) that has a central duct (280) and at least a first lateral duct (282)(284)(282′)(284′)(282″)(284″) ending in said dome (12), respectively, with a central nozzle (2800)(2800′)(2800″) and at least a first lateral nozzle (2820)(2840)(2820′)(2840′)(2820″)(2840″); characterized in that the projection of said central nozzle (2800)(2800′)(2800″) on a plane perpendicular to said axis (A) has an oval or rectangular shape, in that said central nozzle (2800)(2800′)(2800″) has a first lateral portion (2801)(2802)(2801′)(2802′)(2801″)(2802″) the projection of which on said plane perpendicular to said axis (A) extends laterally with respect to said second sagittal median plane (N), and in that the projection on said plane perpendicular to said axis (A) of said at least one first lateral nozzle (2820)(2840)(2820′)(2840′)(2820″)(2840″) is positioned entirely laterally with respect to said second sagittal median plane (N).

2. The dispenser (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection on said first frontal median plane (M) of said at least one first lateral duct (282)(284)(282′)(284′)(282″)(284″) is at least partially overlapping the projection on said first frontal median plane (M) of said central duct (280).

3. The dispenser (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the projection on said plane perpendicular to the axis (A) of said at least one first lateral nozzle (2820)(2840)(2820′)(2840′)(2820″)(2840″) has an oval or rectangular shape.

4. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said central nozzle (2800″) has a second lateral portion (2801″)(2802″), the projection of which on said plane perpendicular to said axis (A) extends laterally with respect to said second sagittal median plane (N) and symmetrically with respect to said projection on said plane perpendicular to said axis (A) of said first portion of central nozzle.

5. The dispenser according to claim 4, characterized in that said dispenser (1) comprises a second lateral duct ending in said dome (12) with a second lateral nozzle, the projection of which on said plane perpendicular to said axis (A) is positioned entirely laterally with respect to said second sagittal median plane (N).

6. The dispenser (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the projection on said first frontal median plane (M) of said at least one second lateral duct (282)(284)(282′)(284′)(282″)(284″) at least partially overlaps the projection on said first frontal median plane (M) of said central duct (280).

7. The dispenser (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the projection on said plane perpendicular to the axis (A) of said at least one second lateral nozzle (2820)(2840)(2820′)(2840′)(2820″)(2840″) has an oval or rectangular shape.

8. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said central nozzle (2800)(2800′)(2800″) is flared and has a section increasing towards said dome (12).

9. The dispenser according to claim 5, characterized in that said first and second lateral ducts (282)(284) are developed on parallel planes.

10. The dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that said dome (12) has externally at least one discharge groove (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0034] The invention will be better described with reference to some non-limiting embodiments in the attached figures, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view from above of a first preferred embodiment of a dispenser;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view from below of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

[0038] FIG. 4 is a view from below of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a sectional view from below of FIG. 3 according to a second sagittal plane;

[0040] FIG. 6 is a sectional view from below of FIG. 3 according to a first plane advanced and parallel to the sagittal plane;

[0041] FIG. 7 is a sectional view from below of FIG. 3 according to a second plane set back from and parallel to the sagittal plane;

[0042] FIG. 8 is a sectional view from below of FIG. 3 according to a median plane;

[0043] FIG. 9 is a sectional view from above of FIG. 3 according to the median plane of FIG. 8;

[0044] FIG. 10 is a sectional view from above of FIG. 3 according to a third plane set back from and parallel to the median plane of FIG. 8;

[0045] FIG. 11 is a sectional view from above of FIG. 3 according to a fourth advanced plane parallel to the median plane of FIG. 8;

[0046] FIG. 12 is a plan view of a second preferred embodiment;

[0047] FIG. 13 is a view from below of FIG. 12;

[0048] FIGS. 14-16 are sectional views according to three different planes parallel to the sagittal plane;

[0049] FIG. 17 is a sectional view from above according to a median plane of FIG. 12;

[0050] FIG. 18 is a plan view of a third preferred embodiment;

[0051] FIG. 19 is a view from below of FIG. 18;

[0052] FIGS. 20-23 are sectional views according to four different planes parallel to the sagittal plane; and

[0053] FIG. 24 is a sectional view from above according to a median plane of FIG. 18.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0054] In FIG. 1, the reference number 1 indicates a liquid dispenser 1 for medical uses supplied under pressure to the same dispenser 1 manually or in any other way. The dispenser 1 comprises a first membrane body 10 shaped symmetrically with respect to a first frontal median plane M and to a second sagittal median plane N intersected in a central axis A, vertical in FIG. 1. Each of these median planes M and N corresponds to an axis of symmetry of given extension for the sections transversal to the central axis of the first body 10. The oval or elliptical dome shape of the first body 10, where the extension of the first body 10 according to the second sagittal medianplane N is greater than the extension of the first body 10 according to the first frontal median plane M, having the same shape as the nasal vestibule and valve, on the one hand eases the insertion thereof inside the nasal vestibule and valve in which the outer wall of the first body 10 adheres to the inner wall of the nasal vestibule and valve and, on the other, functions as a guide to ensure that the jet of the dispenser 1 is always directed in the same way inside the nasal cavity, therefore towards the three meatus and the air space between the wall of the nasal septum and the relative nasal turbinates. The first body 10 is delimited at the bottom by an annular flat body which here and below will be indicated by the term crown 100. The latter is provided with a pair of opposing protrusions 102 oriented substantially parallel to the second sagittal median plane N. Furthermore, both the dispenser 1 and the first membrane body 10 can be made of pressure deformable plastic material such as, for example, PVC, silicone or any other material having the same mechanical characteristics, or also a rigid plastic material such as, for example, but not limited to, ABS without limiting the scope of the present invention. With particular reference to FIGS. 1-3, the first body comprises a substantially dome-shaped portion 12, thus named due to the shape of the respective outer surface, and therefore below referred to simply as dome 12.

[0055] The dispenser 1 comprises a second body 20 which is carried by the first body 10 inside the dome 12 in a position concentric to the axis A through substantially radial ribs 15. The second body 20 has a lower hollow portion 22 (FIG. 2) concentric with the axis A inside which a cylindrical seat 24 is obtained at the bottom, ending at the top in a tapered portion 26 which can be seen better in FIGS. 8 and 9. The second body 20 furthermore has an upper portion 28 which houses (inside which are obtained) some ducts which are in aerial communication with the tapered portion 26 and establish aerial communication with the outside of the dome 12 through nozzles which will be better described below. In particular, the upper portion 28 has a conical central duct 280 coaxial with the axis A (FIGS. 8 and 9) and two lateral ducts 282 and 284 (FIGS. 6, 7, 10, 11) substantially identical and positioned according to a polar symmetry around the axis A, therefore on opposite sides with respect to an axis of the cross sections of the dome 12 which lies on the second sagittal median plane N. In further detail, the lateral duct 282 and the lateral duct 284 are arranged between the first frontal median plane M and the second sagittal median plane N on opposite quadrants, as can be easily seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, exploiting a geometric analogy with the quadrants detached from an X axis and a Y axis in a Cartesian plane, in which the two mentioned axes are the lines in the plane transversal to the axis A of the median plane M and sagittal plane N of FIGS. 3 and 4, in particular the one associated with the second sagittal median plane N being greater and the one associated with the first frontal median plane M being smaller. The seat 24 and the tapered portion 26 are connected by a step 25, the purpose of which, in use, is to define an abutment for a tube known and not illustrated which can be used to supply liquid to the upper portion 28, and in particular to the central duct 280 and to the two lateral ducts 282 and 284. The central duct 280 ends in a central nozzle 2800 geometrically symmetrical with respect to the second sagittal median plane N. The plan shape of the central nozzle 2800 is an elongated oval and is the same for each section executed with a plane transversal to the axis A of the portion of the central duct 280 leading to the same central nozzle 2800. The largest dimension of each section transversal to the axis A lies on the first frontal median plane M and the two lateral ducts 282 and 284 have rectangular sections preferably with rounded edges throughout the length but said sections can have different geometrical shapes, for example oval, circular, elongated polygonal, circular flattened along a diameter etc., without conditioning the scope of the present invention. In the same way, also the first lateral nozzle 2820 and the second lateral nozzle 2840 are shaped in a rectangular section preferably with rounded edges but they can also be shaped in a functionally equivalent manner, for example, but not limited to, oval, circular, elongated polygonal, circular flattened along a diameter etc., without modifying the functionality of the dispenser or conditioning the scope of the present invention.

[0056] With particular reference to FIG. 3, the dome 12 has a faceted top 12′ provided with a central flat portion 120 transversal to the axis A and four flat faces inclined with respect to the axis A, of which two equal opposite first faces 122, symmetrical with respect to the first median plane M, and two equal opposite second faces 124, symmetrical with respect to the second sagittal median plane N. The two lateral ducts 282 and 284 open at the top of the dome, respectively, with a first lateral nozzle 2820 and a second lateral nozzle 2840, both rectangular with rounded vertexes and, further to the above description, inclined with respect to the axis A. Also the first lateral nozzle 2820 and second lateral nozzle 2840 are positioned according to a polar symmetry around the axis A on opposite sides with respect to the second sagittal median plane N. With particular reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 the two lateral ducts 282 and 284 are geometrically identical and develop respectively along planes parallel and equally spaced from the sagittal plane N. Each lateral duct 282/284 has a first part 2822/2842 with constant section in aerial communication with the tapered portion 26; said first part 2822/2842 evolves into a narrowing 2824/2844, the longitudinal section of which is shaped substantially in the form of a rectangular trapezium, continuing with an inclined part 2826/2846 towards the axis A with cross section slightly flared or substantially constant. With reference to the enlargement of FIG. 8, the shape of the central nozzle 2800 is elongated oval and arranged symmetrically with respect to the second sagittal median plane N, similar to a flattened funnel; in particular, the central nozzle 2800 is flared with dimension increasing towards the outlet and has a first left-hand lateral portion 2801 which is spatially arranged on the same side as the first lateral nozzle 2820. For the sake of practicality, here and below it is appropriate to use the term “overlapping” of the first left-hand lateral portion 2801 of the central nozzle 2800, since the respective projections on a plane parallel to the first frontal median plane M are at least partially overlapped. Further to the above description, and given the symmetry of the dome 12 with respect to the second sagittal median plane N, the central nozzle 2800 has a second right-hand lateral portion 2802 which is spatially arranged on the same side as the second lateral nozzle 2840, according to the known rules of symmetry described above which eliminate the need for an additional figure without compromising understanding of the particular shape of the dispenser 1 overall.

[0057] The central nozzle 2800 can have not only an oval shape but, while maintaining its flared configuration, can also be rectangular with rounded edges, circular, elongated polygonal, circular flattened along a diameter etc., without modifying the functionality of the dispenser or conditioning the scope of the present invention.

[0058] Further to the above description, the central nozzle 2800 is, in use, supplied with pressurised liquid, the speed of which increases until it reaches the smaller section, located at the base of the nozzle 2800, where the pressure reaches its minimum in accordance with Bernoulli's equation. At this point, the liquid reaches the flaring of the nozzle 2800 where the speed precipitates and the pressure increases causing expansion of the liquid that forms a fan-shaped jet. Said jet expands both in the direction of the first frontal median plane M and in the direction of the second sagittal median plane N in direct proportion to the widths of the nozzle 2800 measured along the directions identified by said planes (greater in the direction of the plane M and smaller in the direction of the plane N). The same thing happens to the liquid supplied to the first and second nozzles 2820 and 2840 through the lateral ducts 282 and 284, for the sequence of the respective first part 2822/2842 with constant section, narrowing 2824/2844 with decreasing section and part 2826/2846 inclined towards the axis A with slightly flared or substantially constant cross section. Therefore the liquid flowing out of the first and second nozzles 2820 and 2840 expands above the top 12′ of the dome 12 in substantially nebulized particles.

[0059] Further to the above description, the first and second nozzles 2820 and 2840 are shaped to direct at maximum the respective lateral jets against the respective lateral portions of the jet emitted from the central nozzle 2800 which correspond, respectively, to the first left-hand lateral portion 2801 of the central nozzle 2800 and the second right-hand lateral portion 2802. For this reason, each of the jets delivered by the first and second nozzles 2820 and 2840 strikes the corresponding lateral portion of the fan-shaped jet dispensed by the central nozzle 2800, producing a single jet which uniformly expands radially in all directions, reaching all the areas of the mucosa covering the nasal cavity, it would not be possible to reach said areas if the dispenser 1 were provided only with the central nozzle 2800, able to dispense a single jet, albeit fan-shaped, or only with the first and second lateral nozzles 2820 and 2840. Further to the above description, the jet resulting from the combination of the jets delivered under pressure by the central nozzle 2800 and by the first and second nozzles 2820 and 2840 will be indicated here and below by the expression “modified fan-shaped jet”.

[0060] Furthermore, with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 3, the dome 12 has externally at least one groove 11, the function of which is to discharge air or liquid supplied in excess to the nasal cavity so that the substantially nebulized liquid can spread as deeply as possible into the nasal cavity and prevent any pressure increase during administration of the liquid nebulized or in the form of spray or aerosol. In FIGS. 1 and 3 only one groove 11 has been shown for the sake of practicality, without conditioning the scope of the present invention.

[0061] The use of the dispenser 1 can be easily understood from the above description and does not require further explanation. However, it may be useful to specify that the dispenser 1 is designed to be supplied with liquid under pressure. Furthermore, the first body 10 is shaped for easy treatment of the nasal cavities; the dome 12 is shaped to be pushed at least partially inside a nostril to be treated; once this pushing action has been applied, the outer wall of the dome 12 adheres to the inner walls of the nostril, widening them so that the central nozzle 2800 and the first and second lateral nozzles 2820 and 2840 (of the two lateral ducts 282 and 284) are univocally positioned at the inlet of the nasal cavity facing the 3 meatus.

[0062] With the dome 12 of the dispenser 1 kept still in said position, the dispenser 1 has the central nozzle 2800 and the first and second nozzles 2820 and 2840 in an appropriate position for spraying the lower, middle and upper meatus of the nasal cavities through the nozzle 2800 of the central duct 280 and the first and second lateral nozzles 2820 and 2840 with the medical liquid in the form of the “modified open fan-shaped jet”.

[0063] Lastly it is clear that variations can be made to the dispenser 1 described and illustrated above without departing from the scope of the present invention so that it can be used to administer solutions inside the vaginal cavity, oral cavity and outer ear canal.

[0064] For example, with reference to FIGS. 12-17 a variation of the dispenser 1 indicated by the reference number 1′ is illustrated, where homologous structural details will be indicated for the sake of practicality by the same reference numbers as those used in FIGS. 1-11, but provided with an apex.

[0065] The dispenser 1′ is functionally and aesthetically similar to the dispenser 1 but is provided with a central duct 280′ and two lateral ducts 282′ and 284′ which differ due to their respective geometry from the homologous ducts of the dispenser 1. In fact, in this case the central duct 280′ opens towards the outside with a flared central nozzle 2800′ having rectangular cross section, the geometrical shape of which is equal to the one described above with reference to the central nozzle 2800, to produce a fan-shaped jet which expands both in the direction of the first frontal median plane M and in the direction of the second sagittal median plane N in direct proportion to the widths of the nozzle 2800 measured along the directions identified by said planes. Below said central nozzle 2800′, the central duct 280′ has a rectangular section transversally to the axis A with decreasing shape and dimension from the bottom towards the dome 12. Also the lateral ducts 282′ and 284′ have a decreasing rectangular section towards the dome 12. At the base, on the side of the tapered portion 26, the lateral ducts 282′ and 284′ are arranged in a symmetrically polar manner relative to the axis A with reference to the sagittal plane N but end in a curved portion which is arranged laterally to said sagittal plane N on opposite quadrants, as illustrated in FIG. 12. The FIGS. 14-16 facilitate understanding of the geometry of the ducts 280′, 282′ and 284′ along the axis A. The central nozzle 2800′ can be seen in section in FIG. 17, from which it is evident that the respective greater dimension develops symmetrically to the median plane M. Also in this case, the dome 12 has a faceted top 12′ provided with the central flat portion 120′ transversal to the axis A and four flat faces inclined with respect to the axis A, comprising two equal opposite first faces 122′, symmetrical with respect to the median plane M, and two equal opposite second faces 124′, symmetrical with respect to the sagittal plane N. The two lateral ducts 282′ and 284′ open at the top of the dome 12′ with rectangular first and second lateral nozzles 2820′ and 2840′ with rounded vertexes and, further to the above description, inclined with respect to the axis A. What has been said with reference to the nozzles 2820 and 2840 also applies to the jets delivered from the first and second lateral nozzles 2820′ and 2840′.

[0066] With reference to the enlargement of FIG. 17, the shape of the central nozzle 2800′ is symmetrical with respect to the sagittal median plane N and has a first left-hand lateral portion 2801′ which is spatially overlapping the first lateral nozzle 2820′. Naturally the same can be said for a second right-hand lateral portion 2802′ and the second lateral nozzle 2840′, due to the known rules of symmetry described above which eliminate the need for an additional figure without compromising understanding of the particular shape of the dispenser 1′ overall. Therefore, also in this case the first and the second nozzles 2820′ and 2840′ are shaped to direct the respective lateral jets against the lateral portions of the fan-shaped jet coming out of the central nozzle 2800′, determining, also in this case, a single jet of substantially nebulized particles, where said jet is shaped similar to the jet previously indicated as “modified fan-shaped jet”.

[0067] Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 18-24 a further variation of the dispenser 1 indicated by the reference number 1″ is illustrated, where homologous structural details will be indicated for the sake of practicality by the same reference numbers as those used in FIGS. 1-11, but provided with two apexes. In particular, the dispenser 1″ is functionally and aesthetically similar to the dispenser 1 but is provided with a central duct 280″ and two lateral ducts 282″ and 284″ which differ in their respective geometry from the homologous ducts of the dispenser 1. In particular, with reference to FIGS. 18-24, the central duct 280″ has a rectangular cross section with area decreasing in a linear manner from the base of the respective hollow lower portion 22″ to the top of the dome 12, where it ends in a central nozzle 2800″ flared with section transversal to the axis A of rectangular shape, therefore delimited at the top by a rectangular edge having substantially constant width, measured according to the direction of the sagittal plane N. In particular, the central nozzle 2800″ has a section transversal to the axis A which is again rectangular and has a constant width, but is profiled in longitudinal section (FIG. 24) according to a trend that starts linearly from the central duct 280″ and ends in a curved concave manner at the top 12″. Also in this case the first and the second nozzles 2820″ and 2840″ are arranged and shaped to direct the respective lateral jets against the lateral portions of the jet coming out of the rectangular flared central nozzle 2800″, determining a single jet shaped like the above-mentioned “modified fan-shaped jet”. In this case it should be noted that the width of the upper end portion of the central nozzle 2800″ is substantially double the extension of the first and second lateral nozzles 2820″ and 2840″, and the particular arrangement of the latter as shown by FIG. 24 totally overlaps one half of the central nozzle 2800″, allowing the area of impact of the respective jets to be maximized, and therefore the width of the “modified fan-shaped jet” resulting from the impact.

[0068] The breakdown of the fan-shaped jet emitted from the central nozzles (2800, 2800′ and 2800″ respectively), due to the collision of the jets delivered by the first and second lateral nozzles (2820 and 2840, 2820′ and 2840′, 2820″ and 2840″ respectively) on the respective lateral portions of the fan-shaped jet, determines a fragmentation of the latter with modification and deviation, in all directions, of the particles that compose both the central fan-shaped jet and the lateral jets.

[0069] Therefore, the particles of the jet produced by said fragmentation are uniformly distributed inside the entire nasal cavity, also reaching those areas of the nasal mucosa which it was not possible to reach with the devices currently on the market and assuming a substantially nebulized form, with very delicate impact on the structures composing the mucosa covering the nasal cavities and in particular on the muco-ciliary system.

[0070] Furthermore, the pressure with which the washing liquid is delivered through any one of the dispensers described above can be manually controlled if it is the result of pressure exerted manually on a bottle delimited by flexible walls or by a bag (known and not illustrated for the sake of economy of drawing) that contain the liquid and are connected to the dispenser 1 through the lower portion 22 of the second body 20, and mechanically controlled if the action of the user is exerted on a control member known and not illustrated which determines the pressure variation in said bottle.

[0071] Any excess pressure is modulated through the groove 11, which allows discharge of the excess solution.

[0072] Further to the above description, it can be seen that a dispenser shaped as described above and therefore provided with a central nozzle elongated according to a given plane able to deliver a fan-shaped jet according to said plane with polar symmetry with respect to the central nozzle and two lateral nozzles arranged on opposite sides of said plane and facing lateral portions of the central nozzle allows, in use (or when all these nozzles are supplied with a liquid under pressure), a single jet in a “modified fan” shape to be produced, the width of which is a function of the width of the central nozzle and the degree of overlapping between the lateral portions of said central nozzle and the lateral nozzles. The arrangement of the lateral nozzles, polarly symmetrical with respect to the axis of the central nozzle, gives a sort of rotation to the jet delivered by the central nozzle, which maximizes deviation of the liquid particles delivered by the central nozzle producing the “modified fan-shaped jet” where the spatial distribution of the liquid particles above the top of the dispenser is maximized and, therefore, allows spraying of the mucosa of the cavity to be treated and, in the case of nasal cavities, the mucosa covering them throughout their extension.